Nickelodeon's not on the same level as Netflix's live-action One Piece, it's leagues better than earlier adaptations, particularly when it comes to visuals. However, even with its impressive production quality, Netflix's Last Airbender series fails to fully recapture the magic of the original.

To some extent, this is always a concern when adapting a story from one medium to another. Things always get lost in translation, and an effective adaptation should bring something new to the table, not just rehash the original scene by scene. And Netflix's take on the classic Nickelodeon series certainly does a better job of giving it new life than M. Night Shyamalan's panned 2010 film. Even so, it misses something too important to cut from the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender — and that's why it doesn't live up to it.

Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender Is A Lighthearted And Fun Show

This Contributes To Its Enduring Legacy

Avatar: The Last Airbender has a lasting legacy, mostly because it's one of those TV shows that's so rewatchable. And that has a lot to do with the fact that it's a fun and lighthearted series. Even though the premise of the Nickelodeon show revolves around serious topics, like colonialism and oppression, its darker themes are balanced with humor and a consistent thread of hope. This gives it a wide reach, allowing it to appeal to viewers of all ages. It also makes it a comfort to return to, even if there are difficult scenes and storylines.

Avatar: The Last Airbender's Spiritual Successor Is This Netflix Show With 100% On RT, Not Legend Of Korra

This landmark animated TV show is the true follow-up to ATLA, even though Legend of Korra is the next series in the chronological Avatar timeline.

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Indeed, some of the most memorable and referenced moments from Avatar: The Last Airbender lean into the series' signature humor. There's a reason audiences still quote lines, like "It's the quenchiest!" and "That's rough, buddy," all these years later. The characters' one-liners and their hilarious delivery never really get old. And the emphasis on love and hope, even in the face of terrible circumstances, makes The Last Airbender feel timeless. Unfortunately, Netflix's version goes a bit too dark and serious, losing these strengths in the process.

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Took Itself Too Seriously

It Was Missing The Nickelodeon Show's Humor & Charm

Although humor is a huge part of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, the live-action Netflix series doesn't prioritize it enough. Many of the lighthearted and comedic moments are cut or altered, with the adaptation taking on a more serious tone. There are certain elements of the original that might not translate easily to live-action, but the Netflix show leans too far in the other direction. It takes itself too seriously, failing to balance the darker aspects of the story — which it actually plays up — with any of the original's light.

Removing the lighthearted nature of the original doesn't just hurt the overall tone, either. It also affects the characters, many of whom feel like different people in the live-action adaptation. Sokka and Aang feel too serious and stoic compared to their animated counterparts, and Katara is missing so much of the spark that defines her character, likely because she doesn't show much sass. Hopefully, Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 can rectify this issue. It's not that the live-action should never be serious; it should look to the original for striking a better balance.

The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender Knew When And How To Be Serious

image1-946 — Katara and Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender

The original Last Airbender benefits from its lighthearted and humorous tone, but its success also comes from knowing when to turn those things off. The Nickelodeon series knows precisely when it needs to hunker down and get serious, whether it's dealing with Katara's grief over her mother or Zuko's revelations about the Fire Nation. And these serious scenes hit even harder because of all the time viewers spend laughing and experiencing joy with these characters first.

This is why Netflix's adaptation needs to find a better balance: it will help the emotional impact of the story in the long run.

This is why Netflix's adaptation needs to find a better balance: it will help the emotional impact of the story in the long run. Fortunately, it can look to the original Avatar: The Last Airbender to see how its done — even if replicating it may prove harder than it seems.