Netflix's Avatar Got Zuko Right (And Not Much Else)

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The Netflix Avatar: The Last Airbender show is out and it is a very mixed bag. In this video I go over where the show went from with Aang, Katara and Sokka while also going over what I like about Zuko, Iroh and the Fire Nation cast.
Music by Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com)
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Special thanks to Andrew Elliott (Stalli111: / stalli111 ) for editing this video.

[@captainmidnight]

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[@chasehedges6775]

Aang and the actor playing him is adorable but that’s about it.

[@ijbdawg9]

It was a little reminiscent of the new Percy Jackson talking too much about the plot, but to its credit *some* of that was diegetic. Like Aang talking to Appa in ep 1 (it comes across as him bouncing his thoughts off Appa).

[@inumidunoyenuga5333]

The katara actress was HORRIBLE

[@BrewBlaster]

Maybe it's me, but the voices almost seemed like AI sometimes.

[@littledudefromacrossthestr5755]

​@@inumidunoyenuga5333no

[@GaranSOI]

The children are way more charismatic and emotive with better chemistry in interviews which makes me think the script/direction held them back (or press/acting training in between seasons) and if the creators let them be themselves I think season 2 can do the characters more justice

[@captainmidnight]

Yeah, I'm cheering for them. So much of kid performances is direction, especially in such a weird environment like where this show was shot.

[@chasehedges6775]

💯💯💯

[@chasehedges6775]

Soooo true. The interviews and press stuff is great

[@inumidunoyenuga5333]

That is simply because they're being their real self...they don't have TO ACT in the press tours. We all have lot of charisma and fun but if we have to translate them on the screen,, i dont think most people will be able to. TLDR ;don't always blame the screenwriters for an actor shortcomings. Thay simply aren't good at acting

[@GaranSOI]

@@inumidunoyenuga5333true but the show didn’t exactly give Aang or Katara the chance to show their personality as they made them serious all the time. Also sure they are being more themselves in press tours but they are still playing up to the cameras, and if they can do it there I’m sure they can translate some of that to the characters

[@illyria000]

They did Katara so dirty. Took away all her traits but didn't replace them with anything.

[@AnotherRhino]

They might as-well go ahead and make her a damsel in distress atp. So passive its not katara at all.

[@ridwana4037]

"a MoThErLy NaTuRe!? iN tHiS mOdErN rEbOoT!?! wHaT iS tHiS, tHe 90's!?!?" - LA ATLA writers, probably

[@aniseedus]

Absolutely, so much of her personality - the anger, frustration, etc. - has been sanded down.

[@LizardSpork]

Team Avatar was definitely the worst and most boring characters of the show. I grew to accept Team Zuko at the end but omg is Team Avatar boring, they striped out so much of the humor and adorable goofiness.

[@DW-rs1pr]

Classic modern women hero. Flawless. Which makes her dull and unbelievable

[@globalmovement5141]

The HIGH- The 41st Division Bit The LOW - Aang not learning how to water bend at all

[@TheSleepiestPlurals]

what the fuck? He doesn't learn water bending? But the first book is called water because that's the element he learns in it, he needs to learn all four elements to defeat the firelord, it's right in the opening!

[@dave7474]

​@@TheSleepiestPluralsno he puts it off and ignores katara when she offers to train him 😅 Paku says they're practically a waste of time

[@TheSleepiestPlurals]

@@dave7474 jfc

[@joshy3614]

@@TheSleepiestPluralsthey decided that Aang is scared to try waterbending because he feels guilty for going missing, so he decides not to learn from Katara. Naturally, because of this, Katara became the natural waterbender picking up moves super easily and never getting frustrated and experiencing conflict with Aang :)

[@TheSleepiestPlurals]

@@joshy3614 I thought I heard they made her terrible at water bending

[@saji.2874]

That scene of Iroh and Zuko at Lu Ten’s funeral is genuinely incredible.

[@mspotato138]

I agree. That gives them so much depth. I always assumed, that Iroh always knew Zuko was different than the rest of his family, but that scene shows maybe why he felt so in the first place.

[@ceeb420]

Really loved that scene. Zuko and Iroh were definitely the high points of this adaptation.

[@mermaidtingzzz]

Incredible is an overstatement. It was stronger than the rest of the show.

[@TheGloryXros]

Nah. It should've been saved for Season 2.

[@connorhaine]

The notes of leaves of the vine coming through really tugs at the heartstrings

[@btee23]

Zhao was hilarious. His arrogance and hubris was so funny. He did steal every scene he was in. He also had great comedic timing.

[@johnfelix503]

Totally agree lol the actor did a great job

[@MeepMeep88]

He always sounded sarcastic lol.. His high pitch voice sounded like Mark Walberg from The Happening lol. Grandma: YOu wanna kill me in my sleep! Walburg: What??? Noooo? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWKzfGenjt-Boas hahaha Iroh: You wanna kill both fishies?! Zhao: Of course notttttttttt hahahah

[@LizardSpork]

TBH, I couldn't stand him. He was a bit too on the smarmy side of being menacing, for someone who's supposed to be the main villain of season 1, he never felt like a real threat to Team Avatar or Team Zuko. He's a commander / admiral, but they didn't bother showing him being in charge of anything more than a handful of men until the very last episode. It doesn't help that the show suffered from over-exposition so he's always muttering his plans to himself or a subordinate, giving off a cowardly conniving rat vibe, and omg that speech he gave at the castle once he caught Ang was soooo cringe, almost as bad as Azula's speech at the end. 🤣

[@monkiy1300]

@@LizardSpork I'm in the same boat as you, for the most part. I thought Zhao was an awfully written character, and in a show chock full of more bad dialogue than good, he still stood out as particularly awful. I can't say whether it was purely the writing, the direction, or the actor himself, but his lines *always* sounded out of the place in the world. What military officer talks to the prince of his nation so casually? He sounded like a random, every day person talking to a coworker he was trying to get a free soda from, and not at all like he belonged to his position, or this world we're supposed to find believable.

[@manuelmialdea5127]

I had to explain how he was changed and I said: "he's a rat now" It was like 100% accurate.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Zuko's actor perfectly nailed Zuko's character pretty well from his grunt, anger, and also his movement.

[@utilitymonster8267]

He barely ever showed anger, and when he did, it was so unconvincing. I have absolutely no idea why people all of a sudden claim Zuko was good, or even the only good one. Are they just parroting this video?

[@firefly4326]

​@@utilitymonster8267he showed anger with compassion. Is not all about anger. Is exactly the same with zuko in ATLA in the animated series. Are you even a fan who watched the series 15 years ago?

[@utilitymonster8267]

@@firefly4326 Then you don’t know Zuko from season 1. This live action Zuko looked like he was trying to be angry while he actually wasn’t. He looked more sad than angry. Season 1 Zuko is supposed to be filled with anger, and rarely shows doubt. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched the show again and read the comics again.

[@Foodude]

@@utilitymonster8267Animated Zuko is angry and full of wrathful moments. Live action Zuko comes across as just whiny.

[@utilitymonster8267]

@@Foodude Exactly, and everyone agreed with that until some KZbinr praised him. From that moment suddenly everyone thought this Zuko actor is a genius. While in reality, he is actually one of the few big misses.

