49 reviews
Avatar: The Legend of Korra is by no means as good as the phenomenal The Last Airbender, but you can tell that the team behind it had a lot on their minds regarding the Avatar universe. And that may be its biggest flaw.
What I mean is that all the elements that made its predecessor so great is still in here, but at the same time it's trying to be its own thing which ends up making it feel all over the place with world-building, character arcs and romance plots either scattered across all four seasons or hastily concluded without feeling fully developed.
The first season is in my opinion the most successful at blending it all together with Korra coming to Republic City to discover a colorful crowd amongst the many inhabitants and what they do in their leisure time and the way the higher-ups run the city. And a dark side of a seemingly peaceful place for all which include the chilling Amon on top of a rebellion.
So, while there is a promising premise for season two about the spiritual side of being the Avatar which leads to an epic conclusion and an interesting result, it is here it all starts to jumble together with various subplots which makes it feel disjointed and rushed.
In the character department we have Korra as the main character, a young woman with a temper who sadly often comes off as arrogant and bratty. She learn throughout the series, but is also a victim of the messy writing. The characters are a mixed bag overall.
Animation is still top-notch, and when the series keeps its focus, we get an expanding look into the world of the Avatar and the people attached to her/him.
What I mean is that all the elements that made its predecessor so great is still in here, but at the same time it's trying to be its own thing which ends up making it feel all over the place with world-building, character arcs and romance plots either scattered across all four seasons or hastily concluded without feeling fully developed.
The first season is in my opinion the most successful at blending it all together with Korra coming to Republic City to discover a colorful crowd amongst the many inhabitants and what they do in their leisure time and the way the higher-ups run the city. And a dark side of a seemingly peaceful place for all which include the chilling Amon on top of a rebellion.
So, while there is a promising premise for season two about the spiritual side of being the Avatar which leads to an epic conclusion and an interesting result, it is here it all starts to jumble together with various subplots which makes it feel disjointed and rushed.
In the character department we have Korra as the main character, a young woman with a temper who sadly often comes off as arrogant and bratty. She learn throughout the series, but is also a victim of the messy writing. The characters are a mixed bag overall.
Animation is still top-notch, and when the series keeps its focus, we get an expanding look into the world of the Avatar and the people attached to her/him.
Zaheer had so much potential and i think he should had more screen time. He could have been a much more terrefying villain. I do recommend to people who like avatar in general to watch this. It does pay off. The second and the last seasons are my least favorite. The first and the third were my favorite. A must watch for avatar lovers.
- spencergauldin
- Aug 24, 2020
- Permalink
- lumpacidshadow
- Jul 9, 2012
- Permalink
First stop and go watch avatar the last air bender. This show started out in the first season amazingly. I loved all the new characters and the new antagonist and they way it went down from the family struggles to the ending resolve. I give the first season a 10/10.
The second season was awesome in the way of answering questions that we all had watching avatar the last air bender. It also showed how things are not always as they seem. From corruption and betrayal I give season 2 a 7.5/10.
Season 3 was an upgrade from season two it was cool to see two worlds learning how to coexist and get along. They pulled off an amazing secret society plan and it was great idea of people finding a new found power within themselves. I give season 3 a 8/10.
Season four is by far the worst season the writers just fell into the pressure of politics and ruined the main character and some support characters as well they changed who the character was, they went back on a crucial personal aspect and changed the asskicking badass to something she wasn't to please a few people. I give season 4 a 5.5/10.
- loganholliday-10728
- Jun 14, 2020
- Permalink
This show is worth a watch for fans of the original series. However, upon watching, most viewers will see that the writing is not as strong or consistent as in ATLA. Character relationships are not as meaningful, the world building takes steps backwards, and overall themes are weaker than in the original.
This show struggles with establishing its own identity. You will notice many characters that feel like obvious reworkings of previous characters to fit them into the new setting (Bolin is an obvious Sokka clone, Mako is very similar to Zuko, etc.). These characters do not feel as genuine as the originals, and leave the viewers wishing they would have simply came up with some new ideas for the main cast. Korra is a decent character, but tends to make frustratingly bad decisions and gets defeated in most confrontations with villains. The rest of the main cast are not even close to as charming or likable as the cast of ATLA. In my opinion, the best written characters in TLOK are less compelling than some of the weakest written characters in ATLA.
Furthermore, the world building is considerably weaker here. ATLA did a fantastic job of presenting the world and its cultures to the viewer. In TLOK, this world is already largely established. While it is interesting to see how the world has changed over time, it never feels quite right. Some aspects of the world building in the original series almost feel weakened by the sequel series (such as lightning bending becoming strangely common compared to in ATLA). Additionally, the show tends to change or undo certain aspects of the world that detract from the world built in the Last Airbender.
