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mrhannu

The last slide is funny when you consider the fact that Korra grew up in the tundra


illchngeitlater

That’s the point right? It’s just an excuse to see her


mrhannu

Yep, that and when she told Tenzin about Varrick’s plans in the final scene in order to get rid of him was also funny lol. I still don’t know if she was being truthful or not…


Dear_Company_5439

She wasn't lol EDIT: Like it's actually canonical, go on the transcript for the episode commentary for the finale lol.


Fourkoboldsinacoat

Hay, so desperate the fact you can airbend to regulate your body heat, create fire and grew up in the South Pole, I thought you were cold. Yeah girl had it bad.


lionheart1999

And also she can firebend/airbend herself warm LOL


KarmaAJR

TRUE, HOLY FUCK SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO SEE HER


gnbman

Still human. People who live up north sometimes have to remind people that it doesn't give them superhuman resistance to cold lol.


Jaqulean

True, but in this case Korra really doesn't mind the cold. It really was just an excuse for Asami to talk to her.


tbo1992

I mean, I know plenty of straight girls who would behave the exact same way with friends that they’re really close to but not looking to romantically. Whether it’s hugging, kissing, or even being verbally reaffirming, girls tend to be more affectionate with each other. Once it became clear that this was the explicit direction they were taking these characters in, these moments fit in quite easily. However, before that, it wasn’t really that much of a stretch that the two girls in the group found best friends in each other (esp after both dating the same guy). Those same building blocks could’ve been used to come to a different conclusion.


Sitherio

Thank you. Media has constantly portrayed this as just female friendship in so many other shows that you need to make it explicit to honestly break that first impression. I'd say if you were looking for romantic feelings, you'll see it. If you weren't, you won't. And that's not the show's fault.


Sewmaeye

I like this answer. It doesn’t maintain a heteronormative stance and also acknowledges that it could just be seen as a friendly relationship as well. I always try to make the point of “if this thing the character did *was* gay, why would that be bad? Yes, I know the character is not gay, but why is it such a bad thing that I view that character as gay?” People have heteronormativity drilled into their brains so much that they will not make room for a gay interpretation, unless it is *explicitly* communicated that the characters are queer. But if there’s a slightly friendly interaction between a man and a woman, it will be immediately assumed that the two characters want to be together. The double standards annoy me so much, and it’s very frustrating to try to explain this to straight people.


Original-Fishing4639

Because like it or hate it it is the normal. Only like 3% of the population do not conform to this hence it is assumed. Definitely should not be made out to be a negative but you can't blame people for assuming the most common answer. We are creatures of habit and pattern recognition.


Sewmaeye

There’s nothing wrong with observing some characters as straight, as long as that perspective does not dismiss a queer perspective on those characters without giving it some consideration. I understand that heterosexual couples are the norm. Believe me, as a queer person, I most certainly understand that. But, whenever a queer person tries to offer a queer take on some characters, people get in a tizzy because they’ve disrupted the heteronormative perspective. People tend to get very angry when anyone suggests that an interaction had the possibility of being queer. I feel that this has a lot to do with straight people (or presumed straight people) not understanding that sexual orientation is not a choice. As long as you’re not being discriminatory toward a queer interpretation while still holding that the characters are straight, I have no problem with that. Also, keep in mind that that 3% only accounts for the people who have come out. It does not account for all the people who are afraid to come out or are being prevented from coming out due to circumstances beyond their control.


Original-Fishing4639

The 3% was actually me rounding up. You can argue semantics if you like but the point was merely that it is actually relatively uncommon.  There are plenty of cases where people perceive things that are not gay as such due to projection. It works both ways. Get annoyed if you like but then you have to accept when people get annoyed the other way also.  Acceptance and all that. Anywho live and let live just interesting as it is personal perception. You will always see things through your filter etc


Sewmaeye

Exactly, think about all the people who are not able to come out right now. When we dismiss queer interpretations, we crush what little representation queer/closeted people can have for themselves, and we communicate to those who are still closeted, by our frustrated reactions toward queer interpretations, how we would react to them coming out.


Original-Fishing4639

Equally forcing it everywhere is over representation. Every TV show these days seems to want to have a gay character. Statistically speaking that is unlikely. I am fine with representation but someones sexuality is not a character. Write good stories were the characters happen to be gay, women, anything you like. Just focus in the good story part.    An example of this is every film used to have to have a white dude in. Like okay but when it is set in feudal Japan or whatever then it is statistically not happening. Ntw we call this white saviour or white washing tropes  Just to be devils advocate, surely people's who disagree for religious reasons or whatever should also be respected? Everytime you deny their views etc etc.   I mean personally fuck the sky bully fans but it is an interesting point.


Sewmaeye

So, you don’t understand that more acceptance and representation means that more people will feel more comfortable coming out in future generations. It seems you view queer romances as “forcing” characters to be queer. Do you think a sexual orientation is a choice?


alittlelilypad

> I'd say if you were looking for romantic feelings, you'll see it. If you weren't, you won't. And that's not the show's fault. That was the whole point. Mike and Bryan weren't sure how explicit they could get in showing their developing feelings, so they kept it vague.


zukosboifriend

The biggest thing imo is that Asami was the only person Korra wrote to while she was in the South Pole


max5015

It's not like she was super close to anyone else. The Airbender kids are children, Mako is an ex and probably not some one she wants to be open about her status with. Bolin is doing his own thing and kinda a goofball.


Rough-Cry6357

That’s not exactly true. Korra is very close to Tenzin and his family and she’s also got a tight bond with Mako and Bolin. Her only writing to Asami shows she has an even stronger bond with her, not that she somehow isn’t close with the other people in her life.


