Title says it all. With the most recent book of The Legend of Korra, Change, now finished, many now call it the best season of the show so far. I'm inclined to agree with those people, but for me, my big question is whether or not this incredibly impressive thrid season has been enough to raise Korra's overall quality to that of the original show, The Last Airbender.
Poll: Is Korra as good as ATLA now?
- Thread starter thejboy88
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Hard to say to be honest since it has been years since I way The Last Airbender. I mean my opinion toward the first series may differ if I were to rewatch it again
Apples and oranges, really. ATLA's 3 seasons were a single story. So, it was judged on how well it was able to develop characters and plot over 3 seasons. In Korra, because every season is self-contained, I tend to judge each season (story) on its own. Also, the plot has to move that much faster and because they have to have a new villain every season, the antagonists are not very well fleshed out.
I guess in terms of experience, Season 3 of Korra was almost as good as Season 2 (best season) of ATLA.
I guess in terms of experience, Season 3 of Korra was almost as good as Season 2 (best season) of ATLA.
Honestly, A:TLA already has that touch of nostalgia for me, in the sense that I remember it as being good, but go back and watch it and realize it was still just a (really good) kid's cartoon.
Legend of Korra has gotten older, a little darker, and touched on some more serious themes without pulling back in a way that The Last Airbender didn't. (That last 20 seconds of Season 3 was pure art.)
Basically, I'm agreeing with the person above who said it's apples and oranges, but right now, I would prefer to re-watch Korra over The Last Airbender, if I was re-watching.
Legend of Korra has gotten older, a little darker, and touched on some more serious themes without pulling back in a way that The Last Airbender didn't. (That last 20 seconds of Season 3 was pure art.)
Basically, I'm agreeing with the person above who said it's apples and oranges, but right now, I would prefer to re-watch Korra over The Last Airbender, if I was re-watching.
No, I don't think so.
Don't get me wrong, I really like Legend of Korra and I want to see more of it, however I think it suffers a bit from being too short. What I loved in Avatar was the whole overarching plot - three seasons for the same goal and the stakes just kept getting higher. Sure, there were some episodes we could have gone without but only a few, the buildup is otherwise great. Korra, I think, suffers a bit from having a really wide reaching story sort of crammed in a single season. The endings of the seasons do feel a bit rushed, too - I don't necessarily want 4 parters like Avatar, but something that's not suddenly resolved in a single episode
It's just the worst example - in all fairness, the endings have been getting better.
Don't get me wrong, I really like Legend of Korra and I want to see more of it, however I think it suffers a bit from being too short. What I loved in Avatar was the whole overarching plot - three seasons for the same goal and the stakes just kept getting higher. Sure, there were some episodes we could have gone without but only a few, the buildup is otherwise great. Korra, I think, suffers a bit from having a really wide reaching story sort of crammed in a single season. The endings of the seasons do feel a bit rushed, too - I don't necessarily want 4 parters like Avatar, but something that's not suddenly resolved in a single episode
First season Korra magically suddenly learns air bending, connects to her previous incarnations and restores her bending so all plot threads got a happy ending at the same time.
It's just the worst example - in all fairness, the endings have been getting better.
I have not enjoyed much of LoK. I have posted many times my dislike of the show. However even I will admit that the show improved in some ways in S3.
That being said I would still count TLA as the better series but that is my personal preference. To me TLA will always be superior to LoK for one very important reason. The characters. I liked the characters in TLA, I cared what happened to them and when things did not go there way it had an impact, it made me want to keep watching to see them come out on top. I don't like most of the characters is LoK. I don't care what happens to them which takes out alot of the impact the story has.
The last episode of S3 of LoK, while very visualy impressive had no impact on me because I don't like Korra and seeing what happened to her left me feeling very indifferent. Compare that to the end of S2 of TLA and that had me on the edge of my seat begging to see what would happen next.
Anyway that is what I think. I am sure I am in the minority. I see alot of love for LoK and while I don't understand it I am glad people do, if only to show the series creators that there is still an intrest in the Avatar world so that we can have more in the future.
That being said I would still count TLA as the better series but that is my personal preference. To me TLA will always be superior to LoK for one very important reason. The characters. I liked the characters in TLA, I cared what happened to them and when things did not go there way it had an impact, it made me want to keep watching to see them come out on top. I don't like most of the characters is LoK. I don't care what happens to them which takes out alot of the impact the story has.
The last episode of S3 of LoK, while very visualy impressive had no impact on me because I don't like Korra and seeing what happened to her left me feeling very indifferent. Compare that to the end of S2 of TLA and that had me on the edge of my seat begging to see what would happen next.
Anyway that is what I think. I am sure I am in the minority. I see alot of love for LoK and while I don't understand it I am glad people do, if only to show the series creators that there is still an intrest in the Avatar world so that we can have more in the future.
