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We all know that there is a lot of television out there and multiple ways to view it, be it on television, phone, tablet, etc., and everyone has a favorite. From super popular hits like Big Bang Theory and Modern Family to critically acclaimed darlings like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. Sure, people tell you to watch Homeland and The Knick, and you know you should start The Affair, but you don’t have Showtime or an Amazon Prime account or whatever else you may need. People insist that shows like Agents of Shield is “great”; a whole slew of people will use the word great to describe shows like The Blacklist, Scandal, Gotham, Downton Abbey… the list goes on and on. What has become apparent to me as of late is the lack of attention for shows that are truly “great” but are under-watched, under-appreciated, and not adored enough by the all-powerful mainstream. So let’s talk about The Legend of Korra.

If you read that last sentence, or heck the title of this article, and asked yourself “what is the Legend of Korra?” you’re incredibly behind! But don’t fret; because that simply means you have so much to look forward to! “Korra” is a sequel series to Nickelodeon’s massive hit cartoon show “Avatar: The Last Airbender” taking place in an alternate world where aspects of nature can be “bended” or controlled by living beings. There are four nations to each corresponding element of Fire, Air, Earth, and Water with the protagonist of both series being the Avatar, a person who can bend all the elements and connect with the Spirit World and is then reincarnated into the next nation, tasked with protecting the world.

The main plot of the original series was how the Avatar, Aang, a ten year old boy and the last of the air nomads, attempts to stop the genocidal Fire Nation from taking over the world, with some help from his friends and allies. Not your typical kids show right? Especially for Nickelodeon, who is more associated with talking sponges and preteen shows like iCarly. Don’t worry, I’m not going to spoil what happens, just like I won’t divulge what happens in Korra, but that won’t stop me from laying some lavish praise on this gem.

Because the show is aired by Nickelodeon and because it is animated, this show gets the rather demeaning title of “a kids show.” There exists a whole other argument about this labeling and how many animated shows are overlooked and dismissed by most Americans. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, the protagonists were all, for the most part, around the 10-14 age range, reflecting the target demographic. Korra and gang range from the ages of 15 to 40, with several adult characters. The creators filled the world with older, more “mature” characters who not only tell more complex stories and have a deeper exploration of themes from the first series, but who also match and grow with their audience. Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are the two creators of this wonderful universe. They wanted to do something different from the previous show, and distance themselves from that awful- almost franchise killing- live action adaptation from M. Night Shyamalan, and took a different approach to Korra. A lot of fans were split by this move as some were not ready to grow and move on from, while still dark at times, what was essentially a lighter and less morally complex show. The following is a true account of what I overheard while being a creeper at my local comic book shop between a late teens-early twenties female and a late 20s-early 30s employee.

Girl: There is an Avatar comic? I didn’t know that. I love Avatar.

Employee: Yeah they’re pretty good. They pick up from where the show left off. Are you following Korra?

Girl: No not really. I gave it a try at first but it wasn’t the same you know?

Employee: Yeah but I like it. It’s actually very good.

Girl: Oh I’ll try it but it just wasn’t the same. Like I just wanted more of the other show, but I’ll totally read these comics and give the show another try.

Employee: Right.

And then he went back to being a salesman and I moved on to the next section.

The problem is a majority or the original fan base, unlike the creators, did not grow and yearn for more. Quite the opposite, they wanted to stay rooted in simplicity and childhood. Korra at its core is a about change and evolution, be it a person or a society. It’s a show about responsibility and the soul, all with some of the most stunning visuals and superbly choreographed martial arts action. I mean, what other show can you think of that has mech battles and people shooting freaking lightning bolts out of their fingers while dodging giant rocks being hurled at them or attacks from spirits? Not to mention that it is incredibly well-written and paced with humor and sadness in all the right places, and acted out by an all-star cast lead by Janet Varney, J.K. Simmons, Seychelle Gabriel, P.J. Bryne, and guest stars like Steve Blum, James Remar, John Michael Higgins.

Don’t get me wrong; when Korra was first announced as a 12 episode miniseries back in 2012, I was as skeptical as anyone. Every week I would watch an episode and say to myself “I don’t know if I like it or where it is going,” and when the season finished I wasn’t sure it earned its ending. Once the Blu-Ray was available I immediately rewatched it all in two sittings and the pieces clicked and fell into place so well that I lost all of my misgivings. It was just so cool, and it was right at this current zeitgeist of young adult fiction with female leads, with the setting in a late 1800s, early 1900s type background while exploring themes such as spirituality and politics.

It starts with Korra, after years of training and mastering the elements of water, earth, and fire, leaving to Republic City where she has to master air, the title of the first book. Little progress is made before a mysterious organization calling themselves the “Equalists” arises, led by a masked man named Amon. The unready Avatar has to step up to defend the city. The only problem is the Equalists have chi-blockers on motorcycles, zeppelins, and underground bases with mech suits and airplanes. Most frightening of all is that Amon has a technique to permanently remove one’s ability to bend, and his target, the Avatar!

