Characters / The Legend of Korra - Allies

The Legend of Korra Main Character Index
New Team Avatar (Avatar Korra, Asami Sato, Mako, Bolin) | Tenzin's Family | Beifong Family | Allies (Varrick and Zhu Li) | Seasons 1 & 2 Enemies (Amon) | Seasons 3 & 4 Enemies (Zaheer, Kuvira) | Past Characters | Other Characters | Comic Characters

This is a partial character sheet for The Legend of Korra. Subjective trope and audience reactions should go on the YMMV page.

Korra's Family

General

These are tropes which apply generally to Korra's family.

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• Badass Family: All their known members are powerful and skilled waterbenders; not mention that one of them is the Avatar...
• Blue Blood: At least on her father's side. Her uncle is the chieftain of the Northern tribe, and her father was designated to inherit the position, but lost it when he was banished from the Northern Water Tribe. Though, after Unalaq's defeat, the tribes's governments separate, and Tonraq becomes the first Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, playing it straight.
• Dysfunctional Family: One side fights for good while the other fights for evil.
• Making a Splash: Every single one of them can waterbend.

Tonraq

Tonraq

"I was protecting you from the shame I brought on the family."

Voiced by: Carlos Alazraqui (In Book One: Air) and James Remar (Book Two: Spirits onward)

Korra's father, originally from the Northern Water Tribe.

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• Action Dad: Waterbends an ice wall around the spirit attacking the Southern Water Tribe settlement in "Rebel Spirit" and encases it in ice at the same time. It didn't work for long (nothing did), but it was nonetheless an impressive display. He also holds his own against Zaheer in Book 3 (twice!), something no one else managed besides Tenzin. Zaheer eventually got the better of him in their second battle on Laghima's Peak.
• Ascended Extra: He and Senna only had two small appearances in Book One, but they have a bigger role in Book Two, to the point of ascending to the Big Good rank.
• Back for the Finale: He attends Varrick's wedding in the final episode.
• Big Good: As leader of the Southern rebels in Book 2.
• Cain and Abel: The Abel to Unalaq's Cain. His own brother orchestrated Tonraq's banishment and arrest.
• Characterization Marches On: While he barely appeared in Book One, he seemed pretty friendly and didn't have a problem with Korra running away from the compound. Come Book Two, he's sterner, overprotective of Korra, and it turns out the compound was partly his idea. Also, he had a change in voice actor.
• Demoted to Extra: Much like most of the supporting characters during Book Four his screen time is noticeably slashed during this season. He appears in a grand total of four out of thirteen episodes has a major role in only the first two and doesn't even speak in the last two episodes. This is especially confusing since Korra lied about where she was for the six months between her leaving the South Pole and him going to Republic City which you would think would be an important plot threat to close up before the series ended.
• Destructive Savior: The reason for his exile. He destroyed a sacred forest while trying to root out dangerous barbarians, which brought the wrath of the spirits down on the Northern Water Tribe.
• Disney Death: In the Book 3 finale he is thrown off a cliff by Zaheer during his and Korra's battle against him, and Korra is led to believe that he has been killed. At the very end of "Enter the Void", however, it is revealed that he was saved by Kuvira at the last minute. Korra however continues to believe that her father is dead until the end of "Venom of the Red Lotus", when she almost dies in his arms.
• Enemy to All Living Things: The Dark Spirits don't like him in the slightest given he desecrated the forest home of some spirits twenty years ago while trying to capture some criminals. Unalaq didn't want him to tag along to the South Pole for this reason. Then it turns out Unalaq staged the whole thing, and was behind the spirit attacks to begin with.
• The Exile: He was exiled from the Northern Water Tribe for destroying a spirit forest in his youth. Turns out this was what Unalaq intended. After Desna and Eska take over in the following season, his banishment seems to have been revoked, though he elects to remain in the Southern Water Tribe as their chief instead of reclaiming his stolen birthright. He does pay a visit to the north in the third season, to inspect P'Li's prison.
• Foil: To his brother Unalaq. Tonraq is the older, more physically imposing brother, yet he has no ambitions for power and only desired to have a family and live a normal life after he met his wife Senna, only to realize that would never happen since his daughter was the next Avatar. In contrast, Unalaq is the younger, slimmer brother with great ambitions and a hunger for power, to the point he became so jealous of his brother and his position that he got him banished (though this was for something bigger), and desires to train his niece out of further envy that his brother sired the Avatar. To hammer it in, Tonraq dropped out of the rebellion because regardless of any conflict between him and his brother, he has no desire to hurt him. Unalaq, however, has no qualms about using him to further his own agenda.
• Gentle Giant: Tonraq is a very tall, physically imposing man who is one of the most heroic.
• Good Parents: Overprotective as he may be, Tonraq only wanted what was best for Korra and would do anything to support her.
• Happily Married: Shown to have a loving and close relationship with Senna.
• Heroic Build: To contrast with his Lean and Mean brother. His character design commentaries describe him as being built like a linebacker.
• Honor Before Reason: In a manner of speaking, Tonraq was acting on both. He was willing to respect his brother's decisions as chief, even if it meant imprisonment. The "reason" part is that he was against Korra trying to free him, because it would lead to bigger conflict and Korra is on board with him that such conflict was undesirable and unjustified. It wasn't until he discovered that Unalaq plotted his banishment from the beginning that the struggle against him was justified.
• Hot-Blooded: Very, though not as much as his daughter. It seems to be where Korra may have gotten her own Hot-Blooded nature from.
• Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: He dwarfs both of the two ladies closest to him in his life.
• An Ice Person: He is a waterbender, so he has the ability to turn water into ice and vice versa.
• I Choose to Stay: Even though he's no longer banished from the Northern Water Tribe after Unalaq was defeated and can set foot there any time he wants, he chooses to remain in the South. There was a time he would've said yes if this had happened to him sooner, but at this point he knows there's more for him in the South than in his land of birth.
• I Owe You My Life: Says this word for word to Kuvira after she saves him from falling to his death after Zaheer threw him off a cliff.
• Ironic Name: Tonraq means "little man" in Inuit.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Brash and confrontational like his daughter, but is one of the most heroic individuals to meet. He loves his wife and his daughter dearly. And even though he had an unstable relationship with Unalaq, attacking his brother was a line he would never cross.
• Knight Templar Parent: Remember the compound Korra spent most of her life in? Turns out that was partly Tonraq's idea. Granted, there was a group of extremely skilled benders who has just tried to kidnap her, so he had good reason to want her well guarded.
• Magnetic Hero: During Book 2, Tonraq has proven himself to be very charismatic and insightful, which gained him great respect from his people. It also lead him to becomes the first Southern chief after the Southern Tribe becomes independent from the Northern Tribe.
• Making a Splash: He is a waterbender.
• Manly Facial Hair: An awesome beard and is a very powerful bender and if his strength is anything to go by, Korra likely inherited it from him.
• Morality Chain: He tries to be, telling Korra not to do anything reckless while trying to free him from prison lest she trigger a war. Korra went and did it anyway when she couldn't stand to watch the anguish it was causing for her mother.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: His over-protectiveness of Korra caused the creation of the compound that ended up hindering her spirituality, which was one of the main issues in Book One, and he almost got the Northern Tribe wiped out for going overboard on dealing with invaders twenty years prior, which resulted in his banishment. Both were somewhat justified. For the former, the Red Lotus had attempted to kidnap Korra after she was revealed as the Avatar. For the latter, his brother Unalaq set him up, but even if he didn't deal with the invaders, he'd still get banished for failing to protect his homeland's sacred forests. In any case, things got worse because he kept these secrets from Korra.
• Open-Minded Parent: Turf Wars reveals he's fully supportive of Korra and Asami's relationship, though he warns the two to tread carefully, as not everyone might not be as accepting of their relationship. Korra is not too happy at his response
• Papa Wolf: He tried to kill Zaheer for attempting to kidnap his daughter.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Is supposed to be the chief of the Southern Water Tribe and is very level-headed compared to his daughter. He even advises Korra to stay out of the war because he knows the Avatar is supposed to be neutral and should help in other ways.
• Rebel Leader: In Season 2, he initially shares this role with Varrick until the latter heads back to Republic City with Korra.
• Rebuilt Pedestal: Korra's opinion of him sours after she learns he was responsible for keeping her at the White Lotus compound and never shared the fact that he was exiled, causing her to think more highly of Unalaq. This is reversed when she learns Unalaq's true nature, though it doesn't change the fact that he still kept secrets from her, including another related to the Red Lotus kidnapping her, so Korra's perception of him remained somewhat soured.
• Retired Badass: Tonraq was a Warrior Prince in the Northern Water Tribe, and a physically powerful warrior, but after his exile decided to settle down and raise a family. However, threats like the Dark Spirits and the Red Lotus forced him to take up his sword again.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: He never misses an opportunity for a fight.
  • Just two weeks after the end of Book 2 and his rise to official leadership of the South, he goes with Zuko to try and apprehend the extremely dangerous escaped criminals who tried to abduct his daughter years before before to stop them from freeing P'Li from her prison in the North Pole. Then although they fail in stopping them they travel into the Earth Kingdom to search for Korra and make sure she is safe, and Tonraq at least ends up playing a major role in the climax of the season when Korra, Lin and Team Avatar race to the Northern Air Temple to rescue Tenzin, his family and the new Air Nation from the clutches of Zaheer and the Red Lotus who are trying to use them as hostages to force Korra to place herself in their custody.
• Shipper on Deck: After Korra reveals to him and Senna, that she is in a relationship with Asami, Tonraq is nothing but supportive.
• Sibling Yin-Yang: Unlike his younger brother, Tonraq is unambitious, focused on physical strength, and decidedly unspiritual.
• So Proud of You: Becomes far less overprotective and trusts Korra in Book 2, after she opens the Southern Portal.
• Thicker Than Water: Initially refused to join in the rebellion against Unalaq because he didn't want to kill his younger brother. He eventually does join the rebellion after learning that Unalaq does not share this familial deference.
• Underestimating Badassery:
  • He seems to treat Korra like a child even though his daughter is the Avatar and unlocked the Avatar State.
  • Inverted while trying to prevent Zaheer and his cabal from attempting to liberate P'Li. He's extremely cautious about not underestimating them since he was involved in imprisoning them the first time. He failed because they weren't going to underestimate him the second time.
• Warrior Prince: In his backstory, he was the prince and general of the Northern Water Tribe.

