Zhu Li

“	I stand before you, humbled and honored to serve as your next president, with no illusions about the challenges we face.	„
	~ Zhu Li

Zhu Li Moon is a supporting character in the animated series The Legend of Korra.

She is Varrick's assistant and eventual wife, helping him with any task he asks of her. Following the defeat of the Earth Empire and the end of Raiko's presidential term, Zhu Li is elected as the President of Republic City.

She was voiced by Stephanie Sheh.

Biography[]

A calm and serious woman, Zhu Li regularly deals with her boss' eccentric demands with stoic efficiency. Zhu Li shifted from antagonist to protagonist along with Varick when the two saw the extent that Varrick's research could be abused to kill people. Like Varrick, Zhu Li was deeply impressed by the research, but could not use the technological achievement to justify the harm it would do.

While attempting to get away from Kuvira and foil her plans for the spirit-vine weapons Varrick, Zhu Li and Bolin are caught and brought before Kuvira to pay for their attempted sabotage of her plans. Varrick assures Kuvira that even he has limits and will never help her complete the weapon, however Zhu Li, having been pushed around once too often during the attempted escape, renounces her service to Varrick and to Kuvira instead. Zhu Li claims her loyalty was misplaced, and if given another chance, she would continue Varrick's research for Kuvira. Kuvira spares Zhu Li's life, and with no incentive to keep Varrick around, has him taken away to be "re-educated". Varick's machine begins suffering a variety of malfunctions which eventually provoke Kuvira's suspension, and she searches Zhu Li to find she was the one sabotaging her own project.

Once confronted, Zhu Li admits she had feigned loyalty to Kuvira to keep Varrick's machines out of the wrong hands. Though Kuvira attempts to test the weapons out on Zhu Li, instead she is saved by Bolin and reunited with Varrick. Varrick immediately forgives Zhu Li's false betrayal and is happy to welcome her back as his assistant, however Zhu Li insists if she is to get back to helping Varrick, she refuses to be his gofer any longer. Varrick is confused at first to the notion of treating someone as an equal, but he manages to make it right with Zhu Li and brings her on, no longer as his assistant, but his colleague. In the final episode of the series, Varrick asks Zhu Li to be his wife once the fight with Kuvira is finished, and Zhu Li gladly accepts his proposal.

Personality[]

As Varrick's assistant, Zhu Li was completely loyal to him, carrying out his every command and fulfilling any whim he had. Highly intelligent and familiar with her employer's habits, she preemptively carried out tasks before she was asked, as she did on his yacht, and frequently enacting Varrick's various plans despite his often vague commands, the most common being to "do the thing". Zhu Li's devotion to Varrick included becoming a fugitive with him, following him on his unlawful trip out of the United Republic, and joining with him in becoming a part of Kuvira's army. She showed little concern for the ethics of her actions as long as Varrick was appeased;Varrick described her as a "cold, heartless war machine", for which he named his battleship after her.

Despite her generally calm and serious demeanor, Zhu Li sometimes allowed her emotions to be shown, such as when she lovingly looked at Varrick after he saved her from falling out of a speeding train, when she thanked the Beifong family for having saved her, or when she heatedly refused Varrick to be his assistant, demanding to be treated as his equal if he wanted her around. Zhu Li has also shown great courage, as she was willing to sacrifice herself in order to destroy the spirit energy cannon, and compassion, as she readily busied herself with managing the relief efforts for the evacuees of Republic City, even going so far as to offer up Varrick Industries money to fund housing projects on their behalf. As president, Zhu Li is a selfless, compassionate, and considerate leader who genuinely cares about the well-being of the people of the United Republic of Nations. Her platform and leadership style stress unity and compassion among diverse people. Because she prioritizes the citizens she governs over all else, she sometimes forgets to take care of herself. Zhu Li has also showcased a friendly, approachable demeanor in the public.

Abilities[]

Zhu Li is a creative and capable jack of all trades who is adept at dealing with any situation thrown her way with a quick wit and keen intelligence. She is highly proficient in piloting a mecha suit, able to fight equally against two professional pilots even when Varrick's poor control made it considerably more difficult for her. She also possesses considerable physical strength as she was able to hold on to a speeding train and carry Varrick on her back for twenty miles a day after spraining her ankle. She was also able to carry a spirit vine capsule, which Varrick struggled to carry, with ease. While working on weaponizing the spirit vines, Zhu Li displayed proficiency in deception and sabotage, having concealed her true motives from both Kuvira and Baatar Jr. Her intelligence and quick thinking allow her to make quick decisions in many situations, and when she commits to a project, she displays great leadership skills. She is also a capable and confident public speaker.