[@ColinHadaway]

I like how producers think that exaggerated, animation-esque action scenes are an impossibility like the entirety of Stephen Chow's filmography doesn't exist...

[@chasehedges6775]

Maybe because animation is better Than live action

[@kuro5041]

@@chasehedges6775 that isnt what op is saying tho? tf

[@chasehedges6775]

@@kuro5041 I know but animation should stay as animation

[@roninmidori1188]

The combat effects in Kung fu Hustle are how I imagined Live action Anime fights to be.

[@ethanstites3040]

@@chasehedges6775 you’re asserting your option as fact, neither is better or worse. It’s an apples and oranges argument. They are different art forms, that’s it, stories will led better to both depending on what story you’re telling. My opinion is that the original last air bender cartoon didn’t need a live action adaptation because the cartoon told the story so well but to flat out say animation as whole is better is sorta silly but your entitled to your opinion.

[@jeremycards]

The revelation about the 41 kinda made my jaw drop, i had to inmediately google after that scene to see if it truly wasn't in the original and i had forgotten it, it just fits SO well that it was difficult to believe it was made up just now, made me really really happy and really improved early Zuko even more.

[@missAlice1990]

It wasn't in the show because, while emotional, it was stupid from logical perspective. They were going to use that division as cannon fodder. Why the change of plans? On a whim? The Fire Lord saying "Well, I wanted to use them but fine, if you like them, take them with you. Okay. Fine." Sounded like a kid who was offended that some other kid criticized his ideas. Or, does that mean a different division was sacrificed instead of the 41st? Just, doesn't make any sense from a serious ruler's perspective.

[@TheBleggh]

​@missAlice1990 Nah. Honestly it's the kind of petty shit I could see animated Ozai doing. "You like these soldiers so much? Here: Take them with you!"

[@timogul]

@@missAlice1990He literally cares that little.

[@toncek9981]

@@missAlice1990 Oh I can totally see Ozai sending these men with Zuko to remind him of his "weakness" every single day... and show kinda implies it works, because Zuko has this kind of ambivalent relations with them, caring about their lives but also taking out his anger and frustration on them little bit too much - one can only wonder if deep down there is a part of him blaming his soldiers for his problems. That being said, I don't see how these 20 or so men are supposed to be a division... and if they are, does it mean that Fire lord and his generals personally debate every skirmish involving bit more than hundred soldiers? I thought they were waging genocidal world war, not some local squabble over stolen cattle...

[@TheBleggh]

@@toncek9981 Yeah, "division" is pretty generous. Maybe there are auxiliaries and stuff we just don't see?

[@AlwayzFresh]

What has happened to modern script writers? Why does everything feel like it's someone's first time writing professionally?

[@chasehedges6775]

Same. It’s so bad

[@mina352]

It made the One Piece Live Action dialogue go from "decent" to "fucking masterpiece" for meafter watching ATLA live action. And then watching Andor it's just... the writing skill gap is massive.

[@genericname2747]

nobody wants to pay the professionals what they deserve

[@chasehedges6775]

@@genericname2747 👍

[@kelpikko]

there's a reason why the writers strike happened right? most likely not enough writers and ideas in the writing room because of corporate greed

[@benh9935]

Even with Zuko, they sanded down a lot of the rougher edges of his character. He’s a lot less caustic, especially towards his uncle. And then there’s the Agni Kai scene, with him fighting back against Ozai which is a pretty big departure from his cartoon counterpart.

[@ag8666]

I haven’t seen the series yet and not sure if I’m going to but I even hate what they did with his scar. Zuko’s scar was meant to make him look “ugly” in a sense. It was a reminder of his mistakes, his past, his complicated relationship with his family and even the ugliness of the fire nation. The scar looks so fake and seems like it doesn’t have the same weight as it did in the animated show. This is probably hella nitpicky but I think little touches like that can really elevate a show. So much about this show seems watered down when compared to the original 🥺

[@lforc3829]

On one hand, I hated how they made it look like Zuko almost beat him but chose not to because of love or something, but I liked how they made it a more deliberate decision for Ozai to "brand" his son rather than just overwhelm him with fire

[@genericname2747]

Yeah, seeing an actual child beg for mercy is more impactful than seeing the main antagonist almost get beat by his kid.

[@noztk]

​@@ag8666I think his scar left his eye damaged blurring his vision. Which is symbolic to his troubled path and lack of direction in the first two seasons

[@shivonspicer8168]

Lmao I skipped that scene entirely once given the heads up. The Airbender genocide, cave of two lovers and Kitara vs Pakku I also skipped. Enjoyed it that way. Skipping, low expectations and a desire for new ATLAB content. 😂😢😅

[@RORIROCKET]

I wasn't too disappointed. And zuko's character kept me actually invested lol

[@Loha2005]

"Claustrophobic" was the PERFECT way to explain it... I couldn't put my finger on it!

[@KingOfMadCows]

I think most of the Netflix show's problems are fixable. They've gotten most of the exposition out of the way, they don't need it next season. The actors will improve with experience and better writing. They can actually cut down on some of the dialogue and rely more on the actors. Like the scene where Iroh reveals that Zuko saved the 41st division. They had Iroh directly state that Zuko sacrificed a lot of save them, when they could have just had the soldier come to the realization himself and Iroh could just give a meaningful look.

[@damonlam9145]

I mean fair, season one of any show tends to be rough around the edges no matter how much work money and effort you put into it.

[@ninjanibba4259]

Next season? You want more of this crap? You got the series to get everything you need and want

[@SteveLeCanard]

@@ninjanibba4259I think the point they're making is "we're getting it anyways, might as well hope for it to succeed/improve."

[@ninjanibba4259]

@@SteveLeCanard either way it’s inexcusable

[@filhanislamictv8712]

To be fair that is what happened when zuko came back and soldier gave him respect and saluted. And one look from iroh and he knew

[@jeansalomon8225]

9:22 His name is Zhao (J-haOW). Middle aged. Big side-burns. Bigger temper.

[@ohood1788]

Admiral Choi! prepare to meet your fate

[@alexandelsosa7718]

It was the second he was in the middle of a rage and iroh tried to calm him down and Zuko turns around in a flash with sheer disbelief and desperation basically squeals "HE RAN". Thats when i knew he was Zuko. I saw him in Pen15 and knew he'd do a great job.

[@seth131]

you just blew my mind lol forgot he was the brother. I love Pen15

[@NeutralGuyDoubleZero]

Theres a special place in tartarus for writers that think removing character flaws equals improvement. "Lets remove Sokkas sexism" "Lets remove Aangs immaturity and burden of running away" Completely misunderstanding the basics of characters and storytelling. *"This trait is bad to have irl, so it shouldnt be in the story at all"*

[@imitationpitaya]

Aang especially hurts because they gutted the character of the protagonist! How can you expect a show to work when you’ve basically removed the protagonist’s arc?

[@aidanklobuchar1798]

As Mother's Basement pointed out, the changes to Aang were likely budget driven, as his wanderlust is too expensive to depict. But that's just another argument against the adaptation existing in the first place.

