Legend of Korra 2x8 REACTION!! "Beginnings, Part 2"

Eric Shane Calvin and Aaron react to and discuss season 2 episode 8 of Legend of Korra Beginnings Part 2 Wan
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[@BlindWave]

All you guys are right, I did mess up the Avatar Cycle and didn't catch that Wan learned in the correct order, which was something I was watching out for. Sometimes when doing these videos, you can get a bit messed up in your thought process and have a brain fart, and unfortunately that is recorded here forever. Thanks for keeping us on our toes everyone! - Eric

[@innocentdude4968]

★ Froggie Animation ★ Y'know, I'm actually crying right now, now that you spoke of it.

[@eawhite782]

Hey Eric, you're correct about the Lion Turtles giving humans the ability to use the elements and then they learned how to bend them from Dragons, Air Bison, Moon and Badger Moles. Bending is the art of manipulating an element, not the ability to use an element.

[@ObligedUniform]

Blind Wave slight correction too, Vaatu actually broke through into the physical world, allowing the other spirits to come through as well. He did not create the spirit world :)

[@jmacmall]

I'm pretty sure they don't read KZbin comments. He posted the same thing on Patreon. Pretty sure those are the comments they read.

[@AceFlyingThunder]

It's ok we still love you

[@innocentdude4968]

Fun Fact! The battlefield that Avatar Wan dies on, is the same field that Zuko rides through in the episode "Zuko Alone."

[@Liesmith424]

This just fucked me up.

[@egomz123]

Innocent Dude how is that, did the producers said that or did I miss something?

[@innocentdude4968]

egomz123 Creators said it during the audio commentary for this episode.

[@egomz123]

Innocent Dude Ooooh! That's pretty cool, now I'm gonna go back and watch Zuko's episode again, thanks dude

[@elliemac1997]

I WAS SCROLLING ONLY TO SEE IF SOMEONE SAID IT

[@innocentdude4968]

*Avatar Aang* - Well... I realized that no Avatar is perfect. They all struggled and made mistakes. Like me. *Avatar Yangchen* - Very Wise. *Avatar Aang* - But it made me wonder - why is the Avatar Spirit a human in every life? Wouldn't it be better if the Avatar was an all powerful Spirit that never died? *Avatar Yangchen* - I don't think so. The Avatar must be compassionate towards all people, and the only way to do that is to live with them. The Avatar must experience sadness, anger, joy, and happiness. By feeling all these emotions, it helps you understand how precious human life is, so you will do anything to protect it. If you were an all powerful Spirit, living on top of some mountain, you wouldn't have much in common with an ordinary person. So The Avatar continues to take human rebirth, and with each life, learns what it means to be human.

[@ObligedUniform]

Innocent Dude and that was exactly raava's issue even as the spirit of light, she would willingly trample other things as long as she kept a hold on vaatu. Wan naturally showed her another way

[@mondude89]

please tell me this is canon

[@LyricBent]

it is canon, from the comics

[@MutoAshirogiPower11]

THIS !

[@emilyforrester]

Not the comics, a game. But it is canon.

[@Evan-rj8cf]

Raava doesn't really pick what host is going to be the next avatar. She simply directly goes into the next reincarnation of Wan, whoever that may be. My guess is it would be nearly impossible to become an evil avatar with the embodiment of light and peace living inside you.

[@innocentdude4968]

Bonded to you*

[@brandonlyon730]

Course "evil" is a subjective thing, some people things as evil while others don't (like say abortion). I could easily see a avatar going to far in "balancing" in the world. Maybe seeing himself as saving the world to permanently be at peace and bring order by being its dictator. Similar to superman in the injustice series. And the avatars past selfs don't fully control the current avatars actions, they mostly only give them advice, and just like any sort of advisors the listener's can just ignore their advice like aang in the end of the comics where he goes against Rokus wishes in killing Zuko.

[@joelsasmad]

Evan Nigro Light and peace can mean comitting genocide on all your enemies and leading the rest of the world into a more advanced and unified world.

[@srccde]

Spirits can overtake a human body. Raava didn't do this even before she fused with Wan when they combined their energies. It is implied that she could, at any time, take over the human's body as Vaatu did so with Unalaq. Through Wan, Raava learned that her former position towards mankind was wrong and full of prejudice. However, once she saw Wan's selflessness and that he befriended spirits even though they had been his enemies for all of his life, she realized that, while she is the spirit of light and peace, she isn't perfect. By living a human life over and over again, and therefore learning the meaning of love, peace and balance over and over again, her force may not be corrupted. A baby's spirit is innocent and pure - the opposite of what Vaatu represents. Every reincarnation of the avatar is also a purification. Since the human's and Raava's energy are combined, I believe a young avatar is driven towards light and peace automatically. This doesn't protect him from making mistakes but it certainly forms him into whatever his destiny sees for him. Furthermore, Raava does indeed take action, even though it is not always obvious at first. Avatar Aang didn't freeze himself in the iceberg on purpose, it was Raava. By doing so she protected them and made it possible that they could someday save the world.

[@naingmon]

Joel Sasmad The Fire Nation were never enemies of the Air nomads, or any other nation, not until they started the war. The reason they all became enemies of the Fire Nation is because Sozin began the war, and in no way is committing genocide “light and peace”, not when the people are innocent.

[@rutherfordadames4352]

The Lion Turtles gave the elemental power to the humans. The Sky Bisons, Badger Moles, Dragons, and the Moon and Ocean spirits taught them their respective elemental mastery.

[@mfglucsy3633]

Not really. At the Time of the Lion Turtles the Humans dont bend Elements, just the Energy inside them. After the Time of wan, the Humans Start to bend the real Elements. The airnomads from airbisons. The waterbenders from the Moon. Etc.

[@TheaHFrancis]

Yes!

[@ND-yr8bg]

Shonksu if you watch the previous episode you can see wan doing the dragon dance with a dragon, therefore we can assume that he did the same with the bison, moon and moles. Your comment is kinda confusing n I don't really know what your point is but still

[@gengible]

@ShonksuI see it as learning how to ride a bike, and when you train with the dragons or whatever, is like being able to do stunts on a bike

[@jojo_n_dat7325]

@Shonksu You're embarassingly wrong in your analysis. Did you even watch the show?

