-Zaheer trained extensively to become not only an air acolyte but Korra's teacher.
I already said this is a plausible theory, given that they wanted to capture Korra and use her as an asset for the Red Lotus. I don't know why
you're repeating it if I already agreed that it's an acceptable theory. Far more than Mike and Bryan gave us anyways.
-That means even though he has his own fighting style already mastered. He still knows the style and ideas behind actual airbending.
-Therefore it's not hard to see that once he realised he acquired airbending, Zaheer would quickly adapt to it and become exceptionally talented. Just because he's in a cell, doesn't mean he can't practise. Remember it's all about how the energy flows and not just completing strict bending forms.
Zaheer was probably an exceptional performer, just like Ty Lee, which could explain why he was dangerous even before he was a bender.
The main problem for benders is that, just like with professional performers, all your moves must be perfectly done, otherwise you won't be able to bend properly, or at all, and that's what grind my gears. Sure, Zaheer knew the techniques, but was he truly doing it correctly when preparing himself to teach Korra how to Airbend? Pretty much like when Iroh tells Zuko how to redirect lighting, pretty basic, right? Except that if you make a slight miscalculation, you'll end up like fried chicken. There's more than just moving your arms, you know?
So no, I find it silly that Zaheer was able to perform properly all those moves in his cell, and even create his own fighting style, especially considering that when he studied the Airbending culture, there was only one Airbender in the whole world. Which leads to my next point.
"There's a difference between knowing the technique and applying it" once again you come up with idiotic and non evidence based arguments.
Not really. Remember that episode where Katara steals the Waterbending scroll? She steals it because of her frustration to outdo Aang. She taught her all her techniques, yet, Aang could perform them far better than her, despite her previous experience. So my prove remains, there's a difference between knowing your moves, and actually applying them to properly bend. And don't tell me that he outdid her because he was the Avatar, that's just plain stupid.
Now I'll move on to your other point, suggesting Korra not airbending is somehow indicative of Zaheer. Please tell me you've realised how stupid that sounds?
I don't even understand what you tried to say back there. You gave me a very poor interpretation of what I said.
If it's about Korra sucking at Airbending and Zaheer mastering in two weeks, my point completely remains, because it makes all of Korra's frustration and teachings null back in Book 1. And I don't say that just because of Zaheer, that would be way too kind to Bryan and Mike. No, I mean it because apparently a farmer, a dude who never leaves his room, and an annoying kid who will take the spotlight for no reason just so happened to Airbend out of nowhere. No knowledge at all, just civilians in their daily life and "BLAM!", Airbending abilities. Okay, so the Harmonic Convergence happens, how could they develop the skills if they had little to no knowledge. With Bumi it made some sort of sense because he was about to fall, but even after that, he couldn't just Airbend again until a while (that's where the problems begin). Then we have that farmer who can create mini-tornados in the palm of his hand. Do I really need to explain why this is terrible writing?
Bryan and Mike threw away everything that made ATLA special to make Season 3, a terrible decision.
I'm tired of talkin, Fuchs. I just wanna get up to my shack and get drunk.
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todaro2011
9 years ago
I feel like you're being a bit more reasonable in this post so I'm going to be less sarcastic.
First of all sorry, didn't properly see you had mentioned the Zaheer acolyte idea (how ironic). However Its basically confirmed through the writing that this is legitimate. Not really a fan theory.
Now with Zaheer and his technique....as stated before. There is nothing he has to learn, it's his fighting style. Try to imagine it like how modern benders fight. Very little technique and a lot a directing kicks and punches. Yet they all can bend fine. That's why its more about just using and directing your bending, rather than utilising the proper forms (though this does help people bend in specific ways easier). So really Zaheer only had to start directing and controlling his air bending and then combine it with an already mastered style. Technically he in a way created his own style of airbending, so that's pretty cool.
Yes I agree with the Katara example. She had to apply her knowledge in the right fashion to accel at water bending. But I'm talking in relation to Zaheer. He adapts his own fighting style, utilising air bending to a certain degree. Yet you'll notice Tenzin completely dominated Zaheer. That's because he has mastered proper forms. Zaheer used a tacked on version and that makes it weaker. But he achieves it quicker and is still pretty good.
Um with the new air benders....they sucked. No control, didn't know what was happening to them and all probably discovered it by accident. They didn't need to have knowledge because it was reactionary bending. Not proper in any sense, so why would they require knowledge? Not bad writing, nothing wrong with it.
