Nobody fucking MOVE! Something new and gay has hit the Avatar universe. No I’m not (and never) talking about James Cameron’s CGI blue people, but the series Avatar: The Last Airbender. A Nickelodeon original show, the 61 episode series follows a world in turmoil and nations divided. A live-action series just released and changed one of the show’s minor origin stories to include a same-sex couple at its center.

The Cave of Two Lovers

One huge moment that made me really happy in the new show was the re-telling of how the city of Omashu was founded. It combines a lot of plotlines from the original series, but adds an exciting new element. In the OG show, The Cave of Two Lovers follows Oma and Shu who fell in love but were from fighting villages. They met secretly in caves, using their earthbending to carve elaborate tunnels to reach each other. But once Oma didn’t come because she'd died in the war, so Shu was heartbroken. Shu used his power to stop the war and united both villages, leading to Omashu. It’s very Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare meets Sci-fi. They were said to be the very first earth benders, a major aspect of the famed lore that makes Avatar so beloved. That’s how the story is told in the animated show from 2003. You may remember it’s from the episode with the iconic Secret Tunnel song.

This story has a small change in the new series. In the live-action version, we hear that Oma and Shu were actually both women! The original story changed the gender of Oma so they’d be lesbians. It honestly makes the tale of their love a lot more tragic- a couple having to meet in the dead of night already invokes sad imagery. But adding that they were a same-sex queer couple brings the romantic backstory into a more real context. It isn’t said they were forced to hide because they were a same-sex couple, just that they were from opposing villages, but it does make you wonder if it played a part in it. Oma dies, Shu builds Omashu for both villages, and the story ends.

There’s no storyline for gay liberation in the Avatar universe so it’s tough to gauge homophobia and queer acceptance levels across the four nations. We get a glimpse of how the other nation's felt/feel about sex-sex relationships from Kya but that's all rooted in the comics. Kya hints that the Earth Kingdom's rigid societal standards made coming out there difficult. We can see glimpses of this in the Kyoshi novels, helping complete an interesting picture. So we aren’t really sure if the new Oma and Shu kept their mountain meetings secret solely because they were from warring villages, or because their queerness wouldn’t be accepted in the light? Let’s do some research, mama.

The gay journey actually starts before episode four’s story of Oma and Shu. Fans of the series know Avatar Kyoshi, one of the main character's past lives who sometimes shows up to serve impeccable makeup, undeniable cvnt, and unbeatable strength. There are two official books about Avatar Kyoshi and they chronicle her relationship with same-sex firebender Rali. Kyoshi’s sexuality and love story with Rangi was not shown in the original show and this part of her character wasn’t revealed to fans until the recent books. But her presence is known from the hit animated series and now it’s being re-shared to new audiences with the Netflix show.

The new live action show visits Avatar Kyoshi more than the animated series’ first season did. In the 2024 series, she appears frequently and ferociously in the second episode when Aang and friends reach the island that worships her. While her relationship and lesbian identity isn’t touched on, it's still great to put so much focus on her. I hope it makes more fans interested in learning more about her and they’ll read about how gay she is in the books.

Let’s Look at Avatar Korra

Avatar Korra comes after Avatar Aang, and has her own four-season series. To clarify, the known Avatar cycle has been: Kyoshi - Roku - Aang - Korra. (Apparently, a new Earth avatar series is set to come out next year but we’ve heard that rumor for eons.) Korra finishes her tumultuous journey in love with her best friend Asami. And when they confess their love to each other, albeit infamously turned down due to network constraints, they happily join hands and walk into a new adventure together. The comics later explain how the two came out two their family and friends, the awkwardness and levity that comes with it, and how everyone was really accepting of Korra’s queer awakening. Even her ex Mako (who Asami dated too) gave his blessing in a surprisingly not annoying way. “I’ll follow you into battle no matter how crazy things get. I got your back and I always will.” is what Mako tells Korra before she speaks with Asami in the final moments of the show. Not that she needs his permission EVER, but to have your double-ex tell you he supports you two together is next-level allyship.

I like to think after Korra came out, Pride Parades hit Republic City. And Korra could sit on floats and waterbend rainbows into the sky or whatever. Korra can be a divisive show, a lot of haters (usually men) will point out her stubbornness or shortcomings as a reason to hate her. But Korra presents a complex queer woman who grows from her mistakes, and continues to expand her mind with every interaction. In the end she finds happiness with Asami and a new level of inner peace, not a coincidence!

So I’m thrilled Oma and Shu’s origin story was changed in the new Avatar live-action Netflix series. The Tale of Two Lovers has always been a tragic love story of finding your way to those you love. When Shu passes in the story and Oma creates Omashu, it's revered as a symbol of their love. So if everyone in Omashu, a huge metropolitan city, knows their home’s origin story, I think that means queerness became super normalized in the live-action Avatar world.

Why Does Representation Matter?

You may be thinking, Jonny you’re a fudging adult why do you care about this junk? Well it’s not junk so shut up! Representation is so important and is a motivator for anyone who sees themselves on screen. If you don’t think it’s important to see people like you on screen, it’s because you probably never had to look too hard to find yourself. Every fairytale of a white cis prince and princess. That’s why it’s so frustrating when people get made when gay things are added to newly made projects- it just means they're making up for lost time. And trust me, there’s a lot to be made up for.

From crappy stereotypes to downright bigotry, television can be a bully. Try to advocate for shows that paint characters in complex ways, recognize when inequity is present in the shows you watch, and create something that matters. If you don’t see yourself on screen, write yourself a role! Easier said than done, I know, but it’s just one way to make sure people like you are able to know they can shine too.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of my favorite and most beloved series of all time. The Legend of Korra, its sequel series, legit helped me on my personal coming-out journey. This show resonates with people because it tackles big tough topics but embraces the light at the end of the tunnel. While everything feels insane in this era of unrest, let’s all try to be a little more Avatar-like and bring balance to the world. And hope if they get a second season of the live-action show, we get to see Kyoshi and Rangi IRL. Do people still say IRL?