Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 Episode 1 Review

Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender is finally here. Unfortunately, a swirling storm of polarizing opinions took root before the show even premiered, with some seemingly hell-bent on trashing it without having seen it. 

Whether you’re a fan of the original animated series or going into this one cold, I’m here to tell you to enjoy the ride. Is it going to win any awards? Probably not. Is the dialogue cheesy and wooden at times? Yes. However, Gordon Cormier’s charm and bouncy optimism as Aang is infectious, and the visuals are stunning and immersive. Plus, the power displays are eye-catching. Just go in and allow yourself to be entertained with fun, adventurous fluff (like my puffy baby Appa). 

Without further ado, let’s recap Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender season premiere, “Aang.” 

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Fire Nation 

We open with an Earthbender running through Capital City, the governmental seat of the Fire Nation. His buddy awaits him on horse as he wends through the narrow alleys in the city, trying to evade the Firebenders’ flames. When the Earthbender reaches his friend, he hands him the Fire Nation’s war plans for attacking the Earth Kingdom. 

Next, the Firebenders capture him, bringing him before Fire Lord Sozin. Sozin reveals he wanted the Earthbenders to know his plans. Why? Because the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribes, and Air Nomads would join forces, diverting the attention from the Fire Nation. Then, Sozin grabs the Earthbender’s wrist and sets him ablaze. RIP, Random Person who’s always at the beginning of every fantasy series, never to be seen again. 

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Aang

Later, we see Aang zipping about The Southern Air Temple, doing Airbender stuff. When he returns to the ground, Monk Gyatso, Aang’s mentor and father figure, awaits him. Gyatso reminds Aang that he skipped yet another training session. He urges the boy to take his studies more seriously. He may be advanced, but there will come a day when he’ll regret not spending time with his trainers (foreshadowing). Gyatso asks Aang to help the other students prepare for the Great Comet Festival, which sees Air Nomads congregating from all over. 

Then, Gyatso meets with the other monks to discuss Aang. He’s the next Avatar, destined to bring harmony to all the Nations by learning to bend all four elements. Aang must leave to train heavily in mastering earthbending, waterbending, and firebending. Gyatso protests, claiming Aang is still a child. Having the weight of the world on his shoulders would be too burdensome for him.

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The Avatar

So, Gyatso breaks the news to Aang. He informs the young boy that he must leave immediately to begin training in the other disciplines. Aang claims he wants to stay with Gyatso and his friends. The conversation culminates in an emotional moment between the mentor and mentee, as Gyatso reassures him they’ll always be friends. Aw. 

That evening, Aang confesses his feelings regarding his new responsibilities to Appa, his loyal sky bison (and bona fide fluffy good boy). He and Appa take to the skies while the Fire Nation closes in on the Southern Air Temple. Sozin orders his troops not to leave anyone alive. While Aang and Appa soar through the dark, the Air Nomads fight tooth and nail to defend their home. Gyatso ushers the other children into a secure area to protect them from the fiery assailants. 

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The Waters Rage

Meanwhile, Aang and Appa encounter a stormy sky and choppy waters. All the elements are acting up. Sozin squares off against Gyatso after finding the older man and the kids. Oh, you have to be next-level evil to slaughter innocent children. Gyatso does his best to ward off Sozin. Sozin admits that, on any other day, the Air Nomads would’ve prevailed. However, the Great Comet works significantly to the Fire Nation’s advantage — Firebenders can harness its energy (the Comet was later renamed Sozin’s Comet in honor of Sozin’s victory). 

Unfortunately, Gyatso loses the battle, with Sozin setting him on fire. RIP Gyatso. As the Air Nomads of the Southern Air Temple fall, Aang and Appa become entrapped in ice during the storm. The young boy utilizes his inherent Avatar abilities to protect them after they almost drown in the water.

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Wolf Cove 

Later (100 years later, to be precise) we see Katara attempt to get a handle on her waterbending. She emerges from an icy cave to gaze at Wolf Cove, the snow-covered village where she lives. She finds her older brother Sokka bossing around his crew, the soldiers meant to protect Wolf Cove. Then, she accompanies him on a fishing trip. 

Sokka chastises Katara for engaging in waterbending. If the Fire Nation learns about this, she’ll be in trouble. She’s the only Waterbender residing in the Southern Water Tribe. 

While on the water, Katara and Sokka experience an inexplicable natural event. The current rapidly increases, taking control of their boat. After crashing into an icy wall, the siblings lose said boat. That’s where they discover Aang, who releases a blast of bright blue energy, cracking the ice. He emerges, his eyes and arrow tattoos glowing that same blue. Then, Aang loses consciousness, falling down the snowy slope to land at Katara and Sokka’s feet. Naturally, they have no clue who he is.

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Prince Zuko 

Meanwhile, Prince Zuko, on a nearby ship with his Uncle Iroh, sees the burst of blue light from the ice. He knows it belongs to the Avatar. 

Next, Katara and Sokka regain control of their boat. They take an unconscious Aang back to their village. Their grandmother, AKA Gran Gran, notes that Aang is an Airbender. Well, he’s the last Airbender, seeing as the Fire Nation wiped them all out during the Hundred-Year War. Katara urges her family and friends to let Aang rest. 

