From The Avatar to The Princess of Power

When it comes to these fantastic comic originating TV animations you can tell that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. It’s hard to believe at points that these shows are originally aimed for children; their exploration of character development delves deeply into the psychology of their protagonists to the point it becomes questioningly psychological thrillers.

Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2005, set in mid-19th century follows a 12 year old boy who was born with the power of ‘The Avatar’, the keeper of peace – the chosen one – the one who would seal the fate of the world. Easily enough this leaves room for a fantastic journey with childish humour and light-hearted quirks, comedic characters and story lines where the main ‘gang’ would find themselves struggling to escape from a force of evil. But the burden brought upon a boy who has woken up from a hundred year slumber to discover his world is turned upside down and he is the only one who can stop a power-hungry Firelord, is no light-hearted theme/plot to journey.

This ideology is followed through into The Last Airbender’s ground-breaking sequel Legend of Korra when Aang’s avatar powers are passed on to Korra. We follow her journey through a now steampunk-style 1920s world as this new avatar tries to keep balanced and preserve the legacy left by her predecessor. Even within this small jump between the two series you can see the growth in not only the writing style but the social and cultural influences and growths that were appearing in the early 2010s.

Korra, being a little bit older than Aang, had a very different attitude towards the responsibilities of her inherited powers. Aang, who started off as a care-free spirit intimidated by the power he bestowed grew into a very powerful master of all four elements as he discovered and conquered these strengths with the help of his fellow teen benders whilst on the run from the Fire Nation. On the other hand, starting off as a bit of an arrogant rebellious master of almost all four elements, Korra grows to become a powerful Avatar who leads her friends and fighters to greatness.

Four years after the finale of Legend of Korra Netflix released a new coming of age animated TV series: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, which rose to heights levelling with the Avatar series. Following the journey of Adora, a girl embodied with a legendary power that will unite and save Etheria against evil forces, is burdened with a legacy that she struggles to comprehend and must journey to strengthen her powers so she can fight alongside her new friends.

Upon discovering her true identity Adora is faced with turning her back on the life she had always known and the friends she’d grown up with to fight against them and forces much greater. Becoming true to who she was born to be Adora journeys and grows to accept what this destiny means for her and the ones she loves. Once more, with fairy-like settings of the planet of Etheria She-Ra opens up opportunities for a happy-go-lucky tale, but instead it pores over the journey of two childhood friends who end up on different sides of a war, all brought on by childhood trauma that has influenced the mindset and desires of the two friends.

The developing social and cultural influences that were present in Legend of Korra weren’t able to be fully explored due to these influences only just occurring/opening up in the recent years of production. Whilst there was less prejudice towards the LGBTQ+ community when Korra was written, at the time the creators were severely hindered; prevented from openly delving into the representation of two bi-sexual protagonists as it was

“breaking an unwritten rule of kid’s programming [to allow a depiction of a same-sex relationship on the show]” (Konietzo: co-creator of the Avatar series).

She-Ra, even merely four years down the line was able to envelope these representations which have been revolutionary within the animation medium in a way that Legend of Korra was unable to do.

When I first watched She-Ra I was convinced that it was written by the wonderful creators of the Avatar series because of how the world was cleverly created and how it closely resembled many aspects of the Avatar series that had made the show outstanding and memorable. The story, the characters, the themes, the journey and even the villains followed psychological and physical journeys so close to the Avatar series, however, without feeling like the two series were so identical to the point that I couldn’t enjoy them separately.

Now, when it comes to choosing a good TV series to watch, I am a real sucker for engaging, powerful and unique storylines, character developments and/or themes. I absolutely hate anything cliché; anything that may incorporate even simply an ideology that maybe cliché. Who likes a show where you know the ending before it’s even started? Certainly not me. But it’s not easy to come across shows that fully encompass absolutely nothing cliché, because it then would be treading in uncomfortably unfamiliar territory that can chase viewers away. Most shows (and films) follow a familiar storyline, such as the hero’s journey and Propp’s narrative, but the good engaging and often powerful shows like Legend of Korra and She-Ra take on these familiar tools and develop them into something bigger, something clever, something you’d expect but also not expect… something you can invest hours of your time into and come out feeling like it was truly worth it.

If you have watched Avatar: The Last Airbender’s sequel Legend of Korra, I can guarantee you that She-Ra and the Princesses of Power will be up your street. And if you’re like me, where you’re more of a Fire Bender than a Princess of Arendelle, don’t worry; She-Ra - despite its first appearance - is nothing like a Netflix adaptation of Disney Princesses. I like to think of it as if sci-fi met fairy tale. So here are a few ways in which She-Ra can bring you on a journey as enjoyable, magical, dangerous, powerful and thought provoking as Legend of Korra.

