Overanalyzing Korra: The Earth Queen

Ma'am this is a Wendy's...
OG Overanalyzing Korra: (Overanalyzing What?) / overanalyzingwhat
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[@hammarkids542]

Leave a like and drop a comment! It pushes these videos out to the algorithm so more viewers can watch it!

[@toastmaster914]

Just on time

[@The_book_writer]

I love how you randomly say “I love Bolin” or “I love these two”

[@skeepodoop5197]

4:31 Considering how chill and often disconnected at time the earth king was, I don't think its THAT weird that she ended up a Karen, which we all know is the evolved form of a spoiled brat.

[@JakeMeesce]

It’s pretty common that in positions of power if a parent figure is not revered by the masses then the child will grow up shamed that they have to not only demand respect for themselves but also compensate for the image their parent created

[@eserey]

I don’t think that’s Kai’s last name, I think he just gave the butler a fake name.

[@abthedragon4921]

Yeah, that's what I thought too

[@PennFaulkner]

Same here

[@violetadams4428]

Small thing to mention. But Zaheer didn't have a lot of time to train. He studied air nomad culture, combat, and history. But he didn't get airbending until harmonic convergence.

[@SkyPerson]

Still had a couple of weeks after Harmonic Convergence before he broke out But yeah still not a lot of time

[@Shunshnura]

I mentioned this in the stream chat, but at 17:47 Kai’s pupil enlarges after the door closes and the light fades away, really nice little detail I just realized after watching this video.

[@thatgreenneko]

I typed out my comment basically exactly about this and then read this lol

[@missmarsh1011]

"There's nothin' to say here. I love Bolin." Same.

[@abthedragon4921]

Fun fact, the Earth Queen is based off the Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi who reigned during the late Qing dynasty. Like seriously, put a picture of the Earth Queen and Empress Cixi next to each other, it's almost a carbon copy. They're also similar in terms of personality. Empress Cixi opposed modernization and spent lavishly while her people suffered. Similarly in Legend of Korra, the Earth Queen spends the massive amounts of money she has on palaces, monuments and topiaries while her people struggle to get by. She doesn't seem to be too opposed to modernization since the palace uses airships but I figure she's not too into the idea, since she's a monarch who still wants to keep her power and privileges. Ok I guess that's not much of a "fun" fact considering the context but I just like the bits of real-world history this show integrates into its lore and world building.

[@arieldahl]

but take note that even though they got her airships - they got the cheaper ones rather than Sato industry's airships

[@abthedragon4921]

@@arieldahl True

[@unkindled6410]

@@arieldahl it is noted that the stuff the earth kingdom military has is not as highquality as it should be, so the queen is being a cheapstake and hoarding all the money for her own BS even when it comes to stuff like her own security.

[@matijasostojic4288]

Oh cool. I just thought she was based of a chimp with the rules that were given to the team about how to act around her without angering her.

[@Lily_Hasson666]

Sounds like some kings and queens. Some kings and queens spend their money on palaces and items for themselves and they don't help their citizens when the citizens are in need.

[@CarlosRIOS777]

Something I don’t think anyone talks about is how Desna’s comments on his tailor is very reminiscent of the Earth Queen. While the twins are funny, they do have that same cruel ruler energy the Red Lotus are trying to get rid of.

[@catsfan6984]

That moment with Mako, Bolin and their Grandma is everything. I think their relationship is the best in the entirety of the show and it gets one of the best endings. And that was one of the best moments in Korra from an emotional perspective.

[@Sly-Moose]

If you wanna know what the symbolism is, it's the fact that darkness is now overshadowing that young, innocent boy (the light being his innocence (to not kill) and childhood being taken away) who's being forced to become a soldier in an army. Gave me very child soldier vibes that you see irl. That's how I saw it.

[@kingjamization]

Only other media I thought did this right as of right now was Metal Gear Solid 2 when they went from making Riden a wuss to a soldier with a legit reason to hate the system that screwed him from the word go

[@Pegasus3010HD]

I believe Kai imagined the last name. Like how every important person has to have one. He felt like with his money he deserves it

[@aliza_h]

"Ma'am, this is a Wendy's." I CACKLED

[@dragonbonecatacomb]

colin is so precious

[@MrStanFungi]

the man himself is doing this now. It'll be interesting to see 2 people overanalyze it

[@claytonrios1]

Oh yes. Earth Queen Hou-Ting. They deliberately made her as unlikable as possible and they certainly accomplished that. But I also really love the fight that Korra and Asami get into against those Mad Max punks. They're so in sync through the whole thing and Asami pulls off some impressive athletic moves.