[@lazyman1128]

The reason that the Avatars arent ever evil is because they are reincarnations of Wan. The spirit doesnt choose hosts.

[@indig0icee]

lazyman1128 true, they are all "wan" .... just his spirit in different lives

[@brandonlyon730]

Course "evil" is a subjective thing, some people things as evil while others don't (like say abortion). I could easily see a avatar going to far in "balancing" in the world. Maybe seeing himself as saving the world to permanently be at peace and bring order by being it dictator. Similar to superman in the injustice series. And the avatars past selfs don't fully control the avatars actions, they mostly only give them advice, and just like any sort of advisors they listener's can just ignore their advice like aang in the end of the comics where he goes against Rokus wishes in killing Zuko.

[@lazyman1128]

Brandon Lyon Thats true but no avatar os necessarily evil. Some more hardcore but not evil

[@vindifference]

And not just Wan, but they have the spirit of light inside them as well. If Raava lets her host's spirit go full-on evil in her presence, she's not doing her job.

[@brandonlyon730]

Course Revaa is the order spirit as Vattue is Chaos. And of course order is never always good, as we see with Kuriva her empire is ordered and controlled by fear. A avatar might also go through that mindset that he/she can "bring balance" by forcing the people and governments under their will and become the world dictator establishing peace and order throughout the world as he/she rules it with a ironfist.

[@LJLvids]

You guys noticed how even the great spirit of light refered to the lion turtles as 'ancient ones'? Makes you think about the creation story of this universe, no?

[@DocGenius42]

i recommend watching the video from Hello Future Me about the creation of the avatar universe. it makes a lot of sense.

[@LJLvids]

yea I've seen that video, tht's mainly why I commented wha I did, I liked his take on it all, but I do have some differing toughts here and there, and I'd love to see more people give their 2 cents on the issue.

[@DocGenius42]

LJLvids fair enough. for me it made so much sense it could as well be canon. also i'd like to see blindwave react to his theories.

[@BamfCross]

Fire benders didnt learn from the sun they learned from dragons. Thats why it was a big deal that they were considered extinct. They draw power from the sun.

[@titaniumtomato7247]

BamfCross the dragons were so badass

[@McLoviniam]

BamfCross and the Korra said "uh durr fuck that shit" and made it that the lion turtle just gave out bending

[@JohnDoe-sw6ll]

Except all the lion turtles did was give out fire like you said, but all they (humans) knew how to do was throw fire at each other or light things on fire. Wan learned actual Fire-Bending with a white dragon to the point that it was an extension of himself instead of a tool, that's why the the people he wards off on behalf of the spirits tell stories about how different Wan is, especially his bending

[@axletensa8051]

Still seems McLovin doesn't quite understand; the lionturtles granted the elements, but until they actually learned how to bend from dragons, the moon, air bison and badgermoles, humans were just throwing their elements around without any style or substance. Think of it like this; the turtles gave them the power to use their fists to throw a punch or their feet to kick with elements; but it was the respective teachers (the moon, dragons, air bison and badger moles) that taught humans to use martial arts or to 'bend' the elements.

[@Merilirem]

No one here said this is where ALL benders power came from. The sun warriors may have been separate from this story. At Least far enough removed that they did not gain power from a turtle. No one said thats the only way to gain power after all. As for "before the avatar" that is basically everything before now. You will need to clarify if that meant while they lived on the turtles or not. They did after all have a history before the turtles became cities.

[@judemiller]

It makes sense that airbenders have a nomadic heritage, since they were originally the only humans with enough inner balance to walk freely in the spirit wilds.

[@hemmojito]

Well they also returned to their lion turtle city. They sure didn't mind the spirits living in their city. So realy they didn't need to be "that" protected but there were still wayward spirits in the wild that could harm them.

[@judemiller]

@@hemmojito True!

[@OGTonyP]

"We are bonded forever".. goooosebumps!!!! Fuck yeah!!

[@mbanerjee5889]

that part gets me every time

[@elismart13]

every time

[@Joey-se1mk]

*Airbenders meet a firebender for the first time* Wan: "Hey..." Airbenders: "Aww, hell no!"

[@ghinafadhila]

They can sense the future!

[@daddy_.rome0]

He can see things before they happen, Its a jedi trait

[@Mysticist]

The Idea is that every Avatar is born the same person, however, the experiences in their lives shape them in different ways, but they all share certain traits, like a love of animals and that goofy smile.

[@hemmojito]

rush kissing people...

[@maggieavdoulos2408]

Wan and Aang's goofy smile look so similar.

[@sparknazo]

@@hemmojito lol sexual harassment jk😂

[@hemmojito]

@@sparknazo Yeah lol. Aang did it to Katara multiple times. Korra did it to Mako. Should we be concerned? 🤔😁 Breaking News: An all powerful molester is on the loose... okay I went too far 😆

[@x97k8]

No you're wrong they not the same person only raava reincarnated lol aang is nothing like korra bro how the hell they're the same?

[@N0-1_H3r3]

Interesting fact: in Mandarin, "Wan" means "ten thousand". In Avatar, this can also be seen in the name of the owl/knowledge spirit, Wan Shi Tong (He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things").

[@soCanadianEH27]

Wan is also 10 000 years before the events of Korra. So that's really interesting.

[@TriciawithaC]

Also interesting fact- when used with a different tone, "wan" can also mean "bend"

[@nperkins2001]

Wan locked Vatuu up for 10'000 years.

[@yungo1rst]

The harmonic convergence happens every 10,000 years. so there could have been at least two others before Wan for vaatu and raava to see the timing for getting strength to break free of another.

[@luishuerta1071]

N01H3r3 and wan also sounds like "one" too lol He was number "wan"

[@cameraphone120]

21:55 he did learn them in that order, the avatar cycle is fire, air, water and earth and that is the order we saw him learn it. You are just used to starting the cycle with air instead of fire.

