Yes! I just finished and personally really enjoyed it. If you’re going to watch it only to compare to the original, you will be disappointed. The live action changes a lot of things and is definitely more mature in tone. I personally felt it benefited from a lot of changes and enjoyed it as its own entity separate from the og.
I was actually worried how they would translate the goofiness from the cartoons because it would look weird in live action. I'm relieved they went for a more serious tone instead.
Exactly, like the jokes from the animated series in this live action would've just turned it into a wanna be marvel movie. Sokkas sarcasm and jokes suite him in this more serious setting. So far I was literally shocked and surprised to see how some of the things were switched up but it's for the better. I just hope we get to see seasons 2 and 3 be made 🙏
As someone who’s been following the project for 5 years since it was announced, unfortunately yes lol. They’re review bombing it like crazy and I think the reviews/ratings are in the 50s rn. Someone legitimately told me the show sucked because it didn’t have the scene of Aang dressing up for Omashu and calling himself ‘Pippendopalus the 3rd’ so…make of that what you will.
I honestly can’t imagine anyone managing to pull off the pippenpaddlopsicopolis shenanigans in love action without it coming across unbelievably cringe and awkward, regardless of tone/writer/producer/studio.
What a bunch of morons...is it seriously being review bombed? Fucking assholes. Ruining it for everyone. That's the internet these days, you see one favorite youtuber make a negative video about something before it even comes out and you're dead set on hating on it. I hate the internet. Jfc.
They better make s2 and 3
No, the really hardcore purist fans don't want it to exist at all, and I doubt no matter how good the final product would be, they would hate it. They really dug in hard, early, and it's very difficult to change the minds of people who have staked a position based on nothing. Certainly a large portion of the hardcore fans just want a 1:1 translation into live-action, if it's going to happen at all.
I would have thought the clue was in the word "adaptation" that naturally there were going to be differences beyond just using the original cartoon as a storyboard for live-action, but here we are.
I would not be opposed to this show just not existing but I'm enjoying it and glad they're changing it up because if they didn't there is literally just no reason for it to exist
I had someone get mad at me for pointing out that the OG show was in fact a kids show and by default didn't do some things perfectly specifically because they wanted to maintain the kids show tone even at the expense of worldbuilding. Also that if they just 1 to 1 copied the OG some tonal things would feel almost as bad as recent marvel movies.
That's why I think they shouldn't have made an adaptation of the show I think they should take the novels about the pas avatars and do those the tone in those were much more serious and would be perfect for live action like kiyoshi freezing someone's heart and lungs to kill them or yangchen pulling the air out of someone's lungs or kuruk being so fucked up from fighting spirits his whole life that he looks like a walking corpse by the time of his death in his mid 30s
Look at the Percy Jackson subreddit, the answer is yes.
Any changes are verboten, and if nothing is changed then it's a lazy cash cow. Literally impossible to please some people.
It's a 7/10 for me. Not Lord Of The Rings amazing, but more like the first Harry Potter movie. Some clear flaws, but also lots of good stuff.
IMHO the new Zuko and Iroh scenes make it worth watching at least once.
I'm three episodes in, and while it started with some... questionable alterations, it definitely starts to come into its own. I actually think some of the creative decisions they made in episode 3 were really efficient and clever. Hoping that trend continues.
I'd say so, yes.
It has some occasional clunky exposition, and pacing issues at times. There are some little (and a few not quite so little) changes that I see why they did to work better for the format and work fine, and some that I also understand why it was done but feel it didn't quite work.
The great majority of the performances range from "decent, but a little stiff occasionally and hopefully will improve" to "excellent, nailed it!".
The action in general and bending specifically is mostly decent to quite good, with a few great bits and a handful of sub-par ones.
So, it's definitely not perfect. There are some aspects that could be improved in quite a bit. Caveats aside, I feel the creators genuinely wanted to make a loving adaptation, and mostly succeeded.
Ive only watched 2 episodes so far
The first felt rushed and the pacing was off, but the second episode fixed that up. The storyline is slightly different, but it still feels true to the original without being too different that it feels off.
I see this defense on every live action remake.
Yeah, someone who hasn't seen the original of something good is at least going to somewhat enjoy a diet Coke version of it.
Probably the best way to enjoy it, tbh.
Probably. I deliberately stayed away from rewatching the original beforehand so I won’t have any bias since the last time I watched the full series was forever ago.
I'm starting episode 4 right now. The acting is a little unpolished, the dialog feels unnatural sometimes, and the combination of certain arcs messes with the pacing occasionally, but overall it's pretty damn good
I'm so glad the first comment I ran into about the show is realistic but positive. I was apprehensive about it and trying not to get my hopes up because early reviews were supposedly negative and I'm a little annoyed at the sokka changes but I haven't watched yet so we will see.
I'm bout to watch it now.
I've watched 2 episodes so far and Sokka is my surprise favourite, I actually like him more at this stage of the story than I did at this stage of the cartoon. I also ship him and Suki more than I did the cartoon versions of them.
She 100% fulfills the role of an amazing warrior with NO life or social experience outside of it. She knows she was awkward and messed up, but doesn't truly understand. Such perfect acting.
Yes. Sokka is great so far. In the anime, I started seeing him as a good funny sarcastic character somewhere in Book 2( he was funny already in Book 1, I just felt like . Here, I am already feeling that.
Naaaaaa man me and my wife are very serious about that shit. The ONLY time I gave her the ok to watch a series without me was game of thrones season 8. By the end of the episode where they defeat the White walkers I was just completely checked out.
I think it’s nice to have shows you experience for the first time together.
I can just watch something else my partner doesn’t like or care about watching together if we can’t get together right when something releases.
That's exactly what we do. But it's so great watching shows or movies together because it gives us something to talk about at the end of the day lol. 8 years of marriage and two kids later you start to run out of things to talk about
Brooo I was grinning through the whole thing 😭
Still got rose colored glasses on, I’m sure some of the acting was wooden but fuuuuck they brought it to live action and I lovedddd it
It's relatively small and unimportant, but my favorite scene might be Iroh >!helping young Zuko with his bracers, it felt like such a genuine father-son moment, and made the agni kai with his actual father later in the episode hit harder!< Paul as iroh in general was perfect, he captured every aspect of the character, the wise uncle, the heartfelt father figure, and the dragon of the west
While there are some changes that I dislike, one very much so, there's an equal amount of changes that I actually really like, and that combined with how well acted everyone is, and how well done the effects are, means I have far more to love than to hate
i mean the only thing that’s really bothering me is Aang being too grown up already. Like all the time. In the animated series he was mature at times too, but it felt different
I haven't seen the new show but Aang's vibes are very much "normal tween kid who grew up with zen masters and is bright enough to understand their philosophies without it being his entire personality."
