The final two episodes of the reimagined live-action season feature Aang‘s (Gordon Cormier) arrival in the North (while still doing nothing to learn water bending). Katara (Kiawentiio) on the other hand does throw herself into bending only to discover women aren’t trained in anything other than healing. The show’s decision to remove Sokka (Ian Ousley) overtly sexist nature from the animated show, still likely the best decision, means the live-action version does lose a throughline between both Water Tribes. The result is Master Pakku (A Martinez) comes off more like an anarchistic fool rather than someone holding onto the tenants of shared, albeit flawed and sexist, culture.
Following on our heroes’ heels are the Fire Nation who plan a decimating attack on the Northern Water Tribe on the most vulnerable night of the year as Commander Zhao (Ken Leung) kills the Moon Spirit throwing the world out of balance and leaving the tribe without Water Bending to defend themselves. After the show got a bit lost in rearranging and reimagining several episodes, it plays things much closer to the vest here including Aang giving himself over to the Ocean Spirit and vengeance and the sacrifice of Princess Yue (Amber Midthunder) that ends up saving them all, including the Avatar. The episodes are also notable for the increased screentime of Azula (Elizabeth Yu) setting up what should be a much larger role in the show’s Second Season.
