Ranking Every Episode of Netflix's Avatar

My honest and unbiased review of Netflix's live action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. I won't pretend to be some genius when it comes to writing or anything like that. I'm just someone who loves Avatar and thinks I can provide something of value to this conversation about the live action. The series definitely isn't perfect and I have a ton of criticisms..

Timestamps / Episodes

00:00 Intro
00:51 Episode 1 Aang
07:21 Episode 2 Warriors
13:06 Episode 3 Omashu
17:52 Episode 4 Into the dark
21:42 Episode 5 Spirited Away
23:45 Episode 6 Masks
28:17 Episode 7 The North
33:26 Episode 8 Legends

Script written in collaboration with:
(Check him out he makes great videos)

Thumbnail by:
(thumbnail is a paid and private commission not for re-use)

Music used:

#avatar #avatarthelastairbender #aang #atla

[paoerfulone]

7 out of 8 episodes ranging from average to amazing w/ one stinker? Yeah, that sounds about right.

I agree Ep. 5 was the weakest one. The more I think about it, the less sense it makes.
But all the other episodes ranged from solid to absolutely incredible!
Overall, I really enjoyed Season 1 and thought it was a pretty good start to the show, all things considered.
There were certainly flaws and issues I had w/ it as you've documented, but it was still a pretty solid introduction to this adaptation.
Iroh and Zuko - What more can be said, they're absolutely amazing and you can tell the writers *GET IT* w/ them!
I also personally enjoyed what they did w/ Azula and Ozai!
If, and by if, I mean when because let's face it, this show was a HUGE success, they do Season 2, hopefully Albert Kim and the team behind this show can take the criticism seriously - Add and refine what worked in Season 1 while fixing what didn't.
If they can do that - I think we'll have an excellent Season 2 on our hands!

[aracelylopezpsyd]

I find it so odd that Hei Bai even made the trailers, they got everyone excited about Hei Bai but then completely sidelined his storyline. It was just odd.

[joost]

One thing that bothered me is that we don't see Aang training any waterbending at all...

[kmichelle-lrbw]

notice how the most liked episode was episode 6, which is the episode that mostly followed the og with good changes like the 41st division backstory

[schofrenzy]

We needed it 10-12 episodes that would have changed a lot ! We could have got a filler episode of just team avatar living it up and building that relationship!

[emmamason]

Katara’s temper and passion is key to her character though, like Aang’s goofiness or Sokka’s sarcasm. I semi-agree her shyness is believable, but cartoon Katara is also a lot like my sister who is very responsible and mature for her age. But also passionate and fiery

[everlastingdino]

Netflix really shafted the director and this show heavily by giving it only 8 episodes. Avatar is like the one story where they could add so much more story and it still wouldn't drag out, but instead they chose to remove story. Next season needs more episodes or longer ones.

[uncleirohsteashop]

The biggest thing I hope to take away from this season is that Albert Kim and the others making the show can take any criticisms that the first season got and take them in stride for a potential 2nd season. I've been honest about this season through every step of the journey. It was an ok season that did stuff that I loved and liked but also some stuff that I wasn't a fan of but also I did get a lot of enjoyment through the entertainment value as well. I just enjoyed it for what it was and went from there. At the end of the day I am just glad to be talking about Avatar again. It has been way way too long and so again I am just happy to be in the moment.🍵

[henryhumes]

How she acts in the original cartoon is exactly how a teenage girl would act- the sweet docile katara is not an good character arc - love the actress but - show runners totally gave no demotion to her character her rage and vengeful character to grow into a compassionate woman was a staple of amazing writing

[Creative_Spirit_ab]

Katara's outburst that broke the iceberg communicated that bending is deeply connected to emotions. It was world-building as well as giving us character.

Aang already knowing that Gyatso was dead before seeing his skeleton diminished the devastation and shock of that moment. (Like in Mulan singing "A Girl We're Fighting For" was an immense high right before they see the ruins of the village. Going from such a high to such a low amplifies the impact because it's emotional contrast)

Gran Gran revealing Aang as the avatar instead of Aang revealing it himself when Zuko threatens their village completely deflated the impact of that scene.

I hope Netflix takes some notes from all of us for seasons 2 & 3. I can clearly see they're trying and I'm excited to see more.

UPDATE: I want to clarify that there are changes I did like. I am all for changes as long as they add more than they take away.

I love the new scene we get with Aang talking to Gyatso in the spirit world; I always felt like that was a scene that SHOULD have been in the original.

I love that Aang is talking to the past Avatars more.

I like that Sozin is the one to personally kill Gyatso.

My OP was just about changes that I felt were plainly just poor choices that added nothing and, worse, even took away. I wouldn't mind so much but these were REALLY pivotal scenes.

[lakernation]

Watching the attack on the air nomads was heartbreaking, it felt like order 66 in Star Wars. You know it’s coming but seeing how it went down is still heart breaking.

[geezlouise]

I love how that Iroh and Earth Kingdom soldier scene was hated a lot during the teaser and ends up being one of the most emotional and heavy scenes throughout the series

[yane]

I think it would be cool if Katara says the original intro in season 2 because canonically she knows the story now because of gran gran

[tcoby]

I think my biggest gripe is that by the end of the season it still feels like Katara, Sokka, and Aang are still practically strangers. I fully understand why they needed to condense season 1 compared to the animated version, but it just felt like it was at the cost of building relationships and character development.

[VjRj]

Season 2 should be divided in 2 seasons, there is more than enough material. Specially since they will probably integrate parts of season 3 into it aswell. It would give time for them to breathe and just talk, build the relationship and practice bending.

[appyritionz]

I feel like you're fanboying a little. I feel like sokka and kataras characters were completely botched. The writers knowing irohs arc, and then pointing at the fact that we all know it, should not be something that you praise. Sokka being not shit at fighting in the beginning just means the writers are either ignoring or completely forgot his arc where he learns the art of swordfighting LATER. Hes literally SUPPOSED to be ass at first, not to mention his childish jokes in the original are way funnier than anything in the Netflix version. And katara feels lifeless compared to the original. Zuko doesn't really come off as intimidating. Among a million other things the whole season just kinda seems like they're leaning on the original series without actually being faithful to it.

[mrmperial]

The way they handled zuko's season 1 arc and backstory was emotionally wonderful. I teared up till the end 😢

[LaneNicholds]

My biggest issue with the whole season is how dirty they did Bumi.. for seemingly no reason whatsoever.

[odinez]

I totally missed Yue bending after everyone lost their powers. Great detail.

[rebel]

The legend of Aang line at the end made me see this whole thing differently. Well done.