Defense of Korra (Book 2)

Okay before I begin my defense I need to clarify that I understand that criticism is not equal to hate. There are a lot of valid criticism on Korra’s character and the writing in the series but here is a blurry line between Korra’s actual character flaws and decisions versus what the story delivers. So in this defense I will be defending Korra on the things where I think hate is unjustifiable or disproportional. I will not be arguing whether the series properly executed its ideas.

I will also not defend Korra on the following: immaturity, bratty attitude, tendency to use violence for intimidation, impatience, impulsiveness and abuse of the Avatar State. Some dislike Korra because of those things, some think it makes her more interesting and different. I’m more of the latter. Also, she dropped some of those traits anyway later in Book 2 when the need arose.

Let the defense begin!

The following will be the accusations and my respective replies:

“She didn’t learn from Book 1”



Learn what? I think her development in Book 1 is mostly her expanding her world and overcoming her fear towards Amon. Aang basically handed the Avatar State to her in the last minute. The circumstances in Book 2 is entirely different. If lesson is by means taking airbending very seriously, she didn’t really drop her training until she learned that dark spirits were killing people. If respecting Tenzin is what she should have learned she did and I will defend her attitude towards him in the next part of my defense.

“She is a bitch to her father and to Tenzin”

To call Korra a “bitch” is simply unsympathetic of her plight and to label her as such when she’s not being deliberately malicious is unwarranted.

I will defend her anger to Tenzin and her dad, Tonraq. The two men committed something not just so terrible to Korra but to the Avatar tradition itself. The Avatar has to travel the world and choose her mentors. Even Aang had to persist Toph should be the one to teach him and although Zuko is the only option, Aang willingly accepted him as his sifu.

Korra was denied of this.

She had every right to be pissed off at Tenzin and her father, not only did they deny her of a journey, they lied to her by telling her it was Aang’s idea. Korra already imposed the Avatar identity to herself, they hampered her own self-actualization by imposing to her a life that they think would be “better” for her, denying her of her agency.

Despite the crap Tenzin and Tonraq did, Korra was somehow the bitch because of the way she reacted and because she wanted her own agency.

“She’s so stupid because she let herself be manipulated by Unalaq!”

Technically, everyone was manipulated by Unalaq. Nobody knew that he wanted to fuse with an evil spirit, even Tonraq and the Krew were impressed when Korra opened the portal. Even if Unalaq sent his troops, Korra had a reason to stop the kidnapping attempt on his uncle. If the Northern troops learned that their chief is kidnapped, all the more tensions will arise. We also learned that despite Tonraq disliking Unalaq, he was against fighting his own brother and starting a rebellion, Korra was no more wrong than his own father.

Varrick wanted a rebellion not because he knew Unalaq was evil but because he wanted to profit.

“She is useless and only made things worse in the civil war”



She is “useless” because apparently she can’t solve the problem her Uncle caused, and it bothers me because there’s actually no good suggestion on how Korra could. She’s as clueless as the audience. Korra refused to fight Northern troops herself at the start of the story because she thinks they’re all one tribe.. and she’s actually right.

After Unalaq’s true colors were shown, Korra was willing to help her father rebel against Unalaq but Tonraq knew that it will cause more strife between the North and South. Korra listened to her father’s advice to ask for outside help but she was refused… and nobody was there to give her a concrete advice? So… what should Korra do? Disobey her father and kill Unalaq, her own uncle even if that will enrage the North? Destroy the Northern fleet and kill thousands in the process? Gain unrealistic diplomatic powers and convince the soldiers to stop obeying their chief?

Even if she believed Mako’s theory that Varrick was behind the attack will that really stop Unalaq? Her next plan was to ask for Zuko and the Firelord’s help before a spirit ate her.

“She is a bitch to Mako”

As for Mako, okay I was never in a relationship ever but I did observe a lot of things from relatives and I can say Korra and Mako fighting is kinda typical in some teenagers. Considering Korra is stressed with a huge responsibility, things are ought to fall apart. Korra was demanding so much from Mako to the point of being unfair to him because of the situation and it’s sad that he can’t really deliver- it’s not his fault too. Still, it’s observable that when Korra’s anger dies down, she always apologizes.

Another point of hate is when Korra stormed Mako in his officer and kicked the desk like an angry child. Although it’s bratty and immature, Korra at that point blamed the civil war on herself and she was thinking Unalaq might kill his father or mother and her fellow tribesman and Iroh’s ships might save them. Although I understand Mako’s reasoning and he’s not wrong actually, Korra’s reaction is more than a simple tantrum, it just shows her fragility in these kinds of situations and she expels all her negative emotions in that manner.

Note that we never really had any indication that Korra physically hurt Mako, unlike how Eska threatened Bolin with waterbending if he tries to break-up with her (offscreen). The dummy being beheaded in Ep 12 cannot prove Korra abuses Mako. The criticism of that visual representation should be on writing rather than Korra’s character herself. Still, the ending proves how Korra accepted the break-up like an adult and didn’t blame Mako unlike what he feared.

