Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) tells the story of Aang, the avatar who returned to the world after a century to bring balance finally. The series is streaming on Netflix.
Story
When the fire nation thrust the world into chaos with their conquest of the other nations, Avatar Aang disappeared.
He was found 100 years later, only for him to discover that his people were decimated and the fire nation ruled over much of the world.
Along with Sokka and Katara of the water tribe, Aang journeyed the world, learning what it means to be the avatar and what duties he must fulfill.
His predecessors described great pressure and responsibility and suggested solitude and keeping loved ones at a distance.
However, Aang realizes with help from his friends that he can do things his way and doesn’t need to follow the past.
Performances
Gordon Cormier is delightful in the role of Aang. He portrays the youthful innocence and heart of the avatar perfectly.
He is ably supported by Kiawentiio and Ian Ousley as Katara and Sokka respectively.
Kiawentilo struggles slightly with her facial expressions, but there is true emotion in her performance and she works well with the rest of the cast.
Ousley’s character is mostly true to the original, with some aspects toned down. However, that is barely distinguishable and Sokka remains interesting.
Dallas Liu embodies the role of Zuko as if he were born to play the character. Liu is convincing as the determined prince who is strongly shaped by his experiences.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is pleasant as Iroh, if a little subdued. Lee knows what the character is about and does his best to bring the right energy.
Elizabeth Yu and Daniel Dae Kim play Azula and Fire Lord Ozai respectively. They have different approaches to their villainy and each excels in their roles.
Positives
Bringing a fan-favorite IP into the live-action world is a tall ask, especially one that has failed miserably before. But this series passes the shallow bar set by past examples comfortably.
They have stayed true to most of the source material and not experimented too much with the story.
The character motivations are accurate and aided by terrific performances from the cast.
The special effects, and the locations, are all visually stunning. Even the costumes are vibrant and diverse.
The emotional tone of the series is maintained throughout and the story moves at a comfortable pace.
Negatives
Compressing more than 20 episodes of a season into eight is difficult and that means some concessions had to be made. Unfortunately, some of those concessions rob the series of characters.
The humor was a huge part of the original series but the live-action isn’t anywhere near the same level.
Aapa and Momo, who are just as much a part of “Team Avatar” as anyone else get a much-reduced role in the first season, which is a disappointment.
A curious decision is made to ignore Zuko’s hunt for “honor” which was such a key bit in the animated series. While the character’s motivations remain similar, he doesn’t go on about honor repeatedly.
Verdict
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) faced an uphill battle due to previous failures and articles about creative changes implemented but the series performs commendably.
Anyone looking to enjoy a piece of their youth brought back in this form will be pleased for the most part, although there are minor gripes that cannot be escaped.
The more importance given to those gripes decides how entertaining the viewing experience can be.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Director: Michael Goi, Jabbar Raisani, Roseanne Liang, Jet Wilkinson
Date Created: 2024-02-22 13:30
3.5
Also Read: Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) summary and ending explained