The 10 Best ‘Legend of Korra’ Episodes, Ranked

There’s no question that Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most popular animated television shows ever made. With a reception like this, one would think that following that up would be extremely difficult. It most definitely was, but the series that came after, The Legend of Korra, still wound up being an incredible ride that is far better than some give it credit for.

While The Legend Korra isn’t perfect, it’s still an excellent series that is iconic across the board. Korra (Janet Varney) is a wonderful protagonist that is exciting, emotionally compelling, and worth watching for all four seasons. Watching her from episode-to-episode is a journey that people love, but which episodes are the best of the best?

10

“Skeletons in the Closet”

Season 1, Episode 11

Image via Nickelodeon

Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that The Legend of Korra has a very strong start. The first season is so much fun—introducing audiences to the new world that’s come about since Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) passed on and Korra became the Avatar. The second-to-last episode of this first season is one of the best episodes in the catalog, by far, thanks to the way it raises the stakes for the finale to come after.

The Legend of Korra Season 1, Episode 11, “Skeletons in the Closet” is a great penultimate episode that sets the stakes, and reveals the big secret behind the villain of the season, Amon (Steve Blum). Turns out, Korra’s first season-long foe is actually the brother of Tarrlok (Dee Bradley Baker), and son of Yakone (Clancy Brown). This changes everything moving into the final episode and sets things up perfectly for what Korra is to face.

9

“Day of the Colossus”

Season 4, Episode 12

Image via Nickelodeon

Another incredible penultimate episode from The Legend of Korra is the penultimate episode of the series as a whole, The Legend of Korra Season 4, Episode 12, “Day of the Colossus”. Said Colossus is a massive mecha, piloted by the likes of the season’s villain, General Kuvira (Zelda Williams), and wreaks havoc all across Republic City.

Seeing the collective cast come together to fight this behemoth of a foe is so thrilling. It’s unlike anything audiences have seen an Avatar face in the past. Buildings are being destroyed, and it takes the entirety of the cast to come together to fight it. It truly unites the team in a way they haven’t been united before, making for a great final group battle together.

8

“The Last Stand”

Season 4, Episode 13

Image via Nickelodeon

If there’s one thing that The Legend of Korra is really good at, though, it’s the way they execute their finale episodes across all four seasons. Almost every single finale episode is among the best—besides Season 2—and The Legend of Korra Season 4, Episode 13, “The Last Stand” is the first true example of just how good they can get. The action, dialogue, and animation are all top-tier here.

What this series finale does the best, though, is showcase how far Korra has come in her journey as the Avatar, depicting the conclusion to her series-long character arc. Starting the fourth season off with her in such a low place, struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder meant that she had a long way to go to get back to her old self by the end of the season. She doesn’t just get back to her old self, however. Korra grows and becomes the best Avatar and person she has ever been.

7

“Endgame”

Season 1, Episode 12

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The finale of The Legend of Korra Season 1 is one that helped set the standards for every season finale to come after. This episode deals heavily in actions resulting in consequences. The biggest consequence of them all comes in the form of Korra losing her bending completely after Amon takes it from her.

The battle with Amon—physical and mental/emotional—proves exactly why he is such a great foe. He truly challenges Korra in new ways, and that’s proven with how he overcomes her, forcing her to turn to her friends and see that even the Avatar can’t do things alone. This was truly the perfect way to conclude the great first season of this wonderful show.

6

“Korra Alone”

Season 4, Episode 2

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Taking title inspiration from the episode of the previous series, Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, Episode 7, “Zuko Alone”, this second episode of the final series depicts as the title suggests: Korra, alone. After the haunting battle at the end of the third season, she’s thrown into a terrible spot in her life, and The Legend of Korra Season 4, Episode 2, “Korra Alone” depicts where she’s been since. It’s here that audiences get to see that she’s not just alone, but struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder after being healed from her paralyzation.

This is most definitely the worst place audiences have seen an Avatar in. Korra is in complete shambles, and is so clearly lost, it’s hard not to feel terrible for her when watching. This is easily one of the most emotional episodes in the franchise. There’s no real action here, it’s a character study of Korra at her lowest, and is all-around heartbreaking. The audience simply has to sit and watch her suffer before she can get better. It does wonders for her season-long character arc, but it is heart-wrenching to watch nonetheless.

