Korra


 * This article is about the character. For the series, see The Legend of Korra.

"water"

- I'm the Avatar! You gotta deal with it!

Avatar Korra, originally from the Southern Water Tribe, is the Avatar immediately succeeding Aang. A talented and eager-to-learn bender, Korra has already mastered waterbending, earthbending and firebending, but has yet to understand airbending. Hotheaded and rebellious, Korra fully accepts and relishes her role as "The Chosen One", and believes that being a powerful bender is all that it takes to be a great Avatar. The resulting lack of spiritual development is one of the reasons Korra has been unable to overcome her airbending block or connect with the Spirit World.

Background
Korra was born to Tonraq and Senna in the Southern Water Tribe after the death of Avatar Aang. She discovered at the age of four that she was the Avatar, a fact she proudly announced to the Order of the White Lotus when they came on her family's request. After performing waterbending, earthbending, and firebending before them, her identity as the Avatar was established, and her training to become a fully realized Avatar began in earnest under the Order's watchful eye. Over the next thirteen years, Korra became a prodigy in waterbending and earthbending, and by 170 ASC, her firebending training was almost complete.

Arrival in Republic City
At the age of seventeen, Korra demonstrated her firebending prowess to the Order of the White Lotus and Katara, her waterbending teacher. Although expressing concerns over her lack of restraint and ignorance on spiritual matters, the leader of the White Lotus decided that she had successfully mastered fire, her third element, and was ready to commence her airbending training under Tenzin's tutelage. However, Korra's airbending training was put on hold when Tenzin announced that the imbalance in Republic City was preventing him from leaving the city to relocate to the Southern Water Tribe as planned. Unhappy, she unilaterally decided that if Tenzin could not come to her, she would go to him. With Katara's blessing, she stowed away on a cargo ship headed for the city with Naga, her polar bear dog and animal guide.

Upon their arrival in Republic City, Korra and Naga roamed the city, discovering for themselves just how out of balance it really was with its unequal division of wealth and rampant street crime. In the park, Korra comes across an Equalist protester trying to bring together non-benders to join Amon and the Equalists. After she calls bending "the coolest thing in the world" and openly considering to waterbend the protester off of his platform, the non-benders get riled up against her. After successfully thwarting members of the Triple Threat Triad, Korra found herself apprehended by the Metalbending Police Force on charges of destruction of private and city property. After an unsuccessful runaway attempt, she was brought to the police headquarters, where she was interrogated by a displeased Chief Lin Beifong. Although Tenzin managed to persuade her to drop all the charges against Korra, Lin made it very clear that she would keep an eye on the young Avatar.

Even though Tenzin had promised to send Korra back home again, she managed to persuade him to let her stay, as she now realized that Republic City needed its Avatar. She was allowed to stay and commence her airbending training on Air Temple Island under Tenzin's tutelage. Her decision to take residence at Air Temple Island was publicly announced during a press conference in front of City Hall in Republic City, during which she stated that "Avatar Aang meant for this city to be the center of peace and balance in the world," and that she would strive to obtain that goal.

Pro-bending


Korra found herself struggling with the "element of freedom", eventually destroying a priceless Air Nomad training tool in a fit of rage. She continually found herself frustrated at her inability to airbend, and by the fact that Tenzin would not allow her to attend a pro-bending match, something she wanted to watch since childhood. Unwilling to sit idle on the island, she snuck off at night so she could finally attend a match at the arena. Upon arriving, she was caught exploring the arena's gym by Toza, but was bailed out by Bolin, who stated she was "with him". Following her rescuer, she was guided to the playing area where she was introduced to Bolin's brother, Mako. She hung around for the match, and became enthralled with the sport and the Fire Ferret team. After the match, Bolin taught her some basics, and Korra proved herself to be a natural.

When the Fire Ferrets' waterbender, Hasook, appeared to be a "no-show" for the final match, Korra jumped at the chance to take his spot and compete. Early on, her inexperience showed when she committed two quick fouls, prior to revealing herself as the Avatar by earthbending. The official ruled she could continue to compete but had to stick with waterbending. When Tenzin ordered her to return to the island immediately, she justified her stay by stating that it was important for her as the Avatar to learn modern-style bending, something pro-bending could help her with. Struggling with the rules and the pace of the game, Korra slowly got the feel of it. Korra started applying some of her airbending lessons by moving around in her zone like "a leaf in the wind", proving to Tenzin who was still watching that his teachings weren't all lost to her. This sudden change of tactics from Korra won the match for the Fire Ferrets. This victory gained the team access to the official pro-bending championship tournament, and Korra was accepted to permanently replace Hasook as the waterbender on the team.