- The following is not spoiler free for Legend of Korra as this is written with the mindset that the reader has watched the series and is being advised to watch She-Ra. I have also avoided certain factors that could be elaborated within the sectors to avoid potential spoilers for She-Ra. If you wish to avoid all spoilers I have headed up a spoiler alert for the one paragraph that does spill a few beans. -

Storyline

Here are a couple of quick summaries of the two series:

Legend of Korra follows the new Avatar as she struggles with her responsibility as the Avatar and living up to the legacy that was left behind by her predecessor – Avatar Aang. To learn air bending Korra travels to Republic City where she finds that the world isn’t as golden as she thought it would be. She tries to manage her life as the Avatar, a now pro-bending player and keeping the world in balance when forces rise up against her. As she faces new villains, whether they fight for equality, reconnection, freedom or unity she learns what it really means to have power and to lose power as she fights the forces against her, with her friends Mako, Bolin and Asami.

She-Ra follows the journey of a girl who was torn from her home by an oppressive intergalactic empire who has taken over her home planet of Etheria. Upon discovering that she has inherited the power of She-Ra and is in fact a princess of power, Adora abandons her life to fight against everything and everyone she thought she loved. She joins the rebellion fighting The Horde with her new friends, Glimmer and Bow. However as she fights against new foes she learns what it means to lose everything she has and everything she knows the closer she gets to the truth about who she is and the truth about what she must do to save the world.

Commencing this comparison, and hopeful conversion, here are how the two stories align through the narrative structure of the Hero’s journey. The hero’s journey is a common narrative archetype, or story template, that involves a hero who goes on an adventure, learns a lesson, wins a victory - thanks to the lesson - and then returns transformed. This can’t be applied to every story, but here is how it fits into Legend of Korra and She-Ra:

Call to Action:

Korra gets a call to action when she arrives in Republic City and realises that the place is out of balance. She believes that she has to stay in order to restore peace.

Adora gets a call to action when she discovers the sword of She-Ra in the Whispering Woods. She wants to learn more so trusts the sword’s power and travels with a couple of strangers.

Supernatural Aid:

Korra can bend fire, water and earth and is on the path to learning air bending.

Adora can transform into She-Ra with the aid of a magical sword.

Helper:

Mako, Bolin and Asami help Korra on her journey to become a full Avatar and stop the forces that try to bring her down.

Glimmer and Bow - and then the rest of the Princess Alliance - help Adora on her journey to save Etheria and find out her past.

Mentor:

Tenzin is Korra’s main mentor who guides her not just as an air bending teacher, but as a fatherly figure. Later on the role is temporarily replaced by Unalaq (although his ultimate intentions ended up being self-beneficial) who guides her spiritually. Suyin then becomes Korra’s metal bending teaching. And lastly Toph helps Korra rise from her downfall. Each of which were a mentor to Korra in each season of the series and a mentor towards Korra’s new fight/journey.

Adora’s original mentor was Shadow Weaver when she was in The Horde. However quickly that was relinquished to a shared role between Queen Angela who mentored and guided her as a parental figure helping Adora grow as a person, and Madam Razz who helped Adora find answers to her past.

From a certain perspective, for both the characters, their connections to their past selves – that being Avatar Aang for Korra and Mara for Adora – is also another way in which these characters were mentored.

Challenges and Temptations:

Korra faces many challenges throughout the seasons.

In book one: Amon forces Korra to face fear for the first time. She learns that she must admit to her fear in order to move forward and face her foe, which in turn means that she can be the Avatar she wants to be.

In book two: Korra is tempted by Unalaq’s ideals and spiritual power so abandons Tenzin to pursue a new method of learning. However, her temptations allow Unalaq to bring destruction to the world and Korra must look to the past to find the answers for the future. But her failures cause a riff in her confidence to be a worthy Avatar.

In book three: Korra is challenged with accepting and taking responsibility for the changes she has made from opening the spirit gates, and then has to come to terms with her place in the world – as the Avatar – when Zaheer comes in with his anarchy goals.

In book four: Korra has to confront her loss of power whilst struggling with PTSD from the torture that Zaheer previously put her through. She feels a level of responsibility for Kuvira’s reign over the Earth Kingdom which transpired during Korra’s absence.

Adora also faces many varying similar challenges.

In season one: she has to accept that everything she believed is a lie and in order to fight evil means fighting her best friend.

In season two and three: Adora is faced with the challenge of learning who she really is and where she really came from whilst finally accepting that there is no converting Catra to the rebellion.

