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Toradora Episode 1 – Tiger and Dragon

Toradora

Episode Synopsis: Ryūji Takasu is discontent about how his eyes make him look like an intimidating delinquent. He wants to get closer to a girl he likes, Minori Kushieda, but has not been able to tell her his feelings. On the first day of his second year of high school, he bumps into a diminutive girl, Taiga Aisaka, known for snapping at others and her outward brutality. By coincidence, Taiga and Minori are in Ryūji’s class this year. Later Taiga accidentally puts a love letter in Ryūji’s bag, thinking it was Yūsaku Kitamura’s bag; Taiga then comes to Ryūji’s house that night to kill him for knowing that she likes Yūsaku. Taiga discovers that Ryūji likes Minori, who is Taiga’s good friend. To calm Taiga down, Ryūji tells her that he will do anything to help her with Yūsaku. Ryūji finds out the next morning that Taiga lives in an apartment building next door to his house. When he comes over, he cleans the kitchen and serves her food.

Toradora


Review; Toradora seems like a fun comedy with some romantic and slice-of-life elements. Epic personality in the little heroine who certainly shines in this episode. People who liked Haruhi will most likely enjoy this series, as the heroine has some elements of Haruhi’s strong personality. The things that I liked most about this anime were the music, and the fact that it didn’t try to hook you in with some over-the-top scenario. It’s all about the character interaction, which is done just right, with interactions feeling natural despite the anime over-the-top aspects that are to be expected with the genre on the whole.

Rating: 4 out of 5 bamboo blade assassinations!!!

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Just because it’s epic! :p

Toradora Episode 1 – Tiger and Dragon

Episode Description: Mizuki Himeji, whose intellect could make her the second most intelligent student in the school, appears in Class F. Akihisa Yoshii worries for her fragile state of health and plans with Yūji Sakamoto to defeat Class A, but in order to do that, they have to fight the lower classes, and they start with Class E.

Baka and Test – Summon the Beasts! Episode 1: Idiots, Classes, and a Summoning War!

Baka and Test - Season 1 cast


Plot Synopsis: The episode starts with the introduction of the school and the placement test (which determines a student’s class rank). During the exam Mizuki Himeji faints from a fever and she is sent to the infirmary resulting in her score to be zero. Akihisa Yoshii discovers he is going into the worst class (Class F) and there he encounters Minami Shimada, Hideyoshi Kinoshita, Yuuji Sakamoto, and Kouta Tsuchiya, who have all known Akihisa for some time. Akihisa then makes fun of Minami’s bust, making a disturbance in the classroom. During the introductions, Mizuki arrives late to class F and happily discovers that Akihisa is also in class F. She then tells him that since she left the test she received a score zero and thus was sent to Class F. Angered by this, Akihisa decides that he will attempt to have Mizuki placed to the correct class rank (2-A). To do this he consults Yuuji, class 2-F’s representative, telling him that they must declare an ESB war on class A, but Yuuji’s purpose is different. Yuuji decides to first declare war on class E, and sends Akihisa to declare it, which results in the other class severely beat him up! As the battle starts, Minami, who is good at math, decides to take the front along with Hideyoshi and the voyeur Kouta. Akihisa stays with Yuuji. Meanwhile, Mizuki is taking a recovery test to earn points to bring her test score up from zero. When Minami is cornered by the representative of Class E, she too goes to take a recovery test and finds Mizuki solving questions rapidly. When Class E has defeated all of class F’s students except Akihisa, Yuuji, and the girls, Yuuji then tells Akihisa to fight them, saying to show them his “true power” as the “Punishment Inspector”. However, Akihisa’s avatar prove to be useless and comical, and is just intended to buy time for Mizuki to finish her test. Then Mizuki and Minami arrive, with Mizuki showing a score (412) on a par with a class A score and easily takes out all of class E students. Yuuji then reveals his decisions to not switch classroom facilities with the defeated Class E, saying he prefers to have Class E indebted to Class F. The episode then ends with Hideyoshi’s sister, Yūko of Class A declaring war on Class F.

Review: I’ll get right to the point: the plot is stupid, the central plot point (the summoner test war) is stupid, in fact the whole damn series is stupid; but somehow – it works! The whole concept of students summoning sprites – whose strength is based on the user’s most recent test scores – within a virtual reality cube that then proceed to fight each other in a battle for intellectual supremacy sounds pretty lame, however, what saves this anime from slipping into a pit of mediocrity is its exceptionally well executed humour. Baka and Test has an extroverted style, that the show uses smartly at just the right moments to illicit a hearty bellyful of laughter! Sure it’s over-the-top and crazy, but it has an energy and sense of silliness that just makes it all work! Loved the first episode, can’t wait to see the others!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Bakas!!!

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Parts 09 through 12 of IGN’s 100% completion walkthrough of Tomb Raider via YouTube, wherein they not only guide you through every mission, puzzle and tomb, but also disclose the location of every collectible item throughout the game.

Since Tomb Raider is the game we here at Grog are most excited about, we decided to share and promote this wonderfully put together playthrough by Team IGN! Who doesn’t love having 100% completion? :D

Check out Parts 01 to 04 @Tomb Raider (2013) 100% Completion Walkthrough – Parts 01 to 04!

Check out Parts 04 to 08 @Tomb Raider (2013) 100% Completion Walkthrough – Parts 05 to 08!

Check back with us tomorrow when we share more videos of IGN’s 100% Completion walkthrough of Tomb Raider!

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Avatar The Last Airbender Banner

Episode Description: Aang and friends visit a village being terrorized by an angry spirit. Iroh is captured by Earth Kingdom soldiers.

Avatar The Last Airbender Book One: Water

Plot Synopsis: The group arrives at an Earth Kingdom forest, seeing what looks like a huge black scar in the middle of the woods. They land, only to find out that it was burned down by Fire Nation soldiers. Aang feels guilty and blames himself for the incident, stating that it is the Avatar’s duty to protect nature. However, Katara assures him that the forest will grow back because of the abundance of acorns scattered all around the forest. The party is startled when an old man comes asking the Avatar for his help. He leads them to Senlin Village, where many of the buildings are in ruins, and learns that it is being terrorized by a spirit known as Hei Bai. The villagers ask Aang for his help, and he agrees to help, although he is very much skeptical of what he can actually do to save the village.

