The first two episodes of the new spin-off series Avatar: The Legend of Korra has already been leaked on the internet. So tonight, being a lazy ass, I decided to give 'em a watch, already stoked for the show. I mean, come on, it's Avatar.
It's sort of nice how the creators have been bridging the events between The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. While most of the characters involved have long passed on, we see how their efforts have changed the world since then. Nations are now more or less unified, but there is a nice sense of contention between the population, far most the most apparent between the benders and non-benders, and while the new Republic has prospered, there are still many vagabonds that have to scavenge for food and a home. Also, technology has taken a huge step since the events of The Last Airbender. Cars and flying machines are commonplace, radio is the main outlet for news and entertainment. It's definitely a brand new world, and it will be interesting how other fans will adapt to the new changes. For my opinion, it's a bit jarring at first, but I feel the creators (the same from TLAB) have taken these into consideration, and it shows in these two beginning episodes that while we are seeing new things, the spirit of the old show is still present.
Sadly, he's already kicked the bucket. You will be sorely missed, Sokka.
This is good, considering that the makers have the challenge of not only bringing new concepts of the world to long-time fans, but also introduce characters that will fill in the void now that the characters from the previous show are gone. Well, kinda. So far, the only surviving member of the original to be seen is Katara, a woman aged well past her prime, and now a grandmother. In these episodes, we are introduced to Aang and Katara's son, Tenzen, who plays the pivotal role of the mentor figure that Korra will be apprentice under in her plight to learn airbending. He's definitely a stickler to the spiritual side of the traditions that he must have inherited from his parents, but he's not without a sense of humor, and a tad of his uncle's humorous cynicism. We also see only a bit of another descendant of the original cast in Toph's daughter, who is actually the captain of the police in Republic City. Right off the bat, she and Korra are not exactly the best of friends, and even her mutual relationship with Tenzen isn't without some reluctant reservation.
Meet your new Avatar.
Then there's the main protagonist and the new Avatar, Korra. Unlike the playful and passive Aang, from the first time we see her, Korra is not only cocky but also impatient. This makes a nice foil with the more docile Tenzen, who typically finds Korra's wild teenage spirit tiring. The writers take the opportunity to use this tension makes for witty humor material in the second episode after an argument where Tenzen openly wishes that his own children never act like Korra in their teenage years, to which his eldest daughter quips, "no promises". Luckily, Korra, while impulsive, is not without humility; all good in my book considering how easily cocky protagonists can easily slip into the category of "annoying". It should also be noted how even when Korra is highly skilled in most forms of bending (with the exception of air, which she can't even summon a breeze to save her at this point), that her lack of discipline often exposes her vulnerability. This is apparent in the second episode where Korra sneaks out of the training grounds to participate in a sport akin to the duels in Tron using bending skills, but team-based instead of mano a mano. While Korra can tap into the three elements she can utilize, her over-confidence finds her in trouble when more seasoned benders take advantage of her stoic approach to bending. This can lead to the hope that the writers can use this more for when Korra comes face-to-face against future enemies, we are shown how this could potentially affect Korra's growth in identifying her own weaknesses and use them to not only to better herself as the Avatar, but a person to her peers and supporters.
Overall, given we are only two episodes in, it seems that The Legend of Korra already has great potential to it. Perhaps the hype leading up to this series' launch will pay off.
Good vibes about the show, so far. Good vibes, indeed. Avatar: The Legend of Korra officially airs on Nickelodeon, April 14.
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