- This article is about the character in The Legend of Korra. For the voice actor, see Mako Iwamatsu.
| "I did what I had to do to survive and protect my little brother." |
| — Mako explaining his past to Korra.[1] |
Mako is a firebender from a multicultural family who grew up on the streets of Republic City as an orphan with his younger brother, Bolin. Mako always wore his signature red scarf that was once his father's, who was murdered along with his mother when he was a boy.[1] He formed a pro-bending team with his brother and Hasook, but eventually Avatar Korra joined the team and took the waterbending position from Hasook. Mako, with the help of his teammates, was able to lead the team to second place in the championship. After the tournament's conclusion, Mako joined Korra in her efforts to stop the Equalists.
In the following months, Mako joined the Republic City Police Force, where he steadily rose up from being a beat cop to a detective. He joined his friends in an effort to stop Unalaq and Vaatu from merging together. A few weeks after Harmonic Convergence, he rejoined Team Avatar in their search for new airbenders.
Quick Answers
What is the significance of Mako's red scarf?
Who were the members of Mako's pro-bending team in The Legend of Korra?
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How did Mako's career aspirations influence his character development?
Who is the voice actor for Mako in "The Legend of Korra"?
History
Early life
Mako and Bolin posed for a family picture with their parents to send to Yin in Ba Sing Se.
Mako was born the son of an Earth Kingdom man named San and a Fire Nation woman,[5] two years before Bolin. When he was eight, Mako witnessed his parents being killed by a firebender, leaving Bolin, his younger brother, as his only immediate family[1] and his treasured red scarf as the sole memento of his father.[6] Being the elder brother, with no knowledge of his relatives, he was forced to take on adult responsibilities from that point on, depriving him of the majority of his childhood.
As an orphan, Mako did whatever was necessary in order to survive along with his brother. He often resorted to his firebending to protect himself and Bolin on the streets.[2] Both of them also ran small-time scams during much of their youth. This attitude brought him in contact with the criminal organization known as the Triple Threat Triad, for whom he collected money for bets and ran numbers. Mako even came into close-contact with the leader of the triad, Lightning Bolt Zolt, and was able to learn the techniques of lightning generation and redirection from him.[7]
One day in 167 AG,[8] during Mako's involvement with the Triple Threat Triad, the young firebender and his brother attempted to pull off a scam on an elderly woman. Posing as a thief, he ran toward the woman from behind and grabbed her purse, before leaving her sight by entering a side alley. When Bolin pretended to chase after him and fight, Mako willingly gave the purse to his brother, deceiving the woman into thinking that the young earthbender had stopped a thief. Bolin returned to Mako with a reward of two yuans and a loaf of bread he had stolen from the old woman; after Bolin gave a piece of the loaf to his brother, Mako reminded him that they had not eaten anything the day before.
Mako stated to Bolin that in order to survive in Republic City, one had to "hustle or be hustled".
Later that day, Mako went to the Triple Threat Triad headquarters with his brother and saw Shady Shin bribe Toza, a pro-bender. When Bolin expressed his disappointment about seeing Toza act this way, Mako became upset – Toza should be happy about being paid, Mako opined; after all, there had been no one to mourn for their losses when their parents died and had left them to fend for themselves, and that one must "hustle or be hustled". Afterward, Shin told them that if they did not acquire enough bets to recover the ten thousand yuans given to Toza, he would abandon Mako and Bolin on the streets, after which the two brothers speedily departed.[9]
While the brothers were collecting bets at a pet shop, a fire ferret escaped and was restrained by its owner, Mr. Feng, because it was to be fed to a pythonaconda. Mako stopped Bolin from buying it as they could not afford to feed it, and felt his younger brother needed to toughen up and realize that bigger animals consumed those smaller than them. Mako collected the owner's bet while Bolin talked to Toza about that night's match; the firebender chastised him because he believed that doing so would get them in trouble with Shady Shin. Bolin angrily responded that Mako was being mean and walked away, leaving Mako to sigh.
Mako saved Bolin from the pythonaconda.
That night, after Bolin broke into the pet shop to steal the fire ferret, he was strangled by the pythonaconda, but Mako arrived and yanked the snake away. After again criticizing his brother for getting into stupid situations, the two left, but, at Bolin's urging, with the fire ferret whom the earthbender named Pabu. Mako warned Bolin that Pabu's food would come out of half of his money.[10]
After a while, the cooperation between the Triple Threats and the two brothers came to an end. Acknowledging the dangerous nature and moral ambiguity of their past, Mako was determined never to return to that life and explicitly forbade Bolin from associating with the Triple Threats in any way.[1]
Mako and his brother first began competing in the Pro-bending Tournament when Toza discovered them fighting in the streets and acknowledged their potential. Toza taught the brothers pro-bending,[11] offered them a place to live in the attic of the Pro-bending Arena, and let them work odd jobs to pay rent which allowed them to focus on the sport. Mako eventually became the captain of a pro-bending team, the Fire Ferrets, which included his brother and his friend Hasook.[12][13]
170 AG
- Main article: History of Mako (152 AG - 170 AG)
Mako and Korra infiltrated an Equalist rally.
At age eighteen, Mako was trying to qualify with the Fire Ferrets for the Pro-bending Championship. However, when Hasook was a no-show on the last match, he was forced to allow Korra, a green player, to take the waterbender's place. She eventually managed to help them win the match, and as such, a lasting partnership was formed.[13] When Bolin was kidnapped some time later, Mako set out with Korra to find him. They tracked the earthbender down to an abandoned warehouse, where they witnessed, first hand, Amon's ability to strip a bender of their bending abilities. However, with Korra's help, Mako was able to rescue his brother before Amon reached him.[1]
Heading for the championship, the team needed funding to play, thus Mako got a job at Republic City Power Plant. When he returned home from work one day, Asami Sato nearly ran him over. To make it up to him, she took him to dinner at Kwong's Cuisine, marking the start of their relationship. Due to this connection, Future Industries took care of the Fire Ferrets' monetary issues by sponsoring the team. The team started to train hard for the Pro-bending Championship, and although they had some hard matches due to internal romantic struggles,[14] they managed to reach the finale. However, after their match against the White Falls Wolfbats ended with their defeat due to cheating of the other team, Amon and his Equalists attacked the Pro-bending Arena, effectively destroying the building and leaving Mako and Bolin homeless.[15] Asami offered them a place to stay, but after Hiroshi Sato was outed as an Equalist, both the bending brothers and Asami moved to live at Air Temple Island with Korra.[16]
Mako threatened an Equalist to get information about Korra's location.
