To talk of the story of Tarrlok is to talk of some of the most common themes in the Avatar-verse. Tarrlok’s story is about power, control, pride, and manipulation, but it’s also about conviction, change, self-sacrifice, and redemption. His “redemption” arc is very unconventional in that I’m not entirely convinced that he is actually redeemed or even wants to be. Or that even the writers want you to think that. That’s what makes his choice at the end of season one so incredibly compelling.
You can’t talk about Tarrlok without mentioning his brother Noatak, who is known in the show as the leader of the equalists, Amon. Tarrlok and Noatak grew up as the children of infamous night city crime boss, Yakone. Yakone was a very powerful bloodbender, he mastered it to such a level as to be able to bloodbend an entire room with just his mind at any time of the day, no full moon required. After he was discovered he battled with Avatar Aang and had his bending taken away permanently. Obviously upset by this and his desire for revenge on Republic City, he trains both his sons in secret for their childhood. Teaching them to both become master bloodbenders as he once was. After many years of training, for a final test, Yakone bade the brothers bloodbend each other. Noatak obeys and bloodbends Tarrlok to Yakone’s delight. When it came Tarrlok’s turn, he refused, stating that he wouldn’t ever want to make anyone feel that sort of pain and never wants to bloodbend again. Yakone is infuriated, verbally assaulting his young son calling him weak and a disgrace, he moves to physically harm Tarrlok but is bloodbent by Noatak. He asks Tarrlok to run away with him, leaving all this behind, Noatak says they can’t just leave their mother behind. Noatak, with an ominous look in his eye, says “He was right about you, you are a weakling” and leaves. Tarrlok and Yakone both search for days, but they never find Noatak and assume he perished in the frigid wilderness.
Noatak and Tarrlok were both subjected to verbal and physical abuse by their father in their childhood and they both want to change the world for the better as a result. Both of them however, have very different views on how that should be done. Noatak becomes the infamous leader of the equalists, Amon, using terrorism and fear to get what he wants. Tarrlok on the other hand, becomes a government official and rises through the ranks with the goal of being on the top so he can rid people like his father in Republic City. Albeit, has a stunted view on the policies and decisions he makes to bring about his noble cause. Tarrlok, although with an insatiable lust for power, genuinely wants to make Republic City a safer place, but with the threat of Amon he gets a film over his eyes and begins to make some decisions that he can’t see the consequences of.
After a threatening display from Amon by taking away the bending of some notorious gang members, Tarrlok proposes to the council that they create a task force whose only objective will be to hunt down Amon and bring justice. Tenzin believes that this would only further the divide between benders and non-benders and is only a ploy for Tarrlok to get more power. Tarrlok then brings up 40 years ago, when Yakone threatened Republic City, and Avatar Aang’s indecision to deal with him head on. Obviously we know with hindsight that him bringing this up goes much deeper than anyone currently knows. He knows Amon won’t stop with the gang leaders but will continue until every bender is eradicated. This persuades the council, other than Tenzin, and they approve the motion to create this task force with Tarrlok at the helm.
Tarrlok shows up to Air Temple island to try and convince Avatar Korra to join the task force and attack Amon directly. Surely a power move right in front of Tenzin but also I truly believe that he wants Korra for her strength and abilities. Korra surprisingly denies in the moment but that doesn’t discourage Tarrlok. He then throws a huge party celebrating Korra, full of all sorts of high ranking characters in Republic City. He schmoozes Korra for a bit and then guides her to a room full of reporters where she is blasted with questions about Amon and how dangerous he is and why didn’t she join Tarrlok’s task force to help in the fight. Obviously a low shot from Tarrlok here, manipulating and using Korra’s hotheadedness and susceptible ego against her. The reporters are relentless and eventually Korra buckles and says she will join the task force. This will prove to be the first of many big misjudgements from Tarrlok. He is so blinded by his ambition and desire to put an end to his brother, he doesn’t see, or worse, he doesn’t care that Korra is not ready to be in this sort of position.
When Amon threatens to attack the Pro-Bending Arena on the night of the championship, Tarrlok actually agrees with Tenzin in wanting to close down the arena to not risk innocent lives. That is, until Chief Beifong persuades him to change his mind after saying she and her metalbenders will personally protect the arena from any potential threat. Obviously seeing this as an opportunity that if something were to go wrong, he could easily shift the blame of such a disaster onto the esteemed police chief, he changes his vote to keep the arena open. Of course Amon attacks the arena and causes significant casualties and destruction. The aftermath of this causes Chief Beifong to resign from her position as chief which in turn promotes Chief Saikhan, who is easily and willingly Tarrlok’s pawn and will provide him any and all resources he so desires to accomplish his goals. Consequently though, his actions have caused Korra to leave the task force, though this doesn’t seem as too much trouble to Tarrlok as he now has all the power of the police force at his fingertips. He threateningly tells the Avatar to stay out of his way if she isn’t going to be a part of his force.
Tarrlok proposes a law that makes it illegal to be an equalist, or even associated with them in any way. A very slippery slope and unfortunately something that hits a little too close to reality in the big 2025. It also enacts a curfew for all non-benders. Tenzin is immediately against this, claiming that it goes too far to punish all non-benders for the actions of a few, but is quickly outvoted and the law is put into effect immediately. Surely this won’t cause any problems! Tarrlok is drunk on power at this point and losing his cool when it comes to searching for Amon. He so badly wants to be seen as the “Savior” of Republic City. He has rounded up a whole neighborhood claiming it was an equalist rally when in reality they are just people who want their power to be turned back on. Little side note here, this scene has one of my favorite moments from the series in it. It comes when Korra and the gang show up and realize what’s happening is wrong. A young girl in the crowd notices the arrival of the Avatar and tells her mom. The mother walks up to Korra and says, “Please, help us. You’re our Avatar too.” That line just always punches me right in the gut. Such a powerful line and really hammers home the incredible weight and themes of the story. Anyway, back to the subject of this essay, Tarrlok. He arrests Mako, Asami, and Bo Lin because Asami is the daughter of a known equalist conspirator and Bo Lin and Mako because they obviously weren’t going to just let that happen. He lets Korra off but she goes to pay him a visit that night.
