The Legend of Korra (1.1 and 1.2) Reviews

Welcome to Republic City (1.1)

After the death of Avatar Aang, the Order of the White Lotus discovers the new Avatar, Korra. For the next several years, Korra is trained to bend earth and water, just recently mastering fire. Her teachers fear Korra is focused too much on the physical aspect of bending rather than the spiritual aspect and will never be able to properly learn airbending, though an elderly Katara believes otherwise. Tenzin, who is Katara and Aang’s son and the only existing airbending master, postpones Korra’s airbending training to take care of matters in Republic City. With Katara’s blessing, Korra sneaks out of her village and follows Tenzin to Republic City, where she convinces him to train her there. Meanwhile, Amon, the leader of the anti-bender Equalist group, takes note of Korra’s arrival in the city and decides to accelerate his plans.

A Leaf in the Wind (1.2)

Korra is living with her airbending teacher Tenzin on Air Temple Island. Frustrated with her inability to master airbending, she turns her attentions to Republic City’s famous Pro-bending Arena, despite Tenzin’s disapproval of the sport. She sneaks off the island and befriends two brothers, Mako and Bolin, who compete in professional bending matches as part of the Fire Ferret team. Korra is immediately drawn to Pro-bending’s dynamic fighting style and joins Mako and Bolin’s team when their waterbender teammate fails to appear, much to Mako’s dismay. Korra has trouble at first when she discovers that Pro-bending is nothing like the sparring matches she is used to. However, she begins to instinctively use airbending techniques to dodge her opponents’ attacks, winning the match. Afterwards, Korra is complimented by Mako showing that he does not think that she is a crazy fan-girl. Tenzin, who witnesses Korra’s performance, reluctantly allows Korra to continue Pro-bending and join the Fire Ferrets permanently.

Episode of one and two of  “The Legend of Korra” proves that a great series like “Avatar: The Last Airbender” can move on and mature in its own iconic universe. The creators of the show boldly pushed the story forward almost 70 years and even matured the artistic style of the show as well. I must say both were very smart moves. Fans of the original series and newcomers will just be blown away by the story and the animation of this great series now unfolding before our very eyes.

Though we are only just beginning to learn about the world’s new Avatar, we can still see her connection to the previous avatar who is only separated from her by one lifetime. This is intelligently done through the lineage of the previous characters being written into the present story arc.  She is an Avatar to be reckoned with, but one who will need much guidance if she wishes to save the art of “Bending” itself.  I found the sport of “Professional Bending” to be a great touch that adds new dimension to the world. I also found the new nemesis for the this Avatar to be a master stroke.  I am hooked!