And we should all kneel before Asami, who manages to be the brains, beauty and heart of the new Team Avatar, all while holding her own in combat. Tenzin, the youngest son of Aang, plays a mentor who's just as challenged by Korra's personality as he is proud of her eventual accomplishments. Bending brothers Mako and Bolin are the show's resident cool guy and comic relief, respectively. Much like Avatar, the characters are a major highlight of Korra. Some of it may feel too close to home, but part of the value of the show is its ability to tackle real situations in a fantasy world, and to use the fantastical elements to explore those ideas in ways real-world stories can't. Watching metalbenders detain peaceful protesters hits differently in 2021 than it did in 2012. There's something new to discover with each new viewing, whether it's small details you missed the first time, or just in-show moments that take on new meaning based on real-world events since the show aired. The Legend of Korra pairs kinetic action scenes with captivating characters. The show bares its action ambitions halfway through the first season with "And the Winner Is." and the bending contests in the season 3 and 4 finales are unrelentingly thrilling. Korra and friends' battles against the Equalists in season 1 are still some of the flashiest, most electrifying animated battles on TV. Watch the show in the highest quality you can, because the action sequences are truly stunning. And the show's bright spots shine even brighter when watching on demand. Korra may fumble around those highs more than Avatar did, but that's one of the advantages of watching shows on streaming services: You can get through the bad stuff faster. The Legend of Korra hits the same emotional highs as Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Some of those explorations are better than others (in later seasons, the show jokes about its own shortcomings in season 2), but the overall result is a series whose evolution mirrors the growth of its protagonist. The show takes concepts like emotional manipulation, abuse of power and post-traumatic stress and visibly grapples with them alongside the viewer. Both deal with weighty subjects, but where Avatar tends to dip a toe in from time to time, Korra wades waist-deep and takes its time exploring difficult issues. The themes of Korra feel more mature and developed compared with Avatar.