13 Years Ago, 'The Legend of Korra' Finally Answered the Biggest Avatar Mystery
The Legend of Korra’s two-part origin story gave the Avatar a purpose — and a burden.
Thirteen years ago, Legend of Korra answered one of Avatar's most significant mysteries. During the show's second season, the South Pole spirit portal opened, plunging the water tribes into chaos. In the episode "Beginnings," we learn that ten thousand years before Korra, the world was vastly different. Spirits roamed freely while humans lived in isolated communities, fearing the spirits.
Wan, the first Avatar, was mischievous and warm, stealing food from the wealthy to feed the poor. He gained the power to wield all four elements by befriending the lion turtles. Wan's journey was about bridging the gap between humans and spirits. However, his empathy led him to intervene in a battle between the spirits Raava (light) and Vaatu (darkness), which resulted in the dark spirit gaining power.
Wan tried to unite Raava and Vaatu but ultimately merged with both spirits, unlocking the Avatar state and imprisoning Vaatu in the Tree of Time. Wan sealed the portals, becoming the bridge between worlds but struggled to bring peace to the human world. Korra, the tenth Avatar, chose to leave the portals open, hoping for coexistence between humans and spirits.
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