Legend of Korra "The Voice in the Night"

[mr friendly guy]

So we find out Korra is afraid of Amon, which is the theme of this episode.

Amon realises that he will face opposition from the nations with Benders, but apparently he has a plan around that.

Tarrlok I suspect has his own motivation for forming a task force and attacking the Equalists. However on the surface he is right. The Equalists aren't going to stop with triads, they are training chi blockers to attack Benders etc. The reasons for Tenzin opposing him seem to be a) based on dislike of Tarrlok and b) thinks this will inflame tensions (I am afraid I think its beyond that now).

We also see a bunch of Water and Earth benders in the task force ambush and take out a couple of chi blockers nicely.

So far the series is looking good.

[Haruko]

Pretty slick move on Tarrlok's part using the press to get Korra to agree to something she would otherwise not.

[Steve]

Tarrlok is the wild card in this situation. And frankly he's now high on my list of potential suspects for whom Amon is.

I'm really liking the character writing in this series. Korra's terror over Amon is completely understandable; he poses a threat to the very core of her being. Korra identifies herself strongly not just with being the Avatar but being a Bender. Her whole identity is based around her abilities... and she's now faced with a man who can take them away.

The little flashbacks when Amon knocked Korra unconscious are interesting. It appears to have consisted of an older, grown-up Sokka, Toph, and Aang. And given what Tarrlok mentioned about a prior threat to the city that Aang faced head on.... I wonder if that was what was involved here. And it might even explain why Katara is the only member of the "Gaang" that is still alive.

There is clearly a deeper story here, and we're just starting to scratch the surface.

[Ellindsey]

My wife is convinced that Tarrlok is Amon.

[Darth Yan]

I think Amon might be working with Tarlokk. Tarlokk has a hero complex, and Aang is the person he wants to be like (he mentions that Aang took down another douchebag who threatened the city.) I think Amon viewed Korra as a threat, while Tarlokk views Korra as a threat to his ambitions. As such, I think he and Amon struck a deal. Tarlokk would push Korra into a confrontation she wan't ready to fight, Amon would bitchslap her and took her down, and than brutally humiliate her. Korra is discredited or too afraid to continue for some time, allowing Tarlokk his opportunity to play hero. Amon gets more time to develop his plan, Tarlokk gets to play hero. Everyone wins. I'm not sure if Asami is an Equalist. Hell I've even read a fanfic where Amon deliberately set it up so Korra could see the Revelation so I think an alliance with Tarlokk to weaken her might not be out of the picture.

[ray245]

So Aang grew a beard as an adult. I got this feeling that somehow, Aang is actually still alive and he is the one behind the mask of Amon.

[JME2]

Tarrlok is the wild card in this situation. And frankly he's now high on my list of potential suspects for whom Amon is.

Well, we know now it's not Hiroshi Sato; his physical build rules him out. That's not to say he isn't involved; the blueprints show Amon is building something and he'd need industrial backing.

Tarrlok is definitely a wild card and I wouldn't be surprised if he has some kind of arrangement with Amon. He's Long Feng's natural successor and I'm loving the element of political intrigue it's injected into the series; that's a major reason why I loved the Ba Sing Se arc so much.

I'm really liking the character writing in this series. Korra's terror over Amon is completely understandable; he poses a threat to the very core of her being. Korra identifies herself strongly not just with being the Avatar but being a Bender. Her whole identity is based around her abilities... and she's now faced with a man who can take them away.

Yeah and it further differentiates Korra from Aang. He, by contrast, was terrified of the Avatar State, of losing himself within it and becoming a force of violence.

I also like how Amon's differentiated from Ozai. Ozai was intelligent, but too arrogant and drunk on the dark side as TV Tropes noted. He's skilled, but he's also highly intelligent and pragmatic; he's much more like Azula. And it's a credible explanation for why he hasn't gone after Korra: she'd become a martyr. That also explains why he hasn't gone after Tenzin yet, either.

The little flashbacks when Amon knocked Korra unconscious are interesting. It appears to have consisted of an older, grown-up Sokka, Toph, and Aang. And given what Tarrlok mentioned about a prior threat to the city that Aang faced head on.... I wonder if that was what was involved here. And it might even explain why Katara is the only member of the "Gaang" that is still alive.

There is clearly a deeper story here, and we're just starting to scratch the surface.

Agreed; there has to be a reason Amon's chi-blocker move triggered those memories. This could very well be what killed the Gaang.

[Darth Yan]

Korra initially thought that Tenzin was Aang, so I guess that Aang's confirmed. Toph was clearly the metalbender police founder, Sokka.......I will have to say I'm not sure. I noticed that Amon avoided badmouthing the spirits, even tried to claim that they appointed him to replace the avatar. I'm pretty sure he's not going to attack Avatar Aang as a person. He helped found the city. And Amon claims to serve the city. I liked his claim of dominance over Korra.

Asami definately didn't stage her crash with mako; the look of shock on her face was genuine. I still think she might be trying to build a divide between the Fire Ferrets and Korra. Seychelle Gabriel does a good job.

[Darth Yan]

. But the fact she's based on lust from full metal alchemist brotherhood might not be a coincidence (she's based on the design.)

[JME2]

. But the fact she's based on lust from full metal alchemist brotherhood might not be a coincidence (she's based on the design.)

It's the second anime shout-out that I keep snickering at (Naga is the first and fans of The Slayers know why).

I think Sokka was probably the Southern Tribe's representative on the Council.

[Mr Bean]

I think Sokka was probably the Southern Tribe's representative on the Council.