Senna

Senna

"We love you so much."

Voiced by: Alex McKenna

Korra's mother, a native to the Southern Water Tribe.

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• Ascended Extra: She and Tonraq only had two small appearances in Book One, but they have a bigger role in Book Two (although in her case, to a much lesser extent than her husband).
• Good Parents: She took some time to console Korra in "Civil Wars, Part 1", showing how much care she devotes to her daughter.
• Happily Married: Shown to have a loving and close relationship with Tonraq.
• Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: With Tonraq, compared to her, he dwarfs her due to his height and build.
• Informed Ability: While confirmed as a waterbender (and implied to be a healer), Senna has never been shown bending at all.
• Making a Splash: She is a waterbender.
• Morality Chain: Like Tonraq, she tries, but Korra goes against her wishes almost immediately, being unwilling to see her family in such distress.
• Mum Looks Like a Sister: Seriously. She looks slightly older than her daughter, who is in her late teens. And apparently she didn't age one day since her daughter was a child. Possibly in an attempt to rectify this, she has a few more facial lines in Book Two.
• Nice Girl: A loving and supportive woman.
• Open-Minded Parent: Turf Wars reveals she's fully supportive of Korra and Asami's relationship, though she warns the two that not everyone might not be as accepting of their relationship.
• Satellite Family Member: Her appearances in the series revolves around her husband and/or her daughter. Senna's role in the story is to emotionally support her daughter Korra during difficult times and occasionally provide her with exposition.
• Shipper on Deck: After Korra reveals to her and Tonraq, that she is in a relationship with Asami, Senna is nothing but supportive.
• Strong Family Resemblance: We have a pretty good idea what Korra may look like in her middle age here...

Unalaq

Korra's paternal uncle, and chieftan of the Northern and Southern Water Tribes. For tropes pertaining to him, refer to the "Enemies" page.

Desna and Eska

Korra's twin cousins, children of Chief Unalaq. For tropes pertaining to them, refer to the "Enemies" page.

Varrick Global Industries

Varrick

A resident of the Southern Water Tribe and one of the world's leading businessmen, introduced in Book 2.

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See this page for more information.

Zhu Li

Varrick's personal assistant.

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See this page for more information.

New Air Nation

General

"It's safe to come out, everyone! The Airbenders are here!"

After Harmonic Convergence passed, non-benders around the globe spontaneously started exhibiting abilities in airbending. Team Avatar and Tenzin's family set out on a quest to gather them up in an endeavor to rebirth the Air Nomad nation. This section covers those new airbenders not covered in other categories. For others, reference Opal in the Beifong Family section, or Commander Bumi in the Tenzin's Family section.

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• All-Loving Hero: The New Air Nation seeks to help maintain peace in the world and took an oath not to instigate violence.
• Blow You Away: They have the newfound ability (new to them, anyway) to airbend. Since very few people have faced airbenders in combat before, and proficient airbenders have peerless evasive skills, they are a force to be recokned with.
• The Cavalry: Jinora leads them in a combined effort to force Zaheer to the ground when he was about to win, allowing Korra to take him down.
• Combination Attack: The most devastating attack the Airbenders can unleash upon a foe as a group are giant whirlwinds, capable of drawing down flying enemies, blowing away soldiers and slowing down mecha-troopers, or even throwing off the aim of Colossi with Spirit-profaning super-weapons.
• How Do I Shot Web?: Very few of them have any natural aptitude in airbending, so they are incredibly obtuse in its use. Under the tutelage of Tenzin and his children, they eventually get better.
• Impossibly Cool Clothes: After the timeskip, the airbenders dispense with the traditional Air Nomad monk robes and now wear formfitting wingsuits that eliminate the need for a glider staff as a flight aid, though its design still pays homage to traditional vestments with its red-orange-yellow coloration. According to the NYCC 2014 panel, Asami invented them.
• Mass Super-Empowering Event: They all manifested these abilities after the Harmonic Convergence.
• Melting Pot: Since the original Air Nomads were exterminated a long time ago, people getting Airbending through Harmonic Convergence are all non-benders from the other nations. So far, their known recruits include the last descendants of the original Air Nomads (Tenzin's family), a Republic City citizen (Daw), an Airbender acolyte of unknown origin (Otaku), a member of the Bei Fong family from Zaofu (Opal) and several Earth Kingdom citizens, mostly from Ba Sing Se. Tenzin places a lot of effort into teaching them the Air Nomads' philosophy, history and customs in an attempt to rebuild the culture.
• One Riot, One Ranger: Once they take on their watchman-like duties, their low numbers constrain them to invoke this trope. It's not precisely one "ranger", but they send less than you'd expect to handle a crisis. It's deconstructed when the governor of Yi points out that it's not nearly enough to fight the hundreds of bandits in the countryside.
• Order Reborn: The whole point of their story arc in Book 3 is to rebuild the Air Nomads after they were exterminated by the Fire Nation as the starting point of Last Airbender. Regardless, their numbers are still fairly small, as noted in the Book 4 premiere.
• Took a Level in Badass: Following the Time Skip, the new Air Nation has evolved into a global peacekeeping force, albeit one spread thin on account of the Earth Kingdom being a large continent and their own membership being somewhat small. Still, the mere sight of Kai and Opal in airbender gliding suits was enough to scare a bandit gang raiding a village, so they must have a good reputation.
• We Help the Helpless: After Korra gets waylaid by the Red Lotus, and President Raiko voices concern over the state of the world during her convalescence, Tenzin and his airbenders take up the mantle of upholding the well-being of the world in her stead; a stark contrast from the detached nature of previous Air Nomad culture before the genocide. They may not be successful, but they'll do their best.