[@--isaac]

I was thinking the same XD

[@erikatamakloe]

Nazareno Valverde kkko

[@simohayha6031]

cameraphone120 it's not necessarily the order in which the elements are learned. But it'd the order of the avatars themselves.

[@xXTheRedrubyXx]

Simo Hayha they were talking about Wan learning them in that cycle

[@MoneyTrees2012]

Yeah, the cycle derives from the order Wan learned the elements

[@AceFlyingThunder]

God I love that music in the battle.

[@innocentdude4968]

Jeremy Zuckerman is a genius

[@AceFlyingThunder]

Can't wait for them season 3 tunes though.

[@innocentdude4968]

Pheonix It's so good.

[@theotianyarttar9230]

beautiful

[@StonedMachine3000]

indeed, i forgot how epic this episode was until now!

[@keeganbate8935]

That scene where the first avatar was dying and regretting that he couldn't change humanity was so heartbreaking. Even with the greatest power of all benders, he couldn't bring peace. :(

[@goat1408]

I would love a story about the 2nd Avatar....he/she would be a airbender, and would be directly counselled by Wan.

[@zairaner1489]

yes, but nobody would know about the fact that the avatar is reincarnated, not even wan seemed to know until his death (so he couldn't do preparations). So it would be really interesting

[@joshua2764]

She Wan was a man, the next Avatar will be a woman.

[@goat1408]

@@joshua2764 is that for certain? Because unless it's confirmed, that's not always the case. After Roku another man (Aang) was the Avatar. After Korra, the next one could be either or in the Earth Republic, States, whatever they are called in their lifetime. Regardless...the 2nd ever Avatar would be a fascinating story because they will be the first to experience being the reincarnation, and will be spiritual af given that they are an Air Nomad. In their time, it's no teling when they will learn when they are the Avatar, since the "Age 16" rule isn't in place yet. I estimate that wouldn't be a thing until maybe the 5th-8th Avatar.

[@joshua2764]

@@Nerveroxis that works too!

[@hemmojito]

If you ask me you could make a series about every Avatar

[@mavoc3094]

It must of been crazy to become the 2nd Avatar. Wan choose to become the avatar and later generations had the legend of the avatars and the avatar cycle to pull from, but the 2nd avatar must've been so confused and conflicted. Did they tell their parents they heard a voice in their head?

[@HyperWolf]

I had never thought about how confusing it must have been to be the second Avatar. Wow, now that's all I think about. :)

[@mavoc3094]

luckily the 2nd avatar would've been an airbender which should've been the most likely society to be able to understand and handle that unexpected turn of events.

[@MoneyTrees2012]

That's something a lot of people including myself wanted to see. It would have been extremely cool to continue seeing Wan and this world that still might be enstranged with the existence of an "Avatar". I feel like the struggles the 2nd Avatar went through would have most likely shadowed Korra's.

[@sparknazo]

The second avatar would have to deal with an era of warring states and people fighting against each other with no real kingdoms or nations a very intresting time period and I wish they got some info

[@troyareyes]

Wan was given the power of fire by the lion turtles. He learned to fire "bend" from the dragons.

[@troyareyes]

igor caique last episode we see Wan doing the dragon dance after he gets fire and later he fights some other dudes with fire and they make a comment that his power is different.

[@thefuzzyone933]

igor caique Not the same distinction dude. The power of over the elements have always been apart of nature(dragons, sky bison, badger moles, and the moon and ocean spirits...the original benders). When humans were brought into the equation, for some reason the lion turtles took it upon themselves to protect humans fron the wilds of the world. And they bestowed onto them the power of an element So they could protect themselves, but not a lot of guidance on how to use the power they were given(Making it an extension of themselves... Bending!) I can give a person a fishing pole and say they are a fisherman isn't necessarily true. A person may no what it's for, but will they know how to fish? Korra was a prodigy child so it would make since she would be a natural at that from the start. But in the case for Katarra she was looking for someone to teaching her water bending. There was a reason the lion turtles said "giving you the power of the fire element", and not the power of fire bending. Bending is an artform much as to any martial arts in comparison.

[@thefuzzyone933]

igor caique Hince why she she was looking for someone to teach her the art of water bending. She even asked Aang when she first met him to teach her water bending. Yes the name bender applies because that was what the people who were born with the power over their respective element were called thought out the ten of thousands years or more. Why would they call them anything else, its a part of that world's culture. But the point that I'm trying to make is that story wise, particularly with these two episodes. That nobody mentioned or called it bending(not even the ancient lion turtles) as what they were doing. It was referred to as the power over the elements(the power of fire, the power of air, ect.) in the beginning. So it would make since that someone can be the first bender among people who had the power to use the element. That fishing analogy was the best I could come up with. It was simple, but at least it was an easy example to get what I was saying across. The story over Avatar's lore hasn't changed as a few people who are up in arms are stating. It was expanded upon. The creators had this idea for the beginnings/origins from day one. The lore of the first benders among people can be said that it came from nature(Cave of Two Lovers)(The Sun Warriors). And this new addition to the lore adds to and compliments the stories that were already given. People received the power, but to bend it is something that is taught.

[@thefuzzyone933]

igor caique Perhaps this guy can explain it better than I can. Not sure if you seen his videos on theorizing Avatar lore. It's pretty good. Thanks for the discussion though. I had fun.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXbLgYFpe9WMlbM

[@tiawilliams5690]

igor caique Katara was a self-taught prodigy. The fact that she could control water without training was extremely rare. Most potential benders can’t control their elements until their taught. We don’t actually know that there weren’t other waterbenders in the Southern water tribe. They didn’t have anyone left to teach after Hama was taken.

[@a7xguitar666]

the amount of chills i got when raava tells wan that they are bonded forever....with the orchestral avatar music playing in the background. legit almost brought tears to my eyes

[@RubyDianArts]

About the discussion of the Avatar cycle - the order that Wan learns the elements does follow, even though it doesn't start off the same as the opening narration. But it does show he learned in the order: Fire, then Air, then Water, then Earth. The previous avatars you know about on the series also followed that kind of cycle, with Roku (Fire), Aang (Air), Korra (Water), and after Korra would be Earth. As someone noted, while benders received powers from the lion-turtles, it's implied that benders then learned how to master their powers from animals as Wan did with the dragon doing the fire dance call back.

