Aang Editorial
A lot of people on the Avatar forums I’m on think that, in The Avatar State, when Roku tells Aang that if he’s killed in the Avatar state, the reincarnation cycle will cease to exist, that’s forshadowing for Aang dying somehow after he defeats Fire Lord Ozai. Time to analyze-
There are a couple of pros to this theory. The first is that you don’t throw in Roku saying “Hey, by the way, don’t die while you’re in the avatar state. That would be NOT GOOD” for absolutely no reason. That is going to come into play eventually one way or another. The second pro is that we’ve seen Aang collapse after being in the avatar state many times before. A popular theory is that he’ll go all glowy on Ozai, but it will take so much effort to defeat someone as powerful as the Fire Lord, the effort will kill him, before he leaves the Avatar State.
However, there are more cons then pros to this theory (thankfully! I mean, who wants to see Aang die? (Besides Zutara shippers of course…). The first is that the Avatar State seems pretty much unstoppable, I don’t think even someone as powerful as Ozai must be could stand a chance against Aang while he’s in it. In theory, he should be pretty kick-butt even while he’s not in the Avatar State by the time he fights Ozai. He’ll have mastered air, water, earth, and perhaps learned some fire (possibly from Jeong-Jeong, possibly from Zuko). Imagine someone that powerful all the time going into the Avatar State…I’d be running in the other direction. The second con sort of builds on the first one. If we take the first con for granted, and assume that Aang will be powerful enough to take down Ozai without the Avatar State, then we can also assume that he’d survive whatever aftermath would come of that, whether it be mass chaos as the Fire Nation rebels futily against the warriors of the Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom, or peace as they submit to the “new world order”, so to speak, and strive for harmony between the nations like they had long ago. I think the latter would make a good ending, but that’s got nothing to do with it. Anyways, the point is that, if he defeats Ozai, and we all know he has to one way or another, then he’ll be powerful enough to survive just about anything, with or without the Avatar State. The final con is seperate from the first two, but also related. At this point, I’d like to draw a Harry Potter parallel. If you don’t read HP, and therefore don’t get the parallel, my only suggestion would be to start reading, the books are awesome. Anyways, the point is, no one wants to see Harry defeat Voldemort in Book 7 by some lucky twist, for example (I take this from MuggleCast), no one wants Harry to yell “Avada Kedavra!”, trip over a rock, and accidentally send the curse right into Voldemort. We want to see Harry defeat Voldemort by simply beating him, being better than him, stronger than him, in essence, we want Harry to truly deserve the victory. The same is true for Avatar. No one wants to see Aang defeat Ozai while in the Avatar State (at least, I don’t think they do…), we want to see him beat Ozai through pure skill and power. If he wins because of something that he’s been able to do since the beginning, not only does it undermine his character development, but it would make the entire process he went through to master all the elements meaningless. If he could’ve just “glowed it up” and won from the beginning, wouldn’t the entire series seem kinda pointless? Also, now that Aang possesses the ability to enter and leave the Avatar State at will (if he is really desperate, then he can, if letting Katara go is the only way to save her), it would be truly satisfying, not to mention would reinforce the whole “learning discipline” thing, if Aang could enter the Avatar state while facing Ozai, but didn’t, and still beat him.
Now, assuming Aang will survive after the final battle, and the Fire Nation is somehow defeated, it’s time to speculate what will happen to him after that. Some people may say it doesn’t matter, as the series will end there and therefore it’s pointless speculating about it, but in a recent interview, the creators of Avatar said that it’s possible that Avatar may continue after the end of Book 3, so until we know for sure, I’m gonna go ahead and speculate 
After talking to a lot of people on a lot of different forums about the topic, the general agreement seems to be that Aang will settle down into the comfortable position of maintaining world peace between people that had been enemies for the past century. And then, of course, he’ll marry Katara, or Toph, or Meng, depending on what you ship. However, here are a couple slightly more interesting theories that I’ve come up with:
After the final battle, the nations unite, blah blah blah, it’s possible that there may be some in the Fire Nation who start a guerilla war type thing. Although I think that a large majority of the Fire Nation will accept peace and attempt to strive for harmony, there probably will be a few, perhaps people who were high up in the Fire Nation, generals, advisers, etc, who won’t like it. Hence the guerilla war. Perhaps Azula could work into that somehow. However, even if they do continue Avatar, an entire season, or several seasons, about a guerilla war just wouldn’t be that exciting. It’s possible that it could come up as a subplot, but even though I thought of it myself, I still think it’s pretty preposterous. But when you’re up at 4 A.M. and you’re thinking about Avatar, as I was when I came up with this, nothing seems preposterous.
