# Avatar: the Legend of Korra **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820 "2012-04-15T04:28:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/1 "2012-04-15T04:28:42Z")
The [new series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Korra) premiered this morning on Nickelodeon. They played the first two of twenty-six episodes, and new episodes will be played Saturday mornings at 10 EST. I would have missed it had my daughter not wanted me to turn off the news. Minor Spoiler (background): It seems in the 70 years since the last series, technology has advanced to the early 20th century (cars, skyscrapers etc…). A new capital city has been built, and a anti-bending movement has begun to take root. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/2 "2012-04-16T15:36:57Z")
I watched it on Saturday morning but I missed the first 15 minutes. So when it came back on later that day I watched it again and then I watched it again yesterday. I like it. I like the story they are setting up and I think it’ll be good like the original. I like Korras polar-bear-dog Naga. I like that air is her hard element to learn. And that Tophs daughter is in it and looks like she will be a semi-regular character. I like that there is an anti-bending movement. I like that the airbenders are making a comeback and that Aangs’ son is a political figure. I like Aangs grandchildren especially the little boy that falls asleep during meditation time. I like that Korra is on the bending team and I hope that is a regular thing. I know the brothers are going to be regular characters and I think that’s cool. I like that the police force uses metal-bending and that according to Wiki was taught by Toph herself. So yeah I love it so far and I think it’ll be a good fun show. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/3 "2012-04-16T16:27:31Z")
Also you can watch the first two episodes on [nick.com](http://nick.com). ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/4 "2012-04-16T18:31:33Z")
I liked it as well. It seems to be aiming for a bit older audience than the original series so I was hoping they wouldn’t lose the humor (which was great in Avatar), and thankfully, there were some very funny parts. Didn’t really get into the “evil non-benders” plotline, but from the previews, it looks like that’s coming soon. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/5 "2012-04-16T19:08:42Z")
I’ve seen the first two episodes and liked both of them. Could be a good one. ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/6 "2012-04-17T11:46:45Z")
Actually, I’m pretty sure it comes on at 11am EST because it fits nicely after CN’s Saturday lineup. I can watch Thundercats, DC Nation, and then finish with Korra. I like the show and I hope people who maybe didn’t watch the original series give it a chance after that terrible movie distorting their perception of the Avatar universe. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/7 "2012-04-17T12:42:19Z")
I loved it. An excellent continuation of the original series, though there were some things I didn’t like. [spoiler]The sport thing. I didn’t care for the focus on sports in Harry Potter, and I don’t care for it in Avatar. I hope it doesn’t continue to take up so much time in further episodes. Toph being dead. Out of the original group, I figured she would be one of the ones still alive, since she was only 9 in the first series. Also, her daughter is a real ass. Glad to see metal bending lived on though, and I hope Korra picks it up eventually. I do like that Katara is still alive. I hope we get to see her in action again. With 70 years to hone her skill, she’s got to be awesome. As for the anti-bender movement, I’m guessing that either Sokka’s kid or grandkid is involved somehow, especially since he was hardly mentioned in either episode.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/8 "2012-04-17T13:14:43Z")
Ayieeeeeeeeeeeee! Ahem. Last Airbender was one of the most awesome cartoons to come down the pipe since Cowbow Bebop. I’m eagerly looking forward to this sucker. Thanks for the heads up. ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/9 "2012-04-17T16:51:35Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Also you can watch the first two episodes on [nick.com](http://nick.com). Watched last night on [nick.com](http://nick.com) with the laptop hooked up to the big screen. Awesome! Thank you [nick.com](http://nick.com) for allowing your content to be viewed outside of the United States of America. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/10 "2012-04-17T18:00:47Z")
I was pretty underwhelmed and think I’ll give the rest of the series a pass, unless I hear it gets better later. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/11 "2012-04-17T19:11:17Z")
