Combined with the high stresses of his daily and solitary life, Kuruk's mission took its toll on him until he ultimately died at the age of 33 years old in BG. The odds of being born the Avatar is itself next to impossible, but to then become not only the longest living Avatar but the oldest human on the planet is something else entirely. But that's exactly what makes Kyoshi unique , not including the many feats she accomplished in her years.
Kyoshi was born in BG and lived until 82 BG, thus making her years old at the time of her death. The secret to her long life was never confirmed, though there have been hints that she learned how to become immortal from her spiritual teacher, Lao Ge, who is one of two people that have supposedly learned the secret to immortality.
Unlike those who lived short or abnormally long lives, Roku's life span was comparatively normal. In fact, it was Roku's hesitancy to kill his childhood friend, Fire Lord Sozin, that ultimately led to the war beginning.
But the decades he spent fighting as the Avatar brought balance to the world, and he continued to offer his wisdom to his successor, Aang, long after his death. However, his legacy also carried through to Zuko , his grandson. Despite not having a show of his own, nor books dedicated to him, Roku's influence on the world of Avatar has been nothing short of extraordinary. Easily the most famous Avatar to fans of the franchise, Aang lived much longer than anyone would've anticipated, which was entirely due to the fact that he was trapped in an iceberg for a century.
Aang was born in 12 BG and went into the ice when he was 12 years old. He reemerged years later when Katara broke the iceberg with her waterbending powers.
While the Avatar: The Last Airbender series only follows Aang for about a year of his life, the franchise's graphic novels chronicle the rest of his journey - and it was a long one. Aang lived to be years old only 66 years old biologically , dying in the year AG. Korra is the current Avatar and is at least 21 years old, as of the end of the Legend of Korra series. Her main story ended when the series wrapped up after season 4, but her journey has been continued through graphic novels, just like Aang's story was.
When Asami stated that she did not feel like returning to the party and could use a vacation, Korra offered to go with her anywhere she wanted. The two decided to journey to the Spirit World and, upon stepping into the spirit portal, they turned to each other and held both hands while gazing lovingly into each other's eyes, starting their romantic relationship together. Korra and Asami spent some time together exploring the Spirit World, although their vacation was cut short by one disgruntled spirit causing them to lose their supplies.
Before they left, they shared their first kiss, with Korra noting that they had been able to spend a few wonderful days together. The new couple chose to journey to the Southern portal and pay a visit to Korra's parents and tell them about their new relationship. Although Korra's parents were fully supportive, Korra grew offended when Tonraq suggested that they keep their relationship private from anyone who might disapprove, and abruptly left her parents.
Korra was reassured by Asami that her parents were likely just trying to keep her safe as they made their way back to Republic City via the portal. The dragon eel spirit appeared and threatened Wonyong Keum , much to Korra's surprise.
Arriving back in the city, Korra discovered that the new portal was the site of a property dispute between the land's owner, Wonyong Keum , and the Air Nation, who claimed that the portal was now a spiritually sacred site; meanwhile, the dragon eel spirit urged Korra to close the new portals as it would only lead to new disputes between humans and spirits.
Korra and Asami returned to the evacuee camp where they were welcomed by the rest of their friends and allies, and took note of the distress faced by the evacuated civilians of Republic City.
Korra decided to meet with Raiko, asking him to provide financial aid for the evacuees and for the city to buy the land off Keum to settle the dispute, but the president rejected both suggestions, citing the nation's financial difficulties. Kya revealed her own sexuality to Korra, explaining that each of the nations had their own view on same-sex relationships, and that she would always be there for Korra if she needed support.
Korra was then greeted by Mako and Bolin, but the group was interrupted by Jinora's spirit projection informing them of new conflict at the spirit portal. The group flew to the portal via flying bison only to see spirits trying to attack humans at the portal, and saw that several Triple Threat Triad members were present. Korra fought off the triad members after they started attacking Asami, and witnessed the triad's new leader, Tokuga , being disfigured by a spirit attack.
