The Legend of Korra/Recap/B1/E07 The Aftermath

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


"The Aftermath" is the seventh episode of The Legend of Korra, which aired on Nickelodeon on 19 May 2012. According to the official blurb, "Korra begins to suspect that an ally is working for the Equalists."

With the closure of the Pro-bending Arena, Korra tells Mako and Bolin that Tenzin has allowed them to stay on Air Temple Island. However, they inform her that Asami has already invited them to live in the Sato estate, her father's upscale home. As Asami shows up, she and Bolin, who is holding Pabu in his hands, convinces Korra to come over. Korra finally accepts the invitation and leaves the arena.

Lin Beifong and her Metalbending Police Force are shown raiding Cabbage Corp's headquarters, where they find multiple Equalist posters and and weaponry, such as electrified gloves. The owner is arrested in front of the Cabbage merchant's statue; Lin Beifong then announces the official closing of the company. Korra then goes to the Police headquarters, where she sees Tahno, miserable and unable to restore his bending. After a short conversation and a promise of taking down Amon, Korra sees Hiroshi Sato conversing with Lin Beifong and Tenzin, and leaves. Later, she visits the rest of the Fire Ferrets in Asami's house, where Bolin proudly tells her of all the perks that come with living in the Sato estate.

After Korra and Asami go to see a race, furthermore participate in one, Korra goes to the restroom. After having a slight run-in with some make-up powder, she leaves the restroom and overhears Hiroshi talking of how the closing of Cabbage Corp bought them time, and how it was the right moment to strike. Korra quickly leaves the estate and goes to Tenzin and Lin, telling them of what she heard. Although quite disbelieving at first, they realize that Hiroshi's hate for benders may be because of the murder of his wife, done by the members of the Agni Kai Triad, twelve years ago after an invasion and robbery at the mansion.

As they come to inspect, Bolin, Mako, and Asami are quite annoyed; however, Hiroshi gives them permission to check the entire Future Industries. No Equalist material is found. That all changes, however, when what appears to be a factory worker slips a note in Korra's hand, telling her where to meet him to learn more about Hiroshi's plot with Amon. As Lin, Tenzin, and Korra meet him, their contact admits to being an Equalist, now repentant over Amon's desire to create war between benders and non-benders. He reveals that Hiroshi Sato is working for the Equalists, producing equipment for them in a secret underground facility beneath his own estate. The former Equalist also reveals that there are rumors about Sato planning something big involving the Equalists.

After they are directed to a factory under the Sato estate, Lin and her metalbenders, taking Korra and Tenzin alongside, enter the estate, with intentions of finding and eliminating any threat. Under the pressure of losing her job because of Tarrlok's speeches against her, Lin uses seismic sense to discover a secret tunnel from Hiroshi's workshop to the secret, underground factory. Lin orders one of her men to make sure Bolin, Mako, and Asami do not come down; then she enters, followed by her men, Korra, and Tenzin.

As they come to the bottom, they witness the machines produced by Hiroshi. They are then locked in by a wall made of platinum, something that metalbending cannot control or manipulate. Korra guesses that the informant was nothing more than a setup. Unable to get out, the metalbenders, Lin, Tenzin and Korra are all forced to face Hiroshi and the Equalists; however, the machines play their part in giving the Equalists the advantage. In the meantime, Mako tricks the police officer by purposely sneezing as Bolin secretly throws in a little earthbending to trip the officer. Bolin topples the man, as well as tying him up and Mako enters the factory with his younger brother, leaving Asami behind.

All of the benders in the factory are easily defeated by Hiroshi's mecha tanks. Hiroshi then orders the chi blockers to round up their captives to be brought to Amon. As Mako and Bolin enter and try to save an unconscious Korra, Tenzin, and Lin, they are spotted by Hiroshi and the Lieutenant. Mako accuses Hiroshi of sponsoring the Fire Ferrets and the Avatar just to gain their trust. Hiroshi, using an electrified glove, confirms it and states it broke his heart watching Asami fall for a "firebending street rat" like Mako; then Asami enters. Seeing her disbelief and shock, Hiroshi asks her for forgiveness and tells her of how he is doing this because of the loss of her mother, who had been killed by firebenders. He then gives his daughter a glove and tells her to join him and Amon in making a world a better place, free of benders. As Asami takes up the glove, the Fire Ferrets look up in disbelief and despair. However, Asami, to everyone's surprise, electrocutes her father and the Lieutenant, then helps them escape as the Equalists take notice.