While this show does have some positive aspects, it is unfortunately not on the same level as the original series. I recommend watching it and forming your own opinion, but I expect that it will leave you disappointed.
This show struggles with establishing its own identity. You will notice many characters that feel like obvious reworkings of previous characters to fit them into the new setting (Bolin is an obvious Sokka clone, Mako is very similar to Zuko, etc.). These characters do not feel as genuine as the originals, and leave the viewers wishing they would have simply came up with some new ideas for the main cast. Korra is a decent character, but tends to make frustratingly bad decisions and gets defeated in most confrontations with villains. The rest of the main cast are not even close to as charming or likable as the cast of ATLA. In my opinion, the best written characters in TLOK are less compelling than some of the weakest written characters in ATLA.
Furthermore, the world building is considerably weaker here. ATLA did a fantastic job of presenting the world and its cultures to the viewer. In TLOK, this world is already largely established. While it is interesting to see how the world has changed over time, it never feels quite right. Some aspects of the world building in the original series almost feel weakened by the sequel series (such as lightning bending becoming strangely common compared to in ATLA). Additionally, the show tends to change or undo certain aspects of the world that detract from the world built in the Last Airbender.
While this show does have some positive aspects, it is unfortunately not on the same level as the original series. I recommend watching it and forming your own opinion, but I expect that it will leave you disappointed.
- mattm-25994
- Dec 5, 2023
- Permalink
I enjoyed it and the messages and Animation are good but it is very foreseeable and its missing the depth compared to Avatar. I would watch it again but I had to force myself to continue from time to time. The characters act annoyingly stupid in a few episodes. No comparison to the legend of Aang. There is loads of Plotholes when it comes to the Powers of the Characters and the seasons are basically all the same in different interpretations. Unfortunately it is missing the constant excitement of its predecessor. Good watch but no must. Probably only for the real fans, my expectations were higher!
- lucasunterbichler
- Mar 30, 2023
- Permalink
Just about an annoying teenager who does whatever she wants and gets away with it. Hard to watch a show you can't support the main character. It definitely gets better later with character improvement, but still. Really frustrating to watch overall. Good story though. Good enough entertainment if you have it in the background and can be patient.
- josealeekim
- Apr 17, 2022
- Permalink
- michael_the_nermal
- May 20, 2012
- Permalink
As an avid fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I was beyond excited that Legend of Korra was coming. My expectations for DiMartino and Konietzko have, sadly, been disappointed.
Legend of Korra is technically excellent. The creators have done a workmanlike job of creating a believable world and populating it with mildly interesting characters. Of course, no explanation is provided of how the world became so automated in only seventy years, bringing us from one established city and a globe otherwise filled with fishing or farming peoples to concentrated cityscapes with overhead electric railways, organized crime lords, and police conducting surveillance from blimps.
Unfortunately, most of what made The Last Airbender so very appealing is missing from Korra. There is little, if any anthropological or ethical aspects: whereas Last Airbender was festooned with spellbinding ancient civilizations--Eskimos, Samurai, Incas, or the like--Korra has none of this. Airbender also possessed a wonderful, gentle humor, which we constantly saw in Toph's relationships with Sokka and Katara, Sokka and Katara's relationship with one another, and, of course, Sokka's interminable wisecracking. The element of gentle humor that kept Airbender bouncing along merrily is utterly absent from Korra.
But, oh, they do fight in Korra. Every few minutes, someone is firebending. If I wanted to see that, I would just replay the Airbender episode "The Boiling Rock" until I lost consciousness.
Bottom line: for fighting and bright colors, watch Korra. But, IMHO, it lacks any of the magic that made Aang and his friends so endlessly fascinating and their adventures so very absorbing.
Legend of Korra is technically excellent. The creators have done a workmanlike job of creating a believable world and populating it with mildly interesting characters. Of course, no explanation is provided of how the world became so automated in only seventy years, bringing us from one established city and a globe otherwise filled with fishing or farming peoples to concentrated cityscapes with overhead electric railways, organized crime lords, and police conducting surveillance from blimps.
Unfortunately, most of what made The Last Airbender so very appealing is missing from Korra. There is little, if any anthropological or ethical aspects: whereas Last Airbender was festooned with spellbinding ancient civilizations--Eskimos, Samurai, Incas, or the like--Korra has none of this. Airbender also possessed a wonderful, gentle humor, which we constantly saw in Toph's relationships with Sokka and Katara, Sokka and Katara's relationship with one another, and, of course, Sokka's interminable wisecracking. The element of gentle humor that kept Airbender bouncing along merrily is utterly absent from Korra.
