Turning the Tides

"Turning the Tides" (originally titled "The World of Fate Avatar") is the three-part season finale to the first season of The Legend of Korra. The first part, "Turning the Tides", aired on June 16, 2012, and the second and third parts aired a week later, on June 23rd.
==Synopsis==
==="Turning the Tides"===
After escaping from Tarrlok's imprisonment, Korra is taken to Air Temple Island to recuperate. She is seen sleeping peacefully in her bed, with Mako sitting at her bedside as Asami looks on at them, disheartened at Mako's apparent attraction to Korra.
Korra eats lunch with Tenzin's family and her friends that day. She thanks Pema for the food, and says she is feeling like her old self again. Pema and Asami clean up the table and go into the kitchen, while Tenzin inquires Korra about what happened to Tarrlok and Amon. Korra tells Tenzin and Lin Beifong that Tarrlok is actually Yakone's son and recounts that Amon suddenly appeared to take away Tarrlok's bending and nearly captured her. Lin deduces that being a direct descendant of Yakone was how Tarrlok was able to bloodbend them without a full moon, but she and Tenzin express shock at Amon's audacious decision to capture a council member and remove his bending, and almost capture the Avatar. They fear that Amon is reaching his endgame.
In the kitchen, Asami and Pema wash the dishes when Mako comes in asking for hot water to make tea for Korra. Asami angrily states that he is a firebender and can boil the water himself. Pema proceeds to awkwardly exit the kitchen to avoid conflict, hoping that Asami and Mako will talk through their problems. An argument ensues in which Asami accuses Mako of having feelings for Korra and reveals that she is aware of the kiss he and Korra had shared. When a surprised Mako resolves to discuss their relationship problems later, Asami angrily leaves, saying that there "might not be a relationship to worry about later". Tenzin asks Lin to guard his wife and children while he attends the upcoming council meeting, to which she agrees. Pema arrives shortly after and hands her Meelo, stating that he needs a wash, eliciting a displeased reaction from Lin as he needs to "poo". Tenzin leaves on Oogi to meet with the other council members.
The Equalists initiate their plans to attack the city, beginning with the capture of the council members. The Fire Nation councilwoman is captured by the Lieutenant, disguised as an exterminator. When Tenzin arrives in City Hall, he is ambushed by Equalists on the roof disguised as cleaners; however, he manages to successfully elude his abductors. The council page informs him that all the other council members were captured, leaving Tenzin in charge of Republic City, which is subsequently bombed by Equalist airships. He visits the police headquarters to talk to Saikhan. Relieved to see that Councilman Tenzin was not captured, the police chief informs him about the worsening situation of the city and that his forces are spread too thinly to be able to successfully repel the ensuring Equalist attacks. Tenzin asks him to send a wire to the United Forces for further reinforcements. At this point, the telephone lines are sabotaged by the Equalists and the headquarters are sprayed with nerve gas, rendering most of the police force unconscious. Tenzin manages to evacuate the rest of the police force in a protective globe of air, only to find mecha tanks surrounding the precinct.
The tanks capture all the metalbender cops, including Chief Saikhan, via magnets on their arms that attract the officers' metal uniforms. Tenzin tries to stop them, but is incapacitated and overwhelmed by their successive attacks. However, before he is apprehended by Equalists, Korra and her team arrive. They are able to destroy many of the tanks, while Asami fights Equalist ground troops and frees Tenzin and the metalbenders. They destroy the remaining tanks while Hiroshi Sato looks down on the scene from an airship, expressing disappointment and disgust at seeing his daughter fight alongside benders. Amon, who is by his side, assures him that he shall soon have his daughter back.
Tenzin, Korra, and the others suddenly sight an Equalist airship approaching Air Temple Island. There, the Lieutenant leads ground troops as the White Lotus sentries prepare to repel their attacks. Lin urges Pema and the kids to hide inside and remain calm. Pema suddenly cries out in pain and announces that her baby is coming. Two Air Acolyte midwives usher her inside to deliver the baby.
The Lieutenant and his Equalist forces exit the airships. Lin is able to fight off some of them, but is knocked out by the Lieutenant. However, Jinora arrives on her air fan, defeating the Lieutenant, while Ikki and Meelo are able to incapacitate the rest of the Equalists.
