Top 10 Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra Couples
Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra Couples, Avatar: The Last Airbender Couples, The Legend of Korra Couples, Avatar Couples, Korra Couples, Avatar Shipping, The Last Airbender Shipping, Avatar Relationships, The Legend of Korra Relationships, Aang & Katara, Korra & Asami, Zuko & Mai, Sokka & Suki, Avatar, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, TV, Relationships, Drama, watchmojo, watch mojo, top 10, list, mojo, MsMojo, Caitlin Johnson,
Who was your OTP? Welcome to MsMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 couples in “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra.”
For this list, we’re only looking at couples that were canon in the shows themselves, whether they lasted or not – sorry, Zutara shippers.
One-half of “The Legend of Korra’s” most intense shipping war, they may not have lasted for long, but they certainly made an impact. Much of the first two seasons revolve around the love triangle between Mako, Asami, and Korra – but despite all this teenage angst, Makorra still got their time to shine. It’s a satisfying conclusion to season one when, after Korra goes into the Avatar State for the first time, she and Mako can finally be together. And even once they break up Mako remains one of Korra’s most loyal and trustworthy allies, a vital member of Team Avatar.
As Aang’s only airbending son, Tenzin has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and for the first two seasons, it’s down to him and Pema to try and rebuild the Air Nation. By the time “Legend of Korra” begins, Pema is pregnant with their fourth child, who is destined to be another airbender just like his siblings. Tenzin and Pema met when she decided to become an Air Acolyte and learn all about the Air Nation to help preserve the culture. She may be a nonbender, but she and Tenzin share a passion not only for the Air Nation but for family.
The very first new airbender to agree to join the team was Kai, though he got off to a bad start by trying to trick them into thinking he wasn’t a no-good thief. But despite their misgivings, the group gives him a chance to live up to his potential when he says becoming an airbender has made him want to be a better person. One person who doesn’t need much convincing, however, is Jinora – they hit it off right away, and forge a connection strong enough that she’s able to locate and rescue him after he’s captured by the Dai Li. It’s even Kai who helps Jinora realize that she’s an airbending master just like her father.
The Gaang travels to the Northern Water Tribe and while Aang and Katara are busy learning waterbending techniques, Sokka falls fast and hard for the beautiful Princess Yue. But though the feeling was clearly mutual, so much so that Sokka was even assigned to be her personal bodyguard, it was doomed from the beginning. Not long after they meet, Yue has to sacrifice herself to save the Moon Spirit when it’s almost destroyed by Admiral Zhao. Sokka never forgets his first love though, and remembers her every time he sees the moon in the night sky.
It was a relief when the team headed to Zaofu and Bolin met Opal, Suyin Beifong’s only daughter, finally finding a girl who liked him for who he was, and wasn’t bad news. After numerous duds in the form of Korra, who never saw him as more than a friend; Eska, who didn’t let him talk to other girls; and Ginger, who was only with him when he got famous, Opal is a breath of fresh air. Though they go through a rough spot when Bolin is briefly allied with Kuvira, he makes the effort to redeem himself and she forgives him. Opal and Bolin are one of those pairings that you can’t help but love and we’re glad they got their happy ending.
For most of the show, it was never entirely clear why Zhu Li was so dedicated to Varrick and all his bizarre orders and requests – cleaning up after him, cooking all his meals, helping him build his inventions, and so on. Because of this, it was believable when she declared she’d had enough of him taking her for granted and went to work for Kuvira. But it turns out that this was all a ruse and she had been madly in love with Varrick all along. When he learns this, Varrick is quick to propose, and they became the only pairing lucky enough to get an on-screen wedding at the show’s conclusion.
One of Sokka’s major flaws at the beginning of “The Last Airbender” was his sexism, but eventually the capable women he met on his travels – not to mention having Katara for a sister – led him to see the error of his ways. And one of the earliest encounters was with Suki, leader of the formidable Kyoshi Warriors. Sokka sets his old attitudes aside and trains alongside Suki to become a skilled fighter. He returns the favor by freeing her from Boiling Rock and she travels with them for the remainder of the show. Sokka even makes a sculpture of her in the sand, though it’s lack of resemblance leaves much to be desired.
Zuko was introduced as the brooding prince desperate to capture the Avatar, while Mai was one of Azula’s lackeys first and foremost. But they both proved themselves to be much more nuanced characters who had been dating on and off since before Zuko left the Fire Nation. Though Mai’s loyalties are initially torn, nobody could forget the moment where she finally turns on Azula – who’s becoming increasingly violent and erratic – and makes her true feelings clear. It’s obvious that these two are cut from the same cloth, and have a bond that even the war can’t break.
These two had a stranger start than most, both dating Mako at one point or another. But eventually, feelings began to grow, to the point that Asami was the only person Korra wrote to during her three years away between seasons three and four. Though they never kiss on-screen, their relationship was confirmed by the creators on social media and is firmly established in the comics. Ship them or not, it’s impossible to understate the importance of the show’s final scene, where they walk into the Spirit Portal hand in hand. It was truly a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ representation, especially in children’s media.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
Bolin & Eska
Tonraq & Senna
Suyin & Baatar
Zaheer & P’Li
After being frozen in ice for a hundred years, Katara’s was the first face Aang saw upon waking up, and she certainly made an impact. But traveling the world so Aang could master the elements and defeat the Fire Lord didn’t leave a lot of free time, so it wasn’t until the final few seconds of “The Last Airbender” that Katara finally accepts how she feels. By the time “The Legend of Korra” rolls around, Aang and Katara have had three kids who take after each of them in different ways, and Katara remains a loving mother and renowned healer.
