Netflix’s live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 demonstrates an impressive level of loyalty to the source material, but there are seven episodes from the first season of the animated show that it skips. The Last Airbender was originally an animated series that began on Nickelodeon in 2005, quickly gaining widespread popularity. Netflix’s remake has enjoyed similar success, leading to the confirmation of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2.
Although a big part of the live-action Last Airbender‘s success is due to its faithful adaptation, it was never going to be possible for the show to adapt all 20 episodes of the animated series’ first season. There is also an argument that some of the animation needed to be trimmed anyway to create a more focused story for the live-action format. Whatever the reason for their omission, there are seven total original episodes missing by the end of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1.
7 “Imprisoned” — Season 1, Episode 6
Katara helps Haru’s village free itself from the Fire Nation
The first episode of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender that is skipped in Netflix’s remake is season 1, episode 6, “Imprisoned.” This is the episode where Katara, Aang, and Sokka help free an earthbender named Haru and his father from a Fire Nation prison. This episode includes some important moments in the original Avatar: The Last Airbender, most notably Katara’s characterization as compassionate and fiercely determined.
Though “Imprisoned” represents an important moment in Katara’s arc, there are plenty of other parts of the story that demonstrate her compassion and determination, which is probably why this episode was cut from the remake. Not much happens in this episode that has consequences for the overarching story either, making it more understandable why it was cut. Haru is a fan-favorite from the original show, so it’s a shame he’s not in the remake so far, but it makes sense that his episode was cut.
Haru reappears later in the original Avatar: The Last Airbender, so it’s still possible that he will be introduced at some point during Netflix’s remake.
6 “The Waterbending Scroll” — Season 1, Episode 9
Katara steals a waterbending scroll from a pirate shop
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1, episode 9 is the next episode skipped in the first season of Netflix’s remake. In this episode, Katara steals a waterbending scroll from a band of pirates, landing team Avatar in loads of trouble when the pirates team up with Prince Zuko to track them down. Although the waterbending scroll itself is included in Netflix’s version of The Last Airbender, it is given to Katara by Gran Gran, and none of the specific events of this episode are adapted.
This episode was probably cut from Netflix’s remake because it has no major implications for the rest of the story besides Katara gaining a scroll to practice with. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense to use a whole episode to get a scroll to Katara, especially in a show already crunched for time, so it makes sense that this one was cut. Having Katara receive the scroll from Gran Gran also puts a good spin on their relationship, so this is a sound change as well.
5 “The Great Divide” — Season 1, Episode 11
Aang helps rival tribes cross a canyon together
Netflix’s remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender also skipped the 11th episode of the animated version, “The Great Divide.” This episode focuses on Aang’s attempts to keep the peace between rival tribes long enough for them to cross a large canyon/gorge together. The primary function of this episode in the original show is to force Aang to confront his responsibility as a neutral peacemaker and keeper of balance in the world.
This episode tests Aang’s diplomatic ability as well as his leadership, which makes it disappointing that it wasn’t adapted in season 1 of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. These are critical skills for the Avatar to learn, and there wasn’t a lot of focus on them in The Last Airbender season 1. It’s understandable that time restraints may have prevented this episode from being included, but it could’ve played an important role in Aang’s development if it had been adapted.
Both Avatar: The Last Airbender series are now available to stream on Netflix.
4 “The Storm” — Season 1, Episode 12
Both Aang and Zuko are pushed to the edge by a great storm
In the animated version of Avatar: The Last Airbender, episode 12 follows both Aang and Zuko’s attempts to save their friends during an enormous storm. Although the direct events of this episode are cut from Netflix’s version of The Last Airbender, there are some crucial flashbacks included in the episode that are adapted in Netflix’s version, including Aang’s time with the Air Nomads before being frozen and the history of Zuko’s scar. These flashbacks are the main purpose of the episode, which is probably why the rest of it was cut.
The events in the titular storm are mostly a metaphor for the tumultuous times in Aang and Zuko’s respective pasts that are being shown through the episode’s flashbacks. Again, it made sense for Netflix’s remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender to take the brief moments of importance from the episode and cut the rest, like it did with “The Waterbending Scroll.” This is an effective way of trimming the show without losing critical content.
The flashback to Zuko’s past occurs in Netflix’s remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1, episode 6, while Aang’s past is visited in the pilot episode.
3 “The Fortune Teller” — Season 1, Episode 14
Netflix’s remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender also skipped season 1, episode 14 of the animated version, “The Fortune Teller.” In this episode, Aang, Katara, and Sokka travel to a village with a fortune-teller, taking her prophecies to heart until it’s revealed that the volcano near the village is about to erupt against her prediction, forcing the gang to save the village. This is a fairly self-contained episode, so it’s not shocking that it didn’t make the cut for Netflix’s remake.
This is a great individual episode of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it doesn’t really add anything to the overarching narrative. It does foreshadow Aang and Katara’s future relationship by promising that Katara will marry a powerful bender, but not much else happens. In a perfect world, this story could’ve been included in the live-action version, but considering the time restraints on the show, it looks like cutting this episode was another good decision.
2 “Bato Of The Water Tribe” — Season 1, Episode 15
Katara and Sokka reunite with a friend of their father’s
“Bato of the Water Tribe,” season 1, episode 15 of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender, was also cut from Netflix’s live-action remake of the show. This episode sees Katara and Sokka reunite with Bato, a friend of their father’s, causing Aang to fear being left behind and hide information about Sokka and Katara’s father from them. This episode mainly builds Katara and Sokka’s sense of duty to Aang as their number one priority, but it also serves as a reminder of Aang’s youth and emotional immaturity.
Once again, the themes of this episode are much more important than the events, which is likely why Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender omitted it. Sokka and Katara’s sense of duty is built steadily throughout the first season of Netflix’s adaptation, removing the need for this episode. Further, Aang’s youthfulness is displayed even more sharply in live-action than in the original show, so his role in this episode isn’t need either.
1 “The Deserter” — Season 1, Episode 16
Aang begins to learn firebending from a Fire Nation deserter
The final episode of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender that is omitted from season 1 of Netflix’s remake is episode 16, “The Deserter.” This episode follows Aang’s attempts to learn firebending from an infamous Fire Nation deserter, Jeong Jeong. Interestingly, Netflix’s version of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 does not include Aang training in any element besides air, which is a considerable change to the animated show.
Whatever the reason for Netflix’s decision not to have Aang learning the other elements in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1, that decision is likely the reason this episode was cut. Without the bit of firebending training that Aang gets, along with a healthy fear of the element after accidentally burning Katara, there’s not much to this episode. Jeong Jeong is a great character, so it’s disappointing he wasn’t in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1, but it’s still possible he could appear in season 2 or 3.
