This man just developed a whole entire backstory, for someone who he only knew the name of.

what they think we want: live-action ATLA what we actually want: a series about one of the past Avatars

Antione is like the Film Theory of Avatar content

I just want to see Avatar as people fulfilling their fullest potential, whatever it is, be it a doctor, a bureaucrat, a war general, a philanthropist, a monk, etc. It's quite heartening to see this, I guess.

I think that the Avatar creators need to make more books about past Avatars especially this Avatar Salai, do everybody agree?

The rise of kyoshi novels have really put the avatar content creators focused on knowledge back into the limelight

Alright guys, we're starting to get deeper and deeper in the history of the avatar

Ancient Indian medicine, as a reference, I actually think Salai would have been an Aavatar born in Guru Pathik's culture, it be an interesting story of an Aavatar collecting medicinal bending and non-bending skills. Like someone who knows chi blocking, water healing, firebending energy reading, using airbending therapeutically, earthbending for medicinal plant culturing. Salai master of all 4 medicinal bending arts.

mastering the elements he would have a major advantage over other doctors as well since avatar is essentially a premodern world with ancient levels of technology he could create more difficult chemical compounds. without any special equipment he could control the moisture, heat, and air pressure to create the right environment for certain chemical reactions to take place, with specialized earth bending he could break up minerals in a solution to make it easier for the human body to ingest. so many possibilities

When I read Salai my first thought was "Avatar Salami"

between the healing of water bending, earth bending causing immortality, air bending to regulate temperature, and firebending used for cleansing (like with korra losing her memory), it would be interesting to see an avatar actualize these powers in such a way that allow them to be used in a way other than fighting.

I really wish the creators would focus on some more of the past Avatars, their is a gold mine of material their.

Avatar Salai- Medical Avatar Either founded or learnt from herbalist culture of the City of Taku (Maybe the Herbalist Institute), northwestern Earth Kingdom. Abilities: • Waterbending- Healing & lower his body's temperature to slow down the process of death itself (Demonstrated by Atuat in Kyoshi Novels) •Eathbending- Increase lifespan (as seen in Kyoshi novels) • Firebending- Cleansing (as seen in LOK) & Increasing body temperature (Iron taught Zuko) • Airbending- Maintaing body temperature & airbenders drinks like Onion-banana juice helped the process of cleansing chakras • Chi reading like Guru Pathik • Maybe chi blocking also like Ty lee (Acupuncture) • Knowledge of all herbs (As demonstrated by herbalist from Taku in ALTA)

This is why I love this show. You have a single frame of korra showing all the avatars. You have about 120-150 Avatars lives you can make a story around. I just find this amazing.

The fact Antoine can use a name and a handful of sentences to come up with a thesis and a potential history for a character is astounding.

Could be the waterbender that discovered healing???

This would also be a very story that's very relevant to the times we're living in right now.

In Avatar Szeto’s time there was reference of some sort of plague, so maybe the plague came back like the Black Death was from the 1300’s and it is still happening in smaller numbers today

Salai founding Taku as a medicine/herbology town sounds really cool!

Man I’m really interested in the avatars before Szeto thanks for this Antoine hope we get more info about Avatar Salai

I have a theory that Avatar Salai is actually the earth avatar before Szeto. As we all know, there was a great plague in the FN during Szeto's era. What if the EK and the AN have the same plague too, but Salai only managed to heal the EK and AN before his death? That will make him famous in the EK and AN, but not in FN, so Szeto's mission is to heal FN and rebuild the bond between the FN with the AN and EK as FN grew jealous when Salai only help AN and EK

I love this. I'm watching this video because I just wrote some fan-fiction on an avatar far in the past. Avatar Havva is from a sand bending tribe in the Si Wong desert. Her people are based on the shepherds and desert nomads of the middle east in our world. I like the idea of meeting more avatars in the past before the cycle got reset.

I thought he was the earth avatar before szeto

It'd be interesting if we ever got a novel on the other past avatars, Salai being one of them, and if that doctor/herbalist/plague idea ends up being canon, it'd be nice to see within the Avatar world, especially given the crisis we're in today y'know?