On Zuko’s ship, the young prince tells his Uncle Iroh that he plans to capture the Avatar and bring him to his father, Fire Lord Ozai. Apparently, Ozai banished Zuko from the Fire Nation, so if Zuko presents him with the Avatar, he can finally be one step closer to his inheritance: the Fire Lord’s throne. Iroh just wants to make him jasmine tea. I’m Team Uncle Iroh here. 

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He’s Awake 

Later, Aang wakes up, bewildered yet excited by his new surroundings. Sokka urges the other Wolf Cove villagers to steer clear. Aang could be a foe. Aang introduces himself, then wonders aloud where Appa is. That’s when he calls for the sky bison. Recently unfrozen by Aang, Appa flies into view in all his floofy glory. The sight of the rare creature takes Katara, Sokka, and the others aback. 

Next, Gran Gran gives us the expositional dump we need. She also unloads quite the truth bomb on Aang: He’s not only the Avatar but the last Airbender. All of his family and friends are dead because a century has passed. Oh, and the Fire Nation destroyed his home. That’s a lot to absorb for a young boy who hasn’t even hit puberty yet. 

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We’ve All Lost Someone

Katara finds Aang outside. She tries to comfort him, relating to his loss by sharing her own. Her mother died when the Fire Nation raided their village, and her father left three years ago to fight the Firebenders, leaving her with her brother and Gran Gran. Meanwhile, on the Fire Nation ship, Iroh tries in vain to dissuade Zuko from his mission to capture Aang. He believes his nephew’s efforts will be futile. Now, let’s have some jasmine tea! 

Then, Katara takes Aang to the cave, where she secretly practices waterbending. Aang gives her some tips for harnessing her water abilities. Once she finds that balance, we see a levitating ball of water, one that’s under her control. Pretty nifty. 

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Fire at Our Door 

Suddenly, Katara sees Zuko’s ship approaching. She warns Sokka, but he’s already bracing for impact, ordering his soldiers to ready their weapons. When Zuko arrives, he introduces himself. He orders Wolf Cove to hand over the Avatar. If they don’t comply, he and his soldiers will raze their village to the ground. Sokka emerges, claiming he’s a Water Lord of sorts. He challenges Zuko to a one-on-one battle, to which the latter accepts. 

Of course, it’s not a fair fight. Sokka doesn’t possess powers. So, Zuko almost burns Sokka to a crisp. However, Aang steps in, saving Sokka and fighting off Zuko’s soldiers with his impressive airbending abilities. Then, Aang volunteers to accompany Zuko back to his ship. He doesn’t want his new friends to suffer. 

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Aang Meets Iroh

On the ship, a guard locks Aang in a cell. Iroh strikes up a conversation with the Avatar, who asks him why the Fire Nation continues to wage war. Iroh claims for some, it’s in the name of peace and harmony. They feel the Fire Nation is the only group capable of bringing unity. However, others think the Fire Nation is more suited to rule with an iron (or fiery) fist. Aang counters that acts of violence don’t result in peace. Iroh reveals he’s excited to have more chats with Aang before departing. 

When the guard’s back is turned, Aang utilizes his airbending skills to grab the keys to his cell. Elsewhere, Katara persuades Sokka to join her in saving Aang. She feels they should take Appa, which Sokka isn’t a fan of, but he adjusts quickly … after a few prolonged, bloodcurdling screams. 

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An Escape 

Meanwhile, Aang moves about the ship, taking care to avoid detection. He locks himself in Zuko’s room, where he finds his Airbender staff. He also discovers the book full of Zuko’s illustrations and text chronicling the Avatar’s rich history. Aang pockets it before fleeing. 

Unfortunately, Zuko catches Aang on the deck. Thankfully, Aang leaps into the air, his staff morphing into a handy-dandy glider, and he flies away. That’s what I call multipurpose. 

Zuko orders his soldiers to fire on Aang. They do, but their fire blasts miss him. Angry, Zuko steps in. Zuko’s flames lick Aang’s glider, eventually causing Aang to lose his grip. He falls. Before he reaches the water, though, he catches his staff, and Appa arrives in the nick of time. Huzzah! Lil Zucky’s not a happy camper. 

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A Reunion 

Zuko and his soldiers continue shooting fire at Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Appa. However, Katara intervenes before the fire reaches Appa, using her waterbending to snuff out the flames. Katara realizes they can’t return home because the Fire Nation, and Zuko in particular, will be hunting for all three of them. Aang reveals he knows just the place where they can hide. 

Then, the gang lands at the ruins of the Southern Air Temple. Honestly, it looks gorgeous with all the overgrowth. Aang returns to the space where Gyatso told him he was the Avatar. He looks at his feet, spotting Gyatso’s skeleton. 

Aang becomes enraged. His eyes and arrow tattoos glow blue as he levitates into the sky. The winds swirl around him, taking debris from the ruins with him. Katara and Sokka hide during this to avoid harm. At the same time, Katara calls out to Aang, urging him to stop. Finally, Aang falls to the ground, where he begins weeping. Katara embraces him. 

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The Fate of the World 

Next, Sokka asks Aang why he went into destruction mode upon seeing Gyatso’s skeleton. He claims he doesn’t know, but my guess is his grief, namely the anger stage of grief, took hold. Aang realizes the gravity of his situation and the responsibilities accompanying being an Avatar. He decides to shoulder that burden. He will fulfill his destiny, as desired by the monks of the Southern Air Temple, and learn to master the other elements. 

It’s time to give the Fire Nation what for. 

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