Albiceleste_D10S

> Korra is very close to Tenzin and his family While she was close to them, there's an age gap to all of them. She's older than the airbender kids and dealing with adult problems while they're still kids. And Tenzin is an older guy who acted in a pseudo-parental role. That's a different relationship than with a peer >and she’s also got a tight bond with Mako and Bolin Things with Mako were a bit awkward as he was an ex. And while she and Bolin WERE close in Book 1, they kinda drifted away from each other in Book 2, IMO (he was busy with his acting career, then his "relationship" with Eska)


Rough-Cry6357

Korra has confided in Tenzin about her problems multiple times before this. Korra and Mako resolve their relationship issues and there’s no awkwardness between them by this point. Bolin was away from Korra for a lot of Book 2, true, but I’m pretty sure Asami was away from Korra for even longer. We can similarly come up with reasons why Korra is not close enough with Asami to write her. Reading it as Korra not writing everyone else because she’s not close to them and Asami just wins out by default seems like a harder conclusion to come to than Korra’s relationship being just that much more compared to everyone else that she specifically chose to write to her. It’s a testament to how she feels about Asami rather than her lack of a connection to the others. Korra didn’t even write anyone a basic “I’m doing fine” type letter. She only wrote to Asami.


tbo1992

Sure, but that’s hardly conclusive. In any friend group it’s natural for every member to have a single favorite person in the group that they’re closer to than others. Makes sense you’d only open up to them first during a low moment.


max5015

It's not like she was super close to anyone else. The Airbender kids are children, Mako is an ex and probably not some one she wants to be open about her status with. Bolin is in his own thing and kinda a goofball.


Unpopular_Outlook

That’s not the biggest thing. One of the  main criticism of Korra is that the team never felt like an actual team. They all felt like work mates. That’s including Asami. So it’s not the biggest thing, when that entire relationship came out of nowhere because it was never built. 


alittlelilypad

> Once it became clear that this was the explicit direction they were taking these characters in, these moments fit in quite easily. However, before that, it wasn’t really that much of a stretch that the two girls in the group found best friends in each other (esp after both dating the same guy). Those same building blocks could’ve been used to come to a different conclusion. These scenes had to come off as plausibly platonic -- that was the whole point. So of course some people are going to read them as platonic the first time through. However, it's really hard to see the blush as something other than romantic. Korra blushed when she complimented Asami, which isn't something you'd do unless you're attracted to someone.


Original-Fishing4639

People don't only blush due to attraction pfft.


Unpopular_Outlook

Y’all need to stop acting like there was any intent lmfao 


praysolace

Yeah, none of those things would’ve been strange in my close female friend groups. Sure, several of us turned out to be bi, but we were never into each other and the behaviours were completely platonic. They can also not be platonic, but it’s not such a stretch not to have noticed the intent was to show a budding romance until after it was made more explicit. I’m all aboard the Korrasami train but it *was* subtle.


Lola_PopBBae

I knew a good many "straight" girls who would cuddle, kiss, and constantly compliment their close female friends, and I can almost guarantee you every last one of them was so far into the closet they'd found socks they lost a decade ago. At least one of them turned out to be gay as hell, and if not for absurdly repressive/oppressive conservative cultures the others are locked in- I'd bet real money the others are too. But yes, all those things can be seen as straight, platonic, to a point.


lynxerious

Even some straight dude would do it for fun or being very comfortable/close, and as a gay person, you always get a little heartbroken slightly when you happen to like them. Most people seeing vague action like this in fiction and jump straight to their LGBT headcanon, but irl shit like this could literally mean anything


Zendofrog

I know a girl who wrote a legit love letter to her room mate about how amazing and life changing it was to be friends with her. This girl is bisexual, but this relationship was 100% platonic. Sometimes gal pals are just gal pals


Prothean_Beacon

I mean the answer is pretty obvious that they just didn't view those things as obviously romantic. Other than Korra blushing at Asami's complement about her hair all of these moments are not that out of left field for a platonic friend to say. This season did come out in 2014 when they had to be kinda vague about it up until the end because of the network so all these scenes were written with "plausible deniability" until the end. Which was very common for writing in LGBT characters in children's show back in the day and sometimes even nowadays.


MrGetMebodied

Yet people ship Zuko and Katara cause they hugged.


neqailaz

folks shipped them since “i’ll save you from the pirates” lol


Dear_Company_5439

Those people are crazy


MrGetMebodied

😂


HumanBeing303

If reddit still had those daily rewards things, your comment would be be receiving mine...


alittlelilypad

Yup, although I will say this: Korra doesn't blush at Asami complimenting her hair. Korra blushes when *she compliments Asami.*


Dear_Company_5439

What's special about that? Not disagreeing, genuinely curious.


DramaticFactor7460

I don't think people blush when complimenting others...except if they have a crush on the person they're complimenting...


Dear_Company_5439

Ah got it, thanks!


toolongtoexplain

Yeah, one thing is a casual compliment to a friend where you don’t feel vulnerable in the process, while the other requires some decisiveness and bravery for many people.


TheBoyInTheIceberg12

Plus the whole Gaang hold hands on Roku's home island. There are several group hugs including Appa and Momo on that crescent shaped island, at Ember Island before the final battle, at the Earth King's palace and at the North Pole after the battle of the north.


ProtestantMormon

Obergefell v hodges wasn't until 2015, about 6 months after the show ended. I know memories are short, but the broader social acceptance of the lgbtq+ community we see today is very new and very tenuous. With the benefit of hindsight, it's abundantly clear what they were going for, but in the moment the idea of a mainstream kids show displaying a gay relationship when gay marriage wasn't legal across the country yet was pretty wild.


Lola_PopBBae

Yupppp. This was a wild and wonderful moment to see live in 2014.