Tenzin, Korra, and the rest of Team Avatar arrive at the island. Tenzin initially shows disappointment at Lin for allowing his children to fight, but she tells him that he should be proud of his children for teaching them well, as she would have lost if it were not for them.
Tenzin goes to Pema, who has given birth to a son. Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo come in to see the baby, whom Tenzin and Pema name Rohan. Their peaceful family moment is cut short, however, when more Equalists arrive on the island. Tenzin decides that he and his family must flee. Lin tells him that she is going with them, stating that she must protect the last airbenders in the world. Tenzin tells Korra to hide in the meantime until the United Forces arrive in three days. He promises Korra that they will return with reinforcements and that, when they do, they will be able to turn the tides against the Equalists.
Korra, Bolin, Mako, and Asami climb on Naga. The White Lotus sentries tell them that they will hold the Equalists off while Korra and her crew flee. The guards, however, are overwhelmed by the Equalist forces as Korra makes her escape. The Lieutenant chases after Korra and her friends, but Naga swats him away in mid-air. They dive into the water and head for the mainland.
Tenzin, Pema, their children, and Lin all ride on Oogi, fleeing the island. They are pursued by two Equalist airships. A net is launched at the sky bison, but Lin rips it to shreds. She tells Tenzin to not come back for her, no matter what happens. He looks back as she grapples onto an airship. She is able to rip a large section of the roofing off, triggering an explosion that causes the airship's downfall. She jumps to the next airship and begins to do the same; however, she is stopped when Equalists climb up top and knock her unconscious. Meelo, looking on, states that she is his hero, to which Tenzin solemnly agrees.
Korra and her friends are able to make it safely to shore, where she watches Air Temple Island sadly from the distance. Meanwhile, the island has been completely overrun by the Equalists. Lin is shown tied up and confronted by Amon. He tells her that she can keep her bending if she tells him where Korra is. However, she chooses to remain silent rather than compromise the Avatar, and Amon proceeds to remove her bending.
A young United Forces general named Iroh is told that he has received a message from the Avatar, saying that Republic City has been overrun. He tells the telegrapher to relay her a message that he will be there with his forces in three days' time, and that he looks forward to retaking the city with her.
==="Skeletons in the Closet"===
The Equalists have taken control of Republic City. Hiroshi Sato speaks to a crowd of Equalist supporters, proclaiming that the city's "tyrannical bending" government has been overthrown and that Amon has the Avatar on the run. Among other changes, bending is now illegal, the Pro-bending Arena is now an Equalist stronghold and Aang's statue on Aang Memorial Island has been desecrated with banners and a giant replica of Amon's mask. He also promises that the Equalists will defeat the incoming United Forces and go on to create a bending-free world where everyone is equal. As the crowd cheers, two chi blockers walk off the scene and behind a cluster of bushes. One of them earthbends a rock aside and they both jump into a hidden hole. They remove their masks, revealing that they are Korra and Mako in disguise. The former feels insulted by Hiroshi's speech and expresses her desire to return and "knock some heads", but Mako encourages her to be patient and to wait until General Iroh's forces arrive. She reluctantly agrees.
Later that evening Korra, Mako, Asami, and Bolin dine at Gommu's hideout, a place where poor benders and nonbenders live together in peace. As they eat, the vagabond reveals that their dinner is "culled from the finest dumpsters the city has to offer", which prompts a disgusted Asami to secretly pass her dish to Pabu.
As night drags on, Mako finds Korra resting against Naga. The Avatar expresses her shock that only a few months beforehand, she was taking her firebending test in the South Pole, and now she is in the middle of a war. Mako notes that they did not know each other beforehand and that now he cannot imagine life without her before praising her for being "the most loyal, brave, and selfless person [he has] ever known". Korra responds by saying that she thinks he is "pretty incredible, too. But, you already knew that." They smile, and Mako leans in closer to Korra, but she interjects that they should get some sleep.
Meanwhile, on Air Temple Island, Amon begins removing the bending of captives, including the White Lotus sentries and Tarrlok's task force.
