Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra worked hand in hand to make audiences fall in love with the world of bending. While the former acted as the introduction, being the initial sketch of what the different elements were able to do; the latter took it to another level. Filling in the color of all that the elements were capable of and creating a final painting of what we know to be one of the most iconic power structures of all time.
Being set several years apart, the spin-off showed the final product that was being created in the original series. This meant that a lot of techniques and abilities that were introduced in the first series, were taken to a completely new level. While a huge percentage of fans were glad about this, there were some changes that they were not happy with.
The perfect example of such a critique is an ability that was given to multiple elements. Something that was exclusive to waterbending in the 2005 series.
Avatar: The Last Airbender – Waterbending and Healing
In the 16th episode of Book One of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the concept of healing through waterbending was introduced. Aang accidentally burnt Katara’s hands while using fire bending. When she put her hands in water to soothe the pain, she discovered that the wounds healed completely, making her realize that she possessed vitakinetic healing powers.
Building on this, many waterbenders were able to use their abilities to redirect chi in the body with the help of water and heal people. Throughout the series, many waterbenders were able to heal people, cure illnesses, and avert or even cause death in certain cases. All that they had to do to achieve the desired results was have years of practice and cover the wounded in water.
The ability, along with bloodbending, made waterbending even more powerful than it already was and made their wielders extremely dangerous.
The Legend of Korra – Unique No Longer
The exclusivity that came with healing as a waterbender was washed away when The Legend of Korra began airing. In the series, it was revealed that firebenders are also capable of healing to a certain degree, being able to sense spiritual blockages and guide heat along energy pathways within a person’s body.
This allowed them to diagnose diseases without the need for doctors, which proved to be quite beneficial. Additionally, earthbenders were also shown to have the ability to sense poisons in people which a waterbender would not have been able to do.
Although it is important to note that waterbenders are still the best at healing, other elements also having exclusive techniques to themselves makes Katara’s discovery hold less meaning, in the grand scheme of things. Such a drastic change to the original dynamic has still left many fans spiteful of The Legend of Korra.
