The Spire

Will Donahue ’24

Chief Copy Editor

It’s been nearly five years since “Game of Thrones” ended, leaving a power vacuum in the world of TV. Now every streamer wants their own big-budget IP craze; HBO has “Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon,” Amazon has “The Wheel of Time” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” Paramount has “Halo,” and Apple has “Foundation.” While many of these shows have seen success, none have yet achieved the cultural phenomenon status of “Game of Thrones.” But regardless, Netflix is still fighting to fill the “Thrones” void with their own beloved fantasy adaptation. Their chosen fighter – their avatar, if you will – is none other than “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

An adaptation of the beloved animated series of the same name, Netflix’s “Avatar” will remix the familiar story to fit the medium of live action, evidently as a means of attracting the massive audience of “Thrones.” Showrunner Albert Kim said as much in a recent interview: “we had to make it a serialized Netflix drama, which meant it couldn’t just be for kids. It had to also appeal to the people who are big fans of Game of Thrones” (IGN). It’s a sound strategy on paper, with one glaring issue: “Avatar” already is “not just for kids.” The original animated series is famous for its all-ages appeal; I can’t help but wonder if it needs to be “remixed” at all.

And truthfully, what I’ve read so far does not inspire confidence. According to Kim, various plot detours will be trimmed down in the adaptation, apparently as a result of “going from a Nickelodeon cartoon to a Netflix serialized drama.” But these detours were not merely filler in the original series; the entire arc of protagonist Aang revolved around overcoming the desire to ignore his quest. Without his side adventures, Aang would simply be a different (and much more boring) character. And in an age where television seasons are shorter and more plot-centric than ever, I have to ask: do we really need fewer detours?

I understand that “Game of Thrones” was popular. It was the defining show of the 2010s, and my personal favorite show of all time (or at least, it was for the first four seasons). As a lifelong fantasy lover, I truly want to see another live-action fantasy show reach cultural phenomenon status. But “Avatar” is not that show, and it doesn’t need to be. This story has already been done to near perfection in animation. Apart from flashy CGI and unsettling creature designs, there is nothing a live-action serialized Netflix drama could bring to the table that was not already present back in 2005.

All that said, will I be seated when the show drops in two weeks? Yes, probably. It’s “Avatar” after all, and I have a hard time overcoming blind loyalty to childhood nostalgia. Besides, regardless of how this show turns out, the “Avatar” universe will still be thriving. Shortly after leaving the Netflix project (due to creative differences – every fan’s dream come true!), Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino established Avatar Studios, a production company dedicated to expanding the “Avatar” franchise through additional animated movies and series. So worry not, my fellow Avatarheads. There is still more to come from this wonderful animated world – even if Netflix misses the mark.

Copy Edited by Sabine Hinkaty ’26