[@NeutralGuyDoubleZero]

@aidanklobuchar1798 What does budget have to with removing Aangs shame from running away? Im talking about adding/removing dualogue, not showing him wandering around. That argument doesn't apply at all to what I said. Mothers basement also made the argument pirating anime is never okay. Cut to crunchyroll customers losing their paid for files. He's not a great source for opinions/info lol

[@aidanklobuchar1798]

@@NeutralGuyDoubleZero Aang's wanderlust is tied to his desire to run away from his responsibilities. So if you remove that, his running away at the beginning has fewer ways to manifest throughout the story. You're right that they compounded this with bad decisions with everything surrounding the Air Temple genocide. And just because someone who has had opinions and analysis I disagree with doesn't mean they can't have points and insights that I do agree with, lol. You don't just listen to everything or nothing someone else says, lol.

[@NeutralGuyDoubleZero]

@aidanklobuchar1798 Just because it can't manifest quite as much doesn't justify removing it entirely. That's just bad writing and story logic. Similar deal with sokka *"how do we present this in a functional light for today's audience with what we have? Eh forget it."* That's not my point. You're the one who began it with "As mothers basement said..." like that adds anything of note. If you dont want me to point out how they're bad at making arguments, don't bring their name up lol.

[@RememberRox]

I love the guy who plays Zhao, he's one of the bad guys in Rush Hour 1 and i remember thinking he was really scary and menacing, that's how i rcognised him in this series, he's just a really good and scary actor

[@HeavyMetalBeliever]

The guy who plays Zhao was in LOST as well. And he does a pretty good job at portraying Zhao.

[@rickyvillalobos4508]

I agree that Zuko being assigned the division he saved was one of a few changes I didn’t take issue with

[@catwithquill]

Funy because i thought they completely missed the subtlety of his character. Scene comparison: Zuko vs Sokka at south pole Cartoon: zuko never firebends, fights to disarm only. He knows he's fighting a non bender without much skill and is acting with honor towards him. Sokka doesn't even adress him, just straight up tried to kill him and Zuko still just disarms him. He gets angry after getting hit with the boomerang, but later in the series we learn he probably wouldn't have hurt Sokka, even after that. Sure, he gives his all against Aang, but only after seeing the avatar state. He sees Aang as an equal who can take it. Netflix: zuko fights with fire right off the bat, he's not holding back, Sokka is barely dodging, then Zuko goes for a burn shot when Sokka is already down. Cartoon Zuko wouldn't even do that to Zhao! And then he orders his men to fire on a bunch of children because they threw rocks at him and stopped him from maiming and possible killing Sokka. No. Netflix says Zuko is honorable, but the most honor he shows is giving a warning before burning you. This mischaracterization combined with how uterly they ruined Katara and how Aang lost most of his complexity, i just gave up half way through ep 3 and rewatched the cartoon and read fanfiction to wash the netflix show out of my brain.

[@timogul]

I think that Netflix Zuko has a bit more of an arc to him than the cartoon one, especially in the first season. He starts from a place of rage and inferiority complex, he wouldn't put himself above an opponent like you say, because he doesn't quite believe that he is, even if he thinks he should be, and he throws himself at the goal regardless of the costs. He's much more broken. He repairs a lot of that by the end of the season, and that Zuko is much more his old self, before the fall, more compassionate and self-assured.

[@jackieroberts2625]

@@timogul More of an arc than OG Zuko? That's all I need to know you misunderstood the animated series

[@mr.iiconic]

I'd rather watch the movie that doesn't exist in ba sing se than read Fanfiction from THIS fanbase.

[@TabbyeLynne]

​@@mr.iiconic the original animated show has a great fanbase that is still very active to this day and has produced some amazing fanfiction so why would you rather watch the movie? Make it make sense

[@mr.iiconic]

@@TabbyeLynne "amazing fanfiction" 💀

[@ansambel3170]

No matter how good the child actors are, you can't expect them to beat expressiveness of animation and a proffesional voice actor (who doesn't have to be a martial artist to play the role). Also cartoon had a very vivid and creative world, so you need tons of CGI to make that work. Before watching that, i thought it's very hard to make something that is on par with animation, but now i think it kind of can't work in live action. There will be too many scenes you can't pull off with child actors (who were pretty good, here , admitedly), too many locations you need to cut corners on. Like it's unviable as a project with limited budget.

[@chasehedges6775]

EXACTLY

[@michaelstinson63]

Totally agree, thank you for saying it.

[@TheCoolCucumber]

The issue with that comparison is that all of the primary cast for the animated series were kids themselves back when they made the original series. They mentioned to find a cast of compelling child actors back then, so it's a shame that it's been such a struggle to find that same success with the live-action remake.

[@bt3519]

​@@TheCoolCucumberVery true. The original voice actor for Aang has more charisma in just his voice, than most of this live action cast does in their voices, facial expressions and physical movements. Saying "well they're kid actors" isn't the best excuse, we already saw it be done before.

[@LizardSpork]

@@TheCoolCucumber +1. The original voice casts were far superior. Idk why but they made Zuko and Azula too young, so instead of brash we get bratty. Like the original voice actor for Zuko had a voice that sounded just like a teen on the verge of adulthood - high pitched but with a hint of deepening. The live action actors sounded... whiny... I honestly laughed out loud when Azula gave that cringy speech at the end, even knowing her whole character arc I have trouble believing she can be menacing to anyone. Like "oh sweetie, we talked about this, you can't invade Ba Sing Se until you finished your homework, now go back to your palace rooms or it's no more sleepovers with your BFFs."

[@Vagking34]

I’ve been saying Zhao was my favorite character and absolutely nobody would side with me. He killed every scene he was in. Actors for him, zuko, and Ozai were easily the highlights of the show in terms of acting

[@timkruse9912]

agree, ken leung was the perfect choice for zhao,

[@user-jb3nf1mx2k]

i absolutely loved Zhao!! honestly Zhao, Zuko, June, and Iroh were my favorites

[@K4113B4113]

I really disliked Zhao in this haha. He just looks way too friendly. Even when he's plotting murder he just looks and sounds goofy. I remember the original Zhao as being tall, imposing and a bit intimidating.

[@La0bouchere]

Me and my husband both thought Zhao was so poorly acted that it ruined any immersion we had, every scene he was in. Seemed like a random person trying to act and not an actual actor lol

[@qwerty11111122]

I felt like the actor playing zhao put a soul into the character, which is good for an adaptation, but felt like it was a different soul from the original zhao. Closer to a Joker-esque chaos gremlin from his scheming than the "might makes right" that burnt his own ships down. Og zhao did have some scheming--quietly inferring the avatar from first meeting zuko, pirates assassinating zuko and the library knowledge of the ocean and moon. Maybe in a few rewatches, ill see it as more of a genuine interpretation after the shock of it wears off.

[@kenetik13]

So far Zuko is my favorite live-action character

[@-68]

this is why i always looked forward to seeing more Zuko than the main 3. when i was watching i just ended up wanting to see more of him, cz his character felt more real to me. which made me get more attached and actually give a shit about what happens to him. didnt feel that for the main 3

[@Clutch275]

Better than the "film"... but they better start shooting the next seasons quick before the kids age out...

