Ways Korra’s Journey as the Avatar Was Harder Than Aang’s

Avatar Aang grew to become a beloved and revolutionary Avatar in Avatar: The Last Airbender. He not only stopped the Fire Lord from taking over the world but also supported instilling many policies that would help the nations become more copacetic. He also ensured that he was not the last Airbender and passed his knowledge and culture onto his youngest son. Aang left some big shoes to fill after handling so much in his comparatively short lifetime.

Yet, his successor, Avatar Korra, arguably had a much more difficult time as the Avatar. Korra’s journey is portrayed in the Avatar sequel, The Legend of Korra. Korra is very different from Aang, both in temperament and in the path she takes as the Avatar. Korra handles things that Aang couldn’t have dreamed of when he was alive. Korra may have more adult support and guidance than Aang ever did, but she has to contend with much heavier tasks than Avatar Aang.

10 Korra Deals With Advanced Technology

Set Years After Avatar Aang Technology Plays a Bigger Role

Aang grew up and reawakened in a time before there was modern technology. Although he had been asleep for one hundred years, things stayed relatively unchanged in terms of technological advancements. That is not the case with Korra.

Korra not only has to contend with evildoers hijacking radios to spread their messages, and car chases, but she also has to worry about giant mechanical suits and other instruments of destruction. Korra manages to take things in stride, but the modernity of Republic City takes her by surprise at first. She also has to become more adaptable than Aang as technology continues to thrive during her time as Avatar.

9 The Government Controls The Avatar’s Movements

Korra’s Time Is Way More Political

Aang ran into trouble a few times with political leaders and tribal heads. His greatest threat was the de facto king of the Fire Nation. However, Aang never had to truly face much bureaucracy except when he was in the Earth Kingdom. The same can’t be said for Korra. Not only is Republic City heavily regulated, but Korra is embroiled in politics as well.

She becomes a spokesperson for others’ campaign interests and is easily manipulated to help in shameless promotion. Korra has a lot more restrictions as the Avatar as well, since her power isn’t as exalted in her time as Aang’s was in his. Korra’s authority becomes secondary in The Legend of Korra, whereas Aang is the ultimate authority in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

8 Korra Experiences More Relationship Drama

Korra Finds Herself Stuck in a Love Triangle

As a twelve-year-old, Aang was only beginning to have complicated feelings and friendships with his peers. Particularly, fans see him struggle with his blossoming feelings for Katara throughout the series. Yet, everything seems to work out in the finale, as the show ends with the two sharing a kiss. Korra, however, is solidly in her teen years and grapples with much more complicated relationships.

Korra becomes part of a love triangle between herself and two brothers, Mako and Bolin, only to date them both and end up with Mako. Then Mako meets someone else (a girl named Asami Sato) and breaks things off with Korra. Then, Korra loses her memory and forgets that she and Mako broke up, and she eventually ends up romantically involved with Asami by the end. Korra dealing with so much relationship drama on top of all her other duties as the Avatar puts a lot more stress on her than Aang had as the Avatar.

7 Korra Has To Go Against Her Family

Avatar Was The Last Airbender

Aang, unfortunately, lost his entire culture during a Fire Nation raid when he was caught in a storm. When he wakes years later, he realizes he is the only one of his nationality left in the world. Aang’s journey as the last Airbender is certainly difficult. Aang losing his family is devastating, but some would argue that having to bring about a family member’s downfall is more difficult.

Korra has to stand up to several of her family members during fights. Korra not only confronts her father when he’s against opening the spirit portals, but she later has to fight her Uncle Unalaq when he becomes the Dark Avatar. Korra has to make the difficult decision to go against people she loves to do what she believes is right.

6 Korra Receives Tenuous Support From Friends

Aang Never Had to Oppose His Friends

Not only does Korra have to fight her family, but she often opposes her friends as well. Aang could always rely on Katara, Sokka, Toph, Suki, and eventually Zuko when he needed help. Unfortunately, Korra isn’t as lucky. The tenuous romantic relationships in her circle, accompanied by different ideals and jobs, often separate Korra from her friends.

Mako becomes a police officer and opposes Korra’s methods of dealing with villains. Meanwhile, Bolin aligns himself with Varrick and eventually Kuvira – two highly untrustworthy people. Even Asami’s attachment to her villainous father causes problems for Korra. The friend group finds common ground in the end, but Korra doesn’t have the luxury of her friends always having her back like Aang did in his story.