That's Prince Sokka to you (Remember the Northern Water tribe zanyness)
What to say, I liked this episode even if there was little action because we got to meet Harold Ford who happen to get a loan from someone (Dunn dun duuun) we got to meet his daughter who as pointed out is strikingly similar to FMA: Lust in a very funny kind of way. We got to see Mako and Bolin cleaned up and we got much more of that subtle humor that I know fly's right over the kids heads but cues right in for adults watching (example, notice when the Water tribe guy comes to dinner the glare Tenzin's wife shoots him when he invites himself and the look of murder she gives as he's leaving).

However this episode gave me another thing to wonder on, first we had who is Amon, next we have who loaned Sato the money for his business empire and third we have, who did Avatar Aang fight?

Last and un-related, has Korra ever entered the Avatar state? (Not in the show but I mean ever, since she had three elements by age six you think she push herself into the Avatar state at some point, but then again maybe not since she's not a big spiritual person)

OAN:Even with the arrests Amon brought over twenty chi-blockers with him to his ambush.

[Grumman]

Well, we know now it's not Hiroshi Sato; his physical build rules him out. That's not to say he isn't involved; the blueprints show Amon is building something and he'd need industrial backing.

It's Cabbage Corp, avenging its founder's treatment at the hands of benders!

[Bright]

- By admitting that she was scared to Tenzin, Korra might very well have unlocked one of her chakras - specifically the Earth Chakra, which deals with survival and is blocked by fear. I wonder if Korra is going to go through them one by one and then go Avatar State.

- The name of the past threat to Republic City was something like Yakone? Apparently, it has the meaning of "blood spray on the snow" in the Athna language. So I'm thinking... bloodbender serial killer?

- Sokka could very well be the person who gave Hiroshi Sato his loan. He was something of an inventive genius himself, and might have known a wise investment when he saw one.

- Asami's eyes kind of look like kiwi slices, and I really like that for some reason.

[Atia]

All this speculation about who Amon is is pointless. It was staring us right in the face in this episode. One of those reporters at the party was clearly voiced by Steve Blum disguising his voice(poorly). Obviously it was suppose be Amon in disguise trying to goad Korra into taking action and not the production team being too lazy to find another voice actor for a bit role... right... right?

Also Asami did not sit right with me for some reason during the show, she just looked too evil to me. I didn't' realize it was because her design was based on Lust until I saw this thread. Lol

Finally are there really no non benders on the ruling council of the city? Not even a token representative? Kinda makes me feel like Amon has a point about bender oppression.

[JME2]

And it might even explain why Katara is the only member of the "Gaang" that is still alive.

If so, then it may add context to Lin's dislike of Korra. If Toph died during Yukon's rampagwe, then she may blame Aang for her mother's death and has transfered the grudge to his sucessor.

[Bright]

Finally are there really no non benders on the ruling council of the city? Not even a token representative? Kinda makes me feel like Amon has a point about bender oppression.

I think the bigger problem would be that the population of Republic City doesn't seem to have a voice in the city's governance at all. I get the impression that all the Council delegates are appointed by their respective nations. That could be wrong though, since details are so scarce.

[Ford Prefect]

That also explains why he hasn't gone after Tenzin yet, either.

I think part of why Amon hasn't gone after Tenzin yet is that it would probably be pretty suicidal. The Equalists are very dangerous and Amon is very clever, but Tenzin isn't a kid.

Finally are there really no non benders on the ruling council of the city? Not even a token representative? Kinda makes me feel like Amon has a point about bender oppression.

Amon is sinister, but that doesn't mean that he can't have a reasonably valid motive. I think this is what really separates him from Ozai, and what really separates Korra from Aang.

[Eldy]

All this speculation about who Amon is is pointless. It was staring us right in the face in this episode. One of those reporters at the party was clearly voiced by Steve Blum disguising his voice(poorly). Obviously it was suppose be Amon in disguise trying to goad Korra into taking action and not the production team being too lazy to find another voice actor for a bit role... right... right?

I didn't pick up on that at first, but I re-watched the party scene and the first reporter to speak definitely sounds like Steve Blum. He reminds me of Blum's voice from Great Teacher Onizuka a bit, but that might just be because I'm currently watching that series. Anyway, I took a screenshot of the reporter and I think that he has the same build as Amon.

[Ford Prefect]

He sounds like Steve Blum because you can't afford unique guys for incidental voices and Steve Blum has no range as an actor.

[Bright]

He sounds like Steve Blum because you can't afford unique guys for incidental voices and Steve Blum has no range as an actor.

That's bullshit. Steve Blum has two kinds of roles: the ones where he uses his regular voice because it's extremely cool and mostly all anyone wants from him, and the ones where he sounds so different you don't even recognize him.

[Darth Yan]

You'd be surprised. He's done roles where you really couldn't tell until you checked imdb. the reporter was at Korra's press conference while Amon was hearing it over the radio. Also, Amon's pretty powerful. I mean the guy overpowered one of the most powerful gang leaders in Republic city. I think the reason he refused is practicality. Tenzin's the son of the founder of the city and is an active politician. It's the reason he didn't gun for Korra or kill her despite having her dead to rights. He's not ready to have a martyr yet.

[Ford Prefect]

You'd be surprised. He's done roles where you really couldn't tell until you checked imdb.

I would be surprised.

[Bright]

You'd be surprised. He's done roles where you really couldn't tell until you checked imdb.

I would be surprised.

Does Grunt from Mass Effect sound like Spike Spiegel? Does Leeron? What about Guilmon?

[Ritterin Sophia]

My wife is convinced that Tarrlok is Amon.

I'd find that highly unlikely, my bet is that flashback she had of Aang had something to do with Amon and I don't think anyone who Aang had to stop would be trusted with a position of power in a city that pretty much venerates him.

[Haruko]

By the way, when Tarrlok sought and got the council's approval, I was thinking Judge Dredd, and that they will come to regret their decision.