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[Sheb]

If anything, my knowledge of fantasy RPG tells me that nondescript civilians are super squashy things that need to be protected. Plus, it's much cooler if I think of them as remorselessly murdering muggles. Probably because they don't think they're people.

[Comrade P.]

So I'm watching Legend of Korra now. As far as I can tell, it's about a spoiled kid joining a magician death squad to go and arrest muggles daring to oppose the current magistico-fascist regime, killing those that resist. I seriously like the guy that's supposed to be the villain a lot better.

But the president and two out of four of his counselors (except Tenzin and what's-his-name, the braided one) are non-benders, and how exactly are muggles are mistreated by benders? Benders naturally have more possibilities, but I think rather than result in discrimination, it would result in advanced division of labor, where benders occupy profession where being a bender is vital (since there are still fewer benders that muggles), while muggles can have any of a wide variety of other professions.

[cerapa]

Dude...

Season goddamn one.

Spoilers.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

No president yet.

[Sheb]

Sorry, I though that my vision of things was warped enough to be left out of spoiler.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Are they non-benders? I didn't see anything telling me that, so I just assumed they all were benders. Also, since the council is some kind of oligarchy, with one member representing the air bender religious order thing and another representing the water benders, I just assumed the four members were each representing an element.

That would change things, yes.

[cerapa]

The council are all benders, yes. No non-benders in leadership positions.

I was talking to Comrade P. with the spoiler thing. I don't think there's anyone else but you watching at the moment that could be spoiled in any way.

[WillowLuman]

Speaking of which, I was wondering if anyone wanted to provide input on this. Heavy spoilers. Yeah, I know, shameless promotion.

Sheb: How far are you? There's a really good line about that at some point.

[Comrade P.]

Dude...

Season goddamn one.

Spoilers.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

No president yet.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Umm. I'm pretty sure he was in place when it began... I'll go check it.

Sorry, I though that my vision of things was warped enough to be left out of spoiler.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Are they non-benders? I didn't see anything telling me that, so I just assumed they all were benders. Also, since the council is some kind of oligarchy, with one member representing the air bender religious order thing and another representing the water benders, I just assumed the four members were each representing an element.

That would change things, yes.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You might be right - I just haven't seen those two bending. They were in frame, like, 4 times tops, if I remember correct - they just looked incapable. They might be benders, though. And yes, four members are representing elements, and I figure Tenzin was in it only because of his father.
Still no idea how do they opress non-benders, though.

[Sheb]

Keep in mind I'm only at Episode 8 of Season 1, so as far as possible, don't spoil me please.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Well, the show is obviously told from the bender's perspective, so we don't see it all. But apart from the criminals running rampant burning people's livelihood, the police is made entirely of bender, the political power is entirey in the hand of benders, and the only non-bender's political movement we know off gets crushed by the state like it's 1938 in Moscow.

Also, despite the city being overrun by bender's mafia, which the police shows little interest in tracking - maybe they're complicit? -  knowing how to defend yourself against benders is enough to get you in jail or worse.

Edit: And from the look of bender when their power are taken away it's easy to see that they don't consider non-benders to be fully people.

[Comrade P.]

Keep in mind I'm only at Episode 8 of Season 1, so as far as possible, don't spoil me please.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Well, the show is obviously told from the bender's perspective, so we don't see it all. But apart from the criminals running rampant burning people's livelihood, the police is made entirely of bender, the political power is entirey in the hand of benders, and the only non-bender's political movement we know off gets crushed by the state like it's 1938 in Moscow.

Well yes it is crushed, but it is pretty radical and deprives government out of potential workers in core industries.

[cerapa]

Dude...

Season goddamn one.

Spoilers.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

No president yet.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Umm. I'm pretty sure he was in place when it began... I'll go check it.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The first season had the council with 5 members, all of them benders.

The council was dissolved after the events of the first season and the goverment went over to a presidential system, and a non-bender was elected.

[Sheb]

Ok, I just watched

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the council imposing a curfew on all non-benders. How is that not oppression?

[WillowLuman]

Not so sure the benders think of non-benders as sub-human (since non-benders have been the majority of the population for all of history, and before this show people seemed more wrapped up in ethnic/national identity) but you'd probably feel pretty crushed if someone took away an ability you'd had for your entire life (and was a sort of status symbol / part of your identity).

Ok, I just watched

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the council imposing a curfew on all non-benders. How is that not oppression?

It's totally oppression. Hoo boy, Episode 8 is great, though. Just wait for that one awesome line...

[Comrade P.]

Ok, I just watched

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the council imposing a curfew on all non-benders. How is that not oppression?

Okay, looks like I forget things from season one. All-seasons re-watch here I gooooo.

[Zangi]

Ok, I just watched

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the council imposing a curfew on all non-benders. How is that not oppression?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Its not oppression.  They are fighting non-bender terrorists!  Non-benders are now under curfew... for the good of Republic City!

[10ebbor10]

Yeah, it's totally oppression. While maybe not 1938 Moscow, it's certainly close to depression era United States. I like it when the villains have a point.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Sadly, the series, like  many series, likes to avoid moral ambiguity. So pretty much every villain gets his moment to kick the dog.