[@EpicDestroyer89YT]

I remember when I watched LOK they were introducing Pu Li, I saw characters in the cold and the evil bender that they need is a fire bender, instantly thought of Azula but I was wrong and I was okay with being wrong. 😂

[@ocomolinaehain1795]

"There’s nothing to say here" says it anyways. I love hammerkids

[@nielstielemans7913]

I only noticed this while watching this video: but the score as we see the lower ring is the exact same bit of music we hear in ATLA when first seeing Joo Dee, just slower and with different instruments

[@werewolf4925]

Really wish these episodes came out more often. However, seeing these analysis of my favorite season is always a good time :3

[@hammarkids542]

Yeah, I wish I could get them out more often too but I have quite a lot of things going on in my personal life that doesn’t allow me to work full time on these videos

[@fanamatakecick97]

This season is immaculate

[@commandere2475]

Yay, more overanalyzing. Oh, and also I hope the virus doesn't leave any long term effects.

[@dominickeijzer5844]

8:57 This is actually really interesting! I read about it on the Avatar Wiki, and apparently there's different naming conventions for each nation. In the Water Tribe, people are referred to as [name] of [place]. Hence, Katara is Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. It probably used to be divided into cities, but after the hundred-year war there was only really one Water Tribe. The Earth Kingdom just use nouns to make up their names, hence people can be called Opal, or Hope. Usually it's kept to one or two syllables (i.e. Toph is one syllable). They share a lot of naming similarities with the Fire Nation, and I believe the same likely goes for surnames. The Fire Nation passes down letters and syllables (i.e. Azula and Zuko got Ozai's Z, who got it from Azulon, and him from Sozin) while constructing more names around them, limited to one or two syllables. They have 'clan' names, and tend to only use them to show off or in case it's relevant information. I'd imagine the same goes for the Earth Kingdom, hence Kai and Toph are shown to get what they want via surnames, while monarchs are important enough to get by without namedrops. The Air Nomads just use one word for each name, and put either 'Sister' or 'Monk' as a title. I don't think there was any real information on the wiki about where these names come from. If anyone has any more information to add, please share! I'd love to hear.

[@dominickeijzer5844]

Also, I think there's something else to add revolving around Republic City. Due to it being new, there's not much culture around names yet; it's a smorgasboard of all the different cultures. However, people like the the Satos, Lin, and Varrick seem to apply a far more 'modern' sense of names; their names are a part of their identity (with Varrick even going by his surname, his forename is actually Iknik), while the Satos have a brand revolving around their names (the Satomobiles). Lin also uses her surname to refer to herself, in a similar way to how people do today.

[@andrewvanhorne4359]

I didn't realize the word swanky was so uncommon. I guess it's a generational thing. I mainly hear it used by my older relatives (in their 60s and 70s).

[@abdirixmanaxmed875]

You have to OPEY the rules of REALTY got me good😂😅

[@cl0p38]

Hell yeah! Sunday highlight!

[@thatonedude473furryrights8]

It would've been so cool if Kai actually lost his right eye at some point, would've made that little scar-esque sliver of light a cool forshadow.

[@Chaosking5445]

I’m not sure if I like the fan connection for the grandmother because I believe it would just be a connection just for the sake of a connection that doesn’t make much sense

[@SkyPerson]

Agreed, I mainly don’t like it because Yin the grandma doesn’t act like Jin at all! Like I know people change as they get older that’s obvious but still Jim never displays a particular affection towards the royals like the grandma does I also still ship her with Zuko (don’t get mad) and if this were true that means that relationship never went through

[@Chaosking5445]

@@SkyPerson and if it did go through, then she would mostly be living in the fire nation, not in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se so the connection still doesn’t work

[@SkyPerson]

@@Chaosking5445 yeah that was my point, if Jin is the grandmother then that 100% means that Jin and Zuko didn’t end up together and since I ship them I don’t believe this theory

[@mg_makintosh]

3:00 TLOK uses a lot of terms from the 1920's, and the setting seems to be set around then as well. Consider the design of the SatoMobiles and compare them to early Ford cars. Also, the trans-atlantic accent is EVERYWHERE in TLOKorra, and "movers" are just being invented (granted, this happened in the 1890's, but the transatlantic accent didnt become popular until the 1910s, when movers really started getting popular.) Later seasons have more comparisons to issues that happened in the 1940's such as the invention of the atom bomb in comparison to spirit vine tech, but from my point of view, Korra was meant to take place in the 20's. All that to say, "swanky" is a term that was used a lot in the 20s-40s, right around the time Korra would have taken place (in our concept of time). TLOK often uses vocabulary that was popular back then, particularly Varrick and eventually Bolin after spending more time with him. (See: Varrick meeting Asami, saying shes got "moxie")

[@TheVisionaryLeo]

yay, you're back! great episode!

