first time watching *LEGEND OF KORRA* (S1 - part one)

[@captainteeko4579]

I saw a comment once that the main difference btwn both avatars is that aang was avatar in a world that desperately needed him but he didn’t want to be avatar. Korra was avatar in a world that didn’t need or want her but she was desperately wanted to be avatar and those distinctions DRASTICALLY changed how they react with the world and how the world reacted to them :)

[@jacobamidon3114]

This is so right. I saw someone say it very simply: ATLA is the story of a person becoming the avatar, TLOK is the story of the avatar becoming a person.

[@KaleRylan]

These are well put. I still think this show has massive problems that could have been avoided with some better plotting, but Korra herself and the underlying theme of the avatar facing a world that's grown past her is in no way the problem.

[@gerardlacroix6015]

I kinda disagree. It sounds good on paper but looking at it in detail, it's obvious the world need an Avatar, in Korra even far more than for Aang's time... It's more about the difference between a very spirited avatar having trouble to learn, against a prodidgy kept away and isolated, being spiritualy deaf.

[@LS-tk7hp]

you can see this or a similar comment under almost every korra (reaction) video but honestly korra fans dont really think far on that one because it just isnt true and LOK went out of its way to prove it by constantly introducing bigger threats than ozai, yeah maybe not amon but unalaq/vartu for sure so explain to me how the world didnt need/want an avatar again?

[@KaleRylan]

@@LS-tk7hp You do realize that just because the answer to a question is 'no' that doesn't mean the question isn't being asked, right? Yes, the story is about the role of the avatar in a modern world that doesn't think it needs her anymore. The answer, because this is a kids' action cartoon, is that yes it does and the ways in which it needs her are quite similar to Aang, but the plot of the show still regularly relies on the idea that just shooting balls of fire at the enemy isn't enough in a modern world.

[@SirPaladin]

Korra is basically a demonstration of the problems encountered by a child prodigy character: she starts off so naturally talented at bending that she has no concept of working to improve things. The second she encounters something she can't just DO she wants to give up on it. OR set it on fire...

[@blackpaw29]

Excellent point, crash and burn is a really problem for prodigies, especially if they've been kept socially isolated as children.

[@TuskyBaby]

And then she learns her lesson when she... just... gets airbending at the perfect moment for no actual reason and wins... Yeah its a decent idea, but the execution is embarrassingly bad.

[@Jcb2db]

@@TuskyBaby no it's really not lmaoooo. Did you watch the show? Airbending is about waiting and patience and ppl learn things and have things click in bad situations. What about in atla? Are you gonna criticize it too bc it did the same with aang and the avatar state. It clicked with him whenever he needed it. Idk where Natalie is at or if she reads the comment sections but she saw what was happening and she needed it. Just like aang with the avatar state. But that's aang so its fine and not a problem. But Korra is not Atla so it is a problem. Smh. Ppl really just wanna hate bc they can't accept this show is good.

[@EM-fl5od]

@@TuskyBabythere was a reason… they literally explained it, Airbending is the most spiritual form of bending and she had a spiritual block, it’s the same reason she never entered the Avatar state until after she lost the block and Aang used energy bending on her to give her back the rest. Also Korra studying and training to learn her hardest element to master but not being able to use it yet is less realistic than Aang just immediately being able to bend fire with the tiniest bit of training??? 💀💀💀

[@bb9a]

mmh, that isnt the reason some people disliked it

[@iDrexcy]

I like how Korra’s hothead personality makes sense. Aang disappeared for 100 years so when the White Lotus found Korra, they put her in a compound and overprotected her to the point where she was given everything and treated above everyone, while also not being able to see any of the outside world. This isn’t exactly the recipe for a humble avatar.

[@roguechevelle]

Exactly. She is polar opposite of Aang due to her upbringing. I think people forget how difficult a journey it was for Zuko to become an alley and not the enemy any longer. Korra has some similar traits to Zuko with being hotheaded, stubborn, and also lashing out at others when they are upset especially with themselves.

[@Jupiter-T]

I saw a comment just now that compared her issues to the problems child prodigies have, which really clicks in my mind. Many child prodigies are overconfident, yet are impatient with things they can't master instantly, because their whole self-worth is based around their skill, and failing at things makes them feel worthless. So their inner mood can swing from self-aggrandizement to anxiety to self-loathing and back very quickly. In some cases, their training or talent leads them to live a life separated from other kids their age, so they can end up socially inept. (spoilers for later in the season) You see that every time Korra's bending, strength, ability, etc. are removed in some way, she falls into a state of not knowing how to cope. She loses her sense of self-worth and purpose. This is sadly a thing that ends up happening to child prodigies quite a lot, and it's something she'll need to learn about.

[@martymcflown3707]

The way that Natalie got something so right in these first few episodes is hilarious.

[@iegendkilla8559]

No for real

[@pepsipwns666]

Haha so funny. Such a vibe I guess

[@officialmonarchmusic]

It really is

[@WanMemeTong]

Especially predicting asami plot line lol

[@officialmonarchmusic]

@@WanMemeTong Don't spoil it

[@Fordo007]

Korra’s character makes sense when you realize she grew up her whole life isolated and being told she is the Avatar and everything is her responsibility. Aang’s mistake of leaving and there being no avatar threw the world into chaos. They rubber banded in the other direction with Korra and drilled in her responsibility. Korra’s whole person and identity IS being the Avatar. She gets frustrated and angry so quickly because she thinks any failure on her part will doom the world to another disaster. Aang mastered all 4 elements years before Korra. She thinks she’s behind and everyone is holding her back and that she’s falling behind, so she lashes out.

