There's a segment of the fandom that isn't treating this as a laughing matter either (http://masterarrowhead.tumblr.com/post/62364985101/asami-and-mako-better-step-in-and-help-bolin-in), so you're not alone there. Although comparing her to Mai just makes Eska's shortcomings more forthright. In her first episode, Mai showed a lot more emotion, and variety of it, than Eska has. Honestly, before that gag at the end of Episode 4, I half-expected the twins to be revealed as Spirit abominations in flesh suits or something, considering their flatness so far.
Bolin is in a weird spot this season. He's getting a lot more screentime than he did in Season 1, it feels like, but he's still consistently comic relief. That worked well enough when he was a bit player in the mini-series that was Season 1, but in a continuing series he's starting to feel at odds with the wider universe. Asami has the same issue, but in a different way. Bolin at least has a purpose as comic relief. Asami is just... there. Like a more prominent, flatter Suki. The only thing she's done this season is to introduce Bolin to Varrick, and otherwise hasn't had any character interaction with the rest of the cast. I get the sense that the writers just don't know what to do with her, or at least don't know how to use her in this storyline.
I dunno. I feel like Season 2 would've been a lot tighter if they'd dropped Bolin and Asami, and had a Korra/Mako vacation to the South Pole blow up into this civil war thing, maybe introduced more Southern/Northern cast members to take their places. Because neither character really feels like they work outside of Republic City, while Mako can at least coast on his boyfriend status as an outsider to this "family business" stuff.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2013-09-29 01:50 am (UTC)Bolin is in a weird spot this season. He's getting a lot more screentime than he did in Season 1, it feels like, but he's still consistently comic relief. That worked well enough when he was a bit player in the mini-series that was Season 1, but in a continuing series he's starting to feel at odds with the wider universe. Asami has the same issue, but in a different way. Bolin at least has a purpose as comic relief. Asami is just... there. Like a more prominent, flatter Suki. The only thing she's done this season is to introduce Bolin to Varrick, and otherwise hasn't had any character interaction with the rest of the cast. I get the sense that the writers just don't know what to do with her, or at least don't know how to use her in this storyline.
I dunno. I feel like Season 2 would've been a lot tighter if they'd dropped Bolin and Asami, and had a Korra/Mako vacation to the South Pole blow up into this civil war thing, maybe introduced more Southern/Northern cast members to take their places. Because neither character really feels like they work outside of Republic City, while Mako can at least coast on his boyfriend status as an outsider to this "family business" stuff.