[@ManforSomeMarkets]

7:17 I think Mako used a one of the separate entrances rather than teleportation

[@AmitCinematicUniverse]

Overanalyzing Avatar is on this series. I wonder if you two could work together on a Korra video one day.

[@hammarkids542]

He’s a way bigger fish then I am, it’s up to him lmfao

[@finessekidmike2466]

thanks bro this is all i wanted

[@jacawandersmok9043]

9:00 or he made it up to feell or appeer as uper class who have that big amout of gold coins

[@linkthehero8431]

Hearing "swanky" at 2:59 reminded me of one of my favorite Nintendo KZbinrs, Swanky Box.

[@Ballref]

i love this! keep it up

[@Phantom-Shadow567]

12:46 he reminds me of Fistrick from Ben 10 Omniverse

[@dallasdragneel]

we're getting there to the best part of the season. (bolins power up) i think that happens this season

[@amitavrashmi17]

It is

[@violetadams4428]

I think the symbolism of the light on Kai's eye thinning. Is meant to show how wrong the scene is. Air and light are both meant to represent freedom. Here is the Dai Lee. Agents of the earth queen, kidnapping kids. And Kai seeing the last bit of light before (in the moment) being turned into a killing machine and never being free again. Seeing his last bit of freedom.

[@qgame4941]

I honestly don't know what to comment, liked the video. Recover well! And have a nice day

[@MumboJ]

This is gonna sound really stupid, but I somehow didn't realize that Mako and Bolin are actually biological brothers until just now. I always assumed they just called each other "brother" because they grew up on the street together as orphans, Found Family and all that. I'm not sure how I completely blanked that conversation with their Grandmother about their parents.

[@Avery_Productions]

Swanky definitely a gen z Tik tok term

[@Ballref]

already subscribed with the bells on

[@thedarethnator2216]

Toned into the livestream for a couple minutes but then saw some WACHY shanaiguns goin on and my phone died

[@ThirtytwoJ]

Kai stole an ID

[@thatgreenneko]

18:15 AND HIS PUPIL CHANGES SIZE. I never noticed it until now and thought you were gonna mention it but you just mentioned the placement of the light.

[@hammarkids542]

I noticed it literally as this episode was premiering

[@radeyabedin8583]

i been watching this series on and off and I have to see this series helped me appreciate things about Korra I previously ignored because the things I found off-putting were so... loud in my brain. Still, I really wish they delved into Mako and Bolins backstory a bit more in Season 1 somehow. Flashbacks to show how the characterizations of the Bolin and Mako change from trauma or something. Also it would have been cool to see Mako turn into batman. Im imagining a scene where vigilante Mako tracks down some thugs, sneaks into a pitch-black room, and starts taking them out with a surprise attack. AND the only lighting is from his and others firebending. Can you imagine it? Darkness, then beautifully animated fire showing Mako's person for a second, then back to darkness. Maybe Bolin gets kidnapped by Amon and thats his motivation. Idk man do longer comments boost the video more?

[@hammarkids542]

any comment whatsoever boosts the video more, so thanks :) doesn’t matter if you commented a whole essay or just the letter E, the algorithm likes it

[@metno.1thetankengine373]

It must be electric because there is no evidence of it being steam and electric trains use air brakes to. And it also isn’t a subway because it is not under ground. 7:33

[@hammarkids542]

oh boy, we got a train lover on our hands! I automatically assumed it would be steam because magnet/electric trains don’t come into the show until book 4

[@metno.1thetankengine373]

Um actually electric trams appeared in Republic City as early as season 1. 🤓

[@amitavrashmi17]

I love this episode so much the world building in this one episode is amazing Also a request for when we will reach the last episode of the show is to mention how many time you said there os nothing to say I just love bolin you say this so many time and since we had one for f**ck you tarlock

[@SkyPerson]

8:31 I think it’s supposed to be Korra mocking the Earth Queen and that it’s just not a great take

[@DanyMor]

4:17 i mean, she is not wrong xd

[@Redboots]

iirc the reason the united republic even exists is because it was one of the earliest fire nation colonies and couldn't return to the earth kingdom easily because it was so far removed from its heritage, and it's a parallel to hong kong. it raises some some fascinating commentary in regards to more recent events than s3 of korra. also, it's entirely likely that the earth queen was raised by a group of people who weren't her parents, so her being arrogant and rude isn't outta the question, especially if you look at some of queen victoria's early diaries. also it can't be a mad max fury road reference; mad max fury road released in 2015, whilst s3 of korra released in 2014.

