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'{{Infobox television episode | series = [[The Legend of Korra]] | image = Venom of the Red Lotus.jpg | image_size = | caption = The titular venom enters Korra's body. | season = 3 | episode = 13 | airdate = {{Start date|2014|08|22}} | production = 213 | writer = {{Plainlist| * Joshua Hamilton * Tim Hedrick}} | director = Melchior Zwyer | music = [[Jeremy Zuckerman]] | photographer = | guests = * [[Richard Riehle]] as Bumi * Logan Wells as Meelo * [[Darcy Rose Byrnes]] as Ikki * [[Kiernan Shipka]] as Jinora * Adrian LaTourelle as Unalaq * [[Spencer Garrett]] as President Raiko * [[Jonathan Adams (American actor)|Jonathan Adams]] as Vaatu * [[Bruce Davison]] as Lord [[Zuko]] * [[Grey DeLisle]] as Ming-Hua * Peter Giles as Ghazan * [[Maria Bamford]] as Pema * [[Steve Blum]] as Amon * [[Alyson Stoner]] as Opal * [[Jim Meskimen]] as Daw | season_article = The Legend of Korra season 3 | episode_list = List of The Legend of Korra episodes | prev = [[The Legend of Korra season 3#ep38|Enter the Void]] | next = [[The Legend of Korra season 4#ep40|After All These Years]] }} "'''Venom of the Red Lotus'''" is the thirteenth and [[season finale|final]] episode of the [[The Legend of Korra season 3|third season]] of the American [[animated cartoon|animated]] [[television series]] ''[[The Legend of Korra]]'', a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]]/[[stand-alone sequel]] to ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', and the 39th episode overall. The show follows Avatar [[Korra]] ([[Janet Varney]]), the only person capable of bending all [[Classical element|four elements]] (water, earth, fire, and air), as she tries to maintain balance in the world, with this season focusing on her battle with [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters#The Red Lotus|The Red Lotus]], led by [[Zaheer]] ([[Henry Rollins]]), as they intend to create an [[Anarchism|anarchist]] world free from government and the Avatar. The episode was directed by Melchior Zwyer and written by Joshua Hamilton and Tim Hedrick, and follows the Red Lotus aiming to kill Korra while she is in the Avatar State so they can end the Avatar cycle. The episode originally aired on [[Nick.com|Nickelodeon's website]] on August 22, 2014, and received critical acclaim for its action sequences, animation and ending. == Plot == In caves near the Northern Air Temple, [[Zaheer (The Legend of Korra)|Zaheer]] and the Red Lotus administer mercury poison<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelligence4.tumblr.com/post/95564981225/william-ruzicka-on-the-red-lotus-poison |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165324/http://intelligence4.tumblr.com/post/95564981225/william-ruzicka-on-the-red-lotus-poison |title=William Ruzicka on the Red Lotus Poison |publisher=Tumblr |date=23 August 2014 |archivedate=April 2, 2015 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="S3E13 Blu-ray commentary">Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, Joaquim Dos Santos, Jeremy Zuckerman: ''The Legend of Korra: Book 3: Change'', audio commentary to the Blu-ray version of season 3, episode 13</ref> to [[Korra]] seeking to let her enter the Avatar State before killing her so that the Avatar reincarnation cycle will be broken. Jinora, using her spiritual projection abilities, overhears the plan and tells the rest of the airbenders who have been captured. The rest of Team Avatar follows Kai to a cave system where they find and rescue the airbenders. Korra's father Tonraq, [[Bolin (The Legend of Korra)|Bolin]] and [[Mako (The Legend of Korra)|Mako]] go to search for Korra, who is resisting entering the Avatar State. As she resists, she sees her past enemies: Amon, Unalaq and Vaatu. Eventually, Korra stops resisting and enters the Avatar State, however the Red Lotus find they have underrated Korra's power as she quickly escapes her chains. Zaheer flies from the caves and Korra chases after him, while Bolin fights Ghazan and Mako fights Ming-Hua. Korra uses her fire and earthbending to propel herself into a fight with Zaheer, while [[Tenzin (The Legend of Korra)|Tenzin]] reunites with his children and Tonraq begs the airbenders to help Korra. Inside the caves, Mako electrocutes Ming-Hua to death while Ghazan, refusing to go back to prison, uses lavabending to collapse the caves, killing himself. Bolin and Mako manage to escape the caves before they collapse. As Korra's body becomes weak due to the poison, Zaheer gains the upper hand in the fight. As he is about to asphyxiate Korra, the airbenders create a giant tornado that pulls him the ground. Zaheer is arrested and Suyin Beifong metalbends the poison out of Korra. Two weeks later, Korra is in a wheelchair and is being helped around by [[Asami Sato]]. Because the remaining poison is still in her body, she unable to access the Avatar State until the remaining poison is gone. President Raiko officially welcomes Korra back to Republic City after she defeated the Red Lotus terrorist attacks. She attends a ceremony where Tenzin makes Jinora an airbending master and he tasks the new Air Nation with continuing Korra's legacy in helping keep balance to the world. Korra watches this and lets out a single tear. == Credits and production == The episode was directed by Melchior Zwyer and written by Joshua Hamilton and Tim Hedrick. {{Columns-start|num=2}} === Main cast members === * [[Janet Varney]] as [[Korra|Avatar Korra]] * [[David Faustino]] as [[Mako (The Legend of Korra)|Mako]] * [[Seychelle Gabriel]] as [[Asami Sato]] * [[P. J. Byrne]] as [[Bolin (The Legend of Korra)|Bolin]] * [[J. K. Simmons]] as [[Tenzin (The Legend of Korra)|Tenzin]] * [[James Remar]] as Tonraq * [[Mindy Sterling]] as [[Lin Beifong]] * [[Anne Heche]] as Suyin Beifong * Skyler Brigmann as Kai * [[Dee Bradley Baker]] as hybrid creatures * [[Jeff Bennett]] as radio broadcaster {{column}} === Guest stars === * [[Richard Riehle]] as Bumi * Logan Wells as Meelo * [[Darcy Rose Byrnes]] as Ikki * [[Kiernan Shipka]] as Jinora * Adrian LaTourelle as Unalaq * [[Spencer Garrett]] as President Raiko * [[Jonathan Adams (American actor)|Jonathan Adams]] as Vaatu * [[Bruce Davison]] as Lord [[Zuko]] * [[Grey DeLisle]] as Ming-Hua * Peter Giles as Ghazan * [[Maria Bamford]] as Pema * [[Steve Blum]] as Amon * [[Alyson Stoner]] as Opal * [[Jim Meskimen]] as Daw {{Columns-end}} The idea of restraining the Avatar in X-shaped chains, as seen in this episode, was originally conceived for the scene of [[Aang]] being captured by the Fire Nation in the [[Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1|first season]] of ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender|Avatar]]'', but was then vetoed by the network. It was allowed this time, according to [[Bryan Konietzko]], after he complained about seeing a shot of [[SpongeBob SquarePants (character)|SpongeBob SquarePants]], another Nickelodeon character, similarly restrained.