The next day, the group exits a tunnel leading to a platform overlooking the bay and the docks. Mako notices the United Forces approaching and grows suspicious as to why there are no Equalists airships or mecha tanks in sight. On board one of the vessels, General Iroh realizes that they have been tricked just as the ships start triggering underwater mines.
As the warships scramble to avoid and safely detonate the mines, a buzzing sound fills the air. Moments later, a squadron of biplanes appears and unleashes a volley of bombs upon the vessels. Korra dives into the bay and attempts to aid the floundering military, but the ships are swiftly defeated despite her efforts. Iroh's ship is struck by a bomb and knocks him into the bay unconscious. Korra rescues him and waterbends them both to safety.
The group returns to their temporarily underground hideout, where Korra heals Iroh's arm, while the general explains that his fleet came prepared to fight mecha tanks, not nimble biplanes. Korra shares the sentiment, remarking that Amon has a knack of outsmarting them. However, Iroh remains hopeful in their eventual victory, trusting the second wave of reinforcements that are en route. He requests that a wire be sent to Bumi, Avatar Aang and Katara's first son and a commander of a division of the United Forces. He sends instructions to wait by Red Sand Island until the biplanes have been taken care of. After Gommu sends the dispatch, Bolin, Asami, and Iroh head toward the mountains to destroy the aircraft base; Korra and Mako, who had only been allowed to go after some arguing, on the other hand, go to Air Temple Island to find Amon and end him.
As the two arrive and change into their Equalist chi blocker uniforms, they see Amon's airship take off. They begin heading toward the temple to wait for Amon's return. On the way, they are intercepted by the Lieutenant; after making up an excuse, they are ordered to go to the Pro-bending Arena where Amon has planned a rally as extra security.
Korra, however, disobeys the Lieutenant and moves on to the temple using a secret entrance. As she and Mako enter the attic, they are surprised to find Tarrlok locked in a metal cell. The Avatar inquires if there were any other prisoners in the temple, but Tarrlok says no, telling her that he was special, as he is Amon's brother. Shocked, Korra and Mako listen to Tarrlok's story attentively. After Yakone had lost his bending to Avatar Aang, he escaped prison and underwent facial surgery, altering his appearance. Later on, he moved to the Northern Water Tribe, where he fell in love and married. Two years later, a child under the name of Noatak was born; three years after that, a second son named Tarrlok was born.
According to Tarrlok, everything had been fine until the realization that both he and his brother possessed the ability to waterbend. As time went by, the constant waterbending training brought out a cruel side of Yakone. When Tarrlok was seven and Noatak was ten, Yakone took them out on a "hunting trip". There, Yakone revealed his true identity to his sons, and started secretly training them in the art of bloodbending to avenge his loss. As the years went by, Yakone took his sons out on more "hunting trips" during the full moon to train them, keeping he secret from their mother. Noatak learned the psychic technique more quickly, becoming a master at the mere age of fourteen, while Tarrlok "hated every minute" of the training and despised the technique. Soon, their father began taking them out more frequently, teaching them how to use the technique without the presence of the full moon. Finally, the brothers were forced to bloodbend each other. Noatak obeyed, but Tarrlok refused. In anger, his father yelled at his younger son. Noatak, however, bloodbent his father, something that outraged Yakone. His eldest son told him that they were not his tools of revenge and declared that the Avatar's ability to permanently remove bending was much stronger and more powerful than bloodbending. Noatak subsequently turned to Tarrlok, urging him to flee with him, but his younger brother refused, concerned about their mother.
Dismissing his brother as weak, Noatak ran off into the blizzard, leaving Tarrlok and Yakone behind. After days of searching, the two failed to locate Noatak, presuming he perished in the storm. From that moment on, Yakone's wife was never the same, and his father, who gave up on his revenge, passed on a few years later.
When his story concludes, Korra regards it as one of the saddest she has ever heard. Tarrlok apologizes for his past actions, which he attributes to his harsh childhood. He remarks that, even now, Yakone still leaves a scar on the world, saying, "The revolution may be built on a lie, but I think Amon truly believes that bending is the source of all evil in the world." Tarrlok explains that he had realized who Amon was upon feeling his familiar bloodbending grip when he removed his waterbending. Korra comes to the conclusion that Amon's claim about the spirits granting him the ability to permanently take away someone's bending is a lie, as he achieves it with bloodbending. Tarrlok added that he had never encountered a bender as strong as Noatak.
