The second season of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to adapt the 18-episode second book of the beloved Nickelodeon series in seven episodes. That sounds like a hard mission, and it’s especially challenging because it wasn’t supposed to be that way. The show on Netflix’s 2026 schedule was originally going to be eight episodes. However, it got shortened. Therefore, things had to be cut. Thankfully, the EPs fought to make sure two beloved storylines weren’t taken out.

The trailer for Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender makes it clear that many moments we want to see from Book 2 of the animated series will be included. However, the nature of the beast here is: not everything can fit into seven episodes. That’s especially true when a full episode gets cut from a season order, which EP Christine Boylan explained during an interview with SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend:

“The Tales of Ba Sing Se” is the first of two animated episodes specifically brought up by the EPs as they talked about what they wanted to keep in the series you can stream with a Netflix subscription. This animated installment, which is Season 2, Episode 14, is unique because it is split into chapters that follow characters through their own respective journeys in the Earth Kingdom’s capital. It slows down the show a bit and gives us a lovely peek into these characters' day-to-day lives. So, I’m thrilled we’ll get elements of this unique episode in live action.

Along with “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” being adapted for live-action, EP Jabbar Raisani noted that “Zuko Alone” was another episode they “couldn’t cut” for live-action. Explaining that further, he said:

In “Zuko Alone” (which is Season 2, Episode 7), we see the prince wandering the Earth Kingdom by himself. During his travels, he meets a young boy and his family. However, after he bonds with them and helps them fix up their home, it’s revealed that Zuko is a firebender. Meanwhile, this episode features many flashbacks that give us vital insight into Zuko’s childhood and his relationships with his family.

This episode is important to both Zuko’s character growth and our understanding of his past. So, as someone who has rewatched ATLA countless times, I’m thrilled it will have its moment in live-action.

However, not everything will get to be featured. It’s simply not possible, as Raisani explained:

I totally get this point. First, they don’t have the time to include everything. Secondly, this is an adaptation, so things should be different. I love that they’re pulling inspiration from all over the place, and I appreciate the care and thought they put into what they kept and changed.

Sadly, they didn’t get to include everything they wanted after an episode got cut. However, thankfully, they were able to keep important storylines the fans love. Now, to see what this all looks like in live-action, you can stream Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender with a Netflix subscription when it premieres on the 2026 TV schedule on June 25.

I’ve rewatched the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender series countless times. However, there’s almost always one episode I skip. It’s not because it’s bad; in fact, it’s a masterpiece. I skip it because, in my opinion, it’s the saddest episode of the show. Now, as Season 2 of the live-action series prepares to make its debut on the 2026 TV schedule, I’ve been convinced it could recreate this tragic installment after seeing one second of footage.

We are swiftly approaching the day we’ll be able to stream Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender with a Netflix subscription, so, to get fans hyped, the streamer released a full trailer (which you can watch above). While there is lots of noteworthy action and moments in it, there’s one second I can’t top thinking about. It features Momo lying in what appears to be a sky bison footprint right after Azula asks Aang, “How much are you willing to lose?” Take a look:

To me, this image implies that Aang's sky bison Appa will indeed go through his "Lost Days" in Season 2.

There are tons of moments from the OG series that I’m excited to see in Season 2 of Avatar. However, the storyline involving Appa getting lost is something I’ve been dreading, because it’s so incredibly tragic.

In Season 2, Episode 15 of the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender, which you can stream on Netflix or with a Paramount+ subscription, we get to see “Appa’s Lost Days.” After he goes missing in the desert after Episode 10, this bottle episode follows what happened to him before Aang and the gang found him.

And let me tell you, the poor sky bison goes through it! While there are plenty of intense and tragic moments in this show, to me, nothing was sadder than seeing Appa battered and bruised as he tried to find his way back to Aang. That, mixed with seeing how tormented Aang was over this loss, packed one of the hardest punches in the series.

It’s important to remember that Appa is quite literally the only other living being left from Aang’s home. They are the only survivors from their air temple. So, to fathom the avatar losing his companion and fellow survivor is really, really hard.

I knew they’d likely adapt this storyline for live-action, seeing as it is quite imperative to Season 2. However, part of me hoped maybe they wouldn’t, to save me the emotional trauma. Although I do think it’s important to include it, as it serves as a major point of emotional turmoil and growth for Aang and co.

Now, looking at other parts of the trailer, we got a really good look at Miya Cech as Toph. It also became clear that Season 2 will focus primarily on the team’s trip to Ba Sing Se, and it’s obvious that Zuko’s sister, Azula, will play a much larger role this time around.

So, I think we’re in for quite the adventure come Season 2, and considering it looks like it's recreating some of the most emotional storylines from the animated show, I think we’re in for a ride. Now, to go on this next adventure, which will likely involve tears related to Appa, make sure to keep an eye on Netflix’s 2026 schedule, as Avatar: The Last Airbender is scheduled to return on June 25.

There are usually two types of hardcore Avatar fans. You have the ones who have watched every season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and The Legend of Korra. Then you have the Avatar fans like me, who have done that, but have ALSO delved into the many things outside of the cartoons, such as the comics, the video games, and even the fan fiction. Well, of the outside content, I now think that my favorite is the Chronicles of the Avatar novels, of which there are now six (with more on the way).

In fact - and this may shock the first type of Avatar fan - but now that I've read all the novels, I think I actually like them better than the TV shows, and for a number of reasons. Here are just a few.

The Books Never Shy Away From The Violence, Unlike The Kids Shows

I may catch hell for this, but I think The Legend of Korra is a better series than Avatar: The Last Airbender. Now, I don't think that it's WAY better, as I also love the latter. However, I just like that TLoK is a more “adult” show, and we often see that through how it handles violence.

Like, I know the genocide in ATLA is no secret, but it's more of an implied violence. That said, in TLoK, when Zaheer uses airbending to literally kill the Earth Queen, well, that's a form of violence that we just don’t see in ATLA.

The Chronicles of the Avatar books push things even further. Characters are murdered left and right, such as in the penultimate book, The Reckoning of Roku (which I’ve already talked about) where we see the lengths - such as murder - that a young Prince Sozin will go through in order to get ahead. We see even more death in the most recent book, The Awakening of Roku, where a woman is using poison to drive animals and people crazy to the point that they’ll kill without even realizing it.

Which is all really intriguing stuff! Because that’s the thing about these Chronicles of the Avatar novels. They’re not violent just for violence sake. They actually use it to show that the world of Avatar is just as dangerous as you would imagine it being, given that some people have literal superpowers, and might use them for evil. The shows give us a bit of that, but the books go full throttle, which I appreciate.

The Books Help Push Diversity Even Further Than The Already Diverse Cartoons

Another reason why I prefer TLoK to ATLA is because of how the former handled diversity, namely with the final episode and “Korrasami.” Now, I remember watching the series finale as it aired with my wife. Well, when Korra and Asami held hands and peered into each other’s eyes, I remember turning to my wife and asking, “Wait. Are they implying that they’re gay?” to which my wife couldn’t answer.

Which makes sense, because back in 2014 when the series ended, cartoons “for kids” just didn’t DO that. So, to have the chutzpah to even imply that Korra and Asami were gay, well, it was groundbreaking. And, it still is. However, while the comics go more in depth with gay relationships, the Chronicles of the Avatar novels don’t shy away from them AT ALL, which I greatly appreciate.

We learn in the Kyoshi books that Kyoshi was bisexual, which furthers the idea that Avatars really have it in their nature to be so. In fact, we see multiple instances of gay characters in the novels.

That said, I think the most progressive book might be the most recent one, as there’s a trans character. Now, I don’t know what the plans are for all of the upcoming movies and shows we’re slated to get from Avatar Studios, but I just wonder if they would put trans characters in them, given that, again, they’re meant for kids. I mean, maybe they will, but until that time comes, I respect the hell out of these novels, since they took the first step.

The Books Also Give Bigger Insight Into The Past That The Shows Have Merely Touched Upon

One thing I really love about the shows is when they go into the history of the former Avatars. We see a great deal of that when either Aang or Korra encounter their former selves, and that’s all really cool stuff. But, being a MEGA Avatar fan, I want MORE of that than just what the shows are willing to give us.

Thankfully, the novels go super in depth into what the world was like when Avatars Kyoshi, Yangchen, and Roku (and Kuruk, to a certain extent) went through back in their periods. We see actual spirits that the Avatars had to deal with, as well as the politics of the time. We also get to see what led to some Avatars being the way they are in the present, such as Avatar Kuruk, where we learn a great deal about why he died so young, which was kind of a mystery on the shows.

We also learn that there have been mistaken Avatars in the past, which is something that isn’t even touched upon in the shows. This is one of the many reasons why I think the books are superior to the cartoons. There can only be so much covered in the shows, and the focus has to be on the current Avatar. But, in the books, we see the lives of other Avatars, and it makes the world feel that much bigger.

Seriously, there’s so much more to the world of Avatar that is added with these books, and as a massive fan, I appreciate every last detail.

In The End, If You Are A Fan Of Avatar, Then You NEED To Read These Books. They’re Canon!

Look, I get it. You love Avatar, but you don’t love reading. When it comes to the neverending debate of sub vs. dub, you’re in the dub camp, 100%. To you, watching something is preferable to reading something, and fine. I’m not going to argue whether you’re right or wrong. Everybody has their preferences, and that happens to be yours.

But, be that as it may, I think you should make an exception for these Chronicles of the Avatar novels, which again, I think are actually superior to the two cartoon series that we’ve already gotten. Because I know you love Avatar. You’ve watched both series multiple times over, and you wish there was more of it. However, you are severely missing a huge part of the story by not reading these books, because they’re canon!

Like, I know you’re familiar with Gyatso from the show as he was Avatar Aang’s mentor. However, you don’t REALLY know him until you read these books. For instance, we get to see him as Avatar Roku’s best friend and as a part of his Team Avatar. I also know you’re familiar with Avatar Yangchen as she was the airbending Avatar prior to Aang. But, you don’t know the kind of Avatar she really was (or the fact that she’s used Zaheer’s methods of depriving people of air to breathe).

You’re missing ALL of these things, and you shouldn’t because you LOVE the world of Avatar, which is why you need to read these books, even if you don’t love reading. They’re just that good!

If you’re an Avatar fan, there are a few age-old questions I'm sure you've pondered. One is: ho is more powerful, Aang or Korra? And the other is: Who would win in a fight, Aang or Korra? Well, now the actors who voiced the avatars have shared their take on those questions alongside some of the other members of the Avatar: The Last Airbender cast.

Now, if you think back on all the epic Last Airbender fights and the incredible battles in The Legend of Korra (all of which you can stream with a Paramount+ subscription), it’s impossible for me to pick a winner. I keep toggling back and forth. However, on top of that, we have to remember that Aang and Korra technically are the same person, as Dante Basco, who voiced Zuko, said during this conversation with EW:

As I’m sure you know, the Avatar is reincarnated, so, technically speaking, Aang and Korra are the same. However, while that’s true, their personalities are totally different, their instincts are opposite, and they really don’t have much in common (other than being the Avatar). So, that would make them interesting foes.

Although when it comes down to which would win in a fight, they’d probably be equally matched. If I were forced to pick, though, on the grounds of reincarnation, I might go for Korra, because she has more Avatar history behind her than Aang does. That’s a point Zach Tyler Eisen, who voiced Aang, noted too, as he said:

You know what, it’s such a valid point. Korra simply has more history and Avatars to pull from, and Aang does not.

However, I don’t think that’s all it comes down to. Remember, these two people are totally different in personality and fighting style. While they’re both super powerful and can be aggressive, Aang is a lot more methodical and smooth, while Korra is significantly more impulsive and bold. Thinking about all this, I’d lean toward Aang as the winner, because I think his patience would really help him here.

But again, it ultimately feels like a draw, because Korra would use Aang’s strengths against him, too. She could easily catch him off guard.

I also feel like I should disclose that I like ATLA more than Korra, and if you like Korra more as a show (and I know those folks are out there), that could deeply impact your opinion too.

So, ultimately, I still don’t know who would win, and the cast doesn’t either. In fact, they concluded that the Avatars probably wouldn’t even be willing to figure out who would win, as they said:

• Janet Varney (voice of Korra): Korra would never turn on Aang.
• Zach Tyler Eisen: I don't think Aang would want to fight Korra.
• Janet Varney: She would be like, 'Help me! Help me!… I gotta get it together. Help me, Aang!'

Basco then joked that Avatar Roku would “come in and rock it for sure,” and after that, Varney quipped that:

So, I guess the answer is: Neither Aang nor Korra would win, Avatar Kyoshi would. And, you know what, I’m cool with that.

Now, with Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender returning for Season 2 on the 2026 TV schedule and a few new animated Avatar projects on the way (including a movie about Aang that will be among 2026’s film releases), I’d love to hear those actors’ takes on this debate. Maybe they can settle it for us.

However, for now, it will remain largely unsettled, seeing as this cast couldn’t pick a winner and came to the conclusion that Aang and Korra just wouldn’t fight each other in the first place.

There were a few reasons I was super excited for the new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. One has to do with the stellar cast they’ve assembled for it, which actually just got bigger as it added some very impressive names. The other was that this animated movie, titled The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, was going to get a theatrical release. Well, now, while the film will still premiere on the 2026 movie schedule and announced some new and exciting additions to the ensemble, it also got an update about its release plan that is disappointing.

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender Has Added Some Stellar Cast Members

While we don’t know much about The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, we do know that it will see the airbender and his friends go on a globetrotting journey to find an ancient power that could save the world. We also know the cast is stacked.

That’s right, THR reported that the already amazing cast has grown, and it’s done so with some seriously impressive names. While characters were not specified, it was confirmed that Thor: Ragnarok’s director Taika Waititi, Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan, and Thunderbolts*’s Geraldine Viswanathan, will be joining the cast alongside other franchise newcomers, Dee Bradley Baker, Peta Sergeant and Freida Pinto.

It had already been revealed that Eric Nam is voicing Aang, Steven Yeun is taking over the voice of Zuko, Sokka and Katara will be voiced by Román Zaragoza and Jessica Matten, respectively, and Toph will be played by Dionne Quan. Dave Bautista had also been confirmed as part of the cast; however, his role has not been revealed.

That’s a pretty stacked cast, if you ask me. However, this wasn’t the only news that came out about the film today, and sadly, the second half of the update is a bummer.

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender Will No Longer Be Released In Theaters

As of right now, there are two new animated projects coming from Avatar Studios. One is a show called Avatar: Seven Havens. The other is the film we’ve been discussing. Originally, that movie was supposed to be released in theaters. However, now it will go to streaming immediately. That means, instead of the big screen experience, you’ll be able to watch the flick with a Paramount+ subscription on the day it comes out. The report noted that this move marks a new era for the franchise under David Ellison.

Personally, I’m very disappointed about this. While I grew up watching Avatar: The Last Airbender on a tiny TV, and I streamed the live-action series with a Netflix subscription, I was really looking forward to seeing this world on the big screen. It’s so beautiful and immersive, plus the action they work into this franchise is remarkable. So, it deserves to be taken in on the biggest screen possible. Sadly, that simply won’t happen now.

On the bright side, the film is still going to be available to us. Plus, we’re getting new Avatar shows too, with Seven Havens set to release on Paramount+ at some point and Season 2 of Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender set to premiere on the 2026 TV schedule. So, there’s plenty to look forward to. However, it’s a bummer that we can’t experience it in the biggest way possible.

Thankfully, this update wasn’t all bad news. This cast rocks, and I’m sure the movie will be magnificent, much like the shows that came before it. So, there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about returning to this remarkable world of the Avatar.

The much-anticipated second season of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender will be airing on the 2026 TV schedule, and fans won’t just be seeing their favorite Avatar again. Season 2 will also include the long-awaited introduction of the fan-favorite Earthbender Toph. Now, after seeing Miya Cech in action as the beloved character for the first time, fans are ready to rock with the Blind Bandit.

Toph Beifong was introduced in Season 2 of the Nickelodeon animated series. A blind earthbender, Toph uses her ability to manipulate, reshape, and control stone, sand, dirt, and even metal. Her sassiness and quick wit are what make her so lovable, and she plays a pivotal role in Aang's journey, so it was only a matter of time before she was brought on to the live-action series.

Miya Cech is set to portray Toph in the Netflix adaptation, and the streamer shared the first look of her in action in the show's Season 2 teaser trailer, which you can see at the top of this story.

It’s a very brief look at Toph, but it’s enough to get fans excited. Between the footwork, her stance, the earthbending, and Aang wearing a blindfold, likely as a way to concentrate, Toph’s introduction will be one for the books. And fans are as excited as ever.

Many took to the comments of Netflix’s Instagram post to relay that emotion, too, as the streamer welcomed viewers to the Earth Kingdom. Toph’s original voice actor, Michaela Jill Murphy, even gave her stamp of approval, as you can see in the list of fan reactions below:

• LET’S FREAKING GO IT’S TOPH TIME 💚💚💚💚💚 -Michaela Jill Murphy
• READY TO ROCK🪨🪨🪨 -bigdog1697
• The leg movements bro 😭 it’s her SEASON -bunmiiie_
• THEY DID THE THINGGGG 😭😭 Toph’s vibration vision EATSSSS LETS GO -kenisobrevilla
• Toph looks so good😭 -dimeeeach

As a fan of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender, Toph was my favorite character when she was introduced, and I am excited to see how she turns out in the Netflix series. It’s hard to predict what moments will or won’t be included from the animated series, but if it can include the underrated cabbage merchant, then there will surely be some fun moments planted for Toph. Of course, it’s always a risk doing a reboot, but so far, Avatar: The Last Airbender has proven to be pretty great, so I have a feeling we're all going to love Toph a lot.

Even though we don’t get too much of a look at Toph in the trailer, I’m already convinced they chose the right actress. When Miya Cech was announced, Netflix shared a very sweet video of her reaction, where she explained how long she’s been wanting to play her and how her 10-year-old self would be bursting at the seams. So, the character is in good hands, and the trailer only highlighted that point further.

It shouldn’t be long until Netflix releases a full-length trailer for Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it’s clear that fans are looking forward to seeing Toph Beifong in action. Cech has a lot to live up to, and it should be exciting to see her take on the beloved character.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is streaming now with a Netflix subscription, and Season 2 will be released in 2026.

When it comes to new shows hitting the 2026 TV schedule, and new films filling the 2026 movie calendar, Netflix often produces more output than just about any other platform or studio. That dominance is on display throughout June 2026 and the rest of the year, with the end of the month highlighted by the Harlen Coben mystery I Will Find You, the Tom Hanks-produced docuseries The American Experiment, the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the John Cena and Eric Andre comedy Little Brother, to name a few.

Note that the premiere times for all projects debuting via Netflix subscription are 3:01 am. ET unless otherwise noted, with certain events taking the primetime approach. New series will be marked by ALL CAPS.

June 2026 Netflix Movie And TV Show Release Dates

July 2026 Netflix Movie And TV Release Dates

August 2026 Netflix Movie And TV Release Dates

September 2026 Netflix Movie And TV Release Dates

October 2026 Netflix Movie And TV Release Dates

December 2026 Netflix Movie And TV Release Dates

Netflix Movies And TV Shows With TBA Premiere Dates

For all the release dates that are already announced and confirmed, plenty of other Netflix originals still don't have locked down premiere dates.

• 3 Body Problem Season 2 (Series)
• The Body (Movie)
• East Of Eden (Series)
• Hollywood Arts (Series)
• How To Get To Heaven From Belfast (Series)
• Leanne Season 2 (Series)
• Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story (Series)
• My Brilliant Career (Movie)
• Pride and Prejudice (Series)
• Ray Gunn (Movie)
• Unaccustomed Earth (Movie)
• Untitled Charles III Documentary (Movie)

Keep checking back as the months go on to find even more Netflix premiere dates as they're announced.

As someone who grew up primarily in the 2000s, I cannot believe how many important anniversaries to me have been hitting the big 2-0 lately… but it’s certainly making me realize time is actually passing. One of them is Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series. The show (that’s streaming with a Netflix subscription nowadays) first aired in early 2005 before concluding after three seasons in mid-2008. I was in the perfect age bracket to be glued to my TV screen over the fantasy action series, and over the weekend, I got to feel like I was experiencing it for the first time at the Avatar: The Last Airbender 20th Anniversary Concert.

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I walked into Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Sunday night, but now that I have seen the unique performance, I want to talk about the emotional journey I went on, and why I’d recommend it to fellow fans.

It Made Me Realize Just How Epic The Series' Music Is

Look, I love a good score probably more than the casual movie/TV viewer, but I’ll admit that I don’t necessarily think about Avatar: The Last Airbender for its music. If you feel similarly to me, then I want to walk you through this side of the Avatar: The Last Airbender concert first. The experience is very much centered on highlighting the music of the series as you take a trip down memory lane through each season of the show. There’s a lot of depth and beautiful directions the music goes in, including some unique sounds from instruments like the pipa (Chinese lute) and zheng (Chinese plucked zither).

While you see a live orchestra perform nearly forty sections of music from the series, you watch scenes from the show that go with it. Sometimes it’s all about the action happening on screen, and other times you’ll hear the music paired with the original vocals from the voice actors. At first, it was odd to me to see a series of clips that jumps around to the series, but as the show progressed (which is about two and a half hours with intermission) I found myself to be really moved by the whole experience. I realized not only had I never seen the original The Last Airbender series on a big screen (and likely never would), I was part of a really gorgeous experience that pays tribute to the show’s legacy.

I Was Reminded (Yet Again) About Prince Zuko's Arc

It’s been a few years since I watched the original series. The last Avatar: The Last Airbender-related project I’ve watched is bingeing the live-action series on Netflix last year. The live-action show was better than I thought it would be and gave me some nostalgia for the show, but this concert had me appreciating the original animation, and realizing how incredible of a show it is in itself.

I definitely came to this realization when I rewatched the show in 2020, but it bears repeating that going to this experience had me once again thinking about the perfect character arc Prince Zuko gets. So many of the music moments had to do with his transformation from villain to hero, and I loved seeing it happen in the context of this show.

Seeing Katara Growth Was Even More Satisfying Than I Remembered

There are A LOT of well-developed characters outside of Prince Zuko, of course, and I was getting emotional all throughout the concert. But I want to highlight just one more that really blew me away: Katara. I think when you’re watching the show, you slowly see her really grow into her water bending (and ability to blood bend), but the concert does this with a quickened pace.

I had totally forgotten that she’s the one who defeats Azula during the finale, and seeing how the show morphs from this children’s series to a more mature one about coming into your own was well communicated from the point of view of her character.

I Was Crying Thinking About How Important It Is To My Generation

With those examples in mind, I have to call out how amazing in particular it was to watch this show surrounded by The Last Airbender fans like me. The Dolby Theatre holds about 3,000 people, and so many of them were dressed up in merchandise alongside their friends, partners and family to celebrate this series. Many of them were around the same age as me, and that made me realize in a palpable way how important the show is in particular for people who grew up at the same time as me.

It’s a really beautiful thing to share something like this, and I thought back to how this show really has bonded me with other people my age for my whole life. Seeing people in costume, the cheers during the show, and one person even loudly referencing “That’s rough, buddy” elevated the whole thing.

And, I Loved How It Highlighted Some Goofy Aspects Of The Series, Too

There’s a lot more specifics I could say about the show itself, but I’ll leave you with this last point. The concert experience beautifully balanced the epicness of The Last Airbender with how much fun it was. As you can imagine, with the music being center stage, it took us back to a lot of big action moments, and epic quests the characters go on. But, then there are times like when “Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall” or “Secret Tunnel” are played, and I remembered how hilarious and unserious the show could be.

I'm so so happy I got to go to this. It made me want to watch the show from the beginning along with its incredible spinoff, The Legend of Korra, and I know I will. I have a greater appreciation and gratitude for growing up with this groundbreaking series, and it felt kind of like I was getting kind of a theatrical version of the emotional beats of the series. It also got me more excited for the upcoming Avatar movie, Legend of Aang which is among the 2026 movies on the way.

You can check out if the Avatar: The Last Airbender concert is coming to a city near you at the Avatar In Concert page.

The 2026 movie schedule already has some incredible releases lined up, but I have to admit, the new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie has me most excited. As a long-time fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I’ve been the girl who has been constantly on top of it.

I’ve been loving the ATLA universe and whatever comes with it. I binged the entire live-action ATLA show on Netflix and enjoyed it – and I’m still impatiently waiting for ATLA Season 2, whenever that comes. Heck, I even have an Appa plushie – I’m hardcore.

So, of course, with the new film coming out, called The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, I’m eager for that. But a new piece of casting news – regarding who is going to voice Zuko – has me annoyed, and I need to talk about why this feels wrong.

I’m Alright For Some Movies Having Big-Name Casting

If you haven’t heard, the person voicing Zuko in the upcoming film will be Steven Yeun. I want to say first off, I have no problem with voice actors changing, most of the time, for movies that tend to be adapted from TV shows. I’ve seen it time and time again. Sometimes it’s done really well. Other times it’s… not. I’m still not the biggest fan of Chris Pratt in the Mario cast. But either way, it’s not like this is a new thing.

And Steven Yeun is one of my favorite actors. I’ve been a big fan of Steven Yeun’s best films, and have actively watched his career flourish over the past decade and a half from Yeun’s time in The Walking Dead to now. And of course, plenty know him from Invincible, a great superhero show on Amazon where he does an excellent job voicing the main character. On any other movie, I’d be excited for this. But there’s one thing I’m not happy about.

The Original Voice-Actor For Zuko Is Still Very Much A Part Of The Franchise

A while back, I wrote about why I believe that Zuko has one of the best character arcs in all of television, and I stand by that to this day. And while his story plays a vital role in that, his voice acting from Dante Busco is just as major.

The voice actor has been a massive fan of this franchise for years. In fact, I would honestly say, besides the creators of the series, he’s the face of it, where he’s had talks about it, hosted podcasts, and gone to fan conventions. And the fact that he wasn’t the most obvious pick for this after the years he has dedicated to this series boggles me.

I’ve seen some people say that the kids are adults in this film, so that’s why the voices changed. But so is Dante Busco. The voice actor is well into his adult years. You don’t think he could voice an older Zuko?

Again, normally, this wouldn’t upset me as much, but the fact that he clearly loves this series, and he’s not going to play this character that people love – and love him voicing – irks my ATLA-loving heart.

I Wish That The Original Cast At Least Had Some Involvement With The Film

I know that not every single voice actor from the show can be a part of the new film. I’m not blind to the complexities of the modern-day box office and the need for big names to draw in people. But this feels like it’s slowly morphing into something ATLA fans don’t want.

I really want it to be good, but it’s going to be hard to imagine that without the involvement from the voice actors that brought these characters to life in animated series. And now, with Dante Busco not voicing Zuko…it’ll be even harder for me.

Either way, I’m still going to end up seeing the film – I’m still an ATLA girly. But I’ll just be saying my own ‘that’s rough, buddy’ the moment I sit in the theater.

Believe it or not, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, but the fandom has only grown in the two decades since the very first episode aired. With one spinoff already produced and a second on the way to follow the journeys of new Avatars, there's still a major treat coming for viewers who will always love the OG Team Avatar. The Legend of Aang is on the way to continue the stories of the original team into young adulthood as a theatrical film. The catch? The OG voice actors aren't part of the deal, and Jack DeSena opened up about the new voice of Sokka.

Jack DeSena was among the Avatar franchise stars who spoke with CinemaBlend at San Diego Comic-Con, shortly after the 20th anniversary panel that came with nostalgic moments as well as news announcements. No footage was yet available for Avatar: The Legend of Aang, but the new voice cast had largely already been announced for the older version of the TLA gang: Eric Nam as Aang, Dionne Quan as Toph, Jessica Matten as Katara, and Román Zaragoza as Sokka.

I asked DeSena for his take on Sokka's journey continuing on screen in The Legend of Aang, which of course has another actor taking the reins. DeSena, who had previously shared his thoughts on Sokka not having bending abilities and why the original show remains relevant, responded:

Jack DeSena was enthusiastic about Sokka's story continuing, with no hint of reservation that another actor will portray the older version of his longtime character. Interestingly, Sokka didn't need an older voice actor in The Legend of Korra, as Sokka had died prior to the events of the spinoff. The Legend of Aang's place in the timeline of course puts it between the end of TLA and beginning of Korra, and I can't help but wonder if The Legend of Aang will deviate from the events of the comics that continued the stories from The Last Airbender on the page.

While there are more questions than answers about The Legend of Aang since it was announced in 2022 other than the voice cast, the October 2026 premiere date, and Lauren Montgomery as director, Jack DeSena raised a fun question that could be answered in a story continuing Sokka's journey:

I can't say that I ever considered that a post-The Last Airbender project could include Hawky among characters whose stories are expanded, but I'm all for it! Work is surely never done for a messenger hawk in the hands of Sokka, right?

DeSena mentioning Hawky reminded me of another addition to The Last Airbender's third and final season for Sokka: the sword forged by the character out of the ore from a meteorite that had recently fallen from the sky. Or, as Sokka called it: Space Sword. The actor shared a theory for the fate of Space Sword as well, and I'm 100% on board with it even if it isn't made canon in The Legend of Aang. He said:

As far as I'm concerned, unless canonically contradicted, the official story is that Toph found and recovered Space Sword for Sokka after the events of the Season 3 finale. It would only be fitting after he lost the sword when he threw it at an enemy soldier in a desperate effort to save both of their lives, and now all I want from The Legend of Aang is confirmation.

Unfortunately, Avatar: The Legend of Aang is still more than a year away with a premiere date of October 9, 2026. In the meantime, fans can always revisit the three seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender, currently available streaming with a Netflix subscription and a Paramount+ subscription.

You know how there are just those friendships on television that you watch, and you sit there like, “Dang, I need to have friends like that!” Here are some of the best that I’m sure you’ve loved time and again.

Troy And Abed (Community)

When I was thinking of names for this list, Troy and Abed were the first two that came to mind. When it comes to the Community cast, the chemistry among them is utterly perfect; however, the best is undoubtedly Donald Glover and Danny Pudi as Troy and Abed, respectively. I could think of no better friendship duo than these two and their weirdness – I even have a mug of them saying, “Troy and Abed in the mooorning!”

Steve And Dustin (Stranger Things)

While they are indeed the among the friendships with the most significant age gaps on this list, I can’t leave out Steve and Dustin. I feel like we were all introduced to what these two could be in Season 2 when Steve started to enter his whole “mom” era (as the memes online would say) with the kids. But throughout the four seasons, we’ve seen their friendship grow in specific ways that make it a million times better. I love this duo so much.