After the confrontation, Korra kissed Asami, revealing their relationship to all of their friends. Korra and the airbenders were attacked by the plants around the entrance to the spirit portal. Following the battle, Korra and the airbenders ventured through the portal, only to see that it had decayed and had been abandoned by the spirits following the new conflicts with humans.
Several withered vines began attacking the group after Ikki tried to touch one of them, and Korra was able to hold off the plants with her firebending before the group escaped through the portal.
They arrived in the material world to find that the United Forces had started to occupy the area, which Korra believed would only anger the spirits further.
Korra tried to convince the president to order the troops to pull away from the portal, but the president refused, harshly criticizing Korra for her part in creating the portal in the first place. Back at the evacuee camp, Korra and her friends encouraged Zhu Li to run against Raiko in the upcoming presidential election.
The following morning, Korra learned that the Creeping Crystal Triad had tried to extort Asami, and offered to deal with their leader, but Asami told her that she did not have to intervene in all her troubles, and offered to take Korra on a date that evening.
However, Asami did not turn up to the date, and Korra called Mako and Bolin to back her up in going to the Creeping Crystals' headquarters in search of Asami. Jargala , the triad leader, denied kidnapping Asami, while Mako revealed that Wonyong Keum had also been kidnapped. The team soon discovered that Tokuga had kidnapped Keum, and that he was likely responsible for Asami's disappearance.
Korra entered the Avatar State in order to battle the triad, but with Tokuga revealing that Asami would die if Korra did not do what she said, she exited the Avatar State. Korra confessed her love for Asami , prompting Asami to tell Korra that she loved her, too. Korra worked with the police to track down the Triple Threats, and struck a deal with Jargala to team up with her triad in order to take down the Creeping Crystals' rivals.
After witnessing Tokuga and his hostages board an airship, Korra borrowed Oogi and flew to release Asami from captivity. Now alerted of Korra's presence, Tokuga gave an order to release poison gas to the city, but Asami managed to pilot the ship through the portal and into the Spirit World.
Tokuga battled Korra and successfully chi blocked her, but Asami swerved the ship to make the attacker lose his balance before the ship touched down on the ground. Although Tokuga escaped, Keum agreed to relinquish his claims to the land around the portal in thanks for the Avatar saving his life. Several weeks later, Korra witnessed Zhu Li's election as president and her decision to grant the land around the portal to the Air Nation.
She met with Tonraq again and fully reconciled with him for their earlier misunderstanding, before she and Asami declared their love for one another. Asami and Team Avatar discussed whether Kuvira could be trusted to help with the democratic movement. Three months after the invasion of the United Republic, Kuvira's trial began to commence, while Wu announced the beginning of the Earth Kingdom's election and its democratic transition.
Korra and her friends were brought to a meeting with President Moon and were shocked to discover an Earth Empire holdout still operating in the State of Gaoling , the same region where the first elections were due to be held.
After meeting with Kuvira to acquire more information about the new de facto Earth Empire leader, Guan , she came to the conclusion that the former dictator was now a broken woman, and thought it was possible for Kuvira to come and talk the Earth Empire holdout into surrendering. The president agreed to Kuvira's temporary release, and traveled with Team Avatar to Gaoling via a Future Industries airship.
After arriving in the city, Korra grew somewhat skeptical of the elections, as the only two candidates were remnants of the bureaucratic Earth Kingdom monarchy. When Guan began to march on the city, Kuvira began to intimidate him, but Asami had the woman shocked via an electrode belt after she tried to initiate violence; Guan also revealed his intention to run in the election democratically instead of conquering the city.
The group locked up Kuvira in a platinum pod in the airship, and decided to try to convince Toph to run in the election, as she had much more of a hope in defeating Guan than the other candidates.
Korra and Wu readied to venture into the Foggy Swamp on Naga, while their other allies left for Zaofu to hold Kuvira there until the end of the election. Korra sensed Toph's location through the spirit vines, and ended up at her cave in order to convince her to join. The elderly earthbender initially refused, but Korra and the king convinced Toph to run after Wu told Toph about a vision he received of the late queen. The group returned to Gaoling with Toph, registering her as an official candidate, but were shocked to see Kuvira disguised as an Earth Empire soldier on their way to the airship.
