Introduction

This post is not about the James Cameron movie, neither is it about the Shyamalan adaptation. It is about the Nickolodeon show that has secured a place in the heart of every 2000’s kid like a cat curling up on its owner’s lap.

What is Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a fantasy show featuring a trio of kids trying to save the world from a powerful and evil overlord. It aired for three seasons through three years (2005 to 2008). Even after a decade of its finale, it continues to be a shining example of phenomenal storytelling.

The Worldbuilding

Since the birth of Lord of the Rings, the first component any fantasy story is criticized for is its worldbuilding. In simple terms, worlbuilding is the task of creating a secondary world which adheres to its own set of rules where the story will take place.

The worldbuilding of Avatar is complex in its simplicity. The whole secondary world is expounded within the title sequence of each episode. The intro in the title sequence is all anyone needs to enjoy the show, but, below, the ingenuity and coherence of the Worldbuilding are discussed.

The world of Avatar has four factions, each of which follows the essence of its associated element. Air Nomads live in secluded temples, detaching themselves from material needs and focusing on the philosophical ones. Members of Water Tribe live near the polar regions where water is aplenty, showing incredible amount of adaptability. Inhabitants of Earth Kingdom have immovable principles and stoic ego. Citizens of Fire Nation are warmongering and destructive, like fire; but those who disavow their past teachings and traditions become warm and lively, not unlike fire.

Magic System

In a fantasy story, the second aspect that anyone looks into is its magic system. Essentially, the rules which govern the secondary world are collectively called its magic system.

The magic system in Avatar is based on bending: the ability to manipulate an element. A dominant portion of every faction is able to bend its associated element. Avatar works as well as it does because the magic system not only makes the story fantastical, but actually builds the world block by block and shapes the characters in interesting ways. Two examples follow.

1. Earth Kingdom of Ba-Sing-Se has a transport system system that relies on Earthbending. Their trains do not have motors, because it has not been invented yet. Instead, two Earthbenders push each train along its track. The magic system and the Worldbuilding complement each other.

2. Katara, a Waterbender from the south pole, learns a new kind of bending that is closely associated with Waterbending but does not follow the ideology of Waterbending. In later episodes, it shapes her arc in identifiable ways.

Incredible Characters

Although it is the third section in this post, the characters are actually the most important aspect of any story. If the viewer does not care about the characters, even the most phenomenal secondary world with its ingenious magic system will not be enjoyable enough.

All the characters in Avatar are incredibly versatile and self-consistent. Each of them goes through their own arc all the while shaping others'. One example follows.

If one character of Avatar is more noteworthy than others, it is Zuko. The banished prince of Fire nation first introduces himself as the irresponsible and annoying youngster villain of the show, only to surprise the viewers by going through one of the best redemption arcs of all time.

There are countless example of equally incredible character arcs: Toph’s transformation from a fierce and belligerent master Earthbender into a more sophisticated woman who does not feel like she has to prove her toughness to the world, Sokka’s transformation from a sarcastic warrior with little abilities into a responsible adult with extensive knowledge of battle and war. Even the animal characters like Momo and Appa are not excluded from amazing character arcs.

Enjoy The Little Things

Beside incredible worldbuilding and characters, Avatar brims with details that elevate the storytelling. One such detail is mentioned below.

Hair is pretty important in Avatar. The air Nomads do not have hair while citizens of Fire Nation groom their hair to an exhaustible degree.

After being defeated and mortally wounded by Azula, Aang has to go in hiding to heal himself. Since his shaved head features a unique tattoo, which is a dead giveaway that he is the Avatar, Aang grows out his hair to disguise himself. That simple act of growing hair has tremendous effects on his psyche; he thinks it to be a betrayal of his identity as an Air Nomad. Eventually, he is healed enough to embark upon his journey again, which is shown in the scene where he shaves his head and returns to his former self.

On the other hand is Azula, the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai. She is shown to be a power-obsessed Firebending prodigy by her groomed and self-composed demeanor which continues to unravel as she gradually grows unsure of her worth, ultimately culminating into her complete breakdown in the scene where she cuts off her hair.

Conclusion

The popularity of Avatar even after a decade of its finale is evident of its remarkable excellence. Fans and creators alike revel in the perfection of this incredible series.