The Earth Queen

"The Earth Queen" is the third episode of Book Three: Change of The Legend of Korra and the 29th of the overall series. It aired on Nickelodeon along with "A Breath of Fresh Air" and "Rebirth of a Nation" on June 27, 2014.

Overview
''Korra and the members of Team Avatar look for airbenders on a diplomatic visit to Ba Sing Se, but find that the Earth Queen has little interest to help their cause. Meanwhile, Mako and Bolin rediscover their roots in Ba Sing Se's Lower Ring.''

Synopsis
While aboard the Future Industries airship, Jinora, Asami, and Naga overly a friendly airbending spar between Bumi and Kai, with the intention of teaching the two new airbenders the stances associated with the art form.

Jinora reminds Bumi to remain quick and evasive, but he reassures the young Air Nomad that his experience in fighting will ascertain an easy victory, even going so far as to minimize Kai as a threat by referring to him as a youngster. Before he could finish his statement, Kai knocks Bumi out of balance by sending an air swipe in between his feet, prompting Jinora to remind Bumi to work on his stance changes and compliment Kai on his form. Shortly after, Bumi notices that Kai took his wallet and attempts to retrieve it to no avail, much to Jinora's amusement.

While watching the training from the balcony, Korra expresses her excitement over traveling to Ba Sing Se in search of airbenders and proceeds to ask Tenzin what the Earth Queen is like. Tenzin reveals that he does not personally know the Earth Queen, but tells Korra that he's heard of her demanding disposition.

Upon approaching the walls of Ba Sing Se, Bolin runs to the balcony and calls Mako over to take a look at the view, excitedly declaring that it was where their dad had grown up. Korra, Mako, and Bolin recoil in disgust as the airship passes through the Lower Ring, the young Avatar remarking how terrible it looked. Bolin excitedly greets the people of the Middle Ring once the airship passes through the second set of walls within the city and the airship promptly makes it way to the Upper Ring.

As the zeppelin docks at the Earth Kingdom Royal Palace, Korra and her party are greeted by Grand Secretariat Gun, who is quick to instruct the members of Team Avatar how to conduct themselves around the Earth Queen. Kai notices a citizen of the Upper Ring laden with jewels and sneaks away from the rest of the group as they are led to their quarters.

Gun escorts Korra to the Earth Queen, who is overseeing a garden expansion on the palace grounds from a balcony. Hou-Ting frigidly addresses Korra, who she suspects to be in her palace for a favor. She blames Korra for her past life's actions, which led to the annexation of Earth Kingdom territory to create the United Republic of Nations. The Earth Queen continues to list the problems that have manifested in her nation, telling Korra about roving bands of barbarians in the countryside and her subject's refusal to pay taxes. Korra attempts to reason with the queen, but is unable to do so as Hou-Ting begins to yell at her servants.

Back at Team Avatar's quarters, Jinora notices Kai's absence, prompting Mako and Bolin to search for him under Tenzin's request. In the palace, Korra requests Hou-Ting's help in recruiting newly discovered airbenders in Ba Sing Se, but she refuses to even consider providing her assistance until the Avatar completes a favor of her choosing. After Korra reluctantly agrees, Earth Queen Hou-Ting instructs her to retrieve a tax shipment from a vault located in a town just outside of the city walls, two of which had already been stolen by barbarians.

Bolin and Mako search for Kai in the Upper Ring and find him scamming unsuspecting residents with his airbending. Mako calls him out and he flees in response, eventually leading the two to a monorail cart. Mako corners him and grabs him by the collar, of which he immediately slips out. Kai defends himself and sends the two brothers back with an air blast, before leaving them stranded in the cart on the way to the Lower Ring.

Mako and Bolin attempt to catch a train back to the Upper Ring, but find themselves unable to do so after realizing that Kai had stolen their money. Without a means to purchase tickets, the brothers decide to sleep in the streets until they find a way back to the Upper Ring.

Back at the palace, Korra and Asami decide to take the airship and retrieve the tax shipment without Mako and Bolin. Asami expresses concern about the fact that they were unaccompanied, but Korra reassures her by stating that royal guards stationed at the vault would keep them protected.

