Lindsey Rabinowitz August 16th, 2020 - 10:34 AM
The unaired pilot of Avatar: The Last Airbender can be watched on Twitch, according to Screen Rant. The episode used to have to be purchased in order to be viewed, but Nickelodeon has made it free. This pilot was never meant to be aired and was used to pitch the series.
Avatar: The Last Airbender was originally broadcast on Nickelodeon from 2005-2008. A feature film called The Last Airbender was created after the show finished, as well as a spinoff called The Legend Korra. A live action TV series based off the original show is being made by Netflix. The original cartoon creators, Michael DiMartino (Family Guy, The Legend of Korra) and Bryan Konietzko (Invader Zim, King of The Hill), pulled out of the project due to creative differences. DiMartino posted on Instagram to address the decision and alert the fans.
Avatar is loved by many for its animation style, humor, and impeccable story telling. The compelling plot and characters have drawn in fans for years. As a treat, Nickelodeon provided the unaired pilot in a live stream to cheer up their loyal viewers. The episode begins at the 39:55 mark of the twitch stream.
The episode introduces the main character, Aang, and his friends/protectors Sokka and Kya. While being chased by the fire benders, Sokka gets captured. Kya goes to save him and tells Aang to wait and stay hidden. Since he is “the avatar”, he’s too important and cannot risk being taken by the fire tribe. Aang doesn’t listen and goes to rescue his friends. The episode ends with a fight between a member of the fire tribe, Zukko, and Aang.
Although the episode does not follow the actual arc of the series to a tee, it illustrates the personalities of the characters and introduces the conflicts and background information that shaped the show.
