Weeks after The Legend of Korra ended with the introduction of a bisexual relationship between two of its female characters, fans are rallying to ask Netflix for more from the Avatar universe.
The sequel to the successful and critically acclaimed series Avatar: The Last Airbender, Korra gained a cult following and became controversial not for its plot points, but rather how its own network, Nickelodeon, handled it. Despite the jump to online and then back to traditional television, the show managed to finish on its own terms—and to rave reviews.
But fans want more. Avatar Korra’s only really begun her tenure as Avatar with a series of triumphs, and she’s the first in a new line of Avatars. The possibilities are endless. Perhaps wary of how Nickelodeon would handle a new series, fans looking elsewhere for help. After all, Netflix has brought shows from the brink of cancellation and pumped new life into them, like Arrested Development.
A U.K. fan started a Change.org petition on Dec. 28 asking for Netflix to create a new show in the Avatar universe. Which one? It doesn’t really matter. They just want Netflix to—as Varrick puts it—“do the thing.”
The Legend of Korra saw success as an online-exclusive show after it was pulled from Nickelodeon’s regular TV broadcasting, and with Netflix’s branding the franchise could be taken to new hights. Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino would ideally be returning as head producers, as well as all those involved with the creation of both Avatar series. Where the story would progress is up to them; perhaps a continuation of Aang’s story? (The Last Airbender). Perhaps a story about another Avatar, such as Roku? The possibilities are endless, and it’s practically guaranteed that the show would be successful on Netflix; the one place that can do the franchise justice.
Since then, more than 10,000 people have signed on (more than 6,000 since Jan. 1), with participants going into detail about how the two shows have changed their lives.
Of course, changing hands from Nickelodeon to Netflix will be more difficult than signing an online petition. Nickelodeon still holds the rights to both series, and though the shows are done, there are a number of graphic novel trilogy series bridging Avatar and Korra from Gene Yang with input from creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino.
The even bigger question is whether Konietzko and DiMartino would want to do another series if Netflix were interested in picking it up. They’ve worked on the series for 12 years and might want to move on, at least for the time being.
“[I]t’s been a very significant portion of my career now,” DiMartino told the Mary Sue in October. “Our careers. But I’m ready to move on, try some new things.”
The Avatar State might not even be able to change that.
Screengrab via Nickelodeon/YouTube