Beginnings Part One
Korra seeks the origins of the Avatar through the eyes of Wan to heal a fractured memory.
"Beginnings, Part One" serves as the seventh episode of the second season and the 19th entry overall in The Legend of Korra. It aired on October 18, 2013, on Nickelodeon in the United States. Directed by Colin Heck with a script by series co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino, this installment introduces Wan, voiced by Steven Yeun, and chronicles his journey to becoming the first Avatar. The narrative begins in the present day where Korra, having lost her memory after an incident on a Fire Nation island, is discovered by Fire Sages. To restore her memories and purge dark energy, the sages place her in sacred water. There, she encounters her past incarnations who instruct her to find Raava and learn the story of the first Avatar to remember her true identity.
- Subject
- Wan
- Era
- 10,000 Years Ago (Flashback)
- Location
- Lion Turtle City / Wilds
- Key Conflict
- Poverty, Banishment, and the Release of Vaatu
- Status
- Banished Human / Firebender
- Mentor
- Raava
Lore & Background
Ten thousand years ago, humans survived by living on the shells of lion turtles, which protected them from dangerous spirits. These creatures granted limited bending abilities to those venturing into the wilds. In one city, Wan and his friends lived in poverty while the Chu family hoarded food without aiding the needy. When citizens requested firebending powers to hunt for food, Wan tricked the lion turtle by feigning fear of spirits; he returned to the city keeping his bending abilities instead of surrendering them as required. He convinced others to steal from the Chu family but failed when he chose to spare a member's life. Consequently, Wan was banished into the wilds, permitted to keep his firebending. He spent two years befriending spirits before attempting to travel between cities.
In Their Own Story
During his journey through the wilds, Wan encountered two spirits locked in combat. One spirit claimed he had been tortured for ten thousand years and begged for help escaping. Wan freed him, only for the other spirit to reveal it was a grave mistake. The rescued entity identified herself as Raava, the spirit of light, while the one Wan freed was Vaatu, the spirit of darkness and war. This encounter set in motion the events leading toward Harmonic Convergence, where these two spirits would fight for the fate of the world. Wan realized he needed to master all four elements to stand against Vaatu, prompting a year-long struggle amidst global chaos as he sought guidance from Raava.
Reader's Guide
This episode establishes the foundational mythos of the Avatar cycle. Viewers witness Wan's transition from a banished thief to a reluctant hero living among spirits. Key turning points include his deception regarding firebending powers, his banishment by his own people, and his accidental release of Vaatu. The narrative structure alternates between Korra's amnesiac state in the present and Wan's ancient past, using the sacred water ritual as a bridge between timelines. Specific details note that Wan lived with spirits for two years before meeting Raava and Vaatu, highlighting the long-term consequences of his actions on the spiritual balance.
Did You Know?
- "Beginnings" consists of two parts that aired together on October 18, 2013.
- Wan is the first Avatar and was voiced by actor Steven Yeun.
- The episode features a lion turtle granting firebending powers for a limited time to humans venturing into the wilds.
- Wan tricked his city's lion turtle to keep his firebending after pretending to be afraid of spirits.
- Raava is revealed as the spirit of light, while Vaatu is the spirit of darkness and war.
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