[@blackmantis3130]

That's a low bar

[@andreastory800]

The actor that plays Aang is already getting so tall, he’ll be taller than his cast mates soon

[@tariqthomas9090]

Honestly the kids should age up so they can grow as actors, imo.

[@Yeeeeaaaanoooo]

@@tariqthomas9090it’s not about them growing as actors it’s about the actor physically looking like the cartoon characters they portray, if Aang gets taller than the rest of the team it’ll be hard to ignore that as an audience

[@G3NTOK1]

@@YeeeeaaaanooooI think it’s better if the actors do age honestly because it makes it a bit more believable that they’ve been traveling around the world as Aang has to master each elements and the avatar stage to defeat the fire lord. I understand not wanting to do it because it takes away the fact that Aang was so young and defeated a really powerful force. However, I always wanted to see them age just to see how much they grow and develop. Reasonably I say that the Gaang should’ve taken at least a year and a half or 2 years to complete their “quest.” It could also put more pressure and desperation on Aang by the later half of the series, especially for the invasion episode in book 3. This is just my personal opinion though.

[@filhanislamictv8712]

Zuko I was always excited when he was in screen

[@ThePythonfan]

I really never thought Zhao would ever steal the show, but he literally did....all his scenes were amazing, had gravitas, were organic and felt the least awkward. He was like a proper Disney villain.

[@catika505]

It was better than i thought it was going to be but still not great. My biggest problem is that aside from Zuko the writers seemed to fundamentally misunderstand the nuance of Aang, Sokka and Katara's characters, alongside some key side characters like Roku. Reducing Roku's significance is a HUGE mistake that will come back to bite them in the ass. His personal failures are the crux of Aangs whole conflict right up to the end of the series. I will watch the next season as I dont think its a write off yet and with a few key changes it could be great. They flubbed the impact of some key emotional beats in the first season (such as Gyatso's death) but the story of Avatar is very back loaded and there are some incredibly emotional moments in the second season that if they get right could be stellar.

[@friday6448]

If I had a nickel for everytime the actor for Zuko in a live action avatar adaptation did by far the best job out of all the actors...

[@Daniel-sl5vm]

Having Zhao in the show kinda made you realize what could happen if they cast this series well. If every actor bought his energy to their performance the show would be amazing

[@severedghost]

It's a really corporate cliff notes version of Avatar.

[@CaptainDevilSticks]

I'm kinda split on this opinion. I agree that the adaptation gives a "let's make sure to check all the boxes" vibe, but I don't get the impression that it comes from an entirely soulless, greedy place. If anything, I feel like the creatives behind the show have genuine love for the original series. That said, a lot of the time the writing crosses into questionable fanfic territory despite it being an adaptation, not a non-canon expansion on an existing IP.

[@LizardSpork]

I think they did try their best, but their best wasn't good enough. There were some bad choices made: casting, dialogue, tone, set design. I think they wanted to serve this to an older audience, but in doing so they lost so much of the charm that draw in the fans for the original so it feels like a pale imitation while also failing to distinguish itself from the numerous other fantasy shows being offered on various streaming platforms. I will say that it didn't FEEL like a corporate cash grab, but a regrettable misstep.

[@commodorezero]

@@CaptainDevilSticks The show has a lot of good and a lot of bad. Being torn about it should be the natural reaction IMO. No one will deny the creatives and actors tried their best in some narrow ways theyve even improved on the original but IMO a live action ATLA should never have been greenlit. Doing the best you possibly can with a bad idea still makes it a bad idea.

[@asmr_reviews]

Interesting 🤔 I thought all the characters were watered down versions of themselves. I felt Zuko in this live action wasn’t as bitter and or as damaged and therefore can’t have as much a dramatic character arc when he has to turn away from absolutely everything he believed in and thought was his destiny

[@CINEMAZE]

Overall I thought Zhao and Ozai were improved and Zuko was great. The other characters were changed too much and lost a lot of their charm or arcs

[@melodyashton228]

💯

[@daniellauricella5132]

I feel like Aang and Jet were pretty true to their animated versions. And I actually really like the direction they went with Bumi. It was very different, but felt purposeful and I think fit with the slightly darker tone this show is going for.

[@augustusfreeman4032]

They didn't improved a single character.

[@GaranSOI]

@@daniellauricella5132Aang was nothing like his original they removed all his youth, energy and humour

[@daniellauricella5132]

@@GaranSOI He's still just as young as he was before, and he's still portrayed as a cheerful, optimistic kid who is viewed by others as naive but sticks to his principles. Sounds pretty similar to me. To say he's "nothing like his original" is pretty obviously hyperbolic.

[@Busker_3000]

The one thing I would want to look forward to is maybe having the final season split in two. Season 3 would end at the invasion, and you can have an entire fourth season for Zuko's development and the majority of the budget put into Sozins Commet.

[@drpepperman2765]

I like that idea, plus it'd be cool to slow down and explore more of the Fire Nation culture outside of a single Footloose episode

[@Eidlones]

This is Netflix, tho. I'd be surprised if it made it to season 3

[@ibrahimihsan2090]

Well, that is sort of a good idea. It gives the Earth arc more potential.

[@mexanx]

It'd really be nice to have Zuko spend more time with the Gaang, which we didn't get much in the animated series

[@nasifsiddiquey8867]

I hope they do what Breaking Bad did and have season 2 be 13 episodes, with season 3 be 16 episodes. They can do it exactly like Breaking Bad where as you mentioned, the season would be split into two seasons with 8 episodes each. Or, they can just do one 16-episode season. 8 episodes is too little, especially for Books 2 and 3.

[@harley_yelrah9429]

I really hope we can see how Johnny gat went from the third street saints to the fire nation

[@greayworks7232]

This is one in between the One Piece and Cowboy Bebop adaptation because while I think they fumbled a lot with the stuff it carried over directly I actually really liked a lot of the ideas of what they changed

[@CelicGames]

you're very smart for never changing the intro. love hearing the capitiaaaan midnight

[@stephen6279]

I am a casual fan, i LOVED this adaptation, i didn't know there was a big green screen thing, i didn't notice that

[@lrlrch8351]

The twist of Zuko's crew is so good that I wish it was on the original. The rest of the show is ok, but I want to see a second season because it's not as episodic as the first season

[@abominablesnowman876]

the one scene that really hit me is when Iroh ignore zuko in prison. that really blow my mind

[@justafan5179]

Very nice video!!! I just watched the 2020 film "Beans" and I gotta say... I have no idea what the writers told Kiawentitto to do... but they need her to do what she did in "Beans" in Season 2 of this adaptation. I'm really hopeful for season 2... mainly because though it took forever, they did eventually get into character. If they can get the writing cleaned up, and let these kids fly... they've basically got the other fundamental stuff down, at least from a foundation perspective... sure, to your points it all needs work, but they've got a good start. Hopefully they can build on it.

[@andersfernandez13]

Iroh should channel more of his Kim's Convenience inner strength

[@ForeverDakota1]

been waiting for this video💯

[@bogwitchburke]

I liked a lot of things about the series too, thanks for providing a balanced take!

