Current Events > How does Legend of Korra compare to The Last Airbender?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've been watching The Last Airbender for the first time on Netflix and this is one of the best cartoons I've ever seen in my life. The characters are all great and I love how clever Aang is. I'm about halfway through the show and getting kinda sad that it'll be over soon. I try limiting myself to one episode per day but sometimes an episode will be so good that I want to watch another.

Are the characters in Legend of Korra just as good? I don't know anything about the show but Korra looks older so I'm guessing she'll be more mature than Aang but that's about as much as I can tell. And is there a Momo? I love Momo. He reminds me of my cat.

I wouldn't say it's as good, but it's very enjoyable. Season 2 is the worst of the 4, but I'd still recommend watching it. I'm going to rewatch it at some point soon.

I personally prefer it to the original series, but cant go wrong with either.

I've seen at least three people who prefer Korra say that they liked Aang the least of the original main cast, so I suspect a correlation.

I think the writing is overall worse, and it feels like the original writers let their highschool kids take the reigns. Though what really happened was sudden crunch to turn a single-season special sort of thing into 4 seasons.

If ATLA is 10/10 Korra is 8-9/10, mainly because its not as cohesive as the original due to Nickelodeons initial refusal to give it more than one season only to renew and then cancel and then renew the show again (in other words the shows overarching plot was not planned out as ATLAs was, and thus feels disjointed comparatively).

Overall, not as good.
Season 1 is solid, but the ending is total bullshit
Season 2 is garbage and is the lowest point in the series. Aside from two episodes and one new character introduced, there's nothing good in that one
Season 3 is legit incredible and arguably the highest point in the series
Season 4 is just kinda meh

S3 of Korra is probably the best the entire Avatar world has been so far.

S2 is EASILY the worst it's ever been. S4 was uneven, and S1 was like just a little lesser than TLA.

It's different

I like the plots better, but not the characters (except Bolin)

If that makes sense.

Guide posted...

I've seen at least three people who prefer Korra say that they liked Aang the least of the original main cast, so I suspect a correlation.

There isn't one. I like TLA more than Korra and Aang is my least favorite character of the main cast also.

LoK is a stain on the series.

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

S3 of Korra is probably the best the entire Avatar world has been so far.

S2 is EASILY the worst it's ever been. S4 was uneven, and S1 was like just a little lesser than TLA.

Pretty much this, although I really overall didn't mind season 2 so much. Honestly I thought some of TLA season 3 and season 1 was rough too.

Actually just finished watching it for the first time. Book 3 is comparable to OG Avatar. Books 1 & 4 range from okay to good. Book 2 is not very good outside of the Wan stuff.

imo, ATLA is like a 9.5/10, while Korra is an 8/10.

Holy_Cloud105 posted...

There isn't one. I like TLA more than Korra and Aang is my least favorite character of the main cast also.

:v

I found Korra to be insufferable character so that dragged the show down for me. A lot. It never felt like she grew as a character or learned from her mistakes.

Season 1 was mostly enjoyable. For me the show only got worse and worse with each season as it became a struggle to finish the show.

One thing that I also find weird about the show especially in season 1 - Is that bending over-all seems weaker. Like there are a couple characters that are good at it, but in general it seemed like the population was far more skilled 100 years prior.

foxhound101 posted...

One thing that I also find weird about the show especially in season 1 - Is that bending over-all seems weaker. Like there are a couple characters that are good at it, but in general it seemed like the population was far more skilled 100 years prior.

The bending is on a smaller scale overall. I'm not bothered because it makes narrative sense, though it's not as cool.

Korra is annoying and the whole team is super undeveloped.

Guide posted...

I've seen at least three people who prefer Korra say that they liked Aang the least of the original main cast, so I suspect a correlation.

I think the writing is overall worse, and it feels like the original writers let their highschool kids take the reigns. Though what really happened was sudden crunch to turn a single-season special sort of thing into 4 seasons.

