How did the new Avatar show change Azula?

Netflix's New Avatar the Last Airbender show has a lot of changes. One of those is the Fire Nation princess, Azula. Today, I thought we try to figure out why this change where made in the first place.
This is just my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so if I got something wrong, or you have something to point out please do so in a constructive way. We’re here because we’re all passionate about this show. Be kind and willing to listen. You never know what you might learn!
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[@vikillustrations]

to me this new version of Azula feels defanged. She feels more so like a rebellious teen who is put into place by a parent than an actual threat. OG Azula was terrifying and her every scene held the viewer´s attention and breath. This new Azula is simply too easy to dismiss, like why are her scenes even in there beyond introducing her ahead

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

That's a great way to put it!

[@etienne8110]

Tbf, even ozai is defanged. The endgame boss, the scary unbeatable villain from the original, got his butt kicked by a 13 years old in this show (zuko won the agni kai,he just held back at the last moment) 😅 So there are no threatening antagonists. Zuko is a nice guy from the get go. Azula is an angsty teenager. And ozai is a weak old man. This is more adult and serious i guess...

[@Savage.-_.Gamer1]

@@etienne8110 Well, given he was uncharacteristically holding back so he could expose his son's weaknesses, the biggest one being his compassion. Compassion is a sign of weakness they say.

[@jackieroberts2625]

@@Savage.-_.Gamer1 why would he need to hold back? How's that showing zuko's weakness? It shows that the big bad was almost beaten by a 13 yr old boy

[@sckaze777]

Agreed. Cartoon Ozai was an unforgiving, ruthless leader and parent. Didn't even get teary eyed as he burned his son's face @@etienne8110

[@ShaunakDesaiPiano]

If they change anything about Toph, I honestly think there is going to be an online riot.

[@bumbabees]

the entire internets going to go up in flames, im sure.

[@Matt-zu2lu]

Something that I liked about the original Avatar is that in season 2 the show quickly gets you to expect that whenever Azula is on screen that things are going to get intense. Like how she threatens Ty Lee life simply because she wanted to preform at the circus instead of serve as one of Azula personally elite soldiers, she seriously injures Iroh simply as a distraction, almost breaks into the Earth Kingdom, defeats the Suki and the Kyoshi warriors and then uses their uniforms to just casually walk into the Earth Kingdom, takes over the kingdom and temporarily kills Aang. Then after getting the audience to see her as a terrifying presence, constantly looming over the main characters the show starts to develop her as a character in season 3 and gives the audience a view into how she thinks while still keeping her intimidating.

[@abigailaceves9230]

My guess for Azula’s portrayal in the Netflix is their attempt to humanize her with some teen angst, though I do get your point on how she’s seen in the original show.

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

I guess my question is: why would you humanize her if she's only going to fall later on?

[@calamitysangfroid2407]

The problem with this is that Zuko already brings a ton of dad-related teen angst. He is one of the emo kings of the 2000s. By making his own sister, whose traumas and stresses are very similar to his but ISN'T in exile and HASN'T been disfigured by their dad, she's competing with him as a character for the audience to remember. She's a little different, sure, but she occupies the same emotional space as Zuko compared to Aang, Sokka, Katara, Iroh. And she can't beat Zuko because he will be closer to the Gaang. They're not making Azula more likeable, they're making her blander and more forgettable.

[@mori1bund]

We already have a Zuko, so why introducing a female Zuko 2.0?

[@jackieroberts2625]

​@@calamitysangfroid2407and OG Azula is so likable, she's terrifying and i loved her growing up

[@DIRECTEDBYH]

to make her more relatable to the tik tok attention span generation of superficial kids

[@azikiwesnay7718]

Azula was my girl. Thanks for telling people that she does care because some people refuse to not see that. She cared about her friends and zuko. They been friends since they were young. She just hyper focuses on her goals . Whatever goal that is be it impress her father, charm a boy or even help zuko. She's the fire lords daughter of course she has to put her best food forward.

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

I do want to be clear she does care deep down. However, she still is totally out of balance. She has good qualities but also does bad things. She still is an antagonist, who should be charged for her crimes. That doesn't mean she can't be redemption later on.

