Bryan Konietzko discusses the situation behind today’s flashback-heavy The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 8 – and teases upcoming events.
In a Tumblr entry posted last night, The Legend of Korra co-creator Bryan Konietzko is unusually candid about the most recent episode of the animated series. The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 8, titled “Remembrances,” essentially serves as a clip show, refreshing viewers on the events of the past three books.
As such, “Remembrances” contains minimal new footage – though the episode is replete with new dialogue and plenty of humor. The result is undeniably less satisfying than a normal episode, but Konietzko’s appreciable transparency provides a better context for understanding this development.
Konietzko prefaced his explanation with the hopes that fans would not consider themselves “duped” into watching a clip show, as he and co-creator Mike DiMartino were duped while planning Book 4.
“Sometime around a year and a half ago we… got the news from the higher-ups that our Book 4 budget was getting slashed, almost to the tune of an entire episode’s budget,” Konietzko recounts. “We had two options: 1) let go a significant number of crew members several weeks early, or 2) make a clips episode.
“We never considered the first option,” the co-creator says. “We weren’t going to do that to our crew, and even if we were callous enough to do so, we never would have been able to finish the season without them.”
But he and DiMartino were loathe to serve up a dull clip episode “where characters sit around saying, “Remember that time when…” and leftover footage is reheated for no one’s enjoyment.” Inspired by a more innovative version of the form presented in another anime series, Konietzko suggested “set[ing] up a context where the characters would be reflecting on past events while narrating over them, offering new insights or at least providing some humor.”
He and DiMartino agreed that adding as much spice as possible was “the best way to turn this big old lemon into some lemonade.” The five minutes of new material in “Remembrances” is therefore bolstered by “funny and touching narration from the characters” as well as “some fun chibi heads and other treats in there to spice up the old footage.”
Ultimately, Konietzko reflects, “What started out as a reluctant chore ended up being a really fun episode to make, and in the end I truly love it.”
Konietzko also thanks the show’s creative team, who “worked their tails off” on The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 8 – proving that even a clip episode requires serious dedication and effort from artists who love their craft.
The co-creator concludes with a hint about the grand finale of The Legend of Korra. “I hope you do end up enjoying [“Remembrances”] after all,” he says, “especially as a last lighthearted, nostalgic romp before POOP. GETS. REAL. And then the series is done.”
Thanks, Bryan. We’re already trying to hold back the tear-bending.
The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 8, “Remembrances,” is streaming now on Nick.com.