Another possibility is that the show could follow Aang trying to just fit in in the world, trying to lead a normal life. Althogh this could be mildly interesting, we’d probably get sick of it after a few chapters. So scrap this idea.
The best theory that I’ve managed to come up with (if you have better ones, please leave it in the comments!) is that an external foe, one outside of the Fire, Water, and Earth Nations, will come into play, and try to kill everyone and everything. What this foe would be, I have no idea, but the creator’s have proven themselves able to think of amazingly cool and unexpected things before. I like this idea because, in my mind, it would involve Aang leading benders and soldiers from each nation against a huge army of (insert external foe here).
That’s pretty much it for Aang, if you have any comments/suggestions/etc, please leave them via the form below.
39 Comments »
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I personally think that the external foe would be pirates. That’d be interesting.
Comment made by Yuki on November 14, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Pirates? That would be interesting, I suppose (per say), but pirates would also be a little…weird. Taking into consideration the pirates we’ve already seen, I doubt anyone like them would be a threat to someone like Aang, or Toph, or any bender for that matter.
Comment made by James on November 15, 2006 at 9:09 pm
I agree that the “die in avatar state” line is essential. Perhaps he defeats Ozai or Azula but must summon the avatar state in some self-less act like moving an island or resisting a volcano, and so dies. This means that all future nations must learn to balance themselves without the help of an avatar. This frees up other couples we see forming, ties in with all the fatalistic references we see, and gets rid of the “what will he do next” question. It also solves the question of how there can be future avatars without an air nomad civilization. On that note, where is the next air avatar supposed to come from. Dude, the fire nation committed genocide, I still can’t get over that one.
Anyway, my 2 cents is that the volcanic islands that the fire nation rests on start to go, and since EVERYONE is involved in the last battle, aang, after winning the battle, gives his life up in avatar state to accomplish some continent-shifting bending. Sweet bending, but enough to die tragically. An avatar can make an island as we’ve already seen… thoughts?
Comment made by sonnet on December 2, 2006 at 5:26 am
My main thought is that a final battle idea is now completely changed, seeing as how Ba Sing Se has been taken out of the picture. Check back in a couple days for my updated editorials
Comment made by James on December 2, 2006 at 8:13 pm
I’m mostly interested in Zuko’s development. His choice was a giant step backwards from how much he’s grown. So I think Aang is going to let himself be captured at the end of season 3 and he’ll be brought before the Fire Lord at the same time Azula and Zuko arrive. Then he’ll realize his father doesn’t love him and he’ll join on Aang’s side in the surprise attack. Or something along those lines.
Comment made by Maggie on December 3, 2006 at 10:10 am
I find that unlikely, for a couple of reasons. First, I think a decisive victory is necessary at this point. I think that a large portion of the Fire Nation army has to be defeated for the Fire Nation to lose the war. If the Fire Lord is killed, either Azula or Zuko will just take over for him, it won’t affect the war. I talk about this in my upcoming book 3 editorial. And I think Zuko’s gone to far to go back now.
Comment made by James on December 3, 2006 at 4:45 pm
He might’ve gone back too far, but he can always gradually go back to the ‘good side.’ He did it once, he might just be able to do it again. It’s a possibility.
