Celebrating Pride Month: If You Were Hired to Remake of The Legend of Korra, How Gay Would You Make It Start to Finish?

[Winter]

Since it's the end of Pride Month and with Chuck reviewing Book 3 of the Series I want to talk about the show that has had one of the most profound effect on Western Animation when it comes to LGBT Representation, The Legend of Korra. As many fans have said The Legend of Korra walked so other shows could run. As I have pointed out show runners like ND Stevenson and Dana Terrace have pointed out TLOK played a big role in allowing them to include more overt queer characters in their shows and while Korrasami seems tame when compared to what we have now it possible that things wouldn't be as good as the are without Korrasami.

However, the fact remains that Korrasami was censored to a studio approved minimum, with the two getting smaller moments until the finale. So, here's the million dollar question, let's say that you've been hired to remake TLOK, be it as a live-action series/film or an animated series with the same cast returning. You're given free range in how to write the show and most importantly the relationship between Korra and Asami with no limits. How gay would you make the show?

As I've mentioned before I would drop Mako and Bolin from the first season altogether and just have it where Korra and Asami already knew each other as kids. Say Hiroshi had some sort of construction job in the South Pole that was related to compound Korra was in. This is how Korra and Asami met and they knew each other for about, oh, 2 or 3 years before Asami and her family had to return to Republic City.

Now personally I LOVE the slow burn nature of their relationship, that they didn't start out falling in love and got together after one episodes like literally every other couple or ship tease in the series. So, the first season they are just friends with some hints of something more but their friendship comes first.

Spirits is when I would start making it clear that their relationship is growing into something more with Asami being their to comfort and support Korra in a way no one else does. She's able to help Korra see clearly and cheer her up when she's starts to feel lost. Around the midpoint of the season I would include a scene where Asami is cheering Korra up and getting her to laugh and in a moment something clicks and the two kiss. It's a mutual kiss not like when Aang kissed Katara without her consent in The Last Airbender... twice.

Anyways, the two more or less become a couple in Change and remain a couple in Balance and while Korra still disappears for 5 years Asami is the one who finds her and gets her to come back to Republic City.

For the record this isn't a case of me "Fixing" Korrasami but rather re-working the relationship to apply more modern standards of writing same sex romances in Western Animation, modern standards that only really exist THANKS to Korrasami. I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL AND TAKE THE REST OF THE WORLD WITH ME!!!

So, how gay would you make The Legend of Korra.

[Thebestoftherest]

Well I think they can safely remove Mako romance with the two of them.

[hammerofglass]

I have to disagree with you both. Keep the love triangle, make it even more of an absolute train wreck than it already was, but wrap it up in the first season. It lets them build up a list of things they admire about each other in the name of jealousy and then bond over it later. Plus it means you can do that classic comedy plot where everyone vents to a third party (Bolin) and he figures out the girls are losing interest in Mako and falling for each other waaaay before anyone else picks up on it but can't tell anyone without breaking everyone's confidence.

[CharlesPhipps]

Well I think they can safely remove Mako romance with the two of them.

I'd make Mako not suck and go polygamous.

[Winter]

Well I think they can safely remove Mako romance with the two of them.

I'd make Mako not suck and go polygamous.

I don't know, that seems like a tall order. I mean we're talking Everest tall here as you would have to completely rework Mako's character to not only make him not suck but would also have to make it so it would be believable that being in a relationship with him would be, at the very least, plausible. You know a character is in trouble when the person he's guarding, who's as bad as Neelix IMO, gets more development in the one season he shows up in then Mako does throughout the series.

And as I've said before, the real problem with TLOK isn't that it needs more episodes but that it has to many characters. Cut the Fire Ferret Brothers out of the first season and SO Many issues would be solved as it would free up 3 hours of time that takes attention away from Amon, The Equalists and Tarrlok (seriously I timed it).

Another issue is the series assuming that Mako was going to be the Next Zuko, even calling him as much in a few interviews, Mako wasn't Zuko. There was nothing about him that put him on the same planet, let alone the same level. It doesn't help that the series just gives him what he wants without putting any real effort in getting it.

He gets the funding he needs for the Tournament by virtue of one of his biggest fans literally running into him, he has two attractive girls fall for him as soon as he comes into their line of sight. Gets to live in a mansion, then a temple and is the only person the Villain Praises for his bending skills when his whole shtick is hating Benders.

To make Mako not suck you'd basically have to rewrite the whole character and try to make him fit in this relationship.

I say scrap the character and his brother and just focus on (for at least the first season) Korra, Asami, Tenzin and Lin with Amon and Tarrlok as the main antagonists. Remember Air was suppose to be a one and done 12 episode season, that's why everything is wrapped up so neatly at the end with no room for stories to be told afterwords and Mako and Bolin are the The Millstone around this series' neck and it's at it's worst in the first two seasons.

[CharlesPhipps]

I don't know, that seems like a tall order. I mean we're talking Everest tall here as you would have to completely rework Mako's character to not only make him not suck but would also have to make it so it would be believable that being in a relationship with him would be, at the very least, plausible. You know a character is in trouble when the person he's guarding, who's as bad as Neelix IMO, gets more development in the one season he shows up in then Mako does throughout the series.

And as I've said before, the real problem with TLOK isn't that it needs more episodes but that it has to many characters. Cut the Fire Ferret Brothers out of the first season and SO Many issues would be solved as it would free up 3 hours of time that takes attention away from Amon, The Equalists and Tarrlok (seriously I timed it).

Another issue is the series assuming that Mako was going to be the Next Zuko, even calling him as much in a few interviews, Mako wasn't Zuko. There was nothing about him that put him on the same planet, let alone the same level. It doesn't help that the series just gives him what he wants without putting any real effort in getting it.

