In which we review the second episode of the Netflix version of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
This episode is very frustrating to review because it makes a lot of changes while also mostly focusing on a single episode of the cartoon. Episode one combined the first three episodes of the cartoon, mostly, while adding in its own elements. Episode two just decides to rewrite the fourth episode while stealing elements from the eighth episode to satisfy the showrunners’ need to slobber over Kyoshi.
It begins with the gang encountering Momo, a flying lemur, and giving a proper burial to Monk Gyatso. Before leaving to go to Kyoshi island, hoping to learn more about Kyoshi, who was a ‘Master of the Avatar State’ and a very fierce warrior. For one, every Avatar is supposed to learn to master the Avatar State, so it comes across as just more glazing on Kyoshi. But there’s more on that later.
Once arriving on the island and going to the statue of Kyoshi they are ambushed by the Kyoshi warriors. Their outfits and weapons really do come straight from the cartoon, and it should be noted that the costume designs are well done, if nothing else.
However, this is where an element of Sokka is just completely lost. In the cartoon, Sokka is dismissive of female warriors, which makes sense given he was raised in a village where all the men left for war and the women stayed behind. Even though they are stronger and far more skilled than he is, Sokka runs his mouth and is put in his place effortlessly by Suki, leader of the Kyoshi warriors. After being humbled, Sokka requests to train with the Kyoshi warriors, and eventually, Suki grows fond of him, and their relationship slowly develops through the series.
Netflix Avatar decides to remove this altogether. Sokka is impressed by the Kyoshi warriors instantly and tries his best to befriend their leader Suki. It’s actually Suki who is dismissive of Sokka, but they lay it on heavy from the start that she’s physically attracted to him.
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There is no real conflict between them, and Sokka eventually seeks Suki’s help to become a better warrior. The chemistry between the actors is there, and the romance is believable, but Sokka has no character growth here because of it.
Sokka begins and ends the episode in the exact same place he started it in. He can fight better, sure. But fighting was never Sokka’s strong suit in the group. This episode is just about giving him a girlfriend in Suki way earlier than they’re supposed to be together, which brings into question what will happen with Sokka when he gets to the Northern Water Tribe.
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Moving back to Aang and Katara, the two of them are reading through Zuko’s journal for information on Kyoshi, and we’re given parts of her backstory that were never a part of the original series. And then Katara points out that the previous avatars are all a part of Aang’s past lives and all exist within him. And he decides to contact Kyoshi for help.
This is a massive departure as Roku is the one to guide Aang, and seeing him removed from his role as Aang’s advisor is strange. Roku feels the same responsibility that Aang does for the state of the world as he had a chance to stop Sozin from conquering but didn’t due to their friendship. He can relate to Aang better than his other past lives and was the previous Avatar before Aang.
Using Kyoshi reeks of the tired feminist agenda and is completely out of place. She advises Aang to be more decisive and put his duties as the Avatar first, blaming him for running from his responsibilities. Kyoshi shows Aang a glimpse of the future if he doesn’t act soon, and then as the Fire Nation shows up on Kyoshi island, she takes over his body and easily defeats the group.
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But not before an embarrassing action sequence between Katara and Zuko. As Zuko leads a team of soldiers to capture Aang, Katara shows up to stop them. And instantly drops five soldiers unconscious by splashing a little water at them. Zuko retaliates by waving fire around at her, causing her to fall to the ground, needing Kyoshi to then blow some air at him and rocket jet off to fight the other soldiers.
In the cartoon, Kyoshi does take over Aang, but it happens in Episode 25. And it isn’t to fight, but instead to admit to murdering an evil conqueror and justifying the murder as her duty being the Avatar.
This moment is meant to reflect on what Aang is being asked to do later in the series when he’s tasked with eliminating Fire Lord Ozai. It’s an important lesson that Aang needs to learn at the time and shows the audience that not everything is black and white.
While Kyoshi is just as firm on being decisive as the Avatar it doesn’t hold as much weight as she’s simply telling Aang this as opposed to showing the audience what it actually means.
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Also, it’s at this point that the CGI bending starts to grow dull and lose its impact. Prior to Kyoshi showing up, Sokka joins the Kyoshi warriors, and they are holding their own to the point that Kyoshi’s arrival seems really pointless. It would have been better to have Aang simply assist the warriors and Sokka, and it made far more sense.
Now, anytime there’s a powerful force Aang simply needs to go into a trance and beg a past life to take over. It’s an “I Win” button that the showrunners were too inept to realize, keeping in ruins much of the conflict that’s supposed to come later.
Commander Zhao is the one who leads the attack on Kyoshi island and he’s a highlight of the show so far. He’s deceptive and cunning and is a far more competent villain than Zuko has shown himself to be.
And Iroh did have one moment that made me chuckle and it felt like they were giving us Iroh from the cartoon finally. It’s small but it was nice to see that one of the best characters in Avatar isn’t being ruined by the Netflix adaptation the same way Sokka is.
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The final rating for the second episode is 4/10.
The pacing is definitely better than the first, and there are some nice moments. Sokka and Suki’s relationship feels natural, even if it’s been rushed. But Sokka feels like a shadow of who was seen in the cartoon.
Also, the Kyoshi glazing is annoying and is wholly disconnected from the story of Avatar. Having her possess Aang to fight the Fire Nation is pointless and unnecessary. It just comes across as feminist propaganda whenever she’s mentioned and just makes someone wonder if the showrunners really wanted to make a Kyoshi Avatar series instead of one that adapts Aang’s journey.
Also, the CGI Bending is starting to feel slow and boring. The best fight scene was with the Kyoshi Warriors and Sokka vs Commander Zhang and his soldiers, but Kyoshi’s bending took all the impact away from that moment.
Have even less hopes for the third episode now, but let us know what you think in the comments below!
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