The Start of a New Legend

Who would think that a show that airs on Saturday mornings could be one the best shows on TV at the time? Well anyone who had faith Avatar: The Last Airbender knew this would be something special.

The Legend of Korra just finished its first season, and what a season it was. As the spiritual successor to Avatar: The Last Airbender (TLA), it follows the next Avatar, a loud abrasive Avatar in training Korra. In this and so many other ways, The Legend of Korra distances itself from TLA, and the previous Avatar who was more in touch with his spiritual side. With large shoes to fill, the odds were stacked against The Legend of Korra from the start, but the show never faltered and even shined more than TLA.

One of the main reasons that The Legend of Korra worked so well was the planning that went into the show. Originally, the show was meant to only be a mini-series rather than an entire show. These 12 episodes were planned to be the entire show and nothing more. But the word came that another, longer season was ordered, but not before the first season was planed out. Thus, The Legend of Korra was able to have creative freedom in the plot while avoiding spinning their wheels in episodes that did not serve any purpose. The main draw back here is that character developmental can get a back seat or seem rushed, but there are always trade offs.

The first season of The Legend of Korra also had a much darker tone, with the young Avatar and her friends loosing or being beaten much of the time. Victories were hard fought and felt worthwhile but the defeats were devastating. There were moments throughout the season where all hope seemed lost, not just towards the penultimate battle. This kind of tone is greatly appreciated, especially coming from a kids network.

The last ingredient that brings The Legend of Korra to the next level is the amazing score that the show has. Sound in general is outstanding, from the voice acting to sound effects, but the heart of the show can be found in the haunting jazz melodies that populate the show. Since The Legend of Korra takes place in an industrial revolution (close to our 20s), this rethought jazz fits in perfectly.