| Michael Dante DiMartino | Hello everybody! This is Mike DiMartino again, uh, co-creator and executive producer of Korra. |
|---|---|
| Bryan Konietzko | And this is Bryan Konietzko, the other co-creator and executive producer. |
| Janet Varney | Hey, I'm Seychelle Gabriel, I... |
| Bryan | [In the background; in a mock exasperated tone.] Oh, snap! |
| Janet | ... play Asami. |
| Seychelle Gabriel | Wrong! |
| Janet | I can't do... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Oh! |
| Janet | ... I can't do a normal intro, [Mike laughs.] for some reason! |
| Seychelle | Poser. |
| Janet | I'm not-it's-I'm not capable. It's Janet, [Mike and Seychelle laugh.] and, uh, uh, Varney, and I play Korra. Sorry, Seychelle. |
| Seychelle | I'm the real [Janet laughs.] Seychelle. |
| Bryan | The real deal. |
| Seychelle | Will the real Seychelle please stand up? Uh, I play Asami. |
| Mike | Yes, this is the first episode where we meet the lovely Asami. And... |
| Janet | [Interjects; gives a mock exasperated sigh.] Why did you have to rub it in how lovely she is? She's... |
| Mike | Yeah, I know. Well, some people don't like her for that. [Seychelle chuckles.] |
| Janet | ... [In a hushed tone.] she's so lovely. [Mike chuckles.] |
| Bryan | So, we're gonna, we're g... we're gonna make up a fake story about how we met Seychelle. [Mike and Seychelle laugh.] Um... no, I-we-we'll... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Met her in the Yukon. |
| Seychelle | It all started... [Janet laughs.] |
| Bryan | ... we'll-we'll, uh, we'll obscure the context, but actually, rode on an airplane with Seychelle. [Laughs.] That was actually the first... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] Unknowingly, though. |
| Bryan | Unknowingly. |
| Seychelle | We flied... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Oh, right, right, yeah. |
| Bryan | But-but I looked over, and I said, "Mike, look at that girl, she's wearing Katara shoes," [Mike laughs.] and, uh... |
| Janet | [In an excited tone.] Oh! |
| Seychelle | Was it? |
| Janet | What did the shoes look like? |
| Bryan | You had, like, some... |
| Janet | [In the background.] I'm trying to imagine her... |
| Bryan | ... some fuzzy boots. |
| Mike | Some like... |
| Seychelle | Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. |
| Bryan | Yeah, it was winter. It... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] 'Cause I'm a Cali girl, [Janet laughs.] going to the East Coast, freakin' out. |
| Bryan | Yeah, it was... it was cold, I was like, "yeah, look at that," and you were with your mom. [Seychelle gives an affirming murmur.] And, uh, we sat across from each other, and, uh, I think we were going to a... to a wakeboarding event, [Mike laughs.] or something, right? It was a professional... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] Yeah, yeah, yeah. |
| Bryan | ... professional wakeboarding event... |
| Seychelle | Yeah, I really like wakeboarding. |
| Bryan | ... that we had all been invited to. [Mike laughs.] |
| Seychelle | Skating. |
| Bryan | And, uh, you know... and the... |
| Janet | [Laughs; interjects.] I love this fake story! [Mike chuckles.] |
| Bryan | ... no, but, there was a table read for the... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Uh... |
| Bryan | ... wakeboarding, uh, commentary. [Mike, Seychelle, and Janet laugh.] And I, Mike and I were like, "wow, we real-I really like that actress' voice, I feel like she-she's got a lot of soul, lot of spirit." So, um... s... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] When the wakeboarding competition didn't work out, [Bryan affirms; Janet laughs.] we, uh, we're like... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] Yeah, I got a... an injury. |
| Mike | ... "hey, she was really good in that [Seychelle laughs.] wakeboarding competition. Uh, we should, uh, [Janet laughs.] have her come read for this part." |
| Bryan | Yeah. So. |
| Mike | Anyway. |
| Seychelle | And that's how it happens. |
| Bryan | The rest is history. |
| Mike | And there you go. It is now known as wakeboarding. [Seychelle, Mike and Janet laugh.] |
| Bryan | [Refers to the United Republic Council session, where Tarrlok debates Tenzin on his militant approach to dealing with the Equalists.] So, the first idea Mike and I had for The Legend of Korra was, like, politics. [Mike gives an affirming murmur.] We want to have [Mike laughs.] council... [Janet laughs intermittently.] council meetings, [Seychelle laughs.] where adults, mainly just two adults, argue, [Refers to the three other council members voting in favor of Tarrlok's proposal.] while three other adults [Mike affirms.] sit around and don't say much. |
| Mike | Then, it could've been the animated version of Lincoln, which I just saw... |
| Janet | [In the background.] Oh! |