But, oh, they do fight in Korra. Every few minutes, someone is firebending. If I wanted to see that, I would just replay the Airbender episode "The Boiling Rock" until I lost consciousness.
Bottom line: for fighting and bright colors, watch Korra. But, IMHO, it lacks any of the magic that made Aang and his friends so endlessly fascinating and their adventures so very absorbing.
- bdwilneralex
- May 11, 2012
- Permalink
- FairlyAnonymous
- Dec 18, 2014
- Permalink
Honestly the legend of Korra could've have been a live action. It delves into more personable writing in a sense it was shooting for a mature audience even while it was still n Nickelodeon. I guess it wanted ti have that more mature storyline since its audience would be more than likely in their late teen or younger adult era in a sense. But the transition looks to be a bit of a struggle as you watch each episode one after another. It is a bit clumsy/sloppy but you get what they were going for. I just wish it was a bit more fleshed out. Especially Korra, there was a lack of character development, in which it was masked with the beautiful animation. And so the storyline suffered. It was a bit more mature, but the execution was lack luster. Especially since it still networked on Nickelodeon. Even so, that gives the writers even more of a reason create genius writing. In short there was no shortage in animation creativity, but as an overall body of work, there was a huge lack in creative writing and storytelling. The essence of an imaginative writer was missing.
My real problem was with the protagonists. Specifically, Korra. I'm sorry, but Korra was absolutely INSUFFERABLE in the first 2 seasons. I actually rooted more for the villains in those first 2 seasons because I couldn't stand Korra. I get that she's supposed to be a hotheaded teenager, but damn. Girl picked up fights left and right because she'd get too in over her head, lose the fight, then almost be killed for her friends to save her most of the time in the first 2 seasons.
LUCKILY, and thank God for The Legend of Korra, it had season 3 and 4, and if I have to be honest, S3 REDEEMED the entirety of the show. It REDEEMED Korra, Mako and Bolin, Tenzin and ESPECIALLY Lin Beifong' s character arcs and it introduced the best villain in the Avatar universe since Azula in the original series. That man? Zaheer. Think of it this way. For the GOT and Breaking Bad fans, he was the Tywin Lannister and Walter White for you. Just amazing. S4 enhanced it, even though logic was kinda shafted at times. But seeing Korra with her PTSD was an amazing journey to explore. Enlisting the help of past favorites from both previous seasons and the original show. I'm actually surprised that The Legend of Korra managed to end strongly after starting kinda weak. It didn't fall for the trope that some others shows do where they start off strong and end weak or start weak and get worse. So kudos to the writers for making a nice show.
Can I say it's better than the original show? Absolutely no. But as a show alone, it's a beautiful story with phenomenal voice acting, great animation, and good plot throughout.
Well done. Highly recommended if you're looking for a new fix of the Avatar universe after finishing the original show or of you need something to watch with you're children.
Rating- 9.3/10
LUCKILY, and thank God for The Legend of Korra, it had season 3 and 4, and if I have to be honest, S3 REDEEMED the entirety of the show. It REDEEMED Korra, Mako and Bolin, Tenzin and ESPECIALLY Lin Beifong' s character arcs and it introduced the best villain in the Avatar universe since Azula in the original series. That man? Zaheer. Think of it this way. For the GOT and Breaking Bad fans, he was the Tywin Lannister and Walter White for you. Just amazing. S4 enhanced it, even though logic was kinda shafted at times. But seeing Korra with her PTSD was an amazing journey to explore. Enlisting the help of past favorites from both previous seasons and the original show. I'm actually surprised that The Legend of Korra managed to end strongly after starting kinda weak. It didn't fall for the trope that some others shows do where they start off strong and end weak or start weak and get worse. So kudos to the writers for making a nice show.
Can I say it's better than the original show? Absolutely no. But as a show alone, it's a beautiful story with phenomenal voice acting, great animation, and good plot throughout.
Well done. Highly recommended if you're looking for a new fix of the Avatar universe after finishing the original show or of you need something to watch with you're children.
Rating- 9.3/10
This cartoon has been reviewed to death, so let me just be concise - Avatar: the Last Airbender is arguably the greatest children's cartoon ever, and Korra is its good follow-up.
Just a few notes: For every step forward this show takes, it also takes a step back. For all the good that came out of the show, please know that the pacing, tone, and plot are all kind of stilted, the characters are way less deep than in Avatar, and there are some retcons and developments that may bother purist Avatar fans.
But, for most Avatar fans, you will enjoy Legend of Korra. It is a return to that land that we love so much and the magical bending that so engrossed us.
