Fans of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” will be yelling “Yip! Yip!” at the new live action adaptation of the series from Netflix. Fourteen years after the generally disastrous attempt to adapt it by M. Night Shyamalan, we think fans will finally feel a sense of satisfaction.
Gordon Cormier steps into the shoes and shaved head of Aang, the titular Avatar / last airbender. He brings a soulfulness to the air nomad that feels much needed in this version. Eventually, he’s accompanied by Ian Ousley and Kiawentiio as Sokka and Katara of the Southern Water Tribe.
Where the series really shines is the dynamics of the Fire Nation. Daniel Dae Kim smolders as Fire Lord Ozai, bringing a quiet menace to the role. Dallas Liu does an exceptional job as Crown Prince Zuko, and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee adds a joyful relief to the series as his Uncle Iroh. The familial and geopolitical machinations of the first family of the Fire Nation are really amped up in this version, granting what feel like greater stakes.
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” is not without its faults. Often the visual effects feel cheap, and the dialogue can skew towards the rudimentary. Hardcore fans of the original Nickelodeon series might find themselves struggling to come into this version fresh. The bevy of guest stars as beloved roles may help to assuage and differentiate. We found it to be a much worthier attempt than past iterations.
We actually think it works best as a series for those unfamiliar with the material, but curious to see what all the fuss has been about all these years.
More about “Avatar: The Last Airbender”:
Water. Earth. Fire. Air. The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world. With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope. But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang, a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka and Katara, siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai. But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.
All eight episodes of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” are streaming now on Netflix.
