| Michael Dante DiMartino | Hello, this is Mike DiMartino, co-creator, executive producer. |
|---|---|
| Bryan Konietzko | And this is Bryan Konietzko, co-creator and executive producer. |
| Joaquim Dos Santos | This is Joaquim Dos Santos, co-executive producer. |
| Lauren Montgomery | And this is Lauren Montgomery, supervising producer. |
| Bryan | This... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] And this is the last commentary of the last episode... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Of The Legend of Korra. |
| Mike | ... of The Legend of Korra. |
| Joaquim | Ever. |
| Bryan | Ever. |
| Mike | Yeah, you-we've been doing some of these commentaries out of order, but uh, which is why you might have noticed we repeat ourselves sometimes. [Bryan, Lauren, and Joaquim laugh.] But uh, this one, we are doing final, [Bryan affirms.] last. So... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] It's fitting. |
| Mike | And we just mixed this episode yesterday. |
| Joaquim | Hey, uh... |
| Lauren | [In the background.] Whoa. |
| Joaquim | ... just in case I don't get a chance to say it later on, if we get kinda in a bundle, it has been the honor of a lifetime... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Aw, thanks, man. |
| Joaquim | ... to-to be a part of this, guys. It's uh, [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] it's been a lifechanging experience for me, for sure. |
| Lauren | Yeah, and the odds of us getting to work on another thing like this are-we all know what the odds are. [Joaquim affirms; Bryan and Lauren laugh.] So, it was great. |
| Bryan | Well, I think you guys are gonna just have to create it, [Mike affirms.] and then I'll get a job just drawing, like, forks, or uh... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; laughs.] You'll be the fork guy? [Lauren laughs.] |
| Bryan | I'll just-whenever there's utensils to draw... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] But they will be the most thought-out forks. |
| Mike | Aw. |
| Bryan | Guys, we can't thank you enough. I mean, we-we quite literally could not have done this show without you guys. Um... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Yep. And Ryu, shoutout to Ryu, [Bryan affirms.] who's not here. |
| Lauren | Ryu. |
| Mike | Uh... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Big ups to Ryu. [Lauren chuckles.] |
| Bryan | Producer-whenever you-you see us write, or you hear a mention of Producer's Row, it was, like, Joaquim, Lauren, and Ryu's offices were all in a row, and um, they were, like, our uh, second-in-command, running the whole, like, storyboard, directing, and animatic, you know, teams, and uh, that, I mean, back on Avatar, Mike and I, there was a lot more of that stuff that we were managing on top of all of our other [Joaquim affirms.] duties, and um... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Which I don't have any idea how that even... [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Bryan | [In the background; in an exasperated tone.] Oh my gosh. [Lauren laughs.] |
| Mike | ... possibly happen... [Laughs.] |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Honestly, like, I don't know how you guys did it, man. [Mike chuckles.] |
| Bryan | Yeah. We ju-well, it was so hard that whe-when we came back to do a new series, we thought like, "we've gotta-we've gotta try to get back some of the, you know, some of the folks we had, and, like, promote them to positions to help us manage that stuff," 'cause there was just no way. And um, I mean, honestly, uh, you know, you guys, I mean, you guys were always, like, incredible, but-but by that point, you're way better than [Laughs.] Mike and I are at storyboards. |
| Joaquim | No. |
| Mike | Oh yeah. |
| Bryan | Like, way better. |
| Joaquim | That's-that's not-not true. |
| Bryan | You're already better, but now you're way better. [Lauren chuckles.] So, um, so yeah, especially 'cause, I mean, just the level of sophistication, this-with the action, and stuff, and... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Well, we can-we can tell you this for sure, 'cause both Lauren and I are onto something else now, but it uh, it is-it is nice to be able to have a job that allows you to focus pretty much purely on story, um, [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] and so, for you guys to allow us to do that, it was, again, just the, you know... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] It was very nice. |
| Joaquim | It was awesome. Thank you so much. |
| Bryan | So, now, yeah, now you're-you're running stuff. |
| Joaquim | Thanks. |