Back on the police airship, Korra tells the two brothers that they and Asami are still welcome to come live on Air Temple Island, a proposition which they now gladly accept. At the same time, Lin tells Tenzin that Tarrlok was right-that she has failed her duty as Chief of the Police Force, and is resigning the next morning. When Tenzin tells her not to give up, she replies that she is going to look for her men 'outside the law', and she hasn't given up. Korra then turns to Mako and tells him to go to Asami, knowing that she needs him. As he does so, she passionately hugs him as the airship slowly approaches the Republic City coastline at night.

Tropes used in The Legend of Korra/Recap/B1/E07 The Aftermath include:
  • Seventh-Episode Twist
  • Anti-Magic: Sort of. As it turns out, there is one type of metal that even metalbenders cannot bend, platinum. According to one character, this is because platinum is so pure a metal there isn't enough earth in it for benders to use.
  • Apologetic Attacker: "I love you, Dad..." *BZZZZZAP*
  • Borrowed Catchphrase: "NO! Not my Cabbage Corp!" Used by the current owner of Cabbage Corp when he's arrested for allegedly supporting the Equalists.
  • Big Damn Heroes: Zig-zagged. Mako and Bolin show up to save the day only to be cornered by Hiroshi Sato and some chi-blockers. Right before it looks like it's the end for them, Asami shows up and saves them. But then it looks like she's about to join up with the Equalists. Mako reacts with a Little No. BUT! Then Asami says she loves her father right before electrocuting him with the very electrofist he just gave her.
  • Big Fancy House: The Satos' mansion.
  • Break the Haughty: Tahno.
  • Broken Faceplate: While fighting Mecha-Tanks made out of metal-bending-proof platinum, Chief Beifong resorts to the strategy of bending her metal bracer into a Blade Below the Shoulder, leaping up to the shoulders of one of the Mecha-Tanks, and driving the claw straight through the more vulnerable cockpit canopy. The chi-blocker piloting it is shown desperately dodging. After a few cuts, we see the Mecha-Tank as immobile, Bei Fong having bashed though most of the canopy segments, so this may have been a Gory Discretion Shot.
  • Broken Pedestal: Hiroshi Sato to Asami and the rest of the Krew.
  • Call Back: The Cabbage Corp's owner brings back every fan's favorite line (albeit slightly altered): "NO! Not my Cabbage Corp!" Also, there's a statue of the original cabbage merchant.
    • There is a feature installed in the Metalbenders's boots to expose their bare feet so they can use vibrations to feel for things underground. Toph taught Lin well.
  • Cassandra Truth: Korra suspects Hiroshi is working with the Equalists, but Asami, Mako, and Bolin won't believe her. Averted in regards to Tenzin and Lin when Korra takes the findings to them, however; they are skeptical at first, but then logically consider the probability.
  • Chekhov's Gun: Remember those blueprints on the wall behind Amon during his reveal in the first episode for what appeared to be a mech suit? Turns out, that's exactly what they are, and Hiroshi Sato is manufacturing them.
  • Chekhov's Skill: Asami's self-defense training when she was young comes in handy when she's beating up Equalists.
  • Combat Pragmatist:
    • Asami is one, at least in this episode. When racing, she forces the other driver to spin out so she can win. Later, she plays along with her father and is given an electric glove. Asami then electrocutes him and takes out the Lieutenant with her bare hands.
    • Hiroshi Sato's "I'm going to fight from in here, where my chances are more ...equal."
  • Continuity Nod:
    • The recap is done in the form of Tarrlok's speech about Bei Fong's failure. It seems that Shiro Shinobi is recovering from being electrocuted in the previous episode.
    • Korra has learned her lesson on romance since "Spirit of Competition," and her accusations toward Hiroshi have absolutely nothing to do with her jealousy toward Asami despite Mako's accusations. She knows she might sacrifice a friendship (and possible romance) for more important matters.
    • Korra has also to learned to go to the police with her suspicions rather than take matters into her own hands like she did with the Triple Threat Triad members in "Welcome To Republic City".
    • The Mini-Mecha were also first seen as blueprints in the end of the first episode.
  • Corrupt Corporate Executive: The head of Cabbage Corp was suspected to be with the Equalists, but it was really Sato.
  • Cross-Popping Veins: The butler gets them when Bolin jumps back into the pool right after being toweled off.
  • Death by Origin Story: We learn Asami's mother was killed by a firebending triad member.
  • Despair Event Horizon: Lin's repeated failures to stop Amon get her to resign from the police, declaring that she can only effectively fight him outside the law.
  • The Glasses Come Off: Hiroshi's glasses are knocked off in the fight, probably to emphasize the transformation he goes through by the end of the episode.
  • Fluffy Dry Fire Ferret: Turns out there really is a way to make Pabu even more adorable.
  • Hoist by His Own Petard: Asami takes down the Lieutenant with his own electrified weapons.
  • How the Mighty Have Fallen: Tahno. From pro-bender who had a strong career going to well...
  • Innocent Cohabitation: Korra invites Bolin and Mako to stay at Air Temple Island, but they've already accepted Asami's invitation to stay at her dad's mansion. Though she neglected to tell her dad about it, she managed to smooth things over with him or so she thought. By the end of the episode, the brothers and Asami will all be moving to the island together.
  • Ironic Echo: Lampshaded. The cop tasked with watching over Asami, Bolin, and Mako tells them to stay put until Bei Fong and the others return. They manage to trick and tie up the officer, and before Mako and Bolin leave:

