Now that the animated series is available on Netflix (and the streamer’s no. 1 most popular show this week), fans old and new are able to experience the story of 12-year-old Aang, the Avatar and sole survivor of the Air Nomads, as he and his friends work to restore harmony between the Water, Fire, Earth and Air nations.

However, the popular series that fans know and love today didn’t turn out to be what the creators originally envisioned.

Originally meant as comic relief, the “cabbage man” wasn’t supposed to stick around long, but the writers kept him as a running gag throughout the series.

Prince Zuko was initially just an extension of the Fire Lord’s persona, and never actually meant to be a main character.

Originally meant to be yet another dry and sobering serious character, the character’s voice actor Jack DeSena decided to add his own flair to the character’s personality?

There isn’t a more likeable character in the series than Uncle Iroh, so it’s hard to imagine that the series finale ended with him stabbing his favorite nephew, prince Zuko, in the back

In Iroh’s original role in the series, the uncle was intended to betray Zuko, acting as a double agent that would have been a major plot twist in the animated series