Tenzin's Family

Master Tenzin and his airbender children formed the cadre that trained the New Air Nation members in how to use their new Airbending powers. Additionally, his brother Bumi manifested Airbending powers after the Harmonic Convergence. For tropes pertaining to them, visit this page.

Kai

Kai

Don't let that smile fool you.

^{Click here for his Book 4 appearance}

Voiced by: Skyler Brigmann

An Earth Kingdom citizen and new airbender thanks to Harmonic Convergence. He takes up the offer to join the Air Nomads to escape the police chasing him.

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• The Ace: Downplayed. Though not nearly as trained and skilled as Jinora or Tenzin, he is probably the most intuitive of all the new airbenders with the power, save perhaps Opal.
• Ambiguously Brown: Noticeably on the browner side of the Earth Kingdom.
• Annoying Younger Sibling: Initially acts like this towards Mako and Bolin, given his lying nature and ungratefulness. Kai ends up getting Mako and Bolin lost in Ba Sing Se.
• The Artful Dodger: He seems to be very comfortable with his life in the streets and likes to steal way too much. He even robbed the family that tried to adopt him. Some time under the Dai Li's boot disabused him of this tendency.
• Badass Adorable: Averted, initially given his backstabbing ways. Played straight after his brief imprisonment, where he shows his more noble side and apologizes to Mako and Bolin for his actions.
• Battle Couple: Downplayed with Jinora. They become a couple by Book 4 and have proven to be competent airbenders, but rarely fight together. The one time they worked together, it was a covert mission, and they didn't have to engage in violence once.
• Beta Couple: He and Jinora qualify probably to every other (non-married) couple, including Bolin/Opal, given that the couple have the least drama or relationship problems.
• Big Ol' Eyebrows: Has thick eyebrows.
• Big Damn Hero: Thanks to surviving P'Li's blast, he was able to fake his own death and determine this fellow students' location and the Red Lotus' plan with them. He also managed to save Bolin and the others as the Northern Air Temple was crumbling to pieces.
• Bratty Half-Pint: He starts off as a self-centered, ungrateful troublemaker with some serious attitude problems. Mako sees him as nothing more than a nuisance, but the others try to justify Kai's behavior by the fact that he's still just a kid. Fortunately, getting imprisoned and fighting his way out cures him of this in short order.
• Brilliant, but Lazy: Pre-Character Development, even though he proved to be quite talented, Kai only used his airbending skills to steal from the rich.
• The Bus Came Back: Somewhat, while he reappears for Book 4 episodes 11, 12, and 13, he doesn't speak at all in any of the episodes.
• Character Development: Goes from screwing over anyone who helps him for his own gain, getting into trouble, to then being willing to sacrifice his life for his fellow airbenders over the course of Book 3. Lampshaded by himself during the Season 3 finale; when Mako mentions how he used to give Kai a hard time, and Kai says that he probably deserved it back then.
• Child Prodigy: He appears to be the most promising of all the new airbenders during "Original Airbenders" in terms of skill.
• Child Soldiers: Was almost forced to becomes one when he was captured by the Dai Li.
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Before Character Development, Kai had no problem using people for his own gain.
• Demoted to Extra: After playing a main role in Book 3, he is prominently seen with Opal helping an Earth village in episode 1 of Book 4 and then isn't seen again until episode 11, where he has a non-speaking role, additionally the case in episodes 12 and 13.
• Disney Death: Blown out of the sky by P'Li. He comes to a few hours later after his new baby bison friend Lefty rescues him hanging upside down from a little tree.
• Everyone Has Standards: Kai may be a thief who has no problem with backstabbing, but being kidnapped by the Dai Li showed that he draws the line of doing actual physical harm to other people.
• The Farmer and the Viper: As a young boy he was adopted by a very nice family...and he repaid their kindness by robbing them blind.
• Friend to All Living Things: Kai takes an instant liking to the baby sky bison and hurting innocent creatures is a major anger point for him.
• Greed: When we first meet him, Kai will do anything for money, including betraying the people who saved him. He quickly grows out of this, though.
• Happily Adopted: Zigzagged. While the family he was taken into were decent people, Kai repaid them back by stealing their money. He tried again with the Krew and screwed them over, but after tangling with the Dai Li he truly turned over a new leaf.
• Heartwarming Orphan: Zigzagged. He lies to Team Avatar about how he lost his parents and the revelation that he stole his adopted family's money. Makes it even worse with him backstabbing Team Avatar, after they saved his butt. Then he a Took a Level in Kindness.
• I Got Bigger: In Book 4, Kai has gotten taller, muscular, and his voice is deeper. This is lampshaded by Bolin.
• Improbable Infant Survival: He lampshades this, saying that it takes more than a fall and a tree to get rid of him.
• Instant Expert: He shows excellent potential as an airbender, performing fluid, effective attacks without any prior training. Given many of the traits of being a thief meld well with airbender principles, it makes sense that he'd take to it. Later on, when training at the Northern Air Temple, he's clearly the best of the bunch.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He abuses the trust of the Krew to escape punishment, clearly not intending to join the Air Nomads. He also robbed his adoptive parents. And later robs Mako and Bolin... However, he later shows he's not that bad. While in Dai Li custody, he goes out of his way to help the fellow Airbenders who were captured alongside him, and try not to hurt them. There's also his relationship with Jinora that brings out his better side.
• Just a Kid: Everyone, especially Lin Beifong treat him as this. However, he is no mere child and doesn't like being treated as one.
• Kleptomaniac Hero: Before turning over a new leaf, Kai was prone to stealing money off of unsuspecting people.
• Laser-Guided Karma: He gets kidnapped by Dai Li officers after his temptations of stealing gold from the middle ring citizens of Ba Sing Se get the better of him.
• Marilyn Maneuver: Uses his airbending skills for this to get close to wealthy Ba Sing Se people, helping them recompose themselves while stealing their wallets. In the finale, Jinora uses this same ability to steal the cuff keys from her captors.
• Meaningful Name: One of the few meanings of his name in Japanese is "restoration", which alludes to him (along with others) restoring the Air Nation.
• Mysterious Past: Other than him being an orphan, his entire background is shady.
• Official Couple: With Jinora in Book 4.
• Opposites Attract: Kai, the sneaky, stealing (before Character Development) Jerk with a Heart of Gold became an Official Couple with Jinora, the polite, rule-abiding Nice Girl.
• Out of Focus: He only appears in the first, 11th, and final two episodes of Book 4 (and only gets any dialogue in the first), which is a step-down from his primary role assumed in Book 3.
• Parental Abandonment: He lost his parents under some circumstances, but his story about bandits killing them was clearly a lie.
• Pet the Dog: Keeps a fellow imprisoned Airbender safe, at the cost of being put in solitary.
• The Power of Love: Trounces the Drill Sergeant Nasty who grabbed Jinora.
• Puppy Love: He and Jinora obviously like each other.
• Put on the Bus: Disappears for ten episodes in Book 4 after appearing in the first episode.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: He is the Red Oni to Opal's Blue Oni, which is best demonstrated in "After All These Years": when the food they had prepared to give to an impoverished village was stolen by a bandit, Kai still jumps right after the said bandit without thinking of a plan, especially after his suit was slashed - an extremely reckless move that could have cost him his life had he been alone. When he begins to lose control and is falling to his death, Opal doesn't move just yet. She waits and listens before taking action.
• Relationship Upgrade: He and Jinora are friends in Book 3 but have an obvious attraction to each other. By Book 4, they are an Official Couple.
• Shipper on Deck: Was concerned over the relationship problems between Opal and Bolin.
• The Sneaky Guy: Kai (pre-Character Development) could steal money with hardly anyone suspecting something.
• Sticky Fingers: Pre-character development Kai is a magpie for gold and doesn't care about who he hurts to get it.
• Street Urchin: A status Mako believes makes it unlikely that Kai has an honest interest in rebuilding the Air Nation, or an interest in anything other than himself for that matter. And he's right — at first, anyway.
• Suspiciously Similar Substitute:
  • Kai starts off as a street urchin and artful dodger, who will do anything for money. Sounds a lot like Skoochy, Mako and Bolin's "friend" first seen in Book 1.
  • DiMartino reveals: "He was a little big of Aang, a little bit of Wan — we wanted to have an adventurous kid with a slightly shadowy background."
• Took a Level in Badass: By the time of "The Ultimatum," he's much braver and more altruistic. By the end of the episode, he is the Northern Air Temple's only hope left.
• Took a Level in Idealism: At first, Kai only went with Korra and the others to escape punishment. Through being captured by the Dai Li, rescued (again) by Team Avatar, spending time with Jinora, and training as an Air Nomad transformed Kai tremendously; he became a selfless individual who now strives for peace.
• Took a Level in Kindness: In the episode "In Harm's Way," his harrowing experience in Dai Li captivity and the camaraderie built with his fellow captive airbenders has mellowed him. He is still a magnet for trouble, but for the more light-hearted kind.
• Tuckerization: Josh Hamilton, who wrote the first episode Kai appeared in, named Kai after his son.
• Ungrateful Bastard: He was adopted after losing his parents, but repaid that by robbing them blind, and then also proceeds to exploit the hospitality of Korra and company. He loses the ingratitude after running afoul of the Dai Li's conscription/enslavement program for convergence-manifested airbenders.

