Avatar: The Last Airbender defined the mid to late 2000s and has maintained a lasting legacy even to this day. With a lore-rich, immersive world that takes heavy inspiration from various Asian cultures, Avatar centers on its main character Aang and his quest to save the world from the tyrannical power of the Fire Nation.
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But aside from its already intriguing main narrative, the show’s characters are what truly bring the story to life. From Toph to Sokka, it was – and still is – a joy to see how each character develops as they improve their bending skills while changing for the better (or worse). Without further ado, here are the best character arcs in the show.
8
Mai Follows Her Heart
One of Azula’s childhood companions and Zuko’s love interest, Mai was from a wealthy family who are loyal to Fire Lord Ozai. Stoic and sarcastic, Mai readily joins Azula in her mission to hunt down the Avatar after being bored staying at Omashu.
Although she initially stuck to Azula’s side, Mai’s true loyalties began to shift the moment she kickstarted her romance with Zuko. This comes to pass when Mai decides to help Zuko escape from the Boiling Rock, and thus, Azula’s wrath. Interestingly, Mai’s own words about loving Zuko more than fearing Azula is the entire summary of her character development, and how she was able to muster up the courage to do what it takes to protect those she loves.
7
Iroh’s Spiritual Awakening
Although we only catch glimpses of Iroh’s past, we can infer that Iroh was a completely different man from the one we see in the show. Originally, Iroh was totally on board with the Fire Nation’s quest for world domination and rose to be the Fire Nation’s foremost general. However, it was the loss of his only son that caused a change within him, and his travels around the world sparked a spiritual awakening and shifted his perception forever.
Now, the man we meet in the original timeline is wise, patient and worldly. He accompanies Zuko during his exile and encourages him to walk his own path and not the one Ozai believes is right. In truth, Iroh has been working against the Fire Nation as the head of the Order of the White Lotus and maintains his ethos and moral beliefs to the end.
6
Sokka Develops Into A Seasoned Warrior
The sole non-bender in Team Avatar, Sokka was the only able-bodied warrior left in the Southern Water Tribe, charged with protecting his sister Katara and what’s left of their people. Despite his determination to protect his tribe, it’s clear his combat skills were not up to par after Prince Zuko easily defeated him.
Sokka is a massive help throughout the Avatar’s journey, able to think up plans quickly and boosting the team’s morale. However, he is shown to be insecure over his lack of a bending ability and seeks out Master Piandao to train him in sword fighting. By the time Sozin’s Comet rolls around, Sokka has transformed into a seasoned warrior and has become comfortable leading his friends in battle.
5
Toph Forms Genuine Bonds
Introduced in the second season, Toph Beifong is a headstrong girl who doesn’t let her blindness get in the way of becoming one of the best earthbenders in the franchise. Born to the wealthy Beifong family, Toph was underestimated by her parents and treated as if she was helpless. As a result, she acts the way her parents expect her to but, in reality, fights in an underground earthbending tournament behind their backs.
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Toph doesn’t hesitate to flee her family when Team Avatar appears and, alongside them, grows her abilities as an earthbender – even discovering metalbending. By the end of the show, Toph has created real, genuine connections, and she’s risen out of the loneliness and isolation her parents had created around her.
4
Katara Becomes A Waterbending Master
Kind, caring and a bit of a mother hen, Katara is the last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe and is marked by her desire to improve her bending skills. Throughout Season One, we see her shaky control over her waterbending in the earlier episodes, which undergoes a massive change when she meets Master Pakku and manages to prove herself by defeating him.
Katara’s journey as a master waterbender doesn’t end there, however, as she improves her healing ability and learns other subsets of waterbending. Not only does she become a waterbending master by the conclusion of the show, but she is also able to reject her need for vengeance against those responsible for her mother’s death, and ultimately heal and move on.
3
Aang’s Journey Towards Self-Acceptance
Our main hero and the Avatar, Aang was stuck in an iceberg for over a century and woke up to find the world unrecognisable. Mischievous, playful and good-natured, it’s later revealed that Aang had run away not long after discovering he was the Avatar. His journey is marked by his gradual acceptance of his destiny and the guilt that came from the countless deaths that occurred when he disappeared.
He travels all over the world to master the four elements in time for Sozin’s Comet and end the Fire Nation’s tyranny for good. Throughout the show, Aang strictly adheres to the Air Nation’s pacifist ideals and is against killing despite everyone else telling him to. Ultimately, Aang stayed true to his core beliefs and found another way to defeat Ozai without going against his morals.
2
Azula Loses Control
At first glance, Azula seems to have it all. She is a firebending prodigy and the favourite of her father, Ozai, and is also intelligent and cunning. Azula was a huge problem for Team Avatar, able to defeat some of the best fighters on their side as well as conquer Ba Sing Se by herself. In the majority of the scenes we see her in, Azula is always extremely sure of herself and her abilities, which is a major factor in her early success.
But after she is betrayed by her friends Mai and Ty Lee, Azula begins to unravel. Her confidence is slightly shaken, but she charges on. However, Azula continues to spiral the closer Sozin’s Comet approaches, and she begins to see visions of her mother. After being defeated by Zuko and Katara, Azula’s mental state shatters, and she completely loses control of her emotions to the point she’s unrecognisable after the show ends.
1
Zuko Finds His Way
One of the best redemption arcs ever depicted, Zuko was initially an angry and hurt teenager, hated and mocked by his father and sister. The Prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko was burned by Ozai and exiled for daring to speak out against his war plans. To ‘restore his honour’, he was extremely deadset on hunting down the Avatar as a result.
However, as the series goes on, Zuko begins to feel conflicted over what is considered honourable and discerning what’s right to do. Although he momentarily sides with Azula, Zuko eventually realises the wisdom of Iroh’s words and joins the Avatar’s cause. By the end of the show, the Zuko we see is a confident, self-assured young man, who is at peace with himself.
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