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Avatar: The Last Airbender is the G.O.A.T. | Video Essay

A love letter to the show.   

Airbening101

Before you watch “The Legend of Korra”

Before you guys watch Korra you should know a few things, or maybe you've already started.  Don't worry, this is spoiler free.  

Avatar and legend of Korra are made by different people.  Yes, the "creators" worked on both shows, but surprisingly few others did.  If you look at the head crews of both shows, you'll notice they are very different.  

Why this matters is because Korra is a very different show from Avatar, by virtue of being made by different people.  A number of things from the original show get retconned, and some characters even get different personalities.  This is because there are different people that are making the show, and this is their interpretation.  

This issue isn't unique to Korra,  many shows/movies/series change when they get a new director, producer, or if they're bought by a different company.  (Like how StarWars was bought by Disney.)  Some of these changes you might like; others you might not.  Just don't feel you have to blindly accept whatever happens. 

Sokka and Katara:  Stick Figure Style

In Defense of the Elemental System & Energybending

So I’ve seen and heard many people describe the magic system in Avatar as being based in the four classical elements. While this isn’t an inaccurate description of the show, the word “classical” has a very strong Western cannotation (Greco-Roman, to be specific). I’d like to make the argument that the elemental system in ATLA is far more Eastern than people give it credit for.

The concept of dividing the physical world into water, earth, fire, and air is just as much Ancient Indian in origin as it is Ancient Greek. Additionally, the existence of a fifth element that represents the absence of the physical or a world beyond the physical— which is often translated as “void” or “space”— is present in both Hindu and Buddhist philosophy.

This “void” concept is acknowledged in ATLA through the existence of energybending, an ability granted to our hero after coming into contact with a primordial being who existed before the four elements system. Whereas the other bending arts focus on overcoming obstacles using the physical world (elements), energybending allows one to subdue the enemy by looking beyond the physical and taking away the ego-driven brute force that lies within the opponent.

A solution steeped in a Buddhist conception of the world.

Like what I’m doing? Tips always appreciated, never expected. ^_^

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Korra:  The Airbending Drop-Out

There’s a lot of speculation on who would win in a battle between Avatar Aang and Avatar Korra.  Of course, neither is alive at the same time so this battle would be purely hypothetical.  However, there’s one argument I’ve never seen mentioned.  Korra is an airbending drop-out.  

Korra first came to Republic City to learn airbending.  She learned most of the forms but couldn’t produce a single puff of air until the season 1 finale.  

In season 2, Korra could now airbend but she hadn’t mastered it.  As Tenzin put it, “...you’re still a long way away from mastering airbending.”  “You’ve mastered Korra-style airbending.  Now you need to master real airbending.”  

Unfortunately, Korra stopped listening to Tenzin as soon as she unlocked airbending.  Worse still, Korra dismissed him as her teacher soon after, and that was the end of her airbending training.  

Because of her choices, Korra never mastered airbending.  Instead, she relied on her bending strength and the avatar state to make up for her lack of skill.  

To Korra airbending was just firebending without the burn.  

This became an obvious weakness because airbending relies heavily on skill, dexterity, and agility; skills Korra is in desperate need of.  Therefore, Korra has always struggled fighting against agile opponents like Zaheer or the Equalist.  

Which brings me back to Aang vs Korra.  When it comes to airbending, Aang would demolish Korra.  Aang was a airbending prodigy, Korra is a drop-out.  Even Tenzin could beat Korra in airbending.  

How would a person actually find out they have the ability to bloodend and if it's possible to know without training to do it.

Of the four bending arts Waterbending is most versatile and adaptable. After all, it is the Element of Change.

Waterbending is also the only element where most people can learn ALL the subtypes. (Provided they spend the time to learn.)

So to answer your first question: Most waterbenders have the ability to bloodbend but also need three things:

A deep understanding of the body and its anatomy, which is usually gained after becoming an expect healer.

Immense bending strength. Bloodbending works by dominating the water and Chi in another person’s body. A bloodbender must be strong enough to overcome their victim's Chi.

The Full Moon. Most waterbenders do not have the strength to overcome another person's Chi, therefore they need the added strength coming from the full moon in order to bloodbend.

All in all, bloodbending is a master level ability which can only be learned by very strong or master waterbenders.

As to your second question: 'Can someone know bloodbend without training?"

Answer: No. Bloodbending requires too much skill to be done by accident. (Just like you can't accidently do Calculus.) It's a skill that has to be learned and developed.

Apologies for taking so long to reply.

Another magic circle for Avatar the Last Airbender.   I’m a huge fan of both Avatar: the last Airbender and Cardcaptors.   I’ve always really like Li’s compass for finding the Clow Cards, so I redesigned it to find the next avatar.