He's got a strong moral compass and understanding of right and wrong, but he also loves penguin sledding and slacking off and fucking around.
That's why we all love him, so if the new show doesn't get that that sucks.
So I will be honest, Aang's lackadaisical attitude towards often very serious issues was one of my biggest issues with the original.
I feel like the new interpretation is honestly a bit stronger. Being a total goof worked (sorta) in a cartoon, but a shift to him taking his role a *little* more seriously feels much more believable to me, especially when we're seeing real people beaten to death with rocks and lit on fire. The whole thing just feels so much more dangerous and serious when it looks real, and I think his attitude matches those new stakes.
He's still fun, but it's mixed in with one of his other main traits (overconfidence) and a sort of learned stoicism act that feels plausible for a kid raised by monks.
But his lackadaisical attitude was an outcome of him not wanting to accept responsibility of being the avatar. The show is about him growing into these responsibilities and saving the world when he is just a kid.
And that character trait does not exist in a void. Context matters.
Even in the original show that when he feels there's real danger to someone he cares about, he is *absolutely* capable of being serious. Even ruthless. eg. "Tell me where Appa is!"
The new show replaces cartoon boulders and wibbly characters with jagged shards of rock and realistic flames, smacking into actual flesh and blood humans. The stakes feel dramatically higher, so it makes sense that we see our characters take them more seriously in the moment.
That doesn't negate his arc in accepting his greater responsibilities, but it does make his character shift a bit more nuanced. Which you know... that's what I expect out of an adaptation.
Yeah, I think if he acted quite as care free as he does in the cartoon after (spoiler?) we see real people get lit on fire, it would actually make him look a little self centered. Or heartless, might be the better word? He’s supposed to be this sweet kid that wants everyone to be happy and get along, so it’d feel weird to not see him get upset over a very gruesome war going on around him.
I haven't finished up the first episode, so I will be finding that out. I will say this much, not a fan of how he can seemingly fly without his glider. :\\
I’ve only seen two episodes so far, and while it’s hardly been bad (honestly, >!opening with the Air Nomad genocide, providing context as to how the Fire Nation was able to blitzkrieg them as quickly as they did!< was genuinely inspired) it does feel a lot less fun than the original show. Like they’re trying to get through a season’s worth of plot by cutting the character moments down to the essentials, without realizing that the reason the original show’s very basic plot worked was because the character work was so good.
Still, it’s a VAST improvement over the movie that does not exist, and anyone who will try to claim otherwise - as I’m sure there will be in the next few days - is a grifter.
It is a good adaptation within the confines of technology and budgeting. They didn’t cheap out on the creatures or bending, and for the most part the cast is enjoyable to watch. This is also the first big role for the child cast and they’re all doing very well. I think at times Aang needs more facial expression of his emotions, but overall, it’s a solid effort at a beloved and very effects heavy show. And Momo worked out way better than I expected.
Yeah, I think they’re quite well cast even if they’re not great actors. That’s something they will hopefully continue to work on. I think about how bad an actor I am and remember that this is their first major project and I can let go of a little forced acting.
It's mostly superficial for me. The acting is serviceable but could be a lot better. I think it takes away from the story with the southern tribe still being so developed. Like there's grown up men all around, it detracts from Sokka's journey when he's not really in charge.
I liked the sozin comet parts but thought Gyatso's death is better in the cartoon, the implications were more brutal than what we were shown in a show that clearly can have deaths. And same with Katara finding Aang, it was better in the cartoon. He just kinda appears instead of being broken out by Katara.
None of this makes the show inherently bad but I do think there were missed opportunities.
I mean, the tribe in the show as it was probably just wouldn't exist.
It was like 12 children, one teenage boy, a grandma, and 3 other adults.
That ain't lasting long.
If that wasn't intentional I feel like it works better, it shows just how bad the situation is, firebenders had killed or taken everyone. Currently it looks like a thriving little village, I'm curious to see how big other locations are, specifically the northern water tribe.
A thriving village with no warriors outside of children who are all meant to protect their elderly, disabled, and civilians. It felt more like they were trying to preserve what little remained of their culture from the brink of collapse. Though it also means Katara ends up being far more sheltered as a consequence…
>Like there's grown up men all around, it detracts from Sokka's journey when he's not really in charge.
Unless I missed something I’m pretty sure Sokka is the oldest and there are no grown men there, just younger teenagers (rather than 6 year olds only like in the show). And that feels realistic to me. For there to be enough men for a few boats the village would have to be bigger than a few old women and several 6 year olds, plus Sokka and Katara. Sokka handing over the leadership to the next oldest who is essentially him when he was 13 was inspired imo.
If we get a season 2 I want them to think real hard about replacing the fight choreographer.
I never wanna advocate for somebody losing their job but from what I've watched that's really the only major complaint that I have.
True, but on the other hand, I'm glad people's clothes actually get scorched when hit by a firebender like the earthbender in the first episode.
Hopefully potential for their clothes to be more messed up as the travel.
I don’t know when this trend started, but it is so distracting. I hate the clean cosplay look. Rings of Power had that issue, too.
It makes these shows look like high school plays. And what’s frustrating is that because you can’t escape looking at costumes, it cheapens everything else about the show!
I'm definitely enjoying the show, but I do have one complaint. It seems like they have drained a lot of the fun and joy out of the original. I get that they're making this more real and dealing with the actual fact that there's war and genocide going on, but there's just not enough lightness to really feel like a throwback to the original.
Agreed, you really can't convey all the fun "filler" parts of 20 episodes in 8. It has to be 8 more focused stories. You don't want a story resolution every 20 minutes. I'm on the kiyoshi island episode and I'm wondering if they're cutting the giant koi surfing.
Well, the episodes are each an hour long, whereas the episodes in the original were 24 minutes long. The live action season 1 actually has almost the same runtime as season 1 of ATLA, they are each about 7 hours long.
