10 Shocking Corrupt Characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender

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In animated series designed for children such as “ ” and “The Legend of Korra“, there are significant characters who clearly exhibit corruption. Regardless of the specific rules within these fictional worlds, some individuals willingly disregard them in pursuit of personal advantage, thereby becoming corrupt. Although these corrupt characters often face repercussions for their actions, they seem to disregard moral principles and values that most other characters adhere to during such moments, making it easy for them to act without regard to the consequences.

Characters similar to Avatars Aang and Korra, such as themselves, are often lured by immense global power, yet they steadfastly resist corruption for the sake of power. Frequently, these characters encounter and battle individuals who have twisted the rules to serve their selfish interests. In some instances, our heroes have even joined forces with the corrupt, either due to ignorance or lack of alternatives. Some of the most corrupt characters in the Avatar series have made an indelible impact on fans that may linger for a long time – if not forgotten, then certainly not forgiven.

Debut Episode: “Jet”

Jet served as an early illustration of how the brutalities of war could transform even the most dedicated freedom fighters, like himself initially. His aim was to resist the Fire Nation’s occupation troops and safeguard his Earth Kingdom compatriots. However, as Jet grew more extreme and deceitful, he attracted fellow freedom fighters to his cause. Eventually, his dark character alienated them all.

The immorality of Jet was clearly exposed when he sought to annihilate an entire town, inhabited by blameless individuals, solely to eliminate Fire Nation soldiers residing there. Neither Katara nor Aang could prevent him from carrying out this heinous act. Instead, it was Sokka who stepped up to save the day, leading to a joyful conclusion for all except Jet. Following this incident, Jet found himself almost isolated within Ba Sing Se, eventually falling under the control of the Dai Li and being brainwashed before his demise. This unfortunate sequence of events denied him an opportunity for true redemption from his corrupt ways.

Debut Episode: “The Spirit of Competition”

In Republic City, most pro-benders upheld the integrity of the game and adhered to good sportsmanship during matches. However, the Wolf-Bats team exhibited a distinctly different behavior. While they may have played honestly in other games, when they encountered the Fire Ferrets, their adherence to rules and honor seemed to evaporate. This was evident when Tahno, along with his teammates, chose to break the rules in an attempt to secure victory, with the referee looking the other way throughout the ordeal. In this instance, Tahno’s true corrupt nature surfaced.

Tahno reveled in deceit during the match against Team Korra, sacrificing fair play for an unfair advantage. Many spectators might argue that such behavior warranted the loss of his waterbending abilities at Amon’s hands, pushing him towards a new path, devoid of unethical sportsmanship.

Debut Episode: “Rebel Spirit”

Initially, Uncle Unalaq appeared as a sagacious and spiritually enlightened ruler within the Water Tribe, promising to restore their spiritual harmony. However, this facade concealed his malicious intentions – he aimed to bring about an era of darkness using Vaatu’s power. By exploiting both his position and Korra’s trust, Unalaq sought to implement his sinister plan. Remarkably, the world narrowly escaped destruction during these events.

Unalaq was irredeemably warped in his convictions, considering it necessary for an extended period of turmoil and shadow to counteract Raava’s epoch of tranquility and illumination. Moreover, Unalaq displayed indifference towards the people in his vicinity, even when his son Desna suffered injuries during a venture into the spirit realm. In the end, Unalaq’s malevolent character manipulated events to ensure that Tonraq faltered as Chief in the North, thereby paving the way for Unalaq’s own ascension to the position.

Debut Episode: “The Voice in the Night”

In the captivating world of “The Legend of Korra,” I found myself squarely at odds with none other than Tarrlok in Book One: Air. While Amon was a fanatical opposer of bending, his brother, Tarrlok, was a cunning politician, manipulating his position on the council to eventually seize control of the entire city. His scheming ways were inherited from his criminal father, Yakone, who had previously attempted a similar power grab from the streets upwards.

Tarrlok surpassed the corruption level of his father, Yakone, by disguising himself as a benevolent ruler while secretly acting like a crime lord. This deception grew worse when he misused his power to accuse entire groups of non-benders in Republic City, fueling tensions and causing conflicts with Team Avatar. The climax came when Tarrlok captured Korra using bloodbending.

Debut Episode: “City of Walls and Secrets”

In the fortified city of Ba Sing Se, it was evident that despite its impregnable defenses shielding it from Fire Nation attacks, the city remained vulnerable due to Long Feng’s pervasive corruption. As Earth King Kuei’s minister, Long Feng wielded influence far beyond his official position, making the monarch little more than a symbolic figurehead. To maintain order and suppress opposition, Long Feng commanded the Dai Li agents, who would swiftly eliminate any dissenters or troublemakers.

