3 Timeless Lessons from Avatar, The Last Airbender
Airing May 15th on Netflix, it’s time to revisit the animated television series’ everlasting lessons (without spoiling the plot)
Water. Earth. Fire. Air.
Several of us are brimming with excitement to revisit the show and already plastered our Google calendar with a reminder on May 15th. Whether you’ve seen it at the age of 8, 15, or 40 years old, the story stands, timeless and enjoyable by all ages. If you never watched Avatar: The Last Airbender and you’re curious to give it a try, this will give you a taste of what you can expect to find in this masterpiece without spoiling the plot. There is also some news on the Netflix new live-action series coming soon.
Buckle in, you’re in for a ride.
Just a peek
Avatar: The Last Airbender follows Aang’s journey — a 12-year old protagonist — to become the Avatar and restore balance to a divided world ridden by war. Helped by a group of supportive friends — which are introduced throughout the story — we go through the lessons the young boy learns and the battles he wins and loses to fulfill his destiny. Martial arts, fantasy, and mythical legends are a solid foundation for the rich universe.
Is this cartoon crafted well-enough to stir the interest and praise? Is the story deep enough to satiate the hunger for good storylines? What about character development?
Here is what can you expect from this series!
Plot
The story is divided into three main arcs, called Books. The main plot — to follow Aang’s adventures as the Avatar — is intertwined with several other subplots. Several of these storylines are connected to other main protagonists going through their own journeys. The development of each arc builds the tension progressively and ultimately leads to an epic climax each season finale. There are one or two filler episodes that could seem out of context. However, they are stand-alone short stories that either deepen one character’s inner world or provide valuable insight into the lessons to come. Overall, the story is well-paced and connects each rising action with the next, making you want to click on the next episode.
Characters
The characters are different and well crafted. Their specific flaws and desires are deep enough to make them believable and endearing for the majority of them. Others are loathable and the show succeeds in building conflict between major players in a non-cliché manner. It also avoids making caricatural and stereotypical personas. We sense the writers spend a great deal of time creating each protagonist’s backstory. Some of the major ones are introduced in the first episodes while others come to life later on in the story. In the end, the mixture of all these personalities is a fantastic cocktail of rich and abundant storylines.
Worldbuilding
Much could be said about the time spend to craft characters. However, we can argue the writers spend — most probably — even more time crafting the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The story is set in an alternate universe where a certain type of elemental magic, called bending, is a natural ability among the people. This power is omnipresent and is at the heart of the civilizations’ architecture and politics. Mythical creatures and beasts populate the lands and each nation has a rich culture, set of traditions, and history. In this series, the world becomes tangible and believable. Tremendous work and research have been done by the writers to make the social and cultural settings coherent while keeping that spark of magic to make people dream.
3 Lessons from Avatar: The Last Airbender
Ultimately, what makes this show brilliant is the timeless lessons we get from the story. There are several of them — which cannot be said without spoiling major parts of the plot— tackling societal and political issues. But the most important ones — that are relatable to people of all ages — are the ones that pertain to character, values, and relationships. The three following lessons stand out the most.
1 — Friendships
The story teaches us how lasting friendships go beyond age, nations, and differences. Trust is scarce in a world ravaged by conflict therefore different cultures create obstacles to acceptance. The writers magnificently show there is a way for people to come together and understand each other. They craft certain characters to embody the importance of support and tolerance while design others to challenge the strength of the bonds. Ultimately, being there for each other — through laughter and hurdles— transcend all barriers, even sometimes the most mysterious ones: death for example.
2 — Courage
One of the most important lessons we learn is how to be brave. Especially when you’re a 12-year old boy whom the world looks up to as a savior. We follow several other characters in an uneasy and rewarding journey to valor: the fear to confront one’s destiny, to face your own past, and to fail. Fear can take many forms. But as can courage. The show is spectacular at showing the heroes' journey to be brave and to confront their destiny. It also shows how other characters come to terms with their past, learn to accept who they are and who they could be.
3 — Forgiveness
Finally, the most foundational lesson could be forgiveness. We’re embarked on different stages of the story and our characters grow. They face their own shadows and we see through their hardships how grueling it becomes to pardon those who wronged them. They learn that forgiving is not easy and it is a retribute of the strong. The story also shows the importance of giving second chances. Some may fail again and again before they learn the lesson. No matter how hard the past has been, no matter how many mistakes have been done, it is always possible to redeem oneself and begin again.
Netflix Live-Action Adaption
With a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Netflix saw the potential in both the hardcore fandom and the epicness of the story. Not only did the company acquire the right to bring all of the three seasons on its platform, but it also will produce a live-action series jointly with the two co-creators of the show Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. We can’t wait to realize Aang’s world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build upon everyone’s great work on the original animated series and go even deeper into the characters, story, action, and world-building. ”
Expectations run high for this newly anticipated live-action series, especially as the first adaptation by M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 “The Last Airbender” failed miserably at the box office. The movie was met with harsh critics and further sequels were canceled.
We currently know that the Netflix new series is in preproduction. As all the Entertainment industry is affected by the Covid-19 situation, the casting is on hold due. We might have to wait until 2021 for production to start and 2022 for the show to air.
The news is disappointing but understandable. The safety of the cast and crew is primordial and we will wait patiently — and with great anticipation — for the new live-action adaptation to air as soon as possible. Waiting could also prove to be useful as it’s important not to rush the production and make regrettable blunders. Let’s give the creators time to make the world come to life with a great storyline, filmmaking, and cast.
If you haven’t seen Avatar: The Last Airbender, this is your chance to give it a try. Meanwhile, for those who watched it already, time to enjoy revisiting the brilliant animated series starting May 15th on Netflix!