Meanwhile, Iroh is relaxing in a self-heated pool of water that he has turned into his own personal jacuzzi. Zuko becomes very impatient, demanding that his uncle get ready to leave right away so they can continue their search for the Avatar. Iroh agrees, but when he stands up, he reveals his naked body. Zuko is disgusted by this and covers his eyes, telling his uncle to take a few more minutes to get ready. He then gives a warning that if Iroh is not ready within a half hour, he will leave without him. Iroh slumps back into the pool and falls asleep.

He is awoken later by a sound made by a meadow vole, thinking it to be an ambush. After he overcomes his disorientation, he notices the sound came from the meadow vole and relaxes again. He gently takes the creature into his hands and begins talking to it. Iroh realizes he has missed Zuko’s time limit, but does not seem to care, saying that he had “a very sweet nap”. However, Earth Kingdom soldiers suddenly ambush him, recognizing his position as a former Fire Nation general.

At sunset, Aang goes out to confront the spirit. He waits for it, but begins to walk away when it does not appear. Suddenly, from behind him, the spirit appears from the forest. Aang tries to talk to the spirit, but it ignores him and goes about destroying houses with huge energy blasts emitted from its mouth. Sokka runs out to help Aang, but is captured and taken away by the spirit instead. Aang, while chasing after Sokka and the spirit, mysteriously enters the Spirit World.

Zuko comes later with two soldiers and, upon finding out that the pool of water in which Iroh rested earlier has a landslide-like formation, deduces that Iroh had been captured by earthbenders. Determined to find his uncle’s attackers, Zuko sets out to find his uncle. Meanwhile, the Earth Kingdom soldiers, traveling with Iroh chained up on ostrich horses, want to bring him back to Ba Sing Se, the place he laid siege to for six hundred days before leaving. Iroh then feigns falling asleep, secretly leaving his stinky sandal for Zuko to find.

Later, Aang is confronted by a dragon, which turns out to be Avatar Roku’s dragon, Fang. The dragon takes Aang to a temple on a crescent shaped island to see Avatar Roku’s statue. Aang finds out that Avatar Roku wants to speak to him about a comet, and the only time they can talk is during the winter solstice.

Aang’s journey with Fang is spotted by Iroh, who uses this chance to trick his captors by asking them to tighten his chains. The captain has one of the soldiers tighten the chains, while Iroh stealthily snorts onto the cuffs, heating them up. When the soldier touches the cuffs, he burns his hand and screams in agony. Iroh then makes a bold but ultimately failed attempt for freedom. After he is caught, the soldiers debate among themselves about what they should do.

The dragon takes Aang back to his body, and there Aang learns why the spirit is terrorizing the village; the spirit was upset and angry that his home had been burned down. Aang returns to the village, much to the relief of Katara. He reports that while he has not found Sokka, he is now ready to face the spirit again.

The earthbenders quickly decide to crush Iroh’s hands by dropping a huge rock on them. Just as the punishment is about to be inflicted, Zuko appears and kicks the rock aside. He then lifts his leg and with one swift movement, and breaks the chains that are binding Iroh in half, to which Iroh praises, “Excellent form, Prince Zuko.” Zuko smiles and replies, “You taught me well.” Iroh and Zuko then defeat the soldiers without much difficulty. After the fight, Zuko exclaims, “Now would you please put on some clothes?”

At sunset, Aang shows the spirit that the forest will grow back by giving him an acorn. Satisfied, the spirit, which turns into a panda bear, leaves the village, and in its trail it leaves a few bamboo stalks from which the captured villagers and Sokka emerge. Aang then tells Katara and Sokka that he needs to go to the temple in the Fire Nation to speak with Avatar Roku by sunset on the solstice the next day.

Rating: 4 out of 5 spirits of the forest!!!

Join the discussion @Avatar: The Last Airbender 1×07 – Winter Solstice Part 1: The Spirit World!

Smallville Season 1 x 07- Craving

Smallville Season One Banner

Episode Description: Fat teenager Jodi Melville is obsessed to lose weight. She feels rejected by her schoolmates except Pete, who defends her. Planning to attend Lana Lang’s birthday party, Jodi submits herself to a radical diet: only vegetables planted in her father’s greenhouse… but with soil full of kryptonite. Jodi immediately achieves a wonderful shape, but has a huge and uncontrollable starvation and needs human body fat as the side effect, threatening whoever is closest- her next potential victim is date Pete. Clark again is forced to break his date with Lana to try to save Pete…

Smallville Season 1 Poster - Clark Kent; Scarecrow

Plot Synopsis: At her family nursery, Jodi Melville is working in the greenhouse, harvesting carrots. There are several bright green meteor rocks in the soil in which the vegetables are growing. Her father complains that she doesn’t want to eat his spaghetti, and she explains that her latest weight loss plan consists of eating only vegetables. She wants to look her best for Lana Lang’s birthday party. Her father expresses concern that she is much too focused on this party.

At school, she is cutting the heads off pictures of supermodels and pasting their bodies into her scrapbook with pictures of her own head when Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross approach and ask for help with their algebra assignment. Clark Kent is too busy with Lana. When they offer to buy her lunch, they are introduced to her vegetable drink. Dustin Crenshaw approaches and adds a cutting remark about her weight, and Pete defends her gallantly. Back home, after only a day on her new diet, Jodi gets dramatic results. She watches in the mirror as her double chin recedes. She checks her weight again and loses 29 pounds as she watches the numbers on the scale go down!

At the Luthor Mansion, Lex is just finishing up a physical examination. The doctor is surprised by an unusually high white-cell count, but he doesn’t suspect leukemia. Lex explains that he never gets sick, but he used to have asthma until he lost his hair. The doctor says that he sees “a lot of this in Smallville.” Some people think that it is because LuthorCorp’s fertilizer plant contaminates the environment. Later, Lex checks out the Smallville Torch website and sees one of Chloe’s stories about Smallville being one of America’s strangest towns.

