Varrick is one of the most interesting characters on The Legend of Korra. And has a satisfying story arc that shifts from eccentricity to greed. And afterward, his call of conscience to do the right thing can defeat his greed and self-interest. He is a billionaire that came from very humble southern water tribe roots.
Although he is a non-bender, he is one of the most intelligent people in the Avatar Universe. He also has a very luxurious lifestyle which he likes to flaunt everywhere he goes. Zhu Li, his secretary, always accompanies him and later develops romantic feelings for her. They both professed their feelings to each other during Kuvira’s war as they thought they might not live through it.
In this article, we look at the history of Varrick, his personality and abilities, and his life throughout The Legend of Korra.
History
Varrick was born into a low-income family of seal hunters. He also had an ostrich horse named Mrs. Beak as a pet. Unfortunately, the circus later took away Mrs. Beak. Varrick started his business enterprise from just a single canoe and was able to expand it into a global company with bases all around the Avatar Universe.
He ultimately became the sole controller of the worldwide shipping industry. He is always searching for good business opportunities and is one of the most successful business owners throughout the Avatar world. Varrick even offered Asami Sato assistance to restore Future Industries to its glory after the arrest of Hiroshi Sato in The Legend of Korra.
Personality
He is one of the wealthiest people in the Avatar world. And subsequently is used to having his every need catered to. As no one is willing to speak up to him because of his influence and money, he has delusions of self-grandeur, such as when he believed he was levitating. But he is an excellent judge of character. And is portrayed as a person who only holds his self-interests dear to him. For this reason, he deliberately started a Civil war between the Northern and Southern Water tribes to generate profit.
But later in his life, he stopped being greedy and put the peoples’ interest first when he refused to weaponize the spirit wines as he believed that such power should not fall into the wrong hands. After his marriage to Zhu Li, he started to display a more mature personality instead of his bachelor life.
Abilities
Varrick is an excellent innovator and aggressive businessman. He is always on the lookout for more business opportunities. He is a non-bender but is physically fit and usually shows his fitness by performing a backflip at the end of his brainstorming sessions.
Life Throughout The Legend of Korra
Varrick met Asami Sato during the Glacier Spirits Festival and offered to collaborate with her and restore Future Industries. He developed a liking for Bolin and developed a special friendship with him. He was also present at a festival that the Northern Water Tribe held in honor of Chief Unalaq. But as a Southerner, he always had Southern Water Tribe interests at heart. And therefore, when Chief Unalaq attacked the Southern Water Tribe, he was disgusted at the thought. Unalaq even ordered Varrick’s arrest on suspicion of conspiring against his government.
And he only managed to evade his arrest by hiding inside a stuffed Platypus Bear with Zhu Li. He also assisted the Avatar in The Legend of Korra in escaping her father, Chief Tonraq, out of captivity.
After the escape, Varrick started to aid the Agni Kai Triad in sabotaging his shipments and stage them as if the Northerners had attacked them. His motive was to fan the flames of civil war and profit from it afterward. And even released propaganda films in this regard. He later bought a controlling share in the Future Industries when Mako came bursting in, causing enough uproar for Varrick to understand that Mako knows his true intentions.
As a result, he offered Mako to join his security team as a bribe, but after he refused, he set up Mako with incriminating evidence and got him arrested.
Arrest And Escape
Varrick was exposed when Bolin beat out a confession from one of the kidnappers that Varrick had hired to kidnap President Raiko and his wife. After this, he tried to escape but was arrested by Chief Lin Beifong. He was put up in a luxury cell in the prison because he was the one who built the prison. And ordered to build a luxury cell as he had expected to end up in jail at some point in his life.
Sometime after, when the Dark Avatar was destroying the Republic City, his prison wall broke, and he escaped with the help of Zhu Li to Zaofu. Suyin Beifong appointed her as the head of her Technology Department. When Avatar Korra and the rest of the team arrived, Lin Beifong got furious that her sister would give refuge to a wanted criminal, referring to Varrick. When the Red Lotus members infiltrated Zaofu to kidnap Korra, Varrick was also suspected of aiding them but was subsequently cleared. After the matter cleared up, Kuvira called Varrick to help in stabilizing Ba Sing Se after the murder of Earth Queen by Red Lotus members.
Kuvira War
After Varrick joined Kuvire, he was tasked with developing new tech to help Kuvia’s army. He started on the project of weaponizing spirit vines but terminated the project after realizing the power of the vines. He did this to prevent this power from falling into the wrong hands and escaped to Republic City. Varrick played an instrumental role in defeating Kuvira’s army. And used EMP to stop the Mecha suits of the enemy.
Conclusion
He married Zhu Li after the war ended and supported her to stand for the presidential elections. And became the First Gentleman. Varrick is one of the most important and integral characters of The Legend of Korra.
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