How Do Avatar Ghosts Work? [Avatar: The Last Airbender Theory] 

What age would you preserve yourself at if you were the avatar... and had ya know... died?

I was really hoping Korra absorbing all that spirit energy in the finale would unlock her connection to her past lives. The moment she definitively proved she didn't need them any more would be the moment she "earned" the reconnection.

Old Roku is probably my favorite design for his character. Also Roku defines himself by his failure to stop the war. I imagine he chooses to look that way because he thinks it's a time in his life that defined his tenure.

a theory i love is that the next avatar would fix the avatar state as korras break with it is her greatest downfall and as we know our last avatars greatest regrets are the next in the generations motivations

You know, coming back as a super wise little kid would be pretty hilarious. Imagine hearing about a super wise past Avatar that lived for a long time and was very powerful, and then summoning their imprint to talk to them and they look ten.

There's a theory that, in the spirit world, each Avatar appears to look how they did at the defining point in their life. Kuruk looks like he did when he challenged the spirits. Kyoshi is harder to tell because of her makeup. Roku looks like an old man because he accepted his fate at that moment and knew how badly he had stuffed up and that he couldn't fix it. Aang looks like how he did when Tenzin was born, because he had achieved something that he had not thought possible - finally, he wasn't the last airbender

I bet Korra appears to the next avatar in her little kid form. Kid Korra: "You got a problem with that?"

Theorists: How can kyoshi comeback?? Kyoshi: I could care less about the rules, fight me

“And Aang is the reason your into the show at all.” Who told you that, And how did you know?

would'nt it be cool if they launched a new series that just follows some random former avatar

Here’s my take on this: The Aang that Korra saw was the actual Aang. That’s why he appears younger and in his prime. The Aang that Tenzin saw his own subconsciousness speaking to him, telling him he shouldn’t be a reflection of his father. This is also the reason why Aang is shown as much, much older because Tenzin would have known Aang at this part of his life. In short, it’s Aang spirit speaking to Korra, and not Aang’s spirit that spoke to Tenzin.

You know, this could make a pretty nice plot for the next Avatar series; the new Avatar trying to find the spirits of past Avatars in temples or even in the spirit world, trying to reestablish a connection with them.

How about: when Avatar Roku takes over Aang's body to speak to Jeong Jeong in the episode "The Deserter"? I don't think that was a special day/anniversary.

Has anyone else noticed just how connected Aang and Korra are? And not just as present and previous Avatar. Who are Korra’s two main trainers? Aang’s wife and son. Who teaches Korra metal bending and heals Korra? One of Aang’s best friends, and her daughter is very significant in Korra’s life. And one of Korra’s best friends dates her granddaughter. Korra is connected to pretty much everyone who was important to Aang. And Korra lives with Aang’s family.

The age the Avatar comes back is the most significant event that happens during their life. Roku is old, because that's how old he was when he did nothing to prevent the 100 year war. Kyoshi is still young, as she created the Dai Li, what she considers her biggest mistake. Aang is the age he was, when he continued the Air Nation, when his son Tenzin was born, and he was no longer the last airbender. Kuruk is the age he was when he lost his betrothed to Koh. Obviously Wan is the same age as when he became the very first Avatar. It's actually quite amazing to think about. Also I always thought Aang was referring to when he discovered his entire culture was destroyed, and he enters the Avatar State. Wouldn't that be his first lowest point, similarly to hoe Korra loses her bending and hits her lowest point at that time. They both have lowest points after that, but it's their first lowest point that opens the connection between them and the previous Avatars.

My favorite Avatar is the second one, the one after Wan. Not that we have any info on them, but just the tough legacy of Wan must have been so dificult and remember - this one airbending kid had just Raava and Wan to guide them through a world which has not yet fallen out of a war (as we see Wn dying on a battlefield). If this Avatar overcame all of these tough circumstances and ensured, that the Avatar cycle will continue, they deserve my respect. And yes, we totally need the story of the second Avatar!

Something I haven't think about before, all air nomads are very spiritual, after the genocide the spirit world should be full of them, even before the genocide the spirit world should be full of them.

New Avatar after Korra: Wait. You're not the only Avatar. Where's the others? Korra: "Gone. Reduced to atoms."

Me: “Don’t give me hope” SCB: “I wish I could’ve brought it sooner”

J: One of the coolest aspects of the Avatar is their ability to communicate with their past lives Korra: Tugs on Collar nervously....