Aunt Nell is planning for Lana’s birthday party while Clark and Lana study for the math midterm. Lana explains that the party is more than she wants. Whitney shows up to tell Lana that he got the chance to try out for the Kansas State football team, so he’s going to miss her party.

Back at school, Jodi works up the courage to ask Pete to Lana’s party. Lana arrives at the Kent Farm with the produce order for the party. While she is there, Clark offers to be her escort at the party. Lana accepts, but makes him promise that unlike last time, he will actually show up. Jodi makes herself another shake and checks her weight. She watches as her waistline melts away, and loses another 27 pounds in seconds. Initially, she is elated, but then she feels a overwhelming craving and rushes to the kitchen. She eats frantically until she’s stuffed. She spies her vegetable shake and guesses that it is responsible for her insatiable appetite. She throws it against the wall in rage.

Jodi is eating hamburgers and milkshakes while driving her car in pouring rain. A deer steps out on the road. Jodi tries to stop, but she hits the deer. Unharmed, she gets out of the car and approaches the deer. Her stomach rumbles, her face contorts and she seems to uncontrollably devour the deer.

Clark is spying on Lana in his loft when Whitney gives her a book for her birthday. Chloe walks in and teases him about spying. Then she tells him about a mysterious story in the paper about a deer found dead on Route 5. They are listing the cause of death as “unknown.” Chloe wants Clark to go down to animal control and help her check it out. They find the deer, take some pictures, and check the lab report, which says that it lost eighty percent of its body fat. They jokingly guess that it has been liposuctioned to death by a fat-sucking vampire.

At school, Clark finds Lex reading the Wall of Weird. Lex explains that he stopped by to talk with the principal about a new computer lab. He says that since the plant manager, Gabe, is always talking about his daughter and her work at the Torch, he stopped by to check it out. Clark explains Chloe’s theory that everything weird in Smallville can be traced back to the meteor shower. When Chloe arrives, Lex tells her that he likes her theory. Chloe tells him that only Dr. Hamilton shares her opinion, but he’s been reduced to selling plastic meteor chips to tourists. Lex goes to visit Dr. Hamilton and offers to fund his research as a mineralogist. Dr. Hamilton refuses Lex’s offer.

At school, Jodi isn’t feeling well. When Dustin walks by, he makes another snide remark about her lost weight. Jodi takes the opportunity to seduce him. They sneak away to the football stadium and slip into a dark room. Jodi transforms again and attacks Dustin.

Also at the stadium, Lana is telling Clark that she hasn’t had a happy birthday since her parents took her to a drive-in when she was three years old. Clark hears a noise and investigates with his X-ray vision. When he enters the boiler room, he finds Dustin in very bad shape. Back at school the next day, Chloe tells Clark that Dustin is in a coma. His body went into shock from the loss of all his body fat. He probably would have died if Clark hadn’t found him when he did. They join Jodi in the cafeteria, who is eating ravenously.

Just as Clark is getting ready to go to Lana’s party, Chloe shows up at the Kent Farm. She shows Clark a work order from the Smallville Body and Fender for bodywork done to Jodi’s car. They guess that she probably hit the deer and her behavior must be related to her rapid weight loss. Pete arrives at the Melville house to pick up Jodi. Just as they start to leave the house, Jodi’s stomach grumbles. Pete wants to take her to the hospital, but Jodi runs back into the house. She asks Pete to leave her alone, but he follows her into the house. She attacks him, knocking his head against the floor and rendering him unconscious, but Clark arrives before she can do him any further harm. She flees through the back door and hides in the greenhouse.

Clark follows her but finds the place full of meteor rocks. She bashes him over the head with a shovel. When she goes for the killing blow, she catches sight of her reflection and is repulsed by what she was about to do. She goes into a rage, bashing in what appears to be gas line, and then smashing the lights, making sparks, which ignites the gas, creating a terrific explosion. Clark grabs her and protects her from the blast just as Pete comes to and joins them behind the house.

Meanwhile, at the Luthor Mansion, Lana is hiding from her guests. She is obviously disappointed that Clark didn’t show up. Lex opens some mail from Dr. Vargas. He goes to see Dr. Hamilton and tells him that he has been given a clean bill of health. He gives Dr. Hamilton a check for $100,000, insisting that he continue his research regarding the link between meteors and human health.

Clark tells his parents that Jodi is on her way to the hospital, then leaves to visit Lana. Lana gives him a hard time for not showing up at her party, but she lets him give her his present. He has recreated her last happy birthday with a drive in movie, popcorn and Bugs Bunny cartoons.

Rating: 3 out of 5 kryptonite diet shakes!!!

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Naruto Episode 10: The Forest of Chakra


Plot Synopsis: Kakashi is brought to Tazuna’s house to recover from overuse of his Sharingan. When he wakes up, Kakashi realises that Zabuza’s death had been odd, and concludes that it had probably been an act. Elsewhere, the hunter-nin, named Haku, revives Zabuza, revealing that he is in league with the Missing-nin. Zabuza promises to crush Kakashi when they meet again. In the meantime, both Kakashi and Zabuza need to rest for at least a week to recover from their battle. To prepare for Zabuza’s likely return, Kakashi takes Team 7 to the nearby woods for training, where they learn to walk up vertical surfaces using only their chakra. Sakura performs perfectly the first time, but Naruto and Sasuke require extra training. Naruto asked Sakura for advice, and Sakura is surprised but agrees to help. Kakashi notices that Naruto is finally getting a good grasp on teamwork.

Rating: 4 out of 5 chakra training sessions!!!

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Korra - Endgame

Bolin, Asami, and Iroh travel on Naga toward the Equalist airbase. Upon arrival, Iroh tells Bolin to use his earthbending to destroy the airstrips to prevent the biplanes from taking off or landing. They head down to the base, leaving Naga and Pabu behind. However, as they make their way toward the base, they are electrocuted by wireless fence posts that render them unconscious.