Book Two, called “Spirits”, is where the series really begins, as now the creative team expands, with the order of 3 more seasons. This let the creators let others write the scripts while they still kept an eye on story beats and plot points while focusing on animation and perfecting the show. It gets a little rocky here as the show sort of retreads similar emotional arcs while it tries to find itself, but don’t worry; by the half-way point, the time taken to reestablish itself pays off with big action. Here themes from the first season are extended with the idea of family being both together and divided and exploring right and wrong in both politics and religion. While season two has some of the series lows (primarily the first five episodes) it also has some of the high points with the two-parter “Beginnings” on the top of the list and the introduction to characters like Varrick, an eccentric Howard Hughes war profiteer type and his loyal assistant Julee. Let’s also not forget Wan the first Avatar or the other members of Korra’s family from the Northern Tribe. The conflict within the family soon breaks into a civil war between the North and South as the former is a more spiritual tribe and he latter more secular. Oh and by the way, did I mention the amazing soundtrack continues with their partnership from the previous series, The Track Team led by the Zucker brothers. While season one had more of a jazzy infused excited vibe, season two seems more inspired with tracks reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Asian cinema, which really expands the uniqueness of the world and its scope. If you can forgive me momentarily… *Spoiler Warning* Book two involves the spirit world which is perfect because what animation has over live action is that there are no real limitations to what can be done. From this point on the series really takes on a cinematic quality that only gets better with each subsequent season

Right from the start of Book Three, “Change”, the show really matures into its own, with perfect pacing and emotional momentum, incorporating innovative action while embracing and seriously examining equality in this world, responsibility, death, rebirth and the morally grey. Here Korra start to leave behind her hot headed rebellious younger self to start developing true wisdom. The beauty of this season is that since the show borrows heavily from eastern religious and philosophical ideas and the works of Miyazaki. The season of “Change” is set in the massive Earth Kingdom, an element that is characteristically unmoving and stubborn. While the fire and water nations move into the modern age with Republic City, the Earth kingdom has very much stayed the same since Aang’s time. There are lots of under privileged people living under an oppressive and frankly awful shrew of a woman, Queen Hou Ting, who constantly yells at her servants and taxes her subjects. This season features a lot of talking out of problems instead of just rushing in and punching things like Korra was known for in the past, so we literally witness the growth and change of this young woman over time.

As the writing becomes more subtle, so do the villains, as this season features four escaped prisoners who have unclear goals, and unlike previous big bads, they do not announce themselves or have an army, only powerful next-level bending, and can move quietly and strike quickly. These people are this world’s parallel to a terrorist cell, and they are searching for Korra while she leaves Republic City and takes on the responsibility of protecting the world as her friends travel the world with her.

Several characters have their family histories revealed and are forced to confront their pasts. Honestly from the first frame to the last this particular season is a story teller’s wet dream, with deep social and political themes told all on Nickelodeon’s dime. However this season had some behind the scenes drama with an accidental leak in Mexico of episodes two through five, followed by a relatively unannounced release date. About halfway into the season Nick pulled the plug on airing the show on TV altogether and switched to streaming it on their website. This isn’t the first time these kinds of shenanigans have occurred. Similar events occurred in the second season when the final four episodes were released simultaneously online before they aired on television. I don’t have an inside knowledge and won’t claim to know the answers, but Nickelodeon claims that they have strong viewership digitally, but I have a theory of my own: The digital only switch-over occurred toward the end of the season, where stakes are raised to life or death, and it feels like Nick was too afraid to air it on a “children’s network.” In all honesty, it is understandable, because Korra is not really like any other show airing on American television. It’s high fantasy action adventure programming about handling various political and religious factions while dealing with the rise of technology, all the while being half an hour, often ending episodes on a note of urgency or uncertainty.

Often in television, regardless of the age demographic, shows feel the need to hold the audience’s hand and assure them that yes, things will be alright. The main characters of NCIS will be back next week or that Sam and Dean Winchester will go back to hunting monsters in the next episode. Since each book consists between 12-14 episodes, there isn’t any time for filler episodes or extra mysterious plotlines a la Lost or anime like Naruto.

Because of the content, and Korra being an entry in adult fiction, it can draw comparisons to such things like The Hunger Games, Divergent, or Harry Potter. Let us not forget Eastern series like the aforementioned Naruto or Bleach, though Korra is far superior to those programs in my opinion. What these all have in common is this theme of youth and rebellion or being against an oppressive society/order represented by adults, the wealthy, or the powerful. What Korra does though, instead of making it a simple black and white story of right and wrong, of the young rebels against the tyrannical -often British- adults, is actually trying to deal with them; because she is already arguably the most powerful character in the show. While most series deal with our protagonist gaining strength, this series is more interested in what to do with power or the consequences once said power is used.

Currently Korra is on its fourth and final book, “Balance”. More than halfway done, it airs every Friday on Nick’s website completely free so you have no reason not to catch up. This season picks up three years later where now the gang went from young adults to just plain adults. The animation is fluid and so frame by frame stunning that it stands up to any theatrically released movie while constantly finding new and exciting uses for the various bending abilities that fit in the world and make it feel complete. The show is four seasons in and has lost none of its momentum. It seems to be heading towards a grand finale, and it’s receiving praise from some critics as picking up where the original Star Wars trilogy left of in terms of crafting original myths. With a handful of episodes left, the show seems to be heading toward a grand finale climax and I fully expect to have several tears dribble down my face as I shout “yes!” over and over because I’m so excited, quickly followed by “no no!” as it dawns on me that the show is over. I can only hope that like the Avatar itself, the series will find a new way to continue as it is reincarnated into the next form.