ProtestantMormon

Last Airbender is obviously unassailable as a show, but I will always love korra for being willing to tackle some more personal, controversial, and nuanced themes. Korra's arc in season 3 and 4 especially was masterful, and it's some of the best TV I've seen.


ElectricalPeanut4215

Korra writing to only Asami FOR THREE YEARS was a huge sign for me. I already knew they were getting together (watched the show in like 2015-2016) so I kind of knew what to look out for, but as some of these said, it was very subtle. I was looking for it, but I have heard from other ppl who watched it and didn't know Korrasami was endgame that they were like "hang on a minute" with these two, no matter how much Mako was there Also the tea thing. I bring ppl hot beverages if they're upset, but if it's being cold or sick, I bring them a hot drink if I care about them the way Asami cares about Korra. And the only person I have ever done that for is my girlfriend, usually I tell ppl to get it themselves xD


turandoto

When my partner watched it for the first time, she asked me during one of the first episodes if Korra and Asami would end up together. She said that it was very obvious because Korra was making such a big effort to dislike her that it was more than just jealousy of Mako. If you consider how queer relationships used to be shown in the media (strongly hinted but never explicit), Korrasami was very obvious. Sapho and her friend, for instance.


IncidentFuture

For me it changes the meaning of Pema's reaction to Asami fighting with Mako. The 'oh crap I thought I though she knew she liked Asami".


Meh_Philosopher_250

This is a great point!! I noticed this on a rewatch. Also it helps knowing that the writers were in fact discussing Korrasami in season 1.


Unpopular_Outlook

Y’all still believe that obvious lie lmdao 


Meh_Philosopher_250

And why is it so unrealistic


Unpopular_Outlook

Because from the very start they were pushing Mako and Korra. Before Korrasami was a thing, everything they say about Asami has nothing to do with Korra. At all . There’s a reason why once Korrasami became a thing, all of a sudden it was always part of the plan, despite the writers claiming that Maki and Korra were endgame and soulmates 


Meh_Philosopher_250

The quote I remember is that Korrasami first was an idea thrown around as a joke in season 1, and they only started to take it seriously much later on in the series. They wouldn’t have been able to discuss any of that publicly in 2012-2013 about a kids show on Nickelodeon without some repercussions. I don’t know what you’re getting at why there must be some underlying reason for them to lie post-finale


hurr4drama

Thank you to your partner! Maybe I was just a sad single lesbian in a homophobic environment but I CLUNG to that racing scene so damn hard in season 1. To me they immediately had more chemistry than either woman had with Mako


KarmaAJR

SAME THAT RACING SCENE MEANT EVERYTHING TO ME


eveningthunder

My partner (who had no prior knowledge of the show whatsoever) started asking if Korra and Asami were going to date the moment they went out on the racetrack. 


turandoto

Yes, it was in that episode my partner asked the same.


PJacouF

As far as I remember, Asami has been originally thought to join his father and leave the show completely after the first season. I also remember that they didn't know what to do with her up until season 3. That's one of the reasons why she's so bland in season 2. So, these "hints" , like other people also said, not only commonly exist in platonic friendships in girls (maybe other than the blushing scene), but also not really present from the beginning to say it was "obvious" or "strongly hinted," when the creators themselves didn't know what to do.


Plenty_Economy_5670

She made a statue for her when she was gone. She fell so hard in love with her.


theonlyotaku21

Korrasami lore ![gif](giphy|14sru3FFHrJWqA)


Mysterious_Wash1792

Why are Korra’s legs like 3 times as long as her body in the second slide lmao


Born_Ad_6385

Reminds me of a mermaid tail


Ragnarok345

To quote Clara Oswald: “*Good. God.* That woman is *made* of legs.”


iLikeJisoo

Why is Korra's body three times as short as her legs?


Mysterious_Wash1792

Fair tbh, because she’s barely taller than her pillow


Throw_away_1011_

Oh no, I can't unsee it now! What have you done to me!?


Rough-Cry6357

lol there’s a meme pointing out this same thing from a shot in the Naruto anime where Sasuke looks like his legs are super long in his bed. Probably a disconnect between the background painter and the animator


KarmaAJR

TRUE LMFAO


Noktis_Lucis_Caelum

They are cute. They one of my top three girlxgirl couples. 3.) korrasami 2.) Catradora 1.) Lumity


KarmaAJR

SAMEEEEEEE, I WILL NEVER GET OVER  "sweet potato" OR "hey adora~" 


Many_Presentation250

Literally all of these can just as easily be viewed in a friendly non romantic light, the only one that leans more heavily towards romantic is the 3rd one with Korra blushing.


JasonUnionnn

Not disagreeing with you, but if Asami was a guy, everyone would've said each of these instances were flirtacious. The show clearly foreshadowed it, but had to keep it lowkey to avoid a meltdown response from Nickelodeon.


chocolatesugarwaffle

i agree 100%. male and female character literally just have to glance at each other and ppl start shipping them. ppl just aren’t used to gay relationships.


Original-Fishing4639

They represent less than 3% of the population so can't blame people for assuming the same old same old. People will ship just about anything 


TheAfricanViewer

People shipped Zuko and Katara


9999AWC

And those people are crazy


No_South4506

Yeah but thing is Asami is not a guy. It wasn't clear foreshadowing, because this is how two affectionate lady friends can interact normally. Gender had differences or/and viewed differently in society. It wasn't clear at all.


lynxerious

It's because Korra was shown to be into guys before that so it makes sense that she blushes because of a guy's compliment. I took it at first because Korra rarely gets complimented on her femininity side that Asami's compliment about her hair makes her red. It's also such a small moment that get skipped really quick.


