Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Reckoning of Roku by Randy Ribay.
Summary
The Reckoning of Rokuadds depth to one ofAvatar: The Last Airbender’s best storylines, butit also elaborates on one of Aang’s greatest challengesby including Monk Gyatso’s backstory. Written by Randy Ribay,The Reckoning of Rokuexpands on one ofThe Last Airbender’s most intriguing episodes: “The Avatar and the Fire Lord.” The novel builds on the series' depiction of Roku and Fire Lord Sozin’s friendship, offering further insight into what drives them apart — and giving readersFire Lord Sozin’s perspective on everythingthat unfolds.
AlthoughThe Reckoning of Rokutakes placebeforeAvatar: The Last Airbender,everything that happens in the book affects what comes later. Sozin and Roku obviously play large roles in the beginning of the Hundred Year War, which becomes the major conflict ofATLA.ButRibay’s novel also features another character who’s crucial to Aang’s journeyin the Nickelodeon series. Since Roku becomes friends with Monk Gyatso during his Avatar training, the book chronicles their relationship. And its insight into Gyatso’s character actually explains one of Aang’s biggest obstacles.
The Reckoning Of Roku Puts A Sinister Spin On 1 Sweet Moment From Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Reckoning of Roku features familiar scenes between Sozin and Roku, and the Avatar: The Last Airbender novel makes one sweet interaction darker.
The Reckoning Of Roku’s Gyatso Backstory Reveals A Similarity Between Him & Aang
They Both Struggle With Letting Go Of Personal Attachments
ThroughoutThe Reckoning of Roku,a young Gyatso struggles to master his Airbending — mostly because it stops working at his command. Although Gyatso proves his talent when his Airbending first manifests, the loss of his sister causes him to lose his abilities in Ribay’s novel. Gyatso is able to call upon his Airbending in life-or-death situations, but otherwise, it doesn’t work the way he wants it to. Given the Air Nomads' philosophy about attachment,he assumes he can’t use his power because he’s struggling to let go.
This is something he and Roku bond over, as Roku has trouble releasing his connection to the Fire Nation as well. But Roku isn’t the only one who has this in common with Gyatso.Aang struggles to release his attachment to KatarainAvatar: The Last Airbender. This feels reminiscent of Roku and Gyatso’s storylines inThe Reckoning of Roku. And Gyatso’s backstory could even explain Aang’s issues later inThe Last Airbendertimeline. It makes sense Aang would face a similar challenge to his childhood friend and mentor.
Gyatso’s Struggles With Detachment Explain Aang’s Biggest Challenge In The Last Airbender
It Makes Sense The Avatar Would Pick Up This So-Called Shortcoming From His Friend & Mentor
Before Aang discovers he’s the Avatar, he’s raised like a normal child at the Southern Air Temple — andGyatso plays a major role in his upbringing. Aang holds a lot of love for Monk Gyatso, as he’s one of the Avatar’s earliest friends. Their bond even “transcends lifetimes,” as Roku puts it in “The Avatar and the Fire Lord.” The fact that both Gyatso and Aang have trouble with the Air Nation philosophy of letting go can’t be coincidental. It’s likely Gyatso’sThe Reckoning of Rokubackstory has a direct impact on Aang’s journey.
Aang learns the value of love and friendship from Monk Gyatso, so it’s no surprise The Last Airbender’s lead also picks up this so-called shortcoming.
Aang learns the value of love and friendship from Monk Gyatso, so it’s no surprise The Last Airbender’s lead also picks up this so-called shortcoming. This seems to be something multiple Avatars and Air Nomads struggle to do, and Aang might have taken a different approach to attachment had he been exposed to more detached mentors and friends. Aang’s inability to embrace this Air Nation philosophy doesn’t prevent him from saving the world. In fact,The Last AirbenderandReckoning of Rokuprove attachment to others can also be a strength.
Avatar Roku’s Backstory Reveals Why The Air Nomads Preach It
Love and friendship are major themes of theLast Airbenderfranchise, andthe Nickelodeon show posits that Aang can embrace such thingsandsucceed as the Avatar. Gyatso’s closeness to Aang also helps him become someone capable of saving the Fire Nation, so the willingness to feel love and loss so strongly isn’t something the franchise condemns. Judging by these characters’ stories, it’s also painted as a strength. Moderation seems to be key here, but having something to fight for proves beneficial to Aang inAvatar: The Last Airbender.
Of course, the Air Nomads are still right to teach detachment; Avatar Roku’s backstory reveals precisely why they do. While Gyatso and Aang use their worldly connections for good, Roku is blinded by Sozin’s betrayal — something that might not have happened if he’d taken a more objective view of his friend’s actions. Roku’s narrative serves as a warning in theAvatar: The Last Airbenderuniverse, highlighting why the Avatar is supposed to embrace detachment. It’s all about finding the right balance and prioritizing the good of the four nations.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Cast
Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2005, follows a young boy in a war-torn world of elemental magic as he reawakens to embark on a challenging mystical quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar and restore peace to the world.