If you are interested in the show, I would recommend seeing Avatar first, then this show. Both are worth the watch, and seeing Avatar will improve this show all that much more.
Just a few notes: For every step forward this show takes, it also takes a step back. For all the good that came out of the show, please know that the pacing, tone, and plot are all kind of stilted, the characters are way less deep than in Avatar, and there are some retcons and developments that may bother purist Avatar fans.
But, for most Avatar fans, you will enjoy Legend of Korra. It is a return to that land that we love so much and the magical bending that so engrossed us.
If you are interested in the show, I would recommend seeing Avatar first, then this show. Both are worth the watch, and seeing Avatar will improve this show all that much more.
- benjaminburt
- Aug 22, 2017
- Permalink
Just like the review that precedes this one, i do like legend of Korra, the graphics are well made, the effects look much better than legend of Aang, the fighting scenes ( which are many of them) look very good, but legend of Korra lacks besides humor another very important thing: characters like Prince Zuko and Uncle Iroh...
you have Korra and her friends ( good) and Amon ( bad), and that's it, the characters are a bit shallow.
in legend of Aang, you have Aang and his friends ( good), the fire lord and Azula ( bad). Zuko and Iroh were both bad and good, and were very complicated as characters. Zuko saved Aang from admiral Zhao and in the next episode he could chase Aang till the end of the world. Zuko sets Aang's bison free but a few episodes later he betrayed Aang. because Zuko didn't know what he wanted he was unpredictable. Iroh was some kind of philosopher, all the things he said, it has a link with mindfulness, i never forget the episode ( tales from ba sing se) where Iroh showed emotions towards the death of his son. Iroh could see Aang when he was in the spirit world, he tried to save the moon spirit, he's the only one who totally understands his complicated family.
what separates legend of Aang between all the comics on nickelodeon and Disney, and why it's one of the best, is the story, the humor, the characters. legend of Korra, sadly, is just not that good enough,
you have Korra and her friends ( good) and Amon ( bad), and that's it, the characters are a bit shallow.
in legend of Aang, you have Aang and his friends ( good), the fire lord and Azula ( bad). Zuko and Iroh were both bad and good, and were very complicated as characters. Zuko saved Aang from admiral Zhao and in the next episode he could chase Aang till the end of the world. Zuko sets Aang's bison free but a few episodes later he betrayed Aang. because Zuko didn't know what he wanted he was unpredictable. Iroh was some kind of philosopher, all the things he said, it has a link with mindfulness, i never forget the episode ( tales from ba sing se) where Iroh showed emotions towards the death of his son. Iroh could see Aang when he was in the spirit world, he tried to save the moon spirit, he's the only one who totally understands his complicated family.
what separates legend of Aang between all the comics on nickelodeon and Disney, and why it's one of the best, is the story, the humor, the characters. legend of Korra, sadly, is just not that good enough,
- minan_vd_haterd
- May 13, 2012
- Permalink
I'm an Aang fan and He is really a strongest and most powerful Avatar but Korra is also not bad. She improve herself day by day and maintain the balance without doing in Avatar state mostly.
I think she will improve more and also become a Good Avatar.
I think she will improve more and also become a Good Avatar.
- mohammedsulemanbalwar
- Apr 7, 2021
- Permalink
The trouble with remakes lies behind the reasons why they are made. While watching GREAT EXPECTATIONS, directed by the always wonderful Alfonse Cuaron, starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow, I was completely enthralled in the story, the direction, the music and the actors. But the story has been done before.
The trouble with sequels is a matter of arcs. The character arc, in my humble opinion, is the hallmark of a film... a character starts out one way, goes through a lot (sometimes an AWFUL lot), and is then changed. Sometimes this means their outright demise. For a sequel to be successful, it has to somehow catch lightning in a bottle for a second time, after the first arc has already changed the characters of the original story.
Which brings me to my review of THE LEGEND OF KORRA, a review to be told in four parts.
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER is quite possibly perfect. I don't have a single episode of the show that I don't love, I don't have a complaint about anything in it that I think is worth picking apart. For all the other television shows I have seen, very little compares to it in terms of writing, acting, animation, depth, or feeling. It has been one of the great joys of my life to be able to enjoy the show, now for a second time, thanks to its arrival on Netflix.
I was also thrilled to see that KORRA came in right behind it. There are rumors that another AVATAR related show may be in the works for the future. Before I watched KORRA in its entirety, I was excited about the prospect.
Now, however, I would be nervous.
I read that the first season of KORRA was actually supposed to be the ONLY season. It was intended as a mini-series, not a four-season excursion. With respect to that, here comes my review of each individual season, as briefly (but as thoroughly) as I can.
