How to watch the live-action ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ series
The highly anticipated debut of Avatar: The Last Airbender — a live-action adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon animated series — is finally here. Fans have been nervously awaiting the series since its first announcement over five (!) years ago.
After a massive flop live-action film from M. Night Shyamalan, the initial announcement in 2018 was met with lots of groans. However, as Mashable entertainment writer Belen Edwards put it, “in a delightful turn of events, the trailer actually shows some promise.” Despite the original series’ creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko pulling out of the new version, they still played a part in the creation.
Here’s everything you need to know to stream the new series and see if it can live up to the hype. After all, this new version has got some big shoes to fill.
What is the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender about?
Similar to the animated series of the early 2000s, Netflix’s live-action version focuses on a world whose people are capable of bending the elements. The only one able to master all four is known as the Avatar, who’s been absent for a century. During that time, the Fire Nation began its pursuit in conquering the world.
“But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang, a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar,” the official Netflix writeup says. The series then follows the young airbender Aang alongside his new friends Katara and Sokka, Water Tribe siblings, as he attempts to save the world. “But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way,” as per the official synopsis.
It’s “less a straightforward adaptation than it is a remix of its source material,” notes Mashable’s Belen Edwards in her review. The new series only consists of eight episodes, whereas the original contained 20 episodes in its first season (or “Book One”). Therefore, some scenes have been compressed, cut (but referenced), reimagined, or remixed, if you will. It’s also packed with Easter eggs and nods to the original animated series — including in the opening credits — which old school fans will appreciate.
Here’s the trailer, in case you missed it:
When does Avatar: The Last Airbender come out?
All the way back in 2018, which seems like a lifetime ago, Netflix announced the making of a live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon’s beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender. At long last, after years of patiently waiting, the series finally makes its debut on Feb. 22, 2024.
How to watch the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender
The live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender is a Netflix original series, meaning you’ll need a Netflix subscription to tune in. Like most streaming services, Netflix offers a few different options for signing up. Recently, they axed their cheapest ad-free subscription plan for good, which is hardly surprising (but still a bummer) given its unavailability on the sign-up page for a while. So, unless you’re grandfathered in, there are now only three different tiers to choose from.
The most affordable way to watch is with ads. If you can stand a few ad breaks during your binge-watching sessions, you’ll definitely save some money. It costs just $ 6.99 per month, as opposed to the $ 15.49 per month it’ll cost you to watch without ads via the Netflix Standard tier. This middle-of-the-road option nixes ads, but otherwise gives you the same specs as a viewer — 1080p resolution, two household devices, and two download devices. Ultimately, it seems like quite the price jump just to avoid a few ads during your streaming sessions, but to each their own.
Finally, there’s a third tier called Netflix Premium. It’ll run you $ 22.99 per month without ads and bumps up the specs to 4K (Ultra HD) + HDR quality, spatial audio, four household devices, and six download devices.
The best Netflix deals
Before you sign up for Netflix, check to see if you’re eligible for one of the deals below. You may be able to secure a Netflix subscription for free — or at least for a discount. Be sure to read all the details carefully and snag the deals before they expire. As of Feb. 22, these are the best Netflix deals we could find.
Best Netflix deal for Verizon customers
Through Verizon’s +play portal, which is basically an online platform that allows you to streamline your streaming subscriptions, customers can score a free year of Netflix Premium. That’s $ 22.99 per month in savings, or $ 275.88 in total. The deal is exclusively available to Verizon postpaid mobile, 5G Home, and LTE Home customers for a limited time. Determine your eligibility over on the +play promo FAQs page and follow these steps to claim the deal through the +play portal.
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Sign in to My Verizon via web browser (not the Verizon app), then click the Shop tab to sign in to +play.
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Choose Learn More on the Buy Annual subscription, Get Netflix on us tile, then choose Get it Now.
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Enter your information, then read and accept the terms and conditions.
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Create an Annual subscription account
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Under the subscriptions tab, click Manage to activate the Netflix account and create a profile (or log in to an existing account).
Best Netflix deal for T-Mobile customers
T-Mobile customers have one of the best streaming lineups at their fingertips for free, including Netflix Standard with ads (reg. $ 6.99 per month). As long as your account remains in good standing, customers on most Go5G plans are able to get the deal. Here are the details.
You need to have two or more lines of any type of Go5G or Magenta plan or at least one line of Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, or Magenta MAX to secure Netflix with ads for free. You’ll have to manually activate your subscription by logging into My.T-Mobile and selecting Manage add-ons. Once there, choose “add Netflix” in the Services section and you’ll be prompted to either create a new Netflix account or sign into your existing one. T-Mobile will be in charge of paying Netflix for you. If you already have a Netflix account, it may take a few billing cycles to transfer your bill over to T-Mobile. Learn more about the terms and FAQs on the promo page.
Best Netflix bundle deal
Verizon customers with myPlan can add a Netflix and Max bundle to their account for only $ 10 per month (reg. $ 16.98 per month). That essentially gets you Netflix with ads for free. You’ll need an Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan to be eligible (learn more on the Verizon support page). After enrolling in the promo, you’ll also have to complete the account setup separately for each service.