Review by C.J. Bunce
A story of heroes that takes over from a strong line of storytelling including the land of Oz, Middle-earth, Narnia, His Dark Materials, and Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender absorbs all that came before it to present one of the best TV fantasy series yet. A live-action adaptation that bests the animated source material? Not only will the series appeal to its existing fan base, this is a story for a fan of every fantasy. Kids shows never get stakes right, and neither do most adult dramas, but this series is filled with drama, thrills, intrigue, and real-world challenges about life and death, politics and governance. A rich, well-developed world with new visual cityscapes and environments on par with Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth and George Lucas’s Star Wars prequels, an elemental existence that taps into Earth myths and legends that is faithful to the source material with perfectly cast actors, the first eight episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender await you, now streaming on Netflix.
Young Gordon Cormier’s Aang is the Chosen One, a hero lost for a hundred years, he is the Avatar of the title, the only master of the four realms, but the actor makes him into something more. Yes, he’s wide-eyed, eternally optimistic, and naive, but his compassion and concern for his friends is compelling and thoroughly believable. Who wouldn’t follow this kid into saving the realms of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth? Aang asks timeless questions like a young Gandhi or Buddha or Lao Tzu. It’s an introduction to the impact one person can have on society for kids and adults alike.
Elemental spirits, spirits of past Avatars, spiritual leaders, Benders–the Jedi of this world, the tribes, and common folk all come together to support a group of young characters–maybe the best circle of friends in arms since the Scooby Gang of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Imagery from classics like The Wizard of Oz, with concepts seen in The Fifth Element and The Great Wall. A flying water buffalo like a creature from a Hayao Miyazaki movie. There’s even a kaiju appearance!
The costumes, dialogue, and setting look even better than as seen in the previews–truly cinematic quality, besting the streaming versions of His Dark Materials, The Rings of Power, and most of the Star Wars series. The first season balances cultural elements from Asia and Native Americas, with corresponding actors from across the world.
Fantastic heroines include Kiawentiio as Waterbender Katara, the co-star of the series. Prey’s Amber Midthunder plays the powerful spirit Princess Yue. Kung Fu’s Yvonne Chapman is the former Avatar Kyoshi. And Teen Wolf’s Arden Cho is June, the bounty huntress.
The CGI creatures are gorgeous, from the flying buffalo to the little bat-like Momo and a beautiful forest fox. They aren’t overdone, but blend seamlessly into the story. George Takei provides the voice of the very Shelob-like monstrosity Koh, the scariest of the show’s creations.
Along with Cormier’s Aang, the best-match to the animated series is the sometimes funny, always loyal Sokka, played by Ian Ousley, with Dallas Liu as Aang’s pursuer Prince Zuko. So many great and familiar genre actors take on key roles from the animated series and put life into the animated versions: A. Martinez is Master Pakku of the North Water Tribe of the Waterbenders. Set in his ways, he is the most powerful of Waterbenders until Katara arrives. The Mandalorian’s Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is the banished Uncle Iroh, a blend of wisdom and goodness and folly. Community’s Danny Pudi plays The Mechanist, a father trying to protect his son and his people. Chuck’s C.S. Lee is the former Avatar called Roku.
Ghosts’ Utkarsh Ambudkar leads the Earthbenders as the addled King Bumi. Lost’s Ken Leung is Commander Zhao. Tamlyn Tomita (Star Trek Picard) is Yukari. And Daniel Dae Kim (Star Trek franchise, Hawaii Five-0, Lost, The Jackal) is the vile Fire Lord Ozai–but he’s not as evil as his daughter, Elizabeth Yu’s Azula, who will no doubt serve a greater role next season.
It’s not on the scale of Peter Jackson’s six Tolkien movies, but TV series are getting closer, and Avatar: The Last Airbender is leading the way. Credit show creator Albert Kim (Leverage, Sleepy Hollow) and the original series and current writers for getting it all right. Great acting, great writing and dialogue, top-notch production quality. One of the best TV series of 2024 and of the decade, watch the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender streaming now on Netflix.