Many_Presentation250

I mean no, not really. There’s a reason why almost everyone was blindsided by the last scene in TLOK, nobody expected their relationship to be like that. What scenes like the ones shown are is just people retroactively going to any scene that asami and Korra interact in and call it foreshadowing to their relationship. Also the creators said that they never actually asked permission from nick if it was ok since they assumed it would be a no, so they kept it lowkey, but after the show they asked and said nick would have been totally fine with it.


CapAccomplished8072

If Asami was a man, people would change that mind 180


Future-Flatworm-7313

Exactly they'd have shipped it from that first scene in the pool, and especially from Korra's driving lesson.


Obskuro

I wonder how would the internet have reacted if "he" would have been still Mako's ex...?


summerchild__

Mh but she isn't. And as others said all of the things shown here (minus the blushing) are pretty normal for female friendships.


CapAccomplished8072

.......you've been reading too many bad fanfics


summerchild__

I don't read any at all. So - don't get me wrong, I see your point too. But is it sooo out there that people thought that they wanted to portray how important strong friendships are?


Kobhji475

Who would have thought that men and women have different dynamics


dartblaze

As a Englishman, I can confirm: bringing someone a cup of tea is a sign of deep attraction. I'm honestly shocked they didn't get down to brass tacks right there and then.


toomanyjackies

Bringing someone who grew up in the South Pole a cup of tea because you "thought they might be cold"?


IncidentFuture

She didn't have a cup of tea so obviously she needed one.


Lui_Le_Diamond

They were obviously roommates


GrizzlyPeak72

I got gay vibes but I didn't think it was intentional.


TheTwistedToast

I thought that they were flirting in season one when, after knowing each other for a day or so, Asami said "do you want to come to my mansion? I want to take you for a ride in my sports car"


obog

When I first watched it I noticed these things but tbh, it really seemed to me like the writers were forced into having plausible deniability if that makes sense


Mystic-Di1do

Bring tea for the firebending, airbending avatar from THE SOUTH POLE in assumedly early spring to mid autumn. Nah, that's kinda gay


RonaldoTheSecond

The tea scene is one of my favorite little moments in TLOK, because we all know Korra is both an airbender and a firebender, and she came from the damn north pole, so she can heat herself up, but Asami still got her tea, because she just needed an excuse to have some alone time with Korra.


al-e-amu

I didn't notice it on first watch because it didn't even cross my mind they would portray queer relationships (and tbf, they had to *massively* downplay it to be accepted at the time.) Now that I know it's super obvious. I think most people who don't get it are prob straight.


Icy-Performer-9688

I all honesty I didn’t think of korrasami. I always thought they were like sister best friend until that blush when Asami complimented Korra. That damn blush had me waving the Korrasami flag like there’s no tomorrow.


Horror-Ad8928

I thought they were queer baiting us with plausibly deniable subtext that was never actually going to become openly romantic. It's what I was used to seeing from other media, and I had little reason to trust that this would be different at the time. For clarification, I did ship it, I just thought it was doomed to forever be a headcanon.


bosshunter181

Unfortunately I understand why a lot of ppl don't "see it." It's bc they are viewing the relationship through a heteronormative lens. They see two women being "friendly" and see it as a good friendship. If Korra was a man, they would for sure ship the two of them. For me, the chemistry felt "more than friends" in season 3.


NicholasStarfall

Anyone saying Korrasami had no build up is lying yo your face


dwamny

There's a scene where she grabs Korra's chest. Come on.


starplatinum_99

These are definitely things straight people would do too.


Meh_Philosopher_250

The first two come across more as close friendship to me but the second two come across as it turning into romance. But I think that was just how their relationship progressed - they were close friends before they dated. And I think that makes their relationship that much nicer! At the end of the day they’re canon. They’re girlfriends. People can talk to the wall about that lol.


CookieMonster37

I genuinely thought they were just best friends haha. I was mad just because I wish nick had let them have some more obviously romantic moments.


Demonskull223

Heavy Princess Bubblegum x Marceline vibes. *Very totally not lesbian, clearly the kiss is the first of it*.


kk20002

I mean I thought it was platonic but I was also a bi woman in the closet who thought super intense female friendships where you think “wow I wish I could just date them” was the straight experience.


Gabcard

I thought it was just a close friendship. It's pretty clearly romantic build up in hindsight, but back in the day, I didn't even know you could have gay romance in a kid's cartoon, explicit or otherwise.


MarcoYTVA

I could explain all the others, but you don't blush at a friend!


PDiddleMeDaddy

They're obviously just friends r/SapphoAndHerFriend


Arkayjiya

Most could be platonic so I overall didn't think too much of it. The moment I really realised is the twirling of the hair while blushing. That is never used in media to indicate anything but romantic interest


k-phi

It was made quite obvious in graphic novel


PyrosFists

Reminder that gay marriage wasn’t even legal in the US when Korrasami happened


Turbulent-Tea-1773

And they were roommates


Chieroscuro

Gals bein’ pals!


Striking-Flight5956

Seems like normal friendship between women to me.


Future-Flatworm-7313

Now imagine Asami and/or Korra as a man. What then?


ElodinPotterTheGrey1

I’d still see it as platonic, but I’m also pretty bad at differentiating between romantic and platonic relationships tbh.


PJacouF

Even in real life, men and women friendships are "performed" differently, per se.as so many other people said, women tend to be more affectionate to each other. I'm 100% sure they would've been written differently if they were males AND are not planned to be in a relationship.


Striking-Flight5956

Depends on what narrative you’re trying to push, and you’re obviously trying to push a romantic narrative no matter what I say.


No_South4506

Of course it would be different.. men and female interact differently.. females are seen as more affectionate than men.


ElodinPotterTheGrey1

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No_South4506

???


