I do know the reception to Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Final Airbender has been combined, to say the very least, however I assumed it was fairly first rate.
A lot so, that in the event that they had been to make a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Korra, I wouldn’t complain. Nevertheless, earlier than we soar forward of ourselves, let’s discuss Avatar: The Final Airbender Season 2, as Netflix lately renewed the collection for 2 extra seasons. I’m positively enthusiastic about this, however with one caveat: Please deviate extra from the supply materials this time round!
As a result of whereas my colleague, Alexandra Ramos, went into all the main adjustments that the live-action adaptation constructed from the unique present, I actually don’t assume these adjustments had been almost sufficient. So, listed below are some issues that I hope could make Season 2 really feel brisker than Season 1.
Oh, and spoilers for Season 1 of the Netflix collection, in addition to Season 2 of the cartoon.
Pull From Guide 2 Of The Cartoon, However Not Too Closely This Time
Guide 1 of the animated collection is 20 episodes lengthy, whereas Season 1 of the live-action adaptation is just eight. That stated, the live-action model does an admirable sufficient job of crunching in the complete storyline.
A giant downside I had with this live-action adaptation, nevertheless, is that I knew precisely the place it was heading. That’s to not say that I wished them to deviate fully. Nevertheless, I might positively prefer it if there have been extra occasions not seen within the unique collection that might actually throw followers who’ve already watched each episode for a loop.
Like, one factor I’m dreading is the seek for Appa in Season 2. I’m sorry, however that was the worst a part of the complete cartoon collection for me, and I’m not trying ahead to 2 or three episodes dedicated to discovering him.
I additionally hope that they strategy the primary look of Toph in another way. It’s not that I didn’t prefer it the primary time round. However, that’s simply it. I bear in mind the primary time round. It was in Episode 6, “The Blind Bandit,” the place our heroes first meet Toph at an Earthbending match.
Actually, I actually don’t need this present to telegraph occasions once more prefer it did with Season 1. As an alternative, I’d prefer to be shocked like I used to be with my favourite episode, “Spirited Away,” which cobbled collectively a number of episodes from the unique collection, positive, however was completely different sufficient that all of it felt fully new.
That’s what I need! Pull from Guide 2 of the cartoon, however pull liberally. Mash episodes collectively in order that it vaguely seems to be acquainted, but in addition fully completely different. Nevertheless, I believe they’ll go even additional with making Season 2 really feel completely different from Season 1.
Pull Concepts From The Comics
Significantly, there may be such a wealth of content material from the comics that I truthfully don’t know why they didn’t simply pull from them extra usually in Season 1. There’s a slight reference to Koh’s mother, The Mom of Faces, within the first season of the live-action adaptation, however that’s about it.
Why not pull from among the one-offs, like Katara and the Pirate’s Silver, or tales from The Misplaced Adventures and Staff Avatar Tales? As a result of though I’ve been a superb little fan who’s learn the whole lot linked to the universe, there are a number of followers on the market who’ve by no means even cracked open an Avatar comedian, and for them, all of this content material could be fully new.
Sure, a lot of the comics, like The Search, North and South, and Imbalance happen after the occasions of Avatar: The Final Airbender, however the one-off comics, in addition to The Misplaced Adventures and Staff Avatar Tales, would make Season 2 of this live-action collection really feel rather a lot brisker than Season 1 did.
And Whereas You are At It, Pull Concepts From The Novels As Properly
Since I’m an enormous fan of the world, I positively made positive to learn the 4 novels that chronicled the lives of Avatar Kyoshi, and Avatar Yangchen. Let me inform you, pulling from these novels could be completely good for the live-action collection, as these books can get tremendous violent, and the live-action collection tends to be a bit extra graphic than the cartoon ever was.
Not solely that, however a whole lot of followers have by no means seen mud stepping, or have any data that the improper Avatar has truly been picked prior to now.
There are additionally different bending strategies that might be cool to see in live-action, and the people who find themselves solely acquainted with the cartoons may not be educated that an airbender can actually suck all the oxygen out of a room, and make folks move out (we noticed Zaheer kill the Earth Queen like this in The Legend of Korra, however there’s a a lot cooler – and scarier – scene within the Yangchen novels).
So, yeah. Pull from the novels for this second season. Numerous followers of solely the cartoon may have their minds fully blown.
Additionally, Attempt To Slip In Extra The Legend Of Korra References
We noticed a reference to The Legend of Korra within the first season of the Netflix collection, like when Sokka and Katara received caught within the Fog of Misplaced Souls. However, I truthfully assume that this second season ought to pull much more from it.
I’m not saying introduce characters like Bolin or Mako, who wouldn’t even be alive but, however possibly add in a personality like Amon (I’m not saying truly put him on this collection, however a personality like him) who can take away folks’s bending talents, which I believe could be so cool.
Or possibly make metalbending one thing that options prominently right here. I do know Toph is the originator of the approach, and I’m not saying that that second ought to be taken away from her, however it could be cool if others may additionally metalbend simply by observing her doing it.
Sure, I’m nicely conscious that I’m now quarterbacking the script, however stick with me right here, please. We truly see complete cities constructed utilizing metalbending in The Legend of Korra, and I believe one of many ways in which we may see main variations from this live-action collection and the cartoon is that if they actually give attention to the subsets of bending this season.
We get to see a few of that within the animated collection, akin to sandbending and bloodbending. However, we see much more of those subsets in Korra. I’d find it irresistible if this new season took much more liberally from that present, as a result of, hey. You by no means know if we’re ever going to get a live-action The Legend of Korra collection or not. So, these subsequent two seasons may be the one actual alternative we get for the powers that be to pluck from that wealthy materials.
In Summation, Make This Second Season Really feel Extra Completely different Than Related To The Cartoon
So, yeah. Crucial factor, I believe, is for this season to really feel as completely different from the cartoon as potential. I do know not all people goes to agree with me, however I’d truthfully be blissful if this second season was like The Final Jedi was for Star Wars’ followers. I’m speaking tremendous polarizing, and divisive.
You would possibly assume that’s a nasty factor, however simply hear me out. At the moment, what most individuals are saying in regards to the first season is that it’s “simply okay. However not so good as the cartoon.” In fact it’s not going to be nearly as good because the cartoon. It is legendary, and no live-action adaptation goes to recapture that magic.
So, why even strive? This primary season largely succeeded for me, however for lots of others, it failed miserably. A superb good friend of mine stated that they condensed the season down an excessive amount of, and it was lacking the unique present’s magic, and that’s positively going to occur whenever you subtract twelve or so episodes. Since they’ll’t recapture the magic of the supply materials, then why not take extra dangers?
As a lot as folks are inclined to hate The Final Jedi, individuals are nonetheless speaking about it (a whole lot of it’s whining, to be truthful), and I need that very same discourse for the second season of Avatar: The Final Airbender. In any other case, years down the road, individuals are probably simply going to overlook that this collection even existed, and I don’t need that. Why would I? I really like Avatar!
However, what do you assume? For extra information on all issues Avatar-related, make sure to swing by right here usually!
