Although Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most critically acclaimed series of all time, the same cannot be said about the projects that were built off its legacy. Where the 2005 animated series has been called perfect in every aspect, the films and shows that have tried to retell or continue the story have found it easier to fail than to make critics happy. However, one spin-off series managed to slip through the cracks; this was not without a price.
In the case of The Legend of Korra, deciding its caliber based on public opinion would not be a wise decision. This is because the series managed to confuse and polarize its audience in a way rarely seen. While some hated her character and the series as a whole, many hold it in the same regard as the original.
With this in mind, the creators of both animated shows were asked about their opinions on the backlash the spin-off has gotten. It would seem that even before they started creating the series, they were aware that pushback was inevitable.
Creators Of Avatar: The Last Airbender Expected Korra To Have A Tough Time
Recently, Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, the creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, gave an interview with Polygon. Here, they were asked if they anticipated any of the backlash that the latter of the two series got from a certain sect of fans and their answer was quite interesting.
“I think maybe we knew Korra, as a character and a series, was going to be more challenging for audiences, but that was what felt right to us. “
Konietzko revealed that when they were considering making the spin-off, they were sure of one thing; certain fans would not receive it with open arms. While some did not want to series to continue at all, many did not like the drastic differences between the two series.
“You’re never going to please everyone, especially with a sequel, so you may as well do what feels best — and that’s just how we make our shows anyway. The last thing we wanted to do was make the same series all over again, even if a lot of fans of ATLA might have felt that is what they wanted from us.”
The creators understood that audiences wanted them to make something like the original series again so that they could cling to that sense of familiarity. However, when they were making the sequel, they were simply not interested in making the same thing yet again with the next Avatar. It would seem that the fans’ wishes were not enough to sway them.
Korra’s Dissimilarity to Aang Was Intentional
One of the biggest things that fans do not like about the Legend of Korra is how different its protagonist is from Aang. Whereas the Airbender is optimistic, full of life, and goofy, many have referred to Korra as being arrogant, spoilt, and stubborn. Bryan Konietzko went on to talk about these criticisms, revealing such a stark difference was very intentional.
“It was a deliberate choice to make Korra a very different character from Aang in multiple ways. That provided so many new opportunities with the stories and character dynamics. And it would have only served to water down what was great about Aang’s character if we just made a carbon copy of him with the next Avatar.”
Such a huge and obvious difference between these two characters gave creators more room to explore the world and its story. It also drew a clear line for the viewers concerning the two Avatars; their beliefs and ideologies.
He’s such a goofy, affable, optimistic kid, so making his successor a stubborn, pugnacious, angsty teenager was bound to put off a lot of people”
With this in mind, it was as though they were challenging fans to be critical and were completely ready when the floodgates opened with the release of the series. Even though the fandom has mixed opinions on the show, The Legend of Korra has an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