[@mitchhamilton64]

still doesnt justify her from being a complete moron

[@organizerbmo]

There was a similar problem with a character in Insomniacs after School - they explained that since she grew up surrounded by adults (working at parents restaurant) she was showered with attention which messed up her personality a bit in terms of being cocky and always the center of attention

[@olliewithane6933]

And there is also this narrative that "Aang was human and needed to learn to be the avatar, Korra was the avatar and needed to learn to be human"

[@maycontainviolence5587]

Thank you for the great post. Korra is a flawed character,, she's not perfect like so many recent "heroines" especially spat out by Disney. Which is why she feels so much more real. I connected with Korra much quicker than I did with Aang. I am SO glad they didn't make her a gender-bend of Aang. That would have been the safe thing to do, but not one I would have liked. LoK challenged our perception of what it takes to be an Avatar in a time that, as of THIS moment, may not have needed one. But eventually does.

[@Mallard942]

Definitely not what I saw, responsibility is the last thing from her mind and responsibility was what made Aang run. Based on her upbringing and the people around her, I don't understand how she became what she is.

[@Polymathically]

It's amazing how accurate some of her comments were. She's going to look back at these early reactions and laugh.

[@mitchhamilton64]

probably because the show is so predictable

[@rezoannur2333]

@@mitchhamilton64 lmao. you're such a child

[@ogakemmy5634]

Lmaoo she made a good guess about korras sexuality

[@TroubleShotVFX]

@@mitchhamilton64 About as predictable as the first show. Korra is better than Last Airbender.

[@zbrownbb]

@@TroubleShotVFXcan’t compare it

[@dodiswatchbobobo]

When you think about it, all of our original characters were exceptionally mature for their ages, whether by growing up in a warzone, a palace of intrigue, a globetrotting nation of philosophers. Korra is as sheltered a teen as you can get, having grown up in a compound at the South Pole from the age of 3. Every other Avatar we know of didn’t learn until their 16th birthday. And they learned the elements by traveling to seek out teachers.

[@lilscenechick1995]

Very true. Korra was extremely sheltered and isolated. She also grew up knowing she was the Avatar. It's no wonder she developed a little overconfidence in her abilities. Training in an isolated environment is a lot different than being on the field. Korra was right about needing to learn modern fighting styles.

[@jameshunt9208]

It's similar to people today vs people 70 years ago. Students used to bring their rifles to school during hunting season all the time and we didn't have all these mass shootings. Nowadays, people are much less mature and are rarely held accountable for their actions growing up.

[@tirex3673]

I do want to note, that in hindsigh knowing, what we learn from the novels quite a few avatars had things gone wrong with the „learning they are the avatar at their 16th birthday“ business. -Yangchen: figured it out herself at age 9, after her having periods of basically getting haunted by past avatars memories. -Kyoshi: Someone else got mistakenly identified as the Avatar, she did still find it out, when she was 16, but more on accident. -Aang: got told, when he was 12. -Korra: found out herself, when she started bending three elements at age 6. Basicall, the only ones, where we know, that everything went to plan are Roku & Kuruk.

[@dodiswatchbobobo]

@@tirex3673 okay but look, the avatar tradition isn’t really the main point of my comment

[@tirex3673]

@@dodiswatchbobobo I know, I agree with the rest your comment, just wanted to correct this one detail.

[@CrossOutBryce]

I'm glad she reads comments to better understand the shows approach to Korra's character. So many youtubers just hate on her blindly without trying to understand why she is the way she is.

[@calebrichardson5259]

You know it's possible to just not like a character right?

[@py16667]

⁠@@calebrichardson5259You know it’s possible for the reasons behind why a character is the way they outwardly are to be complex & overall very well written, to be understood & appreciated, even if you don’t like said character?

[@jeebuz777]

It definitely is. But Korra aint' that. @@py16667

[@ivybennett2274]

@@calebrichardson5259 and you know not liking a character isnt the same as a character being poorly written?

[@calebrichardson5259]

You guys are just reaching lol. Don't know why you're trying so hard to neglect the fact that people can find their reasons to not like a character. If "so many" people don't like the character, the character is probably just unlikable in some form

[@sombresunset]

Watching Natalie finally react to Korra is like reading the poetry of my favourite sage Guru Laghima

[@hmonsalve74]

I understood that reference.

[@lidusrac4075]

Me to

[@Heavensrun]

Enter the void. Empty, and become wind.

[@nicholassmith7984]

@@Heavensrun I read that is Henry Rollins's voice...

[@MichaelDavis2754]

"when you base your expectations only on what you see you blind yourselves to the possibilities of a new reality"

[@paularonald8626]

The Legend of Korra's financing was always touch & go from the beginning, so each Season reaches a decisive conclusion because they were never sure if they'd get to continue the story into a new season.

[@roguechevelle]

Exactly. It makes it really hard to have a cohesive arch when you don't know if you'll be able to finish one. Honestly learning about all the issues behind the scenes with funds being cut and the creators feeling like their walking on eggshells I'm surprised what they were able to accomplish with this show.

[@cloudwatcher608]

Fun fact: the Oregon Zoo has a red panda named Pabu, I can only imagine named after the fire ferret in this show

[@Xonslaught1]

I love how beautiful the animation is

[@karlwilker579]

The fight scenes give off a whole different feel than in ATLA, in a good way.

[@chaost4544]

The art and animation are top notch in this series.

[@scruffd0g193]

The improved animation led to some awesome fight scenes. The new style of bending with characters having their own technique was very cool to watch.

[@ThatFreikugel]

The amazing work of Studio Mir.

[@watchmesquatch]

I love how bad the story is.

[@lissurko5267]

I love how Korra feels like the opposite of Aang, it lets the creators be able to explore totally different problems in the same world. They feel like two sides of the same coin and I love them both for different reasons.

[@Heavensrun]

It's part of the buddhist philosophy. With each reincarnation you build on the things you lacked in the last, always striving for balance and enlightenment.

[@denmoore92]

Yes, the way Korra just wants to be the avatar so bad and how aang was so reluctant to accept it is such a good point of view and building on the storytelling

[@ashanova.]