The first season is the best part of it. I wouldn't call it perfect, but forgive it for following such a wonderful show. If AVATAR gets a 10, Korra's first seasons deserves at least a 9. There's so many pluses here, and so few minuses.
If only the rest of the show were like that.
Korra is determined to be the next Avatar, the incarnation of Aang, whose passing is not altogether clear (or even really necessary). She's mastered three out of four of the elements, Air being her weakness. We learn that Katara, Aang's widow, is still alive and helpful in her attempts to guide the new Avatar. We learn of Tenzen, Katara and Aang's son, the main Airbender of the world, who is trying to mentor Korra in the ways of her most difficult challenge. We learn of his family, and the three Airbender of the future, even though they are still only children.
We learn of Korra's bull-headedness. We learn of her short temper.
But we also learn of her courage. Her determination.
The world wants to keep her from harm, because she is not fully trained in the ways of the Avatar. She cannot willingly enter the Avatar State, until she has mastered Airbending. But she wants to help Tenzen in the future of Republic City, the city that Aang created, meant to be a balancing point for all the different peoples of the world.
To make a long story short, she encounters opposition. In the form of Amon, a mysterious figure in Adolf Hitler-esque appearance, commanding the non-benders of the world to join him in pushing against the so-called oppression from benders. The menace and delivery are well-made, leaving you uncertain as to who this man is and what his true agenda is.
We learn of a sport created behind bending, an enthralling and creative idea that is well-played and well thought-out. We learn of the steampunk-influenced ways of this new world, as we are introduced to the new "Team Avatar". All of this plays well, and as the season rolls on, the menace behind Amon and his intentions grow and grow, with supportive and honestly not-too distracting references to the original AVATAR to keep us enthralled.
All in all, I loved the first season of KORRA. It's well worth the trip.
But then we have the rest of it.
The second season of Korra starts to show the cracks of what will eventually become the show's ultimate downfall. While it manages to support and even elaborate on the world of Avatar, it fails in humor, delivery, and ultimately the rules that the world has been previously relying on, which is the real nail in the coffin, so to speak. On one hand, I understand why the writers had so much trouble pulling this off.
It can all be summed up in a single phrase: The Avatar State.
With the exception of the end of the original series, Aang's entry into the Avatar State happened when he was out of emotional control. During each of those moments, the true and somewhat frightening aspect of what the Avatar could truly do and how he or she could do it was illustrated in the devastating, albeit accidental, destruction that the State caused. You didn't want to be anywhere NEAR Aang once he went postal.
Even at the end, the Fire Lord (I mean Phoenix King) goes from pushing Aang to his limits to running for his life when faced with the Avatar's true power. In the beginning of the final battle, the King has Aang on the ropes, until his arrow tattoo lights up. From then on, the King has NO POWER whatsoever to stop him.
Thus bringing a serious challenge to those that have to write for KORRA. Now that she can go into the Avatar State at will, writing plots for her becomes as difficult as it is for writers to create new plots for Superman.... How do you threaten someone who is, in essence, indestructible?
Apparently you focus on her bull-headedness to the point of agony. And you ignore her responsibility and ability completely, as often as you can.
It's not all bad. We learn the origin of the Avatar, done in wonderful artistic style. We learn of the Spirit World, something we only briefly grazed in the original AVATAR.
But everything constantly feels to me like STRETCHING. Dialogue you might expect from an anime with over five hundred episodes, where one character is explaining in detail how he or she is going to kill the other character for the entirety of a whole episode instead of just GETTING ON WITH IT. Even a final battle that is, unfortunately, lackluster in its delivery.
And then we get to the last two seasons.
Suffice it to say, what could have been a creative step in a new direction ends up becoming a confused and jumbled mess of plot twists and unnecessary character arcs that lead to an overwhelmingly bland and overdrawn finale. Korra manages to blend the worlds of the Spirit and Man together, but nothing ever comes of it in terms of true development. The fourth season starts out promising, with callbacks to characters from Avatar long thought to be dead and gone, combined with plot developments that imitate the Phoenix King and his ambitions to dominate over all other people in the world. Five episodes in it all falls apart, leaving you wanting for an Avatar that you could actually believe would have some sway in the balance of the world, instead of constantly struggling to catch up to the villains that constantly define her fate.
I will say this, and it reflects on the opening of this review: the problem here stems from the reasons why this show was extended past its original intentions. You could argue that the first season feels rushed, as it is only half the length of any of the seasons of AVATAR. I don't really care about that, because it was SOLID. The arcs are well plotted. You have investment in the characters. There is resolution, and hope for the future, in the same vein as there was at the end of the original show.