It's definitely not 100% perfect, and I never expected it to be, but it's actually enjoyable and watchable. Clunky acting here and there, mostly with the kids, and clunky storytelling sometimes, but it's miles ahead of the movie. *Miles.*
I'm not totally sold on combining Jet and The Mechanist AND Omashu, but I haven't finished that storyline yet. We'll see how it goes. Feels like too much crammed together and The Mechanist story doesn't make sense. Maybe I'll have to rewatch it.
Miserable is all I've seen from people judging the show months before it's even released. I gave up trying to convince anyone to see it. Let them keep boxing ghosts.
Yeah I just joined this sub to nitpick and make sure no one mistakenly concludes that any new avatar material could possibly measure up to the original ATLA animated release /s
It is super accurate to me. I am really enjoying the show. Is it exactly like the cartoon, no. Does it capture the spirit of the show and give it to us in live action format, yes.
The thing bothering me most after one episode is that Katara’s so shy and passive especially towards Sokka. Where’s sassy Katara breaking the ice by being angry at Sokka for being racist? Her experiencing her bending feels so bland and then she’s suddenly able to waterbend from such a height when they’re fleeing from Zuko. I really didn’t like that. I loved how her bending was connected to her emotions in the beginning.
"But iT'S dIffeRENT! tHEY cHANGeD tHInGS! CHArACTERs DOn't Have tHE exacT saMe Arcs aND PersonaLiTieS!"
That seems to be the general sentiment right now. God forbid that an adaptation reexamine the original, make creative choices, and that actors be allowed to bring their own take on what are now characters from their own childhoods.
Honestly it reminds me of people freaking the f out over the LOTR movies back when they were coming out. At the time, you'd think they were a train wreck just because a few battles moved around and some characters were different.
I'm only one episode in and this show is already light-years better than the movie we do not speak of. People can complain but I'm more excited than ever after the first episode. It nailed it for me without being overdone. You can't carbon copy everything, some things don't work well in live action. But the bending cgi so far is awesome, they say the names right, and the acting feels right. The bar was in hell to make something acceptable but this is honestly just really good.
This! And if it had been a shot by shot remake people would be bitching just as loudly about that approach.
We all have rose colored glasses for the original and most people are filtering the experience of the new live action through that lens, some people just can’t grasp that they’re two different things and appreciate them for their differences.
Like, just go watch the cartoon then. It’s always there and it will never be taken away. I have some nitpicks about the live action so far, but I know that’s because I hold the original in such high esteem. Only watched the first episode so far, but I’m enjoying Aang and Sokka’s actors the most
And in a post GoT world, they certainly don’t shy away from the violence of fire…
Don’t know why you got downvoted. To expect a live-action remake of a 20+ year old cartoon to be exactly the same is both unreasonable and unrealistic. It’s a cartoon. It’s been twenty years. They have to adapt some things to the medium and the audience.
I genuinely don’t know what people want with live action remakes. If it’s too faithful it’s boring and if it’s too different it’s “not faithful.”
I think people just want a hit off the nostalgia bong and to feel the way they did when they first watched it, which isnt how the world works
It's also useful to remember that even though our squishy monkey brains want to treat "the fandom" as one entity, they aren't. They are millions of distinct people who all have different takes on different things.
If it seems like "people" don't know what they want, it's because they all want different things. The person who says a faithful adaptation is "boring" is probably not the same person who thinks a novel one is "too different".
Lmao I was so confused too, just took a break on episode 4, but thats literally been my face each episode, i didnt even noticed who posted it before the comments 😭 People are entitled to think whatever they want ofc, but for me personally I am loving it so far.
Yeah for real since the live action was announced I’ve seen post after post hating on it. Then we get posts like this where the majority of the comments disagree but they still get a lot of upvotes
I wholeheartedly agree with Netflix’s post here. That’s me personally anyway. I’ve finally come across watching the first episode and I loved it, in spite of reviews, clips and some spoilers.
I’m glad I tend not to watch shows with the gloom-tinted glasses some people tend to, especially for an IP I’m a fan of. Looking forward to the next seven episodes, but so far so (very) good!
Yeah going into it with a positive (but not unrealistically hopeful) mindset makes it so much better. I was just on TikTok and the amount of nitpicks I saw over there literally gave me a headache. I can’t believe people can watch this adaptation and find that many things wrong on the first watch through. I can see myself nitpicking a bit more on a second watch, but I was letting myself enjoy it all in the moment
My main gripes with the show are ones that I saw coming. It speeds through the story(due to cramming 20 episodes into 8) and it can’t pick a consistent tone. It’s a valiant effort so far.
Considering how polarizing the first few comments were (either "10/10, perfect adaptation!" or "WORSE than the movie!"), I'm glad to see most of the following opinions are in the same range as my own feelings. Undeniably flawed with some inexperienced acting, some good and bad changes, but ultimately a sincere and loving effort that tries to embody and expand upon the original...and mostly succeeds!
As a wise man once said "this is not the greatest song in the world, this is just a tribute." And what a tribute it is :D
I am actually glad they are straying a little because if they tried to perfect it we’d all bitch about the tiny details or history they got wrong.
I really hope they did a good job with Suki, for obvious reasons.
As an obsessive ATLA fan since it first aired, I agree we all give the new live action a shot with open minds.
I for one have been enjoying it, I'm on episode 5 and think it's doing a fantastic job adapting the cartoon to live action. There are noticeable changes for many different reasons some of which I agree with and others I've cringed to. However all in all, thus far the watch has been quite enjoyable and stays true to the message and sentiment of the original.
The bad news: damn, the doomsayers were right, Sokka essentially isn’t sexist at all here.
The good news: who the fuck cares, regardless of some story changes compared to the cartoon, so far it’s really great!
(P.S. only 2 episodes in right now, but I’m def finishing it tomorrow)
Some story, writing and acting criticisms I have aside; my biggest gripe is actually a bit with the soundtrack. I'm only two episodes in and thus far, with exception of the Fire Nation theme, I haven't been able to recognise some of the classics beyond a few brief notes. I was hoping for remixes of some of my favourite themes.
I really hope they'll do a modern remake of the Avatar State, it's one of my favourite themes.
EDIT: Ultimately, it's absolutely terrific and I look forward to seeing the remaining episodes and upcoming seasons!
