Avatar: The Last Airbender was a fantastic show, but it lacked true villains except Azula and Ozai. We only got to see Aang and Ozai in a one-on-one battle. And he never battled Azula in a proper match. But The Legend of Korra was full of villains that could easily give the Avatar a run for her money. And The Legend of Korra Season 3 Episode 13 is one of those episodes where Korra faces a mighty foe. Season 3 of The Legend of Korra featured the Red Lotus as the primary antagonists, with episode 13 featuring the most awaited fight of the season.
This fight featured Avatar Korra taking on Zaheer. And Zaheer nearly had the upper hand throughout the war and was even successful in his mission to poison Korra. And in this article, we will look at how these events unfolded and how Korra survived this deadly attack on her life.
Background
Red Lotus is the opposite of the order of the White Lotus. Where White Lotus strived to restore balance to the world. Red Lotus existed for the opposite. It is a group of anarchists who only wanted to spread anarchy across the globe. What better way to spread anarchy than to kill the Avatar. Throughout the season, we see the development of the primary antagonist Zaheer. Zaheer formed the Red Lotus because he considered the decision of Avatar Wan to separate Vaatu and Raava. And believed that this action disrupted the balance of the world.
Initial Appearance of The Red Lotus
Zaheer and his fellow Red Lotus member Unalaq devised a plan to kidnap Korra, who was just a child. They wanted to use her to open the Spirit World and free Vaatu. Although Unalaq pulled out at the last minute, Zaheer, Ghazan, P’li, and Ming-Hua followed the plan. Their plan was discovered and foiled by Tenzin, Zuko, and Sokka, who then imprisoned them in prisons specially made for them.
Appearance in Season 3
In the third season of The Legend Of Korra, many people developed the ability to Airbend after the harmonic convergence. And Zaheer was one of them. He was a Master in Martial Arts and was fascinated with Airbending and used to study Guru Laghima even when he was not even a member of The Red Lotus. So when he developed the ability to Airbend, he was able to master this ability with very little training. After which, he escaped from his prison cell as it was only designed to imprison a non-bender.
After breaking out of his prison cell, he also freed the other captured members of the Red Lotus. And convinced them that his Airbending ability is a gift so that he can continue the mission of the Red Lotus.
Chasing After The Avatar
Zaheer shaved his hair and went to Air Temple Island to ask for help as he is a young Airbender in need of guidance. And he earned praise from Meelo as he passed through the Air Gates like a leaf. He started inquiring about Korra and discovered that she had split from Tenzin, which he termed unfortunate. At that night, he went into Tenzin’s study and picked a locket with the poem of Guru Laghima. After which, Kya confronted him, and he barely escaped from the island with the help of other Red Lotus members.
After this, the whole season develops into how Zaheer and other members of Red Lotus try and catch Korra. They also kill the Earth Queen to spread anarchy throughout the Earth Kingdon. They take several measures to capture her. These measures include charging Tenzin’s family to blackmailing Korra. Zaheer is also shown to develop the ability to fly using his Airbending and became only the second person after Guru Laghima. Tenzin even expressed that he thought that this was not possible.
The Legend of Korra Season 3 Episode 13
Korra surrenders to Zaheer to protect the benders in the second last episode. After which, a battle ensues between the Team Avatar and Red Lotus after they try to double-cross Korra. But after the war, Zaheer unlocks the ability to fly and is successful in capturing the Avatar.
The Legend of Korra Season 3 Episode 13 starts with Zaheer and the rest of the Red Lotus members torturing a chained-up Korra to the point that they poison her with mercury so that she changes into an Avatar state and dies due to the poisoning. Thus breaking the Avatar cycle.
But to their surprise, even after being poisoned, an angry Avatar state Korra overpowers all of them. And Team Avatar rescues the Airbenders and starts fighting with other members of Red Lotus. Meanwhile, Korra goes after Zaheer, and they fight until the injected poison further weakens her, and she falls. Zaheer notices that all his companions have been neutralized and killed. And he tries to fly away after looking at Korra’s condition. But is pulled back by a vortex created by Jinora and other Airbenders.
Inside the vortex, a weakened Korra pulls Zaheer down using the chain she was tied with and passes out. Zaheer is captured but states that it is too late as the poison has already done its job. Jinora shouts that there is still hope as the poison is metallic. And Suyin Metalbends the poison out of Korra. The episode ends Two weeks later, in Republic City, a weakened, wheelchair-bound Korra watches as Tenzin anoints Jinora as an Airbending master and announcing that the Air Nomads will adopt the traditional nomadic life to provide service to the world, following Korra’s example.
Conclusion
The Legend of Korra Season 3 Episode 13 is one of the most popular episodes of the series. If you liked this article, visit our website to read other interesting articles on the Avatar universe.