Chandler And Joey (Friends)

Yes, really, the entire Friends cast is something I genuinely love, but speaking specifically, Joey and Chandler are the epitome of “best friends forever.” These two have been through it all, and I swear, the episode where Chandler moves out is one that always hits me hard in the feels. They are goofy in every way.

Eleven And Max (Stranger Things)

When we watched Eleven and Max together on Stranger Things in Season 3, something was healed in our souls. There’s just something so sweet about watching two teenagers go out and live their lives and become close friends without any boys to bother them. I love these two so much.

Ekko And Powder (Arcane)

While Arcane is one of the best shows to binge on Netflix, it wouldn’t be on that list without its impressive character connections, and one of those is Ekko and Powder. That’s right, not Jinx, of course, but Powder before she went through all the trauma – and especially in that different reality in Season 2. These two had a special connection unlike any other, and my only wish was that we got more.

Cristina And Meredith (Grey’s Anatomy)

Duh. I think when anyone thinks of TV best friends, they think of Cristina and Meredith from Grey’s Anatomy. These two stuck together through thick and thin and went through some of the most dramatic instances that characters in a medical TV show could experience. You can’t get better than them.

Jackie And Donna (That ‘70s Show)

I love these two because the best thing about Jackie and Donna is that they weren’t friends at first. They did not like each other. But throughout the show, they ended up getting really close. And really, I think that’s an excellent way for a friendship to start in a show – where they see the worst versions of each other but choose to become friends anyway when they realize how much they have in common.

Ted And Coach Beard (Ted Lasso)

The Ted Lasso cast has plenty of great friendships, but one that I have to give special praise to is the one between Ted and Beard. At first, it feels like they wouldn’t get along because Beard is just so…weird in so many ways. But they vibe on a different level, and it’s a friendship that truly stands the test of time.

Jack And Liz (30 Rock)

The 30 Rock cast is so talented, but the main friendship that I’m sure we all love is Liz and Jack. Why? Because these two are brutally honest with each other. They always show up for each other in times of need, and they’re not afraid to tell each other how it is. That’s a true friend.

Jess And Cece (New Girl)

God, the list of times that these two have gone through ridiculous drama because of the boys that Jess lives with is endless. But you want to know the best part? Jess and Cece were always there for each other. Whether it was Cece dealing with Schmidt, Jess with Nick, or whatever other crazy shenanigans they went through, it was always these two.

Veronica And Fiona (Shameless)

I will literally always love Veronica and Fiona. The entire Shameless cast essentially defined my college years, as I loved the show. But these two? They were great friends. Fiona was hyped about V just as much as Veronica was about her. They were not afraid to get dirty in order to protect one another. I love ‘em.

Leslie And Ron (Parks And Recreation)

The best thing about Leslie and Ron in the Parks and Recreation cast is that they are always there for each other. Often, with many of these office shows, friendships can turn romantic in the blink of an eye, but they were always just hilarious together in so many ways. I can’t help but love them.

Bellamy And Clarke (The 100)

While a part of me will never forgive this CW show for not putting these two together because the chemistry was amazing, there’s a lot to love about Bellamy and Clarke from The 100. They went through some of the worst things together, but no matter what, they always stood by each other and let them live their lives, even if they didn’t necessarily agree with their choices. It’s perfect.

Sam And Dean (Supernatural)

Is it cheating because they’re brothers? I don’t know. To me, I think Sam and Dean’s friendship is one of the highlights of the Supernatural cast. It wouldn’t be a great show if it weren’t for Sam’s quips, Dean’s sarcastic comments, or how they work so incredibly well together. I mean, it had fifteen seasons. Of course, their friendship was amazing.

Jake And Finn (Adventure Time)

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Jake and Finn have a friendship that’s special in so many ways. They are friends forever, and you can’t take that from me.

Aang And Sokka (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

When it comes to rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender, one friendship I particularly love is that of Aang and Sokka. You’d think it'd be because they are always there for each other. Sokka will support Aang no matter what, and Aang will protect his friends as if they were his family. But the real reason is that they are just idiots together – and I mean that in the best way possible. They come up with the silliest plans. And it’s something that makes me laugh every time.

Will And Carlton (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

While they were cousins, they did not have to be friends. However, watching the evolution of Will and Carlton’s friendship throughout The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is something that I will always love. A begrudging respect began to form, and by the end, the two of them had become truly close friends, having been through a lot together.

Lily And Robin (How I Met Your Mother)

I think a reason why a lot of people like Lily and Robin from How I Met Your Mother is that, in reality, they feel like a lot of real-life friendships – especially with me. Whether it’s cracking jokes, drinking wine, or needing someone to rant to, these two were each other’s person, and that’s something we can always be grateful for.

Ted And Rebecca (Ted Lasso)

Were Ted and Rebecca close from the start? Not at all. But I love it when the grumpy x sunshine dynamic finally comes around, and these two are the epitome of that, where even Rebecca starts to see how great Ted is. By the end of the series, she was crying as she watched him leave to return to America. Now that’s a friendship.

Jimmy And Gaby (Shrinking)

The Shrinking cast has some memorable friendships, but I have to point out Jimmy and Gaby. Sure, they did have their moments of possibly having a fling, but in reality, these two are just funny together. They have some hysterical moments that make me snicker. And it’s something I rewatch when I need a laugh.

Rachel, Phoebe And Monica (Friends)

I couldn’t just pick a duo for these three because, in reality, they’re all great friends. I feel like each of them has stuck their neck out for the other on any occasion because they care so deeply. There’s something so special about having three friends who would do anything for the other, and these three take the cake.

Jimmy And Paul (Shrinking)

Does Paul continuously say they aren’t friends? Of course. Does that stop Jimmy? Nope! Watching these two interact is the highlight of my week whenever new Shrinking episodes come around, and I would fully watch an entire series dedicated to just them, with Paul turning grumpy as Jimmy’s pestering continues.

Grace And Will (Will And Grace)

Of course, I had to put these two on this list. The titular characters of Will & Grace are so iconic that they came back around in a revival back in 2017. Their friendship is hysterical, and they are always there for each other, no matter what.

SpongeBob And Patrick (SpongeBob SquarePants)

SpongeBob and Patrick are the epitome of how two characters can be as dumb as rocks, but they vibe so well. I love ‘em to death, no matter how stupid these two are together and the trouble they get into. Some of the best SpongeBob memes revolve around their friendship.

Scott And Stiles (Teen Wolf)

As someone who lived during the Teen Wolf era, Scott and Stiles were EVERYWHERE. And I mean everywhere. I looked on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr (that’s right, you remember her), and I couldn't escape their friendship – or the people shipping them.

Turk And J.D. (Scrubs)

If the term ‘bromance’ had a picture in the dictionary, it would be Turk and J.D.. They were hilarious in every way and perfectly captured what it was like to be just two guys who vibed well and absolutely loved each other. They are what made Scrubs so good.

Charles And Jake (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

There are plenty of friendships I could point to in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, but one that always stands out to me is Charles and Jake. I really don’t think they were the brightest bulbs when they were together, but somehow, they always managed to get the job done hilariously.

John And Sherlock (Sherlock)

Because, of course, I have to put these two together. Did Sherlock drive John out of his mind? Of course, he did. But Sherlock would also do anything to protect John and his family, and we see that even if Sherlock himself was practically unable to show emotions. That’s the kind of true friendship we all need.

Steve And Robin (Stranger Things)

Yes, because we love Steve and Robin. The hilarious part about these two is that everyone thought Robin and Steve were going to become the next big romantic thing when Season 3 came around. Still, nope, it turns out Robin was actually a lesbian, and these two ended up becoming besties – and are always there for each other.

Lorelai And Rory (Gilmore Girls)

Okay, so while they are mother and daughter, I’m pretty sure we can all collectively agree that Lorelai and Rory are best friends as well. That’s kind of the whole premise of the show. Mothers and daughters would dream of the close relationship that these two had.

Eddie And Dustin (Stranger Things)

Eddie was a true all-star of Stranger Things Season 4, but one of the biggest reasons for that is because of his friendship with Dustin. Eddie got to him on a personal level (one different from Steve's), and that friendship will always be remembered.

Toph And Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Toph and Katara have a powerful friendship. Not only do they bring out the best in each other with their powers, but they constantly challenge each other, especially in the beginning when they don’t get along. But it would be a friendship that would last a lifetime.

Ugh, now I feel like I have to rewatch all of these shows to see these guys again. I think it’s time for a marathon.

Animated and cartoon titles used to often be classic Disney and Saturday morning staples, or raunchy adult counterpoints. Though there was some common ground, it was sparse (and dependent on a kid’s guardian’s perspective--this list included). Today, a lot has changed–the once semi-no man’s land has ballooned to offer plenty of palatable watches for all ages. Below you’ll find cartoon pioneers, today's hits, and some stellar hidden gems outside of typical Disney titles, because that could be a whole separate list! Without further ado, let's get surfing through some great picks.

Peanuts

Charlie Brown and co. are another one of those enduring and endearing cartoons that continue to win generations' hearts. While most of us only consider watching any Peanuts fodder during the holidays, there’s plenty more to choose from, including the 2015 film The Peanuts Movie. And let’s face it, we’re all holding on hope that one day Charlie won’t be tricked by Lucy.

Batman: The Animated Series

Plenty of classic comic book characters could’ve filled out this list with some ease, but Batman naturally won top spot to rep the DC list. The 1992 series was a true highlight for Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, even though it only ran for four seasons. And though there were plenty of BAM!’s and POW!’s to go around, minimal footage of foes being hurt was shown.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Like DC, Marvel’s top comic goes to Spider-Man. And though there are endless iterations, the 2018 film following Miles Morales’ experience getting bitten is an exciting refresh. Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or a vet of the Peter Parker world, it’s nice to see a new angle on him.

Scooby-Doo

Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne, aka “Mystery Incorporated,” have been a sustaining staple since their 1969 introduction. The gang has a huge, comedic, family-friendly franchise that spans multiple shows and movies, and continues to win audiences time and again through their humorously balanced sleuthing skills. Those meddling kids and their dog nailed simple storylines with smart but accessible jokes.

Tom And Jerry

As more or less the OG ‘cat and mouse’ duo, Tom and Jerry are Hollywood royalty. With roots tracing back to the 1940s, their frenemy relationship entertained countless kids, who then, in turn, shared it with theirs. Whether it’s a nostalgia watch or some regular weekday fodder, these two still make the cut.

The Smurfs

Another great vintage cartoon, which has been introduced through a series of blockbuster franchises, is The Smurfs. The comic turned show turned movie is a nostalgia fun fun-filled ride that continues to appeal to old and new fans alike. Although I’m sure, for some stans, Rihanna’s first new song in quite some time being included in the Smurf’s new trailer doesn’t hurt things.

Robin Hood

From a historical standpoint, Robin Hood may be the oldest and, without a doubt, the most recognizable name on the list. With roots tracing back to the 1300s, the Prince of Thieves continues to be a world everyone can enjoy, especially the animated Disney version.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Brothers Mario and Luigi have long been a staple for generations of gamers. Sweetly animated and endlessly fun, they’ve gone on to create quite a world beyond saving Princess Peach from Bowser. This 2023 blockbuster pays homage to the sibling plumbers’ legacy.

Shrek

Boy, does this ogre have layers. When Shrek arrived on the scene in 2001, it was bursting at the seams with bathroom humor created a lot of discourse. Behind it though, was a compelling reimagine of classic fairy tale tropes that left many wanting more. Even though he’s rough around the edges to some onscreen and off, his character arc is genuine and magnetic. Those makings cemented the fictional world and the big green guy himself to sustain in pop culture.

SpongeBob SquarePants

From the jump, everyone’s favorite animated sea sponge has been ready to win the hearts of his audience, both young and old. And to his luck, many continue to adore him and his silly, silly friends of Bikini Bottom long after we grew out of kids' TV. A prime example of how SpongeBob influences a much wider audience is that Nosferatu’s director, Robert Eggers, cited the Nickelodeon icon's influence for the 2024 remake.

The Yogi Bear Show

Like the other vintage pulls on the list, Yogi Bear has lived on and been introduced to new generations of viewers over the decades. The picnic basket-loving bear and his pal Boo-Boo’s antics are simple and routine, yet they continue to steal the hearts of their viewers.

Arthur

As one of the best animated shows ever, Arthur, his family and pals showcased a lot of social, emotional and mental topics in inclusive ways. PBS paired that with realistic familial and friend relationship dynamics (D.W. fan here), which galvanized Marc Brown’s fictional aardvark in an honest way for the masses.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Since its premiere, the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender has been a fan favorite. Many regard this as one of the ultimate cartoons, noting that it again has a perfect blend of adventure, humor and heart. It’s not your typical easy animated series, but prepare for a great ride.

Bluey

Disney really hit it out of the park with their blue dog show (no offense to Blue of Blue’s Clues). While clearly marketed, made and designed for kiddos, the themes and honest reflections of familial relationships hook plenty of those who have aged out of tuning into the Mouse Ears channel.

Power Puff Girls

I don’t think you can get much better with sugar, spice and everything nice when it comes to a stellar kids’ cartoon. The lab-created superhero sisters of Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles were a thrill from their unmistakable theme song to defeating Mojo Jojo (or any other foe) before the credits rolled. I’m not the only one who believes it’s a show from the ‘00s that still holds up watching as an adult.

How to Train Your Dragon

As one of DreamWorks' best animated movies, How to Train Your Dragon really hits all the right notes of adventure, humor and heart, perfect for a universal audience. Hiccup and his sweet but brave dragon, Toothless, continue to draw crowds 15 years later. And the live-action remake, coming out later this month, is expected to do the same.

The Lego Movie

This kid's favorite toy-turned-movie is the perfect homage to illuminating all there is to create with the plastic blocks. Pair that with some comedy giants a la Will Ferrell, and you’ve got a blockbuster anyone from age 5 to 95 can enjoy.

Ponyo (many other Studio Ghibli films)

Hayo Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli offer a whole collection of exhilarating animated movies, though not all may be suitable for everyone. Ponyo, though, is essentially a Ghibli counterpoint to The Little Mermaid (although it’s not a musical). Although Ponyo, the magical fish girl, doesn’t have sea-faring friends who accompany her after she comes ashore.

Recess

For some, Recess was a paramount Saturday Morning classic during the late 90s-00s. As the title implies, the show centered around every elementary school-aged kid’s favorite part of the day and the goings-on during that quick 20-minute block. T.J. and his friends are funny yet kind, making it a perfect watch for anyone with a nostalgic bone that needs to be itched or can directly identify with the gang.

Wallace & Gromit franchise

The British claymation duo is another visual world that has found its place in pop culture. Now, with seven titles to their name, the dog and owner pairing continue to find new ground (their 7th was made in partnership with Netflix). While the duo seems straightforward, there’s plenty to take away from each installment.

Phineas And Ferb

Another Disney Channel hit for the masses is Phineas and Ferb. It’s aimed roughly at an age group who’ve graduated from Bluey-esque television but still need pretty straightforward content. What makes the jump into watchable territory for all the silly stepbrothers is the smart writing and goofy jokes, and possibly having a platypus as a family pet.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox, the movie, based on the short children's book and directed by Wes Anderson, is just as magical as the Roald Dahl classic. The retelling has a perfect kid-friendly stop animation aesthetic blended with an A-list cast including George Clooney and Meryl Streep.

The Little Prince

Another excellent book adapted into a movie (a couple of times over). This French classic has been collecting fans of all ages since 1943 worldwide, and the 2015 flick continues to carry on that torch. The simple and sweet story reminds us all that it’s the connections we make that matter most while exploring fantastical worlds.

Over The Garden Wall

As one of the great under-the-radar animated shows out there, 2014’s Over the Garden Wall has earned quite a fan base. Brothers Wirt and Greg accidentally find themselves in a captivating, somewhat spooky, and at times adventurous world after jumping over a mysterious wall. From start to end, it’s a simple but compelling tale of the bros finding their way home.

The Hobbit

While the Lord of the Rings trilogy may be the most well-known J.R.R. Tolkien movies based on modern literature, it’s not the only one. For the purposes of this list, we’ll stick to the subject at hand and highlight the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit. While it does depict some violence via battles, it’s a classic gem that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls came to Disney long after many of us had moved on, but it hasn’t stopped its popularity among adult audiences. The Pines twins visit their uncle in the Pacific Northwest for the summer, only to unlock a longstanding mystery. It’s a perfect blend of silly-sweet kid humor braided with PG Twin Peaks vibes (be warned, for some kids, there is one dark moment on the Mouse Ears show near the end). You may come for the mystery but you’ll stay for Mabel, Dipper, Grunkle Stan and Soos.

Adventure Time

What starts as a candy-colored quest quickly unfolds into an emotional, often existential journey. With layered characters, sharp humor, and simple but profound themes, it’s a show that’ll appeal to all. There’s something in the Land of Ooo that'll speak to any viewer, exactly why Adventure Time endures.

Klaus

We all knew at least one Christmas movie had to make the list, for good measure. Compared to some of the classics, Klaus could’ve easily gotten lost in the shuffle for many. The Netflix original is a story following a down-on-his-luck postman who befriended a toymaker and set up a deal to help one another.

The Secret Of The Kells

The Secret of Kells is a visual and emotional Irish treasure, first premiering in 2009. Its stunningly hand-drawn animation, paired perfectly with mythic storytelling, holds kid and adult viewers equally. Cellach and Brendan’s story is filled with creativity, fear, and hope as aggressive Vikings near and a revered illuminator comes to town.

Wolfwalkers

Like The Secret of the Kells, Wolfwalkers is another animated Irish folk-like tale that comes to life. While there are a bit of dark tones throughout the film, including hunting wolves, the fairy-tale-like story that follows Robyn as she meets Mebh is true magic.

The Iron Giant

Don’t be fooled by the animation style or color palette for young ones, The Iron Giant is an epic adventure for all to enjoy. The cast is stacked (Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Christopher McDonald, Harry Connick Jr) and the gentle sincerity of the giant will have you head over heels. Just be warned, it is a tear-jerker!

The Secret of NIMH

Another vintage gem presented as a children's story with a more complex storyline. The Brisby family experiences some strife as conflict arises in the surrounding area, and they must seek help from an unlikely friend. Admittedly, I haven’t watched this, but it’s now on my list!

With any adaptation, change is inevitable. We saw that happen when Season 1 of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender (which you can watch with a Netflix subscription) came out, and fans did not hold back their feelings about various changes made in it. Now, we know another update is coming during Season 2 of ATLA with the introduction of Miya Cech’s “slightly more feminine” version of Toph. And I have to say, I have mixed feelings about this.

If you are a fan of the OG Avatar, one of the best animated shows of all time, you know that Toph is a tomboy, not a girl’s girl, and she is very proud of that. However, it sounds like Miya Cech’s Toph might play into her feminine side a bit more, as she told The Direct:

Now, this idea of bringing a cartoon character into live-action makes sense. It seems like she might want to make Toph even more nuanced, and this is one way that’s happening. I love that kind of mentality, and I especially am here for it in an adaptation because I want to see new takes on Avatar stories and characters.

However, it’s also slightly worrying because Toph being a tomboy and defying feminine stereotypes and expectations is a big part of her character in the animated show. Toph showed viewers a version of womanhood that was different from Katara and the other female characters on the show, and it was empowering to see so many different women in one story.

Toph is a girl who grew up in high society, and she was forced into following the rules of it as a young kid. However, she loudly stood up against them and proudly was her authentic self throughout the series, especially after she joined forces with Aang, Katara and Sokka. I’d honestly say it’s one of the reasons why Toph is one of Avatar’s best characters.

I want all of this illustrated on the live-action show. I want it to give us Toph and her tomboy qualities so more young girls can see examples of beautiful women who all look and act differently.

I’m not saying Miya Cech won’t do that. Her Toph can do all of this while being “slightly more feminine.” All I’m saying is that her comment highlighted a piece of Toph’s identity that I need to see handled carefully, thoughtfully and faithfully on this live-action project, which led to my mixed feelings.

Thankfully, Cech seems like a true fan of the OG series, and she’s spoken with Michaela Jill Murphy, who voiced the young earthbender in the animated show. During the same interview, the live-action actress referenced this conversation too, saying:

It seems like Cech is handling Toph with a lot of care, and I cannot wait to see her take on The Blind Bandit.

However, when something you love with your whole heart gets adapted, it’s normal to be a bit worried about how characters you adore will change. So, while we wait for Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Toph’s introduction, I’ll stay cautiously optimistic and hope that we see a new yet faithful version of this beloved earthbender.

That's right. We're talking about Zuko today because we have to.

As someone who considers herself a huge fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I know there are plenty of characters in the series that I genuinely love more than life itself and one of those is obviously Zuko. While I could sing praises for Katara or share how amazing Toph is, Zuko is and always will be my favorite, mainly because of how he changes throughout the series.

But there's one aspect about Zuko's character that hasn't always sat right with me, and after years of keeping it dormant as the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe continues to expand, I knew it was awaiting its chance to awaken. And now it has, and I must talk about it.

As I've Said, Zuko Is Hands Down The Best Developed Character

Zuko is the best-developed character. Ever. And I mean that.

Alright, well, there are some great examples of good character development, many of which I could also talk about for hours. But Zuko always sat with me mainly because it was so flawlessly done over three seasons.

We see him as the villain initially, but over time, we start to understand why he is that way. As he begins to change and grow, he still makes mistakes, many of which lead us to either relate to him more, or act like Uncle Iroh and be disappointed in his decisions.

In the end, he becomes friends with Aang and the whole Avatar gang, and I could not picture this group without him. His past with the Fire Nation, as well as his future, will always be defined by the choices he made that led him to becoming the leader he is at the end of the series.

But there's just one character that he's with that I just… don't get.

But After Several Years… I'm Just Not Feeling Him With Mai

Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm not feeling Mai at all with Zuko.

Don't get me wrong – I do think Mai is an excellent ATLA side character. I think she has pulled through for others in ways that we can't even imagine half the time. And what makes her even more interesting is that she doesn't have any bending powers.

It's clear from the beginning of the series that those with bending often have a leg-up on many other people, at least in positions of power. It doesn't really matter if you're a farmer and you're able to move the ground as an Earthbender. That's just a useful skill to have.

But in any position of power, having the ability to be a bender, or having someone as a bender on your side, gives you a major advantage, as we've seen with the Fire Lord or the Dai Li, or any of those people.

Mai is the daughter of a super high-profile individual of the Fire Nation, but she does not have any bending. However, she is able to keep herself afloat and stand out on her own because of her knife skills. That's something I can appreciate, and I find it super cool and valuable in a world that favors elements over normality.

But she and Zuko, to me, don't make sense.

I think at first it did – when he was still in his transition from morally grey to someone who was trying to do the right thing. She represented the Fire Nation, a normal girl who genuinely wanted to keep her family safe and did care about him. But it was just her attitude that I think really cemented it in my mind that she wasn't right for Zuko.

It felt like she needed someone who took charge a lot more than he did, and I really believe that at the time, Zuko wasn't even ready for a relationship. He was still reeling from what he did back in Ba Sing Se and betraying his uncle. He was struggling with keeping secrets. I think his and Mai's jumping into something was almost a gut instinct rather than a thought-out decision.

And as we see with them, they aren't really… happy together. I mean, that's kind of Zuko's schtick – he even says at one point he's 'never happy' even though we see him smile. But I feel like the few times we actually saw them smile together were few and far between.

I'd Rather Have Seen Zuko With Someone Who Boosts Him Up

Obviously, I'm not Zuko. I can't tell him who he needs. However, as someone who has been in a relationship for nearly a decade and has seen the rise and fall of so many others around me, I have at least some semblance of what a relationship should look like.

Someone like Zuko needs to be with someone who boosts him up. And I don't think Mai is that person. Again, she's a great character, but she's not the kind of person who would aid Zuko. Mai has her stuff going on with her family and her brother, and helping Zuko bring peace to the Fire Nation would be a difficult task for her to accomplish.

I was a part of the Zutara fandom (Zuko x Katara) because I love good enemies-to-lovers moments. But obviously, Katara does marry Aang (as we see in The Legend of Korra sequel series). Even so, a part of me does think these two would have been better suited for each other, even all these years later.

But the reason I even bring this up is that there's still time, really, for him to end up with someone else. And here's why.

They're Not Really A Major Couple In The Comics, So Who Really Knows?

Again, I think Mai is great, but I really think she needs someone better suited for her. The same goes for Zuko. The comics could make that happen.

With the Avatar: The Last Airbender comics, Mai and Zuko aren't together. They had this weird thing in the beginning, but it was doomed from the start because Mai made no real effort with the relationship, and Zuko (who was already facing a ton of stuff from his new position) was also picking fights and jealousy over little things. They broke up.

There have been hints that they still have feelings for each other, but I really don't think that they should be the be-all-end-all. We do know that Zuko has a daughter, Izumi, whom we met in The Legend of Korra, so he got married, but we have no idea to whom. And the comics could end up pulling a fast one and giving Zuko someone else, someone we haven't even met yet.

I don't know. I may be overthinking this. I think I care about the character so much, and my emotional mind just wants him to be happy when I'm reading. And if maybe Mai could be that, I'd be alright with that. But for now, a part of me can't help but wonder what if?

Maybe we'll get more answers with the new Earthbending Avatar series that's coming out. Or with the film (whenever that releases). Either way, I'm getting in the ATLA mood again. It's time to check out the series and binge once more.

With all due respect to some classic central TV show protagonists, there are times when it is a good idea to shift gears a bit and show things from another character’s perspective. This has actually become a relatively common practice as many modern small-screen favorites have given a scene-stealing supporting character (or even a never-before-seen character) the chance to almost completely steal the show for an episode. The following are some of the most revered examples.

“Lower Decks” - Star Trek: The Next Generation

According to TV Tropes, episodes that put supporting characters in the spotlight are referred to as “lower decks episodes.” The term is borrowed from the title of a classic episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation from Season 7 which focuses on a group of younger characters who are working their way up in the ranks at Starfleet.

“Five-O” - Better Call Saul

Sometimes a character becomes such a memorable scene-stealer that they earn their own equally great spin-off series, such as when Breaking Bad's Jimmy "Saul Goodman" McGill (Bob Odenkirk) became the star of the prequel, Better Call Saul. In just its first season, the AMC hit proved that Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) could have led his own series, too, in "Five-O," which peers into his origins as a former Philadelphia police officer.

“Dear Sigmund” - M.A.S.H.

One character from M.A.S.H. whom you could always rely on to give sage advice is Maj. Sidney Freedman (Allan Arbus), who got to the be star in a Season 5 episode called "Dear Sigmund." The Alan Alda-directed episode sees the recurring character penning a letter to legendary psychiatrist Sigmund Freud while visiting the 4077.

“Life Of Brian” - My So-Called Life

A great '90s show that ended far too soon was My So-Called Life, which starred Claire Danes in the Golden Globe-winning main role of struggling teen Angela Chase. One of the few episodes not narrated by Angela is the revered "Life of Brian," which primarily focuses on the personal struggles of her friend, Brian Krakow (Devon Gummersall).

“Musings Of A Cigarette Smoking Man” - The X Files

The first episode of The X Files in which David Duchovny's Fox Mulder does not appear at all and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is only seen briefly in archival footage from the pilot episode is "Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man." The Season 4 episode sheds light on the past of the mysterious recurring role (William B. Davis), portraying him almost as a Forrest Gump-like figure for historical assassinations, such as JFK.

“The Zeppo” - Buffy The Vampire Slayer

In the Season 3 Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, "The Zeppo," the titular teen warrior (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is faced with a problem that is merely the B-plot. The main storyline focuses on Xander (Nicholas Brendon), who likens himself to Zeppo Marx, feeling like the gang's most expendable member, until he must singlehandedly take on a group of reanimated corpses conspiring to blow up his high school.

“His Story” - Scrubs

There are several episodes of Scrubs that pass narrative duties from J.D. (Zach Braff) onto another character. The first of the bunch was Season 2's "His Story," which follows Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley) as he speaks with his therapist about issues he is experiencing in his personal life.

"How Your Mother Met Me" - How I Met Your Mother

After finally meeting Tracy "The Mother" McConnell (Cristin Milioti) in the Season 8 finale, watching her mingle with the rest of the gang, and catching glimpses of her relationship with Ted (Josh Radnor) throughout Season 9, we finally got to know her personally in How I Met Your Mother's 200th episode. Chronicling the series' entire timeline up to that point all from her perspective (during which she experiences heartbreaking tragedy, tough life decisions, and The Naked Man), "How Your Mother Met Me" is easily considered one of the best HIMYM episodes.

"Chapter 5: Return Of The Mandalorian" - The Book Of Boba Fett

After Tamuera Morrison took on the iconic role of Boba Fett on The Mandalorian Season 2, he became the star of his own seven-part spin-off, The Book of Boba Fett. However, the fifth chapter sees the limited series essentially become The Mandalorian Season 2.5 as it focuses entirely on Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin, who ends up becoming the star of the show from that point on.

"Long, Long Time" - The Last Of Us

The most widely celebrated episode of HBO's series adaptation of the popular video game series, The Last of Us, spends the least amount of time with our central protagonists, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). The Emmy-winning "Long, Long Time" is also the first and last episode to feature the characters of Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), tracing their loving relationship over several years after the cordyceps outbreak.

"Teddy Perkins" - Atlanta

Arguably, the best episode of Atlanta has very little to do with creator Donald Glover's Earn or Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry) but does heavily feature Glover in a whole different kind of role. The main focus of Season 2's "Teddy Perkins" is Lakeith Stanfield's Darius, who is seeking to buy a piano from the episode's reclusive, eccentric title character (played by a nearly unrecognizable Glover under heavy makeup, who is discovered to be hiding a disturbing secret.

"Almost Got 'Im" - Batman: The Animated Series

Many DC fans agree that the best episode of Batman: The Animated Series is one that shifts the perspective from Kevin Conroy's Dark Knight to the five most notorious members of his rogues gallery. In "Almost Got 'Im," Poison Ivy, The Penguin, The Joker, Two-Face, and Killer Croc gather for a Poker game, during which they trade stories about the times they came closest to defeating the Caped Crusader.

