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Avatar fans are in for an exciting summer. Netflix announced earlier this week that Avatar: The Last Airbender’s spinoff series The Legend of Korra will be coming to the streaming giant this August. It’s an exciting announcement, but it’s also one that begs the question: what happened to our favorites after Avatar‘s finale?
Korra’s saga from hotheaded waterbender to master of all four elements and savior of the world is set 70 years after Avatar‘s last episode. It doesn’t matter who you are and what you can bend; seven decades is a very long time gap. Before Korra comes to Netflix consider this your brief guide to which members of Team Avatar made it to the next stage and which ones didn’t.
How Did Aang Die After Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Though Aang does appear in The Legend of Korra in Korra’s visions, the first Avatar we knew and loved died long before the events of the series. Essentially Aang’s death can be attributed to a complicated form of old age. As Aang grew older the 100 years he spent trapped in an iceberg started to catch up with him. His life energy was drained and he eventually died at the relatively young biological age of 66. But Avatar Aang left behind a powerful legacy.
Before his death Aang tasked the Order of the White Lotus to find the next Avatar. That’s the organization that eventually found the young, talented Korra. Together he and his close friend and wife Katara Aang also carried on the tradition of the Air Nomads. Of their three children — Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin — two became airbenders. Tenzin went on to have four children who all became airbenders, thus continuing the legacy of the Air Nomads.
Did Toph Die?
True to Toph’s mysterious nature, it’s unclear if the discoverer of metalbending is alive or dead. After the creation of Republic City, Toph started an organization of her own, becoming the new city’s first Chief of Police and forming the Metalbending Police Force. During this time she had two daughters, Lin and Suyin, who each had different fathers. But predictably this life of rules did not sit well with Toph. When Avatar Korra first met the earthbender Toph was living in the Foggy Swamp in search of enlightenment.
Toph helped Korra train to get back into Avatar fighting shape. She later trained Korra’s friend Bolin, who also helped her rescue her family from the clutches of the militaristic Kuvira. Toward the end of the series Toph also helped Korra and her friends fight agains the political plans of Kuvira, actually entering politics herself for a period of time.
The last time the character appeared was in Part Three of The Legend of Korra spinoff graphic novel series, Ruins of the Empire. It’s mentioned that Toph returned to exploring the world and that the central characters haven’t seen her since. It’s unclear if that means Toph is still alive or not, but we’re betting the former is more likely for this feisty old lady.
How Did Sokka Die?
The Avatar series never gives a clear answer about what happened to Sokka. We know that in his later years Sokka became a chieftain for the Southern Water Tribe. A year after Korra was confirmed to be the Avatar, a group of powerful benders known as Red Lotus tried to kidnap her. They were thwarted by Tonraq, Tenzin, Chief Sokka, and Fire Lord Zuko.
The brilliant and funny strategist died sometime after that mission. Because Katara mentions missing her brother in The Legend of Korra‘s first episode, it’s assumed that Sokka died sometime between 158 and 170 AG. The cause is unknown, but if it were up to Sokka he would certainly embellish the story.
Who From Avatar: The Last Airbender Is Still Alive in The Legend of Korra?
A surprising amount of people from the original series appear in its spinoff. In addition to Katara and Toph, Fire Lord Zuko and his uncle Iroh appear to guide the new Avatar. Zuko appears in both Book 3 and Book 4 of The Legend of Korra.
After long ago saving Korra from being kidnapped with the help of Sokka, Zuko was reunited with the Avatar. Korra sought his advice as Aang’s best friend, asking Zuko what Aang would have done if Zaheer forced him to choose between giving himself up or letting a nation be attacked. Zuko told her that Aang knew in times of hardship the world needed the Avatar the most.
