Aang (pilot)


 * This article is about the character in the pilot episode. For the character in the actual series, see Aang. For the character in the film, see Film:Aang. For the episode, see Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang.

"air"

- Come on, Kya, you're flying with the Avatar! Start acting like it.

Aang is an Air Nomad and the current Avatar. In the pilot episode, Aang is very similar to his character in the first book of the main series. He was fun-loving, somewhat naive, and adventurous. He already seemed to have a conscience against killing people, as he saved Zuko from, at the very least, a critical injury. He already had some Waterbending experience, as he bent the water and both corrected Kya's attempts and gave her advice.

Notably, the Avatar State was much more simplistic in the pilot; Aang threw himself into danger to activate it and seemed to be able to exit the state at will as well, seemingly indicating mastery. Obviously, the concept of the Avatar State was much more complex in the show, as the current Avatar reincarnation is not born with mastery of the state and it activates only when it is in real danger or from extreme emotion; also, Aang didn't master it until the very end of the series.

History
Aang and his friends, Kya and Sokka were fleeing from Prince Zuko, who was chasing them on his ship. They ran into a sea serpent, but it took interest in Zuko's ship rather than them, allowing them to escape to an island. When there, Kya practiced her Waterbending, but could not control it well; Aang offered her some advice and demonstrated the correct leg stance. When Sokka demanded they help search for food, Kya was reluctant to leave Aang, "the world's last hope," and so Sokka went off in a huff. Kya and Aang waited around and engaged in a slightly awkward conversation before Momo alerted them of danger.

When they reached the Fire Nation base and saw Sokka being taken in, Kya decided to go after him, but told Aang to stay hidden. She became captured as well, but refused to reveal Aang's whereabouts. When Aang flew in, shocking everyone, the soldiers threw Sokka and her into a pit. Aang sat on the scaffolding, evading Zuko's attack while Momo distracted the soldiers and then engaged Zuko's pet hawk in a flying duel of sorts.

As the scaffolding disintegrated, Aang and Zuko moved their fight to the defaced Avatar statue. When Aang was almost cornered by Zuko, he simply threw himself off the statue, activating the Avatar State and blowing Zuko off. Coming out of the Avatar State, Aang caught an unconscious Zuko, but dropped him a short distance into a wall to fly over to Kya and Sokka and subsequently escape.

Similarities to Real Series

 * Aang already seemed to have feelings for Kya, as noted by Sokka's "boyfriend" comment, recreated in the actual series.
 * Aang saved Zuko from falling to his certain death; he similarly saved Zuko from a near-certain death twice in the actual series.
 * Aang and Zuko fight on a scaffolding; in the actual series, this fight is recreated in New Ozai, but Zuko is replaced with Azula.