[@Sharnakh]

Just like Katara was a water bender in the first season, her power back then was not even remotely close to that, which she possessed at the end of the 3rd season. Training y'all

[@vindifference]

Indeed. Katara didn't even consider herself a "bender" when Aang asked her about it, cause she was so unskilled at it.

[@miergarz3060]

RubyD You could of said Kyoshi (Earth) we did get some of her story in season 2

[@RubyDianArts]

I could have, sorry about that. I didn't want to confuse them more by starting with Earth yet also stating it follows the cycle Wan learned, which began with Fire haha.

[@moneylover318]

Like the hunters and zhao used wild FIREBENDING.

[@MsEverAfterings]

The reason why the Avatar spirit chose a child it's because she is Aang's reincarnation. Korra was Aang in her past life, Aang was Rouku in his past life etc. But they are their own person, have their own personality, mentors etc. They life's perspectives can be different. Airbender Yachen was okay with killing if it meant maintaining balance, but Aang could not go with it because he was taught differently.

[@revanruler6404]

actually I'd say they're all reincarnations of wan

[@Merilirem]

More to the point is that they all slept with Katara. on a spiritual level =P

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

If someone has different genes, memories and life experiences I really don't know how it can be said to be the same person.

[@kaiokun]

Well yea, they're all their own beings, but the concept of reincarnation (which comes from Bhuddism I believe) still applies here. When your body dies your soul/spirit will be replaced into a new body. You reincarnate into a new life. Wan is just a name of a person, but his spirit which is intertwined with Raava, well it enters a new life, a new material body with a different life experience.

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Josh, but if your genes, memories and life experiences don't transfer it practically does not matter at all for story reasons.

[@finalaccount4483]

Lol Eric said Wan didn't learn the elements in the Avatar cycle, then proceeded to say he learned Fire, then Air, then Water, then Earth. Lol, that *IS* the Avatar Cycle. Btw Raava immediately enters Avatar Wans' reincarnations. It's not a choice. It's being bonded to all of his lifetimes.

[@moneylover318]

I wish it was a choice but not the kind of choice we think of

[@matthewbrown5464]

"I lived ten thousand lifetimes before the first of your kind crawled out of the mud. It was I who broke through the divide that separated the plane of Spirits from the material world. To hate me is to give me breath. To fight me is to give me strength. Now prepare to face oblivion!"

[@GamingLegendxxx]

"Have't you heard the legends? I'm not a regular human anymore."

[@ColdBloodedProd]

"We have to finish this together!" Chills. Every. Time. The music and Wan's uncrushable will to save the world.

[@Jordan-ow1ck]

this episode brought a tear to my eye.

[@finalaccount4483]

Same. Especially Wans death

[@Syokhan]

It really is a testament to the writing of this two-parter that you can shed a tear for a character you've only known for 40 minutes.

[@kalakritistudios]

Imagine what the one of the upcoming episodes is gonna do... ... tea kettle ...

[@finalaccount4483]

lolo ayyy I can't imagine being dumb enough to think this.

[@surpremelysmokeypotatotowe1591]

Me too. But only because I yawned and that pressed a tear out of my eye.

[@judemiller]

When Wan talks to the monks meditating under the tree, you can see an airbending meditation circle in the background. Aang finds a similar one on the lion turtle in Season 3 of ATLA, saying the nomads who raised him told him about them.

[@Mitchiepoo97]

So the cycle started with fire, that's neat.

[@NikeWavy]

Fire can also create life 🤯

[@elizabethgouverneur2972]

NIKE WAVY i,e fire flowers can’t remember their name exactly but they all very love to grow in charcoal and burnt soil

[@barneyrubble4293]

You could almost say it .. ignited with fire

[@wheybig2972]

As a firebender I appreciate the hell out of that

[@anuragsah2004]

Just waiting for their reaction when Korra meets a certain "someone " In the Spirit World this season ..

[@codymavick9068]

The next seasons are incredible!

[@aberayquaza2096]

Haha..ikt..they're gonna flip..

[@tricotj-rock6096]

"We are bonded forever."

[@charlesdonnelly7768]

tricot J-Rock *Unless you get murdered in the avatar state

[@NobleVagabond2552]

I didn’t think it was possible for me to be any more in love with the avatar universe lore and then Raava called the lion turtle “ancient one”. It’s so mysterious and just perfect

[@RememberRox]

19:32 Yeah, remember Kataras parents were non benders

[@MsEverAfterings]

But we don't know if Katara's grandparents were benders or not. Maybe it skipped generations.

[@mythos460]

Haha, I would love it if Pakku were really Katara's biological grandfather. I imagine Gran-gran leaving, not wanting to raise her child in such a repressive culture. (Girls here, boys there. Female benders: stay in the healing hut, male benders: go be warriors.) Oh well, wishful thinking. And a bit cheesy too.

[@RememberRox]

+Jacqueline Lam Yeah i know i was just agreeing erics theory that it is genetic

[@mythos460]

RememberRox Genetics seems to be a big factor. After all... Firebender/Fire nation mom + Earthbender dad = Son with a specialized earthbending skill ;D Refer to LOK Book 3 for awesomeness.

[@brandonlyon730]

But we are earth nation identical twins and only one is a bender. The creators actually once said that sokka could have been a bender himself, but since he was so cynical about spirit related stuff he never developed it. So it's partly genetic and partly spiritual.

[@leon.1]

Wan's story is *ten thousand* old, he lived *ten thousand* years ago.. the crazy thing is, his name Wan is chinese and means *ten thousand* !!! (just like Wan Shi Tong, the owl spirit from ATLA "I am Wan Shi Tong, he who knows *ten thousand* things...")

[@bloatus7611]

***Slightly spoiler comment*** 27:35 I don't know if there's anything or anyone that could mellow out a rambunctious, teenage avatar. You know who said that? Guru Laghima.

