Avatar: The Last Airbender recently hit Netflix, and unsurprisingly, it's a major hit. I finally watched it, in order, after years of only seeing the season one finale and series finale. The world-building is so strong, the characters are so charming, and it's just really fun to watch. Despite the underlying themes of genocide, war, and trauma, it was always balanced out by what's good and kind about the world. That, and Aang was so damn charming.

He's unlike many protagonists in a lot of the media I consume. Sure, he's probably the most powerful being in that world, but his first instinct isn't to be combative. He's compassionate and kind. He's also 12, so he's fun and playful too. Despite his unwavering optimism, he has a lot of inner conflict. Some episodes focus on him reconciling his duty to the world with his own selfishness. What kid wants to save the world instead of spending time with the girl he likes? I mean, at 12 years old, he had had to make the decision on whether or not he would kill a man to save the world… Not an easy task to do.

I related so much to Aang's levity and cautious approach that I had the hardest time watching Korra, the next Avatar.

When the The Legend of Korra came out a few years ago, I tried watching it… And I was so bored and irritated. Korra was brash and headstrong, and she didn't care what anyone thought. She asserted her power as the Avatar constantly, and didn't consider the consequences of her actions. I felt like she was a characteristically "male" character in a female protagonist's body. I felt like I was being pandered to and upset that there was this person who wasn't me. I was looking for a strong female character that was different from male protagonists we usually see.

This week, I gave Korra another chance. The world building in the series is so strong, I wanted to see more of it. I tried to go in with an open mind, but I still had a strong disdain for Korra. She just didn't solve problems creatively, didn't listen, and won by brute force all the time. She was so rude to her friends and mentors, and I was just annoyed. I begrudgingly got through season one and kept watching.

The beginning of season two was the same. I could feel my chest fill with annoyance when she treated her friends poorly. I couldn't watch someone make thoughtless choices over and over again. Fortunately, the expansive world-building let me focus on other things. I watched this universe's history grow and other characters grow with it. My problems with Korra popped up again in season three, but I tolerated it better this go around… Mostly because I finally watched her lose.

<spoiler alert>

Korra almost died. By the end of season three, she finally understood what it's like to be powerless. At the start of season four, she was hesitant, coping with the feelings of being unneeded. What do you do when you've always won and had power, then have it taken from you? How do you reconcile who you thought you were and who you showed yourself to be? What do you do when your purpose is unclear? What do you do when the world moves on without you? She was finally grieving the loss of her mentors and her identity as the Avatar.

It took four seasons, but the Korra's story paid off. In the first three seasons, she dealt with problems the same way and didn't consider the cost to other people. She was brash, irrational, and didn't care about the long term consequences for her decisions. Korra clung so stubbornly to her title that she was inflexible. She won external battles but lost opportunities for internal growth. Her near-death experience and separation from her previous incarnations finally gave me a fuller and more holistic Korra. It took some time, but she became more thoughtful and compassionate. She understood that power doesn't win everything and was more empathetic to the humans behind conflict.

Understanding the Avatars’ journeys

It took a while, but I realized this. Korra isn't me, I'm not Korra, and that's ok. We don't deal with our problems the same way. While it's frustrating, it's ok too. She's also not Aang. Korra had different problems from him. The world she lived in was more complex; I don't think any of past Avatars could have helped her with that. She finally embraced her limitations and weaknesses and used it to grow. She also gained humility, learning that she doesn't have to be all solutions for all the conflicts in the world.

There were a lot of people who hated on Korra, solely because she isn't anything like Aang. But Aang didn't have to go through these challenges. He already rejected earthly titles and possessions; his challenge was embrace that his duty to the world and his own spiritual needs. Aang recognized his duty to the world doesn't negate to his spiritual needs; he needed and met both. These weren't Korra's challenges or her journey. She needed to learn that her way isn't the only, or best, way. With all her power and all her winning, she thought it was the same thing as being right. It wasn't.

Korra reminded me that hard lessons take time. People don't always learn them the first time, I know I don’t. Mine just don't involve the fate of the known world. Making hard decisions and being compassionate takes practice… We had to watch Korra keep practicing, no matter how much it hurt to watch.

Aang's story was perfect when I was younger and more innocent; where anything bad fades away to the golden feelings of youth. Then, the Avatar's story grew up with me. Korra reminded me that as we mature, the stakes are higher and there's more to lose. Our decisions don't always have safety nets, but hopefully, if we're open to change… we can learn and become better people. This series and franchise is excellent, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Just go in with an open mind.