Agreed!

[@orangegalen]

Best contrast is Aang saying "I never wanted to be the avatar" with everyone saying "The world needs you Avatar/Aang," then with Korra she says "All I wanted was to be the avatar" then she's told several times to her face (esp with Amon) "The world doesn't need you anymore Avatar."

[@KaleRylan]

I struggle immensely with this show, but barring one or two bits, Korra herself is not why. She's a very good character for the most part

[@0xFluke]

Aang was an avatar who never wanted to be, but the people of the age needed him to become it. Korea grew up wrapping her whole identity in being the avatar, in an age when the people moved past needing one. This is a great series ❤

[@StephanieOrta]

I love this show! So happy you decided to pick it up. You gotta remember Korra is a sheltered teen who thinks she has it all figured out, part of the joy is watching her grow as a character. Also just a heads up that korra is most “annoying” at the beginning of season 2, the teenage angst is at all time high. I blame Nickelodeon for telling them they only had 1 season then dropping a second one on the creators so they had to pull back some plot points.

[@yannym4605]

Imprisoned and emotionally abused. People often forget that due to her larger than life personality that she had been imprisoned in a temple for the vast majority of her life often being talked down to condescendingly by a bunch of old men until she was finally old, and powerful enough to break out and run away.

[@Pink.andahalf]

Always funny watching Korra fans cope.

[@Step43099]

@@Pink.andahalfDamn imagine just liking a show and looking beyond the surface level. Shits crazy

[@thehoogard]

@@Pink.andahalf always funna watching ATLA fanboys shit on Korra because it isn't the show they grew up on.

[@macready84]

"grow"

[@paulgaston]

Thank you for blessing me with this reaction Natalie. I've eagerly anticipated this. 😭

[@NatalieGoldReacts]

Thank you for blessing me by WATCHING!! Hehe

[@foxross]

Naga is actually Appa 0.0 since that was the design that was going to be used for Appa before they settled on bison.

[@ItchyNavel]

Season 1 is actually my favorite season of Korra, 2 went off the rails a bit, but it got progressively better in 3 and 4. Season 1 is a great self-contained story.

[@Misfitstein]

2 was my favorite ngl lol it set up so much for 3 and 4.

[@Loliston]

​@@MisfitsteinIt surely did! But I guess people didn't liked the villain as much, myself included But I can find stuff to enjoy every season of this show

[@trueblaze84]

@@Misfitstein The villian and ending weren't very good, but for the most part the rest was pretty good. Unfortiantly those first two things are what most people remember of the season.

[@kamron_thurmond]

​@@MisfitsteinSeason 2 has my two favorite episodes in it. Avatar Wan's 2 episode Arc is phenomenal.

[@FatLittleButterfly]

I liked 3 & 4, but 2 was needed as a setup for 3&4. Spoiler alert* . . . . . . They kind of mocked season 2 villains later on xD

[@The_Greg_5000]

If you've ever studied animation you know how special this show is. Every frame has movement and action in it , its never static or boring. Anime shows have individual episodes approaching this level of animation but they are never this consistent. In the world of 2D animation this is the benchmark for me.

[@celestinebuendia]

I’ve never studied animation, but as a big animation/anime fan, watching this show, mostly this season where they were at the peak of their budget, astonishes me. The animation is so consistently fluid and expressive in ways that anime known for having incredible animation doesn’t even have. Just watching the night fight/chase has my jaw on the floor.

[@buzimm]

Nah. there are a lot of anime with higher quality and consistency than this show, you just don't know them

[@Austin.Kilgore]

Well the first half of S2 is lacking tbh but it picks back up in the 2nd half of the season

[@ItsJustFox]

I love Korra. She's one of the few modern girl boss characters who the creators and writers were not afraid to let go through and overcome struggles and trauma, then grow from them, even despite her starting off overpowered.

[@brynndolynn]

They are different shows and I think as long as you go into it knowing that you have fun! Season 3 is the best and getting to that season alone is worth it. I also really liked the ending to this series!

[@joncarpenter-smith9801]

I think a lot of people expected it to be more of the same, like a Season 4 of ATLA and when it was different weren’t interested

[@KaleRylan]

​@@joncarpenter-smith9801that's an overstatement. It made some poor decisions and they clearly agreed cause they made several course corrections throughout, many of which in turn had other couse corrections. That said, I think 1 and 3 are quite good and 4 is... interesting? 2 I'd throw out a window if it weren't for the past episodes

[@butterflymage5623]

@@KaleRylanwell no, they had to make course corrections because it was written with the timelines they recieved at the time.

[@fbch32]

@@butterflymage5623 both. There were a lot of poor decisions that could've probably been corrected properly if it weren't for how Nick handled it, but at the end of the day, it started with poor decisions

[@Halfrican-American]

I absolutely love the music that plays at the end of Episode 2 when Korra and Mako are both looking across the water to each other. It's so beautiful and underrated, but never used again.

[@roguechevelle]

The soundtrack is amazing!

[@eileencrys]

So happy you're watching Korra as well! Most of the series's problems came from Nickelodeon who repeatedly tried to sabotage what the writers wanted to, they had to work on each season without knowing whether they could continue or not so they had to cut things short rather than having one long story, Nick wasn't on board with having a young adult, female protagonist of color (for a cartoon that was targeted for teen/preteen boys) and DEFINITELY they didn't want her to be bisexual so the writers had to leave that in the sequel comics. Thankfully they managed to make a great product anyway 🙏🏻💕

[@Psychotol]

Anyone addressing Korra: "it isn't safe." Korra: "Lemme at it, lemme at it."

[@aubryellaotero1064]

Everyone’s reaction to Asami coming in to play is so funny, she’s absolutely my fav

[@starkid910]

It’s always A. Suspicion B. Infatuation, or C. All of the above

[@IDiggPattyMayonnaise]

She also turns Korra gay which is pretty cool.