Both Korra and Mako realize that their original plan is doomed to failure because Amon would redirect any attack against him with his mind. However, the Avatar figures that they have an advantage in knowing the truth about Amon. Korra and Mako decide to reveal it at the rally in the hopes that it will cause everyone to abandon his cause and "undermine the revolution". Before leaving the attic, Korra turns to Tarrlok and offers to free him; however, he advises against it, as that would endanger her plans if Amon found out. He urges her to defeat Amon and "put an end to this sad story".
==="Endgame"===
Bolin, Asami, and Iroh travel on Naga toward the Equalist airbase. Upon arrival, Iroh tells Bolin to use his earthbending to destroy the airstrips to prevent the biplanes from taking off or landing. They head down to the base, leaving Naga and Pabu behind. However, as they make their way toward the base, they are electrocuted by wireless fence posts that render them unconscious.
Meanwhile, Mako and Korra arrive at Amon's rally, disguised as Equalist chi blockers. Amon appears on stage and begins his speech by recounting his fabricated past. At that moment, Korra unmasks herself and denounces Amon as a liar, revealing his true name, Noatak, and his status as a bender. The Lieutenant and the crowd are unsettled by Korra's claims, prompting Amon to dismiss her accusations. He pauses, deciding to let Korra speak freely to the crowd, assuring them that there is nothing to fear.
Korra continues speaking, telling the crowd that Amon has been removing people's bending through the use of bloodbending, that his family was not killed by a firebender, and that he is Yakone's son and Councilman Tarrlok's older brother. Unnoticed by Amon, the Lieutenant eyes widen in shock at the revelation, though an unfazed Amon merely counters that Korra is desperate and making up stories as a "pathetic last resort". He substantiates his counter by revealing his "scarred" face, causing the crowd to disbelieve Korra and reaffirm their faith in him. Korra tries to persuade them, but to no avail. Mako points out that regardless, they have said what was needed and should escape. As Mako and Korra ready themselves to fight several approaching Equalists, Amon reveals a shocking surprise: he has captured Tenzin and his family.
Asami and the others wake up in a prison cell. Hiroshi Sato apologizes to Asami for hurting her, but tells her that he believes she will one day come to her senses and they will be able to be a family again. Asami rejects his words and exclaims her mother would hate him for what he has become. Enraged, Hiroshi condemns his daughter and declares that he is still avenging his wife's death. At that moment, a chi blocker informs him that the airplanes are ready for take-off. Hiroshi gives the order to annihilate the second United Forces fleet, much to Iroh and Bolin's surprise. Hiroshi goes on to goad Iroh, revealing that Equalist forces had intercepted his message to Bumi and now know exactly where the Second Division Fleet is hiding. Dismayed, Asami laments their poor chances of escape. Iroh asks Bolin if he can metalbend, which he, solely as an earthbender, is unable to do, much to Iroh's chagrin.
Soon after, Naga bursts in and breaks the prison bars. Pabu helps the three out of their bonds by chewing through them, and the group races to the airstrip where the planes have already started taking off. Iroh goes after the planes, Bolin rides off with Naga, and Asami boards one of the empty tanks.
Iroh uses his firebending to propel himself onto one of the planes in the middle of take-off. He throws the pilot out of the cockpit and takes control, regardless of his lack of piloting experience. He soon figures out the rudimentary controls of his craft and gives chase to the airborne planes.
Meanwhile, at the rally, Amon announces that he will rid the world of airbending forever. Korra demands he let Tenzin and his family go, prompting Amon to taunt her, saying she is welcome to try and save them. Mako cautions Korra that Amon is baiting them, but the situation gives them no other option. Mako fires lightning at Amon, forcing him away from the airbenders. Using firebending to give them supporting force, Mako and Korra run on the face of the adjacent wall and land on the stage, hurling fire blasts to further push Amon and his forces back. Korra releases Tenzin while asking him if he knows the location of Pema, Rohan, or Lin Beifong. Tenzin replies that he knows where Pema and the baby are imprisoned, but is clueless as to Lin's whereabouts. Freed, Tenzin rushes to the front of the battle and airbends gales of wind, knocking the remaining Equalist guards off the stage, and finally Amon who had been evading incoming fire and air. As the fighting continues, Korra releases the three kids and they escape into a backstage corridor.
