Since its debut, Avatar fans have all formed very strong opinions about The Legend of Korra. It is completely different from its predecessor in almost every way, which some fans love and others hate. However, Korra got much more hate than it deserved.
But The Legend of Korra is far from perfect. There were many problems with it from start to finish, though some resolved as the series progressed. Despite that, many other issues with the series have become even more problematic years later. From struggles with the characters to unfinished plotlines, a lot about The Legend of Korra has aged poorly.
10 Tenzin & Pema’s Marriage Is Questionable
While Pema and Tenzin are both fan favorites of The Legend of Korra, many can’t help but notice a few strange things about their relationship. In Season 1, Korra learns that Tenzin and Lin used to be a couple before he left her for Pema and the details around this love triangle are almost as messy as the one Korra finds herself in. Though Tenzin and Lin were allegedly drifting apart anyway, Pema was bold enough to make her feelings known while they were still together. There’s also a large age gap between Pema and Tenzin, meaning she was very young when all this took place. Though they make for a nice pair, there are some puzzling aspects about their marriage that aren’t as well-received today.
9 Korra Is Always Kept On A Leash By An Authority Figure, Contradicting Her Strong Female Role
The Legend of Korra presents Avatar Korra as a strong and capable female from the very start. Despite this, she almost always has to answer to a higher authority and needs their guidance on everything. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, it does give mixed messages when Korra is supposed to be a strong example for girls. Female characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender were leaders themselves, so seeing Korra have to be hand-held the entire way through her journey seems like backpedaling. Looking back, Korra doesn’t feel as capable on her own as the Avatar girls of the past.
8 Varrick & Zhu Li’s Relationship Isn’t Healthy
Varrick and Zhu Li are one of the most iconic duos in The Legend of Korra. Everybody loves their dynamic and the famous line, “Zhu Li, do the thing!” When the two became a couple at the end of the series, fans were thrilled. However, their relationship doesn’t age as well as many would hope. Throughout most of The Legend of Korra, Varrick is awful to Zhu Li. He uses her, abuses her, and never thinks twice about it. Even after Zhu Li leaves him, he never truly apologizes for his abuse, nor does he change his ways. Instead, it’s swept under the rug like it never even happened. They’re still a lovable pair, but it’s hard to overlook how unhealthy their relationship really was.
7 The Love Triangle Is One Of The Worst Parts Of The Series
To say that romance in The Legend of Korra is messy is an understatement. The romantic subplot of the series feels more suited for a high school drama than for the sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender. Many had high hopes for Korra and Mako’s budding relationship and it actually started out as a fan favorite.
However, it didn’t take long for The Legend of Korra to lose its support after the love triangle between Korra, Mako, and Asami was introduced. Love triangles are a tired and overused trope that fans disliked then and absolutely hate now. For many, it’s the worst part of the series and leaves a stain on Korra’s legacy that likely will never go away.
6 The Series Has A Big Emphasis On Authority That Doesn’t Hold Up
The Legend of Korra has an odd fixation on authority figures, such as government heads and the police force. A lot of the storyline focuses on the politics of the land, something that Avatar: The Last Airbender hardly touched on. From Book One onward, the characters rely heavily on government officials or the military to help save the day. It feels strange seeing the heroes bend to the wills of authority so easily, especially in today’s climate. It feels very out of place compared to The Last Airbender, where the heroes did whatever it took to save the world, even if it went against the laws of the land.
5 Aang’s Family Dynamic Isn’t What Fans Expected Or Wanted
Aang and Katara seemed like the perfect couple in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Many looked forward to seeing their offspring in The Legend of Korra and expected the perfect couple to become the perfect family. However, that’s far from what the reality turned out to be. Aang’s negligence as a father shocked fans everywhere and looking back, it still leaves a sour taste in their mouths today. No one could have predicted that the sweet and loving monk would become such a horrible father, nor did anyone think the family he and Katara created together would become so toxic. While this revelation keeps things interesting, it seems so out of character and doesn’t age well for fans.
4 Compared To The Unique World Of Its Predecessor, The Modern Landscape Of Korra Is Boring
At the time, the modernized setting of The Legend of Korra was exciting and new for fans. The series features a myriad of new inventions and cities that almost make it feel like a brand-new franchise. However, the novelty of its shiny newness eventually wore off and many fans miss the traditional settings of the previous series. Korra has a lot of interesting new concepts, but they pale in comparison to the creativity of The Last Airbender. The modern landscape feels too similar to real life, leaving many in the audience feeling bored and longing for the good old days of culture, fantasy, and originality that the original series upheld.
3 The Equalists Rebellion Plot Drops Off & Goes Nowhere
While many fans have a lot of issues with Book One of The Legend of Korra, it had a lot of potential with its plot. The Equalists plotline is a stark difference from Avatar: The Last Airbender in the best way, showing the nuances and tensions between benders and non-benders.
However, The Equalists plotline ended before it could even truly take off with a rush-job of a conclusion that makes no sense. Everything just returns to the status quo like nothing ever happened after Noatok is defeated. Many are disappointed that this plot didn’t get the resolution it deserved and it remains one of the biggest blights of the story.
2 Korra Needs To Be Rescued A Lot Throughout The Series
For arguably one of the strongest Avatars to date, Korra sure does need a lot of rescuing. Despite her strength, skill, and obvious power, she finds herself captured or in danger countless times throughout The Legend of Korra. She often can’t save herself either and needs to be rescued by her friends. It’s understandable that she might need help sometimes, but it gets a little ridiculous that the Avatar can’t defend herself, much less those around her — and it’s a bad look for a character meant to be empowering for girls.
1 Korra & Asami’s Endgame Relationship Is Too Subtle
When it first came out, the reveal of Korra and Asami’s relationship at The Legend of Korra’s end met with a lot of praise. It was shocking, groundbreaking, and a huge first step when it came to LGBT representation in animated media. However, by today’s standards, it isn’t near enough. All viewers got were a few subtle hints here and there. Aside from confirmation of Korra and Asami’s relationship after The Legend of Korra’s conclusion, there was no real way to say it was anything but friendship between them. Though the comics delve more into their romantic feelings, it’s frustrating for fans that they never get to see anything inherently romantic between them on-screen.
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