Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender will reintroduce the beloved universe of the original show, but one aspect of The Legend Of Korra might pose a problem for the adaptation. Like the original The Last Airbender, its adaptation will follow Avatar Aang’s journey to master all four elements and restore balance to the Four Nations. Its successor, The Legend Of Korra, captures the journey of Avatar Korra, and the evolution of the Avatar universe after the end of the original show. However, in showing an evolved version of the show’s universe and the art of bending, The Legend Of Korra creates an issue for the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender.
After The Legend Of Korra, any adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender will struggle with having to regress the progress of bending and the characters’ masteries of the artform. Combined with the less-than-stellar track record of live-action adaptations of The Last Airbender, the upcoming Netflix adaptation has several obstacles to overcome created by its predecessors. While there are still ways that the adaptation can make familiar elements interesting, Netflix’s adaptation has its work cut out for it when it comes to producing a product that will stand up to the legacies of the original and The Legend Of Korra.
The Legend Of Korra Showed Stronger Characters Than ATLA
Although Avatar: The Last Airbender came first, the cast of The Legend Of Korra were arguably shown to be stronger benders than the original Team Avatar. This is largely because both sets of characters were at different points in their bending journeys when their respective shows began. At the beginning of The Legend Of Korra, the titular Avatar had already mastered three of the four elements, whereas Aang had only mastered airbending. The same pattern applies to the two Avatars’ companions as well, since Mako and Bolin were probenders, while Katara’s skills were initially less refined. Because of their increased experience, The Legend Of Korra’s characters seem more powerful.
Another reason the benders in The Legend Of Korra appear stronger than their Avatar: The Last Airbender counterparts is the former set of characters are older than the latter. The characters’ ages serve a purpose in their respective shows, as it allows audiences to experience the Avatar universe for the first time with the characters. The Legend Of Korra’s characters are older, thus offering a different perspective on a familiar world. Though this aspect of The Legend Of Korra provides a unique experience for fans of both shows, it might make it more difficult to return to the less experienced characters of The Last Airbender in its Netflix reboot.
How The Last Airbender Can Keep Bending Interesting
Even though The Legend Of Korra’s changes might make it more difficult for some viewers to return to Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, it’s still possible for the show to keep bending exciting. One way to generate new interest in bending would be to introduce new abilities to discover. Netflix’s adaptation could also put new spins on bending discoveries (like metal or blood bending). These approaches will not only distract from the lack of experience of the original Team Avatar by having them learn something new, but also help overcome the challenges that were set by the power of The Legend Of Korra’s characters.
