Book One: Water. Book Two: Earth. Book Three: Fire. The naming conventions of the Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon certainly left the door open for a season four. Fans everywhere would have loved to see Book Four: Air. But it was not meant to be. Still, the recent release of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series on Netflix has fans looking back at what they learned about a possible cartoon season four, even if it never came to pass. After all, given this new form of storytelling for Avatar, old ideas could still rise to life.
In 2019, the head writer of the Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon gave a very detailed description of one storyline he planned for a potential season four of the show. It’s one fans would have loved to see. Other story details also emerged in the time following the series’ third season. Let’s take a look.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Season Four Arc: Azula’s Redemption
You can visit Aaron Ehasz’s twitter to see the full thread in-situ. But, below, we’ve compiled the writer’s full thoughts on the potential Avatar: The Last Airbender season four redemption arc for Princess Azula.
Ehasz writes:
I always intended for Azula to have a redemption arc in the story of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Longer and far more complicated than Zuko’s. She had not bottomed in the end of season 3, she had further to go. At the deepest moment in her own abyss she would have found: Zuko.
Despite it all, her brother Zuko would be there for her. Believing in her, sticking by her, doing his best to understand and help her hold her pain that she can no longer hold alone. Zuko — patient, forgiving, and unconditionally loving – all strengths he gained from Uncle Iroh. That’s how she would have gotten out, and changed. With the faith and love of someone she had hurt, but who stuck by her anyway. Just as he had been saved by faith and love from someone he had hurt, but who stuck by him.
And I always imagined that after coming out the other side, she would be one of those people who hilariously over-shares her own feelings all the time, and that she would be a bit over-apologetic. Like a Canadian version of Azula.
Zuko and Azula as Foils and Mirrors
Honestly, reading this description of the Avatar: The Last Airbender season four that could have been really touches us. It would have made for the perfect continuation of the narrative. For so long, Zuko and Azula seemed to be foils for one another. And that’s where Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s final cartoon season left them. Azula, despite her competence and power, allowed fury and ambition to consume her. Whereas Zuko finally found some solid footing and let go of some of the rage he had carried for so long. Azula and Zuko became perfect inversions of one another.
Should Avatar have gotten a season four, however, it could have taken Zuko and Azula to a place where their storylines became mirrors instead. It would have been a beautiful conclusion to both their tales. Plus, we love the idea of an over-apologetic, over-sharing Azula. 10 out of 10, no notes.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Season Four Arc: Aang’s Struggles and Friendship with Zuko
Speaking with Den of Geek, Ehazs shared even more plotlines that figured into the imagination of an Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon season four. He revealed, “One plotline would have followed up on Aang taking away Fire Lord Ozai’s bending at the end of the third season.” And shared:
My feeling about that was like there’s always a cost, right? There’s always some balance. You can’t just be like I’m the Avatar, taking your powers away. It’s a great power, but part of it is you just took all this evil into you. To take it away from someone else you’re holding onto it to protect the world.
The story I wanted to tell with Aang was about him struggling with taking some of that inside and probably a considerable amount of anger and guilt and big feelings. By the way, guess who would be the best person to have a mini vacation with? It’s Zuko! Someone who’s processed a lot of anger on his own, right?
We love Zen Zuko being the stable shoulder for everyone to cry on. And even though the ending of Avatar: The Last Airbender is unequivocally perfect, there’s nothing like a good aftermath story. We also would have felt excited to see the friendship between Zuko and Aang blossom with more space.
Other Ideas for ATLA‘s Season Four
Additionally, “Ehasz stated other storylines included one around the spirit world featuring Iroh.” And Ehasz also noted the following details about Avatar season four’s stories, revealing the series considered “a story about a child being born that people were wondering if this was another Airbender or not. In particular, Aang started to wonder if this was the reincarnation of Gyatso. That was something I wanted to do and talk about the idea of friendships lasting beyond lifetimes.”
Interestingly, we saw Aang reconnect with Monk Gyatso in the Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action series. We’re curious to see if any of the Netflix version of the show hints at any of these ideas.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Season Four Never Happened
Despite all these great ideas, Avatar: The Last Airbender never received a season four. Ehazs shares, “In my mind, I was always thinking this was going to be a four-season arc. Mike and Bryan’s initial plan was three seasons, but there was a period where they were open to the possibility of a fourth season. There was a period where Mike said, ‘Hey, can you run season four?’ Then some of those plans got interrupted.” And, “We had a fourth season if the world had deemed it.” But alas, the world did not deem it.
However, in recent years, the original creators of the series, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, announced they’d be making a new sequel film. This new outing continues the story of the cartoon’s first three seasons. It’s possible that some of season four’s best ideas could make their way into the new Avatar movie featuring Aang, Zuko, and the rest. If nothing else, please give us over-sharing Azula, we beg of you Avatar gods!