I wasn't that surprised. When Amon attacked and took away Tarlok in episode 9(?) he personally carries him off to the truck. Something he's never been shown to do. Then, he leaves the Avatar, one of the most powerful benders in the world, to his Lieutenant and a few chi-blockers. You'd think he would have gone after this huge target himself, no? Also the foreshadowing in the Tarlok/Korra fight, "You're just as bad as Amon" etc.
True there was a bit more subtle foreshadowing in that episode (the carrying his brother back I missed). Leaving a locked up Avatar to his lieutenant seemed like a reasonable choice to me since all they had to do was not open the dam metal box. However looking back that was also a bit of foreshadowing that I missed. During the Tarlok/Korra fight Tarlok did not know Amon was his brother so his reaction certainly wasn't foreshadowing, and the statement itself far to subtle to be considered foreshadowing in my book. That is it doesn't make the surprise (They are brothers) any more reasonable. So yes there were at least some moments of foreshadowing, but there was so little that it still seemed abrupt and rushed to me. However as I said in my original posts that was due to its roots as a mini-series rather than poor storytelling. It had to be that way, but that doesn't mean I have to think it was the best way.
We also know that bending has something to do with the chakras which exist physically inside your body. Bloodbending could somehow cut off the bloodflow to these chakras. That said, I really don't think it needs explaining.
I always viewed chakras as just being a mix of nerve and spiritual pathways through the body (which would mean it would paralyze the person in addition removing their bending). This is supported in the way chi-blockers also remove mobility in with their strikes by paralyzing body parts. If it was as simple as that I'd be surprised Katara wouldn't at least be able to detect the problem (blocked/cut off blood vessels). Additionally this should mean that she wouldn't be able to air bend as well. It isn't really well understood so it could be any number of things which is part of the reason I said it was left incredibly vague. However like you said it doesn't need explaining for the sake of the story, but that doesn't mean it wasn't something that bugged me along with a few other people it seems.
Personally I think he alters the blood flow to the brain and cuts off the blood supply to areas that allow you to utilize your knowledge of bending. This would explain why she was able to air bend (she had no ability to air bend prior), and is incredibly complex (thus Katara wouldn't notice it).
Eh, I liked it. Not nearly as bad as a giant lion-turtle and the significance of energy-bending has been foreshadowed a number of times.
To be fair I didn't like the lion-turtle thing either for the same reasons. However I'm of the opposite opinion in that this was worse. Aang was actively searching for a way to stop Ozai without killing him and the spirits lead him to the lion turtle. Korra got depressed and formed a connection to the spirit world by accident with absolutely no effort or thought behind it. In addition she basically instantly mastered the Avatar state. Again this was likely due to its roots as a mini-series.
I really think it was quite realistic. Tarlok was power-hungry but he was never evil. In his fight with Korra when she says he is just as bad as Amon he really flips out. He does not want to be the monster his father was, and he becomes just as bad without realizing it. Sometimes you need to have your power taken away before you can realize how you were abusing it.
This is the one I've been struggling with the most. The best I can say is that it doesn't seem realistic to me in that I can't imagine someone having that much of a lack of self-reporting. However real life cases of similar things do exist so in that sense it is realistic albeit its for longer periods of time for the shift to occur. I understand the whole gradual steps to becoming a monster and regretting that, but again it just seemed rushed and the flip flop in such a short amount of time seems unrealistic to me. Having Tarlok be conflicted with revenge, duty, and family would have been infinitely better in my book than "I was wrong let me help you now."
The fights were the best they've been
That I want an explanation on because for the most part (besides Iroh) they seemed bland to me. It is an opinion so I won't argue with it, but I'm just curious what you found to be better than what they have been.
Amazing amazing amazing.
I can't wait for next season.
To that I agree. I know with all my criticism it may seem I didn't like it, but I did love the series with the finale included.
