Top 10 Best Legend of Korra Episodes

By this point, things were not looking good for Team Avatar. With the Equalists now in control of Republic City, our heroes had their backs against the wall. Not only does this provide some great build-up before the season finale, but we also see the origins of our masked antagonist. As it happens, Amon turned out to be the one thing he proclaimed to hate: a bender. Specifically, a powerful bloodbender and son of an old foe of Aang’s. Not only does this bring a whole new dimension to Amon, but it sets the stage for both he and Korra to face off once again.

Despite their best efforts, Korra and company find themselves unable to stop the malicious being known as Vaatu from escaping his prison. With plans to lay waste to both worlds, he and the treacherous Unalaq become a single entity known as the Dark Avatar, leading to a brutal elemental brawl between Korra. While valiant, this explosive clash ends with the spirit of light known as Raava supposedly being destroyed, cutting Korra off from all her past incarnations in the process. Throw in a powerful scene of Tenzin overcoming his own personal demons, and we’re given a penultimate episode that was as potent as it was ominous. Oh, and we got a cameo from Zhao. Cool.

Aang’s back! Granted, it’s in a flashback, but still, Aang’s back! Along with a much-appreciated appearance by Toph, this is one trip down memory lane we could totally get behind. Tapping into her past life, Korra witnesses the rise and fall of the criminal Yakone, whose bloodbending skills were so powerful that it took Aang in full Avatar State to defeat him. While it still wasn’t crystal clear, the hints towards Yakone’s legacy, Tarrlok’s betrayal, and the mystery of Amon’s identity certainly upped the ante, whetting out appetites for the battles to come.

All good things must come to an end. For Korra, this meant a final showdown against the likes of the fiercely determined Kuvira. After managing to overcome her Colossus, the Avatar and Great Uniter continue their struggle in the Spirit Wilds, the aftermath of which leads to the creation of a brand-new spirit portal. You might have thought that the defeat of such a relentless foe would have been the highlight of the finale. Nope. That came during the following celebrations, where fans were greeted to the sight of Korra and Asami silently sharing their romantic feelings for one another. Balance, in more than one way, had truly been restored.

Moral of the story: Lin Beifong is an absolute badass. When the Equalists launch their assault on Republic City, Tenzin and his family are caught in the crossfire. Throw in the fact that Tenzin’s wife is due to give birth and the situation soon turns dire. Luckily, Lin is on the case, taking on an entire platoon of Chi Blockers by herself just to give her old flame the chance to escape. Not only is her struggle a demonstration of how much of a beast she is, but it also serves as a noble sacrifice, as her bending is ultimately sealed away by Amon. Regardless, she showed she was indeed worthy of the Beifong name.

The Red Lotus are arguably the deadliest enemies that Korra has ever faced. After all, they crippled the Earth Kingdom, assassinated the Earth Queen, and even laid siege to the Northern Air Temple. In a desperate act to save the Avatar, Tenzin, Kya and Bumi face off against the likes of Zaheer and his crew in a bending slugfest. While it’s all kinds of awesome to see the children of Aang fight together, the situation is altogether a hopeless one, cemented by the chilling image of Tenzin being beaten into submission by the Red Lotus. Ouch.

It had already been established that Korra wasn’t exactly a prodigy when it came to communicating and interacting with the Spirit World, something that ends up costing her when she finds herself lost among its dark forests. What follows is a journey of self-discovery, with Korra having to traverse through this beautiful yet dangerous plain of existence in her four-year old form. Aside from her utter cuteness and character growth, we get an unexpected but very welcome appearance by Iroh, who acts as a mentor to the rebellious Avatar in helping her to find spiritual peace.

The events of the final battle with Zaheer were by far the most traumatic in Korra’s life, the results of which not only shattered her physically, but left deep psychological scars that wouldn’t easily fade. As we’re reintroduced to her, we see that not only has she got a new hairdo, but she has abandoned Republic City altogether, wandering the land as a shell. What’s worse, she’s constantly haunted by a ghostly figure with an eerie resemblance to her. Powerless, shaken, and overall a shadow of her former self, it was clear to us that we were witness to an Avatar who may never fully recover.

Now this is how you do a finale! Captured by the remaining members of the Red Lotus, Korra is put through literal hell as Zaheer enacts the final stage of his plan. With the intention of ending the Avatar Cycle for good, he poisons Korra with mercury, and as a result put through physical and mental agony. Following on from a vicious, primal fight with the airbending criminal, Korra barely manages to come out on top. Alas, the wounds she has been dealt have all but crippled her. While Tenzin, Asami, and the rest promise to aid her in whatever future struggles she faces, the final scene of Korra silently weeping still breaks out hearts.

Before we reveal our number one pick, here are few honourable mentions.

“Old Wounds”

“Enter the Void”

“Long Live the Queen”

While Korra barely appears, it can’t be denied that not only is this episode several shades of epic, but is a hugely stepping stone for the Avatar universe. Through Korra’s eyes, we see the rise and fall of Wan; the man who would go on to become the first Avatar. We see the origins of bending, how humans and spirits clashed, how Raava created the Avatar Cycle, the list goes on and on. With amazing action scenes, a distinctly beautiful art design, as well as having the accolade of elevating the entire series with its additional lore, the Legend of Wan manages to win the day.