| Mike | ... which was pretty much that. |
| Bryan | Yes! |
| Mike | It was a lot of talking, and chambers, and... debates, and such. |
| Bryan | Kids... [Mike laughs.] |
| Janet | [Interjects.] Kids love... |
| Bryan | ... kids love it. |
| Janet | ... tax legislation. [Mike, Bryan and Seychelle affirm.] They like to see, uh, cartoon characters filling out forms. I'm sorry that there is not more form filling out, [Bryan affirms.] uh, in this series. |
| Mike | [Refers to the other council members barely discussing Tarrlok's proposal before agreeing to it.] I wanna talk about our other three council members here who [Bryan chuckles.] didn't really get a lotta s-uh, a lot of character development, [Laughs.] 'cause we really didn't have time or the interest. [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | Honest, and that's honest, that's honestly the main thing is, like, we only had twelve episodes to tell this crazy story, and introduce all of these characters in an updated version of our world. And we really did want to give them more dialogue and stuff, but that just meant the council scenes [Mike affirms.] would be longer, and we'd have to kinda get into those characters, and... I mean, on one hand, I kinda regret it 'cause they just seem like [Mike laughs.] total, like, hand-raising robots. But... [Janet laughs.] |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Well, I always figured Tarrlok had something on 'em. He had [Bryan affirms.] some-some... |
| Seychelle | [In the background.] That's what I think. |
| Janet | [In the background.] He's got something on everybody. |
| Mike | ... some salacious details, yeah. So, he-he kind of was, like... [Bryan affirms.] had 'em in his pocket. |
| Seychelle | He's the bully in town. [Mike affirms.] |
| Bryan | [Refers to Korra panicking as she hears Amon on the radio.] This was another fun use of the radio, like a way for our villain to be with our good guy. |
| Mike | Yeah, without physically being there. |
| Bryan | Good gal. Good guy used in the kind of, uh... |
| Janet | [Interjects.] Racist departm-I mean, racist department? Sexist department! |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] "Racist"? [Seychelle chuckles.] |
| Janet | Listen, I... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Genderless. |
| Janet | ... move right, I move right from sexism into racism. |
| Bryan | In the genderless sense, but, uh, it was a cool way to kinda have them, uh, in the same space, [Mike gives an affirming murmur.] but not really there. [Refers to Asami crashing her moped into Mako.] So, here is... |
| Janet | [Interjects; refers to the initial shot/reverse shot of Asami going over to help Mako, her hair and the back of her riding clothes visible in frame.] Oh, look at her, even from the back. [Mike chuckles.] |
| Bryan | She's like... [Makes a majestic, serenading sound as if part of a chorus; Seychelle chuckles.] |
| Janet | [Elongates "oh"; in a starstruck tone.] Oh. |
| Seychelle | I, uh... |
| Bryan | [Interjects; refers to slow motion shot of Asami shaking her hair loose after taking off her helmet.] Like a, uh, a shampoo commercial. |
| Seychelle | It's like Charlie's Angels. |
| Mike | And millions of girls throw things at their television. [Janet gives a derisive sigh.] |
| Seychelle | [Laughs.] I remember you guys told me, like... people aren't going to be [Laughs.] so stoked when [Bryan chuckles.] you come into the show. I was like, "why not?" [Laughs.] |
| Mike | [Laughs.] She's so cool! |
| Seychelle | She's so cool. |
| Janet | [Sighs; in an adoring tone.] She's so pretty and cool. |
| Bryan | But they warm up. They warm up. [Mike affirms.] |
| Seychelle | They warm up, yeah. [Bryan affirms.] |
| Mike | We talk about it in a future commentary. So... [Seychelle laughs.] |
| Janet | And we saw plenty of Asami cosplayers as well, some beautiful Asamis. |
| Seychelle | That was pretty awesome. I tried to get as many pictures as I could. [Mike affirms.] |
| Bryan | Yeah, I mean, really early on, started seeing that stuff popping up online. People... [Laughs.] even just, like, doing the makeup, there's just like, "pin it like this." |
| Janet | [Refers to Asami's lipstick and eyeliner.] The makeup is amazing! The hair, all the hairstyles... |
| Seychelle | [In the background.] The hair... |
| Janet | ... are amazing. The fashion is [Mike chuckles.] phenomenal. I have... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] I think it's-it's... |
| Janet | ... I've said it before, say it again, please let's start making these clothes. [Mike chuckles.] I would buy it in a second. |