But they should have left well enough alone. The key to AVATAR and its success, in my opinion, stems from a simple concept that moves throughout the entire show... Death and destruction are abundant throughout AVATAR.
But NONE of it is in front of your eyes.
The master stroke of the original series is the constant ability to keep your feeling threatened from the dangers of the world that surrounds the characters... while never showing you the grisly details of the kind of world they are living in. The Fire Nation have destroyed and killed in the name of their Lord, in true Hitler-esque style... yet you never see it. You don't HAVE to see it, and that is where the show gets its true strength. It is able to balance the madness of war with the storytelling level of a child.
KORRA doesn't have that luxury. It's able to pull the wool over your eyes in the first season because of what the threat is and how it is being delivered... but once it passes into the seasons that were created to fill the pockets of those that demanded more, it loses its integrity. Nobody is EVER killed, only captured. While the characters of the original AVATAR were children, KORRA's protagonists are adults, in an adult world, one that tries to keep the illusions maintained by the original series, but fail in their delivery.
And Korra never truly uses the Avatar State as it was intended, leaving you feeling cheated out of the true potential of what the show could have been.
Watch the first season, then turn it off. And hope that if there is more Avatar, they care more about the story than extending a show past its natural lifespan, in the hopes of making money.
The trouble with sequels is a matter of arcs. The character arc, in my humble opinion, is the hallmark of a film... a character starts out one way, goes through a lot (sometimes an AWFUL lot), and is then changed. Sometimes this means their outright demise. For a sequel to be successful, it has to somehow catch lightning in a bottle for a second time, after the first arc has already changed the characters of the original story.
Which brings me to my review of THE LEGEND OF KORRA, a review to be told in four parts.
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER is quite possibly perfect. I don't have a single episode of the show that I don't love, I don't have a complaint about anything in it that I think is worth picking apart. For all the other television shows I have seen, very little compares to it in terms of writing, acting, animation, depth, or feeling. It has been one of the great joys of my life to be able to enjoy the show, now for a second time, thanks to its arrival on Netflix.
I was also thrilled to see that KORRA came in right behind it. There are rumors that another AVATAR related show may be in the works for the future. Before I watched KORRA in its entirety, I was excited about the prospect.
Now, however, I would be nervous.
I read that the first season of KORRA was actually supposed to be the ONLY season. It was intended as a mini-series, not a four-season excursion. With respect to that, here comes my review of each individual season, as briefly (but as thoroughly) as I can.
The first season is the best part of it. I wouldn't call it perfect, but forgive it for following such a wonderful show. If AVATAR gets a 10, Korra's first seasons deserves at least a 9. There's so many pluses here, and so few minuses.
If only the rest of the show were like that.
Korra is determined to be the next Avatar, the incarnation of Aang, whose passing is not altogether clear (or even really necessary). She's mastered three out of four of the elements, Air being her weakness. We learn that Katara, Aang's widow, is still alive and helpful in her attempts to guide the new Avatar. We learn of Tenzen, Katara and Aang's son, the main Airbender of the world, who is trying to mentor Korra in the ways of her most difficult challenge. We learn of his family, and the three Airbender of the future, even though they are still only children.
We learn of Korra's bull-headedness. We learn of her short temper.
But we also learn of her courage. Her determination.
The world wants to keep her from harm, because she is not fully trained in the ways of the Avatar. She cannot willingly enter the Avatar State, until she has mastered Airbending. But she wants to help Tenzen in the future of Republic City, the city that Aang created, meant to be a balancing point for all the different peoples of the world.
To make a long story short, she encounters opposition. In the form of Amon, a mysterious figure in Adolf Hitler-esque appearance, commanding the non-benders of the world to join him in pushing against the so-called oppression from benders. The menace and delivery are well-made, leaving you uncertain as to who this man is and what his true agenda is.
We learn of a sport created behind bending, an enthralling and creative idea that is well-played and well thought-out. We learn of the steampunk-influenced ways of this new world, as we are introduced to the new "Team Avatar". All of this plays well, and as the season rolls on, the menace behind Amon and his intentions grow and grow, with supportive and honestly not-too distracting references to the original AVATAR to keep us enthralled.
All in all, I loved the first season of KORRA. It's well worth the trip.
But then we have the rest of it.
The second season of Korra starts to show the cracks of what will eventually become the show's ultimate downfall. While it manages to support and even elaborate on the world of Avatar, it fails in humor, delivery, and ultimately the rules that the world has been previously relying on, which is the real nail in the coffin, so to speak. On one hand, I understand why the writers had so much trouble pulling this off.
