Why Do We Love The Red Lotus So Much?

Why do we love the red lotus so much?

It’s no secret that among the avatar/lok fandom that the red lotus in season 3 are some of the legend of korra’s most beloved villains. I started to wonder why that is, and I’m writing down all my thoughts because of course I am.

1: Cool character designs

Visually, the red lotus are super-interesting, especially when you put them altogether. Zaheer’s all-gray monochrome look and his little change from long hair and beard to baldness, and his eyebrow scar. Ghazan and his tattoos and that mustache he grew when he was ten. Ming-Hua is small but mighty, waterbends without arms and uses said waterbending AS ARMS, another shining example of the avatar franchise’s portrayal of disability. And P’li being a seven-feet-tall combustionbender with a cool braid. They look cool. What more do you need?

2: They’re human

Probably part of what makes the red lotus so popular is that they feel pretty human. Obviously Zaheer is the leader of the group, and I’d personally have loved some more moments reminiscent of the “seriously? right now?” scene, but they’re clearly all besties. Ghazan, as mentioned above, complaining about P’li and Zaheer making out in the truck; P’li getting a piggyback ride from Ming-Hua on her way out of prison and calling her a show-off; Ming-Hua calling the boys ugly mugs; Ghazan commenting, upon seeing Zaheer fly for the first time, that “i guess [Zaheer] doesn’t need a ride”; etc. They have distinct personalities from each other, with Zaheer being the planner and leader, P’li being quiet and menacing (unless she’s with her friends and her man), Ghazan being the chill, laid-back one, and Ming-Hua being snarky and hot-tempered. P’li and Zaheer obviously have their romance, which is sweet even if fans (*cough* me *cough*) would’ve loved to see more of it. They work incredibly well together as a team and in battle. Ghazan worries about P’li when she’s injured at Zaofu, P’li gets mad at Zaheer when he gets discovered on Air Temple Island and alerts the city to their presence, Ming-Hua and Ghazan are visibly surprised, sad, and confused all at once when Zaheer achieves flight and they learn that P’li is dead, Ming-Hua has the odd habit of sitting in trees and the backs of chairs instead of the actual chair...there are plenty of little moments that drive home the fact that they’re people who care deeply about each other.

3: They’re badass af

I mean, seriously. Zaheer was arguably more feared than the other three even as a non-bender, and is beaten with airbending only by his overconfidence and airbending inexperience against strong bending masters. P’li is a combustion bender who can a) talk, and b) curve her combustion beams. Ghazan is the franchise’s first canon lavabender, and Ming-Hua is its first bender who’s missing limbs. She supposedly uses her torso and legs to waterbend, despite the popular fan theory that she also uses at least some psychic bending. They have unique abilities that expand the possibilities of bending, make for unique and interesting fight scenes, and give our heroes a genuine challenge. Neither side is ridiculously powered-down; Bolin and Mako put up a good fight against Ming-Hua and Ghazan, for example, given their two seasons of battle experience and previous pro-bending careers, but still get their asses kicked and are captured, because they’ve never fought these kinds of benders before! How the hell do you stop a lady who can basically waterbend with her mind? How can Bolin stop Ghazan when all of Bolin’s ammunition is thrown right back at him in an even deadlier form? 

4: No canon backstories

Hear me out here: I do agree that we could’ve gotten more hints of their backstories and how they all met, etc., but they don’t have a canon backstory like Amon, giving them that air of mystery. I love speculating on their pasts, which I couldn’t do if they had them in canon. But idk, I feel like this just depends on what you like in your villains.

In short, a large reason the red lotus is beloved is because they’re so different from anything we’ve previously seen in the franchise. They’re fresh, new faces who give us what is widely considered Legend of Korra’s best season.

Anyone else read Folk of the Air and immediately get the urge to become ridiculously powerful and get a hot enemies-to-lovers boyfriend and rule a country and prove everyone who ever doubted you wrong and help cover up your sister’s murder of your manipulative ex and 

So we just got a first look at the characters for the ATLA live action and I feel like this is a good time to remind people that the live action will NOT be an exact retelling of the cartoon.

We have our Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee casted, and they’re supposed to be in season 1, which of course diverges from the original cartoon. I’m thinking it might be because book 1 of the cartoon is considered the slow season? Like...it’s great, but seasons 2 and 3 are definitely better, and most of the show’s top-rated episodes are in seasons 2 and 3.

Like Shadow and Bone, the ATLA live action is probably going to be closer to a high-budget fanfiction made not only to engage fans of the original show, but also to draw in new audiences who don’t watch cartoons, don’t like the animation style, or just haven’t watched ATLA...and hopefully this will also encourage them to watch the masterpiece that is the original cartoon.

But nevertheless, I’m actually interested to find out what the creators of the live action show decide to do and what changes they plan to make (I’m personally fine with not seeing The Great Divide in live action), as long as they keep the most important character arcs, plot points, and underlying themes. And as long as they don’t forget the most important character, the real heart of the show, and the most important line of dialogue in all of television.

I refer, of course, to Momo and 

“SECRET TUNNEL, THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, SECRET, SECRET, SECRET, SECRET, TUUUUUNEEELLL!”

As long as we have that, we’ll be fine.

P.S.: I can understand some concerns about low-quality costumes, but I’m also cautiously optimistic that they’ll look better in post production, with editing, lighting, etc. Also, at least they’re not wearing f*cking grey potato sacks. Live actions are so much more fun when there’s actual colour in them.

“Never let anyone make you feel ordinary.”

-Evelyn Hugo, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Stop it this is so beautiful 😭

Janai and Amaya for @a-certain-elf. I must admit I hadn't watched any of The Dragon Prince but in order to get a feel for the characters I watched a few clips and it's definitely made me want to start the series! So a big thank you for the suggestion :).

I would have actually loved this, because I loved, loved, LOVED the development we got for Janai this season, but tbh I kept wishing that we got more inner conflict from Amaya.

So This is Backwards, Amirite?

Janai worried about choosing a life with the woman she loves or her crown is a good character inner conflict, but on rewatch I think it should’ve went to Amaya.

Janai can have both. It’ll be an unprecedented union, it will be hard, but it can be done. Amaya, on the other hand, CAN NOT be both ‘General Amaya of Katolis’ Standing Battalion’ and ‘Queen Consort Amaya of the Sunfire Empire’.

Amaya should be the one struggling with the choice.

[picture it: Janai struggling with public/brother’s opinion / Amaya struggling with giving up her command for a wife]