I wasn’t the biggest fan of Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, while acknowledging it was still an honest attempt at a faithful adaptation. Season 2 dramatically improves upon the first season in all aspects from its writing, tone, and performances.
Avatar: The Last Airbender was an animated series on Nickelodeon set in a world where four nations have mastery over the elements of fire, earth, water and air. The story chronicles the journey of a young boy, meant to be the chosen one, who goes missing for 100 years. He awakens to a world at war, pointing to his absence as the cause. Along with a group of newfound friends, the boy must master all four elements and accept his destiny as the world’s saviour, the Avatar.
Course-Correcting Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1
Season 1 of Netflix’s live-action adaptation was flawed in many ways. Structural and narrative changes to the original source material stripped away some of the soul of the story. Other modifications to certain characters further created a divide between the two versions. Not to mention some weaker performances led to a season that felt sloppy, but over all engaging enough to invest in its future. And miles ahead of the ill-fated live-action feature adaptation from M. Night Shyamalan.
And I’m so glad that Netflix, notorious for not giving its series room to breathe, green-lit ATLA seasons 2 and 3, because the second season improves greatly upon its first, creating a truly worthy adaptation of the original.
Aang’s Growth: Gordon Cormier Anchors ATLA Season 2
Season 2 is more character driven than spectacle and plot-oriented. The focus of the season is the characters, their dynamics, and how their influence on each other drives the larger story. In season 1, Aang, this generation’s reincarnated Avatar, seemingly overcame his entire character journey in one episode. The biggest detriment of that choice, was how Aang’s struggle and reluctant path to becoming the Avatar is completely removed.
The new season corrects this by giving Aang more teenage angst. It helps that the very talented lead, Gordon Cormier, has also aged up, looking much older than the animated Aang. This works in the show’s favour, as the character’s parallels work better with those of an overwhelmed teen, feeling burdened with the weight of the world. And aligns with Cormier’s season 2 performance as well. Aang’s story this season feels more like a journey, whereas it was presented as a foregone conclusion in season 1.
A Mature, Grounded Tone for Netflix’s Avatar Season 2
This season has some incredible character moments, so good that they sometimes feel out of place in what originally began almost with the simplicity of a children’s series. It’s a wonderful change, because that’s what the original animated series was: a group of unlikely heroes finding strength in each other to fulfil their respective destinies. Season 1 kept screaming ‘family’ without earning any of it. The writers work overtime in season 2 to establish those relationships, and the show improves because of it.
This season is also more intimate and mature, something evidenced by the removal of the CGI motion animated opening from season 1, immediately setting the tone. The cool and signature Netflix-style of creative animated title sequence is replaced with the title logo dropping abruptly over an aerial shot of some amazing fantasy locations. The episodes title cards then appears in a sombre font. It immediately signals a more grounded and serious story than what they established with season 1.
Katara’s Evolution: The Breakout Star of Avatar Season 2
Shifting the story to these smaller character-driven arcs and plot points gives, allows not only Aang an arc this season, but the ensemble cast also gets to level up and with almost every character getting their own amazing story.
The weakest link of season 1 was Kiawentiio’s Katara, meant to be the heart of the story, the young actor’s inexperience hurt the performance and, in turn, the story. However, her improvement is remarkable here in season 2. The young actress is much more comfortable and sure of herself, something that works with the characters journey as well. To me, she is the breakout of season 2. Sokka (Ian Ousley) remains the comic relief of the show, but this time, also gets a sweet and meaningful storyline about getting over lost love. While Zuko (Dallas Liu) and his uncle Iroh (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee), former Fire Nation prince and General, respectively, are now attempting to live in anonymity in the Earth Kingdom.
Dallas Liu’s Zuko Remains the Heart of the Live-Action Series
Zuko’s arc rivals the hero’s as his story becomes the standout. In both versions! The redemption arc of a hated villain is almost always more interesting, especially in a chosen one story arc. Zuko’s arc is the most faithful to the original, which is why it works so well. In Avatar season 2, Dallas Liu exceeds every expectation in a performance that feels so difficult, but Liu is absolutely wonderful in it. Playing Zuko from hated villain to someone struggling to do the right thing is fascinating to watch.
Pairing him with Lee is also genius, as Zuko’s hardness is only contrasted and made more sympathetic by Iroh’s unwavering support of his nephew. Lee’s performance is heartbreaking and so emotionally moving in so many moments of season 2 that it makes up for his underutilization in season 1. Giving the veteran Canadian actor much more to do this season, Lee fully becomes the classic iteration of Iroh in season 2, and I can’t wait to see where his performance goes in season 3.
The Verdict: Is Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 Worth Watching?
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 works on many different fronts for me. The tone of the show is more grounded, while still making way for many light hearted moments that cut through the high stakes tension. The season also successfully creates conflict between the characters, but allows room for the eventual resolution, without going too far. And all the emotional beats feel earned, whereas a lot of season 1 felt mechanically going through the motions from the source material.
Rating: 4/5 stars
This season is a testament to allowing shows, especially those with young kids, time to grow and find their voice before prematurely cancelling them. As Netflix is prone to do. The vast improvement in the performances, storytelling and tone is impressive, and makes me anticipate season 3, much more than before.
Both seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender are now streaming on Netflix.
Did Season 2 completely redeem the live-action franchise for you, or do you still think this story belongs strictly in the animated realm? Let’s talk about that title sequence change and Dallas Liu’s performance in the comments below!
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