| abstract
| - So, my primary problem with the current, and the reason I wanted to propose a change, is that the current is just too plain. It's literally just a picture of Vaatu floating there. True, the point of the episode was Unalaq freeing Vaatu during Harmonic Convergence, but there's nothing that alludes to the conflict or tension that led up to that moment. It's just Vaatu...floating in midair...So I've proposed two new images; rather than propose an image of the actual event of Harmonic Convergence, such as the planets aligning or the spirit energy meeting at the equator, etc. I decided to propose images that combine the celestial event with the actual freeing of Vaatu taking place, instead of simply showing the aftermath. This demonstrates more conflict and better represents the plot of the episode. The current just shows the end result, which is rather devoid of action, which I feel doesn't really do the episode justice, since it was a particularly action-packed episode of the season. 04:01, August 12, 2014 (UTC) Approved for discussion. 04:09, August 12, 2014 (UTC) By the way, just to clarify, I support proposal 2. :) 04:10, August 12, 2014 (UTC) I've just added another proposal. While I don't have an issue with the others, I feel that, in the case of the first proposal especially, the action really is too far away. The big reveal of this episode was the fact that Vaatu managed to escape, which isn't shown in either proposal. 04:20, August 12, 2014 (UTC) While in proposal 3 I suppose with the others in the picture it adds a bit more tension, he's still just floating. I think it also doesn't quite fit since, again, it just shows the aftermath of the episode's plot, rather than the plot itself, and I also think it misleadingly implies the episode as being about a conflict between Korra and Vaatu, which doesn't occur until the next episode. The point of Harmonic Convergence is that Korra failed to close the portals before it occurs, which I think is more clearly demonstrated in both of my proposals, since either the portals themselves or their energy is directly portrayed. In the current and proposal 3, the Harmonic Convergence part of the episode is sort of thrown under the rug, along with most of the episode's conflict. How Vaatu actually got out is left out, which, considering the episode's title, is sort of an important aspect of the episode itself. :/ 04:54, August 12, 2014 (UTC) The result of Korra being unable to close the portals is, imo, more important than the fact she was unable to close them. The point of Harmonic Convergence is debatable; is the point that Korra failed, or is the point that Vaatu was released? I favour the latter, and thus believe that the profile image should reflect that. 05:06, August 12, 2014 (UTC) I think you're overlooking the fact that Korra failing and Vaatu being freed are the same thing; both, coincidentally, are demonstrated by both of my proposals. It's much more effective imagery to show Vaatu being freed by Harmonic Convergence itself, without doing something as banal as just showing Vaatu floating in midair. As I said, it misleadingly sets Vaatu up as the source of the conflict of the episode, when in fact he doesn't begin to interact with Korra until the next episode. It also lacks any sort of action and is frankly a boring image, which is disappointing considering how, as I said, this episode has a lot of good action in it. 05:14, August 12, 2014 (UTC) Taking the third proposal at completely face value, it is what I believe to be a better image. The subject is clear and centered, to start with. I've stated above why I don't believe proposal #1 is a good image, and without context, proposal #2 means nothing. It's the tree of time being struck by lightening. The third proposal may be "banal" (though I really don't believe that's true) to you, but it is easier on the eyes without the distracting, luminous lightening strikes, and better shows the climax and point of the episode. Your proposals show neither Korra failing, nor Vaatu being freed. One has to watch the episode to realise that the lighting is the result of Harmonic Convergence whilst the Spirit Portals are open, and they have to understand that to understand that it results in Vaatu being freed. For all anyone else can tell, it's merely Mako lightingbending the tree. By actually showing Vaatu, it becomes obvious immediately that he's freed, and, by extension, that Korra failed. Not all images need action, and in some cases, it's extremely distracting (for instance, the former Crossroads of Destiny image was another "action" one, and that was overruled by a less dynamic image). I believe that proposal #3 demonstrates both points that you believe the other two make, while also being a nicer, clearer image without any distractions. 05:26, August 12, 2014 (UTC) Since the energy striking the tree is, in fact, Korra having failed and Vaatu being freed, it is far more relevant than proposal 3. I could say the same thing about "context" for proposal 3; without context, it's just an image of Vaatu, with no indication of how he was released, which might as well make it an image from the next episode. There's nothing to differentiate it from the one that follows it and justify making it the image for this episode, being that the next one starts off with the exact same thing. And the most deciding factor for me, which is why I proposed 1 and 2 in the first place, is that the current is flat-out boring, plain and simple. Similarly, there's no action in proposal 3 either, and there's no getting around that. 05:35, August 12, 2014 (UTC) I'd also like to point out that, contrary to what you said, the current image that replaced the old "Crossroads of Destiny" image is an action scene, being that Zuko is in the midst of a bending confrontation with both Aang and Azula. The issue that motivated the change was plot relevance, which was not demonstrated by the action in the original, but was in the approved proposal. It's the same with this; neither the current nor proposal 3 have any direct connection to the overall plot of Harmonic Convergence, only indirectly hinting at it. Using the analogy of "Crossroads," since the point of Harmonic Convergence was that its energy would free Vaatu and this is what Korra spent the entire episode trying to prevent, showing Vaatu means that the conflict has already resolved itself and the focus of the episode is over, since Harmonic Convergence has achieved its end, which isn't very clear from the image anyway. This is like showing a picture for "Crossroads" where Zuko has already made his decision and joined Azula; the conflict resolved and the end result achieved, misleadingly implying that the point is Zuko and Azula fighting Aang and Katara, whereas it's actually him making a moral choice. In that example he's already done this and there's no point in emphasizing his defection, and in this case the foreshadowing of Vaatu about to confront Korra is just as irrelevant. Additionally, both are very boring images of Vaatu floating. Both of which combined make them very lackluster images. 