“She ignored Bolin”

Well I saw some posts blaming Korra for Bolin’s situation with Eska… why? Bolin is a big boy and an earthbender, his love life is not Korra’s responsibility. She was busy with the dark spirits, the civil war and she had tension with her family to boot and she’s expected to solve Bolin’s love problems? Book 1 already proved Korra would rescue Bolin but this girlfriend matter is different.

“She bit President Raiko behind his back”



This is minor issue compared to the rest but I don’t think agree with this. Iroh seemed to be somewhat autonomous in Book 1 as Tenzin “requested” rather than commanded him, and the request is told to be “from the Avatar” rather than from Tenzin. Book 2 changed some politics so Korra and Iroh were technically not breaking rules until Raiko ordered the ships to stay in the city.

“She’s so stupid she risked the lives of millions to save Jinora”

Okay, Korra has no bending actually and Jinora’s soul is going to be destroyed forever. Even if Korra let Jinora die, that will not stop Unalaq from taking more hostages. He might command his dark spirits to wreck havok everywhere until Korra complies. Korra was really in a lose-lose situation that time.

Also it’s not just Jinora but Korra may be buying time for herself, if she dies who knows what Unalaq may do to her tribe and to the world?

“She lets Unavaatu kill Raava and only win because of Jinora”

Another victim blaming. It’s a fact that Vaatu is much powerful than Raava for the past 10,000 years, she’s a little kite when Vaatu is a parachute. The only reason Wan won is because of his teamwork with Raava and elemental control. Now that Unalaq also fused with Vaatu, even if he didn’t have the elements he technically has more power.

The thing about Jinora actually brings me back to the last bullet point. It’s kinda contradictory to give Jinora the credit when Korra saved Jinora too. They saved each others’ soul actually! The same way Korra helped the dragon-bird, she was helped in return. Korra didn’t win just because she’s lucky, she deserved to be helped back by those she saved.

“She sucks because had a hard time with Unavaatu even with her four elements!”

Remember when Aang defeated Azula? Yep he never did. Remember when Aang faced Ozai in the finale? He was getting kicked until a pointy rock enabled him to use the Avatar State. Just imagine if Ozai or Azula gets an Avatar State!

Korra faced a really good waterbender twice her age with an Avatar State in a snowy glacier-filled environment, of course she’ll have a hard time!

“She’s the worst Avatar ever! *Insert bullet points above* + She failed to save her connection to her past lives”

I guess a hundred dead past incarnations actually weigh more than her saving the world. Losing her connection is not due to Korra’s agency, she was pained as well physically and emotionally when she lost them.

As for the worst Avatar title, before accusing Korra of causing more harm than good, check first your attitude towards Wan. Yes people, Korra and Wan exactly had the same mistakes. Wan trusted Vaatu right away after meeting him, at least Unalaq is Korra’s uncle. Imagine how many people died because of the dark spirits that time? Wan almost condemned the world in 10000 years of darkness by interfering with spirit affairs and siding on the wrong one.

Examine how you see Aang too. He ran away and just imagine if his mere presence could have at least saved other Air Nomads? Even if Aang died, his reincarnation might have ended the war sooner! He let Ba Sing Se fall too and lost the Black Sun invasion.

Personally, the worst Avatar is Kuruk. He practically contributed nothing in history and died in his 30’s. Korra still have two books to go though so we’ll see more of her.

“Korra didn’t have character development in Book 2, everything is handed to her in a silver platter”



I think this deserves an entirely new analysis but I’ve been seeing posts disbelieving her character development just because “she saw Wan’s sob’s story.” As soon as Korra tried to assert her agency she made some not-so-wise decisions, she made mistakes and took responsibility for them. Again in her lowest point, she made contact to her innermost spirit- meeting Wan give Korra a clear direction after all the mess she’s gone through. In the same way, Aang had no real purpose in Book 1 until he was able to contact Roku in the Spirit World. Aang’s reaction to stress is his sleeplessness in Nightmares and Daydreams but at least he knows what to do, I’d argue Korra is in a much stressful situation as there’s an imminent threat of her parents being killed.

Still, she took responsibility of her firing of Tenzin and apologized to him. With the a proper direction and the right amount of self-actualization Korra becomes the ultimate warrior.

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I won’t defend her decision to keep the portals open because I think it’s actually good that the fandom has a divided opinion over it. It gives us more possibilities in the future and whatever happens will be Korra’s responsibility.

Hope you liked my defense! I might do some follow-up analysis on her character to further explain some of my points. I find Korra to be the most interesting character in TLOK and I love her as much as I love Zuko. I’m looking forward on the direction she’ll take in the next books.

To close my essay, I want to list all the positive things I see in Korra: being a good sister to the airbabies, loving her parents, not holding grudges and willingness to humble herself once she realizes her mistakes. She’s fierce, brave and fearless against her enemy and decisive in battle. She cares for others and if she can help, she will (although in Book 2 her isolation from her friends didn’t give her a chance to display this trait.) She is dedicated to her duty as an Avatar and takes responsibility for her actions. I guess that’s it for now.