Korra - Bolin, Asami and Iroh prepare to strike

Meanwhile, Mako and Korra arrive at Amon’s rally, disguised as Equalist chi blockers. Amon appears on stage and begins his speech by recounting his fabricated past. At that moment, Korra unmasks herself and denounces Amon as a liar, revealing his true name, Noatak, and his status as a bender. The Lieutenant and the crowd are unsettled by Korra’s claims, prompting Amon to dismiss her accusations. He then pauses, deciding to let Korra speak freely to the crowd, asserting there is nothing to fear.

Korra - Amon's gathering

Korra continues speaking, telling the crowd everything she and Mako have learned: Amon has been removing people’s bending through the use of bloodbending, his family was not killed by a firebender, he is Yakone’s son and Councilman Tarrlok’s older brother. Amon retorts, labeling Korra as desperate, making up stories as a pathetic last resort. Amon substantiates his counter by revealing his scarred face, causing the crowd to disbelieve Korra and reaffirm their faith in him. Korra tries to persuade them, but to no avail. Mako points out that regardless, they have said what was needed and should escape. As Mako and Korra ready themselves, Amon reveals a shocking surprise: he has captured Tenzin and his family.

Korra - Amon reveals his face!

Asami and the others wake up in a prison cell. Hiroshi Sato apologizes to Asami for hurting her, but tells her that he believes she will one day come to her senses. Asami rejects his words, and exclaims her mother would hate him for what he has become. Enraged, Hiroshi condemns his daughter and declares that he is still avenging his wife’s death. At that moment, a chi blocker informs him that the airplanes are ready for take-off. Hiroshi gives the order to annihilate the second United Forces fleet, much to Iroh and Bolin’s surprise. Hiroshi goes on to goad Iroh, revealing that Equalist forces had intercepted his message to Bumi and now know exactly where the Second Division Fleet is hiding. Dismayed, Asami laments their poor chances of escape. Iroh then asks Bolin if he can metalbend, which he, solely as an earthbender, is unable to do, much to Iroh’s chagrin.

Korra - Asami expresses her disappointment in her father

Soon after, Naga bursts in and breaks the prison bars. Pabu helps the three out of their bonds by chewing through them, and the group races to the airstrip where the planes have already started taking off. Iroh goes after the planes, Bolin rides off with Naga, and Asami boards one of the empty mecha tanks, commenting that it is similar to a Future Industries forklift. Iroh uses his firebending to propel himself onto one of the planes in the middle of take-off. He throws the pilot out of the cockpit and takes control, regardless of his lack of piloting experience. He soon figures out the rudimentary controls of his craft and gives chase to the airborne planes.

Korra - Iroh shows off his unique skills

Meanwhile, at the rally, Amon announces that he will rid the world of airbending forever. Korra demands he let Tenzin and his family go, prompting Amon to taunt her, saying she is welcome to try and save them. Mako cautions Korra that Amon is baiting them, but the situation gives them no other option. Mako fires lightning at Amon, forcing him away from the airbenders. Using firebending to give them supporting force, Mako and Korra run on the face of the adjacent wall and land on the stage, hurling fire blasts to further push Amon and his forces back. Korra releases Tenzin while asking him if he knows the location of Pema, Rohan, or Lin Beifong. Tenzin replies that he knows where Pema and the baby are imprisoned, but is clueless as to Lin’s whereabouts. Freed, Tenzin rushes to the front of the battle and airbends gales of wind, knocking the remaining Equalist guards off the stage, and finally Amon who had been evading incoming fire and air. As the fighting continues, Korra releases the three kids and they escape into a backstage corridor.

Korra - Amon holds Tenzin and family hostage!

Upon reaching a fork in the corridor, Korra opts to stay behind and create a diversion as Tenzin and his family escape. Tenzin and the kids go to rescue Pema and Rohan; Korra and Mako turn back to see Amon enter the corridor. The two run off down the fork opposite of Tenzin and the kids. Korra conjures flame walls to hinder Amon and they enter one of the doors ahead. Undaunted, Amon chases after them, paying little heed to the flames, hopping over them. Korra, hidden beneath a table covered by a cloth, watches Amon’s feet slowly walk past. He pauses momentarily and then walks on. As soon as Korra breathes a sigh of relief, however, she is pulled out from hiding by Amon’s bloodbending. As she is suspended in midair, Mako emerges and hurls fire at Amon, trying to save Korra, but he is subdued as well. Defeated, Korra has her bending taken away at the hands of Amon. Upon release, she collapses to the ground and he gloats in victory.

Korra - Amon removes Korra's bending!

In the meantime, Iroh has been giving chase to the airplanes over the skies of Republic City. He fires lightning at the middle plane in the Equalists’ formation and it crashes into the one on its immediate right, taking two down in one hit. The other planes scatter with Iroh chasing one of them. It releases a bola that becomes entangled in Iroh’s propeller, thus stopping his plane. Iroh jumps off in midair just before the plane explodes. He uses the air resistance to position himself and then uses firebending to boost himself and navigate onto the wing of one of the remaining planes.

Korra - Iroh goes after the planes

He punches out a fire blast to destroy the plane right in front of him. He then rolls toward the cockpit, fire-kicks the pilot out and falls into the recently vacated seat. The ejected Equalist manages to release his parachute. However, Iroh is not given much time to rest as a bomb falls on the left tip of his tail-wing. As he desperately tries to maintain control, the last airplane maneuvers directly above him and prepares to drop a bomb right into Iroh’s cockpit. Seeing this, Iroh firebends a blast straight up into the opposing plane’s bomb-bay and destroys it. Approaching the Equalist modified statue of Aang, he gives up on regaining control and jumps off, grabbing onto the Equalist-emblazoned cloth now hanging from the staff. The plane crashes into the Amon mask on the statue’s face and Iroh witnesses the mask fall off revealing Aang’s face. He then thanks Aang for looking out for him.

