Long before Rebecca Fisher penned her wonderful Big Worlds On Small Screens series here, she convinced me that I Absolutely Must watch the Nickleodenon animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. She even loaned me her own treasured DVDs of the series to ensure I did so. 😀

Avatar, Season One

Initially, I was not 100% convinced because it was very much a kids’ series. But I had promised Rebecca that I would persist and by the end of the first season I and the rest of the household were hooked. By the end of the series, I rated it as highly as Rebecca thought I would, for all the reasons she expressed in her “Big Worlds On Small Screens” feature post on Season One:

“It’s packed so full of creativity and ingenuity in regards to story, character and world building…[and]…deals with hefty issues such as sacrifice, loss and the cost of war, and each character (even those who initially seem like comic relief) have emotional depth and complex backstories.”

In a more recent post celebrating Avatar character, Toph Beifong (probably my personal favourite), Rebecca rightly noted that:

“…Besides the compelling plot and beautifully realized world, the show offered a range of lovable, three-dimensional characters – many of whom were women (or girls).”

As always when I’ve loved a book or series, I approach the dramatisation or remake with some trepidation, haunted by the question, “Will they get it right?”

In the case of Netflix’s live action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender (Season One), I believe the showmakers have gotten it very right.

This story is told in eight episodes, not ca. twenty, but (without having rewatched the animated Season One) I felt it captured the essence of the original narrative. I also liked that they introduced some of the later elements, such as the part played by the Fire kingdom princess, Azula, earlier in the narrative arc. I feel this strengthens the narrative depth, appropriately for a show where more must be done in less episodes, and also one that is aimed at a broader audience, age-wise.

Azula

I was very impressed by the extent to which the visual rendition made me feel I was back in the same world. But what really wowed me was the degree to which the actors cast in all the leading roles remained true to their animated precursors. With every character, I thought: yes, that’s really Aang, Katara, Uncle Iroh, Zuko et al.

Aang

Aang, in particular, is as engaging as the original animated character, and the relationship between Zuko and Uncle Iroh is equally strong. In short, I think the casting is brilliant.

Uncle Iroh & Zuko

Some may grumble that the character of Sokka is not sufficiently true to his animated forbear. In my view, however, that’s a positive, because I always considered Sokka the show’s weakest character. He’s the only non-bender (i.e. “muggle”) in the party and was portrayed in a buffoonish way, effectively serving as a butt for the other main characters, i.e. “comic-relief Sokka.” I feel the new show has kept his occasional gaucherie and maladroit aspects, but strengthened his sincerity and given him non-magical aptitudes as well a far clearer arc in his own right, which I welcome.

Clockwise from top left: Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko

One of the elements I most liked about the original Avatar was the way in which the story remained life-affirming, despite being about war and conflict — and that the solutions Aang and the others looked for were not only, or necessarily, to answer violence with violence. So far, despite no longer being solely aimed at children, my sense of the new show is that it’s keeping that focus. Long may it continue.

Meet Appa: everyone needs a sky bison. 😀

And yes, I am really looking forward to meeting Toph in Season Two. Given the strong casting in Season One, I am optimistic the show will get her right, too.

Toph Beifong