Parents' Guide to Avatar: The Last Airbender

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Avatar: The Last Airbender TV show poster: Aang walks into the sunset

Common Sense Media Review

Polly Conway By Polly Conway , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Vibrant, intense live-action adventure tale has violence.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 10+

Based on 41 parent reviews

age 10+

Based on 16 kid reviews

Kids say that while the special effects and acting in this adaptation may have some merits, it ultimately falls short compared to the original show due to rushed storytelling and character degradation. Many viewers express disappointment in the changes made to beloved characters and the tone, preferring the depth and emotional resonance of the original series.

  • rushed storytelling
  • character degradation
  • emotional resonance
  • better than movie
  • mixed reviews
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

In AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, young monk-in-training Aang (Gordon Cormier) is just a regular kid with some special skills. He's an Airbender, but some people think he may be the Avatar, a person who can master all the elements. When the Fire Nation destroys his village, he's transported to another, unfamiliar world of water and snow, and becomes a part of a new community. Together with siblings Sokka (Ian Ousley) and Katara (Kiawentiio), they must fight to keep safe from the encroaching Fire Lord (Daniel Dae Kim) and his minions.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 41 ):
Kids say ( 16 ):

This action-packed series is decidedly more mature than its animated counterpart. But Avatar: The Last Airbender is a worthy revisiting of Aang's tale. The cast is stacked with outstanding Asian, Native American, and First Nations actors, and the world-building is as in-depth as its predecessor's. Families with younger kids might do well to start with the animated version, but tweens and teens will appreciate the swift storytelling and adventurous spirit of this now classic tale.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about bravery and courage on display in Avatar: The Last Airbender. How does Aang find courage in difficult situations?

  • War is a major theme in this series. How do the various worlds deal with the ongoing fighting?

  • The fantasy worlds in the series are inspired by real-life cultures. Which references did you notice? Does watching Avatar: The Last Airbender make you want to learn more about the real counterparts?

TV Details

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Avatar: The Last Airbender TV show poster: Aang walks into the sunset

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