Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is our first official glimpse at grown-up Aang and the rest of the Gaang, and though the movie feels at times like a long episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, there’s still enough charm left in these characters to warrant the price of admission.
In fact, I would have gladly paid to see this in theaters, even if, all things considered, the movie takes absolutely no risks and doesn’t even give us all that much when it comes to the character dynamics we fell in love with in the original series.
There are moments, of course. Zuko gets to make a joke that fans whose headcanon has been that the character is bisexual will enjoy. He also makes the questionable decision of having someone read a letter from Aang out loud—with predictable results. Aang and Zuko’s friendship hasn’t changed all that much in a decade or so, to our great relief.
Outside of that, though, there’s very little of Toph—other than she’s still Toph, aka better than everyone at basically everything she tries—and Sokka, and no mention of Suki or her relationship to Sokka. The only one who gets some development outside of Aang is Katara, and that is more tied to the fact that she is in a romantic relationship with Aang, and if there’s one void this movie really had to fill was how they went from the kids we saw at the end of ATLA to the parents of three kids themselves.
In that regard, the movie succeeds. It’s hard to have strong opinions about their romance in Avatar: The Last Airbender, because it was barely a romance in the first place, just the suggestion of one. By the time The Legend of Korra picks up, Aang is long gone, and all we hear are stories of what he and Katara were. So, this is really our first time seeing them as a couple.
As much as it works, though, I don’t think their relationship will be the main thing people will hyperfixate on. It’s cute, I’ll give it that, and there is a real sense of how their love has grown in this movie that’s pretty cool to see. But the magic of ATLA was always in the relationships between the Gaang, and though there’s very little time for interpersonal dynamics, there’s a fair bit of Team Avatar together to tide us over and make us want more.
Instead, the entire movie is one big lesson about belonging and what community means. Because Aang is desperate to find more airbenders. He’s tired of being alone. And that part is understandable. Our roots are important, and it’s easy to feel like absolutely no one understands you when you’re the only one of your kind.
It’s just that, as Aang will discover, sometimes the people who are like you on the surface aren’t your people. They can be, yes. But having something in common with someone—even something as intrinsic as bending, doesn’t make you family.
Family is a choice you make. Family is being there, in good times and bad times. Family is never giving up on each other. And Aang, well, he already has a family. He has Katara, and Sokka, Toph and Zuko. And they might not be able to airbend, but they will be by Aang’s side, no matter what.
And sure, the world isn’t fair. Aang still lost his people, and he did so in the worst way possible. He can’t change what happened, and he won’t live long enough to see air bending return to the world—though it will happen. But this movie is a reminder that the lesson of family, the lesson of hope, is one Aang already learned.
Not just that, that it’s a lesson that we learned with him. And it’s one that we would do well to go back to and hold onto when times are hard.
So, all in all, if you’re a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, you’ll find something to enjoy in Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, even outside of nostalgia. This might not break the wheel in a good way, but it also does nothing to derail the franchise. Sometimes, that’s a win in and of itself.
And, if you’re starting here and hoping to get into this world… why would you? Go back. And then, go forward. There’s a lot to enjoy here. It’s not just nostalgia. Or at least, I don’t think it is. I wouldn’t know. I came out of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender eager to rewatch ATLA.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is now available to stream on Paramount+.