| Bryan | I think it's funny because this is basically, like, Joaquim and me. Like... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Yeah. [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | ... Joaquim is like a dude's dude. [Mike chuckles intermittently.] I mean, the guy wears flipflops and a Star Wars baseball cap [Janet laughs.] every day. [Seychelle chuckles.] And he loves designing women's footwear, and, like, and he's really good at it, like awesome boots. He's just like, "hey, man. I saw some boots the other day," [Mike and Seychelle chuckle.] and then-and he calls it... Joaquim likes to tack the word "theory" on the end of everything. He's like, "I got this boot theory [Mike laughs.] I'm working out, [Janet and Seychelle laugh.] you know?" And, uh... and then, yeah, like, I-I, through the years, have gotten a lotta compliments on, like, all the different Avatar and, like, Korra characters' hair, [Mike affirms.] I'm like, I've had so many bad hairstyles throughout my life, like [Janet chuckles.] really, really bad ones. Like, I can't sort it out in real life, but, like, uh, I seem to at least be able to make iconic hairstyles for, uh... |
| Janet | [Sighs; interjects.] You bet you can. |
| Seychelle | Redeeming yourself through your work. |
| Mike | [Refers to Tenzin's shaved head.] Yeah, I'm-I'm more of a Tenzin guy, you know, I'm down with his style, so. |
| Bryan | Yes. Well, that is an iconic look. [Mike affirms; refers to Tarrlok's hair braided into three queues.] Uh, now, Joaquim and-and, uh... and, uh... Il Kwang were responsible for the three... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Three ponytails? [Laughs.] |
| Bryan | ... three dreadlocked mullet that, uh, Tarrlok rocks. [Refers to Ikki questioning why Tarrlok has three ponytails, before calling him weird.] But, it was fun to have, uh, Ikki call him out here. [Mike affirms; refers to Ikki's glaring at Tarrlok for calling her precocious, and Pema's glaring at Tenzin for his reluctance to allow Tarrlok to join them at dinner, with both Ikki and Pema's faces in profile, their eyes scrunched, and lips jutting out.] There's a funny little thing where Ikki's expression mirrors the expression that Pema had [Laughs; Mike affirms.] to Tenzin, like, just a few shots earlier. She's kinda jutting her lip out. |
| Mike | [Refers to Ikki continuing to glare at Tarrlok while he tries to convince Korra to join his task force.] She holds it for a really long time, too. |
| Bryan | Yeah. [Janet and Seychelle laugh.] |
| Mike | [Brief pause; refers to Korra turning down Tarrlok's invitation to join his task force, much to both Tarrlok and Tenzin's surprise.] Um, yeah, one of the-I thin-I think one of the challenges of writing for Korra's character was because she had already mastered, you know, three out of four elements, and was this girl who wasn't afraid of a fight, and often started fights on her own, like, to come up with stories that-where she was a little more vulnerable and not rushing in there and, like, you know, we kinda talked about like, "well, why doesn't she just after Amon, like, episode three? You know, like, why isn't she rushin' out after him?" But, you know, at the end of the last episode, we saw Amon take people's bending away, and-and for her, we were like, "well, she's gotta have, like, a big emotional reaction to that, 'cause that would be her biggest, biggest fear," so then this whole episode became about, about her fears. |
| Bryan | And that's sort of-the idea is this, like... attachment to ego, [Janet gives an affirming murmur.] where Korra, um, even though outwardly, you know, in society, she's very, um, confident and confident in her abilities, and unlike Aang, really embraces her role and her responsibility, she's actually overeager for it, um... that, Mike had this really astute observation that the idea of losing her bending would be her greatest fear. She would f-she feels that she's gonna lose her identity, [Janet affirms.] that that is all she is. And-and, uh, and the, you know, again, an im-an important lesson I think for everybody, all of us. It's like, you know, maybe I'm known for writing, and-and drawing, and designing, and all these things, but if I couldn't do that for some reason, or-or lost this opportunity, is that the sum of me? You know, [Janet and Seychelle affirm.] is that the entire sum of-of who I am, or who I could be, or what I can offer? And-and, uh, so she really had to, this ep-whole episode was just about her... [Refers to Korra admitting to Tenzin she is terrified of Amon, not knowing how to process her fear when he asked about it the first time.] the whole thing is just admitting she has that fear, just acknowledging it; to herself, [Seychelle and Mike affirm.] not even just to others, but... |
| Janet | [Interjects.] And-and also... |
| Seychelle | [In the background.] It's always the first step, is... |
