Inside Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2’s Character Evolution & Bringing Big Animated Moments To Live-Action

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Published Jun 25, 2026, 12:01 PM EDT

In our exclusive cover story, Avatar: The Last Airbender's cast and crew dive into recreating animated aspects and the Gaang's new season 2 dynamic.

Warning: Minor spoilers for Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2!16 years after the original animated series came to an end, Netflix debuted its live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Remaking a beloved animated series with widespread acclaim was never going to be easy, but Netflix was certainly up for the challenge, even after the poorly received adaptation attempt with the 2010 live-action movie. Thankfully, when the series premiered in 2024, it was an instant hit for Netflix, making a season 2 renewal a no-brainer.

One part action-adventure, another part fantasy, with some comedy and intense drama thrown in, Avatar: The Last Airbender centers on Aang, the last living Airbender. He also happens to be the "Avatar," the one tasked with maintaining peace in the world, something the Fire Nation is set on destroying. Aang and his friends (commonly referred to as the "Gaang" by fans) set out to save the world in season 1, all while Aang tries to master all four bending powers. In Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2, the stakes are higher and the threats are deadlier, with the Gaang finding themselves on a journey that will change their lives forever.

For this exclusive cover story, ScreenRant's Tatiana Hullender and Grant Hermanns interviewed members of Avatar: The Last Airbender's cast, including Gordon Cormier (Aang), Kiawentiio (Katara), Ian Ousley (Sokka), Miyako (Toph), Dallas Liu (Zuko), and Elizabeth Yu (Azula). In addition, they spoke to Michael Wylie (Production Designer), Marion Spates (VFX), Joe Strechay (Blindness Consultant), and showrunners Christine Boylan & Jabbar Raisani.

The cast and crew dove into the evolution of the characters in the latest season and what it was like to bring notable elements from the original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series to life in the Netflix show. As an added bonus, this cover story includes several exclusive images, providing an even deeper look into season 2.

A Lot Has Changed Since We Last Saw The Gaang In Avatar: The Last Airbender

Season 2 doesn't pick up immediately after Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1's ending, as the story hits a notable time jump. In fact, Gordon Cormier directly revealed what Aang and his friends did during the time jump, which he confirmed was "two years," highlighting the amount of training and traveling that were involved for the trio and their non-human sidekicks, Appa and Momo.

Gordon Cormier: Yeah, it was a lot of training. As you could tell, season 2, I come in as a fully realized waterbender. Don't get me wrong, he's not a master or anything. He's not Katara, but he can waterbend, for sure. He hits that one soldier with a pretty deadly blast. For Aang being the pacifist, not hurting anybody, that was a heavy hit, but I'm sure he feathered him down. But yeah, the time in between, it was a lot of training. It was a lot of traveling. We just left the North and we end up somewhere. I don't even think we explained where it was, but it was somewhere, and we're fighting fire Nation soldiers, and we are getting chased down. So we've just been traveling with a group of refugees. It's a long story, those two years.

Before leaving the Northern Water Tribe, Aang vowed to master the remaining elements besides earthbending. The Avatar might look and sound a bit different, having matured greatly in those few years, but he still has a lot of work to do when it comes to his bending powers. Thankfully, Katara is around to train Aang on waterbending, as her powers have impressively evolved. Kiawentiio shared how "Katara teaching Aang naturally makes her mastery stronger and her powers more fulfilled" before mentioning Katara's "healing journey," which is a new side of her waterbending powers being explored in season 2.

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From a VFX perspective, Marion Spates had a lot to share about Katara honing her skills and how the team was able to showcase that throughout season 2. Spates highlighted some of her favorite waterbending moves from Katara, including the whirlpool surfing sequence in Serpent's Pass, saying that Cormier and Kiawentiio "went through a lot to achieve those bending moves while on a surfboard." She also mentioned moves used toward the end of the season, such as the octopus arms and vapor tendril seen later in the season.

As for the rest of the Gaang, Sokka has become a stronger fighter, but the group also gets a new member who is arguably one of the strongest benders in Avatar: The Last Airbender's franchise history. After much anticipation, Toph Beifong makes her debut in season 2, and her earthbending is masterful from her first on-screen appearance during the Earth Rumble, which Marion Spates touched on when discussing VFX for the latest season.