| Bryan | Now you know how crappy it-but you, [Joaquim and Lauren laugh.] but you guy-you guys have run, [Joaquim affirms.] you guys have been-you've run stuff before, you've done var... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Getting pulled in a jillion directions... [Mike affirms.] |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] That's... |
| Joaquim | ... is the greatest thing in the world. |
| Bryan | Yeah. I always say, it's like I have every job I've ever wanted, except I have them all at the same time. |
| Joaquim | At the same time. [Lauren chuckles.] |
| Bryan | Yes. It's not easy. |
| Joaquim | For sure. [Refers to the shot of Lin and Su jostling around inside the Colossus' cannon as Kuvira tears the defunct arm off.] This is amazing, by the way. |
| Bryan | Lauren, you boarded that, right? |
| Lauren | Um, Owen... |
| Bryan | [In the background.] Or... |
| Lauren | ... boarded it, and then, again, o-sadly, we rarely got the chance to really board anything from the ground up, [Bryan affirms.] but we did do our revisions passes, and so, you know, I-I hesitate to take credit for the-the groundwork that the other people laid. |
| Bryan | Sorry, Owen, I wasn't trying to... [Mike chuckles.] |
| Lauren | [In the background.] But Owen did an incredible job. [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Bryan | ... I just-I just recognize your-I recognized your-your drawings. |
| Lauren | And then, you know, we all do our little-our little passes over stuff. [Bryan affirms.] |
| Joaquim | I think a lot of what people maybe might not get about boards is that it's-it's usually, like, a giant group effort on-on every scene. [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] So... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Especially on our show. |
| Joaquim | Especially on our show, yeah. |
| Bryan | I mean, o-other shows, it might be more kind of a solo effort, [Lauren affirms.] but... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to Korra and Kuvira fighting inside the Colossus' cockpit, using the various metal components within as weapons.] This is it, man. |
| Lauren | This is uh, Shaun O'Neil... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Shaun O'Neil. |
| Lauren | ... and Ryu... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] And Ryu. |
| Lauren | ... and probably even some of you, Joaquim. |
| Joaquim | I thi... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] Group effort! |
| Joaquim | It was a little group effort, here, but I think it was mainly those two guys. [Refers to Kuvira, after using her bending to bind Korra to the metal ceiling, dragging her across the roof.] I mean, geez, look at this! |
| Bryan | But, you know, a lotta stu-a lotta stuff is like that, and I think it's a-a re-a lotta stuff in Korra is like that, and [Lauren affirms.] um, I mean, the writing; we've-we talked about in some other commentaries, and it's not to take away from any one writer, but these are written as, like, a-a group, you know? |
| Joaquim | Right. |
| Bryan | It's a tightknit group, [Lauren affirmingly murmurs intermittently.] and there's a very specific process, but it's, like, it's this revision process where there's-we just do drafts and drafts and drafts, and the storyboards are the same, and they-they just get better, I think, each-each pass. [Mike affirms.] |
| Joaquim | Totally. And I think that's the-honestly, what set, uh, you know, this production, as well as-as uh, Last Airbender, apart from everything else is that those things were built in, those-those processes, revising and making things [Bryan affirms.] tighter and better were built into the schedule. [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] |
| Bryan | Yeah, I think uh, think Korra had, like, two more stages of [Laughs.] revisions [Joaquim affirms intermittently.] in the boards [Lauren chuckles.] than Avatar did. Yeah, you gotta allow for time to do that stuff. [Refers to Bolin pronouncing an "um" with drawn-out uncertainty as he tries to figure out which of the various buttons and switches he's standing over could cut the power to the Colossus; Bryan, Joaquim, and Lauren laugh.] That's one of my favorite-P. J.'s read, [Imitates Bolin drawing out the word.] "uh." [Refers to when Mako and Bolin fought the Earth Empire soldiers guarding the Colossus' engine room.] Yeah, this-this sequence came out cool. [Refers to the Colossus' domed engine room, with hexagonal panels lining the space's upper half.] So, uh, uh, William Niu designed this um, this crazy room, and um, it's not easy drawing, like, a honeycomb on a dome; [Bryan and Lauren laugh; Joaquim affirms.] like, I gave him such a hard time with it. Was like, "dude, your perspective, c'mon," and-and uh, he did a good job with it, though; and then Lauren Zurcher did these awesome paintings. I really like this, I was really excited to see this um, location, like, fully realized, and, like, it came out cool. |
