Watching Legend of Korra - Season 2 First Half Review

 In continuation with my series, this week I watched season 2 of the Avatar sequel series “The Legend of Korra”

Seeing as how Korra has mastered all the elements, including the Avatar state, by the end of season 1, it’s difficult to predict what more Korra will learn in season 2. However, it is quickly established in this season that there is an imbalance in both Korra and the world when it comes to spirits. Indeed, the second season is titled and centered around “Spirits”

The season starts out with a very strong first 8 episodes. Korra revisits her home at the South Pole only to discover that spirits have begun to attack its citizens. There is unrest about this matter between Korra’s father, who is chief of the South Pole, and her uncle, who is chief of the North Pole. In this initial storyline, Korra tried to help her uncle reconnect the South to the spirit world, only to discover that her uncles intentions were never spiritual, but political. A civil war dawns in the South Pole as the two chiefs go head to head, and Korra finds herself caught in the middle. In addition, the side stories of this first half are, with one exception, charming a great character developments. Tenzin has a side plot with his family and siblings, discussing the legacy of the airbenders and the legacy of his family. Asami meets new character and star of the season Varrick, who seeks to help her get her business back up and running. Bolin becomes a movie star in his attempt to help the South gain the favor of Republic City. And Mako does some detective work as an officer on the Republic City Police Force.

Overall, I loved the set up and development these 8 episodes gave us. They built upon the fairly simple character connections of season 1 and instead made them into complex and evolving connections with story consequences. The complexity of the spirit problems relating to the civil war made for a suitably interesting and nuanced storyline for a show aimed at an older audience than its predecessor. Other than the romance remaining particularly juvenile and grating, I loved everything about these first eight episodes.

But then of course, came the next eight, which are controversial in the fandom for a reason. I will discuss these episodes, and two in particular, in my next review.