![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Behold, I have written a ten thousand word essay on the Legend of Korra and its multi-season trajectory. Because apparently that's how I roll. And how long it takes to write down everything I think. But also: fair warning - this is an essay. I'd love for you to read it, but for real, take your time.
( Avatar: the Last Airbender )( Book One: Air )( The Opposite of Aang ) ( The Bridge Between Worlds ) ( The Death of Aang and the Age of Korra ) ( Build Yourself a Metal City and Build Around the Vines )( Post-Industrial Political Revolution ) ( On Earthly Bodies, Enlightenment and Sin )( Korra Alone )( There's a collision at this intersection )( The Legend of Bryke ) ( Love )
The Legend of Korra: Deliberately Deconstructed
When The Legend of Korra finished, late last year, I was left with the strange sense that I had watched a show completely, and deliberately, dismantle itself. Much was made of that final iconic shot of Korra and Asami leaving for the Spirit World, in what was, honestly, the queerest “platonic” moment I've seen on television since Xena managed to stage a PG-rated dance-orgy. It was (to its credit) both obvious and unavoidable, but it was also the capstone to a much wider-ranging set of choices designed to destabilise accepted narratives. This would be worthy of exploration under any circumstance, but I feel it is particularly fascinating given how much of it appears to be in direct reaction to the events of Book One: Air. While I've seen countless shows begin with promise, only to fall foul of hegemonic expectations, I'm not sure I've ever seen one begin carelessly and then spend three seasons systematically and critically dismantling its initial premise.
( Avatar: the Last Airbender )( Book One: Air )( The Opposite of Aang )
( The Bridge Between Worlds )
( The Death of Aang and the Age of Korra )
( Build Yourself a Metal City and Build Around the Vines )
( Post-Industrial Political Revolution )
( On Earthly Bodies, Enlightenment and Sin )
( Korra Alone )
( There's a collision at this intersection )
( The Legend of Bryke )
( Love )