My theory is that the Avatar has a 1TB SSD integrated in it's head, you just connect the usb and install the multi-bender app

I was going to say it's a spiritual journey thing. He wasn't far on the path and thus had to go to specific place/time to connect. Then as he traveled farther down the path, he was less restricted because he himself had grown spiritually.

The shirt makes a comeback!

I like to think that whenever the next Avatar comes along, Korra is like a spirit friend to them and Korra is the middle woman between the current avatar and all previous avatars

They talk a lot about the different forms of contacting past avatars in the second kyoshi novel. You should read them

These are legendary ghosts, there's no way I'm calling the Ghostbusters for them

For some reason, throughout this entire video, I kept wanting to call the Avatar ghosts 'Force ghosts'

So I watched Monster Inc. recently and I noticed that it is never explained how Mike gets back from banishment. He just sorta shows up while Randall is fighting Sully. Just an observation.

There was an official Legend of Korra novel that is actually taking place many years after the events of the show, this novel was written by Korra herself to help the Earth Bending Avatar that came after she passed away. If you ask me, I think that Netflix should make a tv series about this new Avatar, and perhaps he can find a way to bring back the Avatar cycle.

The genius of the 3rd book was that accessing the collective wisdom of the spirits of the avatars didn't resolve Aang's problems. It instead provided an externalized representation of the character's internal struggle "How do I stop him with out killing the father of one of my friends?"

So glad you guys are making theories over avatar after watching it like a year ago such a good show!

Yay, something I've wondered for years, I saw on my feed "18 seconds ago" :D Edit: No, no Avatar can go back to past lives through Raava. Apparently for some reason, the new Avatar cycle doesn't allow Avatars to revisit past lives EVER, so every Avatar after Korra is (like Korra and Wan) on their own . . .

7:58 So Kyoshi and RoKu can possess/fuse with Aang just like Aang fused with the Ocean Spirit?

Hey! You guys should definitely make a video explaining if Aang and Katara were actual bad parents or why Bumi, Kaia, and Tenzin turned out like they did. Always teasing Tenzin and saying that Aang never took them to trips. I would love to her it. I’ve been wondering this myself.

I love that you guys answer questions I haven't even thought of! :D

I'd like to argue that the lion turtle seems to exist in between realms also. Him and the lion turtle vanish, hence why the scent seeker of June's cant find him at all like hes entirely gone.

Love this theory. The avatars korra and onward can still connect to the spirits of the human avatars, not to rava. Which makes sense, since Wan fused his pre-existant spirit with rava. Each avatar still has their own spirit, accept rava had a part of all of them.

10:39 When Wan FINALLY dies Me: YOU WANTED HIM DEAD, HOW COULD YOU J!?

They actually made a comic about what happened after the series ended that show the struggles of korra and asami's relationship as well as the return of zhu li and there was also a journal written by "korra" after tenzin told her that the next avatar wont have access to her and so on so forth she wrote down all her adventures and advice for the next avatar and advised them to do the same for the next one

More avatar content? Adding this as more on top of everything else you guys cover is why this is my favorite channel!

shows that I think SCB should watch and do theories on: Steven Universe The Dragon Prince She-Ra and the Princesses of Power they are all cartoons and all amazing

But what about in "the Deserter" where Roku bullied Jeong Jeong into training Aang ? I always thought that Jeong Jeong was very spiritual and Roku simply presented himself to him rather than Roku possessing Aang in this moment.

My favorite past Avatar is actually Roku! He is so wise and gets such a bad rep for "allowing the war to happen" by not taking out Sozin when he had so many opportunities.

I really like this theory. You guys did such a good job at explaining it.

I was with you up until the end where you mentioned the next avatars after korra can go back to meet with her --- in Korra's "Avatar Chronicles" book (canon) she writes a book for the future avatars to explain the events of wan and the past avatars. She explains why they won't be able to connect to any of the previous avatars and apologizes for this. ^ This means that the connection was severed entirely going forward, because if they (the avatars after her/korra) could speak to their past lives (including her/korra), then there would be no reason for the book in the first place lol

i don’t think aang is bending when he brings Korra’s bending back: he’s energy bending technically i think.

This was honestly the only question that I had once I finished Korra for the first time a few months ago, and I'm very glad that y'all answered it! I've been a fan of the channel for many years and I'm really glad you guys are now doing Avatar theories in light of the fandom's recent resurgence in popularity!