[@arieldahl]

correct about "mad max - fury road", but notice that these visuals start being used in mad max 2 and onward so even if @Hammarkids misspoke, it may still be a "mad max" reference - just not "mad max 4"

[@Redboots]

@@arieldahl yes of course, I didn't intend to come across as saying it wasn't a mad max reference, it's just not a fury road reference.

[@skeepodoop5197]

Overanalising Avatar; "I'm sorry, little one." *finally starts a series overanalising Korra. *Half of hammerkids views are destroyed.

[@hilgigas09]

Kai is the only prisoner with injuries, that means they probably roughed him up between scenes. He tried to run and probably resisted the entire time. I'm hoping it's a case of visual storytelling and not just laziness. I like season 3 but the conversation with Hou-ting highlights my main gripe with Korra. She gets no respect when she does the right thing. If it was Aang he would have given an ultimatum with the implicit threat of violence that no one can prevent. Here it just looks like Korra is throwing a hissy fit, even though she is significantly more powerful that Aang was during ATLA. Am I alone in thinking the show intentionally disrespects the Avatar? PS. Get well soon.

[@jamaalfridge]

It's weird that when I think of Avatars that can throw hands, Aang isn't supposed to be high on that list, being an Air Nomad. The way Yangchen handled matters with subtlety and precision, I wouldn't have expected Aang to be as violent as he was. That said, Korra, for her hotheadedness, gives more rope than I would've expected, so I think your observation is right.

[@unkindled6410]

tbf though, doesn take much to realize what was going on in there and how wrong it was, we saw from the first episode that, despite everything Korra always has a rightfull heart and doesnt stand innocent people being stepped on by others, she already saw through the queens BS, but was probably gonna try and ''play'' her game for a bit more until she just dismissed her completely by telling (and lying) theres no air benders in ba sin see even though she wasnt even allowed to also look for some herself, she just dismissed her in about a day when she traveled from very far to do such an important mission, so at that point Korra got sick of all of that and decided it didnt even matter to even try and be cool with that bitch, shes not getting any help out of this queen and she clearly just wants to boss even the most powerfull living human in their planet who just saved them from an end of the world scenario around like shes just another peasant. so in a way i dont blame Korra for throwing a fit there. also a bit of her decision making in that situation might be related to her previous experience with Unalaq, she knows what happened last time she dealt with a power drunk high rank politician, and shes not waiting for it to snap and try to pull a surprise card out of their sleeves to try and take her out of comission.

[@Jayquinator-X]

I just assumed there was a new earth king. Didn’t the one from ATLA run away after the war?

[@arieldahl]

he hadn't abdicated. he just was a king without a throne or kingdom (remember, he left after Azula led a successful coup against him). he spent that time touching grass and seeing the World, but if Aang was capable of a bit of bad parenting - an airhead like the earth king definitely could. at the end of the war Ba Sing Se is retaken from the fire nation and the king is eventually reinstated. the creation of the independent colonies (that became the United Republic) of happened during the decolonisation period that Zuko and the King tried to do [that is among the story from "the promise" comics]. the earth queen even says: "after everything that the last Avatar did to the earth kingdom. he and firelord Zuko took advantage of my father's weakness and stole our lands to make their own little Empire the United Republic is Earth Kingdom territory"

[@emmyjr1231]

Spinoff of Overanalyzing Avatar? lol

[@hammarkids542]

Yes sir! He is 100% okay with me doing this series and has given me permission both publicly and privately. Go to the pinned comment of the first episode of this series and see for yourself

[@Slayer9568]

I wish they would give us some info on why Yin loves the Earth Queen it doesn't really make sense and it's not that funny of a gag either

[@floatie1x249]

E (algorithm)

[@sanderkong2075]

comment

[@Eh.........]

comment

[@YwY-ct5yq]

I was so dissapointed how they were sooo weak against zaheer ... Its so disrespectful to qhat they are...

[@SkyPerson]

Wait, who was weak against Zaheer? He doesn’t show up this episode. Do you mean the White Lotus Guards?

[@patrickbliss9264]

7:40 Using earthbenders would've been way cheaper.

[@thepurplepaw2231]

Um no???

[@patrickbliss9264]

@@thepurplepaw2231 installation, maintenance, getting the water, heating, training drivers all would cost more money than hiring 2 + already trained earthbenders to push a couple of carriages.

[@thepurplepaw2231]

@@patrickbliss9264 unlikely. Installation is a one-time thing, and with Earthbenders being rare, let alone trained ones, this would be a cheaper option overall most likely. Companies love to profit of of such technology, and would be doing everything they could to make it cheap.

[@patrickbliss9264]

@@thepurplepaw2231 Ba Sing Se has the money for benders.