Warning: This list contains spoilers for Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1.

Summary

• Changes in character arcs enhance the narrative of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender without altering the fundamental aspects of the characters.
• Katara and Sokka's relationship development is a key focus, showcasing interactions that facilitate character growth.
• The addition of new characters like Suki's mother and the expansion of Iroh's backstory enrich the storyline in the live-action Avatar remake.

Netflix's live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender inevitably makes some story changes to consolidate the plot of 20 episodes around half an hour each into eight episodes that are close to an hour each. This is in addition to adjustments to make the show better suited to the live-action medium. Like Nickelodeon's original animated show, Neftlix's Avatar follows Aang (Gordon Cormier) as he masters each element and fights the Fire Nation's tyrannical rule. While die-hard fans may loathe any changes made, some of the best of the slightly different storylines serve the characters' journeys well.

Primarily, the changes made expand the personal storylines of the main characters. While Netflix does not abandon the fundamental aspects of the Avatar: The Last Airbender characters, it elaborates upon their hopes and fears, and how other people in the world view them. These alterations in the character arcs and interpersonal dynamics will affect how events from the original show play out in future seasons, which will hopefully be as effective as the best changes of this season.

10 Katara & Sokka's Relationship & Character Development

Katara and Sokka facilitate each other's character development in Netflix's show.

The Water siblings have a similar relationship as they do in the original show: They bicker but are fiercely protective of each other. Oddly, their fighting drives each other's character development, especially since they apologize to each other a moment later. Ultimately, Sokka (Ian Ousley) realizes that he doesn't need to be exactly like his father, while Katara (Kiawentiio) becomes a powerful warrior. Katara and Sokka's character development happens alongside each other, facilitated by casual conversations.

It all leads up to a great scene between them that isn't in the original show when Katara tells her brother that she is going to challenge Master Pakku (A Martinez). Rather than trying to "talk sense" into her, Sokka says: "If we hadn't gone with [Aang], I wouldn't have seen how two kids from the Southern Water Tribe can measure up to anyone," says Sokka. He finishes by telling her to "go kick his ass," which is an amazing moment that shows how, despite their fighting, Katara and Sokka bring out the best in each other.

9 Suki's Mother Appears

Suki's mother is an interesting character who reveals more about Suki's backstory.

Suki's (Maria Zhang) steely mother Yukari (Tamlyn Tomita) is a new character in Neftlix's Avatar. Yukari is the leader of Kyoshi Island and possibly a former Kyoshi Warrior, as is seen wielding the warriors' signature fans when the Fire Nation attacks their village. She warns Suki not to become too attached to Sokka or the other visitors but seems to soften when she witnesses Suki and Sokka talking about what it means to be a warrior.

The introduction of Suki's mother further develops Suki's character. Suki wishes to see the world beyond the island but has been raised by her mother to remain at home as a steadfast leader. It is evident how Yukari has influenced Suki and the way she sees the world. However, they also work together in leading their community and are always learning from each other.

8 Aang Taking Kyoshi's Form

Avatar Kyoshi appears in a stunning action sequence.

Kyoshi is well-known as one of the toughest Avatars, and it is amazing to see her in action and send the Fire Nation running.

While Aang does not speak to Avatar Kyoshi in season 1 of the original show, he speaks to her in a vision in the second episode of Netflix's show by visiting her shrine. Kyoshi then enables Aang to use the Avatar State to take her form in an epic battle scene. Kyoshi is well-known as one of the toughest Avatars, and it is amazing to see her in action and send the Fire Nation running. This scene is loosely adapted from Aang taking Roku's form in the original show but possibly works better because Kyoshi is an underused fan-favorite character.

7 Katara & Jet's Dynamic

Katara's interactions with Jet are more complex than they are in the animated show.

In Netflix's show, Katara is still enamored with Jet (Sebastian Amoruso) and the Freedom Fighters, until she discovers that they are willing to kill innocent bystanders to fight the Fire Nation. However, Katara and Jet's interactions before this are more interesting than her schoolgirl crush in the original show. Jet encourages Katara to good things about her mother, which helps her with her bending. The pair have a more nuanced dynamic because Jet genuinely helps Katara, and she acknowledges that tragic events made him who he is, even if she can't go along with his plans.

6 Mai & Ty Lee Genuinely ing Azula

Mai and Ty Lee are shown to be good and insightful friends.

Along with Azula (Elizabeth Yu), Mai (Thalia Tran) and Ty Lee (Momona Tamada) are introduced early in the live-action show. Mai and Ty Lee are always around when Azula is training, offering her encouragement. At one point, they even fall asleep in the courtyard rather than leaving Azula alone.