Marion Spates: It's really just going back to the cartoon and just trying to take in the cartoon as much as possible. She is the best, and she needs to feel like the best, so we need to make sure we convey that to the audience. Earth Rumble is where she's revealed, and I really did feel like we hit that sequence awesomely. I was really proud of that one, and it was one of the earlier ones we finished. It really is a great introduction for Toph.

How Toph's Arrival Changes The Group Dynamic In Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2

Following the original animated series, Toph Beifong was confirmed to be joining Avatar: The Last Airbender well ahead of season 2. It doesn't take long for Miyako's character to make her official live-action debut in the Netflix series, quickly proving why the actress was a fitting choice to portray the fan-favorite figure. Though co-showrunner Jabbar Raisani admitted that the casting director "looked at over 6,000 different submissions" for the role, he shared how "[Miyako] came in, and she was Toph from the moment she entered the room with us."

Toph is that scary girl that you don't want to mess with, you know what I mean? She's got dirt under her fingernails, and she's ready to just beat the crap out of you.

Toph, of course, is blind in the original show, and that's the case for the character in Netflix's live-action adaptation. The character uses vibrations and her seismic sense to fully master her earthbending. Aside from immense training to learn the movements for earthbending, Miyako had to learn "the aspect of being blind on location" since the actress herself is not blind. To do so, Avatar: The Last Airbender relied on veteran Blindness Consultant Joe Strechay, who has worked on shows like Daredevil: Born Again, See, and All the Light We Cannot See.

Joe Strechay: When working with Miyako, we tried to build her skills early on. We're seeing her strengthen those skills, but also seeing her become more confident as the season goes on. As she moves forward, she's learning and building because she's been sheltered earlier on, so now she's getting that life experience with Team Aang. It just helps to build her confidence and self-esteem, and you can see that in how she moves through the world, besides just with her bending.

Strechay also noted that they turned to the animated series to influence aspects of the character for live-action, sharing how "Miyako is a grounded person who brings a solid energy and connection with the Earth," which is something he thought "comes across in her character." For those familiar with Toph and her character arc, there may also be a fun twist involving the character and a "metal box" that Miyako was very excited for.

While Toph is initially reluctant to train Aang in his earthbending, she officially becomes a part of the Avatar Gaang, and it instantly has an impact on the group's dynamic in surprising ways. Co-showrunner Christine Boylan described Toph coming into the group like a "blunt instrument" and how the character "has to learn how to relate to other people and let other people in emotionally." Cormier also spoke on Toph's impact on the group dynamic and the "sibling vibe" between Aang and Toph.

Gordon Cormier: She adds the rough and tough. Toph is that scary girl that you don't want to mess with, you know what I mean? She's got dirt under her fingernails and she's ready to just beat the crap out of you. So I feel like almost the first two episodes, there's definitely some fear lying there. Maybe Aang hides it well, but she's scary, especially when she's training you. You do not want to train with Toph. The results, incredible. Journey, scary. [Chuckles] I was about to say she adds fear into the dynamic. But no, there's this love that comes with it, which is so great because at the end of the day, she does care about Aang. It's that sibling vibe. She's just tossing me around, but she cares about me a little for sure.

At several points in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2, tensions hit new highs, bringing newfound conflict within the Gaang, especially when they're in Ba Sing Se. As Kiawentiio stated, "as the city implodes, so does our friendship." Granted, some of the ongoing tension also results in some surprising bonds, such as the pairing of Toph and Sokka, something that Ian Ousley brought up when discussing the new dynamic following Toph's debut.

Ian Ousley: As for the dynamic change with the Gaang, specifically, there's a sturdiness that Toph brings to the group. She is really the other half of the sarcasm, if we're being real. She's saying all the thoughts in Sokka's head that he holds back, plus some! That's one of my favorite dynamics in the show because I get to really go off in the sarcasm world, and we can go down a little rabbit hole together. She's really unique in that way.

From Toph's side, Miyako shared that her character is "poised and powerful, and she commands respect, but there's a difference between power that you've developed in business and raw, elemental power." She then discussed the emerging bond between Toph and Katara, saying, "their friendship is really strong and very genuine." Kiawentiio noted how "Toph's personality challenges Katara, which was definitely jarring and something that Katara had to reevaluate and learn from," before adding how the pair "become closer and closer" as the story goes on.

