8 Major Differences Between Netflix's Avatar and the Original ATLA (& Why Fans Are Divided)

Netflix's adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender in season 1 may have some spoilers. Some changes were made to the plot to accommodate the differences in the number and length of episodes and the change in medium. Unfortunately, not all of these changes added to the overall story.

Certain plot points had to be dropped, while other elements seemed to be introduced early in order to make the show more appealing to a wider audience. Moments in Aang, Katara, and Sokka's storylines were also not received well by fans.

Aang Just Going For A Ride With Appa

Writing this show would have been a huge challenge since the season 1 storyline has already been shown in film and TV twice before. Some of the bad changes in Avatar season 1 stem from an attempt to make the story new, when most of the audience knows what is going to happen. Changes like this come across as completely unnecessary. Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 will not be as affected by this problem, but the writers still face the challenge of remaining true to the original characters.

Aang doesn't intentionally run away, which invalidates later conversations.

Aang hugging Appa in the new live action Avatar The Last Airbender trailer - Aang doesn't intentionally run away, which invalidates later conversations. - Aang Just Going For A Ride With Appa

Katara & Sokka Entering the Spirit World

Katara and Sokka find themselves unexpectedly entering the Spirit World in the first season of the show. This happens when they follow Aang and Appa to the Southern Air Temple. They stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the Spirit World, where they encounter various spiritual beings and challenges. Their journey in the Spirit World not only adds excitement to the storyline but also showcases their bravery and loyalty to Aang.

Some of the Spirit World's power is lost because it is too accessible.

Spirit Sokka smiling in Netflix's The Last Airbender - Some of the Spirit World's power is lost because it is too accessible. - Katara & Sokka Coming To The Spirit World

Pakku's Connection To Katara

In the original show, Sokka is taken by a vengeful spirit and needs to be saved, but we don't see what happens to him in the Spirit World. However, in Netflix's show, Aang accidentally brings Katara and Sokka to the Spirit World with him just by being close to them. The siblings then have to face their worst memories while Aang works on rescuing them and the village people. This easy access to the Spirit World for Katara and Sokka in the new show takes away from its importance and diminishes the unique ability of the Avatar to enter it.

Pakku's character lacks the emotional storyline of the original show.

Pakku looking smug in Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender - Pakku's character lacks the emotional storyline of the original show. - Pakku's Connection To Katara

Katara continues to challenge the Northern Water Tribe's ban on women practicing combative waterbending. This puts her at odds with Master Pakku (A Martinez), though his connection to Katara's family is not included in the Netflix adaptation. In the original series, Pakku learns that Katara and Sokka's grandmother was the woman he was once engaged to.

"Gran Gran" (Casey Camp-Horinek) left the North Pole due to the restrictions placed on women and started a family in the South Pole. This revelation helps Pakku see things from Katara's point of view, leading him to agree to teach her. While the Netflix version still shows Katara influencing Pakku's beliefs, his character lacks the emotional depth that the backstory provided.

Completely Skipping Katara's Training

Katara's waterbending skills are too unlikely.

Katara from Avatar the last airbender waterbending looking surprised Kiawentiio Tarbell - Katara's waterbending skills are too unlikely. - Completely Skipping Katara's Training

In Netflix’s show, Katara is declared a master based solely on her self-taught waterbending from one scroll, in the time of a few months at the most.

In the original show, Katara's progression from an amateur to master waterbender may seem too quick. However, there is a small time jump where Katara and Aang train with Pakku. During this time, Katara becomes skilled enough to teach Aang because waterbending comes naturally to her and she was a dedicated apprentice to Pakku.

In Netflix's show, Katara is suddenly declared a master after learning from one scroll in just a few months. The story quickly moves from her challenging Pakku to the Fire Nation's attack and the "Gaang" leaving the North Pole, with Katara now responsible for training Aang. This stands out even more because Katara had been expressing the need for more training from a master throughout the season. The original show had a small time skip that helped this plot point make more sense.

The Extra Plot Surrounding The Moon Spirit

Netflix includes too much build-up to a scene people are already familiar with.

Yue reviving the Moon Spirit in The Last Airbender's Netflix finale - Netflix includes too much build-up to a scene people are already familiar with. - The Extra Plot Surrounding The Moon Spirit

In the new show, Momo almost dies while saving a child from debris and needs to be saved by Yue. This event leads Sokka and Yue to the Ocean and Moon Spirits but adds unnecessary plot twists. Additionally, Iroh does not intervene when Commander Zhao tries to kill the Moon Spirit until the last moment, and the episode focuses too much on Zhao's potential failure.

