Netflix’s 8-Part Fantasy Series Is the Perfect Binge Before Season 2 Premieres

Fantasy fans have been eating well in recent years, with so many new series coming out that it’s impossible to keep up. Picking which series to watch next can be difficult, especially when the genre is increasingly filled with shows that were canceled too soon. However, one fantasy series on Netflix is ideal for binge-watching and already guaranteed to return. Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered in 2024, and the show has already been given a complete three-season order, with Season 2’s release set for June 25.

Since Netflix’s show is based on the 2005 animated series of the same name, some viewers may be familiar with the overall plot, but this live-action adaptation adds to the beloved story by way of epic fight scenes, expanded character backstories, and deeper world-building. Avatar: The Last Airbender is an easy, low-commitment binge, and with its second season set to drop next month, now is the perfect time to catch up.

What Is Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ About?

Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in a world featuring four elemental powers, each associated with different nations: the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. Connecting all of them is the Avatar, the only person capable of controlling air, water, earth, and fire. The Avatar has been missing for 100 years, leaving the Fire Nation’s power unchecked as they waged war throughout the world. Aang (Gordon Cormier), a 12-year-old Airbender, emerges as the new Avatar, tasked with mastering the elements and bringing balance to the world. With the Fire Lord, Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim), set on conquering the other nations, Aang doesn’t have much time. He also befriends two siblings from the Water Tribe, Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley), who accompany Aang on his journey around the world.

While this trio is central to the narrative, they are not the only important characters. Much of Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s story explores the drama within the Fire Lord’s own family as Ozai’s banished son, Zuko (Dallas Liu), pursues the Avatar in hopes of restoring his honor, providing a bit of moral ambiguity to the story. Zuko is aided by his wise uncle, Iroh (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee), who nurtures the young prince, in a sharp contrast to the rest of his family. These two storylines position Zuko and Aang as enemies, but working against them both is Zuko’s sister, Azula (Elizabeth Yu), who has her own separate agenda.

Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Builds on the Original Animated Series

Many fans may already know where Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s story is going, even with only a season out, but this reimagining adds flashbacks to characters’ backstories to deepen their evolution. Zuko is a prime example of this, as his relationship with his family is more thoroughly explored from the beginning. While the animated series ultimately gives Zuko one of the best arcs, the Netflix show dives deeper into his past, specifically his dynamic with Iroh. Similarly, the reimagining expands the original show’s world-building by depicting the Airbenders before the genocide and even exploring the previous lives of the Avatar.

This new adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s story also has a different tone, taking a grimmer and more mature direction. While many fans missed the more light-hearted elements, the shift allows the live-action series to lean into its fight sequences and helps the Netflix series distinguish itself from the original, turning it into an exciting new take on the beloved story. Though the original is near-perfect, the adaptation is able to build on that strong foundation, making it a thrilling fantasy binge-watch for longtime fans and newcomers alike.