Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender continues to receive flak from the fans of the original animated series. As they compare scenes from both shows, the Nickelodeon show clearly dominates with its impactful storytelling and power-packed action sequences.
Fans shared one particular scene in the animated series as an example, where Aang’s character is restrained in chains by Zhao and the Fire Nation Soldiers. The same scene in the Netflix adaptation fails miserably to impress the audience.
Avatar: The Last Airbender on Nickelodeon ran from February 2005 to July 2008 and followed the story of Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and Toph. The series had a total of 61 episodes, spanning three ‘Books’. Netflix’s adaptation will adapt each book into a season.
Netflix’s One Aang Scene Failed To Impress Fans Of The Original
While Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is a better version than M. Night Shyamalan‘s live-action version, it came nowhere close to the original. Fans were pretty excited about the project after the streaming platform’s treatment of the One Piece live-action series. However, the series turned out to be disappointing due to several reasons.
One major complaint fans had about the live-action series was the characterization. Fans who were expecting cool action sequences were met with a soft Aang and team. Many did not connect with Gordon Cormier‘s portrayal in many scenes, and one X user pointed out one particular scene where the stark difference is visible.
In the scene, Aang is captured by the Fire Nation Soldiers and confined to chains. In the animated series, Aang is angry at being tied up and threatens to fight Zhao if he were to untie him. However, in the Netflix adaptation, Aang almost begs the Fire Nation villain to let him go. Fans were hugely disappointed with how the scene turned out in live-action.
we need to find a way to stop netflix from making live action adaptations https://t.co/MWxbRapLqJ
— kira 👾 (@kirawontmiss) March 13, 2024
Fans took to X to bash Netflix for making the worst choices possible in the series. One fan commented that he tried to give the new version a chance, but couldn’t do it due to such choices. Another fan took it out on Cormier, sharing their frustration at seeing the actor ruin Aang. Few fans agreed with the comments that Netflix massacred everyone’s favorite. Some fan reactions read:
they’re making the worse choices possible
— kira 👾 (@kirawontmiss) March 13, 2024
tried watching the live action and couldn’t do it 😭😭💔
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) March 13, 2024
That actor really started to piss me off pic.twitter.com/NfEnNOajYn
— Slap Huntr (@SlapHuntr) March 13, 2024
Me while watching that Netflix avatar series 😭💀 pic.twitter.com/pIRh5rJazs
— MIKE 👑 (@MIKE_KINAU) March 13, 2024
What have they done to Aang 😭
— 𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙡 ♛ (@YBTheRatioGod) March 13, 2024
The original Nickelodeon series was a ratings success and garnered critical acclaim for handling sensitive topics like war, genocide, imperialism, and free choice in an animated show.
Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Has Only A 60% Rotten Tomatoes Score
While the animated show has a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, the Netflix version has a considerably lower 60% score on the website. It fares far better than M. Night Shyamalan’s adaptation, which has a score of 5%. The major problem with the new series was the creators’ confusion in identifying the target audience for the series.
The series incorporated a more mature adaptation akin to other Netflix series like Stranger Things and The Witcher to attract the adult audience. However, it also included some silly humor, while removing what worked in the original, to cater to the younger audience. The series also failed at a faithful adaptation of the first book of the animated series. It contained 20 half-hour-long episodes which were all fit into an 8-episode season in the new series.
This rushing resulted in the outright skipping of character arcs, side missions, and comedic elements. The storylines were heavily simplified, losing the original’s impactful storytelling. Amidst all this mess, the original creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko left the project during production.
Avatar: The Last Airbender original animated series is also available for streaming on Netflix.
