The Netflix live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender seems to completely misunderstand the themes of the original animated series. ✔ SUPPORT ✔▶Pa...

Didn’t watch it yet, as I’m only 2 episodes in and Idon’t want to taint my first view too much.

But from what I’ve seen of the show, I understand how they reach this conclusion. And Jessie Gender usually has quite a good grasp on these things.

Edit: Kind reminder that this post is for sharing/discussing the video, not for dunking on the Netflix adaptation.

Edit2: Watched it now. Spoilers for the first 2 episodes and light spoilers for the rest of the live action show, season 1.

  • novibeEnglish
    28·
    10 months ago

    Ehh… the benders do a lot of hand-to-hand fighting. Like actual martial arts fighting. In the middle of bending, when they get really up close.

    The bending not being martial enough is not one of my complaints.

    They just murdered all the characters imo. Aang is a caricature of a children’s show protagonist, giving “life lesson” speeches at the end of every episode. Katara is a perfectly caring and thoughtful wise woman. Sokka is extremely understanding and open. Zukko is hurt but from the get-go is made out to be “actually a really good person”. They are all basically flawless besides minor issues of self-doubt.

    All the major character development beats were just removed… Aang hearing the council speak of removing him from Gyatso’s care and running away before Gyatso comes and says he will never let that happen… Sokka being bigoted and learning to be more accepting by seeing the world… Iroh being aloof, wise but distant, and learning to be more honest (with himself) after losing Zuko, and that he must be an active person in the world after meeting the Gaang. Zuko being misguided and cruel, and learning to connect with who he was, his mother, after losing everything once again…

    I hate this remake man. It removes all the best parts of ATLA, and doesn’t put in anything new or better in their places.

    • Prunebutt@slrpnk.netOP
      31·
      10 months ago

      Don’t get me wrong: The biggest issue i have is with the writing. However, the original show was a blend of great characters, amazing worldbuilding and stunning martial arts animation.

      I figured that if I didn’t enjoy the writing, maybe the martial arts were a bit better and I could enjoy those.

      But you can barely see what the fighters are doing because of the quick cuts. Watch the dojo scene in the Matrix and compare it to the fighting In the Netflix show. Simply no comparison.

      And I get that this is done with children. But that’s what body doubles are for.

    • Spacehooks@reddthat.comEnglish
      21·
      10 months ago

      When they said “remix” maybe they meant of the “movie”. Flipping show is done just make minor edits here and there fans didn’t like or wanted and move on or just go full ember island players.

      • novibeEnglish
        4·
        10 months ago

        Imo, you just can’t make changes for the worse. That’s just it. Make changes, but for the better. Or differently good. But never for the worse…

        • fckreddit
          4·
          10 months ago

          I don’t think you can remake show like ATLA for the better, because the OG show is pretty much perfect. They can only remake the show for money, which by definition makes it worse.

            • novibeEnglish
              1·
              10 months ago

              All I ever wanted was to see the grown-up Gaang… And we’re getting that! As an animated movie!

              Like THAT is what the people want!!

              • Spacehooks@reddthat.comEnglish
                1·
                10 months ago

                I kind of wanted Ang to be chill for the rest of his days cause I felt like he earned it but we all know that’s not what happened. Maybe even slice of life epilogue we got in lord of the rings.

                Lol but I want to see more avatars. Like there’s got to be 50 at least with no impact to orignal story.

                • novibeEnglish
                  1·
                  10 months ago

                  Ah yeah I’d love to see more avatars, in different time periods.

                  I know we all dislike Legend of Korra, and most people dislike this specific episode, but I love the avatar Wan storyline. It wasn’t perfect, but I loved the idea of “ancient history” for the world of Avatar.

                  For the Gaang… I see the end of the show as the beginning of reconstruction. And I’d love to see what Sokka and Zuko in particular were up-to during that. They seem to have been incredibly important, and with good reason right? That’s a story I’m interested in.

                  Rebuilding a connected world after the Fire Nation empire fell.

                  • Spacehooks@reddthat.comEnglish
                    2·
                    10 months ago

                    I sometimes wonder if I should rewatch Korra now that I’m older a see if maybe I judged it too harshly. I rewatched last air bender and it was just better. I actually thought Wan got shafted. There was alot of potential there for content. Like it’s the spirit realm, it’s almost limitless potential.

                    I can see where you are going but I would imagine it would feel very different than the orignal show.

                  • Prunebutt@slrpnk.netOP
                    1·
                    10 months ago

                    For the Gaang… I see the end of the show as the beginning of reconstruction. And I’d love to see what Sokka and Zuko in particular were up-to during that. They seem to have been incredibly important, and with good reason right? That’s a story I’m interested in.

                    You should read the comics.

          • novibeEnglish
            3·
            10 months ago

            It could be different… I’m not an overly skeptical person. Different things can be good.