My dad is the Avatar cuz when I needed him most, he vanished 💀💀💀

Don’t look at me. I’m finna write the fanfic now. Gimme a lil bit…

I always figured Salai was just the one before Szeto. So I always saw him as the white beard guy standing next to him in that one pic. But your idea is really cool too. It’s weirdly fun to explore some of the seemingly mundane avatar stories. Like how Szeto was more a politician.

Azula vs King Bumi The Mad Princess vs the Mad Genius Or Tenzin vs Lin I miss Antoine Bandele's versus series

Here's a theory for you (not related to the video). If Yun from the Kyoshi novels could bend pigments from paintings as earthbending, could a skilled earthbender insert earth based pigments into your skin almost like a tattoo. This tattoo could be used in different ways. I'm thinking something akin to healing or possibly sealing a bender's bending. Possibly tracking. Just food for thought.

I thought he was the Earth Kingdom Avatar before Szeto seeing as how he was recent enough to be as well known as Yangchen but I guess it was never specified

Im just amazed on how invested you are in these avatar mythologies its truly amazing we get to know more through you keep up the good work my guy ✊🏾

I have so much respect for you making a 6-minute 33-second video about a character mentioned only two times. Really good points though. I actually looked up Salai's name, too, the first time I read it to try to figure out what nation he could be from and I completely agree that the Earth Kingdom makes the most sense. Great detective work, especially regarding figuring out which possible Avatar he could be based on the image from Korra! Sokka would be proud. :)

YASSSSSSS I LOVE WHEN YOU POST!!! And thank you for theorizing other Avatars cuz no one else does this, I really liked this video! I think this sounds really cool. We need a couple episodes for every Avatar!

What if Salai was a Water Tribe Avatar that discovered the healing capabilities of Water bending? Or maybe the all cure water from ATLA?

Awesome video again Antoine! I really hope the franchise expands more officially

Salai is a local tree near our apartment.

Awesome vid man! I'm hoping to get the Kyoshi novels by the end of next month!! Can't wait to start reading it

I have been watching for about 2 months and I love your content

In my spare time I legit just make my own avatars lowkey I’ll just pick one of the images and create a whole backstory for them, it’s really fun y’all should try it out sometime. Also love this theory!

Ooh I would love to see an Indian inspired Avatar! Salai as a healer/ herbalist combating illness and plague is something I can get behind totally. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that a good plague can put the world into just as much chaos and suffering as a genocidal mad tyrant.

Videos like this one are the reason why I am so glad I discovered your channel. This is such an interesting concept, as fans we can only hope that the Avatar creators will continue enjoying the world they created enough to continue giving us comics, novels, etc. The AtLA algorithm is doing you justice, that’s how I found your channel. Keep up the great content, have a nice day!

This theorizing is so great. Sakai should be air nomad according to the image of past avatars. He has hair and a beard, maybe shaving their head and adding the blue arrow tattoos all over the body is a development that started after Salai and before Yangchen?

When Antione said that Salai could have been the one who made the medicine for a plague, I was like "He fought the corona virus of the Avatar world"

Finally the vid I’ve been waiting for

I was about to comment about the healing herbalist just as you mentioned it in the video! I really like this theory :)

i just totally clicked off a homework assignment to watch this 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 nursing school always HARD please keep uploading to take my mind off 😂

Incredible analysis bro. Especially with the plague

Love the video 😄 keep up the good work ☺️

Somehow that makes so much perfect sense a plague solved by a medicinal avatar

I wish there was a series abt the past avatars

I thought this would have been a video that is taking facts out of nowhere but this is a very well done and thought of speculation. I think I will imagine Avatar salai this way until we get more info on him

This was a great breakdown!!!!!!!! your dope AF!

Ahahaha, Antoine comin back with that JUICY lore!!!

Well going of that theory he could bin a healer avatar. We see water bending use for healing and that fire chi scanning thing in Kora. What to say there not some healing forms found in earth bending and air bending.