To make an insecure Avatar feel better about herself, Mako formed a team with her and the others to actively do something about the Equalists in the city. They were successful, though the team was broken up when an angered Tarrlok arrested Asami, and subsequently Mako and his brother as they came to the girl's defense.[17] He was broken out of jail by Lin Beifong soon after, who alerted them, much to Mako's shock, that Korra had been kidnapped. Together with Tenzin, they all set out on a frantic search for the Avatar, and when they found her again, Mako tenderly took care of her, despite being in a relationship with Asami.[18]
In the aftermath of finding Korra, Amon launched his grand attack on the city. Mako and his friends fought back for a while, but the sheer number and power of the Equalists forced them on the run. The foursome retreated into the tunnel system of the city, where they would await the arrival of reinforcements in the form of General Iroh and his United Forces.[19] Mako and Asami's relationship grew more and more tense as he spent more time with Korra doing reconnaissance work by spying on the Equalists. However, after General Iroh too proved to be no match for the Equalists machines, Mako set out with Korra to confront Amon. After having learned that he truly was a waterbender from the Northern Water Tribe,[20] they eventually found him at the Pro-bending Arena, where he was holding a victory speech. They freed Tenzin and his children, though when they were faced by Amon, the Equalist leader managed to take away Korra's bending. When Amon moved to do the same to Mako, the firebender managed to temporarily overpower Amon, and run away with Korra. However, he was stopped by Amon and was on the verge of losing his bending, when Korra saved him with her newly unlocked airbending.
After the Equalists' defeat, Mako traveled to the Southern Water Tribe, hoping that Katara could restore Korra's bending. When it became clear that the old healer was unable to and a heartbroken Korra ran off to grieve on her own, Mako confessed his love to her, though was shot down. Unsure what to do, he followed her and witnessed how she got her bending back, after which she confessed her love for him too and they began their relationship.[21]
171 AG
Events until Harmonic Convergence
- Main article: History of Mako (171 AG - Harmonic Convergence)
Korra and Mako attempted to fight off Unalaq in order to secure their escape.
After the Anti-bending Revolution, Mako started as a beat-cop for the Republic City Police Force. As Korra traveled South to attend the Glacier Spirits Festival, he accompanied his girlfriend, though as tensions rose between Korra and her father, Mako found that being the Avatar's boyfriend was not always that easy. After she broke with Tenzin and started her spiritual training under Unalaq,[4] Mako accompanied her on her journey toward the South Pole, where she opened the Southern spirit portal. Returning to the Southern Water Tribe to find it overrun with Northern Water Tribe soldiers,[22] Mako was forced to sit by helplessly as he watched Tonraq and several other Southerners be sentenced to life imprisonment for their attempt to kidnap Unalaq. Although he cautioned Korra that freeing her father from prison would mean the start of a Water Tribe Civil War, he helped her do it nonetheless.[23]
Back in Republic City, Mako resumed his duties as a police officer and when everyone was quick to blame the Northern Water Tribe for the bombing of the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center, he had his doubts and he started an investigation on his own. Due to maintaining a more distanced view on the brewing conflict between the Water Tribes, Mako soon found himself having relationship troubles with Korra and after he revealed her plans to ask the United Forces fleet for help behind President Raiko's back to the president, they broke up.[24]
Mako was arrested after Lu and Gang found incriminating evidence in his apartment.
Determined to arrest the true culprits of the bombing and help Asami's company the same time, Mako set up a sting operation with the help of the Triple Threat Triad. However, the gangsters ended up double-crossing them and Asami's warehouse was robbed clean while they were being kept busy. While he consoled her, Mako was surprised when Asami kissed him.[25] Mako continued his investigation and eventually grew suspicious of Varrick, though before he could do something about it, Mako was arrested in his apartment for the bombing of the cultural center, incriminating evidence present all over the place.[26] When Bolin came to visit him in jail, he warned him to stay vigilant during the finale of The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South as Varrick was not whom he seemed. After the businessman was arrested for the attempted kidnapping of President Raiko, Mako was released from prison.[27]
In an attempt to prevent Unalaq from merging with Vaatu, Mako and Bolin fought him outside the Southern spirit portal.
Mako accompanied Korra and the rest of Team Avatar toward the Southern Water Tribe in an attempt to break through the Northern forces guarding the Southern spirit portal and get into the Spirit World. Together with Asami and Bolin, he served as a decoy, though they were eventually captured. Saved by Bumi, Mako and Bolin engaged Unalaq, though they could not prevent him from merging with Vaatu and become the Dark Avatar.[28] After Vaatu had ripped Raava out of Korra and destroyed the Light Spirit, Mako and Bolin tried to stop him, though they were easily defeated.[29] Healed by Kya, Mako helped in the efforts to keep a multitude of dark spirits away from Korra's meditating body in the Tree of Time while she defeated the Dark Avatar.[30]
Post-Harmonic Convergence
Mako was knocked to the ground after a scared Daw accidentally airbent a door out of its hinges.
