The mysterious diamond-shaped entity known as the Anomaly in Avatar: Seven Havens has drawn comparisons to Vaatu, the spirit of darkness from The Legend of Korra. Producers Sehaj Sethi and Ethan Spaulding have offered a non-committal response when asked about a potential connection. When questioned directly by Polygon, Sethi responded with a laugh, "Maybe," with Spaulding echoing the sentiment and adding, "We’re leaving that up to you guys for now."
Fans have noted visual similarities between the Anomaly, which appears as a red, diamond-shaped spiritual entity and causes fear-driven transformations, and Vaatu, who is described as the spirit of darkness and chaos. Vaatu, along with his counterpart Raava, the spirit of light, are ancient beings whose forms are fluid and shifting. Vaatu is depicted as black with red patterns, mirroring Raava's white form with blue markings. The Anomaly's tendrils of red lightning and its connection to negative emotions have led many to suspect a link to Vaatu.
Vaatu's Survival and the Avatar Cycle
In The Legend of Korra Book 2, Vaatu was freed and merged with Unalaq to form the Dark Avatar, Unavaatu. During this event, Vaatu tore Raava from Korra and seemingly destroyed her, severing Korra's connection to past Avatars. However, the Avatar cosmology dictates that Vaatu and Raava cannot permanently destroy one another; each contains the seed of the other, leading to eventual regeneration and renewed conflict during Harmonic Convergence. Korra eventually discovered a regenerating fragment of Raava within Vaatu and used spiritbending to destroy Unavaatu, reuniting with Raava.
This cyclical nature implies that even after Vaatu's physical form was destroyed, a fragment of him would have begun regenerating within Raava. Since Raava resides within the Avatar, Korra would have carried the embryonic spirit of darkness within her. While Vaatu's full return would typically be thousands of years away, a catastrophic event like the Cataclysm in Seven Havens could have potentially disrupted the spirit world boundaries or directly affected Korra and Raava, releasing Vaatu's energy prematurely.
Distinctions Between the Anomaly and Vaatu
While the visual similarities and association with negative emotions are striking, there are differences between the Anomaly and Vaatu. Vaatu possesses a distinct personality and directly communicates, aiming to plunge the world into darkness. The Anomaly, however, appears to act with a more instinctual, less conscious intent, manifesting where fear is concentrated. Furthermore, Vaatu's power stemmed from chaos and conflict, and he could corrupt spirits. The Anomaly's ability to induce hallucinations through human fear suggests a more nuanced emotional manipulation.
The Anomaly's interaction with the twins Pavi and Nisha is also noteworthy. While it turns others into the Afflicted, it seems to unlock memories in the twins. This resonant effect suggests an intrinsic connection, possibly to the Avatar lineage, making Vaatu a likely, albeit complex, candidate.
Sethi and Spaulding's ambiguous response leaves room for interpretation. The Anomaly may not be Vaatu himself but rather a fragment of his power or a manifestation of his spiritual energy, possibly linked to the Cataclysm. It could represent Vaatu's raw energy without his consciousness, or even a cry for help from the planet itself, only recognizable by the Avatar. Regardless, the producers' comments suggest that Vaatu's influence may still be a significant factor in the ongoing narrative.