Successfully creating a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation is a task even more daunting than mastering the four elements. And yet! Netflix took on the challenge. The streamer doesn't have the best track record in this respect—just look at the critical reception to Netflix's live-action Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, and One Piece series—but that hasn't stopped them from trying. Still, One Piece amassed 37.8 million views in just the two weeks after its initial release, and Netflix surely hopes that fans will be just as passionate about its Avatar adaptation.
This time, Netflix's main focus was simple: stay true to the spirit of Nickelodeon's animated series. The story follows a child named Aang (Gordon Cormier), who lives in a world where the power to manipulate the elements is a common occurrence. Most people can only "bend" water, fire, earth, or air—until Aang learns that he is the latest reincarnation of a being known as the Avatar who can control all four elements. After accidentally falling into a coma, Aang wakes up 100-some years later, only to find that the Fire Nation has taken advantage of his absence and conquered the world. With the help of his friends, he sets out to restore the balance of the universe.
Was the Animated Series Difficult to Adapt?
Well, showrunner Albert Kim was keenly aware of the difficult task before him. For starters, he definitely knew what not to do. Esteemed horror director M. Night Shyamalan took a crack at The Last Airbender to disastrous results in his 2010 film—which was criticized for whitewashing and poor special effects. Kim, of course, tried his best to right those wrongs. "My first reaction after ‘Hell yeah!’ was ‘Holy s---! Do I really want to do this?'" he told Entertainment Weekly. "Is there a way to improve upon the original?’ Whenever you tackle something that's already beloved by millions of fans, you have to ask yourself those questions."
So, Kim pared 20 half-hour episodes of the original animated series down to eight hour-long live-action episodes for Netflix. Though much of the story was condensed, the first season follows the same basic plot. Traveling across the globe, Aang gains friendships and consults with the spirits of prior Avatars to aid him on his quest. Meanwhile, there are those who wish to do him harm. The Fire Nation, led by Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim), sent his son Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu) to capture the Avatar. But as the series goes on, Zuko questions which side of the war he should be fighting for.
What Happens in the Season Finale?
Along with his friends from the Southern Water Tribe, Katara (Kiawentiio Tarbell) and Sokka (Ian Ousley), Aang visits Northern White Tribe to learn the art of waterbending. As an air nomad, he currently only knows how to airbend. Likewise, he seems to be the only airbender left in the world, following the Fire Nation's brutal genocide on the air temples.
Led by the cunning Admiral Zhao (Ken Leung), a Fire Nation fleet follows Aang and his friends north—with the intention of completely decimating the waterbenders. This may sound strange if you haven't seen the series yourself, but Zhao plans to kill the spirit of the Moon, which will erase the powers of the waterbenders for good. It's a crazy plan, for sure. Killing the moon would have massive ramifications for the planet beyond the war—but Zhao is blinded by rage. By accessing the spirit world and teaming up with the spirit of the ocean, Aang is able to defeat Zhao and save the Water Tribe... for now.
What Will Happen in Season 2?
Aang still has a long journey ahead of him. While he has Katara to teach him waterbending, he still needs to find earthbending and a firebending teachers to master all four elements. While he's training, the Fire Nation is continuing its planned domination of the globe. Fire Lord Ozai is encroaching further into the Earth Kingdom than ever before. His daughter, Azula (Elizabeth Yu), has also done the impossible in seizing the grand city of Omashu.
Meanwhile, Zuko is conflicted. He's seen the tragedies of war and has inexplicably found himself helping Aang on multiple occasions. Though he still hopes to please his father by capturing Aang, he's struggling with what those ramifications would bring upon the world. In Season 2, both Aang and Zuko will be forced to reckon with what they stand for.
Though Netflix has yet to renew Avatar: The Last Airbender for season 2, showrunner Albert Kim is hopeful for the future of the franchise. "Right now, all I’m focused on is bringing season 1 across the finish line," Kim told Inverse. "We were very careful to make sure that all of our characters have really strong journeys throughout the season. And I think viewers will appreciate that when they finally get to see the show itself."