And once again season 3 is great, idk what you mean. They brought back world exploration, had great villains (a tad underdeveloped though :/ ), great character development, Korra being a proper avatar, the best action sequences, emotional consequences of the finale, great animation etc.
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PreachCaleb
9 years ago
Zaheer, thematically, made the perfect enemy for Korra.
He quickly masters the element she had great difficulty even just learning the basics with.
He had knowledge of the culture, history, and fight styles that Korra herself hadn't really bothered to learn.
Can't stop the signal.
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richterbelmont10
9 years ago
So I have 2 questions about Zaheer:
1. When Zaheer was in prison, didn't the guards notice that strange things were going on while Zaheer was practicing and mastering his newfound Airbending abilities in his cell? Did the powerful gusts of wind coming out the cell and Zaheer floating around not sound any alarms? And don’t tell me Zaheer became a master by making little whirlwinds in the palm of his hand.
2. How did Zaheer unlock the power of flight? It seemed to have something to do with the engraving he kept reading on the little golden piece, but I'm a little vague on the specifics.
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PreachCaleb
9 years ago
1. At the peaks of mountains, the winds are always high. So sudden gusts of winds would not be surprising. And up until this point, no one had ever heard of a non-bender suddenly developing bending powers, so no one would've even considered that. And as I speculated, Zaheer had already mastered the techniques before he was jailed. He just couldn't actually bend.
And don’t tell me Zaheer became a master by making little whirlwinds in the palm of his hand.
Why not? One of the first lessons given to Aang about firebending was to make and hold a tiny flame in his hands to learn proper control.
2. "Let go your earthly tether. Enter the void. Empty. And become the wind." Guru Laghima discovered that by letting go of everything you hold dear, you will have nothing to tethering you to the earth, like the wind. When P'Li was killed, Zaheer had nothing left to hold on to.
Can't stop the signal.
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richterbelmont10
9 years ago
1. At the peaks of mountains, the winds are always high. So sudden gusts of winds would not be surprising. And up until this point, no one had ever heard of a non-bender suddenly developing bending powers, so no one would've even considered that. And as I speculated, Zaheer had already mastered the techniques before he was jailed. He just couldn't actually bend.
If you see someone airbending, you know he's not just breaking wind. Unless the guards are blind and dumb, when they see Zaheer floating around in his cell, that should make them suspicious. Then again, maybe Zaheer practiced when the guards were asleep. Still, it was a lot to process that a non-bender could become better than the Avatar and all other airbending masters.
Why not? One of the first lessons given to Aang about firebending was to make and hold a tiny flame in his hands to learn proper control.
This is true, but Aang did not limit his firebending to training to only making little fires. If I recall correctly, he needed to train rigorously with a firebending pro, which he did with Zuko. Also, he was the Avatar.
2. "Let go your earthly tether. Enter the void. Empty. And become the wind." Guru Laghima discovered that by letting go of everything you hold dear, you will have nothing to tethering you to the earth, like the wind. When P'Li was killed, Zaheer had nothing left to hold on to.
That's interesting. I didn't think of that.
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PreachCaleb
9 years ago
Zaheer didn't have to practice when the guards were asleep. He was locked behind a solid metal door. The guards couldn't see him airbend.
Still, it was a lot to process that a non-bender could become better than the Avatar and all other airbending masters.
There was only one airbending master: Tenzin. And Tenzin was beating Zaheer. It took all four to beat Tenzin.
The reason Aang needed a master was because he didn't know anything about firebending. Zaheer was very-well versed in airbending. He knew the culture, the history, the techniques. All he lacked was the actual bending ability.
Can't stop the signal.
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Raider4000
9 years ago
:/ I didn't care for Zaheer either though. Him being in the Red Lotus yes amazing concept and villainous group. However Zaheer felt too unreal with the Airbending stuff. I still think Amon was the best written villain even though he was a classical two dimensional one. I also didn't care for the lack of character development in season 3, which many of the seasons suffered from. Overall I liked season 1 the most (minus the ridiculous love triangle).
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PreachCaleb
9 years ago
However Zaheer felt too unreal with the Airbending stuff.
How so?
I still think Amon was the best written villain even though he was a classical two dimensional one.
Zaheer may be my favorite villain, but yes, Amon was written very well and had very clear, and creepy motivations. Book 1 definitely started the show off with a bang.
Can't stop the signal.
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