| Mike | [Refers to Mako telling Bolin to evacuate, as he intends to bend lightning at the Colossus' spirit vine core.] And this is Mako's big moment. I mean, he didn't have a tonna stuff this season, action-wise, but uh, [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] I feel like it-this makes up for it. [Joaquim affirms.] It's a very-he's-he's got his little sacrificial moment, as well, and... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] Does. |
| Mike | ... um... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Which, if you've listened to commentaries with me, you know that's my favorite... [Mike chuckles.] |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] Sacrificial moment? |
| Bryan | ... favorite, yeah, any kinda [Mike affirms.] sacrificial... |
| Lauren | [In the background.] Very cool of uh... |
| Bryan | ... thing is, like... |
| Lauren | [Interjects; laughs.] And this was all you, Joaquim, right? You kinda... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Think so, yeah. |
| Lauren | ... had to build this moment in, 'cause I think, when we got the roughs, it didn't really exist. |
| Joaquim | Yeah, I think the drama wasn't necessarily carrying through. |
| Bryan | Yeah, this sequence came out great. [Refers to the shot panning back from Mako and tilting up as he begins generating a massive amount of electricity, with the room's panel and metal fencing distorting as the shot's perspective shifts.] Look at that cool faux... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Dude... |
| Bryan | ... faux 3D move. |
| Joaquim | ... what is happening right now? |
| Bryan | Matt, this is Matt Gadbois, our After Effects wizard. [Refers to the "Mako's Sacrifice" theme that plays as Mako simultaneously directs a stream of electricity with one hand into the spirit vine core, while redirecting the connected energy through his other hand.] This-so, the music, uh, [Lauren affirmingly murmurs intermittently.] for this sequence is incredible, [Refers to the explosion and crackling electricity sounds becoming muted as Mako maintains his form even as the room around him is destroyed by the core overloading.] and-and the way we mixed it, we wanted to harken back to, uh, the Zuko-Azula fight... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Oh! |
| Bryan | ... where-where we favored the music, and we turned the sound effects down, [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] but-what the cool thing is, is that, just when you've sort of been lulled in by this incredible, emotional music, and you forget, like, the intense, you know... |
| Joaquim | [In the background; refers to a sudden surge of energy hitting Mako, burning the skin all along his left forearm.] Ooh. |
| Bryan | ... sound design, he gets zapped right in the chest, right here, [Refers to the full sound of the electrical arc that hits Mako in the chest, causing him to stagger and fall over.] and it just gets super loud again, and so it's impactful again. So, that came out cool. |
| Joaquim | I'm getting chills. |
| Mike | [Brief pause; refers to the "Inside" theme that plays as the scene transitions back to Korra and Kuvira's fight.] So, the music Jeremy did in this part is, like, insanely fast, and intricate, and amazing. [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Refers to the theme's trumpet instrumentation repeating and ascending in pitch.] The-the trumpet player is playing essentially one note, but in this in-crazy [Laughs.] rhythm, [Mike chuckles.] and it's not digitally edited. [Mike affirms.] |
| Lauren | Oh, wow. |
| Bryan | This guy performed it, and uh, we told Jeremy, on a scale of one to ten, it was an eleven. [Mike chuckles.] |
| Joaquim | Wow. |
| Lauren | Oh my gosh. |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] In terms of difficulty. |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to the slow motion on Korra as she leaps toward a still-falling Kuvira, with the metalbender twisting her body in the air to launch her own blow.] Dude. |
| Bryan | So, this... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] Wow. |
| Joaquim | This is amazing. |
| Lauren | It's great. |
| Joaquim | [Refers to Korra bending a gust of air at Kuvira, blasting her into the floor, just as Kuvira sends Korra into the ceiling by bending a metal panel at her.] Boom! |
| Lauren | Double whammy. [Mike chuckles; Bryan affirms.] |
| Joaquim | And Bryan, I remember that being a big moment for you, too, hitting that slow motion beat, where they were, like... [Bryan affirms.] |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] Both taking each other out. [Joaquim affirms.] |
