Review: 'The Legend Of Korra: Season One'

With so much to live up to from its acclaimed predecessor, "The Legend of Korra" is like the new kid in school everybody wants to hate. It’s not quite the same as "Avatar: The Last Airbender" with different characters, a new cultural setting and a shorter first season. The kids are already talking smack about it for being different. They’ll still watch it and express their excitement when viewing the show, but will always speak negatively behind its back.

Now, admittedly, it’s not the most appealing setup character-wise. Korra, a 17-year-old girl of the Southern Water Tribe, is proclaimed to be the reincarnation of Ang and, as such, the next Avatar. She can already bend earth, fire and water, but has yet to bend air. Desiring to complete her training, Korra travels to Republic City to work with Tenzin at the Air Temple. During her stay, an insidious figure known as Amon is secretly plotting to wipe Bender powers off the face of the planet who has set his sights on Korra and her friends.

The plot sounds like someone’s "Avatar" fan-fiction where they insert themselves into the plot as an overpowered protagonist. On that level, it’s a hard sell. But I didn’t listen to the naysayers as "Korra" had a lot going for it. The animation is gorgeous with some of the most luscious backgrounds I’ve ever seen in a 2D-animated program. The action scenes are really cool with visual flair and a great sense of peril. Even the sports game of Pro-Bending, despite stopping the story at one point, is an entertaining concept and fun to watch. The love triangle felt a little forced and at some points ridiculously routine. Everybody can see how it’s going to turn out from a mile away, but it makes for some interesting character interactions. The danger of Benders losing their powers as Amon rises to power with his Equalist Army made for an interesting plot worth following and was easily the biggest strength.

Half-way through the first season, I was really enjoying "The Legend of Korra," faults and all. It was so good I was almost inclined to say it was one of the best animated series of 2012. And then it had to go and break my heart. When the season finale rolls around, that’s when you truly know whether or not this is a show you’ll absolutely adore. I was hopeful to see how a story like this would play out and how jazzed it would it would get me for a second season. But "The Legend of Korra," unfortunately, has commitment issues. It’s not in this for the long haul. Rather than carry on with well-developed tension, the show decides to wrap itself up in a manner that is rushed, sloppy and insulting.

I liked the journey of the first season a lot, but that ending was so terrible that it literally destroys all the drama preceding it so that the slate is wiped clean for a new season. An action show this good shouldn’t need to adhere to a status quo nor should it try to wrap up its entire plot within 12 episodes. I would rather some story elements be left unresolved and put on the shelf for another season to develop properly than be resolved with haste. Were the writers so scared they wouldn’t get a second season that they felt the need to tack on a quick resolution, no matter how ridiculous it may be?

Look, I don’t regret "The Legend of Korra." It was a fun show that gave me some cool visuals and an interesting story. But the conclusion leaves such a bitter taste in your mouth that it makes me very reluctant for a second season. What’s the point of investing time with these characters and this story arc when everything will just be wrapped up with a tacky bow at the end? As much as I hate to side with the jaded fanbase, this is an Avatar fan-fiction. It’s a lavishly realized fan-fiction, perhaps, but deceptive in its storytelling. I’m hoping the second season will change my stance as my love-hate relationship with this show is currently set on hate.