> [@piepiepie](#): > > Actually, I’m pretty sure it comes on at 11am EST because it fits nicely after CN’s Saturday lineup. **I can watch Thundercats, DC Nation, and then finish with Korra.** > > I like the show and I hope people who maybe didn’t watch the original series give it a chance after that terrible movie distorting their perception of the Avatar universe. Bolding mine. I watch that too!! Saturday morning cartoons have been something I’ve looked forward to my whole life. Maybe I should have some kids so I can spread the joy. > [@Mr.Accident](#): > > I loved it. An excellent continuation of the original series, though there were some things I didn’t like. > > [spoiler]The sport thing. I didn’t care for the focus on sports in Harry Potter, and I don’t care for it in Avatar. I hope it doesn’t continue to take up so much time in further episodes. > > Toph being dead. Out of the original group, I figured she would be one of the ones still alive, since she was only 9 in the first series. Also, her daughter is a real ass. Glad to see metal bending lived on though, and I hope Korra picks it up eventually. > > I do like that Katara is still alive. I hope we get to see her in action again. With 70 years to hone her skill, she’s got to be awesome. > > As for the anti-bender movement, I’m guessing that either Sokka’s kid or grandkid is involved somehow, especially since he was hardly mentioned in either episode.[/spoiler] In response to point 2 in your spoiler. I really hope they do some flashbacks showing some of the great moments of the old gang all grown up. > [@gregorio](#): > > Watched last night on [nick.com](http://nick.com) with the laptop hooked up to the big screen. Awesome! Thank you [nick.com](http://nick.com) for allowing your content to be viewed outside of the United States of America. Hurray! I’m glad they did that too. This show needs to spread so it stays on the air. Also I’m really glad they included Aang in the title sequence. A nice tribute and nice reminder of the old show. It is weird to seem him all grown up. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/12 "2012-04-17T22:29:59Z")
Thanks goodness for this thread! I had no idea the show had premiered, I thought it was still something like a year away. Amazon Instant has the first episode free in HD, so I watched that, then the second ep on [Nick.com](http://Nick.com) in not-HD. Good start to the series. Korra kicks ass, early and often. [spoiler]It seems the Avatar-verse industrial revolution has really progressed since the last series. The web site calls it “steam punk”. It looks extremely Miyazaki-inspired to me. What did Korra call the cars in Republic City (10:41 of the first ep on [Nick.com](http://Nick.com))? Saddle-mobiles? The only car we see up close was when Korra fought the triad hoods, and it was clearly an internal combustion engine. I loved and hated how Tenzin’s daughter asked Kitara about the fate of Zuko’s mother, and the writers both lampshaded the question and refused to answer it. Bastards. I noticed that some of the second tier characters were clearly spoofs of characters in the old series, e.g. the arena referee was the A:TLA scientist character design, done with a different voice actor and costume. I wonder if this series shares Miyazaki’s conceit that the characters in previous works were really actors, hired for new roles in a newer film/series, e.g. the “Kiki” ‘actress’ appears in at least one other Miyazaki film than “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, but as a different character. Didn’t like what’s obviously being positioned as the series romance angle: Mako and Korra. Maybe it’ll work out story-wise, but you can see this coming a mile away, and it seems terribly unsubtle. I really like the main character. Lotsa character, lotsa rough edges. It is a little weird to see an ass-kicking Avatar with boobs. :)[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/13 "2012-04-18T00:16:07Z")
Yay for [nick.com](http://nick.com) and this thread!!! We had no idea this was out because we don’t have cable and we ignore things in cableverse. But, this is a very good thing and will make my boyfriend happy when he gets home! ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/14 "2012-04-18T02:24:03Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I noticed that some of the second tier characters were clearly spoofs of characters in the old series, e.g. the arena referee was the A:TLA scientist character design, done with a different voice actor and costume. I wonder if this series shares Miyazaki’s conceit that the characters in previous works were really actors, hired for new roles in a newer film/series, e.g. the “Kiki” ‘actress’ appears in at least one other Miyazaki film than “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, but as a different character. I’d go so far as to say that the **majority** of side characters are either someone from the original, a combination of them, or else a spoof. For instance, Tenzin’s three children are (in order) May, Ty Lee, and Boomy. In the pro-bending team, the main two are more or less Sokka and some sort of weird Zuko-May hybrid. Even Korra is Toph-Sokka. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/15 "2012-04-18T03:04:08Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I’d go so far as to say that the **majority** of side characters are either someone from the original, a combination of them, or else a spoof. For instance, Tenzin’s three children are (in order) May, Ty Lee, and Boomy. In the pro-bending team, the main two are more or less Sokka and some sort of weird Zuko-May hybrid. Even Korra is Toph-Sokka. [spoiler]I must be misunderstanding you, or I was not being clear enough in my original comment. I was speaking about a character design that may be clearly and intentionally identical to a different character (with the same character design) in the old series. Not a blend of designs or personality similarities with older characters. Tenzin’s kids design may share similarities with those other character designs you mentioned, but I don’t think they are close matches with the old designs. And I don’t recall ever seeing an infant Boomie in the old series; am I mistaken? While I agree that Korra and Mako and that other sports guy share similarities with other designs, they don’t really look identical to previous character designs. I thought Korra was kind of reminiscent of that Earth Kingdom girl Zuko went on a date with combined with Kitara, but I’d never mistake her artwork for either of those other two characters.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/16 "2012-04-18T13:25:00Z")
> [@piepiepie](#): > > Actually, I’m pretty sure it comes on at 11am EST because it fits nicely after CN’s Saturday lineup. I can watch Thundercats, DC Nation, and then finish with Korra. > > I like the show and I hope people who maybe didn’t watch the original series give it a chance after that terrible movie distorting their perception of the Avatar universe. You’re right, I got my times confused. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/17 "2012-04-18T14:42:58Z")
I watched the first ep last night at nick’s site with my boy (who I call The Boy). Great start so far and we’ll watch the 2nd ep tonight or tomorrow. I do find it interesting how their world went from the equivalent of an ancient civilization to a 20’s style steampunk in about 70 years with cars and cameras and all, but since it’s built within their own world, I can accept it. The reporters with their cameras was an amusing scene. Korra’s great so far. She’s headstrong and tough, but she’s not some one dimensional grumpy teenager. I liked the polar bear dog and am happy that we got to see another flying bison. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/18 "2012-04-18T15:31:24Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I do find it interesting how their world went from the equivalent of an ancient civilization to a 20’s style steampunk in about 70 years with cars and cameras and all, but since it’s built within their own world, I can accept it. The reporters with their cameras was an amusing scene. > . I just wanted to add they didn’t have video cameras, they had flash bulbs and were taking still pictures(Anti-bender guy was listening to Korra on the radio). The Fire Nation was clearly on the verge of something like a industrial revolution, and the FN was unscathed at the end of the war. There was also the inventor guy that took up residence in an abandoned air temple who could have been the source of some of this tech. I imagine with the absolute destruction most of the world faced at the end of the first show rebuilding with new tech would get it accepted faster. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/19 "2012-04-18T17:04:43Z")
The Fire Nation had steam powered ships, so the timeline of industrialization seems realistic. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/20 "2012-04-18T17:25:23Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I do find it interesting how their world went from the equivalent of an ancient civilization to a 20’s style steampunk in about 70 years with cars and cameras and all, but since it’s built within their own world, I can accept it. The reporters with their cameras was an amusing scene. That’s not that much of a jump, really. Or rather, it’s an incredible jump, but about equal to the one we took in the real world at about the same time. In the Avatar world, the Fire Nation already has a massive fleet of ironclad warships at the beginning of the first series - and it’s implied that they’ve had that technology for most (if not all) of the war. Which means they’ve got 170 years of industrialization under their belt. In the real world, the industrial revolution is generally held to have begun around 1750. By 1860, [this](http://www.cityofart.net/bship/rn_affondatore.jpg) was the state of the art in naval engineering. A bit fancier than [this](http://images.wikia.com/avatar/images/3/3e/Fire_Navy_blockade.png), but not by too much. By 1920, - 170 years after the start of the Industrial Revolution - the streets of New York City looked like [this](http://www.nyc-architecture.com/SPEC/028.jpg). Which is pretty much [where we are in the show.](http://images.wikia.com/avatar/images/2/26/Satomobiles.png) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820.md?page=2)