Two weeks since Harmonic Convergence, Mako and Bolin's apartment had been overrun with vines from the Spirit World. Although Tenzin invited the brothers to stay at Air Temple Island, Mako declined the offer and lived at the police station, the main reason being that he did not feel comfortable around Korra and Asami despite their being on friendly terms. One night, awoken by the phone ringing, he investigated a strange claim at a citizen's home. When the man told Mako his brother somehow airbended the room around him, Mako was skeptical since only the Avatar and Tenzin's family can airbend in the entire world. Checking up on the brother held up inside a room, Mako demanded that he come out, only to be knocked aside by a blast of air. The man apologized before running away.
The next day, Mako and Chief Beifong traveled to Air Temple Island to discuss the case with Tenzin. When Tenzin told Beifong that Bumi somehow became an airbender, it only confirmed their suspicions that airbenders were popping up around the world. They left to find the airbender but not before Korra attempted to engage Mako in conversation which went awkwardly, much to Korra and Asami's amusement. The police later found the airbender atop Kyoshi Bridge, with Mako being present at the scene.[31]
Mako was convinced by Bolin to join Team Avatar in their search for airbenders in the Earth Kingdom.
When Korra and Tenzin decided to find the airbenders around the Earth Kingdom to recreate the Air Nation, Mako handed Korra a map detailing all the reported sightings of airbenders. Mako initially declined to come along, stating that he needed to focus on his police duties, though Bolin managed to persuade him otherwise, pointing out that they would be headed to their father's birthplace in Ba Sing Se and he would not want to disappoint his paternal grandmother if they run into their extended family. Aboard Asami's Future Industries airship, Mako and the group traveled to all the villages reported to have airbenders. However, their efforts to recruit them were fruitless. In one case, Mako and Bolin went with Korra to recruit Ryu, a lazy and careless airbender. His indifferent attitude infuriated Korra to the point where she almost forcibly manhandled him, leading the brothers to drag her away before causing any more mayhem.
Being reminded of how he used to be, Mako was doubtful about Kai's sincerity.
Now desperate, the group decided to perform an "air show" displaying the talents of airbending at the last town. Mako got reluctantly roped to be the bad guy and, as part of the rehearsal, would be incapacitated by Korra's air vortex, though Korra and Asami had some fun in making him even more uncomfortable by slightly going off script. Eventually, a street orphan named Kai came up to the group, wishing to join them, stating that his parents were killed by outlaws. Just as they were about to leave, Mako noticed some suspicious men chasing them and Kai pleaded to run away. Korra easily defeated them but the leader, revealed to be the town's sheriff, told her the boy was a thief. Mako caught Kai and revealed that his bag contained a large sum of money stolen from his adopted family. Despite the crime, Korra and Tenzin allowed Kai to come along and have the money returned, though Mako told Kai he would be watching him, knowing from his experiences as a former hustler.[32]
In Ba Sing Se
Upon arriving at Ba Sing Se, the party was greeted by Grand Secretariat Gun. While Korra was having her audience with Earth Queen Hou-Ting, everyone noticed that Kai had slipped away. Mako realized he had returned to his thieving ways, though he and Bolin agreed to search for him at Tenzin's request. They later spotted Kai using his airbending to con unsuspecting residents. They chased after him but the young airbender gave them the slip on a monorail cart, sending them to the Lower Ring of the city. The brothers later discovered their wallets had been stolen and could not pay for the fare back, forcing them to spend the night on the streets.
Mako hugged his grandmother with his brother.
The next morning, Bolin attempted to convince Mako to help him steal from a fruit stand. Mako refused, criticizing the rotting state of the fruit, which angered the stand's owner, Tu. He interrogated the brothers and attempted to intimidate them, eventually tackling the two to the ground after concluding that they were planning to steal fruit. Tu's father, Chow appeared shortly after and recognized Mako and Bolin as his brother's children, much to their surprise. The brothers were brought to meet their extended family, but sadly informed them of their parents' passing. After learning their father's reasons for leaving Ba Sing Se, their grandmother Yin showed them the only letter their father sent to them, which included a photo of them as children along with their mother and father. Mako decided to give his scarf to his grandmother, believing that his parents would have wanted her to have it.
When they revealed their mission to find airbenders, Chow revealed that the Dai Li were capturing airbenders in the city and locking them away. Thus, Mako and Bolin decided to go and warn Korra.[33]
The next day, Tu got the brothers passports which allow them to return to the Upper Ring. Mako told Yin he wished they could stay, but they had to alert Korra of the news. Before leaving, he assured her that they would visit again someday before embracing her.
The brothers made their way back to Korra and Asami, where Mako clarified Bolin's breathless explanation of the past couple of days, specifically that they heard of how the Earth Queen was conscripting airbenders. At that moment, the monarch arrived, having Gun tell them about reports of airbenders in the Yung province. Hou-Ting insisted they could leave that evening, but Asami bought the team time by telling her that they had to repair their airship and thus needed to stay another night.
Back at the team's house, they discussed the possibilities as to where airbenders were being held. Mako, who had been reading Jinora's books, suggested Lake Laogai because the Dai Li previously had an underground base there. Ultimately, however, they found out that the hold was underneath the Earth Queen's Temple, and discussed a plan to free them. In the process, Lin suddenly arrived, informing the group that Korra was in danger due to the escape of four dangerous criminals who had tried to kidnap her previously. Mako asked why these criminals were after her, but Lin told him that despite thirteen years of interrogation, they never revealed their motive. Ultimately, Lin joined their mission to free the airbenders as Korra refused to budge from it.
Mako and Bolin fought with Dai Li agents underneath the Earth Queen's Temple.
That night, the group sneaked around the queen's temple, easily overwhelming two Royal Earthbender Guards on duty. Upon reaching the base, they split up, with Mako, Bolin, and Jinora searching for Kai. Jinora led the brothers to his cell and kissed Kai on the cheek, which caused Bolin to say that Tenzin would not be happy about it; Mako insisted he not tell. Kai apologized to the two for stealing their wallets, running away, and getting them stuck on the train, though the firebender was still irked because he had a lot of money in his. In the middle of their escape, they were confronted by three Dai Li agents, including the sergeant. A battle ensued; the brothers were able to dodge the initial wave of rock gloves and Mako used arcs of fire to try and beat them back. One of shots was blocked by the sergeant, who was briefly able to seize Jinora before he was promptly defeated by Kai. The four ran out of the hold while attempting to dodge further attacks. Korra directed Oogi toward them, and Bolin launched the group up on to the bison's saddle.