[@KittyRoyalty777]

The only live action I've touched with a ten feet poll that I didn't regret was one peace. That adaptation at least kept the characters personality intact.

[@teleportingpotatoe]

the netflix an series of unfortunate events was good

[@LadyDragonbane]

It's a frustrating trend nowadays where characters are stripped of everything that made them who they are just to appeal to the "modern/general audience". I welcome all the videos pointing it out and criticising it, and I hope that since ATLA is a pretty big IP the message will reach the right people.

[@casseymancl400]

I love this analysis on Azula, you deserve more subs!

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

I'm glad you found it helpful! Take care and have a love rest of your day =)

[@elperrodelautumo7511]

Azula is a dangerous princess with dangerous natural powers and a dangerous mindset. The Netflix version is some rebellious teen. So spoiled and pampered that she’s only threatening as some rabies infected chihuahua.

[@doobie1414]

Also the acress of azula doesnt have that fire, that meanness in her eyes

[@etienne8110]

Cruelty rather. Cold calculated violence. But i guess it is hard to impersonnate for a young actress with no direction (the direction here failed even older and experienced actors on this show)

[@doobie1414]

@@etienne8110 yeah we couldnt have asked more from her, they should have casted different tbh. Like me in my period is more intimidating than her in the show

[@sckaze777]

She's 28 much older than the other actors @@etienne8110

[@Izaya_Orihara]

they changed azula by ruining her

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

I wouldn't go that far. She's just different.

[@Izaya_Orihara]

@@CinemaOverAnalyzed youre too kind

[@mori1bund]

She's an interesting character but she's *not* Azula. The same is true for several other characters like Aang, Bumi or Katara.

[@sckaze777]

Or Sokka, Suki, heck everyone lol

[@ThePrincessCH]

Have you considered comparing the live action and animated versions of "Mo Dao Zu Shi"?

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

Hi there! I haven’t considered it because I’ve never watched that show. What’s it about?

[@ThePrincessCH]

@CinemaOverAnalyzed It's a Chinese made historical fantasy about a man whose soul was brought back who was once a war hero and villain. As the narrative explores into his past, it dives deeper into the conspiracy surrounding his actions.

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

That sounds really cool! I'm going to have to check it out! Which version is best to watch first?

[@ThePrincessCH]

@@CinemaOverAnalyzed The animated version is shorter, so I'd check that one out first as a baseline.

[@steveflair7815]

I Love Azula and she is my favorite villain from many Media. The one thing is that even I can't have a full opinion yet! It's a different take & only 1 season. 2 and 3 are approved so I can't wait & maybe she will get her Blue fire

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

I appreciate your optimism! Hopefully, they do something different with the character. Well just have to wait and see.

[@etienne8110]

The fire is the least important issue (just change the colour in the cgi) Having her become a threat will be more the issue. Original azula was scary because she was cruel, ruthless, overqualified, smart and mean. She was a naked blade, ready to cut anything. Netflix Azula... Is more a blunt foam sword for kids play.😅

[@Savage.-_.Gamer1]

She only got a spark of that blue fire, lol

[@jackieroberts2625]

So usually you wait until a series has concluded before having a take? Now i know what I've been doing wrong

[@joejoejoe532]

I think the animated Azula and live action Azula characters are in fact consistent. In fact, the dichotomy between deep internal instability that only those closest can see, and external projection of confidence, aloofness to everyone else is characteristic of many real-life tyrants, historical and contemporary. In the animated series, we only ever see Azula from an outside perspective in Book 2. We never actually see her internal conflict form HER perspective until Book 3 and particular at the beach. And thats why she’s portrayed in a terrifying way: that’s how Team Avatar sees her. What the new show does by introducing her in season 1 is also to offer us her perspective 2 seasons earlier. We are not seeing her as a boogie man from Team Avatar’s perspective. We are seeing her for her own perspective, and the perspective of a princess of a cutthroat royal family is filled with anxiety in the best of time. TLDR: Animated Azula always was insecure and filled with anxiety. We just don’t get to see that pettiness there because we only get Team Avatar and Zuko’s perspective of her. Live action Azula exposes us to that side of her much earlier so it feels like a different character when it’s not. Now whether viewers like that or not is another matter, but at least both versions of that exist and everyone has some version to fall back on.

