The live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender’s version of Book 1’s ending is set to be different from the animated series for one big reason. One of the most exciting things about the upcoming Netflix Avatar show is how it is seeking to be far more accurate to the source material than the previous live-action adaptation of the series – 2010’s The Last Airbender. Still, changes from the animated show are expected, from the pacing to portions of the lore.
For example, all three The Last Airbender seasons – or Books – take place within a year, which is something an adaptation would struggle to incorporate given the age of the live-action Avatar cast. Netflix’s Avatar is set to cover the entirety of Book 1, although scenes that were never depicted in TLA and new storylines are also expected. Another interesting difference between the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender and the live-action show will have to do with the Avatar State.
All 8 Known Avatars In The Last Airbender Universe (Before & After Aang)
Avatar: The Last Airbender has a vast mythology, including the generations of Avatar who have been reincarnated before and after Aang himself.
Aang Will Go Into The Avatar State Less In The Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender
According to Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender showrunner Albert Kim (via IGN), Aang will not go into the Avatar State as much in season 1 as he did in Book 1 of the animated series. According to Kim, they wanted to make sure that Aang entering Avatar State “felt very special,” which is why it will not happen very often. The showrunner also revealed that the live-action series made sure “Aang could only access that state in a specific set of circumstances,” which isn’t too different from the original show but hints at fewer Avatar State scenes.
“In fact, we actually don’t see Aang going into the Avatar State as much in our first season as they did in the animated series because we wanted to make sure that it felt very special. We wanted to make it very clear that Aang could only access that state in a specific set of circumstances. We actually tweaked the rules a little bit from the original series as to when and how he can access that state. “
Although reducing the number of times Aang uses the Avatar State makes sense for the live-action series, especially considering season 1 will have eight episodes, changing the circumstances in which the character can access his full power creates a few challenges. The Avatar State, at least during Book 1, feels like a defense mechanism that Aang has little control over and will always appear at the right moment at the right time. This ability is also associated with moments of rage or extreme emotions in the animated series, such as when Aang returns to the Southern Air Temple.
The Netflix Show’s Aang Change Raises Questions About Season 1’s Ending
It can be argued that almost every scene from Book 1 in which Aang goes into the Avatar State could be changed for the live-action show without affecting the story too much. However, this does not apply to two key moments from Book 1. One is Aang’s introduction as the “boy in the iceberg,” which the Netflix show seems to be accurately recreating. The other comes at the end of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1, during which Aang goes into the Avatar State and combines himself with the Ocean Spirit to protect the Northern Water Tribe from the Fire Nation.
The sequence in which Aang enters the Avatar State while also channeling the Ocean Spirit made for one of the coolest moments in the entire series. The combination of Aang’s full Avatar powers and La resulted in a giant creature made of water and energy that quickly changed the course of the battle and made sure the Northern Water Tribe couldn’t be destroyed by the Fire Nation’s army. If Aang is supposed to use less of the Avatar State in the live-action series, it remains to be seen whether season 1 will recreate Book 1’s final battle in its entirety.
Netflix’s Last Airbender Series May Need A New Way To Resolve The Siege Of The North
Considering there will be less of Aang using his full powers in season 1 compared to the animated series, it’s reasonable to wonder how the Siege of the North will compare to the cartoon. However, the fact that the Avatar State won’t appear as much in season 1 as it did in Book 1 can actually be good news for the live-action series. By showing less of this ultimate power throughout the season, Netflix’s Avatar can make its version of the Siege of the North feel even more epic. This would be a case of “save the best for later.”
Presumably, viewers will have seen less of Aang’s complete set of skills by the time the Siege of the North begins in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. Therefore, seeing a giant creature made of energy destroying the Fire Nation’s army could feel like something extraordinary and not an ability Aang can use all the time. That said, for this approach to work, the show’s version of the Avatar State needs to capture the scale and the visuals of the cartoon. Additionally, not depicting the Avatar State at least during the Siege of the North would be a mistake.
Sources: IGN
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action)
- Release Date
- February 22, 2024
- Cast
- Gordon Cormier , Dallas Liu , Kiawentiio , Ian Ousley , Daniel Dae Kim , Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
