Netflix’s new live-action rendition of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (ATLA) lacks a solid execution in its storytelling. However, it mostly stays true to the original characters and details.
For original ATLA fans, seeing the trailer for the new live-action series was very exciting and promising, but there was speculation about how it would stay true to the original while bringing its own creative aspects to the show.
After excitedly binging the series when it came out February 22, 2024, I was impressed with the accuracy when it came to character costuming and details and most of the actors truly embodied the original characters and their mannerisms. These aspects were very fulfilling, however there are definitely problems when it comes to the writing and general story.
Many smaller plot points from the original series are merged together to serve the main storyline, which takes away some of the arguably necessary sub-plots and side stories. By introducing new characters on the journey in the original, Aang and his friends are able to gain insights to the world they are exploring, learn new skills and lessons, and build upon their character development. These main takeaways are so important as to why the original series was so successful as well as iconic. In the new series, events are rushed and sub-plots are mixed together so that the story moves forward, however other essential pieces like the characters’ learning and growing are left behind. What resulted from this is a tell-not-show method of writing, which came across as terse and took away from the spirit of the original show.
That said, I was highly impressed with the casting of the characters. Because the characters are so young in the series, finding actors who fit their ages seemed like it would be a challenge, but they ended up looking the right age in my opinion. The actors themselves did a great job; I was especially happy with how Aang, Zuko and Sokka (played by Gordon Cormier, Dallas Liu and Ian Ousley, respectively) were portrayed because they truly embodied the original characters while bringing some of their own essence to the show.
While the actor who played Katara, Kiawentiio Tarbell, did a good job for the writing she was given, I was specifically disappointed with the character Katara, who was written out of her iconic attitude, short temper and fiery nature that carried her development and was rooted from her past. Aang is also not as adventurous and playful as he was in the original series, again likely due to the plot moving too quickly for extra character arcs and side adventures.
While there certainly could have been different approaches to the storytelling and writing portion of the show, I was generally satisfied with the acting and representation of my childhood favorite TV show brought to life.
