This 3-Part Cult Classic on Netflix Is So Good, You Can Rewatch It Multiple Times

When it comes to prestige television, live-action shows typically receive the most viewership and accolades, with most lists of the greatest TV shows being overwhelmingly dominated by the medium. However, that doesn’t mean that animation doesn’t have its own advantages over live-action work. Animated shows arguably allow for more creativity, often taking place in worlds outside our own, even if masterpieces such as BoJack Horseman mirror our own reality closely. These beautiful, original universes allow us to explore moral complexities free from the biases of our own world, since the storyteller can shape the context entirely.

One of the greatest examples of this is the original animated Avatar: The Last Airbender. On the surface, some may consider it a show for children, but it is anything but. Avatar: The Last Airbender is a joy for everyone, whether it is your first or hundredth time watching. Not only does it balance its tone between a fun adventure series and a nuanced depiction of war, but its themes are extremely complex, with gorgeous animation that creates a dynamic and evolving universe.

What Is ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ About?

Avatar: The Last Airbender follows Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen), a 12-year-old boy who has been frozen for 100 years, while the Fire Nation has engaged in a war of aggression against the other nations. As the Avatar, destined to master all four elements of air, water, earth, and fire, Aang must save the world, with the help of his friends, Sokka (Jack De Sena), Katara (Mae Whitman), Toph (Michaela Jill Murphy), and his sky bison, Appa (Dee Bradley Baker), and winged lemur, Momo (Dee Bradley Baker). Since these are a group of children, many of their journeys across the world turn into bottle-adventure episodes where the stakes are arguably low, such as helping protect a village from the pollution of a Fire Nation factory.

Yet, Avatar: The Last Airbender balances this fun, comedic tone with layers of depth in its characters. One of these is Zuko (Dante Basco), son of the Fire Lord and Aang’s main antagonist at the beginning. Zuko seeks to redeem himself in the eyes of his father with the help of his kind uncle, Iroh (Mako), representing a complex character who is both sympathetic and a serious threat to our heroes. With this and episodes that truly emphasize the scale of the war, such as “The Siege of the North,” Avatar: The Last Airbender manages to convey numerous tones and genres throughout its 3 seasons.

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Explores Dark Themes Such as War in Nuanced Ways

Some would expect that the lines would be clear between good guys and bad guys in Avatar: The Last Airbender, given its comedic tone and suitability for kids. Yet Avatar: The Last Airbender is at its best when dealing with complex topics, and it uses fascinating characters to do so. While Aang is essentially the chosen one and burdened with the mission to defeat the Fire Lord, he struggles with violence, especially around the subject of killing, exploring whether it is just to kill our enemies. Through Zuko and his obsessive drive to make his father happy, along with his growing hatred of Aang, we see how childhood trauma and revenge can create monsters, while Iroh’s belief in Zuko challenges the audience to see the good in everyone.

Even characters who don’t have huge roles throughout the series leave lasting impressions, such as Jet (Crawford Wilson), whose brutal methods of guerrilla warfare against the Fire Nation reflect how the ends don’t justify the means. Whether it is someone fighting for the right reasons, but in the wrong way, or vice versa, Avatar: The Last Airbender makes sure that every character has a purpose in developing the story.

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Has Some of the Most Creative Animation

Image via Nickelodeon

Of course, the quality of animation is always a necessary measure in said medium, and Avatar: The Last Airbender uses the rules of its world to create striking visuals and give its characters personality through their movements. Due to the different styles of bending being so distinct, with a more flowing form for Katara’s waterbending compared to the stocky movements of Toph’s earthbending, each character has a distinct visual identity. Avatar: The Last Airbender also gives these powers the scale they deserve. Together, Toph and Aang can turn a mountain of stairs into one smooth incline in seconds, and Aang can hold back an erupting volcano without breaking a sweat. You not only feel the strength of their powers, but also how a bender is limited by their own creativity rather than the plot or an overcomplicated power-scaling system.

Overall, there are very few shows that can accomplish what Avatar: The Last Airbender did over its 3 seasons. Some may, at times, confuse animation as a genre in and of itself, and Avatar: The Last Airbender is a classic example of why. It never sticks to one genre but uses itself as a vehicle to convey several. To be funny or philosophical is one thing, but to combine the two, along with a fascinating world, is truly special. Even if you’ve never watched an animated show before, once you binge Avatar: The Last Airbender, you’ll be kicking yourself for not watching it sooner.

Release Date

2005 – 2008

Network

Nickelodeon

Showrunner

Michael Dante DiMartino