In the Lower Ring, Bolin expresses concern about Kai's condition, unaware that he used the money he collected to rent a servant and a luxurious home in the Upper Ring. The two brothers walk by a fruit stand, and Bolin attempts to coerce the firebender to help him with the "fruit stand scam" they used to execute in the past. Mako refuses to take part and expresses his disgust at the state of the fruit on display, prompting a wary Tu to appear from behind the stand. He interrogates the brothers and attempts to intimidate them, eventually tackling the two to the ground after concluding that they were planning to steal fruit. Tu's father appears shortly after and recognizes Mako and Bolin as his brother's children, much to their surprise.

Zuko and Tonraq arrive at the Northern Water Tribe and visit Desna and Eska, who they ask to accompany them to a secret ice prison in the western tundras of the North Pole.

Back at Ba Sing Se, Mako and Bolin meet their father's family, including their grandmother Yin, who is particularly elated to meet her grandchildren. She promptly inquires about her son and daughter-in-law, but is disheartened to hear from Mako that the two were killed while he and Bolin were still young.

Korra and Asami arrive to collect the tax shipment, but became immediately wary of their surroundings after noticing residents fleeing indoors. As the guards bring the shipment out to load in the airship, they are attacked by a group of barbarians on motorcycles. The leader instructs Korra and Asami to leave the shipment but the two refuse, causing a fight to erupt in which Korra and Asami quickly take the upper hand. The leader calls his men to retreat and tells Korra that she is fighting for the wrong side before fleeing the scene.

Back in the tundras of the Northern Water Tribe, Zuko tells Desna and Eska of how he built the secret ice prison along with Tonraq and Unalaq in order to contain P'Li, a firebender who could use combustion to create explosions with her mind. He recalls how he once hired Combustion Man, who was capable of the same technique, in a failed attempt to kill the Avatar. Eska comforts him and recalls the time she attempted to kill Korra for ruining her wedding with Bolin.

They arrive at the cell, much to P'Li's amusement, who concludes that Zaheer must have escaped to prompt the arrival of visitors.

Credits

 * Written by:
 * Tim Hedrick


 * Directed by:
 * Ian Graham


 * Starring:
 * Janet Varney - Korra
 * David Faustino - Mako
 * P.J. Byrne - Bolin
 * J.K. Simmons - Tenzin
 * Seychelle Gabriel - Asami
 * Jeff Bennett - Radio broadcaster
 * Dee Bradley Baker:
 * Naga
 * Pabu
 * Oogi
 * Aaron Himelstein - Desna
 * Aubrey Plaza - Eska
 * James Remar - Tonraq
 * Richard Riehle - Bumi
 * Kiernan Shipka - Jinora


 * Also starring:
 * Gary Cole:
 * Dai Li sergeant
 * Rich man
 * Bruce Davison - Lord Zuko
 * Greg Cipes:
 * Tu
 * Cousin
 * Carlos Alazraqui:
 * Chow
 * Train guard
 * Earth Kingdom guard
 * Uncle
 * Skyler Brigmann - Kai
 * Susan Silo - Yin
 * Kristy Wu - P'Li
 * Jayne Taini:
 * Queen Hou-Ting
 * Aunt
 * Pat Fraley - Gombo
 * Mitchell Whitfield:
 * Gun
 * Conductor
 * Waiter

Series continuity

 * Earth Queen Hou-Ting recalls Avatar Aang and Zuko's involvement in the annexation of Earth Kingdom land. The two worked with Earth King Kuei, Hou-Ting's father, during the Harmony Restoration Movement to deal with Fire Nation colonies following the end of the Hundred Year War. It was revealed in "Welcome to Republic City" that the colonies were eventually transformed into the United Republic of Nations.
 * Bolin and Mako recall the time they spent as part of the Triple Threat Triad, which was explored in Republic City Hustle.
 * Zuko recounts the time when he hired Combustion Man to kill Avatar Aang in "The Headband".
 * Eska recalls the time she and Desna pursued Korra on her way to the Fire Nation in "Peacekeepers".

Character revelations

 * Hou-Ting is Kuei's daughter.

Trivia

 * This episode was first reported by IGN under an early name, "Meet the Family".