"Wilson" - House

Considering how the titular diagnostician from House (played by Hugh Laurie) is inspired by Sherlock Holmes (whose stories are narrated by John Watson), it is funny that the medical drama is not told from the perspective of the "Watson" in his life. That would change in Season 6 with the airing of "Wilson," which follows Robert Sean Leonard's Dr. James Wilson racing to save the life of his friend, Tucker (Joshua Malina).

"The Ricklantis Mixup" - Rick And Morty

Technically, this classic Rick and Morty episode shows more of the titular duo than any other but because it is really told from the point of view of their many alternate selves, it deserves a spot. The misleadingly titled "The Ricklantis Mixup" is essentially a mini-anthology movie that takes place during a day at the Citadel of Ricks from various perspectives.

"Exposé" - Lost

Out of the many survivors of the plane crash, only a chosen few were recognized as main members of the Lost cast but one episode revealed the backstories of two lesser-seen survivors. "Exposé" begins with Nikki (Kiele Sanchez) and Paulo (Rodrigo Santoro) found dead before flashing back to the couple's lives before the island and their experiences on it.

"A Jury In Jail" - American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

The eighth episode of American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson still depicts a great deal of the legendary trial from the perspective of the accused former athlete (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) and the opposing legal teams. However, the focus does shift more heavily to the jury and their alternates as sequestration begins to have a challenging effect on them.

"Beard After Hours" - Ted Lasso

In Season 2 of one of the best Apple TV+ original TV shows, Ted Lasso, "Man City" sees Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) go off on his own after AFC Richmond suffers a tough loss. The following episode, "Beard After Hours," sees what the character went through after he walked away, which involves an epic, night-long journey of debauchery, self-discovery, and near-death experiences.

"Pine Barrens" - The Sopranos

Tony (James Gandolfini) and his souring affair with Gloria is the B-plot of the Season 3 Sopranos episode, "Pine Barrens." The central focus is Christopher (Michael Imperioli) and Paulie (Tony Sirico), who come close to freezing to death after getting lost in the woods after being tasked with running collections for the flu-ridden Silvio.

"Blink" - Doctor Who

One of the most acclaimed (and frightening) modern episodes of Doctor Who, "Blink," barely features David Tennant's eponymous time lord or his companion, Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), due to them becoming stuck in the year 1969. Thus, it is up to a woman from the present day named Sally Sparrow (Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan) to prevent statue-esque creatures called Weeping Angels from taking control of the TARDIS.

"What Wood You Wear?" - Dave

While FX's Dave is a fictionalized look at the rise of Dave "'Lil Dicky" Burd (who also co-creates and stars as himself), the humorous hip-hop artist was sure not to hog the spotlight for the first season's entirety. In the seventh episode, "What Wood You Wear?," Dave's buddy Elz (Travis "Taco" Bennett) takes center stage as it follows him DJing at a silent disco and sparking a romantic connection with Emma (Christine Ko).

"Live Bait" - The Walking Dead

Season 3 of The Walking Dead ended with The Governor (David Morrissey) wiping out most of his crew and taking off with the last of his loyal henchpeople. The sixth episode of the fourth season, "Live Bait," fills us in on what he had been up to since then, showing evidence of redemption since Woodbury's destruction as he bonds with a small family but also evidence of a further descent into madness, which leads to his attack on the prison.

"A Quick One, While He's Away" - BoJack Horseman

In addition to any of the main characters from Netflix's animated acclaimed TV sitcom, BoJack Horseman, Will Arnett's eponymous washed-up celebrity does not show up, nor is he mentioned by name in Season 6's "A Quick One, While He's Away." However, the episode does focus on characters who have been heavily, and mostly negatively, affected by his actions, based on their implied references to him.

"Teacup" - Man Seeking Woman

Creator Simon Rich's absurd romantic fantasy satire, Man Seeking Woman, is told largely from a male perspective (specifically that of Jay Baruchel's Josh Greenberg) but flips the script with Season 1's "Teacup," which makes Josh's sister, Liz (future Severance cast member, Britt Lower), the star. Liz experiences common pains of modern dating in a ridiculously exaggerated manner, from becoming jealous of a group of married girls who are much younger (elementary school age, to be exact) to literally Frankensteining the perfect man for her, only to learn he is gay.

"Zuko Alone" - Avatar: The Last Airbender

One of the most interesting ways that a TV show can shake things up is by making its main antagonist the star of an episode, such as "Zuko Alone" from Nickelodeon's original Avatar: The Last Airbender series. The seventh chapter of "Book Two: Earth" sees the Firebender (voiced by Dante Basco) reminiscing about his childhood after he is exiled from his village.

"New York, I Love You" - Master Of None

In a Season 2 episode of Netflix's Master of None called "New York, I Love You," Dev (co-creator Aziz Ansari) and his friends only appear in the bookend scenes. Instead, the focus shifts primarily toward the intersecting lives of a group of never-before-seen working-class New Yorkers, including a doorman, a deaf cashier, and a taxi driver.

“Ballad Of The Lonesome Loser" - High Fidelity

Much like the classic music movie Nick Hornby's novel inspired in 2000, Hulu's series adaptation of High Fidelity follows the romantic challenges of record store owner Rob Gordon (Zoë Kravitz)... except for Episode 8. In "Ballad of the Lonesome Loser," Rob's gay friend and coworker Simon (David H. Holmes) gets the chance to break the fourth wall and discuss his romantic struggles.

“The Algae's Always Greener" - SpongeBob Squarepants

Plankton (voiced by Mr. Lawrence) has been the primary focus in a few episodes of SpongeBob Squarepants, the funniest and most amusing of which would have to be "The Algae's Always Greener." Fed up with always failing in his attempts to steal the Krabby Patty Secret Formula, the pint-sized Chum Bucket owner uses a special device that allows him to experience life from the perspective of his longtime rival, Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown).

"A View From The Gallery" - Babylon 5

Years after Star Trek: The Next Generation helped coin the "lower decks episode" term, Babylon 5 – a sci-fi series that earns many comparisons to the Star Trek franchise – released its own. "A View from the Gallery" is told largely from the perspective of the eponymous space station's custodial crew.

"Tarrare" - Atlanta

The Season 3 finale of Atlanta, "Tarrare," provided an eye-opening explanation for Vanessa's (Zazie Beetz) unusual behavior, showing that she has adopted a bizarre alternate personality, and a French accent while living in Paris. Donald Glover's Earn is the only other main character to appear in the episode but does not show up until the even weirder post-credit sequence.

"5 To 9" - House

After dedicating an entire episode to Robert Sean Leonard's Wilson, House gave Lisa Edelstein's Dr. Lisa Cuddy the same treatment. Season 6's "5 to 9" follows a day in the life of Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's Dean of Medicine and Chief Hospital Administrator.

"Symphony Of Illumination" - How I Met Your Mother

In the Season 7 episode, "Symphony of Illumination," How I Met Your Mother cast member Cobie Smulders' Robin Scherbatsky takes over as the narrator to tell her future son and daughter about her and Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) pregnancy scare. However, she later discovers that she is actually unable to have children and the kids she was talking to only existed in her imagination.

“Relevance” - Person Of Interest

Season 2 of CBS' Person of Interest introduced a new character named Sameen Shaw (Sarah Shahi) in an episode that made her the star of most of the action.

Alright, let's talk about Avatar: The Last Airbender because I have A LOT of thoughts.

I'm a huge Avatar: The Last Airbender fan. I'm always the first person to recommend the show to anyone who hasn't seen it. I stayed up and binged the new live-action series and enjoyed every bit of it -- even the changes the Netflix show made. If you want a fan girl who can give you a detailed analysis of why Zuko has the best character development of all time, I'm your girl.

I even think The Legend of Korra – the sequel series that came out a few years later – is fun, too. Some people believe TLOK is better than ATLA, but I'm always an OG person, and I will love the first series forever.

And that last point, my friends, is why the new series, Avatar: Seven Havens, really concerns me. Let's get into it.

I'm A Huge Avatar Fan And Have Been For Years, And I'm Really Excited For The New Show

So, I want to start this off by saying again that I am a huge fan of the show, and I am excited about Avatar: Seven Havens, which got the greenlight from Nickelodeon earlier this week, per THR.

I knew it was coming for a while. It was announced a while ago, and as someone who loves to talk about anything in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe, I was the first person to get excited when I knew there was a new series coming with the original creators behind it. How can you not?

What was even better was that I knew it would cover an Earth-bending-base Avatar because it follows the normal Avatar cycle. As someone who loves the Earthbenders – and thinks Toph is quite possibly the best female badass out there – I was eager to see this.

But the announcement came…and I have to say I'm a little concerned.

But I'm Not Sure About This Two-Season Order

Avatar: The Last Airbender was three seasons, and The Legend of Korra was four. Say what you want about either project or any filler, but as a long-time fan who has rewatched these series countless times, I fully believe that every show needed that number of episodes to tell the story effectively. I literally could not imagine what they would have done if ATLA had only two seasons or TLOK had only three.

This is why I am so confused about the two-season order for Avatar: Seven Havens.

Don't get me wrong—as someone who has read the ATLA comics, I do think the writers behind the show can tell an effective story in a small timeframe. However, the premise they gave us makes me really iffy about this.

In Avatar: Seven Havens, according to the logline from Nickelodeon, we are taken into a world that has been "shattered by a devastating cataclysm" that was caused by the previous Avatar, Korra (RIP now, I guess). Now, the Avatar is seen as "humanity's destroyer" and not the savior. This new Avatar, an Earthbending woman, is hunted by "human and spirit enemies," and now she and her long-lost twin must work together in order to prevent the collapse of society.

I'm sorry, what?

You're telling me that in two seasons, with only 26 episodes total, each a half-hour long, we are going to somehow tell this story effectively, not rush it, and ensure that characters are developed flawlessly in a world that is completely different from the ATLA universe that we already know?

I genuinely do not think that is possible.

Granted, THR reports that this is the "initial order," so perhaps there could be more seasons that are planned but just haven't been ordered yet. But that genuinely makes me so nervous, because this sounds like an epic grand story, and Nickelodeon only giving them two seasons throws me off.

I Want To Trust The Creators, But It's A Little Concerning With How Well-Laid Out The First Show Was

Truthfully, I do trust the creators. Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko have never really steered me wrong personally, and they've been working on this for years. I could wonder what's going on in their brain for hours and still not grasp their brilliance.

But at the same time… I'm anxious about my favorite franchise ever.

Avatar: The Last Airbender means so much to me, not just as an animation but as a piece of art. The show itself is crafted beautifully, and the first series has a story that is literally impossible to replicate. It's the kind of show I would wish to rewatch entirely blind for the first time to rediscover my love for it all over again. I know that some have a strong connection to Korra as well…and I really hope that this can be the case for Seven Havens.

However, it's hard for lightning to strike twice, let alone three times.

We live in a world where everything feels so rushed nowadays with the pacing of TV shows and more. I don't want ATLA to fall into that trap. Here's hoping that Seven Havens claws its way out of that and is truly one to remember. If not…I don't know how I'll survive.

People like to ask me what my “comfort show” is, and I always tell them that I don’t have one.

But, do you know what? I’m a bald-faced liar (unintentionally), since I DO have a comfort show, and it’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. I was recently informed of this when I was telling my coworker that I just finished my millionth rewatching of ATLA and The Legend of Korra (which I also rewatch religiously), and he exclaimed, “That’s your comfort show!” And, I guess he’s right, since I usually rewatch both series every year or so.

That said, one thing that has always bothered me is that even after rewatching both shows, I still think The Legend of Korra is the better show, even though pretty much nobody agrees with me. I said as such many years ago, and I’m still saying it today: The Legend of Korra is better than Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I have a few reasons why.

Korra's Journey Is Much More Interesting Than Aang's

Now, here’s something that I think only people who have actually rewatched The Legend of Korra can tell you, but Korra’s emotional journey is better than Aang’s.

That said, I honestly don’t think many people have rewatched The Legend of Korra, as a lot of the people I’ve talked to (and from what I’ve read online) feel that one time is enough for TLoK. That’s probably because they don’t feel it has the same enjoyment factor as ATLA.

And, sure. I’ll admit it. Avatar is more enjoyable. It’s why, unbeknownst to me, it actually is my comfort show, since I’ll usually watch some of my favorite episodes even when I’m not going through the entire series. Inversely, I never watch the best The Legend of Korra episodes separately since I don’t think any one episode is really great on its own. It’s either all or nothing for me when it comes to Korra.

But, that’s also because Korra’s character arc takes much longer to develop than Aang’s. That’s not to say that Aang doesn’t have an interesting emotional journey. He does! He goes from being a playful, albeit guilt-ridden kid, to somebody who has to step up in order to save the world. And, I love that about Aang.

However, Korra is a lot more interesting as a character. She learns humility throughout her journey, and goes from somebody who becomes a lot more likable as the series progresses, whereas Aang is likable from the very first encounter. Personally, I prefer the long game. It’s like buying an album just to listen to the singles, or buying it for the full experience. I don’t want to upset any music fans here, but Avatar: The Last Airbender is Michael Jackson’s Thriller, while The Legend of Korra is Prince’s Purple Rain. Make of that comparison what you will.

I've Come To Like Korra's Team Avatar More Than Aang's Over The Years

Okay, this might be my most controversial statement, but…I like Korra’s Team Avatar more than Aang’s.

HERE’S THE THING. Toph is a better character than Bolin, Mako, and Asami combined. This is not lost on me! In all honesty, Toph is the best character to come out of the entire Avatar universe in my opinion (Though, some of us here feel Katara is the show’s real MVP). Be that as it may, Toph doesn’t come until Book 2 of ATLA, which makes Book 1 feel like it’s just lacking something.

Also, while I do love how Zuko gradually realizes the error of his ways (Plus, Iroh is a package deal when it comes to Zuko, which is nice), I also feel like his personal journey is bigger than his role on Team Avatar (Though, he plays a much bigger role in the comics. That said, I’m talking about the show now. Not the comics).

So, while I love Aang’s Team Avatar, it kind of grows too much over time, as one could argue it also includes Suki, Momo, and Appa.

Korra’s Team Avatar, however, feels a lot more consistent (and smaller) throughout the series. We also get the romantic angle of Mako with Korra, and then, toward the end, the tiny hint of Korrasami, so the dynamics feel a bit more interesting to me. I also like how Tenzin and his family could be included in Korra’s inner circle.

Honestly, I know it’s almost apples to oranges, but I feel that ATLA’s characters in Team Avatar are strong on their own, while TLoK’s characters need Korra to be relevant. That may seem like a strike against them, but I think it makes for a stronger TEAM Avatar. If that makes any sense.

Even Though I Think Season 2 Of The Legend Of Korra Is The Weakest, I Still Like It Better Than Avatar's Second Season

When I ranked both TLoK and ATLA’s seasons, I put Book 2: Spirits, as the weakest out of both series. And yeah, it’s mostly the enemy, as Unalaq is definitely the most boring villain we got out of TLoK. However, that’s only because the other villains were SO good!

Be that as it may, I think most TLoK fans would agree that Book 2 is a low point. Even so, it’s not a total wash. We learned about the first Avatar, Wan, in this season, and we were also introduced to some deep lore. Oftentimes, since I watch all of The Legend of Korra whenever I watch the series, I always look forward to this section of the story.

I also really like learning about Vaatu and Raava. Hell, even the big kaiju battle at the end of the season has kind of grown on me, even though I hated it the first time I watched it.

That said, I actually skip episodes when I rewatch Book 2 of ATLA. I’m sorry, but the kidnapped Appa storyline is just so boring for me.

It might be because I’m not really an animal person (my wife cries at this section of the story), but for whatever reason, I just feel like Book 2 is brought down by this arc, and I really have to push myself to even watch these episodes again. So, even though Book 2 of Korra is… fine, I’d still rather rewatch it over ATLA’s Book 2. Sorry, but it’s true.

The Live-Action Show Has Actually Dampened My Feelings Toward Avatar: The Last Airbender A Little, Unfortunately

It pains me to say this, but the live-action version of ATLA has kind of dampened my feelings toward the cartoon. And this sucks, because the live-action show is not bad, per se. In fact, I’m looking forward to Book 2.

Be that as it may, I really wish I hadn’t rewatched the live-action show, because my second viewing was a lot worse than my first. Honestly, a lot of the things people complained about really hit me on my second viewing.

I kind of made myself ignore things like the costumes, or some of the characters, the first time I watched it, but it was all pretty glaring on my second viewing.

This shouldn’t hurt my feelings toward the original cartoon, but it does, unfortunately. I was left just wanting to watch the animated series again, but then when I rewatched Book 1 of the cartoon, it made me take a more critical eye to it, and that made me re-evaluate some of the things that I don’t like.

Plus, as I said before, it’s missing the best character, Toph, which never really bothered me before, but really bothers me now.

Thankfully, TLoK doesn’t have this problem (Though at one point, I wanted a live-action Korra). And I’m really glad for this. Keep Korra a cartoon, please!

Overall, The Legend Of Korra Is Just A More Engaging Show Than Avatar: The Last Airbender

Lastly, TLoK pulls me in much more than ATLA. In fact, lots of times, Avatar will just be on in the background, which I suppose adds to it being my comfort show. I just like hearing their voices.

Not so for Korra. Whenever I rewatch it, I’m always fully engaged, as I’m not looking at my phone, or talking to my kids. I’ll watch it with my full attention since it’s warranted. I mostly follow the villains’ story arcs, because they’re all mostly well-written.

That said, I also feel like the series always keeps its focus on Korra’s growth, which might be a weakness in the show since it doesn’t have great B-stories (they’re more like silly asides) like ATLA, but I still appreciate it.

In every way, The Legend of Korra just grabs me more, and this is coming from somebody who loves Avatar: The Last Airbender.

But, what do you think? Have I convinced you to give TLoK another shot?

If you’re one of the millions of fans who are looking forward to what’s coming next in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, then look no further, as we have the guide for you.

While the first season of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered in early 2024, it actually won’t be that long before we get some new ATLA content. While I’ve spent time rewatching Avatar and going to an orchestra to hear the music live, there’s nothing quite like getting new lore and new information to expand further your love of a universe that you adore.

So this list is for all the little me's out there—the people who truly love this series and can’t wait for more lore and entertainment because, at this point, I am so excited! Let’s dig into it.

Ashes Of The Academy – A New Avatar: The Last Airbender Graphic Novel (March 25, 2025)

For those who don’t know, the story of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender didn’t end precisely after the finale. It’s actually continued throughout several comics, further expanding the tale of the core benders that we all know while also hopping out into the world they live in.

While the time skips can be a little weird, we do know that Ashes of the Academy takes place more than two years after the finale because Zuko doesn’t meet Kiya, his new half-sister, until The Search, which takes place two years after the original show ended. Now she’s going to have a more significant role in the series.

In the new novel, according to Dark Horse Publishing Company, Zuko’s little half-sister starts going to the Royal Fire Academy for Girls, but Zuko worries for her because of not only the strict curriculum but also the headmaster. So Zuko decides to enlist Mai as an academy teacher to keep an eye out for Kiyi and make sure she does well in school instead of turning into another mini-Azulu because the academy is so cruel.

New Earth Avatar Series (Reportedly 2025)

It feels like it’s been forever since we got some new animation from the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and thankfully, it seems we’re going to be getting more as soon as next year. Avatar News reported back in December 2022 that a new series that will follow the new Earth Avatar is set to premiere in 2025 at some point on Paramount+, which makes sense since that’s where a lot of Nickelodeon shows are.

As for the timeline, we know it’ll take place after Korra has died, as there can’t be two Avatars at the same time, so this will be the next iteration of the cycle and follow his adventures – as we see from the teasing art. Besides that, nothing else has been revealed about the story – but man, it gets us excited.

Aang: The Last Airbender (January 30th, 2026)

I know that we’ve all been waiting to actually see our favorite characters back on a screen again, whether that’s Toph being the best character or seeing Katara kick-butt as a waterbender, and now we will be getting that – in feature-length form.

Paramount confirmed several films were in the works for the ATLA universe, and later announced that the first film would be Aang: The Last Airbender. While it was set to come out in 2025, Variety confirmed that the date was pushed back to 2026 and that Laura Montgomery is directing.

We know that several actors have been cast in voice roles as well, confirmed at CinemaCon 2024: Eric Nam as Aang, Dionne Quan as Toph, Jessica Matten as Katara, Román Zaragoza as Sokka, and Dave Bautista as an antagonist. It is a bit surprising that the voice actors from the original film aren’t reprising the roles, but I suppose this movie is confirmed to take place years in the future, so it makes sense that the voices would change.

Other than that, we don’t know what the premise will be; it will just be about Aang and his friends. Honestly, that’s all we really need.

Netflix’s Live-Action Avatar: The Next Airbender Season 2 (TBA)

You knew this would be on here. Obviously, Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 is confirmed, along with Season 3 (that will also be the final season). It’ll follow the next part of Aang’s journey, which we all know happens in the animated series as he continues to learn the elements to take on the Fire Lord.

I put TBA for the setting because the showrunners have confirmed there would be a bit of a time skip since the actors do age in the live-action series, so I’m not sure how long will have passed. But it will follow Aang learning earthbending now, which we know for sure with Toph’s casting. And maybe we’ll see him waterbend a bit more too.

We’re not sure when it’ll come out just yet, but we’ll keep an eye out. According to Netflix’s Tudum, filming is ongoing, so it’s only a matter of time before we get a confirmed release date.

Honorable Mentions: Two More Avatar Universe Films And The Next Roku Novel (Rumored)

I put these two as honorable mentions because they're little up in the air, so hear me out. Two other ATLA films are confirmed, as announced by Entertainment Weekly in June 2022. We do know that they’re at least in the works, but since this announcement, no other news has come out about them.

There have been plenty of rumors about who it could be about – Zuko, Korra or whomever – but no one has officially confirmed yet who we would follow, or when they’ll be released. So we’ll have to wait and see. We at least know that the two other films will be separate stories from Aang: The Last Airbender, so there’s that.

The second thing is the rumored next Roku novel. For those who don’t know, there have been a series of ongoing books about the former Avatars that have come out, covering the stories of both Kyoshi and Yancheng, all of which have several novels. Avatar Roku’s first novel, The Reckoning of Roku, was released on July 23, 2024.

A Reddit post by user Lasernatoo showed a picture of someone sharing the title of the next Roku novel, The Awakening of Roku, at a conference of some sort, but nothing has been confirmed. We’ll be staying up to date as news comes out.

I am so excited about all of this Avatar: The Last Airbender content, and I cannot wait for any of it. I need all of these new shows, books and movies like now.

So, I went to a concert for Avatar: The Last Airbender – and it was terrific.

If you know me, you know I’m a huge Avatar: The Last Airbender fan and have been for many years. I will always make sure anyone checks out ATLA if they haven’t done so already and keep bugging them until they do. I will watch the new live-action Netflix series all in one night and compromise my sleep schedule just because I love the franchise so much. I will buy merchandise, so much of it, because I literally can’t control myself.

Alright, well, I’ve done a lot better on the latter in the last few years, but you get my drift, right?

So when I found out that a touring orchestra would be performing musical pieces from the show all over the country, I knew I had to book tickets for my boyfriend, who also happens to be a big fan of the show. But as I was watching it—and tearing up consistently—I started to notice and appreciate one other aspect of the show I hadn’t ever realized before, and I have to talk about it.

The Music Is Still Just As Good As I Remembered - If Not Better In Person

As someone who grew up with Avatar: The Last Airbender, I really don’t think there’s another kids show that made the music as great as this show did.

It’s clearly influenced by plenty of Asian components, which is something you don’t necessarily experience that often in everyday kids shows. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of great children’s shows that hold up well as an adult, but Avatar: The Last Airbender hits differently, and a significant component is because of the music.

Whether it’s during Iroh giving the best advice, watching the best character, Toph, take down her enemies, or seeing Katara being the ultimate waterbender, the music flows with each of their intense moments – and hearing it in person makes it all the better. The amount of talent and precision that goes into recreating each of these is fantastic.

But I Never Realized How The Themes Evolve With The Characters As They Mature

Okay, maybe this is just me being dumb with music, or I had genuinely never noticed it before, but I never realized that the themes, as they are played, evolve more often as the series goes on.

I obviously know that in musicals, there are motifs; moments of music that are recognizable and carry a certain amount of weight for each character. These motifs are often used over and over again to symbolize the change of story. They could change the key, or the speed, or something else, but you know that motif from the bottom of your heart when you hear it. A great example would be one of the best modern musicals, Hamilton.

But the idea that character themes could also change never really hit me until I listened to the Avatar: The Last Airbender themes in person. Throughout the show, the themes comprised each individual character and showed how they progressed throughout the series. As the characters aged and grew, the themes would as well.

They would grow more dramatic and serious as the problems they were facing became even bigger. Again, this stands out so much to me because, again, this is a kids' show. I feel like there are plenty of people who wouldn’t think about these little details, but it means the world to me that this is there, creating such compelling and well-done television.

Honestly, It Just Makes Me Want To Rewatch The Series Again

I mean, I never really need a reason for me to enjoy and rewatch Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it really does make me want to rewatch the series again – heck, it makes me want to rewatch the Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action adaptation again as well.

I love things like this so much. It makes me appreciate this series even more—and also makes me a little sad because it almost feels like kids these days will never get to experience what it was like to watch this show week by week. But I suppose being able to check it out now with a whole new generation on streaming is just as fun, too.

But the bigger thing is that it makes me want to rewatch just to catch these characters' themes, to hear them grow and evolve into the strong benders they are towards the end of the series. It also makes me want to check out the Avatar: The Last Airbender cast again in live-action, listen to their themes and take my guesses as to how those would evolve over the next two seasons.

Maybe this is just something that I picked up and should have realized years ago, but I thought I’d share. There’s always something new about this show that I learn that makes me love it even more, and I suppose that’s what makes it so great to be a fan of the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe.

If you know me, you know that I’ve always been the queen of rewatching old shows that I’ve just come to love more and more as I’ve gotten older. From cartoon classics to live-action comedies, there are plenty of series’ from my time as a child in the 2000s that I still believe hold up well even now as an adult – and today, I’m going to get into my personal favorites.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 – 2008)

You knew this would be on here. Avatar: The Last Airbender has only gotten better with age. While there is a live-action series on Netflix now (and it’s one of the best shows to binge-watch on Netflix anyway), the original animated series takes the cake. From Zukos’ character arc to Toph being the best female character to the themes and stories that make you cry, Avatar: The Last Airbender will forever remain one of the best-animated series’ of my generation.

Handy Manny (2006 – 2013)

Handy Manny was a show made for little kids, but I have to admit that I have pleasant memories of this series, so much so that I still feel happy whenever I watch it. I can still picture the early Saturday mornings with my dad when we sang the theme song and made pancakes together while watching Manny fix literally anything.

Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends (2004 – 2009)

I feel like everyone always forgets about Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, but I remember it vividly, and the concept still stands out today. Imagine an entire house filled to the brim with imaginary friends who are literally real, and you can visit them whenever. That’s amazing.

Total Drama Island (2007 – 2008)

Total Drama Island technically did last longer, but I’m talking about the original season that came out, which still stands strong today. While the animation style is obviously different from many other cartoons at the time, it’s the fact that it was so clearly made for tweens, teenagers and adults that makes it a great pick. There are so many jokes I get now as an adult that I didn’t as a kid.

Wizards Of Waverly Place (2007 – 2012)

I mean, obviously. I’ve already written an article about how Wizards of Waverly Place still holds up as an adult. Still, if that’s not enough for you, there’s literally a sequel series now called Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, something that continues the story years later. The fanbase for this one is strong.

Danny Phantom (2004 – 2007)

I will never forgive Nickelodeon for making Danny Phantom only three seasons long while shows like The Fairly Oddparents lasted for more than a decade. Danny Phantom was not only hilarious and well-drawn, but it also featured some pretty consistent storylines that were great for children’s television and that I still enjoy today. Plus, a teenager turning into a ghost? That’s awesome.

Bear In The Big Blue House (1997 - 2007)

Thinking of Bear in the Big Blue House makes me emotional, in a good way. Some of my happiest memories with television back then often involved Bear and his house of magical creatures and fun times, and even now, as an adult, I still enjoy hearing his advice about the world and life, even if everything feels so much more complicated now.

Oswald (2001 – 2003)

Truthfully, I even forgot this show existed until I wrote this article. Then I rewatched it, and I just fell back in love with it. Is Oswald going to be the series that teaches you deep themes? No, but man, you can’t help but love every second of it. Oswald is the epitome of kindness, and the show makes you feel so warm.

The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody (2005 – 2008)

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody was really ahead of its time. Not only did it feature a storyline of a single mother working hard to provide for her two sons, but it also broke the stereotype of the typical ‘blonde bimbo/smart Asian’ by completely switching it and making those characters (Maddy and London) some of the most memorable. Even now, I still laugh.

The Powerpuff Girls (1998 – 2005)

The Powerpuff Girls has had revivals, but I’m always going to stand by the original series. There’s just something about the animation and the voice-acting that makes me smile now. But not just that; I enjoy the comedy way more. And now, as an adult, I also realize just how lucky those girls were to have Professor X as their dad because he’s such a girl dad.

Totally Spies (2001 – 2013)

Totally Spies is another great example of a series that felt like it catered to both children and adults. Obviously, the idea of being a chic spy is fun and all, but the comedy is there, and the animation is great. I still think about Totally Spies all the time, and personally, I’d love to see it continue the way it was back then.

Pokemon (1997 – 2023)

Obviously, I had to put Pokemon here. This series defined my childhood. From all the Pokemon I would love in real life to the movies that came out as the show progressed, I loved this series and still watch some of it today. No one could ever replace Ash and Pikachu in my heart.

Jimmy Neutron (2002 – 2006)

Jimmy Neutron is wild, man. I hadn’t rewatched this show in a while, but when I saw it again, the things they got away with in this series were crazy. The CGI animation is a bit uneasy to watch at first because our minds are so trained to what we’re used to now, but the comedy is just spectacular and makes me snicker.

Rugrats (1991 – 2003)

Rugrats makes me cry, and I stand by that even now. I don’t know why. I think a part of me misses the simplicity of sitting at home, drinking hot apple cider and watching a marathon of this show while staying home from school, but now, as an adult, I love it even more. The simplicity of watching kids just be kids and running around and going on adventures makes me smile each time.

Camp Lazlo (2005 – 2008)

Do you remember Camp Lazlo? Because I sure do. This show was one of those Cartoon Network series that aired for only a few years but left its mark in my mind. There are so many moments that made me laugh out loud now as an adult, and the animation style is so different from so many other TV shows at the time.