It can all be summed up in a single phrase: The Avatar State.
With the exception of the end of the original series, Aang's entry into the Avatar State happened when he was out of emotional control. During each of those moments, the true and somewhat frightening aspect of what the Avatar could truly do and how he or she could do it was illustrated in the devastating, albeit accidental, destruction that the State caused. You didn't want to be anywhere NEAR Aang once he went postal.
Even at the end, the Fire Lord (I mean Phoenix King) goes from pushing Aang to his limits to running for his life when faced with the Avatar's true power. In the beginning of the final battle, the King has Aang on the ropes, until his arrow tattoo lights up. From then on, the King has NO POWER whatsoever to stop him.
Thus bringing a serious challenge to those that have to write for KORRA. Now that she can go into the Avatar State at will, writing plots for her becomes as difficult as it is for writers to create new plots for Superman.... How do you threaten someone who is, in essence, indestructible?
Apparently you focus on her bull-headedness to the point of agony. And you ignore her responsibility and ability completely, as often as you can.
It's not all bad. We learn the origin of the Avatar, done in wonderful artistic style. We learn of the Spirit World, something we only briefly grazed in the original AVATAR.
But everything constantly feels to me like STRETCHING. Dialogue you might expect from an anime with over five hundred episodes, where one character is explaining in detail how he or she is going to kill the other character for the entirety of a whole episode instead of just GETTING ON WITH IT. Even a final battle that is, unfortunately, lackluster in its delivery.
And then we get to the last two seasons.
Suffice it to say, what could have been a creative step in a new direction ends up becoming a confused and jumbled mess of plot twists and unnecessary character arcs that lead to an overwhelmingly bland and overdrawn finale. Korra manages to blend the worlds of the Spirit and Man together, but nothing ever comes of it in terms of true development. The fourth season starts out promising, with callbacks to characters from Avatar long thought to be dead and gone, combined with plot developments that imitate the Phoenix King and his ambitions to dominate over all other people in the world. Five episodes in it all falls apart, leaving you wanting for an Avatar that you could actually believe would have some sway in the balance of the world, instead of constantly struggling to catch up to the villains that constantly define her fate.
I will say this, and it reflects on the opening of this review: the problem here stems from the reasons why this show was extended past its original intentions. You could argue that the first season feels rushed, as it is only half the length of any of the seasons of AVATAR. I don't really care about that, because it was SOLID. The arcs are well plotted. You have investment in the characters. There is resolution, and hope for the future, in the same vein as there was at the end of the original show.
But they should have left well enough alone. The key to AVATAR and its success, in my opinion, stems from a simple concept that moves throughout the entire show... Death and destruction are abundant throughout AVATAR.
But NONE of it is in front of your eyes.
The master stroke of the original series is the constant ability to keep your feeling threatened from the dangers of the world that surrounds the characters... while never showing you the grisly details of the kind of world they are living in. The Fire Nation have destroyed and killed in the name of their Lord, in true Hitler-esque style... yet you never see it. You don't HAVE to see it, and that is where the show gets its true strength. It is able to balance the madness of war with the storytelling level of a child.
KORRA doesn't have that luxury. It's able to pull the wool over your eyes in the first season because of what the threat is and how it is being delivered... but once it passes into the seasons that were created to fill the pockets of those that demanded more, it loses its integrity. Nobody is EVER killed, only captured. While the characters of the original AVATAR were children, KORRA's protagonists are adults, in an adult world, one that tries to keep the illusions maintained by the original series, but fail in their delivery.
And Korra never truly uses the Avatar State as it was intended, leaving you feeling cheated out of the true potential of what the show could have been.
Watch the first season, then turn it off. And hope that if there is more Avatar, they care more about the story than extending a show past its natural lifespan, in the hopes of making money.
- vesil_vesalier
- Sep 17, 2020
- Permalink
Wonderful beyond imagination, after so many years, the progress of production level and technology is obvious! The fighting scene is full of clouds and flowing water. The transition and switching of the lens are completely large and the picture is extremely exquisite! Those familiar faces are gone, but it's really tearful to be able to return to the land of God!
- ylshu-39688
- Jul 18, 2020
- Permalink
- jeffreyhillen-364-945381
- Dec 21, 2014
- Permalink
The Legend Of Korra is a good follow-up to Avatar: The Last Airbender despite its far more numerous flaws. Gladly great animation, interesting expansion of the world and a clear sense of identity keep it from sliding into mediocrity.
The most notable thing about Korra is its nearly feature film-level animation. This show rivals the best anime series out there in terms of animation, and no expense has been spared. The martial-arts styled bending is even more energetic and dynamic and sometimes you can just wonder at the choreography and smoothness of the animation.