With the entire group and the airbenders in tow, they settled the next morning in the city's outskirts. Tenzin and Jinora took the airbenders to the Northern Air Temple while Mako joined the rest of the team, including Lin, on her airship to continue their search.[34]
In Zaofu
Mako and Team Avatar were welcomed by Aiwei upon their arrival to Zaofu.
While they were on a pit stop, Mako and Asami got word over the radio that a new airbender had been found in the all-metal city of Zaofu. They ventured into the city sans Lin, being greeted by its emissary, Aiwei. While venturing through Zaofu by train, Mako casually watched its sights pass by, though grew more in awe at the statue honoring Toph Beifong, and listened as Aiwei told them what happened to her. The team was soon introduced to the city's matriarch, Suyin Beifong, who knew who everyone was, prompting Mako to remark that she had "done her research". At that point, Aiwei informed Suyin that there was one other person who had come with the team, having detected Korra's lie with his seismic sense. Korra acknowledged that Lin was with them, and they were all shocked to learn that Suyin and Lin were related. They ventured back to the airship where Mako watched as their troublesome relationship was explained.
Mako ventured with the group to Suyin's home, where she introduced them to her children. Upon meeting Huan, the firebender gazed curiously at his artwork and smirked at his explanations as to what it symbolized. After meeting the airbender, Opal, Suyin informed them that their accommodations were ready and an appetizing dinner would be awaiting them. The dinner was relatively peaceful until Lin and Suyin began bickering. Varrick soon entered the dining hall, slightly irking Mako. When the industrialist pointed out that he was not convicted of plotting to kidnap the president, Mako reminded him it was because he escaped prison.
After dinner, Mako and Bolin made their way to a bathroom, where the former told his younger sibling that he had noticed him and Opal hitting it off at dinner, believing she was in to Bolin. In response to Bolin saying that she was not his type, Mako joked that his brother's type was "dumb mover star" or "psycho ice princess". Bolin soon realized that Opal may be his type after all, and thanked Mako for helping him realize it.[35]
Mako ate breakfast alongside Korra, Bolin, and Asami. Following Lin's confrontation with Suyin, he volunteered to check on Lin after she slept for sixteen hours.[36] Mako accompanied Korra to contact Tenzin at the Northern Air Temple, but did not speak to the airbending master.[37]
Korra's attempted kidnapping and investigation
Sometime later, Mako and Asami came out just as Bolin struck Wei in eye with a pebble, prompting Mako to complement him but also ask if he was supposed to be metalbending. He also watched Korra defeat Wing in a spar. That evening, at Opal's farewell dinner, Mako was annoyed about sitting on the opposite end of the table, unable to hear what Varrick was saying to Korra and Asami. Seeing Aiwei next to him, Mako tried to say it was not because of the emissary, but was caught in a lie. He soon raised his glass in a toast to Opal and watched as she left Zaofu for the Northern Air Temple.
Mako and Team Avatar worked with members of the Metal Clan to retrieve Korra from the Red Lotus.
That night, Mako was awoken when Bolin saw the Red Lotus attempt to kidnap Korra. The brothers rushed out of their room. Mako's attack was stopped by P'Li, but he was able to block a shot of water from Ming-Hua. The duo was forced to hide behind a pillar due to the strength of their opponents' attacks, and he warned the guards that Korra had been taken. They were both thrown back by angled combustion blast by P'Li and attended to by an emerging Asami, who assured them they would not get far because of the guards, the Beifong siblings, Wing, and Wei. They watched as Ghazan lavabent the ground, leaving a moat of the hot liquid between the groups. Mako, Bolin, Asami, and Lin hid behind a small metal ground decoration; they occasionally emerged for quick attacks. P'Li almost hit them with another angled combustion shot, but they were saved by Suyin, Wing, and Wei. In order to rescue Korra, the half-sisters decided to go in from the dome, but needed someone to disable P'Li's third eye, to which Mako suggested Bolin could. He stayed on the radio with Wing, and upon finding out they were in position, told Bolin to strike. The two tried to attack, the firebender urging his brother to get a shot. Wing asked if they could go; Mako tried to tell him no, but was misunderstood as giving clearance despite his plea. Seeing the Beifongs make their move, he quickly urged Bolin to shoot as he firebent at P'Li. Upon Bolin's success, Mako exulted and complemented him on a nice job. The four ducked as Zaheer airbent a cloud of dust; when they emerged, they saw their foes had fled.
The group regathered at Suyin's office, where Korra was treated for her paralysis from shirshu-spit darts. The next day, Mako watched as, upon Korra's belief that one of the guards had to have played a role, they were all questioned by Aiwei. He also watched awkwardly as Varrick described what he was doing when questioned. When a guard, Hong Li, was discovered to be lying about his innocence, Mako glared at him and went with his friends and Aiwei to the guard's house. There, he found a small note from Zaheer to Hong Li, noting they were ready to rendezvous. With that and a book filled with guard schedules and movements, Mako wanted to confront him at that point, but when Aiwei suggested they wait things out, he looked suspiciously at the emissary.
Realizing the truth
Back at the battle site, Mako wondered why they were not talking to Hong Li, knowing their enemies were getting further away. He was doubtful about the guard's guilt because he was eighteen, lived in Zaofu his whole life, and the Red Lotus was in prison for over thirteen years. At that point, the team was suddenly encountered by Varrick, who suggested the evidence was "too overwhelming". Mako and the others looked with disgust as Zhu Li rubbed his feet with pumice stones. The firebender went on to ask what the industrialist meant with his remark. After being answered that one trying to construct a conspiracy would frame someone and plant the evidence on them, Mako remembered it was the same thing done to him by Varrick. Though annoyed, he knew Varrick was right, suggesting Hong Li was the fall guy for the only one capable of keeping a secret - Aiwei.
