Korra was forced to face her demons in The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 4. Check out our recap and share your thoughts on “The Calling.”
Leaving on a skybison
Tenzin and Pema say goodbye to Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo, who are off to find Korra. Jinora plans to locate Korra’s spiritual energy, which she anticipates will not take more than a few days. Reluctantly, Meelo agrees to take food from home.
The search goes poorly. Jinora’s meditation is unsuccessful, and the only lead is the dazed photograph of Korra in the fishing village she passed through six months before. Meelo even finds and loses the love of his life.
Memories
Korra is bored with the pace of life in the swamp; Toph proves to be a hilariously succinct storyteller of the great events of her life. Korra heads out to search for mushrooms, but finds something more sinister.
Passing through a curtain of vines, Korra is treated to visions of her past enemies. Amon takes away her bending, VaatUnalaq drains her of Raava’s spirit, and Zaheer watches as Korra fights off his poison and the Avatar State.
Macarons and information
In an act of wild-man madness, Meelo throws the rest of Pema’s food in the river. Infuriated, Ikki stalks away, and is promptly captured by two Earth Empire soldiers.
The slightly more intelligent soldier plans to deliver Ikki and her siblings to Kuvira. But when Ikki realizes that the soldiers have found Pema’s food, she opts for chilling out in relative comfort.
Ikki bonds with the soldiers, who are bummed that they had to stay behind while Kuvira took the rest of the army to Zhaofu – the last city resisting to Kuvira’s empire.
So that’s a big deal.
Homing in
In shared sympathy for each other’s plights, the soldiers show Ikki their map. The only unpopulated area is the swamp.
Jinora and Meelo “rescue” Ikki, who grabs their food and directs her siblings to the swamp.
Unfortunately, Jinora still can’t feel Korra. But before they can fly away, the swamp takes matters into its own vines and pulls them down into its depths. Ikki insists that Korra is close.
Balance
Toph finds Korra, and tells her that the swamp can teach her how to regain balance. She says Korra is carrying around the burden of her enemies, along with the metal poison in her blood.
Toph points out that Amon, Unalaq, and Zaheer had theoretically positive goals, but that they were wildly out of balance. Korra has to face her fear of the past enemies, or she will not be able to face the foes of her future.
Connections
Tired of spelling things out for the Avatar, Toph leads Korra to the massive banyan tree at the heart of the swamp; its roots connect the entire ecosystem.
“Your problem is, you’ve been disconnected for too long,” Toph says. “Disconnected from the people who love you, and disconnected from yourself.” Korra touches a root, and finds her connection to Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo revitalized.
The kids fly to the banyan tree and tearfully reunite with Korra, who introduces them to Toph. Jinora begs Korra to come home and deal with Kuvira, but Korra is reluctant.
“I’m no longer the Avatar I used to be,” she says, but the kids insist that the world needs her.
The fight is over
That night, Toph coaches Korra to find the metal in her body. Moving meditatively through bending stances, Korra is at first overwhelmed by the terrifying memories of Zaheer.
“That fight is over,” Toph says. “Release the fear.”
Sweating and determined, Korra continues. Slowly, beads of liquid metal slid off her skin, forming a sphere in the air. Korra’s eyes glow with the Avatar State.
“Well done, Korra,” Toph says.
“I feel so much lighter,” Korra marvels, and Toph accepts a hug from the Avatar.
The airkids and Korra leave, shouting goodbyes to Toph, who seems relieved to be left alone.
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