| Bryan | We had so many cool, like, fast to slow-type moments in-in this series. We only tried slow motion a little bit in Avatar; it was really hard, and um, yeah, I-I feel like not only was it animated really well, but they started using this cool plugin to smooth it out. |
| Joaquim | [Refers to the Colossus exploding from the inside, multiple purple rays of light beaming out before the ensuing shock wave bisects the giant mecha suit at the waist.] Dude. |
| Bryan | So, that was a big deal, I remember Ryu did that, that board. It was a big moment, trying to finally take down this colossus. |
| Joaquim | [Refers to Mako and Bolin lying unconscious inside the wreckage of the Colossus.] Look at that. |
| Lauren | Oh. |
| Bryan | [Brief pause.] So, yeah, this is not your typical TV stuff. |
| Joaquim | No, I mean, this-this feels... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Bi-biting off something this, like, epi-it's really hard to uh, I know we're always like, [In a mock petulant tone.] "you guys don't realize how hard it is," but seriously, this-it's-it's-it's kinda stupid to try to pull this stuff off. It's-it's-when you're in the middle of it, you're like, "why did we do this?" |
| Joaquim | [Laughs.] Yeah, you start questioning the decision immediately, yeah. |
| Mike | Yeah, and, like, story-wise, writing-wise, this episode was, I mean, we had to finish the story, and then also wrap up the series, which is alway-you know, we-traditionally, we'd also have, like, the-act three was the kinda wrap up of the-of a season, or something. [Joaquim affirms intermittently.] Um, this one had to kind of accomplish even more, uh, to give it a-a finality, without, you know, talking to every character that we've ever had [Bryan chuckles.] in the series. Um... |
| Bryan | [In the background.] Yeah, you don't want to... |
| Mike | ... so, if you-if your favorite character didn't show up in the end of the series, I'm sorry, [Lauren and Mike chuckle.] but uh, it was... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Only so much you could put in. [Lauren chuckles.] |
| Mike | Yeah, we had to stick with our main folks. |
| Joaquim | [Refers to the shot panning back along the barrel of the Colossus' cannon, now suspended in the air after being wrapped up in the vines of the Spirit Wilds.] Aw! |
| Lauren | Whoa. |
| Joaquim | Wow. I was very much wondering how that shot... [Lauren laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] Yeah, just... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to the shot zooming out from Kuvira, then arcing and moving down along the cannon's barrel as the chamber glows with purple energy.] This one, too. |
| Bryan | ... wanna... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] Thi-this... |
| Bryan | ... uh... |
| Lauren | ... sequence was, like, we-I think we split it up almost shot-for-shot. |
| Joaquim | Shot-for-shot, yeah. |
| Lauren | It was, like, like, five shots, Ryu. Five shots, me. [Bryan chuckles; Joaquim affirms intermittently.] Five shots, Joaquim. We were in, like, the homestretch, here, [Mike affirms.] like, "oh my god, we gotta get it done!" [Mike chuckles.] |
| Bryan | It came out awesome. Uh, I just wanna-Studio Mir and Studio Reve, like, [Lauren affirms.] they-the work they did... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] It's unbelievable. |
| Bryan | ... especially on this finale. We-Mike and I were just in Korea a couple weeks ago... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to the errantly moving cannon's energy beam slicing through multiple buildings before massive explosions erupt from them.] Whoop! |
| Bryan | ... and-and, like, they just cranked... |
| Lauren | [In the background; refers to the shot tracking with Kuvira hanging onto the cannon as it swivels through the air.] Look at that. |
| Bryan | ... so hard on this stuff. |
| Lauren | Holy geez. |
| Joaquim | I mean, this is insanity. [Bryan laughs.] |
| Mike | [Refers to the spirit vines holding up the cannon glowing the same purple as the energy beam after Kuvira fired it.] Yeah, so the idea is this-this gun is, like, overloading with spirit energy 'cause it's in amongst all the-the vines, and everything. So, that's why you see the vines glowing, and... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Yeah, just... |
| Mike | ... it's just unstoppable. |
| Bryan | It's kinda got short-short circuited by all these vines. |
| Mike | So, what... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Or that's probably not the right term, but whate... |
| Mike | [Interjects; laughs.] Yeah. |
| Joaquim | It got kinda... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] I mean, what I love about this... |
| Joaquim | ... overloaded. |
| Bryan | Overloaded, yeah, over... |
