The fight for Zaofu was an intimate affair in The Legend of Korra season 4, episode 6. Read our recap and share your thoughts on “The Battle of Zaofu”!
Dark deeds
Suyin and her twin sons are captured in a ballsy-but-misbegotten attempt to assassinate Kuvira. Kuvira is disgusted at Suyin’s cowardice, and broadcasts an announcement to Zaofu. She promises not to attack the citizens, as long as the city’s representatives meet her at dawn to surrender.
Korra, Opal, and Jinora debate their course of action. To Opal’s fury, Korra and Jinora agree that Suyin started the hostilities, and violent action is not called for. They plan to meet with Kuvira, but Ikki and Meelo will remain in Zaofu.
The scientist
Varrick wakes up in his cell on Kuvira’s train, still desolate at Zhu Li’s betrayal. Bataar Jr. orders him to continue working on the spirit vine weapon. Bolin is drafted to be his assistant in the dangerous experiments.
Stand-off
Korra, Jinora, and Opal meet with Kuvira and her army outside Zaofu. Kuvira claims the moral high ground, and informs Korra that she has no business interfering in internal Earth Empire matters; Kuvira claims that her goals are equality for her citizens.
Beside herself, Opal begs Korra to fight. Kuvira echoes the challenge. “I’m the one who brought peace to the Earth Empire – not you,” she says. “You’re not relevant here anymore.”
Korra is ready to fight; “It’s been a while, but I’ve got a lot of pent-up rage,” she half-jokes. She plans to only use the Avatar State as a last resort, but the duel immediately gets off to a poor start for Korra.
Tick, tick, BOOM
As Varrick works on the Spirit Bomb, Bataar forces him to show him the process. Varrick grumbles that he just wanted to find a clean energy source, but Bataar snidely says that it is their duty as scientists to take their knowledge as far as it goes.
Which is problematic.
As he talks about the project, Varrick sneaks Bolin knowing looks. “Trust me kid,” he says. “I know what I’m doing.”
Varrick finishes working on the bomb, and reveals that he has set a timer to explode the contraption in five minutes. He forces Bataar and his people out of the car and unhooks the bomb-car from the train.
Just before the train goes boom, Bolin pulls Varrick out of a floor hatch and onto the tracks. Bataar watches the violent explosion in surprise.
Unbeknownst to Bataar, Bolin and Varrick stumble out to freedom. Varrick thinks the whole thing was awesome.
Facing the enemy
Battered, Korra finally goes into the Avatar State. She quickly gets the upper-hand on Kuvira, and prepares to deliver her final blow, when Kuvira raises her head… and Korra sees her own face staring back at her, blank with the Avatar State.
Stunned, Korra collapses out of the Avatar State. “What’s wrong with her?” Jinora wonders in despair.
Kuvira is about to basically stab Korra to death when Jinora and Opal finally engage. They push Kuvira back toward her forces; enraged, Kuvira orders an attack.
Jinora spirit-face-times her siblings for rescue, while Opal holds off the earthbenders. Meelo and Ikki arrive on Pepper, but they are forced to leave Suyin and Opal’s brothers behind to face Kuvira’s judgement.
“I’ll be back for you,” Opal cries to her mother, held back by the other airbenders. “I love you.”
Unity
Having declared victory over Zaofu, Kuvira accepts the loyalty of the city’s citizens. The shocked populace mostly kneels to her, but Suyin’s husband and other son steadfastly refuse. Furious, Bataar Jr. sends his family away to be imprisoned as traitors.
“All hail the Great Uniter!” he yells.
Later, Bataar Jr. tells Kuvira that Varrick and Bolin are dead. He believes he can re-create the spirit bomb; Kuvira enlists Zhu Li as his assistant.
“Begin dismantling the domes,” she orders.