

The Legend of Korra, "Rebel Spirit", "The Southern Lights", "Beginnings: Part 1"
Spring 2014 TelevisionNickelodeon's The Legend of Korra is a sequel to the popular series Avatar: The Last Airbender. This series blends Japenese-inspired CGI animation, taut storylines, and relatable characters to cheer for; a combination that has garnered strong and steady viewership since the series premiered in 2012. Teen heroine Korra lives in a futuristic world in which some people can manipulate—or "bend"—the elements of earth, fire, air, or water. But only one Avatar can bend all four elements at once, a process reminiscent of physical and spiritual exercises found in Asian martial arts. Korra is that Avatar and she uses her wits and her powers to "bend" elements to fight social injustice and political abuse, enlisting the help of noble friends along the way.
In Rebel Spirit, Korra discovers a dark secret that leads to a significant change in her continued instruction as a "bender". In Southern Lights, Korra and her friends travel to a remote region as she deepens her spiritual training, while at the same time dealing with the facts of a family betrayal. In another episode titled Beginnings: Part I, the heroine learns about the origins of Avatars as she tries to recover from an attack by a dark spirit. In all of these episodes, the main characters display admirable personal qualities such as honor, self-restraint, and an innate sense of fairness, all providing good messages for young viewers. However, most of the series' episodes are built around dramatic themes and include mild violence, so even though program information says the series is intended for children aged 6 to 11, it's definitely more appropriate for those on the older end of that age scale.
Program creators demonstrate total commitment to their show premise, storyline development, and art direction, all reasons why The Legend of Korra has experienced so much success since its premiere. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for parents who see their tweeners gravitating towards futuristic fiction, this program offers a solid viewing option promoting themes of good triumphing over evil, with a strong female heroine to boot.