| Mike | ... I mean, we had the crazy battle last episode, and the beginning of this episode, [Refers to Korra putting herself in front of a prone Kuvira and the energy beam about to hit her, entering the Avatar State and bending the coursing energy around them both.] that Korra's big heroic moment is saving Kuvira, which is what I love about her-her arc, is, like, it wa-in the end, it wasn't about... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Like... |
| Mike | ... killing Kuvira, or... [Bryan affirms.] |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Yeah, it wasn't this giant battle. |
| Mike | ... you know, yeah, it was this-this-using her spiritual power to actually save her. |
| Bryan | And-and... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] Guys, this-this all, by the way, just feels so huge, [Lauren affirms intermittently.] and-and for-for Studio Mir to take, you know, storyboards, and then they-they just plussed everything. [Mike affirms.] It's-it's amazing. |
| Bryan | So, yeah, it was a-it's also a big deal because Korra, we already knew she was, you know, this-this killer fighter, you know, this kinda athlete, and since the whole series was supposed to be about her spiritual journey, I love that her big final move is she bends pure spirit energy, and it kinda ties back to episode nine of this season, where Raava tells her, you know, "you're connected to all the spiritual energy [Mike affirms.] in the Spirit World," and-and so that was sort of, like, Korra's crowning, like, achievement in her-in her kinda spiritual realization; like, she finally tapped in on such a level, that she could-she could bend pure spirit energy. And um, yeah, Mike and I, pretty early on in the season, said we wanted this season to be about-at the end, about forgiveness. |
| Lauren | [Refers to Jinora shaking her head, her bangs jostling, as she indicates to Mako that Korra is not in the Colossus' wrecked cockpit.] That was the greatest head-head nod [Bryan and Joaquim laugh.] or turn I've ever seen. |
| Mike | [Brief pause.] Yeah, yeah... |
| Lauren | [In the background; refers to the medium closeup shot of Korra, her hair ruffling as she wakes up inside the underwater depths of her inner world.] Oh, wow. |
| Mike | ... like Bryan was saying; forgiveness, compassion, those were the big [Bryan affirms.] themes of this uh, final Book, and I think Korra's overall arc of comi-you know, starting as this brash fighter into this compassionate uh, leader. |
| Bryan | [Refers to the area around the new portal in the Spirit World, with Korra and Kuvira landing in a field of neon pink flowers surrounded by tall ice formations and several gnarled trees.] I was really, uh, adamant that this, you know, if this was gonna be a new portal into the Spirit World, it had to be a new location in the Spirit World that we've never seen before, and I really wanted it to look s-totally different than anything we'd seen. So, um, we f-I-those mountains are-I found this-this crazy photo of these, like, a particular type of iceberg formation, and um, these are, like, underwater, like, plants that look like flowers, [Joaquim affirmingly murmurs intermittently.] um, and then, when we went to uh, Lauren Zurcher, uh, and I worked on the painting, I-I really wanted it look like-we looked at lizards', uh, aquariums... [Lauren laughs.] |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Wow. |
| Bryan | ... and um, under blacklight, you know? |
| Joaquim | Wow. |
| Bryan | So, I just wanted it to fee-you know, obviously feel otherworldly, but um, but this kinda strange, like... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] I will say, like... |
| Bryan | ... blacklight color combinations. |
| Joaquim | [Refers to the color of the flowers contrasting with the dark blue color of the sky overhead.] Yeah, the-the color uh, it's like that, like, really neon blue against the pink, there. [Bryan affirms intermittently.] I love it, man. I think uh... |
| Mike | [Brief pause; refers to Korra and Kuvira conversing inside the Spirit World, with Korra explaining the reason why she saved Kuvira was due to empathizing with their numerous personal similarities.] So, this was one scene that went through a lot of writing revisions and storyboard revisions, and a-you know, we recorded it a few different times, [Joaquim gives an affirming murmur.] like, just trying to get the right-this was probably one of the trickiest scenes to write, I think, for the whole series, was just this kind of quiet scene between Korra and Kuvira, and getting the right tone, [Refers to when Korra somberly emphasizes that Kuvira had to have known her repressive and destructive actions were wrong.] and I wanted Korra to feel a little more, like, not yelling at her, and not being super aggressive towards her, but, you know, a little more calm about... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] And she... |