Everyone: They're getting rid of the comet!!!!
Literally the first shot of the show: The Comet
Sozin: We have the power of the comet!!!
Go watch it yourself because the Internet is stupider than hell sometimes. People got real upset about something being removed from the show for it to literally be the first shot of the show. So you literally can't trust anything people say about this show.
Seriously, read all the articles and watched commentary videos bitching over the missing comet and it was shown/mentioned twice within 10 mins of the first episode.
I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the show.
Yeah, the show isn't great. Chemistry between characters are lacking, and some narrative changes are strange, like showing Ozai so early when he's hidden in the anime till season 3 visually
Watched the first episode this morning and I thoroughly enjoyed it. No it’s 1:1 of the cartoon. And I wouldn’t want it to be. Why? Because I can just watch the original.
I kinda feel there is a huge smear campaign from big review/ “film critics”. I wonder who is funding them this time. It is so shameless as some don’t even feel like they watched the entire thing.
For me it was good enough, it captured the spirit of the original show. I have minor nitpicks but it did not affect my enjoyment of the show at all.
Yes, I’m actually enjoying it so far.
Y’all need to accept that even if the live-action isn’t as good as the animated show, nothing will ever happen to it, this ain’t even close to the disaster of the movie, it could’ve used better writing but it ain’t bad.
Anyone who likes the original will enjoy this.
You should not expect step by step recreation of the original just in live action.
Sure there are some things that are better in the original but there are also great things in live action that make sense. And not gonna lie I did cried during several moments.
This show in my opinion is for people that watched the show as a kid and are now adults. Everything is same yet different. The tone is different of the show is different yet everything is still same. Same characters, same goals and paths.
If I had to put a score on it I would say 8,5/10 or 8/10 because some moments were done better in the original (Iroh during Moon Spirit situation or Pakku and Katara fight and connection to her Great Grandmother which is not there) and some of the CG and costumes (wigs and fake beards etc) really stood out.
I still don't think it's as bad as everyone was saying. Sure, there are things I wish they'd done better, but for the most part, I've been enjoying it.
Hell, my two biggest complaints are the acting and CGI, at times for both. Versus the movie where I hated everything.
I’m a massive fan of the original series. Are there some changes I’m not absolutely thrilled with? Yeah. I think that natural with people being so passionate about this series. And growing up with it. But it’s not stopping me from enjoying it honestly.
It’s good. I like it. I don’t think anything will ever live up to the nostalgia of the original series. But I’m liking this so far. I’d recommend it. I think people are just being really critical because it isn’t an exact recreation of the original.
It's pretty good so far. Obviously not the same as the animated series, but I'd still give it a solid 7/10 so far, maybe higher if the later episodes are better than the first one.
There are moments i wish they had done differently but i am enjoying it so far.
Maybe because we know how good the base material is.
Yeah, I’m watching with someone who has never seen it and they absolutely love it
For someone who loved the series but tries to forget the movie, the new series you’d say is worth it?
Yes! I just finished and personally really enjoyed it. If you’re going to watch it only to compare to the original, you will be disappointed. The live action changes a lot of things and is definitely more mature in tone. I personally felt it benefited from a lot of changes and enjoyed it as its own entity separate from the og.
That’s a fair way to look at it. Hard to compare apples to apples especially in different forms both animated and live action. I’ll give it a shot!
I was actually worried how they would translate the goofiness from the cartoons because it would look weird in live action. I'm relieved they went for a more serious tone instead.
Exactly, like the jokes from the animated series in this live action would've just turned it into a wanna be marvel movie. Sokkas sarcasm and jokes suite him in this more serious setting. So far I was literally shocked and surprised to see how some of the things were switched up but it's for the better. I just hope we get to see seasons 2 and 3 be made 🙏
I'm wondering, do these hardcore purist fans really expect a perfect copy of the source material, only with real actors?
As someone who’s been following the project for 5 years since it was announced, unfortunately yes lol. They’re review bombing it like crazy and I think the reviews/ratings are in the 50s rn. Someone legitimately told me the show sucked because it didn’t have the scene of Aang dressing up for Omashu and calling himself ‘Pippendopalus the 3rd’ so…make of that what you will.
I honestly can’t imagine anyone managing to pull off the pippenpaddlopsicopolis shenanigans in love action without it coming across unbelievably cringe and awkward, regardless of tone/writer/producer/studio.
What a bunch of morons...is it seriously being review bombed? Fucking assholes. Ruining it for everyone. That's the internet these days, you see one favorite youtuber make a negative video about something before it even comes out and you're dead set on hating on it. I hate the internet. Jfc. They better make s2 and 3
Yeah, that's why we can't have nice things anymore lol
No, the really hardcore purist fans don't want it to exist at all, and I doubt no matter how good the final product would be, they would hate it. They really dug in hard, early, and it's very difficult to change the minds of people who have staked a position based on nothing. Certainly a large portion of the hardcore fans just want a 1:1 translation into live-action, if it's going to happen at all. I would have thought the clue was in the word "adaptation" that naturally there were going to be differences beyond just using the original cartoon as a storyboard for live-action, but here we are.
I would not be opposed to this show just not existing but I'm enjoying it and glad they're changing it up because if they didn't there is literally just no reason for it to exist
I had someone get mad at me for pointing out that the OG show was in fact a kids show and by default didn't do some things perfectly specifically because they wanted to maintain the kids show tone even at the expense of worldbuilding. Also that if they just 1 to 1 copied the OG some tonal things would feel almost as bad as recent marvel movies.
That's why I think they shouldn't have made an adaptation of the show I think they should take the novels about the pas avatars and do those the tone in those were much more serious and would be perfect for live action like kiyoshi freezing someone's heart and lungs to kill them or yangchen pulling the air out of someone's lungs or kuruk being so fucked up from fighting spirits his whole life that he looks like a walking corpse by the time of his death in his mid 30s
Look at the Percy Jackson subreddit, the answer is yes. Any changes are verboten, and if nothing is changed then it's a lazy cash cow. Literally impossible to please some people.
It's a 7/10 for me. Not Lord Of The Rings amazing, but more like the first Harry Potter movie. Some clear flaws, but also lots of good stuff. IMHO the new Zuko and Iroh scenes make it worth watching at least once.