[@TheMaitoPulla]

Ving Rhames Yaa Yeet

[@elliemac1997]

💀💀💀

[@Rhae_of_Sun]

Man, fuck that Guru

[@TheMaitoPulla]

Valar Rhaegar Laghima is cool bro

[@DanaBanana94]

It's soo cool that the Avatar-cycle is depending on the order that Wan got access to the four elements. Fire, Air, Water and then Earth. Very smart and nice detail from the creators. :3

[@matto8592]

The avatar cycle follows the seasons. Summer(fire)-Fall(wind)-winter(water)-spring(earth). Easiest way to remember

[@ghengiroo4143]

The first time Wan and Raava fused gives me serious Ultra Instinct vibes.

[@ambp15]

guys the previous episode beginnings part 1 is blocked please fix it.

[@alexisspicer3797]

Yeah, it sucks.

[@GrandMasterT-8000]

@AMBshinobi www.blindwavellc.com/video/legend-of-korra-2x7-reaction-beginnings-part-1/

[@lalalalisa41]

Don't know if you saw the difference with the Avatar States, but I loved how we got to see the more "primitive version" of what the Avatar State looked like before Wan and Raava fused. You had the whole body glowing white instead of having the eyes glow white and it wasn't until they fused that we finally saw just the eyes glowing white. Thought that was a nice detail there. “We are bonded forever” That line still continues to give me chills every time! Just like that, the Avatar was born and a new era began - The era of the Avatars. When Wan died, I felt so sad for him. He sounded like he was filled with great guilt and remorse for not being enough. I mean, he started all of this and only wanted to help bring peace and balance to the world but in the end, he essentially failed and died on a battlefield of violence. Nothing says heartbreaking than feeling like such a failure - despite all your efforts - at the end of your life. Also, where Wan died, a lot would say is the exact same place that Zuko traveled through in “Zuko Alone” (s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8e/5c/ee/8e5cee9987d4bbb6985490273fd931a4.jpg ). Whether or not that was intentional or just coincidental on Bryke and the writer's part, it was pretty mind-blowing for me when I first realized it. After seeing "Beginnings", it actually made me want to see the life of the Second Avatar. The idea of the Avatar was practically a new and foreign concept to the world at this point. It be interesting to see how they went about in handling what they were. I like to think they probably thought they were a freak of nature and its likely the whole world thought so as well. I'm just imagining the Second Avatar just minding their own business when all of a sudden, they realize they not only could bend more than one element, but they could also hear and see Wan/Raava when no one else could.

[@zairaner1489]

Exactly, I also want to see the second avatar!

[@goat1408]

As I've stated, I think the 2nd Avatar would handle the situation a little better because he/she was an airbender... and the nomads even then were more accepting of the spirits....so whenever Wan came to him/her yes it was a shock... but they would have handled it well... 3rd or 4th Avatar, maybe a shock..by the time of the 5th Avatar...it would be commonplace.

[@lalalalisa41]

N. Henry Even so, how about the rest of the world? I don't think they'd be that accepting as the Air Nomads. Judging from ongoing conflicts they had with each other that Wan was facing even to his very last breath, I can already imagine how they'd react to something like this.

[@goat1408]

True, the rest of the world would not take to it so quickly, seeing that it would have been nearly 20 years since The Avatar (Wan) died...by the time 2nd mastered the elements, he/she would have been 18-25 years old.

[@Jorhin65]

Fun fact: The place were Wan dies is where Zuko goes in Zuko Alone

[@YOU_SHALL_NOW_PASS]

God I love the animation and music used for these 2 episodes.

[@smiddlehurst1]

I know this can be said about the entire Avatar franchise but... good god the music is phenomenal! The Avatar theme kicking in during the final fight is the obvious bit but all through this episode it's working to up the ante and present this as a true legend. Also props to the creative team for daring to explain the Avatar state. It could so easily have been the equivalent of midi-chlorians but they came up with something that actually helps further the emotional stakes and gives one of the most perfect beats of the entire franchise with that first 'rebirth'.

[@steevepierre-louis9418]

Like others have said, the Lion Turtles can give the element, spiritually, by spirit bending it to any person. They're also able to give the gift of spirit bending itself (as they did with Aang). However, the bender can only use it at the most basic level. He/she has to learn how to use it masterfully from masters like the element's natural users/forces: the badger moles, dragons, bison, and sea tides. The elements also have links to the sun and moon. It's definitely "genetic" but not just in the scientific sense; it's also in a spiritual one. It's not just genes that are being passed down that allow bending, but a spiritual connection to the element that operates like genes. It can skip generations.

[@gamezx]

I'm sure other people have mentioned this but that battlefield where wan died is the same field with all the stone rings zuko traveled through in the episode "zuko alone"

[@ecksbest]

Next season is the best. I'm counting days for you meet Zaheer, the best villains in the series.

[@darrenanco866]

The cycle is Fire - Air - Water - Earth. The next Avatar after Wan would be an airbender, not earth.

[@bradsw206]

What a great set of episodes that truly highlight character development especially for Korra. even though she wasn't there most of these episodes. To see Avatar Wan, especially the first avatar, go from really hot headed kind of not caring and transition to this wise Avatar that had a mission it just mirrors Korra's development so much more and I absolutely love it.

[@tristantaccad4644]

I can’t believe you guys didn’t react to Wan’s badass line before his fight with Vaatu “Haven’t you heard the legends? I’m not a normal human anymore.” Gives me chills every time

[@papasheev5252]

It's been mentioned, but beginnings part 1 is blocked. There are also episodes of ATLA that are blocked too (like the blind bandit and serpent's pass). I don't know if you guys could re-upload them or something and fix whatever is wrong, but sometimes I like to come back to these reactions, and with them being blocked it kind of messes some things up.

[@sharrieffmuhammad9227]

It’s not blocked

[@mythos460]

After these episodes, I had to ask myself if the avatars are entirely different people, not reincarnated selves of the original Wan and only Raava's spirit is passed on from one lifetime to the next -- if this were so, then such questions (e.g. Why did was this person chosen?) would make sense. But I had to remind myself that they are reincarnations and they're not chosen -- Wan's spirit lives on and is reincarnated over and over and over -- Korra's the Avatar because she's Wan's latest incarnation in a long line and not because she's got the qualities that are worthy of becoming the Avatar. Avatars turn out good because Wan was fundamentally good -- add Raava to that equation and you ensure an essentially good and possibly incorruptible soul, a force of light.