I like TLA better than LoK. But prefer Korra over Aang tbh. Im also one of those that liked Aang the least of the original main cast.

Guide posted...

I've seen at least three people who prefer Korra say that they liked Aang the least of the original main cast, so I suspect a correlation.

I think the writing is overall worse, and it feels like the original writers let their highschool kids take the reigns. Though what really happened was sudden crunch to turn a single-season special sort of thing into 4 seasons.

Yeah the original was expertly planned.

After season 1 Korra was kinda flying by the seat of its pants with them not knowing how long it was going to last.

foxhound101 posted...

I found Korra to be insufferable character so that dragged the show down for me. A lot. It never felt like she grew as a character or learned from her mistakes.

Season 1 was mostly enjoyable. For me the show only got worse and worse with each season as it became a struggle to finish the show.

One thing that I also find weird about the show especially in season 1 - Is that bending over-all seems weaker. Like there are a couple characters that are good at it, but in general it seemed like the population was far more skilled 100 years prior.

I disagree. You've got factory workers literally pumping out lightning bending. An entire city of metal benders. People strong enough to be capable of moonless waterbending. Earthbenders capable of bending elements thought only to be capable by avatars. Pretty much a lot of powerful techniques just randomly handed out to everyone.

Maybe it seemed weaker because the sport bending or whatever it was called was shit and was constantly shoved down our throats and the more prevalent theme of technology vs bending shifting bending away from the forefront.

I like Korra better than Aang, and I think a lot of the fights in LoK are superior to ATLA, but overall it's hard to say which is better.

I like them both a lot.

Korra is a better character than Aang. Aang gets to avoid character development due to Deux Ex Machina.

I quite like Korra but comparing it to TLA its a huge step down for me.

the plots are very disconnected season to season as they got screwed around a lot.

the series also feels like it wants to do its own thing and so forgets elements of the world building that were essential parts of the original. But then constantly tries to remind you its a sequel. Its hard to explain until you see it

All the respect to bending and its forms are basically forgotten.

however, its a more mature focus than the original and there are way less one off stories in favour of a plot per season.

Definitely worth watching and will be better if you go in expecting it to not be as good as the original

I only watched the first season, and part of the second.

I felt like it was just very different. Korra is brash and insecure, unlike Aang who is introspective and thoughtful, while still immature, but willing to grow.

The environment is more steampunk industrial, and less interesting. However, it does delve into the idea that some normal people fear benders, which is a nice perspective.

The animation is nowhere near as good. Character designs are also kind of mid.

I heard it gets better, so maybe its a slow burn.

_____Cait posted...

I only watched the first season, and part of the second.

I felt like it was just very different. Korra is brash and insecure, unlike Aang who is introspective and thoughtful, while still immature, but willing to grow.

The environment is more steampunk industrial, and less interesting. However, it does delve into the idea that some normal people fear benders, which is a nice perspective.

The animation is nowhere near as good. Character designs are also kind of mid.

I heard it gets better, so maybe its a slow burn.

Book three is insanely good. It sucks that Team Avatar Korra notwithstanding are the weakest part.

GuerillaGorilla posted...

I disagree. You've got factory workers literally pumping out lightning bending. An entire city of metal benders. People strong enough to be capable of moonless waterbending. Earthbenders capable of bending elements thought only to be capable by avatars. Pretty much a lot of powerful techniques just randomly handed out to everyone.

Maybe it seemed weaker because the sport bending or whatever it was called was shit and was constantly shoved down our throats and the more prevalent theme of technology vs bending shifting bending away from the forefront.

I think overall the bending in Korra seems much weaker too and it makes sense. The best explanation/reasoning I saw behind it was that they found ways to make bending easier at the cost of power hence why everyone can lightning bend now. Whenever lightning bending in Korra is used it seems really weak outside of the one time Mako does the form for it that Azula does and it actually looks like it has power behind it.

Basically, nobody uses the proper bending forms anymore so the bending is overall weaker. The ones that still bend with the forms are shown to be incredibly strong like Tenzin.