Bolin: Just stay put until the chief comes back. That sounds very familiar, doesn't it? Why? Because you said it.

  • Jaw Drop: Mako and Korra get this expression after Asami knocks her father out cold with an electric gauntlet then proceeds to kick the asses of the Lieutenant and another chi-blocker with no effort. This was just after the Metalbender force, Lin, Tenzin, and Korra were beaten easily prior.
  • Jerkass Has a Point: Tarrlok once again fills this role. His opening narration is politically self-serving yet factually accurate: the Equalists are warring on benders under the guise of fighting for equality and Chief Bei Fong did utterly fail to protect Republic City during the arena attack.
  • Little No: Mako says one as he sees Asami put on the electrofist her father offered her, believing she just signed on with the Equalists. And then he retracts it immediately when Asami zaps her own dad with the glove and trounces Lieutenant.
  • Mini-Mecha: The Equalists now have some, courtesy of Hiroshi Sato. He calls them "mecha tanks".
  • The Mole: Korra suspects one, at least. It's Hiroshi Sato.
  • Not What I Signed on For: An Equalist tips off Korra, explaining that he didn't sign on for a war. Subverted when it turns out to have been a trap for Lin and her metalbenders, in order to test the new Mini-Mecha on them.
  • Parental Betrayal: Hiroshi Sato was working with the Equalists the whole time. He provided them with their gauntlets and made platinum mechas that wouldn't be affected by the metalbenders.
  • Potty Emergency: Bolin has one after returning from the test track, forcing Korra to use a bathroom near Sato's office....
  • Sickly Green Glow: Hiroshi Sato's Mini-Mecha suits have eyes that light up the room in a ghastly green color.
  • Turn in Your Badge: Lin plans on resigning from Chief to be a vigilante to avenge her subordinates.
  • We Can Rule Together: Hiroshi Sato offers this to Asami after she finds out he's an Equalist.
  • Wham! Episode: Big time.
  • What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?: Korra's attempt to use makeup is given a quite unwarranted dramatic buildup, at least to the audience.
  • What Happened to the Mouse?: Most of the metalbenders were captured by the Equalists and taken to Amon, but what about the one that Bolin and Mako tied up in the above-ground of the mansion's workshop? We never see him again.
  • The Worf Effect: Asami easily taking down the Lieutenant, who had previously gone toe-to-toe with Korra and beat the combined efforts of Mako and Bolin.
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