Netflix’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderseason 2 will have to adapt two back-to-back masterpiece episodes from the original cartoon, and its execution will decide the fate of the show in the eyes of fans. Although opinions are split on the TV remake, OG fans generally lean positive in their perception ofNetflix’s live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender. I personally loved the original show, and I have enjoyed seeing the way they reimagine the story.
I think there is certainly room for them to grow and improve after some season 1 mistakes, but it’s pretty good so far. That being said, the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender show will face its biggest test yet while adapting Book 2. Netflix’sAvatar: The Last Airbender needs to adapt some iconic momentsand episodes in season 2. Ultimately, two masterpiece episodes could decide the fate of the remake.
“The Blind Bandit” & “Zuko Alone” Are Two Perfect Episodes Of Avatar: The Last Airbender
These Two Back-To-Back Episodes Must Be Adapted Correctly
Two of thebest Avatar: The Last Airbender episodesof all time,“The Blind Bandit” and “Zuko Alone,” occur back-to-back in Book 2. They’re absolute masterpieces.
“The Blind Bandit” serves as the perfect introduction to Toph Beifong, the best Avatar character. It immediately establishes who she is, her personality, and her background.
Meanwhile, “Zuko Alone” spends time fleshing out the character of Zuko with flashbacks, explaining how he became the man that he is. This episode was the cornerstone of his redemption arc. On top of that, the present-day storyline shows that Zuko has a softer side to him.
These back-to-back episodes are not only critically acclaimed and narratively crucial, but they’re also fan favorites.If they ruin either one of them, fans will absolutely revolt, and it will be the death of the Avatar remake in the minds of so many viewers. It’s truly the biggest test Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender TV show has faced so far.
Netflix Has Avoided Slower, Character-Driven Episodes
Even though I’m certain the Netflix adaptation will include elements of these episodes, I’m worried about how they’ll adapt them. Both are slower and more character-driven, but they lay an important foundation for the character arcs of Toph and Zuko. Unfortunately, the Netflix remake tends to rush the slower moments and ignore character development in favor of action.
Another potential issue is the remake’s limited number of episodes. Because they’re fitting around 20 OG episodes into 10 remake episodes, the show tense to smash together stories from different episodes. Unfortunately, this gives them less time to breathe, and both “The Blind Bandit” and “Zuko Alone” need the breathing room.
Netflix Can’t Repeat The Mistakes Of Season 1’s “The King Of Omashu” & “The Cave Of Two Lovers”
Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 Made Some Big Mistakes
A prime example of them smashing two excellent episodes together in a way that undercuts both of them is “The King of Omashu” and “The Cave of Lovers.” They removed some of the best aspects of both episodes. They rushed through slower moments, making the episode pretty action-packed.
They changed the character development, making King Bumi a serious character instead of a comedic one. If they drastically alter Toph’s personality in the Avatar: The Last Airbender remake, it will ruin the show. Season 1 also cut out significant character development for Katara, Aang, and Sokka that happens in “The Cave of Two Lovers.” They cannot do that with “Zuko Alone” because the episode is more integral to his character growth.
Ultimately, the Avatar: The Last Airbender remake needs to learn from the past, or its fate will be sealed in a bad way.
