Bolin from The Legend of Korra is one of the funniest characters in the entire franchise, as well as one of the sweetest. His innocence is often confused for naïvety, which actually works in his favor a lot of the time. Sure, he's not as dashing as his older brother, Mako, but he's certainly adept enough to be an effective member of Team Avatar.
In fact, one could go so far as to say that without Bolin, Korra would never have been able to accomplish more than half her tasks, not to mention how often he's responsible for holding the squad together. He has proved himself worthy on a number of occasions, but which of them have been the most crucial to the Avatar?
10 Successfully Disorients P'Li
When the Red Lotus incapacitate and carry Korra out of Zaofu, Bolin is woken up by Naga's barking, and an inevitable battle erupts in the middle of the town square. Despite having Mako, Lin, Suyin, and many other powerful benders assisting, they are unable to bypass the Combustionbender P'Li, whose psionic pyromania keeps all of them from getting too close.
Ghazan's lava moat doesn't help either. Mako has to convince his brother to trust his aim, and fire at P'Li — Bolin succeeds, and this gives the rest enough time to sneak Korra away.
9 Takes Down Baatar Jr.'s Mech Suits
Bolin, Zhu Li, and Varrick attempt to feel Kuvira's so-called "reeducation camp" by stealing and piloting a mech suit, each. Unfortunately for them, Baatar Jr. learns of this and attacks them with his own men.
While Bolin is thrown out of his suit, he manages to technically win the battle with the help of his Lavabending, basically destroying their opponents' mechs before sealing them with a strong dose of Earthbending. He would have gotten away with it too, had it not been for Varrick who, by his own ineptitude, gets caught by Baatar Jr.
8 Protects President Raiko
At the finale for The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South, Bolin accidentally chances upon a suspicious boat located by the pier nearby the venue. Remembering his brother's warnings about Varrick, Bolin decides to check the scene out, soon learning that men had been sent to abduct the President of the United Republic, Raiko.
He consequently takes the assailants on in front of a massive audience, deftly using his Earthbending talents to outmaneuver them one by one. Bolin's actions have the added effect of clearing Mako's name as well.
7 Blocks Team Avatar From Kuvira's Plasma Cannon
Rather than let her plan fail, despite the potential death of her lover, Baatar Jr. Kuvira fires on the Future Industries Warehouse where Team Avatar and friends are hiding.
The Spirit Energy blast is strong enough to annihilate the entire building, but nobody perishes because Bolin protects them with a massive slab of cement. He later raises it above his head, which lets the others walk out relatively uninjured, proving that his bending is no joke.
6 Last-Second Lavabending To Stop The River Of Lava
As Bolin, Mako, Tenzin, and Asami rush through the secret tunnels leading out of the Northern Air Temple, they are followed by rivers of flaming lava sent after them by Ghazan. Bolin blocks the path behind them several times, but to no avail, and it's not until the last minute that he tries something entirely new.
With the lava bearing down on him, he goes forward and tries to bend it away, succeeding to everyone's utter astonishment. Of course, it's Kai's timely arrival that helps them leave the mountain at the end.
5 Saves His Brother's Life
In the graphic novels, Mako is after a new criminal named Tokuga, who has apparently wrested control of the Republic City underworld. Team Avatar is informed of his presence in public, so they obviously rush to stop him.
Tokuga, however, is too skilled with his dual hook weapons, and throws the young detective to the ground, preparing to finish him off. Bolin steps in with a few pebbles spinning over his palms, converting them into lava and chopping Tokuga's swords neatly in two.
4 Convinces His Ex To Turn Against Her Father
When Eska and Desna prove to be too powerful for Mako and Bolin, the brothers are trapped inside a block of ice to prevent them from running off to assist Korra. At this point, Bolin realizes that the only way to help is to elaborate on the repercussions that would arise if Unalaq is allowed to continue his fusion with Vaatu.
The twins think for a few moments, and accept the fact just stated to them, and free the two brothers. It's a little sad that Bolin genuinely is in love with Eska at the time, though.
3 Defeats Ghazan At His Own Game
Having become a fresh Lavabender, Bolin chooses to go after Ghazan at the Red Lotus hideout, allowing Mako to pursue his nemesis, Ming-Hua. The older Earthbender is surprised to discover that his opponent is capable of the same unique technique, but shows no fear, only excitement because he would finally be getting a match worth his skills.
Ghazan's enthusiasm soon turns to dismay, because Bolin displays an eerily high level of ability for Lavabending, which forces the former to destroy the entire structure in order to kill him.
2 Keeps The Earth Empire Fugitives Safe
Varrick smartly employs his manipulation tactics to make a checkpoint guard let the whole group pass, including other Earth Empire refugees. As luck would have it, this fails when a new soldier identifies them as "turncoats," leading to a short, but violent fight between the two sides.
Bolin singlehandedly faces off combatants armed and protected by mecha suits, and though he doesn't really bring them down, he buys enough time for Varrick to negate them with an "electromagnetic pulse."
1 Betrays Kuvira After Realizing The Truth
Occasionally, Bolin is clueless about the things happening around him, for instance, assuming that a reeducation camp was where people were sent "to learn new trade skills." After Kuvira drops her "hard truths" and accuses him of "wavering loyalty," Bolin begs her for another chance.
Later, however, he meets Varrick, and they synchronously announce to each other that something is up with Kuvira. After this, Bolin never falls for the Great Uniter's deceptions ever again. Too bad she forces him to obey her orders anyway.