| Janet | ... yeah. Well, it's just-and-and also the idea that, you know, she's-has all the bravado, and her expectations of herself are so high that she's her own worst critic as well, and she's so hard on herself, uh, for not being able to master airbending, and for, you know, I think for those vulnerabilities, instead of being gentle with herself about having those vulnerabilities. |
| Bryan | [Refers to Asami telling Mako she is a huge pro-bending fan at their dinner date.] So, I like this little scene here because you get to see that Asami, although she's a very fancy, [Mike chuckles.] feminine, [Seychelle chuckles.] young woman, that [Laughs.] she's really into sports. [Laughs.] And, like, she goes to these pro-bending matches, like... [Seychelle gives an affirming murmur.] just 'cause she's really into it. You know, and... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] Yeah, she can hold her own when talking about that stuff, and that sounds cool. |
| Bryan | Yeah. And you later line-learn that she's a martial artist herself, so, even though she's not a bender, she's-she's really into seeing, like, these martial arts, you know, uh, competitions. |
| Janet | [In a suavely impressed tone.] And, lady can drive. [Bryan laughs.] |
| Seychelle | [Laughs.] I love that she's not a bender. Um, with all of them together, and while they're fighting all the people who can't bend, that she represents that they can cooperate and... and work together. |
| Bryan | Tot-yeah, she's, like, Sokka was that in the old series, yeah. |
| Seychelle | Yeah, exactly, yeah. |
| Mike | And I think, too, you were not in LA when you recorded these first episodes, right? |
| Seychelle | Not for a few. |
| Mike | Were you? Yeah, so, you were-so, was that weird to just be, like, in this random [Seychelle affirms.] booth, totally [Laughs.] un-un-not know any of the other actors. |
| Seychelle | Totally, I was in my own little Korra world. [Mike laughs.] Yeah. |
| Bryan | So, for those who don't know, when-when a-an actor can't be in the same, like, location... as us, and-and-or some of the other actors, we-we do this thing called ISDN, where they, I don't even know what it's... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] What does that stand for? |
| Bryan | Satellite, or something? I don't know. |
| Mike | S-I don't know. [Mike and Janet laugh.] |
| Bryan | I'm sure-I'm sure, uh, [Mike laughs.] the recording engineer could just chime in and tell us right now, but, anyways. [Seychelle and Janet laugh.] Uh, magical elves, uh, carry Seychelle's [Mike and Janet laugh.] voice through the airwaves. |
| Seychelle | Think Willy Wonka. [Janet affirms.] |
| Bryan | Yeah. So, yeah, we just-we're in the recording studio, and we hear her voice coming in to the monitors, but, um, she's in another country [Mike chuckles; Seychelle affirms.] doing it. And, uh... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] So, when you were there, you were just like, "oh, this is a great-this show is all about me, yay." [Janet and Mike laugh.] |
| Seychelle | [Laughs.] Exactly. |
| Mike | You're like, "wait, there's other characters in this show? [Seychelle and Janet laugh.] What?" |
| Bryan | And then, I guess the irony being, we record in Burbank where Seychelle is from. [Bryan and Mike laugh.] |
| Seychelle | Yeah. That's-my home is, like, five minutes away [Bryan affirms; Janet and Mike laugh.] from where you guys record. |
| Bryan | Yeah. And I think David Faustino is also from Burbank. |
| Seychelle | I think he is. |
| Bryan | Yeah, that's funny. |
| Seychelle | Local natives. |
| A brief pause in commentary until Hiroshi Sato finishes his speech to Mako about how his company, Future Industries, was built up by his creation of the Satomobile, and the financial backing of those who believed in him. | |
| Bryan | So, just a little clarification about, uh, about, uh... the Sato, Hiroshi Sato's, [Mike chuckles.] he didn't necessarily invent the automobile, or the Satomobile; he was more of the, like, innovator of, like, mass production. So, there were other, like, you know, even in Aang's time, we had, like... a lotta, like, powered vehicles; Azula had that, like, tank train, [Mike affirms.] and stuff. So, the idea is that this guy was like, "hey, wait, I know a way to, like, mass produce these things." |
| Mike | He's like the Henry Ford kinda... [Bryan affirms.] that's a disclaimer. So, when you see automobiles in other ep-future episodes. |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] Mike and I are just covering ourselves. |
| Janet | Yeah, [Mike laughs.] this is just for legal reasons... [Seychelle chuckles.] |
| Mike | [In the background.] Yeah. [Laughs.] |
| Janet | ... this conversation's happening. [Seychelle laughs.] |
| Bryan | This is for... |
| Mike | [Interjects; in a mock judgmental tone.] "But-but they said that..." [Janet laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Refers to when Mako said Hiroshi is the creator of the Satomobile; in a mock judgmental tone.] "They said [Seychelle laughs.] he created it!" |
