There are episodes withinThe Legend of Korrathat compete with the original series. From Bryan Konietzko and Dante DiMartino, Nickelodeon’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderis doubtlessly one of thebest animated TV showsever created. WhileThe Legend of Korradoesn’t have the same universal appeal as its predecessor, it contains moments that are just as epic and emotional.
After Katara and Sokka found Aang and the last airbender stepped into the role of Avatar while fighting the Hundred Year War,The Legend of Korraintroducesthe next Avatar. Utterly different from Aang, Korra faced backlash due to the contrast between them. However,Korra’s perspective brings stories to the franchise that Aang couldn’t, some of which outperform his.
10“Welcome To Republic City”
The Legend Of Korra Season 1, Episode 1
InThe Legend of Korra’s premiere, we witness the next Avatar’s rise. As a council goes searching for Aang’s reincarnated protégé, Korra proves that she’s the next master of the elements. When the commission comes to her home, Korra demonstrates that she has learned earth, fire, and waterbending at a young age. Therefore,we see more of Korra’s comeuppance.
While we witness his Avatar training, flashbacks to Aang’s upbringing are riddled with the memory of Fire Lord Sozin’s genocide of the airbenders.We are mainly in the dark about Aang’s earlier years, so Korra’s parents and the revival of the Southern Water tribe hit differently. “Welcome to Republic City” also introduces the titular metro area, established by Avatar Aang.
9“Endgame”
The Legend Of Korra Season 1, Episode 12
InThe Legend of Korraseason 1, episode 12, Korra and her allies defeat Amon and the Equalists, but not before Amon himself strips Korra of her bending abilities. However,as Korra is at her lowest point, Avatar Aang materializes and restores Korra’s bending, touching her on the forehead just as the lion turtle once did to him.
At theend ofAvatar: The Last Airbender,the lion turtle gives Aang the ability to take Fire Lord Ozai’s firebending away.The Legend of Korraintroduces a new Avatar ability, when Aang, and thereby Korra, can restore bending. After Aang restores Korra’s bending abilities and Avatar spirit, she passes it on, curing Lin Beifong and others of Amon’s chi-blocking.
8“Beginnings Part 1”
The Legend Of Korra Season 2, Episode 7
InThe Legend of Korraseason 2, episode 7,Korra has lost her memories after a dark spirit attack, and she learns the story of Avatar Wanas she reconnects with her Avatar spirit. We watch Wan become the first human to live comfortably in the Spirit Wilds. Thus, “Beginnings Part 1” unveils crucialAvatar: The Last Airbenderlore.
After Wan gains firebending to hunt and gets banished from the city for attacking the Chous, he’s allowed to keep his firebending to protect himself in the Spirit Wilds. There,Wan proves to the spirits that he’s different and takes time to live among them and learn their ways. When Wan leaves, he meets Raava and separates her from Vaatu.
7“Beginnings Part 2”
The Legend Of Korra Season 2, Episode 8
After explaining what sets him apart,“Beginnings Part 2” shows how Wan acquires the ability to bend all four elements, becoming the first Avatar. As Vaatu populates the Spirit Wilds with dark spirits, Wan and Raava team up so that the spirit can teach Wan how to use the elements. Ultimately, they fuse during Harmonic Convergence, starting the Avatar cycle.
The story is crucial to understanding what’s happening inThe Legend of Korra,as Unalaq prepares to free Vaatu and merge with the dark spirit, becoming the Dark Avatar. Additionally,Wan’s story provides vital insight intoAvatar: The Last Airbender,delving further into detail than the original series ever did in explaining the Avatar cycle that Unavaatu breaks.
6“Light In The Dark”
The Legend Of Korra Season 2, Episode 14
The Legend of Korra’s season 2 finalerivals the original series. In it,Korra defeats Unavaatu after meditating in the Tree of Time, emerging as an astral projection who defeats the Dark Avatar. Korra has help from Jinora, who also projects her spirit into Republic City to protect Korra, emitting a burst of radiant energy that frees Raava from Vaatu.