| Mike | ... about the situation. |
| Joaquim | ... [Refers to Korra connecting with Kuvira and her need for control, held ever since the metalbender was abandoned by her birth parents, by revealing her own struggles to maintain her sense of autonomy after she was poisoned.] it seemed like she kinda understands, [Mike affirms.] I mean, she-she genuinely... |
| Bryan | [In the background.] I think uh... |
| Joaquim | ... is in a similar place. |
| Bryan | She just seems more mature [Mike and Lauren affirm.] in that scene, and yeah, and uh, I think it's a cool testament to our working relationship on the show is, like, Lauren and Joaquim had, like, writing notes on that stuff. And normally on a show, like, if you are in the, like, art side o' stuff, like, you're not even allowed to, like, comment to anyone about it, but, you know, we've all worked together for years, and we re-respect each other, and so, was uh, it's a-a co-a collaborative process. And that, I mean, the scripts always get better through the storyboarding process, you know. |
| Joaquim | But you guy-I mean, you guys also made a-an environment that was comfortable for us to even sorta broach that subject, and even bring it up in the first place. |
| Bryan | It's like, you work on some of these sitcom animation shows, it's like you're not even allowed to, like, talk to directors, [Bryan, Joaquim, and Lauren laugh.] you know. [In a mock frantic tone.] "Talk to? No, no, you... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects.] "Don't look at them." |
| Bryan | ... don't talk to them." |
| Mike | [Refers to Kuvira surrendering herself and her army, informing everyone that she owes the Avatar for saving her life, and apologizing to Su for the pain she caused to her and her family.] Yeah, and I like that Kuvira kind of snaps out of whatever power crazed, [Mike and Bryan laugh.] you know, state of mind she was in, and-and does kinda realize, because Korra showed her compassion and understanding, like, does kinda realize that she took things too far, and... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Well, and she, I mean, she stared death in the face... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Yeah, right. [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | ... you know? And it was at her own, [Mike affirms intermittently.] it was, like, her own doing, like, she [Lauren chuckles.] got-she got scared straight. |
| Joaquim | Yeah. [Mike affirms.] They were in the abyss. |
| Lauren | [Refers to Bolin officiating Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding on Air Temple Island.] Aw, the wedding. |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] The wedding came out... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] I was gonna point out... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] And Mike, you did this, right? |
| Mike | Uh, I, like you guys, I t-I took what was done, [Lauren laughs.] did a little storyboard revision; it's rare that I do that, do s-did storyboards on, at least, you know, for Book Four. |
| Joaquim | But it's always appreciate... [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] |
| Mike | [Interjects.] But uh, I, you know, I had a specific idea for the wedding, so... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Yeah, there was some, like, there was, like, Studio Mir boards, right? |
| Joaquim | Yeah. [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] |
| Bryan | Yeah, and then Mike did a pass on... |
| Joaquim | [Interjects; refers to the respective closeup shots of Varrick and Zhu Li .] Look at these guys. |
| Bryan | Yeah, the model checking... |
| Lauren | [In the background.] They're pretty. |
| Joaquim | Wow. |
| Bryan | ... in this sequence is incredible. |
| Joaquim chuckles as Bolin grabs the tiny scroll tied around Pabu's neck. | |
| Mike | I know, it's funny, it's, like, you think like, "oh, there's not-they're just standing around, there's not much to this scene," it's just, like, sometimes the simplest scenes take-take just the right, like, like, shots to... |
| Joaquim | [In the background.] Well, you're... |
| Mike | ... to make them work, and stuff. |
| Joaquim | Yeah, you're staring at these, like, held shots of these characters, so they gotta look right. It's not like [Bryan affirms.] they're moving all over the place, and... [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] It was really awesome when we got this footage back, 'cause you could tell, like, you could just tell in the work, and that's what's great about artwork, is, like, doesn't lie, you can see what was put into it; and, like, Studio Mir, you knew they knew how important act three was, [Joaquim gives an affirming murmur.] even though it wasn't an action act, [Mike affirms.] and, like, they just put, like, some extra mojo in all the character drawings. |
