My daughter and I recently completed the 8-episode series Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) on Netflix. The storyline unfolds in a world where tribes are aligned with the elements-Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Some members of each tribe can "bend" or control their respective elements, while only one person, the Avatar, has mastery over all four elements. After the Avatar disappears for over a hundred years, the Fire Nation seizes the opportunity to attempt world domination. Meanwhile, children from the Water Tribe stumble upon the long-lost Avatar, possibly just in time to save humanity.
This series is directed by Michael Goi (American Horror Story), Roseanne Liang (My Wedding and Other Secrets), Jabbar Raisani (Lost in Space), and Jet Wilkinson (Home and Away). It stars Gordon Cormier (The Stand), Kiawentiio (Beans), Ian Ousley (Young Sheldon), and Daniel Dae Kim (Lost).
This live-action adaptation does an impressive job recreating the Avatar universe, characters, and storyline. While some of the acting feels slightly uneven, and a few character designs may not entirely match the animated series, overall, this is a commendable relaunch. The universe is stunning, especially the creatures and visual effects for bending. The bending abilities look fantastic, adding to the visual appeal. There are also well-incorporated subplots and side stories from the original cartoon. The characters' struggles are well-portrayed, and the series ends at a fitting point. There's a lot to appreciate here.
In conclusion, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a solid live-action relaunch of the beloved animated series. I'd give it an 8/10 and strongly recommend it.
