reality show on netflix “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Considerable changes were made to the original animated series. For the most part, I’m really not a big fan of them – I think a lot of the time they just feel like they change for their own sake, others obviously because of the length of the episodes and how the seasons are structured differently. There was one in particular about Zuko that I actually really liked and thought was better than what happened in the original show. The most frustrating thing is that this decision shows exactly what the show should have been.
Both the original and Netflix versions of Avatar: The Last Airbender contain spoilers.
The changes I’m talking about come from the sixth episode of the live-action show, which specifically adapts Zuko’s backstory, originally revealed in episode 12 of the animated series. Both episodes explore how Zuko got his scar, which is essentially the first big moment where you’re supposed to feel sorry for the banished prince.
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In both versions, Zuko attends a war meeting with his father and the Fire Nation army general. He had planned to just sit back and watch rather than actually contribute, but when a general suggested they should send the 41st Division to its death to benefit the war effort (ahem, colonial efforts) elsewhere, Zuko denounced this thoughts, questioning how they could possibly sacrifice their own people. This is a great moment that shows you how Zuko isn’t really cut out for the life he was born into, and so far he’s never really been shown to be compassionate.
In the original anime, this backstory is told by Iroh to his crew, and his uncle does it because he wants the crew to understand that Zuko isn’t all bad. The live-action version did the same thing, except a big reveal was that the ship’s crew were themselves the same 41st Battalion, a change that tied the past story nicely to the future story. I really don’t hate this change! But honestly, it’s the only good thing about the show, and the fact that it’s such a good change further highlights its inability to live up to the original.
I think one of the most annoying negative changes a Netflix show has made is the final episode of the animated series’ first season, where the Gaang visit the Northern Air Temple. There, they discover a group of people who have made this their home, partially destroying the temple and upsetting Aang in the process – after all, this is his history, and he is the only airbender left. The entire plotline is just condensed into one episode where the Gaang visits Omashu, which are two completely separate events because…well, I don’t know why! It doesn’t add to Omashu’s storyline in any way, and you lose the journey Aang goes through in learning that change is okay, especially in a time of war.
There’s also the fact that Aang didn’t learn a single bit of waterbending in the first season of the live-action show, which will definitely come back to bite the writers in the ass when they have to balance waterbending and earthbending in season two. This is on top of some clever little touches, like Iroh being able to redirect lightning and later using this technique when fighting Zuko’s sister, it’s a tiny moment that you don’t think about half the time, but makes the story even more fleshed out, and completely absent from the live-action show.
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Perhaps the worst part is that none of these characters have real flaws anymore. There is conflict, but only between good guys and bad guys, but the animated show understands that its protagonists are kids, and just like real kids, sometimes they fight over silly things. Aang is just the perfect child of destiny in Netflix’s version, willing to do his part to save the world, never distracted, always loyal – the complete opposite of his original intention.
When I see the changes I just wonder how they found one as good as the 41st Battalion. I guess if you throw enough stuff at a wall, something will stick, right? It does, however, highlight the potential of a modern adaptation – even if I don’t think there’s anything to justify a remake – and how to build on an already solid foundation.
Avatar is loved for many reasons, but if it weren’t for how well made it was, it wouldn’t be so fondly remembered. The original team knew what they wanted to do over three seasons and structured it in such a smart way that you as a viewer feel smart about putting the pieces together early on. Not to mention the only great and economical use of animation is something live action can’t even fathom.
I still think we didn’t need remakes in the past even if it was good, but that doesn’t excuse how this show turned out. The biggest crime the show committed was failing to live up to its potential and forcing it to fall further. Well, Appa is barely in it, so why bother?