Kuvira claimed that the rest of Team Avatar had been brainwashed , which Toph confirmed to be true via her truth-seeing. The group saw a Metal Clan airship approach the airfield, as Kuvira had informed Suyin of the situation earlier.
A small confrontation broke out with Guan's forces, and although Korra was able to retrieve a brainwashed Asami, the king was lost to Earth Empire forces. Although Asami expressed concern about her brainwashing , Korra comforted her and encouraged her to move past the experience.
Asami snapped away Korra's attempts at affection before the process began. Initially, the attempts found little success, but after Baatar Jr. Korra began to comfort her girlfriend, but then the group was informed that Guan had been able to win the election during their time away from Gaoling. Korra called President Moon only to be ordered to immediately bring Kuvira back to Republic City until it could be decided what they should do next.
Korra spent the night with Asami, trying to further assure her that all was well, but Suyin arrived to tell them that Kuvira had escaped in the night. The couple flew to Gaoling on Juicy with Toph, Suyin, and Opal, where they battled soldiers at the reeducation camp until Kuvira forced Guan to surrender. After the city's population and Korra's allies were cured of their brainwashing, Wu announced that the Earth Kingdom would need a longer transitional time to democracy, with each state being able to set its own election timetables.
The team returned to Republic City to see Kuvira enter a new guilty plea, and receive a less severe sentence due to her actions, with Korra believing that Kuvira had been able to redeem herself. Fiery and pugnacious, Korra was quick to pick a fight upon her first moments in Republic City.
On the surface, Korra is fierce, independent, and pugnacious, but beneath her tough exterior, she possesses a strong loyalty toward her friends and duty as the Avatar.
She also has admirable compassion and devotion, demonstrated when she expresses love toward things such as her family and friends. Her offensive battle style means that she is always quick to initiate or rise to a challenge and is similarly quick-witted and impulsive, especially in heated situations.
As an "Avatar-in-training", she lacked perception toward the damage her bending is capable of, and her rash decisions often resulted in her accidentally insulting others.
True to Korra's character, Lin once stated to Tenzin that it was "hard to believe [his] sweet-tempered father was reincarnated into that girl". She has a habit of getting close-up to people when confronting them, sometimes grabbing them by the chin when trying to get her point across.
However, similar to Aang, she also has a good sense of humor, enthusiasm, and vulnerable teenage charm. Fully embracing her position as the Avatar from a young age, Korra is tough, impatient, headstrong, sarcastic, and assertive. Being initially unable to connect with her spiritual side proved to be a stumbling block in Korra's training, and she admitted that her personality is the opposite of the typical airbender's; as Tenzin noted, Avatars tend to struggle with the bending art most opposite their personality.
Due to her concentration on the physical side of bending, Korra was initially quite worried when she saw "the revelation" of Amon's true abilities during his demonstration, [16] a fear which expressed itself in Amon's words in the nightmare she had soon afterward, "Once I take your bending away, you will be nothing. This indicates that she is ruled by her emotions even when she tries to pretend they do not exist, leaving her vulnerable to Amon, as shown by the results of the said encounter.
Refusing to admit her fear, Korra challenged Amon to battle. Like her immediate predecessor Aang, Korra places a high priority on her position as the Avatar, despite their different approaches. Although at first, Aang was uncomfortable with having to use outright violence to bring balance to the world, he eventually developed an unrelenting determination toward following his age-old destiny.
Korra, on the other hand, takes a non-conformist stance over her Avatar training. For instance, after trying out pro-bending, she told Tenzin that the reason she had been unable to airbend was that the Avatar no longer needed it and was instead meant to focus on modern styles of fighting.
Tenzin quickly stamped her proposal out as preposterous, reminding her that the Avatar is destined to master all four elements at all costs. Upon learning that she was kept locked away from the world by Tonraq and Tenzin, Korra became quite irate toward them, being hostile whenever they tried to speak with her.