[@Sharnakh]

Well also, once they learn how to use the 4 elements, i think they also understand how these elements compliment each other and how similar or different they all are. It probably also provides some kind of maturity to the Avatar, which enforces him to be good by choice. Like a Jedi in training.

[@Merilirem]

Keep in mind that rather than good and evil they are order and chaos, light and dark. An avatar could certainly be evil even with Raava guiding them because evil is a very human term not quite understood by many. Its subjective and relative and every other tive you got. "X is evil except" or 'if" are basically the proof of this. If the avatar gained peace through overwhelming control and force then they would still be a force of light and order, but the bad kind we often see in holy empires and such.

[@mythos460]

merilirem At first i thought yeah, I equated light with good and dark with evil but I couldn't reply immediately -- work to do -- it gave me time to mull over this -- and just now I realized I have to stick to my guns because Wan truly is a good soul in my view. Not just in theory -- he's proven it with how he spent his life, his choices, etc. I attribute goodness to Wan and Light and Order to Raava -- with the two of them bonded, they're a force for balance. Is Wan incorruptible? I don't know -- but I'd bet he is. I'd like to think so. I fear we're falling prey to semantics here but I'll do my best to explain what I've been considering for the past hour. For one thing there's also the difference in the Eastern and Western perspectives. Western metaphors and associations tend to equate light and good and dark and evil -- with Eastern thought it's often not dichotomous: chaos and order are one and distinctions are illusory -- so I agree with you when you point out that these aren't moral constructs. They're parts of the same whole and they simply are. Good, evil? Relative? ATLA and LOK may have been heavily influenced by Oriental and Buddhist philosophies, etc. but the Western tendency remains -- light good, dark bad. However, I'd have to disagree -- at least until it's clarified -- with the idea of an 'evil' avatar -- Wan's reincarnated self -- establishing order through overwhelming control and force -- that sounds too much like despotism to me and with that comes imbalance -- fundamentally against what Wan dedicated his life to. Raava may be the spirit of Light and Order but Wan has always sought balance and if I might add, justice. Is it possible for an avatar to become a despot? Maybe (?) but that's why there's a support system in place. I'd venture to say that the avatar should never be alone -- that's why there are teachers and mentors and friends who keep the avatar grounded and aware of the his/her legacy and purpose. Nature and nurture both. Could an avatar be born evil? I don't think so. Could an avatar be corrupted or led astray from the virtues and values that Wan originally devoted his existence to? If let's say, a radical group successfully abducts a young avatar and brings her/him up to believe in a well-meaning though flawed and hurtful ideology? ;-) Weeelll, we'll never know, will we? :)

[@ilphi08]

In some way,Korra is Wan All of the avatars are Wan in different lifetimes

[@MoneyTrees2012]

It's Wan but reincarnated if we are going off what Raava said before Wan's death. Something like, "We will be together for all of your lifetimes." I don't necessarily think she's talking about the concept of the Avatar but rather Wan's spirit being reincarnated every lifetime.

[@cillaw1080]

Great review. When it comes to the origin of bending, it's a possibility that people just forgot the real origin of bending and just made up myths explaining where bending came from? 10,000 years is a long time and no one have seen a lion turtle since then.

[@captainmarvelous7678]

Cilla W No there is no contradiction. The ABILITY to control the elements came from the lion turtles. But the concept of bending as we know it, the techniques and moves that make u be able to do more than just shoot fire or move a rock people learned from the animals/spirits. Just like we saw Wan get fire from the turtle but it was the dragons that taught him the firebending dance.

[@monsterjunkie7773]

Captain Marvelous spot on

[@Merilirem]

Yeah but when was that Era? This could have been too close to the actual Avatar to really call it before the avatar. There is alot of time before the avatar after all.

[@Merilirem]

PS this makes perfect sense and has evidence to have been part of the actual law. Dante, not everything is a retcon just because you didn't understand what was being said.

[@CitanulsPumpkin]

lolo ayyy Dude, it's not that hard. There is no reboot or retcon. The people that were temporarily handed the elements by the Lion Turtles were not benders. They just had the energy within them bent by the lion turtle. True bending didn't start until the dragons and the moles and the whatnot taught the proper moves and stances to the humans who had their energy bent by the turtles. For the general populace, that teaching didn't happen until after Wan changed the world and closed the spirit portals, starting the era of the Avatar. It's the same thing as the difference between a guy getting handed a sword and being told to "Wing it" and a lifelong master of kendo or fencing performing at the peak of their ability. Just because a turtle gives you fire does not make you a fire bender. Taking jazz/tap and musical theater lessons from a dragon makes you a fire bender. Honestly you last airbender fanboys need to calm down take off the nostalgia blinders.

[@SellavinAtoms]

This is one my favorite episodes from Legend of Korra because I love the animation, good story and characters and we got how the first avatar came to be.

[@vinayakchavan3941]

We are bonded forever and I will be the bridge between humans and spirits gives me chills everytime.

[@Mike-ms9zb]

My theory on the avatar cycle - the Avatar has always wanted to keep balance within the world so Rhava/Wan spirits decide to reincarnate into someone from each of the nation (according to the cycle Wan learned the elements) for the sake of fairness so that no nation will be held in esteem over others for having "more" avatar reincarnation.

[@agreementlocal113]

I need y'all to talk about the brilliant use of music in this amazing episode/ the show in general! love your indepth discussions!

[@brianalambert1192]

I've been waiting for this since you started korra! My god, thank you creators for making this storyline

[@chaostourist2951]

man these once a weeks are driving me mad. How did old people handle it when TV was like this?

[@ObligedUniform]

ZippySaboteur for Korra it was maddening because I was a young adult when it started. With avatar itself I was about Aang age and things just.... I dunno feel differently when you're that age.

[@belrevan1986]

ZippySaboteur we handled it 1 week at a time

[@Syokhan]

Hey you whippersnapper, we're not that old! ... but when one episode a week is all you have, well you just wait and live your life in the meantime.

