Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra created one of the most beloved and iconic animated universes. Drawing from various Asian cultures, anime art styles, and modern history, the stories follow great heroes in complicated worlds. Avatars Aang and Korra have inspired fans around the world, and so have their impressive and powerful friends.
Amidst all of this adventure, though, romance can be found, especially considering the fact that most of the main characters are teenagers when their journeys begin. With hormones raging, many of these young character are saving the world and also falling in love. With the fandom, too, relationships have been the core of a lot of conversations. Some are fan-favorites, while others are despised. Some fan pairings have also become popular. Everything became even more interesting when, in The Legend of Korra, some couples were confirmed, denied, or completely left a mystery.
Throughout these two series and their graphic novels, the relationships between the characters have evolved and shaped everything around them. Some have changed things for the best, while others have shifted things for the worst.
With that said, here are the 10 Couples That Hurt Avatar: The Last Airbender And Legend Of Korra (And 15 That Saved Them).
25. Saved: Katara and Aang
Since Avatar: The Last Airbender ended on this couple kissing, Katara and Aang have become a cornerstone of this universe. They save the world in the first series, and raised main players who appear in Korra's adventures.
Aang loved Katara from the moment he met her, and she eventually fell for his fun and determined spirit. While not always the most popular couple, they are a sweet one that fans have grown to love. Both of them are heroes who made their world better and made each other stronger by being together. As far as Avatar couples go, Aang and Katara did a lot of good for the world.
24. Hurt: Korra and Mako
When Korra met pro-bender Mako, she immediately was attracted to the stubborn firebender. The attraction even seemed to be mutual. However, things soon became complicated, as he started dating Asami and Korra had Equalists to deal with -- it was a mess.
The couple eventually got together, but it didn't take long for it all to fall apart. Despite loving one another, they decided that they weren't a good pair. The drama between Korra and Mako only complicated the relationships in their friend group and hurt people more than it made them happy. It would have been better if they never were together at all.
23. Saved: Toph and Sokka
In the original Avatar series, crushes, feelings, and relationships were boundless. Many of them didn't go far or didn't matter, but a few did. For example, Toph's feelings for Sokka had a big impact on the series.
Though the pair never were together romantically, Toph spent most of Book Three: Fire infatuated with the goofy water cheif's son. While she cared a lot about her fellow team , as a non-bender, he treated her the most like a normal girl. However, regardless of how the relationship between them never went anywhere, it was good to see her come out of her shell as a bender and as a young woman.
22. Hurt: Roku and Ta Min
The Avatar has a tradition of being very serious and dedicated to their role. While that's heroic and expected, it's also good to see the softer side of these great mediums. Aang may be fun-loving and breezy, but the first past Avatar fans got to see a lot of was Roku. As a wise member of the Fire Nation, his relationship with Ta Min really softened him and was a reminder that all the Avatars were human and had feelings.
Furthermore, as the grandparents of Ursa, they directly led to fan-favorite character, Prince Zuko. Their pairing did great things for sympathizing with Avatars and creating the heroes fans loved.
21. Hurt: Bolin and Eska
Bolin and Eska had a frightening whirlwind relationship. They went from being interested, to dating, to fighting, to becoming betrothed, to falling in love, and then awkwardly parting ways. While in some ways this appealed to the "caught up in the moment" aspect of teenage dating, the entire scenario was all too much. There were times when Bolin was sincerely terrified of Eska and other times when he said he loved her.
There was some humor to their hurricane romance, but it mostly was just confusing and felt random. Also, after finally getting over Korra, it probably wasn't the best idea to chase after her cousin. This relationship probably would have been best left unexplored.
20. Saved: Tonraq and Senna
Korra's parents are the first set of parents of a main character we see in the series. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, the closest was Toph, but her parents were severely judgmental and controlling. Everyone else had monsters for parents (Zuko) or lost one of both parents (Aang, Katara, Sokka).
Tonraq and Senna were a breath of fresh air. They were healthy, ive parents who only encouraged Korra to be herself and fulfill her destiny. Though their daughter faced a hard life, they remained strong and did all they could to help their little girl. Deeply in love and fantastic parents, Tonraq and Senna are a model couple in the Avatar universe.
19. Hurt: Zuko and Jin
While Zuko masqueraded as Lee, there are some great things the young firebender learned. Most of all, he opened his mind to other people and nations and found his own humanity. His feelings for Jin, a young earth nation refugee, helped a lot in that.
However, his relationship with Jin had a serious flaw. The entire time they were together, he was lying about who he was. No matter how good it was for him, it was ultimately a fantasy in which he could become someone different. Jin helped Zuko become a better person, but their relationship was doomed from the start.
18. Saved: Kya and Hakoda
The Southern Water Tribes lived under constant oppression and terror from the Fire Nation. After all, the next Avatar was supposed to be a waterbender and they wanted to find them first. However, the Southern Water Tribes didn't lose their spirit, especially not Hakoda and Kya. The parents of Katara and Sokka always taught their children to be strong, brave, and help others.
Though Hakoda lost his wife to the war, he kept fighting. Together, this couple had incredible children who went on to save the world. Despite having to part early on, they did great work together.
17. Saved: Ursa and Noren/Ikem
After years spent in a horrible marriage with Fire Lord Ozai, Ursa had to escape. Though it came at the cost of her children, leaving Ozai gave her a new chance at life. She went back to the life she should have had, before the prince stole it from her. Reuniting with her childhood love Ikem, who was now known as Noren, she got to restart her life.
By the time Zuko finally found his mother again, she was happily living as Noriko with their daughter, Kiyi. They had been given new faces by the Mother of Faces, which allowed them to live new lives. Though it separated her from Zuko and Azula, it freed her from Ozai's cruelty.
16. Hurt: Korra and Bolin
When Korra first moved to Republic City, she was enamored by the pro-bending scene. Very quickly, she even became a member of a pro-bending team, the Fire Ferrets. On this team were two brothers: Mako and Bolin. Bolin became enamored with the young Avatar, but she was far more interested in his older brother, Mako.
Though Bolin's attempts were sweet and well-meaning, Korra simply wasn't interested. Much like a lot of early romance in The Legend of Korra, Korra and Bolin's short-lived date only made things more complicated and awkward for them. If only their teenage hormones were a little less headstrong.
