Many moons (or should I say Princess Yues) ago, I wrote a column on F.C. Yee’s excellent Kyoshi duology, and all the reasons I’ve been pining for an on-screen adaptation of those books. Today, I’m making the case for why Yee’s latest novels deserve a place on our screens. If you’re a fan of the Avatar universe, The Dawn of Yangchen and The Legacy of Yangchen would be amazing to see on-air (pun absolutely intended).
With ATLA and Korra co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko currently helming Paramount’s Avatar Studios, there’s hope for an eventual Yangchen series or movie.
The Story So Far
Not much has changed since I covered Yee’s Kyoshi novels. That article has a full refresher on the Netflix adaptation drama, DiMartino and Konietzko’s departure, and the creation of Avatar Studios.
The only other significant developments since then have come in the form of rumors which suggest three movies will be released—one each in 2024, 2025, and 2026, focused on Kyoshi, Zuko, and Korra, respectively. These rumors have yet to be confirmed.
Rather than rehash what’s already been covered, let’s instead take a moment to refresh your memory on Yangchen herself. An Air Nomad Avatar, Yangchen succeeded Avatar Szeto and was in turn followed by the easygoing waterbender Avatar Kuruk. Outside of the novels, Yangchen makes few appearances in the Avatar canon. In “Sozin’s Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters,” Aang summons Yangchen and other previous Avatars, seeking advice on whether he should kill Fire Lord Ozai. Yangchen argues that Aang has a duty to protect the world and that he must do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal.
Yangchen makes additional appearances in certain Avatar comics and extended universe material, though they’re mostly brief. Gene Luen Yang’s The Rift features Yangchen in one of her most prominent roles, though the story focuses more on her influence and legacy than on the character’s backstory or personality.
Given Yangchen’s relatively limited appearances in the existing material, she’d be an ideal candidate for a future Avatar story. Here’s why…
A Chance to Dive Beneath the Surface
F.C. Yee’s Yangchen novels paint a stark picture. The Air Nomad Avatar struggles beneath the huge sociopolitical burden that’s been placed on her shoulders. The city of Bin-Er, run by corrupt and capitalistic Shangs, is on the brink of economic collapse and revolt.
Yee’s Yangchen novels are heavy, and you can feel the crushing weight of duty bearing down on Yangchen throughout the stories. It’s one of my few gripes with the books: Yangchen is so intently focused on her political and world-saving juggling act that we barely get to know her as a character.
One savvy commenter on my review of Legacy poignantly noted how Yee’s choice to keep Yangchen’s character fairly surface-level upholds her status as an almost mythical being. As readers, we encounter Avatar Yangchen far more than we encounter the person Yangchen. She’s a tragic character cocooned by her external duties, unable to flourish outside of the constant pressures of her role.
It’s an excellent interpretation of Yee’s presentation of the character, yet I still left Legacy disappointed that I didn’t know much about Yangchen as a person…and that’s reason number one why an adaptation could be so fruitful. I’d love a deep dive into Yangchen’s past and her growth over time. Her relationship with her sister (which I won’t spoil here) plays a role in the books, but it’s very much worth expanding into a larger narrative.
Political and social pressure can crush a dynamic character to the point of near collapse, but I’d rather have a more personal understanding of the character’s internal landscape beyond their sense of duty, giving us someone we can relate to as they work through those struggles. Yee makes a start at this in the books, but an adaptation could really explore the character’s history, motivations, and personality to a much deeper extent.
Spies and Allies
Somehow, I’ve made it 600+ words into this column without mentioning literally any other characters in Yee’s books. Time to rectify this transgression!
The Avatar universe has always been a melting pot of genres, and the Yangchen series is no different. The books have a spy thriller spice to them, and those elements would make for an excellent extension of the universe and its many facets.
Kavik, Yangchen’s semi-companion, brings this spy flavor to the forefront. Kavik takes odd jobs around Bin-Er to feed and support his family. Abandoned by his brother, he carries angst and anger, which he channels into his work. Things go sideways when he’s tasked with robbing a mysterious manor which just so happens to be Yangchen’s temporary home in Bin-Er. The two strike up a tenuous friendship and work together toward shared goals throughout the series.
I wasn’t completely sold on Kavik when I first read the Yangchen novels, but with time I’ve come around to him. Every canonical iteration of Team Avatar surrounds the central protagonist with several unique, fleshed-out characters with their own motivations and dynamic personalities. Kavik carries on this tradition, reinforcing the novel, spy-centric slant of the story by keeping Yangchen (and the reader) unsure of whether he can truly be trusted.
On-screen, Kavik’s conflicting motivations and spy skills could be put on full display, and his volatile relationship with Yangchen could serve to deepen our understanding of both personalities. And that’s just one character—collectively, the excellent extended cast of Yee’s Yangchen books would go a long way in making a prospective adaptation a worthy addition to the Avatar pantheon.
Lore Explosion!
Finally, we come to the glorious lore that drives Yangchen. F.C. Yee uses Avatar lore as a storytelling playground (after all, these stories are meant to be fun!) while retaining complete respect for everything fans have seen and read before. That’s a delicate balancing act, especially because Yangchen’s story happens before the events of the original series and Korra. Yee has to ensure that everything lines up perfectly to prevent ATLA fans’ inconsistency detectors from going off and blaring out an alarm mid-sentence over some mangled bit of lore.
I should note that I’m carefully sidestepping specifics here, just in case you haven’t read these books yet. The mysterious Unanimity project ties into key characters in both ATLA and Korra in a delightfully sparky-boom way. Plus, on a much less spoilery note, there’s a lot of juicy White Lotus material in the Yangchen books. An adaptation could take this connection and run with, further contextualizing the secret organization within the larger history of the world.
Outlook: Cloudy With a Chance…
If the rumors are to be believed, then we’re getting Avatar movies based around Kyoshi, Zuko, and Korra in the coming years. That leaves Yangchen firmly outside of the possible adaptation line-up. However—and this is important—after 2026 (the last announced release date for an Avatar movie) we’ve got nothing but time! Should the three planned movies meet with enough success to keep the franchise going, a Yangchen story seems more likely than not in the years that follow.
But what are your thoughts? Have you read Yee’s Yangchen novels? What aspects of the story would you be excited to see on the big or small screen? And are there other story arcs or characters from the Avatar universe that need a future adaptation? Let me know in the comments…
Cole Rush writes words. A lot of them. For the most part, you can find those words at The Quill To Live. He voraciously reads epic fantasy and science-fiction, seeking out stories of gargantuan proportions and devouring them with a bookwormish fervor. His favorite books are: The Divine Cities Series by Robert Jackson Bennett, The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, and The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.