Additionally, when Azula is frustrated because Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim) refuses to recognize her skill, her friends bluntly say that Ozai already knows that she is the best firebender. While Mai and Ty Lee do nothing to temper Azula's violence, it is an oddly touching moment: They see that Ozai is manipulating Azula and point it out, which leads to the princess confronting her father. The fact that Mai and Ty Lee are genuinely good friends to Azula will make their eventual betrayal of her even more interesting.

5 No Romance Hinted Between Aang & Katara

Not introducing Aang and Katara's relationship until later works for the live-action show.

Aang’s feelings for Katara are hinted at from the beginning of the original series. However, Netflix abandons this plot point, changing Aang and Katara’s relationship to be only platonic. Netflix also changes “The Cave of Two Lovers” storyline by having Katara and Sokka’s familial love for each other get them out of the tunnels beneath Omashu, which works better than treating alleged romantic love between children as substantial.

The age gap between Aang and Katara might be even bigger than it was in the original series if Katara is older than Sokka, which was previously announced but never confirmed in the show. This is another reason to do without the romantic subplot. Aang and Katara’s romance could still become a part of the story later when the characters and actors are older, but leaving it out of season 1 was still the right choice.

4 Other Northern Water Tribe Women Fight The Fire Nation

Katara is not the only woman who wants to change things at the North Pole.

Netflix retains the storyline of Katara challenging the Northern Water Tribe’s rules that forbid women from learning combative waterbending, only healing. While the changes made to Pakku’s character don’t work, another moment of this plotline does. Katara gathers the other women to help defend the city from the Fire Nation, forcing Pakku to begrudgingly allow them to reinforce their defenses. It is a good moment that better illustrates the overall problem of women not being allowed to fight, rather than depicting Katara as the only woman who takes issue with it.

3 Aang's Conversation To Roku

Aang's first interaction with Roku is changed and hints at future storylines.

A few episodes after speaking with Kyoshi, Aang s Avatar Roku (C.S. Lee). Roku's appearance happening so close to Kyoshi's illustrates the stark difference in their personalities. Kyoshi is harsh, while Roku scoffs that Kyoshi is too serious, and is more understanding of Aang. He even asserts that all the Avatars are different people, which is important for Aang's story.

Additionally, Roku solemnly advises that "for the Avatar, friends can be a liability." This line alludes to what will be revealed later: That the Fire Lord Sozin (Hiro Kanagawa) was Roku's best friend. In the original show, Aang speaks with Roku midway through season 1. On this occasion, Roku warns him of the return of Sozin's Comet. However, introducing him under slightly different circumstances and having him foreshadow future plotlines works well.

2 Loss Of Life At The Northern Water Tribe

The casualties of season 1's final battle show what is at stake for Aang and the others.

Netflix's Avatar's season 1 ending emphasizes that people were killed when the Fire Nation attacked the North Pole — something that probably happened in the original show but was not highlighted. Rather than being a petty rival to Sokka, Princess Yue's (Amber Midthunder) ex-fiancé Hahn (Joel Oulette) is framed as a good and irable warrior. In the original show, Hahn attempts a failed attack on Zhao's vessel, is thrown overboard, and not seen again.

In the Netflix show, Hahn, as well as an unnamed waterbending student (Taio Gélinas) who praises Katara's bending, are both killed in the battle. This heartbreaking addition to the story illustrates what is at stake, and why Aang must master all forms of bending as soon as possible. The more general consideration of the damage inflicted makes this storyline more realistic and mature.

1 Expanding Iroh's Backstory & His Relationship With Zuko

Netflix doesn't change Iroh's story but adds to it in organic ways.

Showing a moment where this connection initially happens and Iroh realizes ing Zuko will be how he carries on after his son's death serves both their stories.

Iroh is a fan-favorite character whose storyline is revered almost as much as Zuko's character arc. The key to Iroh's (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) storyline being a success in Netflix's show is that the writers do not change it, but they do add to it. Iroh is still a goofy mentor figure who is friendly to everyone. However, Netflix depicts Iroh as a complicated character by showing how there are people in the Earth Kingdom who hate him for leading the siege on Ba Sing Se. Iroh being captured by earthbenders is played more for laughs in the animated show.

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender also elaborates upon Iroh's relationship with Zuko (Dallas Liu) by showing a moment where Zuko comforted Iroh at his son's funeral. Iroh is known for conflicting with Zuko's hot-tempered personality and standing by his nephew no matter what. Showing a moment where this connection initially happens and Iroh realizes ing Zuko will be how he carries on after his son's death serves both their stories. Iroh's storyline is doubtlessly one of the best changes Netflix makes to the original show.

All episodes of the animated and live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender are available to stream via Netflix.