| Mike | Aw. He created it when he was two years old. |
| Bryan | [Refers to Meelo imitating the Satomobile car horn he and Ikki are pretending to drive.] Logan's little "beep-beep". [Mike, Seychelle and Janet laugh.] Yeah, that's one of my favorites. |
| Mike | He's cute. |
| Bryan | [Brief pause; refers to Korra reiterating to Tenzin that she is fine, and that her reason for not joining Tarrlok's task force is her focus on airbending training.] So, yeah, this is, you know, um... I feel again, all of us can, uh... at one time or another, or al-throughout our entire lives, are in denial about something, and this is, like, it's usually, [Laughs.] I feel like it's usually the modus operandi of, like, most people. You know, like, we kinda... powe-like, you sorta surge forward on a track, even if you know it's not the right thing... |
| Seychelle | [In the background.] All or nothing. |
| Bryan | ... or it's unhealthy, and, like, Korra, this-she's just kinda like... she's not, like, cowering in her room, you know, sobbing or feeling sorry for herself, she's, like, just, like, kinda overworking, and, like, um, compartmentalizing I-I would say. [Refers to Korra's distraught expression as Tenzin tells her it is important to acknowledge her fears.] And, uh, but it's obviously eating away at her, and-and, you know, the people around her can really... can sense it. |
| Mike | Yes. [Refers to the United Republic Council page inviting Korra to a gala.] Is this the first episode with the council page [Laughs.] we had, I think? |
| Bryan | I think it is, yeah. |
| Seychelle | [Refers to the page's squeaky voice.] Great voice. |
| Mike | [Laughs.] Yeah, he was just, like, you know, supposed to be some generic character, and then this guy auditioned... |
| Seychelle | [In the background.] Oh, it's a dude. |
| Mike | ... [Laughs.] with this crazy voice. |
| Bryan | Yeah, it's a guy. |
| Mike | And we were like, "yes, that's it." [Janet laughs.] So sometimes, you know, it's great when actors bring, like, something that you're just like, "I had never would've thought of that in a million years, but it's hilarious." And then it gives a, you know, a-a minor little side character personality. |
| Bryan | Well, he repre-he, [Laughs.] he-he has personality for the rest of the council. [Bryan, Seychelle and Janet laugh.] |
| Mike | Yes. Exactly. |
| Seychelle | Gotta... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Who are lacking in some personality. |
| Mike | Yeah. [Refers to Tenzin's formal robes and dress shirt.] I like Tenzin's fancy duds. We never, do we ever... |
| Janet | [In the background; refers to Korra and Asami's ball gowns.] And ours are great, too. |
| Mike | ... see 'em in this same-in any other episode, those... |
| Bryan | No, we never see those again. [Mike affirms.] |
| Janet | [Refers to Korra's cap.] She has, like, a-around the corner from a yarmulke. [Mike laughs.] |
| Seychelle | Yeah. |
| Bryan | So... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] Like Amish [Janet affirms.] chic. |
| Mike | [Laughs.] "Amish chic". |
| Bryan | [Refers to the gala celebrating Korra, with numerous formally dressed attendees crowding around the floors of City Hall.] This, uh, parties are always really hard to do in animation, [Mike affirms.] um, especially for TV. [Refers to the theme playing in the background at the party.] But it was cool havi-Jeremy did this awesome, like, incidental music, little party music going on. [Mike affirms.] |
| Seychelle | Aw, I love the music in the show. |
| Janet | It's so good. So good. |
| Seychelle | [Refers to Tenzin's exaggeratedly distressed expression as he notices Meelo doing something off-screen.] And it-when Tenzin gets all worked up, [Mike chuckles.] and, like, the sax... |
| Janet | [Interjects; refers to the saxophone accentuating Tenzin's freak-out in the background.] The horns, yeah! |
| Seychelle | ... in the [Mike chuckles.] midd-oh my god. |
| A brief pause in commentary until Korra, being introduced to Asami by Hiroshi, narrows her eyes as she sees Asami together with Mako, with Bryan and Seychelle chuckling at her reaction. | |
| Bryan | This is a fun moment. |
| Bryan and Mike laugh as Korra curtly tells Asami that Mako has never talked to her about Asami before, compared to how much he has confided to Asami about Korra. | |
| Seychelle | Ouch. [Brief pause; refers to Asami's red ball gown and Mako's red scarf.] I like how we color coordinate, too. [Bryan affirms.] We're such a cute couple. [Bryan laughs.] |
| Janet | [In a mock disgusted tone.] Make me sick. |
| Bryan | I had a lotta fun designing... |
| Janet | [In the background.] Aww. [Seychelle laughs.] |
| Bryan | ... uh, Asami's gowns for the date and, uh, for the-the gala. |
| Seychelle | I... |