[@AM_artworks]

I found myself looking forwards to Zuko's plot in every episode. Dallas Liu was great as Zuko and I do look forwards to seeing him tackling the redemption arc.

[@ConsultingHumor]

Can we just get Aaron Ehasz to write and put all of this to bed? You can tell from dragon prince that Ehasz knows how to write a story, and I think he'd be great in retelling the story within the bounds of live action

[@inumidunoyenuga5333]

Y'all aaron fans really like to over glaze him...he wasnt even the most important part of the original series

[@verdegaban1615]

​@@inumidunoyenuga5333He was the head writer throughout most of the series. Just look at how Korra underperformed in the writing department with his absence.

[@timogul]

I don't know, Dragon Prince isn't the *best* example.

[@TheCoolCucumber]

A significant portion of the Dragon Prince fanbase has turned against Aaron Ehasz and Co. since the end of season 3, though. The standard of writing, consistent quality, and satisfying progression of plot and characters has really diminished in seasons 4 and 5. And The Dragon Prince was never on the same level as Avatar The Last Airbender, or even Legend of Korra - it's tone was just too childish to hold the same stakes or depth to the storytelling. If the original creators had stayed on the project, I'm sure we would have gotten a much better story. A radical departure from the original series seemed to be the plan with them; and that would have at least justified the existence of remaking an, arguably perfect, series.

[@G3NTOK1]

@@verdegaban1615I think that he alongside Bryke and the other guy (and other good writers) is what made Atla what it is. The other reason why Tlok wasn't as good as Atla was because, unlike Atla, the writers did not plan to make a full-fledged series with Tlok. They didn’t plan like they did for Atla, and they didn’t have a person like Aaron to balance them out. The only reason I'm saying this is because from what I remember seeing about Dragon Price when it first came out (I never watched it) a lot of people thought that show wasn’t completely good either.

[@Johan-tn2wt]

i thought this was ab the blue guys

[@benwasserman8223]

No. But given the titles of his films, you have to wonder if James Cameron is a big Avatar: The Last Airbender fan.

[@aomafura3374]

There is no blue guys in Avatar 😃

[@GOODYGOODGOOD789]

Zuko's my favorite character in both of these series but I feel like in Netflix's series it's more by default than in the original series, where I do believe he's one of the greatest characters ever but if someone said another character was their favorite I would understand that, but in this, Zuko is still great but I feel like I can't understand how someone could prefer anything else in the show over his stuff. And by don't understand I mean I can't see your perspective, you can prefer anyone else over Zuko and Iroh in this series and that's fine (because everyone is allowed to have their own opinion) but I don't understand how anyone can, because anyone can have their own opinion but trying to say that someone can't have an opinion and you don't understand someone else's opinion are two different things,

[@connorjonesfilmsOH]

I'm SO glad someone brought up the over use of the volume. It's at its most effective when used along side practical pieces on the set that sort of "blend" the screen and the real world. Almost everything in this show looks incredibly flat and unconvincing.

[@MiSchli]

In the end i actually enjoyed this version... i mean, i enjoyed it enough to want to see the old one again 😅 I agree with a lot of points you mentioned: - The actors WERE really stiff in the beginning but you really feel like they are evolving during the series. I personally thought the Aang actor showed massive improvements during the progression of the series. - Shout out to a Miles/Jin reunion... at first i didn't really recognize Ken Leung but had this nagging feeling of: Wait, i know him...but well time doesn't stop ^^ - The effects were....ok.... Volume flat, but ok for a tv show these days. I enjoyed most of the bending stuff....the water effects and Zukos fighting style. - Some make-up (looking at you Bumi or Evil Abed) really felt off, but after a while it blended ok with the rest of the shows style. Story-wise, i didn't like the beginning. I think it robbed the show of a lot of mystery to just tell Aangs whole deal right out of the gate. The cartoon weaved in those elements much more organically. But this kind of stuff also improved during the season...especially for the fire nation elements. I'm hopeful for Season 2. But i guess the biggest plus for the show will be that when people like this, it will hopefully redirect them to the original to get ahead of the story and THEN realize how good it is.

[@Dyrnwynn]

I think most of the makeup, costumes, etc. look decent to good. The worst thing in the show is...Yue's wig. Poor Amber Midthunder. That thing looks so, so fake. There are also several times where you can see her real hair peeking out.

[@zidneyu]

Evil Abed 😆 nice

[@vishuprathikanti9352]

A lot of people have been praising the 41st division change but to be honest, I'm not sure it's all that. I think the crew in the original stood as a proxy for the audience. They come to respect zuko not because he saved their lives, but because he's just a standup guy. The fate of the 41st division is pretty inconsequential, and I kinda got the sense that the crew was just a bunch of misfits anyway; who in their right mind would willingly agree to go on Zuko's wild goose chase? The 41st division being his crew almost raises more questions in my mind.

[@ellenjuel9968]

i also feel like zuko getting the 41st division is kind of a win for him? like he technically saved their lives, and now that they know the truth, they have loyalty and respect for him. whereas in the show, zuko gets scarred and banished, and the 41st division still dies. in effect, for zuko, it must have felt entirely pointless; he went through all that pain for nothing. a huge part of Zuko’s arc is that no one around him except Iroh truly sees him for the honourable person that he is, which makes it extra hard for zuko to see himself as honorable; he sees himself as others see him

[@ellenjuel9968]

all this to say, I agree with you

[@reginaaduana4469]

Loved Ken Leung as Commander Zhao! Knew he would be great because he plays a similar menacing character in HBOs show Industry!

[@J50143]

Yooo never caught that lost cast reunion. Awesome. 🍻

[@ivanbluecool]

So many atla reviews today. Nice

[@FlashTemp]

never have i read a video title and blurted out loud i agree. until 5 seconds ago

[@ElectroPopSelection]

🤣🤣🤣You forgot to mention Miles and his dad (Francois Chau) Reunion. The Dharma guy in the VHS videos!

[@GG-id8bt]

Spot on. I vigorously shook my head I. Agreement with everything you said. I wanted to love this show so badly but from episode 1 I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to want. It took me four days to finish and only because I forced myself to finish. Normally I’m done I. A day or two, depending on what time I start watching on the first day.

[@LorenzoDoesntExist]

I hate the reductive argument that fans of the original need to "stop hating," as if having any sense of story or character makes you a nerd. "It'd be boring if they did everything the same." Obviously, changes that benefit the characters are encouraged, but all of them seem to water things down for Netflix audiences. "Stop comparing" is also silly because without the intrigue of this being an adaptation of a classic, all that's left is a generic fantasy. Similarly, most people can tell that Michael Bay's Transformers aren't structurally very good, but when they first came out, fans were called nerds for not liking the changes. It's crazy that people's opinions get dismissed just because they're fans of something while apathetic audiences now control an oversaturated market full of watered down film and TV. THEY may not care about storytelling, but why show such a bad attitude towards those who wanna discuss it constructively? There's nothing wrong with critiquing an artform. You don't need even need to be a fan to notice these storytelling issues. You just need half a brain.

[@jbru9576]

Thank you for saying this. It’s so facts.

