'Avatar: The Last Airbender': 7 Best Additions To The Live-Action Version

Condensing the twenty-episode first season of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender into eight hours of live action TV was always going to be a difficult task. So far, fan reaction to Netflix's live action adaptation has been mixed, with fans claiming that the combining of multiple episodes' storylines from the original into a single episode of the remake makes the episode feel rushed and cluttered in some points. Meanwhile, other storylines have been heavily altered or cut completely.

However, adaptations are also a chance to look at a series with fresh eyes, and sometimes, include new scenes that add to the story in a positive way. Here are some of the best additions to Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender remake.

1. Actually seeing the slaughter of the Air Nomads

While dealing with some rather deep themes, including quite a few creepy moments, and being well known as a series that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, the original animated ATLA is made with children in mind, and in most countries, carries an age rating of 7+. Netflix's Avatar, however, has been given a rating of PG-14. This means darker, more violent events that occurred offscreen in the animated series, can be shown more explicitly in the live action version.

The most notable example of this is the Fire Nation's slaughter of the entire Air Nomad race, including the death of Aang's beloved mentor, Monk Gyatso. Actually seeing the murder of the Airbenders serves to immediately establish the Fire Nation as the series big bads, and the brutality of how it is done is an early sign to viewers of what Gyatso's spirit tells Aang later in the series: Avatar or no, his presence woulf not have made a difference to the tragic outcome.

2. Aang channels Avatar Kyoshi

As fans of the franchise will know, when one Avatar perishes, they are immediately reincarnated among the people of the next element in the Avatar cycle. In both the original series and the remake, Aang regularly meditates at temples and shrines, seeking advice from his past lives. For most of the animated series, he most commonly speaks with his immediate predecessor, the Fire Nation-born Avatar Roku, and it is only later that he shares significant encounters with other Avatars. The live action series begins these encounters much earlier.

In the original series, Aang points out a statue of Avatar Kyoshi while visiting Kyoshi island, and acknowledges her as a previous Avatar, but she is not the reason for the visit, and he does not attempt to communicate with her. In the remake, however, Aang visits Kyoshi Island explicitly for the purpose of learning about and connecting with Kyoshi. When Admiral Zhao's troops attack while Aang is meditating, Avatar Kyoshi briefly inhabits Aang's body, entering the powerful Avatar State and using all four elemental disciplines to defeat the Fire Nation troops and protect Kyoshi Island.

The scene serves two major purposes. One, it gives audiences a glimpse of what a fully realized Avatar is capable of, teasing how powerful Aang could become. However, it is also a nod to the existing fanbase of Avatar: The Last Airbender's fanbase, and maybe even a tease at the series' wider franchise potential.

In the series expanded universe of comics and novels, Avatar Kyoshi has become a fan favourite. If the Netflix series proves popular enough, the streaming service could choose to adapt other Avatar content, such as the novels Rise of Kyoshi and Shadow of Kyoshi, sometime in the future.

3. Aang befriends Iroh

As in the original, a captive Aang shares a very cordial conversation with General/Uncle Iroh after handing himself over to Zuko's custody to protect the Southern Water Tribe. However, the remake builds upon this connection earlier than would otherwise occur. One surprisingly key change in Netflix's adaptation of the series is the circumstances behind Uncle Iroh's capture by Earth Kingdom forces. The original sees Iroh captured while bathing away from Zuko and their men. In the remake, Iroh is captured in Omashu, sacrificing himself to ensure Zuko's escape. Shortly after, Aang is also captured.

The change means Aang and Iroh are briefly imprisoned in Omashu's dungeons at the same time. While there, the pair discuss the ongoing war, and Zuko, and again, it is a surprisingly civil conversation considering the fact that they are supposed to be enemies. It is also apparent that Iroh's opinion on the war is not necessarily positive.

The scene most likely exists to streamline proceedings moving forward, having Aang aware early on that Iroh is not someone whom need immediately be mistrusted. This becomes important in the finale, when Iroh helps trying to save the Moon Spirit, and will be especially important if the show reaches the point of adapting season two's dramatic ending.

