Writing Advice From A Failure Of A Writer - Blog Posts

I have to admit, I liked the conceit of Suyin being on the side of our heroes despite not actually being a good person herself, but I feel like the Suyin/Kuvira conflict was mishandled, in large part because Bryke couldn’t decide whether Kuvira was a well-intentioned hardliner who went a little too far in places or Hitler with geomancy powers. The way I see it, when Suyin refused to take any role in stabilizing the Earth Kingdom, she essentially threw away Zaofu’s one chance to influence events in the civil conflict(s) and left its fate to the whims of chance. By the time Book 4 rolled around the question was not if, but when Zaofu would be annexed. Even so, I’d argue that Kuvira considered Zaofu to be the spiritual home for the new modernized Earth Empire she wished to create, and as such may have been prepared to offer a sweetheart deal to Zaofu in exchange for its peaceful entry into the empire. Of course, if they when with that deal, Suyin wouldn’t be top dog of her own little modernist fiefdom, so Suyin attacked Kuvira under cover of truce, placing the safety of her citizens and their accomplishments in jeopardy because her pride had been stung. And this would have been great, dramatic stuff if Bryke had acknowledged it! Have Kuvira annex Zaofu, but have Korra and gang hold Suyin responsible for escalating the conflict. Heck, have her escape with them, then have them worry about the repercussions of their actions on Kuvira’s strategic goals, the United Republic’s diplomatic relationship to the Earth Empire, and with whatever the hell Suyin’s doing with the anti-imperial exile groups in Republic City. But instead of that, Bryke made Suyin the victim, Kuvira the tyrant, and we ended the show with a giant mech with a death laser. If there’s one thing Korra taught me about writing stories, it’s this: if you want to be political, commit to your premise. Consider the implications, and follow them through. If you pull up and settle for half-measures, you’ll make a farce of the whole thing.

She was more than that. She was like a daughter to me. I took her in when she was eight years old and nourished her talents. Kuvira was smart, a natural leader, and quickly rose through the ranks. I saw myself in her.