I did a review the Nickelodeon's Avatar series a couple of months back saying I was quite excited for the second season of their "Legend of Korra" series.
So far there have been five episodes released, with the sixth "The Sting," to be released tomorrow.
While I have enjoyed it so far, this second season hasn't quite lived up to my hopes.
The main crux of this season is that while Korra, the 16-year-old reincarnation of the spirit of the earth, has mastered her ability to command classical elements (earth, fire, air, water GO PLANET!), she hasn't really got a hold on her role as the medium between the spirit world and the physical world.
Now, in the Legend of Aang run, the planet got hella messed up. There was a planet-spanning conflict (you might even call it a World War), and that understandably caused a lot of upheaval.
Korra, a waterbender, grew up in the Southern Water Tribe, which was heavily affected by the war. Affected to the point that all of the spiritual leaders of the tribe were rounded up and taken away.
So far, the series has focused on the spiritual impact on the Southern Water Tribe and the growing tensions with the Northern Water Tribe. Also there are a bunch of insane spirits trying to ruin everybody's shit.
Although it's only five episodes in, I had hoped to see more conflict with the spirits. There has been a lot of human drama and a lack of action sequences.
Korra is a 16-year-old girl and she's railing against her mentors, her family, her romantic relationship and pretty much being headstrong and pointless. I have a feeling there will be a lot of messages of "be happy you have a caring family" and "accept responsibility" in this season.
Book Two: Spirits feels smaller and more intimate than what we've seen before, but I have hope that it will expand its scope.
There was a little bit of character development in the last season, but it doesn't seemed to have stuck very well with Korra.
She's still voiced well and continues to be an interesting character and I suppose it is only five episodes in.
The supporting cast continues to uphold the high caliber started in Legend of Aang. The introduction of the older siblings of airbending master Tenzin (J.K. Simmons) was a good move, showing there is more happening than just the adventures of the teenage avatar. However, most of it has felt like family drama at this point.
While the introduction of possibly insane businessman Varrick was originally an annoyance, the character has grown on me like some kind of hilarious fungus. He started off as a stereotypical "wacky" character, but has since taken on new light. I most enjoy Varrick when he's morally ambiguous.
I am interested in seeing what the infighting and civil unrest will develop into and the ending of the fifth episode heavily implies there will be a much greater focus on the spirit realm in the near future.
Book two: Spirits will be something I'll continue to watch, but it has a lot to live up to with the epic scope of Legend of Aang casting a long shadow.
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