Netflix has managed to overcome overwhelming odds in creating an effective live-action adaptation of a beloved anime-style animated show, but the first look at Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 has highlighted a growing issue for the series as it continues.

In general, adapting a story that has thrived in an anime or animated format to live-action has been a struggle. From capturing the expressions and energy of the protagonists to adequately delivering grandiose and exaggerated actions that don’t make sense against the laws of physics, it’s hard to get the balance right.

Despite that, Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender was well received after the first season, and it sparked hope that the show would continue to deliver a faithful reimagining of the original. But as season 2 looms, it’s becoming increasingly clear that there is a trade-off when adapting the story in this format.

Aang Has Gotten Visibly Older Between The Last Airbender Seasons

In the original story, the events play out across one year. From the moment that Aang is freed from the ice, to his battle with the Fire Lord, Aang grows from being a 12-year-old boy, to a 13-year-old boy, at least physically, since he spent close to a hundred years on ice.

This means there were minor physical changes, such as Aang growing hair and getting slightly larger, but all of that was gradual and slow. When it comes to the live-action show, they don’t have the luxury of choosing how old Aang looks at any given moment.

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 will debut on Netflix in 2026, two years after the first season. As a result, the actor playing Aang has already outgrown the age of the character, and there is still a lot of story left to tell.

Other Netflix Shows Are Facing Similar Struggles

The problem isn’t isolated to just Avatar: The Last Airbender either. Shows like Stranger Things have long been criticized for the significant gaps between seasons, which have led to the actors playing increasingly unrealistic ages.

As much as the story is meant to happen in a short time, the actors have aged 10 years in the span of five seasons, and only a couple of years are supposed to have passed in Hawkins.

Similarly, One Piece will certainly encounter similar issues as the live-action series progresses, since the original show already has over 20 seasons where the main characters look the same, but the live-action actors will naturally look different with each new season.

The Time Between Seasons Makes This Problem Unavoidable

Aang’s appearance in season 2 already sees the character transformed to such an extent as to make this critique impossible to avoid. And with each new season, it is certain to get more intense as actor Gordon Cormier continues to look less like the 12-year-old boy he is playing.

Potentially, after the success of the first season, and how promising season 2 looks, Netflix may green-light the last two seasons quickly, and the show can be completed in as short a window as possible. Otherwise, Avatar: The Last Airbender is going to continue to face this issue.