The Legend of Korra Book 1: Air Review
Major Spoilers are included in this season review. Please read with caution.
On August 14, 2020, The Legend of Korra—sequel to Avatar The Last Airbender—dropped on Netflix. Originally created and developed as a mini-series, The Legend of Korra is set 70 years after the original series in Republic City, a place founded by Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko where benders and non-benders can live together in harmony. In many ways due to the time jump, the steampunk genre, and industrialism elements being incorporated into the narrative, The Legend of Korra surpassed Avatar The Last Airbender. Now before the haters start… well, hating on my opinion, let me explain what I mean please.
First, the animation improved for the character designs, the setting with all the technological advances, and the fluid movements regarding the action sequences. These helped add to the “Equalist storyline”, which centered around the relations between benders and non-benders, and how Amon—the main antagonist and Equalist leader—declared he’ll make everyone equal by taking away bending forever.
Amon was the perfect first villain for Avatar Korra to face off against, having multiple layers and redeeming qualities due to his relatable cause for equality. Also, he was an intimidating and badass villain in his own right. I remembered watching him in high school and being terrified for Avatar Korra whenever they fought each other.
Don’t worry, ATLA fans. There was enough humor to balance out the Equalist darkness. The characters—especially Tenzin’s children—brought out immense joy whenever they came on screen. Everyone on Team Avatar also worked well together in terms of personality types. Korra was the fiercest leader, Mako was resident bad boy Firebender with a heart of gold, Bolin was the funny Earthbending guy, and Asami was the beautiful non-bender with a brilliant mind.
The downfall of the team dynamic—and the first season—was the love triangle between Korra, Mako, and Asami. While I felt the love story told between the three characters was rushed and a waste of screen time, there’s another “love story” worth mentioning, and that’s between Lin and Tenzin. The writers did an amazing job on exploring Lin and Tenzin’s former romance and how they navigate their professionalism with so little words. The moment when Lin sacrificed herself for Tenzin and his family spoke volumes.
The first season also failed to make the Pro Bending aspect compelling, mostly because they attached that subplot to the love triangle subplot. While I liked it as a one-episode story, the way the writers extended the Pro Bending was kind-of repetitive and something Korra found fun. I was really happy that the series dropped the Pro Bending at the first season’s halfway point.
Honestly, I thought The Legend of Korra was a great successor to Avatar The Last Airbender. I’m not here to tell you which one is better—that’s up for debate—but The Legend of Korra did the Avatar job in her own way. Book 1: Air delivered on an adventure with high stakes and good humor. A worthy successor. What more could I want?