A Few Relationships Are Also Tested In Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2

Like season 1, the follow-up installment heavily focuses on pivotal members of the Fire Nation. Azula is coming off of her Omashu invasion, while Zuko and Iroh are essentially on the run. It doesn't take long for the siblings to come face-to-face when their journeys intersect in Ba Sing Se. However, it's a major moment for the show because it marks the first time Zuko and Azula directly interact, which Dallas Liu and Elizabeth Yu agreed was something they were excited to see in season 2. Looking into their shared history also allows the show to dive deeper into their mother.

Elizabeth Yu: I think that, for Azula, she sees their mother leaving as abandonment. I think that maybe Zuko feels differently about it, but that there's a lot of resentment there. I think that, in the moment that you're referencing, you start to see that it's not just mom that she feels has left her behind, in a way. I think that she's very much put in place this idea of, "It hurts. So, in order for it to stop hurting, I'm going to push it away, and not think about it, and not let it affect me, because I have to be strong. I have to be put together, I have to be perfect to get what I want from dad and all of that stuff.

Dallas Liu: Zuko's mom was everything to him. I think he certainly felt all of the love from her, and he felt like she was really the only one that was rooting for him growing up, the only support system that he had. It's so crazy to think that flashback was such a traumatic event for Zuko that he kind of blocked it out up until the point. At least it's shown in our show in episode 2, it's the first time that he thinks about it. And it is when he's faced with making a decision that is, "Am I being a good person or am I being a bad person?" But it's in this landscape of loneliness. If I'm not mistaken, it's when he leaves Uncle Iroh to go on his own and make decisions and move forward by himself. So, I thought that was really touching that, when Uncle Iroh isn't there, who is the one person that he thinks about? And it's his mom.

Katara and Sokka are another sibling pair that have been through a lot, each carrying their own personal traumas. Much of that character growth in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 stems from that trauma and how it shapes them. Kiawentiio even mentioned how the past trauma affects the sibling relationship between Katara and Sokka, saying their emotional discussion resulted in "a step forward in their bond together," even if it takes a while to get to that point. Much of Sokka's initial struggles are from what happened to Yue in season 1's ending, but the character subsequently navigates a complicated connection with Suki in season 2.

Ian Ousley: What we were aiming for in the show is that you can see that Sokka really wants this intimate relationship. He wants to be able to lean on Suki, and he wants to be able to support her, but he's blocked by an emotional wall of things that he doesn't really understand. It was also confusing because you go on set, and these scenes are awkward and emotional for you as well.

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 also shares hints of Aang's crush on Katara, something that fans of the animated show would be very familiar with. Cormier admitted that "you can definitely see glimpses of Aang's feelings," with Kiawentiio adding that it "is not really something that's on [Katara]'s mind until Toph says something." She then expanded on how the realization changes how Katara approaches her friendship with Aang.

Kiawentiio: That is like a scratch record, and it sort of opens Katara's eyes to what that might mean for their friendship and for their interactions, so she's looking out for it more. I think it makes her a little more cautious, even though she doesn't truly know anything. That's the approach that I was going with, like, "Maybe it's all just fake," or "I don't know anything until something is confirmed, and nothing is confirmed right now." She's sort of tiptoeing around it in hopes that it won't ruin anything.

Ba Sing Se Opens A Massive Door For Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender

This section contains some spoilers about what happens to the characters in Ba Sing Se, including elements of the animated series that appear in season 2 of Netflix's show.

The Gaang is no stranger to the Earth Kingdom, having visited key locations like Kyoshi Island and Omashu in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1. That said, the nation is explored even further in season 2 with settings like Serpent's Pass and, of course, Ba Sing Se. The capital city of the Earth Kingdom serves as a primary location for season 2, with the story spanning the world's largest city and its various "rings." Production Designer Michael Wylie explained how important it was to get Ba Sing Se right.

Michael Wylie: It was fairly daunting, because [Ba Sing Se]'s such a big part of the animated series. All the sets in the animated series are so huge, and not only did we not have the time or the money to do that, but we also didn't have the space to do stuff like that. We had to pare it down to the really important bits. A lot of the stories take place in the lower ring, and so we needed to make that look really great.