[@gaius5901]

Old? I was in my late teens when Korra was released and enjoyed it just fine. Yes, there were a lot of problems, changing the time slots, moving it to online, a lot of the episodes leaking, the long gap within the first 2 seasons, etc. It was hype af!

[@k0kiss]

What do you mean Old people every TV show not on Netflix does the 1 episode per week. Even Hulu does it.

[@mordirit8727]

But Eric, Fire > Air > Water > Earth *is* the cycle xD Kyoshi came before Roku, Aang after him and Korra after Aang: Earth Fire Air Water.

[@anthonycampbell97]

The Lion Turtles give them the element, but never teach them how to use them. We see in "Beginnings Part 1" that Wan learns from the dragon.

[@RichHobo]

😢 First part is blocked here for some reason, wanted to see your reactions to it again

[@kellycortes7335]

Same here. Decided to go back and watch their reactions to both series, but saw that a few episodes including this one were blocked.

[@RichHobo]

@@kellycortes7335 yea same, it might work with a VPN but i havent tried

[@NarratedByAdam]

man i also wanted to see their reaction again, I was rewatching all of their avatar content, have you found any solution to this?

[@RichHobo]

zCountVertigo I haven’t looked into it, but it said for me that it was unavailable in my country so maybe a VPN would work, not sure

[@FallenOne669]

"We will be together through all of your lifetimes." Something about Raava's phrasing makes me think that everyone in the Avatar world is reborn when they die. But due to their connection with Raava, only the Avatar can communicate with their past lives.

[@Keymo42]

It could also explain why only some people are benders. They are just reincarnations of previous people who were benders and so on. Doesn't explain though why 2 firebenders would never have an airbender for example, so if thats the case it can't be completely random lol And yes I know this comment is older. Just had to get some thoughts out lol

[@FullmetalNinja25]

Steven Yeun IS the man, I hope you guys react to Voltron Legendary Defender one day where he plays Keith.

[@FullmetalNinja25]

Yup and Jeremy Shada who plays Finn on Adventure Time is Lance.

[@freekingfreaking246]

26:44 Every Avatar is just a reincarnation of Wan. They said this on this episode. Raava just follows his lifetimes, his reincarnations. They are all the same person. RAAVA DOESN'T CHOOSE A RANDOM PERSON TO BECOME THE NEXT AVATAR. THE NEXT PERSON IS JUST ALWAYS WAN'S NEW REINCARNATION.

[@GingerDwarf]

I forgot how fucking GORGEOUS this episode was. Like... god damn.

[@elevown]

Can you guys reupload beginnings part 1 (2 x 7) its not available.

[@matthewletexier]

Part 1 is blocked! I was so excited for this

[@VolrinSeth]

For some reason episode 7 is blocked in my country.

[@Kristers_K]

There is the energy of each element and the bending art. The first benders were granted power by the lion turtles, that energy was passed down to next generations, who learned to use the bending themselves or were taught by other people or creatures, since the lion turtles were gone at that point. That's basically how it spread, bending is basically an inner energy, or inner ''chi'' expressed physically. Like passing of genes to next generations in real life.

[@LilLWH]

I think the word you were looking for Eric was that they got the bending from the lionturtles but learned their TECHNIQUE from animals or other aspects of the world around them.

[@zaidlamrini8325]

B_viacom blocked ep7

[@sansmart11]

22:07 I mean he DID recieve the elements in the avatar order - fire, air, water, earth.

[@sansmart11]

And 24:28 the 2nd avatar was airbender, because air was the second element he received

[@Raipad75]

we need episode 7 back pls

[@GrandMasterT-8000]

@nuggetz41 www.blindwavellc.com/video/legend-of-korra-2x7-reaction-beginnings-part-1/

[@zairaner1489]

While these episodes weren't "retcons", they did leave tons of questions open. Questions like "were there still people who retained the power of bending after the lion turtle stopped giving them?", "how did bending become genetic", "why was nobody except the avatar able to bend more than one element after that?" (I guess that last could be answered with the fact that Wan needed Raava to survive having two elements), "how did want get the idea of separating the worlds of human and spirits? why did he do it?"

[@11thfall15]

We will be together for all of your lifetimes... İn a cartoon,seeing someone's death couldn't be more affective.

[@codymavick9068]

The power to control elements was given by the lion turtles but the ability to properly use the element, bending, was taught by the dragons, moles, bison, moon. That's why we saw Wan training with the dragon in part 1 and why all the other humans were just trowing fire instead of using a martial art like Wan. Because the lion turtles gave early humans power of the element it was passed down genetically. That's why non benders can still have kids that are benders. Like Sokka and Katara, their parents weren't benders but Katara was. Same with Toph her parents weren't benders but she was . The genetic code is still their but just dormant for non-benders. So saying that "People learned how to bend form the dragons, moles, bison and moon." and "the lion turtles gave the first humans the power of the elements." Both statements are true they just describe different things.

[@aeris44]

The interesting thing is that this shows that spirits weren't all wise and theres SO much more time even before Wan and Raava's time. Humans were not on Lion Turtles all the time, spirits made them seek their refuge. So the Lion Turtle that Aang met talked of a time "before we bent the elements" that was BEFORE even this time! Crazy!

[@cybo_vampire9145]

Can you please reupload your reaction to beginnings part 1 since it's blocked in certant countries

[@freerangechiken4283]

The power to bend was given to them by the lion turtle but that did not make them "benders" they learned to bend from the original benders.

[@monsterjunkie7773]

I always took it as the physical ability to bend was given by the lion turtles, passed down and forgotten by generations, then the art learnt again by watching badger moles, air bisons, dragons and the moon

[@getonwithit6539]

Hands down my favorite 2 parter in all of Avatar. I can watch a whole season of the first avatar and his life.

[@mitchhamilton64]

sadly its episodes tied together to a shitty show with a shitty main character.

[@Merilirem]

I like Korra more than Aang. The shows and the characters. Preference plays a role of course.

[@tristanneal9552]

Vaatu did not create the divide between the spirit world and material world, he was the first one to break through and move between them.

