“Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.” Katara’s somber words, uttered early in the story, are not only valid for the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender but are also prophetically accurate in terms of the cultural impact the Nickelodeon series would have. Over the span of three seasons, Avatar: The Last Airbender continues to captivate audiences, both young and old.
The series follows the journey of an eleven-year-old boy named Aang. As the reincarnated protector of the earth, known as the Avatar, Aang endeavors to master the four basic elements of water, earth, fire, and air in order to fulfill his destiny, defeat the Fire Nation, and ultimately restore balance to the planet. The series is full of gripping action, fitting comedy, and more than its fair share of tearful moments as Aang and his friends embark on the journey of a lifetime.
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There is no doubt that Avatar: The Last Airbender possesses a special kind of magic. Though the follow-up series, The Legend of Korra, received generally fair reviews, few would compare its impact to that of the original Airbender saga. Even noteworthy director, M. Night Shyamalan, struggled to bring a new version of The Last Airbender to the silver screen. The 2010 film adaptation was universally criticized for its poor adaptation of the beloved series.
Now, Netflix is at the helm of a new Avatar: The Last Airbender project, and thankfully, it appears they are taking their time. Recent casting announcements continue to inspire hope that Netflix may finally give fans a live-action adaptation worth watching.
While proper casting is undoubtedly a key part of doing justice to the world of the Avatar, it is far from the only ingredient necessary for Netflix to deliver a compelling adaptation of a story that simply demands to be told properly. Besides earth, water, air, and fire, what other elements should the creators of the upcoming Netflix series be paying attention to?
Excellent Pacing
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Unfortunately, one of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s greatest strengths is one of the major failing points for many big-budget adaptations. The series prefers to take its time, establishing the central characters and major events that have shaped the world calmly and deliberately. For many larger productions, those smaller pieces of world-building divvied out over time might be consolidated into one exposition-heavy monologue.
This approach simply won’t do if the next adaptation hopes to recreate the captivating and timeless appeal of the original. The world of Avatar feels earthy, tangible, and relatable. In part, this is due to myriad central and temporary characters talking about and discussing the events of the world at large. The advancement of the Fire Nation is as common a conversation as the weather. Reducing these interactions to a sparse few ‘knowledge bombs’ in an effort to cut down on run time ultimately short-circuits the oppressive and demanding reality faced by the general populace.
Further, Avatar: The Last Airbender is fundamentally built on watching its leading characters adapt and change over time. The series is a picture-perfect example of the classic adage, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Characters aren’t rushed ahead to further the plot. Conflicts, both internal and external, are left to simmer for whole seasons and, in some cases, the vast majority of the series. The Last Airbender gives greater focus to the moments between the moments – the ones that are quiet and subdued – rather than rushing the characters to places that aren’t yet ready to go.
Gripping Action
Avatar: The Last Airbender approached children’s cartoons with a degree of respect and dignity not seen since the days of Batman: The Animated Series. The show consistently ratchets up the action with awe-inspiring fight scenes that have been masterfully choreographed. The various elemental ‘benders’ display their full range of physics-defying abilities in unique and identifiable ways, garnishing the fights with a feeling of deeply rooted history and culture.
The Netflix adaptation certainly has some big standards to meet in the quality of action the series ultimately is able to achieve.
Plenty of Heart
Typically, kid’s shows are known for delivering laughs and easy entertainment. While Avatar: The Last Airbender undoubtedly excels at both, it also possesses the much rarer ability to make the viewer well up with tears. Put simply, for a show with a target audience of six to eleven, Avatar: The Last Airbender stands unique among children’s television shows and is filled with complexity and emotion not found in many adult programs. Mistakes are made, friendships are tested, and even the bad guys learn a thing or two along the way. In fact, perhaps the emotional highlight of the series revolves around Zuko, the disgraced son of the Fire Lord, and one of the series’ central antagonists.
For the Netflix adaptation to succeed, the show must be packed full of heart. We need to care not only about the well-being and goals of Aang and his friends but also about the villains. After all, everyone has a story, a motivation, and a reason for finding themselves where they are. Avatar: The Last Airbender challenges us to extend that kind of empathy, even to our enemies.