Daw

Daw

^{Click here for Daw before shaving his head}

Voiced by: Jim Meskimen

One of the people empowered with airbending by Harmonic Convergence, and the first recruit to rebuild the Air Nomads.

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• Apologetic Attacker: Before he gets a handle on his airbending (and even after a bit).
• Back for the Finale: Daw gets a line in the penultimate episode in the two-part finale, still sporting the shaven head and now sporting the Airbender Wingsuit like his comrades.
• Big Ol' Eyebrows: Has thick eyebrows.
• Blow You Away: Gained airbending thanks to Harmonic Convergence. At first, he suffered from severe Power Incontinence, but thanks to Tenzin's rough training (and shaving) he is now much more refined, down to being able to sense minute disturbances in the very air around him.
• Bring My Brown Pants: Invoked in "A Breath of Fresh Air."
  Tenzin: It is absolutely my pleasure to meet you, Daw. I have never met a new airbender before. Well, at least one whose diapers I didn't have to change.
  Daw: Actually, I just fell off a bridge...so I could use a fresh diaper right about now.
• Butt-Monkey: Suffers from this quite a bit in Book 3. He has Power Incontinence when he first gets airbending, is often on the receiving end of Meelo's Drill Sergeant Nasty tendencies, and gets his head shaved by Tenzin only to learn seconds after that it's actually voluntary. The latter at least turned out to be a blessing in disguise when it let him sense an attack from behind, and his misfortune ended after that.
• Character Development: Daw goes from being terrified of his new Airbending powers to accepting them as an unexpected blessing.
• Driven to Suicide: Implied, as he ended up on top of a bridge and looked suspiciously like he was thinking of throwing himself off. Thankfully, Korra talked him out of it.
• I Just Want to Be Normal: He really didn't want airbending at first (not surprising, since he didn't have any control over it), but after talking with Korra he decided to give it a shot and become an Air Nomad.
• My Significance Sense Is Tingling: His bald head allows him to sense the air perturbations preceding an incoming attack from behind, enabling him to dodge and riposte with an airblast. Beforehand, he was despondent that he learned head-shaving was elective after having it done to him. After experiencing the benefits firsthand, he then tries to convince other air nomad recruits to go bald as well. Years later after the time-skip, he's still voluntarily bald.
• Power Incontinence: He has a very hard time controlling his new airbending, and almost jumps off a bridge to stop endangering people until Korra talks him down. He's gotten over it by mid-season.
• Took a Level in Badass: While he isn't an Airbending master by the end of the series finale, he shows more acceptance and control over his airbending than he did in his first appearance.

Ryu

Ryu

^{Click here for his Book 4 appearance.}

Voiced by: Jon Heder

One of the new post-Harmonic Convergence airbenders. Despite the urgings of his mother and the Krew, he refuses to do anything with his new powers.

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• Basement-Dweller: His mother urges him to join the other airbenders, but he refuses. And when he does finally get a job, he can't stand his own mother embarrassing him.
• Character Development: When Ryu first appeared, he was a lazy, Basement-Dweller who wanted nothing to do with the New Air Nation. But, by the end of Book 3, he officially joins. Three years later, Ryu now has a job and takes it seriously. In addition, Ryu is rather disgruntled at his parents visiting him. He then plays a minor, but vigorous role in the final battle against Kuvira.
• Comic-Book Fantasy Casting: His appearance is based on Ki Hyun Ryu.
• Hikikomori: He's not a very outgoing person, to say the least. His mom was desperate to get him out of the house and interact with living people for a change.
• Knight in Sour Armor: He is seen at Jinora's ceremony in traditional airbender robes, indicating that he did eventually join the Air Nation. However, his body language indicates that he's less than enthusiastic. He's like this at his new job, especially when he has to put up with his doting parents or clueless annoying tourists.
• Like Father, Like Son: We get to see his father in "Beyond the Wilds", and it's pretty clear which of his parents he takes after.
• Nerd Glasses: Much like those of Ki Hyun Ryu.
• Refusal of the Call: Completely uninterested in becoming part of the new Air Nation, despite his mother's best efforts. Though the season finale reveals he was eventually talked into doing it.
• Strong Family Resemblance: This◊ shot of Ryu with his parents shows that he inherited all of his physical looks from his father. The only differences being in hairstyle and Ryu having slightly more Perma-Stubble than his father along with also having dyed most of his hair blond.
• Took a Level in Badass: Goes from a lazy Basement-Dweller to an active Air Nomad who has shown proper control over his airbending.
• Took a Level in Idealism: When he was first introduced, he had zero goals and found doing something with his life to be meaningless. His appearance at Jinora's ceremony and subsequent appearance in Book 4, shows that Ryu became more serious about his Air Nomad work.

Otaku

Otaku

Voiced by: Carlos Alazraqui

A non-bending Air Acolyte who gains airbending after Harmonic Convergence. Due to his previous training, he is already an expert in Air Nomad culture and history.

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• Ascended Fanboy: He was a former Air Acolyte (devoting himself to studying the Air Nomads' culture), who then became an actual airbender through Harmonic Convergence.
• Jumped at the Call: He had already chosen to devote himself to the Air Nomads' culture long before he became an Airbender, so there was most likely little to do to convince him to join.
• Meaningful Name: "Otaku" is a Japanese slang term for someone overly enthusiastic about a certain topic; i.e. a "nerd."
• Nerd Glasses: A small, round pair.
• Teacher's Pet: Is far more interested in Tenzin's history classes than most of his fellow airbenders. It doesn't really mean much to Tenzin because he took the exact same lessons during Acolyte training.

Lefty

Lefty

Voiced by: Dee Bradley Baker

A baby Sky Bison calf that Kai befriends in Book 3. He becomes Kai's Sky Bison companion.

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• Androcles' Lion: After Kai rescued a bunch of the baby bison in "Original Airbenders", one of them takes a shine to him, and Kai dubs the calf "Lefty". After the three year Time Skip, he's grown to full size and serves as the bison mount for Kai and Opal when on deployment.
• Badass Adorable: Introduced as a baby Sky Bison and managed to briefly carry five people, four of whom were grown adults.
• The Cutie: A baby Sky Bison? Adorable!
• Giant Flyer: He doesn't start off as one since we see him first as a calf, but he grows into one after the Time Skip.

Juicy

Juicy

Voiced by: Dee Bradley Baker

Opal's pet sky bison with chronic respiratory ailments.

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• Abhorrent Admirer: Opal is not particularly pleased that the bison chooses the airbender.
  Opal: And no, you can't pick another one. Trust me, I checked.
• Giant Flyer: Leaky his nose may be, he's still a faithful sky bison mount to Opal.
• The Pig-Pen: Constantly running nose, slobbery, and Toph remarks that Juicy smells worse than Appa.

Other Allies

General Iroh II

"Well, suppose I were to take the fleet South on some routine training maneuvers. And let's say we were to accidentally run into a hostile Northern blockade. We'd have no choice but to defend ourselves, wouldn't we?"

Voiced by: Dante Basco

Leader of the United Forces and Zuko's grandson. His mother is Fire Lord Izumi.

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• 11th-Hour Ranger: In the Book One finale. Royalty of the Fire Nation joining Team Avatar just in time for the final showdown? That ol' apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
• Ace Pilot: A flying ace — defined as an aviator that shoots down 5 planes — he does so with no prior flying experience, against trained pilots.
• Asskicking Leads to Leadership: He's the youngest general in United Forces history, meaning it's likely either an honorary title due to his royal blood, or was earned via pure skill and asskickery. His performance during the first season finale strongly suggests the latter.
• Back for the Finale: He returns for the first time since the second book finale for the series finale in "Kuvira's Gambit."
• Big Ol' Eyebrows: He has some thick eyebrows.
• Blue Blood: The son of the current Fire Lord.
• The Brigadier: He is the military leader of the United Forces.
• Captain Obvious: He even channels another famous officer in charge of a large fleet.
  Iroh: It's a trick!
• The Cavalry: Leads the fleet that comes to Republic to assist in the fight against Amon.
• Dead Guy Junior: Named after his own great-great uncle. Though his namesake turns out to be not quite dead.
• Demoted to Extra: His role dwarfs considerably after Book 1, hardly making an appearance in Book 2 and 4. He didn't show up at all in Book 3.
• Determinator: He must take after Zuko. Even if his entire fleet is overwhelmed, he won't stop fighting. When he's ordered to surrender, he absolutely hates that notion, and would rather go down fighting.
• The Fettered: As a general, he is subordinate to the civilian government of the United Republic. He enters the fray in Book One at Tenzin's request on behalf of the rest of the council, who are all imprisoned by Amon, and it's not an accident that he sees most of his action here, after his fleet is destroyed and Tenzin has to flee with his family— meaning Iroh is answerable to no one and is free to be a swashbuckling action hero. Every subsequent appearance, however, he answers to the risk-adverse President Raiko. It's Raiko who shuts down his co-conspiracy to aid the Southern Water Tribe and orders him not to engage with Kuvira, and it's also Raiko who orders him to secure the new spirit portal and fire on the Airbenders attempting to hold it for the spirits in The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars.
• Foil: To Lin Beifong. At first, Lin dismisses the idea that she and Korra should be friends because her mother was friends with Avatar Aang. Iroh places great faith in Avatar Korra because that is what his grandfather Zuko would have done.
• Four-Star Badass: He earned every one of those stars with pure badassery. He does more damage to Amon's war machine than the army he commands.
• Generation Xerox: He's more or less a composite of all of his relatives from the previous generation. An idealistic and honorable Warrior Prince like his grandfather even sharing his voice. A high-ranking general from the Fire Nation Royal Family and skilled firebender named Iroh, just like his maternal great-great uncle. The talent, loyalty and ability to lightningbend like his great aunt.
• Humble Hero: Despite his senior rank among the United Forces and his status as a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family, Iroh is a humble man, openly showing his sincere gratitude for other people's assistance.
• Hunk: Tall, chiseled jaw, and muscular.
• Identical Grandson: He's adult Zuko — same voice, same character design, same badassery, no scars or psychological trauma, and one significant difference in skill: He can lightningbend.
• Improbable Piloting Skills: By the way he pilots a bi-plane in the Book One finale, would you believe he never piloted one before?
• Indy Ploy: In his interception of the Equalist force in the finale, it's pretty clear that he was making up his plan on the fly, if you'll pardon the pun.
• Instant Expert: He is a quick learner, as he was able to figure out how to pilot an Equalist biplane despite his lack of experience with them.
• Made of Iron: He takes a bomb to the face, and only comes away with some Clothing Damage and burns.
• Military Maverick: He was perfectly willing to "accidentally" get involved with the Water Tribe civil war as a favor to Korra. President Raiko made sure to cut him off before he had the chance to try. Instead, he just directed Korra to seek help from the Fire Nation.
• The Mutiny: The fillibusting. He conspires with Korra to drag the United Republic in the War of the Water Tribes after Korra's aid request was refused by the civilian government. Doesn't go through with it after being put on the spot by his commander-in-chief.
• Nice Guy: A courageous, loyal military badass who's always willing to help.
• Not Quite Flight: Is quite skilled at using the firebending Recoil Boost tactic to almost-fly; he manages to use it to catch up to a biplane as it was taking off, and later uses it to go from a free-fall to a controlled landing on a moving airplane.
• Officer and a Gentleman: A United Forces General, capable, and an all around good guy.
• Offscreen Inertia: At the end of his last scene in Book One, he is left hanging off the flag held up by Avatar Aang's statue.
• One-Man Army: He takes out an entire squadron of biplanes by himself.
• Out of Focus: He gets very few appearances after Book One.
• Playing with Fire: As typical for a firebender.
• Punch-Clock Villain: He ends up acting like this in Turf Wars, much to his chagrin, as he answers to President Raiko who has jumped of the deep end. He is extremely careful not to disobey his orders, though he objects to Raiko directly, warns Korra before he has to implement them, and does the bare minimum of attacking the Air Nation before he asks leave to call it off.
• Redshirt Army: Forces under his command are completely decimated in every fight they get into (though to be honest, while the Equalists took on him by surprising yet mundane means, his other enemies don't leave much chance). Iroh himself, however, not only survives, but proceeds to single handedly wipe out a fleet of Equalist fighters on their way to bomb the backup fleet.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: Prince of the Fire Nation and General in the United Forces.
• Shock and Awe: Unlike his grandfather (at least in his youth), he can produce lightning.
  • There is a newer, easier, but much weaker version of lightingbending. It's unclear if General Iroh, being the Prince of the Fire Nation was trained in the stronger older technique, or the new one, or even both.
• Significant Double Casting: He shares the same voice actor as his grandfather.
• Spin-Offspring: Zuko's grandson.
• Supernatural Gold Eyes: Fire Nation royals typically have vibrant gold eyes, and Iroh is no exception.
• Undying Loyalty: Iroh is very loyal to his friends, willing to do whatever is in his power to help so long as it does not outright defy authority.
• Universal Driver's License: Takes control of an Equalist biplane^note notoriously very challenging to fly even for seasoned pilots in Real Life, a vehicle that he had never encountered prior to his first battle against them. Despite a rocky start, he keeps it under control.
• Vague Age: He’s vaguely older than Korra and the youngest general in the United Forces but his exact age has never been stated. Since he was originally going to be Asami’s love interest and his sister who was cut out of the show due to time constraints was going to be Mako’s, he can’t be that much older than Korra and friends.
• Vocal Dissonance: In his first appearance he has the exact same voice used for the teenage Zuko from the previous series, despite looking like he's in his thirties or so. A case of Reality Is Unrealistic, since Dante Basco himself is in his thirties and naturally sounds like that. In the finale itself, when he has more lines, he does use some different inflections from Zuko, but it's still very close.
• Warrior Prince: He's the prince of the Fire Nation and the leader of the United Forces.