Guide posted...

I think the writing is overall worse, and it feels like the original writers let their highschool kids take the reigns. Though what really happened was sudden crunch to turn a single-season special sort of thing into 4 seasons.

This. The action is definitely better but my god does the show's writing suck

It's different in vibe because of no overarching story and has some oft discussed issues, but overall is fantastic, particularly as a follow up to Airbender. The fan service is mwah. I'd say the characters are not AS special but there are more of them, and that's not to say they aren't likable, emotional, gripping, etc.

TLA has better characters and character development, whereas LOK has a more interesting universe and really expands on the avatar lore in a way TLA never did. There are some really incredible LOK episodes because of it, and theyre the best episodes out of both series imo.
I preferred TLA mostly because of the cast, they were a lot funnier to me. I didnt relate to the LOK characters as much. But dont let it turn you off of LOK because its still a great series

Btw you were the reason I watched Arcane and it was a 10/10 so thank you

Thank you everyone for the excellent feedback. I'll lower my expectations for LoK but still expecting some quality episodes.

CableZL posted...

I wouldn't say it's as good, but it's very enjoyable. Season 2 is the worst of the 4, but I'd still recommend watching it. I'm going to rewatch it at some point soon.

How many times have you rewatched it? I'm currently going through a Digimon rewatch. The first four seasons still hold up very well.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

What made it unwatchable for you?

Harpie posted...

Btw you were the reason I watched Arcane and it was a 10/10 so thank you

I love that show so much. I tell everyone about it, including coworkers. A few of my coworkers have said similar things when they started watching it. @Mew we've waited 2 1/2 years for footage of the next season and we've still got almost nothing.

Its a fine show, 8 out of 10 personally and while it does have problems alot of that can be chalked up to the fact that they didn't really knew how many seasons they had to work with until they started season 3.. which shows when seasons 3 and 4 are probably the strongest

And while season 2 is easily the weakest, i think it works a little bit better when you binge it

SomeLikeItHoth posted...

I love that show so much. I tell everyone about it, including coworkers. A few of my coworkers have said similar things when they started watching it. @Mew we've waited 2 1/2 years for footage of the next season and we've still got almost nothing.

Let them cook

S2 will be a 10/10

SomeLikeItHoth posted...

What made it unwatchable for you?

I'm not who you quoted but personally, I remember the shit bending, weak villains, and cringe and distracting teenage relationship drama. Also really hated them destroying previously established lore, that you'll find camps that agree or disagree ever happened.

I really hated the S1 villain. Hyped up so much and in the end literally ran away crying after one hit.

The ratings stand at 1 J.K. Simmons to 0 J.K. Simmons.

foxhound101 posted...

Like there are a couple characters that are good at it, but in general it seemed like the population was far more skilled 100 years prior.

I assumed that was a commentary on industrialization leasing to a loss of skills that used to be vital in maintaining individual cultures, if not outright survival for some of the peoples in the show.

DrizztLink posted...

The ratings stand at 1 J.K. Simmons to 0 J.K. Simmons.

But, consider this... the ratings also stand at 1 Hector Elizondo to 0 Hector Elizondo.

What's the strongest bending? I thought it was air but then I just saw this blind earth bender roflstomp like 10 guys.

GuerillaGorilla posted...

distracting teenage relationship drama

I hate that shit so much.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

I like that about it too but steampunk is pretty cool. Perhaps you should rewatch it and see if your opinion has changed.

There's no definitive answer as to what bending style is stronger. Toph is just broken af. She is arguably the strongest earthbender in the world.

Hell Monk Gyatso took out a platoon of fire benders during the comet. Some benders are just really strong.

Its worse, then its much worse, then its better, then its much worse again.

I don't see why you would even ask. Seems like you really enjoy the series, and you can't really go wrong jumping into Korra. Like others said, Season 2 is a bit meh, but I think it has a good second half. Season 3 is a f'n GOAT season of TV history