For this list, we’re only looking at couples that were canon in the shows themselves, whether they lasted or not – sorry, Zutara shippers.
#10: Mako & Korra
One-half of “The Legend of Korra’s” most intense shipping war, they may not have lasted for long, but they certainly made an impact. Much of the first two seasons revolve around the love triangle between Mako, Asami, and Korra – but despite all this teenage angst, Makorra still got their time to shine. It’s a satisfying conclusion to season one when, after Korra goes into the Avatar State for the first time, she and Mako can finally be together. And even once they break up Mako remains one of Korra’s most loyal and trustworthy allies, a vital member of Team Avatar.
#9: Tenzin & Pema
As Aang’s only airbending son, Tenzin has the weight of the world on his shoulders, and for the first two seasons, it’s down to him and Pema to try and rebuild the Air Nation. By the time “Legend of Korra” begins, Pema is pregnant with their fourth child, who is destined to be another airbender just like his siblings. Tenzin and Pema met when she decided to become an Air Acolyte and learn all about the Air Nation to help preserve the culture. She may be a nonbender, but she and Tenzin share a passion not only for the Air Nation but for family.
#8: Jinora & Kai
The very first new airbender to agree to join the team was Kai, though he got off to a bad start by trying to trick them into thinking he wasn’t a no-good thief. But despite their misgivings, the group gives him a chance to live up to his potential when he says becoming an airbender has made him want to be a better person. One person who doesn’t need much convincing, however, is Jinora – they hit it off right away, and forge a connection strong enough that she’s able to locate and rescue him after he’s captured by the Dai Li. It’s even Kai who helps Jinora realize that she’s an airbending master just like her father.
#7: Sokka & Yue
The Gaang travels to the Northern Water Tribe and while Aang and Katara are busy learning waterbending techniques, Sokka falls fast and hard for the beautiful Princess Yue. But though the feeling was clearly mutual, so much so that Sokka was even assigned to be her personal bodyguard, it was doomed from the beginning. Not long after they meet, Yue has to sacrifice herself to save the Moon Spirit when it’s almost destroyed by Admiral Zhao. Sokka never forgets his first love though, and remembers her every time he sees the moon in the night sky.
#6: Bolin & Opal
It was a relief when the team headed to Zaofu and Bolin met Opal, Suyin Beifong’s only daughter, finally finding a girl who liked him for who he was, and wasn’t bad news. After numerous duds in the form of Korra, who never saw him as more than a friend; Eska, who didn’t let him talk to other girls; and Ginger, who was only with him when he got famous, Opal is a breath of fresh air. Though they go through a rough spot when Bolin is briefly allied with Kuvira, he makes the effort to redeem himself and she forgives him. Opal and Bolin are one of those pairings that you can’t help but love and we’re glad they got their happy ending.
#5: Varrick & Zhu Li
For most of the show, it was never entirely clear why Zhu Li was so dedicated to Varrick and all his bizarre orders and requests – cleaning up after him, cooking all his meals, helping him build his inventions, and so on. Because of this, it was believable when she declared she’d had enough of him taking her for granted and went to work for Kuvira. But it turns out that this was all a ruse and she had been madly in love with Varrick all along. When he learns this, Varrick is quick to propose, and they became the only pairing lucky enough to get an on-screen wedding at the show’s conclusion.
#4: Sokka & Suki
One of Sokka’s major flaws at the beginning of “The Last Airbender” was his sexism, but eventually the capable women he met on his travels – not to mention having Katara for a sister – led him to see the error of his ways. And one of the earliest encounters was with Suki, leader of the formidable Kyoshi Warriors. Sokka sets his old attitudes aside and trains alongside Suki to become a skilled fighter. He returns the favor by freeing her from Boiling Rock and she travels with them for the remainder of the show. Sokka even makes a sculpture of her in the sand, though it’s lack of resemblance leaves much to be desired.
#3: Zuko & Mai
Zuko was introduced as the brooding prince desperate to capture the Avatar, while Mai was one of Azula’s lackeys first and foremost. But they both proved themselves to be much more nuanced characters who had been dating on and off since before Zuko left the Fire Nation. Though Mai’s loyalties are initially torn, nobody could forget the moment where she finally turns on Azula – who’s becoming increasingly violent and erratic – and makes her true feelings clear. It’s obvious that these two are cut from the same cloth, and have a bond that even the war can’t break.
#2: Korra & Asami
These two had a stranger start than most, both dating Mako at one point or another. But eventually, feelings began to grow, to the point that Asami was the only person Korra wrote to during her three years away between seasons three and four. Though they never kiss on-screen, their relationship was confirmed by the creators on social media and is firmly established in the comics. Ship them or not, it’s impossible to understate the importance of the show’s final scene, where they walk into the Spirit Portal hand in hand. It was truly a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ representation, especially in children’s media.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
Bolin & Eska
Tonraq & Senna
Suyin & Baatar
Zaheer & P’Li
#1: Aang & Katara
After being frozen in ice for a hundred years, Katara’s was the first face Aang saw upon waking up, and she certainly made an impact. But traveling the world so Aang could master the elements and defeat the Fire Lord didn’t leave a lot of free time, so it wasn’t until the final few seconds of “The Last Airbender” that Katara finally accepts how she feels. By the time “The Legend of Korra” rolls around, Aang and Katara have had three kids who take after each of them in different ways, and Katara remains a loving mother and renowned healer.
Have an idea you want to see made into a WatchMojo video? Check out our suggest page and submit your idea.
Step up your quiz game by answering fun trivia questions! Love games with friends? Challenge friends and family in our leaderboard! Play Now!