Avatar: The Last Airbender has an entire variety of characters who lie on the moral spectrum. Some are morally white while others are blinded by their goals. There are also characters that had an entire arc of their own understanding. To be a character in the fan-favorite series was no less than being an actual person, just with special abilities.
Some of the most complex characters are part of the franchise, bringing about layers upon layers of development and understanding. The show has managed to create bonds not just among characters but also among the fans who watch them. One character, however, is a mystery to this day.
Ty Lee, who resided in the Fire Nation, had a lot attached to her that led fans to believe that her lineage was far from that of a firebender. This seems even more true considering that she had no ability to control the elements.
Avatar: Ty Lee as an Airbender
In an elaborate Reddit post by @cow_train_, the very reason why Ty Lee is questioned to be an Airbender is brought up. The character, who is mostly known for her chirpy and giddy attitude, also has a lot of similarities to a certain Avatar. Aang’s distinct fighting style is because of his lineage as an Air Nomad.
Ty Lee has similar features that have always made fans ponder the truth of her origins. From her fighting style to her overall appearance. There are many ways in which she can be compared to Aang. Her unusual jumping abilities and personality make her susceptible to being seen as an Airbender in the eyes of the fans.
That also comes into the picture with her appearance. Despite having lived her life in the Fire Nation, there was always speculation about her having ancestry going all the way back to the Air Nomads. However, it is unlikely that she is an Airbender, compared to the possibility that she is simply an Air Nomad.
Ty Lee Cannot Be an Airbender
Ty Lee has many abilities that make her unique in the Fire Nation despite having six sisters who often took away her individuality. One of them is her skill set of jumping unusually high, or the ability to leap that high without any effort or consequences. These seem almost supernatural in being since her jumps are much higher as compared to a normal human being.
Apart from that, Ty Lee also has the ability to notice and see other people’s auras. Her connection with spirituality isn’t something that necessarily connects her to the Air Nomads but it certainly makes it more likely. Her spiritual strength is strong as compared to other members of the Fire Nation. Another unique fact about her is the lack of information the audiences have about her past.
Ty Lee’s past is as big of a mystery as any. So there comes a possibility that her lineage could come from a group of Air Nomads who found their refuge hiding in the Fire Nation. Seeing that there is little to no information about her background, it is more than likely that instead of being an Airbender, she is simply an Air Nomad.
Otherwise, Aang would have perhaps recognized her abilities, especially considering how hiding the fact that she is an Airbender would have only grown more and more difficult.