Meeting Amon


When Korra was practicing airbending at Air Temple Island with Jinora and Ikki, Mako arrived to ask her about Bolin's location. After her insistence to help find Bolin, she and Mako decided to go looking for him through the city. In Central City Station, they met Skoochy, who told them he had been recruited to the Triple Threat Triad. When Mako and Korra made it to the gang's headquarters, they learned that Bolin had been captured by the Equalists in a raid and immediately set out to rescue him. They traveled to Republic City Park to find the protestor, who told them that Bolin was likely taken to the Equalist rally called "The Revelation". At the rally, they discovered that Amon possessed the power to permanently remove one's bending powers, a skill thus far believed only to be obtainable by Avatars. During Amon's demonstration on the captured benders, among whom Bolin, Korra released a large sheet of steam from containers hanging from the sides of warehouse, which created panic and distracted the Equalists long enough to allow Mako to rescue Bolin. When the brothers were overpowered by the Lieutenant, Korra arrived just in time to save them with her earthbending, and they made their escape on Naga. As soon as Korra got back to Air Temple Island, she informed Tenzin and consequently the United Republic Council of Amon's power.

The encounter with the Equalists and their leader left a profound impression on Korra, as she had nightmares about being immobilized by their chi blocking and subsequently being stripped of her bending by Amon. For the first time in her life, Korra found herself afraid of something, although she refused to admit it. This fear held her back in her daily life, and when Councilman Tarrlok approached her with the offer to lead a special task force with him to take down Amon, she politely refused with the excuse that she needed to focus on her airbending training. However, Tarrlok didn't let up, and threw a gala in her honor; he tricked her into a press conference, during which Korra buckled under the accusing questions of the journalists and shouted that she would join Tarrlok's task force to help fight Amon, if that was what the city needed.



Eager to prove to everyone, including herself, that she wasn't afraid of anyone, Korra successfully apprehended several Equalists, with the help of Tarrlok's special task force, and publicly challenged Amon to a midnight duel at Aang Memorial Island, without any back-up of the task force or chi blockers. However, Amon didn't show up alone, and his henchmen quickly overpowered her. When Amon emerged from the shadows, Korra was terrified that he was going to take her bending away. However, he didn't, and instead revealed that he had a plan to rid the world of benders and that he was saving her for last in order to prevent her from becoming a martyr. Following Amon's monologue, he knocked her unconscious where she experienced several flashbacks surrounding Avatar Aang. When she gained consciousness, Tenzin was running towards her. After telling him what happened, Korra broke down and finally admitted to that she was terrified of Amon and the Equalists and that she didn't know what to do.

Personality
Korra is fiery, hot-headed, and pugnacious. Her personality is in many ways the opposite of the previous Avatar. Aang was a peaceful, diffident, nomadic airbender, whereas Korra is tough, impatient, headstrong, sarcastic, and assertive. She has a poor grasp of the damage her powerful bending can cause, and, though considerate and devoted to doing good in the world, her lack of forethought and immaturity often lead her to disrespect those around her. However, like Aang, she also has a good sense of humor, with a teenage charm and vulnerability. While Aang was amiable and non-confrontational, the one thing he was assertive about was his path as the Avatar. He never allowed his path to be dictated by anyone, however Korra seems to be genuinely concerned with what others think her path should be as the Avatar.

Being direct, Korra has a hard time hiding her true feelings, as seen when she witnessed Asami Sato on Mako's arm as his date during the gala Tarrlok threw in her honor; she immediately expressed her jealousy by being rather hostile toward Asami, and short with Mako. Also, while being in denial of her own fears, Korra had difficulties staying her usual upbeat self, and became rather reclusive. This shows that she is ruled by her emotions.

Bending


As the Avatar, Korra has the unique ability to master all four elements, rendering her the most powerful bender in the world. Furthermore, since she was young, Korra has always had an affinity for the more physical aspect of bending, though she struggles with the spiritual side.

It should also be noted that she does show amazing strength and power in her bending, however; she lacks finesse, somewhat fitting with her personality.

Waterbending
Korra's waterbending abilities had manifested at a young age, before she had even been recognized as the Avatar by the Order of the White Lotus. Subsequently, she was trained formally in the art by Katara. She is capable of creating large walls of ice and powerful water whips. She also has knowledge of the ability to heal through waterbending; according to her, it was Katara that taught her. She used her waterbending abilities to procure herself a spot on the Fire Ferrets pro-bending team, referring to herself as a "top-notch waterbender".

Healing
Korra's ability of waterbending gave her the ability of healing. Learning this sub-skill from her waterbending master, Katara, she was able to heal the wound on Bolin's shoulder after he was injured in a pro-bending match.

Earthbending
Korra's earthbending abilities also manifested early, and her training in the art only strengthened her technique.