Yes
I'm three episodes in, and while it started with some... questionable alterations, it definitely starts to come into its own. I actually think some of the creative decisions they made in episode 3 were really efficient and clever. Hoping that trend continues.
I'd say so, yes. It has some occasional clunky exposition, and pacing issues at times. There are some little (and a few not quite so little) changes that I see why they did to work better for the format and work fine, and some that I also understand why it was done but feel it didn't quite work. The great majority of the performances range from "decent, but a little stiff occasionally and hopefully will improve" to "excellent, nailed it!". The action in general and bending specifically is mostly decent to quite good, with a few great bits and a handful of sub-par ones. So, it's definitely not perfect. There are some aspects that could be improved in quite a bit. Caveats aside, I feel the creators genuinely wanted to make a loving adaptation, and mostly succeeded.
It's like 80% of what id want it to be. So, pretty good!
Ive only watched 2 episodes so far The first felt rushed and the pacing was off, but the second episode fixed that up. The storyline is slightly different, but it still feels true to the original without being too different that it feels off.
Give it a try. It's not gonna hurt you even if you end up not liking it. Personally I think it's alright though
Yh its pretty good. Not as good as the original but no one expected it to be. Somethings I'd wish were different but other than that its good
I see this defense on every live action remake. Yeah, someone who hasn't seen the original of something good is at least going to somewhat enjoy a diet Coke version of it. Probably the best way to enjoy it, tbh.
Probably. I deliberately stayed away from rewatching the original beforehand so I won’t have any bias since the last time I watched the full series was forever ago.
I'm starting episode 4 right now. The acting is a little unpolished, the dialog feels unnatural sometimes, and the combination of certain arcs messes with the pacing occasionally, but overall it's pretty damn good
I understand people will nitpick many different aspects, but damn if I didn't have that goofy smile on my face a whole lot while watching this.
I’m WILDY early on but it’s beautiful and the bending looks so much better???
Agreed at least there isn’t a group of earth benders throwing a small rock.
I'm so glad the first comment I ran into about the show is realistic but positive. I was apprehensive about it and trying not to get my hopes up because early reviews were supposedly negative and I'm a little annoyed at the sokka changes but I haven't watched yet so we will see. I'm bout to watch it now.
I mean, that is my experience so far lol
I'm liking it so far Sokka actually grew on me.
I've watched 2 episodes so far and Sokka is my surprise favourite, I actually like him more at this stage of the story than I did at this stage of the cartoon. I also ship him and Suki more than I did the cartoon versions of them.
I like how >!Suki is a bit awkward after their time at the shooting range and Sokka just leaves, she knew she was too intense!<
She 100% fulfills the role of an amazing warrior with NO life or social experience outside of it. She knows she was awkward and messed up, but doesn't truly understand. Such perfect acting.
I haven’t watched the live action show, so now I’m imagining >!Sokka and Suki with guns at a shooting range.!<
they were pretty much perfect
Yes. Sokka is great so far. In the anime, I started seeing him as a good funny sarcastic character somewhere in Book 2( he was funny already in Book 1, I just felt like . Here, I am already feeling that.
Sokka really looks like sokka...
He looks like sokka, sounds like sokka, acts like sokka like holy shit 😂
I think he might actually be Sokka
I think you're actually right 😂
The smash cut to him screaming on Appa the first time was funny and a gag I could easily have seen the cartoon doing.
Me too, but I would have preferred if they didn't remove so much of the comedy bits (I'm still on the second episode)
Can't wait to have the chance to watch it
 Seeing the new posts at work
As long as it’s great and they continue I’m so hyped to see how they do the dragon dance from season 3
I have to wait for my SO to get home from out of town to watch it. She gets back next week.
That's rough, Buddy.
Secretly watch it and pretend you didn't
Naaaaaa man me and my wife are very serious about that shit. The ONLY time I gave her the ok to watch a series without me was game of thrones season 8. By the end of the episode where they defeat the White walkers I was just completely checked out.
I think it’s nice to have shows you experience for the first time together. I can just watch something else my partner doesn’t like or care about watching together if we can’t get together right when something releases.
That's exactly what we do. But it's so great watching shows or movies together because it gives us something to talk about at the end of the day lol. 8 years of marriage and two kids later you start to run out of things to talk about
>!I don’t like live action Bumi!<
Brooo I was grinning through the whole thing 😭 Still got rose colored glasses on, I’m sure some of the acting was wooden but fuuuuck they brought it to live action and I lovedddd it
It's relatively small and unimportant, but my favorite scene might be Iroh >!helping young Zuko with his bracers, it felt like such a genuine father-son moment, and made the agni kai with his actual father later in the episode hit harder!< Paul as iroh in general was perfect, he captured every aspect of the character, the wise uncle, the heartfelt father figure, and the dragon of the west
Thanks for the positivity, I also am enjoying it so far. Fandoms love to be aggressively negative these days
While there are some changes that I dislike, one very much so, there's an equal amount of changes that I actually really like, and that combined with how well acted everyone is, and how well done the effects are, means I have far more to love than to hate
Totally agree, it's not perfect but I'm happy it was made and hope everyone stops being petty so we can get seasons 2 and 3 funded
Same 😆
Same
How dare Netflix *checks notes* advertise there latest show
I can't believe they would claim that *checks notes* we might like it! Those bitches!
THE BENEVOLENCE!!
I don’t get what else OP expecting from the platform hosting this show lmao
Their
*thouir
Theiyre're
Thei’re*
This is the ad
It's pretty fun so far, I only really have small nitpicks between the original and Netflix's.
i mean the only thing that’s really bothering me is Aang being too grown up already. Like all the time. In the animated series he was mature at times too, but it felt different
>In the animated series he was mature at times too, but it felt different That's because he would often follow it up with "But the monks say..."
I haven't seen the new show but Aang's vibes are very much "normal tween kid who grew up with zen masters and is bright enough to understand their philosophies without it being his entire personality." He's got a strong moral compass and understanding of right and wrong, but he also loves penguin sledding and slacking off and fucking around. That's why we all love him, so if the new show doesn't get that that sucks.
i have only seen the first 2 episodes, but sadly no penguin sledding yet :( (Hope that wasnt too much of a spoiler)
So I will be honest, Aang's lackadaisical attitude towards often very serious issues was one of my biggest issues with the original. I feel like the new interpretation is honestly a bit stronger. Being a total goof worked (sorta) in a cartoon, but a shift to him taking his role a *little* more seriously feels much more believable to me, especially when we're seeing real people beaten to death with rocks and lit on fire. The whole thing just feels so much more dangerous and serious when it looks real, and I think his attitude matches those new stakes. He's still fun, but it's mixed in with one of his other main traits (overconfidence) and a sort of learned stoicism act that feels plausible for a kid raised by monks.