Teen Titans (2003 – 2006)

No, I do not mean Teen Titans Go! I mean the original Teen Titans that dove into super dark territories and dared to tell stories that broke the boundaries of what children’s television could do. That version of my favorite teenage superheroes. And yes, I will rewatch this all the time now, no matter what.

Bill Nye The Science Guy (1993 - 1999)

“BILL, BILL, BILL, BILL-”

I’m sorry, I lost myself for a second there, but if you were a child in elementary school in the 2000s, you remember those days when they would roll in the TV screen and play Bill Nye the Science Guy for the kids to enjoy. And yes, even now, I still enjoy the show because, regardless, there are a lot of fun science facts that I forgot about that are intriguing to learn about.

Hey Arnold! (1996 – 2004)

Hey Arnold! is another great example of a Nickelodeon TV show that was creatively animated and had themes that both children and adults could enjoy. While the main characters get into plenty of shenanigans, there are also many great storylines that still stand out today.

Blue’s Clues (1996 – 2007)

Blue’s Clues has had different hosts over the years, but of course, I’m thinking of the original series, which Steve and Joe hosted while Blue was still in her 2D animated form. It feels homier and more wholesome, and I enjoy watching it with my little cousins.

Kim Possible (2002 – 2007)

“Call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me.” That line has been cemented into my generation for years because who wouldn’t want to be friends with a teenage spy like Kim Possible? One of Disney’s best shows that featured fun side characters, engaging storylines and more, Kim Possible stands out as a great TV show that I love to this day.

Static Shock (2000 – 2004)

Static Shock is one of those shows that feels like a fever dream, but when watching it now, I realize just how fun it is. The animation style reminds me a lot of Invincible in a way (without all the gorey graphicness of the Amazon Prime show), and of course, Virgil Hawkins is a great lead character to follow. Its sad cancellation will always make me upset, but at least I can rewatch it now.

Chowder (2007 – 2010)

Okay, so Chowder is a series that is not here to teach you anything. There are no lessons, no intense themes, and it’s blatantly made to make you laugh. But it is so out of pocket in the best way that, as an adult, you can’t help but chuckle even now. Some of the animated sequences are wild, and it makes you wonder how the creators of the show came up with some of them.

The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy (2003 – 2007)

I think the main reason I love The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy is that it’s one of the last few cartoons of my time that really took chances with its source material. I mean, we literally follow a story about two kids whose companion happens to be the literal Grim Reaper. You don’t get those kinds of stories nowadays, and I still enjoy it even now.

That’s So Raven (2003 – 2007)

I swear, Raven Symone’s comedic timing as a teenager needs to be studied because she knocked it out of the park in That’s So Raven. This series was hands down one of Disney’s most enjoyable shows, and it’s mainly because of Symone’s incredible comedic acting. It holds up and more as an adult.

Maggie And The Ferocious Beast (2000 – 2002)

Maggie and the Ferocious Beast is undoubtedly one of the shows on this list that caters more towards a much younger audience, but you know as well as I do that some preschool shows are achingly bad to watch as an adult. This is not one of them. The main character is sweet, the animation is fun, and you don’t need to focus that much on anything – just turn your brain off and enjoy.

Johnny Test (2005 – 2014)

I think all of us at some point wished we were in Johnny Test because who wouldn’t want two sisters who basically make you their test monkey for all of their inventions? The show also uses a really cool animated style that I haven’t seen replicated in many other shows, making it stand out.

What’s New Scooby Doo? (2002 – 2006)

What’s New Scooby-Doo? will always be my favorite version of Scooby-Doo. I love all the Scooby-Doo movies, but there’s just something about this version of the animated series that makes me grin every time I watch it. From the fun theme song to the modern animation to so much more, it certainly stands out.

Drake & Josh (2004 – 2007)

You knew I’d put Drake and Josh here somehow. As someone who grew up with this show, I think Drake & Josh was a great example of how you don’t need a crazy concept for a series to do well – all you need are two co-stars that have great chemistry and funny comedic timing, and you’re golden. And even now, these two still make me laugh.

6teen (2004 – 2010)

Hailing from Canada but coming out on Cartoon Network, 6teen is one of those shows you probably forgot about, but yes, it still holds up even now. The animation style is different from many other cartoons, but the content is really what gets you because this series was undoubtedly made for teenagers, and I probably shouldn’t have been watching it as a kid. But eh, here we are.

Clifford The Big Red Dog (2000 – 2003)

Clifford the Big Red Dog is another show that really isn’t there to serve you incredible storylines, but it will make you smile, especially if you’re a dog lover. And even now, as an adult, I still enjoy these random adventures that this literal giant animal gets into.

Ben 10 (2005 – 2008)

This show made me want to wear Ben’s watch so severely. It’s funny because the whole point of Ben 10 was to show the process of Ben learning to control the watch and become a hero in all these different alien forms, but I just find it incredible to shapeshift now and can’t help but think of all the possibilities. Besides that, the series is funny and has excellent animation.

iCarly (2007 – 2012)

While there was a three-season Paramount Plus sequel series (which shouldn’t have been canceled, by the way), the original iCarly still stands out as a great series to watch even now. The iCarly cast all had fantastic comedic timing, and really the show was ahead of its time, considering how much tech and online content viewing has only increased over the years.

There are plenty of other shows I could include on this list, but these are just some that stand out the most. Now, if you don’t mind me, I think it’s time for a marathon of my favorite cartoons.

I literally cannot wait for Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender. There are plenty of reasons why. If you know me, you'd know I'm a huge Avatar: The Last Airbender fan, and have been since I was a kid, so of course, when this live-action TV show came out, I right there waiting to check it out. And it's still fun – even if it's not the same as the animated show.

As is the case with any live-action series, things that changed from the animated ATLA either make or break the new series, but one thing stays constant — the characters we follow — Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko. But for those who know the animated series, you know that they're missing a core member—Toph.

But now, Toph has been cast for Season 2 of the live-action show, and I am so excited. This new addition made me go back to the animated show I love so much, and I can't stop thinking about this one Toph moment that I need to see in live-action—and it's probably not what you think it would be.

First Off, I'm So Excited To See Toph In Live-Action

I have to get this out of the way first – I'm just eager to see Toph in live-action, period, even if some of the scenes I love her in the most might end up cut in the new series. Netflix confirmed that Miya Cech would be taking on the part. This casting is one of the best the show has done. Truthfully, the entire Avatar: The Last Airbender cast is expertly crafted, and they each fit their roles, but when I look at Cech, I already see Toph. I can see the vision, and I am eager to see how she fits into the show.

Toph is one of the best characters in the animated show, and I've been nervous about how they'll bring her to life in the live-action. However, I have faith in Cech and in the series to authentically portray this fan favorite.

Obviously, Toph's Best Moments Usually Involve Her Fighting, But There's One Book 3 Moment I Need To See In Live-Action

But this casting makes me want to revisit Toph's best moments in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and one of her storylines that I really want to see brought to life.

I can already guess what you might be thinking – maybe when she learns to metal-bend for the first time (obviously), or the first major fight that we see her in, when Aang and the gang meet her… but it's actually from Book 3 of the series.

Book 3 focuses on Firebending for Aang, which leads them to the Fire Nation. There, Toph ends up finding a way to make money by using her Earthbending powers to trick scammers, and Katara (the mom figure of the group) disapproves, causing a rift between them. But by the end of the episode, the two girls end up pulling a scam together in a way to get closer and mend things – and while it doesn't go exactly as planned, it's a moment that highlights the girls' friendship.

Truthfully, while I do love Toph, the animated series doesn't focus on her character or her friendships as much as it should. We're all so wrapped up in the character development of Zuko, or Katara being an MVP of most of the show that Toph and her interactions almost feel like something in the background most of the time. There's even a running gag that Toph never got her "special trip" with Zuko like everyone else did in Season 3.

This moment was great, giving us insight into Toph and Katara's friendship. I want to see it in live-action, but it also makes me think more about the two of them in general.

I Truly Hope The Live-Action Expands A Lot More On Katara And Toph's Friendship

I think Katara and Toph's friendship is so special. They are polar opposites in many ways, but they get along like sisters, which we see so often.

If I could have one wish for the new season, it would be to see these two interact more. To see them bicker and struggle to get along, but to see them grow. To share more moments and instances where we can see the friendship growing, not just because Aang needs an Earthbending teacher.

Avatar: The Last Airbender has several core themes, and one of them is how friends can truly become your family – and I suppose all I'm asking for is to see that happen with Toph and Katara and see more moments like the one in Book 3 because I genuinely think that these two are a power-duo. Now, all they need is some catchy nickname or something.

When the first season of the live-action series was released, I binged the entire thing in one night, and I have a feeling that Season 2 will not be that different. And now that I know Toph is coming, I am chomping at the bit for the next part of this amazing story.

You can’t have Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender without Toph, it’s impossible. So, I’ve been impatiently waiting to see who would be joining Netflix’s live-action Last Airbender cast as the beloved Earthbender. Now, we know who is playing The Blind Bandit. After seeing the actress’s reaction to the news, I’m convinced she’s the perfect person to play my favorite character in this series.

Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Has Found Its Toph!

For those who might not know, Toph is a blind Earthbender who joins Team Avatar to teach Aang how to bend her element. She’s feisty, tough, strong-willed and quick-witted, and she's easily one of the best characters in the show. So, casting her was a tall order.

However, they did it, as Netflix announced that Miya Cech will be playing the iconic role, and you can see her in the video below:

I kid you not, the wait to see who ended up playing Toph, a certified Avatar icon, has been killing me. So, to finally know who is playing her is a relief. What makes it even better is I think she’s a perfect choice!

Miya Cech’s Reaction To The News Proves She’s A Long-Time Fan And The Perfect Toph

Before we get into my thoughts on the matter, Miya Cech’s filmography speaks for itself and shows that she’s more than qualified for this gig. She played Teenage Amy in Netflix’s award-winning hit Beef, and she had roles in the shows The Santa Clauses and Surfside Girls as well as movies like You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah. Oh, and did I mention she’s only 17 years old?

On top of that, Avatar’s track record when it comes to casting is immaculate. Gordon Cormier has the playful young energy and wisdom Aang requires. Kiawentiio plays Katara with the grace and drive that’s needed for the waterbender. Ian Ousley basically is Sokka, especially when it comes to his sense of humor, and Dallas Liu embodies the tortured Prince Zuko perfectly. However, not only do their performances pay homage to the animated series, but they are genuine fans of the source material too.

Miya Cech checks these boxes as well. She seems to have the spunky energy Toph demands. However, she’s also a big fan of the OG show, as she proved with her Instagram caption reacting to the news:

So, if my math is right, she’s been a fan since she was seven years old (me too, girl), and she’s been working toward the role, which I love. However, the part of this caption that really made me excited for her casting was the sign-off:

This is a hilarious deep-cut reference to a Toph line from Season 3 of the animated series when the team is practicing to defeat the Fire Lord. It’s a silly moment, and it’s a perfect example of the character’s tough yet silly sense of humor.

So, yes, Miya Cech, you are Melon Lord, you are Toph, and I can’t wait to see you on screen!

Sadly, we’ll have to wait a while to see Toph and the gang in Avatar: The Last Airbender’s second season, because it’s just getting started with production. However, you can fill the wait by checking out Netflix’s 2024 release schedule and watching both the live-action and animated versions of this beloved show with a Netflix subscription.

Some people might like to argue that streaming, in becoming our dominant form of media consumption, has ruined the television industry. Well, there is no doubt that it has changed the industry in many ways and, in some cases, for the better. 

There are many TV shows that are now regarded as classics but might not have earned such an honor if not for audiences discovering it on a streaming platform, helping boost its appeal in a way traditional television could not for whatever reason. Let's take a look at some of the most beloved TV shows that were made more popular (or even saved) by streaming. 

The Wire (2002-2008)

In its initial run, The Wire was already considered one of the best shows on HBO, if not of all time, for its refreshing grounded depiction of urban crime in modern Baltimore from both sides of the law. However, thanks to having a Max subscription (formerly known as HBO Max and, earlier, HBO GO), new generations of viewers have been able to witness David Simon's masterpiece.

You (2018-2024)

Even many of the biggest fans of You might not realize that the serial killer drama starring Penn Badgley is not a true Netflix original. It was canceled after one season on the Lifetime Network and, after becoming a surprise hit on Netflix, the platform picked it up for four more seasons.

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Despite achieving instant success in its home nation of Canada on CBC, creator Dan and Eugene Levy's sitcom following a family's riches-to-rags story went underseen in the States for years on the Pop Network. Luckily, when the series dropped on Netflix, America suddenly could not get enough of the Schitt's Creek cast, the comedy's remarkable quotability, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.

The Expanse (2015-2022)

Based on a series of novels by Daniel Abrahams and Ty Franck (and James S. A. Corey), The Expanse quickly found a following on SyFy as one of the network's smartest and most exciting dramas and, yet, it still got the boot after three seasons. Fortunately, the adventures of James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew's defense against a conspiracy affecting the colonized solar system were able to continue as one of the best sci-fi TV shows on Amazon Prime for three more seasons.

Suits (2011-2019)

Despite being one of the longest-running series on USA Network, Suits really became a hit in its later years after gaining traction as one of the most-watched TV shows on Netflix. Of course, Suits cast member Meghan Markle's marriage to Prince Harry likely had an influence on the legal drama's success.

The Office (2005-2014)

Greg Daniels' Americanized update of the hilarious British sitcom was certainly a hit on NBC, but its fanbase grew exponentially when it became one of the highest-viewed series on Netflix. It is no wonder why Peacock paid the platform $500 million for the streaming rights to The Office and even released special Superfan cuts of select episodes.

Letterkenny (2016-2023)

To be honest, Letterkenny, which follows the day-to-day lives of people from the titular rural town in the Great White North, already originated on a streaming service: the Canadian-exclusive platform, Crave. However, when it became available in the United States with a Hulu subscription, the quirky sitcom's fanbase took a Texas-size expansion.

Firefly (2002-2003)

There is a variety of reasons why Firefly was canceled after Fox aired only 11 episodes, from a doomed time slot to misguided marketing. Luckily, even before streaming helped widen its fanbase, the now beloved sci-fi TV show following a crew of outlaws traveling beyond the stars released a DVD set that allowed audiences to see the epic Western-style cosmic adventures they missed out on.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Following the journey of a young man born with the ability to manipulate the elements air, earth, fire, and water, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a huge hit during its initial run on Nickelodeon. It would only become even more popular when it became available to stream on Netflix, which would go on to produce a live-action series update in 2024.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

According to Variety, after Breaking Bad won the Best Drama Series Emmy in 2013, creator Vince Gilligan admitted he owed the success of his groundbreaking drama to Netflix, which later produced El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. The thriller, following a terminally high school chemistry teacher (played by Bryan Cranston) turning to crime to support his family, could barely be called a hit during its few years on AMC.

 Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)

One of the first titles that come to mind when people think of series that ended too soon is Freaks and Geeks, which was canceled by NBC after one season for the typical reasons: misguided marketing and a poor time slot. Since most of the Freaks and Geeks cast went on to take Hollywood by storm, the coming-of-age dramedy has become one of the most acclaimed series of its time by fans who discovered in the digital age.

Criminal Minds (2005-Present)

After lasting a whopping 15 seasons on CBS, Criminal Minds continued to captivate audiences as one of the most popular crime TV shows on Netflix. The procedural drama's enduring success eventually led to its revival, on Paramount+.

Manifest (2018-2023)

When NBC canned it after just three seasons, fans prayed that Netflix would swoop in to renew Manifest and, luckily, their wish came true. A fourth and final season of the sci-fi drama, about a commercial jet that suddenly reappears five years after mysteriously vanishing, debuted on the streaming platform, allowing it to have the smooth landing creator Jeff Rake intended.

Lucifer (2016-2021)

Based on a DC Vertigo comic book, Lucifer — starring Tom Ellis as the Devil, taking human form to be an LAPD consultant — debuted on Fox, where it lasted only three seasons. Soon after, it would be hailed as one of the best DC TV shows on Netflix when it was renewed for three more seasons exclusively on the platform.

Community (2009-2015)

Ironically enough, when Dan Harmon's comedy about a close-knit group of community students first transitioned from NBC to a streaming exclusive on the now-defunct Yahoo! Screen, it was considered a disaster. However, fans would go on to revisit the best episodes of Community on Hulu, Netflix, or Peacock, keeping the #SixSeasonsAndAMovie dream alive. 

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

One of the most popular shows on The CW (when it was still called The WB) was Gilmore Girls, which would only remain popular and acquire more fans who discovered it with their Netflix subscription. The streaming platform would even serve as the home of a four-episode sequel series called Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Friends (1994-2004)

Could Friends have been a bigger bit than it was during its ten-year run on NBC? As it turns out, yes, since the popular '90s TV show became a monster hit on Netflix and, once it left the platform, likely inspired many fans to get a Max subscription just so they could keep the binge going.

Luther (2010-2019)

Some of the best evidence of the enduring popularity of Luther — an acclaimed British crime thriller starring Idris Elba in the brilliant but cantankerous title role — can be found on Netflix. In 2023, the platform distributed a feature-length spin-off called Luther: The Fallen Sun, which quickly became its highest-watched movie and led to a deal for more films.

Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Despite never getting the ratings it needed to be a hit during its three-season run on Fox, Arrested Development was remembered fondly as one of the most hilarious cult favorite TV shows of all time. That enduring legacy led to its revival in 2017 as "a Netflix semi-original series."

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

In its prime, Boy Meets World was one of the must-see comedies from ABC's TGIF Block in the 1990s and would later spawn a sequel series following Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga's (Danielle Fishel) daughter, Riley (Rowan Blanchard) called Girl Meets World. The success of the Disney Channel series, also starring Sabrina Carpenter, inspired a new generation of fans to check out the original with their Disney+ subscription. 

Futurama (1999-Present)

Creator Matt Groening's animated satire about an average 20th Century man who wakes up from an accidental, 1000-year cryogenic slumber initially ran for just four seasons on Fox, was revived on Comedy Central from 2008 to 2013, and then, a decade later, became an exclusive on Hulu where it is more popular than ever. At this rate, it looks like Futurama might last well into the future.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

MTV's darker take on a funny coming-of-age creature feature from the '80s was a surprise hit, even as one of the best horror TV shows on Hulu in the years since it ended. The continued interest in the series on streaming would lead to a feature-length continuation that premiered on Paramount+ in early 2023.

iCarly (2007-2012, 2021-2023)

Miranda Cosgrove followed her role as the mischievous Megan on Drake & Josh by starring on the Nickelodeon sitcom as a teen internet sensation. People who grew up with the show would rediscover their love for it as adults when Paramount+ revived iCarly with more mature audiences in mind.

The Mindy Project (2012-2017)

Creator and star Mindy Kaling's first major follow-up after playing Kelly Kapoor in NBC's The Office cast was the aptly titled The Mindy Project, in which she plays an OB/GYN struggling to balance her personal and professional life. It premiered on Fox, where it remained for three seasons, before moving exclusively to Hulu for the latter half of its run.

Longmire (2012-2017)

Based on a series of novels by Craig Johnson, Longmire is a neo-Western drama starring Australian actor Robert Taylor as the titular Wyoming sheriff who brings his own brand of justice to his county. Despite debuting on A&E as the cable network's highest-rated original drama, it was not renewed for a fourth season, leading Netflix to step in and become its home for another three years.

Trailer Park Boys (2001-2018)

A show that Letterkenny fans would enjoy if they have not heard of it already is Trailer Park Boys — another comedy set in rural Canada which, for its first seven years, aired on a channel exclusive to the country called Showcase. A newfound interest in the documentary-style series and its feature-length spin-offs in the United States led Netflix to acquire the show in 2012, lasting several more seasons and even spawning more specials and an animated series.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

Before a new Star Wars TV show premiered on Disney+ every few months or so, one of the most beloved small-screen titles to come from a galaxy far, far away was Star Wars: The Clone Wars. However, the Force initially could have been stronger with this one as it was canceled by Cartoon Network in 2013 before gaining newfound popularity on Netflix (where a new season was distributed) the following year and, later, getting revived for one more batch of episodes on DIsney+ in 2020.

Parks And Recreation (2009-2015) 

Despite being the brainchild of The Office producers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur and starring former SNL cast member Amy Poehler in the lead, Parks and Recreation struggled to find its footing on NBC for its first couple of years. The mockumentary-style political satire got a bit of a boost in popularity once it dropped on Netflix and, for years after it ended, earned a reputation as one of the most popular series on the platform.

White Collar (2009-2014)

The show that made a star out of actor Matt Bomer is White Collar, in which he stars as a suave professional criminal who works with the FBI to catch other cons like him. Like many other USA original series, the dramedy was a much bigger hit on Netflix than it was during its initial run on the network.

Designated Survivor (2016-2019)

Kiefer Sutherland stars in Designated Survivor as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who is suddenly appointed President after everyone in the chain of command above him is killed in a catastrophic attack. The political drama was canceled after only two years on ABC but would go on for one more season on Netflix.

The Nanny (1993-1999)

Co-creator and star Fran Drescher is best known for playing Fran Fine on The Nanny, which had a strong run on CBS in the 1990s. The sitcom is noted for appealing to a new generation when it dropped on Max.

The Killing (2011-2014)

The American version of the Danish television series Forbrydelsen, The Killing, originally premiered on AMC, which would cancel the dark crime drama after its third season, which almost did not happen. The series then made an official transition to Netflix, where its fourth and final season was distributed.

From the best sitcoms that are perfect for a comfort watch to intense dramas that you rewatch in an effort to dissect a juicy story even more, there’s something incredible about returning to a great show. It’s a pastime many enjoy, however, the choices of what to watch seem endless. With that in mind, here are some of the most rewatchable television shows. 

Parks And Recreation 

If you are like me, you’ve seen the best episodes of Parks and Recreation – like “Flu Season,” for example – so many times you can recite the majority of said episodes from memory. OK, maybe that’s an over-exaggeration, however, it highlights just how good and rewatchable this workplace mockumentary is. Led by Amy Poehler, the Parks and Rec cast was always firing on all cylinders, cracking viewers up with hilarious one-liners, fantastic inside jokes (like Treat Yo’ Self) and a heartfelt story about a dysfunctional parks department. 

The Office

From deeply funny office shenanigans to heartfelt relationships like Pam and Jim’s The Office captured folks’ hearts from 2005 to 2013, and it’s continued to in the years since. To this day, this workplace mockumentary is a favorite among many, and it’s a zeitgeist staple as viewers continue to watch it on repeat, quote it constantly and use iconic memes that have surfaced because of it. As it gets older, it just feels like The Office gets stronger, because not only is it finding new audiences all the time, but it’s also infinitely rewatchable. 

New Girl

While workplace comedies are great, there's nothing quite like simply hanging out with friends, and that’s what New Girl is. Filled with a cast of quirky characters, New Girl follows Jess (Zooey Deschanel) as she moves in with three random guys, and what ensues is a hilarious and lovably chaotic story about found family. It’s because of silly inside jokes and bits, like True American, deeply complex and romantic storylines like Nick and Jess’s and the adorable friendship that’s formed between these roommates that makes this Fox comedy something folks always return to. 

The Good Place

The Good Place is one of those projects that you’ll have a different experience with every time you view it. The first time, you’re simply trying to figure out what in the afterlife is going on, and once you have the epiphany with Kristen Bell’s Eleanor and yell “Holy mother-forking shirtballs” your entire perspective on the show changes. However, it’s not just the plot twists that make this philosophical comedy rewatchable; its cast, led by Bell and Ted Danson, is beyond lovable and hilarious, and The Good Place’s heart is so big, all you’ll want to do is spend more time in this afterlife. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Led by Saturday Night Live legend Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a delightful comedy all about a group of detectives working together in New York City. While whodunnits and crimes of the week are involved, what makes this show rewatchable is Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s silly cast of characters who are played by incredible comedic actors like Samberg, Andre Braugher, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews and so many more. 

Gilmore Girls

These days, Gilmore Girls is considered the perfect autumnal comfort show, and many go back to it over and over again because of its cozy vibes. On top of the lovely energy that radiates out of Stars Hallow, the Gilmore Girls cast is also staked with an incredible crew of regulars and a revolving door of iconic recurring characters. Plus, how could you not want to rewatch the love story of Luke and Lorelai, Rory’s messy romantic drama with Dean, Jess and Logan as well as the incredible tale of a mother and daughter that lies at the heart of this beloved show? 

Gossip Girl

You know, sometimes you just need a good drama that will make you want to scream at the TV, and Gossip Girl is just that. The 2000s CW drama was a teen staple back in the day as it followed a group of high schoolers whose lives were always on blast because of the titular gossip site. It was praised and criticized at the time for how scandalous it was, and to this day people come back to Gossip Girl for the relationships, fashion, characters and, of course, the gossip, because as the titular writer says, “you know you love me…”

Arrested Development

Dysfunctional comedy is always fun, however, it’s hard to think of a show that does it better than Arrested Development. Of course, the series is rewatchable for its hilarious storylines and quippy dialogue, however, it’s the incredible ensemble that really makes it, as actors like Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat and more brought the funny all the time.  

Futurama

While it’s been canceled, renewed and moved networks numerous times, Futurama remains one of the most rewatchable shows, and that’s why these attempted cancellations and moves haven’t sent it to its ultimate end yet. The animated series has been around since 1999, and for over two decades, it has been a fun animated comfort show that many have turned to when they need a good laugh and some fun sci-fi. 

Friends

Whether you tuned in live during the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, caught chunks of episodes on Nick at Night when it was in syndication or streamed all ten seasons on Netflix (back in the day) or Max (now), Friends has been a seminal show for many. Watching the shenanigans of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe and Monica was not only hilarious but relatable. It’s simply a show about six friends living their lives, and I think it's that relatability mixed with an incredibly special cast that has kept people coming back to it for decades. 

Breaking Bad

The story of Walter White almost feels like a legend now. Widely considered one of the best television shows of all time, Breaking Bad tells the story of a down-on-his-luck man who turns into a drug lord. Led by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, this series made an unforgettable mark on television history when it was released in 2008, and it’s something worth studying and watching over and over again. 

Bob’s Burgers

Can I apply a few personal anecdotes here? When I was in high school, I had a friend who would watch Bob’s Burgers every night before going to bed. As an adult, I have another friend who just completed another rewatch of the series. So many adore this wonderful animated series about a family who owns a burger joint, and it is so easy to rewatch and fall in love with. So, it rightfully deserves a place on this list. 

Dexter

The world loves an anti-hero, and it doesn’t get much better than Dexter. The series follows a blood splatter expert, played by Michael C. Hall, however, the thing is, he’s also a serial killer. Going on this journey with the titular character, and getting into his mind to figure out why he goes about life in the way he does is fascinating. It’s also one of many reasons why people keep coming back to Dexter. 

Fleabag

If you need a short, sweet and perfect two seasons of television, Fleabag is the show for you. The series was created by and stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and it follows her titular character as she goes about life in London while handling grief. On top of that, Season 2 introduces Andrew Scott’s Priest – a.k.a. The Hot Priest, as the internet likes to call him – and the incredible love story between him and Fleabag. 

Scrubs

Bill Lawrence has made a lot of terrific shows, however, Scrubs is his classic. The series, starring Zach Braff, is a fun workplace comedy about a hospital, and its irresistible ensemble and heartfelt friendships are what keep many coming back to it. 

Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso started out as an ad for NBC Sports, and then by some miracle it turned into one of the best comedies in recent memory. The titular coach of AFC Richmond is played by the mastermind behind the show, Jason Sudeikis. And he and his creative team brought together Ted Lasso’s epic cast that made names like Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein and Phil Dunster those of the household variety.

Overall, this show about an American football coach in the UK coaching soccer (I know, I know...it’s actually football) is heartfelt and thoughtful, and it’ll have you smiling from ear to ear from beginning to end. You know what they say, “We’re Richmond ‘til we die!”

The X-Files

What makes a supernatural case of the week show even better? Having David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson lead it as the beloved crime-solving duo of Mulder and Scully. 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Vampires, action, romance and high school drama. Honestly, this show has everything. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a seminal early 2000s teen drama about Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular vampire slayer, and it was impossible not to fall in love with her and her friends. 

The West Wing

If you are in need of a fast-talking, snappy and fun drama, The West Wing is your show. It follows Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet and his incredible staff who are played by fantastic actors like Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff and Rob Lowe. From the mind of Aaron Sorkin, this show all about what it’s like to be the president is a quippy yet thoughtful series about running a country and it’s irresistible and infinitely rewatchable. 

Yellowstone

Between the deep family story at the center of this show and the intense moments in Yellowstone, this modern Western was born to rewatch. It’s filled to the brim with compelling stories about the Dutton family that will have you hitting the next episode button immediately. While the show’s primary conflict has always been the same – they’re always battling to save their ranch – the new threats and long-lasting deep relationships are what make it so great.  

Seinfeld

Seinfeld is famously “a show about nothing,” and that might be the primary reason why it’s so easy to view over and over again. The series, starring Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards, works because of these four and their chemistry, and watching them simply live life and make jokes is something so many can do over and over again.

Sherlock

It’s elementary my dear Watson, the Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman-led Sherlock is a fantastic modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work, and with each viewing new details emerge that make it even better. The series was comprised of 15 episodes across four seasons, and each mystery Sherlock and Watson solved was dense with detail and intrigue.

There’s a reason the story of the great detective keeps getting told, and you’ll understand why when you realize that you can watch Sherlock over and over again. 

Supernatural

I realize 15 seasons – or 327 episodes – is overwhelming, however, it also proves just how beloved Supernatural is. The series about Jared Padalecki’s Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles’ Dean Winchester is beloved by many, and watching the two of them fight off evil over and over again is something so many fans can do on repeat, as proven by its 15 seasons. 

That ‘70s Show

That ‘70s Show is all about a group of teens growing up in the suburbs of Wisconsin who all gather in a basement to hang out. It’s a simple and relatable concept, and between that and its stellar ensemble, it’s no wonder everyone loves to say “Hello Wisconsin!” more than once. 

Psych

A silly case-of-the-week show about a guy who is pretending to be a psychic is obviously made for comfort viewing, and fans have been doing just that since 2006. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

No matter what age you are, it’s always a good time to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender. As someone who watched the show for the first time in elementary school, and has seen it many times since, I can attest to this. Seeing Aang master the elements and work to defeat the Fire Lord and his evil plan is a masterful work of animation that is action-packed, deep, silly and heartfelt. 