Korra gets to his office late at night to confront him and get him to release her friends. She chastises him for using his bending to oppress others which is exactly what Amon wants to fuel his revolution. Tarrlok slyly throws that right back in her face saying, “Isn’t that what you came here to do, intimidate me into releasing your friends?” He admires this aspect of Korra’s character and says they are alike in their willingness to go to extremes to get what they want. He is willing to release her friends as long as she falls in line and does what he says. Korra refuses and claims that Tarrlok is just as bad as Amon. This infuriates Tarrlok as he has been working his whole life to be nothing like his father, and in being compared to the terrorist Amon, this sets him over the edge. He tried to work with her in his own twisted way but now he only sees Korra as an obstacle to be overcome. He attacks. An incredible battle ensues between Tarrlok and Korra, both showing off their superior bending techniques. Korra gets the upper hand and right when she is about to land the finishing blow, Tarrlok goes to his last resort, bloodbending. It’s something he never wanted to do and we can assume that he hasn’t ever actually bloodbent another person before this moment. “You’re in my way, Avatar” he says as Korra struggles. His tunnel vision has overtaken him and he literally sees no other way to handle this. He throws Korra against the wall and then ties her and puts her in the back of a truck to take her away.
Tarrlok creates an elaborate explanation as to what transpired at his office the following day. Claiming it was equalists who attacked and took the Avatar. This suffices but not for long as it is quickly discovered that it was he who took Korra and his receptionist outs him as a bloodbender as she saw him bloodbend Korra. Completely backed into a corner and still believing that he is in the right. Tarrlok bloodbends the entire room to make his escape. He has gone completely over the edge and become exactly what he has been trying to avoid, being like his father. He gets back to Korra and tells her he is going to make his escape with her as his hostage. He goes upstairs to reveal Amon, a surprised Tarrlok attempts to bloodbend him but Amon walks right through it. Tarrlok is shocked as he doesn’t yet know that Amon is his long lost brother, Noatak. Amon gets the best of Tarrlok, takes away his bending, and throws him in prison. It’s in this moment that he realizes that Amon is his brother as he recognizes his bloodbending grip.
When Mako and Korra find him locked up, he profusely apologizes to Korra as he has come to recognize that he has become exactly what his father wanted, an instrument of revenge, his brother too. He tells them his entire backstory, how he and Amon are brothers, how they became so powerful through bloodbending, how he uses it to take away others’ bending. He is clearly devastated and truly regretful of all he has done. Korra is willing to let him out but he refuses, saying that no one can know that he spoke to anyone. This is such a smart and interesting choice to me from the writers. A lesser character in a lesser show would have just said sorry and then gone with them and all would be cool. Not in this show, characters have deep emotional weight and have to deal with the consequences of their actions. This decision from Tarrlok shows true and honest growth. The show doesn’t ask us to feel bad for him because he had it rough as a kid. It enhances the emotion and understanding of what led him to this point. Though he has repented now that doesn’t mean he is off the hook and writers make sure the let us know that.
After Amon is defeated he goes to visit Tarrlok in his cell. Tarrlok regretfully states that he should have gone with him when they were kids. This is an interesting proposition. Would things have truly been different if he did or would they have both inevitably slipped down the evil path laid before them no matter what? Amon asks Tarrlok to leave with him now and they can start a new life, a second chance. He goes with. On a boat together speeding through the ocean Noatak happily talks about how good it is to be back together again and there is so much that they can do. Now, there is a really interesting directorial choice here that I want to note. The camera goes first person here on Tarrlok as he looks to his brother standing at the front of the boat, he looks around and notices that there are equalist weapons on board. This is a really cool decision as to visually clue us in to Tarrlok’s mindset and ultimate decision in this moment. He slips on the glove, unscrews the gas cap, “It will be just like the good old days” he says to his brother. A single tear falls down Noatak’s face as Tarrlok ignites the glove, blowing up the boat instantly killing them both. I read an observation of this scene once, this person said that Noatak can feel what Tarrlok is going to do through his bloodbending prowess and as he realizes what is going to happen he sheds that single tear. An interesting way to read the scene but I also like the reading that they both know that there is no way to restart or rebuild their life. They have totally destroyed any semblance of their old selves and there is no way to go forward from here. The only way to move on and continue is to put an end to both of them. I think I prefer this way because it roots this moment more in emotion and brotherly bond than anything else and I think this moment is so profound and powerful. One of the most shockingly beautiful moments in all of the Avatar-verse to me. It is such an incredible final note on the character of Tarrlok. For him to realize that he not only has to make this sacrifice, but is willing and goes through with it is truly amazing character writing. It shows true change deep inside his heart and also shows that the pain from the past will never go away. There is no more running away for him or his brother. This is the end of the road and he has made peace with that. They are just two men scarred by the ghost of their father, who wanted to be the center of attention, wanted to be great leaders and change the world end up dead at the bottom of the ocean where no one will find them and no one will remember them.
NickStimer.com 