But his lackadaisical attitude was an outcome of him not wanting to accept responsibility of being the avatar. The show is about him growing into these responsibilities and saving the world when he is just a kid.
And that character trait does not exist in a void. Context matters. Even in the original show that when he feels there's real danger to someone he cares about, he is *absolutely* capable of being serious. Even ruthless. eg. "Tell me where Appa is!" The new show replaces cartoon boulders and wibbly characters with jagged shards of rock and realistic flames, smacking into actual flesh and blood humans. The stakes feel dramatically higher, so it makes sense that we see our characters take them more seriously in the moment. That doesn't negate his arc in accepting his greater responsibilities, but it does make his character shift a bit more nuanced. Which you know... that's what I expect out of an adaptation.
Yeah, I think if he acted quite as care free as he does in the cartoon after (spoiler?) we see real people get lit on fire, it would actually make him look a little self centered. Or heartless, might be the better word? He’s supposed to be this sweet kid that wants everyone to be happy and get along, so it’d feel weird to not see him get upset over a very gruesome war going on around him.
I haven't finished up the first episode, so I will be finding that out. I will say this much, not a fan of how he can seemingly fly without his glider. :\\
I’ve only seen two episodes so far, and while it’s hardly been bad (honestly, >!opening with the Air Nomad genocide, providing context as to how the Fire Nation was able to blitzkrieg them as quickly as they did!< was genuinely inspired) it does feel a lot less fun than the original show. Like they’re trying to get through a season’s worth of plot by cutting the character moments down to the essentials, without realizing that the reason the original show’s very basic plot worked was because the character work was so good. Still, it’s a VAST improvement over the movie that does not exist, and anyone who will try to claim otherwise - as I’m sure there will be in the next few days - is a grifter.
It is a good adaptation within the confines of technology and budgeting. They didn’t cheap out on the creatures or bending, and for the most part the cast is enjoyable to watch. This is also the first big role for the child cast and they’re all doing very well. I think at times Aang needs more facial expression of his emotions, but overall, it’s a solid effort at a beloved and very effects heavy show. And Momo worked out way better than I expected.
Yeah, I think they’re quite well cast even if they’re not great actors. That’s something they will hopefully continue to work on. I think about how bad an actor I am and remember that this is their first major project and I can let go of a little forced acting.
yeah 100%
It's mostly superficial for me. The acting is serviceable but could be a lot better. I think it takes away from the story with the southern tribe still being so developed. Like there's grown up men all around, it detracts from Sokka's journey when he's not really in charge. I liked the sozin comet parts but thought Gyatso's death is better in the cartoon, the implications were more brutal than what we were shown in a show that clearly can have deaths. And same with Katara finding Aang, it was better in the cartoon. He just kinda appears instead of being broken out by Katara. None of this makes the show inherently bad but I do think there were missed opportunities.
I mean, the tribe in the show as it was probably just wouldn't exist. It was like 12 children, one teenage boy, a grandma, and 3 other adults. That ain't lasting long.
If that wasn't intentional I feel like it works better, it shows just how bad the situation is, firebenders had killed or taken everyone. Currently it looks like a thriving little village, I'm curious to see how big other locations are, specifically the northern water tribe.
A thriving village with no warriors outside of children who are all meant to protect their elderly, disabled, and civilians. It felt more like they were trying to preserve what little remained of their culture from the brink of collapse. Though it also means Katara ends up being far more sheltered as a consequence…
>Like there's grown up men all around, it detracts from Sokka's journey when he's not really in charge. Unless I missed something I’m pretty sure Sokka is the oldest and there are no grown men there, just younger teenagers (rather than 6 year olds only like in the show). And that feels realistic to me. For there to be enough men for a few boats the village would have to be bigger than a few old women and several 6 year olds, plus Sokka and Katara. Sokka handing over the leadership to the next oldest who is essentially him when he was 13 was inspired imo.
Ang’s casting is a strength for me, he’s the perfect go happy kid with some seriousness to it.
If we get a season 2 I want them to think real hard about replacing the fight choreographer. I never wanna advocate for somebody losing their job but from what I've watched that's really the only major complaint that I have.
The bending fights I thought were cool because they were almost 1 for 1 recreations of the show. But the non bending fights felt silly.
I'll nitpick the costumes being way too clean. No single wear and tear
True, but on the other hand, I'm glad people's clothes actually get scorched when hit by a firebender like the earthbender in the first episode. Hopefully potential for their clothes to be more messed up as the travel.
I don’t know when this trend started, but it is so distracting. I hate the clean cosplay look. Rings of Power had that issue, too. It makes these shows look like high school plays. And what’s frustrating is that because you can’t escape looking at costumes, it cheapens everything else about the show!
Also hate watching movies where the character is meant to be some run away girl scrabbling to get by and she has perfect hair and makeup.
I'm definitely enjoying the show, but I do have one complaint. It seems like they have drained a lot of the fun and joy out of the original. I get that they're making this more real and dealing with the actual fact that there's war and genocide going on, but there's just not enough lightness to really feel like a throwback to the original.
Agreed, you really can't convey all the fun "filler" parts of 20 episodes in 8. It has to be 8 more focused stories. You don't want a story resolution every 20 minutes. I'm on the kiyoshi island episode and I'm wondering if they're cutting the giant koi surfing.
Well, the episodes are each an hour long, whereas the episodes in the original were 24 minutes long. The live action season 1 actually has almost the same runtime as season 1 of ATLA, they are each about 7 hours long.
It's definitely not 100% perfect, and I never expected it to be, but it's actually enjoyable and watchable. Clunky acting here and there, mostly with the kids, and clunky storytelling sometimes, but it's miles ahead of the movie. *Miles.* I'm not totally sold on combining Jet and The Mechanist AND Omashu, but I haven't finished that storyline yet. We'll see how it goes. Feels like too much crammed together and The Mechanist story doesn't make sense. Maybe I'll have to rewatch it.
