5 Things I Learned About The World Of Avatar: The Last Airbender After Reading The Reckoning Of Roku

by

As a long-time fan of the Avatar universe, I must say that these novels have truly opened my eyes to a depth and richness that even the show couldn’t fully explore. The story about Aang’s grief affecting his bending abilities is a poignant reminder of how our emotions can shape our lives in ways we might not realize. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling, allowing us to delve into the human condition even within a fantastical world.

I’m quite fond of the universe in “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” though I find myself even more enamored with “The Legend of Korra.” It’s to the point where I can’t bear the thought of the narrative concluding with the television show.

Gladly, it doesn’t lack because there are numerous side tales that add depth to the existing storyline, making my gaming experience even more immersive.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve delved deeply into the captivating realm of Avatar through comics and the four novels that make up the Chronicles of the Avatar series, focusing particularly on Kyoshi and Yangchen. Now, with the latest novel, The Reckoning of Roku, penned by Randy Ribay, I’ve uncovered even more enchanting secrets about this magical universe. So, let’s dive in together!

Oh, and some major spoilers up ahead for the most recent novel.  

Roku Had A Twin Brother 

To put it simply, I’ll be straightforward: When I found out there would be a book featuring Avatar Roku, I must admit, I felt a tad disappointed. This is because, although he holds significant value in this world (he was indeed the Avatar before Aang), personally, his character never held much interest for me.

Indeed, Kyoshi was an excellent initial selection for the book series, and Yangchen provided an intriguing alternative perspective. However, I find myself eagerly anticipating delving deeper into Kuruk’s story next. We gained valuable insights into his character through the Kyoshi books, yet they portrayed him as a tragic individual. My interest lies in uncovering even more about him and his past.

Instead, we got Roku, and I thought it would be a boring read. How wrong I was, though, since one of the most interesting new tidbits of information we receive in this novel is that Roku had a twin brother named Yasu, whom he was born just seconds apart from. This is fascinating, because Sozin was also born on the same day as Roku (though a year earlier), which just means that he was also born on the same day as Yasu. 

Get this: any one of them could have been the Avatar, and we learn that Roku contemplates this often, as he’s unsure of whether he was the right pick when it came to imbuing the spirit of the Avatar. 

We also learn that something tragic happened to Yasu, which greatly informs Roku’s outlook on life, and also connects him closer to Gyatso, which I’ll get into next. 

Roku And Gyatso Had A Rocky Relationship At First 

I honestly didn’t love everybody in the cast of the live-action Avatar series on Netflix, but I really liked Lim Kay Siu, who played Gyatso, who is one of Aang’s oldest and greatest friends, as well as his mentor. 

Gyatso is a captivating figure, as Aang recalls him even before his departure from being the Avatar, and it was during the attack on the Air Temple that he faced numerous firebenders. In Aang’s opinion, Gyatso was the most skilled airbender he had ever encountered.

As a gamer diving deeper into the game lore, it was thrilling to uncover the complex history between him and Roku. It turns out they didn’t hit it off right away – in fact, their early interactions were quite tumultuous.

A shared experience links Gyatso and Roku: They’ve both suffered the loss of a significant person in their lives. Specifically, Roku mourns the passing of his brother, whereas Gyatso grieves for his late sister, Yama.

This sense of loss brings both of the characters together throughout the novel, but initially, Gyatso doesn’t particularly like Roku since he finds him arrogant, and Roku doesn’t like Gyatso since he speaks the truth about Sozin, and Roku doesn’t want to hear it. 

Only by experiences that cause them to meet do they eventually form a friendship strong enough to be featured as flashback moments on the series.

Gyatso Struggled With Airbending At First  

As a dedicated fan, I initially assumed that Gyatso was a seasoned master airbender, given his casual conversation with Aang. However, as the story unfolds (now officially recognized as canon), it becomes clear that Aang himself wrestled with mastering airbending to such an extent that he found it challenging even to ride a soaring bison comfortably.

As a long-time fan of the Avatar universe, I can’t help but be captivated by the depth and complexity of its characters, as demonstrated in the novels. Having grown up with the animated series, I have always been fascinated by the rich lore and worldbuilding that the creators have woven together. The novels, however, take this experience to a whole new level, delving deeper into the emotional lives of the characters, particularly when it comes to exploring their inner struggles and motivations.

It’s clear that some bending techniques necessitate a particular concentration, but what I wasn’t aware of is the possibility that unresolved loss and grief could temporarily impair your bending abilities.

As someone who has experienced loss and grief in my own life, I found this story resonated with me in a way that few shows have managed to do. While it doesn’t explicitly follow the five stages of grief, it certainly explores the complexities of mourning in a way that feels raw and authentic. Unlike other works I’ve encountered, this show delves deep into the emotional turmoil that comes with grieving, and it’s refreshing to see such nuanced portrayal on screen. It is rare to find a piece of media that captures the intricacies of grief in such an impactful way, and I found myself deeply moved by this story.

The Fire Nation (Re)Learned Firebending Techniques Like Lightning-Bending Due To Sozin 

At the conclusion of “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, we witnessed a variety of extraordinary and captivating bending skills. Among firebenders, abilities like fire breathing and lightning bending stood out as particularly remarkable. These were undeniably among the most sophisticated techniques, and it was thrilling to observe them unfold across the series.

However, one thing I never knew (because it wasn’t revealed until this novel), was that a reason why these techniques were made available to the characters on the show was because Sozin learned them in a trip to an ancient library. 

Instead of making it a mission, he dedicated himself to unearthing ancient wisdom in anticipation of becoming the future firelord. However, his quest for enhanced skills is abruptly halted when he discovers that his companion, Roku, could be in peril.

He only learns a fraction of what there is to know about the old techniques of firebending, and it’s those abilities he learned that we actually see on the show, which is so cool! 

Sozin Also Emotionally Ended His Friendship With Roku Long Before His Betrayal 

Personally speaking, one heart-wrenching plot twist from the epic saga of Avatar: The Last Airbender is when Sozin, who I thought was a friend, deceives Fire Nation’s Roku atop a volcano, abandoning him to his fate in the quest for world conquest.

On the TV series, it’s presented that Roku began to question Sozin when he discovered his friend was encroaching on another’s territory. However, it was particularly disheartening to learn of Sozin’s ultimate betrayal – abandoning Roku to die – as we had come to understand that Sozin seemed genuinely friendly towards him.

In the final pages of the book, it’s revealed that Sozin, deep down, had previously betrayed Roku. He didn’t plot something like leaving Roku at a volcano to teach him a lesson, but he did come to believe that Roku had prioritized all nations over the Fire Nation, which was unacceptable to Sozin, as he was an extreme nationalist and couldn’t support Avatar Szeto’s vision of unity.

Instead, he maintains the facade of being Roku’s closest companion, yet beneath this disguise, he is not a genuine friend. This role was abandoned by him much earlier than the final act of betrayal.

As someone who’s been a fan of the Avatar universe for quite some time now, I have to say that my love for it only grows with each passing day! I must admit, I’ve learned a lot about its lore and I’m always eager to know more. If you’re like me and can’t get enough of Avatar, then this is the place for you! Swing by here often to stay updated on all things Avatar, including exciting news about Season 2 of the Netflix series. Trust me, it’s worth your time!

Read More

2024-08-15 23:38