| Joaquim, Mike, and Lauren chuckle as Zhu Li sweeps Varrick off his feet before they kiss. | |
| Mike | [Brief pause; refers to Lin's formal pantsuit she wears at the wedding.] And Beifong gets her first updated outfit [Bryan affirms.] on the series. |
| Joaquim | There you go. |
| Mike | She's got the fancy outfit, I love it. [Bryan affirms.] Um... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] Can't wait to see someone cosplay it. [Bryan affirms; Joaquim chuckles.] |
| Mike | [Brief pause.] And then uh... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] Oh. |
| Mike | ... [Refers to the band playing at the wedding's reception.] gotta point our bringing some uh, [Bryan affirms.] this was-this was our one nod to uh, bringing back some old characters, the guys in the band, here. [Lauren and Bryan laugh; refers to Tahno enthusiastically playing a trombone alongside his fellow performers.] So, we got-we got Tahno on trombone. [Joaquim and Bryan laugh; refers to Lu and Gang playing a banjo and erhu, respectively.] Lu and Gang are in there. |
| Bryan | [Refers to Hasook playing a clarinet.] Hasook. |
| Mike | Hasook. [Lauren laughs.] |
| Joaquim | Oh, Hasook. |
| Bryan | [Refers to the council page playing a tuba.] Council page, [Refers to Ming and Shaozu, the White Falls Wolfbats earthbender and firebender, playing drums and a trumpet, respectively.] and the other Wolfbats, yeah. |
| Mike | Yeah. So... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Like, we got-the only one I regre-I-we shoulda had Chief Saikhan. [Mike affirms.] |
| Joaquim | Oh! [Lauren laughs.] Saikhan. [Bryan affirms; refers to one of the wedding's waiters, dressed as Nuktuk, giving Lin a vegetable skewer.] Look at that little... |
| Bryan | [In the background.] He could've had a cowbell... |
| Lauren | [In the background.] Oh. |
| Joaquim | ... Nuktuk waiter. |
| Bryan | ... or something. [Mike affirms.] Yeah, so, like, the-the whole idea was that, even though it's not winter, Varrick wanted to have a-a kinda Nuktuk-themed, [Joaquim chuckles.] uh, wedding, so we looked at a lot of winter wedding decorations; [Lauren chuckles.] some of it, actually, was based on the decorations my wife did [Laughs.] for the-for our wedding. [Joaquim affirmingly murmurs intermittently; refers to the cyan curtain string lights next to Korra, Mako, and Wu.] Um, but I love how these uh, lights came out, these are so cool. This was just a little detail in the background design and painting, but the way it was staged, it just-it just worked out, and-and Chief Lim and Studio Mir, the BG team, just did a great job with these party light... |
| Mike | [Brief pause; refers to Wu when he explains to Korra and Mako how he intends to dissolve the Earth Kingdom monarchy while allowing the states to assume jurisdiction over their own affairs with democratically-elected leaders.] So, this idea of Wu turning over control of the states to their own governments was kind of inspired by Bhutan, [Bryan and Joaquim affirm.] and their, like, several years back, after I had visited, the king just, you know, decided, "we should be a democracy," and, like, he's still the king in name and title, but, like, you know, they-they have elected-democratically-elected leaders now, and stuff, and... |
| Bryan | [In the background.] Yeah, and as far as we know... |
| Mike | ... it's probably one of the... |
| Bryan | ... he-he did it, right? Like, he chose... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Yeah, it was his idea, and, like, and one of the rare instances in history [Laughs.] where-where a monarch just, like, freely gave up power, you know. |
| Bryan | [Refers to when Mako tells Korra that, no matter what happens, he will support and follow her into any battle.] And then this is, you know, the kinda wrap-up of Mako and Korra's relationship, and-and I think it ties back to the clips episode where, at the end of the day, Mako's just really [Mike affirms intermittently.] inspired by Korra, and I think he really respects her, you know; it's not just like, "oh, that's my ex-girlfriend," or, "that's my friend." Like, he-he, like, truly admires Korra for who she is, and it doesn't need to be in the dynamic of a relationship. I think he do-I think, for me, like, he still loves her, he's always gonna carry a torch for her, but, um, he's gonna move on, and-and be a better person for knowing her, and-and probably have a much better relationship next time. |
| Joaquim | That's a good point. [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] He'll-he's made all the mistakes now. [Bryan affirms; Lauren chuckles.] |