Korra - Iroh thanks Aang

Back at the airbase, Bolin has already rendered four of the five airstrips useless via his earthbending and proceeds to destroy the last one as three mecha tanks approach him. Equalists attack him with their cables just as he finishes. Suddenly, Naga jumps in, grabbing all three cables in her mouth and flipping over the three mecha tanks in one go. They fall and slide until they are a breath’s distance from Bolin’s face. He thanks Naga, who seems overjoyed to have finally assisted in the fight. At that time, Asami is within one of the hangars, destroying the remaining planes with her newly acquired mecha tank. Hiroshi appears in another mecha tank and confronts her, telling her that she is aiding the very people who killed her mother. Asami angrily cuts his contention down, telling him that he does not feel love for her mother anymore, rather acting upon the hatred he feels for benders.

Korra - Father and Daughter face off

Angered, Hiroshi calls her an ungrateful and insolent child, charging at her shortly thereafter. Asami releases wires to entrap him, but Hiroshi avoids them and takes this chance to ram his mecha tank into hers, launching her away and onto her back. He then approaches the fallen mecha tank and proceeds to bash in Asami’s cockpit. He says that he now sees that Asami cannot be saved and prepares to deal the final blow. Just then, Bolin hurls rocks at Hiroshi’s mecha tank, forcing him away. He charges in on Naga’s back, throwing boulders, and yells at Hiroshi for being a horrible father. Hiroshi is forced back further under this new onslaught. Asami seizes the opportunity given to get up and rip the arm off of Hiroshi’s mecha tank and toss him into the hangar wall. Asami approaches and tears off the door to his cockpit. However, she hesitates for a moment and Hiroshi takes this opportunity to launch a cabled claw at her, climb out of the damaged mecha tank, and run away. Voicing her firm realization of Hiroshi as a horrible father, she launches a spinning wire trap, which entangles and electrifies Hiroshi into submission. She then bows her head and sheds a tear.

Korra - Asami sheds a tear

Meanwhile, Amon stands before a collapsed Korra and declares her finally powerless. Korra struggles to her knees and tries to bend at him, but to no avail. Despite Amon’s victory, the Lieutenant had followed him. He confronts Amon, telling him he witnessed him bloodbending the Avatar. He takes off his mask, throws it to the ground and stomps on it, crushing the in-built goggles. He then proclaims Amon to be a traitor, furious that he had pointlessly dedicated his life to him. He then proceeds to attack, but is stopped by Amon’s bloodbending. Amon thanks him for his service and throws him aside into a pile of timber. Amon turns and walks past the now weakened Korra to approach Mako. He proceeds to bloodbend Mako into position, but Mako manages to inconspicuously point his fingers up at Amon, and fires a lightning attack that stuns him. The unexpected attack connects, hurling Amon and slamming him into a corner of the room.

Korra - Mako catches Amon by surprise!

Mako, still debilitated by the bloodbending, manages to weakly throw two fire blasts that cause the timbers around Amon to fall on top of him. Knowing that it would not be long before Amon recovers, Mako quickly takes Korra into his arms and runs out into the corridor. Korra begins to tell Mako about her bending, but Mako cuts her off, telling her everything will be alright and that they just need to escape. Shortly thereafter, he is forced to stop again by Amon, who has caught up to them, causing Mako to drop Korra. Amon bloodbends Mako and slams him into the ceiling, the floor, and the two walls on his sides. Mako collapses and Amon tells him that he is the first person to get the better of him like that. He then forcibly bloodbends Mako into submission, saying that it’s almost a shame to take away the bending of someone so talented.

Korra - Korra watches helplessly as Amon prepares to take Mako's bending

Korra, seeing this, is unable to accept that Mako is about to suffer a similar fate. In utter desperation and with no bending, she defiantly throws a punch at Amon. However, wind forms around her fist and hits Amon, causing him to stagger and release his grip on Mako. Her desperation, in tandem with a strong desire to protect Mako, had allowed her to break through her spiritual block, thus enabling her to airbend. Realizing what she just did, Korra proclaims that she can airbend, regains her confidence and launches consecutive air-punches at Amon. Amon is forced back to the window at the end of the corridor, but retaliates, using bloodbending to ensnare Korra. However, Korra is able to resist, and forces her leg up, then forward, to launch a powerful air-kick at Amon, blasting him out the window and into the sea. His mask falls off in mid-air as he plummets into the water in front of many of his Equalist supporters.

Korra - Korra airbends!

The supporters gather by the railing and witness Amon’s mask float to the surface. The Equalist protester begins pandering to the crowd’s anger, branding Korra a tyrant and an evil Avatar. Meanwhile, Amon, unconscious, sinks deeper into the sea. However, red ink begins to wash away from his face. He suddenly awakens and finds himself in danger of drowning, and instinctively waterbends a spout to force himself up and out of the water. His “scar”, now completely dissolved by the water, reveals his face to be unmarred to the crowd. His supporters realize that everything the Avatar told them was the truth, and Amon’s entire revolution was a fraud. Seeing that he has lost everything, Amon dives underwater and escapes, successfully evading Mako’s fire blasts.

Korra - Amon is revealed!

Back on Air Temple Island, Amon visits his brother Tarrlok, who addresses him by his true name, Noatak. Noatak tells him that it is over and apologizes to Tarrlok for what he did to him. Tarrlok sighs and tells him that it was their father who set them on this path, and fate caused them to collide. He tells Noatak that he should have left with him back when they were boys. Noatak opens the cage door and asks Tarrlok to come with him now so that they can start over again, noting they are all each other has left in the world.

