I have seen Airbender many times over, over the many many years. I remember watching korra a few years ago all the way through, and pretty much agreeing with what most people say about the series; that when watched consecutively immediately after Airbender, it simply cant hold a candle to the original. However, this evening i find myself watching Korra after going almost 4 years since watching either series, and i must say...As a standalone series it truly does hold its own. To be back in the world of the Avatar again is something nostalgic and inspirational. It really does bring back the originality of the story. It feels much more compact than Airbender, as this series revolves almost entirely around Korra and her adventures in republic city, where she does (after all) only have to master Airbending, unlike her predeccessor whom of which was required to obtain three new artforms (Earth, water and fire bending.) from all around the globe.
Korra relies much more on relationship and family driven story with some adventure and crime thrown in to balance it out. It definitely works, and is well deserving of one of the better young-adult themed series out there. At least at the time of its release. Frankly i cant wait for another Avatar series, and with the looming live-action remake in the works (written by the orignial developers of the original series), i feel like we have yet to see the last of the world of the Avatar!