There are many times when Avatar: The Last Airbender is regarded as a masterpiece as compared to The Legend of Korra. There are ways in which the former did a better job at executing concepts that the latter did not even come close to. Understanding characters, indulging in darker themes, and thus far exploring these characters beyond the black and white scaling.
Both the shows tried their best but only one prevailed over the other. As a result, The Legend of Korra became a good concept that needed better execution. However, there was one aspect that the series managed to nail in ways the preceding show couldn’t.
Both the shows have a big thing in common with the way there is a huge responsibility that comes over the heads of people who are far from ready to take on these roles. The Avatars, both Aang and Korra had a lot to deal with.
The Legend of Korra Took Into Consideration Her Lowest Point
In an interview with Polygon, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko discussed the amount of research and understanding that took into bringing the titular character’s internal struggles to life in The Legend of Korra. Korra deals with a lot of mental health issues, including that of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“It’s been humbling to have people send messages or tell us in person how much that storyline resonated with them. When we discussed Korra’s season 4 story arc, we talked about her starting out in such a dark place that she didn’t even want to be the Avatar anymore.”
As the Avatar, the whole world’s responsibility fell on her shoulders. She witnessed some of the greatest hardships from a very young age. Learning about loss, power, and what it can do to a person if not dealt with properly.
The fourth season of the show saw Korra at her lowest, and to handle that became an individual task on its own. So the writers’ room got together to perfect her arc and create a character that better connected with the audience not just because of her positivity but also her negativity.
The Legend of Korra Executed it Better
Michael DiMartino, while speaking with Polygon, explained that he found his inner self to write more about Korra and the second episode of season 4. Battling with such delicate topics can be both painful and excruciating for the character when seen as a person and the audience that is witnessing the aforementioned events.
“I remember reading about PTSD and people who had experienced traumatic events and what that recovery was like. When I wrote “Korra Alone,” I used what I felt and my life’s experiences to image what Korra might be feeling and going through in her situation.”
He stated that there were constant messages about how fans loved the idea of having a character they could resonate with even in their darkest. It was not as if the responsibilities of being the Avatar took a toll only on Korra, but it was the fact that her character was written better in terms of executing that pain. So much so that she wanted to quit the title altogether.
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Aang on the other hand, had his own battles, most of which pushed him beyond his limits. He had issues and mental health problems that forced him into making decisions he wasn’t ready to make. However, at the end of the day, only one was able to express that darker side better.
