u/Awkward_Philosophy16

What I mean is that I think part of the reason Avatar's world was able to be so memorable despite taking place in a simple world with a simple magic system is that it was always perfectly tied to the story's anatomy of telling a Fantasy Good vs. Evil Final Boss Hero’s Journey.

You discovered the weight, lore, and meaning of “the chosen ones' role and abilities” through the lens of an immature child facing the greatest conflict in the world’s history. As a fish out of water in a radically different position to every other predecessor while adding the companionship of teachers and friends wearing respective color-coded outfits to the party.

Down to even the order in which the main character goes through the magic system and faces the primary enemy was designed to add to this storyline.

Air is perfect for a hero character, as it can be used anywhere and is self-defense-heavy, with push-based combat and fleeing. Fire is good for antagonists as it’s destructive and can create shadows for looming big bads.

The MC gets grounded and finds love after personal loss with a slightly stricter discipline in water. He gets cocky and proceeds to get beat up, and struggles with his opposite in Earth as a roadblock in the middle of the series.

Also serving as a narrative punishment for trying to rush with and play with the free-flowing “villain's power”.

He then redeems himself. Forgiving and respecting the element with the help of his biggest rival at the end after maturity, losing battles, and even death.

Yes, I know the show says Firebending isn’t evil and neither is the Fire Nation. And yes there were years before the show took place where there was peace yaddy yada.

But from telling a story that adds oomph to why and when we see magic being used the reason people remember Firebending over other elemental fire users in media is that it’s the villain's power first that we come to love and wish to see in balance like before the “everything changed” part of the intro because we love Zuko and Aang's parallel arcs.

When you divorce the magic users from the context of being enemies that are trying to kill the Protagonists. And appreciating feeling safe when you see the rare good users like sneaky and wise rebels Jeong Jeong and Iroh. What you’re left with is just another fantasy wizard race no different from the other good guy magic users we see and hear about.

Narratively speaking when trying to tell another Avatar element hero’s learning journey is basically gonna be the same lessons Aang learned except with less of the story impact.
You don’t get the most destructive power at the end after growth. The third element opposite roadblock is set to be a rehash of “don’t overthink be calm/more aggressive philosophy”

I think the reason people criticize the Korra series decisions in adding things like spirit magic, flying, and bloodbending hax, platinum robots. It's because there are just not a lot of ways to generate a grandiose conflict. When the original series establishes a fully realized Avatar that can access the Avatar state is basically a demi-god that can shape continents with the proper wisdom.

As someone who loves both Fire Siblings and their arcs, I think the story makes it pretty clear that the two are parallel for most of the series, and that Zuko was put into a horrible spot because of his father’s manipulation and his disappointment in his abilities and his use as a royal.

If Zuko had been doing acrobatic fire skills at 12 to Ozai’s delight, he would’ve been marching armies at 16 instead of being a highway robber on those same earth kingdom roads.

Some still can’t wrap their head around the fact that the Zuko at Iroh's tea shop was forcing himself to put on a mask while still unhappy in his deeper subconscious at being in the city leading to his betrayal of Iroh. Who while trying his best was still raised in the same toxic culture and wasn’t a perfect guide by any means.

I mean he literally says in B1 something to the effect of “why would your father banish you if he doesn’t love you”

Azula gave him a CHOICE to leave Ba Sing Se and regain his honor and Iroh thought he was helping a Zuko who he thought was in a better place and carving out his own path.

Even though he still believed he was in the Earth Kingdom because of his own fault and that his dad was right to banish and hurt him. Which he only ever unlearns during B3 mind you.