The sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, takes audiences on a journey through the teenage life of the Avatar after Aang, the relentless Waterbender named Korra. Over the course of four seasons, each with its own respective theme, the show covers major events that reshape the world and its perception of the Avatar.
Unlike its predecessor, TLOK is not limited to a single enemy, instead displaying a range of antagonistic personalities who all seek to harm the world (although in radically different ways from the others.) Selecting episodes based on their rewatchability is rather subjective — but there are a few that are near-universally appreciated.
The Ultimatum (Season 3 Episode 11)
Book 3 enters the endgame in this episode when the Red Lotus lays waste to the Northern Air Temple (courtesy P'Li and Ghazan.) Korra is offered a tough choice to make: surrender herself or risk the destruction of the Air Nomads once again.
A magnificent series of battles occur, with both Bumi and Kya fighting off the invaders as best they can. The highlight of "The Ultimatum," however, is Tenzin's display of utterly ferocious Airbending — taking on multiple benders singlehandedly.
Light In The Dark (Season 2 Episode 14)
Korra has lost Raava to UnaVaatu and has resigned herself to her fate. However, Tenzin refuses to give up, asking his pupil to meditate on the solution from within the Tree of Time. As a result, Korra manifests power directly sourced from the Spirit World, transforming into a massive light-based giant and fighting UnaVaatu in the bay of Republic City.
As spectacular as the battle is, it is only won when Jinora somehow reveals the Raava hidden inside UnaVaatu, consequently allowing Korra to capture Vaatu (although her uncle, Unalaq, is killed in the process.)
Day Of The Colossus (Season 4 Episode 12)
When Kuvira, comfortably safe inside her massive mech, declares war on Republic City, the heroes stand little chance of victory. The machine cannot be bent because it is made of pure platinum, so they rely on technology: specifically, plasma torches.
Hiroshi Sato, Asami's disgraced father, redeems his past sins by sacrificing himself for the sole purpose of piercing through the mech. There are all sorts of emotional expressions in this episode, from excitement and exhilaration to anxiety and sorrow.
Endgame (Season 1 Episode 12)
As a battle rages in Republic City, Mako and Korra manage to rescue Tenzin, Pema, and the children from Amon's clutches but are powerless against the Bloodbender. That is until he makes the mistake of underestimating Mako's willpower.
Unfortunately, Lightningbending proves incapable of taking Amon down, so it falls to Korra to save her Mako. A sudden burst of Airbending springs out of Korra and throws Amon directly into the bay. In the end, Aang appears to Korra and helps her reconnect with her bending. She finally becomes the Avatar in more than just name.
Korra Alone (Season 4 Episode 2)
After her horrific encounter with the Red Lotus and their mercury-poisoning technique, Korra is left lamenting her condition. However, she doesn't realize that her mood is a direct result of residual mercury in her blood; instead, she roams around the globe and avoids people in general.
Korra finds a mysterious dog spirit that takes her to the Foggy Swamp, where she has another metaphorical fight with her violent alter-ego. A glint of light pokes through the darkness in this episode when an ancient Toph Beifong is revealed.
Venom Of The Red Lotus (Season 3 Episode 13)
Although Zaheer & co. successfully the Avatar cycle with it.) Sadly for them, not even a group of benders that powerful has the slightest chance against the enraged Avatar, who proceeds to knock each of them into their respective final battles.
Mako takes on Ming-hua while Bolin fights Ghazan; the heroes barely win both fights. Ultimately, the new Airbenders help save Korra from Zaheer using an impressive tornado technique engineered by Jinora, which earns her the honor of the youngest Airbending Master in history.
Operation Beifong (Season 4 Episode 10)
The best part of this episode is Toph Beifong in all her sassy glory. But then it gets a whole lot better when the old Earthbender teams up with Lin, Bolin, and Opal to help save Suyin and her family from Kuvira. Zhu Li's secret sabotage is uncovered, for which she is sentenced to death by vine super cannon (she is, of course, not killed.)
The hostages are rescued in an impressively deft set of synchronized motions, and the heroes squeeze out a last-minute escape. Toph and Lin scrape out a few vague apologies, but the reunion is tainted by discovering what Kuvira intends to do with her new weapon.
Enter The Void (Season 3 Episode 12)
Ghazan prevents Asami, Bolin, Mako, and Tenzin from escaping the Northern Air Temple by converting the entire ground into lava. Fortunately, Bolin activates his hitherto unknown Lavabending powers to avoid them having to choose between death by frying or by falling.
A far more momentous battle occurs on a hillock, where Suyin and Lin smartly converge on P'Li and finish her off with her own Combustionbending. This minor victory isn't enough to give this episode a happy ending, though, as Zaheer learns how to fly upon his partner's death.
The Last Stand (Season 4 Episode 13)
The series finale highlights the physical, psychological, and metaphorical battles between Avatar Korra and Kuvira, the Great Uniter — two similar people with drastically different principles.
While Korra is ultimately victorious, her opponent's final attack inadvertently results in a Spirit World portal right in the middle of Republic City. What's memorable about "The Last Stand" is that it ends with each woman coming to with the choices they have made and the consequences thereof.
Beginnings, Parts 1 & 2 (Season 2 Episodes 7 & 8)
The two-part "Beginnings" are probably among the best episodes in the Avatar franchise as a whole. Not only does it delve into the mystical origins of the Avatar and the four nations, but it also shows audiences the series of events that lead all the way to the present.
Depicted in an uncharacteristically dreamy animation style, "Beginnings" is a complete mini-narrative all by itself, a mirror into the past that reflects the journeys of both Aang and Korra. Fans especially adore the unbreakable bond between the Avatar and Raava.
