Avatar: The Last Airbender

Friday nights at 8 pm were sacred for 8-year-old me and my 11-year-old sister Selena. We’d huddle on the couch or floor, Nickelodeon on, snacks in hand, waiting for a brand-new episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

What is Avatar: The Last Airbender?

For the uninitiated, Avatar is set in a world divided into four nations, Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads, each tied to an element and home to “benders” who can control it through martial-arts-inspired techniques. Once in a generation, the Avatar is born: someone who can master all four elements and keep balance in the world. The story follows Aang, the last Airbender and current Avatar, as he and his friends, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko, journey to restore peace. And no this is not to be confused with the movie Avatar, with the blue people.

Why does this show still resonate?

On one hand, it’s pure nostalgia: a childhood cartoon feel that makes me smile just thinking about it. On the other hand, it’s timeless. Rewatching as an adult, I see depth, wisdom, and storytelling that outshines so many shows today.

A few examples, although the list is LONG:

1. Zuko’s redemption arc still ruins every other attempt at character development for me. It’s complex, messy, and deeply human.
2. Katara was the sass and sensitivity I secretly wanted to embody, and yes, I absolutely made my cousins call me Katara. (Kiara, Katara… close enough!)
3. Toph reminds me of my best friend: tough exterior, soft heart. She taught me that strength and vulnerability can coexist.
4. Aang, burdened with the impossible task of saving the world, yet somehow holds onto joy and childlike wonder. That balance is beautiful.

Even the so-called “filler” episodes are masterpieces. (Filler episodes are great even though they technically don’t add to the storyline/plot.) Uncle Iroh singing Leaves From the Vine? That was the first time I felt grief sink heavy in my chest. As an adult, that moment still helps me process loss. Few shows dare to slow down like that. Even fewer succeed.

And let’s not forget, it’s hilarious. The show is packed with meme-worthy, wholesome humor that balances its heavy themes. You can cry in one scene and be laughing a minute later, which feels a lot like life itself.

Avatar: The Last Airbender isn’t just a kids’ cartoon. It’s a work of art, blending philosophy, humor, action, and heart into something unforgettable. The live-action movie? Doesn’t exist in my world. The Netflix series? Jury’s still out. But the original animated series is perfect.

Looking back, I see why those Friday nights with Selena mattered so much. We weren’t just watching a cartoon; we were growing up alongside these characters, learning about friendship, forgiveness, and resilience without even realizing it. That’s the magic of Avatar: it gave little Kiara heroes to look up to, and it still gives grown-up Kiara lessons worth carrying. Even now, when I hear Avatar’s Love, it’s like stepping back in time. Some shows fade with time, but Avatar only deepens the older you get. And for me, it will always feel like home.

https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender