The universe within The Legend of Korra is home to a vast array of incredible characters — each with detailed personal journeys of growth and self-discovery. As such, it's not surprising that the show contains several spectacular scenes that highlight character development, their interactions, as well as the influence they exert on the story.
Choosing a single scene that defines TLOK is an impossibly subjective task, but it becomes easier when narrowing the selection down to individual character arcs. Considering that each character walks a unique path, their iconic scenes reveal a significant portion of their inner selves to the audience.
Varrick — The Pre-Planned Exit From His Prison Cell
Varrick spends the last few episodes of Book 2 in an extremely fancy prison, until UnaVaatu and Energy Korra's battle destroys part of the building he's incarcerated in — he promptly escapes along with Zhu Li, under the code name "Operation Winged Freedom".
It seems that Varrick had always been planning to break out of jail, and was only waiting for the right opportunity. This scene truly exemplifies how slippery and calculating the billionaire inventor really is, regardless of his relevance in later seasons.
Jinora — Proves That Her Spirituality Is Superior To Tenzin's
As Korra is expected to travel to the Spirit World to solve the Vaatu problem, Tenzin offers to lead her there. Although he fails after struggling for a long while, Jinora barely takes a few seconds to replicate the process.
This is a significant moment in the young Airbender's life, because it's the first time she officially sures her father at anything to do with Airbending. Unfortunately, Tenzin doesn't anoint Jinora with the Airbending Master tattoos for her monumental achievement (this happens much later).
Bolin — Unconsciously Unlocks Lavabending
Before Ghazan's lava can engulf Tenzin, Asami, Mako, and Bolin, the latter automatically unlocks his instinctual Lavabending skills by forcing the magma back using Earthbending. As hilarious as it sounds, Bolin is the most shocked among the four of them when it happens.
Nevertheless, his accidental discovery is the only reason that the other three manage to survive their predicament. Further, Lavabending perfectly illustrates Bolin's mixed heritage — he was born to an Earth Kingdom father & a Fire Nation mother.
Mako — Vanquishes A Pro-Bending Team By Himself
During a prelim match at the Republic City Pro-Bending Tournament, the Fire Ferrets battles the Tigerdillos, who easily toss Bolin and Hasook into the water below. Mako then proceeds to take them on alone, defeating each of them in rapid succession.
This magnificent victory proves that, while Mako does rely on others for help, he can often handle things all by himself. His independence and perseverance are why Chief Beifong offers him a job in the Republic City police department.
Asami — Chooses Her Friends Over Her Father
Asami discovers her father's involvement with Amon and his terrorism, but Hiroshi tries to rationalize his actions by bringing up her mother's death as an excuse to punish benders. Asami seems to agree with his justifications, but then electrocutes him into unconsciousness.
This scene is rather heartbreaking for everyone involved, mainly because Team Avatar initially trusts in Hiroshi Sato's kindness. However, giving up everything she holds dear simply because it's the right thing to do is one of Asami's hallmarks.
Kuvira — Almost Defeats The Avatar
Kuvira offers to battle Korra, arrogantly stating that nothing the Avatar could do would be effective in the fight. Korra flings multi-elemental attacks at her opponent, but Kuvira retains control, throwing the Avatar around in one of the show's best action sequences.
Although Korra is severely disadvantaged due to her terrifying hallucinations, this is the moment that Kuvira proves her superiority over the Avatar herself. Winning the match (on a technicality) gains Kuvira considerably more prestige among her soldiers, and, by extension, a stronger belief in the so-called Great Uniter's promise of victory.
Unalaq — Transforms Into The Dark Avatar
During Harmonic Convergence, Vaatu, the Spirit of Darkness, escapes his ten-millennium-long imprisonment in the Tree of Time and blends with Korra's uncle, Unalaq, forming the entity known as UnaVaatu, or the Dark Avatar.
The creation of Korra's antithesis is central to the Avatar narrative because it is when audiences first learn about Raava, the Spirit of Light, and the latter's role in the Avatar Cycle. In the end, Unalaq perishes when UnaVaatu is dispelled through Korra's Spiritbending, restoring balance to the world.
Tenzin — Handles The Red Lotus Singlehandedly
Tenzin's greatest accomplishment is holding the Red Lotus at bay for an astonishingly long period of time with little more than his Airbending. The fact that he's up against Zaheer, Ming-hua, and Ghazan apparently makes no difference to him; he attempts to push them back despite being outnumbered.
Even when he has clearly lost, the master Airbender tells his opponents that "As long as [he's] breathing, it's not over." Tenzin's past as a traditional Air Nomad monk makes his transformation into an unrelenting warrior nothing less than a personal revolution.
Zaheer — Acknowledges His Past Mistakes
Following his three-year imprisonment for kidnapping and trying to murder the Avatar, Zaheer is a changed man. So much so that he actually gives Korra some uncharacteristically sympathetic advice when she goes to visit him.
In fact, when he is told about Kuvira's rise to power, Zaheer acknowledges his part in creating "the worst dictator the Earth Kingdom has ever seen." For someone who has spent more than a dozen years dreaming of killing Korra, Zaheer's contrition is as welcome as it is meaningful.
Avatar Korra — Visualizes Her Life As Avatar Wan
As the protagonist, Korra finds herself at the center of every major event in the narrative, but the most iconic scene involving her happens to take place entirely within her mind. After being knocked into the ocean by a dark spirit, she undergoes a mystical healing process where she has a cryptic conversation with her predecessors.
Aang, Roku, Kyoshi, and Kuruk inform Korra of the importance of regaining her "connection with [her] Avatar Spirit". The resulting psychological journey she takes is what helps Korra understand the web of nuances surrounding her role as the Avatar.