Azula Is Introduced Too Early

Azula is introduced too early in the series. The other characters are still dealing with Aang's situation when Sokka randomly suggests a way to bring the Moon back to life. Yue sacrifices herself to save the Moon Spirit, a predictable turn of events. This moment is one of the saddest in Avatar, and creating a third version of it was a challenge for Netflix. The attempt to add complexity to the plot feels forced and comes across as pandering.

The Fire Nation princess loses some of her flair with a season 1 subplot.

Elizabeth Yu as Azula with fire blazing in the background of Avatar The Last Airbender - The Fire Nation princess loses some of her flair with a season 1 subplot. - Azula Is Introduced Too Early

In the original show, Azula is only briefly mentioned before her dramatic introduction in the last moments of season 1. Netflix, however, introduces Azula early on and follows a subplot of her trying to prove herself to Ozai.

The change robs Azula of her brilliantly terrifying introduction and seems to be more of a fan service. The writers wanted to include Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee in season 1, but this early introduction may not have been necessary.

Additionally, the show unnecessarily makes Azula the mastermind behind Zhao's plot. Iroh points out that Zhao is just a small man with a small end, and including him in the larger plot may not have been essential. Azula's dysfunctional relationship with her father could still be explored in later storylines, making this subplot in season 1 feel more like padding.

Aang Speaking To Three Avatars

Aang speaking to the three Avatars who came before him works in some ways, but not in others.

Aang in avatar state wide shot from Avatar the last airbender Gordon Cormier as Aang - Aang speaking to the three Avatars who came before him works in some ways, but not in others. - Aang Speaking To Three Avatars

The show raises a valid question about how personal attachments can impact the Avatar's responsibilities. Unfortunately, it does not show Aang successfully balancing these conflicting priorities.

Netflix introduces a theme of Aang communicating with the three previous Avatars through visions in season 1. Each Avatar represents a different nation, adding depth to the story. Kyoshi's epic battle against the Fire Nation, Roku's unique perspective, and hints of future plotlines make these interactions engaging.

Although Kyoshi, Roku, and Kuruk offer Aang varying advice, the core message remains the same: that friends can be a burden to the Avatar. Aang struggles with the idea of prioritizing others over himself, raising important questions about the Avatar's responsibilities. However, the show doesn't fully explore Aang's internal conflict, as Katara simply emphasizes the importance of sticking together, without a deeper resolution.

Ozai Has Too Much Screen Time

Ozai does not have the same dramatic entrance as in the original show.

Ozai staring at Zuko before their Agni Kai in Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender - Ozai does not have the same dramatic entrance as in the original show. - Ozai Has Too Much Screen Time

Ozai faces a similar issue as Azula in terms of storytelling. In the original series, Ozai remains a mysterious and looming threat in the background, which adds to his intimidating presence. However, the additional scenes added in the Netflix adaptation, meant to develop Zuko's character, end up reducing the impact of Ozai. This includes a prolonged Agni Kai duel between Ozai and Zuko, as well as the conversation where Ozai banishes Zuko until he captures the Avatar.

Ozai's mysterious presence during the Agni Kai and the audience discovering how Zuko received his mission indirectly help to paint Ozai as a cruel character. Despite the intriguing changes to Ozai's relationships with his children, these could have been revealed in later seasons without altering his initial portrayal. As a result, Ozai and a few other characters and key moments lost some of their impact in Netflix's version of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

All episodes of both the animated and live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series are now available for streaming on Netflix.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a detailed analysis of the changes made in Netflix's adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 compared to the original animated series. While some changes are understandable, such as introducing Azula earlier to cater to fans, others come across as unnecessary and even detrimental to the story. The article highlights the loss of emotional depth in Pakku's character, the unrealistic progression of Katara's waterbending skills, and the oversaturation of Ozai's presence, which diminishes his impact as a mysterious and looming threat. Overall, the article effectively exposes the strengths and weaknesses of Netflix's adaptation, offering valuable insights into the challenges of adapting a beloved animated series for live-action.

It is important to note that any adaptation faces the challenge of balancing faithfulness to the original source material with the need for creative alterations. While some changes in Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender may not have been universally well-received, they were likely made with the intention of enhancing the story for a new audience. Ultimately, the success of any adaptation lies in its ability to capture the essence of the original while offering a fresh and engaging experience.