Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender continues to expand its world in Season 2, and for Thalia Tran, that means stepping further into the story as Mai, the cool-headed, knife-wielding Fire Nation warrior and loyal companion to Princess Azula. After introducing the fan-favourite character in Season 1, Thalia returns for the second chapter, which premiered on June 25, with even more action and the chance to explore the Avatar universe.

With the series already renewed for a third and final season, we spoke with Thalia about bringing Mai to life, embracing the evolution of the character, and stepping onto one of television’s most immersive sets.

Photography: Bonnie Nichoalds

How did you feel when Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender 2 was officially greenlit, and what were you looking forward to?

Thalia: Even before we started shooting, [there was] so much anticipation leading up to the start of Season 2. We had [already] been thinking about that from Season 1, because this is an adaptation of a show that we know [will have] three seasons, we were thinking ahead of our storylines and where our characters could go. And then when we got greenlit for it, and then we knew that we’d actually get to tell those stories, we started building that excitement about what we’d get to see in our stories, what we’d get to see adapted.

Thalia: Our writers have done a lovely job of adapting the original source material into something that is slightly new for viewers. So, as castmates, we were excited to see how that would look and how that would be translated. And when we got those scripts, I think what I was looking forward to was getting the chance to work more with my girls and getting to get to fight more because we barely had any time to do so in Season 1. So getting to do so in Seasons 2 and 3 was super cool.

Did you draw inspiration from the original voice performance, or did you want to create your own interpretation of Mai?

Thalia: It’s very interesting because watching the show as a fan, I had never projected myself into the universe in this way before, and so when I got the role, I was like, okay, wait, let me experience this universe all over again, but through the lens of Mai. So that was cool, instead of being on Aang’s side, now I’m on Mai’s side. I also think there’s a balance that we all try to find, which is taking inspiration from the source material and letting the wonderful work of the voice actors inform our decisions, but also trying to make it feel real to ourselves and trying to make every scene and everything feel authentic. It doesn’t feel like we’re just chasing somebody else’s performance but really owning it for ourselves.

Before you started Season 2, was there anything about your mindset or preparation that you knew would be different compared to Season 1?

Thalia: We are venturing into the Earth Kingdom, so we have all these new adventures. I think this is our first venture outside of the Fire Nation. Mentally, I had to prepare myself for like, “okay the stakes are rising we’re experiencing new things together,” and knowing where the dynamic leads between the trio, understanding where it goes, and also not wanting to hint to that too early on. [At the same time, we] wanted to set the foundation for the development of our dynamic. I think that was something that we all had on our minds.

What has it been like stepping into the world of this story every day on set?

Thalia: It is so unreal. Our set decorations, our costumes, everything, it’s crazy to see in real life. Honestly, I wish everybody could just take a tour through our sets because it really is a magical world come to life in front of your eyes. I would say, especially on the days that we’re doing our fight scenes, it just feels like I’m being transported into another universe. Magical stuff is happening; everything just feels so real for the time that we are filming. When I go home, I’m like, gosh, I wish I could just pop back into that universe again. I’m still at the point now where I’m not ready to say goodbye to that universe because it really is just so fun to live in. [Although there are] heavy and dark [themes], at the same time, we have these really fantastical elements, and there’s just so much joy and love in the universe.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 is streaming on Netflix.

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