Korra - Brothers reunited

Back at the port, Team Avatar, Lin Beifong, and Tenzin and his family gather together. Lin voices her feelings of anguish from Amon taking Korra’s bending. Bolin attempts to lighten the mood by mentioning Korra has unlocked her airbending, but fails. Watching the United Forces fleet enter the harbor, Tenzin tries to comfort Korra by telling her she saved Republic City. However, Korra says that it was not enough because Amon successfully escaped. Commander Bumi, son of Aang and brother of Tenzin, sails into port with reinforcements, much to Tenzin’s dismay and Ikki’s delight, noting he will now have to tolerate and play host to his brother, as the two appear to be complete opposites. Meanwhile, Noatak and Tarrlok are fleeing the city in a speedboat, where Noatak proclaims joyfully that as long as the two of them remain together, there is nothing they cannot do. Tarrlok seems to agree and refers to him by his true name. Noatak repeats it and warmly chuckles, saying that he had almost forgotten the sound of his own name. Tarrlok notices the Equalist gloves on the shelves of the boat. While making sure his brother is preoccupied with driving the boat, he puts on a glove and then opens the fuel tank and places his gloved hand over it, reiterating that “it will be just like the good old days.” His words cause Noatak to shed a tear as he looks ahead. As Tarrlok activates the glove, a small spark flashes behind Noatak, resulting in an explosion that kills both of them.

Korra - Noatak sheds a tear

Back at the Southern Water Tribe compound, everyone (including Korra’s parents), wait as Katara examines Korra in a separate room. Katara emerges and laments that she has tried everything she could, but she cannot restore Korra’s bending. Beifong pleads with Katara to keep trying, but Katara says there is nothing more she can do. Korra can still airbend, but her connection to the other elements has been severed. Korra emerges into a roomful of people who look at her with sorrow. Tenzin tries to comfort Korra telling by her it is going to be alright, but Korra incredulously insists it will not. With her connection to the other three elements severed, Korra feels she is just an airbender, hardly worthy of the title of Avatar. Feeling that the most important piece of her life has been destroyed, she grabs her coat, leaves the room and goes outside.

Korra - Katara reveals Korra's bending cannot be restored

Mako follows and tries to comfort Korra, but she tells him to go away. He agrees, but ensures her that he is there for her. Upon hearing this, Korra corrects him, telling Mako she means for him to go away, back to Republic City and get on with his life. Confused, Mako asks what she is implying. Korra clarifies by telling him that since she is not the Avatar anymore, he does not need to do her any favors, and begins to walk away from him. Mako stops her and tells her he does not care whether she is the Avatar or not. He divulges that he was losing his mind when Tarrlok took her, and that he came to a realization that he truly loves her. However, Korra is unable to answer properly, having recently suffered such a great loss. She mounts Naga and rides out of the compound. Tenzin approaches Mako and tells him they will need to be patient, as it will take time for Korra to accept what has happened.

Korra - Mako attempts to tell Korra his true feelings

Korra rides to an ice-cliff overlooking the ocean, dismounts, and walks to the edge. There, she looks to the horizon and silently cries. As a tear rolls down her face and drops she looks down at it as it falls to the thin sliver of ground far below. She starts sobbing and sits down, curling up into an infantile position. Seeing the bottom half of air-monk clothes she assumes it is Tenzin and tells him she wants to be left alone, but the figure replies, “But you called me here,” unwilling to leave. Korra, surprised, looks up to see a grown Aang standing there gently smiling at her. Aang informs her that “You’re finally connected with your spiritual self.” Stunned, Korra asks how she managed to perform such a feat. Aang explains that it is when one hits their lowest point, that they are open to the greatest change. As this is said, the rest of the past Avatars materialize behind him, all of them looking toward Korra. She is no longer alone, and she has finally moved past her spiritual block. Aang assumes an energybending position, touching Korra’s forehead and heart. His thumbs, eyes and airbender tattoos glow along with his silhouette. Behind him, the rest of the Avatars also enter the Avatar State with their eyes glowing. The glow around Aang’s silhouette subsides, and he steps back, still in the Avatar State, disappearing along with the rest.

Korra - Aang heals Korra

Korra opens her eyes, revealing the white glow of the Avatar State. She rises upward in an airspout, facing the cliff and sends a wave of air behind her, followed by a wave of fire and then a wave of rocks on the ground. The ocean waves below surge and break against the edge of the cliff, confirming her bending has returned in full. She floats down as the air spout dissipates, and exits the Avatar State. Aang had successfully used energybending to reconnect her to the other three elements. Now an Avatar with full access to all of her Avatar abilities, both physical and spiritual, she turns around to see an amazed Mako. The two warmly embrace, as Korra tells him she loves him as well, and they share a passionate kiss.

Korra - Korra and Mako kiss

At one of the Southern Water Tribe Temples, Lin Beifong walks up to where Korra awaits her and kneels before her with the rest watching. Korra places her right thumb on Lin’s forehead and her left on her heart while gripping her shoulder using the rest of the fingers on her left hand. Korra closes her eyes, and opens them, now glowing with the power of the Avatar State, along with her fingertips. After the glow dissipates, Lin Beifong rises and bends the large rocks surrounding the temple, causing them to float in midair, her bending fully restored. Everyone watches this miracle with different reactions, some with amazement, some with pride, others with awe. Putting the rocks back down, Lin faces Korra and thanks her. Tenzin walks up to Korra and tells her, “I am so proud of you, Avatar Korra.”

Rating: 5 out of 5 realized Avatars!!!

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Korra - Korra heals Lin

Transformers: Prime 2×07 Crossfire

Official Description:

Airachnid and Starscream struggle to control an Insecticon warrior.

Production Company: Hasbro Studios
Airdate: March 31, 2012
Written by: Marty Isenberg
Directed by: Shaunt Nigoghossian
Animation Studio: Polygon Pictures

Synopsis:

Airachnid muses to Megatron about Soundwave’s inevitable decryption of the Iacon files, and requests for her tracking abilities to be enlisted in the search for the resulting coordinates. Megatron dismisses her, and Soundwave replays the audio of her suggestion to leave Megatron earlier. He contacts Dreadwing, who replies with an oath of loyalty. The leader orders him to perform a task he normally performs himself, but now leaves to his first officer. The Seeker is confused, as Airachnid holds that position, but his mission becomes clear—he is to dispose of the treacherous spider.

