Why We Love Avatar: The Last Airbender

With the news of the opening of the Avatar Studios, Avatar fans are beyond excited to finally see more Avatar content. If you haven’t seen The Last Airbender or Legend Of Korra, you may want to get up to speed. If you want to know more about Avatar and why it’s so popular, here’s what you need to know.

Bending Is Based Off Real Chinese Martial Arts

What makes the action in this show so unique is the various styles of fighting each person has. Each bender learns how to use and control their power through real Chinese martial arts. For example, waterbending is actually based on Tai Chi, which is known for moving a person’s body in a flowing motion and using their opponent’s attacks against them. Even Airbending represents a style of Kung Fu called Ba Gua, also known as “Circle Fighting”. The Ba Gua style is known for its constant movements as they circle their opponent, evading their attacks then striking. The creators of the show consulted a master of Northern Shaolin style of martial arts, Sifu Kisu, to help develop the fighting styles of the four nations. Knowing this makes the action scenes exciting to watch and makes you want to learn how to bend as well.

The Show Knows When To Be Serious And Funny

The Last Airbender does very well at allowing you to enjoy the show knowing that stakes are high. You don’t feel an overwhelming sense of dread because it gives you moments where the protagonists can have fun and enjoy themselves. However, that doesn’t mean the show should be taken lightly. There are many moments in the show that hit home for many people in the audience. A personal favorite moment would be the beach episode in season 3, where Zuko, Azula, Mai, and Tai Lee are sitting around a fire talking about what troubles them in their lives. Zuko can’t seem to understand why he is angry all the time despite finally getting everything he wanted. The group helps break down why he is angry, only to discover that he is angry at himself for being confused and no longer understanding the difference between right and wrong. It’s a beautiful moment, and one that many people can relate to.

Each Character Is Complex

As opposed to other kid shows that are often kinda linear, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a kid show that makes their characters go through change and develop as people. The only person who doesn’t have any complexity to them is Fire Lord Ozai, which shows a perfect example that sometimes people are just plain evil. Fan-favorite characters go through big changes, like Sokka from being a misogynist jerk to a humble tactician. Zuko, from avatar hunter seeking his father’s approval, to training the avatar to defeat his father and become the new fire lord, and even Toph who went from being a hardheaded loner to inventing metalbending and helping the team Avatar end the 100 Year War. At first glance, Zuko’s Uncle Iroh seems like a carefree guy who only drinks tea and plays Pai Sho. As the show goes on, we learn that Iroh was once known as the “Dragon of the West” who was next in line to become fire lord after Sozin. It wasn’t until the death of his son, the defeat at Ba Sing Se, and his banishment from the fire nation that he became the kindest and most humble person in the entire show.