From Polygon · Corey Plante · · 1m 40s
13 Years Ago, 'The Legend of Korra' Answered Avatar Mystery
Korra's 13-year-old origin story reveals how the Avatar cycle began with Wan's bridge between worlds.
In brief
Korra's 13-year-old origin story reveals how the Avatar cycle began with Wan's bridge between worlds. Korra's choice to keep spirit portals open, made 13 years ago, created a crisis that now threatens the world. Originally reported by Polygon.
Korra's origin mystery
Korra lost her memory after being swallowed by a dark spirit at sea during season 2 of Legend of Korra.
The Avatar's ancient duty
The Avatar must wield all four elements and restore peace, a role that began with Wan's promise to bridge human and spirit worlds.
Wan's story
Wan, a trickster who stole food to feed the poor, learned to bend fire and raided the palace to help the hungry.
Wan's mistake
Wan intervened in a spirit battle between Raava and Vaatu, causing Vaatu to grow stronger and Raava to shrink.
The spirit battle
Raava is the spirit of light and order, while Vaatu represents darkness and chaos, battling every ten thousand years during the Harmonic Convergence.
Wan's choice
Wan fused with Raava to temporarily control all four elements but chose to permanently merge their essences to defeat Vaatu.
Korra's decision
Korra kept spirit portals open to allow humans and spirits to coexist, despite Wan's promise to seal them.
The consequences
A new generation of airbenders emerged, spirit vines invaded the material world, and a third spirit portal opened accidentally.
The twin mystery
Korra's successors are twins, 225 years after her era, creating a crisis the world now blames on her.
The unresolved question
The Avatar's true purpose remains unclear: was Korra's choice a mistake, a new solution, or something the old rules can't explain?
Here's the gist
Korra's choice to keep spirit portals open, made 13 years ago, created a crisis that now threatens the world.
