The Legend of Korra focuses on the next installment in the Avatar Cycle. As young Korra–who is the Avatar, and is able to bend three of the four natural elements–proudly displays her abilities to a small group of adults, she shows that she’s clearly capable and very headstrong.
Main Characters
Korra
A native of the Southern Water Tribe, she’s the next reincarnation of the Avatar. Korra’s headstrong, not afraid to get in a fight. While she has a natural talent for bending the elements, she still needs to learn patience and Airbending. As a teenager, her brash youthful attitude tends to get her in trouble, although she later matures and grows as a person as the show progresses.
Mako
Bolin’s older brother. He and his brother are close, since they have only each other to rely on. (Mako and Bolin grew up as orphans.) Mako is a Firebender, and participates in the Pro-Bending games. He becomes close friends with Korra through her time in the Pro-Bending ring.
Asami
Asami’s the only child of the industrialist Hiroshi Sato, and is doted upon by her father. She develops a friendship with Korra, although the two young women didn’t like each other at first. She’s smart, quick-witted, and able to take care of herself in fights, even though she’s a non-bender.
Bolin
Mako’s little brother. An Earthbender, he also participates in the Pro-Bending games. He’s also a friend of Korra’s. While he’s sweet, Bolin’s not the smartest person. (His character also works as some of the show’s comic relief.)
My Thoughts on Korra
I love this show. It certainly feels much more mature than the beginning seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender. While there were serious moments in Aang’s journey, the seriousness was offset by good humor and adventure.
Korra and her friends are a little older than Aang and his friends, which brings in more of a teenage moodiness, contrasted with young adult responsibilities: Korra likes to show off her fighting skills, while at the same time she’s facing the very real threat of a anti-bender movement in Republic City. While Aang and his friends faced danger and scary situations on the run from Zuko, Korra spends her time exploring Republic City. She’s not on the run like Aang was, but she’s still faced with difficult choices in season one–like the very real threat of a anti-bender movement.
As Korra develops in it’s later seasons, she faces things that Aang did not: PTSD, for example, after particularly bad fight with one of her enemies, and some depression after what happens in season one. At one point towards the end of the first season, she briefly contemplates suicide, though it’s not explicitly shown outright. Also, her journey to proving herself and coming into her own is one of the reasons I enjoy this show.
Korra is a little more serious in tone than The Last Airbender, but it’s also chock-full of well-placed humor, action, and adventure. It’s still a show that both kids (and adults) can thoroughly enjoy. I really want to get my sister to watch this show with me, because she loves fantasy and sci-fi settings. She would appreciate the show overall, because she likes to watch a range of stuff, just like I do.
In short, Korra is a worthy sequel in my mind. It’s a humorous, action-packed adventure of the next reincarnation of the Avatar. This show is full of touching, moving scenes, and passes the Bechdel test with flying colors. There’s also POC representation–because Korra isn’t white–and LGBTQ+ representation as well.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite scenes from early on in the show. Enjoy Korra’s awesome Firebending!
As always, thanks for reading!
Meghan B.
The Nerdy Nook 