So, I'm kinda late, but I just got to the end of the 7th season (I watched them all during the holiday season), and afterwards I immediately started searching... to find it's confirmed!
First, I just want to say that I believe I took off any yuri goggles quite a while ago, and definitely didn't have any lesbian or in any way gay interest in the show, especially after how heteronormative it was proven to be after the time skip (following the 1st 3 seasons). As is to be expected from something made for children, I thought a few times already, but kept watching since it was entertaining enough anyway.
(Still using spoiler markup, despite the topic title.)
I didn't read any articles yet, thus I don't know how clueless I really was, but for me, the idea of Korra and Asami came to mind during the 3rd – 2nd 3rd, titled Change (but it's more fulfilling seeing the 1st 3 "books", too) – season, when they talked in the car about when and which of them had kissed Mako. Because of the complete lack of resentment – despite initial worries on both sides – I started wondering whether they were supposed to aware of that they had just been actually discussing their indirect kisses. Action always cut in, of course, but from then on they spent noticeably much time together, and it felt like the mood kept shifting. From then on I had to remind myself of that nothing should be expected between them in a kids show, and thought that maybe they only wanted to develop Asami's character by putting her next to the protagonist, which I didn't mind either, since she's already been quite great and strong, especially for a non-bender.
The next season was full of ups and downs, at least for me, when it came to what's going on between them. Despite the ending of the 3rd season, Korra left alone, but she had solid reasons for it. Still, the letter. The fact that Asami didn't look for any boyfriend during those years, but then the argument after their reunion. When even Mako asked what was going on between them in the restaurant, that sounded like serious subtext, and that kind of fan-service was the last thing I would've expected from the show. (So if it was just that, I'd consider it annoying now.) Somehow who hugs whom seemed to get differently balanced as well. Anyway, a lot was going on, so they spent little time together and even less just the two of them, as someone always showed up (I remember it being Tenzin most of the time), the Remembrances episode not being an exception. Getting closer to the end, despite the lack of goggles, I couldn't help thinking about how (more of) the development of their relationship could've been woven into all those events with very little extensions.* While watching the last episode, I was just hoping no one – obviously Mako being the primary candidate – gets pushed onto either of them, and even if not more than that, but they may remain wonderful friends who spend time together, instead of with their romantic interests. I thought it wouldn't be out of the ordinary by then – considering how well they clearly got along – if they'd dance together. Then that didn't happen, instead something better did, as finally no one showed up, and after their personal talk, their departure didn't give the impression of mere friends at all. In fact it practically begged to continue with a kiss. Then I started to search for any thoughts about it, and after finding that, I started writing this post, because I couldn't contain my happiness.
* Asami could've told her father she's dating the Avatar by when he was let out, and that could've been a funny conversation without Korra not (yet) present, the question being whether it's an infant boy or "that" woman.
last edited at Jan 8, 2015 4:22PM