[@itsketchup8114]

If you actually pay attention, there one clip that shows a split second of blue flames from azula. I think what they want to do is show the progression of this azula, and what leads her to getting her blue flames

[@toastertarts2990]

If they wanna do that, cool. I just wish they didn't hire what feels like a Disney Channel actor.

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

That's an interesting take and hopeful they do! All I ask if that it's different they the original series.

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

For me, I don't think the acting is the problem. I believe it to be more of a directing issue. It is only book one, so maybe they'll find their stride later on.

[@Shearper2]

I have no intention of watching the live action ATLA. cartoon exists. it is the superior version and live action is needless and unwanted and not needed nor desired. I say just go watch the ATLA cartoon not the live action

[@TheLithp]

To me, the motivation to change Azula seems obvious. She has quite a lot of stans who like to downplay the (many) more negative parts of her personality, viewing her as this relatable, poor misunderstood woobie with achievements that border on aspirational, e.g. "she took Ba Sing Se without killing a single person!" This is exactly the kind of fan her Netflix portrayal appeals to. I know, I've seen them over the moon about it. This hardly seems like an accident. It's a move of unusual shrewedness on the part of the Netflix show creators. Also, now that you mention other female characters that have been "toned down" by Netflix properties, I think it should be said that their Last Airbender is comically sexist. Oh, they like to go through the motions gesturing at feminism with things like "Katara doesn't need a man's help because she can just teach herself" but then they sand the edges down on her because they're afraid of her being "too angry," they're afraid of Sokka being "unlikeable" so they just replace his sexism with Suki being incredibly horny for him & having to build up his ego, June is also written horny...did I miss anyone?

[@jackieroberts2625]

Yuhue, i guess? 😂😂😂

[@jackieroberts2625]

Its the way they depowered the girls that annoys me. Some of the most powerful characters were the girls and they're basically nothing here 😢

[@sckaze777]

I really really can't agree more with your take

[@pandasiah5264]

8 1 hour episodes that somehow feel rushed, or 16 30 minute episodes that breaks up the story into episodic stories with overarching story

[@henrymockingbird9645]

While I do like the Netflix avatar the last airbender series but I too was not a fan of the way they portrayed azula

[@dontghostbanmeplz8788]

Netflix Azula should not be able to lightning bend according to Atla's the animation's lore given by uncle Iroh in Season 2 episode 9. Ironically, Animation Zuko should be able to lightning bend according to what Netflix has shown 😆

[@donnafilips1378]

i loved the cartoon and do like the live action Netflix because I feel like it is told more realistically and i think they could do more with her in the second season because that is when we meet her in the cartoon. I'm rewatching the live action from netflix and on ep 5 there is a moment of blue fire.

[@jackieroberts2625]

Realistically? Its a fantasy series that is hollow and explains everything to its audience like they're incapable of sitting with a scene for a minute but maybe that's reality

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

I do like the new philosophical questions it provides. The show is not perfect, but there is room to improve upon it. Well just have to wait and see!

[@donnafilips1378]

@@jackieroberts2625 I still think the live action did a good job and I just wish the hate would stop because ya the cartoon has way more but it's a live action and can't do everything

[@callmethecommentcountess9329]

Season two of this show will have season two 10 episodes while season 3 will have 12 episodes

[@doobie1414]

i cant watch the live show, it looks bad, it feels wrong

[@raijinhatake6558]

So from a cunning, manipulative , ruthless strategist to a cute insecure girl longing to go out into the word for seeking the attention nd recognition fron her father 😅 The 1st few episodes didn't bother me but I was a bit dumbstruck when i saw azula in the later episodes U dont get the scary vibe anymore Especially the episode involving the conquest of omanshu

[@chriscolombie4135]

Humm just to say the live action offers the same amount of minutes overall as book 1 but they just didn’t know how to use it at all

[@deandredukes95]

Netflix will sometimes get things right but more times than not, get them wrong

[@CinemaOverAnalyzed]

That is so true

[@Crzserbianguy]

The new avatar sucks. Sorry not sorry 🤷 it’s absolutely terrible and unwatchable for me. It misses on everything.