Sibling Problems at the Heart of Seven Havens

Speculation on how the Avatar Having a Twin could Affect Seven Havens

With the announcement that Avatar would be getting another animated series, the fandom is freaking out. The beloved franchise from Nickelodeon has just reached its 20th anniversary, and it’s clear Nick and Paramount aim to make the most of it. Once people read the actual synopsis, though, they were left divided. According to the premise, the world has been rocked by a great cataclysm. Civilization seems to only survive in a handful of locations. And worst of all, the Avatar is now considered a destroyer rather than savior of humanity. However, there was another key detail mentioned that needs to be addressed: this time around, the Avatar is going to have a sibling. Not just any sibling, but their long-lost twin sister!

You can already tell how awkward this could end up being. However, you can also tell just how interesting this could make things.

An Avatar with a Sibling?

It should be noted that this is not the first time in history that an Avatar has been born with a sibling. As revealed in the book The Reckoning of Roku, Avatar Roku had a twin brother named Yasu. However, Yasu would tragically drown at the age of twelve, four years before Roku would learn he was the Avatar. While his death would deeply affect Roku and their friend, Sozin, it also means we’ll never know how he would have reacted to his twin brother being the Avatar.

For all intents and purposes, Seven Havens will be the first time we’ll see an Avatar know they’re the Avatar and have a sibling who also knows it. And that could lead to a very complex relationship between the two.

Consider how it would feel to know that your brother or sister is the next Avatar. On the one hand, you would likely feel proud to have them as a sibling. In most eras, the Avatar is the most respected figure in the world, trusted of humans and many of the spirits. They’re often one of, if not the most, powerful people alive. At the same time, though, one cannot help but think that having the Avatar as your sibling could be a problem. They would likely overshadow everything you do, forcing you to live in their shadow, and watch as everyone would consider you an afterthought. Anyone who has a super-successful sibling can understand how frustrating that can feel.

Seven Havens Looks to be a Post-Apocalyptic World

All of that is during a good time. As previously stated, Seven Havens takes place in a time when people hate the Avatar. Now imagine meeting a twin sister that you likely had no idea existed. That sister could have lived a life and experiences that are different from what you know. Now add in the possibility that you’re not a bender, much like how Sokka wasn’t while Katara was. Bending isn’t always genetic, after all. And, for the cherry on top, you learn this long-lost sibling is the reincarnation of the being people now hate.

When you consider all these factors, your relationship is going to be complex from the get go. These two siblings are likely going to have to put in a lot of work if they want to get on the same page.

How Will the New Avatar’s Sibling React to, well…you know?

While Seven Havens will mark the first time an Avatar will have a sibling who plays an active role in their lives, thankfully, it won’t be the first time Avatar has shown us complicated sibling dynamics. Arguably, the best example of how things can get comes from the relationship between Aang and Katara’s kids. While Aang obviously loved all of them dearly, it was inevitable that he would spend more time with Tenzin. He was the only other Airbender in the world, so Aang had to pass down everything about the Air Nomads to him. Bumi, in particular, seemed to take not being a bender at all pretty hard, making him feel like he had to prove he wasn’t a disappointment to his Dad. Thankfully, they worked things out in the end.

It’s hard being part of a family. It can get even harder when your sibling is misunderstood as a threat to others. Which is why I think giving the next Avatar a twin sister will make for an interesting story. Will these two long-lost siblings be able to find common ground. Will they be able to work together to help the world? Or will they wind up being at odds for one reason or another? The potential for this new series is both exciting and concerning, which is why I’m looking forward to seeing Seven Havens. Here’s hoping we learn more about it in the coming months!