The live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender leaves out an important event in Zuko’s development.
This article contains spoilers for NetflixsAvatar: The Last Airbenderepisode 2.
This single-minded approach meant that through much of the shows first season, Zuko was the main villain.
In the original episode, Zuko tracks Aang to Kyoshi Island and does battle with him in the village.
Zuko and his soldiers dont hold back and their fire bending causes massive damage.
Huge fireballs destroy homes.
The statue of Avatar Kyoshi is set ablaze.
Zuko doesnt care, hes only focused on capturing Aang.
If they leave, Zuko will follow, and theyre right.
Once Zuko discovers Aangs escape, he orders his soldiers to pursue.
This was a key early moment that demonstrated just how far Zuko was willing to go.
Zuko was ready to ruin the lives of an entire village to accomplish his goals.
He was a threat, one that also showed Aang the consequences of his role as the Avatar.
The Netflix version keeps the main points of the story but swaps characters.
Katara (Kiawentiio) tries to hold Zuko off but Aang, possessed by Kyoshis spirit, stops him.
Aang absolutely wrecks Zuko.
He doesnt stand a chance against the powerful former incarnation of the Avatar.
Why was this change made?
Without this we lose the sense that hes a key threat to not just Aang but the whole world.
Instead, Aang powers-up to Kyoshi super mode and makes him look like a joke.
There, Aang didnt beat Zuko outright.
It lets Aang get a partial win but makes sure Zuko remains a threat in the narrative.
Perhaps they thought if Zuko burned a whole village hed be unlikable.
If so, it wasnt a good choice and shows a lack of understanding of that original episode.
Zuko doesnt just burn the village because he feels like it and has no heart.
He only cares about the Avatar and the village is simply collateral damage.
It walks a fine line that keeps him threatening while still not making him a total irredeemable monster.
All eight episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender are now streaming on Netflix.