Alright bro just work for nickelodeon already 😂

Heyy, glad we agree. I'm starting to write a fanfic for Szeto and didn't want Salai to be the previous avatar for the soul purpose of what you explained

I honestly love your videos

Wow nice timing I just finished Shadow of Kyoshi

I always thought of a cool avatar idea. An avatar that can bend every element plus all of he sub elements

Nice video I definitely enjoyed 👍🏼👍🏼 interesting theory the idea of on anthology series is pretty cool

They have dozens of avatars they could make a show about. Also the common theory is the grey beard dude is Salai. The predecessor of Szeto

Whoa these are great points ur making! Love ur channel❤️ Be water!😆

Man avatar lore has so much potential ❤️

Good detective work. You strung together a six minute video based off a couple sentences!

Amazing video, I had to subscribe.

Very creative idea. Would be a great episode for the even more creative Anthology Series. But not every girl name Precious is... I do think it feels more likely that it is just the previous Earth Avatar and he is celebrated because people like their kingdom's avatar and there are probably people still living who remember his time. Or the culture in general looks back fondly at least. Like how we have more emotion towards WW2 than the Revolutionary War. It still feels at least a little revelevant to the curent living population.

Since Salai is mentioned with Yangchen he could be the Air Avatar before Yangchen. Everything you said about medicine would still hold up.

antoine keep doing you my guy these ATLA + LOK vids keep me going 🥵🤧😅

Tbh I thought it was the same name as Callum's mom in TDP until I realized it was one letter off 😔

This was a great video

I thought salai was the earth bender before szeto? I remember reading something confirming it was him.

Bro Antione goes deep into stuff Avatar wise. Man I need to really do my research 😅

You should make a video on guru pathik. Where he came from and how he’s so connected to the air nomads? Because that’s what I thought about when you said east India

I haven't even watched it yet, but I know it's gonna be good YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Avatar Salai is the earthbending avatar from the reincarnation when Korra got her bending again

They should’ve delt with the Avatar series like this. 1. TLA - Avatar Aang 2. TLOK - Avatar Korra (New Cycle Avatar) 3. Avatar Salai series (Greatest Avatar) 4. Avatar Wan series (First Avatar)

Awesome video

Thank You For the Raid You are the best

I always assumed that the Air Temples would have more Indian influences considering it was the starting spot for Buddhism, being super close to Nepal, and partially influencing structures, clothing, and traditions. I guess Guru Pathik, being likely Earth Kingdom, did seem to have Indian influences, so I suppose this theory works. Also, interestingly enough, Salai means “little devil” in Italian, so that may link to his backstory, perhaps with a redemption arc.

it could be very interesting if the medication was invented by the spirits and avatar Salai is the one to bring it into the physical world

i feel like salai is mentioned so much in part due to being an earth nation avatar and its earth nation residents thinking of them

i can’t believe that no one has talked about the fact that there are two water tribe avatars right next to each other

You provided a really awesome explanation, but I think that Salai is still the Earth Avatar before Szeto... but that's just because I want to keep progressively naming and unpeeling each Avatar 😂

Wouldn't it make sense for Avatar Salai to have just learned healing then? However, if there was a plague, I would imagine healing was not enough so he needed to find a different solution.

You should write for Avatar honestly

Does anyone else really want a series for one of the first 10 avatars? I feel like a world not used to the existence of one and seeing the culture develop around it would be really interesting.

Hmmmm I wont jump to any conclusions but it seems the salai is a tiny seed planted that could make for an excellent tale! Something just popped up in my mind. If there was an avatar born in the foggy swamp, would that be part of the water cycle cause its a water tribe? Or the earth cycle cause its in the earth kingdom? What if an avatar born in republic city is actually a natural at energy bending first?

Please do a video on the different styles of bowing in the four nations

Now this in canon I don't care what other people say, maybe instead of learning to fight he uses the elements to heal, So Wholesome!!!!

An anthology series would be very cool. Especially if they tackle new avatars. I’d love to see different takes and moods from other avatars.

The hoodie or whatever it is looks cool.