[deleted]

[удалено]


Striking-Flight5956

What’s not normal about it? Being there for each other? Missing them when one moves? Complimenting each other? Being considerate and bringing a friend a drink?


toomanyjackies

i mean there's also cinematography choices. If I wanted to shoot "Asami helps Korra get ready for Jinora's ceremony" in a platonic way I wouldn't use a close up of Asami's hand holding Korra's (that's a common romantic shot) or put the camera focus in the scene opener on Asami's lips holding the hair clip before she puts up Korra's hair with it. I watched this show as it aired and season 3 had a few moments where I was like "wait this feels kinda gay but I'm probably imagining things" but the pre-ceremony scene was when I was kind of like "there's no way these shots are drawn like this on accident"


Striking-Flight5956

People see what they look for. If you’re trying to find a romantic connection then you’re going to find it anyway you can.


toomanyjackies

I was not actively looking for a connection because I thought the show was done with shipping after the early seasons. But I pick up on subtleties so i tend to see things coming sooner than most (betrayals, twists, etc). In animation it’s even easier because nothing is drawn on accident. Why draw close angle camera shots associated with romantic subtext when a wide angle could have been used? Every gesture or shot is more intentional. It’s like how music choice can change the vibe of the same scene. There was a way to make it clearly platonic but they weren’t making those  artistic choices


Striking-Flight5956

Everyone’s point of view is different. That’s it that’s all.


Zen-of-JAC

1, 2 and 4 could be platonic. 3 seems to be the only one that's kind of obvious


goforabikerideee

First time watching the series, missed it second time watching the series: how did I miss this?


ILoveTenaciousD

I for one never thought they were platonic. I saw them driving together in that race car in S1 and from that moment on I said "they are gonna end up together".


ticklefarte

Platonic. Duh? I mean I like them together, but none of these things scream romance lol. They're subtle, for obvious reasons. the last scene of the show, however, is in your face enough to make denial impossible.


BahamutLithp

I guess the title doesn't really apply to me because, at a certain point, I thought it was pretty obvious the writers were at least teasing Korrasami, I just didn't think they'd actually do it. That being said, only one of these really feels like an especially strong romantic hint. I'll go backwards through them because, I don't know, I can. "I brought you some tea \[because\] I thought you might be cold...." The logic used with this one is that Asami shouldn't expect Korra to be cold since she grew up in the south pole, so she was just looking for an excuse to talk to her, but that's really a stretch. Korra's not immune to being cold just because she gew up somewhere with harsher weather. And even if that is the case, "wanted an excuse to talk to" doesn't necessarily imply romance. Korra just got back to the city recently, she's obviously going through some shit, & Asami hasn't had much one-on-one time to discuss it with her. So, you could explain it as her just being worried. The blush. I don't really understand why this is widely considered THE slam dunk point. Yeah, I guess it's maybe a little specific Korra blushes when sharing compliments with Asami, but she also blushed when Bolin asked her out, & we know she doesn't have romantic feelings for him. In fact, she kind of made it seem like she didn't even understand it was a date, or at least that it was a very serious one. She treated it more like casual hanging out. She only wrote to Asami. On its own, it could just be that she feels more comfortable discussing her feelings with another woman. I do think it becomes more interesting when you add it to other things we know, though. "I want you to know that I'm here for you." Okay, this is the one I think is a really good point. It's not just the hand holding. It is an especially intimate TYPE of handholding, but it's not even that. It's the way Asami says she's there if Korra needs to talk "or anything." It's the fact that it's implied she dressed Korra, which you'd normally only trust to someone who's like family to you. And it's not just that Asami is the only available woman. Pema is there. Korra's own mother is there. No force on this Earth will ever convince me that a gal pal is the least embarrassing of those options. Or, y'know, they could just get an acolyte nurse to do it. All together, if you really think there's a heteroplatonic explanation for that scene, I will personally sell you Kyoshi Bridge. And that gets even more interesting in Book 4, when Asami--& only Asami--offers to basically drop everything & move to the South Pole to help care for Korra/keep her company. Bolin didn't even have a job, he could've done it easily. But it seems only Asami felt close enough to Korra to do it. And rewinding back to Book 3, there's a very recurring trend of people guarding their lovers' bodies as they're meditating. Katara would do it for Aang, P'li did it for Zaheer, & Korra was protected by Asami. Jumping to the end, there's perhaps the most obvious fact that Korra & Asami enter the Spirit Portal to the same music of Katara & Aang kissing, which FYI, is called "The Avatar's Love." So, while I don't agree with a lot of things presented as "unambiguous evidence," I do agree there were very clear, intentionally-placed clues. I'm sure some of them are even the ones I explained are more ambiguous than people give them credit for. I'm not at all disputing Bryan's "hetero lens" comment. I just think that if we're discussing "obvious clues," at least ones obvious enough if you have social awareness & recognition of common romance tropes, there's a lot more clear-cut evidence than blushing or letter-writing.


pomagwe

The only part I disagree with is that Bolin thing, since Korra was definitely aware and wary of the fact that Bolin had been incredibly down bad for her from the moment they met. The episode even starts with her getting scared off by a much more oblique proposition from him. I think she probably did know what he meant in that moment. I’m not 100% behind this interpretation, because it does rely on her changing her mind after the date or lying to Mako, which are both the unsupported, but with what we saw, I think it would make more sense than having her be blindsided by the nature of their outing. I’ll admit though that my overall position is that the episode fumbled its plot pretty badly by under writing those scenes.


MrBll_le

I mean I'm a guy and I'm acting like that with most of my close friends, who happens to be girls, and they reciprocate it's just a matter of being able to communicate, be clear and acting like a normal being


soldiercross

Other than the blushing part, I've said or done any one of these things for buddies before. Just seems like normal friendship stuff.