Upon reaching a fork in the corridor, Korra opts to stay behind and create a diversion as Tenzin and his family escape. Tenzin and the kids go to rescue Pema and Rohan; Korra and Mako turn back to see Amon enter the corridor. The two run off down the fork opposite of Tenzin and the kids. Korra conjures flame walls to hinder Amon and they enter one of the doors ahead. Undaunted, Amon chases after them, paying little heed to the flames, hopping over them.
Korra, hidden beneath a table covered by a cloth, watches Amon's feet slowly walk past. He pauses momentarily and walks on. As soon as Korra breathes a sigh of relief, however, she is pulled out from hiding by Amon's bloodbending. As she is suspended in midair, Mako emerges and hurls fire at Amon, trying to save Korra, but he is subdued as well. Defeated, Korra has her bending taken away at the hands of Amon. Upon release, she collapses to the ground and he gloats in victory.
In the meantime, Iroh has been giving chase to the airplanes over the skies of Republic City. He fires lightning at the middle plane in the Equalists' formation and it crashes into the one on its immediate right, taking two down in one hit. The other planes scatter with Iroh chasing one of them. It releases a bola that becomes entangled in Iroh's propeller, thus stopping his plane. Iroh jumps off in midair immediately before the plane explodes. He uses the air resistance to position himself and uses firebending to boost himself and navigate onto the wing of one of the remaining planes. He punches out a fire blast to destroy the plane right in front of him. He subsequently rolls toward the cockpit, fire-kicks the pilot out and falls into the recently vacated seat. The ejected Equalist manages to release his parachute. However, Iroh is not given much time to rest as a bomb falls on the left tip of his tail-wing. As he desperately tries to maintain control, the last airplane maneuvers directly above him and prepares to drop a bomb right into Iroh's cockpit. Seeing this, Iroh firebends a blast straight up into the opposing plane's bomb-bay and destroys it. Approaching the Equalist-modified statue of Aang, he gives up on regaining control and jumps off, grabbing onto the Equalist-emblazoned cloth now hanging from the staff. The plane crashes into the Amon mask on the statue's face and Iroh witnesses the mask fall off revealing Aang's face. He subsequently thanks Aang for looking out for him.
Back at the airbase, Bolin has already rendered four of the five airstrips useless via his earthbending and proceeds to destroy the last one as three mecha tanks approach him. Equalists attack him with their cables just as he finishes. Suddenly, Naga jumps in, grabbing all three cables in her mouth and flipping over the three mecha tanks in one go. They fall and slide until they are a breath's distance from Bolin's face. He thanks Naga, who seems overjoyed to have finally assisted in the fight.
At that time, Asami is within one of the hangars, destroying the remaining planes with her newly acquired mecha tank. Hiroshi appears in another mecha tank and confronts her, telling her that she is aiding the very people who killed her mother. Asami angrily cuts his contention down, telling him that he does not feel love for her mother anymore, rather acting upon the hatred he feels for benders. Angered, Hiroshi calls her an ungrateful and insolent child, charging at her shortly thereafter. Asami releases wires to entrap him, but Hiroshi avoids them and takes this chance to ram his mecha tank into hers, launching her away and onto her back. He approaches the fallen mecha tank and proceeds to bash in Asami's cockpit. He says that he now sees that Asami cannot be saved and prepares to deal the final blow. At that moment, Bolin hurls rocks at Hiroshi's mecha tank, forcing him away. He charges in on Naga's back, throwing boulders, and yells at Hiroshi for being a horrible father, forcing him further away from his daughter under this new onslaught. Asami seizes the opportunity to stand up and rip the arm off of Hiroshi's mecha tank, tossing him into the hangar wall. Asami approaches and tears off the door to his cockpit. However, she hesitates for a moment and Hiroshi takes this opportunity to launch a cabled claw at her as a distraction so he could climb out of the damaged mecha tank and escape. Voicing her firm realization of Hiroshi as a horrible father, she launches a spinning wire trap, which entangles and electrifies Hiroshi into submission. She bows her head and sheds a tear.
