Ba Sing Se, the Earth Kingdom's former capital, has a storied history of survival through denial, from its Hundred Year War-era isolation to its persistence through the events of The Legend of Korra. Now, the animated series Avatar: Seven Havens has introduced a post-Cataclysm version, New Ba Sing Se, which is clinging to old traditions amidst widespread famine. Evidence from the season 1 finale strongly suggests that this iconic location could be a primary destination in season 2.
The creators of Avatar: Seven Havens have confirmed that the show's narrative will move at a faster pace across its planned four seasons. While season 1 focused solely on the city of Ellora, co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino stated that all seven Havens will be explored by the series' conclusion. With only three seasons remaining to cover the other six Havens, it's likely that season 2 will feature visits to multiple locations.
New Ba Sing Se and the Chakras
Based on the established sequence of chakras and their corresponding colors as depicted in the series' opening, New Ba Sing Se is strongly indicated to be the next Haven visited. This aligns with the spiritual journey of the Avatar, Pavi, who must unlock her chakras in order. Following the Floating Isles, which seems linked to the orange water chakra, the northeastern yellow Haven on the world map appears to correspond with the Earth Kingdom's former capital.
In The Last Airbender, Guru Pathik described the yellow chakra as the fire chakra, associated with willpower and blocked by shame. This thematic resonance is particularly relevant to New Ba Sing Se, which, as revealed in the season 1 finale, is suffering from its worst famine in history. The envoy from New Ba Sing Se, Kuzon, admitted their dire circumstances at a summit, highlighting a society struggling to maintain its dignity and traditions while its people go hungry. This pride, potentially a facade for shame, could represent the spiritual blockage Pavi needs to address.
The visual cues also support this theory. Representatives from New Ba Sing Se arrived at Ellora's summit on sky bison bearing an emblem reminiscent of Ba Sing Se's traditional design, and their attire closely matched that of the city's inhabitants during Aang's era. Nisha, a character in the series, remarked that the people of New Ba Sing Se live as though time has stood still, emphasizing their adherence to ancient customs.
A Contrasting Crisis
The narrative arc suggests a compelling contrast between the various Havens. While Ellora was characterized by fear, and the Floating Isles may represent a society struggling with guilt and hedonism, New Ba Sing Se presents a crisis rooted in pride and deprivation. Pavi's quest to unblock her chakras is intrinsically linked to restoring spiritual energy, and confronting the shame associated with New Ba Sing Se's plight could be a crucial step in her journey.
The creators have emphasized that the connection between the Havens and the chakras is central to the series' design, allowing for a deeper exploration of these themes than was possible in the original Avatar: The Last Airbender. This suggests that Pavi's personal emotional development will be closely tied to the challenges faced in each new location. The potential conflict between a Haven struggling to find joy and one ashamed of its inability to provide could form the core of season 2's narrative, mirroring the Avatar's own journey of overcoming personal attachments and resolving trauma.