[@jsmithers.]

​@@IDiggPattyMayonnaiseHot*

[@unculturedswine5881]

Fun fact: a lot of ppl get that suspicious vibe bc the creators were setting it up like that. Asami was originally planned to be an antagonist, being an equalist spy for Amon to infiltrate Korra’s group. I kinda wished they went with their original plan, maybe she would’ve gotten a good lil redemption arc

[@KaleRylan]

​@@unculturedswine5881it also would have given her a trait besides being perfect and brilliant and beautiful and understanding no matter how many times her friends and family betray her.

[@Tarikkb]

You always amaze me with your emotional intelligence , guesses and what you expect from the show and they always match with what’s happening and what’s about to happen with the show , you just get it 👏🏼✨

[@Heavensrun]

I've been so curious to see her watch this.

[@bob513993]

“Not as strong as ATLA, but still good in its own right” is a fair assessment of this series, imo. It focuses on totally different subject material and it does it well, but Aang’s story was a lightning in a bottle kind of catch.

[@mellowscorpio]

Natalie is right about the theme of GROWTH it’s a huge part of my enjoyment of this show

[@organizerbmo]

especially in later seasons with PTSD, it's ridiculously relatable and down-to-earth

[@Aaron-hv4hr]

Yeah first season Korra and last season Korra are two completely different people

[@Jupiter-T]

@@organizerbmo Oh gosh yeah, hopefully she's not reading the comments for spoilers, but the later seasons kicked me in the gut with those themes.

[@samminicksm]

I think Korra’s mindset makes a lot of sense for her upbringing. She was naturally gifted with 3/4 of the elements from a VERY young age. She was also the daughter of a world leader. She was then whisked away to a VERY SHELTERED life in the white lotus compound with the best masters of the elements they could provide her. She has been constantly impressed upon with idea that she is the single most important bender in the entire world. She’s almost never experienced real consequences for her actions because the white lotus and her father, the chief, have always been there to pick up the pieces and effectively reset the training ground. All of her bending training has happened in a cushy (relative to Aang’s life or death survival need for mastery) training ground for most of her life. She is also a 16 year old. All of that breeds a certain level of self-importance, ego, and lack of awareness. Baby girl is stumbling face first into real life with no concept of consequences or common sense. It’s like kids going off to college and living alone/as an adult for the first time and realizing they know absolutely nothing about how the world really works because they were deeply sheltered and constantly told they were the best. The wake up call is brutal and she, like many, doesn’t handle it well; she lashes out physically because she feels like a defenseless animal backed into a corner. She’s also at that stage in life where she is beginning to realize the adults in her life are also flawed human beings. In ways we rarely ever saw Aang have to do, Korra is throw into the socio-political sphere of the world. It takes political scientists years of study to understand the intricacies of politics, and yet people expect a 16 y/o sheltered CHILD to understand it and be an active player in it. Of course she is going to be easily manipulated. She still understands the world in a very black and white manner and hasn’t really gotten into all the facets of the gray. Aang grew up as a monk, constantly grappling with morality and the balance of life and death. Those lessons, by nature of the Avatar cycle, are literally last on her list. Above all else, she is a dumbass kid with all the emotional regulation a regular teenager has with the power of 3 elements in her hands. Teenagers make dumb decisions. They aren’t as optimistic as middle schoolers (the age range of The Gaang when we were with them), but they are still in that age where they think they’re hot shit and are indestructible. Where she is when the story begins makes perfect sense.

[@floydfelix5676]

as someone who was an angsty hot headed know-it-all teenager i have a soft spot for Korra lol. i love her development throughout the series so much, excited to see you watch this series!

[@kaijingarou6526]

Natalie: "As long as Korra's not another Avatar..." Me: "Off to a great start" 🤣

[@melanie62954]

I mean, the show is called Avatar: The Legend of Korra 😆

[@kaijingarou6526]

@@melanie62954 It's not actually

[@cjjackson2423]

​@@kaijingarou6526lmaooo

[@IDiggPattyMayonnaise]

​​​​@@kaijingarou6526It ACTUALLY is the original name. Then to 'The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra.' Then finally to just 'Legend of Korra.' It's all because James Cameron copyrighted Avatar. The show was originally just called 'Avatar' not 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.' That was added after they started production. The creators made it LoK because they wanted it to stand on its own and not remind people of The Last Airbender

[@kaijingarou6526]

@@IDiggPattyMayonnaise Yeah I know and that's OK as a fun fact but it's not how it's named officially now, so it's only natural that Natalie didn't find that obvious.

[@josebeteta8283]

I enjoy Legend of Korra SO much! I’m glad you’re starting it. I think it’s a more grown up series than Aang’s, although not necessarily better or worse. Just different. Aang is a kid who matures. Korra is a teenager when we start, so her growth is different.

[@fbch32]

LOK is definitely worse. Yea it feels more mature, but it comes off more like it's trying too hard to be mature. Kind of like a wanna be tough guy acting so damn hard like he can beat everyone up. I remember there was a video about LOK that went over the show that really got into what I didn't like but I forgot what it was called lol

[@Jupiter-T]

@@fbch32 Your opinion is valid, but with these two shows, there's not really an objective or definite statement you can make about overall goodness. It's subjective.

[@METerrell]

I think that how fans feel about Legend of Korra depends a lot on if they were kids when they watched AtLA or adults. Fans that were adults when they watched AtLA tend to like LoK better those who were kids watching the Last Airbender. I think part of why they made her a prodigy who knew 3 of the elements right away is so that they didn't have to go through her training, since their viewers had already watched Aang train water, earth, and fire. What wasn't shown was the airbending training or the spiritual side. Aang was already a master at airbending and was also very spiritual, plus they also thought they'd only have one season of Legend of Korra & didn't want to and really didn't have the time spend on going through the other elements again.