Christine Boylan described Ba Sing Se as "the stronghold of the Earth Kingdom," and that's instantly shown in season 2, acting as a supposed safe haven for refugees running from the war outside the city's impenetrable walls. The actual city in the Avatar franchise was inspired by Asian history and the "lived experience" of those connected to the series, according to Boylan.

Christine Boylan: We had three different realms of reference for this. One is the animated series, one is the lived experience of the writers and their family and ancestry, and the third is really just history. Asian history, and a little bit of Western and Mediterranean - but it was pretty much entirely Asian history that we were weaving into the show. We started with big-picture stuff.

Boylan made sure to reiterate that the new season "pulled in some stuff we didn't get to do in season 1, and we pulled in stuff from season 3 of the animation that we knew could live kind of anywhere." Granted, being in Ba Sing Se paves the way for a host of new characters to appear in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2, including a few that those familiar with the animated series would recognize. Aside from characters like Long Feng and Joo Dee, Ba Sing Se brings out a few vigilante-like figures. Dallas Liu noted that he "loved how much Blue Spirit you get to see this season," while Kiawentiio shared similar sentiments about her debut as the Painted Lady, the disguise she uses to help citizens in the Lower Ring.

Michael Wylie: It was fairly daunting, because [Ba Sing Se]'s such a big part of the animated series.

Season 2 also reveals that an entrance to the Spirit Library is located in Ba Sing Se, allowing the live-action series to delve into another memorable aspect of the animated show, and a set that Wylie said "was keeping [him] up at night" in terms of getting it right. Though the Gaang enters Wan Shi Tong's Library looking for answers, it also gives the show an opportunity to change some of the characters' involvement in the sequence, particularly Toph.

Miyako: When we got the storyline of the Library, I thought that was really cool because Toph's library arc in the animated series is just holding up the wall. I thought that was going to be super fun because I fell in love with the earthbending aspect of Toph's character. I fell in love with the strong stances and the power that she gets to show off.

So, holding up the wall was something I thought I really needed to happen, but then they put me in the Library, and I was like, "Oh, that's kind of interesting!" I was excited to see how that would turn out, especially because we have people like Jet and Professor Zei coming with us. I feel like we get to see that experience from more than just the perspectives that were in the animated series.

The Cast & Crew Of Avatar: The Last Airbender Are Already Thinking About Season 3 (& Beyond)

Even though Avatar: The Last Airbender has just returned to Netflix, those involved with the show are already looking ahead. Boylan confirmed that season 3 is "done filming," and for now, the third installment is expected to be the show's last. Interestingly, though, Boylan revealed that she has "a season 4 in my back pocket" if Netflix decides to continue the series. There are also spinoff options, like a live-action version of the sequel show, The Legend of Korra.

Christine Boylan: I even have a season 4 in my back pocket, so I'm always ready.

For now, the cast is celebrating the release of season 2 and teasing what's ahead for season 3, which Liu promised "will make you cry a lot, in a good way." Miyako teased Toph's growing bending powers while indicating that the Gaang would have a "stronger bond" in season 3. As Gordon Cormier enthusiastically hyped up season 2, he also had a lot of excitement for the show's future.

Gordon Cormier: So, season 2 is going to be incredible. It's going to be huge. It's going to be big. It's going to be dramatic, but season 3 is going to be bigger. It is going to be the absolute peak of Netflix, TV, cinema. I don't know how to hype this up. It's going to be incredible. [Chuckles] It was probably the only season where I could proudly say that I am happy with what I have done on that set. I'm happy with everything I've done, but I think season 3, we all pushed ourselves so hard because we knew it was like, "This is our last opportunity. I will never play Aang ever again." I don't know, actually, if they do a live-action of Korra, or something, and I suddenly am like 40 and they need me. I wouldn't turn down that contract. But yeah, as of now, that was my last time to play Aang.

Based on how Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2's ending leaves Aang and his allies, there's still plenty of story left to tell. The conflict involving Azula, Zuko, and the rest of the Fire Nation is also still far from over, as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. It's possible for the series to run longer than initially expected and for a live-action Legend of Korra series, which the Avatar cast fully supports. But even if that's not the case, season 3 already sounds epic.

All seven episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 are now streaming on Netflix.