5

“The Ultimatum”

Season 3, Episode 11

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It is profoundly difficult to find someone who doesn’t think that the best season of The Legend of Korra is Season 3. The third entry in the series is the pinnacle of everything the show can be on every single front. The animation is phenomenal, the acting is compelling, and the story is written with prowess. The final three episodes of Season 3 are where these facts are the most prominent, and it all starts with The Legend of Korra Season 3, Episode 11, “The Ultimatum”.

One of the best fights in The Legend of Korra is, without a doubt, the battle between the one and only Tenzin (J.K. Simmons) and the main villain of the third season, Zaheer (Henry Rollins). These two airbenders going at each other is iconic and hailed by fans everywhere, especially when it comes down to Zaheer’s goons joining him and Tenzin taking them all on by himself. Not to mention, Lord Zuko (Bruce Davison) makes an appearance, which was sure to make many fans happy.

4

“Enter the Void”

Season 3, Episode 12

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The next episode in Season 3, after Tenzin’s ultimate fight with Zaheer depicts some huge moments not just for the plot of the season, but the Avatar universe as a whole. After the love of his life is lost in the battle, Zaheer finally accomplishes his enlightenment—now freed of all Earthly tethers—and gains the ancient lost airbending ability of flight.

The action in The Legend of Korra Season 3, Episode 12, “Enter the Void” is superb and some of the best in the show as a whole. The fight scene in which P’Li (Kristy Wu)—Zaheer’s love-interest—dies while facing Suyin Beifong (Anne Heche) is exceptional. Not to mention, the death of P’Li is one of the coldest, most hardcore scenes in the entire franchise. It’s clear that with this penultimate episode, they were not planning on holding back in the slightest.

3

“Beginnings, Part 1”

Season 2, Episode 7

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The Avatar universe of productions has always been very good at worldbuilding, so whenever the audience gets a chance to experience more of the Avatar world, it’s a welcome one. Many, for quite some time, wondered who the first Avatar was, and how all of this came to be. Well, The Legend of Korra Season 2, Episode 7, “Beginnings, Part 1” answers just that.

Following the story of the first Avatar—as Korra looks back to learn truths about herself and her power—viewers get to see the origins not just of the Avatar cycle, but the connection between the spirit world and natural realm, as well. Steven Yeun joins the cast to bring Avatar Wan to life, and the animation style completely changes to represent the previous era of the Avatar.

2

“Venom of the Red Lotus”

Season 3, Episode 13

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The finale of the third season is, without a doubt, the best finale in the entire series—among the best of the entire franchise, too. The fights that take up the first two and a half acts of this episode are, without a doubt, some of the best in the entire franchise. The stakes are abundantly high, the animation is the best in the series, and the pacing is exemplary.

The Legend of Korra Season 3, Episode 13, “Venom of the Red Lotus” is the perfect example of how to make a good finale. The conclusions of the character arcs at play are fulfilling, the action is well-choreographed, and the character work is the best of the best. It does not get much better when it comes to finales than the finale of Season 3.

1

“Beginnnings, Part 2”

Season 2, Episode 8

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While The Legend of Korra Season 2, Episode 7, “Beginnings, Part 1“ is amazing and a great start to the origin of the Avatar, it’s the follow-up episode, The Legend of Korra Season 2, Episode 8, “Beginnings, Part 2”, where the Avatar Wan story truly shines. The origins of the Avatar are thrilling, interesting, and engaging.

Avatar Wan’s melding with Raava (April Stewart) is the perfect lead-in to what is to come with Korra in the rest of Season 2. Most importantly, though, Wan and Raava are genuinely interesting characters and very compelling to watch. So, not only is this episode abundantly important, but exceptionally well-written.

The Legend of Korra

Release Date

2012 – 2014-00-00

Network

Nickelodeon

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  David Faustino

  Mako (voice)

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  Seychelle Gabriel

  Asami Sato (voice)