[@Kreepie11]

Really? That's an interesting thought - but I'm the opposite. I watched both as an adult and was very disappointed with Korra - everything fell flat for me, even though they tried to make it more mature than the original. The character building just wasn't the same tier, and all the conflicts felt benign even though they were supposed to be the opposite. Obviously, I still watched it all, and I'm here for the reaction (at least the first one), but I have no love for any of the Korra characters except Tenzin's family.

[@28starwarsfan]

​@@Kreepie11I'm in exactly the same boat, and I have friends there as well. I didn't watch ATLA until I was in my mid 20s and I had to have my arm twisted to do so. I loved it. Still do. Even rewatching it so many times, now with my kids, it holds up. I also agree that character building was the strongest part of the first series and a real weak point here. Before characters could ever be flushed out to their fullest, it always seemed that TLOK introduced more character and sidelined the previous. That's what it's always felt like to me. Imagine a bit into season 2 of ATLA they sideline Zuko and introduce two new characters that weren't there before. Then, just when they are getting interesting, season 3 introduces 3 more new characters that replace these two in focus. That was always what I felt like was going on here. And the season to season change without overarching story and character really didn't work for me. Most of that was the fault of Nickelodeon never committing to more than one season at a time. That crippled so much potential. There's a bunch I liked (particularly in the first season and the Red Lotus later on), but the good and the potential was consistently drowned out for me with the other issues.

[@crystalwang1532]

@@28starwarsfanTry consistently drowned out by the studio’s sabotage. There’s going to be some issues if the writers never knew if they were getting another season, constantly had their funding cut, and consistently had their deadlines shifted

[@28starwarsfan]

@@crystalwang1532 oh yeah, they were totally undercut by that. Each season they were handicapped that way. I think I mentioned such in my comment. But that made the introduction of new characters all the more confusing to me. Not that they shouldn't have new character, but that they didn't know if they'd have enough time to flesh them out and really take them through their journeys because they never knew if they had another season to work with. And each new season they got was a great opportunity to go back to existing characters and focus on them more--like diving into Zuko more each successive season. I think it was also a great opportunity to pick up on the consequences and threads of the season before. I'm particularly thinking of resuming the bender vs nonbender conflict that just seemed to end fro S1 to S2. But the studio totally did knee-cap so much potential. It's frustrating.

[@Seth748]

Since I haven’t seen anyone else mention it - Mako is named after the OG voice actor for Uncle Iroh. He sadly passed away from throat cancer during the 2nd season of TLA.

[@habodea]

Korra has its own vibe and I really like how they manage to create a futuristic society from what we've known from Avatar Aang's time period

[@dodiswatchbobobo]

It’s not really futuristic. It’s 1920’s Hong Kong with a few extra blimps.

[@Chronal-Rend]

​@@dodiswatchboboboI think it is completely realistic given the new cooperation between all bending styles

[@dodiswatchbobobo]

@@Chronal-Rend Yes. That was my point to the OP. It’s not futuristic. It’s the 1920’s. It’s not even accelerated. Compared to the Fire Nation’s steam power, this is a natural place for technology to be 75 years later.

[@crystalwang1532]

@@dodiswatchboboboit’s futuristic compared to ATLA. ATLA is believably set in imperial East Asian so around the 1800s. Making 1920s inspired settings futuristic for ATLA

[@cdba_]

Im so excited for this series! I used to be obsessed with Legend of Korra as a kid.

[@toxicheadshot360]

You were obsessed with this? I mean it was good but not sure it's anything to be obsessed over

[@Zombiesnyder13]

#TVspecial4LegendOfKorra

[@ToonRaider]

Omg I'm 23 and I was obsessed with Avatar as a kid 😂 you just made me feel old

[@Oneryeone]

@@toxicheadshot360 Living up to your username there, aren't ya bud?

[@cjoseph369]

@@toxicheadshot360a different opinion had you bothered that much?

[@Quantum_Bluntz]

I like both ATLA and Korra personally. They both are masterpieces in their own right.

[@Alex-kd5xc]

Masterpieces for different reasons imo. ATLA has the better story/writing/characters, Korra has better visuals/animation/action and also has some very interesting characters. I always tell people I think ATLA is far better but that Korra is certainly still worth watching.

[@VladThanatos]

Then you're wrong.

[@means_well]

Studio Mir had no right going as hard as they did on the animation in Korra. It's so good.

[@santiagoargayo778]

​@@VladThanatosRight, korra is more enjoyable

[@raghavjavangula9686]

@@santiagoargayo778stop bro Korra is good but not as good as atla 💀💀

[@naveenmagapu4670]

OMG I can't believe you are finally doing this! I've been asking for this for years! Thank you and don't let the haters give you preconceived negativity regarding this show. It's still an amazing show and essential to truly understand the universe.

[@haleymatlock7306]

The legend of Korra is extremely underrated in my opinion. I saw a comment once saying, the last Airbender was about a person learning to be the avatar, Korra is about an avatar learning to be a person. It’s better when watched with the mindset of it being it’s own show.

[@officialliamg2114]

YESSS i’m so happy you posted this. i love this show and korra so much!! you’re going to love her i feel!

[@adhdreamer]

Non-spoiler info: -Korra happens about 70 years after ALTA (approx equal to our 1920s) -There's some comics that happen between ATLA and Korra, and in one comic they explain they found an island in the fire nation that contained air bison (you'll notice Tenzen's air bison Oogie has different # of stripes and ears are different color) -Mako character is named after Iroh's voice actor Mako (RIP) -Tenzin and Gyatso(Aang's airbending teacher pre-iceberg) are named after the (current?) Dahli Llama, Tenzin Gyatso -Nickelodeon tried their best to destroy this show. unknown state of each season, surprised budget cuts, moving to all online (a death sentence back then) so seasons are a bit more conpartmentalized compared to ATLA.