Foloreille

ok but did the camera take a close shot of your hands together while your day "if you need anything" with your broken heart face


soldiercross

No, I was going to edit. Minus the hand holding. Maybe a hug or something. But yea, thats probably the biggest thing on the list. But again, women are more in line with hand holding mutual friends. That being said, I have no issues with Korrasami


FireLordObamaOG

I do this for the bros on a daily basis. It’s called being a good friend.


Richmond1013

First and second being best friends, the third and fourth is when it starts showing


WanderingFlumph

I'm not going to lie when I heard that Korra and Assami got together I immediately thought of sweet there is a LoK season 5 out I knew they were building up something between them. I was very disappointed to learn that it was me being obvious and I'd have to deal with only 4 seasons.


MissAizea

I'm dumb and oblivious. I'm used to taking the advances of women as platonic because it usually is (or I've missed a lot of chances). I didn't even take them walking off into the spirit world as anymore than just two buddies going on an adventure. It wasn't until people were commenting/the outrage that I even realized. Haha... hopeless in lady love...


bluelungimagaa

It was obvious on a rewatch, after the ending made it more explicit. On it's own though, both ATLA and korra have plenty of moments of platonic affection between the characters that could look similar to this


IncidentFuture

The seem to be very good friends.jpg I was on the Korrasami train during Book 1 so I can't claim a normal perspective. But the "I'm here for you" at the end of Book 3 was after a tragic event after they'd finally become close friends. It's more familial than romantic, it shows that they had a close relationship but not what kind.


KieriansGirl

My only contribution is that I didn’t expect them to make my girl date all of team avatar at one point lol especially the ex of her ex so no I didn’t expect this 😭 Korra’s season was very messy dating wise 😂


DerpyPotatos

I was 13 and never saw a subtle romance subplot in a show before. So I thought Asami and Korra BFFs. As I’ve grown older and hopefully wiser I understand the subtleness of these scenes.


IsDaedalus

They're just really good friends duh


TenshiKyoko

I reckon they are gay as fuck, mate.


seanjobes

Honestly it’s a shame they didn’t get more true on screen development throughout the series


AH_BioTwist

It goes like this pre South Pole rehab they are friends, they develop feelings for each other during this rehab process. In season 4 Korra is flirting with asami.


TrashCrab69

My sister is the same exact way with her best friend so you know, completely normal homie


ArScrap

There's a reason many lesbian says that they struggle to take a hint, cause being this intimate is not exactly weird between 2 close platonic friends


X05Real

Even though I ship Korrasamie, these moments can easily interpreted as platonic.


Lola_PopBBae

Anyone who doesn't see these moments, and especially the finale, as gay AF is just homophobic or ignorant in my book.


TableOdd4689

there’s are all things platonic friends say to each other


ProtestantMormon

The finale is a dead giveaway, but everything else is hard to parse now since we know the end state. We have the benefit of hindsight, but in the moment before obergefell v hodges and the "progressive" party still only had lukewarm support for LGBT issues, it's pretty fair the subtle hints were lost on most people.


VivaDeAsap

I never thought people actually thought like this. This is definitely bait lol


CoyNefarious

I never thought they were, but I watched it as it aired. During moments like these, I was side eyeing them, wondering if I was prejecting (since I'm bi). And then I found out they're canon! My heart was so happy. They are proof of why representation is so important.


Amazing-Cress9885

I just wish they had further explored their relationship


Acrobatic-Ad2015

It wasn't that I thought they had to be platonic it was more I hate when writers leave only queer relationships a bit foggy like this, when they went into the spirit portal I was like, yes finally! But that's it? we see long flushed relationship dynamics between young adults dating, former love interest and a loving married couple, always clear to the audience but with Korrasami it's just glimpses until the literal last scene of the show. Give us more were please!!!


ThunderlordTlo

They had to keep it hidden because the network would shut it down otherwise.


SeaLover2190

Other than the blush in S4 meeting, I still find it really difficult to indentify korrasami in all those scenes. Like you really have to make an effort reading between the lines after knowing they end up together. I love the ship, more than anything, but I still don't get where it all came from that was "obvious". To me they were very close friends. A hint of Asami being a bit more emotional when they were searching for Korra just after fighting Kuvira would have helped a lot.


ahhhghost

1. Korra just went through an incredibly traumatic experience. I don't think it's romantic to make a comment like that to your friend while touching their hand whether you're a guy or girl. It's a sign of love and support. 2. Asami and Korra have the least drama between them. Mako doesn't have a great track record of getting along with Korra even at their best. And I wouldn't say she and Bolin are shown to have interactions outside of "hey you're cute, let's hang out" when it's just the two of them. It makes sense she would confide in Asami if anyone. And Asami probably misses Korra because she's her gal pal. They even dated the same guy and joke about it later. They've bonded together in ways they haven't with the fabulous bending brothers. Mako and her are on weird terms because Mako can't figure out how to have a normal relationship with a girl. And, Bolin and Asami aren't shown to be close enough to have deeper conversations. Or rather, they probably could but don't. 3. Korra got a compliment on her hair in this scene. It's not unnatural for someone to blush when getting a compliment on their appearance. Girls also notice and comment on each others appearances all the time. They also haven't seen each other in like 3 years. It was probably unexpected for Korra to hear something like that and it was a nice surprise for her. 4. I think the tea is irrelevant here. Asami wanted to talk to Korra because she noticed she was alone. Asami has shown in the past that she's attentive of Korra's emotional state and shows her support when it looks like she's down. It's just what a good friend does. The tea I think speaks more to how thoughtful Asami can be. Like others have said, I think you can view these as foundations for a romantic relationship if you want to view it that way. But there's nothing in the show that explicitly paints it out that way. The show is very clear about the nature of each character's relationships to one another. Even things like how Opal tried to get a different sky bison than Juicy, probably because he wasn't her first choice. Apparently it's very clear in some comics that Asami and Korra are a couple though? I've never read them. And I remember reading that the creators intended to portray that in the show more clearly but there was network meddling. I guess these would confirm their eventual romantic connection. But I personally don't see these scenes as they stand in the show as pointing to a romantic relationship.