| Bryan | [Interjects; refers to Lin telling Korra she hasn't done anything to deserve a party in her honor.] And then I love Lin just showing up, and just being a jerk. [Janet laughs; Mike affirms.] Just, like... just such a prickly pear. |
| Mike | Yeah, 'cause we hadn't seen her in a couple episodes, and we're like, "aw, we gotta get her back in the mix here." [Refers to Tarrlok deliberately bringing Korra to Lin's attention.] We figured Tarrlok would... you know, he's orchestrating this whole evening, so he would've known that they don't quite get along and... he would have her come over and... |
| Bryan | [Interjects; refers to Lin's police uniform.] I love that she just [Laughs.] shows up in her armor. [Mike affirms; laughs.] You know, [Seychelle chuckles.] she's like... |
| Janet | She doesn't have time... |
| Mike | [In the background.] Sh-she doesn't... |
| Janet | ... to dilly dally around with fashion. |
| Mike | No. Well, we were talking about that the other day, we're like, "does she have any other outfits? Does she have her, [Bryan chuckles.] what's her-what's her normal day outfit, like, when she's not..." |
| Bryan | The only outfit we've seen her in is a tank top [Mike affirms.] for, like, you know, working out, [Janet laughs.] and then, like, a cool-she has, like, a cool, uh, overcoat. |
| Mike | But she wears it over her... |
| Bryan | Over her armor. [Mike, Bryan and Janet laugh.] 'Cause sometimes, uh, you know, you need a little windbreaker [Seychelle chuckles; Mike and Janet affirm.] for that, uh, metal armor. [Refers to Tarrlok bringing Korra in front of some press reporters, with their barrage of questions on why Korra seems to be afraid of facing Amon pressuring her into joining Tarrlok's task force.] So, this was another, another thing that was kinda different about Aang and Korra was this idea that... Korra's weakness is that she is so gung-ho and-and so aggressive, and that Tarrlok knows how to manipulate her [Mike affirms.] because of that. If he just, you know, calls her out, kinda questions her bravery, then he can get her to do what he needs her to do. |
| Janet | [Refers to Korra's miserable expression; in a pitying tone.] Oh, Korra. |
| Seychelle | [Refers to Tarrlok's exultant expression; in a disappointed tone.] Tarrlok, Tarrlok, Tarrlok. [Mike chuckles.] |
| Bryan | [Refers to the sequence of Korra, Tarrlok and his task force raiding an Equalist training camp.] This was a fun sequence I-I did. Actually, Mike, Joaquim, Ryu and I did a lot of storyboarding on this, uh, episode. I kinda did... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Oh yeah. |
| Bryan | ... I kinda revised and reworked this-this whole sequence. [Refers to the scene transitioning between the blueprints of the Equalist training camp from a top-down view, then fading into an overhead shot of the actual building itself.] I like that... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] That's super cool. |
| Bryan | ... that transition was fun. [Janet gives an affirming murmur.] Um... a lotta that stuff, Mike and I will actually, because we are storyboard artists, um, and, you know, kinda directors as well as writers, we-we'll write a lot of the visual stuff into the script. Um... |
| Mike | Yeah, Bryan's action scenes are pr-when he writes action, are, like, pretty much... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Verbatim. [Laughs.] |
| Mike | ... verba... [Bryan and Seychelle laugh; imitates reading a script.] "then she throws a punch at exactly this moment." |
| Bryan | Like, a specific [Mike laughs.] punch, like, I will say like a, you know, a right cross, [Mike affirms.] and a... |
| Janet | [Interjects.] Oh! |
| Bryan | ... a left hook. |
| Mike | Yeah, Bryan has the most detailed action stuff. |
| Bryan | That's-that's just how I think. [Bryan and Seychelle laugh; brief pause.] And whereas some of the other writers, brilliant and talented as they are, will say, "and then a crazy fight happens." |
| Mike | [Laughs.] Yeah. [Seychelle laughs.] |
| Bryan | And I'm like, "c'mon guys!" [Seychelle laughs.] You know, like... so, I do regret how brutal [Refers to a task force earthbender bending a floor slab out from underneath a chi-blocker, using it to slam the chi-blocker against the wall.] that move is, [Mike and Janet laugh.] right there. I feel like that rock... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] She broke some ribs on that. |
| Bryan | That rock [Seychelle laughs.] could've been a little thinner. [Mike and Janet chuckle.] It was-I think that was already there [Seychelle laughs.] when I started. But, um... |
| Mike | Some, eh... task force guys are not gentle fellas, or ladies. |
| A brief pause in commentary until after Tarrlok saves Korra from being ambushed by two chi-blockers, with both of them acknowledging afterward that they make a good team. | |
