Going into this week’s episode of Legend of Korra, I was nervous. Not for Korra’s storyline (which, by the way, was great), but because I knew, based on the previews, that the character of Asami was slated to show up.
As much as I love having TV shows where there are ensembles that include multiple awesome, kickass ladies, they always make me nervous. Not because I think the writers of Korra can’t handle multiple awesome female characters, because they’ve proven they can in the past, but because because inevitably, one of them will be favored over the other. And when that happens, a whole lot of sexist language will be used back and forth, and the fans of the show in question will make me sad. And Korra fans, when I went through tumblr and twitter after the episode aired, you did not fail to disappoint.
The show has, canonically, not told us much about Asami. We know she’s pretty and likes Mako, and Mako likes her. So far, she seems unobjectionable. She’s generous with her money and she’s not snobby or afraid to mix it up with people who aren’t as rich or fancy as she is. She rides a moped and loves watching people beat people up with their bending. Also, her hair is awesome. If you just read people’s reactions though, you would be forgiven for thinking that she’s a man-stealing bitch who’s in league with Amon and set to destroy the universe while stomping on everyone’s hopes and dreams.
I can’t address the Amon thing, because that’s just so far-fetched I’m not going to dignify it with a response. The only reason it exists, from what I can tell, is that people think she “stole Mako from Korra.” Really, guys? After three episodes where, as far as I can tell, Mako and Korra have shown, at best, some crush-like feelings for each other, she’s some sort of home wrecker? Newsflash! These are teenagers. They can date around. So Mako’s seeing another girl. First of all, if Korra is interested, she’s not exactly making a move or letting him know, and even if she was, he’s allowed to not be interested in her back. Second of all, Korra’s kind of busy, you know, dealing with chi-blocking PTSD and becoming the Avatar. She barely has time to make pro bending practices, let alone to be dating. Third of all, who the hell says Korra needs a dude, anyway? Maybe she’s a lesbian. Maybe she’s not interested in anyone. Maybe she likes Bolin. Maybe she does like Mako but either isn’t interested in making a move right now or doesn’t like him enough to want to date him. Either way, there’s nothing to steal.
(Also, can you blame Asami? I mean did you see Mako all cleaned up? I feel like I’d much rather give her a high five and gossip about if Mako’s a good kisser or not. Get it, girl.)
Real talk time, Korra fans. It is so rare that we get to see female characters who are strong and well-developed, let alone see them on the same show, let alone see them on a show that is not made specifically for or created by women. Can we revel in the potential of having that before we immediately start trying to destroy it? Because I’d really, really appreciate that, thanks.
Clacked by Julia Hass 
on Apr 30, 2012 @ 15:01 EST5EDT
This is why we can’t have nice things, people.
And while I got a little defensive of the budding Korra/Mako relationship, I’m not going to vilify Asami after one episode. Plus, I was much more worried about Korra getting in over her head with the extremists and getting seriously hurt.
Sidenote: on my other favorite and beautiful animated Saturday cartoon Young Justice, the new season started this past weekend with a five year jump that showed Miss Martian no longer dating Super Boy and instead with the newly introduced Lagoon Boy. When going online to see fans’ reactions, so many of them already hate Lagoon Boy after maybe 10 minutes on screen. So the good news is that sometimes over-exaggerated fan hate for a new love interest can happen for either gender … hooray?
Also, I’m pretty sure there are thousands of girls (and guys) who are quickly developing a red scarf fetish. And on another topic, the quick flashback to good ole (grown up) Team Avatar made me very excited for future flashbacks.
Asami looks a little like Katy Perry, that makes her evil… but seriously, tropolously speaking, she doesnt have the depth of the other characters, or any characters ever in the Avatar universe, therefore she is definitely hiding something, its science, but what she’s hiding… well, theres the upcoming plot twist, mark me words.
So you mean she looks a little like Zooey Deschanel?
*zing*
apparently asami’s character is based off of lust from fma which if u do look at the two you can see the similarities
Oh My God! Is she really? or is that supposition? did they sa that in an interview? thats really exciting
While this franchise has done an excellent job at portraying strong heroines, Asami really is a whole new type in the Avatar Universe. Previously, with Katara, Toph, Azula, Suki, Mai, and Ty Lee we got a group of characters introduced at the right age of discovering what they can do and who they are. Korra follows in that same vain as a similar character several years later when she has a better sense of her abilities and what she wants to do with them. Mako and Bolin go the same route, described as more mature versions of Zuko and Sokka. When I say abilities though, I don’t just mean combat skills; I mean people skills.
In the original series, a divide emerged that only now seems more apparent. By and large, the female characters were either young girls in their tweens or early teens or older women in motherhood or their senior years. Asami brings a whole other aspect of life experience to the table. The first series made due with the first encounters between people of the opposite sex and all the embarrassment and awkwardness that goes with it. When Asami first meets Mako she doesn’t falter over expressing her own embarrassment and quickly moves on to countering it by inviting Mako to dinner. Compared to characters in the original series, this shows another level of confidence and maturity neither Katara or Toph had by not being so self aware, and giving more attention to the other person.
Even before this episode, I hoped to see more engagement between Korra, who carries over many of the aspects associated with the younger characters from the first series, and Asami, adding new layers to the piece. Korra and Asami provide a crucial contrast in the last two scenes of the episode where Korra confronts Amon and Asami opens up about her mother to Mako. Through the whole episode, Korra struggled with how she should express her fear, which only comes out at the end when she breaks down in Tenzen’s arms. We saw this many times before in the original series when an experience became too much for someone to handle. Just like when she first meets Mako though, Asami is not hesitant to show concern or weakness when she admits she feels safe with him.
Everyone has weaknesses and vulnerabilities. What matters is how and when those feelings get expressed. This, in many respects, makes Asami a stronger person than Korra because she knows when and in what way to display those vulnerabilities. I really hope to see them as more than romantic foils. In fact, that aspect of the show really works best at providing an example of the dynamics for what I hope would be, based on the information released on the cast, the relationship between the only women in the show of a similar age.
how is she a strong character? she just looks pretty and got Daddy to sponsor the team. I’m not for or against her. but Mako is hot and nice and i think after ep 5 which just aired. Korra is pretty interested in him, she is the main character, she should get him. it’ll happen. it always does. it’s like Sakka and Sukki. he met her, they were interested, he went to northern water tribe fell for princess moon. she left to become a moon. and he was able to go to Sukki. I’m more interested to see child of Zuko and Mai.
so who cares. the show wants people to do this fan thing. team Asami and team Korra. these guys know how to develope stories so let them and shut up!
peace
Red Phantom