Firebending


Contrary to the usual difficulty an Avatar has with learning the opposite of his/her native element, firebending has become second nature to her. This unusual combination has been noted to be due to her innate personality being quite fit for the art thanks to her natural assertiveness and literally fiery spirit. As with earth and water, fire too manifested at a young age, and it became the element Korra most prominently utilizes. Her firebending training was completed when she passed the test at the age of seventeen, under the guidance and teachings of the Order of the White Lotus.

Airbending
Unlike the prior three elements, airbending never came easy to Korra, and upon her move to Republic City and subsequent training with Tenzin, she still found the technique difficult. Despite frustrated attempts; she has yet to successfully airbend. Tenzin explained that she found difficulty with the bending technique due to the same reasons that his father, Avatar Aang, had difficulties with earthbending, as they are the elements most opposite their respective personalities.

During her first pro-bending match after joining the Fire Ferrets, she managed to employ evasive movements similar to that of an airbender's, and after tiring out the opposing team, she won the match, along with Mako and Bolin. Later, when she was practicing at Air Temple Island, she demonstrated a better understanding of maneuvering through the gates.

Other skills


Korra also appears to have impressive physical strength: she is capable of lifting Tenzin, Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo at the same time without effort, as well as hoisting herself easily up and off a rooftop and being able to throw a huge opponent at pipes with enough force to break them. In addition, she is a highly capable unarmed fighter, able to knock out opponents with a single kick and subdue them with only Mako's scarf to aid her. She is also quite fast and agile, able to skillfully dodge a much larger opponent's assault in a narrow area.

Relatives

 * Tonraq and Senna (parents)
 * Aang (immediate predecessor)
 * Tenzin (spiritually related through his father, Aang)
 * Jinora (spiritually related through her grandfather, Aang)
 * Ikki (spiritually related through her grandfather, Aang)
 * Meelo (spiritually related through his grandfather, Aang)

Trivia

 * Her name follows a longstanding tradition in the polar Water Tribes, where often people include one or two "K"s and have an "UH" sound in their name (Katara, Hakoda, Sokka, Pakku, Kuruk, Kanna, Arnook, etc.)
 * The creators could not find a name that they agreed on that followed the tradition of the Water Tribe names, but when they were staying in an eco-lodge, the owner introduced them to his dog, Cora. The creators agreed on the name, and with a spelling tweak, it fit into the established culture.
 * Korra's situation appears to be the opposite of that of Aang; Aang had mastered airbending and had to travel the world to learn the other three elements. Korra has mastered waterbending, earthbending, and firebending, and has yet to learn airbending. In addition, while Aang was very in tune with the spiritual side of bending and had to work to achieve the physical side of it, Korra is talented with the physical side of bending, but has very little aptitude for the spiritual side.
 * "Chorr" means "odd" in Irish and is also similar in pronunciation to another Irish word "chora", which means "weir". It also means "crust" in Greek, and "grass" in certain Australian Aboriginal dialects and is an Estonian word meaning "procedure". When anglicized, Greek "Kore" reforms as "Cora", with both names meaning "maiden". Kore is also another name for Persephone, Greek goddess of the underworld, who is described by Homer as a "formidable and powerful young queen".
 * Korra is also the name of a village in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.
 * Korra's name also bears resemblance to Cora Baker's given name. Baker is the voice actress who voiced the young, four year old Korra.
 * Korra is the first Avatar to hail from the Water Tribes since Kuruk from 489 years ago, although he's from the Northern Water Tribe whereas Korra is from the Southern Water Tribe.
 * Korra is the second known Avatar shown to know of her status as the Avatar before her sixteenth birthday, Aang being the first, though she knew of her status at a significantly younger age.
 * Despite being born a waterbender, meaning firebending is her polar opposite, Avatar Korra has trouble with airbending instead due to her headstrong nature and lack of spirituality.
 * Korra is the only known Avatar to have both biological parents featured in the series.
 * Korra is the only known Avatar to have their bending blocked with chi-blocking.
 * Korra favors the "I'm looking for the bathroom" excuse whenever someone confronts her on what she's doing, when she shouldn't be there.
 * Unlike Katara and a waterbender from Triple Threat Triad, Korra does not carry a water skin. Instead, she relies on her firebending skills when there is no water around.
 * The opening animation with her as the waterbender also depicts her headstrong personality, compared to Pakku in the previous series with his graceful control and smooth motion releasing a clean ball of water; Korra's form spills excess water and forms a rough water whip which torrents onto the screen.
 * Whereas Aang relied very heavily on his native element and preferred to use it before making use of any other, Korra doesn't seem to have any real preference over using her own native element; as noted, she doesn't bother to carry a water skin.