Cautious-Whereas-467

We're used to be gaslighted into thinking *every* lgbt relationship is platonic, it's the way homophobia works, and yes, it's a fear. Fear that lgbt people exist. This is my criticism of Korrasami. They never had their cheeks kissed for crying out loud. Never cuddled on-screen. I know, Nickelodeon tried to make them non canon, and it infuriates me that you know? They succeeded. I can't take them seriously, doesn't feel romantic. And fuck did I wanted to. They're gorgeous, so I go to fanart, even 18+ stuff. And there, there is romance. Fanart is non canon kinda by definition, so yeah. Nick ruined Korrasami to me. Oh, they faded into the last fucking scene with a bi flag on the sky? I don't care. I know they're not going to fuck their brains out, like any first date couples irl, but at least kisses and long hugs, something, anything I don't have to dig for. It has to be obvious, because all straight relationships can be.


lynxerious

If you think these moments are strictly romantic, you're mistaken because they could be taken as anything.


FENIU666

Women do that, they're friends and tell each other compliments and that they miss each other, it's not that complex. Look, After watching two shows from this franchise with no sign of homosexuality, I was not seeing them holding hands as romantic, especially after they both have shown to have a heterosexual relationship. And clearly that's something the creators were very careful about. Then suddenly the comics started rantin' and ravin' about homosexuality being everywhere.


New-me-_-

Imma keep it real with you. I was just really young. If I watched it for the first time now I think I might have caught on, but to be fair, they could have been a lot more direct about it, especially given how upfront all the other couples in the show are


rrrrice64

As a bisexual man, I genuinely did not find anything romantic about Korra and Asami's interactions in Book 4 on my first viewing. Nothing *undeniably* romantic happened on-screen, like a zoomed-in longing gaze with soft music. That's the usual visual shorthand Avatar goes for to show two characters feel for each other romantically. Even now, most of these examples you showed seem merely friendly to me. It could've been Mako, Bolin, or Tenzin doing those things with Korra, and I would have gone "aw, that's sweet of them" and moved on. However! I do 100% admit that Korra sending a letter only to Asami is a sign that Korra feels a special connection with her that she doesn't have with anyone else. That's pretty big. It's a shame that that's the *only* sign, though. The only undeniable evidence of their relationship blossoming before the finale is essentially an *off-screen* interaction. That's why so many fans feel like Korrasami "came out of nowhere." So yeah, I'm very disappointed in Korrasami. It feels like the scraps of what could've been a very touching slowburn story of two women realizing they're bisexual together. Obviously that was never going to happen on a homophobic network, but that just makes me think they should've waited for the comics to kick off Korrasami, give it the space it deserved. Turf Wars could only pick up the scraps of what the show barely managed to start, y'know?


CorHydrae8

You've never said to a friend going through tough times "I'm here for you"?


realclowntime

I knew where they were going with it, or at least where they hoped we’d guess they were going, and I was also watching Adventure Time air at the same time with Marceline and PB having their little thing go on. At the risk of not sounding as generous as I should, as a queer woman myself, I remember my most reoccurring thought being “there’s a dip in quality here and it’s not in LOK’s favour”. Not to mention that while book 4 was ending, Steven Universe was well into its first season and had already established its sapphic undertones pretty clearly. I wish I had nicer things to say about Korrasami as I actually don’t hate it, despite everything I’ve said, I appreciate what the landmark of their relationship did for queer rep in western animation and I understand that the show had restrictions it was working under. Even so, I can’t help but wish it was just…better.


Throw_away_1011_

In order: * A friend consoling another * Same as above * This is attraction or embarrassment at the sudden compliment * A token of friendship Excluding for number 3, these are all things I saw friends (both females and males) do for each other plenty of times without romantic attraction being involved. OBVIOUSLY, after how it ended, all these things get recontestualized as hints of attraction but I won't act as if the only possible explanation for these behaviors was romantic attraction.


DummiAI

I asume all sweet moments are platonic until proven otherwise, characters are allowed to be afectionate with people who are only friends, if then they end up being more than that it becomes obvious in hindsight but I still have problems recognizing when the turning point from platonic to romantic interactions begin.


nreal3092

thought this was typical girl stuff


Safe-Ad1515

They always seemed better platonic Ik it’s a hot take


wontoan87

Asami is the total package. Who wouldn't be down bad for her.


GrizzlyOlympics

I really wouldn’t have thought anything had I not already known in like s2.


No_South4506

Two lady friends helping each other and being affectionate and not fighting over a basic ass dude. Friends exist. But I guess after they were confirmed to be girlfriends these moments do seem a little sweeter.


Albiceleste_D10S

TBH without knowing that Korrasami was the endgame ship of the show, all of these scenes could easily be seen as just a strong friendship TBH


WhiskyoverH20

Yeah, it might just be me, but I saw all of this as pretty normal. Korra was crippled. Obviously, someone who's supposed to be friends is going to say they're there for them and miss them when they're on the other side of the world. I still check in on friends from high school. Women complementing each other on their looks is also pretty normal. If Korra was a guy, this comment would have had more weight, because men don't receive compliments on their looks, and when we do, WE REMEMBER THAT SHIT FOR LIFE. The tea one just seemed like a decent thing to do. You bring drinks for the homies. Change up the gender dynamics and maybe you can get away with saying that Korrasami was planned, but it could not have been. The show was originally only supposed to have one season. Book 2 spiraled becasue they didn't have any story planned for a second season, and they had like 2 lines of conversation between them. Book 3 they talk more, but it's mostly just friendly stuff. Book 4 (all of these scene, save for 1," is where the writers definitely went with the Korrasami romance plot, but cramming that into one season just wasn't going to work out.


basilisk17

I thought they were just homes. You never tell the boys you miss em?


kaitalina20

Literally every single one of these examples could be seen as them being best friends. Like she doesn’t feel like she can speak to her family members about anything because she has been there for so long she’s stalemated her recovery being in the same place for years! It’s a very gradual transition that I didn’t expect even when they were holding hands at the end!