Its handling of hard themes like prejudice and colonization are poignant and accessible, and its morals about love and acceptance are something everyone needs. So, yeah, this is 100% a show you should see multiple times throughout your life. 

Schitt’s Creek

How can you not want to watch David and Alexis bicker, Johnny aimlessly try to wrangle his family and Moira be Moira over and over again? The beloved comedy from Dan and Eugene Levy about a rich family who loses their money and has to move to a small town is quirky and unique while also fitting right in with the best comedies. Also, how can you not rewatch it simply to try and nail Moira’s ambiguous accent?

Community

Between the silly classes, paintball battles and Troy and Abed’s end credits, Community is a quirky comedy that’s one for the ages. It’s so fun to go back and remember all the silly inside jokes and ridiculous moments that happened at Greendale Community College. 

Cheers

Sometimes, you just want to go where everybody knows your name. Need I say more? No. But I will, because returning to that bar to see Sam, Carla, Cliff, Norm, Frasier, Woody and more is always a wonderful time. 

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

This fast-talking period piece about a woman making her way in the world as a stand-up comedian in the 1950s is a wonderful romp. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, this series has the quick-witted silliness Gilmore Girls has, and it’s chock full of incredible and high-octane performances from Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Tony Shalhoub and more. 

The Simpsons

Talk about an all-time classic. The Simpsons has been around since 1989, and it’s still going strong. The animated comedy is so easy to watch, and the characters – like Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa – are so iconic that this show is one that fans want to come back to over and over again. 

Grey’s Anatomy

Medical drama, romance, McDreamy; Grey’s Anatomy has it all. Between its heart-pounding medical cases and simultaneously heartwarming and heartwrenching romance, it’s easy to understand why this show has been on for over two decades and why folks keep coming back to see what’s going on at Grey Sloan Memorial. 

What all these shows have in common is they’re all deeply loved by their fans, which is why they keep returning to them time and time again. 

You know what? I envy you. And I’m only saying that because I’m assuming you just recently watched Avatar: The Last Airbender for the first time, and I wish I could go back to the first time that I ever watched it (the animated version), since it completely blew me away. 

But, you know what? I’m getting ahead of myself. Because maybe you started off with the live-action version (the Netflix update is already renewed for Season 2), and liked it so much that you then decided to watch the animated show in all of its magnificent glory. 

Either way, you might be thinking, “Well, where do I head next?” Well, guess what. I’ve got you covered! Because I’ve experienced pretty much everything there is to offer from the world of Avatar (Including the rides at Nickelodeon Universe!), and I want to share them with you. Now, I’ll start off with the most obvious place to go next, and then work my way into more niche territories. So, hold onto your glider, newly minted Avatar fan. It’s going to be an interesting ride!  

The Legend Of Korra  

Obviously, the first place you should go next (if you haven’t already) is The Legend of Korra. It directly follows the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and, like its predecessor, is also one of the best animated shows of all time. In fact, some bold souls (such as myself) may even consider it to be even better than The Last Airbender, but those souls are few and far between. 

What’s so great about the series is that it gets better with every rewatch. Korra is a very different kind of Avatar than Aang. One person, I don’t remember who, even said (and I’m paraphrasing here), that ATLA is the story of a human becoming a god, whereas TLOK is the story of a god becoming human. 

What they mean is that Aang starts out very reluctant, and learns to embrace his power, while Korra starts out like an Avatar fully born, only to learn to be humble.

This counter storytelling to ATLA is what makes TLOK shine for me, and I think you have to approach it in this manner. If you don’t, you might be disappointed with it, since it isn’t as whimsical as the original. 

In fact, it’s a more mature take on the subject matter, and for that reason, I adore it. And, if you come to it with an open mind, then you probably will, too.

The Comics  

Next, I want to talk about the comics, as there’s just so many of them now that it’s hard to keep up. We originally got long-form comics, such as The Search, The Rift, The Promise, Imbalance, North and South, and Smoke and Shadow. 

These stories were told in three parts, and took place following the events of Airbender. Included in this were also Avatar: The Lost Adventures, and Team Avatar Tales, which canonically took place in-between the events of the animated series.

But now, it seems like we’re only getting one-off stories, such as Katara and the Pirate’s Silver, Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy, Azula in the Spirit Temple, the excellent Suki, Alone, as well as the next book, The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer, which features the bounty hunter June, and Iroh (remember them from the live-action show?). 

And, that’s just stories concerning ATLA. If you also like Korra, there are comics for that, as well! So, yes, if you want even more of this world, then your next best stop is the comics. It’s the only logical progression. 

The Novels  

Okay, so say you loved the comics, and now you want to go even deeper into the lore. Well, then your next stop is the Chronicles of the Avatar novels, of which there are now five books. The first four explore the lives of Avatars Kyoshi and Yangchen, and the most recent book, The Reckoning of Roku is about, you guessed it, Avatar Roku.

The novels are a next great step because they go into characters on the show who are only seen in flashback scenes, or in the Spirit World. Not only that, but the books also add a great deal to the universe, showing things that were only hinted at on the show.

I also love how the novels are the most mature the series has ever gotten. Characters die (quite frequently, actually), and there is an overall gravitas to the stories here that you don’t find in the comics, the live-action show, or the animated series. 

So, if you’ve gotten through the comics and want more slower-paced, (young) adult stories, then look no further than the Chronicles of the Avatar series.  

The Video Games 

Have you ever wanted to be an air/fire/water/earthbender in real life? Yeah, me, too, but unfortunately, that’s never going to happen. Or is it…

No, it isn’t, but there are always video games to fill the void. There are actually several Last Airbender games, mostly on older hardware (though, there is the fairly recent Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance game, but it isn’t very good). 

However, much like the side story comics, most of the earlier games take place within the events of the TV series, such as 2006’s Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Video Game. In this title, you get to control Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Top…actually, no. No Toph. Instead, you control the earthbender, Haru (Remember him?), since this first game is based off of Book 1 of the series. 

The game itself is pretty rudimentary, and its sequels, The Burning Earth, and Into the Inferno, which cover events from Books 2, and 3, respectively, have similar gameplay (the handheld versions were vastly different in both visual style and gameplay, playing more like an RPG, though).

You also had games like Avatar Bobble Battle, which was almost sort of like a tower defense, strategy game, as well as the more puzzle-oriented Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Path of Zuko. Hell, if you want to get nuts, you can even play as Avatar characters in Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix, where you can race as Aang and Katara (against other characters such as Spongebob, and Lincoln Loud from Loud House fame). 

If you like fighting games, you can also play as Aang, Toph, and Korra in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. Speaking of Korra, there’s also a Korra title from PlatinumGames that took place between Books 2 and 3 of the show, but it’s really hard to find now (the Nintendo DS game, while different, can easily be found). 

I also haven’t gotten into the many, many online games, like Clash of the Benders, or Barge Barrage. All of this is to say that there are plenty of Last Airbender video games. Unfortunately, none of them are that great, so they’re more for the hardcore fans only.  

The Fanfiction  

As you might expect, there’s a lot of Avatar fanfiction. There’s plenty of stuff on Wattpad from everyday fans that you could check out. 

But, I want to primarily focus on the fan-made passion project, The Legend of Genji, which is not affiliated in any way with the original series, but is, in my humble opinion, almost as good as something you might find from one of the authorized projects. 

The story concerns the next Avatar following Korra, and he’s a sandbender. There are five parts, but I’m pretty sure that the series has been canceled, so keep that in mind. Either way, it’s really cool that the fans have been so eager for more content that they’ve cooked up something wholly unique on their own.  

The M. Night Shyamalan Movie  

Lastly, I want to talk about the much-reviled M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Last Airbender, which our very own Alexandra Ramos (who is a huge ATLA fan) considers the worst M. Night Shyamalan movie ever made, and she’s not alone. 

Most fans detest this movie, and for a number of reasons. I don’t blame them, but still consider the movie to be an important moment in franchise history. It does an admirable enough job of following Book 1 of the series, but it also doesn’t feel quite right. 

There’s also the matter of whitewashing, which was controversial at the time, but that only made it imperative that Netflix got it right when it came to casting Asian roles for the live-action show.

So, what I’m saying is, the movie isn’t very good, but it’s an interesting curiosity, and I think it’s one that all super fans should watch, at least once anyway.

Hope you enjoyed the recommendations! Stay fluid, people. 

I love the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender (though I love The Legend of Korra more). So much so, that I would hate if the story ended with the TV series.

Thankfully, it doesn't, since there are a ton of ancillary stories that enrich the lore that was already set in place. 

I've already talked extensively about the comics, as well as the four novels that comprise the Chronicles of the Avatar series featuring Kyoshi and Yangchen, and now, with the fairly recent release of the latest novel, The Reckoning of Roku, by Randy Ribay, I've learned even more about the world of Avatar. Come, listen. 

Oh, and some major spoilers up ahead for the most recent novel.  

Roku Had A Twin Brother 

I'm going to be honest with you. When I learned that there would be a book about Avatar Roku, I kind of got a little upset. That's because despite his importance in this universe (he was, after all, the Avatar prior to Aang) I never really cared much about his character. 

Kyoshi, of course, was a great first choice to start a book series with, and Yangchen was an interesting second choice. That said, I was hoping we'd learn more about Kuruk next. We learned a great deal about him in the Kyoshi novels, and he turned out to be a tragic figure, but I really wanted to know even more about him.

Instead, we got Roku, and I thought it would be a boring read. How wrong I was, though, since one of the most interesting new tidbits of information we receive in this novel is that Roku had a twin brother named Yasu, whom he was born just seconds apart from. This is fascinating, because Sozin was also born on the same day as Roku (though a year earlier), which just means that he was also born on the same day as Yasu. 

Get this: any one of them could have been the Avatar, and we learn that Roku contemplates this often, as he’s unsure of whether he was the right pick when it came to imbuing the spirit of the Avatar. 

We also learn that something tragic happened to Yasu, which greatly informs Roku’s outlook on life, and also connects him closer to Gyatso, which I’ll get into next. 

Roku And Gyatso Had A Rocky Relationship At First 

I honestly didn’t love everybody in the cast of the live-action Avatar series on Netflix, but I really liked Lim Kay Siu, who played Gyatso, who is one of Aang’s oldest and greatest friends, as well as his mentor. 

Gyatso is an interesting character, since Aang remembers him before he ran away from being the Avatar, and he took on many firebenders during the invasion of the Air Temple. Aang believes he was the greatest airbender he ever knew. 

So, it was great to learn more about his backstory in this book, as we learn that he and Roku, who would later become good friends, had a very rocky relationship at first. 

One thing that connects Gyatso to Roku is that they’ve both lost somebody important to them. Roku lost his brother, while Gyatso lost his sister, Yama. 

This sense of loss brings both of the characters together throughout the novel, but initially, Gyatso doesn’t particularly like Roku since he finds him arrogant, and Roku doesn’t like Gyatso since he speaks the truth about Sozin, and Roku doesn’t want to hear it. 

It’s only due to events that bring the two together that they ultimately become the kind of friends we get to see in flashback scenes on the show. 

Gyatso Struggled With Airbending At First  

The way Aang talks up Gyatso, you kind of just figured that he was always a master airbender, but we learn throughout this novel (which is now canon, mind you) that he actually struggled with airbending to the point that he couldn’t even comfortably ride a flying bison. 

This is particularly fascinating when we learn that this is because he had not fully mourned the death of his sister yet. It’s because he was holding so much inside and not sharing his sadness that he had pretty much forgotten how to airbend. And, this is what I love about these novels. Sure, the Avatar comics often expand the world by offering up side stories, but I feel the novels are the material that really expand the lore. 

I know that certain bending techniques require specific kinds of focus, but I didn’t know that loss and grief could actually deprive you of your bending ability if you hadn’t quite processed it yet. 

This story doesn’t exactly go into the five stages of grief, but it does touch upon that, which is something we don’t ever quite see in the show. At least, not to this extent. 

The Fire Nation (Re)Learned Firebending Techniques Like Lightning-Bending Due To Sozin 

By the end of Avatar: The Last Airbender, we were seeing all kinds of unique and fascinating bending abilities. Some of the coolest that came out of firebending were fire breathing, and lightning bending. These were, of course, some of the most advanced forms, and it was cool to see them appear throughout the show. 

However, one thing I never knew (because it wasn’t revealed until this novel), was that a reason why these techniques were made available to the characters on the show was because Sozin learned them in a trip to an ancient library. 

He made it a mission to seek out ancient knowledge in preparation for being the next firelord, and we see his pursuit for these new abilities cut short when he learns that his friend, Roku, might be in danger. 

He only learns a fraction of what there is to know about the old techniques of firebending, and it’s those abilities he learned that we actually see on the show, which is so cool! 

Sozin Also Emotionally Ended His Friendship With Roku Long Before His Betrayal 

Lastly, one of the most tragic storylines in Avatar: The Last Airbender, is how Sozin betrays his “friend” Roku at a volcano, and leaves him to die in pursuit of global domination. 

The way the story is framed on the show, we learn that Roku had doubts about Sozin when he found that his friend was intruding on another territory. But, Sozin’s true betrayal of just leaving Roku to die was especially disappointing, because we got a sense that Sozin truly was his friend.

However, by the end of the novel, we learn that Sozin, in his heart anyway, had already betrayed Roku. It’s not like he thought, “One day, I’m going to leave his ass at a volcano, and see how he feels about it.” That said, by the end, Sozin believes that Roku has already abandoned putting the Fire Nation first, unlike Avatar Szeto, and instead, was becoming an Avatar of all nations, which extreme nationalist, Sozin, just couldn’t stand behind.

So, he decides to keep up appearances as Roku’s best buddy, but ultimately, he isn't his true friend. He had given that up long before his ultimate betrayal.

That’s everything I learned. But, what do you think? Do you also like to dive deeper into the lore of Avatar? For more news on all things Avatar (like what we know about Season 2 of the Netflix series), be sure to swing by here often.  

Some TV shows stumble their way to the finish line, such as these series that went on way too long. But others end the race cruising to victory, with final seasons and series finales that satisfyingly wrap up the journey their characters were on over the years. From classic comedies like Cheers to acclaimed dramas like The Americans to sci-fi standouts like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, here are TV 32 shows that absolutely nailed their farewells. (WARNING! Obviously there are spoilers ahead!)

Succession

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong could have milked all of that Shakespearean family drama for one or two more seasons but smartly decided to end the hit HBO drama after four seasons because "this was simply how this story had to go," Armstrong told Vulture. And it ended in brutally brilliant fashion, with outsider Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) sniveling his way to the top of Waystar Royco over Roy siblings Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Armstrong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook). 

Breaking Bad

It was inevitable: after five seasons of greed and ruthlessness, chemistry teacher-turned-meth cooker Walter White (Bryan Cranston) had to die. But what a way to go, with an explosive, critically acclaimed final run — both halves of season five won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014 — that not only offered up some of the drama's greatest episodes ("Ozymandias" is one for the history books) but cemented the TV series as one of the best ever.

Newhart

Nowadays, the "it was all a dream" twist has become a cliché but when the CBS sitcom Newhart pulled that very move back in 1990, it cemented itself as one of the most memorable moments in pop culture history. In the final minutes of the comedy's series finale, lead character Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) woke up after getting knocked out by a golf ball in Vermont — the surprise was that he was now in a Chicago bedroom as Bob Hartley, his famous The Bob Newhart Show character, with TV wife Emily (special guest Suzanne Pleshette) by his side.

Mad Men

Fitting for an iconic and complicated character like Don Draper (Jon Hamm) — and finally earning the actor that much-deserved Emmy for Best Actor — Mad Men left viewers with quite an ambiguous conclusion when it ended in 2015 after seven seasons. The existential finale saw the advertising executive searching for inner peace at a meditation retreat, or was he really just tapping into some Zen as inspiration for that famous Coca-Cola advert? We'll never know!

The Leftovers

Grounded by a standout performance by Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, the conclusion of HBO's The Leftovers was ambiguous yet sentimental, a gratifying and thematically fitting send-off for the complex drama. Following Nora in her decision to enter a radioactive machine that could reunite her with her husband and children who vanished in the "Sudden Departure," the series finale didn't so much answer all of our questions about all the ones who left — we still don't entirely understand the quantum mechanics of it all — as it did give hope to the ones left behind. 

30 Rock

The seventh and final season of 30 Rock said goodbye to Liz (Tina Fey), Jack (Alec Baldwin), Tracy (Tracy Morgan), Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) in equal parts hilarious and heartfelt fashion, with all of the nostalgic callbacks, witty one-liners and delightful absurdism that fans have come to know and love from the NBC sitcom. The series finale also movingly said farewell to the real-life behind-the-scenes folks from 30 Rock by casting them as the TGS crew. 

Parks And Recreation

Co-written by lead Amy Poehler, the series finale of Parks and Recreation warmly said goodbye to both beloved characters and the city of Pawnee. The sweet two-parter took place mostly in the future, with happy endings for all: Garry (Jim O'Heir) being elected mayor (with Christie Brinkley as his wife, no less); Andy (Chris Pratt) and April (Aubrey Plaza) becoming parents; Ron (Nick Offerman) taking over as superintendent of the Pawnee National Park; and Leslie (Poehler) continuing her life of political service...potentially all the way to the White House?

Fringe

The final episode of the Fox sci-fi drama Fringe was a bittersweet one for Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter (John Noble). The fifth season had jumped far into the dystopian future overtaken by the Observers. Walter sacrificed himself and took Michael (Rowan Longworth) into a wormhole even farther into the future to stop the Observer invasion from ever happening in the first place. In the process, the story reset back to 2015, where Walter sadly no longer existed, but through time-travel magic, he still managed to send his son a drawing of a white tulip.

Justified

The story of Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) continued with the sequel series Justified: City Primeval, but the end of its predecessor Justified was a more than satisfactory closing chapter in and of itself, especially in wrapping up Raylan's rivalry with friend-turned-foe Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins). The Harlan County criminal was an endlessly quotable character across all six seasons of the FX drama, but his final words — “We dug coal together" — prove he saved the best line for last.

The Shield

One of the most gripping crime dramas of the 2000s, The Shield lived up to its own reputation with its bold finish, which saw Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) trying so hard to stay out of prison that he got a fate worse than incarceration: with blood on his hands, his family running from him, and him banished to a desk job. With police sirens blaring in the distance, Vic grabbed the gun from his desk drawer and left the ICE building. Where he went, we'll never know, but it surely can't be good. 

Cheers

It can be hard to leave those special places where everybody knows your name, but if you have to, at least take "One for the Road." Such is the title of Cheers' standout series finale, which poured one out for all of our beloved barflies: Woody (Woody Harrelson) was elected Boston councilman; Norm (George Wendt) finally got his coveted city job; Cliff (John Ratzenberger) was promoted at the Post Office; and Sam (Ted Danson) chose between reconciliation with the one who got away, Diane (Shelley Long), and the real love of his life, the bar itself. 

MASH

It's the most-watched finale of all time for a reason: seen by a TV audience of 121.6 million, the 1983 end of MASH beautifully brought closure to the dysfunctional members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. With the Korean War coming to a close, the camp had to go their separate ways, but no departure tugged at our hearts quite like the one between Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), which saw the former leave on a helicopter only to spot the latter's parting message: the word "GOODBYE" spelled out with rocks on the ground below.

The Sopranos

One of the most polarizing TV finales of all time was also one of the most powerful. That shocking The Sopranos ending was a masterclass in embracing ambiguity and racking up tension, with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) seemingly enjoying a simple diner meal and some Journey tunes with his wife (Edie Falco) and son (Robert Iler) while keeping an eye on every patron entering the establishment. As the diner door opened and the bell rang, Tony looked up — and the screen cut to black. Was it Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), who finally found a parking spot? Or was it someone far more nefarious? Frustratingly and fantastically, we will never know. 

Six Feet Under

It seems so obvious now to end a series about a family that owns a funeral home by fast-forwarding into the future to see how each character dies, but the laying to rest of the HBO drama Six Feet Under felt clever and emotional when it aired back in 2005. An episode of television dominated by death doesn't sound all that cheerful, but getting to see the Fishers years down the line — particularly Claire (Lauren Ambrose), the last one standing at 102 — felt as right and cyclical as life itself. 

Friday Night Lights

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose." Such was the motto of football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and the showrunners of Friday Night Lights took it to heart when it came to graduating the high school-set drama series. Despite the gleam of game glory blurring his vision — the East Dillon Lions happily won that tense match-up against the Dillon Panthers — Coach Taylor clearly saw that it was only right for him to leave Texas behind by the series' end, moving to Philadelphia to support his beloved wife Tami (Connie Britton) and her new job as dean of admissions at Braemore College. Couple's goals, much?

The Wire

One of the best episodes of The Wire is its last, which managed to wrap everything up while also leaving things intriguingly open. It showed that Baltimore and all of its complexities would continue long after the credits roll. Things could change — Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) could become governor, Templeton (Tom McCarthy) could win a Pulitzer, Michael (Tristan Wilds) could become the new Omar, McNulty (Dominic West) could leave the police department — but, devastatingly, many things would always stay the same. 

The West Wing

The end of The West Wing was the end of an era — literally, as the seventh and final season chronicled the last weeks of President Jed Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) administration. The series finale was a heartfelt farewell to the former POTUS as well as all of the government employees and officials in his orbit, including C.J. (Allison Janney), Leo (John Spencer), Josh (Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney). But it didn't languish in nostalgia: "What are you thinking about?" Stockard Channing's Abbey asked Jed at the show's end. "Tomorrow," he replied. 

ER

The medical drama came full circle for its grand finale, which echoed its premiere episode 15 years prior by taking place over the course of 24 hours in the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital. The cases are dramatic and dizzyingly varied, from emergency cesarean sections to terminal cancer diagnoses to triage patients from an industrial explosion. As the theme music played, the camera pulled out for ER's final, effective shot: the entire exterior of the hospital, seen for the first and only time in the show's history, with all of that curative frenzy happening within. 

Battlestar Galactica

After years spent traversing the stars and avoiding being blown to smithereens by enemy Cylons, the Battlestar Galactica crew and the last remaining humans finally made it to Earth — well, the Earth of the distant past — at the end of the Sci-Fi Channel series. That primitive planet eventually evolves into modern-day civilization and the epilogue picks up 150,000 years in the future, where half-human, half-Cylon Hera has been announced as a "Mitochondrial Eve," the progenitor of modern-day humanity. Leaving us with Jimi Hendrix's warning cry "All Along the Watchtower," the finale chillingly questioned whether humans are doomed to repeat themselves. 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

There's a lot of pressure with being the "Chosen One," as Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) no doubt learned through seven seasons of the iconic fantasy series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But after 140-plus episodes of single-handedly saving Sunnydale and suffering greatly in the process, Buffy recognizes that she doesn't have to do it all alone. In the series finale, the Hellmouth crumbles and Sunnydale is destroyed but Buffy has the Scooby Gang and a new crop of Slayers by her side, and a whole future ahead of her.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

"We kept putting off writing that last show," said executive producer Allan Burns as he accepted The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1977. "I think it said what we wanted it to say. It was poignant." Poignant, yes, but also plenty funny, with Mary (TV icon Mary Tyler Moore), Lou (Edward Asner), Murray (Gavin MacLeod) and Sue Ann (Betty White) ultimately getting fired from WJM-TV. From that group shuffle to the tissue box to the swan song of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," the finale had us laughing and crying in equal turns.  

The Americans

With a high-stakes show like The Americans, it seemed only inevitable for Russian spies Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) to be exposed and have to flee the United States for Mother Russia. Despite that eventuality, the FX drama still managed to end on a tensely unexpected and devastating note, with both their American-born children Paige staying behind. That shot of Paige (Holly Taylor) standing on the platform as Philip and Elizabeth's train pulled away will haunt us for years to come.

Parenthood

Over six seasons, Parenthood fans came to love the Braverman clan like their own family, which made it all the harder to say goodbye when the show ended in 2015. But even though the series finale was a tearjerking one, with patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) dying peacefully in his sleep, a hopeful time-jump showed that all would be well with the Bravermans, with weddings, pregnancies, graduations, vacations and puppies at Christmas all happily in their futures. 

Better Call Saul

It's hard enough to make a great spin-off of an already great show. But to end that spin-off with as much acclaim as its predecessor is a whole other thing entirely. Better Call Saul, part of the Breaking Bad universe, did just that with its sixth season, which saw Jimmy McGill-turned-Saul Goodman-turned-Gene Takavic (Bob Odenkirk) finally facing the consequences of his choices. However, as co-creator Peter Gould told AMC, Saul's end can actually be seen as hopeful: "In spite of the fact that he's in prison, which is terrible, Jimmy is Jimmy again. He's recovered his soul."

The Good Place

Though diehards of The Good Place would have wanted to spend eternity with all of its beloved characters, the NBC afterlife comedy did come to an end in 2020 after four seasons and 53 episodes. But it did so with a characteristically funny and cathartic conclusion, which saw Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper) and Jason (Manny Jacinto) ready to step through the door and move on from the Good Place, and Michael (Ted Danson) made human and allowed to live out a normal life down on Earth. 

Angel

Trying to save the world from evil forces is a nearly impossible but always worthwhile task, as the Angel series finale "Not Fade Away" powerfully showed. After a season of loss, including the deaths of both Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Fred (Amy Acker), it would have been very easy for Angel (David Boreanaz) and the rest of the Angel Investigations team to wallow in their grief and raise a white flag. But, even knowing that it would likely end in their own demise, Angel, Spike (James Marsters), Gunn (J August Richards) and Illyria (Acker) chose to go into battle against the supernatural baddies and fight for good.

Friends

What Friends got so right in its tenth and final season was showing how transient of a town New York City is, especially when you grow from those lively twentysomething years to your more settled thirties. "The Last One" saw Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) adopt twins and move out of that famously purple-walled West Village apartment for the suburbs. After Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and the recently reunited Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer) returned their keys, Chandler landed one final hilarious quote before they went — where else? — to Central Perk one last time.

The Office

Sure, there's an argument to be made that The Office should have ended after Steve Carrell's Michael Scott left Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and Scranton, PA, at the end of season seven. But though the show was shaky in the years following that character's exit, if it had ended years earlier, fans wouldn't have gotten that sentimental happy ending, with Michael pulling off the perfect surprise at the wedding of Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) to serve as best man and drop the final "That's what she said." 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In the farewell to sci-fi favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard mentally jumps around in time: from the present, then back to the ship's first mission seven years ago and then 25 years into the future. In each era, Picard makes it so that the Enterprise stops a temporal anomaly, which destroys the ship but saves humanity. It all ends up being a test from Q (John de Lancie) but Picard passes, and in the present, he finally joins the crew's poker game.

Fleabag

After the brilliance of Fleabag's first season, it seemed impossible that Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Co. could match the sharp wit and gut-punching emotion with a season 2 of the BBC One dramedy. But PWB managed to prove every naysayer wrong with that devastatingly romantic and electrifyingly funny second — and, judging by that fourth-wall-breaking final scene, last — season, which famously saw our nameless heroine meet and fall for a "quite hot" priest, played by Andrew Scott. 

Veep

The end of Veep, one of the most consistently hilarious shows in all of television, saw Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) get everything that she always wanted: namely, the Oval Office. Yes, the seemingly perpetual Vice President became POTUS by the series finale, a ruthless political rise that saw her betray those closest to her, especially her loyal aide Gary (Tony Hale). But Selina gets a viciously hilarious comeuppance when, 24 years in the future, coverage of her funeral is interrupted by the breaking news that American icon and "Philadelphia 2 star" Tom Hanks has died. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The epic four-part finale of Avatar: The Last Airbender not only gave every major character their chance to shine but also cemented it as one of the best-animated shows of the 21st century. In his spectacular final face-off against Ozai, Aang stays dedicated to pacifism and decides not to kill Fire Lord Ozai, instead using energy bending to remove his firepower as punishment for his crimes. In doing so, the final installments offer up a philosophical exercise that's far more mature and sophisticated than anyone would expect from a "kiddie" show. 

Back in February, the live-action TV adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender was released to those who hold a Netflix subscription. Although the show earned mixed critical reception (which is still a major improvement over M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender movie), it performed well enough that Netflix (one of the best streaming services) announced that it will continue for two more seasons. Although she hasn’t had time to watch Avatar yet, actress Jennifer Hale, who voiced Avatar Kyoshi in the original animated series and its spinoff, The Legend of Korra, told CinemaBlend that she’s happy this new live-action take exists, though she used that as a springboard to put “a call out” to other companies adapting animated properties.

In addition to recently chatting with Hale about topics like how she liked X-Men ’97 highlighting Jean Grey and Storm’s friendship and where she stands on what’s coming up for the Totally Spies franchise, I asked her if she’d seen Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender and, if so, what she thought about it. The actress answered:

I can understand Jennifer Hale not having the time to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender or other content given how she keeps bust, as evidenced by her massive filmography. Still, it was nice of her to throw some love towards the Netflix show’s way, albeit with a caveat towards that and other projects adapting animated properties and video games. If you’re going to embark on such a creative endeavor, she suggests you consider casting the original voice actors in some capacity. That’s not to say you have to cast them in the same roles (although that has worked out in the Star Wars franchise with folks like Katie Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze), but as Hale sees it, you get the one-two punch of bringing aboard more talented people who have the added experience of already knowing these characters, and the property as a whole, quite well.

Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender cast Yvonne Chapman (who’s next set to appear in the final season of Superman & Lois) as Avatar Kyoshi, as seen above. Just like in the original show, Aang, Katara and Sokka traveled to Kyoshi Island shortly after departing from the Southern Water Tribe, where they found the statute of the location’s namesake and met the Kyoshi Warriors. In this take on the material though, Kyoshi, one of Aang’s past lives, took over his body so he could fend off Zuko, Commander Zhao and their Fire Nation troops. If the original Avatar is any indication, we should see more of Kyoshi in the Netflix show’s next two seasons.

Meanwhile, you can keep yourself entertained by checking out the best shows on Netflix that can be streamed now. Listen to Jennifer Hale voicing Jean Grey and Madelyne Pryor, among other characters, by streaming X-Men ’97 with a Disney+ subscription.

For those who know me, you understand I love to eat and cook. For those who don't, you just learned a new fun fact about me – cooking (and eating) is honestly a passion of mine. Granted, I pair that with a decent amount of working out so that way I can eat whatever I want, but it's worth it when I'm able to enjoy that slice of pizza guilt-free or sip on a milkshake without worries. 