<ref name="S3E13 Blu-ray commentary" /> == Reception == The episode received critical acclaim from critics and fans and is considered one of the best episodes of the series.{{efn|<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Kambole |date=February 21, 2024 |title=20 Essential Episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/avatar-the-last-airbender-legend-of-korra-best-episodes.html |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Slash Film">{{Cite web |last1=Lima |first1=Leo Noboru |date=February 1, 2023 |title=The 15 Best The Legend Of Korra Episodes, Ranked |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1185964/the-15-best-the-legend-of-korra-episodes-ranked/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=Slash Film |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Jack |date=November 3, 2021 |title=Avatar: The Legend Of Korra - 10 Best Korra Episodes |url=https://screenrant.com/avatar-the-legend-of-korra-best-korra-episodes/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Rich |date=August 22, 2020 |title=The 10 Best Legend Of Korra Episodes, Ranked |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2552822/the-best-legend-of-korra-episodes-ranked |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=Cinema Blend |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=Rick |date=February 16, 2022 |title=The Best Episodes Of The Legend Of Korra Ranked |url=https://www.looper.com/769264/the-best-episodes-of-the-legend-of-korra-ranked/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=[[Static Media#Owned or associated websites|Looper]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=C. K. |date=August 13, 2020 |title=Every Episode of The Legend of Korra Ranked from Worst to Best |url=https://loudandclearreviews.com/the-legend-of-korra-episodes-ranked-from-worst-to-best/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=Loud and Clear Reviews |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Nicholson |first1=Max |date=December 27, 2014 |title=The Top 10 The Legend of Korra Episodes |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/26/the-top-10-the-legend-of-korra-episodes |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en-US}}</ref>}} Oliver Sava of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' stated that "The power on display in the final Korra/Zaheer fight is breathtaking, and director Mel Zwyer does phenomenal work capturing the full impact of the fight. The standout moment is an extended single shot following the two fighters as they exchange blows while navigating through the air, creating a disorienting sense of weightlessness as the camera gets swept up in their gravity-defying movement."<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sava |first1=Oliver |date=August 22, 2014 |title=The Legend Of Korra: "Into The Void"/"Venom Of The Red Lotus" |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-legend-of-korra-into-the-void-venom-of-the-red-1798181189 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Max Nicholson of ''[[IGN]]'' gave the episode a score of 9.5 out of 10, writing that "The Legend of Korra's Book Three finale ended on a solemn note, following an action-packed and climactic showdown" and "The final confrontation between Korra and Zaheer, for example, was gorgeously animated and scored but also very raw and personal. Meanwhile, the Bending Brothers' fight against Ming-Hua and Ghazan brought its own thrills."<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Nicholson |first1=Max |date=August 22, 2014 |title=The Legend of Korra: "Venom of the Red Lotus" Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/22/the-legend-of-korra-venom-of-the-red-lotus-review |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Leo Noboru Lima of ''Slash Film'' wrote that "No other half-hour in the show's history packs so much gripping action, grand drama, character progression, visual splendor, and seismic narrative development into its running time; it's the kind of dizzying, mind-blowing, expletive-inspiring Great TV that shows like "''Game of Thrones''" and "''Lost''" offered at their best."<ref name="Slash Film" /> Michael Mammano of ''[[Den of Geek]]'' gave the episode a score of 5 stars out of 5, stating that "This finale succeeded in so many ways..." and praised the character arcs of the season that were further developed or concluded in the episode saying "Korra and Asami’s friendship, Lin and Su’s family history, the return of the Air Nation and Tenzin’s coping with how his culture will inevitably change, Jinora’s coming of age, Kai gaining a sense of community and responsibility, Bolin learning to be himself both in regards to how he approaches girls and how his bending will evolve… there was so much going on, and it was great!"<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mammano |first1=Michael |date=August 24, 2014 |title=The Legend of Korra Season 3 Finale Review: Venom of the Red Lotus |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-legend-of-korra-season-3-finale-review-venom-of-the-red-lotus/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=[[Den of Geek]] |language=en-US}}</ref> == Notelist == {{Notelist}} == References == {{Reflist}} {{Avatar: The Last Airbender}} [[Category:2014 television episodes]] [[Category:The Legend of Korra episodes]]'