It will all come down to how well it ends in Season 4 for me.
One of the best parts of TLA was that it had a complete story-arch with a beginning, middle, and satisfying ending. Sure there were problems with it and Aang never having to actually confront the idea of killing someone was a bit of a cop-out, but even so it was immensely satisfying especially when you also consider Azula's role in the series finale.
Legend of Korra by contrast has been a lot more fragmented, and while I'd say the individual story and villains from episode to episode tend to be better that fragmentation of the over-arching plot does hold it back. The comparative short length also hurts, as Season 1 especially felt like it needed another episode or two worth of content to really feel 'complete'.
That said I'm still loving Korra and in terms of entertainment it's right up there with the best. I enjoy Korra as a character even moreso than Aang, the visuals, music, and fight animation/choreography are amazing and the characters are strong. It has the potential to not just match ATLA but to become even better, all it needs is a satisfying conclusion.
So high hopes for Season 4. I'm optimistic, but who knows?
One of the best parts of TLA was that it had a complete story-arch with a beginning, middle, and satisfying ending. Sure there were problems with it and Aang never having to actually confront the idea of killing someone was a bit of a cop-out, but even so it was immensely satisfying especially when you also consider Azula's role in the series finale.
Legend of Korra by contrast has been a lot more fragmented, and while I'd say the individual story and villains from episode to episode tend to be better that fragmentation of the over-arching plot does hold it back. The comparative short length also hurts, as Season 1 especially felt like it needed another episode or two worth of content to really feel 'complete'.
That said I'm still loving Korra and in terms of entertainment it's right up there with the best. I enjoy Korra as a character even moreso than Aang, the visuals, music, and fight animation/choreography are amazing and the characters are strong. It has the potential to not just match ATLA but to become even better, all it needs is a satisfying conclusion.
So high hopes for Season 4. I'm optimistic, but who knows?
The Last Airbender was really just one big story stretched across 3 seasons (ie FIRE NATION BAD!), but there were some twists and turns along the way that helped it along (Zuko and Iroh switching sides, introduction of Toph, introduction of Azula etc), whereas The Legend of Korra has a different plot and antagonist in each book (B1: Amon and the Equalists, B2: Unalaq and the Dark spirits, B3: The Red Lotus, B4: The Metal Clan(?)). One thing that I really like about The Legend of Korra is that because the story is more focused, they don't have any filler episodes, but with The Last Airbender, the characters were somewhat more likable (Cast of Korra is still great though!).
I think that Korra is just as good as The Last Airbender, at least at this point.
I really need to watch Airbender again....
I think that Korra is just as good as The Last Airbender, at least at this point.
I really need to watch Airbender again....
I watched Avatar: The Last Airbender as an adult, after having missed it's original run due to also being an adult at the time. It's an amazing show, one of the best animated television shows ever made. So liking this show definitely isn't just a matter of nostalgia for people.
I feel a bit cheated. I grew up in the 1980s, and TV for kids then was a cesspool of absolute garbage. There was nothing even remotely as good as ATLA or Adventure Time back then.
I feel a bit cheated. I grew up in the 1980s, and TV for kids then was a cesspool of absolute garbage. There was nothing even remotely as good as ATLA or Adventure Time back then.
As others have said, you can't really compare the series. I love both series for different reasons. I also love both series for many of the same reasons, such as the world they have built and the characters. I can't help but feel that TLA had the better characters. However, Korra's fight scenes are top notch. Both have great animation, too.
Is one better than the other? You might as well ask whether a FPS is a better game than a RPG. You can't really compare the two. What matters is whether you enjoy them. And I do enjoy them.
Is one better than the other? You might as well ask whether a FPS is a better game than a RPG. You can't really compare the two. What matters is whether you enjoy them. And I do enjoy them.
Is this even a question!? Of course it isn't, my god this show... There is a darn good reason it loses viewers in the millions with each new season. That's a big contrast to ATLA. After the horribly anti-climatic end to season 3, I would have just canned it, and Nick most likely would have if they didn't already buy Season 4 and it was already finished. Ask anyone who knows about TV why they are already showing season 4. They'll all tell you it's because they want this show over, NOW.
Really the only thing I'll hand to Korra is they finally managed to make me like the main character. I guess that's better then liking no one at all, which is how it was until Season 3. But the fact remains I can't stand anyone else on this show.
Really the only thing I'll hand to Korra is they finally managed to make me like the main character. I guess that's better then liking no one at all, which is how it was until Season 3. But the fact remains I can't stand anyone else on this show.
A coworker of mine found TLA a few years back and asked me if I had seen it. Obviously, I had, but I asked him what he thought. He loved it and quickly watched every episode that aired. We actually talked about it quite a bit and I did my best not to spoil things before he got to them.briankoontz said:
He was in his late fifties. TLA may be a "kid's show", but anyone can enjoy it.