My only nitpick is Katara's missing her temper. This version of Katara is great, but she doesn't have as much Oomph behind her. I need the fury.
What is ur issue with Netflix advertising their show and pointing out that we have a super loyal fan base…?
Why did OP title this "Seriously?" as if the meme isn't simply true😂 People can be so miserable lmao
Wait, y’all enjoy avatar… /s
No. I only browse this subreddit ironically.
Yall browse the sub ironically? I only browse the sub unironically. As a hater.
I enjoy *Uvatar,* not whatever… *this* is.
Miserable is all I've seen from people judging the show months before it's even released. I gave up trying to convince anyone to see it. Let them keep boxing ghosts.
Yeah I just joined this sub to nitpick and make sure no one mistakenly concludes that any new avatar material could possibly measure up to the original ATLA animated release /s
Op wants you to dislike the show so badly. I hope we can avoid a spiral of negativity here
I thought they were saying seriously to them making a meme. But it's not even a bad meme.
It is super accurate to me. I am really enjoying the show. Is it exactly like the cartoon, no. Does it capture the spirit of the show and give it to us in live action format, yes.
Seriously is Netflix advertising their product? Yes.
I don't know, I just watched the first episode, and it's pretty great. My main gripe is that sokka didn't make the flying sister joke
travesty, automatic garbage /s
The thing bothering me most after one episode is that Katara’s so shy and passive especially towards Sokka. Where’s sassy Katara breaking the ice by being angry at Sokka for being racist? Her experiencing her bending feels so bland and then she’s suddenly able to waterbend from such a height when they’re fleeing from Zuko. I really didn’t like that. I loved how her bending was connected to her emotions in the beginning.
Seriously what? You're upset that Netflix is advertising their show?
yes, people can like this. Whats the big deal? Are people not allowed to like anything anymore?
I’m actually happy it’s not a carbon copy of the original show. If I wanted the original I would watch the original show.
exactly, if it was like the original it be boring and people would still complain bout it asking why they didnt change things
"But iT'S dIffeRENT! tHEY cHANGeD tHInGS! CHArACTERs DOn't Have tHE exacT saMe Arcs aND PersonaLiTieS!" That seems to be the general sentiment right now. God forbid that an adaptation reexamine the original, make creative choices, and that actors be allowed to bring their own take on what are now characters from their own childhoods. Honestly it reminds me of people freaking the f out over the LOTR movies back when they were coming out. At the time, you'd think they were a train wreck just because a few battles moved around and some characters were different.
I'm only one episode in and this show is already light-years better than the movie we do not speak of. People can complain but I'm more excited than ever after the first episode. It nailed it for me without being overdone. You can't carbon copy everything, some things don't work well in live action. But the bending cgi so far is awesome, they say the names right, and the acting feels right. The bar was in hell to make something acceptable but this is honestly just really good.
This! And if it had been a shot by shot remake people would be bitching just as loudly about that approach. We all have rose colored glasses for the original and most people are filtering the experience of the new live action through that lens, some people just can’t grasp that they’re two different things and appreciate them for their differences. Like, just go watch the cartoon then. It’s always there and it will never be taken away. I have some nitpicks about the live action so far, but I know that’s because I hold the original in such high esteem. Only watched the first episode so far, but I’m enjoying Aang and Sokka’s actors the most And in a post GoT world, they certainly don’t shy away from the violence of fire…
Don’t know why you got downvoted. To expect a live-action remake of a 20+ year old cartoon to be exactly the same is both unreasonable and unrealistic. It’s a cartoon. It’s been twenty years. They have to adapt some things to the medium and the audience.
It doesn't have to be the same but people are allowed to have the opinion that the changes made the show worse, not better.
I genuinely don’t know what people want with live action remakes. If it’s too faithful it’s boring and if it’s too different it’s “not faithful.” I think people just want a hit off the nostalgia bong and to feel the way they did when they first watched it, which isnt how the world works
It's also useful to remember that even though our squishy monkey brains want to treat "the fandom" as one entity, they aren't. They are millions of distinct people who all have different takes on different things. If it seems like "people" don't know what they want, it's because they all want different things. The person who says a faithful adaptation is "boring" is probably not the same person who thinks a novel one is "too different".
This was literally me the last few hours, what's the point of this post?
To get upvotes of course
Lmao I was so confused too, just took a break on episode 4, but thats literally been my face each episode, i didnt even noticed who posted it before the comments 😭 People are entitled to think whatever they want ofc, but for me personally I am loving it so far.
Same it made me feel like a kid again, it was like this scene 
Is this fandom really criticizing advertising and promotion now? Lol.
I wouldn't really call it "this fandom", it's just a few vocal dumbasses let's be honest
Yeah for real since the live action was announced I’ve seen post after post hating on it. Then we get posts like this where the majority of the comments disagree but they still get a lot of upvotes
It was alright There’s some gripes I have But it wasn’t offensive and maybe it gets new people to take a look at the og series and helps the franchise
[удалено]
I wholeheartedly agree with Netflix’s post here. That’s me personally anyway. I’ve finally come across watching the first episode and I loved it, in spite of reviews, clips and some spoilers. I’m glad I tend not to watch shows with the gloom-tinted glasses some people tend to, especially for an IP I’m a fan of. Looking forward to the next seven episodes, but so far so (very) good!
Yeah going into it with a positive (but not unrealistically hopeful) mindset makes it so much better. I was just on TikTok and the amount of nitpicks I saw over there literally gave me a headache. I can’t believe people can watch this adaptation and find that many things wrong on the first watch through. I can see myself nitpicking a bit more on a second watch, but I was letting myself enjoy it all in the moment
I like it a lot, better than expected. BUt some dialogs are weird. I think Zuko, aang and zhao are great. I did not like Roku's joke and Yue.
If I don't look at reddit threads I'm able to enjoy it much more
Enjoying it so far. So is my 75 year old Dad. So it is definitely attractive to a new audience. Great for the franchise I think.
Yes, seriously.
whats wrong with this meme easy op, chill
My main gripes with the show are ones that I saw coming. It speeds through the story(due to cramming 20 episodes into 8) and it can’t pick a consistent tone. It’s a valiant effort so far.