In season four: Adora has to betray someone she loves the most in order to follow what she believes will help save Etheria.

In the final season: Adora has to come to terms with facing a loss of power and then a loss of purpose and all the while she must also accept the fate of potential demise that was long written for her.

Death and Rebirth:

Both Korra and Adora lose all of their powers. Hitting rock bottom they must find a way to rise from the ashes – with or without their powers – and move on from the trauma they have faced. Korra fights against her overwhelming PTSD but with the help of Toph she manages to move forward psychologically and gain her physical powers. She returns to Republic City and to the fight against Kuvira. Adora also isn’t as accepting of the loss of She-Ra, but she hides how she’s truly feeling until everything gets too much for her. She decides to follow a loose lead in order to regain her powers – and save her friends - but in doing so means that she abandons the fight on Etheria. Whilst away she rises from the ashes and returns to the fight with her powers not only restored but reborn.

Transformation and Atonement:

Once more, for both protagonists, once their powers were regained they returned to the fight and put their own lives on the line to help bring victory.

Return to Call to Action:

At the end of Legend of Korra, Korra and Asami agree to journey into the spirit world to discover more and to find adventure.

At the end of She-Ra, similarly the main team agree to go on an adventure – to find out what that adventure is you’ll have to watch the series!

This narrative architype is an anchor for familiarity, which is what often makes watching similar series enjoyable and rewarding. However, if you read on you’ll see how there are unique parallel aspects to these great shows that could make an avid Korra fan a potential viewer of She-Ra.

Characters

Unequivocally the unique and memorable characters that make us laugh and make us journey through uncharted territories is one of the biggest contributing factors to these great series’ successes. They even make us hate and love each villain in their own individuality which I find so inimitably fascinating and engaging. A villain who we can neither love nor hate takes a leap out of stereotyping boundaries and into relatable/empathetic humanity. So, here are the characters from Legend of Korra alongside their She-Ra counterpart.

Korra and Adora

The protagonists of our journeys, tomboy – badass – girls who have a legendary power bestowed on them that they must use for the greater good, fight evil and learn what it means to have responsibility of such power. But what makes them comparable isn’t just the position they were placed in within the context of the story. The powers they are given act like the matchstick to the flame: all it does is forces the protagonists to come face to face with their reality and helps them grow as a character. Both Korra and Adora have a drive to help people, to save people and, at best, throw themselves headfirst into oncoming trouble without stepping back and thinking about a plan. Some would call it heroic, and others would call it careless. Although, neither of them started off with this heroic niche, they were, in their own ways, arrogant, narrow sighted and sometimes a bit naïve. Korra had a hard time listening to Tenzin and learning patience in order to master an element that she had long accepted was out of her reach. Adora was stuck in her beliefs that The Horde weren’t evil and that she would never become a princess of power even if the world was telling her that’s where she belonged. Long behold both protagonists turned around, accepted they were wrong and took a step onto a path that would put them very far away from their ‘comfort zone’.

What also sets these two characters apart from the rest of the animation medium and yet makes them parallel to each other isn’t just their stubborn personalities, but their personal journeys of growth. From, previously described, arrogance and naivety, the two strong-willed characters overcome their personal struggles to become selfless leaders who are willing to sacrifice themselves and/or their morals to save and protect others. Even though that seems like a cliché journey of growth, they face both physical and psychological barriers that are unparallel to other series and journeys. To start with their gift of power is not a joy ride of hierarchy, it’s also a burden of legacy. Both protagonists have a legacy that they feel they have a lot to live up to, and even if they try to ignore it, all around them are the reminders of the world-changing impact that their predecessor has left behind. It’s hard enough to be given the ‘chosen one’ power, but when everything and everyone is comparing you to the legend who had it before you it digs deeper into the growth of these characters who have to face this conflict. The biggest challenge of all that these two resolute characters have to face is the loss of their powers and the impact it makes. Even though I have mentioned this a few times, it can’t be emphasised enough how strikingly exclusive to just these two series this concept is, because it is explored in ways that are respectable, thought provoking and, once again, revolutionary to the animation medium.

In all honesty I would love to see these two characters meet.

Asami/(Zuko) and Catra

More so in She-Ra than Legend of Korra, Asami and Catra transpire very early on in the series to be the protagonist’s biggest hurdle/obstruction to what they want. Asami steals Mako from Korra whilst Catra refuses to join Adora when she converts to the ‘other side’. Whilst Korra quickly accepts Asami’s relationship, Adora and Catra’s feud lasts almost the entirety of the show’s seasons.