Another point in Korra's favor is that it dares to separate itself clearly from its predecessor. The feeling and atmosphere resemble more that of a 1920's urban story than the high-fantasy affectations of The Last Airbender. Much darker and more complex themes like civil unrest, segregation, revolution and betrayal are introduced and reinforce the show's more grown up feel. The series also never feels like a rehash or retread of TLA, but rather develops its own stories without cheap gimmicks or tricks
The characters are mostly good, with some sour apples thrown in the middle. In the second season the writing can seem downright poor at times in making some baffling characterization decisions. Gladly those are mostly balanced out by some greatly entertaining additions like Varrick, who has cemented himself as a clear fan favorite. Korra herself strengthens the show's sense of being its own thing while also being a hair-pullingly irritating character at times. Unlike Aang, who was calm, contemplative and pacifist, Korra is hot-headed, eager and active, and this doesn't always work in her favor.
By far the biggest issues in the series are the writing and pacing. With so many different writers it can sometimes feel as if the show is trying to go into two opposite directions at once, with some episodes being great and some being downright terrible. Characterization hasn't so far been entirely consistent with some characters doing some absolutely idiotic decisions during the second season. The pacing ranges from airtight to completely meandering, which makes the show feel inconsistent. The result is a show which when works, works excellently, but when it doesn't, you can clearly see why.
Korra feels like a show that has yet to find its greatest strengths. It has a very solid foundation and moments of absolute brilliance, but has yet to grasp them in full. With the third season, "Change", waiting yet to be released, I'm curious to see where this show is going next.
Recommendation: If you're an Avatar fan and on the fence about watching this, do it. The ride is still very thrilling, despite the occasional bumps.
The most notable thing about Korra is its nearly feature film-level animation. This show rivals the best anime series out there in terms of animation, and no expense has been spared. The martial-arts styled bending is even more energetic and dynamic and sometimes you can just wonder at the choreography and smoothness of the animation.
Another point in Korra's favor is that it dares to separate itself clearly from its predecessor. The feeling and atmosphere resemble more that of a 1920's urban story than the high-fantasy affectations of The Last Airbender. Much darker and more complex themes like civil unrest, segregation, revolution and betrayal are introduced and reinforce the show's more grown up feel. The series also never feels like a rehash or retread of TLA, but rather develops its own stories without cheap gimmicks or tricks
The characters are mostly good, with some sour apples thrown in the middle. In the second season the writing can seem downright poor at times in making some baffling characterization decisions. Gladly those are mostly balanced out by some greatly entertaining additions like Varrick, who has cemented himself as a clear fan favorite. Korra herself strengthens the show's sense of being its own thing while also being a hair-pullingly irritating character at times. Unlike Aang, who was calm, contemplative and pacifist, Korra is hot-headed, eager and active, and this doesn't always work in her favor.
By far the biggest issues in the series are the writing and pacing. With so many different writers it can sometimes feel as if the show is trying to go into two opposite directions at once, with some episodes being great and some being downright terrible. Characterization hasn't so far been entirely consistent with some characters doing some absolutely idiotic decisions during the second season. The pacing ranges from airtight to completely meandering, which makes the show feel inconsistent. The result is a show which when works, works excellently, but when it doesn't, you can clearly see why.
Korra feels like a show that has yet to find its greatest strengths. It has a very solid foundation and moments of absolute brilliance, but has yet to grasp them in full. With the third season, "Change", waiting yet to be released, I'm curious to see where this show is going next.
Recommendation: If you're an Avatar fan and on the fence about watching this, do it. The ride is still very thrilling, despite the occasional bumps.
- tuomas_gimli
- Dec 6, 2013
- Permalink
Season 1: 8/10, great introduction of the main character and Republic City. Amon is personally my favourite villain in the series. Mako and Bolin did feel like budget Zuko and Sokka though. The mechs don't belong in a show like this.
Season 2: 3/10, worst season by far. Villain is boring and the writing is messy. Romance scenes felt unnecessary.
Season 3: 9/10, great villains and a solid recovery from the previous season. The ending is also very sad to watch.
Season 4: 8/10, minor character from season 3 becomes the villain. Great ending too.
7/10.
Season 2: 3/10, worst season by far. Villain is boring and the writing is messy. Romance scenes felt unnecessary.
Season 3: 9/10, great villains and a solid recovery from the previous season. The ending is also very sad to watch.
Season 4: 8/10, minor character from season 3 becomes the villain. Great ending too.
7/10.
- thekillerktanki
- Aug 5, 2022
- Permalink