| Mike | [Brief pause; refers to Korra and Tenzin reminiscing about their "bumpy ride" together as they stare out at the new spirit portal.] Yeah, we had to give Tenzin and Korra their moment together, [Refers to when Korra gives meaning to the trauma she suffered after being poisoned by acknowledging how it helped her become more understanding and compassionate to people like Kuvira.] and-and Korra kind of understanding why she had to go through all this uh, craziness, um, 'cause really was this whole season, was her recovering and-and dealing with the fact that she was poisoned, and her anger over it. |
| Bryan | Yeah. I-I'm-wish I could remember the guy's name; I can't right now, but there was a-I believe a journalist. He was, like, a war journalist who was shot, and I heard his story on NPR, and-and he kinda had this same message. I mean, Mike and I were-and the writers, were already aiming towards this idea, like I said... |
| In the background, Lauren chuckles as a fretful Tenzin runs hurriedly away from Korra and Asami, the latter having told the master airbender that Varrick was intending to borrow a wingsuit in order to fly off the temple's tower. | |
| Bryan | ... from the beginning of the season, uh, but this idea of, like, he got shot, and he went through all this pain, and he realized... he decided for himself that that-he a-you know, he gave meaning to it, it was so he could understand, like, what all of these people in these war-torn countries are, you know, might be dealing, you know, [Joaquim gives an affirming murmur.] he'd have more empathy with them. I like to imagine Asami lied; she lied about Varrick wanting that suit just to get [Mike chuckles.] Tenzin out of there. [Bryan and Joaquim laugh; refers to when Asami smiled as she looked back toward Tenzin after he ran past her.] She's got this sly little look on her face, and I think she's just like, "yeah, he'll be-that'll-that'll buy me some time." [Lauren chuckles.] |
| Joaquim | Right now, Tenzin going, "huh? Wha? Ho? Where is he?" |
| Bryan | [Refers to when Asami teared up after confiding that she could not have handled losing Korra and her father at the same time.] So, yeah, Asami's had a pretty rough uh, rough-rough week, or so. I don't know, how much longer is... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] It was a couple weeks. |
| Bryan | Couple weeks, [Mike affirms.] yeah. So, yeah, this was um, you know, Mike and I worked on this scene together, and-and um, I really wanted to have-I just love their story, their whole how they started, and, you know, kinda fought over Mako, but what was cool is they never really took it out on each other, and then this beautiful relationship kinda developed out of it. So, we just... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Yeah, and we wanted to have them start as friends, and have that friendship develop into maybe something a little more. |
| Bryan | Into love. |
| Mike | Yes. |
| Bryan | [Refers to when Asami told Korra that she had always wanted to visit to the Spirit World after the two of them agreed to spend some vacation time together.] So, and it was always-I always remembered, like, 'cause Asami's not, like, the bender, so sometimes she wouldn't be in the crazy action scenes, and she never got to go to the Spirit World. I thought... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Yeah, and this... |
| Bryan | ... [Refers to Korra and Asami walking into the spirit portal, locking hands as they turn to face one another, standing intimately close as the glowing light envelops them.] a beautif-beautiful way for them to go together, and live happily ever... [Refers to the shot panning into the portal and tilting up, as the Chinese characters for "The End" appear amidst the intertwining streams of energy.] the end. |
| Mike | Thank you so much, everybody who ever worked on the show. [Lauren laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] Or watched it. Thanks, guys. Thank you, Joaquim and Lauren. |
| Joaquim | Been a great ride, guys. |
| Bryan | You guys... |
| Lauren | [Interjects.] It's been incredible. |
| Joaquim | Such an honor. |
| Bryan | So, yeah, it's been an honor working with you guys; it really-it's been fun, it's been inspiring, and we seriously couldn't have done it [Laughs.] without you. |
| Mike | Oh, for sure. |
| Joaquim | Thank... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] We'd still be on Book One. [Lauren laughs.] |
| Joaquim | You guys-you guys have-have set us up for pretty much the rest of our careers. Uh... [Lauren gives an affirming murmur.] |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] You guys [Mike laughs.] set yourselves up. Well, good luck; can't wait to see what you guys make next. |
| Joaquim | Right on, as well. |
| Lauren | Yeah. Same back atcha. |
| Joaquim | That's beautiful, guys. |