Production on Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 has been underway since mid-October in Vancouver, Canada. Recently, the streaming service announced a slew of guest roles that are set to appear in the second season, including Justin Chien (The Brothers Sun) as The Earth King. A casting that took many by surprise based on the original animated series version of the character.
In the original series, King Kuei is seen as an exalted dignitary to the people of Ba Sing Se. He is soft-spoken and leans heavily on his advisors, especially Long Feng. He wears long robes and small glasses and is exceptionally skinny in stature. However, he is shown as a goofy dork who loves animals once he meets the Avatar. Like everyone in Ba Sing Se, he doesn’t believe a world war has happened outside the city for the last 100 years but eventually trusts Avatar as an ally after being betrayed by the Dai Li and, in turn, Azula in a coup d’etat. Ba Sing Se falls to the Fire Nation in the finale, and The Earth King becomes a commoner. Roaming the earth with his pet bear, Bosco. Not much is known in the official series about what happened to The Earth King in season 3. Though, to be fair, the comics have explored it a bit.
Now, this is where the Netflix show could expand on the role of The Earth King in their live-action adaption. The casting of martial artist and actor Justin Chien proves they must have a more significant role for the character. The betrayal and fall of Ba Sing Se must happen in Season 2, but what will happen with The Earth King in Season 3? It’s time they make The Earth King a heroic figure in the Avatar universe.
The streaming service should bring Justin Chien back for the battle of Ba Sing Se in the season 3 finale. In the original series, the Order of the White Lotus and their armies retake the city from the Fire Nation led by General Iroh. However, wouldn’t it have been more impactful if The Earth King had been part of this attack with those still loyal to his crown? The Council of Five and their armies are still faithful to the crown. Much like King Theodon, who led the charge of the Rohirrim to retake the overthrown city of Minus Tirith in the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Netflix should get the same awe-inspiring speech and eventual victory from The Earth King. Even if the King isn’t an earthbender, his heroic leadership to retake Ba Sing Se, even if it means death, would give the character much-needed closure. Something the original series never even tried to give him.
Avatar: The Last Airbender will return exclusively to Netflix