[@KevvoLightswift]

It has more to do with the inability to understand the difficulty of adapting source material or come up with new ideas. Fans of older shows are quick to harp on what they perceive to be problems, many arrogantly claiming they could do better. But the problem with that argument is, they have the finished product of something to critique. Everyone knows it's way easier to critique something than actually create something new. I have zero respect for people like that. It's also common for said fans to claim, "I could've written something better." Well, WHY DIDN'T YOU? Why didn't you write something better and submit it to the producers BEFORE they came out with the show? Just because you have some else's material to work with now does not mean you could do it better originally. Stop being a useless ivory tower critic and put your money where your mouth is. CREATE SOMETHING BETTER.

[@LorenzoDoesntExist]

@@KevvoLightswift That's a really long-winded way of saying, "Let's see you do better." By your logic, nobody has the right to acclaim something either. How can they know it's well-made if they haven't made anything themselves? Not making film or TV doesn't invalidate your right to evaluate storytelling. Film and TV often have crews in the tens of thousands, and not one of them, not even the director, could make it alone, so then none of their opinions matter either? What's more applicable is that, while at varying levels, each person who worked on it has an influence on the final product and has also been an audience member. They enter the business based on their understanding of storytelling, and they begin that understanding by critically thinking about it. Your attempt to generalize the fanbase as a bunch of whiny brats is short-sighted since the majority of criticisms have been legitimate and many of them have proposed better alternatives to the Netflix adaptation's choices. Again, they don't need to be capable of writing an entire screenplay to criticize an aspect of it, and as it stands, many different aspects are being criticized, so it leaves a lot to be desired overall. If we respond to every criticism with, "But filmmaking is hard..." studios will keep expecting a pass when making mediocre cash grabs.

[@daniellauricella5132]

I think there's a difference between "having any sense of character or story", and expecting/demanding 100% fidelity to the original. Speaking as a fan of the original cartoon, I'm honestly not too bothered by the Netflix adaptation. No, it's not as good as the original cartoon, but I kind of figured it never had a chance of being that, because the original cartoon is just held at such a high level. Insofar as there are many differences between it and the original, I honestly kind of prefer that, because it makes each version distinct and therefore, more worthwhile. If one was functionally identical to the other, there wouldn't be much point. Indeed, I think that, if this show came out and it was overly-similar to the original, folks would bag on it for that reason instead. Which isn't to say all changes are automatically good, but I honestly do like some of the alterations they made. I particularly think the changes with Bumi made perfect sense for a somewhat darker version of the show aimed* at a more mature audience. It basically serves as a kind of deconstruction of / more harshly realistic take on, the animated original that I thought was interesting. I similarly kind of liked how they were able to integrate Teo and his father and Jet and his Freedom Fighters into Omashu. It's streamlining for sure, but I'd argue that there is an art to doing that. After all, The Last Airbender movie also tried to streamline, and it went far worse. I think streamlining can force one to make creative choices about not only what to keep Vs. what to cut, but also how to remix or reimagine elements that can't be given as much time as they were in the original. *And when I say "aimed", I mean the intent was for it to be for a more mature audience, not that it succeeded. As far as objecting to folks telling purists to "stop hating", I think it's worth pointing out that, many a Comic Book Movie in the 2000s era was crucified for not being 100% identical to the comic books, and that this led to some good or great comic book movies getting scorched undeservedly. But the MCU made often pretty significant changes multiple times, and, at least pre-Multiverse Saga, most folks seemed to either be on board with it or come around eventually, given how enormously successful the MCU ended up being. The point is, I don't think it's inherently bad to make changes to the source material in an adaptation, and that to an extent putting fresh spins on something is kind of necessary to make it worth doing a second time. So no, not all changes are automatically good or beyond reproach, but I think to characterize any objection to a purist mindset as folks who "don't care about storytelling" or "not having any sense of story or character" is just as uncharitable and dismissive as the very attitudes you're objecting to. So no, wanting some amount of fidelity doesn't automatically invalidate one's point of view...but neither is expressing a willingness to be flexible and accepting of differences. In any case, I don't really see much to fault with the show's handling of Zuko and Iroh. I feel like the emotional moments with them have consistently landed just fine, and am not really seeing how/why they're so obviously bad, wrong, or in need of improving. There is a lot of exposition, true, but the Lord of the Rings movies had a ton of exposition also, and most generally consider those the peak of filmmaking. The first movie in the trilogy begins with a massive lore-dump, and I've yet to see anyone raise hell over that. I guess you could argue that one conveys that exposition more gracefully than the other does, but I still sympathize with the show needing to explain relevant world-details and the like. And for all folks seem to dislike the handling of the main trio, I think the show grasped Aang's character reasonably well. Actor's a bit wooden it's true, but child actors are always hit-or-miss and frankly I've seen much worse. I think the show handles Katara and Sokka's relationship and dynamic pretty well, and the latter's actor seems perfectly fine to me performance-wise. I did think he was funny, at least some of the time. Finally, I think the show visually is pretty great. The sets maybe feel a bit too small-scale, which is a problem I think a lot of TV shows suffer from on Netflix and elsewhere, but the fight choreography and costume design are both first-rate in my view. The opening earthbender vs. firebenders fight was basically perfect for my money, and overall I've enjoyed all of the fight scenes and like seeing designs that are way more faithful to the source material (and just plain more vibrant and visually appealing) than the costume design in the awful 2010 movie. Now, all of this is with the caveat that I'm only halfway through the first season, so it's possible the next four episodes will sour me on this adaptation, though from what I'm gathering it's actually in the back half where things pick up in quality. But again, speaking as a long-time fan of the series, as someone who watched the original cartoon when it was first airing in the 2000s, I'm honestly not too put off by what Netflix has done. Maybe it's just because the last LA adaptation set the bar as low as it could possibly be set, but I don't really see this as any kind of catastrophic failure. Inferior to the original, yes, but still not a terrible watch, and with at least one more season coming there is room for improvement.

[@LorenzoDoesntExist]

@@daniellauricella5132 Like I said, "Obviously, changes that benefit the characters are welcome." Nobody asked for a 100% adaptation. When they discuss how well or not well a change worked, they're not saying EVERYTHING should be the same. As for your example of nerds whining about the MCU, those were largely positively received at the time. My whole point was to not generalize that everyone who criticizes something is just hating. I hope you realize the irony of you being a fan of the original and discussing its merits generalizing that other fans are just blindly complaining because their opinion differs from yours. I also hope you see the irony in saying that people should be able to make something better to criticize when you haven't even fully watched the show, but thank you for clarifying that you haven't. And while your opinion is likely to improve because of the action, I hope you know that the third act isn't just a visual climax but also a resolution of arcs, which have also been the source of some complaints. Like you said, you find it inferior for reasons that you believe are reasonable, so it's not inconceivable that there are fans who find it worse for good reasons too.

[@mandarinduck]

0:48 Some "elements" eh?

[@emmanuelfernandes5610]

Zhao was great! Loved him in the cartoon and to see him more in this was nice.

[@232Gecko]

Great video!