Prince Wu

Wu

"Okay, I’m just spitballing here, we march in with an army of highly trained badgermoles?"

Voiced by: Sunil Malhotra

Heir to the Earth Kingdom throne, and the great nephew of the Earth Queen.

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• 0% Approval Rating: Downplayed. In "After All these Years", he is shown as having both admiring fans and violent detractors supporting Kuvira. However, during his coronation, no one seems very excited about his appearance at all, while half the crowd goes ecstatic as Kuvira announces her coup. Later on, he's proven to be a hero in his own right by evacuating citizens with Badgermoles, and outsmarting Earth Empire soldiers. On the other hand, people don't like his singing even if it is saving their lives. By the time of Ruins, his subjects’ view of him considerably improved as he took his administrative role very seriously.
• Abdicate the Throne: After Kuvira is defeated, Wu decides to dissolve the monarchy and allow the various states of the Earth Kingdom to govern themselves in hopes of transitioning into a republic similar to the UR. However, he finds that it's not possible for him to do so under the precarious state his country is in. And then he arrives at the conclusion that if he wants to ensure a successful transition, he will have to be on the throne for however long it takes, even if it has to be his entire lifetime.
• Abhorrent Admirer: To any female he comes across, particularly Korra. He seems to give up by the end of the series.
• Aesop Amnesia: Averted. Wu always learns his lesson, bad experience after bad experience, and by the end, it's clear he took these morals seriously.
• Ambiguously Brown: Wu's complexion is on the darker side of being an Earth Kingdom native.
• Audience Surrogate: During the recap episode in season 4 he and Tu gang up to voice the most common fan complaints against Mako's love life.
• Badass Normal: Becomes this after some Character Development. He has no bending and is not a fighter, but he can still out-think and out-maneuver benders and mecha soldiers.
• The Beastmaster: During the attack on Republic city, he is able to use his singing to get a couple of badger moles to help him get the last evacuees out and even dispose of some pursuing enemy soldiers.
• Beware the Silly Ones: In "Day of the Colossus", Prince Wu proves that despite his silliness, he's not someone to underestimate... Particularly if he has a pair of Badgermoles at his command.
• Big Ego, Hidden Depths: It's subtle, but it's frequently shown that there is more to Wu than meets the eye.
  • In "The Coronation", he shows that despite his ego, he can freely accept criticism. When Mako tells him that while Kuvira is no saint, he's just as unfit for the throne, rather than become angry and defensive, he actually agrees with Mako and admits that he probably wouldn't make a great ruler, stating that no one ever told it to him like that before. This partially influences his decision to ultimately dissolve the monarchy and let the various states govern themselves.
  • In "Operation Beifong, he shows some surprisingly quick thinking when he actually suggests that they evacuate the city in preparation for Kuvira's impending attack. Both Raiko and Mako praise this suggestion, though he freely admits it was just to impress Korra.
  • in "Kuvira's Gambit", he turns out to be an excellent public speaker whose oratory skills convinces the citizens of Republic City to evacuate, especially when Mako's emotionless warning drove the citizens into a panic.
  • In "Day of the Colossus", he again shows that he's surprisingly clever when he uses his singing to convince the Badgermoles to dig a tunnel out of the city and even fakes a Take Me Instead moment to distract three of Kuvira's goons when they corner them.
  • In Ruins of the Empire, he displays a working knowledge of the Dai Li's history of brainwashing to keep control of Ba Sing Se, which Toph commends.
  • He also has a hallucination of his aunt, Earth Queen Hou-Ting, berating him for championing democracy not because he thinks it'll be better for the people, but because he doesn't want the responsibility of ruling when he knows he'll fail. This shakes him pretty hard.
• Big Ol' Eyebrows: Similar to Bolin, he has giant eyebrows.
• Break the Haughty: He undergoes this in "The Coronation", after Kuvira's insurrection. By the end of the episode, he admits to himself and Mako that he'd be a poor ruler, and deserved what happened. While he gets over it in the next episodes, it paves the way for his eventual Character Development and ultimately his decision to dissolve the monarchy and allow the various Earth Kingdom states to govern themselves.
• Brilliant, but Lazy: Eventually revealed to be this as he undergoes Character Development. Wu is a talented public speaker and can be quite clever when he puts his mind to it, but his carefree and rather flighty attitude tends to overshadow these traits.
• Camp Straight: He loves pretty ladies and repeatedly tries to score dates with both Asami and Korra, but he goes to a spa and likes Mako to carry him.
• Casanova Wannabe: He's a hopeless flirt with the emphasis on "hopeless". He makes repeated — and utterly lame — advances on Asami, who wants nothing to do with him. His attempt with Kuvira goes as well as could be expected and a throwaway line in his song in "Day of the Colossus" shows he still has a crush on her. Korra bluntly shuts him down and he freely admitted to Mako that his suggestion to evacuate the city was another attempt to impress her. The only woman whose heart he does steal is Mako's grandmother, who is a loyalist to the Earth Kingdom's royalty.
• Catchphrase:
  • "Wu Down!" This is uttered when ever he has a wimp moment in the face of danger (even if the danger is sparring).
  • He also has "Respect the Brooch!", referring to the one paltry piece of royal jewelry recovered from looting (which is actually an earring). He utters it impotently at jeering Kuvira supporters early on, but eventually interweaves it into the utterly awful singing that commands his badgermoles to dispatch some Earth Empire mecha-troopers in the finale.
• Character Development: Subtle, but as the season progresses, he becomes a less selfish and more mature individual, which is cemented in the final three episodes where he actively helps with the evacuation process and saves the evacuees from Kuvira's troops with a surprisingly clever plan by using Badgermoles to tunnel out of the city. By the time of Varrick's and Zhu Li's wedding, he decides to abdicate the throne, honestly believing that the Earth Kingdom would be better off dispensing with the notion of hereditary monarchy, and then deciding he should let the people have a choice in the matter rather then forcing change on them, while remaining on the throne so they can at least get a taste of good leadership.
• Cincinnatus: Attempts to be this after Kuvira is defeated and the power she stole is effectively returned to him. He intends to transition his country to democracy within a few years, then give the power to his people and retire. However, Wu realizes he's been trying to force change on his people, and learns that first, the people need to know they are in control, and that he should be on the throne to guide them during this transition.
• Cloud Cuckoolander: Overly dramatic and believes strawberry jam is blood. When he believes he is allergic to strawberries, he has to be reminded that he's actually allergic to bees.
• Cowardly Lion: Character Development turns him into one. He has no powers, is not a fighter, and his usual response is to call for help. But when even that's not an option, he proves to be surprisingly clever under pressure.
• Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Despite his foppish exterior, as the series progresses, everyone around him quickly discovers that if you put the pressure on this guy, he will come through.
• The Cuckoolander Was Right: Suggests using Badgermoles against Kuvira with everyone giving a look of disbelief. Turns out, he wasn't that far off on their usefulness.
• Cultured Badass: Wu has always been used to the finer things in life. The "badass" doesn't show up at first, but he ultimately proves he's not one to be taken lightly.