Another passion of mine is movies and TV, as you can expect, and those go well together with food, especially with cooking scenes, moments featured around cooking, or anything else. Today, we'll be going over my top favorite cooking scenes in film and television – or just dishes that look absolutely divine. 

The Cuban Sandwiches (Chef)

Chef is an underrated movie for many reasons, but it was especially underrated for how good its food looks. The Cuban Sandwiches that Carl begins to make towards the middle of the movie are really the most delicious thing I have ever seen—and I would know because I made them as well, and yes, they are so good. 

The Beef Wellington In Any Hell's Kitchen Season (Hell's Kitchen)

As someone who loves any Gordon Ramsay cooking show, I think Hell's Kitchen is the one that's been around the longest. And what have you seen them cook time and time again, over and over? That Beef Wellington, wrapped in puff pastry, surrounded by all kinds of goodness, and that red meat – gosh, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. 

The Last Of Us Made Me Want To Try Rabbit (The Last Of Us)

I love The Last of Us. Not only is it my favorite video game of all time, but it's also one of my favorite video game adaptations. That third episode with Bill and Frank broke me into a million pieces, but you want to know what it also did? Bill somehow made rabbit look appetizing to me when he cooked it—and now, I'm really curious to try it. 

Literally Any Scene With Chocolate (Wonka)

I'm going to miss getting into details with this one. While I picked Wonka specifically, any of the Willy Wonka adaptations would work. I gain ten pounds just watching this chocolatier make the treat, let alone eat it. 

Any Food Scene In Any Studio Ghibli Movie

As someone who loves anime, my favorite part is the fantastic Studio Ghibli movies. In any of them, there is always—and I mean always—a cooking scene. But in every Ghibli film, he always finds a way to make food look so ridiculously good that I'm jealous I'm not in the movie. The food is so appetizing that there's a cookbook based on it. 

Flanders Hot Cocoa That Looks Absolutely Divine (The Simpsons Movie)

As someone who just spent a decent amount of time rewatching the first ten seasons of The Simpsons, I recently saw The Simpsons Movie again. And man, that hot cocoa that Flanders leaves out for Bart lives in my head rent-free. He creates it without skipping a beat and topping it off with chocolate shavings. My friend, please do that for me. 

When Remy Makes The Ratatouille (Ratatouille) 

I love Ratatouille so much and believe it's underrated in terms of Pixar film status. I have to point out the titular dish that the rat, Remy, makes. Whether it's because of Ego's reaction to the food or the careful way in which Remy and the others assemble the cooked pieces of vegetables, it's a beautiful cooking scene. 

That Mushroom Pasta That's Served At The Family Dinner (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)

While we don't physically see Mario's family cook the mushroom pasta, we do see it served, and yes, this is another example of something I had to recreate. It's a relatively simple meal: sauteed mushrooms with pasta, but if you add a little bit of spice, cheese, wine, and love—boom, you get this masterpiece. 

The Last Meal – A Cheeseburger (The Menu)

I'm a massive fan of the best horror movies out there, but The Menu has snuck up and become an underdog favorite of mine—mainly because I've occasionally enjoyed a night of fine dining. But the last meal, that cheeseburger with crinkle-cut fries that Chef Slowik served to Margot, made me want a cheeseburger so badly. Look at it; just look at it. 

Marcus' Chocolate Cake (The Bear)

The Bear cast features an extensive number of characters that I truly love more than most TV shows nowadays, and Marcus has snuck in and become a clear favorite of mine. One of my most-loved parts about him is in Season 1, where he spends so much time trying to perfect this chocolate cake, and it seriously makes me want to make a cake of my own—which I did end up doing because I have no self-control.

Those Scallion Noodles (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

The Academy Award-winning, Everything Everywhere All At Once is known for more than just its bagel. It also has scallion noodles, at least in the very beginning. What looks like a simple dish is actually delicate Asian cuisine that takes a certain amount of pizzazz to get just right, but once it's done, these are the best noodles you will ever have in your life. 

The Krabby Patties Because Obviously (Spongebob)

I'm a young woman; I grew up watching Spongebob Squarepants, so let's be honest here – you knew I was going to put this on this list. Come on. I'm pretty sure any time we saw Spongebob make these patties, we would salivate at the mouth to try them. 

Julieta Making Her Literal Healing Arepas (Encanto)

Encanto is a great Disney movie, and the arepas that Mirabel's mother, Julieta, makes look so good. They're so good that they literally heal people. If you can make an arepa that somehow heals wounds and more, you have captured my interest – even if it can't do the same in real life.

The Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (The Devil Wears Prada)

As someone who loves The Devil Wears Prada cast and adores the movie as a whole, I will openly say that I hated Nate's character. But what I didn't hate was that he was a chef who also spent his nights making some of the best-looking grilled cheese sandwiches for Andy. And yes, now I seriously crave something to eat. 

The Tamales Coco's Family Makes (Coco)

There are so many amazing Pixar films out there, but Coco has always been my favorite. However, something that I did forget about the movie for a while is that his family spends a decent amount of time crafting tamales, a very traditional Mexican dish that has been passed down from generation to generation. And truthfully, watching them make the dish made me want to try it so badly. 

Anytime Garfield Gets To Eat Cooked Lasagna (Garfield: The Movie)

I have to get Garfield on this list somehow. Garfield: The Movie is probably the best example, but any time Garfield gets to eat lasagna, I'm always jealous. Lasagna isn't even my favorite pasta dish, but somehow, this orange furball always finds a way for me to crave it by the time the movie ends. 

When The Chef Makes The Spaghetti (The Lady And The Tramp)

What is arguably one of the most romantic scenes in any Disney movie ever, we see Lady and Tramp share a plate of spaghetti after watching the chef at an Italian restaurant make it from the window. When I tell you that I have never craved spaghetti and meatballs more than after watching this film, I mean it. It looks so good. 

That Boursin Cheese Omelet (The Bear)

The Bear has so many dishes that I would gladly eat or make in a heartbeat, but I have to point out this omelet from Season 2 of the show. Sydney makes it for Sugar, and the dish itself is relatively easy to make but takes a certain amount of skill to pull off. Yes, I have remade it, and yes, I am salivating just thinking about those potato chips on top. 

The Crazy Amount Of Pastries (Marie Antoinette)

While Marie Antoinette is not the most historically accurate portrayal of the famous queen of France, I will say that the amount of pastries we see in that movie is godlike. I feel like seeing her eat them makes me gain twenty pounds—and also makes me want to go to a French bakery. 

The Classic Beef Bourguignon (Julie & Julia)

What makes Julie & Julie such a good movie is that it's actually based on a real-life culinary legend, so you know that the food in it is going to be spectacular. One of my favorite scenes from the film involves when they make the classic beef bourguignon, a stew where meat simmers for hours and is absolutely delicious by the time it is done. Ugh, I want to make it just thinking about it. 

Kevin Cooks His Own Macaroni & Cheese (Home Alone)

You know, sometimes you need to get the boxed mac and cheese and call it a day, and that's exactly what Kevin did in Home Alone. While we could go on for hours about how the burglar's injuries were super serious, I'm going to instead focus on how amazing that boxed macaroni and cheese looks that Kevin puts in the microwave. That feels like comfort on a plate. 

Carl Makes Aglio E Olio (Chef)

Aglio e Olio is actually one of the simplest pasta dishes you can make, and it's cooked to perfection in Chef. The dish itself is easy on the surface level but takes a certain amount of skill to pull off and achieve culinary perfection, and this scene perfectly captures it. Heck, I'd be waiting patiently, like Scarlett Johansson's character, too, for that meal. 

Monica's Candy That She Makes For The Neighbors (Friends)

Monica made some of the most delicious-looking food throughout Friends, but do you want to know the one dish that I have always wondered about? That homemade candy had neighbors coming directly to her door. It seemed like a nice favor at first, but eventually, it got so popular that she had to stop making it. What was in that candy that made it so good? I'm so curious. Give me all your secrets. 

That Classic Breakfast With Steak And Eggs (Twister)

You can't get better than this breakfast. While Twister isn't known for its cooking scenes, when we see steak and egg breakfast cooking, it'll make you want to make your own. I did precisely that after watching it for the first time. 

Remy's Reinvented Potato Leek Soup (Ratatouille)

There are so many delicious meals in Ratatouille that I could devour in a heartbeat, but Remy made the potato leek soup look so good. Alfredo nearly messes it up, but Remy secretly pulls it all together in the end and makes this delectable-looking masterpiece that makes me jealous that I'm not there in the kitchen with them. 

That Steaming New York City Pizza Delivery (Home Alone 2)

Okay, so Kevin doesn't actually make the pizza, but I have to put this on the list mainly because my mother and I still quote the scene where Kevin gets the pizza in Home Alone 2. It's steaming and is right out of the box, and it looks like something that I would absolutely devour in two seconds flat. 

A Chinese Christmas (A Christmas Story)

While we don't see them physically cook the Chinese, we do see the family of four receive a Chinese feast on Christmas Day when their dinner doesn't exactly pan out as planned. Featuring hilarious moments (some of which haven't aged super gracefully, but oh well), this scene captures the joy and craziness of Christmas—and makes me really want Chinese. 

Any Time Iroh Made Green Tea (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

I can't tell you how many times we've seen Uncle Iroh and all his wisdom in Avatar: The Last Airbender makes tea. I started drinking tea because of how good he made it look in every scene that he brewed. I even have a Jasmine Dragon mug now! I am fully on that Avatar train, no matter what. 

The Reveal Of That Timpano (Big Night)

I can't tell you how many times I've looked at that Timpano in Big Night and wondered how the heck that thing even exists. But that doesn't mean I don't want to try it. Look at it. Just look at this giant plate of food; God, my stomach is grumbling. 

Ross's Moist Maker Sandwich Because How Good Is It? (Friends)

No, because seriously, how good would this moist maker sandwich be if Ross basically got suspended from his job because of it? As someone who has had excellent Thanksgiving dinners and less than-great ones as well, that sandwich that Monica makes makes me so curious as to how good it tastes. 

Every Pie That's Baked (Waitress)

It's pie. How can you not want pie? Every pie that's baked in Waitress makes me want to make my apple pie no matter what time of year it is, and yes, I am going to go and bake one right now just thinking of it. 

Tiana's Gumbo (The Princess And The Frog)

Tiana is one of the best Disney princesses and it's because she knows all these excellent life skills and has an unbreakable spirit. One thing that she's amazingly good at is cooking and baking, and while I could point out her beignets, I have to give praise to her gumbo because, good lord, it looks so good. 

Gumbo honestly takes a lot of skill to properly make (as someone who has tried and failed), so I give her all the praise for somehow making it as a child. 

Okay, I think I need to revisit my cookbooks again because now I'm hungry. Time to cook! 

Season 2 of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender is officially happening – and this is what we know about it.

When ATLA was confirmed to be getting a live-action release, I think fans of the show were less than excited. While it was an interesting decision, the last live-action version of this critically acclaimed cartoon didn't go over well.

However, it arrived on Netflix, and as a long-time fan, I binged ATLA all in one night, and I really enjoyed it, and it’s become one of the best shows to binge-watch on the platform and will probably continue to stay on that list.. ATLA Season 2 was confirmed quite quickly, and now, we know plenty about the next season.

What Is The Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 Premiere Date?

At the time of updating this in October 2024, there has yet to be a set release date for Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, which isn’t that surprising since the first season came out as part of the 2024 TV schedule.

Honestly, I wouldn't expect it to even premiere as part of the 2025 TV premiere schedule. . Huge shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender take time to make, especially ones that have this many effects. Just think of Stranger Things Season 5. The fourth season was released in 2022, and we won't be getting that final season until 2025—three years later.

We might not see Season 2 until 2026 at the earliest, but fingers crossed it won't take that long. Netflix's Tudum even confirmed that the series was renewed for both Season 2 and Season 3—with the third season officially the last, which is the same amount of seasons that the animated series had. So, maybe with that timeline, we'll get these episodes sooner.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 Cast

As someone who has followed the making of this show since the very beginning, I have loved almost every casting decision for the Netflix Avatar: The Last Airbender cast. Thankfully, we can expect that most of the main actors will be back. This includes:

• Gordon Cormier as Aang
• Kiawentiio as Katara
• Ian Ousley as Sokka
• Dallas Liu as Zuko
• Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh
• Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai
• Elizabeth Yu as Azula

Other additional cast members that we can most likely expect to see in some fashion in Season 2 are Utkarsh Ambudkar as King Bumi, Thalia Tran as Mai, Momona Tamada as Ty Lee, Yvonne Chapman as Avatar Kyoshi, Maria Zhang as Suki, Arden Cho as June, and James Sie as the Cabbage Merchant.

I say this because all of them were featured in the renewal video, which is available to see in the Tudum article above, where Daniel Dae Kim personally gives the news.

Toph Has Been Cast

I previously noted back in July 2024 that Discussing Film on Twitter revealed that a giant search was happening for who would play the iconic character, Toph from the animated series.

And now, we officially know who will play Toph according to Tudum in September 2024 – Miya Cech. The young actress has appeared in shows such as Beef, Young Rock and The Santa Clauses, but this will be her first major starring role. The actress even released a statement regarding playing Toph, and who she’s so honored to represent her heritage:

Honestly, this is just the best news ever and I can’t wait to see the completed gang all these years later.

What Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 Is About

I know, we’re all waiting for some updates on what the story of Season 2 will be about, but here is what we know so far:

Season 2 Will Most Likely Follow The Same Storyline As The Animated Avatar: The Last Airbender

Season 2 will most likely follow the same path as the animated series it is based on, so Aang will most likely learn Earthbending, especially since Toph has been cast.

However, the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender had many changes from the animated series, an important one being that Aang didn't even appear to learn much Waterbending—which was the primary point of the first season of the animated show. That could mean that Season 2 might incorporate both Water and Earthbending.

That being said, there are only going to be three seasons of this show, and I wouldn't be surprised if Season 2 skips over Aang learning Waterbending, and moves right into the Earthbending part of his story, with him learning it off screen. Only time will tell.

We also know from the Tudum guide above regarding the announcement of Season 2 that Ba Sing Se (as the two new showrunners reference a famous line from the show) will be included in the next part of the story, and Aang will be learning a new kind of bending “or two:"

There Will Be Probably Be A Time-Jump In Season 2

It was also reported by Entertainment Weekly in January 2024 through an interview with former showrunner Albert Kim that a time jump would happen, saying it was what made the most sense since the actors are going to grow up:

Even if Kim is no longer a part of the show, the two new showrunners (which we will get into below) also reported in the Tudum article regarding the renewal that the characters will grow a bit in Season 2 and “mature” much like the animated series, so it certainly teases the idea of a time jump:

Christine Boylan And Jabbar Raisani Are Taking Over As Showrunners

Albert Kim will no longer be the showrunner. Variety confirmed in April 2024 that Kim would be stepping down and that the series would now be co-run by Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani.

It does come as a surprise, as Kim seemed so eager to bring the world to life when he first took over the role after the original creators of the animated series left the live-action version. However, Variety reported that a source close to Kim revealed he had signed a deal with Disney to be an executive producer on Percy Jackson and the Olympians and that he was also developing new projects for them.

These things happen, and I wish the best of luck to Boylan and Raisani, both of whom already worked on the show prior to becoming showrunners. Boylan has worked on series such as Poker Face, The Punisher, Cloak and Dagger, and more. Raisani has worked on Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, The Flash, and others.

While shaking up the showrunners can sometimes cause fear for fans, I hope they will bring this show to life like never before.

Production Has Begun As Of September 2024

It’s finally happening! With the confirmation of Toph’s casting, production on Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender has begun, according to Tudum in September 2024. The article also confirmed that the actors are in “boot camp” training for the bending style. The official Twitter page even shared a picture of the main ensemble for Season 2 of the show, with their scripts ready:

What are you most excited about for Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2? All I know is that I am eager to see how they tell the story and incorporate what fans want to see.

Avatar: The Last Airbender's world is about to get bigger, because Paramount just gave a massive update about the first of three standalone animated Avatar films that are in development. Leading these movies will be Aang: The Last Airbender which will feature Eric Nam as the grown-up avatar and Dave Bautista as the big bad. And let me tell you, when I found out the Marvel veteran would be voicing the next villain in this universe, I got so excited!

Coming straight out of the Paramount panel at CinemaCon (via Variety) the thrilling cast for the first ATLA project in the works was announced, notably including Dave Bautista as the big guy. Considering his history of iconic, menacing and funny roles, I think he's quite literally the perfect fit for this part. 

If you’ve seen the Marvel movies in order, you know Dave Bautista can bring both levity and violence to a moment. Drax was such a funny character, however, I was also deeply scared of him at times. I’d love to see the actor bring that energy to the Avatar universe. I can picture his legendary laugh and intense tone in this animated film now, and I think it will be epic. 

It’s also worth noting that this will be another major feather in Dave Bautista’s cap when it comes to voice acting. In 2023, he played The Parakeet King in Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron’s English version, and he killed it. Plus, when you think about the range of his work from Dune to Knock at the Cabin to Glass Onion, it becomes clear that he’ll bring something new and unexpected to this part. Truly, I have no doubt that this wrestler-turned-actor is the perfect choice for Avatar’s next big bad. 

Other than Bautista voicing the antagonist, we don't know much about his character. However, considering Mark Hamill's terrifying take on Fire Lord Ozai and the incredibly unique villains we got in Legend of Korra, I assume the Guardians of the Galaxy star's character and performance will be big, bad and memorable just like the ones that came before him.

Along with the Glass Onion star, Eric Nam will voice Aang, and Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten and Román Zaragoza are set to star in the project. Adding to that excitement, the animated series’ creators, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are set to produce, and Lauren Montgomery, who worked on Nickelodeon’s ATLA, will direct the film alongside William Mata.  

Obviously, plot details are non-existent at the moment, but we do have a release date: October 10, 2025, and we know the film will get a theatrical release. So, mark your calendars, because this movie, and especially Dave Bautista's performance as the villain, will not be something you want to miss. 

Even though the wait for this upcoming Avatar movie seems long, have no fear. You can fill the time between now and October 2025 by streaming the OG animated Avatar: The Last Airbender, its Netflix live-action adaptation that premiered on the 2024 TV schedule and The Legend of Korra with a Netflix subscription. 

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender faced significant shakeups during the creation of Season 1 when the animated series co-creators left the project. Now, following Avatar’s renewal for Seasons 2 and 3, they're dealing with another major change, because Albert Kim has stepped down as the showrunner. However, while this is a massive shift for the series, I don't think fans should be too worried.

Albert Kim, who ran ATLA for the first season, is stepping down for Seasons 2 and 3, per Netflix. Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani have been tapped as the new co-showrunners. Boylan was a co-executive producer on the first season, and Raisani was an EP, director and VFX supervisor on the Netflix series. So, both folks are knowledgeable about the series, and they have been working on it since the start. 

Not to mention, both of them have impressive resumes outside of Avatar. Christine Boylan worked as an EP and writer on the critically acclaimed Poker Face as well as Netflix’s The Punisher and Freeform’s Cloak & Dagger. Meanwhile, Jabbar Raisani was a visual effects supervisor on massive shows like Stranger Things, Game of Thrones and The Flash. 

Overall, their filmographies speak for themselves, and they seem like good choices to succeed Kim.

On top of that, Albert Kim won't be leaving the show entirely. He will stay on as an executive producer for Seasons 2 and 3. According to one of Variety's sources, he is leaving the role to focus on other opportunities, like his deal with Disney, where he'll be executive producing the new season of Percy Jackson and developing other projects. 

At the time of this writing, Kim has not commented on the news, however, this sounds like a peaceful change for Avatar, and I think the show is in good hands. 

Following its premiere on the 2024 TV schedule, Avatar: The Last Airbender was met with mixed to positive reactions. Netflix then swiftly renewed it for both Seasons 2 and 3, meaning it will be able to tell the full story that’s shown in the three-book animated series. There’s been a lot of buzz around the changes made in the ATLA adaptation, and it’s obvious that fans are very curious to see how the next installments are handled, and they can’t wait to see Book 2 for the first time ever in live-action. 

Considering this massive change seems to have happened smoothly and the fact that the new showrunners were already working on Avatar, I’m excited to see what they do with the show. I think the series is in good hands, and you best believe I’ll be using my Netflix subscription to see how they pull off the next two seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

While every character in Avatar: The Last Airbender serves a vital purpose, and of course Aang is the most powerful one, seeing as he is the Avatar and can bend all the elements, I’d argue that Katara is actually the most valuable player. She’s wicked smart, a master waterbender and she’s arguably the most supportive and nurturing character on the show. So, with all that in mind, let’s get into why Katara is the MVP of Avatar. 

Katara Is A Masterful Waterbender Who Teaches Aang Everything

Katara is easily one of the best female benders, and benders in general, in the Avatar universe, and that’s made abundantly clear when you look at her growth from Season 1 to 3. Let us not forget: she really doesn’t know how to bend water at the start of Season 1, and by the end of that season, it’s clear that she’s the master who is going to teach Aang. Then, by the series finale, I think it's safe to say that she might be the greatest living waterbender.

Not only is Katara winning some of the best fights in Avatar, she’s also a big reason why Aang is able to come out of his battles victorious, as well. 

Along with being a master of her craft, she’s also a wonderful and patient teacher. While Zuko and Toph are great coaches, they also can have short tempers at times. Katara knows how to nurture Aang’s abilities and teach him in a gentle yet effective way. She taught him pretty much everything he knew about waterbending, and he wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Fire Lord without her. 

Most Of The Time Katara Is The Gang's Voice Of Reason

I think it’s safe to say that Katara is easily the most logical member of the crew. While they all have their own specific skill set, when it comes to seeing the bigger picture and the right way through a situation, she’s the one typically guiding them in that direction.

Her maternal instincts really kick in, and she knows exactly how to help her friends find the best results. For example, she’s a great support system for Toph, and in many instances, she helps the Earthbender find balance – this is something she’s done for many side characters in Avatar, too. Or with Sokka, she’s always the one to kick some sense into him, and while that’s something siblings are typically good at, Katara is particularly masterful at it.

Overall, Katara knows when to push her friends and when to help them find the most logical and reasonable way through a situation. Without her, they might have acted on instinct and not reached the end of their quest. 

Katara, The Mother Of The Group, Is Fiercely Loyal And Incredibly Protective  

When it comes to Katara’s care for her friends, on the flip side of this coin we’ve been talking about lies her fiercely loyal, incredibly protective and defensive side. 

As a master waterbender, she can take down almost any opponent with ease – as we’ve seen in some of Avatar’s best episodes, like the series finale when she defeats Azula with Zuko. She also uses her power to help those in need, and she’s willing to go to extremes to do so, as she did when she worked to protect a village by pretending to be The Painted Lady.  

She’s driven by compassion and empathy, and that shines through in how she shows her loyalty to her friends and those in need. It’s admirable, and it’s one of the major reasons why Katara is the MVP. 

To see Katara in all her glory, you can stream the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender with a Paramount+ subscription or Netflix subscription.

I did it. I rewatched the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender again after watching the live-action series, and I have so many takeaways that I have to share. 

As someone who grew up watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, I was so excited for the new series. When it premiered, I binged it all in one night, and I'm still looking forward to Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 because I seriously enjoyed the heck out of it. 

Afterward, I decided to revisit the series that inspired it all, the animated show from Nickelodeon. I binged the entirety of it in a weekend for the first time in years, and these are my key takeaways from it. 

Katara, Toph, And Suki Really Shaped Me Into The Woman I Am Today

There are plenty of badass female benders and fighters in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but upon my rewatch, I have to give props to Katara, Toph, and Suki – because I didn't realize how much they had shaped me as a child into the woman I am today. 

I've inherited Katara's heart and determination to learn and her fierceness for standing up for what I believe in. I've learned to be just as stubborn as Toph when proving my skills and showing others that I'm more than just what you see on the surface. And Suki? She's why I started my fitness journey years ago; her discipline and skill on the battlefield inspired me to become a better version of myself. 

As an older Gen Z'r, I can openly say I am so proud I had these three women as my role models growing up, and I know that millions of other women can say the same thing. 

I Still Can't Believe Toph Created Metalbending Out Of Spite

Toph is hands down one of the best characters in Avatar, but when I rewatched Book 2 (Season 2), I still found myself in awe of her power when she created Metalbending. 

Metal was used as a capturing device against Earthbenders precisely because, for years, no one had ever bent it. Toph took one look at it when she was captured, took that personally, and invented a new bending style just out of spite to escape and prove her captors wrong. I love it. 

Zuko's Character Arc Is Still Unmatched

There are plenty of great character arcs on TV, but Zuko's is still one of the best, and I stand by that now, even as an adult. I've talked almost too much about it. 

I forgot just how annoying and irritating Zuko was in the show's first season. He was evil and stood on business whenever he saw Aang, going above and beyond to capture him. 

But, over time, we do see his genuine shift in kindness and vulnerability and his eventual betrayal of his family to save others. It's beautiful. 

But Sokka's Growth Has Grown On Me Tremendously 

I never really liked Sokka that much as a kid, but that's because I, too, had an annoying older brother and agreed with Katara, thinking he was the worst. 

Now that I'm older, I've also started to admire Sokka's character arc. I always forgot that he began the series pretty misogynistic, believing girls were unable to fight. This was mainly because he was the only male left behind in his tribe to defend their people. He was forced to grow up and act like that. 

However, the change we see in him from the first season to the last, thanks to being surrounded by powerful, strong young women, is fun to watch, where he learns to respect and follow women. 

Uncle Iroh's Wisdom Has Fueled My Adult Years So Much

I'm pretty sure everyone who grew up watching Avatar: The Last Airbender loved Uncle Iroh with a passion, but I didn't realize Iroh's wisdom in the show had fueled my adult years in many ways. 

He occasionally drops so many tidbits of wisdom that I think of getting them on a poster to hang on my walls because they're so smart. We all need an Uncle Iroh in our lives, especially now as adults. 

Airbending Really Is Overpowered 

As a kid, I always believed that the bending in Avatar: The Last Airbender was equal across all four elements, with some exceptions when people had specialty bending powers—like using lightning or Lavabending. 

But, I've come to acknowledge that Airbending is overpowered in many ways. Watching Aang fight was like watching someone floating around fight all the time. He could make tornadoes; he could float above soldiers to make them run into each other; he could redirect bending back at someone else through the air – it's so overpowered. 

If I had to pick a second element that's overpowered, I'd pick Waterbending, specifically because of Bloodbending, but man…Airbending takes the cake on this one. 

I'm Sorry, But I Kind Of Don't Love Aang And Katara's Relationship Anymore 

I might get some hate for this, but I don't love Aang and Katara's relationship anymore. 

No, this isn't just my little eight-year-old brain loving Katara and Zuko as if they could be the best enemies-to-lovers romance ever. This is me, as an adult, realizing that Katara and Aang feel a little too mother-son-ish. 

Don't get me wrong—I love their dynamic—but I always felt that Katara looked after Aang in a more maternal way rather than actively showing feelings for him. We don't see that genuine common emotion until Book 3. We got a little hint of it with "The Cave of Two Lovers" episode, but other than that, we don't see Katara show any serious interest in Aang aside from a few glances. 

It almost feels like they get together out of trauma at the end rather than a genuine connection, but I don't know – maybe that's just me. The Avatar comics do a better job of expanding on it, but I still can't help but think about it. 

Azula Finally Cracking Hits Harder As An Adult

Azula's slow downfall until she finally cracks in Book 3 hits way harder as an adult. I feel awful for Azula, something I did not think of as a kid. 

Azula is a determined, disciplined Firebender and will do anything for power, even kill her own family, but this is because she was raised to be that way. She was raised to be this machine for her father to wield for his gain, and if she failed, who knew what would happen?

Then, she lets this power consume her to the point where her friends leave her, and no one wants to be around her. Even her mother haunts her mind, saying that she did love her, but it's not enough to stop her breaking. She's only fourteen, and it's such a shame to see a prodigy face such intense hardship and pressure that it turns her to this. 

God, The Animation Still Rocks Even Fifteen Years Later

This is just a random thing, but the animation slaps in this show. It's just freaking beautiful. 

The bending is fluid, and the side characters that save the day are detailed wonderfully with their backstory and outfits – even the landscapes steal my breath away. 

I could repeatedly rewatch that final Agni Kai between Zuko and Azula and never get sick of it—just pure beauty. 

This Show Really Is Great For Both Children And Adults

I've said this before, and I'll repeat it now, even more so for all grown-ups. Avatar: The Last Airbender is relevant today and is a show for kids and adults.

Sure, the animation is great for children, but the life lessons and role models they will meet are unbeatable. Then, for adults, there's so much wisdom, a great story, and fantastic character arcs that this show is pure, practically perfect television. It ebbs and flows in all the right ways, caps off storylines expertly, and is an experience unlike any other. 

Out of all the television shows I have watched – and trust me, there have been plenty – this series is one of the few I would give anything to forget about and rewatch from the beginning without any knowledge. I'm envious of first-time viewers because they get to experience this masterpiece. And, I'll sit on the sidelines, cheering them on. 

If you haven't watched Avatar: The Last Airbender or are looking to rewatch it, do that – it's worth every second and then some. I feel like rewatching it again even now—time to head to Netflix. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 is confirmed – and I want to see plenty of things happen in it. 

When Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender released to the public, the reactions varied—some people loved it, and others found fault with some of the show’s changes. But, through it all, we watched enough that it scored a coveted Season 2 at the streaming platform. 

Now that it's confirmed, there are some things from the original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series that I need to see in Season 2, so let's get into it.

Actually Seeing Aang Learn The Elements

I can't be the only one who was thrown off because we didn't see Aang learning to bend in Season 1, right? 

A big staple of the original is that Aang learned a new element each season – Book 1: Water, Book 2: Earth, and Book 3: Fire, and he didn't need a fourth because he already knew air. For some reason, we didn't see him learn waterbending during Season 1 of the live-action show. 

Maybe that means they'll include it in the second season, but it was an essential plot point in the show, where he learned it so easily, and Katara really had to work hard to become the master she is. Instead, in the live-action, we see Aang not bending water at all, and Katara is skilled as heck with it against Zuko. Can we see him learn next time? 

Katara's Feisty Nature To Grow 

I love the live-action Avatar: The Next Airbender cast, but can we talk about how Katara was really toned down from the animated one? Her feisty personality and fierce nature are really what made her character so great. She was willing to do anything for her friends and was powerful in her own way. 