Comment made by Breanna on December 20, 2006 at 5:47 pm
He never went near as far as he did this time. As far as the Fire Nation, and the good guys are concerned, he pretty much won the war. There’s no safe haven for any enemy of the Fire Nation anymore.
Comment made by James on December 21, 2006 at 11:58 am
except the Water Tribes. but as we’ve seen in the both the beginning and the ending of season 1, both tribes are still quite vunerable. the northern water tribe would’ve lost if it weren’t for Aang entering the avatar state with (Tui? u know that black koi) and Yue becoming the moon spirit. and the sourthern tribe has no water benders currently, unless Master Pakku and the others he brought with him have already arrived.
Comment made by Breanna on December 30, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I could see them going to the Southern Water Tribe and trying to meet up with Pakku, and (for Katara and Sokka) to see their Grandmother again.
Comment made by James on December 31, 2006 at 9:40 am
Well, when I finished watching the Season Finale For book 2, I felt a bit uneasy. There was something wrong but I could not put my finger on it. When I lay in bed for a half an hour or so it hit me!
Avatar Roku said to Aang in the episode “The Winter Solstice part: 2″ that ” …if you are killed in the avatar state the reincarnation cycle will be broken, and the Avatar will cease to exist…” those were his exact words.
Aang had been shot in the back by a bolt of lightning (thanks to Azula -_-) and was killed. he was then brought back to life by Katara. BUT, Avatar Roku specificly said that “…If you are KILLED…” hence the word killed. He did not say die, Aang did die after being killed. BUT was brought back to life. That does not mean that he wasnt killed! So My conclusion is that sadly Aang will be the last Avatar. I really do not want to belive this but It is pure logic that makes this teory undeniable!
I just thought that this point should be brought up beacause it is not being disscussed enough on the fourums.
Comment made by AirAang12 on December 31, 2006 at 9:02 pm
That’s a big stretch, assuming that even spirit water could bring Aang back to life. And it was a while before she got to use it, think about it: Aang gets hit by Azula, Katara escapes with him, they meet up with Sokka, Toph and the Earth King, get Aapa, start flying, and only then does Katara use the spirit water. I commend you and give you a big thumbs up for this theory, it’s excellent, and may just turn out to be true, but I think it’s unlikely.
However, I do think that Avatar Roku telling Aang what he told him was significant, and will come into play eventually. I just don’t think it will yet. Great theory though!
Comment made by James on December 31, 2006 at 11:01 pm
There will be four books, right?-Water, Earth, Fire? What about Air?
Comment made by SilentSpeculator on January 1, 2007 at 4:47 am
Nick hasn’t confirmed anything yet, all we know is that there will be at least three, and the third is almost definitely named fire. That isn’t official, but you can guess. Whether or not there will be a fourth book is anyone’s guess. I suppose it could be a book set after the end of the war, a book where Aang tries to restore the Air Nomads, find out how they fell, he uncovers a secret that leads to a traitor, etc etc etc and then you have action. What do you think a book of air would be about?
Comment made by James on January 1, 2007 at 1:03 pm
No it’s been anounced that there will only be 3 books, Book Fire being the last.
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James, thanks for the complement on my theory. One thing about it is it would be very likely in the real world, but since this is an animated cartoon that kids watch I don’t think that they will make Aang the last Avatar, My theory makes sense but not with the main point of the series.
We all know that somehow aang will save the world and restore peace, and so on and so forth, since the first episode. Although he may encounter many obstacles that will seem to prevent him to do so. But I m quite sure that we all know that there will be many conflicts to come and that the finale episode(s) will be satisfying!
Comment made by AirAang12 on January 1, 2007 at 6:32 pm
It would make so much more sense….the four elements.*shrugs* Where dod you hear it announce, AirAang?
Comment made by SilentSpeculator on January 3, 2007 at 4:33 am
I’m Zutarian and I don’t wanna see Aang die, though to me it’s most likely in a story as deep as this. I’m not a mean person, but just his character I don’t like much, but I know there’s good points about him.