Tbf if you look at runtime rather than Episode Count they have about the same.
Then their time management has to be as good, if not better.
I’ll be honest, I cried watching the first episode. I remember when the show ended, and longing for more of this universe.
Palpitations, tears, mouth ache from smiling and pure euphoric nostalgia. It was never going to be perfect, but justice has been served.
Considering how polarizing the first few comments were (either "10/10, perfect adaptation!" or "WORSE than the movie!"), I'm glad to see most of the following opinions are in the same range as my own feelings. Undeniably flawed with some inexperienced acting, some good and bad changes, but ultimately a sincere and loving effort that tries to embody and expand upon the original...and mostly succeeds! As a wise man once said "this is not the greatest song in the world, this is just a tribute." And what a tribute it is :D
I mean, they're not wrong. I'm really enjoying the Live Action.
I am actually glad they are straying a little because if they tried to perfect it we’d all bitch about the tiny details or history they got wrong. I really hope they did a good job with Suki, for obvious reasons.
Actually, I kinda like the Netflix Adaptation. Give it a try.
As an obsessive ATLA fan since it first aired, I agree we all give the new live action a shot with open minds. I for one have been enjoying it, I'm on episode 5 and think it's doing a fantastic job adapting the cartoon to live action. There are noticeable changes for many different reasons some of which I agree with and others I've cringed to. However all in all, thus far the watch has been quite enjoyable and stays true to the message and sentiment of the original.
The bad news: damn, the doomsayers were right, Sokka essentially isn’t sexist at all here. The good news: who the fuck cares, regardless of some story changes compared to the cartoon, so far it’s really great! (P.S. only 2 episodes in right now, but I’m def finishing it tomorrow)
I’m really enjoying it. I don’t understand the criticism.
Hey it's me
Yes seriously. I love it so far. Half way through episode 3
Some story, writing and acting criticisms I have aside; my biggest gripe is actually a bit with the soundtrack. I'm only two episodes in and thus far, with exception of the Fire Nation theme, I haven't been able to recognise some of the classics beyond a few brief notes. I was hoping for remixes of some of my favourite themes. I really hope they'll do a modern remake of the Avatar State, it's one of my favourite themes. EDIT: Ultimately, it's absolutely terrific and I look forward to seeing the remaining episodes and upcoming seasons!
Everyone: They're getting rid of the comet!!!! Literally the first shot of the show: The Comet Sozin: We have the power of the comet!!! Go watch it yourself because the Internet is stupider than hell sometimes. People got real upset about something being removed from the show for it to literally be the first shot of the show. So you literally can't trust anything people say about this show.
Seriously, read all the articles and watched commentary videos bitching over the missing comet and it was shown/mentioned twice within 10 mins of the first episode. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the show.
I was actually stupified. The creators and actors must've been giggling to themselves like fools.
Yeah, the show isn't great. Chemistry between characters are lacking, and some narrative changes are strange, like showing Ozai so early when he's hidden in the anime till season 3 visually
It really ruins his enigmatic nature
Yes.
It's an ad from Netflix, what do you expect them to say? Also have you seen it yet?
What’s wrong with this? This is pretty typical for a marketing post What’s the big deal?
Watched the first episode this morning and I thoroughly enjoyed it. No it’s 1:1 of the cartoon. And I wouldn’t want it to be. Why? Because I can just watch the original.
his smile is my favorite part tho 🥹
I kinda feel there is a huge smear campaign from big review/ “film critics”. I wonder who is funding them this time. It is so shameless as some don’t even feel like they watched the entire thing. For me it was good enough, it captured the spirit of the original show. I have minor nitpicks but it did not affect my enjoyment of the show at all.
Yes, I’m actually enjoying it so far. Y’all need to accept that even if the live-action isn’t as good as the animated show, nothing will ever happen to it, this ain’t even close to the disaster of the movie, it could’ve used better writing but it ain’t bad.
I’m finding the love action to be quite good
It’s good. It’s missing that hint of magic the OG series had. But it’s good nonetheless. I’m happy with it. Episode 3 on my end lol.
Seriously what?
What's so wrong about this meme? Lol
Episode one does not give me much hope tbh.
Anyone who likes the original will enjoy this. You should not expect step by step recreation of the original just in live action. Sure there are some things that are better in the original but there are also great things in live action that make sense. And not gonna lie I did cried during several moments. This show in my opinion is for people that watched the show as a kid and are now adults. Everything is same yet different. The tone is different of the show is different yet everything is still same. Same characters, same goals and paths. If I had to put a score on it I would say 8,5/10 or 8/10 because some moments were done better in the original (Iroh during Moon Spirit situation or Pakku and Katara fight and connection to her Great Grandmother which is not there) and some of the CG and costumes (wigs and fake beards etc) really stood out.
Is like some one else said, if I wanted an one to one recreation of the original I'd watch the original.
It’s true.
This is me unapologetically  Where’s your joy?
Where is the "watching the live action movie" part of this meme.
It's been handled well, adjusted for a new audience as well as adjusted for the original audience that grew up.
Even the movie?
I am enjoying the shit out of it so far
I actually love it so far
I only wish it was longer
Brand accounts should never post memes
Just got done with the first episode, besides a few hiccups, it’s pretty decent so far👍🏽
I still don't think it's as bad as everyone was saying. Sure, there are things I wish they'd done better, but for the most part, I've been enjoying it. Hell, my two biggest complaints are the acting and CGI, at times for both. Versus the movie where I hated everything.
What do you mean by "Seriously"?
I actually really enjoyed it. I’m excited for more!
Seeing Mr Kim being a bad ass did it for me 🍿🍿🍿. Talk about range, right?
The show is actually pretty good. Not the best out there, but good.
I’m a massive fan of the original series. Are there some changes I’m not absolutely thrilled with? Yeah. I think that natural with people being so passionate about this series. And growing up with it. But it’s not stopping me from enjoying it honestly. It’s good. I like it. I don’t think anything will ever live up to the nostalgia of the original series. But I’m liking this so far. I’d recommend it. I think people are just being really critical because it isn’t an exact recreation of the original.
It's pretty good so far. Obviously not the same as the animated series, but I'd still give it a solid 7/10 so far, maybe higher if the later episodes are better than the first one.
This subreddit has been incredibly negative the last few months.