Breakdown, Dreadwing, and Airachnid follow the trail of an unconfirmed energon deposit. Airachnid is amused at the heavy backup, and takes the opportunity to grill Breakdown on his lack of skill, and lack of eye. Dreadwing attempts to calm him, but another insult puts him into a frenzy. He jumps at the spider, but is webbed in the face. Dreadwing joins the fray, but is pinned to a tree by Airachnid’s webbing, but not before he lets off a blast which collapses a tree on Airachnid. She finds one of her legs damaged, and retreats. Breakdown gives chase, and finds her collapsed in a ravine. As he raises his hammer to finish her, webs immobilize it in the air. Airachnid raises a leg to slice him through. Some moments later, a contingent of MECH soldiers come upon Breakdown’s remains.

In a cave, Starscream pities his lot in life as he jumps for a meager scrap of energon. He is interrupted by a nearby rumbling that surprises him—it is an Insecticon, unearthing a large chunk of energon. He orders the brute to hand it over, but it attacks him, forcing him to hide. He witnesses the Insecticon bowing to another surprise—Airachnid. He makes himself known, and she makes her rogue status known, giving Starscream the idea to propose an alliance to overthrow Megatron with the help of her oversized herald. She proposes an alternative—she overthrows Megatron, and orders the Insecticon to destroy Starscream.

At base, Ratchet recieves another high frequency signal with an embedded message, again from Starscream, who promises valuable intel in exchange for medical aid. His intel proves none-too-relevant until he mentions the Insecticon, and provides Airachnid’s location. Back at base, Arcee berates Ratchet and Bulkhead for letting him go again, but Optimus is confident in sparing helpless lifeforms, regardless of personal vendettas.

Airachnid contacts Megatron and proposes a challenge. He accepts, and forbids Dreadwing to follow him.

Megatron arrives at the mine, and is beset upon by the Insecticon, who ignores Megatron’s orders to stand down and begins to beat him down. Before long, however, the former gladiator is on equal footing with the beast. The Autobots bridge in, and Arcee goes for Airachnid. Below, Megatron gains the upper hand, removing the Insecticon’s limbs and finally decapitating it. Megatron announces his superiority, before falling. The Autobots surround him, and Optimus Prime prepares to execute him. Laser blasts fill the air, and Dreadwing, accompanied by a large detachment of Vehicons, surrounds them. They agree to trade their lives for Megatron’s. As Dreadwing and Megatron fly off, Megatron shows his appreciation for Dreadwing’s disregard of orders.

Arcee follows Airachnid, but finds herself suddenly stuck in a trap. As her rival prepares to finish her, a missile streaks through the air and pushes the spider off Arcee. She escapes as Starscream—intent on payback—continues to fire. Now alone with Arcee, the Seeker recalls her decision to spare him earlier, and cuts her down to settle his debt.

Underground, even as she swears her vengeance, Airachnid comes upon the source of her warrior—an entire nest of Insecticons.

Rating: 5 Energon Cubes out of a possible 5!!!

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Transformers: Prime 2×06 Loose Cannons

Official Description: Wheeljack returns to Earth to look for a new Decepticon, but Optimus finds that something is not right with the rogue Bot.

Synopsis:

Agent Fowler calls the Autobots, furious about a Transformer fight outside Omaha with possible collateral damage. As the Autobots are all at base, Ratchet suggests the Decepticons are to blame, however a video feed reveals the combatants as a Skyquake-type Decepticon and Wheeljack. Fowler demands that the situation be handled pronto.

Fowler reaches the battleground in his jet first and demands the pair stop, only to be fired on by Wheeljack. A GroundBridge opens up, and the Autobots step out to help Wheeljack. Outgunned, the Decepticon seizes the opportunity to scan Fowler’s jet and make his escape. Wheeljack fires after him, blowing up a gas station. Though Wheeljack believes that Dreadwing was to blame for the explosion, he’s informed otherwise.

Back at base, Ratchet repairs Wheeljack, who apologizes for the damage and explains his pursuit of Dreadwing. He had found his fellow Wrecker Seaspray, only for his friend to be blown up by Dreadwing. After several solar systems worth of pursuit, Wheeljack caught up with the Decepticon on Earth. Optimus infers that Dreadwing has come to pay allegiance to Megatron. He tries to stem Wheeljack’s hotheadedness, and Fowler arrives to admonish Wheeljack for nearly blowing their cover. Wheeljack doesn’t take well to being called part of the team, and walks off, followed by Bulkhead who intends to placate him. Optimus does his best to smooth things over with Fowler.

Dreadwing rendezvous with the Nemesis. Megatron welcomes his loyalty, but Dreadwing reveals he has come to Earth to avenge his spark-twin Skyquake. When Megatron confirms Skyquake’s death, the Seeker vows to make every Autobot on Earth pay, but Megatron would rather Dreadwing follow his orders.

As Wheeljack works on his ship, Bulkhead attempts to change his mind about the planet. Inside the Jackhammer, a challenge comes through over the commlink from Dreadwing. Wheeljack straps in to meet the ‘Con, and convinced Bulkhead to come as well.

Dreadwing faces off against Wheeljack, both determined to finish their business. They exchange fire, and Dreadwing runs, leading Wheeljack past a series of proximity bombs that the Autobot evades. Dreadwing runs into a dead end, but it turns out to be a trap—as Bulkhead appears atop the crevice, a last bomb on the cliff face explodes, burying the two Wreckers under rubble as Dreadwing flies clear.

At base, Ratchet finds Bulkhead’s transmission over a thousand miles away. At Optimus’s inquiry, he says that no response has been made.

In the crevice, Optimus helps Wheeljack out of a pile of boulders and reprimands him for endangering Bulkhead. Ratchet informs Optimus over comm that Bulkhead’s signal has moved.

Wheeljack and Optimus fly to Bulkhead’s location, a shipping depot. They find him in an unfortunate predicament, strapped to a crate with a bomb wired into his chest. Wheeljack gets to work defusing the bomb. From the top of a crane, Dreadwing looks on. He receives a transmission from Megatron, and reveals what he’s doing. Meanwhile, Bulkhead tries to stop Wheeljack from continuing his attempts to defuse the bomb and the pair notice that Optimus is gone.