• Distressed Dude: In "Reunion", Earth Empire agents kidnap him and try to smuggle him out of Republic City. Korra, Mako and Asami manage to save him. He learned from this experience and was prepared the next time Earth Empire soldiers pop up.
• Dumbass Has a Point:
  • In "Beyond the Wilds", Wu suggests that they deal with Kuvira by using a team of trained Badgermoles which seemed stupid at the time, but come "Day of the Colossus", he proves to everyone that Badgermoles can be useful.
  • In "Operation Beifong". Wu is the first person to suggest Republic City be evacuated in order to protect the citizens from the attacking spirit vines and the possibility of an Earth Empire atttack, which Raiko and Mako note is unusually thoughtful behavior for him. Next scene, Wu cheerfully admits to Mako that he said that in order to impress Korra, because "all great deeds are done for the ladies". While his suggestion may be entirely self-motivated, it doesn't stop it from being a good idea.
• Everyone Has Standards: Wu may be a Casanova Wannabe type, but even he was appalled at how Mako handled his relationships with Korra and Asami.
• Foil: To Kuvira. Kuvira is efficient, austere, and worked hard to reach where she was. Wu is incompetent, foppish, and inherited the Earth Kingdom. It's not purely positive on Kuvira's side. Wu acknowledges his own shortcomings, accepts criticism from someone, and is respectful (in his own, foppish way) towards foreigners. While Kuvira is known to put dissidents and non-Earth Kingdom natives into re-education camps, reacts poorly to criticism, and can be condescending and smug towards others at times. Also, while Kuvira wanted to reunite the Earth Kingdom into one large Empire, Wu eventually dissolves the monarchy and allows each state to govern itself.
• Freud Was Right: In-Universe, Wu seems to believe this. In "Beyond the Wilds", he professes the belief that men only ever aspire to greatness in order to impress women.
• The Friend Nobody Likes: While Prince Wu is a rather sweet person and genuinely friendly, his bratty, ditsy, and overtly flirtatious attitude makes it hard for others to do more than tolerate him. The fact that he seems completely oblivious to how negatively his behavior affects others only makes it worse. He gets better as the season progresses. And by the end of the season Mako and Korra have warmed up to him and are proud of his decision to dissolve the monarchy.
• Good Feels Good: Originally, he's concerned about doing good things to get ladies, wants to date Korra as a reward, and is mostly focused on getting his throne back. While helping the citizens evacuate, he discovered on his own that doing good for others is rewarding in itself. In addition, he makes the decision to abolish the monarchy altogether, because he truly feels it is for the best. Even throughout the process, he actually takes his role seriously that he ends up being a better leader that people were led to believe.
• Government in Exile: As of "The Coronation", he's technically been officially recognized by the Grand Secretariat and the world leaders as the King of the Earth Kingdom. However, Kuvira withdrawing her support and proclaiming herself leader of the Earth Empire makes his kingship a meaningless title, and he's unlikely to be welcomed back to his home country any time soon. After Kuvira is defeated, he's allowed to claim the throne if he so chooses. Ultimately, he dissolves the Earth Kingdom and allows the various states to govern themselves.
• Guile Hero: He develops into one as he's leading Republic City evacuees that didn't make it out before Kuvira arrived. While using a pair of Badgermoles to dig their way under the mayhem above-ground, they run afoul of a few enemy mecha-troopers. While keeping their attention with a bad song routine (that was actually flank attack commands to the badgermoles), he doesn't lose his cool at all as the badgermoles dig around behind the troopers and dispatch them. A far cry from "WU DOWN!"
• The Hedonist: Initially. Wu loves to have fun and live the high life, unfazed and unconcerned about the responsibilities of being a ruler. He even admitted that he was okay with leaving the actual work to the ministers while he lives it up. He grows out of it as the season progresses. After deciding to transition the Earth Kingdom to democracy, he wants to put all his hard work and effort into it.
• Hidden Depths: Wu has shown to a be a great public speaker and can be surprisingly crafty when he tries.
• Idiot Hero: Zigzagged. Wu is no doubt a ditzy, Manchild, but he has also shown to be surprisingly crafty.
• Idle Rich: Spends his days enjoying the perks of his wealth and political importance, much to Mako's annoyance. He slowly gets out of it.
• I Just Want to Have Friends: Implied with the way he acted with team avatar he want to befriend them but does not know how.
• Impoverished Patrician: Due to the fall of the Earth Kingdom's royal family, nearly all the royal treasures he would have inherited have been stolen by looters. He doesn't even have a crown for his coronation. Though, this is very downplayed because the Crown Jewels only make up part of his family’s wealth. He still has his personal finances to tap into to afford fancy dinners and other luxuries, which is Truth in Television for most deposed royals these days.
• Ink-Suit Actor: Bears more than a slight resemblance to his actor Sunil Malhotra.
• Innocently Insensitive: At his worst, he's this. Wu is a well meaning and genuinely kind person, but he seems completely oblivious to how his behavior rubs people the wrong way at times. In "Beyond the Wilds" he brags to Korra about how he was invited to a meeting with the World Leaders, unaware that Korra is more than a little upset that he was invited over her. Though he does try to cheer her up by saying he recommended she be there and seemed sincere about it.
• Irony: Kuvira's reason for usurping power from him was that she felt that a monarchy was an archaic system. Surprisingly, Wu echoes her sentiment and dissolves the monarchy, allowing the various Earth Kingdom states to elect their own leaders in a way similar to the republic. As an added layer, by this stage Wu has proven he would be more than mature enough to actually be a good leader. In Ruins of The Empire he actually starts taking his role and decision making very seriously, showing to Kuvira that he does take his people's interests at heart, and knows what he's doing.
• I Surrender, Suckers: He offers to be taken prisoner so the other refugees don't have to go with Kuvira's goons, but it turns out to be a trick, as he uses a last request to sing, which was really a means to secretly direct the badgermoles to attack.
• It's All About Me: He's excited about all the pomp and circumstance of his coronation but, as Mako points out, he's done little to prepare for the task of actually ruling a country. He tones it down as the season progresses.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Of a sort. Wu is a bratty, immature egotist, but he's not a complete Jerkass and can be very friendly, though obliviously annoying, to those he really likes such as Mako. If nothing else, he's nowhere as bad as his great-aunt. And as he undergoes Character Development, the heart of gold becomes more prevalent.
• Lovable Coward: Wu is a nice guy (though he does have his vices), but he is not a fighter by any means and his usual response to danger is to call for help. However, when the chips are down and his back is to the wall, he proves himself to be a surprisingly quick thinker under pressure.
• Manchild: In "The Coronation", he drives a kid out of a "mini-Ba Sing Se" Earth Palace theme restaurant so he can sit on the throne and pretend to be king. He gets better.
• Metro Sexual: He actually schedules a 4-hour spa appointment before his coronation.
• Mr. Vice Guy: He's hedonistic, egotistic, flighty, and a shameless flirt, but ultimately proves to be a genuinely kind soul once you get to know him.
• Nice to the Waiter: He is friendly to everyone that serves him, be they bathroom attendants or restaurant waiters, and he is nothing if not appreciative of Mako's bodyguarding.
• No Celebrities Were Harmed:
