Cr. Robert Falconer/Netflix © 2024
Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender has been renewed for seasons 2 and 3. These new seasons will allow Netflix to complete the story in as many seasons as the original show but where are we headed and who will be introduced? We’ve got you covered.
Looking ahead to seasons 2 and 3, Avatar: The Last Airbender will cover some of its most beloved storylines ever. Additionally, Team Avatar will visit new territory, such as Ba Sing Se; the biggest city in the Earth Kingdom. And, of course, we will meet Toph Beifong, who’s regarded as one of the most popular characters throughout the Avatar Universe.
Let’s overview some of the most exciting locations in seasons 2 and 3, as well as new characters the Gaang will meet along the way!
New Characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender Seasons 2 & 3
Toph Beifong
Picture: Nickelodeon
It’s not an overstatement to say that Toph Beifong is one of the most-loved characters in the animated show — and one of the most popular figures in animated history. The young, blind earthbender is hilariously outspoken and witty but also immensely powerful, using seismic sense to bend.
The way Toph instantly becomes a beloved member of Team Avatar speaks volumes about her character. We can’t wait to see who Netflix casts. This casting has got to be perfect. Any ideas?
Hama
Picture: Nickelodeon
Hama is a water-bending master from the Southern Water Tribe and the final bender to be captured following the Fire Nation’s invasion. Hama is best known for her unique skill of ‘blood bending,’ wherein she uses the water in people’s blood to take them down from the inside. The technique, pioneered by Hama, is immensely powerful and brutal. Albeit regretfully, Katara eventually learns how to blood bend from Hama.
Hama’s appearance in the cartoon’s episode “The Puppetmaster” is one of the darkest in the entire series, providing a tonal inspiration for the live-action series.
Kuei
Picture: Nickelodeon
Kuei is the King of Ba Sing Se… or so they say. After being made one of the youngest kings in the Earth Kingdom’s history, Kuei was forced to run before he could walk. As a result, he delegated much of his duties to Long Feng, who acted as regent. However, as time passed, Kuei would become nothing more than a figurehead for the city. The power is most certainly not in his hands.
Long Feng
Picture: Nickelodeon
Long Feng is super intelligent and shady. He’s the leader of the Dai Li — the all-powerful secret police force of Ba Sing Se — who he uses only to pursue his own malevolent goals. Kuei may well be the king of Ba Sing Se, but in reality, he’s nothing more than a figurehead. Long Feng is really the one pulling the strings.
Combustion Man
Picture: Nickelodeon
An iconic villain, Combustion Man (or ‘sparky sparky boom boom,’ as Sokka calls him) is a bounty hunter from the Fire Nation who’s tasked with finding Aang by Prince Zuko. He gets his name for his wild ability to combustion bend, which means he can fire explosions from an eye tattooed on his forehead.
Piandao
Picture: Nickelodeon
Aang can bend all the elements. Toph can bend earth. Katara can bend water. Where does that leave Sokka? Well, eventually, Sokka gets tired of his boomerang and decides to master a skill of his own. Despite his inability to bend any elements, he goes under the tutorship of Piandao to master the honorable art of swordsmanship.
Guru Pathik
Picture: Nickelodeon
Pathik is one of the most spiritual inhabitants of the Avatar world. Though not a bender himself, his knowledge of the Spirit World is nigh unparalleled. Pathik was once a friend of Monk Gyatso — who’s among the most important figures in Aang’s life.
Pathik is known to help enlighten people and assist in bringing out their spiritual side. He helps Aang learn to control the Avatar State. He even helped Appa at one point.
Returning characters
One interesting creative change the creators of the live-action show made was to condense the narrative. In doing this, they included characters who didn’t appear until season 2 of the original. Most notably, Azula’s (Elizabeth Yu) role was massively expanded, allowing the team to develop her character and set pieces in place before her story takes the forefront in season 2.
Outside the core cast, other returning characters include:
- Mai (Thalia Tran) and Ty Lee (Momona Tamada) — good friends of Princess Azula.
- Wan Shi Tong (Randall Duk Kim) — the Spirit of Knowledge and guardian of the largest library in the Four Nations.
- Jet (Sebastian Amoruso) — the leader of the Freedom Fighters, a group determined to take down the Fire Nation.
- Suki (Maria Zhang) — the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors on Kyoshi Island.
New Locations Expected in Avatar: The Last Airbender Seasons 2 & 3
Ba Sing Se
Picture: Nickelodeon
The largest city in the Earth Kingdom, Ba Sing Se, is perhaps the most utilized location in seasons 2 and 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender. It’s the central hub where many characters are based and where many battles go down. The city is huge, home to millions, and run by a corrupt leadership that’s rotten to its core, all while the king is left in the dark. As the famous quote goes: “There is no war in Ba Sing Se.” Expect to hear that being said… a lot.
The biggest city we saw in season 1 of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender was Omashu. Sure, Omashu is the second largest city in the Earth Kingdom, but it’s tiny in comparison to Ba Sing Se, which is unmatched in terms of scale. I can’t wait to see how the live-action version looks.
The Library
Picture: Nickelodeon
Hidden in the depths of the desert, the library is overseen by the spirit Wan Shi Tong. You may remember Wan Shi Tong from his very brief cameo in the season 1 episode, “Spirited Away,” in which Aang, Katara and Sokka enter the Spirit World. Wan Shi Tong is an ancient, wise spirit who takes the form of a giant owl. He is perhaps the most knowledgeable entity in the world, having collected information for years.
The library plays a pivotal role in Avatar, being the place in which Team Avatar finds an invaluable piece of information crucial to their aim of ending the Fire Nation’s rule.
The Swamp
Picture: Nickelodeon
The Swamp is the main setting of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2, episode 4. In the episode, Aang and his friends are attacked by a mysterious swamp monster and find themselves separated. But that’s not the only problem: everyone in the group starts getting increasingly more bizarre visions. For instance, Sokka sees Princess Yue, while Aang sees a young girl.
Overall, the Swamp is a memorable location among fans, and one that we’re excited to see in live-action. And if we do see it, it’s likely that it’ll be very early on into season two.
Eastern Air Temple
Picture: Nickelodeon
The Eastern Air Temple is regarded as the most spiritual of all four Air Temples, though it is only briefly featured in the show. In Avatar, it is visited by Aang where Guru Pathik teaches him how to overcome his fear and control the Avatar State.
The design of the Eastern Air Temple is beautiful. And given how Netflix brought the Southern Air Temple to life, I’m sure it’ll look even more glorious in live-action.
Sun Warriors
Picture: Nickelodeon
In the third and final season, Aang and Zuko travel to the ancient ruins of the Sun Warrior’s city. At that point, Zuko had lost the art of fire bending, while Aang is still seeking to master it. Their aim is to travel to the heart of fire bending so they can learn from the fire bending Masters.
The city of the Sun Warriors is gloriously portrayed. While there, Zuko and Aang perform the Dancing Dragon, an ancient form of fire bending practiced by the Sun Warriors. Watching this in animation is spectacular enough; one can only imagine how good it will look in Netflix’s adaptation.
The Boiling Rock
Picture: Nickelodeon
One of the most popular 2-parter episodes in Avatar is The Boiling Rock. The Rock itself is a hugely secure Fire Nation prison. In the show, Suki finds herself imprisoned there, while Zuko and Sokka attempt to find a way of breaking into the prison to free her and other prisoners.
It’s the Avatar Universe’s ultimate prison escape story.
Which characters and locations are you most excited to see come to life in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender? Let us know in the comments!
Netflix Synopsis: "A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save a world at war -- and fight a ruthless enemy bent on stopping him."
