Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Finally Answers The Original Show’s Biggest Bending Plot Hole

The biggest bending plot hole from the original Avatar: The Last Airbender has officially been fixed by Netflix’s live-action version. The reviews for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 have been interesting, primarily due to the difference in reception between fans and critics. Many critics considered the second installment an improvement over its predecessor and, while still not as good as the animated original, which is one of the best TV shows of all time, a good offering regardless.

Fan reviews, though, have differed. Many of the changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 upset fans of the original show. From big character changes to an altered timeline and skipped episodes, many considered these alterations to worsen the story of the source material rather than improve on it. However, that is not to say there were no good changes in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. One of the better reveals in Netflix’s first season was that Zuko’s crew consisted of the soldiers he defended in a war council, a genuinely brilliant change from the original.

While one specific change in season 2 of Netflix’s adaptation might not be as strong from a story and character perspective, it does answer one of the biggest questions from the original show: why Aang never learned to heal with Waterbending. Aang never even attempts to learn this skill in the animation, but it is addressed almost immediately in the premiere of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2, resulting in Aang and Katara healing the serpent of Serpent’s Pass.

Not only does this address and remove the question of why Aang never learned to heal, but it also feels in keeping with the spirit of the original show; Aang’s pacifistic ways shine through in this moment, as he and Katara show mercy to a creature who was just defending his home. Now, Netflix’s version of Aang in Avatar: The Last Airbender has an ability over his animated counterpart.

Why Aang Never Learns Other Bending Techniques In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender

The question of why Aang never learns any extra bending techniques in the original show has long been on the minds of audiences. It is never outright explained why Aang didn’t learn to heal with Waterbending, or even learn to Metalbend from Toph. In the original show’s sequel, The Legend of Korra, the titular character is dubbed the first Metalbending Avatar, revealing that Aang also never decided to learn the Earthbending technique after the 100-Year War.

The reasons as for why he never did likely stem from meta narrative and character decisions, rather than any in-universe reasons. After all, healing is Katara’s speciality, just like Metalbending is Toph’s. If Aang were to learn either of these techniques in the original show, it could have risked reducing the more special powers and abilities of the supporting characters. Moreover, Aang’s focus was on learning the four elements at their base level, likely explaining why the writers decided not to include any added complications to that.

What Aang’s Healing Means For Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3

Where Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is concerned, though, Aang now knows how to heal with Waterbending, which could mean big things for season 3. One of the more obvious impacts this could have on future stories is Aang’s ability to heal other characters. Season 2 teased the invasion of the Fire Nation on the Day of Black Sun, with Aang now being yet another healer who could aid his comrades during this large-scale assault.

Beyond that, Aang’s learning of broader bending techniques means he could also learn Metalbending. It would likely not be as big a focus as his mastery of the four elements, but he could be shown the basics by Toph to give him another weapon against the Fire Nation. Either way, a big question from the original show has officially been answered by Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, making Aang an even more powerful Avatar than he was in the animated source material.

Release Date

February 22, 2024

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Albert Kim

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