The Legend of Korra Following Up A Legend
Written By Evan Macedo
If you were a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, you probably were/are afraid to start The Legend of Korra. How can any spinoff capture the brilliance displayed in one of Nickelodeon’s finest works to date? Your trepidation is completely understandable, especially with so many OG snobs disparaging it. After bingeing the show in just one week’s time, allow me to assuage your fears. This is not as troubling as the upcoming live-action Avatar series that the co-creators left or even the movie that shall not be mentioned.
There are some key differences between the shows that you are just going to have to get over. Avatar follows protagonists that primarily begin between the ages of 12-16, whereas Korra’s core group begins primarily between 16-18. This presents different romantic dynamics between the characters. Aang has crushes, Korra has relationships. Aang is a rambunctious, prepubescent boy who just wants to have fun, and Korra is a hot-headed teenager straddling the line between childhood and adulthood. Aang spends the series learning the elements, Korra spends most of the series learning about herself.
Another difference is the time period. The Legend of Korra begins after Aang’s death, moving from what feels like the 1800s to the 1920s. This allows The Legend of Korra to explore early movies, mid-Atlantic accents, and the aftermath of the second industrial revolution. Possibly the most upsetting difference between the two series is the lack of a common through-line. Aang spent the entire 3 seasons of his series, preparing for the ultimate showdown with the fire nation. Everything leads up to that glorious 4-part finale. The Legend of Korra has a different enemy each season–it felt almost like the creators didn’t believe that their show was good enough to be renewed, so they would wrap everything up instead. Because of this, the show lacked some of the momentum that its predecessor had at times.
Many OG fans struggled to overcome these differences. While I appreciate their concerns, you can’t go into this show demanding it be the same. You aren’t going to watch an energetic boy learn bending. Deal with it. Instead, you are going to watch a young woman mature and stand up for the world. The representation that the show gives for strong females augments the work that Avatar began. Not only that, but to have the most powerful being in the universe be bisexual (though only in implication), adds just another layer into the social justice work that art is responsible for. Furthermore, Korra continues the critiques of imperialism, facism, and the arbitrary divides that plague our societies in a very approachable way for children. Whether it’s benders vs non-benders, spirits vs humans, or even the Earth Kingdom vs other nations, the allegories are clear without being didactic.
Overall, it is easy to see why The Legend of Korra has boomed on Netflix. Hopefully now, more fans can appreciate what makes the spinoff its own show, while still appreciating the many Easter Eggs and homages to the original. If nothing else, the first season is worth a watch if you enjoy the original Avatar. HustleTV we love our shows.
We also provide red carpet hosting services as guests walk into your event one of our hosts will interview the guest. Photographyis one of our services feel free to contact at anytime 24 hours a day.