Water. Earth. Fire. Air.
For many years, the “Avatar” franchise has captivated audiences with its rich worldbuilding, memorable characters and powerful stories. “Avatar: Seven Havens” was released on Friday, Oct. 9, as the franchise’s latest installment, with an entirely new world full of surprises.
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the remnants of humanity are sheltered in seven havens. Everyone believes that the great cataclysm was caused by Avatar Korra, a stark contrast to the optimistic note on which “The Legend of Korra” ended. The Avatar, once the hero of humanity, is now regarded as its destroyer. The wasteland is utterly inhospitable due to constant sandstorms and harsh weather.
In this story, we enter Ellora, a city modeled after the real-life Ellora Caves in India. The citizens follow the uncompromising motto: “For the survival of Ellora,” which justifies their conscription of all non-benders into a defensive brigade. Audiences follow the young twin Avatars (yes, Avatars plural), Pavi and Nisha, as they reckon with their tarnished reputation and the enormous responsibility of saving the world.
To be honest, I did not have high hopes for this show. By the third installment, many beloved franchises lose what makes them special, relying on nostalgia to drive sales rather than introducing anything new. “Avatar: Seven Havens” is anything but that, delivering a captivating story that makes it hard to look away.
The story is reminiscent of the first episodes of “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” where we are dropped into a world in which the Avatar seems powerless against the threats facing humanity. Pavi and Nisha also mirror Aang and Korra, respectively. Pavi does not believe fighting will solve their problems, while Nisha is a go-getter who wants to use her power to fight off whatever caused the cataclysm. I am already curious about how their contrasting beliefs will either complement each other or bring them into conflict.
The thing I loved most about this show was the mysteries surrounding every aspect of the world. We only know as much as the characters in the show — next to nothing. We do not know what caused the cataclysm, why Korra is claimed to be responsible or why there are two Avatars. The cliffhanger at the end of the third episode has me eagerly awaiting the next episodes.
The one thing I hope they include is the close-knit friend group that made the first two series so special. I wonder how Pavi and Nisha will assemble their own Gaang or Krew (the fandom nicknames for the first two Team Avatar groups). Some viewers have criticized the animation in the trailer, but I found no glaring issues with it while watching the show. That being said, the animation does feel more like a traditional American cartoon compared to the anime-inspired style of the original series.
“Avatar: Seven Havens” exceeded every expectation I had going into it. It is a compelling, fresh series that is willing to take the franchise in a new direction. If these first three episodes are any indication of the rest of the series, I have no doubt that the best is yet to come.
Rating: 5/5