Netflix’ live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender can benefit greatly by stealling idea from The Legend of Korra. The Legend of Korra added tons of lore to the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender, with the creators of the spin-off expanding the world in a new era. Although the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender should stick to the source material as much as possible, copying one of the new additions from The Legend of Korra would be a great idea.
2010’s live-action The Last Airbender movie received significant criticism, but the franchise is taking another shot at expanding beyond animation with Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. Luckily, Netflix’s version is shaping up to be a lot better than M. Night Shyamalan’s, with the few details regarding the cast and team behind Avatar: The Last Airbender making the series highly anticipated. Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 will feature eight hour-long episodes, and one The Legend of Korra element can fill the show’s runtime.
Why ATLA’s Live Re-Make Should Include More Bending Sports
The Legend of Korra introduced pro bending sports to the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the upcoming Netflix remake needs to feature them too. Pro-bending is a professional sport that features two teams of three benders, with each team consisting of a waterbender, a firebender, and an earthbender. The Legend of Korra‘s pro-bending is incredibly in-depth, with the series describing pro-bending leagues and the sport’s complex rules.
Although it doesn’t necessarily have to be a professional league, Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender needs to bring back bending sports. Throughout the original series, bending is only really used for combat or for general practical uses. Adding bending sports would be an interesting way to flesh out the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender, making the world feel more lived in and thought out. Bending sports are also a good way to show off the bending powers without requiring any story motivation, which could be a real help.
It Makes Sense To Add Sports To The Original Narrative
Adding The Legend of Korra‘s bending sports to Netflix’s live-action adaptation wouldn’t require changing Avatar: The Last Airbender much at all, as it actually fits in perfectly with the original narrative. Aang, Katara, Sokka, and much of the rest of Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s main cast are kids. It makes sense for kids to use their bending powers to play games, as many children and young people can be super competitive.
In particular, Aang is incredibly playful in the original Avatar: The Last Airbender. Having Aang participate in bending sports would be the most in-character change that the Netflix live-action adaptation could make, meaning that it would be perfect to bring it back. Aang participating in bending sports could allow him to train while showing off his goofy fun-loving nature, meaning that Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender needs to bring it back from The Legend of Korra.
