If you don’t watch The Legend of Korra, you might be wondering if the show has anything to interest you. We think fans of these eight series will all find something to love – just in time for The Legend of Korra season 2!
The Legend of Korra season 2 is rapidly approaching, and you may have noticed our SeptBender articles celebrating the show’s return. If you haven’t yet fallen in love with The Legend of Korra yet, we’ve selected eight series that we think have a lot in common with Nickelodeon’s brilliant cartoon.
The similarities between these eight series and The Legend of Korra may not be initially apparent, but when we took a closer look, we found that they had a lot of awesome qualities in common. And don’t worry – The Legend of Korra season 2 premieres this Friday, Sept. 13 at 7 pm, so you still have time to catch up on season 1 once you fall in love!
1. ‘Harry Potter’
Because the kids are all right
Fans of Harry Potter watched their hero grow from a lonely 11-year-old boy living in a cupboard under the stairs to a 17-year-old hero who, with the help of his friends, saved the wizarding world. The Potter series told the story of how, even in a world full of magic, love and friendship were the greatest weapons against evil, and even the unlikeliest of people could be heroes.
The Legend of Korra tells a similar story – that of a group of kids banding together to save the world from very adult dangers. As Harry needed the help of his best friends to defeat Voldemort, Avatar Korra depends on her closest allies – the self-proclaimed “Team Avatar” – to take on the threat to Republic City and benders across the world. Though she has great power and is the chosen savior of her world like Harry, Korra can only do so much on her own, and it is the friendships she develops during her training that push her past her limits.
Harry Potter and Korra are both stories that refuse to take the children for granted; it is the adults who have wreaked havoc in both worlds, and it is the next generation who steps in to save the day.
2. ‘Boardwalk Empire’
Because the times are a-changin’
We know it might seem weird to compare a Nickelodeon cartoon to one of HBO’s famous sex-and-blood heavy dramas, but there are some surprising similarities. Though set in a magical world, The Legend of Korra takes place during the Avatar-verse’s equivalent of the American Roaring ‘20s – the same time period which defines Boardwalk Empire. Keep an eye out for classic period gadgets, clothing, slang, and music as Korra’s story kicks into high-gear.
Organized crime is also a theme in Korra, as exploitive gangs called Triads terrorize defenseless people around Republic City. That same struggle plays a starring role in Boardwalk Empire, though obviously from the perspective of the gangsters. In both shows, abused minorities come to the forefront, eager to demonstrate that they are not as helpless as they appear.
And both Boardwalk Empire and The Legend of Korra grapple with the friction of changing times. Old methods and traditions clash with new, world-altering technology, and in their own ways, both shows have deep thoughts to offer about the struggle between loyalty to the past and embracing the opportunities of the future.
3. ‘Pokemon’
Because you gotta bend ‘em all!
The most obvious comparison between Pokémon and The Legend of Korra are the elemental references. Starting with Pokémon‘s beginnings, Charmander was a Fire-type, Bulbasaur was a Grass-type, and Squirtle was a Water-type.
Many will remember the difficulties they had when picking which starter to use in Pokémon Blue Red, and Yellow. Likewise, the choice of which type of bender one would choose to be is similarly difficult.
The supernatural abilities to summon elements in both series is somewhat similar. While in Pokémon, creatures such as Squirtle can summon a near endless supply of water from their mouths, Waterbenders use the water in the surrounding atmosphere to bend.
The last major similarity between the two series is similar art style. People who love the silliness of the anime moments in the Pokémon anime will find themselves doubled over in humor when a reference to this Japanese art style is made in The Legend of Korra.
4. ‘Game of Thrones’
Because who doesn’t love a power struggle?
While we probably (okay, definitely) wouldn’t recommend looking to The Legend of Korra for the sexy shock factor of Game of Thrones, fans of political intrigue might find quite a lot to entertain them in the cartoon. (Though it’s worth noting that Korra does sneak some appreciated innuendo into surprising spots!)
The story of The Legend of Korra season 1 focuses on an anti-establishment rebellion unsettling the fragile political system – not simple stuff! There is no Iron Throne to fight for in Republic City, but the show still generates genuinely thought-provoking ideas about the nature of power. Like in Game of Thrones, questions arise about what it really means for a government to be in control – and how that control applies to the individual’s control on their own strength.