[@shoople46]

It was mid af. Some things were good, but most was bad

[@chasehedges6775]

💯💯💯. Glad I didn’t watch it then

[@chasehedges6775]

Average and mediocrity is the standard now. Just a sad fact of life

[@Indigo_1001]

@@chasehedges6775 Not at all This new show is mid but it’s a dramatic improvement to anime adaptations of the past like Dragon Ball Evolution and even 2010’s The Last air bender.

[@SummerTokyoNeko]

​@@Indigo_1001so not much

[@Antigen__]

This is the most non-opinion I've ever seen

[@MeRacko]

i didn't even realize that sound stage being used all the time and the volumen tehnology

[@forgotten1s]

Love Let Me Explain and captain midnight they r the only channels i watch in this genre

[@jianpanglam570]

Zuko is such an Emo i love him! My favourite Netflix ATLA character!! Hahaha

[@TurkeyFaceX]

Season 1 Zuko is easy to get right. It's seasons 2 and 3 Zuko that will be a real challenge to nail and its important that they do.

[@iamthejolson]

I'm glad you pointed out the usage of the volume technology because every clip I've seen of the show has such a fake and shiny look that throws me off

[@MorganEdgy]

I honestly don't understand the dislike for this Zhao. His presence is intoxicating, and way better than I've seen anyone credit him for. Aside from you, that is. Thanks for shining some light on him

[@jaymenjanssens720]

Hmm, looks like I'll wait for S2 to check this brew before binging

[@DeannaGilbert616]

I’m glad you had a nuanced take on this because especially on KZbin all you see is how horrible the show is. And it’s certainly flawed (especially the writing) but the things I liked, I really liked. And some weird choices actually make sense if you think about it. I really hope they make the final two books into either three seasons or four, assuming they stick with 8 episodes per season.

[@cal-scot]

3 actors from Lost were in this. The guy that played myles's dad (dharma scientist) was the firenation temple guy aswell

[@d4dr4g0n]

Sounds like they've focused on the Fire nation, Zuko and Iroh then treated the rest as a bit of an afterthought. Makes me wonder if they've originally wrote for a Zuko-focused story then had to write in the other stuff of the AtLA.

[@Zethic2884]

Can't believe you didn't mention Pierre Chang from Lost aswell xD (François Chau)

[@davismorgan7955]

Miles Jin reunion is awesome. Especially since Ken’s acting in LOST was a little lacking. It’s great to see him get a role where he can chew the scenery the entire time.

[@pexeforad4gua]

The Best part of the Netflix séries to me is the one that made me rewatch avatar again e now started to see kora too. Tnx Netflix to make this a necessity in my life.

[@thezenlu]

I think there is a problem in media translation. We as an audience have lost the ability see differences without cataloging them as good or bad, and the ability to sit and wait to see how things go... I will tell you off the bat, the fire nation stuff worked, it was grounded, menacing, and the performances had the weight that it needed to... I specifically loved the palpable conflict between Zuko and his crew. And Zhao was even more weasely and arrogant then in the original (it take a specific type to think to kill a spirit to win a single battle, and that type would think themselves deserving to rule everything) But as far as team Avatar goes, their job in the script was to drive the plot, but also discover the true changes to world (their world and between the shows) I found it weirdly intriguing that they got rid of the storm, and in it's place made almost everyone in the show the fisherman from the episode. Everyone is angery and mistrusting and honestly its for good reason... but they also feel entitled to anger against this child for coming now. The Avatar state is not a trumpcard this time around, their is more at stack in it's use prematurely, the other Avatars are far more dickish and contradictory to one another, but most of all they give Aang a conflict that is internal from the word go, and that is a very mature and different feel that though the dialog they are trying to transmute from the original doesn't always translate well into there is enough there to find his new journey and new choices compelling... It would have been nice to get all the different towns, and all the different goofing around... but being that audiences are usually complaining when the shows aren't tightly focused on the main plot these days, trading that away was bound to happen... I don't know, I love the Fire Natiin stuff, and though I don't love the Team Avatar stuff, I understand what they are doing, and like the contrast they've built into the world they are reflecting. We are currently in times that feel of non-stop social conflict and that is reflected in the actions of the world that wants this little kid to be the answer to everything... It’s way more thoughtful than if you plainface compare the two shows, and you just sit with what this new incarnation is trying.

[@matthewa.whiting719]

One detail i like in this version is how Ozai scarring Zuko's face is more surgical and precise. It's not just some blast to the face that happens to burn his face. It's a cruel and deliberate action to disfigure his son... chilling

[@Demongunner7]

10:44 Just a note, ATLA Live action has NOT been greenlit for a season 2 yet as of 2/29/24. The only piece of news we have that suggests that "the 2nd season of the show has been worked on in the writers room" ahead of being greenlit. It's all about what Netflix wants to do, to continue a mixed reception season 1, maybe drop Aang's story and adapt the Kyoshi novels (been hearing rumors about that one, but nothing substantial), or just nix Avatar all together and focus on the live action that did well in One Piece.

[@ShoeBoyReview]

2 / 3 greenlit now!

[@Demongunner7]

@@ShoeBoyReview2/3? You mean 2 and 3, right?

[@ShoeBoyReview]

@@Demongunner7 Yes. That’s why I put spaces in between the forward slash. Like 2 slash 3 instead of 2 out of 3.

[@aidarosullivan5269]

9:50 Speaking of Lost cast reunion, don't forget dr. Pierre Chang as Fire sage

[@BeeWhistler]

Yeah, this seems about accurate. They fully messed up Bumi… except kid Bumi, he was adorable. And I didn’t hate the actor or costumes or makeup for old Bumi. They just altered his character too much. The main group are head and shoulders above the film, but just not outstanding otherwise. They look right, and Sokka genuinely made me laugh sometimes (“Is that a frog or a… frog-thing?”) but the acting was average kid level, not top tier kid level (no Sixth Sense prodigies here). But I enjoyed it. Really. It’s a visual treat… (I guess I don’t know how to spot overuse of certain effects or I was just expecting it to not look hyper-realistic…) especially the bending. I would watch it just for that. But they also gave the Fire Nation so much more depth than “We’re just a bunch of big fire-wielding bullies who think we should be in charge.” Even Ozai was complex… sometimes seeming like he was trying to be a good father in the sense that he perceived what a good father should be, only to reveal his toxicity when his cruelty and ruthlessness proved to be baked into his parenting style. As an angry man once said, “I’m gonna make a man out of you, if I have to break you in half trying.” His belief that his actions are right inform us both of the parent he is and the leader he is. And they conveyed that well. And Zhao hooked me from his first scene, heck, from the first shot of him in that scene. That man owns whatever he walks into. He is also a reason to watch. Azula was excellent. She had the measure of her character and I look forward to more of her. My family is pissed that this was even made, though. I assure them they’d hate it. But I’m down for another season. I get, really… I still chafe at changes made to The Lord of the Rings. We all have a cherished franchise we don’t want to see altered. But I found it very interesting. It’s not really trying to be the same story. Just a similar one.