[@thispersonwriting1889]

Solid summary.

[@starkid910]

22:46 THANK YOU so much for picking up on this important detail in Korra’s backstory. A lot of people don’t understand just how stunting that can be to someone’s social development - Korra’s character growth is so informed by her backstory it’s honestly such great writing. Sure, it makes her frustrating to watch at times, but just think about how frustrating things are from her perspective? Especially her frustration with herself over not being instantly good at airbending like she was with the other elements. It’s the pressure/challenge she’s been denied since she was 4, only getting to work on the things that came naturally to her, and now at 17 she’s having to learn how to deal w/ failure for the first time while also meeting people her age for the first time & romance for the first time, not to mention the pressure of living up to the legacy of Aang & all the Avatars before him, etc. etc. + her first villain comes out and labels her a failure before she’s even truly done anything and uses a power that could take away everything she’s worked for from age 4-present? Let anyone try and navigate all of that gracefully, I dare them lol I love this show, probably too much 🤷 it’s just so human in a lot of ways, especially where Korra’s story goes in Book 4. And human = messy at times, and yeah, it’s not a perfect show, but no show is 🤷

[@MichaelDavis2754]

Voice In The Night is probably one of my favorite episodes from season 1 it would make sense Korra is scared because of Amon and his power and the fact that her bending more than one element is basically her identity at least that's how she sees it

[@Jupiter-T]

Oh definitely. She judges her own value based on her skill too, so she wouldn't even know what to do without her bending. And of course, simply being attacked and then unable to move or defend yourself when an evil person is threatening you would be scary enough on its own. She's never dealt with that before - she has no experience with traumatic fear because she's always been protected in a compound.

[@Wolfking309]

I don't know if this was mentioned already here, but each season for Legend of Korra wasn't planned out from season one. The writers were only green lit one season at a time so they figured to just have each season have its own enemy, unlike in The Last Airbender where they were guaranteed 3 seasons from the start.

[@davido.1233]

I went into Legend of Korra with a skeptical mind and ended up loving it a lot. Looking back on my experience, it's refreshing to get almost the same reactions from Natalie.

[@silentassason]

This is gonna be a super interesting series to watch you react to. I always loved your insights into the emotional part of the movies and TV shows you've reacted to and super excited to see your journey through this show. Yeah Korra takes a little getting used to at first but I think she's a super relatable character

[@samwilson3761]

I used to not like Season 1 of Korra, but it improved for me DRAMATICALLY on rewatch. The entire show actually holds up incredibly well on a second viewing.

[@TrueHDR]

Natalie got "lesbian vibes" off of korra already on ep2 but people still felt like it was outta left field she ended up with you know who 😂👏

[@cmm3022]

Fr fr I love how she notices that 👀

[@rashadd2615]

I love and have watched both shows multiple times and can confidently say Legend of Korra is a great show and am sure you will enjoy it just fine.

[@raf_a_xx]

i randomly came accross one of you LOK reactions (i think it was s3) and i watched a part of it and already loved it so i decided to give it a try from the beginning 😭the few takes that i heard from you were so real so i'm thinking i'll enjoy watching your reaction

[@AdderMoray]

Avatars are  all built to fight the  last war and tend to find difficulty in their own modern day challenges. Korra was born an incredibly proficient martial bender because that's what the 100 years war needed. Aang was born a talented diplomat because the war may have never happened if Roku had really sat down and talked to Sozin instead of threatening him into compliance. Roku was staunch and unbending because Kyoshi's compromise created the greatest internal threat to Ba Sing Se. Kyoshi excelled at shotgun diplomacy because Kuruk spent his life trying to clean up after Yangchen wrecked shop, etc.

[@gamerbear84]

That's a really interesting take, cool. :)

[@thispersonwriting1889]

I'm imagining the avatarpicking stats for his new character and the DM grinning wickedly.

[@Lady_Yunalesca]

I really love this show. I know not everyone does and it’s not without its problems, but I think it’s still really great. And I think the journey Korra has as a character is very interesting. I like how different her entire setup is from Aang. He was very much a ‘reluctant chosen one’ and got to be a normal kid for the first 12 years of his life. Korra…Korra has always known she’s the chosen one. Being the chosen one is what defines her, and she has doesn’t her entire life training to be that chosen one. It makes for very interesting things with her character- I like how flawed and rough she is.

[@Shabbot]

I'm a fan of the idea that every Avatar is an overcorrection for the previous avatar

[@jstarwars360]

19:38 - That window reflection is an incredibly awesome touch that most probably wouldn't have noticed or cared about, yet someone still put who knows how many hours into including it on top of whatever else they needed to do.

[@TawfeekHassan]

Omg I have literally been BEGGING for you to watch Korra and I’m so excited

[@soflyedits322]

LMAOO honestly so happy you're watching korra. it's not for everyone but if you love atla and are open minded, it's a real treat. also the lesbian vibes thing killed me xD

[@CrazeeAdam]

Right? Imagine, Korra, a Nickelodeon protagonist, lesbian?? Yeah right :p

[@beckymiller2536]

I also found Korra extremely annoying at first, but I found that she grew on me after some good character development and she became one of my favorite characters on the show. Tenzin will always be number one for me though

[@Loliston]

*spoilers for the show ahead* Tenzin is so badass, he's the true example of an Airbender master, and much of that has to deal with Aang for sure, for better and for worst Particularly I think one of the reason he didn't marry Lin was to make sure his sons and daughters would be airbenders

[@mysticfox1663]

Korra gors through it! Her emotional journey is so intense and vant wait to see you get to the later seasons.

[@foxross]

You know what Nat, I love your videos anyway but, some days when I’m feeling depressed I watch your stuff and I’m really grateful that you tell me to get a drink and a snack because it forces me out of bed to feed and look after myself. So thanks for that as well as all the rest of the content.