Once she realized that Unalaq had been using her to try to free Vaatu from his prison in the Spirit World, her animosity toward her uncle increased in intensity. Despite this, however, Korra did lament that she could not save him from Vaatu, showing that as badly as she felt toward her uncle, she never wanted him dead. After learning the origins of the Avatar Spirit through the life of Avatar Wan and regaining her memories, Korra became more patient and humble, as exemplified when she thanked Tenzin for his undying loyalty to her.
After the Harmonic Convergence, Korra demonstrated a more patient demeanor yet still retained her impulsive nature. This is evident when she tried to physically force Ryu, an airbending slacker, into becoming a part of the new Air Nation against his will, with Mako and Bolin eventually forced to drag Korra out to stop the mayhem. Believing Zaheer had killed her father , Korra firebent at him in rage.
Korra's temper and rage, once provoked, could border on murderous, as during her captivity by the Red Lotus and still believing that Zaheer had killed her father, Korra declared that she would be free and none of the Red Lotus would survive. She fully intended to kill Zaheer, showing her righteous fury, but with a dark and wrathful side to her as well. After barely surviving her encounter with Zaheer and having the poison removed from her system, Korra was placed in a wheelchair during her recovery, which left her traumatized and in a state of depression.
She still showed compassion and pride for her friends throughout, however, and was present when Jinora received her airbending tattoos, crying during the ceremony. Although she recovered physically, her emotional struggle led her to embark on a journey to reconnect with her Avatar Spirit while hiding her identity as the Avatar, going against her tendency of being prideful about it.
Korra's first time in the Avatar State was marked by her bending being restored. As the Avatar, Korra has the unique ability to use all four elements and has the potential to become the most powerful bender in the world. Furthermore, since she was a child, Korra has always had a remarkable affinity for the physical aspect of bending.
She also quickly took to the three different styles of pro-bending with simple instructions from her teammates, greatly impressing them after only a week of training to ultimately become a highly capable member of the Fire Ferrets. While in the Avatar State, Korra is able to use an air spout to raise herself into the air while unleashing all four elements in rapid succession.
Later after more training, Korra becomes able to easily enter this form with complete control, even during intense competition. Korra used her waterbending abilities to attack a mecha tank. Korra's waterbending abilities manifested at a young age before she had even been recognized as the Avatar by the Order of the White Lotus.
Subsequently trained formally in the art for over a decade by Katara, Korra has demonstrated a high level of skill in this art in addition to its various techniques. She is capable of creating large walls of ice, powerful water whips, [11] and water waves strong enough to push back and, when frozen, contain an enormous mecha suit standing over twenty-five stories tall. She used her waterbending abilities to procure herself a spot on the Fire Ferrets pro-bending team, referring to herself as a "top-notch waterbender".
While she was taught Northern and Southern-style waterbending, which both employ fluid motions, Korra has quickly adapted to Republic City's more aggressive, straightforward waterbending style. Korra healed Bolin following a pro-bending match. During her waterbending training, Korra was also taught the advanced skill of healing.
As Katara was well-regarded as the best healer in the world, Korra herself became highly skilled in the art, something she takes pride in. Korra's skills were great enough to quickly soothe away the pain on Bolin's injured arm [18] and mitigate the severe burns on General Iroh's arm, leaving no trace of scars.
Despite her short time studying under her uncle Unalaq, a spiritual expert, Korra managed to learn his technique of spiritbending, which involves changing negative energy into positive energy in spirits in order to pacify them. Following her uncle's death, Korra became the only known living practitioner of the skill. Korra threatened Tarrlok by exhibiting her earthbending prowess.
Korra's earthbending abilities also manifested at an early age. Spending many years of intense training, Korra has gained great mastery in this art. While regularly using traditional earthbending tactics in combat, she quickly learned the basics of pro-style earthbending from Bolin, able to attack more akin to a firebender with light footwork and quick jabs. Her prowess is great enough to easily take control of earth targets levitated by other earthbenders.