| Seychelle | I kinda, like, almost trusted him there. |
| Mike | [Laughs.] Say it while that's funny. [Seychelle chuckles.] |
| Janet | I know, I know, gets ya. [Mike laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Brief pause; refers to the still shot of Korra, Tarrlok, and the task force escorting some captured Equalists, the color palette then turning to the sepia tone common with old photographs as the still shot is framed as a picture in a newspaper article.] That was a fun little transition. Uh, I mean, it's been done in a lot of stuff, but for me, it was inspired by, uh, Hudsucker Proxy. There's, like, a really amazing montage where you're in a scene, and then a flash happens, and that-that very moment is now in a newspaper, and it's just so seamless. |
| Janet | Yeah. |
| Bryan | And, uh... |
| Janet | [Interjects.] That's such a great movie, I love that movie. |
| Bryan | ... as far as I know was all done optically, I don't think they did it digitally. Uh... so, that was-we just did one, that was hard enough. [Bryan, Mike and Janet laugh; refers to Korra taking over Tarrlok's press conference, calling out and challenging Amon to a one-on-one fight.] This-this was fun, it was kind of a pro-wrestling, uh, like the little pre-f-you know, the thing they're with the interviewer, and they take the mic away. [Janet laughs.] And, uh... |
| Janet | [In the background.] I'm gonna have to sub out again, Bryan. [Seychelle laughs.] |
| Bryan | ... and they throw-they throw the mic down, and, you know, the interviewers are, "whoa!" A little, a little scared. [Janet laughs; refers to Mako and Asami spending the evening riding in a carriage.] Meanwhile, Mako's, [Laughs.] like, totally, [Seychelle and Mike laugh.] totally in another world, [Janet laughs.] just, like, oblivious to what's going on with Korra. |
| Mike | World of s... |
| Janet | [Interjects.] Can you blame him? |
| Mike | ... world of scarves and ladies. |
| Seychelle | [Laughs.] "Scarves and ladies." |
| Bryan | And if-and if he-if he had a cellphone, like, it would be, like, totally going off and he'd be, like, ignoring it. [Everyone laughs.] You know, like, he'd be like... |
| Janet | [In the background.] "Ignore, ignore, ignore." |
| Bryan | ... "I gotta-sorry, I just gotta shut that off." |
| Seychelle | [Laughs.] What would his ringtone be? [Mike laughs.] |
| Bryan | [Singing.] Fiiiire. [Mike, Janet and Seychelle laugh.] |
| Seychelle | Oh, that was on key with... [Bryan and Mike chuckle; refers to Asami cuddling with Mako.] this is sweet. And this... what? |
| Janet | Do you, uh, choreograph the love scenes [Mike chuckles.] the same way you do the fights? Like, "he puts his right hand... |
| Bryan | [In the background.] Uh, [Mike laughs.] actually... |
| Janet | ... on her left hand and clasp..." |
| Seychelle | [Interjects.] Latchin'. |
| Bryan | ... I am very particular about that stuff. |
| Janet | [In an excited tone.] Oh! |
| Bryan | Yeah, there is a-there's something coming up in, uh, Book Two, where I... I-I don't want to give it away. But, yeah, I was, like, very particular about, "no, after this, they do this, and that means this." |
| Janet | Okay. |
| Bryan | And yeah, so. [Seychelle laughs.] |
| Mike | Yeah, you gotta be careful, too, 'cause, you know,... |
| Janet | [Interjects.] I'm glad I asked. |
| Mike | ... can't get too... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Romantic! |
| Mike | [Laughs.] Yeah. [Janet affirms; Seychelle chuckles.] It's... yeah, and we wanted to be, like, that they weren't maybe officially together yet, but [Janet affirms.] were definitely on the way. [Brief pause.] I like this... |
| Bryan | [Interjects.] Like... |
| Mike | ... [Refers to Avatar Aang Memorial Island.] this whole island area, just, like, the first time we get to see it up close. |
| Bryan | [Refers to the building underneath Aang's statue.] And the idea is that this is a [Simultaneously with Mike.] museum... |
| Mike | [Simultaneously with Bryan.] Museum, yeah. |
| Bryan | ... uh, that kind of, uh, we never really... see the... the collection in this museum, but the idea is that it was sort of dedicated to the quest that Aang and his friends had to save the world. Um, this was like a memorial, and we had an idea, I don't know that we-maybe it still works, that, um, [Refers to the massive metal statue of Avatar Aang, modeled after his appearance at the end of the Hundred Year War.] Toph actually made this statue. Um... |
| Seychelle | [Interjects; in an awed tone.] Oh. |
| Bryan | ... that it's made of metal. And, you know, we saw moments in the old series that she was really good at sculpting. [Janet gives an affirming murmur.] She sculpted that little miniature of Ba Sing Se out of sand, like [Laughs.] instantaneously. [Janet laughs.] So, this idea that Toph was-had this ar-artistic streak, and, uh... |