So apparently there was a book that came out that is essentially a guide for future Avatars. Korra and others write down any prevalent information they think future Avatars would need. She seems pretty convinced that they will never be able to communicate with past Avatars, herself included.

The way I see method two is that instead of an imprint of past avatars, Raava carries a sort of special hotline where the spirit can be contacted through Raava. In Korra, the hotline was destroyed.

12:16 Zhu Li do the thing

I eagerly wait the avatar videos every week I love them

Wait, Yue was pretty ghost like, and she was only dead for like a minute.

Kyoshi can show up any time, any place. No one tells Kyoshi what to do.

I'd come back in my prime. And Kyoshi is hands-down my favorite.

Also I love your guy’s videos so much!

"I wish someone would show up in the sky and give me a little pep talk"- LOL same J, same!!

Day 3 of asking the Supercarlin Brothers to check out and do theories on the Dragon Prince. Fingers crossed🤞

I now have a really good theory about the next avatar after Korra! It’s well known that every avatar fixes the previous avatar’s greatest ‘failure’ - like Aang stopping the Fire Nation and Korra bringing back the Air Nation - so I think that the next avatar will have to venture to the spirit world to regain their connections to their past lives, much like how Aang did in that one video game. I think, storytelling-wise, this is a PERFECT way to justify fleshing out the previous avatar’s backstories, while keeping everything in line with the canon of the avatar universe, AND giving the fans exactly what they want. The more I think about it, the more I really think this is what they’ll be doing with the next avatar. If this isn’t the case.... well nevermind.

ghost + halloween = perfect vid!! Bonus points for Avatar content!

Oh my gosh! This is AMAZING!!!! Thank you for this! You reignited my hope that the ability to speak to past avatars isn't lost! Thank you thank you thank you!

I've heard that on the comics they tell us that the ability to connect with past lives (the second method mentioned in the video) was so damaged that even future avatars will not be able to connect with their past lives such as Korra :/

I legit just checked my subscriptions and saw the video being released 5 seconds ago.

I really like this explanation! It makes sense and provides a lot of hope for Korra and the future Avatars. I feel like people are too harsh on Korra by blaming her for losing the connection to the past lives. I think it was actually supposed to happen, like the Avatar Cycle ‘resetting’ itself. Just as harmonic convergence is inevitable, Vaatu was going to have his rematch with the Avatar/Raava. And this is not just any fight. She was fighting the literal embodiment of DARKNESS, CHAOS, AND EVIL. She couldn’t just blast him out a window like she did with Amon for everything to be resolved. So, I don’t blame her for struggling to beat him, and losing a lot along the way. But, this is the first time since Wan (who didn’t have any Avatars before him) that an Avatar has battled Vaatu. So, no one really knew what was supposed to happen anyway. I know the Avatar Cycle refers to the Avatar being reincarnated over and over again, but maybe the 10,000 year period is some form of Greater Avatar Cycle, resetting itself like each new Avatar being reborn. Since each harmonic convergence determines the fate of the world for the next 10,000 years, in a sense it the world’s rebirth. However, just as neither light nor darkness can be destroyed, the next line of Avatars will grow to become just as developed as the previous one, until they face Vaatu again. I do feel bad for Korra though. She wasn’t prepared for that (since nobody knew), and lost such a big part of herself. It’s also sad to think that the rest of the Avatars are gone forever, which is why I like your theory! I hope Korra finds a way to connect with them again, and maybe a bit more easily since the spirit portals are now open (maybe that happened for a reason too, so Korra can pass down this method of connecting with them to the next Avatars). Like that, they can continue to pass their wisdom down, even if their imprint is no longer present in Raava.

I have never found your outro quite this funny! You’ve just been talking about the avatar being able to talk to their past selves and then you tell Ben you’ll ‘see him in another life’?

I think you're forgetting about the game "Escape from the Spirit World". After Aang got hit with Azula's lightning, his connection to his past lives was damaged. Aang had to travel to each of those spirits within the Spirit World to reconnect. I'm certain Korra could do the same and restore her connection to all the past Avatars.

I actually also asked for this in the Katara video, I'm so happy you guys figured it out, its unfortunate to say but it was bothering me quite a bit. 😅😆

Great video, i actully thought of this exact theory myself.