She has demonstrated her adept skill and ability in earthbending on several occasions, notably launching a member of the Triple Threat Triad several stories into the air. Korra's earthbending is also able to affect a considerable radius, upturning and demolishing everything in the area. As seen when pairing with Bolin, Korra is able to effectively synchronize her earthbending with another person to increase the versatility and control of her target.
Korra used metalbending for ripping through the top of a truck. During Korra's stay at Zaofu, Suyin Beifong offered to train her in the art of metalbending.
Suyin started Korra on a meteorite as a beginner, and she quickly adjusted to the metallic body and learned to mold it into various forms. As such, she became the first Avatar to learn metalbending. She can also tear through a large, thick metal wall obstructing her path, albeit with some difficulty as she is still somewhat new to this skill. Korra displayed her firebending during her test. As with earth and water, fire also manifested at a young age.
Due to the fact that she resorts to offensive maneuvers when under pressure, Korra relies a lot on firebending in combat. Her firebending training was finished when she passed the test impressively at the age of seventeen, having learned various advanced techniques such as the breath of fire. Against other firebenders, she can easily deflect and disperse the enemies' attack. Her control is so fine that she is able to produce a small yet intense flame at her fingers that she can maintain to melt through metal chains.
She can likewise produce daggers in each hand for close-range combat. She can propel herself through the air with firebending in short bursts and use these bursts to run along a wall.
Korra tends to utilize firebending when provoked, frustrated or attempting to assert dominance, such as when she falls back on firebending a newspaper cut out of Lin after failing to do so with airbending. Tenzin attributed this unusual combination to her innate personality being quite fit for the art thanks to her natural assertiveness and fiery spirit.
Upon discovering her ability to airbend , Korra successfully saved Mako and defeated Amon. Unlike the prior three elements, airbending did not come easily to Korra. Tenzin explained that it was due to its innate nature of being the most opposite to her personality. While initially having difficulty with airbending's fighting style and battle tactics, during her first pro-bending match, she was able to employ basic airbending movements to dodge the opposing team's assault and ultimately tire them out to win the match for her team.
After Amon severed Korra's connection to her first three elements and was about to take Mako's firebending, Korra's emotional build-up allowed her to fully connect with her spiritual side to utilize airbending.
Despite only knowing the theory and practice of its forms, Korra has shown considerable skill and power in airbending: being able to create air blasts from punching and kicking movements, which were strong enough to send Amon flying several yards through a window.
Although she has shown great power in her offensive use of airbending, her style of airbending varies dramatically from other airbenders, employing straightforward offensive movements similar to firebending while showing little of the more characteristic circular and spiraling movements. Six months after the Anti-bending Revolution, she has nearly mastered the art, employing traditional maneuvers, such as gliding, and is able to proficiently use several advanced skills, such as the air scooter.
Over time, she took to using a glider both for means of transports and as a way to augment her airbending in combat. After learning from Jinora, Korra became able to separate her spirit in astral form and travel to the Spirit World through meditation. Korra further refined her airbending in the following years, showing the ability to create an air bubble around a person's head to provide them with oxygen and keep poisonous gases at bay.
Korra used energybending to restore Lin Beifong 's earthbending abilities. Upon connecting with her past lives for the first time, Avatar Aang restored Korra's bending abilities and bestowed her with the knowledge of energybending. Although never having used it herself before, she was able to freely restore a person's bending, as she did so with Lin Beifong's earthbending.
Korra is also capable of using energybending to connect with her own inner spirit, giving her access to the cosmic energy of the universe, creating a giant astral projection of herself. In this form, she can unleash energy blasts from her chest that can overpower the Dark Avatar's in a direct clash.
Although disconnected from her physical body, Korra remained capable of waterbending. After Raava made her aware that when she was in the Spirit World, she was connected to all the spiritual energy, Korra realized that she was capable of bending that energy, with or without her physical body. As such, she was able to release trapped souls from a vegetative pod after she had meditated into the Spirit World [55] and divert a beam powered by spirit energy in the physical world.
