There has not been much talk about the Legend of Korra on this site, so I figured since the DVD/BLU-RAY just came out last week I would give you guys my opinions on this first season or (book) of the show.
Those of us who loved Avatar: The Last Air Bender were sad to see it end in 2008. All we had to look forward to was the movie versions of the books. After the movie The Last Airbender failed to be as popular as the animated series, viewers such as myself thought the world of the benders was over. Then in 2012 news of a fresh new series based in the same world as the Last Airbender would come to Nickelodeon. But would it stand up to the original?
The whole original crew came back from the original series. Everybody from creators, animators, and even music composers were on board to tell us Korra's story. They all came back bringing their A-game if you ask me.
Anybody who has seen the Japanese manga style from the original series will tell you the animation is some of the best seen in recent animated shows. I can tell you that the animation is top notch in this new series as well. It is just as good if not better.
The timeframe is about 50 years after the events of The Last Airbender's third book. Ang is now dead, leaving Korra the new Avatar in the wake of his death. We only see Avatar Ang when Korra talks to him telepathically. His story is told mostly threw interactions with his son, wife, and others who grew up with him. He and Fire Lord Zuko made a place called Republic City after the war. This is the main setting for book one of Korra's legend.
Korra has adventures unlike Ang's for the most part. The first book is titled AIR. Unlike Ang who was very young and spent the run of his series learning his other bending skills through a series of teachers; Korra is a teenager who has already mastered all her bending skills except air. Air is still the least known of the skills after the demise of the air tribes. But she is in Republic City to learn from Ang's son Tenzin about air bending.
Since Korra is older and a female we see a much more mature Avatar. But the childlike since of humor is brought to us from other characters such as Tenzin's children. All of which are young and full of spunk like their grandfather in the original series. My favorite is Meelo who at one point fart bends.
The Last Airbender series showed us how the Avatar needed his friends in order to be the best he can be. Korra is no different. She joins a Pro Bender team that competes in battles against other benders. There she meets Mako, Bolin, and Asami. She also has a Polar-dog who she rides on to get places and who helps her in times of need.
The villains in the series come in the shape of a group of non-benders who are tired of being pushed around by the benders. They are called the equalist movement. Their leader is a mysterious masked man named Amon. He has the power to remove a person's bending. Republic City's Councilman and water bender Tarrlok from the Northern Water Tribe is also very shady in the series.
Avatar: The Legend of Korra is not just a great animated series but a great series all around. It hits on many social issues yet still shows great moments of comedy and action. Kids and adults both will love this show. I for one can't stand to wait week by week to get my fix of an addicting show like this. I’m glad I waited for the DVD set to come out so I could watch until my eyes hurt.
The idea of element bending to me is in the realm of the Jedi of Star Wars. Not only is it cool as hell, but the way they tell the stories are great too. I hardly ever think something is perfect but along with the original Air Bender stories, The Legend of Korra gets a perfect 10/10!