Meanwhile, Amon stands before a collapsed Korra and declares her finally powerless. Korra struggles to her knees and tries to bend at him, but to no avail. Despite Amon's victory, the Lieutenant had followed him. He confronts Amon, telling him he witnessed him bloodbending the Avatar. He takes off his mask, throws it to the ground and stomps on it, crushing the in-built goggles. He proclaims Amon to be a traitor, furious that he had pointlessly dedicated his life to him. He proceeds to attack, but is stopped by Amon's bloodbending. Amon thanks him for his service and throws him aside into a pile of timber. Amon turns and walks past the now weakened Korra to approach Mako. He proceeds to bloodbend Mako into position, but Mako manages to inconspicuously point his fingers up at Amon and fires a lightning attack that stuns him. The unexpected attack connects, hurling Amon and slamming him into a corner of the room. Mako, still debilitated by the bloodbending, manages to weakly throw two fire blasts that cause the timbers around Amon to fall on top of him. Knowing that it would not be long before Amon recovers, Mako quickly takes Korra into his arms and runs out into the corridor. Korra begins to tell Mako about her bending, but Mako cuts her off, telling her everything will be all right and that they simply need to escape. Shortly thereafter, he is forced to stop again by Amon, who has caught up to them, causing Mako to drop Korra. Amon bloodbends Mako and slams him into the ceiling, the floor, and the two walls on his sides. Mako collapses and Amon tells him that he is the first person to get the better of him like that. He forcibly bloodbends Mako into submission, saying that it is almost a shame to take away the bending of someone so talented.
Korra, seeing this, is unable to accept that Mako is about to suffer a similar fate. In utter desperation and with seemingly no bending, she defiantly throws a punch at Amon. However, wind forms around her fist and hits Amon, causing him to stagger and release his grip on Mako. Her desperation, in tandem with a strong desire to protect Mako, had allowed her to break through her spiritual block, thus enabling her to airbend. Realizing what she had done, Korra proclaims that she can indeed airbend, and regaining her confidence, she launches consecutive air-punches at Amon. Amon is forced back to the window at the end of the corridor, but retaliates, using bloodbending to ensnare Korra. However, Korra is able to resist and forces her leg up and forward to launch a powerful air-kick at Amon, blasting him out the window and into the sea. His mask falls off in mid-air as he plummets into the water in front of many of his Equalist supporters.
The supporters gather by the railing and witness Amon's mask float to the surface. The Equalist protester begins pandering to the crowd's anger, branding Korra a bending tyrant and an evil Avatar. Meanwhile, Amon, unconscious, sinks deeper into the sea, while the red ink he used to fabricate the scar on his face begins to dissolve in the water. Suddenly awakening, he finds himself in danger of drowning and instinctively waterbends a spout to force himself up and out of the water, revealing his unmarred face to the crowd. His supporters realize that everything the Avatar told them is the truth and that Amon's entire revolution is a fraud. Seeing that he has lost everything, Amon descends to the surface and rapidly propels himself away from the scene, successfully evading Mako's fire blasts. Accepting the victory, Mako and Korra embrace.
Back on Air Temple Island, Amon visits his brother Tarrlok, who addresses him by his true name, Noatak. Noatak tells him that it is over and apologizes to Tarrlok for what he did to him. Tarrlok sighs and tells him that it was their father who set them on this path, and fate caused them to collide. He tells Noatak that he should have left with him back when they were boys. Noatak opens the cage door and asks Tarrlok to come with him so that they can start over again, noting that the only thing they have left in the world is each other.
Back at the port, Team Avatar, Lin Beifong, and Tenzin and his family gather together. Lin voices her feelings of anguish from Amon taking Korra's bending. Bolin attempts to lighten the mood by mentioning Korra has unlocked her airbending, but fails. Watching the United Forces fleet enter the harbor, Tenzin tries to comfort Korra by telling her she saved Republic City. However, Korra says that it was not enough because Amon successfully escaped. Commander Bumi, son of Aang and brother of Tenzin, sails into port with reinforcements, much to Tenzin's dismay and Ikki's delight, noting he will now have to tolerate and play host to his brother, as the two appear to be complete opposites.
