Warning! This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s season 1 finale included a giant Ocean Spirit monster that has strong connections to other spirits, including that of the titular Avatar Aang. For the most part, Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender stays faithful to the story of the original cartoon on which the show is based. This translates to Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s season 1 ending too, which adapts the Siege of the North Pole with only a handful of alterations to the original story.
Earlier in the season, Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Spirit World received a heavy focus. In this episode, the power of the spirits was truly divulged in a way that Aang, Katara, and Sokka had to reckon with. In TheLast Airbender‘s season 1 finale, the true threat of the spirits returned and was even shown to be much more potent than first thought. This was showcased via a giant monster created by the Ocean Spirit, one linked to the power of The Last Airbender‘s past and present Avatars.
Aang Gave His Body To The Ocean Spirit For Vengeance
Zhao’s villainous actions cause retribution from the spirits.
In The Last Airbender‘s season 1 finale, Zhao finds out that the physical manifestations of the Moon and Ocean Spirits reside in the North Pole. Zhao finds them and threatens to kill the Moon Spirit to remove the power of Waterbending from the world. After doing so, the moon disappears and leaves the Waterbenders powerless against the Fire Nation’s siege. With many believing that hope is lost, Aang enters the Avatar State and combines his powers with those of the Ocean Spirit.
The Ocean Spirit takes complete control of Aang’s body, using the power of the Avatar State to manifest into a giant monster. The Ocean Spirit did this for one reason only: to take revenge on the Fire Nation for killing the Moon Spirit. Channeling Aang’s power, the Ocean Spirit single-handedly drives back the Fire Nation forces attacking the Northern Water Tribe out of pure grief and anger. At first, it is mentioned that Aang will be lost forever given that he willingly gave his body to the Ocean Spirit.
Why Did The Ocean Spirit Let Aang Go?
Aang’s return is linked to the actions of Princess Yue and Sokka.
However, despite the idea that Aang is now lost and the Ocean Spirit monster will wander the world in a fruitless search for the Moon Spirit, Aang is eventually returned. The reason for this stems from Princess Yue, who explains that her life was given to her by the Moon Spirit when she took ill as a baby. Given that some of the Moon Spirit’s life resides in Yue, she sacrifices herself by transferring the power back to the koi fish – the Moon Spirit’s physical manifestation – thus reviving it.
This causes the moon to reappear in the sky once more. The Ocean Spirit then stops its assault against the Fire Nation navy and returns to the North Pole oasis to be reunited with its lost friend. In doing so, the Ocean Spirit releases its grip on Aang’s body and allows the Avatar to live on. After the balance of the spirits is returned and their navy is all but destroyed, the Fire Nation retreats from the Northern Water Tribe.
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How Is Aang’s Connection With The Spirits Different In Netflix’s Show?
The Ocean Spirit gives Aang more freedom of choice in the original show.
Interestingly, the connection between Aang and the Ocean Spirit is somewhat different in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the original animated show, Aang’s connection with the Ocean Spirit is more two-sided. Aang’s anger at the loss of the Moon Spirit combines with that of the Ocean Spirit, and the two combine to create the kaiju monster. While the Ocean Spirit is largely in control in the original show too, never is it mentioned that Aang is lost for good.
In Netflix’s The Last Airbender, it is reiterated multiple times that Aang is essentially dead. The live-action show makes it clear that the Ocean Spirit will use Aang’s form to search the globe for the Moon Spirit until the end of time, meaning the Avatar will never be released from its grasp. This is different from the mutual connection the two have in the original cartoon.
Concerning why this change was made, it was likely to provide Netflix’s The Last Airbender season 1 finale with more weight and dramatic stakes. The added story point of Aang being lost for good gives the character a major sacrifice that was not present in the original show. Therefore, this element simply adds an added element of drama to the story that Netflix attempted to create throughout Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1.
All episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 are now streaming on Netflix.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action)
Based on the acclaimed animated Nickelodeon television series, Avatar: The Last Airbender is an action-adventure fantasy series developed by Albert Kim. The series follows Aang, a young man training to harness the four elements to live up to the title of Avatar – the one who will restore balance to the world.
- Release Date
- February 22, 2024
- Cast
- Gordon Cormier , Dallas Liu , Kiawentiio , Ian Ousley , Daniel Dae Kim , Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
- Streaming Service(s)
- bryan konietzko
