‘Avatar: Seven Havens’ Review: Paramount+’s Promising Addition to a Beloved Fantasy Franchise

"Avatar: Seven Havens" is a Paramount+ spinoff that brings a new Avatar to the stage, nearly 22 years after the last installment. The series, based on the first six episodes, is a marvel, despite some initial kinks like childish tone and flat animation. Set 225 years after "The Legend of Korra," the narrative hinges on a new world order where benders and non-benders believe the last Avatar, Korra, went berserk, causing a climate change apocalypse.

The story follows Pavi (Saheli Khan), a young earthbender with a wooden prosthetic, who is hiding from the world in a cave. She discovers her long-lost twin sister, Nisha (Aishu Devan), also an earthbender, and together they try to unravel the mystery of their separation, their parents, and their lost memories. The series introduces a new set of characters, including Jae (Major Curda), an airbender in the defense militia, and Karthik (Akshay Khanna), the captain of the Brigade, who acts as a mentor to the trio.

Despite some animation flaws, the show's art style is beautiful, with colorful auroras and surrealist French-inspired crystal shards. The series is rich in world-building, with a predominantly Asian voice cast and a writing team led by Sehaj Sethi, a significant improvement from the previous series. The sound score by Jeremy Zuckerman perfectly complements the series, adding to the overall experience.