With serious themes and mature content, The Legend of Korra different from most Nickelodeon shows. Picking a generation after Avatar: The Last Airbender, the sequel series brings fans back to the world of its predecessor, but a lot has changed. With the development of technology and rapid urbanization, it is not surprising that they look completely different. However, both follow the Avatar and friends on a mission to bring balance to the world. Although the two shows have a lot in common, The Legend of Korra lacks the overarching plot of another show. Not sure about a renewal, each season’s finale is more compelling, meaning the next installment is mostly standalone.
The fourth and final season of the show, titled “Balance”, focuses on the conflict in the Earth Kingdom. Main character (Janet Varney) engaged in an uprising led by Kuvira (Zelda Williams), which turned the largest country in the world into its personal empire. Korra starts at the lowest level but gradually gains confidence. However, she wants to try a new approach: the world. Violence has always only hurt her, and the grown-up Korra is looking for a balance between herself and the world. However, Kuvira’s forces push forward despite Korra’s best efforts. The final episode “The Last Stand” takes the group to Republic City in the midst of the battle for Earth Kingdom. But since this was the last time this world appeared on the screen (before the upcoming Avatar Studio projects), the conclusion could not be simple.
Korra’s fight with Kuvira
Faced with the giant mecha Kuvira created to destroy the city, Team Avatar’s options are limited. In the penultimate episode of Asami (Seychelles Gabriel) father, Hiroshi (Daniel Dae Kim), sacrifices himself to make a hole in the car. By doing so, Hiroshi is redeemed for his crimes in the first season, at least in the eyes of his daughter. Korra, Mako (David Faustino), Bolin (PJ Byrne), Lin (Mindy Sterling) and Swin (Ann Heche) manages to hit the mech’s leg, hoping to destroy it from the inside. The group splits up, Korra goes after Kuvira, and the others have their own tasks. The Beifong sisters use metal bending to create havoc, hoping it will disable the weapon strapped to their arm. Meanwhile, Mako nearly kills himself by causing an explosion in the engine room, but luckily Bolin gets him out. Korra and Kuvira fight in the control room, but it ends in a stalemate when the mech explodes.
Korra helps Kuvira out of the rubble, proving that she is forgiving, but when she tries to negotiate a surrender, Kuvira flees to an area overrun by spirit vines. Kuvira discovers the remains of the weapon, lures Korra towards him and fires it. An uncontrolled explosion destroys the city and nearly kills two women. Korra bends the shield to save them both, which results in a final explosion, opening a new spirit portal in the center of Republic City. Korra and Kuvira are transported to the spirit world, where Korra finally manages to reason with Kuvira and they reach an understanding, this time without additional violence. Korra and Kuvira return through a new portal along with the spirits. With Kuvira’s official surrender and arrest, the war is over and reconstruction can begin.
Love in The Legend of Korra
As Bolin says, “Love blossomed out of destruction.” Bolin arranges a wedding between two of Korra’s strangest allies, Varric (John Michael Higgins) and his assistant Zhu Li (Stephanie Sheh). Although mostly supporting characters, the couple was introduced in the second season, but their romance did not develop until the final season. When Zhu Li pretends to betray Varric in order to slow down Kuvira’s progress in her weapon, it comes as a blow to Varric as he realizes how much he needs her. They reunite in the final battle and have a wedding thereafter, which sets the stage for the show to end.
Varrick and Zhu Li aren’t the only promising relationships in the final season. Korra and Asami bonded in the series despite their love triangle with Mako. When Korra was recuperating at her parents’ home, Asami was the only one of her friends she returned to. The end of the series subtly confirms that this relationship is more than a friendship, mirroring Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) and Qatar (May Whitman) ends from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Korra and Asami escape the party, finding peace together. Their embrace suggests their romantic relationship. They then decide to take a much-needed vacation to the spirit world.
Both Korra and her world are changing
In her few short years as an active Avatar, Korra changed the world. She allowed the Spirit Portals to remain open, unlike the first Avatar. This reunited the two worlds and created a new air nation. With the new Spirit Portal, Republic City will expand to accommodate residents while keeping the Spirit Jungle at its center, giving the spirits a home. But apart from that, in the finale, Prince Wu (Sunil Malhotra) announces his decision to retire and abolish the Earth Kingdom monarchy in favor of a republic. Korra agrees to help with this task as the Avatar. While this doesn’t happen in the series, it promises more changes as the world of Avatar modernizes.
In their last scene together, Korra and Tenzin (J.K. Simmons) have a final heart-to-heart talk, remembering how much has changed, which Tenzin attributes to Korra. Korra admits that she has changed herself and admits that the hard times she faced had to happen in order for her to learn to forgive Kuvira. Korra has had a difficult journey as the Avatar, but it has helped her find her balance. The lessons learned have made her better prepared to serve in an ever-changing world, and Korra says she still has a long way to go.
Is this all for The Legend of Korra?
Although the series ends, Korra’s story is not over. Since the last series was released in 2014, three graphic novels featuring these characters have been published. Despite the years since the end of the show, the new Avatar Studios plans to create more stories in the world with a 2025 adult gang movie and other projects. Nothing has been officially announced about Korra and her friends, but they may return someday. The Legend of Korra found an amicable end despite the series’ turbulence, but the characters’ journeys continue.
Source: Collider
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