Live-action Katara feels a little too calm. Yes, she's always acted almost as a compass for Aang in both shows, but the animated character had so much more emotion connected to it. In the live-action, she feels stale – and I want to see the fiery way she presents herself grow more. 

Seeing Zuko And Iroh Cut Their Hair

Zuko's character arc is unmatched in many ways, and a huge moment in Book 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender is when Zuko and Iroh cut their hair – symbolizing the fact that they're fugitives now. 

It's such a pivotal scene for the two of them, but especially for Zuko, and I hope that Season 2 does it justice. 

Toph's Proper Entrance As A Fighter – And All Her Humor

Toph is a fan favorite for a reason. Aang's Earthbending teacher, Toph is a blind twelve-year-old who makes fun of herself and doesn't let anyone tell her what to do. She has a tough way of teaching and never backs down from a fight. 

Please, for the love of God, keep Toph the way she is. Don't tone her down. People love Toph so much because she doesn't let her disability—her blindness—stop her from achieving greatness. In fact, she makes jokes about herself and others because she's so confident in her skills. We need those kinds of representations in modern-day TV for little girls and boys, the same way we had them growing up. Keep her the same, please.  

Ba Sing Se In All Its Glory

Ba Sing Se always stood out as the city to be in when it came to Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I don't want this place to be toned down in any way. 

In the animated series, Ba Sing Se is giant. It takes up so much land, has three separate walls to separate social classes (much like the anime Attack on Titan and many other movies and shows), and has so much culture and richness. It'll be some of the show's best episodes if it's brought to life properly. 

They did a decently good job with Omashu, so here's hoping Ba Sing Se is even better. 

Toph Learning To Metalbend 

Toph learned how to Metalbend through spite. She wanted to get out of a cage and used her abilities to find tiny pieces of rock in metal to escape, and it's one of the most badass scenes of the entire original show. 

If this is not kept in, I am suing for emotional damages, because it will only lessen Toph's fantastic story. She created a new bending ability, which we need to talk about. 

The Tales Of Ba Sing Se

I'm not tearbending right now; you are. 

But actually, I think the Book 2 episode, "The Tales of Ba Sing Se," was the first time many people of my generation sobbed for hours on end due to a TV show. 

Six separate stories follow the main characters in Ba Sing Se, and while some push the plot forward, others deliver potent messages and emotional scenes that still sit with us to this day. Heck, some of Iroh's best wisdom lines come from this episode. 

Think about "Leaves From The Vine." Now think of live-action Iroh actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee singing it. Yeah, I'm crying already. 

The Cactus Juice

This is such a random thing to put in here, but I really want them to keep the cactus juice sequence with Sokka in the live-action. When they get lost in a desert, Sokka drinks strange juice from a cactus, which essentially sends him on a bad trip. 

I know it's wildly animated, but I would love to see Ian Ousley tear this up. I think this could be hilarious in live-action, and it's one of the funniest parts of Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

The Library 

Something that surprised me in Season 1 is that we saw the owl spirit, Wan Shi Tong, a whole season earlier. Maybe that means we're going to get the library to a bigger extent in Season 2 of the show. 

The library – otherwise known as Wan Shi Tong's Library – is a huge plot detail in Book 2 of the animated series and sets up a lot of story for the rest of the show, and I want to make sure Season 2 brings it forward in all its glory. I want to feel mesmerized by this library. I want to feel like I am in a sea of knowledge, and I want Wan Shi Tong to feel as intimidating in live-action as he did animated. 

Zuko And Katara Trapped Together

There are plenty of moments in Zuko's timeframe that need to be included, but one that I have to see is Zuko and Katara trapped together in Ba Sing Se. 

It happens in the finale of Book 2, where Zuko and Katara actually have a heart-to-heart – to the point where Katara offers the chance to see if the spirit water from the Northern Water Tribe might help heal Zuko's scar. Not that long after, when Azula hangs the possibility of going back home again over Zuko's head, he betrays Katara after gaining her trust just for a moment. 

Not only does it set up their dynamic in Book 3 (which many fans, including myself, love), but it also sets them up on their paths of character development. With Azula's early entrance into the series, the relationship between Zuko and Azula could be expanded to make that betrayal more heartbreaking. 

My colleague Rich Knight said that Season 2 of the show can be good without drawing too heavily from the animation, and I agree. There were certain moments in Season 1 of the show where it felt like one-for-one recreation, but the changes they made were so…interesting. 

However, there are moments from Book 2 that have to be in Season 2, and these are just some of my picks. I'm curious about what others would be, but I'll wait patiently for Season 2 – whenever that comes. 

Considering Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best animated series and how quickly its Netflix live-action adaptation was renewed for Seasons 2 and 3, you’d think the OG show wouldn’t have had issues telling its full three-season story about Aang and his quest to defeat the Fire Lord back in the day. However, Aaron Ehasz, the head writer on the OG Avatar: The Last Airbender, has a different story to tell about the making of the Nickelodeon series and how they actually struggled a lot to get picked up season after season.

Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Was Never Garunteed Its Three Seasons

According to Ehasz, Avatar’s future was never guaranteed. In an interview with Slash Film, the head writer of the animated series spoke at length about the struggle to get this series picked up year after year. Speaking about Season 1 and the fact that they were not guaranteed the 20 episodes they eventually got, he said:

When they were put in this position, they developed stories for Episodes 13 and 20 that would pack a punch. This led to the beloved “The Blue Spirit” installment serving as Episode 13, and the epic “The Siege of the North” as the finale. Today both stories are considered two of Avatar’s best episodes. Through this, they proved that they deserved a Season 2, however, they were not guaranteed a Season 3, despite having a plan for the show’s future. 

The article noted that those behind the scenes were certain of where the story was going, as they always knew Aang would eventually master all four elements and Zuko would become good. However, they still didn’t know if they’d get to put those ideas on screen. Ehasz spoke about this situation and how uncertain things got, explaining:

In hindsight, this is crazy to think about. Watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, it feels like one giant story that was supposed to be exactly three seasons. Aang’s quest is plotted out meticulously, and everything builds up perfectly to his final battle with the Fire Lord. However, Nickelodeon was always on the fence about if the show should continue. This led to the team behind the animated series feeling like it had been canceled after Season 2, as Ehasz said:

Season 2 ends with Aang in grave danger and terribly injured. Leaving the show there with no definitive ending would have been truly tragic. However, luckily they eventually got picked up, and Avatar got to bring its story to a close in the perfect way and on its own terms. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender has always been beloved by fans and critics alike, however, clearly it was ratings that caused the commotion behind the scenes. And this story becomes even more interesting when you think about how quickly Netflix’s live-action ATLA adaptation got renewed for Seasons 2 and 3.

However, Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Got Its Three Seasons Quickly

Despite Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender’s mixed reviews, the series was renewed less than two weeks after its premiere on the 2024 TV schedule. Not only was it renewed, but it was also announced that they were going to make Seasons 2 and 3, meaning they will get to see this story out to its planned end.

Knowing this, it’s fascinating to consider why the beloved animated series struggled so much to keep going when its live-action recreation was picked up without nearly as much critical acclaim. While I don’t have a full answer to this, I would guess that it happened because Netflix knows exactly where the Avatar story is going and back in the day Nickelodeon didn’t. 

When I spoke to Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender showrunner, Albert Kim, he told me about how they condensed the show into 8 episodes and how they created the finale. In both cases, he mentioned the power of hindsight and how they know exactly where the series is headed. Having the animated show as a guiding light has helped the live-action team immensely, and it also gives audiences and Netflix a roadmap as to where it’s going next. 

So, between knowing exactly how the show progresses and having the stellar legacy of the animated series behind it, it makes sense that Netflix had the confidence to renew Avatar: The Last Airbender for not only Season 2 but Season 3 too. Sadly, the OG series didn’t have either of these things because they were laying the groundwork and doing something we hadn’t really seen before in a series on Nickelodeon. 

Overall, learning that the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender almost didn’t get its full three seasons is truly stunning. I never would have guessed it either, considering the love people have for it almost two decades after the premiere. Luckily, everything worked out, the team persisted, and it ended up giving us three perfect seasons of television. 

To go back and watch the animated version of Avatar: The Last Airbender as well as its live-action adaptation, all you need is a Netflix subscription.

I don't know about you, but I love a good character arc. Whether it's someone bad turning good, someone good turning bad, or just a character growing up and maturing over time, a good character arc makes a TV show a million times better. 

Don't forget that a good character arc also makes fans favorites, and these characters certainly became major fan favorites after their well-deserved character arcs on their television shows. 

Alexis (Schitt's Creek)

The Schitt's Creek cast is incredibly talented in many ways, but everyone had a better character arc than Alexis. Starting as a pretty, spoiled girl who didn't have a clear direction in life, she seriously matures toward the end of the series and begins to figure out what she wants – through hilarious moments. However, it's still a great character arc. 

Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

It's well-known that Zuko has one of the most significant character arcs of all time, especially in television, but most definitely in Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

Starting as a banished prince, Zuko had to undergo serious self-reflection, punishment, and much more to realize his true destiny. In the end, he was willing to sacrifice his life for the Avatar and his friends rather than try and earn the honor of his father over and over again. 

Loki (Loki)

Loki is a curious character because he had character arcs in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Loki television show, but we'll talk specifically about the series. 

Throughout its two seasons, Loki changes immensely, from the villain he was at the end of the first Avengers film to someone who would lock himself away forever to ensure his friends survive in timelines and keep the universe intact. I mean, talk about a change. 

Walter White (Breaking Bad)

We could say that Walter White had one of the best character arcs ever on television. Breaking Bad was an incredible show for many reasons, but I think the Breaking Bad cast was one of the main things that made it fantastic, including that of Bryan Cranston as White. 

In the beginning, we can almost see White as a savior, desperate to do anything to help his family after his inevitable death from cancer. Still, over time, we see how he changes into this power-hungry fool, ostracizing himself from his life and the people he loves. 

John Silver (Black Sails)

Black Sails is one of the best pirate shows, and John Silver was one of the best characters. I mean, think about it – he started off with nothing, just working as a cook due to being captured and taking out another cook. Silver had a brilliant mind, and through the show, we see him turn into a great strategist behind Captain Flint. He was always able to find a way out of any issue, making him more interesting. 

Jamie Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

For years, I have considered Jaime Lannister one of the best character arcs on television. As part of the Game of Thrones cast, Jaime Lannister was as selfish as a Lannister could be when the series started and then began to change throughout the following seasons, fighting for what was right, denying his sister, and so much more. Let's ignore what happened in Season 8 of the show. He was still a great character – just not his sad death. 

Octavia (The 100)

Good god, I remember when I first watched Octavia, a character a part of The 100 cast, I could not stand her. She was bratty, selfish, and straight-up annoying. 

But it wasn't long before she began to mature, and sooner or later, she learned how to fight, lead, and kill, which is needed in this world. What makes her even better is that she's a flawed character at best—she has moments of morally grey instances that really make you either root for her or hate her—which is why she's a fan-favorite. 

Jimmy McGill (Better Call Saul)

Oh, Jimmy McGill. Better Call Saul was a spinoff of Breaking Bad and told the story of Jimmy McGill or Saul Goodman. He started as someone genuinely trying to make it as a lawyer, but as the seasons go on, we see him sink more into criminal activity to get ahead since no one would give him a chance, thanks to his past. It's a slow, depressing character arc, but it's still fantastic either way.

Roy Kent (Ted Lasso)

He's here, he's there, he's every-well, you know the chant. 

Roy Kent of Ted Lasso began the series as a crude, mean, and old (in the eyes of sports) man, bitter about his past and despising Lasso coming in as their coach. But through the help of his close friends, significant others, and more, we see how much of a heart he has. He starts to show his true colors, and sooner or later, we see him even making friends with Jamie Tartt.  

Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Out of everyone on The Walking Dead, I think Daryl Dixon's character arc is among the most intriguing and fun to witness. When we first meet Daryl, he's super selfish and only cares about himself and his brother, but by the end of the series, he has a family, a life, and so much more that he's willing to die for. He was so beloved that there was a phrase called, "If Daryl Dies, We Riot." I would know, I had a shirt that said it.

Diane Nguyen (BoJack Horseman)

BoJack Horseman focuses on so many traumatized characters, but one of the best they really did a good character on is Diane Nguyen. She starts off as BoJack's ghost-writer, and while she's a bit passive at first, we start to see her grow into herself as time passes, confronting her past and future and even dealing with her own mental issues. 

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)

I'm pretty sure everyone during the first season of Stranger Things was not the biggest fan of Steve, played by the excellent Joe Keery. But of course, we all ended up loving Steve Harrington because he learned to care for others and also became the best babysitter ever for the kids we loved. 

Nick (New Girl)

I could do any of the boys from the apartment, but Nick began New Girl as the type of guy I don't think any girl would want. He was immature and didn't have any direction in life. But towards the end of the series, even if he was still silly, he committed to fixing his life, growing stronger bonds with others, and opening up about his feelings instead of keeping it all closed inside. You have to love him. 

Carol (The Walking Dead)

Carol's timeline on The Walking Dead is something special. Her character arc makes me smile every time I think about it. Carol began the show as an abused wife of a beating husband, but once he's gone, she begins to get stronger every season, becoming a kick-butt zombie slayer and doing anything to protect the ones she loves. 

Starlight (The Boys)

Starlight from The Boys is the epitome of the phrase "never meet your heroes," literally in the sense of this show. She joins The Seven with bright ideas and discovers that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Over the course of three seasons so far, she's truly stood out and tried to make change—even going as far as breaking the law to do so. 

Jamie Tartt (Ted Lasso)

Jamie Tartt from Ted Lasso was so immature and selfish when we first met him, but he gets his time to shine in Seasons 2 and 3, where we start to see him change. He begins to grow and understand his role as a leader, making amends with old rivals and past relationships and building new bonds. 

Lexa (The 100)

While Lexa wasn't in the series for nearly as long as she should have been, she was an impactful character in The 100. Lexa's character arc, from being Clarke's enemy to doing a full 180 and becoming her lover before her tragic demise, will haunt every The 100 fan. This reminds us of all the great 'enemies to lovers' movies. 

Negan (The Walking Dead)

Negan was one of the best characters on TV when he appeared on The Walking Dead. His character arc not only made him stand out but also made him an easy fan favorite. Clearly one of the franchise's antagonists from the very beginning, Negan ended up finding his morally grey middle line and helping his once-enemies while also learning to find people to truly love and care about. 

Ahsoka (The Star Wars Franchise)

Ahsoka was one of the most hated characters in the Star Wars franchise when she first debuted because many thought her immature. Years later, through the Clone Wars and the Disney+ Star Wars shows, she matured into a Jedi master, was calm and collected, and was one of the most versatile warriors out there.

The Big Three (This Is Us)

As someone who loves the This is Us cast, the Big Three certainly had some of the best character arcs. These three go through so many heartbreaking hardships and moments throughout the franchise that it's a miracle they turn out fine by the end. 

But they didn't just end up surviving – they faced some of their worst moments, from drug addiction to racism to body issues to so much more, and came out on top. That's a character to root for – well, three characters in this case. 

Lydia (Teen Wolf)

There are plenty of great supernatural teen dramas with superb casts, but Lydia from Teen Wolf certainly has the best character arc. She starts as a popular girl who only cares about herself embraces her powers, and helps her friends down the line with whatever they need, even risking her life on multiple occasions. 

Arabelle (I May Destroy You)

I May Destroy You is a miniseries, but Arabelle's character arc is top-tier. Through nine episodes, we see Arabelle face one of her darkest and loneliest moments as she tries to figure out who sexually assaulted her one night, and she must face her grief, trauma, and so much more to find inner peace towards the end. 

Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan)

There are plenty of character arcs in anime, but the one I have to do is Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan. He started off this anime as a brat who only wanted to kill Titans and would do anything to achieve it, but towards the end, he wound up becoming one of the most complex anime characters out there, with deep, hidden intentions and feelings that we could barely comprehend. 

Eleanor Shellstrop (The Good Place)

Out of the many characters in The Good Place, I have to give the character arc award to Eleanor. Her whole journey in the afterlife literally begins with a lie and being super selfish, but towards the end, she is filled with wisdom and selflessness and is willing to fight for what is right. It's a beautiful story. 

Bubbles (The Wire)

Surprisingly, The Wire is a show that has never won Best Drama at the Emmys, but it should have these character arcs, and I have to give it to Bubbles. One of the show's many characters, Bubbles' road to recovery, made you want to root for him from the very beginning and support him no matter what. 

Sokka (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Sokka was probably one of the most misogynistic characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender. At first, he believed that women could not fight, but towards the end of the series, he becomes a valuable leader, leading both men and women and becoming the man he was always meant to be. 

Sansa Stark (Game Of Thrones)

I know for a fact that many people did not like Sansa in the first few seasons of Game of Thrones, but she had some serious character growth that turned her into a fan favorite. From spoiled brat to Queen of the North, Sansa's maturity shines through. 

Spike (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Starting as a villain in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Spike was initially super unlikable. Over time, as he realized there was more than watching everything that went against him fall, he eventually worked with Buffy and became a trustful person.

Rebecca (Ted Lasso)

Rebecca's entire journey began with her as a villain in Ted Lasso, where she specifically hired Ted for the team to do poorly so it would shut down for revenge towards her ex-husband. But she is changed through Ted's kindness; towards the end, we miss her as much as we miss Ted. 

Peggy Olsen (Mad Men)

Peggy Olsen was a boss, and she wanted you to know. Mad Men was an AMC show that followed advertising executives in NYC, and Peggy was a character who worked her way up in power, beginning as a secretary unaware of the world she was entering and becoming an absolute leader despite her being a woman in the workplace in the 1960s. 

Theon Greyjoy (Game Of Thrones)

While Game of Thrones’ last season had issues, Theon Greyjoy's character was not one of them. Starting off as selfish and a betrayer who would do anything for power, Theon devotes his life to the Starks' cause in fighting against the Night King and dies in Season 8 defending Bran—but he dies a hero. 

April (Parks And Recreation)

April from the Parks and Recreation cast really started off as a slacker, but over the course of the series, through the help of her friends, relationships, and more, we start to become a heck of a lot more trusting—and still keeping that same deadpan humor that fans love. 

Which one of these classic fan-favorite character arcs is your favorite? This makes me want to rewatch all these shows again, just for fun. 

Spoilers for the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender are ahead! If you haven’t streamed the series, you can watch it right now with a Netflix subscription. 

Now that Avatar: The Last Airbender has been renewed for Season 2, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Season 1 finale and its implications. From Aang and co. helping the Northern Water Tribe as well as the ocean and moon spirits after the Fire Nation attacked to the final moments that show Azula taking Omashu, it’s clear that these major moments will impact the series moving forward. So, with that in mind, I couldn’t help but think back on the behind-the-scenes stories showrunner Albert Kim told CinemaBlend about how they created the finale’s big monster and why they decided to end the show with the scene they did. 

Along with chatting to Kim about how they condensed the 20-episode animated season into eight live-action episodes, he broke down the finale and those final sequences in detail. So, let’s talk about Aang, the Ocean Spirit and the water monster they turned into as well as that shocking final scene that helps set up Season 2.

Albert Kim Opens Up About How They Created the Ocean Spirit At The End Of Avatar: The Last Airbender 

While there were major changes made in Avatar: The Last Airbender from the OG show, one major plot point that stayed the same was Aang and the Ocean Spirit coming together to defeat the Fire Nation when it attacked the Northern Water Tribe. Speaking about the inclusion of this moment, Albert Kim told me that it was so vital for them to create it that they made sure to budget specifically for it, explaining:

He went on to say that the animated series served as a great guide for them, and they wanted to make a creature that was “worthy of fear from the Fire Nation and awe from the Water Tribe.” Noting how they designed the character to meet those two points, Kim said:

Kim continued saying that it was important for this monster to “flow” like water, but also be terrifying. Noting what Iroh told Zuko about the monster, the showrunner explained to me:

This monster that combines Aang in the Avatar State and the Ocean Spirit was imperative for the story, and I’m so happy they conserved their budget and put so much effort into making this creature they called “Whale-Zilla." It paid off greatly. 

And like Whale-Zilla, Kim and his team also put a lot of thought into the final moments of this episode after the battle at the Northern Water Tribe ends. 

Albert Kim Breaks Down The Final Scene In Omashu

Immediately following the massive battle between the Water Tribe and the Fire Nation that involves the water monster, it’s revealed that this battle was a diversion. Ozai and Azula – who were introduced early – used that to distract the Avatar so they could take the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu and its king, Bumi. So, in the final scene, we learn about this plot, and Kim said that the choice was made because they have the “benefit of hindsight” when it comes to knowing how the series ultimately needs to end:

Kim went on to say that along with this takeover being a nice setup for Season 2, it’s also a full circle moment. At the beginning of the show, we see Fire Lord Sozin attack the Southern Air Temple and then we see the comet. The same thing happens at the end of the season with his descendant Ozai, as Kim explained:

Overall, having Bumi in captivity as Azula takes Omashu and the introduction of Sozin’s Comet helped Kim and his team lay the groundwork for Season 2. 

This finale truly was a faithful adaptation of the animated series – monsters and all – that set up Season 2 fantastically! After I finished binge-watching Season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I immediately was ready for the next installment, because I had to know what the implications were of the giant battle at the Water Tribe and the reveal that the Fire Nation had taken over Omashu at the same time. 

Luckily, we will get to see more amazing monsters and shocking plot twists when Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender premieres. However, we’ll have to wait a while for it seeing as Season 1 only recently premiered on the 2024 TV schedule. While we wait, you better believe I’ll be keeping Kim’s comments about the finale in mind as I rewatch the live-action series as well as its animated predecessor on Netflix. 

I know the reception to Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender has been mixed, to say the very least, but I thought it was pretty decent. 

So much so, that if they were to make a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Korra, I wouldn’t complain. However, before we jump ahead of ourselves, let’s talk about Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, as Netflix recently renewed the series for two more seasons. I’m definitely excited about this, but with one caveat: Please deviate more from the source material this time around! 

Because while my colleague, Alexandra Ramos, went into all of the major changes that the live-action adaptation made from the original show, I really don’t think those changes were nearly enough. So, here are some things that I hope can make Season 2 feel fresher than Season 1.

Oh, and spoilers for Season 1 of the Netflix series, as well as Season 2 of the cartoon. 

Pull From Book 2 Of The Cartoon, But Not Too Heavily This Time 

Book 1 of the animated series is 20 episodes long, while Season 1 of the live-action adaptation is only eight. That said, the live-action version does an admirable enough job of crunching in the entire storyline.

A big problem I had with this live-action adaptation, however, is that I knew exactly where it was heading. That’s not to say that I wanted them to deviate completely. However, I would definitely like it if there were more events not seen in the original series that would really throw fans who have already watched every episode for a loop. 

Like, one thing I’m dreading is the search for Appa in Season 2. I’m sorry, but that was the worst part of the entire cartoon series for me, and I’m not looking forward to two or three episodes devoted to finding him. 

I also hope that they approach the first appearance of Toph differently. It’s not that I didn’t like it the first time around. But, that’s just it. I remember the first time around. It was in Episode 6, “The Blind Bandit,” where our heroes first meet Toph at an Earthbending tournament. 

Honestly, I really don’t want this show to telegraph events again like it did with Season 1. Instead, I’d like to be surprised like I was with my favorite episode, “Spirited Away,” which cobbled together multiple episodes from the original series, sure, but was different enough that it all felt entirely new. 

That’s what I want! Pull from Book 2 of the cartoon, but pull liberally. Mash episodes together so that it vaguely looks familiar, but also entirely different. However, I think they can go even further with making Season 2 feel different from Season 1. 

Pull Ideas From The Comics 

Seriously, there is such a wealth of content from the comics that I honestly don’t know why they didn’t just pull from them more often in Season 1. There is a slight reference to Koh’s mom, The Mother of Faces, in the first season of the live-action adaptation, but that’s about it. 

Why not pull from some of the one-offs, like Katara and the Pirate’s Silver, or stories from The Lost Adventures and Team Avatar Tales? Because even though I’ve been a good little fan who’s read everything connected to the universe, there are several fans out there who have never even cracked open an Avatar comic, and for them, all of this content would be entirely new.

Yes, most of the comics, like The Search, North and South, and Imbalance take place after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but the one-off comics, as well as The Lost Adventures and Team Avatar Tales, would make Season 2 of this live-action series feel a lot fresher than Season 1 did. 

And While You're At It, Pull Ideas From The Novels As Well 

Since I’m a huge fan of the world, I definitely made sure to read the four novels that chronicled the lives of Avatar Kyoshi, and Avatar Yangchen. Let me tell you, pulling from those novels would be absolutely perfect for the live-action series, as these books can get super violent, and the live-action series tends to be a bit more graphic than the cartoon ever was. 

Not only that, but a lot of fans have never seen dust stepping, or have any knowledge that the wrong Avatar has actually been picked in the past. 

There are also other bending techniques that would be cool to see in live-action, and the people who are only familiar with the cartoons might not be knowledgeable that an airbender can literally suck all of the oxygen out of a room, and make people pass out (we saw Zaheer kill the Earth Queen like this in The Legend of Korra, but there’s a much cooler – and scarier – scene in the Yangchen novels). 

So, yeah. Pull from the novels for this second season. A lot of fans of only the cartoon will have their minds completely blown. 

Also, Try To Slip In More The Legend Of Korra References 

We saw a reference to The Legend of Korra in the first season of the Netflix series, like when Sokka and Katara got stuck in the Fog of Lost Souls. But, I honestly think that this second season should pull even more from it. 

I’m not saying introduce characters like Bolin or Mako, who wouldn’t even be alive yet, but maybe add in a character like Amon (I’m not saying actually put him in this series, but a character like him) who can take away people’s bending abilities, which I think would be so cool.

Or maybe make metalbending something that features prominently here. I know Toph is the originator of the technique, and I’m not saying that that moment should be taken away from her, but it would be cool if others could also metalbend just by observing her doing it. 

Yes, I’m well aware that I’m now quarterbacking the script, but stay with me here, please. We actually see whole cities constructed using metalbending in The Legend of Korra, and I think one of the ways that we could see major differences from this live-action series and the cartoon is if they really focus on the subsets of bending this season. 

We get to see some of that in the animated series, such as sandbending and bloodbending. But, we see a lot more of these subsets in Korra. I’d love it if this new season took a lot more liberally from that show, because, hey. You never know if we’re ever going to get a live-action The Legend of Korra series or not. So, these next two seasons might be the only real opportunity we get for the powers that be to pluck from that rich material.  

In Summation, Make This Second Season Feel More Different Than Similar To The Cartoon 

So, yeah. The most important thing, I think, is for this season to feel as different from the cartoon as possible. I know not everybody is going to agree with me, but I’d honestly be happy if this second season was like The Last Jedi was for Star Wars’ fans. I’m talking super polarizing, and divisive. 

You might think that’s a bad thing, but just hear me out. Currently, what most people are saying about the first season is that it’s “just okay. But not as good as the cartoon.” Of course it’s not going to be as good as the cartoon. It's legendary, and no live-action adaptation is going to recapture that magic.

So, why even try? This first season mostly succeeded for me, but for a lot of others, it failed miserably. A good friend of mine said that they condensed the season down too much, and it was missing the original show’s magic, and that’s definitely going to happen when you subtract twelve or so episodes. Since they can’t recapture the magic of the source material, then why not take more risks? 

As much as people tend to hate The Last Jedi, people are still talking about it (a lot of it is whining, to be fair), and I want that same discourse for the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Otherwise, years down the line, people are likely just going to forget that this series even existed, and I don’t want that. Why would I? I love Avatar! 

But, what do you think? For more news on all things Avatar-related, be sure to swing by here often! 

“Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked...” are the words that opened every single episode of the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender series. For those of us who grew up with the show, Katara’s opening monologue is engrained in our memories. So, it was a tad shocking when Netflix’s Avatar adaptation premiered on the 2024 TV schedule, and we didn’t hear those exact words. 

However, like many of the changes made in ATLA, there’s a good reason behind the opening credits being different, and showrunner Albert Kim explained the choice to CinemaBlend. 

How The Animated Series Opening Credits Were Modified In Episode One Of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender

Instead of Katara narrating the monologue (as you can see below), Avatar Kyoshi does the voice-over. She introduces the audience to the Avatar and how the cycle works, she then explains that Fire Lord Sozin decided to kill the Avatar, who had not been revealed yet. So, unlike the animated series, which has Katara introducing Aang’s story specifically, this series has the Avatar from two generations earlier explaining what happened before Aang’s disappearance. 

This moment in the live-action series (which you can see in the video below) comes right after we witness the Air Nomad genocide, which happened 100 years before Sokka and Katara found Aang. Showrunner Albert Kim told me that this was why the opening sequence was different:

Along with other Avatar East eggs, Gran Gran’s monologue served as a lovely nod to the OG opening sequence. 

Kim continued to explain to me that they did that as well as developed the opening credits sequence for the fans to pay homage to the animated show, however, it also served as a valuable tool for new viewers: 

After the first episode though, we don’t see this opening sequence again, and the iconic monologue isn’t heard. 

Why There Aren’t Opening Credits After Episode One

To this point, Albert Kim explained why the opening credits aren’t included after episode one. When they condensed Avatar into an eight-episode drama, they had to make changes to help the show flow. According to the showrunner, that was also why there are title cards instead of a full sequence on every episode after the first one:

Now, Avatar: The Last Airbender has been renewed for a second and third season, meaning it will get to tell its full story. Kim seemed to hint at possibly considering a change in the opening credits moving forward, so maybe now that the ATLA cast is established in their roles, Katara will return to make her iconic speech. However, that’s just a theory.

We’ll have to wait until Season 2 to see how the opening credits and the show as a whole evolve. To go back and see the difference between the opening of the animated and live-action shows you can stream both iterations of Avatar: The Last Airbender with a Netflix subscription.  

It goes without saying that Avatar: The Last Airbender (which is available to Netflix subscribers) is one of the biggest titles on the 2024 TV schedule. Ahead of its premiere, it was highly anticipated and has since garnered (mixed) buzz since it debuted in February. Of course, despite how high-profile the show is, it wasn’t necessarily guaranteed an additional season. With that, viewers have awaited word on its future Well, the streamer has now confirmed that the fantasy drama has officially been renewed. And, with that, we also know when the show will come to an end. 