Mako and Team Avatar discovered a hidden room behind a bookshelf in Aiwei's house.
The group ventured to Aiwei's home, where Mako curiously eyed Bolin after he suggested Aiwei was invisible. He knew they needed to find evidence of a link between the emissary and Zaheer or Suyin would not believe them. Inside, when he caught Bolin pulling a jar off a bookshelf, he warned his brother they needed to make it look like they were not there, and placed it back when Bolin could not remember where it was. Next to the bookshelf, Mako found some scuff marks, indicating it slid open. He opened it to reveal a secret passage, which he suspected as the way Zaheer got in to the estate. Asami alerted them that Aiwei was coming back, but the team was unable to leave before they were caught. He told them to sit and talk over tea. As Aiwei asserted Hong Li's guilt, Mako wondered how, at his age, he could have gotten mixed up with Zaheer's group. Once Aiwei realized the group was suspecting him and found they had discovered the passage, Mako tried to attack him before he could escape, but he was able to get behind a metal wall. Mako urged Korra to bend it quickly, but was told to back off. Once she bent a hole in it, the group made their way down the passage, but only found a bomb which promptly detonated. The firebender shielded Asami as Korra protected them all with an air sphere. He soon realized Aiwei had fled. After Lin and Suyin found them, he explained that Aiwei rigged the explosion to eliminate any evidence of his presence.
Regathering in Suyin's office, Mako concluded that, when Kuvira told them Aiwei had escaped, the emissary had such a plan all along. He also realized the group was more powerful and dangerous than they believed. He stood by as Korra and Lin argued over the potential search for the group, and was led to believe they would be leaving Zaofu when Suyin agreed with her half-sibling about Korra's safety. Later, however, they were again approached by her, who informed the team she had a fully-loaded jeep for them to use in a search for Aiwei. She explained that her agreement was merely to let Lin hear what she wanted and to buy them time to leave. Mako joined Bolin and Asami in the vehicle while Korra rode on Naga, beginning their search.[38]
In the Misty Palms Oasis
With Naga's tracking abilities, the team followed Aiwei's trail to just outside the Misty Palms Oasis. Mako suggested they ask around to see if anyone had seen him. When they entered a tavern, upon Bolin seeing a poster of him that he thought to be one promoting his mover role, Mako realized it and other images of them were actually wanted posters issued by the Earth Queen because of their freeing of her airbenders. After seeing the patrons threaten them, the group left the tavern.
Mako and Bolin donned disguises in hopes of not being recognized off their wanted posters.
When they discovered Aiwei's jeep on the outskirts of the oasis, Mako decided he and Bolin would investigate the oasis for his presence, while telling Korra and Asami to wait in case Aiwei came back and also to protect their cover. At Bolin's suggestion, the brothers covered their upper bodies with yellow ponchos and donned glasses. The firebender stopped his brother as he was making up a fake backstory while refusing one himself because he was a cop and thus did not have one. In the oasis, the brothers first talked to a tavern owner, telling him of Aiwei's physical details. They were told of a customer who looked like him and dismissed his claims of having the best drink as a lie, to which Mako realized it was indeed Aiwei, but learned the owner had no idea where he went. After looking in another tavern, Mako learned from Bolin that two figures were staring them down, potentially bounty hunters. Mako believed they were found out and the brothers ran, ducking into an alley and hiding behind a couple of crates; the firebender decided they should go back before they were recognized. At that moment, Bolin pulled him down into hiding again as he had spotted Aiwei. Instructing his younger sibling they play it cool, they followed him to room 102 of the Misty Palms Inn. Mako returned to Korra and Asami to pass the finding along and suggested to the former that they stake out his room instead of risking blowing their cover with a direct confrontation.
Mako requested a room for the team across from Aiwei's, but the innkeeper denied them because teenagers were responsible for the destruction of another room the last time she had given them a place to stay. They were soon found by the two individuals who had chased the brothers earlier and took an attacking stance, but it turned out they were actually fans of Bolin's mover and sought his autograph. The innkeeper, learning about this fact, told the group they could have any room they wanted, but Mako remained insistent on the one across from Aiwei, despite warnings it was small for their entire party.
The four, along with Naga and Pabu, wound up cramped together in the small accommodation. Mako and Korra looked out the window, keeping their eye out for any potential movements from Aiwei. He turned down Bolin's request for a Pai Sho game in order to keep watching. Mako asked what they would do upon finding Zaheer, warning Korra that trying to get them to talk would likely not work out even with threats because they had not talked for thirteen years. He instead suggested spying because if the two believed they were speaking freely, they would say what the team wanted to hear. For hours, he watched Aiwei's room with Korra for movements, taking down any such action in his log book. Having not seen any movements, Asami suggested Aiwei slipped away, but Mako rebutted her, indicating he had seen him move fifteen minutes prior. Korra decided to go over to the room, Mako fruitlessly warning her their element of surprise would be blown. They found the emissary meditating, prompting Korra to realize he was in the Spirit World. Mako told her they would keep an eye on them in case Aiwei woke.
Mako and Bolin fought Ming-Hua and Ghazan in an attempt to buy Korra and Asami time to escape.
