Talk:And the Winner Is.../@comment-1854947-20120505170228/@comment-65.24.63.11-20120506024407

Although, in the original series, "Cave of Two Lovers" was essentially a ship-heavy episode with a comical Sokka subplot then it ends with a cliff hanger. This episode generally does the same thing. It is ship-heavy with the pro-bending tournament as the "background" plot and then it redirects your attention to the real issue at hand with a cliffhanger. So I wasn't really displeased about the episode -- I expect a few of these to float around now and again, plus it satisfies the shows shippers (or just fuels the war, whatever).

However, I've noticed that the creators of the show like to slip in episodes like these right before doo-doo hits the fan. I think this episode served three major purposes: strengthening Korra's gaang in terms of friendship/trust (character development), leveling the shipping battlefield a bit and being the "calm before the storm" so to speak. I think it met those goals pretty well. Also, if my observation/theory is correct, then this episode is indeed foreshadowing a intense, primary plot episode :)  *cheers silently* ;)