Though I feel like Avatar: Seven Havens Episodes 4 through 6 still suffers from stilted animation, there’s a darkness brewing that makes me want to watch for more than just Pavi and Nisha. Because like I mentioned in my review for Episodes 1 through 3, the sisters were really the only thing keeping me watching, with the mystery of this world being a close second. And now I’m invested in what’s happening in this haven in general. Because there’s discord present that didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been brewing.
MORE: Need a refresher of the first three episodes of Avatar: Seven Havens? Read our review!
In Ellora, your children are taken away from you to join the bender brigade. And while they try to make it seem like it’s an honorable position or role to take within this struggling society, The Faceless really emphasized how not everyone thinks like that. There are those outside of the Havens that are living in communities that think that what’s being done to benders in Ellora is unjust and unfair. And you can feel that anger starting to boil over with how hard Ellora is working these benders without anything besides “hey, you did a good job” in return.
That’s where the fear mongering surrounding the avatar comes in. The easiest way to keep a struggling society together is by giving them an enemy. And Ellora, and probably the other Havens, have zeroed in on Korra as being the enemy. And that’s now being passed on to Pavi and Nisha as the avatars of this day and age. Combine this mysterious entity infecting Ellora with the general fear mongering of the avatar and benders being overworked and underpaid, and you’ve got a disaster in the making that’s getting more complicated by the second.
Outside of Ellora, I really really want to know what happens in the deserts surrounding this haven. Because another tool to keep people in line in a society like Ellora is making people fear what would happen if they leave the brigade or haven. Lawlessness, no roof over your head, no order. But there are clearly survivors out there being painted as ruthless bandits. And maybe they are bandits just looking out for themselves. But Avatar as a franchise has never been that surface level, despite how basic they were with Jae’s boyfriend having blue paint on his fingers and giving that plotline away.
There’s something more to these bandits and to Ellora not being in contact with the other havens. And it feels like the chancellor, and those in charge, know that if they tell the truth, this society will collapse. Some would say that’s plenty of reason to keep secrets from its people. But secrets in shows like this only serve those in power. And if lying to your people, especially the benders, is what this haven does to survive, then maybe it’s time to rebuild and start anew. That’s what the avatars symbolize.
On a huge positive for Avatar: Seven Havens, Episodes 4 through 6 made it distinctly clear how different Pavi and Nisha are. And while it does cause friction, it also balances them out in a way that will make them stronger in the long run. Because they’re in this together like no other avatar has experienced. Sure Aang or Korra connected with their past lives to get advice. But on the daily, they didn’t have someone that was going through the same thing as they were, day in and day out. So the world may suck in Avatar: Seven Havens, but Pavi and Nisha have each other, making them the lucky ones.
Additional Thoughts about Avatar: Seven Havens Episodes 4 through 6:
- I know people are really in love with this new little song that Pavi is singing with her kalimba. It’s cute but I haven’t been sold. But I’m open to it!
- Update: I found myself humming it…. so yeah!
- I can’t stop thinking about the characters in the background. They’re not moving. And if they are, it’s the same movement over and over again. Go and watch!
- It’s weird and uncanny valley-like. I think it’s exactly what has thrown me off about this animation and why it feels stilted despite the same frame rate
- Truly thought that Pavi and Nisha would’ve been discovered a little bit later on in the season as being avatars by the general public. But I guess there’s no time to waste!
- That entire room with Avatar relics made me so nostalgic. I saw Sokka’s club, the Blue Spirits mask, and was Chong’s guitar aka the guy that sang “Secret Tunnel”?!
- There’s also something really special about Pavi living in a world where she sees two dolls of these two women and makes them kiss. Meaning that being queer is not othered in this world. It just is. It’s normal
- Also I can’t believe that it took until Avatar: Seven Havens to get an on-screen Korrasami kiss 😂
- But real talk, I need someone to sit down and give me a full breakdown of all the little Easter eggs in that room…
Avatar: Seven Havens drops new episodes every Friday on Paramount+.
