u/Future-Flatworm-7313

Yes this is about haters, but wondering if this extends to even some critical fans.

Aside from the constant "Her personality is so aggressive, she should've been a firebender/earthbender", I genuinely think people dismiss her connection to her culture, especially over the events of Book 2. Walk with me.

Book 2 is a deep dive into Korra's family line and cultural identity. Her choice to learn from Unalaq, as a revered spiritual elder and CHIEF OF THE TRIBES who is also her UNCLE, is maligned as "trusting some random guy" as if to remove the cultural context from her decision, as well as her emotional reaction to the ensuing civil war. She's not remaining neutral and being angry over her homeland being invaded and attacked by the North, also witnessing what she perceives to be a TERRORIST attack on the Water Tribe cultural center, and no one really cares?

We have all seen the rationales that believe that a character's personality should be instantly reflective of the element/nation they are from, which is ... untrue and reductive, but this happens a lot in Korra's case. When I see reactions to the show, in the context of Book 2, not much grace or reverence is given to her role in her culture, but just to her role as the Avatar.

Despite its controversy, I think an underrated aspect of the show, specifically in Book 2, is showing that Mako, Bolin and Asami have jobs and lives outside of Team Avatar. She's their friend, first and foremost, and they help her when she needs it, but this is not a war where they are consistently attached at her hip while she does Avatar stuff, because they don't need to!

This isn't the Gaang where Aangs team is literally comprised of his friends who happen to be his bending masters. This is the equivalent of a friend group who occasionally have to battle together. This also adds more stakes as they are often unprepared to fight a dangerous revolution or civil war. And as a result they grow in skill and synergy over time! And when they do, Korra has her objective, and her team fulfills a secondary objective. That is normal!!

TLDR; tired of core Team Avatar being called useless since Korra doesn't NEED them 100% of the time.