Netflix has once again rebooted a classic piece of media into a live-action production, and once again it has fallen short of fan expectations. ¨Avatar: The Last Airbender¨ was a 2005 Nickelodeon animated TV show that spans three seasons. The show was a huge hit with both younger and older audiences, so it is no surprise that there would be a desire to wring it out for as much content and money as possible.
On February 22, 2024, Netflix released the first season of their new live-action show ¨Avatar: The Last Airbender.¨ The show consists of eight episodes, an hour each, that comprise the original show’s first season, ¨The Book of Water.¨
Of course, having to fit 20, 22-minute episodes into eight, 60-minute episodes, there had to be some changes. This is where the first problems arise. The pacing of the show is fast, and feels like the plot was moving just because it had to move; things sort of just happen to happen. The pacing made it so the show lacked character-building moments, including a few plot points. With these time cuts, the writers had to make up for lost plot points with huge amounts of expositions and storytelling that is hand-fed to the audience through lazily written conversation or boring monologues.
Another big problem that happens with most animations turned live-action is trying to capture the sense of creativity and liveliness. For example, the costumes are always in a pristine condition which brings unnecessary contrast to the war-torn world the story takes place in. The bright, clean colors in Avatar’s animated cast are perfect for the cartoon, but in real life the outfits look too pristine, like the characters have not ever worn them before, making them seem out of place and unrealistic.
Another detail about the show that really took me off guard was the poor CGI. It brings a sense of unwanted goofiness to a serious moment when the objectively not-very-good CGI is so distracting.
Even with all the show’s flaws, I do think that some things are done excellently, such as how the show is under a TV-PG rating but does not shy away from tackling heavier topics. On another good note, the casting was a phenomenal move, consisting of mainly indigenous and Asian actors. On the topic, the acting was superb. Kiawentiio Tarbell, Gordon Cormier and Ian Ousley were amazing in portraying Katara, Aang and Sokka respectively. All of the characters were depicted faithfully to the source material and felt familiar and accurate.
As much as I loved the cast and characters, nothing can stop me from thinking, “Why?”
In my opinion, this show really brings nothing new to the franchise. It feels sort of soul-less, almost corporate. Netflix’s live-action, ¨Avatar: The Last Airbender,¨ is definitely a show on Netflix, about ¨Avatar The Last Airbender,¨ but that is it. It is a retelling of a story that has already been told. Another forgettable live-action remake of a beloved piece of media at best.