Aang coming back to life because of Katara is a bit big isn’t it? Its like playing god…..me no likey. I don’ think he died, just passed out as they said in the story description. And the hug seen was lovely.The sign of a truly bonding friendship was well shown, who wouldn’t act like that towards a best friend that nearly (as it seemed) died? I would. Touching, very touching.
Comment made by luna s on January 4, 2007 at 9:00 am
I think Avatar Roku will tell Aang that he is the last avatar, and Aang will have to save the world for everyone now, and in the future.
Comment made by coolyoo!!! on January 5, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Yeah that sounds interesting. But do you think that the world would be okay with that? Because, if Aang is the last Avatar and in the near future Aang dies, who must to save the world then?
Comment made by MiniMe on January 6, 2007 at 3:13 am
I cannot, personally, see Avatar going beyond the designated four books. In fact, I don’t really think that I would WANT to. Yes, we love Avatar, and yes, it’s an amazing world with amazing characters, but after you’ve completed the story arc, oftentimes it’s just better to shut the book, sit back, and enjoy the story you’ve just experienced, not try to drag the story out. I think that I would be satisfied if this only went for four books, and then ended, if it ended well. Dragging the tale out… well, I have rarely seen that work out well. In the movie world, previously unplanned sequels are usually crud and when a TV show goes on for two long… take, for instance, Stargate SG-1. Brilliant show. I am a rabid fan. But there was a season or two where they were merely trying to fill the gap that a lack of story created. For everyone who has not seen this show, the origional enemy that had been there for about eight seasons was defeated, and the main character lost. So they bring in a new guy, and introduce a new enemy, and try to inspire the same feel as before.
It didn’t work out too well. They got cancelled. The story was just too improbable… after that huge war, there’s ANOTHER huge war? Just in time? Huh. How “likely…”
What I’m trying to say is, I really just want there to be a good, solid, complete story for me to enjoy. I don’t want to introduce Avatar to people in the future, and pray that they avoid the most recent seasons, because it’s become a mess…. I don’t want Avatar to decline.
Better a lot of perfection than a little mediocraty.
Is that even a word?
Lol oh well. You get it, I’m sure
Megan
(PS go watch SG-1 if you like Sci-Fi it is incredible!)
Comment made by Megan on January 6, 2007 at 11:53 pm
What if Aang tried to find people with an ability to airbend? I can easily see him try to start the Air society over,much like Luke did for the Jedi, but changing things around. What led to the Air Nomad’s downfall was the vow they all took to never take a life. Whether he ends up with Katara, Toph,or by himself, I couldn’t tell. I can see it now:
Avatar, the last Airbender: RETURN OF THE AIR BENDERS
Comment made by Erom Reven on February 13, 2007 at 5:44 pm
well..i think that..it wolud be interresting see aang growing up.
But i think that Katara Shoul be with Zuko…Sokka cntinue with Suki..
Toph lead his way a a solner..Aand Aang..continue giving peace.
It wolud be great, that afeter the 3rd book, we find Aang controlling the avatar state like anyone..
like saying:
Zuko:Get out Aang
Aang: GLOWWSSS TREMENDUSSLYY HISS EYES BECOMEEE WHITER THAN WHITE AND GIVES ZUKO A FULL-BODY SCAR.
XD
or like..something like pirates…
or the nature being disordered!
world invaded of spirits…and aang have to decide on killing them in spirit world and saving his friends, or let the spirist world being destroyed, but still dsave the world.
and the spirit world is back to normal..
that’s what i think about a night..
yeah i’m nuts
Comment made by Bashee on February 16, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Hi!
Well, one things for sure, Aang will not die at the end of the serie. Why, you say? Well, he IS the last remaining airbender, so if he was to die, it would destroy the balance of the entire world. Also, this speculation would also denies the idea that Aang might turn his back on love to become a monk, since he will eventually need to *cough* spread his gene pool.