After nightfall, Mako spotted Ming-Hua and Ghazan approaching the inn. He told Asami to get Korra to safety while he and Bolin held the criminals off. He blocked Ming-Hua's attempt to reach the Avatar with a fire blast and took her on directly. The firebender struggled to get an offensive, mostly having to dodge Ming-Hua's attacks and running from her. He was briefly able to slice one of her water tendrils but had his left arm frozen in place by the other and was promptly thrown into a door, leaving him unable to continue fighting. The brothers were captured and taken back to the Red Lotus' camp, where they were to be loaded onto their truck and taken with them to Ba Sing Se.[39]
Imprisonment
Aboard the truck with the Red Lotus members, Mako told Ghazan and Ming-Hua they would not be able to use them for leverage against Korra and asked why they did not kill her, only to be told the world would soon change for the better. Hearing his brother have a casual conversation with their captors, Mako told him to stop making friends with them. As they entered Ba Sing Se, the brothers were gagged by the criminals before they were delivered to the queen and sent to the palace dungeon by the Dai Li.
Mako encouraged Bolin to try metalbending them out of prison.
In their prison cell, Mako warned Bolin they needed to get out as soon as possible, attracting a prisoner's attention, who asked the brothers to take him with them. Mako believed his brother could metalbend, saying deep-down, he always had the ability to do so, simply needing the right motivation and that was the time. The firebender led the prisoners in an encouraging chant, but was left to watch as Bolin could not perform the feat.
The brothers listened as Zaheer announced over the communications system that he and his associates had taken out the Earth Queen. With the prisoners riled up, Mako used a small stream of fire to try to blowtorch the cell, but with little success. Knowing Korra was Zaheer's next target, he urged Bolin to try metalbending again, as it was "really" his time. When all the cell doors opened except for theirs, Mako told his excited brother that what happened was not metalbending. Zaheer approached them, promoting the firebender to attack, but they were thrown back by an air blast. Zaheer informed them they would be freed, but only after giving them a message for Korra.[40]
Escaping Ba Sing Se and attempt to warn Tenzin
Having commandeered an airship, Mako took over the controls from Bolin, much to the earthbender's annoyance.
Afterward, Mako and Bolin left the prison to find the city in chaos and looting rampant. He told Bolin the unrest was not their battle; they needed to get Zaheer's message to Korra. Knowing the difficult journey ahead, Mako suggested they find an airship. The brothers made their way to a ship still docked outside the palace, only to find looters scouring it for parts. He tried to tell them he was with the Republic City police and needed to find the Avatar, but the looters ignored him. After Bolin got the criminals out by giving them a location for the queen's gold, Mako discovered vital parts had already been taken, such as the ship's radio. When Bolin took the controls, Mako asked if he knew how to fly it. After initial difficulty, the two were able to take flight.
Knowing their family was in danger as the city burned, Mako took over the controls and lowered the airship down to the roof of their home and waited while Bolin got their relatives out. He watched as they made their way on board and as Bolin piloted the ship out of Ba Sing Se. Questioned by Yin if their airship would be their new home, Mako told her they did not know where they would go, but they needed to find Korra first. He was subsequently asked by Chow if something happened to Korra, to which the firebender told his cousin about her airship crash.
Mako introduced his grandmother to Korra after she mistook Asami for being the Avatar, though was subsequently left speechless in an awkward situation when she asked him why he did not date anyone nice like them.
After several hours, Mako was alerted by Tu that he had found pieces of Korra's airship. Mako recognized the fragments as a Ba Sing Se airship, though wondered where the rest of it was. Tu pointed them to a trail, which they tracked to the Misty Palms Oasis. Once there, Mako was found, tackled, and licked by Naga, much to his annoyance. At that moment, Bolin spotted Korra and Asami; Mako tightly embraced the former. He nervously apologized for the excitement, saying he was just happy to see her. Mako joked to a relived Lin to not get too mushy with her and greeted Tonraq with a bow. Upon seeing Lord Zuko, he bowed to him as well, honored to meet the former Fire Lord. He subsequently saw Yin mistake Asami for the Avatar and properly introduced her to Korra. He was asked by his grandmother why he was not dating someone lovely like them, causing him to feel awkward. At Asami's query, Mako explained his and Bolin's capture and presence for the Earth Queen's removal from power. After telling Asami what had happened to them and Bolin explained the terms surrounding their release, Mako told Korra that Zaheer was on his way to the Northern Air Temple to take out the Air Nation unless she turned herself over. He rebuffed Tonraq's suggestion that Zaheer might be bluffing as he had already taken out the Earth Queen. He knew they would have to radio Tenzin, but noted the airship had no working radio. Without any suitable communication nearby, the group returned to Zaofu to reach a suitable signal.
At Zaofu, the group learned Suyin and her guards had found a signal at the Northern Air Temple, but were not getting any answers. Though Suyin could ready airships for a journey to the temple, Mako realized they could not get up there before Zaheer. When Korra went to meditate and attempt to find Zaheer in the Spirit World, Mako and Bolin stayed behind to assist communication efforts. After getting through, Mako rushed to tell Korra and Zuko before returning with them to the radio room.[41]
Double-crossed and escape
Mako shared a warm hug with Korra before she split from Team Avatar in order to surrender to the Red Lotus.
On board a Zaofu airship, Mako stood with his friends and allies as they discussed a plan to ambush to ambush the Red Lotus. He angrily dismissed Bolin's plan to use bird calls, but was left shocked when Korra suggested surrendering herself. While Korra was radioing Zaheer, Mako told his brother to stop pacing as he was already tense. After her discussion with Zaheer was complete, Mako and the others were informed by Korra of his new terms: she would go to Laghima's Peak at noon on her own and the airbenders would be released upon her surrender. Suyin decided to set up a plan of attack with their numbers advantage, telling Mako to go with Bolin and Asami on the airship to the temple to retrieve the airbenders while the others would position themselves below the peak. Before separating, Mako was given a radio by Lin and told to message her upon seeing the airbenders; he also embraced Korra. As he, Bolin, and Asami approached the temple, he took note of the damage, remarking there must have been a significant battle.
Falling for Ming-Hua's ruse, Mako radioed Korra that the airbenders were at the Northern Air Temple.
