There aren’t many 10/10 fantasy shows, and perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores aren’t easy to come by — so Avatar: The Last Airbender boasting a 100% on the platform is an impressive feat. The Nickelodeon show is widely considered a classic, but that doesn’t always equate to being a masterpiece. Even beloved series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural have significant shortcomings.
It’s harder to find such flaws when it comes to The Last Airbender, even 20 years after the animated show’s debut. The series remains highly praised, a testament to its longevity and quality. There’s so much to love about the Nickelodeon show from the very beginning, and its strengths continue into its final episodes.
There’s little doubt that ATLA deserves its masterpiece status, fully earning its Rotten Tomatoes score and impressive reputation. It’s one of the best fantasy shows out there, with little to no major issues and a long list of qualities that elevate it.
Avatar: The Last Airbender’s 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Rare
Even The Most Iconic Shows Sometimes Fall Short Of It
Although there are many shows with fresh Rotten Tomatoes scores, a 100% on the platform is far less common. Most shows that achieve a perfect RT score deserve their masterpiece status, as they leave little to complain about. Even some of the most iconic TV shows of all time — like Game of Thrones and The Sopranos — fall just a little short of it.
This is because things like controversial endings and outdated tropes can hurt a series’ score, as can inconsistent storytelling. It takes a tight, masterfully crafted narrative to fully win critics over. And although Rotten Tomatoes can get it wrong sometimes, that’s not the case for this series. Critics are right about Avatar: The Last Airbender: it really is a perfect addition to the fantasy genre.
Why ATLA Is A Perfect Fantasy Show That Deserves Its Masterpiece Status
There’s So Much To Love About The Nickelodeon Show
Avatar: The Last Airbender truly deserves its perfect rating, as Nickelodeon’s animated series has no bad episodes (yes, I’ll even defend “The Great Divide,” despite it being filler). All three seasons of the show deliver fast-paced, heartfelt narratives with plenty of humor and poignant themes. It’s the type of show you can rewatch over and over but never grow tired of.
Part of that is because of how timeless The Last Airbender is. It balances heavier subjects with a more lighthearted and hopeful tone, making it feel relevant no matter when you’re revisiting it. At the same time, it manages to be a great comfort watch. It’s great to see good overcoming evil and the characters consistently showing up for each other. The many jokes add to its comforting nature, too.
The Last Airbender‘s characters are some of the best written ones out there, especially in a series aimed at a younger audience. Indeed, Prince Zuko’s character arc will go down in history as one of the best redemption stories on television. And even the show’s heroes are complex, each of them bringing layers to their arcs.
Additionally, Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s world-building and magic system are immersive and memorable, ensuring viewers want to return to the show. Such elements lend themselves to standout action sequences too, and they hold up surprisingly well two decades later.
Even with so many strengths, a series could fall short of perfection — but there aren’t many significant criticisms of ATLA. Its three-book structure doesn’t lull too often or feel unbalanced. It’s also a rare fantasy show with a perfect ending. Its lack of major flaws cements its masterpiece status. And it helps that the series has aged relatively well.
The Nickelodeon Series Still Holds Up After All These Years
The Last Airbender Turned 20 In 2025
In hindsight, perhaps the most impressive thing about The Last Airbender is how well it holds up over time. The show is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, yet it remains a well-known and well-regarded piece of media. In part, this has to do with the resurgence it experienced when it arrived on Netflix in 2020. However, its enduring legacy goes beyond that.
Avatar: The Last Airbender isn’t afraid to address difficult but important topics — whether they’re large-scale ones, like imperialism and political corruption, or more personal issues, like trauma and grief. The Nickelodeon series handles these subjects with care, ensuring that it still resonates with viewers, no matter when they watch it.
The series coming from a place of hope also contributes to its ongoing success, as it remains a joy to revisit. The comfort factor is huge with Avatar: The Last Airbender, and that shouldn’t be overlooked. There’s a reason viewers revisit comforting shows regularly. ATLA has the ability to cheer viewers up, and its humor is aging surprisingly well.
It’s worth noting that the animation holds up fairly well, too, which ensures that Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s visuals don’t seem clunky. That would make it difficult to watch, but this, thankfully, isn’t the case. The series is still as easy to fall into as it was back in the 2000s, and that only adds to its reputation.
