It has been a couple of days since the release of the live-action adaptation of "Avatar: The Last Airbender," and as expected, there is a mix of good and bad reviews of the show. Most of them cited the changes made in the new series. While some were welcome revisions, others infuriated "Avatar" fans. Take a look at all of the changes we spotted in the live-action adaptation below.
1. Aang was 'Flying'
Right in the first few minutes of the first episode, we could already see Aang somewhat flying as he tried to get down without his glider. Some said that he was simply "falling with style." Other fans pointed out that in the lore, an airbender must let go of their earthly tethers to have this ability, as demonstrated by Zaheer in "The Legend of Korra."
2. The Southern Air Temple Attack
The animated series didn't show how the firebenders decimated the airbenders, but that was probably because it was supposed to be a kid's show. The Netflix adaptation, on the other hand, had a darker tone as it showed the harrowing event that made Aang the last airbender in the world.
3. We See More of Monk Gyatso
This particular change was a welcome addition, especially since even the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" animated series showed how close Aang was to Monk Gyatso. Their playful interactions highlighted how heavy it must've been for Aang to lose his mentor and friend to the Fire Nation attack.
4. Bumi Was More Bitter Than Playful
In both the animated and the live-action series, King Bumi was portrayed as having a few screws loose up there, but the animated series showed him as having a goofy disposition. The live-action portrayed Bumi as someone who was been worn down by war and difficult decisions, harboring bitterness for Aang after he abandoned the world when it needed him the most.
5. Zuko and Uncle Iroh's Bond
Yet another welcome addition, we see more of Zuko and Uncle Iroh's relationship, creating a deeper foundation on why Iroh was a better father to Zuko than Ozai ever was. The live-action presented Zuko's soft personality pre-banishment, making fans see him more as a hurt child than a soldier desperate to regain his honor.
6. Characters Were Crammed in One Episode
When the gang arrived in Omashu, fans saw several characters who appeared in different settings in the animated series. The Mechanist, Teo and Jet, for instance, were not in Omashu and had different storylines that did not intersect. It could just be Netflix's way of speeding up the storyline without leaving important characters behind.
7. Azula Had It Rough
Up until Azula started becoming paranoid by the end of the animated series, she was portrayed as a fighter with a steely resolve, and Ozai placed her in the highest regard. In Netflix's live-action adaptation, it was shown that the Fire Lord was also critical of the prodigy, making her desperate to prove that she was the rightful heir and not Zuko.
8. Aang Did Not Learn Waterbending
The animated "Avatar: The Last Airbender" show was divided into three books, each following how Aang learned how to bend water, earth and fire, respectively. In Netflix's version, Aang did not learn how to waterbend at all, which came as a disappointment to many fans as it was an important aspect of being the Avatar.
Related: 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Actor Says Sokka Remains True to the Source Material
