13 Years Ago, ‘The Legend of Korra’ Finally Answered the Biggest Avatar Mystery

The article revisits “Beginnings”, a two-part episode of *The Legend of Korra* that explains how the Avatar first came to wield all four elements. Through Korra’s loss of memory, the story takes her back 10,000 years to Wan, whose attempt to help a spirit sets in motion a struggle that gives rise to the Avatar.

Wan lives among humans who shelter on lion turtles while spirits roam the wilds. After intervening in a fight between Raava, the spirit of light and order, and Vaatu, the spirit of darkness and chaos, he helps Vaatu gain the advantage ahead of Harmonic Convergence, a cosmic event that recurs every 10,000 years. Wan gathers the four elements and joins with Raava to face Vaatu, establishing the origins of the Avatar cycle.