The fifth episode of The Legend of Korra takes a bit of a detour this week, focusing on the relationships between Korra, Mako and Bolin, instead of addressing the ever looming threat of Amon.  I don’t’ want to put words into anyone’s mouth, but I have a feeling that there will be a severe split on whether or not this was a good episode.  For some, the possible complexities of a love triangle will be fascinating, while others will see this as a waste of time.  Especially when there are more pressing matters at hand in Republic City.  I guess I fall somewhere in the middle.  At first, I wanted to shutter at the thought of another love triangle from Hollywood, but then I began to reflect on my own life as a teenager, and realized that the writers were fairly accurate in their depictions.  Love, or the idea of love at that age can dominate one’s mind, which was a harsh truth that the Fire Ferrets had to learn.  One of my favorite moments from this episode was when Mako told Bolin that they would get through this ordeal, because they were brothers.  This may seem corny, but it’s nice to see that these young men found true love in family, rather than in a girl they hardly know.  That’s not to say that I don’t love Korra, her impulsiveness is something to be admired, and her take-charge-attitude makes her one of the stronger female characters on television.  I’m curious to see what you all thought.  Are you worried that this potential love triangle will become tedious, or are you looking forward to seeing how it all plays out?

Now that we’ve talked about romance, how about we focus on some Pro Bending?  I’ve heard from some individuals that this sport feels too much like a version of Quidditch from the Harry Potter franchise, but I’m not sure if that’s an accurate assessment.  Quidditch has a much different style, and if anything, Pro Bending feels more like an extreme version of dodgeball.  With that being said, I found the tournament to be extremely enjoyable and I can’t wait to see how the Fire Ferrets perform in the finals next week.  Would you buy tickets to see a bending competition, or is it a poor excuse for a sport?

I know I spent a lot of time during this review covering the love story, but as the name of this episode suggests, “The Spirit of Competition” is a dangerous place, where friendships can be destroyed and hearts broken.  I don’t mean to be overly dramatic, but think back to your teen years.  Were relationships this awkward among friends, or is the Legend of Korra dangerously teetering on the edge of a cliche?  As always, let me know what you thought of this week’s episode in the comments section below.

-David Griffin (Follow @griffinde on Twitter)

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