Netflix has finally unveiled its long-awaited live-action adaptation of the cherished Nickelodeon animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. The journey from the initial announcement in September 2018 to the show's release spanned five and a half years, a significant contrast to the original animated series, which concluded in about three and a half years from its debut. Despite the promising involvement of the original series creators, Brian Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, expectations were met with challenges along the production journey, including the creators' eventual departure and alterations to the show's initial narrative.

 

Personally, my anticipation for the new live-action series was a mix of hope and skepticism, given that the original animated run holds the title of my all-time favorite TV series. My venture into media criticism began with a podcast solely dedicated to the animated series.

 

Acknowledging that my expectations might have been higher than others, the 2024 live action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender pleasantly surprised me. Despite some deviations from the original animated show, the adaptation stands out as one of the finest I've seen. It remains remarkably faithful to its source material, showcasing impeccable craftsmanship that is sure to evoke nostalgia among fans of the original series.

 

Condensing 20 half-hour episodes into 8 hour-long episodes involves editing, rearranging, or cutting some material. For the most part, the new series successfully accomplishes this task. Despite swapping around some stories, it genuinely lives up to its definition of adaptation. The series adeptly weaves a narrative with a Game of Thrones-style approach to the world, maintaining the tone and style of the original animation. However, amidst this success, there are some drawbacks.

 

Regrettably, one of the major shortcomings is found in the first episode. Significant rearrangements to convey the story result in cramming much of the first three episodes of the original series into one hour-long episode. Instead of achieving the streamlined storytelling of the original animated pilot, the new live-action first episode suffers from clunky writing, awkward pacing, and a back-and-forth structure. Additionally, the last episode lacks originality, almost serving as a word-for-word rehash of the final two animated episodes of season one.

 

While these two examples, both the season opener and finale, present major issues, fortunately, they stand as the only instances where the series falters. The remaining six episodes showcase exceptional quality, offering nuance and expanding on plotlines that benefit from a bit more breathing room. Numerous storylines from the original series intertwine, complementing each other well by addressing similar themes. This integration extends to storylines from future seasons of the show, as well as content from the comics and even the Kyoshi and Yangchen novels. Initially hesitant about incorporating external media into the new TV series, I found that it only served to enhance and broaden the world further.

 

While the acting from the ensemble cast is generally commendable, it's another aspect that leaves me with mixed feelings. Unfortunately, a significant drawback stems from one of the most crucial aspects of the series. Gordon Cormier, who portrays Aang in the series, filmed the show when he was just 12 years old. While the casting aligns perfectly with the character's young age, Cormier's performance is marred by noticeable signs of child acting. Critiquing his portrayal is challenging, given the substantial role he plays and the inherent difficulty of the character. However, he frequently veers into amateur acting territory. Following closely behind is Kiawentiio, who portrays Katara, another of the youngest actors in the series. While her acting missteps are not as frequent as Cormier's, they are still more noticeable in lacking confidence and naturalness.

 

Dallas Liu, who plays Prince Zuko in the series, is no stranger to large franchises. Recently, he was featured as the 15-year-old version of Shang Chi in the MCU. His emotional moments truly shine in the series, and for such a complex character. While he also does have a few low points throughout, his portrayal of the banished prince varies on a scale from adequate to incredibly emotionally moving. My personal favorite among the cast is Ian Ousley, who portrays Sokka. He effortlessly balances the character's humor, tapping into his personality with ease, while also embracing the seriousness that the character is known for. Other standouts in the cast include Daniel Dae Kim as Firelord Ozai, Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula, and Maria Zhang in her brief but impactful role as Suki.

 

One of the animated series' highlights is the vibrant and colorful world it portrays. Each nation is color-coded based on its respective element: blue for water, green for earth, red for fire, and orange and yellow for air. Fortunately, this distinctive feature is not lost in the transition to live-action, as the costuming and production design do not disappoint. The creative team went to painstaking lengths to bring the animated world to life, ensuring that the characters' attire and the world around them effortlessly match the brightness of the original series.

 

While there's much to have mixed feelings about – and I certainly have my reservations – the new live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender achieves considerable success. As a devoted fan of the animated series, it's tempting to scrutinize these shortcomings and judge them harshly in comparison to the original. However, overall, I find this version remarkably successful in its adaptation attempt. While it may not quite capture the magic of the original series, this Netflix adaptation comes close to achieving its goals. Both existing fans and newcomers are likely to appreciate this retelling, and I'm eagerly anticipating what season two may bring.