So, now that we know this is the end game, I was reflecting on their relationship over the show as a whole. I think knowing these two women end up in love and walking into the sunset spirit portal together can help color or make sense of their interactions.



We know from Bryan and Mike’s posts that Korrasami wasn’t planned from the start, but rather grew organically out of the writing process, and only became consciously penned in during the second half of the series. For that reason, as characters, the growth of their emotional bond might seem hard to understand. But that’s where my character analyses/head-canons come in! Hopefully this post explains a few things, or fills in the gaps in a way that seems logical and consistent with their characterization.

Warning: it’s lengthy (originally written 12/20/14, updated Feb 2015).

Books 1 & 2

Even at the start, Korra and Asami were always at least “intrigued” by one another. Korra probably felt that it was platonic admiring. She never had female friends before, so she probably assumed whatever she were feeling was normal for ladies…aka “a girl crush”

It seems like Asami at least was self-aware enough to understand that her intrigue went above and beyond what was typical for girls. I doubt she thought of it as a “crush” right away, but definitely knew her interest in Korra was a bit more than friendship.

Keep in mind, they were “pitted against one another” (though Asami never acted that way), so any “weirdness” they felt (which was likely just sexual tension) was mitigated by the focus on Mako.

But that initial attraction/spark was why Korra was so excited to be alone with her in that room that one time, or why Asami kept trying to impress Korra. It was totally there and palpable, even if Korra didn’t understand it at all and Asami may not have fully realized what it meant yet.

Asami assumed Mako was the type of guy she should date (picture of male attractiveness), though didn’t have the same chemistry with him that Korra did.

date (picture of male attractiveness), though didn’t have the same chemistry with him that Korra did. Masami 2.0 was Asami feeling like she had nothing; she had clung to her company to keep from spiraling out of control after her dad tried to kill her, and that was yanked away. She was like “game-over” and Mako’s “I believe in you” was just like the only vague glimmer of anything positive that she saw.

For her part, Korra had been in love with Mako. They had great physical chemistry, but their insecurities fed off of each other in an unsupportive and chaotic sort of way, making the relationship one constant power struggle. It was an untenable relationship from the get go.

I think Makorra may be (for Korra) one of those “in hindsight it was less intense than what I have now” kind of deals, though Korra certainly felt it intensely at the time. But Asami and Korra seem to be able to talk about deeper emotional stuff, so it just feels like there’s…more to it.

As a note, Korra being shut away in a compound didn’t help with healthy sexual development. Mako was probably the first person she ever felt sexual attraction towards, so of course he became this fixation for her, even painting Asami as her “enemy” before she got to know her.

At the end of S1, Asami was clearly very worried for Korra, but it wasn’t enough for her to become fully aware of her crush yet. It was such an up and down “well she’s got airbending now!” and then Makorra occurred immediately after she got healed, so Asami was probably just like, selflessly happy for her. And maybe even felt a bit envious, but may have assumed she was envying Korra when really she envied Mako. Asami always wanted to be a kind of emotional confidante to Korra, or at least closer, but Korra was really antagonistic until she and Mako were together.

End of S2 Korra was dealing with a breakup so she certainly wasn’t reflecting on her feelings for anyone else. But Asami I’m sure was really fascinated by the reports of giant, blue Korra (she didn’t witness it firsthand). Because she’s so open-minded about bending and all that, I bet the spiritual side of the Avatar really interested her, so the spirit portals opening (and Jinora waking and being all creepy/dramatic about Korra’s heroics) was viewed as a very positive thing in her book.

I think after learning what Korra was capable of in the S2 finale is when Asami really started to go from “she makes me feel weird and that’s unusual,” to “ohhh, I have a giant crush on her."

Book 3

Post harmonic convergence, all of Republic City kind of turned against Korra immediately, but Asami was already thinking about ways to adapt to the changed environment, and integrate her technology rather than pit it against the spirits.

Asami started actively flirting with Korra in 3x01. You don’t flip your hair like that at regular friends! She was also just legitimately happy to have Korra as a friend (for once), but couldn’t help herself with the poses and the slight showboating.

