We also see how the war has affected Sokka and Katara, who are just two of the countless children the Fire Nation’s raids had devastated. The war has left him, as the title suggests, the last airbender.
While the fictional setting subdues the devastation, it is Aang’s emotional havoc of tears that translates the pain, isolation and even guilt for leaving his homeland behind through the screen.
This great loss is illustrated through scorch marks, rusted fire nation gear and a temple full of remaining bones and ashes. In the show, Aang flies back to his home - or what is left of it, as he discovers the predatory Fire Nation had wiped out the Air Nomads, his people. Unlike the other children’s shows, the heavy topics of war, genocide and trauma tested the limits of what was deemed appropriate for children aged seven and older. Throughout the jam-packed three seasons, these three underdogs fight to take down the Fire Nation and bring balance back to the world, with the help of the friends they make along their long journey.Įven as a children’s show, “Avatar” explored themes of friendship and family against a backdrop of war and death. Water tribe siblings, Katara (who is a water bender) and Sokka, find Aang, their generation’s avatar, who has been sealed in a block of ice for the past century, unaware of the consequences of the Fire Nation’s militaristic rule.
The show begins a hundred years after the Fire Nation plunged the nations into a global war. The “avatar” is the only one who can master all four bending styles.
The story takes place in the world of four nations with roots in four natural elements - the Air Nomads, the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation - and some individuals in each nation are gifted with “bending” abilities related to their respective nation. While many exceptional aspects factor into the show’s popularity, the perfect balance of a fictional world with real-world themes is what drew me into the everlasting fandom. Its mature themes of imperialism, racism, genocide and patriotism are once again challenging the boundaries of what counts as “children’s television.” The current global confrontation with systemic racism and police violence make its heavier subtexts more relevant than ever.Ĭreated as a children’s show that first aired in 2005, the show has withstood the test of time and touched the hearts of generations well beyond its intended demographic. The Netflix relaunch of the Nickelodeon classic “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has reignited old viewers’ love for the show while ushering in a whole new generation of fans. Check out our Avatar the Last Airbender Appa Clouds Fanny Pack (another BoxLunch Exclusive), our Avatar the Last Airbender Tapestry Throw Blanket, or - one of our personal favorites - our Avatar the Last Airbender FunkO’s Cereal with Pocket Pop Appa, yet another BoxLunch exclusive (we suggest you keep that one for yourself, some Avatar the Last Airbender merchandise is just too good to give away).Note: This review of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” contains spoilers. Need a little something for yourself to rep your Avatar the Last Airbender obsession? We don’t blame you. Looking for an incredibly unique gift for the Avatar the Last Airbender fanatic in your life? Get to scrolling! The BoxLunch collection has a huge variety of Airbender merchandise, but more than that, we’ve got some truly one-of-a-kind gifts! Check out our Avatar: The Last Airbender Appa Crew Socks (don’t you just love that goofy bison?), the Avatar the Last Airbender Chibi Sticky Notes, or the Avatar the Last Airbender Elements Bead Bracelet Set - all BoxLunch exclusives. Avatar the Last Airbender Shirts, Merch & Exclusives!įire, air, earth, or water - no matter your element of choice, there’s something in BoxLunch’s Avatar the Last Airbender collection for you! No matter what side you take - whether you’re 100 percent devoted to backing Aang and Katara, or you think that Zuko and the fire nation aren’t all that bad (maybe he’s just misunderstood) - there’s an Avatar the Last Airbender T-shirt, mug, collectible, or decoration out there for you!