4. The inclusion of Lu Ten's funeral

-It is well known by fans that the most pivotal event in Iroh's life was the death of his only son, Prince Lu Ten, during the Siege of Ba Sing Se. The loss of his son changed Iroh's view on life and the war, transforming him from the feared General Iroh, the Dragon of the West, into the jovial, tea-loving Uncle Iroh we meet when Avatar: The Last Airbender begins.

While Lu Ten's death is mentioned on occasion in the original, the remake includes a new flashback scene depicting Lu Ten's funeral. While we hear some 'mourners' making cruel jabs behind Iroh's back, declaring him a coward for abandoning the Siege upon Lu Ten's death, a young, unscarred Zuko returns a medand between Iroh and Zuko, explaining why Iroh accompanied Zuko into banishment. As Zuko was there for Iroh at his lowest point, Iroh will support Zuko through his.

The scene's backing track, an instrumental version of 'Leaves on the Wind', which Iroh sings to memorialise Lu Ten on his Birthday during the beloved animated episode 'Tales of Ba Sing Se', was a sweet Easter egg that had many fans in tears.

5. Aang and Zuko's heart to heart

One of the most memorable episodes of the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender's first season is 'The Blue Spirit', in which Aang is captured by Admiral Zhao, and a masked Zuko, hoping to preserve his own chance at bringing home the Avatar and restoring his honour, rescues Aang from captivity. These events are adapted in 'Masks', the sixth episode of the live action series.

In both episodes, Aang makes the choice to save Zuko when he is injured during the escape. In the original, Aang flees when Zuko attacks him after waking, but the remake sees them forced to hide from Zhao's forces together for a little longer. During this time, Aang praises Zuko for the information in his journal, while Zuko, almost reluctantly given the current circumstances, explains to Aang exactly why he must capture him.

The realisation that they may actually kind of like each other comes as a surprise to both, and for the audience, a tease of things to come.

6. The Identity of Zuko's crew

'Masks' also adapts another pivotal moment from the original series, while adding a poignant and meaningful twist. In both versions of the series, Prince Zuko has a somewhat troubled relationship with his crew. This changes when Iroh tells the story of how Zuko received his scar in Agni Kai battle against his Father, Fire Lord Ozai, after challenging a military plan to sacrifice the rookie 41st legion in a coming battle. This event also leads to Zuko's banishment.

The live action version adds the detail that Zuko's ship is crewed by the 41st, who had been unaware of Zuko's sacrifice before Iroh told them the story. The reveal fits with the overall narrative of Zuko's path through the story, and for many fans, is the best addition made to the live action ATLA.

7. Aang speaks to Kuruk

In the original series first season, Aang only sees the Northern Water Tribe's most recent Avatar, Kuruk, in a very brief vision, and does not meet him properly until the third season. However, similar to Aang's first meeting with Kyoshi being brought forward, the live action series also gives Aang an earlier encounter with Kuruk, visiting him through his temple to ask if he may channel him in the coming battle with the Fire Nation as he had done with Kyoshi earlier in the series. Unfortunately, this is not possible.

In-universe, Kuruk is widely considered a failure as the Avatar, supposedly living a party boy lifestyle and shirking his responsibilities. However, through a series of visions of her past self in the novel Rise of Kyoshi, the young Avatar Kyoshi learns that Kuruk was infected with a spirit sickness in battle with a dark spirit at a rather young age. He subsequently spent much of his time in the Spirit world, battling dark spirits to prevent the spread of Spirit Sickness into the physical world. His supposed irresponsible behaviour was his way of taking his mind off his endless battles and the progression of his illness. Kuruk's sickness claimed his life at the age of 33, extremely young for an Avatar, with the world at large unaware of his true bravery and sacrifice.

While the entire story isn't covered in Netflix's ATLA, Kuruk states his sickness as the reason why it would be impossible/dangerous for Aang to channel him. Hardcore fans of the wider universe praised the show for highlighting an Avatar who is underrated and underappreciated by those who have not read the novels.

With seasons two and three of the live action Avatar: The Last Airbender recently confirmed, we can't wait to see any other great new scenes the series has in store.