Long Feng exploited his immense power to manipulate Kuei into becoming his pawn, effectively taking control over Ba Sing Se as a puppet ruler. This form of corrupt rule ridiculed the ancient royal dynasty and left Kuei incapable of assisting the Gaang initially. However, luckily for the Gaang, they uncovered Long Feng’s deceitful plans. In an unfortunate twist, Long Feng tried to deceive Azula but ultimately failed in his attempt. After this incident, not much is known about Long Feng’s later life, but it seems he faced consequences for his corrupt actions, at the very least.

Debut Episode: “The Southern Air Temple”

In simpler terms, Admiral Zhao was known for his ambition, aggression, and self-centeredness, which were typical qualities among Fire Nation military leaders. His desire to capture the Avatar, driven by the pursuit of personal glory and the need to eliminate a significant threat to the Fire Nation, wasn’t what made him corrupt. Instead, it was his inclination towards killing a spirit that set him apart as morally questionable.

Regardless of whether attacking the Northern Water Tribe was an unjust act, it was a tactic commonly used by commanders in similar situations, such as Zhao. However, Zhao revealed his corrupt nature when he went beyond the invasion and aimed to eliminate the Moon Spirit, symbolizing the complete annihilation of the Water Tribe. Such an act was only considered by utterly corrupt and foolish officers; it was shocking that anyone would even contemplate it, let alone carry it out, causing immense dismay in Yue.

Debut Episode: “Rebel Spirit”

Varrick broadened the concept of corruption, making it applicable in the corporate realm, much like Hiroshi Sato did. Instead of viewing the Water Tribe conflict as a sorrowful event, he saw it as a lucrative business opportunity. By fueling the flames of war, he ensured that both sides would require weapons and vehicles from him, which is why the Water Tribe cultural center suffered an attack.

In a more daring move, Varrick took things a step further, dispatching his agents to abduct President Raiko, an act that was halted by Bolin and Lin Beifong. This behavior solidified Varrick’s reputation as corrupt, yet he managed to evade the consequences, slipping away from his wrecked prison cell during Korra’s battle against Vaatu’s colossal form. On the run, Varrick sought refuge in Zaofu and later joined the Earth Empire, where Kuvira’s own corruption led him to reconsider his actions. In a surprising turn of events, Varrick found redemption by aiding Team Avatar in bringing down Kuvira, using his engineering abilities for a noble purpose at last.

Debut Episode: “The Metal Clan”

Following Queen Hou-Ting’s assassination and the brink-of-collapse of Earth Kingdom, Kuvira took charge with Suyin Beifong remaining in Zaofu. Portraying herself as a savior and “great uniter,” Kuvira made significant improvements in the troubled kingdom, yet exploited the circumstances at hand. Over time, she amassed considerable political power during emergencies, and when it was due to be released, Kuvira resolutely refused.

In a surprising blend of awe and disapproval, Kuvira declared the establishment of the Earth Empire, replacing the Kingdom, with herself as its ruler. This bold move was something Korra and Suyin could never condone, yet found it challenging to take action against it. However, things took a turn for the worse when Kuvira transformed from a powerful leader into a merciless despot, expelling foreign benders from her empire and misusing spirit vines to manufacture weapons of fear.

Debut Episode: “The Awakening”

In simpler terms, numerous individuals were ruthless, aggressive, and even dishonest during that period. Among other flaws, Prince Ozai was a master manipulator who wasn’t above adopting unscrupulous methods to achieve his goals. As far as Ozai was concerned, the royal family was in disarray, with Iroh not yet prepared to take over from Fire Lord Azulon and the latter insisting on Zuko’s death. Initially, Ozai planned to carry out this order, but he later devised a more questionable scheme instead.

Ozai consented to his wife, Ursa’s scheme to make Azulon’s death appear natural, thereby allowing Ozai to ascend the Fire Nation throne. Although it was Ursa who came up with this plan, she did so out of concern for her son’s welfare, fearing a tragic end. On the other hand, Ozai supported the plot for more self-serving purposes, as he sought power by committing both regicide (the murder of a king) and patricide (the murder of a father), positions that were not rightfully his to claim.

Debut Episode: “The Earth Queen”

Although Earth King Kuei may have been criticized for being manipulated by Long Feng, he had good intentions for his people and was generally well-meaning. Contrarily, his daughter and successor Hou-Ting, who sought to rectify what she saw as flaws in her father’s rule, did not govern the Earth Kingdom benevolently. Instead, she used her power for personal gain rather than the betterment of her people.

Hou-Ting amassed tax revenues chiefly to sustain her opulent lifestyle in the Luxurious Circle of Ba Sing Se. Enamored by the luxuries of royalty, such as extravagant gardens and precious gems, she paid scant attention to the multitude of people under her rule. To add insult to injury, she exploited the Dai Li to apprehend new Airbenders and compel them into combat for her own gain, a cruel act that Kuei would never have countenanced. It remains questionable whether Hou-Ting deserved to perish, but it is unquestionably true that she warranted removal from her throne due to her abhorrent actions.

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2025-04-20 05:26