With Raava finally free, Korra defeats Unavaatu by overpowering his dark energy with light. Then, she fuses with Raava again. Finally,Korra leaves the Spirit World portals open after Harmonic Convergence, making a bold choice to reverse Avatar Wan’s decision, choosing not to separate spirits from living with humans. Therefore, Korra’s decision ushers in a new Avatar age.
5“A Breath Of Fresh Air”
The Legend Of Korra Season 3, Episode 1
“A Breath of Fresh Air” introduces something else that wasn’t possible inAvatar: The Last AirbenderwhenKorra inadvertently repopulates the airbenders after leaving the Spirit World portals open. InThe Legend of Korra’s season 3 premiere, new airbenders sporadically begin to emerge. It initially causes a ruckus, then allows Tenzin to reorganize his people, training them to utilize airbending.
Korra’s instincts secured a new era of airbending.
The development comes with harrowing ramifications, as Zaheer, a member of the Red Lotus, becomes an airbender. Still, the growth is primarily positive, sinceafter Fire Lord Sozin killed the airbenders, Aang was the only onefor more than 100 years. He and Tenzin had a few airbender descendants, but Korra’s instincts secured a new era of airbending.
4“Enter The Void”
The Legend Of Korra Season 3, Episode 12
“Enter the Void” is more memorable than manyAvatar: The Last Airbenderepisodesbecause it alters the boundaries of what’s possible for benders throughout the franchise. In season 3, episode 12,The Legend of Korraestablishes that a spiritually disciplined airbender can take flight, introducing the pinnacle of airbending. Zaheer accomplishes the astounding task, using his ability to capture Korra.
Zaheer has a profound understanding of airbending philosophy. He possesses the most comprehensive knowledge of the airbending teachings seen in the franchise, honed over years spent in prison. After excelling at airbending,Zaheer enacts his wealth of knowledge and takes flight after P’Li’s death, which sets him free from his final attachment, encouraging him to undertake the impossible.
3“Venom Of The Red Lotus”
The Legend Of Korra Season 3, Episode 13
The Legend of Korraseason 3, episode 13, is yet another installment that competes with the original series, as Korra fights the Red Lotus in the third outing’s finale.An epic battle between Korra and Zaheer takes place in “Venom of the Red Lotus,”and it has elements that are reminiscent of Avatar Aang’s final battle with Fire Lord Ozai.
Korra puts up a powerful fight. She’s forced into the Avatar state after Zaheer exposes her to a metallic poison to end the Avatar cycle, planning to kill Korra at her most powerful but also most vulnerable.Korra ultimately defeats Zaheer with Jinora’s help, and then Tenzin’s daughter is anointed as the first airbending master in a generation.
2“Korra Alone”
The Legend Of Korra Season 4, Episode 2
After her battle with Zaheer,Korra lies low, and no one knows where she is inThe Legend of Korra’s season 4 premiere. Tenzin thought that Korra was with her father, but Tonraq informed him that Korra had left the South Pole six months earlier and said she was in Republic City. “Korra Alone” explains how profoundly the Avatar struggled.
Korra is traumatized by Zaheer’s attack, processing complex stress and identity issues.
Avatar: The Last Airbendersomewhat addresses the mental toll that Aang’s role as the Avatar takes, showing his anxiety about fighting the Fire Lord before their showdown. That said, Aang is just a kid, soThe Legend of Korratells a story the original series can’t, showing how Korra is traumatized by Zaheer’s attack, processing complex stress and identity issues.
1“The Last Stand”
The Legend Of Korra Season 4, Episode 13
One of the best episodes ofAvatar: The Last Airbender’s follow-up is its finale. At theend ofThe Legend of Korra,the Avatar embarks on a romance with Asami Sato. The development makes the follow-up a profound source of LGBTQ+ representation that the original never was, adding something that truly setsThe Legend of Korraapart from its predecessor.
Korra and Asami’s romancewasn’t given much screen time, even though they ended up together in the final scene. Still, the heroines' bisexual romance was a refreshing choice for a kids’ show, withThe Legend of Korragiving us a heartfelt display of representation.
The Legend of Korra
Cast
The Legend of Korra is an animated series set in the Avatar universe, following Avatar Korra’s journey as she strives to master the elements and fulfill her role as a fully realized Avatar. Released in 2012, the series explores her challenges against traditional norms and her internal quest for balance.