He gets the funding he needs for the Tournament by virtue of one of his biggest fans literally running into him, he has two attractive girls fall for him as soon as he comes into their line of sight. Gets to live in a mansion, then a temple and is the only person the Villain Praises for his bending skills when his whole shtick is hating Benders.

To make Mako not suck you'd basically have to rewrite the whole character and try to make him fit in this relationship.

I say scrap the character and his brother and just focus on (for at least the first season) Korra, Asami, Tenzin and Lin with Amon and Tarrlok as the main antagonists. Remember Air was suppose to be a one and done 12 episode season, that's why everything is wrapped up so neatly at the end with no room for stories to be told afterwords and Mako and Bolin are the The Millstone around this series' neck and it's at it's worst in the first two seasons.

Mako not sucking is very easy.

Have him actually stand by his girlfriends, not cheat on them, and stand by his brother.

Be a genuine solid hero and not a skeezy bastard.

He's basically Criston Cole after Season One.

When he could be a hero.

[CmdrKing]

I definitely agree with keeping season 1 mostly the same. I think their early ‘rivalry’ really adds some texture to Korra/Asami as a couple. I think hammerofglass’ idea of having Bolin figure things out and being torn up because he can’t do anything is also a great approach. I think I’d actually go harder her and have Bolin himself be bi unawares, and that kinda fucks with him as he’s figuring it out AND dealing with the creepy twins who are low key fighting over him (by threatening him of course).

Honestly I’d also make one of Tenzin’s kids trans, but in the sense of them having socially transitioned before the story of the story, probably Jinora. Basically just a way to introduce the idea of the air benders being culturally chill with queer topics.

[Winter]

I don't know, that seems like a tall order. I mean we're talking Everest tall here as you would have to completely rework Mako's character to not only make him not suck but would also have to make it so it would be believable that being in a relationship with him would be, at the very least, plausible. You know a character is in trouble when the person he's guarding, who's as bad as Neelix IMO, gets more development in the one season he shows up in then Mako does throughout the series.

And as I've said before, the real problem with TLOK isn't that it needs more episodes but that it has to many characters. Cut the Fire Ferret Brothers out of the first season and SO Many issues would be solved as it would free up 3 hours of time that takes attention away from Amon, The Equalists and Tarrlok (seriously I timed it).

Another issue is the series assuming that Mako was going to be the Next Zuko, even calling him as much in a few interviews, Mako wasn't Zuko. There was nothing about him that put him on the same planet, let alone the same level. It doesn't help that the series just gives him what he wants without putting any real effort in getting it.

He gets the funding he needs for the Tournament by virtue of one of his biggest fans literally running into him, he has two attractive girls fall for him as soon as he comes into their line of sight. Gets to live in a mansion, then a temple and is the only person the Villain Praises for his bending skills when his whole shtick is hating Benders.

To make Mako not suck you'd basically have to rewrite the whole character and try to make him fit in this relationship.

I say scrap the character and his brother and just focus on (for at least the first season) Korra, Asami, Tenzin and Lin with Amon and Tarrlok as the main antagonists. Remember Air was suppose to be a one and done 12 episode season, that's why everything is wrapped up so neatly at the end with no room for stories to be told afterwords and Mako and Bolin are the The Millstone around this series' neck and it's at it's worst in the first two seasons.

Mako not sucking is very easy.

Have him actually stand by his girlfriends, not cheat on them, and stand by his brother.

Be a genuine solid hero and not a skeezy bastard.

He's basically Criston Cole after Season One.

When he could be a hero.

I think if there's any character Mako should be made to emulate it should be Garrus. One it would be a nice subversion by making the Firebender of the group a more lighthearted character instead of the brooding bad boy which would help set him apart from Zuko. And Two, Garrus is one of the greatest characters of all time I will be taking any questions after this.

However, I still hold that, at the very least, he should be kept out of at least the first season. I still hold that TLOK's biggest issue is just that there are two many characters and plots, 12 episodes is more then enough time to tell a compelling story so long as the focus remains on what actually matters.

Introduce him in Spirits as a supporting character, a cop and one who's actively trying to help Korra and someone Lin does trust but the situation means there's little he can do. In the end, instead of failing at everything like in the main series, Mako manages to succeed in arresting Varrick and volunteers to help stop Vaatu at the end. At the end he gets promoted to main character for the next two seasons, joining Korra and the others to find new airbenders and stop the Red Lotus and season 4 he returns to his duty as a cop but is there to help Korra in her quest to stop Kuvira.

Also, I'm still not sold on the idea of a polyamorous relationship between Korra, Asami and Mako. Mako screwed things so much in the main series that it put me off from ever shipping him with anyone again. Further more his character is defined solely by being a love interest. After he broke up with both Korra and Asami the writers clearly had no idea what to do with him and I wonder if the reason he was kept around was because David Faustino had signed up for 2 more seasons and they didn't want to just fire the guy. Which is understandable if true.

This is clearly my own bias speaking but on this point I won't be moved. Korrasami is my OTP for Avatar and I would rather just have Mako just be friends with them from the start. MAYBE hint that he and Asami dated a while ago and have Korra have a crush on him but even then I'm iffy on.

[Thebestoftherest]

I'm with Winter on this one.

[CharlesPhipps]

Random commentary but Bolin actually was the guy always done dirty by the show. When he makes an attempt to court Korra, it's treated as UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. The show seems to treat him as an unserious person no one would rationally date except evil ice queens and nice girls. When the guy is a hero who unquestionably had Korra's back without question. I mean he's also a sports star, movie star, and action hero.

But Mako was always treated as the romantic hero when they botched that so horribly.