If you aren't currently watching Nickelodeon's Legend of Korra, you should be. Within its first few episodes, season three has already shown itself to be the best this show has offered up so far. Fans of the original series (myself included) have been rejoicing over the rejuvenated franchise, and there are no shortage of reasons why. Here are a few of my own, in no particular order.
The first episode made for an immensely refreshing start to a series that had been burying itself beneath its own hangups. Makorra is over (for now at least). Asami has been freed of bitterness toward Korra, opening up a relationship between our two female leads that isn't defined by a man wrenched between them. Now all of Team Avatar is open to true character development based on individuality, rather than co-dependent storylines. Already Korra has been stepping up on her own and accepting the role of avatar in ways we've long been waiting for. She's showing strength and assertion worthy of her title, quickly coming to the understanding that her duty is not to please anyone in particular, but to maintain balance across the world. Her attitude and actions toward authority are more rational, rather than childish and rebellious. I now, for the first time in three seasons, see her as Avatar Korra.
Now, as much as I love my heroes, I may arguably love my villains even more. Season three introduces us to four magnificent benders who are out to kidnap our young avatar for an as-of-yet unknown reason. Zaheer is an incredibly wise man who has unique insight into the air nation and their history. We first meet him imprisoned in a secluded mountain valley, where he shares some words from an ancient air nomad to his unsuspecting jailers. Having awakened to airbending due to the events of last season, he demonstrates incredible proficiency with his new powers and uses them to escape. We then follow him as he progressively frees his three comrades. Up first is Ghazan, an earthbender who can heat his natural element into magma, an interesting step up for the bending style. Next up is Ming Hua, a woman who uses waterbending to compensate for her lack of arms via highly advanced use of the water whip. She follows in the footsteps of series characters Teo and Toph Beifong; characters who have overcome their "disabilities" and found their own unique ways to fight. And finally, the three escaped criminals venture to the Northern Water Tribe to rescue their fourth ally, P'li. Much like Combustion Man from the original series, this firebender has mastered the advanced technique of creating explosions via focused streams of compressed fire shot from the third eye tattooed on her forehead. Together, these four are a force to be reckoned with and the excitement being built by the impending battles between them and our heroes are almost too much to bear.
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Zaheer
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| Ghazan |
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| Ming Hua |
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| P'li |
The rebirth of airbending has proven to be the season's strongest plot point. Even with this single concept, the sky is the limit. We're opened up to numerous possibilities for storyline and character introductions. The experience is a stronger one then usual, as we can live through the characters themselves, since the entire process is new to them as well. Rebuilding a nation is a lot of work, and that in itself could have stretched across an entire season. Lucky for us, the creators didn't take that route and they've added plenty for us to enjoy. There's a lot going on this season and even more to come, so I highly recommend this show for anyone who isn't already hooked.
Atkins out
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