Watch Guide: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Caitlin on Feb. 28, 2024
This guide contains spoilers for the series and discusses content that might be challenging for some viewers, including violence and cruelty. If you are looking for something with fewer spoilers check out our content guide.
Did you watch the original animated Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008) series and are wondering if the 2024 live-action adaptation is okay to watch with the whole whānau? The first season has been self-rated by Netflix 13 with a warning for violence. This is higher than the original animated series which was rated PG but also had a note for violence. Before you press play it’s a good idea to check that whānau members are okay with the higher level of violence included in the series.
Let’s get into the detail with the first episode, Aang.
Opening Scene
The episode kicks off with a scene where an Earthbender is running from a group of Fire Nation soldiers. Similar too a martial art-like fighting style, the characters ‘bend’ earth and fire, making each other fall to the ground after being hit. The Earthbender achieves his mission but sacrifices himself in the process and is captured by the soldiers. In the following scene the Fire Lord grabs the same character by the arm and sets him on fire. Steam and embers first appear and then his whole-body catches on fire. The Earthbender screams in pain and then falls to the ground implying he is dead. The Fire Lord then reveals his plans to kill all the Airbenders – an entire nation of people.
This scene would be scary for younger viewers and viewers who don’t like watching violence, especially when the Fire Lord burns the Earthbender.
15 minutes
The Fire Nation Army begins its attack on the Southern Air Temple with the Fire Lord saying “remember, no survivors”. An Airbender alerts the community that they are under attack and they begin to fight back after being thrown to the ground. Characters from both sides fall from the impact of the ‘bending’ and Airbenders also use wooden staffs to fight back. ‘Bending’ consists of different sizes of impact, from hand-to-hand combat style to a huge vortex of wind, and massive balls of fire that hit the sides of buildings, making them crumble. It’s clear that the Air Nation is being overpowered, especially when Airbenders are engulfed in flames. One character is shown lying on the steps with his eyes closed with a wound covered in embers on his chest, implying he has died. The Fire Lord sets an Airbender on fire who is lying on the ground and another who is in the air, both characters scream out pain. Nothing is shown in detail however it’s clear that they die. The Fire Lord and Aang’s’ mentor go head-to-head, with children watching in the background. His mentor’s bending is overpowered, and it is implied that he dies. It is also implied that the children are killed but this happens off-screen and is not talked about.
These scenes might be upsetting for younger viewers and viewers who find this genocide storyline, about a whole nation being wiped out, sad and hard to swallow.
19 minutes
Aang is caught in a storm while riding Appa (his flying bison). They are dragged underwater by a massive wave. Aang saves them both by going into the “Avatar State” and creating a circle of water around them.
41 minutes
Prince Zuko and Fire Nations soldiers arrive at Wolf Cove, making demands or they will burn the village to the ground. Sokka asks them to leave and then suggests a fight with Zuko instead. Zuko unleashes his fire bending on Sokka, who is clearly outmatched. Aang air bends to stop Zuko from burning Sokka. Children from the tribe throw rocks, snowballs and wooden spheres at the soldiers. Aang offers to go with Zuko so he would leave the tribe alone.
50 minutes
Zuko orders “open fire” as Aang flies to escape his capture. The soldiers shoot flames towards Aang but it’s Zuko who hits Aang’s’ glider, making Aang fall from the sky. Sokka catches Aang, on the back of Appa. Zuko tries to hit them with his fire bending again but Katara stops him by water bending.
54 minutes
After findings his mentors’ remains, Aang goes into the “avatar state”, where his arrows goes blue and he rises into the sky, creating a vortex of rocks and wind. This almost pushes Katara and Sokka off the cliff. It’s clear that Aang is not doing this in a threatening manner but is in a very emotional state.
Anything else?
There’s great sadness at Aang discovering his fate and the death and destruction of his family and friends.
Further reading:
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