After the conclusion of Nickelodeon's groundbreaking animated series, 'AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER,' a new cult classic was born, and along with it came its very own cult following.
Together, fans worldwide watched as a twelve-year-old boy was unleashed from a 100-year slumber by a brother and a sister and was subsequently taken on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, they allied with the forces of good, battled the forces of evil, and picked up some of the most unlikely of friends, all on a quest to end the famed Hundred Year War. In their victory, they transformed into legend, their story into history, and from that adoration came Nickelodeon's 'THE LEGEND OF KORRA.'
The Legend of Korra Season 1 poster
The Legend of Korra takes place 70 years after the events of the original series, at a time when an era of peace has been ushered into the world. In this tale, Aang's time as the Avatar has ended with his spirit transforming itself into a little girl named Korra, from the Southern Water Tribe. Korra is shown to be vastly different from her predecessor, headstrong and temperamental, while sharing some of his other qualities, like bravery and empathy. Since seven decades have passed since the Hundred Year War, Korra is luckily not left to pick up the broken pieces of the old world; instead, she must navigate her path as the avatar in a technologically and socially changed society.
In the original Avatar series, there were several overreaching themes, such as genocide, imperialism, trauma, and governmental corruption, to name a few. However, in its sequel, themes of populism, religion, anarchism, and fascism were personified within each season through the arrival of a different antagonistic character.
The Legend of Korra Season 1-4 antagonists.
While both shows addressed mature themes to their audiences, The Legend of Korra can be noted to possess a distinctively specific mature atmosphere that submerges its viewers into a more adult-led world. One can argue that this is due to the older set of protagonist characters we follow along with, while others can cite how character actions, and especially their ultimate fates, are showcased within the show. With this framework in mind, there is no denying that The Legend of Korra gave an original new take on the world of Avatar while remaining true to elements from the original series, and although it was received with mixed reviews, its impact on the franchise is everlasting. It is here, in this space, that the possibility of a live-action adaptation can thrive.
Throughout our time with Avatar Korra, we witnessed her experience many trials and tribulations that tested her wit, strength, faith, and resilience. Korra showcased to the world how even the most powerful of people could use a helping hand from the ones we love, and how this is not something one should be ashamed of. In her personal life, Korra faced the friend zone, heartbreak, and, in the end, epic love, which is likely how one would expect the story of a 17-year-old girl to go.
Asami and Korra endgame
Korra's journey served as a perfect catalyst to hold a coming-of-age story alongside her duties as the Avatar. These topics of the forces of good and evil and love and heartbreak are exactly why The Legend of Korra would make for an astounding live-action young adult series. Audiences around the world would be allowed to resonate with Korra on a deeper level should a talented writer be allowed to enhance and improve upon the shortcomings left by the animated series. A noted misstep in the production process for The Legend of Korra was the initial lack of cohesion in the overall story. For seasons 1 and 2, Nickelodeon had only greenlit the show on a season-to-season basis, leaving creators unsure if they would receive a renewal, while with seasons 3 and 4, both were renewed simultaneously, allowing for a more cohesive end to the series. This differs from the Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series, where the entire show received its green light from its initial onset, allowing the creators to create a cohesive story. Additionally, unlike Avatar: The Last Airbender's average of 20-episode-long seasons, The Legend of Korra had an average of 12 -14 episodes per season. With a previously established shortened length, the live-action show creators have the opportunity to fit The Legend of Korra within an 8-10 episode season length without omitting and rearranging major plot details from the original show.
As it stands, Netflix has created a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series that received masses of mixed reviews, most distinctly negative. However, given its record-breaking viewership, the streaming giant has officially renewed the show for seasons 2 and 3, allowing the creators to bring to life the entire original animated series. As for The Legend of Korra, despite interest shown by Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender executive producer Jabbar Raisani to bring Korra into live-action, Netflix does not currently have the rights to adapt the series as the rights are currently held by Paramount.
Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action series poster
Would a live-action Legend of Korra series work? It would seem so. However, to properly adapt Korra's journey as the avatar, the right writer and creators should be attached to the series. Who that may be is a question for another day.
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