Korra showcased her martial arts skills by shattering ice projectiles thrown at her by Tarrlok. In addition to bending, Korra also has considerable physical prowess. Her impressive raw strength allows her to easily lift Tenzin and his children at the same time, or a grown man with one arm.
She can easily throw a much larger and heavier opponent against a set of pipes with enough force to break them [15] and can shatter large chunks of ice launched at her with a single punch each.
She is also capable of swimming across large bodies of water. Korra is also quite fast and agile with sharp reflexes, able to easily dodge a much larger opponent's assault in a narrow area or a metalbender's launched cable from close-range. Her dexterity and balance are also considerably high, allowing her to skillfully dodge a large barrage of projectiles nearly unscathed, further aiding her in battle.
She has impressive acrobatic skills akin to parkour and free-running; she can slide across surfaces with great control, perform mid-air flips and twirls, run up and across walls. She is also quite flexible, able to bend and twist effectively enough to attack from various angles or squeeze through most spaces. Korra can also be quite precise in her attacks, detaining several skilled Southern waterbenders without inflicting any major injuries. Korra is also a highly proficient unarmed fighter, able to knock out opponents with a single kick, simultaneously dodge an attack while sweep-kicking the enemy's legs, and once subdued a man using only Mako's scarf.
Even against an expert weapons-wielder like the Lieutenant , Korra skillfully parried and countered his close-range assault. Furthermore, with a combination of bending attacks, she was able to create openings and land powerful physical blows, ultimately defeating him.
Even without her bending, she was able to defeat several chi blockers before being rescued by Naga. Korra also has keen instincts under pressure, demonstrating capable tactical and escape skills, such as using her armband as an insulator against the Lieutenant's electrical assault and faking unconsciousness in order to catch the Equalists by surprise.
Korra is also an eloquent public speaker. She was initially nervous when she had to speak in her first press conference in Republic City. This was exemplified when she declared the independence of the Southern Water Tribe and her decision to keep the spirit portals open.
Having lived in the South Pole all her life and with Naga as her main means of transportation, Korra never learned how to drive prior to her arrival in Republic City.
She gradually learned to do so under Asami's tutelage, though she still struggles between the clutch and the brake. By meditating, Korra finally established a spiritual connection with Aang.
As the Avatar, Korra also has the capacity to act as a bridge between the mortal world and the Spirit World, the plane of existence where the universe's disembodied spirits dwell. Despite this, Korra had always struggled with the spiritual aspects of being the Avatar, initially being unable to connect with her past lives or enter the Spirit World on her own. She also said that from her perspective, she saw only support from Nickelodeon. But she understood how the network shifts looked to fans.
All of this confusing history just makes the show all the more primed for a timely cultural reappraisal. But if many fans both new and old are looking forward to the Netflix release, plenty more are gearing up to re-wage old battles.
When Airbender arrived on Netflix in May, it was an instant hit. But if many fans were overjoyed by the news, many others were disgruntled.
Additionally, many fans have been rehashing the old comparisons between Aang and Korra, often with the requisite sexism and homophobia embedded in the arguments against Korra.
Irene also said she hoped viewers would give the show time to develop. Varney told me her hope is that more people get to experience Korra in a new context. Will you become our 20,th supporter? The reason is both lovely and surprising: Readers told us that they contribute both because they value explanation and because they value that other people can access it, too. We have always believed that explanatory journalism is vital for a functioning democracy.
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will help keep Vox free for all. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower through understanding. Financial contributions from our readers are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all. Please consider making a contribution to Vox today to help us keep our work free for all.
Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.
Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Nickelodeon The Legend of Korra hits Netflix on August 14, the first time since its original run that the cult hit cartoon — a follow-up to the beloved animated fantasy series Avatar: The Last Airbender — has been available on the streaming giant.
Next Up In Culture. Delivered Fridays. Thanks for signing up! Check your inbox for a welcome email. Email required.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy. For more newsletters, check out our newsletters page.
0コメント