As to the speculation that Aang might be the last avatar, well, I just don’t think we’re out of the ball game yet. The avatar is the link between the spirit world and the Earth, right? Then, wouldn’t the death of the line of Avatars destroy the fragile balance of life? Also, in the last chapter of the second book, after Katara attemps to cures him, his arrow glows and he completes the healing. Isn’t that a sign of the Avatar state? Also, and most importantly, Aang isn’t dead! He’s alive! It was a close shot, but he didn’t die. It was just a angsty way to end the second season.
Yup, that’s it…
Comment made by Zubu Naba on March 23, 2007 at 4:10 am
I think that it is vry unlikely that the Fire Nation killed every single Air Nomadand that very few (but still some) had a chance to escape and their children’s cildren or whatever are living peacefully somewhere that no one knows about. I know this not part of this subject but I had to say it. Anywho, I don’t think that Aang dies at the end of the serie. And if he does, I think Katara will be there and will most likely revive him like like she did in the season 2 finaly.
And that is about it… Oh yeah, GO KATAANG!!!!!!!!
Comment made by Brittany on April 29, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Well, I have nothing to say about Aang dying, but I DO want to say that the Avatar cycle IS going to end soon. Reason being is when he went to his home (I think it was the Southern Air Temple) Avatar Roku (or however you spell it) was close to the end, and if you add a statue of Aang there’s only room for one-three Avatars left. Well thats all I got for now.
Comment made by Kreg on June 5, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I think Aang will face Ozai but will get knocked out until Aang’s friends arrive to help him. They’ll fight Ozai together although, Aang will be the one to deliver the finishing blow.
The throne will then pass to Zuko (Azula may be dead, for all I care) who will lead the Fire Nation towards peace. Yes I still believe Zuko will turn to the side of good.
As for book 4, I believe a new enemy will show up who control a fifth element. This could be either metal or plants since those are considered the fifth element in some cultures
Comment made by Selen on June 8, 2007 at 10:30 am
What about finding and training new Airbenders? I mean he can’t stay the last airbender forever, especially if the avatar cycle is to continue.
Comment made by church on June 10, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Hiello everyone
I’ve been pondering how the avatar cycle could continue on if Anng is the last remaining airbender, unless of course there other airbernds that survived e.g. their parents fled and lived in secret amongst the water tribes or earth kingdom, fled to a secret location and rebuilt their society or even intermarried with members of the water tribe or earth kingdom(I mean they could fly anywhere in the world and all).
Anyway if there is a 4th season there will probably be some kind of sub-plot in which and searches for other airbenders who survived, with the help of his friends.
Comment made by shadow on June 11, 2007 at 7:35 am
i am not so sure about the air benders serviving but possibely i think that aang will do anything to find his family but katara and sokka and taoph will definetly be there to help him i can not belive that aang could not find ozai but then discovers a secret underground cave and finds azula and zuko has joined aang’s side OMG oh well till the ext episode goodbye
Comment made by katara8235 on December 1, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Actually, that bit about “dying in the Avatar State” has already come into play. At the end of “The Crossroads of Destiny”, Aang DIES. He says so himself in “The Awakening”, where he also tells Katara that she, with the aid of the water from the Spirit Oasis, “brought him back”.
Comment made by Magmabender on December 4, 2007 at 8:09 am
I think that Aang will survive the fight with Ozia. If they killed him off there would probably be a riot somewhere. Also that would be totally unfair for Katara!
I agree he already died in the avatar state. So the chain might not continue anyway. But about the airbenders Aang is still around so he could teach some people to be airbenders.
That’s my theory and I’m stickin’ to it.