5 Public Opinion Matters More In Korra’s Time

Korra is Monitored by Many & Every Choice She Makes Matters

When Aang reawakens from an iceberg, he discovers that he’s been asleep for one hundred years. Therefore, when people realize he’s still alive, they are either elated that he’s returned, or are furious that he left in the first place. Generally, people are excited that he’s alive, though. Yet, with Korra, public opinion about her work as the Avatar is ever-changing and fragile.

Korra’s every move as the Avatar is carefully monitored and watched by her fans, enemies, and politicians. One wrong move makes or breaks Korra’s support system. Korra has to be extremely mindful of her public image so as not to ruin any foundation of support she might have. Even appearing tired could send the people of Republic City into a tizzy, as it might make them lose trust in Korra’s ability to be the Avatar.

4 Korra Has More Trouble With Spirits

Korra’s Time as The Avatar Deals With The Spirit World Converging With the Living

• The name “Korra” was inspired by a dog the creators met.
• They initially couldn’t agree on a name.

Aang dealt with his fair share of Spirit shenanigans in Avatar: The Last Airbender. However, Korra has to make the impossible decision to open the Spirit World to everyone, or to keep it a special ability for the Avatar. Eventually, Korra chooses to open the gates and see what happens. Unfortunately for Korra, this causes many more problems as both Spirits and humans are displaced by the convergence.

Korra has to manage the people of both worlds and find peaceful solutions so that everyone can live happily and harmoniously in a united world. No one is sure that her decision was a good idea, but the difficulty of making such a big decision, along with the execution, makes Korra’s Avatar-hood much more complicated than Aang’s.

3 Korra Has To Live Up To Aang’s Reputation

Aang Set a Very High Standard For The Avatar

• Aang and Korra are complete opposites.
• Korra has mastered three bending styles, but can’t comprehend Airbending.
• Aang was an Airbending master but struggled to learn the other three styles.

At only twelve years old. Aang not only traveled the world helping people and learning to bend different elements but also defeated the Fire Lord. He eventually went on to found Republic City with his friends’ help and became one of the most beloved Avatars of all time. Therefore, when he passed on, people were all too eager to compare the next Avatar to Aang. Korra is very different than Aang.

She is a lot more bull-headed, and her answer to violence is usually more violence. Aang was raised as a monk and was taught to be peaceful, but Korra is the opposite. Aang accomplished so much as the Avatar, that Korra’s contributions can sometimes look insignificant when compared to Aang’s. Every person is different, and everyone accomplishes different things in their lifetimes, but that doesn’t stop the people of Korra’s time from comparing her to her predecessor.

2 Korra Loses Her Connection To Past Avatars

Aang Had His Connection to Past Avatars to Help Guide Him

• Since Avatar Yangchen, the Avatars have changed genders every time they’re reborn.
• Wan was the first Avatar.

Throughout Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang has Avatar Roku to guide him. Roku not only gives Aang advice but also tells him important background knowledge for his current mission. Aang also calls upon other Avatars to help him make a decision regarding the Fire Lord.

While Avatar Aang does appear to Korra a few times in The Legend of Korra, there comes a time when Korra loses her abilities – including her access to her past lives. When Korra eventually begins to heal after a traumatic incident, Korra realizes that she has lost all her past lives for good. She can’t call upon them like Aang could in times of crisis. She only has herself. Korra is left to deal with the stress of being the Avatar alone without anyone with similar experiences to guide her.

1 Korra’s Bending Is Taken Away

Aang Never Lost His Abilities

• Korra is the only person to appear in every episode of The Legend of Korra.
• Korra is the second-known Avatar to have ties to a ruling family.
• The first-known Avatar with ties to a ruling family is Avatar Roku.

After visiting a Lion Turtle, Aang learns how to take someone’s bending away. He uses this ability to ultimately defeat Fire Lord Ozai as an alternative to killing him. Yet, in the Avatar’s next life, the ability to stop bending becomes a much bigger problem. Korra is eventually faced with the villain, Amon, who uses Bloodbending to stop a person’s bending ability.

Korra falls prey to Amon, herself. This causes her to lose her entire sense of identity, as she has been raised to be the Avatar since she was very young. Once she can’t bend anymore, Korra becomes lost and doesn’t know what to do with herself, or how to help people. In one instant, Korra loses everything that makes her the Avatar, and it crushes her fighting spirit completely.