Upon arriving in a courtyard, Ghazan approached them, making Mako suspicious. Nonetheless, they followed Ghazan into the hold where Tenzin and the other airbenders appeared to be kept. Mako alerted Korra to their and the lavabender's presence before getting the go-ahead to retrieve the airbenders once the Avatar had surrendered. However, they soon realized that they had been double-crossed; what they believed to be the airbenders were just sacks full of water maintained by Ming-Hua. Mako blocked a prompt attack from her and radioed Korra about the trick, telling her not to turn herself over, while also telling Lin to get Korra out. He and Bolin tried to duel the criminals, but the fight was short-lived as Ghazan converted the floor between the duos to lava, trapping the brothers, Asami, and Tenzin. The airbending master pointed them to another way out, which they followed through Bolin's earthbending.
They made their way up to the meditation room and into a secret corridor with Mako lighting the way with a small ball of fire. The group attempted to outrun the lava pool Ghazan had made, but soon found themselves at the edge of the mountain with nowhere to go. Mako yelled for Bolin as he charged at the lava, but was left in surprise as his brother performed lavabending, stopping the flow of the dangerous liquid. Kai promptly approached them on his baby bison, Lefty, and guided them away from the crumbling temple.
Mako apologized to Kai for having given him a hard time before, thanking him for rescuing them at the Northern Air Temple.
The group landed in a forest with the remainder of their allies. Mako told Lin about Bolin's lavabending, only to be surprised to learn Zaheer had gotten away with Korra and was capable of flight. When Kai suggested he knew where the airbenders and Korra were, Mako asked why he did not say anything. He also realized there were more Red Lotus members when Kai reported seeing several more guards escorting the airbenders into a system of caves. Oogi soon arrived to help provide them transportation to the location in question. Before the group embarked on their mission to save Korra, the firebender expressed his appreciation to Kai for saving them and apologized for giving him a hard time, though jokingly remarking he kind of deserved it when the airbender suggested he did. He boarded Oogi with the rest of the group and made their way toward the caves.[42]
Rescuing the airbenders
Kai led them to where he saw the airbenders go, Mako realizing Korra was likely there as well. The group, save for Tenzin, entered and quickly ambushed the Red Lotus sentries before releasing the airbenders from the chains in which they were held. Mako and Bolin joined Tonraq to find Korra, being tipped off to her exact location by Jinora. After the Avatar, who was in the Avatar State due to the effects of a metallic poison, took off in pursuit of Zaheer, Mako told Tonraq to help her while he and Bolin dealt with Ming-Hua and Ghazan, respectively.
As a last defense, Mako generated lightning and aimed it at the water Ming-Hua was connected to, killing her in the process.
Mako got the waterbender on the run with fire blasts. The two made their way to a corner of the cave; the firebender believed he had the upper hand as he saw no sources of water nearby and his foe now lacked the element after her arms evaporated from Mako's attacks. However, she ran a level down and to a lake, giving her several water tendrils and leaving Mako to run rapidly as Ming-Hua tried to whip them at him. After squeezing between two stone pillars, Mako used lightning generation to electrify the lake, zapping Ming-Hua and ending the battle, much to his surprise.
Mako quickly made his way back up and assisted Bolin in his fight with Ghazan, throwing the criminal down with two blasts of fire as he tried to defend himself. The brothers cornered their foe, Mako demanding he give up. Ghazan, declaring he would not return to prison, decided to try and take them down with him, collapsing the entire cave in with lava and earthbending. Bolin quickly made an earth ramp to get the siblings out. They emerged from the cave just as the airbenders were working to get Korra out of Zaheer's grip, able to save her and throw the criminal airbender to the ground. He, along with Bolin, Asami, and Tonraq, ran over to the poisoned Avatar, watching with worry as Suyin attempted to bend the metallic substance out of her. He stood by as Korra was saved, looking down on her and Tonraq.
Two weeks later, Mako joined his friends and allies at Jinora's airbending master ceremony, smiling as Tenzin praised Korra for her efforts in restoring and saving the Air Nation and Jinora's for saving the Avatar. He stood and watched as the ceremony was completed with the revealing of Jinora's master tattoos.[43]
Personality
Mako grins as he receives the winnings for one of the Fire Ferrets' matches.
Characterized by his stoic and brooding personality, Mako is generally aloof and indifferent, though he is not incapable of genuine kindness and a protective demeanor. It is implied that Mako has excellent control over his emotions, as he is able to bend lightning – a technique that requires the user to have a calm and steady mind. He tends to act in a critical and controlling manner, stemming from a life on the streets and a drive to protect his little brother, which forced him to take on adult responsibilities at a young age. In light of the brothers' pasts, he cares deeply for Bolin and is very protective of him.[13] After Mako lost his parents, he was willing to do whatever means necessary to help him and his brother survive in the rough urban environment of Republic City, even going as far as scamming and working for a notorious criminal organization. Eventually, Mako abandoned these immoral activities, but refused to admit the criminality of his past actions to Korra, as he firmly believed he was only doing what was necessary to survive. Mako has always put the interests of safety and survival ahead of other things, as exemplified by his reluctance to let Bolin keep a fire ferret as a pet, since that would strain their already small food supply. Living on the streets has given him a "hard-edge",[12] though he seems to relax when he is with Bolin, Korra, or Asami, or when he achieves something important. For instance, when Butakha gave him the winnings from their last match, Mako had a large grin on his face.[1]
Mako is willing to threaten others to protect the people close to him.
Going with his hard edge, Mako has a wrathful side to him as well, having the capacity to kill or harm anyone who does wrong on his brother and friends. This is particularly evident when he threatened an Equalist when seeking information regarding Korra's whereabouts by raising a flaming fist. His protective attitude toward his younger brother on the street in the years after their parents' death reflected this side of him as well.
