Given that the first season’s plot has already been seen twice in movies and television, crafting this series would have undoubtedly been a difficult task.
Somewhere, I am torn between “it offers more information on past questions” and “they changed the plot entirely” with some of these changes. Maybe, in some ways, these changes complicate what we already thought of the storyline.
Consider, for instance, Zuko’s Agni Kai with Firelord Ozai, or how Azula’s upbringing impacted her cruelty in subsequent seasons. Even Azula being an ally of Zhao all along and eventually leading the fire nation siege on Omashu was very surprising.
Despite these complexities, our goal is to shed light on some of the subtle changes in the Netflix adaptation that viewers may have missed. By comparing and contrasting the original animation and the live-action series, we aim to clearly explain how changes between the original and live-action series affect the story and character growth.
Did Aang Abandon His Duty as the Avatar?
This change in the storyline doesn’t create conflict until characters—for example, Gran Gran—in the first season begin criticizing Aang for abandoning his quest. The resentment from the rest of the world and Aang’s own guilt add an extra layer of drama to the series, as he didn’t intentionally abandon his duty as the Avatar in this version.
Fast forward 100 years, when Aang emerges from the ice. The original animation depicts Katara breaking the ice that encased Aang using Sokka’s boomerang. Conversely, in the Netflix series, the ice starts tom crack on its own after Aang was discovered by Katara and Sokka
Did Katara Learn Waterbending From Pakku?
Conversely, the Netflix series acknowledges Katara as a master based purely on her capacity to acquire waterbending from a single scroll in a few months at most. The storyline swiftly shifts from Katara challenging Pakku to the Fire Nation’s attack, leaving Katara responsible for Aang’s training.
This narrative indeed forces fans to question the true influence of Pakku in Katara’s development as a waterbending master.
Yue Takes Aang to the “Most Spiritual Place” in the North Pole
In the last episode of the Netflix series, a peculiar incident occurs where Momo, after nearly succumbing to injuries from shielding a child from debris, is revived by Yue. This event, which is not present in the original animation, serves an additional plot utilized as a means to guide Sokka and Yue to the Ocean and Moon Spirits.
In the original animation, Yue escorts Katara and Aang to the Oasis because Aang feels powerless against Zhao and his fleet of Fire Nation armies. Consequently, he seeks the Moon and Ocean spirits, hoping to enlist their assistance in saving the Northern Water Tribe. This crucial aspect of Aang’s journey is notably absent in the Netflix series.
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And while the other characters are grieving over Aang’s absorption by the infuriated Ocean Spirit, Sokka, seemingly without basis, suggests that there must be “some way to bring the Moon back to life.” This is a departure from the original animation, where it was Iroh who, upon noticing Yue’s hair color, suggested to Yue that she possessed the life of the Moon Spirit. As anticipated, Yue steps forward to sacrifice her life to revive the Moon Spirit.
Yue’s fate is one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in Avatar, and Netflix undoubtedly faced a challenge in recreating it for the third time.
In the Netflix adaptation of the Avatar series, the Cave of Lovers at Omashu is introduced under different circumstances compared to the original animation.
In the second season of the animation, the gang journeys to Omashu so that Aang can begin his earth-bending training with Bumi. The Cave of Lovers serves as an alternate route to avoid the fire nation who were hot on the gangs’ tail. However, in the Netflix series, Sokka and Katara traverse through the Cave of Lovers, not for a journey, but to gain access to the palace where Aang is duelling with Bumi.
The narrative takes another turn when it comes to the separation of the characters in the cave. In the original animation, Aang and Katara are separated from Sokka and the travellers. The crystals in the cave light up and chart a course for them only after Aang and Katara share a kiss. Meanwhile, Sokka, with a mistaken chord on a guitar, manages to calm the badgermoles, who then earthbend a road out of the labyrinth for them. In contrast, the Netflix series separates Sokka and Katara from the travellers.
The tale of Oma and Shu, the legendary lovers associated with the cave, is also presented differently in the two versions. In the Netflix series, the traveller explains the tale to Sokka and Katara before the cave collapses and they are separated. However, in the original animation, Aang and Katara learn about the tale after their separation by reading an inscription at the tomb of the lovers.
Who Could Have Thought Avatar Roku Could Crack Jokes?
The portrayal of Kyoshi as an epic figure who uses Aang to battle the Fire Nation is fitting, but Roku offers a fun counterpoint to Kyoshi, suggesting possible storylines in the future.
Interestingly, Roku’s character in the Netflix series is infused with a sense of humour, a trait that was less evident in the original animation. This unexpected twist adds a layer of complexity to Roku’s character and offers a contrast to the more serious tone of his character in the original series.
Zuko’s Back Story: The Agni Kai with Ozai
In the original series, Ozai, Zuko’s father, is a looming threat, often kept in the background, making him all the more intimidating. However, in the Netflix series, additional scenes intended to expand Zuko’s character arc meant we got to see more of Ozai. These scenes include the Agni Kai fight between Ozai and Zuko and the moment when Ozai banishes Zuko until he finds the Avatar.
In the original animation, the Agni Kai, a traditional firebending duel, is portrayed as one of the seven wonders of the Fire Nation, often crowded with spectators. However, the Netflix series presents the Agni Kai as a more private family affair, attended by only a few individuals and some soldiers.
The circumstances of Zuko’s banishment also differs between the two versions. In the original animation, Zuko is banished because he refuses to fight and defend his honour against his father Ozai in the Agni Kai bout, which Ozai perceives as a sign of weakness. However, in the Netflix series, Zuko does fight but shows compassion by choosing not to deliver the final blow and disgrace his father when he had the opportunity.
This portrayal conflicts with the original narrative that Zuko was not a firebending prodigy. The Netflix series depicted someone who was good at firebending and only lacked combat skills.
Furthermore, it is revealed that Zuko’s banishment in the Netflix series is not due to his refusal to fight, but because he continued to advocate for the 41st battalion, which Ozai’s military generals were willing to sacrifice in the planned attack on the Earth Kingdom.
