Chapter Summary From The Legend Of 'Beyond The Vines'

The scene I will be discussing is from the Legend of Korra Book 4 Episode 9 "Beyond the Vines". In the scene, the main protagonist, Korra, confronts Zaheer, an airbender who poisoned Korra. Korra decides to visit him in prison, in order to confront him, to show him (as well as herself) that she is not frightened of him anymore. The entire fourth season focused on Korra’s fears and her struggles in finding her strength after experiencing something as traumatic as poison seeping into her body.

The dialogue serves to indicate how Korra is still frightful, despite the façade she attempts to put on for Zaheer. When Zaheer suggests that he helps her, she is hesitant. She becomes defensive, and blames him for her weaknesses as well as her inability
to be the Avatar again. We also see a different side of Zaheer, as he truly wants to subdue to fears that Korra has, in order for her to be herself again. Both characters want Korra to improve, but Korra continues to be defensive, claiming that Zaheer is at fault. Zaheer states that she is strong, because she was able to bend out all of the poison from her body, and she is only holding herself down. Zaheer and Korra come together to go into the spirit world, in order to finally give Korra the strength to fight again. She replays all of the pain that has occurred in her head, and is then promptly sent to the spirit world.

This scene appeals to me as a viewer because it represents how even in the darkest times, you can recover. The fears that you have are not bound to you, and you will get better if you choose to accept what has happened. We all have the strength to carry on; it’s just that many of us hold ourselves back. If we choose to accept the past then we can finally move on. We shouldn’t blame someone or something for what has happened, and just accept that we’ll improve over time.