The Legend of Korra - Book One: Air Blu-ray Review

The cycle of the Avatar begins anew...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown, June 30, 2013



No time to waste...

It's been five long years since Avatar Aang, having narrowly mastered all four elements, defeated Fire Lord Ozai and restored peace to the Four Kingdoms. Well, five long years since Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko's wildly (and rightfully) popular three-seasonsaga reached its climactic conclusion. As far as the new Avatar and the people of Republic City are concerned, it's been more than seventy years, and times have certainly changed. So too has the series, which manages to feel both whollyand wholly new. And while that will no doubt make it difficult for some fans to immerse themselves in, those who do will be treated to yet another stirring, wondrously animated, masterfully conceived and beautifully designed epic that starts strong, satisfies on the whole, and ends on a promise that the already announced Books Two through Four will be even better.Feisty seventeen-year-old girl Korra (Janet Varney) has been raised knowing full well who and what she is: the Avatar, the one person among the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation and the small remnant of Air Nomads capable of controlling all four elements. However, while Korra is proficient with water, earth and fire, air-bending continues to elude the hot-headed teen. That soon begins to change, though, when she moves to Republic City to learn from airbender Tenzin (J. K. Simmons), the middle-aged son of the previous Avatar, Aang. And it's a good thing too. She'll need every element she can muster to face Amon (Steve Blum), a mysterious masked freedom fighter who's somehow developed the ability to permanently rob benders of their elemental abilities. Leading a growing army of Equalists, Amon has sworn to rid the world of bending by any and all means necessary. Now, with the help of Korra's loyal polar bear-dog Naga, three new friends -- Pro Bending brothers Mako (David Faustino) and Bolin (P. J. Byrne), and non-bender Asami (Seychelle Gabriel) -- Tenzin and his family, and Toph's adult daughter Police Chief Lin Beifong (Mindy Sterling), the young Avatar must master air, contend with a selfish councilman named Tarrlok (Dee Bradley Baker), gain the public's trust, face Amon, and restore order to a city at war with itself.It's much easier to detail the few areas in whichfalls short than to go on and on about all the things the twelve-episode first season gets right; which amounts to. Conceived and largely produced as a standalone miniseries (before Nickelodeon responded to its success by tossing more seasons at the creators), the story wraps up much too quickly, with much too tidy a resolution, and with the sort of deus ex machina DiMartino and Konietzko spent three seasons ofavoiding. Aang's story left little room for such convenience. It also took far more time to explore its world, physical and spiritual.is still an addicting tale, but too many aspects are shortchanged: Korra barely ventures into the spirit world, spends next to zero time communicating with past Avatars, and doesn't seem in any great hurry to connect with Aang's spirit, much as his past plays a role in her present. (All issues the creators will presumably address over the next three seasons.) It doesn't help that the series establishes a fascinating villain in Amon only to summarily dismiss him by's end.That said, just about every complaint I had while watchingstemmed from my unflinching love of. Every time I was disappointed with, it was only because I was comparing it, its characters, and its scope and scale to those of the original. Which says a lot.is as accessible tonewcomers as it is invigorating for longtime devotees; no small feat considering how dense the two series' shared mythology ishow fundamentally different the two series are. Had DiMartino and Konietzko simply cannibalized spare parts fromwould have been stale and less absorbing. Had they drifted too far off the beaten path, the new show would have suffered the wrath of its hungry fanbase. No, the balance isn't perfect, and there are some obvious growing pains. But's conclusion leaves the Avatar, the Four Kingdoms and Republic City wide open to expansion or change. DiMartino and Konietzko could takeanywhere. The sky is quite literally the limit.Which brings us to the things that make the first season so exhilirating. Sharp writing. Outstanding character design. Masterclass voice acting. Thrilling animation. Fluid action. Jeremy Zuckerman and Benjamin Wynn's score. It doesn't get more basic than that, or more advanced for that matter. One of the most striking, visually engrossing, fully realized animated series on television,has it all, perhaps even more so than, which is suddenly showing a bit of age thanks to's latest incarnation. Each element locks into place perfectly, and there isn't a single episode that doesn't exhibit the same energy, ferocity and heart that made Aang's adventure the classic it remains. It's funny too. And expressive. And endearing. And charming. And infectious. And, and, and, and. No, the new Avatar's crew isn't as unforgettable as the dream team -- Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph and Zuko -- and no, the villains, supporting heroes and secondary characters aren't quite as memorable. Butlays the kind of groundwork other ongoing series, animated or otherwise, would kill to have. So whileisn't as strong as, give it some time. By, you may be hard pressed to choose a favorite. Even if Aang and company prevail, I suspect Korra and her companions won't be far behind.