Tarrlok

"water"

- I need someone who will help me attack Amon directly, someone who is fearless in the face of danger, and that someone is you.

Tarrlok is the Northern Water Tribe representative on the United Republic Council. He is an ambitious politician who is considered fair-minded and likable by the general public and wants what is best for Republic City. However, he can be manipulative behind council doors, and he holds a long-standing rivalry with Tenzin, whom he frequently clashes with on what is best for the city. After Mako and Korra's firsthand experience with the Equalists, Tarrlok finally recruited Korra to fight the Equalist Revolution after much persuasion and bribery.

With the Avatar now on his side, Tarrlok later led a raid alongside a task force consisting of waterbenders, earthbenders, and Korra. This raid was targeted against a secret Equalist training facility in the cellar of a bookstore in the Dragon Flats district.

History
After learning just how dangerous Amon was, Tarrlok proposed a solution to the conflict during a meeting of the United Republic Council: to create a task force whose sole mission was "to fight Amon and bring him to justice". Tenzin immediately dismissed this idea by saying that such an aggressive strategy would only make things worse between benders and non-benders, and claimed it was merely a way to grant Tarrlok more power. However, after volunteering to command the force and saying that even their friends or families could be in danger because of the Equalists, he succeeded in convincing the rest of the Council to approve his idea, much to the dismay of Tenzin.



Tarrlok later interrupted Korra, Tenzin, and his family's dinner time in Air Temple Island. Tenzin highlighted the lack of respect of the councilor, but Tarrlok countered by saying that airbenders never turn away a hungry guest, convincing Tenzin to let him stay. Tarrlok then saluted Korra, expressing his pleasure at meeting her. He introduced himself as the representative of the Northern Water Tribe in the Council. He then sat down and was interrogated by Ikki, who asked him why he had three ponytails and smelled like a lady, to which he answered with a look of contempt and alluded to her precociousness. Tarrlok complimented Korra for her initiative during the Equalist rally and began explaining to her that Republic City was now better after her arrival, but Tenzin interrupted asking him to stop with the flattering, and reveal the real reason of his visit. To the surprise of Korra and her airbending master, he asked the Avatar to join his task force to stop Amon, as he needed someone fearless to be able to face him directly. However, Korra declined his offer, stating that she had come to Republic City to train airbending so she should focus on that. Tarrlok, surprised by her answer, tried to insist, but Tenzin stopped him saying that Korra had already made a decision so he should now go. The Councilman did so, adding that he would not give up yet, and left the temple.

The following days, Tarrlok began sending a series of increasingly lavish gifts to Korra in order to convince her to accept his invitation, ranging from a basket of gifts to a luxurious Satomobile. However, the Avatar didn't change her mind. The Councilman then decided to invite Korra to a gala he would throw in her honor. During the party, Tarrlok led the Avatar to some journalists, who began asking questions about Amon, the Equalist revolution, and her refusal to participate in the mission. Korra, upset at their accusations about her backing away and being afraid of Amon, finally announced she would participate in the mission.



In the City Hall, Tarrlok explained the first mission to a group of waterbenders, earthbenders, and Korra: A raid on an underground chi blocker training camp located in the cellar of a bookstore in the Dragon Flats district. Led by the Councilman, the group broke into the place and started fighting. Tarrlok saved Korra when she was being attacked by two Equalists, freezing one of them against the wall. After defeating all the chi blockers, the task force arrested them in the presence of journalists.

In a conference, Tarrlok announced the result of the raid, and said that Republic City had nothing to fear with himself and the Avatar leading the charge. At the question of a journalist about their leader still being free, the Avatar publicly challenged Amon to a duel that night on Aang Memorial Island. Later, when Korra was about to set out to the location they agreed upon, Tarrlok, at Tenzin's accusation to have caused this, claimed to have talked to Korra about her decision, but she had already made up her mind. After the Avatar left, the Councilman informed Tenzin he was going to be watching the island closely, and that if something went wrong, he had a fleet of police airships ready to swoop down.

When Amon threatened the council with "severe consequences" if the Pro-bending Tournament was not cancelled, Tarrlok and the rest of the council unanimously agreed to shut down the arena, much to the disappointment of the Fire Ferrets. However, as he was about to declare the decision as final, Chief Lin Beifong of the Metalbending Police Force entered the meeting, and demanded the council show backbone. If they allowed the arena to stay open, Lin agreed to provide security for the match. Tarrlok and the rest of the council, except Tenzin, accepted this agreement, thus the match continued on as planned.

Following the Equalists' successful attack on the arena, Tarrlok was quick to call a press conference during which he put the blame for the arena's destruction in Lin's hands. Pointing out that she had failed to protect the city, he stated that the Police Force needed new leadership in order to survive the dire times coming their way.

Personality
Though the public sees him as a fair-minded, likable person who wants the best for Republic City, Tarrlok is a very ambitious individual and can be very manipulative behind closed doors. Tenzin and Tarrlok have a long-standing rivalry between each other, they rarely agree on what is best for Republic City. Despite his ambitions, he does seem to care for the city, trying to stop Korra from going after Amon, and shutting down the pro-bending finals when Amon threatened to cause trouble.

Abilities
Tarrlok has demonstrated great skill in waterbending. He was able to defeat many chi blockers at an Equalist hideout with ease. He has enough confidence in his skills to lead a special task force, and also has demonstrated himself to be quite intelligent, being quite aware of the Equalist movements and historical events.

Trivia

 * Since he has three ponytails and presumably puts perfume on, Ikki called him "ponytail man" and asked him why he smelled like a lady, much to his displeasure.
 * Tarlock is a name of Irish origins that means "instigator" or "abettor", perhaps referencing his manipulative nature as stated by Tenzin.