The Legend of Korra

 Newly added to Netflix, the sequel series/spin-off of Avatar: the Last Airbender tells the story of Aang's successor as Avatar, the headstrong Water Tribe girl, Korra.

I've now watched the first episode, and immediately I'm eager to see more. This is the familiar world of elemental benders, but several decades on, in a world profoundly changed by the events of the original series.

Naturally, that means that there are ATLA spoilers abound here, and they won't be hidden behind a cut.

The Legend of Korra's intro is narrated by Tenzin, the son of Aang and Katara, who has grown up to be the world's Airbending master. What we find is that the end of the 100-year war saw the creation of the United Republic of Nations, with the Fire Nation and its colonies in the Earth Kingdom unifying into a diverse and multicultural whole where members of all the four original peoples can live as equals.

At the center of this republic is the capital, Republic City, founded by Aang and Zuko to be the shining example to the rest of the world of peace and cooperation.

After Aang's death, the White Lotus gathers to find the new Avatar among the Water Tribes, and when the sages of the White Lotus arrive at a particular hut at the south pole, it's immediately obvious that Korra, who looks to be about two when they find her, must be the Avatar, as she immediately displays a prodigious capability with Water, Fire, and Earthbending.

Growing into her teen years, Korra demonstrates mastery of the physical aspects of Firebending while her instructors - including an elderly Katara - watch. Yearning to move forward with her training, she eagerly anticipates Tenzin's arrival from Republic City, but even as he arrives (with kids and pregnant wife in tow,) he explains that complicated matters in Republic City call him away, and he informs Korra that her training will have to wait.

Impatient and headstrong, Korra stows away on a ship to the city, and arrives there along with her Polar Bear Dog, Naga (wouldn't be an Avatar sequel without delightful hybrid animal companions.)

Republic City is a sight to behold - essentially an East-Asian-flavored New York City from the 1920s, complete with steampunk amenities like airships, it's clear that in the 60-or-so years since the original series, Fire Nation technology has been broadly adopted, such that there are now cars and skyscrapers.

Korra explores the city, but discovers that not everything is as perfect as it seems from afar - there is poverty, organized crime, and political unrest, with some non-benders resenting the power that benders have over them (which, you know, not an unreasonable concern.) Playing the hero, Korra beats up some members of the "Triple Threat Triads," (a gang employing what appears to be squads of Earthbenders, Waterbenders, and Firebenders) only to find that the destruction caused by her superheroics are also cause to land her in jail as well.

Korra winds up arrested and questioned by Lin Beifong - Toph's daughter - before Tenzin comes to bail her out. While initially Tenzin intends to send her back to the South Pole, Korra convinces him to let her stay in the city, continue her training, and help him bring balance to the city and work toward achieving his father's dreams for what could be.

Immediately, I've found that the show seems to strike a great balance between familiarity and novelty - I could imagine some complaining at how much things are linked to the characters of the original show, but given that this is meant to be a sort of inter-generational story, I think I'm happy to acknowledge the lasting impact of the original show's ensemble.

The idea of a fantasy world developing modern technology is 100% up my alley, and I'm really excited to see this magical world existing alongside a more modern world (with not only new technology, but also potentially new philosophical and political ideas.)

While we're clearly still waiting to meet more of an ensemble, Korra is immediately likable, and also comes with some clear character flaws that have already driven conflict and obstacles. She seems to be older than Aang was in his series, which I imagine might come with more mature (teenage, rather than pre-teen) style stories.

Anyway, it's not like it's been a huge amount of time since I saw the original show (though 2020 seems to be a real decade of a year) but it's fun to return to this world, tone, and storytelling style.