On Feb. 22, Netflix released their long-awaited live-action adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” With beautiful visuals, impressive CGI, and incredible fight scenes, all eight episodes are exciting and enjoyable. Even with diversions from the storyline of the original animated series, I have way more positive comments than negative critiques.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” is set in a world where some people are gifted with the ability to manipulate certain elements: water, earth, fire, or air. In this world is someone called the Avatar, who is the one person that can control, or “bend,” all four elements. The show follows 12-year-old Aang, the current Avatar who has just woken up from a century-long coma to find that he is the last surviving member of the Air Nomads. Alongside Aang are siblings Katara and Sokka, and the three of them depart on an epic journey to try and put an end to the Fire Nation’s war against the world. The show also follows Zuko, the banished prince of the Fire Nation, who is determined to capture the Avatar so he can return home and regain his honor, and his uncle Iroh. Netflix has a notorious reputation for ruining cherished pieces of media through their adaptations. As someone who adores the original show, I was worried that this reputation would strike again in the “Avatar” adaptation. However, to my surprise, I was compelled by every episode and struggled not to binge it all in one night.

While there are a variety of different opinions being shared online – many of them being negative, as it goes with any adaptation of a beloved show – I think the changes made from the source material are, for the most part, well done and fitting for the pace of the show. I think it is somewhat unreasonable to expect every live-action adaptation to be a frame-for-frame remake of the original. Showrunner Albert Kim said that he wanted to take the show in a darker direction, and I think it delivered wonderfully on this aspect. Every episode highlights the severity and intensity of the world of “Avatar.” But, regardless of all the things I enjoyed, there are definitely imperfections in the live-action. A few of the episodes feel rushed, and the introductions of characters such as Mai and Ty Lee feel somewhat forced. While most of the charm of the original cartoon was preserved despite the adaptation’s darker take, I found that a few characters lost some qualities that I loved the most in them, like Aang’s silliness. Nonetheless, these critiques are not enough for me to say that I disliked the show.

My favorite part of this adaptation is the way Zuko and Iroh are written. Zuko’s backstory is told masterfully and works perfectly to emphasize the reasons why he is the way he is. Iroh is also given more backstory and explanation, and I love the way he and Zuko’s relationship continues to develop throughout the season. Zuko, played by Dallas Liu, was always my favorite character in the cartoon as well, and it means so much to me that the things I loved most about his character were maintained. Liu’s performance is stunning and I could not imagine someone else playing Zuko. My favorite episode is definitely episode six. However, there is a scene with Zuko and Iroh in episode four that may or may not have made me shed a couple of tears – no spoilers, but if you have watched it, you know exactly what I am talking about. The casting as a whole is almost flawless, and I am happy to see the amount of Asian and Indigenous representation in the show. Since the four nations in the show are inspired by real cultures, it was crucial to cast the right actors for every role. 

While far from perfect, Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” adaptation is well-made and full of heart. I cannot wait to see where the show goes next and will be impatiently waiting for season two.