Do We Really Need the Last Air Bender Series? A Wu Assaissins Review
In 2018, Netflix revealed a live-action Avatar the last Air Bender series was in the making. The series was helmed by original creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konitzko taking on the role of series showrunners. However, in 2020, the pair revealed that they had left production. They said Netflix didn’t follow through on their promises to support the duo’s original vision for the series. But there may have been something more happening.
The “Riverdale Formula” Strikes Again
There are many classic childhood revamps using the “Riverdale Formula”. This includes the oversexualization of teenagers, “quirky” but cliché characters, and the common teen angst exploding all over the story. One can only imagine what is bound to happen with this series — especially on the factor of the new producers — decided to not only switch up names, but also Katara and Sokka’s ages.
Originally, I was very optimistic about this series, but not after seeing all the drama behind the scenes. The likelihood of them sexualizing Katara is another reason why I can say I will not be watching the show unless absolutely necessary.
Enter the Wu Assassins
Thus, I have been led into the wormhole of finding a new series to watch. Enter Wu Assassins.
Created by John Wirth and Tony Krantz, Wu Assassins follows the adventures of a young San Francisco chef named Kai who’s working to his dream of running his own food truck business. However after one order to a triad member gone wrong at the restaurant he works at, his life suddenly takes a turn when he is imbued with the power of a thousand ancient monks and have to stop a growing evil in the city that more closer to him than he even knows.
The core cast of Wu Assassins(Iko Uwais who plays Kai Jin, Cecila Au who plays Ying Ying, Katheryn Winnick who plays Christine Gavin, Byron Mann who plays Uncle Six, Lewis Tan who plays Lu Xin Lee, Lawrence Kao who plays Tommy Wah, Li Jun Li who plays Jenny Wah and JuJu Chan who plays Zan) truly brings Wu Assassins to life. It was absolutely amazing to see a series that brings Asian-American cinema and culture to the forefront. Wu Assassins also tackles the typical day-to-day core issues (identity, destiny, family, and faith, trauma).
Do We Really Need the Last Air Bender?
With that said it’s some factors that have led me to my original question: Do we really need the Last Air Bender?
The two series do have their differences. In the Last Air Bender, there are nations of people with the elemental powers and in Wu Assassin’s there’s only a select few. Another difference is that while there are fantasy elements present, the action in Wu Assassins mostly involves raw hand-to-hand combat. It’s like any other martial arts movie/show, sans the superpower factor. However, their stories are also very much alike.
You have the story's main protagonist, a peaceful but focused young man who is just trying to find his way in the world (Kai). There is his “spirit guide,” a woman who refuses to let Kai make the mistakes she did (Ying Ying). The protagonist’s best friend is a (Fine as hell!) auto shop owner who’s life was messed up after a “scarring” incident that happened. He finds out that everything he thought about his “savior” was a lie. Then, there is the badass undercover agent who’s working at the shop all the while being conflicted with her duties (C.G).
There are siblings. One is trying to protect her baby brother all the while trying her best to keep her traditional parents pleased (Jenny). Her brother is a young troubled man who is punishing himself for an incident that was not his burden to ever bear (Tommy).
There is also have the “main” antagonist, a ruthless triad boss who is actually the “Fire Wu” and is seeking to destroy the Wu Assassin before he is able to come into his power (Uncle Six). His right-hand woman is a cutthroat individual who seeks way more than she has been given (Zan). They do sound somewhat like our Avatar faves don’t they?
Wu Assassins is the Better Movie
Wu Assassins really feels like the show was created for the story, rather than the typical “story being made for the show”. Production is top-notch, directing is great, the performances from the leads down to the smallest players are spectacular. Everyone brings their ‘A’ game, and that energy permeates the set, scene-to-scene, episode-to-episode. I, however, would like to see more romance development (especially between Kai and Jenny) with the series continuance happening.
With the positive reaction from Season 1, Netflix greenlit a stand-alone movie entitled Wu Assassins: Fistful of Vengance. There’s possibly another stand-alone movie, which I hope will lead to an official Season Two or Three if the movies are counted as season two. Hopefully, if you watch the series and eventually the movie you will be also asking yourself. Do we really need the last air bender?
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Pros of the series: The homage to history of Chinese immigration into the U.S., great story telling, ideal setting in San Francisco, the interweaving of Chinese mythology, traditions and culture, the evolution of one of the characters, perfect soundtrack, plot holes to create other stories/prequels.
Cons of the series: One of the characters doesn’t show a lot of range, subpar CGI, should of been one sole antagonist, rushed development towards the ending episodes.