Korra, for her part, was incredibly happy to have Asami around as a friend, and grew more and more intrigued by her as the season progressed. I’m now of the mind that around episode 3x10 ( Long Live the Earth Queen ), Korra realized there was romantic intrigue on her part. The way she seemed so impressed with Asami (praising her to Tanloq, even), and the way they worked happily and harmoniously together would probably be enough for Korra to understand "I might like to date someone like that!”

), Korra realized there was romantic intrigue on her part. The way she seemed so impressed with Asami (praising her to Tanloq, even), and the way they worked happily and harmoniously together would probably be enough for Korra to understand "I might like to date someone like that!” Now for the “falling in love” bit. All of Book 3, the two grew emotionally close, but there was no catalyzing event to prompt a sudden understanding of the incredibly depth of their feelings. They were so focused on the Zaheer threat, that they probably didn’t have time to reflect on much past “I’d enjoy kissing her.” Even when Korra was captured, Asami was with her, so it wasn’t Mako’s “a piece of me was missing” moment.

At the end of S3 when it looked like Korra was dead, I think that’s exactly when Asami became self-aware that she was in love with Korra. However, unlike S1 Mako, she saw that it was SO not the time to tell Korra how she felt, given Korra’s mental state. It’s clear that for Asami, the hand-squeeze was an act to show her love, but it was all in the context of being there to provide emotional support for Korra, rather than hurl her own emotions at the poor girl. It was exactly what Korra needed to hear.

In between 3 and 4

After watching Korra almost die, it’s clear that from there on, Asami knew full well she loved Korra. And up until she got the letter, I’m sure she felt those feelings were completely unrequited. She offered to drop everything and go to the South Pole with Korra and was rejected (though it was only supposed to be two weeks). And then despite being ridiculously busy with her infrastructure project, she managed to write Korra practically every day (that tall stack was definitely hers), with radio silence for 2 years. Oh, and integrating the spirit vines into Republic City and having them become a source of pride/erecting a giant statue of Korra was her way of honoring her.

For Korra, it was the absence that made her realize that she loved Asami. When she wrote that letter, she mentioned in it that she had wanted to write to her for a while now, but “didn’t know what to say.” Korra isn’t the best at communicating her feelings (never was), not to mention I don’t think she’s as intuitive as Asami, so probably would assume any feelings would be unreciprocated. Plus on top of that Korra was also very broken and scared and suffering, so even though she realized Asami’s emotional significance to her, I sincerely doubt jumping into a physical relationship was high on her list of priorities (though I’d argue their emotional relationship was romantic in its narrative). So rather than professing love, she wrote about what she needed to talk about: her anxieties and her explanation about just how hard the past couple of years had been [read: without Asami].

Korra laying her soul bare in that letter was also her way of reciprocating the love that Asami had showed her in the S3 finale. And Asami knew what the letter meant as soon as she read it (though was primarily concerned for Korra and probably spent all her time reading over it and worrying).

I think Asami’s response to that letter was asking Korra if she could come down and see her. I’m guessing that’s when Korra made plans to go back to Republic City. I’m also assuming that Korra’s lack of response didn’t like, phase Asami (she could tell she was dealing with heavy PTSD and writing a letter took just about everything she had in her). Asami thought about going and visiting Korra on her own, but decided it needed to be on Korra’s terms, knowing that it’s hard for Korra to let herself feel vulnerable.

Maybe Asami had tried going on a few dates before getting Korra’s letter. In my mind she probably tried to date only women, because after realizing her feelings for Korra she may have assumed that’s what she needed to move on. But if there was anyone romantic in Asami’s life at all, (s)he was dropped the SECOND Asami read that letter. ETA: I no longer think this. Asami was patient and buried herself in work. ( ETA#2: sometimes I go back and forth. To each, their head-canons) .

