The Biggest Lesson of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Other than friendship or whatever
A couple years ago, my darling wife convinced me to watch “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” I was skeptical, even though I’d heard it was good. A children’s anime? I thought. I’m not a big anime fan, even under the best of circumstances.
I was quickly proven wrong, because “Avatar” is not an anime, and, therefore, something I enjoy. Although the first couple episodes are a tad childish, it quickly grows into its own with lessons about coming together, persistence, and tolerance. It was my show of the year in 2022.
But there was another lesson I couldn’t help but notice. It shows up in nearly every episode.
The importance of air supremacy.
Since World War I, the first major conflict to utilize airplanes, air supremacy has been a deciding factor in many conflicts. Controlling the skies lets your side making bombing runs at any time, drop supplies or troops into enemy territory, and prevents the other side from launching their own planes. It’s oppressive for the enemy morale; on a cloudy day, who knows what’s lurking up there?
There are a few levels of sky control. Air supremacy, where your planes come and go as they please; your side has complete sky dominance. Air superiority, where your side is in a much better position, but isn’t totally safe. And air parity, where both sides are equal.
Aang, the last airbender and ringleader of the gaang, can fly. He flies on his personal kite, he flies on his little ball of air,* and he flies on his flying bison Appa. Aang is often out of reach of his enemies, nimbly soaring to and fro out of danger. He’s untouchable. That’s one of his defining characteristics, along with pacifism.
The Fire Nation utilizes air superiority as well, with zeppelins and blimps that drop deadly bombs and archers that shoot balls of fire from their hands. That was how they could defeat the air nation in the first place — the only other nation that could rival them in the skies. Good luck reaching them, earth and water benders.
When Aang controls the air, he wins. When he doesn’t… Sokka and Katara have to pick up the slack on the ground.
If you (re)watch Avatar, keep an eye on the sky. Almost every episode has an example of air superiority. Control the air, and your opponent is left scrabbling for cover. These days, space supremacy is top of mind. The sky keeps getting higher.
*More of levitation, I guess. But his feet aren’t touching the ground, so it counts.**
**My ‘stack, my rules.