// KOTAKU — GAMING
Avatar: Seven Havens’ Glowing Reviews Say That The New Avatar: The Last Airbender Animated Series Is A Return To Form
Avatar: Seven HavensAvatar: The Last AirbenderParamount
The first three episodes of Avatar: Seven Havens, the latest animated entry in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe, premiered last night on Paramount+, and the reviews are pretty positive across the board. As of writing, critic reviews are so positive that it’s earned a 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. User reviews aren’t too far off either, as Avatar: Seven Havens’ Popcornmeter is also sitting at an 81 percent positive.
However, while Avatar: Seven Havens’ new characters, writing, and soundtrack are being uniformly praised, a few reviews aren’t too impressed with the fluidity of its animation (or lack thereof). For those of you looking forward to the show, this is probably not a surprise, as some fans labelled the art style as looking “cheap” and “fanmade” when the second trailer for the show dropped back in July.
Still, fans will at least be relieved to hear that the story is up to scratch–especially considering that Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender’s plot was a point of contention among the fanbase.
Funnily enough, even though Avatar: Seven Havens is streaming on Paramount+, it would seem that Netflix is indirectly to blame for the quality of the new series. That’s because both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra’s original showrunners, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, returned to work on Avatar: Seven Havens after their professional relationship with Netflix broke down following the release of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.
And if you’re worried about getting too invested in Avatar: Seven Havens due to the Paramount/Warner Bros Discovery merger, well then I’ve got some good news for you. Hard to say if this was in any way influenced by the positive reviews, but Paramount announced that it’s already greenlit seasons 3 and 4 of Avatar: Seven Havens during a panel last night at New York Comic-Con.
The series captures the original magic of The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, from powerful bending action to adorable animal companions. (I would die for Geet.) But it also fashions an incredible new take on the world we’ve come to know and love, one that’s part-Mad Max, part-Jean “Mœbius” Giraud. It’s an incredible sandbox for Seven Havens’ tale of finding connection in a dire time, and a reminder that change is truly the Avatar franchise’s greatest superpower. – Belen Edwards
After the “Avatar Aang” movie and the poorly-received live-action adaptations, it feels like “Seven Havens” is getting back to the basics, in the animated episodic format where it thrived in the first place. These are six engrossing, rich and entertaining episodes — a great sign of what’s to come for the future of “Avatar,” and a veritable treat for the fans who have been waiting so patiently. – Michel Ghanem
While some viewers might find this a slow start after so many years away, and there isn’t a clear Big Bad as in previous series, the first three episodes of the new Avatar are thrillingly emotional, beautifully animated, and stunningly scored. It’s great to have this world back, even if it is a broken post-apocalyptic version that’s perhaps not too far from our own. – Alex Zalben
Arriving more than a decade after its predecessor, Seven Havens reminds us why the Avatar universe remains so beloved across all age ranges. With its young protagonists and Teachable Moment subplots, Seven Havens is very much a children’s show — more explicitly so than the YA atmosphere of Korra. Yet it’s also a pleasure to watch as an adult, particularly in the literal sense of Seven Havens being better looking than 99% of genre programming elsewhere. Hit pause at any point, and you’ll see beautifully conceived fantasy architecture, cool creatures, and characters brimming with visual personality. It’s a real thrill to see Avatar return to our screens, ready to welcome a new generation of fans. – Gavia Baker-Whitelaw