[@daniellauricella5132]

Agreed overall, though I actually kind of liked what they did with Bumi. You are correct that it's very different from the animated original, but I actually think it works within the context of this being a somewhat darker/more adult take on the show. I like that it kind of shows the realistic consequences of being a ruler in a time of endless war and having to make hard choices as a result. The speech/lecture he gives to Aang where he tries to get him to drop the boulder on him I honestly liked. A bit heavy-handed? Yeah, but I still like the idea that's being conveyed. And it makes sense to me that someone who has seen the awfulness of war up-close for so long and had to deal with heavy adult responsibilities for so much of his life, would want to impress upon his somewhat naive friend that war makes for hard choices and sacrifices.

[@THATGuy5654]

See, having already seen a live action Avatar fail to get to season two, the anticipation of seeing a live-action Toph is killing me. Unfortunately, it's the same kind of anticipation I get when lifting up a Band-Aid.

[@MrSoler]

Fav stuff: Visual effects,Aang, Zuko, Grangran, that Earth soldier who kidnaps Iroh, first 10 mins of the 1st episode. Least fav: wacky script, mixing plots, wacky wigs, Azula, Katara.

[@hatcompany]

Something I thought that was added to Sokka in this live-action adaptation was a heightened sense of responsibility over protecting the village, and what that meant to a character whose father perhaps failed to support his growth. Cartoon Sokka always seemed like he’d be at home in a Persona game as the protagonists best friend: an always hungry dim bulb whose main value is his physicality. In live action, he is allowed to show the weight he feels for his villages protection, and be less of a punchline with a stomach. Live-action Aang has an impossible task of covering the range of his cartoon counterpart, but I love the focus the series gives to his kindness. Kindness seems to lead most of his character choices, and is really highlighted once he and Zuko are together. I feel it highlights why he has been chosen to be the Avitar, as he easily empathizes with everyone, even his enemies.

[@dw1419]

Does Captain Midnight have a secret source at Netflix? I can't find anyone else in all the Interwebz claiming that this show has already been renewed for a second season.

[@ramblurman0798]

Me neither. It hasn’t been renewed quite yet it looks like 😔

[@hysteri]

Huh, I heard that’s what they were planning to do. Yk how they said with the bigger times to make Katara and Aang not weird, that insinuates a second season. It’s also a pretty major live action lol

[@darao.4907]

its been renwed for 2 seasons :)

[@dw1419]

@@darao.4907 ok but that was only announced a week after this comment

[@darao.4907]

@@dw1419 yeah i know i was just informing you if you didn’t know there were no malicious intentions behind that comment

[@Hiphop618]

Wait, did you say at the end that it was renewed for season 2? Where did you hear that?

[@Alex-Lay]

I thought that was odd too. Haven't seen anything, and a quick google's only showing speculation articles...

[@ApolloArrow]

Also haven't seen season 2 renewal confirmation yet.

[@youngbloodix]

I strongly agree with the editing and cutting. The cinematography could learn a lot from Edgar Wright’s directing style. The guy who directed baby driver and Shaun of the dead. He’s so incredible at using cuts, music, lighting, and sound to bring comedic relief and enhance humor in existing dialogue. Which could have gone a LONG way in this adaptation to replace the high impact zany energy that was missing from the animation. I really want this show to do well.

[@Bustermachine]

The Volume Sound Stage is literally just a very advanced matt painting or a very advanced Green Screen. And that's not meant to be an insult, that's just what it is. It's a matt painting that can have things moving across it so that it can depict things dynamically, but it's still limited by the fact that it's a 2D backdrop.

[@diegoprodriguez]

Ngl it wouldn’t shock me is they do the “Kidnapped Appa” storyline sooner into the second season and maybe even lump Momo in there as well. It just don’t see them using the Appa CGI much when they already have a pretty clear way to cut him for a larger chunk of the story (maybe even before they meet Toph in that one swamp)

[@Eh.........]

they do not need to kidnap Appa. he's practically absent from the entire show for like 90% or more

[@beansonbrains]

This show is supplemental and that’s okay, it’s always gonna be a companion piece to the original it would never replace it

[@baxterwilson368]

6:39 I didn’t love the show, but this scene almost made me cry.

[@RyanYewell]

You obviously are smart, talented, & have huge admiration & respect for the source material. I think the challenge with this show is the age of the actors, especially the Avatar, which you explain. Considering how horrible the original adaptation (the movie) was, this is MUCH better which I am thankful for (I haven't watched the Anime which means I'm sure I'm missing out).. I think, ultimately, people who review media for a living start to become experts at critiquing, whereas the average audience member, doesn't really see those subtler flaws, just like some people, wine is wine, the "bouquet" descriptions feel a bit elitist. Overall your review is bang on, some of the performances of the younger actors (ie the Avatar) aren't amazing, which is like 90% of all media in history. The relationships in the fire nation are at times quite moving. I'm looking forward to Season 2.

[@DW-rs1pr]

Omashu was my favourite episode though. Kim was brilliant too. You were off on this one champ

[@graysongutzweiler1109]

I watched it and totally agree.

[@proposterous42]

I personally liked the back and forth with Aang and King Bumi in Omashu. Although it was done sort of odd in the beginning, the live action decided to have Bumi express to Aang a realistic side of having the responsibility to serve people in need and I think that was really important for Aang’s character. Teaching Aang the harsh reality of what it was like for those 100 years of darkness and also be a leader of the city, to me it’s the perfect contrast of characters as Aang, the one who was given (and not chosen) the responsibility of saving the world, decided to flee in fear. It made sense for Bumi to feel at least a little resentful towards Aang because that was his friend. So when the conversation with Aang and Bumi at the table started with him saying “It must’ve been easy sleeping those 100 years away” or something along those lines, it put it into a perspective that I didn’t even thinking about as I watched the original series as a kid. I’m not in anyway saying that the live action did their reunion better, I just wanted to share that I welcomed that little change and I think it was something that this version of Aang needed to hear for his growth as the Avatar

[@joemomma6317]

i loved zuko's portrayal in the adaptation. despite some of its flaws it had so much to love imo. 7/10 for me and can't wait to (hopefully) see them improve on what they made in book 2 and 3

[@iltaak]

I haven't watched the netflix series yet, just a bit too afraid to let it taint my mind like the movie did. However, I will reserve some excitement for season 2 and if that turns out well for a good number of people, i'll watch the two seasons together just before season 3 eventually comes along and just watch it all together in hopes that the trend of the original show carries through

[@schinkenkeks7933]

what i heared in another video assey about zuko, was that he is a bit more likeable early on in the lifeaction. in the original he was the villian, from the beginning, and with time we see that he has a good heart. it makes sence to make him more likeable if you know he have to be liked. but it ruins the message the original had, that of true redemtion and that deep down people are more complex. here it shows from the beginning, that he has good sides. its not terrible, but better in te og avatar series of course

[@hunterwoodward8572]

I love all your videos and content. I might be alone here but I loved this serious and I’m glad they filmed it the way they did

[@hunterwoodward8572]

Serirs

[@mrmeat4607]

I actually quite enjoyed much about this season. Many things could be handled better, however, I would love to see an improved second season.

[@blitzcrusher299]

It’s a good show. I’ve got a teen and a 9 yo who have both watched the whole animated series and they both look forward towards every episode. Sometimes expecting perfection makes you hate something that’s really “good.”