ETA: I no longer think this. Asami was patient and buried herself in work. ( . But Asami’s just COMPLETELY disgusted response to Wu makes total sense now, especially in the context of “I thought after three years I’d get over Korra, but I’m not and there’s a vague glimmer of a hope that she feels the same way and now I’m going to see her later today and I’m dyyyyinggg.” I bet she really had to restrain herself from not gushing when she was like “it’ll be so great to see her again.”

Korra somehow told the South Pole post office to hold her mail. I don’t see Asami not writing to her for 6 months, or her parents not seeing the letters and being like, “isn’t Korra in RC?”

We know what stopped Korra on her way back to RC; she was given her “real world test” and failed, so she decided to hunt Raava and do her street-fighting thing. She also didn’t want her friends (and love interest) to see her so broken and weak.

Book 4

Korra’s “haven’t kept you waiting too long” at the reunion was such awkward flirting. Asami picked up on that vibe and that’s why she went for the hair compliment (and received one in return). But again, focus needed to be on emotional state…there was catching up, especially given her decision to see her dad again and Korra’s questionable mental health.

Asami snapping at Korra was mostly because Asami was feeling so torn up about her decision to see Hiroshi. She was confused, and at the same time, she also felt a bit rejected by Korra, not so much for first 2 or so years apart, but probably the last 6 months

When Korra didn’t get off the boat, Asami realized that for half a year, she had assumed that Korra was at home, when in reality she had no clue where she was or any way to contact her. It’s like Korra ditched her. Asami probably even went back and looked at Korra’s letter to see if she had been overanalyzing anything and misreading what their relationship was. And to make matters worse she was getting Hiroshi’s letters in between 4x01 and her meeting with him…the person she didn’t want to hear from. So it was that combination that caused her to confront her dad. And it was probably that insecurity/slight anger that Korra could just vanish on her that caused her to snap unexpectedly.

want to hear from. So it was that combination that caused her to confront her dad. And it was probably that insecurity/slight anger that Korra could just vanish on her that caused her to snap unexpectedly. Asami quickly moved on from snapping at Korra at the table, and seemed just happy she was around again, but that was a moment that clearly stuck with Korra. She apologized for it in the finale, saying she hadn’t before, though she kind of had, or at least tried to explain herself. Korra was really upset that she managed to upset Asami, and it was something that had been haunting her since they saw each other again.

There was one Korrasami analysis about them working as a well-oiled machine in 4x07, and it was spot on. They complete balance each other out, and can tell what the other one is going to do before she does it. It’s awesome to re-watch with that lens in mind.

I really, really do think Tenzin cock-blocked those two in 4x08. Asami probably came over with tea (for Korra, who swims in freezing cold water) because maybe she wanted to admit feelings or something. Or just be near her O.o . Asami can sometimes come off as a creep with her aggressive flirting. But once seeing Korra, Asami realized that she was still struggling with something heavy, and wanted to make sure she was OK before admitting her own feelings. And then fucking Tenzin walked in.

Poop got real right after that. Bolin was back next episode with word of an attack, and there was just no time to admit any sort of feelings. Asami continued to demonstrate how she’s able to take her engineering and use it amplify the interaction between the spirit and physical world, rather than fight against it or take advantage of the spirits, as Kuvira did. And at the same time Korra immediately places value in Asami’s engineering choices, whether it be to defend Asami’s decision to not make a bomb, or understanding that it’s only Asami’s inventions that can save the day. They both have a profound respect for the other’s “work” and motivators. They balance one another.

Korra being the one to initiate expressing her feelings shows how much she’s grown emotionally, because that was definitely not her strong-suit. She really tried to look at things from Kuvira’s point of view at the end, and though Korra’s always been compassionate, I think it was the first time she really trusted her own intuition for a read on the situation. Keep in mind her uncle completely blind-sided her, so it makes sense why she’d have self-doubt. So I think with that kind of, reflection and understanding of herself, she knew exactly how she felt about Asami, and was just like “fuck it, I’m telling her.”

And there’s no doubt in my mind those two were making out before their feet even hit the ground of the Spirit World.

Does all this vaguely make sense?

….but what about this?