Mako is very dutiful in his job as a cop, having arrested several triad members since joining the force, and was on the fast track to becoming detective.[4] Despite his coworkers' constant belittlement, Mako promptly suggests his theories on open cases, and refuses to take the easy way out to close a case, being adamant in following leads.[25] His commitment and effectiveness on the streets was such that he earned himself praise from President Raiko. His sense of duty also caused him to divulge information that would strain his relationship with Korra, ultimately even ending it.[24]
Abilities
Firebending
- Main article: Firebending
Mako showcases his firebending.
Mako has shown considerable skill in the art of firebending, implementing a modern style of fighting that he uses predominantly in the Pro-bending Arena. Critics of the sport note his use of a distinct "cool under fire" technique, which primarily involves a series of defensive weaving and dodging patterns quickly followed by successive spurts of offense, rendering Mako capable of defeating an entire pro-bending team by himself.[13] Outside of pro-bending, Mako demonstrated great skill in traditional firebending combat. He can maintain his fire streams for a period of time for feats such as propelling himself through the air. He can also perform more advanced techniques such as the breath of fire.[16] The raw strength of his firebending is also considerable, able to offset a large and point-blank explosion unharmed.[24] His control is also very fine, able to form a sleek dagger for intimidation and the likes.
Lightning
Mako uses lightning to distract Amon so he and Korra can save the airbenders.
Mako is skilled enough to generate lightning and redirect it, having learned the skills from his former boss, Lightning Bolt Zolt.[7] He has used lightning for a job at a power plant in Republic City[1] and can effectively use it in combat. He is able to generate it quickly with little charging time and no arm movement and is also capable of maintaining the bolt for several seconds. He can also fire it with considerable aim, being able to hit speeding targets and controlling the charge of it to merely stun targets.[17] While fighting several Equalist mecha tanks, Mako redirected the electricity channeled through their metal cables to disable them.[19] When restrained by Amon's bloodbending, he was able to maintain enough focus and calmness of mind to generate lightning and score a direct hit against the Equalist leader. Amon admitted to Mako that he was impressed with his firebending skill, and that it was almost a shame that he would have to remove the bending of "someone so talented".[21] When he was cornered by Ming-Hua's tendril attacks, he stayed calm and used lightning to electrocute the water, thus electrocuting her.
Other skills
Mako showcases his trademark "cool under fire" style of bending.
Mako has displayed considerable agility, capable of both jumping long distances and performing impressive flips, proving himself difficult to hit at a distance. Mako also has considerable raw strength: he effortlessly launched an Equalist agent a great distance, casually carried Bolin over his shoulder, and in anger hoisted an Equalist into the air with a single hand. He can also carry Korra in his arms rather easily and has done so twice: once after she escaped from Amon and Tarrlok and again when her bending was taken away. While under the control of Amon's bloodbending, Mako was able to move his body slightly better than others caught under this technique and managed to aim a bolt of lightning at Amon, something that took the masked man by surprise, considering his great skill in bloodbending. Mako is also shown to be quite level-headed in dire situations, and has quick thinking, which was exhibited when he came up with a plan to save his brother from the Equalists during Amon's revelation.
Mako is also good with maps, as he figured out where the Equalist Rally was located by looking at the maps he and Korra obtained from the Equalist protester. Mako demonstrated his abilities with a map again when he discovered where the Equalist airfield was hidden. He also appears to be at least an adequate cook, preparing meals for himself and Bolin.
Upon becoming a police officer, Mako uses a motorcycle as his vehicle of choice, displaying great skill with maneuvering it over slick terrain and even incorporating his firebending as a booster to extend the distance of his jumps and to stabilize after a near crash.[4] He is also capable of piloting an airship, though is still an amateur at landing the vehicle.[41]
Relationships
- Main article: Mako's relationships
Relatives
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| Bolin |
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Appearances
Republic City HustleThe Legend of KorraBook One: Air (气)
Book Two: Spirits (神靈)
Book Three: Change (易)
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Trivia
- Mako is named after the late Mako Iwamatsu, the original voice of Iroh during Book One: Water to Book Two: Earth, as a homage.[44]
- The creators commented that Mako reminded them of Zuko, but without the angst.[44]
- Mako's "cool under fire" style of pro-bending bears similarities to the defensive styles of boxing, and the styles of iconic boxers such as Willie Pep and Muhammad Ali.
- Mako's dark childhood is similar to that of Sokka, Katara, Jet, Asami Sato, and Aang as all six of them have lost family members to firebenders. However, while Katara, Sokka and Asami only lost their mothers, Mako and Jet's parents were murdered right in front of them, though on the other hand, Aang lost his entire people to firebenders while he was sealed in an iceberg. Jet and Mako also both lost their family at age eight.
- Mako's history is similar to Batman's, in the sense that both of their parents were mugged and murdered in front of them at the age of eight. In addition, David Faustino, Mako's voice actor, has previously worked on an episode of the Batman animated series Batman Beyond, in his second voice-over role as the character Sean Miller.
- Mako learning pro-bending from Toza and lightning techniques from Lightning Bolt Zolt were both cut out of the show for time saving purposes.[11][45]
- Mako seems to show no regret for his powers, even though his parents were killed by a firebender.
- He is the first bender shown to stop Amon from taking someone's bending away.
- Mako is the fourth known person to break free of a bloodbender's hold by their own doing, and the first non-waterbender known to have done so.
- Mako is the only member of the new Team Avatar to have never been seen crying.
- Mako is similar to Katara in that both have mothers killed by firebenders, a memento of a parent (Mako's father's scarf and Katara's mother's necklace), both also raised their brothers as a parent would do, a personality contradictory to that of their brothers', and both were love interests of the Avatar of their time.
- Mako is the only named male love interest of an Avatar.
- Mako is the second known person to use both lightning generation and lightning redirection, the first is Iroh.
- Mako is the fifth known person to use firebending to propel themself though the air and the second to do so in The Legend of Korra.
| Preceded by Position established |
Fire Ferrets' captain Unknown - 170 AG |
Succeeded by Bolin |