- Character development Spoilers for She-Ra in the next paragraph, unrelated to plot -

This is where in some respects I can relate Catra more to The Last Airbender’s Zuko. Their villainous behaviours and objectives against the main ‘gang’; their relentless attempts to outdo the good guys is brought on by intentions that are non-villainous but rather induced by childhood trauma and overpowering domineering figures that have belittled them down for not being ‘the best’. Once this truth slowly unfolds throughout the series it becomes harder and harder to fully hate them. The series then follows the psychological journey of not only the protagonist, but the make belief antagonists and their lives and fates become as valuable to us, as the viewers. Which then makes their redemption arc as emotionally powerful and engaging as team Avatar and team She-Ra’s final battle.

Catra and Zuko are probably one of the main reasons why I personally classify the Avatar series and She-Ra as my all time favourites.

However, Catra and Asami are still closely matched as characters with their journey in becoming romantically involved with the main female protagonist despite being on opposing sides at some point. They are also a major part of a revolutionary representation within the animation medium as they are also queer characters that are involved with the protagonist.

Mako and Glimmer/Bolin and Bow

The 'couple' of the main team who have a long history with each other. Mako and Bolin are brothers who have lived together through rough circumstances when they lost their parents at a very young age. Mako, much like Glimmer, with a headstrong realism behind his leadership bottles up a lot of personal feelings to stay strong for the people he loves. He doesn’t jump the gun and struggles to easily trust people. Bolin is quite the opposite to his brother. He is full of life, with a huge bounce of optimism and can trust people very easily. Bow can follow the same pattern, especially when they first meet Adora - who is originally on the side that the rebellion Bow and Glimmer are a part of are fighting against. He puts a lot of trust in Adora whilst Glimmer is flagging up the ‘don’t trust this Horde spy’ party. Bow and Bolin are also portrayed as the comedic characters of the group, with little quirks and humorous lines that they come out with during life threatening moments. Glimmer and Bow, unlike Mako and Bolin, aren’t siblings but their level of closeness puts them on par. This closeness of the two characters creates a form of an outsider perspective for the protagonists when they join their ranks and their growth throughout the series allows for this ‘outsider’ to become as close as family and no manner of dispute can separate the bonds that they have grown.

Toph and Razz

Crazy old women living in the woods who put the protagonist through journeys of trepidations to turn them into wiser people, and all the while having a long history with the protagonists’ predecessors. It’s hard not to see how these two characters could be reincarnations of each other in two different series. Toph, who was best friends with Avatar Aang, is found by Korra living by herself in the marsh lands. She seems to have gone completely doolally, but, the hardship she puts Korra through is a wisdom that restores Korra’s lost belief. Likewise, Razz, who was close to Mara – the She-Ra before Adora – lives in the Whispering Woods by herself and guides Adora to finding the answers she needs in order to discover where she came from and how she can move forward. Even though completely batty, Razz simply struggles to differentiate Adora from Mara due to her old age and her psychological time warps. In the end, these two characters, even though vowed to remain in their lone states, make their comebacks as they join the fight against the greatest evil that their worlds have yet faced.

Varrick and Seahawk

This is probably my favourite comparison because retrospectively their ideals and their intellect are unrivalled. Varrick, is a very shrewd entrepreneur and Seahawk is a talented captain who is actually a pyromaniac. How are they similar? Simple. They are both self-absorbed money makers who assist the main team along on their mission – as long – as they are able to profit from it. Now, Varrick is an extreme who would blow up his own ship so that he can make a greater profit, whilst the worst that Seahawk does is annoy Mermista, sing way too many sea shanties about himself and sets his own ships on fire (maybe they do have more in common than I thought). However, they are both characters with entrepreneurial ideals, they are written comedically and at the end they come through to fight against evil.

Genres and Heavy Themes

Let’s go basic for a moment before delving into the complexity of the themes. Genres are a great connection between different series and an avid selling point. Legend of Korra and She-Ra share all bar one genre, and that one is what sets the ‘worlds’ in which they are set, apart.

• Action
• Adventure
• Comedy-drama
• Sci-Fantasy
• Animation

Legend of Korra also has the genre of ‘Steampunk’ whilst She-Ra has the genre of ‘Sword and Planet’.

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Like mentioned before, it’s hard to believe sometimes that these series are aimed for children as they both share an abundance of heavy, dark and sometimes psychologically involved themes that are questionably too heavy for their target age.

In both of the series they explore death and torture and both the physical and psychological impacts.

After being poisoned in order to induce the Avatar-state Korra experiences a near death experience and looses her power as the Avatar. It’s not just a physical impact but a psychological impact as she struggles to overcome her PTSD. The way in which this mental issue is explored is respectable to the condition but also terrifying, as Korra continuously sees her past-self stalking her round every corner and she begins to lose her mind.