  • He has several similarities to Puyi, the last Emperor of China. Both succeeded their great-aunts, had treasures stolen when they came to power, lived hedonistic lifestyles, were set up as Puppet Kings by foreign powers, and were overthrown by the general dispatched to restore order.
  • His decision to dissolve the highly centralized Earth Kingdom monarchy in favor of a more democratic government parallels that of King Juan Carlos I of Spain who upon ascending to the throne worked to dismantle the fascist Francoist regime and transition Spain into a constitutional monarchy. He, however, dissolves the monarchy completely, while Juan Carlos became a constitutional king
• Non-Action Guy: While surprisingly crafty under pressure, Wu is definitely not a fighter. It's telling that his Catchphrase is a cry for help.
• Noodle People: A really slim guy.
• No Social Skills: Wu show little in social que, thought he get better thought out the season.
• Oblivious to Hatred: Prince Wu is a rather sweet person and genuinely friendly, who considers New Team Avatar (Korra, Asami, and Mako) the best friends he has. However, Wu's bratty, ditsy, and overtly flirtatious attitude makes it hard for them to do more than tolerate him. It seems Wu is in the dark on how his behavior annoys them. He does get better as the season progresses. By the end of the season, Mako and Korra have warmed up to him and are proud of his decision to dissolve the monarchy.
• Parental Abandonment: His parents, if any, have never been mentioned. Given that he was next in line for the throne after Hou Ting's death it's strongly implied they're deceased.
• The Performer King: He really loves demonstrating the dances and pomp he's planning for his coronation ceremony. Although he comes across as The Load at first, his skills as a performer come in handy when he gives a suitably compelling address by radio to help evacuate a city. And even moreso when his singing helps command badgermoles to dig escape tunnels. After that, he feels this is his true calling.
• Pet the Dog: For a Royal Brat, he has a surprising habit of this.
  • In "The Coronation", after hearing Mako and Bolin's fall out, he decides the best way to cheer him up is to take him to Little Ba Sing Se shopping mall. Note that during said fall out, Bolin insulted Wu, but Wu makes no mention of it and is more focused on cheering Mako up.
  • In "Beyond The Wilds", he seemed sincere about recommending Korra join the meeting of the world leaders after they tried to exclude her.
  • In "Operation Beifong", he suggests evacuating Republic City's civilians on the chance Kuvira attacks the city, though he tells Mako he only did it to impress Korra.
  • In "Kuvira's Gambit", he gives a surprisingly impressive Rousing Speech to help convince the Republic City's civilians to calmly evacuate and later helps Pema with the evacuation process.
• Properly Paranoid: As much as a goofball he might be, he's very paranoid about going back to the Earth Kingdom and potentially ending up just like his great-aunt. Considering that the Earth Kingdom is filled with pillaging bandits as well as an upstart warlord attempting to build her own power base, he does have a point to be nervous. Those fears are validated in "Reunion" where he nearly ends up kidnapped by Kuvira's agents.
• Puppet King: Wu has no interest in running the Earth Kingdom on his own, nor is he even really involved in his own ascension to the throne. Kuvira is doing the legwork in uniting the Earth Kingdom so the URN can install him on the throne safely. The day-to-day decisions will be handled by a cadre of advisers sent over with him by the other world leaders, leaving the Earth Kingdom effectively under the control of the other powers. Wu has shown no concern for this, placing more emphasis on the perks of being king rather than the work. However, it's evident that Wu feels the decision was forced upon him, as he admits he wouldn't make a great king. Eventually, he decides to dissolve the monarchy and let the various Earth Kingdom states govern themselves. In the comics, he's heavily involved in all the decision making, but decided against abolishing the monarchy for the time being while focusing on ensuring that his country becomes one where his people will always have a voice.
• Rousing Speech: Gives a surprisingly impressive one in Kuvira's Gambit to help calm the citizens and convince them to evacuate.
• Royal Brat: He's not particularly mean, just self-centered and hedonistic because of his royal title. He slowly grows out of it as the season progresses.
• Shared Family Quirks: His affinity for animals shows that he inherited something from Great-Grandpa Kuei.
• Sheltered Aristocrat: Zigzagged He show little in social skills, but is a great public speaker and can be surprisingly crafty when he tries.
• Shorter Means Smarter: Shorter than Mako, but a lot more clever than Mako can comprehend.
• Small Name, Big Ego: Downplayed. Wu is very self-centered and vain and only cares about the perks of royalty rather than the actual responsibility it entails. Despite his ego, however, he does not view anyone as beneath him and is genuinely grateful to Mako and the gang for all their help. Also, he can take criticism as after Mako chews him out in "The Coronation", he freely admits that he probably wouldn't be a great king. He tones down the ego as the season progresses.
• Smarter Than You Look: As the season progresses, Wu proves to everyone that he is not as foppish and ditsy as everyone thinks.
• Straight Man and Wise Guy: He's the lazy, flirting Wise Guy to Mako's stoic, blunt Straight Man.
• Stylistic Suck: The only people that like his singing are Yin (Mako's royalty-loving grandmother) and badgermoles. But when you're leading an evacuation that's dependent on those badgermoles, that's the only audience you need.
• Take Me Instead: Invoked in "Day of the Colossus". When he and the evacuees are cornered by Kuvira's troops, he seemingly surrenders in exchange for their safety and as a final request, he asks to sing. Turns out it was all a diversion so he could direct the Badgermoles to attack the troopers from behind. Even so, it was still a risk Wu was willing to take, but he knew what he was doing.
• Those Two Guys: He later develops this dynamic with Mako and Bolin's cousin, Tu. Especially pronounced in "Remembrances".
• Took a Level in Badass: In the beginning, Wu was just a lazy, Manchild, who expected everything he wanted to come to him. By "Day of the Colossus", Prince Wu manages to get the remaining evacuees out of Republic City and protect them from Kuvira's troops by using his singing to tame the local Badgermoles and have them dig a tunnel out of the city as well as attack the troops.
• Took a Level in Kindness: While Wu wasn't a bad guy from the start, he did have a massive ego and seemed indifferent to the people of the Earth Kingdom. Come the series finale, Wu, on his own, chooses to dissolve the Earth Kingdom monarchy to let the states democratically govern themselves.
• Upper-Class Twit: A pampered member of Earth Kingdom aristocracy, and doesn't appear to be very bright. Subverted as he grows out of it as the season progresses.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: He regards Mako as a great friend, to the point of specifically requesting him as his permanent bodyguard, and is completely oblivious to Mako's irritation with him. He's grateful, in his own annoying way, about Mako's help. As the season progresses, they start to become closer friends.
• Weak, but Skilled: Zigzagged. Wu has no bending, is not a fighter, and can't last two seconds in a training match without cowering in fear. But when the chips are down, he shows he's surprisingly clever and creative and can think on his feet in a pinch.

Druk

Zuko's dragon and a descendant of Ran and Shaw.

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• Meaningful Name: Druk is named after the "Thunder Dragon," the national symbol of Bhutan.
• Our Dragons Are Different: A bit of a mix between Eastern and Western dragons. He's a winged quadruped, but with a more serpentine body and with catfish-esque vibrassae.
• Spin Off Spring: He's a descendant of Ran and Shaw.

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