Netflix handed the live-action adaptation of the classic Nickelodeon show a very generous renewal. The show is not only returning for Season 2, but the streamer has  greenlit a third season as well. Said news was confirmed by the company via social media. The graphic used for the announcement was shared to Instagram, and you can see it for yourself down below: 

Fans should also take note of another interesting piece of information that goes along with this announcement. Per the official news release, the series is set to officially end with its third season. While some may not be happy to hear about this, those who are very familiar with the Avatar franchise are sure to know that this matches up with the trajectory of the OG series. 

The Nick cartoon, which premiered in 2005, wrapped up after three seasons in 2008. Each of those seasons had their designations, with the first being “Book One: Water,” the second being “Book Two: Earth” and the third being “Book Three: Fire.” As of right now, it’s unclear as to when we can expect the upcoming seasons of the live-action show to drop.

This news comes at a very interesting time, as it was recently reported that The Last Airbender’s viewership stats were decreasing following its strong start. (Whether that trend has anything to do with Avatar’s mixed reviews is hard to say.) History has shown that Netflix tends to move forward with productions that manage to expand their audiences as time goes on. So this latest move could indicate that the numbers are at least in the ballpark of what the company desires. Or, at the very least, execs believe there’s still upside as time goes on.

As a whole, what this renewal seems to signify is that the entertainment conglomerate is devoted to investing in one of the biggest IPs it controls at the moment. One would think that a number of fans will be content as they continue watching this show, because they’ll have the knowledge that the endgame will eventually play out. Time will tell how the producers plan to approach the next two bombaster chapters of this epic tale.

Avatar: The Last Airbender first eight-episode season is now available to stream. Also, keep an eye on the 2024 Netflix TV and movie schedule to stay in the know on what's coming down the pipeline.

UPDATE: Netflix has renewed Avatar: The Last Airbender for two more seasons. The original story can be read below.

On February 22, the long-awaited live-action TV adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender was finally delivered to Netflix subscribers. Critically-speaking, this take on Avatar has been met with mixed reviews, but viewership-wise, it got off to a great start. However, the latest stats are in, and they don’t bode well for the show’s Season 2 chances when taking Netflix’s cancellation habits into account.

As reported by Variety, Avatar: The Last Airbender collected 19.9 million views from February 26 to March 3, which was enough to keep it placed at #1 on the Netflix Top 10. That’s the good news; the bad news is that this came down from 21.2 million views during the show’s first four days on the platform, i.e. a 6% decrease. Usually Netflix shows gain in viewership during their first few weeks of availability, so the fact that Avatar’s went down is concerning.

For comparison, the article notes how the live-action adaptation of One Piece kicked off with 18.5 million views during its four days, then went up to 19.3 million views the week after. Since One Piece is coming back for Season 2, clearly Netflix was impressed with its performance last summer. Avatar: The Last Airbender, on the other hand, could now be facing more of an uphill battle with getting another batch of episodes greenlit. 

All this isn’t to say that Avatar Season 2 couldn’t still happen, but considering how often Netflix cancels shows after just one season, these viewership numbers combined with its critical reception arguably mean it’s far from a guarantee. But these are still early days for the show, so perhaps its odds of survival could increase in the weeks ahead. Besides, with Avatar Season 1 roughly corresponding to the first season of its animated predecessor, that means this live-action version would only need to stick around for three seasons, and perhaps the powers-that-be at Netflix will be ok with letting it stick around for that long.

At eight episodes long, Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the easier shows to binge watch on Netflix; our own Alexandra Ramos even binged all of Season 1 in one night and did not regret doing so. And for those of you who watched the original Avatar, there are plenty of major changes to keep track of in the live-action adaptation. The Nickelodeon series was previously adapted as a movie in 2010, and say what you will about the Netflix show, but at least its reception is nowhere near as bad as the M. Night Shyamalan-written and directed feature.

If Avatar: The Last Airbender gets renewed for Season 2, we’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, keep yourself entertained by watching the best shows on Netflix, and remember that both the original Avatar and spinoff The Legend of Korra can also be found on the streaming service.

So, you recently finished Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1, did you? Maybe you’re even like my colleague, Alexandra Ramos, who didn’t take her time, and instead binged the entire season in one night.

Either way, let’s talk, because I really want to discuss the “Spirited Away” episode. Because while, like the critics, I had mixed feelings about the season, I must say that the fifth episode was the best as far as I’m concerned. But, why did I, a massive fan of the original series, love the “Spirited Away” episode so much? Well, you’re about to find out. 

Oh, and massive spoilers up ahead for the episode. Duh. 

It's The Episode That Strayed The Farthest From The Cartoon  

You know what? I’m the kind of person who wants his adaptations to be a little different from the source material. While a lot of people applauded the movie, The Martian, for sticking so close to the novel, I was pretty bored with the film since, you know, I already read the story. So, I really didn’t need a book-accurate version on the big screen, as there’s no bigger screen than the one inside my head.

That’s not to say that I want a story to stray too far from the source material, either. Like the movie The Lawnmower Man couldn’t be further from Stephen King’s original short story. That was taking creative liberties a bit too far. No, I’m more into adaptations like The Shining, which its original creator might have hated, but I enjoyed, since it was similar enough, but different in oh so many ways. 

This is how I feel about the episode “Spirited Away” from this first season. It distinctly pulls from the episodes, “The Southern Raiders,” “Winter Solstice, Part 1: The Spirit World,” “Bato of the Water Tribe,” and “The Siege of the North, Part 2” from the original series, but it’s also wildly different from those four episodes, so it feels really fresh and new. 

In the “Spirited Away” episode, Aang, Sokka, and Katara find themselves stranded in the Spirit World, which doesn’t happen in the original series. In fact, only Aang enters the Spirit World. It’s there where he encounters Avatar Roku, who warns him about Koh, the Face Stealer (who I’ll get more into soon). 

The original episodes, “Winter Solstice, Part 1: The Spirit World,” and “The Siege of the North, Part 2” are both unique, but nowhere near as unique as this episode, which feels so distinctly different from the rest of this live-action season that it might even feel a bit jarring, which is why I loved it so much! It definitely shook me up!

It Was Legitimately Scary At Times 

Koh the Face Stealer is a scary character in the original series. I mean, how could he not be? He steals faces, and he’s pretty much a giant centipede. But, Koh is especially scary in this particular episode, since he seemingly comes out of nowhere. 

We first see him “attacking” (that’s honestly the best word I have for it) Katara, when she is brought back to a terrible memory she has of witnessing her mother’s death. But, while we are aware of Katara’s mother dying in the original series, we actually see her lit ablaze by a Firebender, which is horrific to say the very least. And then, to add to all of the frights, Koh makes his appearance and rushes up to the screen, offering a jump scare similar to what you might find in Five Nights at Freddy’s. 

Then, we get Sokka’s encounter with Koh. Sokka’s scene is the one that pulls from the episode, “Bato of the Water Tribe.” It’s here where we see that Sokka feels like he let his father and his tribe down, only for good old Koh to reappear and offer another jump scare.

Finally, we have Aang’s encounter with Koh, which is the most like the episode, “The Siege of the North, Part 2,” since we finally see Koh’s full centipede form. And let me tell you, as somebody who is not a fan of giant bugs, I could have done without seeing that in live-action. It was scary enough in the cartoon, and it’s absolutely terrifying here.  

It Pulled From Other Avatar Source Material  

I’m a huge Avatar fan even outside of the cartoon. I’ve read all of the comics, watched The Legend of Korra multiple times, and have read all four of the Kyoshi and Yangchen novels. So, yeah. I’m a big fan. With that said, when I see stuff outside of Book 1 of the original series in this Netflix adaptation, I of course get very excited. 

Episode 5 offers some of the most exciting elements from this universe. For example, we see the spirit owl, Wa Shi Tong, in this episode, who we don’t get to see until Book 2 of the original series, and even more so in Avatar’s follow-up series, The Legend of Korra (I don’t know if you know this about me, but I actually prefer The Legend of Korra to Avatar: The Last Airbender). 

Not only that, but remember how I said that Katara and Sokka were trapped in the Spirit World, which doesn’t happen in the original series? Well, that’s because in this episode they’re trapped within the Fog of Lost Souls, which is a realm that we don’t even learn about until The Legend of Korra. 

That’s right, this episode has multiple references to the follow-up series to The Last Airbender, which gets me all types of pumped for a potential The Legend of Korra live-action show. Hey, it could happen!  

The Episode Gave New Life To The Characters  

I’ve already talked about Aang, Katara, and Sokka, but they aren’t the only characters in this episode. Toward the end of it, we get to see Gyatso again, and he has an emotional moment with Aang where he tries to relieve him of his guilt of not being there when the Fire Nation wiped out the Air Nomads. 

This is a pivotal scene, especially for Aang, because you can tell that he gets a great deal of weight off of his shoulders, given the guilt he’s been carrying all of this time.

We also get more moments with Zuko, Uncle Iroh, and also an introduction to fan-favorite character, June. Here, we see Zuko struggling to reconcile teaming up with a bounty hunter, given that he still feels too noble to do so, only for him to decide that he doesn’t have much of a choice. So, in every way, this “Spirited Away” episode is the best in the season; it's so multifaceted. 

It Makes Me Excited For A Second Season  

Lastly, “Spirited Away” makes me excited for a second season of this live-action adaptation. Now, I definitely didn’t love the entire season, as it felt a little bit lopsided at times. I also thought some of the acting left a bit to be desired, and the costumes and make-up weren’t always the best. 

However, the fifth episode truly shows me all of the potential that this live-action version has to offer. Sure, I’m much, much more interested in what the series’ original creators are up to with their Avatar Studios. But, as somebody who was cautiously optimistic about this new Netflix series, I have to say, “Spirited Away” gave me hope for where they could possibly take this story if they have the opportunity to adapt Book 2. 

But, what do you think? Did you also love the “Spirited Away” episode? For more news on all things The Last Airbender, be sure to swing around here often! 

The Netflix version of Avatar: The Last Airbender has finally arrived – and boy, it has some changes from the original cartoon. 

Regarding Avatar: The Last Airbender, I'm a huge fan and have been for many years. So when I heard a live-action remake was coming to Netflix, I was excited – albeit cautiously so. But now, it has come and gone, I binged it in one night, and I loved most of it. 

As a fan, I felt it was made for fans themselves, but I would be silly to ignore all the massive changes the show made between this first season and the first book of the original animated show. So today, we'll be going over many of the vast changes made to the show. 

Actually Seeing The Genocide Of The Air Nomads

In this show, we see some more mature topics directly addressed, and I knew that going into this show. However, I didn't fully expect to see the genocide of the Air Nomads so quickly. 

It's within the show's first 20 minutes, and it really does rip your heart out. We don't see the genocide in the animation – we just see the bones afterward. 

Aang Doesn’t Learn Waterbending In Season 1

In the first season of the animation, Aang is continuously learning waterbending, but in the live-action…we don't see him bend a single bubble of water. Which is quite strange, considering the first season of the animation is solely about water. I guess that'll happen offscreen.

Avatar Kyoshi Takes Over Aang Instead Of Avatar Roku

I love Kyoshi and would love to see her in an ATLA spinoff, but I was surprised at how much she was featured in the live-action version. Instead of Avatar Roku showing his powers in his temple on Crescent Island by taking over Aang's body, Kyoshi comes to Aang's aid on Kyoshi Island. While it's a badass scene, it was indeed different. 

Aang Steals Zuko’s Notebook

I don't recall Zuko (who has the best character arc ever in the animation) having a notebook in the original show. However, in the live-action, he does have one for his notes on the Avatar – and when Aang is trying to figure out how being the Avatar works, he steals Zuko's notebook when he's on his ship. 

Katara Receiving The Waterbending Scroll From Gran Gran Instead Of Stealing It

I'm not a massive fan of this change. In the animation, Katara steals the waterbending scroll from a group of pirates, but her grandma somehow has it chilling in their camp in the live-action. 

It takes away the idea that good people can sometimes do bad things too, but I suppose she learned how to waterbend at the end of the day. 

Azula And Ozai Making Their Grand Introduction Way Earlier

One of the most significant changes was Ozai and Azula entering the show much earlier than their animated counterparts. Azula didn't appear until the end of Season 1, and then Ozai wasn't fully present until Season 2. 

Granted, that means I get to see more of Azula being a badass female bender (even if she's scary as heck), but I'm still surprised to see her and her dad so soon. 

Jet, The Mechanist And Bumi's Stories All Converge In Omashu 

Personally, I had difficulty following Bumi, Jet's freedom fighters, and the Mechanist stories as they all converged near Omashu, because in the animated series, they all have their own episodes. It felt like no true separation or travel was happening like it was in the original cartoon. 

Granted, I think it's just to make things look more realistic and condense episodes, but it was still difficult to follow initially. Even so, I have to say that Dan Pudi was still the best addition to the Avatar: The Last Airbender cast. I loved him as the Mechanist. 

Katara And Sokka Aren't Part Of Bumi's Games

Another change is that Bumi tests Aang's strength through a series of challenges – "games" – and Katara and Sokka are a part of them in the animation. Or, more or less, they're pawns to get Aang to do the challenges. 

In the live-action, the characters aren't with Aang at this point, and they are in tunnels trying to get to find and rescue him. 

The Secret Tunnel Song Happening In Season 1

Probably one of the best inside jokes for fans from the original animation is the "Secret Tunnel" song, which is so out there and ridiculous. Still, it was featured in Season 2 of the OG show, not Season 1. It was still pretty funny, though. 'Secret Tunnelllll!'

Sokka And Katra Going To The Cave Of Two Lovers

The Cave of Two Lovers was initially featured in Season 2 of the animation, but it was pushed to Season 1 of the live-action. However, the more egregious change was putting Katara and Sokka in it instead of Katara and Aang, changing up the meaning to just love in general instead of romantic love – which feels quite strange if you know how the relationships of Avatar: The Last Airbender go. 

And The Two Lovers Being About Two Women Instead Of A Man And A Woman

There have been plenty of LGBTQ+ moments within the ATLA franchise, like Korrasami. Still, the creators decided to change up Omashu's tale of two lovers for live-action, featuring two women as the lovers (Oma and Shu) Omashu was named after instead of a man and a woman. 

More Zuko And Iroh Flashbacks To Cement Their Relationship

Iroh's words of wisdom guided Zuko throughout the animation, and I was so glad that he and Zuko's relationship was expanded on throughout the first season of the live-action. Indeed, it was one of the best changes, and I would watch a whole season of just them. 

The Change In The Spirit World – And Koh’s Backstory As A Whole

There were so many changes to the spirit world plotline in both "Spirited Away" and "Masks," but I think the massive change I have to highlight here is Koh, known as the "Face Stealer."

In the animation, Koh steals faces when someone makes an expression at him, literally any expression, but in the live-action, that's not featured at all. Also, in the live-action, Aang can speak with Monk Gyatso in the spirit world, just for a little bit, which wasn't featured in the OG series. 

The Introduction Of The Owl Spirit 

The Owl Spirit, named Wan Shi Tong, doesn't appear until the Season 2 episode "The Library" in the animated series. However, in Season 1 of the live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender, we see him for the first time when he tries to give Aang advice in the spirit world. 

I'm sure that seeing a giant talking owl was startling to many people out there, but to the fans who know – that spirit will play a significant role in possible future seasons. 

Making Zuko’s Crew The 41st Division – The One He Wanted To Save

Something that isn't in animation is Zuko standing up for expendable soldiers, which is what led to his banishment by his father and the scar on his face. They changed this in the live-action by making Zuko's crew on his ship the 41st Division, the soldiers he stood up for and were now alive because of him. 

This leads to a fantastic moment in "Masks," where the soldiers bow to him in respect as Iroh tearfully watches on. 

The Female Waterbenders At The Northern Water Tribe Rising Up

In the finale of Avatar: The Last Airbender – "Legends" – the Fire Nation is attacking the Northern Water Tribe. In the animation, the female water benders are used primarily to protect the children and elderly, as their bending is only used for healing.

In the live-action, the female waterbenders stand up to Pakku, the waterbending master, and demand to help fight. It's a nice empowerment moment for Katara – I was a little concerned, considering they were trained to heal, not to fight, but they ended up surviving. 

That Freaking Jumpscare When Momo Nearly Died

No. You cannot just scare me like that. Momo is a character that doesn't get talked about enough, and the finale of the live-action decided to rip my heart out and scare the absolute hell out of me by having Momo nearly get killed by a falling structure during the Fire Nation invasion. 

That was not in the animation, and yes, I am sending my therapy bill to Netflix after that heart attack. 

Zuko Doesn’t Get To Beat Katara In The Finale

In the animation, Zuko beats Katara when she tries to protect Aang as he tries to find out the names of the moon and ocean spirits. The firebender beats her and knocks her out, to the point where he's able to snatch Aang away for a bit – before he's defeated not that long after. 

In the live-action, they have a battle, but they are interrupted by an explosion that suddenly causes the fight to end when they are covered in debris.

Zhao Isn’t Taken Into The Spirit World

A big moment for Zuko in the animation is when he still tries to reach out to Admiral Zhao despite his betrayal. But, Zhao, stuck in his pride, denies Zuko, and he is taken by the Ocean Spirit. 

In the live-action, Zhao is killed by Uncle Iroh when he attempts to kill Zuko behind his back after their battle. 

Aang Needing An Anchor To Come Back To Reality After Handing Himself Over To The Ocean Spirit

In the animation, after defeating the Fire Nation and the moon spirit is restored, the ocean spirit simply lets Aang go – he's exhausted but can return to his human body. 

In the live-action, Aang needs an anchor to return to the human world after becoming that giant Godzilla-looking creature, and his anchor is Katara. 

Azula Is The One Who Takes Over Omashu

While the Earth Kingdom does get taken over by the Fire Nation in Season 2 of the original show, it is not Azula that does so. 

In the live-action, however, this was Azula's conquest after she denied her father, and he sent her to go and take over Omashu, which she did successfully. 

Jeez, just writing about all these changes makes me want to rewatch the original animation – and maybe even the live-action one, too. 

Somehow, condensing all these episodes from the animation into eight episodes felt impossible, but it was still entertaining, even with all these changes. 

Between the classic Nickelodeon animated series and Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, we’ve seen Aang’s beloved journey on many occasions. Every time his story is told, there are a plethora of colorful side characters who help him along the way, and today we’re talking about 32 times said characters really came through to help Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph and/or Zuko, a.k.a. Team Avatar.

Suki Teaches Sokka The Ways Of The Kyoshi Warriors 

When Sokka meets the Kyoshi Warriors his misogynistic beliefs are overwhelming. So, Suki decides to put him in his place. Not only does this lesson teach Sokka to respect women and their power, he also learns some valuable fighting skills. 

The Sun Warriors Teach Aang And Zuko The Dance Of The Dragon 

Zuko said he would teach Aang firebending, however, they both stumbled when the prince of the Royal Fire Nation family lost his mojo. It turns out, he was finding his power in rage, and when that wasn’t there anymore, he wasn’t sure how to harness it. So, he and Aang take a trip where they meet the Sun Warriors, who teach them that light and energy are more powerful than destruction and rage. This helps both boys on their journeys to master firebending.  

Iroh Supports Zuko On His Mission To Find The Avatar 

Iroh provided Zuko with great wisdom, firebending tips and the support he needed to survive after Fire Lord Ozai exiled him. Not only did the prince's uncle teach him how to be a better bender, but he also supported and loved him through this excruciating time in his life. Ultimately, all that adoration and care proved to make his nephew a great hero who helped the Avatar restore balance. 

Pakku Realizes That Katara Is On Track To Be A Master Waterbender 

After Katara almost beats Pakku in a battle, and after somewhat getting over his sexist assumptions about a woman’s ability to fight, the waterbending master finally accepts that his pupil is on track to be a great warrior. This encounter helped Katara really come into her power, and prove that yes, she is also a master waterbender.  

Suki Comes In Clutch And Helps The Boys Get Out Of The Prison 

Sokka and Zuko constructed a plan to break out Hakoda, Sokka’s dad, and Suki from the Boiling Rock, a high-security prison. When everything goes haywire, the Kyoshi Warrior really comes through as she helps capture the warden and secure the tram out of the compound. 

Mai Turns Against Azula To Help Zuko 

Even though Zuko did her dirty, Mai realizes that his mission is important, and what Azula is doing is wicked. So, when they meet at the Boiling Rock, Mai helps her ex by turning against the princess and helping the team get out of the prison safely. 

Ty Lee Turns Against Azula To Help Mai 

Not long after Mai turns against Azula and the princess tries to kill her, Ty Lee uses her knowledge of pressure points to stop the princess and save her friend. 

Piandao Teaches Sokka To Be A Swordmaster 

While Sokka’s charm, jokes and boomerang got him quite a ways, he really found his power after being under the tutelage of swordmaster Piandao. The member of Team Avatar learns more about himself as a leader and warrior through this too, and this new skill he develops proves to be invaluable. 

Roku Teaches Aang About The Origins Of The War And His Friendship With Fire Lord Sozin

In one of the best episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender – “The Avatar and the Fire Lord” – Roku tells Aang the story of his friendship and history with Zuko’s great grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin. Sozin started the war, and as the Avatar learns the story of its origins, it helps him better understand how to bring balance back to the world and his predecessor.

Bumi Helps Aang Realize The Power Of Being Clever 

While King Bumi’s tests for Aang seemed nonsensical, random and kind of cruel, they were actually helping the young Avatar learn. Ultimately these games Bumi plays with his friend taught him the power of being clever and thinking outside the box. 

The Order Of The White Lotus Helps Take Back Ba Sing Se 

When Sozin’s Comet arrives, Iroh and the members of The Order of the White Lotus use their power to help take back Ba Sing Se from the Fire Nation. We see all the iconic masters who helped Team Avatar along the way – including Iroh, Jeong Jeong, Bumi, Piandao and Pakku – as they help bring down the Fire Nation’s reign once and for all by taking back the Earth Kingdom’s capital. 

Appa Flies The Team Literally Everywhere

Do you know who the real MVP of Avatar: The Last Airbender is? Aang’s Sky Bison Appa. That guy gets the gang everywhere they need to go, and without him, traversing the world would be significantly harder. 

Iroh Teaches Zuko How To Redirect Lightning 

Due to his time learning about other types of bending, Iroh is able to create a new technique that allows him to redirect lighting. He teaches this to his nephew, and ultimately, it helps save Zuko’s life. 

The Mechanist Designs The Submarines For The Attack And Gives Aang A New Glider 

Team Avatar’s allies get together for the Day of Black Sun attack, and The Mechanist comes with inventions to help take down the Fire Nation rather than help it. While the attack isn’t successful, the submarines he designed and Aang’s new glider prove to be invaluable.

Suki Tries To Help Get Appa Back To Aang 

Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors find Appa after he gets lost, and they promise to help protect him. Even though they’re captured by Azula in the process, they’re able to help the Sky Bison heal.

Teo Helps Team Avatar Confront His Father, The Mechanist, About His Dealings With The Fire Nation

When Teo finds out his father is helping create weapons for the Fire Nation, he immediately wants to help Team Avatar. While he obviously loves his dad, he’s betrayed by this action, and he’s very driven by wanting to do the right thing to help restore balance. 

Sokka’s Dad Hakoda Helps Him Get Through His Big Speech Before Battle 

Right before Team Avatar goes into battle during the Day of Black Sun, Sokka gets up in front of them to try and give a speech. He gets a bit of stage fright, but his father, Hakoda, stands up to help him get through it, and then later encourages his son about how great a leader he is. 

Princess Yue Sacrifices Herself To Save Aang And The Water Tribe 

Arguably one of the most heroic moments in Avatar came when Princess Yue sacrificed herself to save the Moon Spirit. Not only did she help Aang survive, she also helped save her Water Tribe from the Fire Nation. 

Monk Gyatso Helps Defend Aang From The Pressures Of Training To Be The Avatar 

When the other nomads want Aang to start mastering elements immediately, Gyatso defends his pupil, saying he needed to have at least a semi-normal childhood. This helps Aang maintain his youthful energy, and the lessons the monk imparted to him stuck with him forever. 

Gran Gran Sends Katara And Sokka Out Fishing 

To put it simply, if Gran Gran hadn’t sent Katara and Sokka fishing, they never would have found Aang and Appa in that iceberg.

Guru Pathik Helps Aang Open His Chakras 

One of Aang’s biggest hurdles is learning how to control the Avatar State, and Guru Pathik helps him do that. Based at the Eastern Air Temple, the Avatar travels to the Guru to get help, and while there the spiritual man teaches him about chakras, how to open them and balance himself. By doing that, Aang is able to control the Avatar State. 

Roku Takes Over Aang’s Body To Help Him Escape Admiral Zhao 

When Aang is stuck between a rock and a hard place at Roku’s temple, and Admiral Zhao is about to catch him and his friends, Avatar Roku takes over the young airbender’s body and helps him escape.

The Lion Turtle Emerges And Helps Aang Learn About Energybending

Before Aang takes on Fire Lord Ozai in one of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s best fights, he has to learn one more skill, energybending. The Avatar doesn’t want to kill Ozai, and one of the original benders, the Lion Turtle, emerges to teach him a skill that will help him defeat the Fire Lord by taking away his bending abilities rather than killing him. 

June Helps Zuko Find Iroh

While June isn’t one to help without payment (I mean she is a bounty hunter of sorts), she did come through when Zuko asked her to help find Aang. When they couldn’t find the airbender, the prince asked if she could help locate his uncle instead. Ultimately, this led to the long-awaited reunion of Zuko and Iroh. 

Suki Helps Team Avatar Get Through Serpent’s Pass 

When Team Avatar decides to get to Ba Sing Se by going through Serpent’s Pass, they are reunited with Suki, and the Kyoshi Warrior helps them and the refugees safely pass through the deadly body of water. 

Roku Teaches Aang About The Avatar State 

As Aang was learning about being the Avatar, he learned who had the ability before him, Avatar Roku. He appeared as a spirit to help the young airbender learn about the power he has. Notably, he taught Aang about the Avatar State, which is a “defense mechanism, designed to empower you with the skill and knowledge of all the first Avatars.”

Iroh Forgives Zuko, And Helps Team Avatar 

When the gang can’t find Aang in the final episode, Zuko decides to find Iroh instead. Once they find him, he immediately forgives his nephew, they share a tear-jerking hug, and the two both play integral roles in defeating the Fire Lord.  

Bumi Teaches Aang About Neutral Jing, And He Instructs Him To Find An Earthbending Instructor Who Has It 

Bumi reiterates to Aang that jing is “a choice of how you direct your energy,” and neutral jing is when you “do nothing.” According to the King of Omashu, neutral jing is the key to Earthbending and it’s all about patience and listening. He said Aang needs to find an Earthbender who has mastered this, and ultimately, that leads to the Avatar finding Toph. 

The Earth King Believes Aang, And He Helps Prove Long Feng's Guilt 

When the Fire Nation corrupts the Earth Kingdom’s capital and the King’s guard, the Dai Li, the gang tries to convince the Earth King that his palace is full of traitors. Eventually, he believes them, and he helps them prove the leader of the Dai Li, Long Feng, is guilty. 

Fire Sage Shyu Helps Aang When He Visits Roku’s Temple, And He Helps Defend Him 

Aang’s first visit to Roku’s temple is met with an unexpected challenge when he realizes that the Fire Sages, who are supposed to protect the temple, are more alligent to the Fire Lord than the Avatar. However, one Fire Sage, Shyu, hasn’t been corrupted yet, and he helps the young airbender connect with Roku and eventually escape the temple. 

Iroh Gives Toph Some Very Good Advice

When Iroh and Toph meet each other on the road, Zuko’s uncle gives her advice that makes her realize she should return to Aang, Sokka and Katara. Not only is this great advice, but it also comes in handy later, because Toph knows the gang can trust Iroh. 

The Boulder Gets Over His Rivalry With Toph And Agrees To Help Team Avatar

While Toph and The Boulder were opponents in the ring, during the Day of Black Sun, the fighter gets over his rivalry to help his fellow Earthbender. 

Whether it's recurring beloved characters like Iroh, Suki and Appa or people we only see two or three times, like Bumi and Teo, all these folks help assist the Avatar, and we fell in love with them. Aang and his friends’ journey is so rich and educational, and that’s partly because of all these characters who helped them along the way. 

Many shows are getting the reboot and revival treatment, with Nickelodeon’s beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender as one of the latest. Although the cinematic live-action revival of the Nicktoon bombed at box office, Netflix's Avatar series is a winner, and it's already making people crave live-action Legend of Korra for a number of reasons. The lovable cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender are among the hopeful, and their opinions about it have gone viral.

During ATLA cast’s interview with CinemaBlend, Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, and Dallas Liu were asked to pick a creature from the series to have as a pet. That video has since gone viral on Instagram, and the cast’s answers are top-tier.

Cormier kept in character as Aang and told his co-stars that Appa the sky bison is off-limits. Kiawentiio, meanwhile, dug deep into the animated series and shared that she wanted the little baby creature who appeared on Sokka’s head when he got stuck in a hole (a saber-tooth moose lion), but only in baby form. Ousley also kept in character as Sokka and said he wanted a penguin to go penguin sledding on, while Liu simply said Momo, and I can’t blame him.

Many Avatar fans took to the comments to share their own picks, and some of them are really making me think about what would be the perfect creature to have as a pet. Just like Ousley, the commenter below simply shared that they wanted the fan-favorite lemur, who would not only make a great pet but definitely a great friend:

One fan went the route of doing a main creature as a pet with Appa and made some pretty great points. The beloved sky bison's relationship with Aang proved he would make a great companion and would make for great transportation, but that might be hard to explain to people on planes:

Although some fans were going for more of the cute, small, or even creatures that could help out in the long run, the answer below is far different, yet totally makes sense:

King Bumi was once Aang’s close friend before the war and later became King of Omashu in the Earth Kingdom. His pet is the goat gorilla Flopsie, who may seem like a beast, but is at times very affectionate. He could still help out in the long run, depending on what would need to be done, but he is still very cute, just not so small.

This fan had another simple answer, and according to them, the only correct answer being one that can be found in the Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, and Republic City and are as cute as ever, so maybe they are right:

Just like Kiawentiio, though, this fan would love nothing more than to have a creature that is part moose, part lion, and part saber-toothed cat, no matter how big it can get:

While there are many creatures on Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, it’s clear that some fans have made their choices, as well as the young cast, and they are sticking to it. Be it big or small, practical or not, any creature on ATLA would definitely be fascinating to have as a pet. Those with a Netflix subscription can catch them all, either with the cartoon or the live-action series that condensed the four-season animated series into an eight-episode drama.