In She-Ra Glimmer is physically tortured when she is kidnapped and her willingness to escape and save Adora has a lasting physical effect as she struggles to harness her powers.

Catra suffered an oppressive childhood which leaves psychological wounds from the trauma of Shadow Weaver’s bullying and the constant betrayal from people she trusted.

Furthering those heavy themes are representations of suicide.

In Legend of Korra Tarrlock succumbs to the messed up reality that he and his brother have grown into, and takes it upon himself to end their lives instead of running away and escaping. Even though they are both, to varying extents, villains, it was their childhood trauma brought on by their criminal father that forced them to journey down such a treacherous path and it makes it challenging as a viewer to know how to feel when Tarrlock makes that ultimate decision.

She-Ra is slightly more subtle. Adora takes responsibility of a poisonous power, that she is fully aware could potentially kill her. However, whilst it doesn’t succeed in killing Adora, it was her choice to accept that this burden could end her life that follows the theme/idea of suicide.

PTSD, torture, suicide and childhood trauma. Not exactly child-proofed themes in my opinion, but ones excellently executed by the creators.

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Both series also look into villains who take ideals too far.

In Legend of Korra:

Amon wanted equality so tried to get it through persecution.

Unalaq wanted harmony/balance but sought it through destruction.

Zaheer sought an anarchy but he had to create chaos first.

Kuvira worked for unity but did so through submission.

In She-Ra:

Catra wanted acceptance so sought it through power.

Hordak wanted to regain authority but did so through conquering innocence.

Shadow Weaver wanted power which she did through manipulation and abusing children.

Horde Prime wanted to conquer the known universe and take power for his own selfish gain.

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However, the biggest theme for me is the exploration into the antagonists who have become villains as a cause of authority figures belittling and abusing them from a young age which then influenced them to follow a dark path.

In Legend of Korra we see this strongly in Amon. When Amon, alias Noatak, discovered he was a water bender at a young age his dad – previously convicted criminal – ruthlessly trained him and his brother to develop their skills. However, Noatak’s younger brother Tarrlock wasn’t as dept with his power and as such their dad abused him, and Noatak stood up for him until it was a matter of saving his own skin. The way their father treated his children like tools – living through them in a way he couldn’t and teaching them dark powers like blood bending is what lead to the psychological demise of Korra’s first nemesis – Amon.

Catra, similarly follows a childhood of abuse. After being abandoned as a child she was taken in by The Horde where Shadow Weaver who was the unforgiving mother figure to Adora and Catra was cruel and would often chastise Catra in front of Adora. She was abused and overshadowed by Shadow Weaver’s glowing views of Adora. When Adora abandoned her Catra realized that she could step out of the shadows and begin an ambitious path to power. She basks in the new glory but the weight of her rage and sadness weighs heavily on her despite her achievements and with aid to the psychoanalysis of Double Trouble she becomes dejected with herself.

These of course are on par to The Last Airbender’s Zuko who was the first to follow a villainous path thanks to the domineering brutality of authoritative figures in childhood.

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Undeniably the two series both journey through heavy and dark themes similar to each other that make the series ultimately powerful in ways that are subtly written but give the story and the world so much strength and depth.

Canon Queer Characters

To finish off this comparison it’s hard to skip over the biggest ground-breaking representation within the animation medium that both these shows have explored to their varying degrees. That of the LGBTQ+ community. Even though Legend of Korra wasn’t able to fully explore their queer protagonists, they did extend the open bi-sexual relationship of Asami and Korra within their comics that follows chronologically on from the end of book four. She-Ra definitely made up with their series teaming with tons of queer representations. From Bow having two dads to Spinnerella and Natasha - members of the Princess Alliance – being an openly gay married couple. Even better still, as if She-Ra couldn’t break anymore revolutionary boundaries, their character Double Trouble is the first nonbinary character in the animation medium! And they are written so well that I couldn’t stop laughing at most of their lines. Now there are definitely a few more queer explorations, but to avoid completely spoiling the show for anyone who is new to it, I will leave it for you to enjoy!

I realise that this has been long route to show you how Legend of Korra has left a legacy that She-Ra Princesses of Power has managed to follow, but I hope that you can see that if you enjoy Korra’s journey there is a very high chance that Adora’s journey is one you’ll wish to follow. The similarities between the two series are so strong, but above all I could sell those series to someone individually because in their own rights these two series are possibly two of the best out there. The only downside is the medium. Whilst I am in love with animation, there is such a large stigma surrounding the medium that can really push people away from fantastic and revolutionary stories and journeys – as Legend of Korra and She-Ra share.