[@FernandoTorres-bl6ul]

The fact that I just subscribe to your channel and I was hoping you reacted to this show cuz is one of my fav series and than here you are reacting to this show love that 🙌🏼🙌🏼 also love you content

[@jameswg13]

Korra is a great show and the limitations were mainly due to the network rather than the studio making the show

[@LD_92]

Nickelodeon shares partial blame but bad writing is still bad writing. That’s the creators fault.

[@eliteteamkiller319]

@@LD_92 What bad writing? I see no bad writing. I just see something less than the absolutely lightning in a bottle that was ATLA. You can't match that. Korra in and of itself is a very good show.

[@LD_92]

@@eliteteamkiller319 The retconning of the lore which the creators themselves have admitted to doing is a big problem. Korra’s terrible decision making and insufferable side characters to name a few things.

[@almas4663]

@@eliteteamkiller319 The retcons of the lore, the butchering if the iconic setting, love triangles, unfunny comic reliefs, annoying protagonist

[@Zanroff]

@@LD_92 the studio wanted to make a single season of Korra. Nickelodeon decided they wanted more seasons while they were in the middle of season 1. Sometimes, we can blame the studio entirely for issues. This is one of them. They had to cram it with crap to meet the network's demand. In contrast, they storyboarded all three seasons of ATLA before they started. They did not have that ability for Korra.

[@Odaniboi]

Whoo!! I’m glad you’re checking this one out! I was honestly wondering if you were going to make videos for it haha! I’ve watched other reactors get into this show, and most of them ended up liking this one more after the show gets into its prime seasons. Sure, there are some issues, but ATLA had a couple too. I look forward to the rest!!

[@ThePalOfDal]

I love the direction they took with this show. The creators had an amazing vision for this series. Though because of all the micromanaging that happened with nickelodeon I understand why some seasons did not work as well as they could have. This show is a very different story from the original and I love that. Such complex narrative. You know it's a good story when you can empathize with the antagonist and understand both sides of a disagreement. Looking forward to your reaction of the rest of the season and especially season 3.

[@ohchristusername]

Very happy to see you watch this, it's a great show on its own that's both a lot of the same but also completely different undertones.

[@af3897]

"i thought korra was gonna be a lesbian" *nervous laughter*

[@Samisnotamused]

So glad to see you reacting to Korra! Despite Nickelodeon's best efforts to ruin this show it still turned out to be a really enjoyable watch! Yes it has it's flaws, but considering everything the team working on Korra had to put up with, they did a fantastic job!

[@disky01]

I loved Korra. It definitely has its issues due to production problems within the studio, but the setting, characters and culture are all so cool and fun! Oh, and J.K. Simmons as Tenzin! The absolute legend.

[@kaijingarou6526]

31:35 Nah you've got the right to mistrust Asami. A hot girl happens to run over Mako, recognize him, invite him to dinner, cover the ante for his tournament and seemingly fall in love with him in a matter of hours? It's suspicious as hell.

[@andalilbitqueer]

Fun Fact: Tarlok was partly written in as a way for Dee Bradley Baker (the voice actor for Appa, Momo, and every other creature in the franchise) to play a major character and to show off his skills.

[@godkingsosa6811]

im heading to patreon right now. i need that episode 5 reaction lol. the fact that u understand that korra is stunted emotionally and lacks understanding of manipulation tactics being isolated all her life helps with your takes on korra being so harsh that i can laugh about them with u.

[@DokkanG0D]

Wow I forgot you could even react to this, I’m so excited! I love this show so much, when I watched it I was a college student so I was able to pick up on a lot of the themes and just how dark it was vs being a kid with atla, most of it just flying right over my head at the time. I can’t wait to take this journey with you too

[@jacobherrera8735]

As multiple people stated, Korra is actually a really well written character. The complete opposite of Aang, and she realizes the weight of what she carries as the Avatar. She knows how Aang's failures hurt the world, but also how he triumphed through them. So when something goes wrong, she feels as though she is failing miserably at being the Avatar. Also, she's experiencing a lot of emotions we never got to see with Aang. When Aang found out he was the Avatar, he didn't know what really came with that, and the responsibility he had. His guilt came as a response to something he already did and failed at. Korra, on the other hand, is purely reacting to what she hasn't done yet. She is trying to overcompensate and trying to prevent failures, so when she does inevitably fail at things, they weigh much harder because she's trained longer than Aang did when he ended the 100 Year War. Also, the ending scene between Korra and Tenzin is so beautiful to me, and it reminds us that Korra is only a teenager trying to deal with the weight of the world on her shoulders. She's also never really failed at anything up until this point in her life, her being a prodigy and all, so this is all new to her.

[@fbch32]

It's been a while since I've seen the show but the most I can give it is that, at its best, this show is good enough and most of the time it's average.

[@DarkKnightBatman420]

I’m happy that you are enjoying it. It took me longer to warm up to it but I did get into it.

[@GrizzyLatrizzy]

I binged the entire Last Airbender series over a weekend in 2010. Korra was special to me because I started with episode 1 when it aired, and got to speculate plot points with other fans and my girlfriend. The twist with Amon, I never saw it coming.

[@terriermonisgod]

this channel always helps to boost my mood :3

[@josebeteta8283]

I love the episode “A Leaf in the Wind”! We got a good look at air bender training, which Aang only gave us glimpses of before. I also hope to see more Probending. Truly magnificent addition to add a sport where all nations can partake (except air bender cause there weren’t any of them). With the new Avatar series coming in 2027, I hope they expand on all of these Edit: New Avatar series comes out in 2027, not 2025

[@Metzwerg74]

since "Firefly/Serenity" the "a leaf on the wind" phrase always has me having mixed feelings...

[@emptyasmrman]

Yaaaaay!!!! I love Korra! I know a lot of people (myself included) struggles through season 2 but I like everything as a whole. Since the studio got fucked over a lot.