Meanwhile, Noatak and Tarrlok are fleeing the city in a speedboat, where Noatak proclaims joyfully that as long as the two of them remain together, there is nothing they cannot do. Tarrlok seems to agree and refers to him by his true name. Noatak repeats it and warmly chuckles, saying that he had almost forgotten the sound of his own name. Tarrlok notices the Equalist gloves on the shelves of the boat. While making sure his brother is preoccupied with driving the boat, he puts on a glove, opens the fuel tank, and places his gloved hand over it, reiterating that "it will be just like the good old days." His words cause Noatak to shed a tear as he looks ahead before a small spark ignites the fuel tank, resulting in an explosion that kills both of them.
Back at the Southern Water Tribe compound, everyone, including Korra's parents, wait as Katara examines Korra in a separate room. Katara emerges and laments that she has tried everything she could, but she cannot restore Korra's bending. Beifong pleads with Katara to keep trying, but Katara says there is nothing more she can do. Korra can still airbend, but her connection to the other elements has been severed. Korra emerges into a roomful of people who look at her with sorrow. Tenzin tries to comfort Korra telling by her it is going to be all right, but Korra incredulously insists it will not. With her connection to the other three elements severed, Korra feels she is nothing more than an airbender, hardly worthy of the title of Avatar. Feeling that the most important piece of her life has been destroyed, she grabs her coat, leaves the room and goes outside.
Mako follows and tries to comfort Korra, but she tells him to go away. He agrees, but ensures her that he is there for her. Upon hearing this, Korra corrects him, telling Mako she means for him to go away, back to Republic City and get on with his life. Confused, Mako asks what she is implying. Korra clarifies by telling him that since she is not the Avatar anymore, he does not need to do her any favors and begins to walk away from him. Mako stops her and tells her he does not care whether she is the Avatar or not. He divulges that he was losing his mind when Tarrlok took her, and that he came to the realization that he does truly love her. However, Korra is unable to answer properly, having recently suffered a great loss. She mounts Naga and rides out of the compound. Tenzin approaches Mako and tells him they will need to be patient, as it will take time for Korra to accept what has happened.
Korra rides to an ice-cliff overlooking the ocean, dismounts, and walks to the edge. There, she looks to the horizon and silently cries. As a tear rolls down her face and drops she looks down at it as it falls to the thin sliver of ground far below. She starts to sob and sits down, pulling her knees up and burying her head against them, believing that she will never again bend the other elements. Seeing the bottom half of air-monk clothes she assumes it is Tenzin and tells him she wants to be left alone, but the figure replies, "But you called me here," unwilling to leave. Korra, surprised, looks up to see a grown Aang standing there gently smiling at her. He informs her that she has finally connected with her spiritual self. Stunned, she asks how she managed to perform such a feat, and Aang explains that it is when one hits their lowest point, that they are open to the greatest change. As this is said, the forms of Avatars Roku and Kyoshi appear behind him, followed by Kuruk, Yangchen, and hundreds of other Avatars, all of them looking toward Korra. She is no longer alone, and she has finally moved past her spiritual block. Aang assumes an energybending position, touching Korra's forehead and shoulder. His thumbs, eyes, and airbender tattoos glow white along with his silhouette. Behind him, the rest of the Avatars also enter the Avatar State with their eyes glowing. The glow around Aang's silhouette subsides, and he steps back, still in the Avatar State, disappearing along with the rest.
Korra opens her eyes, revealing the white glow of the Avatar State. She rises upward in an airspout, facing the cliff and sends a wave of air behind her, followed by a wave of fire and a wave of rocks on the ground. The ocean waves below surge and break against the edge of the cliff, confirming her bending has returned in full. She floats down as the air spout dissipates and exits the Avatar State. Aang had successfully used energybending to reconnect her to the other three elements. Now an Avatar with full access to all of her Avatar abilities, both physical and spiritual, she turns around to see an amazed Mako. The two lovingly embrace, as Korra tells him she loves him as well, and they share a passionate kiss.