| Janet | [Interjects.] Oh, that's cool. Is this the first time anyone's hearing about that? |
| Bryan | Yeah, I don't know, I... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] I don't remember it at all. |
| Bryan | Yeah. [Janet chuckles; refers to Korra fighting chi-blockers inside the statue building, the pitch-black darkness of the room temporarily illuminated by Korra's firebending.] It's another sequence I kinda re-storyboarded. Um, but it was really fun. And this was an old idea that we never-we had on the old series, but we never got around to doing, that Aang and Zuko were gonna have a fight in the dark, and that you would only see it whenever Zuko fire-firebent. |
| Janet | Oh, that's a great concept. [Seychelle affirms.] |
| Bryan | Um, and it popped back up, and-and, uh, said, "man, we never got around to doing that, let's do that." So, [Refers to the momentary glimpses of the chi-blockers, their goggles reflecting Korra's fire, before the darkness fades back in.] just for that kinda scary, you know, like Aliens, kind of, like, just little flashes. [Mike, Janet and Seychelle affirm; refers to Amon, crouching down face-to-face in front of a bound Korra, saying he will not take away her bending yet.] And, man, Steve Blum, such a-such a great, uh, voice actor. |
| Janet | He's so good. |
| Seychelle | And such a nice guy. [Mike laughs.] |
| Janet | Oh, so nice! |
| Seychelle | [Laughs; refers to Amon grabbing and forcing Korra's head up to look at him.] So, when he gets in that... |
| Janet | [Interjects; refers to Amon telling Korra that only after his plans have been realized will he take her bending away and kill her.] This is where, yeah, this is where... |
| Seychelle | [In the background.] Oh man. |
| Janet | ... he gets to be scary, 'cause in life he's so nice. |
| Bryan | Uh, you know when you hear, like, radio, like, announcers and stuff. Like, they, man, they EQ those people's voices so they have [In a deep, throaty voice.] all this rich bass. And, [Laughs.] you know, it's like... Steve just sounds like that. [Mike, Seychelle and Bryan chuckle.] Like... |
| Janet | [In the background.] Yeah, yeah. |
| Bryan | ... when he comes through the monitors, I mean, he just sounds that way, it, like, rattles the room [Mike affirms.] even when he's speaking really quietly. |
| Seychelle | Yeah, you told me that when we-when you had the premiere for this that he would-he would sit with his kids on Saturday mornings with a bowl of cereal, [Mike laughs.] and be so into it. |
| Mike | [Refers to Korra's disjointed visions of Sokka, Toph, Yakone and Aang in the past.] So, that was our first little glimpse of... the flashes, which we, you know, later reveal the... the story of-story behind what happened. |
| Bryan | [Refers to Korra breaking down in Tenzin's arms, tearfully admitting to him she is terrified of Amon, and does not know how to deal with it.] So, I don't know, Mike and I, again, we just love sad stuff, [Mike, Janet and Seychelle chuckle.] and, uh, and... |
| Mike | [In the background.] And it... |
| Bryan | ... we love that the-the end of this episode's not like, "yeah! We won! [Mike affirms.] You overcame your fear!" It's, like, she's bawling, crying. [Refers to Tenzin hugging Korra in her despair, gently telling her she will get past this.] And you have this really paternal moment with Tenzin, which is really sweet. And, uh, Janet, man, you are good at crying. [Mike affirms.] |
| Janet | Oh my gosh, it makes me want to cry right now, [Mike laughs.] seeing Korra cry. |
| Seychelle | Impressive. |
| Bryan | You're good at real crying, which I've witnessed a lot. [Mike affirms.] But you're also [Janet and Seychelle laugh.] good at the fake crying. |
| Mike | Yeah. [Bryan laughs.] |
| Janet | [In a mock dramatic tone.] It's all real! [Mike and Seychelle laugh.] |
| Bryan | [Laughs.] But no, you-we always think like, "oh man, that's gonna be kinda hard," and then, like, you blew us away, totally. |
| Janet | Oh, guys... |
| Seychelle | [In the background.] Sounds... great. |
| Janet | ... thank you so much. I've said it before, I'll say it again, this is, like, the series where I really get the opportunity to do that [Laughs.] kind of acting, [Mike laughs.] 'cause I do so much comedy. It's lovely to have so much-so much heart in these stories. |
| Bryan | We try to get range in there. I mean, that, [Janet affirms.] to Mike, that's, uh, you know, we love comedy and we love action, and all that stuff, but we're-we never wanna do just one, uh, I-we feel like it gets a little... |
| Mike | [Interjects.] Yeah. Gotta mix it up. |
| Bryan | ... limiting. |
| Janet | That's why... |
| Seychelle | [In the background.] You gotta have both for them to work. |
| Janet | ... this is the best show in the world! [Bryan and Mike laugh.] |
| Commentary ends. |