Comment made by Bobbita on December 9, 2007 at 1:29 am
i hope the next episode will be as good as the last one
Comment made by katara8235 on December 14, 2007 at 8:36 am
Well I think that the external foe fighting against Aang here after Ozai could be a kind of negative avatar or Aang himself. Some part of the avatar spirit could go bad or something and split from Aang. Then Aang would have to fight him, since then the Avatar cycle could get messed up. This would be even harder then the Fire lord because it a part of Aang hmself and fighting yourself would be pretty hard. This could spin the series off in a different direction and possibly introduced new characters, foes, avatar stuff and maybe new elements. And to Magmabender Aang did die in the Avatar State but Roku nor any other spirit commented on his death afterwords so I think the sprirt water could have repaired it
Comment made by blackartist321 on January 6, 2008 at 12:46 pm
The reason why Aang collapes after being in the avatar state at the beginning of the series, like in book one, is because he doesn’t know how to control it, and its still a new thing for him. Plus, a 12 year old boy possessing that much power, even if he is the avatar, is unnatural, so of course he’s going to be slightly dissoreinted. I don’t think Aang will, die, but he does have a problem now with facing the fire lord: He can’t get into the avatar state anymore. I don’t know how the creators are going to play this one out. I honestly think that Aang won’t take the fire lord on alone. I think that the whole gang, including everyone from the day of the invasion and Zuko and Iroh, will all fight the fire lord together. Aang can’t do it alone since he can’t “glow” anymore, and since he’s just a young boy. But I think since Aang and Zuko have now learned fire bending the pure way, I think that they stand a good chance against the fire lord.
Comment made by sunnyhoney0406 on January 16, 2008 at 8:08 am
ps: I think that even if all of the Air benders are gone, training new ones shouldn’t be that hard. Remember, people weren’t originally born with bending abilities that we can tell atleast. The Moon was the first water-bender, Badger moles were the first earth benders, Sky Bison were the first Air benders, and dragons were the first fire benders, so bending couldn’t have been hereditary at first, so I think finding new air benders won’t be too difficult for Aang. He will pass down the ancient Air traditions.
I don’t think they’ll introduce any new “elements” even though the ancient chinese considered wood and metal to be elements of the earth, and not air (google “chinese elements”) I think that Toph is the beginning of a new generation of benders.
Comment made by sunnyhoney0406 on January 16, 2008 at 8:17 am
I think that Ursa (Roku’s granddaughter) will come out of hiding.
Now,seeing what Roku has shown us in chapter six of book three, when Aang came alive after evil Azula stuck her electric fire in his back another Avatar should have been born into Water. And Aang kissed Katara so HA! all you Zutara lovers.
Comment made by Aaron on January 31, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I’m wondering where Zuko’s mother will come into play. If she returns in one of the final episodes. Maybe she’d help in the battle against Ozai….give or take.
Comment made by Momo on March 6, 2008 at 5:27 pm
PIRATES against 3 nation hahahaha that would be fun to see there butts getting whip all the time hahaha…
ANYBODY LIKE ME THINK THAT
AANG AND AZULA MIGHT BE TOGETHER hahahaha just a thought!
i think if Aang is able to control his avatar state which is to come in/out of it He would not go WEAK like he usually do in the previous Ep’s because when Roku entered and exit his avatar state he never felt weak all of the sudden he kept fighting a Volcano… anybody seen this Ep i think this is where Roku shows ang his past ^_^….
well my point is if Aang hast mastered the avatar state he WONT GO WEAK… and I think Aang gonna have to do this final battle w/o the avatar state he said before at Ep. The day of black Sun part 1 Invasion his Avatar State was cut off when he was hit by lightning done by Azula… Aang died at that point I wonder if the reincarnation cycle of the next avatar will cease to exist because of that incident again my point is AANG WAS DEAD ALREADY KATARA JUST RESURRECTED HIM so as what Roku told aang if he dies in the avatar state the reincarnation cycle will cease to exist so the question is WILL THERE BE A NEW AVATAR AFTER AANG??? whahahahaha
Comment made by kira69 on April 12, 2008 at 9:22 pm
to all the people who say that aang will teach people to airbend: NOT POSSIBLE. u cant just teach somone to bend! its a skill that u r born with!
to all the people who say that there are still airbenders left: NOT POSSIBLE! ummm exuse me if i am mistaken, but I thought that the show was called avatar the LAST AIRBENDER. they cannot defy the name!
Comment made by ZukoForFirelord on May 16, 2008 at 9:23 am