10 Reasons You Must Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender
2. It's Not Afraid To Deal With Big Issues
In a world besieged by war and its continuing impact, Avatar: The Last Airbender doesn’t shy away from the difficult subjects that will keep it relevant and poignant for generations.
The genocide of the Air Nation and its implications on an individual level (Aang is the last of his culture) and the balance of the world overtaken by the Fire Nation weighs heavily on the show from the outset.
The imperialism of the Fire Nation and their propagandist tendencies in their own schools and culture is explored in depth by the third season, as well as the impact on other nations throughout the show. The concept of free-will vs. destiny is personified in Prince Zuko and his relationship with his Uncle Iroh, as he struggles with what he believes his destiny is versus what is right.
War is not only portrayed through shows of force, but on an intimate level too, with the loss of family members, use of labour camps, and disdain for conquered people.
All of the ways these themes run through the show demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the levels that we as a world - and as an individual - can be affected by them.