The shows Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are both cherished animated series with enormous fanbases of diehard supporters. These two series are rich with deep characters, compelling narratives, relatable themes, and exciting action.
Ranking the two shows against each other is no simple task, as both have their own distinct strengths and qualities that elevate the series in unique ways above the other. After much consideration and deliberation on the merits of each show, here are our arguments for whether Avatar: The Last Airbender or The Legend of Korra is the better series.
10 Korra: Better Major Villains
While Zuko is a stellar villain-turned-hero from Avatar: The Last Airbender, both Azula and Ozai are a bit simplistic in their goals and motivations as evildoers. On the other hand, The Legend of Korra boasts a roster of deep villains in Amon, Unalaq, Zaheer, and Kuvira who have much more complex goals than simply taking over the world.
While both series feature memorable bad guys, The Legend of Korra takes the edge with its more dynamic villains who desire more than just power.
9 The Last Airbender: Linear, Complete Story
Although every season of Korra is connected through its characters, each season serves as a separate storyline with distinct villains and plot arcs. We enjoyed this method of storytelling for The Legend of Korra, but The Last Airbender's contained and inter-connected three-season narrative creates a more satisfying viewing experience.
Being able to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender's story grow, evolve, and cap-off in an epic fashion as one complete tale we believe is a strength that Korra lacks.
8 Korra: Time Jumps, Growth Opportunity
One aspect of The Legend of Korra that we really enjoyed is the time jumps that take place in between each season. Like the time jump that takes place between season two and three of The Last Airbender, this creates opportunities for the show and characters to grow and change in significant ways.
Instead of doing this only once like Avatar: The Last Airbender does, Korra does it three different times, leading to an ever-developing narrative that covers a larger period of time and allows its characters more space to mature.
7 The Last Airbender: Better Humor
A strength Avatar: The Last Airbender has over The Legend of Korra is its more effective and better-utilized comedy. While Korra does have its fair share of laughs, the series has a slightly more serious tone than The Last Airbender and so some of its humor doesn't land as well as the comedy in Avatar: The Last Airbender does.
Humor and laughs aren't everything, but when one series shows to be a better mastery of comedy, it's a strength that has to be addressed.
6 Korra: More Complex And Mature
Exploring themes ranging from global political conflict, trauma, and depression to social inequality, The Legend of Korra undoubtedly deals with more complex and mature subject matter than The Last Airbender. Shying away from the more child-oriented storytelling of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Korra is able to elevate itself with its appeal to older audiences.
The Legend of Korra tackling post-traumatic stress disorder for its protagonist or addressing social inequality between benders and non-benders were risky creative choices that paid off well for the series.
5 The Last Airbender: More Engaging Central Romance
Korra and Asami's love story is a compelling one and it is great to see LGBTQ+ representation in a children's show, which will be discussed more later, but it suffers from being slightly underdeveloped. Aang and Katara's romance starting on episode one of Avatar: The Last Airbender all the way through to the series finale grows and evolves so much, creating a more involving experience for the audience.
We adored seeing Korra and Asami come together in The Legend of Korra, but Aang and Katara's love arc is a more fulfilling romance in our opinion. If fans want to see more of Korra and Asami's romance develop, they will have to turn to The Legend of Korra graphic novels.
4 Korra: Better Animation
Premiering seven years after the start of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Korra's animation and CGI-usage are superior. Most of this is simply due to advances in technology like High Definition and Bluray, but the increase in quality is noticeable and worth mentioning.
In addition to the animation, The Legend of Korra also has more technical and complex fighting choreography, made possible by developments in computer-generated effects. The bottom line, when choosing which show to stream, Korra looks better.
3 The Last Airbender: Better Heroes
A glaring trait of The Legend of Korra is how it uses and relies upon a wealth of characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender. While we enjoyed how Korra uses legacy characters like Katara, Zuko, Iroh, and Toph, at times the show is too reliant on them to carry the narrative.
When The Legend of Korra could have spent more time with its original characters like Asami, Bolin, and Mako, it instead makes use of major characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender, pushing us to the conclusion that The Last Airbender has a superior cast of characters.
2 Korra: LGBTQ Representation
Two female lead characters starting a same-sex relationship with each other in a children's animated series was unprecedented at the time of The Legend of Korra's series finale. The show deserves the heaps of praise it receives for committing to this risky, but inclusive and forward-thinking ending.
Equal representation like this is a major step up that Korra has over The Last Airbender, giving a voice to those who feel voiceless and introducing young audiences to the important idea that love comes in many forms.
1 Airbender: More Satisfying Conclusion
We adore both of these series, and ranking them against each other is close to having to choose a favorite child. Both shows have strong endings, but we believe that Avatar: The Last Airbender has a more satisfying and fulfilling conclusion.
Closing out the three-season storyline in epic fashion, the showrunners truly saved the best for last. From the nailbiting final confrontations between Aang and Ozai, and Zuko and Azula, and the mindblowing bending on display during those fights, to the long-developed romance between Aang and Katara finally paying off, Avatar: The Last Airbender's perfect series finale must be taken into consideration when judging these two shows.