Avatar: The Last Airbender is hailed as one of the best cartoon TV shows of all time. Throughout its run on Nickelodeon and then later on streaming, the series has had a huge impact on popular culture, leading to several adaptations and merchandise.
While fans still hail the original series the best, it has since received a sequel, The Legend of Korra. Set in the same fictional universe, it follows the successor of Aang, Korra as she goes through an even tumultuous and modernized world. This modernized world is also characterized by advanced bending techniques that did not exist in the world of Avatar. Yet technological advancement wasn’t the series biggest gamble.
The Legend of Korra’s Advanced Bending Techniques Wasn’t The Biggest Risk
The Legend of Korra has been incredible, to say the least. Not only does it have some spectacular writing, but the way the series has shown progress in the world of Avatar has been truly tantalizing. While fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender seemed to be a bit upset about how the sequel series features advanced bending techniques and various new technologies, it wasn’t really the difference in the world that was the biggest risk the series took.
Rather it was Romance which turned out to be the biggest gamble of the sequel series. Not only did fans criticize its romantic subplots, but fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender were stingy over how deep the show goes into its romantic sub-theme.
While Avatar: The Last Airbender avoided love triangles or other tropes and focused more on themes of friendship, its sequel series has characters fighting for each other and features tumultuous breakups.
Not only does it make the characters, their relationships, and the atmosphere of the series more strained and serious, but the teenage drama takes the spotlight away from the main attraction of the show: the fantasy world of Avatar. Yet romance and romantic sub-plots were inevitable.
The Legend of Korra’s Romantic Theme Was Unavoidable
The Legend of Korra is often the subject of fan hate and criticism for its excessive teenage drama and complicated romantic subplots. Not only do fans reckon the romantic plotlines feel forced and unnecessary, but seem something out of an average American teenage TV show. Thus, romance inevitably becomes the weakest point of the series (see X).
Yet, the age of the characters in The Legend of Korra makes it unavoidable to not feature some teenage drama and romantic tropes. While Avatar: The Last Airbender was primarily based on saving the world and featured pre-teens or young teenagers, its sequel series has older characters.
Thus, having characters that are almost adults, romance was an inevitable part of the series for otherwise it would have been unrealistic and unrelatable for the fans. Yet, fans reckon the creators could have taken a better approach instead of making romance cringe.
Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra can be streamed on Netflix.
