The Legend of Korra Recap: Episode Four, “Civil Wars, Part 2”

The Skinny

So, basically shizz has hit the fan in the Southern Water Tribe on Legend of Korra. Korra is totally under her uncle’s wing, the other Southerners are turning against her, Unalaq’s blockade still stands, and Varrick’s rebellion resulted in the arrest of Korra’s parents. For attempted murder. Of Unalaq. Umm…not good.

The Breakdown

We pick up right where we left off last week. Korra’s parents, Tonraq and Senna, are being arrested for conspiring with the rebels and for plotting to assassinate Unalaq. Korra is aghast that Unalaq would arrest his own brother, to which he replies that, hey, Tonraq held a meeting with the rebels IN HIS OWN HOME. He appeases Korra–or tries to, anyway–by telling her that he’s appointed the fairest judge he knows. So, hmm. HE’S appointed the judge. I don’t know how things usually work with these Water Tribes, but HELLO. Because that isn’t fishy at all.

OH, HAI ASAMI!! Where you been, girl? She, Bolin, and Mako are on Varrick’s boat, waiting for him so that they can finish their deal to work together. As we know, Varrick was involved in the little rebellion there, so he’s MIA. Also, Bolin thinks that hiding on Varrick’s boat will keep him away from Eska, who he still can’t manage to break up with. Of course, she shows up with some of her dad’s men to look for Varrick. She tells them about Korra’s parents being arrested. But Eska, Desna and their cronies don’t find Varrick, though, because it turns out he’s hiding–along with his assistant–inside a stuffed bear. He craps out some cash for Bolin to use to bribe people to get the other rebels out of prison.

At the Southern Air Temple, Tenzin is still looking for Ikki when, HUZZAH!, he finally finds her. She’s in a cave with a bunch of like air bison PUPPIES SO ADORABLE. She’s having a TEA PARTY with them, and they keep rolling around and stuff and she gave them THE CUTEST names like Juniper Lightening Bug. Ikki is thankful that Meelo and Jinora are not there because they’re MEAN. Tenzin joins her tea party and it’s just the cutest thing ever I DIE.

Meanwhile, the trial of the rebels and Korra’s parents is about to start up in the South. Bolin thinks he’s bribed the appropriate people, but let’s not hold our breaths, shall we? Unalaq gives his testimony and the witnesses are questioned, including Korra. Bolin hilariously tries to object several times, but it doesn’t appear to be going in the defendants’ favor.

Bolin also tries AGAIN to dump Eska. It seems like she’s going along with it until she basically says that the only thing that can fix their relationship is MARRIAGE. Instant marriage. She says they’re going to get married at sunset. THIS GIRL.

The judge, meanwhile, has decided a verdict: Senna is declared innocent and is free to go. But Tonraq and the other rebels are found guilty of treason and are punished to DEATH. GULP. Korra threatens the judge, but Unalaq says he’ll talk the judge down. He gets the judge to commute their sentences to life in prison. UM THIS IS SO FISHY, RIGHT?! He just…what…ASKED the judge to change his mind and HE DID?!

Tenzin and Ikki are having a good time with their air bison puppies and they commiserate over both of their siblings being lame. Ikki tells Tenzin how awesome Kya and Bumi are, and Tenzin says that Meelo and Jinora are great too. At the end, they both agree that families rock and they both go back to the temple.

Senna and Korra visit Tonraq in jail and Korra is all “JAILBREAK!!” but Tonraq convinces her not to do anything that will start fighting between the North and South. Um, she doesn’t really listen. She and Naga chase the judge down as he drives down the road and, YO, Naga looks SCARY! I loved it. Korra threatens the judge and finds out that Unalaq bought him off to sentence the men and then commute their sentences to make Korra like him. THEN the judge says that Unalaq got her father banished and Korra is like, “oh HELL NO!” Unalaq seems to be just as shady as I thought he was when we first met him.

Korra goes to Varrick-bear, Asami, and Mako and tells them what she found out from the judge: Back when Korra’s dad was thrown out of the North, it was Unalaq who bought off the warriors that attacked their city and he told them to hide in the spirit forest because he KNEW that his brother would chase them there. Unalaq wanted Tonraq out of the way so he could be chief. Korra decides that she’s going to bust the rebels out of jail. BOOM.

Then, OMG Bolin shows up and he looks like this:

Courtesy of cap-that.com

I can’t. At least he can hang around a little while before he marries Eska to help the team plan the prison break. *chuckles*

Korra, Mako, Asami, and Bolin break into the prison where the rebels are being held. They find the cell where Tonraq was being kept, but it’s empty. Unalaq shows up and tells Korra that she’ll never see her father again. DUN DUN DUNNNNN. Turns out Unalaq moved the rebels already to a ship bound for the North. Korra threatens him, and Unalaq reminds her that she must remain neutral as the Avatar. They go back and forth about power and being manipulated and only wanting what’s best. Korra says that Unalaq will do whatever Korra asks because he still needs her to open the Northern portal. Turns out that’s a load of crap too. They disagree and a fight breaks out. OBVS since Korra is the Avatar, she wins. They get out and go to Varrick’s boat to stop the ship heading north.

Korra and Mako use a plane that Varrick has on his superboat to get close to the blockade ships and move them out of the way. They make it to the ship the prisoners are on and they make off with all the rebels.

Back at the Southern Air Temple, Tenzin and Ikki arrive. Meelo and Jinora apologize and then they go off and play and it’s like nothing happened. Tenzin apologizes to Kya and Bumi, too. It’s apologies all around.

On Varrick’s ship, Korra tells her father that Unalaq set him up to be banished. Tonraq and the rebels pledge to fight against Unalaq, but when Korra says she’s on board too, Tonraq tells her no. She needs to get the President of the United Republic on their side instead. The South will need the United Forces to beat the North. Korra and her dad are reconciled. AWWWW. Civil War = ON. Also, Bolin thinks this civil war his FINALLY freed him from Eska. But then THIS is one of the last shots of the episode:

Courtesy of cap-that.com

OMFG terrifying.

The Last Word

So now that the fight is on between the North and South, I’m curious about how much of the spirit talk Unalaq gave Korra was legit and how much was just him posturing and manipulating. Also, I’m wondering who the President is. I’m thinking it’s Iro, the former (I’m guessing) general of the United Forces? But maybe not. Also, WHERE IS BEIFONG. I need some Beifong, please.

The Lines

“You may express your joy through tears”