Robert Falconer / Netflix
Netflix’sAvatar : The Last Airbenderisn’t a wholly successful adaptation of the beloved revivify series of the same name , nor is it a complete letdown . It is , in every way , an advance upon M. Night Shyamalan ’s oft - criticized 2010The Last Airbenderfilm . That ’s due in no pocket-size part to the clear dear and admiration that the originative squad behind the new live - military action series has for its vivify rootage material .
The Netflix show makes a fate of mistakes over the course of its eight episodes , but it also demonstrates a clear-cut sympathy of what made the originalAvatar : The Last Airbenderso great in the first position . Despite all of its flaws , the series at long last gets more correct than wrong .
A vibrant world
If there ’s one matter no one could rightly impeach Netflix’sAvatar : The Last Airbenderof being , it ’s colorless . From its tangible costumes to its CGI backgrounds , the series is almost colorful to a fracture . In nearly every one of its frames , the show looks like a cartoon come to life — one bursting with promising nicety of orangish , blue , red , and green that are mostly pleasing to look at , if occasionally garish . While the springy - actionLast Airbenderseries does n’t always deliver amply convincing or even beautiful CGI renderings of its fictional realm and palaces , its humanity still feels awake at every round .
The same can , of class , be suppose of the originalAvatar : The Last Airbenderanimated show , which ask for viewers into a earthly concern that seems lived - in , ancient , and full of endless surprises and detail in every one of its episodes . Netflix ’s version ironically does n’t ever quite jibe its reservoir material ’s still - astonishing level of immersion , but it does fork out a live - natural process rendition of theLast Airbenderworld that is just as vivacious and bright as it should be .
An endearing cast of characters
What make the originalAvatar : The Last Airbenderseries still so rewarding to revisit even 16 year after it ended is how attractively it marries its fantasy globe - building , pulse - lumber legal action sequences , and introspective character oeuvre . At no point throughout its three - season foot race does the series ever let its characters get lost in the midst of its spectacle or operatic overarching floor . For all of its trip-up , Netflix’sAvatar : The Last Airbendersimilarly avoids draw that misapprehension .
The live - action adaptation ’s first season invests just as much time into get its Congress of Racial Equality characters as it does its various kingdoms and set piece . Across its eight episode , the series gradually builds out the pasts and inner lives of both its hero and villains , and it even live so far as to reveal sealed thing about their backstories earlier than the original animate show did . These decisions all pay off , and thanks to its well - cast ensemble of actors , the Netflix serial publication manages to shew an assortment of characters , both morally good and bad , that watcher could easily stick with for multiple season .
An epic, tragic story
One of the most noteworthy things about Netflix’sAvatar : The Last Airbenderadaptation is how quickly it tilt the right way into the full catastrophe of its source material ’s story . The series does n’t shy away from the repulsion of the Fire Nation ’s political campaign against the Earth , Water , and Air nations , and it hale Aang ( Gordon Cormier ) to repeatedly grapple with the ramifications of his 100 - year fade . The show ’s first time of year also goes out of its way to showcase the ball-shaped scope of its story by visiting multitudinous , disparate locales and introduce enough supporting characters to offer an extensive , impressively panoramic position ofThe Last Airbender‘s fictional globe .
At times , the serial ’ shockingly dark-skinned , somber tone seems incongruous with its colourful aesthetic and absurd sense of humor . Its inevitable budgetary restraint result in some of its location looking much worse than others , too . However , the show ’s committedness to embracing both the dark of its story and the full size of its world is what allows it to effectively communicate the full weight and spectacular stakes of Aang ’s journey .
The alive - actionAvatar : The Last Airbenderseries is n’t as reverence - inspiringly well - construct as its animated predecessor . Its frequently laughable character designs and belt along handling of sure storylines , in special , prevent it from reaching the level of illustriousness that many fans may have hoped it would achieve . If there ’s one thing the series ’ first time of year show , though , it ’s that Netflix’sAvatar : The Last Airbenderdoes understand both the prayer and strength of its source material , which is more than can be said for a spate of Hollywood ’s preceding bouncy - action adjustment of Zanzibar copal and vivify series and films .
time of year 1 of Netflix’sAvatar : The Last Airbenderis streaming now .