At one of the Southern Water Tribe temples, Lin Beifong walks up to where Korra awaits her and kneels before her. Korra places her right thumb on Lin's forehead and her left on her heart while gripping her shoulder using the rest of the fingers on her left hand. Korra closes her eyes and opens them, now glowing with the power of the Avatar State, along with her fingertips. After the glow dissipates, Lin rises and earthbends the large rocks surrounding the temple, causing them to float in midair; her bending fully restored. Everyone watches this miracle with different reactions, some with amazement, some with pride, others with awe. Putting the rocks back down, Lin faces Korra and thanks her. Tenzin walks up to Korra and tells her, "I am so proud of you, Avatar Korra."
==Cast==
*Janet Varney as Korra
*David Faustino as Mako
*P. J. Byrne as Bolin
*J. K. Simmons as Tenzin
*Seychelle Gabriel as Asami
*Mindy Sterling as Beifong
*Steve Blum as Amon
*Dee Bradley Baker as Naga, Oogi
*Dante Basco as General, Iroh
*Daniel Dae Kim as Hiroshi
*Kiernan Shipka as Jinora
*Darcy Rose Byrnes as Ikki
*Logan Wells as Meelo
*Maria Bamford as Pema, Air Acolyte woman, Police clerk #2
*Lance Henriksen as Lieutenant
*Richard Epcar as Saikhan, Husband
*AJ Gentile as Council page, Police clerk #1
*Jeff Bennett as Radio broadcaster, Officer
*Clancy Brown as Yakone
*Lance Henriksen as Lieutenant
*Jacob Bertrand as Noatak - age 6, 8 and 10
*Alexander Martella as Noatak - age 14
*Nicholas Braico as Tarrlok - age 3, 5 and 7
*Zach Callison as Tarrlok - age 11
*D.B. Sweeney as Aang
*Carlos Alazraqui as Protester
*Gideon Emery as Additional voices
*Fred Tatasciore as Additional voices
*Keith Ferguson as Additional voices
*Kevin Michael Richardson as Additional voices
*Alan Dale as Additional voices
*Amy Hill as Additional voices
==Trivia==
*The newspaper that the Fire Nation councilwoman's husband read had a picture of Tarrlok on the front page.
*Much like "The Waterbending Master", this episode also ends with the leader of a fleet standing at the helm of a battleship and setting their course for a particular destination. In addition, both episodes are the third-to-last episode in Book One of their respective series.
*The White Lotus sentries' final stand against the Equalists is reminiscent of fellow White Lotus member Iroh's final stand against the Dai Li in the Crystal Catacombs as both did so to buy time for the Avatar to escape despite knowing they would eventually be captured themselves.
* In "When Extremes Meet", Naga was not able to carry Team Avatar on her back, but when they were escaping the Equalists, she easily carried the group without any trouble.
*Lin Beifong uses her metalbending to rip open and destroy an Equalist airships, similar to how her mother, Toph Beifong, used her skill to bend the rudder of a Fire Nation airship in "Sozin's Comet".
*This episode, along with "Endgame", are some of the few that were released with corresponding press art.
*"Skeletons in the closet" is a colloquial phrase used to describe a shameful secret. In this case, it references Amon being Tarrlok's brother and how Amon is really a bender named Noatak.
*This episode was inspired by World War I and World War II.Michael Dante DiMartino in the commentary of "Skeletons in the Closet".
*"Endgame" is a reference to chess. The Endgame in chess is the final few moves when each side has only a few pieces remaining. This concept is demonstrated when only Korra and Mako are left to oppose Amon.
*This episode is one of the few that had special press art released for it.
*This is also one of two episodes, the other being "Out of the Past", that contain "Aang's Theme" from the original series. It is heard as Korra enters the Avatar State.
*This is the first time Tenzin refers to Korra as "Avatar Korra".
* Significant changes to the original script included removing the scene in which Tenzin and his children find Pema and Lin as well as shortening Iroh's attacks on the biplanes. More so, prior to confirmation of the second season, Iroh was intended to be present at the Southern Water Tribe compound, where Asami would announce her intention to leave with him and join the United Forces.Bryan Konietzko on DVD commentary for "Endgame".
*A clip from the original storyboard of General Iroh's fight with the Equalist aircraft was uploaded to YouTube by Korra storyboard artist Ian Graham.
===Allusions===
*Korra makes a reference to the battle against Varian in "Secret of the Sun Drop".
==References==
Category:The Legend of Korra episodes
Category:Multi-part episodes