12:16 J: do the thing Zhu Li intensifies

Is there a way I could make fanart for you? I would upload it on my channel :)

Woah I’m early. Where’s the early squad

I'd love if the next avatar was trying to meditate in hope to maybe one day reconnecting with all their past lives, and they hear "You know there's an easier way" and they open their eyes to see a slightly see through wise old man in green robes drinking tea who the avatar somehow just knows to trust. The avatar goes "Are you one of my past lives!?" to which the spirit shakes his head "No I'm more of an old friend, but I can show you how to reconnect to them" and thus Iroh helps heals the avatar

love the avatar content keep it coming

Avatar: The Last Hope! (StarWars FTW)

I still don’t understand why people got air bending. Like did people just gain air bending if so why air? Or was it all 4 elements and we just didn’t see when people randomly got earth bending.

Avatar theories are the best tbh keep it up guys!Also, I wish we knew more about the older Avatars. So much story potential

Having to find past avatar spirits and reconnect with them sounds like a series waiting to happen. Would need Archeology, Spirit world travel, History and lore... Sounds like a good future Avatar story... Collect all 151 -pokemon- Avatars!

I’m actually early but I haven’t watched ATLA so I’m not going to watch the theory yet.... 😢

WAIT!!! If souls that enter spirit world disappear after some unspecified time... and the only method to contact Avatars of the past is to find them there... Does that mean that future avatars will have access to only a few(dozens?) incarnations of Avatars?!

great video. regarding the why is Roku the only one not portrayed at his prime question, maybe every avatar is portrayed at the age of his most significant act, Roku fighting that volcano was huge and he was at the same age as he is as a spirit when he did that.

Bros I love you guys because you always tell me stuff I didn’t know I WANTED to know lol THANKS

Future Avatar: "Avatar Korra please give me your wisdom. I don't know how to handle this diplomatic situation!" Korra: "Have you tried beating them up?" Future Avatar: "What!? NO!" Korra: "How about making out with someone while the world ends?" Future Avatar: "How would that help?" Korra: "It would make you feel good" Future Avatar: "....... Can I speak to another Avatar, plz?" Korra: "Nah kiddo, there's only me here" Future Avatar: "Sooooo the balance is screwed." Korra: "Pretty much, but you can count on me to beat up the baddies"

Me:wants to watch Also me: can’t cause I need to finish watching chapter 3 episode 2 for the 6th thousand time

Great video guys :)

do an video on iroh’ journey to the spirit world! i always wondered about that when it was mentioned and when he could see aang and roku’s dragon while they were in the spirit world

I think the avatars manifest as their persona during their personally most important moment in life - whether it be a victory or failure in their eyes, still significant.

I am the only legitimate Avatar

This was actually covered in the book "Shadow of Kyoshi", and you are mostly correct, except there are three methods, with the old Avatars possessing the current Avatar being separate from the other two

This kind of reminds me of Izuku Midoriya in My Hero Academia. The essences of the previous wielders of One For All / previous Avatars are imbued in the current person but it isn’t necessarily the actual person’s souls. This is a great video!

“Only able to go back to Korra” what a nightmare

Hellooo ! i am a pineapple !

The fact that they could explain the rushed finish for Korra bc Nickelodeon didnt promise them they wouldnt be canceled (aang restoring korra's bending) is like... wow

0:02 “One of the coolest aspects of the avatar is how they are able to communicate with their past lives” Korra: am I a joke to you?

"One of the coolest aspects of the Avatar is how they can communicate with their past lives." *Korra writers:* past lives? LOL byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye GOD this is why Season 2 of Korra SUCKS. And also why Korra has....SHOTTY writing. To say the least. It raises a lot of questions about how the Avatar State will work now-Roku himself said the glow was a representation of the WISDOM AND STRENGTH of ALL past lives flowing through the Avatar's body....So with Korra being alone what....what's the point of the glow now? Just cool effects? Thanks I hate it. Also favorite past Avatar EASILY Aang. Love that man to BITS.

You talk like Korra is Canon. Lol. But she's just some pile of avatar fanfic. At least most of the time. Not all of the time, sure, but most of the time.

Wouldn't it be nice if Korra ended up creating a library with as much knowledge about the past avatars as she could find to help the next avatar.

Have you read the Kyoshi books? They explain all the ways an avatar can connect to past lives and the restrictions around it.

Great video 👍🏽👍🏽

Depends on when I died and if I was known for my wisdom or something else. If I lived to be an old man and was known for my wisdom I'd come back as old man Roku if I lived long but had some epic quest I did in my life I'd come back in that time.

i think finding the past avatars would be an amazing conflict for the avatar after korra!

Avatar, Potter lore, Pokemon. All my faves in 1 channel!!!