Hou-Ting's prisoner

"The first few months were great, I-I could finally get some sleep, but ... now I really miss them."

— The prisoner telling Mako and Bolin about his staying in the dungeon.

Hou-Ting's prisoner
Biographical information
Nationality	Earth Kingdom
Ethnicity	Earth Kingdom
Physical description
Eye color	Brown
Hair color	Gray
Skin color	Tan
Personal information
Love interest	His wife
Allies	Zaheer
Enemies	Hou-Ting
Political information
Position	Prisoner (formerly)
Chronological information
First appearance	"Long Live the Queen" (only appearance)
Voiced by	Jeff Bennett

This prisoner is an Earth Kingdom citizen who was sent to the dungeon underneath the Earth Kingdom Royal Palace by Earth Queen Hou-Ting in 167 AG. He remained incarcerated until 171 AG, when he was freed by Zaheer.

History

This prisoner occupied the cell next to the one Mako and Bolin were thrown into in 171 AG. From that position, he overheard Mako telling Bolin that they needed to escape before Zaheer found Korra. Holding out a mirror in order to be able to look at them, he asked the brothers to take him with them, mentioning that he had not seen his wife and five children in four years. He added that, while the first few months of separation had been great, as he had been able to have a decent night's rest, he came to really miss them. When Mako expressed his confidence in Bolin's ability to metalbend, the prisoner grew excited over the possibility, siding with Mako and following him in his supportive chant for Bolin. After the attempt failed, however, he asked the brothers if they brought some toilet paper with them.

Some time later, the prisoner heard Zaheer announce over Ba Sing Se's communication system that Earth Queen Hou-Ting had been assassinated and that the city was returned leaderless to the people. Overhearing Mako mention to Bolin that they had to get out of there because Zaheer was going to go after Korra next, the prisoner asked if they knew Zaheer, declaring him to be his hero. His excited expression fell, however, upon being told by Mako to shut up. Soon after, his cell door was unlocked by Zaheer and he rapidly made his way out of the dungeon with the other freed prisoners.

Appearances

The Legend of Korra

Book Three: Change (易)

• 310. "Long Live the Queen"

Trivia

• The prisoner's extensive use of a mirror led to many retakes of "Long Live the Queen", as his mole kept being drawn on the wrong side of his face during development.
  • The idea for the prisoner using a mirror to communicate with his fellow inmates was based on an off-hand pitch made during early production that storyboard artist Shaun O'Neil used when developing scenes with the prisoner.