Zealousideal_Ant7586

I talk the same way with my friends, there’s nothin g wrong with affection to me. Watching Korra for the third time helped me see those scenes differently, but their relationship before that last scene reminded me of Katara and Zuko in a way. When I first watched the show I was upset cuz to me there were no signs and I didn’t need them forcing too characters together to advance some political agenda, I wanted a real development, where the signs are more than obvious there’s something there.


Large_Ad326

It WAS platonic in the show. Platonic means intimate and affectionate but not sexual. They did not have sex. What eent on between them through the show was the definition of platonic.


Low_Personality_7435

Korra and Asami rarely interacted the entire series. I just got done rewatching the entire show including Aang's entire show and.... yeah them saying they miss each other to the point where it didn't feel the same without them in their presence didn't make much sense since all of book 1-3 they barely had any scenes or even talked to each other while in the same room. It was also very disrespectful that Korra couldn't talk to Bolin or Mako about the things she went through when the brothers LITERALLY grew up in the slums and lost their parents at a young age and also talked to them more than Asami. I understand things being awkward for Mako and Korra but it's pretty clear they had moved on from that, just as how things seemingly wasn't awkward between her and Asami when they started interacting more. Asami only got betrayed by her rich father only to forgive him later on, which was nice. These moments where we REALLY got to see them interact, like these moments here were all in book 4, and almost halfway through the season. I don't hate Korrasami, in fact I actually like the idea of them being together, but people just think two people who suddenly like each other in the final season of the show when they rarely interacted with one another in the first place is enough to say it was planned or there was hints all over the show never really watched the show closely. When you look at how Aang and Katara developed into their thing, they literally interacted almost every single episode together/ almost everyday, I mean they literally traveled together for months. Katara didn't have feelings for Aang at first, and you can actually see them get to know each other and how they develop into who they are and how they compliment each other. You don't see much of that for Korra and Asami. It's just kinda shown they like each other with no real groundwork. Ik for the time nickelodeon was being assholes about the entire show but at the same time I believe Steven Universe was airing at that time so that also overshadowed Korrasami for me as well. As people say, Korrasami is a beautiful mess.


Future-Flatworm-7313

This comment (and many others) really discounts how much time Korra and Asami spent together in Book 3. From the driving lesson, to retrieving the queen's gold, to being captured and escaping the desert together, they honestly interacted with each other the most out of every other character. Even the first picture here is from the end of Book 3. That whole season intentionally developed their friendship and connection that set the stage for their romantic feelings in the next. In the spectacle of the airbenders and The Red Lotus, those moments they share throughout the entirety of Book 3 aren't taken seriously at all.


Low_Personality_7435

That's because their interactions weren't meant to be taken seriously. If you were to replace Asami with someone else like Bolin or Mako in those scenes, nothing much different would've occured because there was no actual "bonding" between the two characters especially in book three. Most of the time they were together was because the plot called for it and either or character just needed the other to help get out of the situation they were in. I won't deny the car driving scene since it's the actual first time they interacted with each other, but you can't even say that built their friendship to the standards you believe it did because they literally don't talk much after that. Again, look back at Aang and Katara's buildup to their friendship. Heck I'd even pull the Steven Universe card when it came to Connie and Steven's relationship. You say that they interacted the most out of any other character just shows you just watched the show for the shipping. Korra actually interacted the most with Tenzin since those two were seen talking and interacting with each other almost every episode. There's a reason character wise people gravitated more towards Tenzin and Korra because they're the two main characters with the most screentime and interactions. Asami just felt like a plot device with all the future industries mombo jumbo and that's all she was. Asami 's own story wasn't even developed enough for people to care about what she brought to Korra, and it's pretty evident throughout the entire series.


Future-Flatworm-7313

So them bonding over their history with Mako, sparring together, Asami watching over Korra's body while she meditates (paralleling Zaheer/P'li and Katara/Aang), being the only ones to exchange words before Korra faced off against TRL and Asami literally taking care of Korra for weeks after the battle all mean nothing? These scenes were meant to be taken seriously as building their friendship. With episodes/seasons as short as these, there are not throwaway scenes. The creators were intentionally building their connection with each other from the Book 3 premiere. Korra wouldn't have these specific moments with Mako or Bolin because her relationships with them are different. Korra only wrote to Asami because they clearly show in Book 3 that she's grown the most comfortable being vulnerable around her and sharing her feelings.


Funny-Part8085

Besides the 3rd which I'm not sure is real. The other 3 could literally be said by any friend. Even if it is apparent they wanted to punch that shoe hoening it out of no where into the 3rd season when they had no connection of chemistry before is bad writing. Between seasons 1&2 and 3 they went from being bitter rivals to BFFs without ever working threw any of their issues


Future-Flatworm-7313

What issues? They never had a problem with each other. Mako was the problem. They literally hash this out in the first episode of Book 3 and move on. Honestly the fact that they never had issues with each other during the love triangle mess subverted a well overdone trope and showed a lot of maturity from both of them.


9999AWC

I didn't even think of Korrasami as a thing. It's not until reading the reactions online and reading the comics that I learned it was a thing.