Megatron allows Dreadwing to continue his plan, though he muses to Soundwave that he does not expect Dreadwing to come back. At the depot, Dreadwing notices Optimus is missing in time for the Autobot leader to appear nearby and appeal to Dreadwing’s sense of honour. Dreadwing refuses the offer of defection, and fires upon Prime, who escapes into the maze of containers.

Realizing that Wheeljack is unlikely to defuse the bomb, Bulkhead takes matters into his own hands, punching out Wheeljack, tearing out of his restraints, and running away from his friend. Elsewhere, Dreadwing continues to spar with Optimus, but loses him from his sights. Bulkhead heads towards the water to muffle the explosion, but is stopped by Wheeljack, who has come to the realization that Optimus has the right idea—they need Dreadwing to defuse the bomb.

Searching the dock, Dreadwing is ambushed by Optimus crashing down on top of him with a shipping crane. Pinned, Dreadwing is surrounded by the three Autobots. Though he claims he would rather destroy himself if it will avenge his brother, Optimus calls his bluff, and he defuses the bomb. However, not about to leave empty handed, Dreadwing sets off the many bombs he had placed throughout the port, and flies off. Wheeljack wonders who will clean that up.

On the Nemesis, Megatron gloats about Dreadwing’s defeat, but seems mildly surprised that the Seeker still lives. Dreadwing, in the wake of his defeat, pledges his total loyalty to Megatron.

At the base, Wheeljack apologizes for his misjudgment about Optimus earlier. The Autobots, sans Ratchet, convince Wheeljack to stay on Earth, though he opts to explore the planet. He’s soon driving away with a new alternate mode.

Rating: 5 Energon Cubes out of a possible 5!!!

Join the discussion @Transformers: Prime 2×06 Loose Cannons!

Official Description:

Bumblebee discovers that MECH and Starscream are responsible for his troubles; Ratchet confronts demons from his Cybertronian past.

Production Company: Hasbro Studios
Airdate: March 17, 2012
Written by: Nicole Dubuc
Directed by: Vinton Heuck
Animation Studio: Polygon Pictures

Synopsis:

With Bumblebee on a medical bed, Ratchet tells Bulkhead off for taking the scout into battle. When Bumblebee comes around, he faces Ratchet’s ire as well, and Optimus Prime grounds Bumblebee until his T-cog can be recovered. Ratchet has another idea though—he offers to donate his own T-cog in a transplant. Though Optimus is uncertain, Ratchet convinces him.

Megatron is pleased with the new device Knock Out has secured—a force field generator—although Megatron’s demonstration leaves him startled.

Elsewhere, Starscream and Silas find an energon deposit, though Silas would appreciate it if Starscream didn’t talk so much.

Ratchet selects Arcee to do the operation, though she’s less than enthusiastic. She starts by putting Ratchet in induced stasis, but before she can do the same for Bumblebee, an alarm signals the appearance of another relic from the Vaults of Iacon. Optimus calls a halt to the operation so he, Arcee and Bulkhead can investigate. No sooner have they left than Agent Fowler contacts the base. He’s disappointed only Bumblebee’s there to take his call, but passes on the news that he’s got the possible coordinates of a MECH base. Unable to understand Bumblebee, he searches for someone who speaks English, but Ratchet is barely coherent, still recovering from stasis. Jack volunteers to pass the message on.

Optimus and his team reach the top of a mountain to find Knock Out and Breakdown uncovering the Forge of Solus Prime. With it, the Autobots could conceivably create a new T-cog for Bumblebee.

MECH infuses the newly-found energon into their creation, but as it begins to stir, Bumblebee bursts through the door. Though unarmed, Bumblebee throws an industrial-sized barrel at Starscream, knocking him flat, and proceeds to shrug off the weapons fire from the MECH goons.

As Knock Out and Breakdown free the forge, the Autobots charge them. While Bulkhead tackles Breakdown, Optimus and Arcee find they have a bit of a problem getting past Knock Out’s shield generator, and he pushes them back towards the edge of the cliff.

Bumblebee knocks a bunch of MECH troopers flat, jumps on their robot and tears his T-cog from its innards. No sooner is this done than he’s hit by a blast from Starscream. As MECH withdraw, Starscream grabs the T-cog and threatens to destroy it.

Ratchet recovers, only to find Fowler shouting at him about MECH coordinates, and the kids reveal Bumblebee has gone to deal with it.

Meanwhile, Bumblebee has had enough of Starscream’s gloating and belts the ex-Decepticon, knocking him flat. As the T-cog flies up into the air, Bumblebee jumps for it, but a quick blast by Starscream spells the end of that attempt. While Starscream leaves, Bumblebee is left with his shattered T-cog. Starscream meets up with MECH outside the compound, but Silas is less than impressed with him for losing the T-cog, and Starscream is soon surrounded by MECH troops.

Optimus and Arcee are forced back to the cliff edge. While Breakdown is distracted by their predicament, Bulkhead takes the opportunity to grab the Forge of Solus Prime and smack the Decepticon with it. Breakdown lands on Knock Out and for a few moments Bulkhead stands triumphant, at least until Megatron steps out of the GroundBridge and blasts him. Collecting the Forge, the Decepticons leave. Ratchet reports the situation with MECH to Optimus.

Starscream comes around to find MECH gone. When he sees Optimus’s team arrive at the MECH base, he tries to transform, only to find his T-cog had been taken, and runs off panicking into the woods. Meanwhile, Bumblebee walks out to join his comrades, sadly holding his own damaged T-cog. Optimus radios Ratchet to prepare for surgery.

On the Nemesis, Megatron attempts to use the Forge, only to discover that it requires the power of a Prime to work.

Ratchet finishes operating, restoring Bumblebee’s old cog. Though Bumblebee’s first few attempts to transform fail, he eventually manages it, and takes Raf for a drive. Ratchet, for his part, seems happy that it worked.

Rating: 4 Energon Cubes out of a possible 5!!!

Join the discussion @Transformers: Prime 2×05 Operation Bumblebee Part 2!

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