[@JamesWiseMagic]

Please bring back the episodes that are getting blocked.

[@lolosmith8446]

They are!

[@TimeturnerJ]

Remember, history is written by the winners, and the winners usually have the subjective opinion that they're the good guys, even if they aren't in the eyes of their opponents. The Avatar is a literal force of nature, so they tend to be on the winning side. That's probably why we don't know of one that has ever been portrayed as evil by history.

[@lilscooter93]

the joy on eric's face when watching the final battle between wan and vaatu made me so happy. i also love that you all call them giant kites because that was also what the fandom referred to them as at the time!

[@IrishBiteGirl]

Even in the original, they learned the "bending" of the elements from studying the animals. That's learning... Wielding it is just having it. Anyone can pick up a sword and swing, which is using it yes.... but studying sword fighting with a master would be learning it. There's a huge difference in just having an ability and learning technique with that ability.

[@tomphonkhet5907]

The last scene in that battle field was the battlefield where zuko goes true in zuko alone

[@Beriorn]

Ten thousand years ago, Wan was the first Avatar. He was 20 during Harmonic Convergence, and Korra is 18 in the present day. This means that between his birth and Aang's death are 10002 years. Going by the number of statues we see in the Avatar statue room during The Last Airbender, people counted and extrapolated there being 181 Avatars prior to Aang. So with him included there are 182, and if we take 10002 and divide it by 182 we conclude that the average lifespan for an Avatar is... 54,956 years. And that includes outliers like Aang and Kyoshi, with their 166 and 230 respectively. That's not very old, but it's to be expected for people who live such violent lives.

[@malphone7940]

From what I have heard the Wan story line was supposed to be in Avatar The Last Airbender, but it was cut due to time constraints. A lot like the search for Zuko's mother arch and there was supposed to be a whole thing with Azula and an arranged marriage that she didn't want to be a part of.

[@Geminias]

Jeong wanted aang to learn water and earth so that he was mature enough to learn fire. In the episode where Toph teaches Aang earth bending, when katara talks to aang he says that if Fire and Water are opposites - what's the opposite of air? Implying that Earth would be the most difficult for him to learn.

[@greenfire31]

the lion turtles gave man the ABILITY to use the elements. The animals/spirits gave man the KNOWLEDGE to use the elements. That's how the Earthbenders got the power from the turtles, but learned from the badger moles.

[@arissantorisonmars9271]

They got the power to bend from the Lion Turtles, the Dragons/Moon/Sky Bison/Badger Moles taught them how to bend, and they draw power from the Sun/Moon/Earth/Sky

[@BingleFlimp]

What I got from this episode is that the spirits at one time drifted into the world and threatened humans so much that they had to huddle on top of Lion-turtles for safety, you had that lemur looking spirit telling the humans to "get out of the forest". So Korra later decides that making them both live side by side is a good thing because? Yeah, why not force all humans to coexist with creatures that will just come into your home and act erratically to things you do. Accidently drop something and a spirit happens to be there? Have fun when that particular spirit gets angry and perhaps attacks you or even possesses and mutilates you.

[@crimwolf5216]

Why is the 7th blocked in the US I saw it one tv

[@Gamingkrabbe]

The only reason i became Patreon for you where LoK and GoT Right now only LoK :D One thing i always loved about LoK was the Soundtrack. The music is so much better than in ATLA. And ofcourse the rest of Korra at all is much more enjoyable than the first 1,5 seasons.

[@zairaner1489]

Yes the korra avatar theme is so epic. And the soundtrack of season 3 and especially season 4 is just godlike.

[@kaang.1659]

Just agni kai them fuck all korra ost's alone.

[@zairaner1489]

Not even remotely, the soundtrack of season 3 and 4 are far beyond that

[@thepatriottz9205]

Raphael Schmidpeter it's called ginoras light sacrifice and something I don't know

[@zairaner1489]

That one that plays at the end of season 3 is probably my favourite (/watch?v=A6r8msFRYA0) because it is the most epic one, but season 4 probably had the more consistently godlike sounddtrack. The most emotional one was probably Makos Sacrifice (/watch?v=wUNEZob-RHQ)

[@RSIVIonsterism]

Pledged just for this

[@seanarayta9179]

So worth it :D

[@hugoeriksson983]

Hey me too man

[@RememberRox]

Me too, and now I'm unpledging lol. Sorry Blindwave love you but I'm on a students budget lol

[@ilphi08]

One of the biggest question since the Last Air bender is whether it's just a same person's soul going through reincarnations or just avatar spirit going into different people This episode kinda fully explains that it's just Wan' soul going through reincarnations over and over Throughout TLA and TLOK it leaves clues that hints all of the avatars are actually one person in different lifetimes The past lives that current avatar sees is like memories of past Avatars saved within Raavar

[@Allons-yMoose]

I always understood this whole being-able-to-bend-deal like this: The lionturtles gave a few choosen people the ability to bend one of the elements and after they disappeared those few people kept their bending abilities. Over the years they then perfected controlling their element (like Wan did watching the dragon, earthbenders watching the badgermoles and so on) and they genetically passed down the bending ability to their kids. And they taught them the techniques and through the different generations the different nations were build. :)

[@She-Devil94]

Actually Wan learned the elements in the same order the Avatar circle goes. First he learned fire (Roku), then he learned air (Aang), then he learned water (Korra) and finally earth (the Avatar after Korra).

[@armandobenavides1157]

Guys, think of the powers as genetic. Think of it as the giant lion turtles modifying the peoples genetics with the touch they do, they change the person and make them havr powers and since it was a physical change, it is able to be pass down (like the color of eyes, hair, etc). And then bending think of it as the technique. The technique is learned with observation. The waterbenders learned waterbending (the technique to control water) by watching the moon, the push and pull. Firebenders learned firebending (the technique to control fire) from dragons and later was lost and was replaced by emotion. Earthbenders learned earthbending (the technique to control earth) by watching the giant moles. And airbenders learned airbending (the technique to control air) from watching the flying bison.

[@SuperDora150]

I watched your old Mailbags and one time (i don't remember when) you receive a poster from this episode - ending part with Wan as Avatar. ;)