I admit ATLA is pretty amazing, and Adventure Time was... at one time. However I still like Gargoyles and Batman TAS better then both of them. I'm sure there was something else to, but I can't quite recall off the top of my head.briankoontz said:
I enjoyed S3 but I still don't like any of the characters as much as I liked those in TLA. There's no-one with an awesome arc like Zuko, as funny as Sokka, as lovable as Iroh or as menacing as Azula. I thought the first part of series 2, with Korra losing all character development supposedly gained in the first series completely gone. I really couldn't stand her character until after the flashback episodes. TLA had dodgy episodes that got the characters wrong on occasion, but there was never an extended run of them.
Still, if S4 is as good as S3, it will be a worthy successor I think. Not as good as an overall package, but still much more fun to watch than most other TV going at the moment.
Still, if S4 is as good as S3, it will be a worthy successor I think. Not as good as an overall package, but still much more fun to watch than most other TV going at the moment.
While the story is more interesting than "go defeat Firelord, he's evil because fire", it also lacks focus. Not every season needed to have a completely new villain, it just kills the momentum to have everything miraculously wrap up after each season. The ending to the first season was a total shock as I expected the plot to span all the seasons, but every plot thread just got wrapped up in the span of an hour. What?
What really hurts Korra though is the cast of characters.
Team Avatar: Mako is just a boring asshole, Bolin is a clown, Asami feels completely pointless. Don't even get me started on the useless animal/spirit mascots. There is no feeling of pure friendship between them like before, because the stupid love-triangles (plural if you count Bolins pointless romance subplot) constantly get in the way. They feel completely useless. Team Avatar is not needed, because unlike Aang, Korra is a full avatar. It just feels hollow. Where is the caring nature of Katara or the undiluted awesomeness of Toph?
Team Airbenders: I give Tenzin a pass. I feel he's actually grown as a character and I kinda wanna see him do more stuff. Jinora had her deus ex machina moments, but otherwise his entourage of kids is just annoying (especially Milo. Fuck off, Milo.). His wife has yet to justify her existence in this show. Basically the only noteworthy thing she did was give birth to a pointless baby. Is she just background noise? Bumi is just another clown character, but since he often appears in the same places as Milo it makes me wonder if they're supposed to be competing for my hatred. I even forgot the name of Tenzin's sister and that one airbender kid, because they're so uninteresting.
What really hurts Korra though is the cast of characters.
Team Avatar: Mako is just a boring asshole, Bolin is a clown, Asami feels completely pointless. Don't even get me started on the useless animal/spirit mascots. There is no feeling of pure friendship between them like before, because the stupid love-triangles (plural if you count Bolins pointless romance subplot) constantly get in the way. They feel completely useless. Team Avatar is not needed, because unlike Aang, Korra is a full avatar. It just feels hollow. Where is the caring nature of Katara or the undiluted awesomeness of Toph?
Team Airbenders: I give Tenzin a pass. I feel he's actually grown as a character and I kinda wanna see him do more stuff. Jinora had her deus ex machina moments, but otherwise his entourage of kids is just annoying (especially Milo. Fuck off, Milo.). His wife has yet to justify her existence in this show. Basically the only noteworthy thing she did was give birth to a pointless baby. Is she just background noise? Bumi is just another clown character, but since he often appears in the same places as Milo it makes me wonder if they're supposed to be competing for my hatred. I even forgot the name of Tenzin's sister and that one airbender kid, because they're so uninteresting.
No, because while Korra's best has in my opinion reached the heights of TLA, it has also sunk much lower, and so on the whole S4 Korra would have to be the best story ever told to make up for S2. Now, if we ignored S2, I'd say Korra is close, but still a little short, though that's hardly an insult, I'd say Avatar was probably one of the best TV series, and probably the only anime that didn't end with me feeling unsatisfied, so falling short of a masterpiece is still a good feat in its own.
Ummm... yeah, you really do need to watch ATLA again. Because if you think it was just "FIRE NATION BAD!!!!" for three seasons, you're just plain wrong.Laggyteabag said:
OT: I'd say season 3 was about on the level of season 2 of ATLA (barring the last episode of season 2, which was just amazing). People tend to forget that aside from a few select episodes, ATLA's first season wasn't really anything marvelous. Korra as a whole suffers from season 2 being the rushed mess it is, but IMO it now has the potential to equal (or even eclipse, fingers crossed) ATLA with season 4. If it's going to be the last season, let's hope it goes out with a bang.
But seriously, do something about Bolin. Have him grow, be something useful, or blow his fucking brains out with a shotgun. While Sokka was not above bad jokes or goofy behavior, he at least had a point, but Bolin's just an idiot.