A new sneak peek from The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 11 makes us wonder if Kuvira’s bite is as bad as her bark.
As the slickly political antagonist of The Legend of Korra season 4, Kuvira has proven herself to be one of the most successful enemies Korra has faced. As Book 4 has progressed, Kuvira has reunited the fractured Earth Kingdom, declared herself the supreme ruler of the newly-forged Earth Empire, and conquered Zaofu.
Basically, most of Kuvira’s setbacks have been negligible – and all of her victories have been huge.
Now, as the intrepid Zhu Li reported at the end of last week’s episode, Kuvira is ready to attack Republic City. Armed with the phenomenally powerful spirit vine cannon, it’s hard to imagine Kuvira backing down in any way, shape, or form.
That said, a new clip from The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 11, titled “Kuvira’s Gambit,” adds a few wrinkles to the powerhouse dictator.
In the clip, Kuvira broadcasts a rousing speech to her troops, justifying their upcoming attack on Republic. Kuvira claims that the formation of the United Republic on Earth Empire land is “a grave injustice” that “must be corrected.”
“Republic City will be ours!” she promises.
The unnerving scene then shifts in tone as Kuvira speaks with her fiancé Bataar. The couple are excited to make plans for their future and get married – and if these things weren’t contingent on a hostile takeover of an independent city-state, it would probably be touching.
Still, its undeniable that this domestic scene strikes us as both genuine and telling. Bataar’s loyalty to Kuvira – in open rejection of his own family – has been utterly iron-clad up until his decision to redirect the spirit cannon to spare his sister Opal’s life. Was that moment of familial loyalty a one-time deal? Or will Bataar be forced, yet again, to choose openly between the BeiFongs and Kuvira?
Kuvira’s position is also intriguing. The Great Uniter seems to be genuinely in love with Bataar, to the point that she looks forward to ruling her superpower with him. (Aww!)
But Kuvira is demonstrably intractable where loyalty is concerned – so what will she do if Bataar finds his heart divided? Could that really stop her from bringing her terrible spirit weapon against Republic City?
As much as we’d like to imagine this cold war resolving peacefully, it seems unlikely that Kuvira will change her course so soon. Bataar may or may not have a change of heart, but either way, we expect Kuvira to “stay the course.” That doesn’t necessarily mean that the insane spirit cannon will be unleashed against Republic City. After all, the weapon is unstable, susceptible to sabotage, and possibly overpowered from a story perspective.
But we do think that the way the emotional story lines play out – between Kuvira and Bataar, Bataar and his family, Korra and literally everyone – will prove pivotal in dictating the events of the final episodes of The Legend of Korra season 4.
The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 11, “Kuvira’s Gambit,” begins streaming this Friday on Nick.com.