05:42, August 12, 2014 (UTC) The point of me bringing up the CD image is that lightning ≠ action. If anything, it's distracting. Yes, it's just an 'image of Vaatu', but that's only if you ignore all the other cues; people in the foreground, the obvious fact they're in the Spirit World. Yes, it could be from the next episode, however the fact that it would be the profile image of this episode nullifies that argument. There doesn't have to be action, and as I've said above, in this case, the lightening is distracting and needs even more context that what you believe the third proposal needs. 'Boring' is subjective, and Vaatu being freed is certainly important to that episode. Just by him being freed shows that Korra indeed failed. Lightning hitting a tree shows neither. But, obviously we disagree, so I think it's best to just wait for input from others. 05:58, August 12, 2014 (UTC) In pointing out that it could come from the next episode, I am emphasizing that there is nothing unique to this episode portrayed in this picture. Since we are supposed to capture the heart of the episode, throwing up a generic scene of Vaatu looking at Korra does not suffice. The energy (not lightning) hitting the tree obviously signifies Vaatu being freed; ignoring the fact that most people who read the article have watched the episode is pointless, and trying to accommodate the 1% who haven't is also pointless. By your logic, people who haven't watched series have just as much chance as knowing what the Tree of Time is as knowing who Vaatu is. If they don't know the significance of the Tree being infused by spirit energy, then they also wouldn't know who Vaatu is, so just showing him wouldn't be sufficient under your guidelines either. 06:41, August 12, 2014 (UTC) I added in a fourth proposal. Personally, I don't really see a real need to change the image, but I do acknowledge the fact that an argument can be made as to why it needs to be changed. A lot of talk went on about the point of the episode. All the conflict in the episode was in my opinion geared to one thing -two things, actually: getting into the Spirit World to 1. close the portal, and 2. find Jinora. I don't feel that second plotline should take precedence over the first, so that's out. Different approaches have been presented on representing that goal: either the moment the goal fails -represented in 1 and 2- or the consequences of the failing -represented in the current and 3. Which is where the fourth option, the moment where Korra tries to close the portal, comes into play as that image could be seen as some sort of middle ground between Lord Hyōga's reasons to change the current to an action shot of the tree and Fruipit's counter arguments against those image: 1.
* It's more of an action shot as opposed to the current and 3 (although action is not a must in episode infobox images. When looking over all the infobox images, there is more or less a balance between action and passive images. The only thing that matter is to capture the plot, regardless of the manner in which that's done). 2.
* It focuses on (part of) the reason of all the conflict in the episode: closing the portal before HC to prevent Vaatu from escaping, which is something that none of the four other images at discussion display. Those all focus on the failing of the attempt, but "failing" was never part of the plan. As such, it could be argued that we shouldn't focus on that as it wasn't the goal of the episode. 3.
* It is recognisable: you see a grimacing Korra (representing struggle) and you see the portal (representing the point of the episode, as well as the energy involved due to the light). 07:53, August 12, 2014 (UTC) I support #4. It depicts the plot well, per Lostris. 08:30, August 12, 2014 (UTC) Proposal #3 is the best one in my opinion, and I support it. The new one Lostris uploaded is a close second, but I, personally, think that it is a little too bright to be used. Lucid☆Star 12:02, August 12, 2014 (UTC) The big, defining moment of 212 was that Korra tried but did not close the portal in time and thus Vaatu was freed. In that case, one could easily make a case for PR3, as there is Vaatu right there in the open. Lostris makes a sound argument, however, for PR4 - there's Korra's struggle, a solid action shot you don't really get in PR3. What I don't really like with PRs1+2 is that they are both quite far off shots and thus it's hard to tell what's going on beside the convergence. So, in the end, PR4 gets a slight edge in my mind, because, per LL, it does a better job catching the action and main purpose of the episode. 13:12, August 12, 2014 (UTC) I think proposal 4 is a good compromise; I had considered proposing it myself, but I ultimately decided to concentrate on the other two, since Korra's struggle preceded Harmonic Convergence, the namesake of the episode. However, it is an action shot, which I like, and it shows what Korra is doing that motivated the episode's plot (as Lady Lostris points out) and also foreshadows her failure. I understand action might not be a necessary element for everybody, but I think it has an advantage over other images when it comes to representing episodes. It also shows Korra, which I think addresses Fruipit's complaint about there not being anyone recognizable in my proposals. 15:39, August 12, 2014 (UTC) Agreed; proposal four is the way to go, per everyone else ^^" 11:17, August 13, 2014 (UTC)
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