[@JcFerggy]

I don't want to spoil anything, but you made some very astute observations in this reaction.

[@blackpaw29]

Yup, one was quite out of the blue but so close...

[@omarespinoza5545]

Love you Natalie!! great to see you enjor The Legend of Korra, Hope you love it

[@captironsight]

I wish there was a documentary for how this show was treated by Nickelodeon. I loved this show, and its reputation has gone up and down through the years. It was undervalued and held to an unatainable standard, but I truly think it is the Star Wars prequels of the Nick animation world.

[@DrSmurrie]

Last time I rewatched Legend of Aang of course I was blown away but every time I follow up with Korra just the vibes of her era blow me away me so much more, as well as the topics that get handled. I think neither is the better one, there's just so much to love!

[@fbch32]

ATLA is leagues better and I'm talking HS football team vs NFL team difference. And theres not a lot to love about LOK

[@Jcb2db]

I will say it's really good that you are going in open minded and I wanna say the best comparison I've seen of this show is that Atla is about a person who needs to learn how to become the avatar. While LOK is about the avatar who needs to learn how to interact and be a person. I love this show and I hope you do too! Can't wait!

[@Metzwerg74]

@@niklasericsson2234 and the other ones have real good character arc´s too...

[@Jcb2db]

@@niklasericsson2234 yes omg I love her. I hate when ppl sit there and criticize the show bc of her behavior in s1. They act like aang was perfect. Aang had problem too at the beginning and he grew. Korra also grew. Aang also wasn't sheltered for 17 years and then thrown into the real world with little to no preparation for it. Like she is a sheltered, confused, teenage girl and ppl hate that even tho it's accurate. Like I would understand if the character was unbelievable but it is perfectly believable. Ppl just can't accept this show is good.

[@michaelmcintyre3871]

Love that you're finally watching this. ATLA is a more pure and perfect story, but that's partially because it's concept is more straightforward. The basic concept was good vs. Evil and it was very clear which side was which. Korra tackles issues and ideas that have a lot more nuance and the bad guys, while obviously bad, all have very valid philosophical points and are not entirely wrong in their view of the world and what's wrong with it. It was bound to be a bit... messy, compared to ATLA.

[@jonasquinn7977]

Plus Korra kept getting screwed over by Nickelodeon

[@thispersonwriting1889]

@@jonasquinn7977 Korra was also later in the Internet's history. Any hiatus left much more of a record of itself, any frustrating wait for the plot to proceed, any part of the story that works as a whole but isn't fun as a standalone, none of it fades from fandom memory any more.

[@zaanredelinghuys191]

The mistake I think a lot of people make with Korra is to directly compare it to ATLA. It is a sequel yes, but it is also its own show, it's not the season 2 to ATLA's season 1. At the bare least see it for what it is, more Avatar, which is a good thing. Also context is important. The creators of LOK (who were also the creators of ATLA) received a lot of resistance and hurdles while creating LOK. Nickelodeon initially only gave them one season, which is why they had to create, develop and conclude the story in 1 season. Then it got renewed for another season, so again, create, develop and conclude. Then it got renewed for two more seasons, which is why season 3 is widely seen as the best season, because the creators were able to flesh out the story.

[@patrickcromwell7554]

Toph WAS the first Metal Bender and when Aang and Zuko formed Republic City, I assumed they asked her to be head of security. She then created the first ever Metal Bending Academy and started to train the security to be the first Official Metal Benders.

[@shainewhite2781]

The face on the thumbnail says it all, ",This is not what i had in mind "

[@thomasfuller4005]

I’ve been wanting this show since she watched avatar! If she goes into it as it’s own show I think she’ll really love it!

[@marcusanark2541]

I love this series so much, the best antagonists ever!

[@0ddkid7]

Oh my goodness, as soon as I seen this I turned it on immediately. I am so excited to see how you react and what parts you're going to like or not.

[@MisterMusic117]

SO MANY awesome voices in this show. We start with JK Simmons as Tenzin, and it just gets more awesome from there.

[@QuickstrikeTRU]

Fiiiiinally. I am so hype to see you follow Avatar Korra's story. An amazing series in its own right. Well deserving of being next to AtLA.

[@mmxxiii9503]

Hmm is just a different storyline

[@Audiodump]

Incorrect.

[@Forever-oh4pq]

I'm really really happy and excited to see your reactions to korra! :)

[@rogercruz1547]

"I'm ready for her to grow emotionally" ... lol, you wish

[@lurker1316]

I'm glad you decided to give this series a shot. As you said, Korra has some growing to do, but it's quite a journey and I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of it. I don't know any Korra fans who say Book 1 is their favorite, especially not the first half, but it has its moments and serves as a foundation for what's to come. Hopefully you'll enjoy the show more and more as you go. I'm not sure how far ahead you are on Patreon, but I'm seriously considering signing up now.

[@frederick2609]

Aang: A good Person learning to be a good Avatar Korra: A good Avatar learning to be a good Person That right there is the best way I can describe the differences between the two. Korra has such an amazing character growth throughout her series that, by the end of it, I like her character more then Aang and the two series while vastly different, are equally as rewatchable and entertaining. I love them both

[@XavionofThera]

I don't think Korra was ever anything resembling a "bad" person. Just a bit arrogant and hot-headed. When it comes down to anything important she always did the (morally right) thing.

[@norlack89]

So so excited!!! Love Korra! And yes she has big growth to do as a character and Avatar. So glad you're giving her chance

[@niveshhnk9686]

YESSSSSSSSS YOU WILL LOVE LEGEND OF KORRA

[@beardlessdragon]

23:11 killed me lmaooooo

[@ScenicNsanity]

Yessss my prayers have been answered! She's finally reacting! Promise it gets better after season 1.

[@CeliaNightstep]

"Shout out to weak ass lesbians." Im cryingggggg XDDDDD