Avatar: The Last Airbender ending explained

For fans of the cartoon, the wait is finally over for the Netflix adaptation – here’s everything you need to know about the Avatar: The Last Airbender ending, explained.

It’s been an agonizing time for both anime fans and those who loved the original 2005 cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender. Now, the wait is over to find out what Netflix has in store for the live-action adaptation.

With each news report that has done the rounds, fan anticipation has sunk that little bit further, with core elements of the original story such as Sozin’s Comet and side quests – and even its famed sexism – having been cut out of the remake.

However, these changes have been taken in their stride, delivering a linear storyline that fans will be sure to recognize. Here’s everything you need to know about the ending of Avatar: The Last Airbender, explained. Warning – spoilers ahead!

Avatar: The Last Airbender ending – Aang has a huge task on his hands

Robert Falconer/Netflix

As Avatar: The Last Airbender begins, Aang (Gordon Cormier) enjoys his time as an Air Nomad, guided by the all-knowing Gyatso (Lim Kay Siu), who takes on the role of his mentor. Aang quickly learns that he is the Avatar, the only person who can unite the four nations in peace and harmony, and who can master all four elements themselves. Gyatso encourages Aang to leave for his next stage of training, though he is later found frozen in a block of ice by brother and sister Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley), members of the Southern Water Tribe.

The water tribe brings Aang up to speed with what he’s missed in the real world – The Fire Nation is waging a war on the other three nations, prompting them to destroy everything in its path, and only Aang can stop them. Reluctant to undertake the responsibility of being the Avatar, Aang is reassured by Sokka and Katara, and the three set off on the quest of a lifetime.

During their journey, the trio stops at various points in the kingdom to help them understand themselves, the world, and the role of the Avatar. They seek out guidance at Kyoshi Island, see how the city of Omashu has fallen from a once great state, and engage with the spirit world at the forest shrine. Along the way, the elements of water and earth both relay their fears about the Fire Nation to Aang, explaining how they have lost almost everything to their overwhelming powers. The trio commits to building up their skills – Aang by connecting to past Avatars, Katara by practicing her waterbending, and Sokka by realizing he doesn’t have to purely be a soldier like his dad wanted.

The Fire Nation threatens everything

Robert Falconer/Netflix

Little does Aang know that the Fire Nation has already affected him more than he thought, wiping out all of the Air Nomads – including Gyatso – shortly after his departure. We learn that these orders are coming directly from Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim), the distant ruler of the element who shows no signs of mercy. However, Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu) has been siphoned off from the rest, which fans later learn is due to questioning his father’s military strategy. He’s been tasked with capturing the Avatar, accompanied by Uncle Iroh (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and Commander Zhao (Ken Leung).

When Zuko does indeed find out that the Avatar exists, he chooses not to feed this information back to Ozai in the hopes of catching Aang for himself. However, Commander Zhao’s loyalty to Ozai means he feeds this message back to the Fire Nation without Zuko’s knowledge, further putting Zuko in his place when the deception comes to light. Taking control of the mission, Zhao seems just as bloodthirsty as Ozai – though this gives Zuko the scope to come to terms with himself, as well as begin to embrace his softer side.

Zhao’s deception is achieved with the help of Princess Azula (Elizabeth Yu), who remains in favor with her father. Hoping to follow in his footsteps, she’s quick to turn on her brother – which works well until Ozai decides that her own skillset is below average. It’s then a race against time for The Fire Nation to find Aang, who has gone to the Northern Water Tribe warning them of the great danger to come.

The Northern Water Tribe is at risk

Robert Falconer/Netflix

The Avatar: The Last Airbender ending is all hands on deck for the looming threat, with both Sokka and Katara particularly being challenged, albeit in different ways. Katara is tested as a soldier, with her skills commended by the village elders, while Sokka meets Princess Yue (Amber Midthunder) and immediately falls for her. Katara joins the rest of the Northern Water Tribe to take on the Fire Nation, who unleash all chaos on the village.

Amidst the action, Uncle Iroh shows his allegiance to Zuko, saving him from Zhao’s wrath and instead plunging Zhao to his supposed death. At the same time, Katara’s evolved waterbending skills are incredibly effective, while Aang channels the guidance of the spirits to unleash the ultimate spirit creature, which is then in turn able to help stop as much of the Fire Nation conquest as possible.

Aang manages to conserve his true self after the fighting, returning to his human form albeit in a somewhat weaker state. At the same time, Yue meets her calling to the moon, disintegrating in front of a heartbroken Sokka’s eyes. While things look as though they are at peace for the time being – and the Northern Water Tribe is under no imminent threat – the same can’t be said for Omashu. A section of the Fire Nation now aims to bring the city completely to its knees, led by Azula.