The Legend of Korra also features a rich mythology. As in Game of Thrones, the show’s magical system is nuanced and detailed, with the capacity to both help and hurt. And like the epic fantasy series, much of The Legend of Korra’s storyline hinges on the mysteries of the past, as hidden secrets affect the present, and only through struggle are coaxed painfully into the light.
Keep on reading for more on how series you already love relate to ‘Korra’!
5. ‘Doctor Who’
Because timey wimey, companiony wobbly
The concept of traveling with companions is something familiar to both The Legend of Korra and Doctor Who. While Doctor Who focuses on time travel, The Legend of Korra emulates it with references to past events and flashbacks.
Also, the revival of both series is a similarity many would draw between the show. While both “old Who” and Avatar: The Last Airbender didn’t change concepts from one series to the next, it can be said that both took what worked in the first series and improved upon them.
One last comparison between Who and The Legend of Korra are the special abilities of the protagonists. The reverence everyone in their respective universes has for both The Doctor and the Avatar mirrors the experiences of both characters.
6. ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
Because girls kick butt
If you’re a fan of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, chances are that you’re into watching strong women kick butt and take names. Buffy has a large cast of women, both superpowered and not, who refuse to be damsels in distress. Buffy was created to flip the trope of the blonde girl who is horrifically butchered in every slasher film on its head, yet she was never afraid to be feminine either; she killed one of the most dangerous vampires of all time in a Spring Fling dress, after all.
Similarly, The Legend of Korra boasts a butt-kicking female lead who must navigate the world both as a superpowered savior and a teenage girl. Like Buffy, Korra is the chosen one of her world, and she must master her powers to be a force for peace and balance in the world, but life becomes infinitely more complicated when boys are involved.
And, as a fun side note, Both Buffy and Korra also get along with a little help from their friends; Buffy saved the world with the help of the Scoobies while Korra is supported by the self-proclaimed Team Avatar – two quirky teams that lift the heroine up to greater heights than she could reach alone.
7. The Work of Studio Ghibli
Because spirits and elements make the world go ‘round
From Spirited Away to Ponyo, elemental references and spirits are mainly what ties the Studio Ghibli films to The Legend of Korra series.
In Spirited Away, when Chihiro is feeling frightened and alone in the spirit world, she is able to rely on her small hamster and bird creature-friends to keep her company. This is similar to the way Aang used to venture with Momo in scary places filled with angry sprits and hostile creatures. Pabu also takes this role for not only Bolin, but also all of Team Avatar.
What makes Ponyo so magical is its references to the balances of nature and humans. Although she doesn’t quite know it, young Ponyo is vital in keeping the essential harmony between man and the wild tame. This relates directly to young Korra’s “I’m the Avatar, and you gotta deal with it!” stance.
A list comparing the Studio Ghibili films and The Legend of Korra would not be complete without a mention of My Neighbor Totoro. Young children befriending strange elemental spirits? Check. Sibling best friends? Check. Heartwarming, deep, emotional storylines that can be enjoyed by all ages? Check, check, CHECK!
8. ‘Divergent’
Because we don’t all fit into a single box
While The Legend of Korra isn’t a dystopian story like Divergent, the two share a rather interesting structural similarity in their division of their populations.
The higher ups in the world of Divergent seek to put people into one of five factions, thus defining them by a single aspect of their personality to the point of caricature. But those who identify as Divergent have aptitude for more than one faction; Tris, for example, has aptitude for three factions, and much of her story relates to coming to terms with not fitting into a single box and the consequences of that.
This is an interesting parallel to the world of The Legend of Korra, in which the Avatar is gifted with the ability to bend all four elements, each represented by one of the four nations. The Avatar, as someone with aptitude for all four elements, acts as an autonomous entity to promote peace. You might say, then, that in her own way, Avatar Korra is Divergent. So if you enjoy the story of segregated humans finding common ground as in Divergent, you would appreciate The Legend of Korra.
Written by: Mitchel Clow, Michal Schick, and Caitlin Kelly
The Legend of Korra season 2 premies this Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 pm on Nickelodeon.