While Avatar: The Last Airbender, there are still a few subtler winks to a fanbase who hungrily snatch at any allusions to the original content. These intersections help bridge the gap between The Last Airbender and Korra, as the steampunk style and grittier pace of the newer premise often clash with the fantasy, coal-based society showcased in the older show.
It's the details that help move Korra along and help the series become such a beloved franchise, and these Last Airbender easter eggs form the base that allows the branching storylines and unique properties of Korra to shine, to prosper instead of burn beneath the scorned fan's fury.
"Korra Alone"
Avatar: The Last Airbender experts will know this episode is a direct homage to "Zuko Alone," an episode from the original series that dealt with Zuko's past trauma in a similar way to this one. Like Korra, Zuko is forced to face his emotional damage, and both stories are framed in a very intimate and singular setting. There's no Team Avatar, no Bolin or Sokka to keep things light, and these aspects end up putting the audience into a constrictive mindset.
The inner turmoil that Korra and Zuko experience is inescapable both for themselves, as they have no family or friends for , as well as the viewer, who is given only their perspective in the sister episodes. The "Alone" stands true to its name, and there's an eerie feeling of isolation shared between the two.
The Swamp
The mysterious swamp of Avatar: The Last Airbender was one of the most intriguing and strange locations in the Avatar universe. Aang saw a vision of Toph while lost in the thicket, and there was clearly something cosmic and spiritual at work despite Sokka's disbelief all throughout "The Swamp."
The environment had a lot of potential for just a singular episode, and its reappearance in The Legend of Korra was well deserved as the swamp always seemed like an underutilized resource for material. And given how Huu (the swamp guy) discussed time and destiny in the first series, it's fitting that Toph ended up there in Korra, as though her character arc made a full circle.
Can Friendships Last More Than One Lifetime?
Toph asks this of her friends in the Avatar: The Airbender episode "Avatar and the Firelord," and the relationship she forms with Korra in season 4 of The Legend of Korra is the obvious answer to her own question. As in, yes, you can. Toph even tells her as they meet in the swamp, "Nice to see you again, Twinkle Toes."
The reveal of Toph's character was one of the best in the series, but even better was this reference to the previous episode, as the old earthbender was clearly ing her existential question. She gives a small smile and, while it's a bittersweet moment, it's also touching and beautiful and a clear connection to the scene from the first series.
Mako's Name
Mako Iwamatsu was a cornerstone of Avatar: The Last Airbender. His voice acting for Uncle Iroh was incredibly rich, charming, and wise, and he was a large reason why Iroh's character is one of the most beloved in the entire franchise. He ed away in 2006 before the voice recording for Avatar's season 3 could begin, and the creators had to scramble to find someone to fill the void he left behind, though it was never quite the same.
They paid tribute to his ing in "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" with a beautiful sunset painting labeled "In honor of Mako," and with Legend of Korra, they seized an even bigger opportunity, gifting Mako a character with his name in celebration of the voice actor's legacy.
Aang's Marble Trick
In "Korra Alone," there's a flashback to an interaction between Korra and a seafood shack owner, who flaunted a vintage photograph of Aang suspending sushi pieces between his palms. Upon inspection, the photograph bears an eerie similarity to Aang's signature marble trick in "The Warriors of Kyoshi" episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it becomes apparent that he was using the same technique on both.
His marble trick was a running gag throughout the episode, and its reappearance in sushi form was a nice reminder that although old Aang looked and acted differently than his younger self, he was still the same goofy kid at heart.
Cabbage Corp
"My Cabbage Corp!" sounds familiar because it is. The company was only discussed in the one Legend of Korra episode, "The Aftermath," but it really hit home for a lot of fans. One of the most endearing parts of the original series was the omnipresent cabbage merchant and his shout of "my cabbages!" that seemed to follow the gang wherever they went, and as time ed by, he gained something of a cult following.
The creators knew exactly what the fandom wanted when they snuck in this little shout-out to the cabbage merchant, and it was a nice way to reference the first series while also indicating the industrial, modern direction that Korra was taking.
Zuko's Voice
Dante Basco and his husky tone made a reappearance in the season 1 episode "Turning the Tides," as the actor agreed to come back to voice General Iroh (Jr.). It really was something else to hear the ghost of Zuko speak from his grandson's mouth, and Basco did a fantastic job recapturing the magic of his original performance.
It helped to connect the divide between the two shows, as Korra was just finding its footing in the first seasons, and it was a great way to honor one of the most ired and loved characters of the Avatar universe.
Azula's Voice
If Zuko's voice was getting a revamp in The Legend of Korra, then of course Azula's actress, Grey DeLisle, was getting a comeback as well. It took a few seasons, but finally in the episode "Rebirth," the voice of the terrifying fire princess was given a new conduit, as the Red Lotus member Ming-Hua. Unlike Dante Basco, DeLisle significantly altered her voice for the character, and only the most dedicated listener could pick up the subtle similarities to Azula's icy tone.
Given that she was the most compelling villain of the first series, her voice deserves the tribute wholeheartedly, and it's very fitting that a tenacious character like Azula would manage to wiggle even a tiny piece of herself into the new show.
iral Zhao
Zhao's cameo in The Legend of Korra episode "Darkness Falls" was nothing short of delicious. Evil and cunning, the iral was an excellent foil to Zuko's character arc in season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and his demise in "Seige of the North" was one of the most satisfying endings for one of the ATLA universe's best villains.
While the fandom thought he drowned when the ocean spirit dragged him into the water, it was revealed in Korra that he was actually imprisoned in the fog of lost souls. His iconic line "I am Zhao the conqueror!" rang once again when Tenzin entered the prison looking for Ginora, and the reference was one of the best parts of Korra's second season.
Wan Shi Tong's Library
It was the Professor Zei skeleton that made this easter egg so striking. Though it was also gratifying for the viewer to see where Wan Shi Tong buried his library and to gaze upon the giant owl's devious face once again, it was especially satisfying to finally discover what happened to the professor.
After season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, no one ever mentions Zei again, and it was as though the gang just forgot about the quirky scholar. Clearly, however, he was still on the minds of the creators, and they were probably waiting for the perfect place to display his morbid downfall.
