Korra might be the Avatar, but her superhuman nature isn't the only factor governing her success in The Legend Of Korra. Many other characters, including members of Team Avatar, like Mako, Bolin, and Asami, are essential in defeating villains and helping right the imbalances that plague the world.
In fact, it can be argued that bending talent, political know-how, and cunning strategies alone wouldn't have been enough to achieve victory in every situation. The notion of luck, although unquantifiable and unpredictable, is almost as important. That said, it's evident that serendipity only plays a supporting role in the narrative's outcome.
10 Toph Decides To Help Her Estranged Daughters
Toph spends most of her youth as Republic City's police chief, a career choice she partially regrets. As a result, she vanishes from her children's lives long before The Legend of Korra begins.
However, when Suyin's family is abducted and incarcerated by Kuvira, Toph decides to lend her prodigious Earthbending genius to rescue her daughter. Toph could have left the battle "to the kids," but her daughters are especially glad that she didnn't.
9 Jinora Saves The World From UnaVaatu
Tenzin manages to rescue Jinora from the Fog of Lost Souls when she immediately perceives Raava's absence. Jinora tells her father to head back home without her, insisting that her mission in the Spirit World is yet to be completed.
In the real world, Korra's energy projection attempts to subdue the gigantic UnaVaatu in Yue Bay but fails to defeat the darkness until Jinora appears with a spark of Raava's light. This allows Korra to extract the Avatar spirit hidden within UnaVaatu, consequently ending the battle and saving the world.
8 The Red Lotus' Plan Fails Miserably
The Red Lotus is extremely confident that their plan to destroy the Avatar (and the Avatar Cycle) is flawless. They bind Korra with platinum chains and subject her to mercury poisoning, hoping to trigger the Avatar State.
The strategy works at first, but the Red Lotus doesn't account for Korra's incomprehensible strength, especially when empowered by the Avatar State. Korra breaks out of her shackles but is unable to bring Zaheer down. Fortunately, the Airbenders cast an enormous tornado and force Zaheer to the ground, where he is instantly defeated.
7 Korra Runs Into Mako And Bolin
Like Katara and Sokka, who accidentally discover Aang's cryostatic state, Korra runs into future members of Team Avatar by pure chance. She sneaks out of Air Temple Island to spy on a Pro-Bending match, where Bolin gets her out of a minor pickle.
Korra soon meets Mako, although the latter initially scolds Bolin for "bringing [his] crazy fangirls" into the changing room. Mako gradually warms to Korra's presence, and the rest is history.
6 Asami Literally Crashes Into Mako
Asami Sato is an auto-racing prodigy, but she clearly has a few motoring blind spots because she crashes her moped smack dab into Mako. In her defense, Mako doesn't look both ways before crossing the road.
Regardless, Asami apologizes profusely and offers her "victim" a dinner at Kwong's Cuisine, a notoriously pricey restaurant in Republic City. They begin dating soon after, and Asami inevitably becomes a crucial part of Team Avatar.
5 Kuvira Manages To Defeat Korra In Single Combat
Kuvira challenges the Avatar to single combat, arrogantly implying that "all the elements" and "the Avatar State" wouldn't be enough to quell the Great Uniter. Korra's bending, as Kuvira rightly guesses, is "a little rusty," compelling the former into activating the Avatar State.
As luck would have it, Korra experiences another "Dark Korra" hallucination, permitting Kuvira to take advantage of the Avatar's momentary lapse and effectively win the match.
4 Random People Acquire Airbending
The Hundred Year War began with the annihilation of the Air Nation, and by the time of Aang's awakening, Air Nomads had been completely forgotten. The Avatar desperately tries to maintain his culture through Tenzin, who ultimately bears the burden of his father's hope.
Luckily, the Harmonic Convergence event during Avatar Korra's era offsets the lack of Airbenders by randomly granting the gift of Airbending to people around the world. The exact nature of this process remains unknown, but it can be assumed that the world is intrinsically capable of rebalancing itself.
3 The Birth Of Democracy In The United Republic
Although the birth of democracy isn't entirely coincidental, it can be traced back to the Equalist riots led by Amon the Bloodbender. The bogus Anti-bending Revolution is nothing more than a cover for its leader's political machinations, but it has unforeseen effects.
The revolution served to expose the various inadequacies of the United Republic's Council in terms of equitable governance, especially concerning the majority non-bending population. Thankfully, Amon's power move results in a democratic system suitable for everyone's needs.
2 Korra Is Saved By Bhanti Sages
The Bhanti tribe is ancient, its existence preceding that of Wan, the first Avatar. Its members prefer to live in seclusion on a small island, where they intentionally distance themselves from world politics.
When Korra is knocked into the ocean by an angered dark spirit, she is rescued by Bhanti sages, who proceed to "purge the [dark energy] before it destroys her Avatar Spirit." This timely intervention no doubt plays a major role in guiding Korra out of her moral quandary in Book 2.
1 Bolin Learns That He's Not Just An Earthbender
Bolin, Tenzin, Asami, and Mako make their way out of the Northern Air Temple with enormous difficulty, a thundering river of lava hot on their heels. The group finds itself at an impasse when the cliffside looms into view, which leaves them with no option for survival.
However, this is the moment that Bolin proves his mettle - he successfully stops the lava in its tracks and freezes it solid: a masterful, albeit unconscious, display of Lavabending.