There is no denying that no other kids’ show will ever be able to match the magic of the Emmy Award-winning animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The 2005 premiere of Nickelodeon’s animated fantasy action TV series marked the beginning of Aang and lasted until 2008. Netflix has also attempted to create a live-action adaptation, developed by Albert Kim.
Now, returning to the Nickelodeon show, we know that some characters have the ability to ‘bend’ or control any of the four elements: earth, fire, water, and air. Children, teenagers, and adults all enjoyed Avatar: The Last Airbender because of its well-developed world, exquisitely rendered characters, and mature writing. Of course, it contributed to its enormous critical and commercial success.
Having said that, with 61 episodes spread across three seasons, the creators were actually able to capture lightning in a bottle. However, a few extremely poor creative decisions were made regarding the arcs of Zuko, Toph, and Azula. It might have almost derailed the show (if followed).
Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender: Original Plans for Zuko, Toph, and Azula
The exiled Prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko, grew to be one of the most beloved characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. One of the most satisfying storylines in the show is his transformation from a hateful prince to a confident leader who earns his country’s trust.
Given Zuko’s prominence and broad appeal, it is astonishing that the show almost went without him at all. Indeed, we learned from Screen Rant that he was supposed to be the main antagonist for the entire three-season storyline. But soon the makers found that they could not have enough of the Fire Lord merely perched on his throne, so rather they crafted his character.
However, this was not the only character whose arc was supposed to change initially.
Toph is credited with creating the art of metal bending and is among the strongest earthbenders in the history of the show. Although her diminutive stature and strength made her very appealing, she almost had a completely different appearance.
The writers’ initial intent was to make Toph a massive man. Also, it was originally suggested that the character might be Katara’s love interest and that she was not even supposed to be blind. Thankfully, the idea was not pursued further.
Moreover, Azula, the sister of Zuko and Princess of the Fire Nation, was another formidable female bender. Being a secondary antagonist, she had enormous power with a wicked, sadistic attitude to match. With how controlling and shrewd she is, it is almost unthinkable that she could fall in love with anyone on the show, but that was exactly what the writers intended to happen in the final chapters of Book Three.
One of the subplots for the last season was supposed to involve Azula being set up in an arranged marriage. However, the idea was abandoned because the authors felt the story lacked sufficient depth. Thankfully, the creators had second thoughts; otherwise, it would have been a nightmare for Nickelodeon fans.
Netflix Has Renewed Avatar: The Last Airbender For Seasons 2 And 3
The first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender debuted on Netflix on February 22, 2024, with a mixed reception. Based on 74 critic reviews, Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season a 60% approval rating.
Now the live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender has been renewed for two more seasons (via EW). Just like the animated version, Season 3 will mark the show’s conclusion (per Deadline).
Albert Kim is in charge of the show. Michael Goi, Jabbar Raisani, and Kim are among the executive producers. In an interview with Variety, the latter talked about the differences between the Netflix adaptation and the Nickelodeon series.
“It’s a very clear signal that this isn’t a note-for-note translation. It’s within the mythology of the original, so fans will know what we’re doing, but we’re going off in a slightly different direction.”
Anyway, Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender had its fair share of behind-the-scenes changes, but the end result was groundbreaking and continues to remain popular among viewers. And that is how lightning was truly captured in a bottle!
Both animated and live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender are streaming on Netflix.