You might wanna look into Manipur Salai as well. I don't know whether it may be related or not bt I dived into this video when I saw the word/name Salai

can’t say specifically bc of of how little mike and brian have touched upon so far in this world but the fact that they mentioned this avatars (a prominent figure in any avatar story) name not once but twice makes me feel like it’s a tease for something they’re working on for avatar studios. at least i hope lol

It was funny learning there's an avatar named Salai because Salaì (with the accent) is the nickname of one of Leonardo Da Vinci's apprentices

Well, I'm spending my quarantine writing, here I leave you what I've written thanks to your theory ;) Once again the skies were overcast with orange clouds that dropped a drizzle of sand down the mountain. For days the haze had dragged the sands from the Si Wong Desert to the snowy hills of Taku, presaging with its ominous color the misfortune that had occurred. Garnet hitched up her skirts to cross the creek. She carried her backpack and satchel, since she had to carry her tools plus her clothes and food; in addition, a little bag of herbs and potions that she needed too. Maidenhair fern to restore strength; lemon balm for nausea... With so many saddlebags, she lacked hands to guide the armadillo bear that her little brother was riding. "We're not going back to Taku, are we?" They had been fleeing for days, sleeping in barns and inns, in caves and shacks. For a few coins and a few balsams or oils to make soaps, the people who feared the Evergreen Death so much allowed them to sleep in their stables. The villages were all empty and the animals dead―or seized by the 34th Earth Queen's army. And Garnet knew that his brother Salai watched everything with hungry, dark, silky eyes, learning like a clever and agile fox, even though he was only eleven years old and did not know how valuable he was to the world. To the Earth Queen. And for her. His brother Salai was the Avatar, the still-too-young Avatar. And Garnet was the one that had to deal with it. "When we cross the Su Oku River and reach the monastery we will be safe," she told him. But Salai knew that no place was safe, so silently he clung to the little bag that hung around his neck, filled with the badgermole herb, and that his mother had hung on him as soon as he was born to help him scare away the dark spirits. Until a week ago, he had been happy. Now he didn't think he could ever forget how the Earth Queen's army had taken Taku―apparently―looking for him. Why for him? Because of how good he was at stitching up wounds? Because of how well he heated buckets of salt water to disinfect? Maybe because he was an earthbender and they were all succumbing to the Evergeen Death? Things were really much worse since the Earth Queen took over after the passing of her two nephews, the 33rd and the 32nd Earth Kings. Salai had asked his sister about all of that, but Garnet never answered him; she only urged him to wait until they reach the monastery. That night they spent the night in the stables of some grateful cowboys, covered by the warm breath of the moo-sows. "I'm sorry about your mother, Garnet," Salai told her sister. "And I'm sorry about yours," she replied grimly. It was stupid to stop and grieve for the dead: time was against them―especially against Garnet. With armies at the gates and disease within the walls of the entire Earth Kingdom, the young woman had to deliver her brother as soon as possible. She had to reveal to the world who the new Avatar was. LEGEND OF GARNET Set almost seven hundred years before Aang’s Era, during the Badgermoles War, the story focuses on the plight of Garnet of Taku (16) and her brother, young Avatar Salai (11), as they flee from the encroaching soldiers of the Earth Queen and the swarms of the ravenous course of one of the worst historical pandemics: the Evergreen Death.

I have this image in my head of Kiyoshi as this 6ft tall 230 year old god woman who will not hesitate to kill people, Roku as this wise old man who put friendship before the safety of the world, Aang as a boy who has WAY to much to deal with, and Korra who lost her connection. Big grandiose, world shattering events. Surely in the 10,000 years there were simply Avatars who were incarnations and had little to no conflict. I’d be so down for a show with just slice of life scenarios.

In the 3rd episode of ATLA, when avatar shrines all over the world start lighting up when Aang goes avatar state at the temple, we see a mural in an earth temple, with an unnamed, but clearly revered Avatar at the centre. Perhaps this could've been Salai? Some personal theory: As the "4 nations" didn't exist until a few 1000 years ago (Guru Laghima lived about 3800 years ago, and is mentioned in the first Kyoshi novel as living "before the formation of the 4 nations"), Salai could perhaps have been instrumental in the formation of the Earth Kingdom, bringing peace between the divided earth nations. That would certainly be noteworthy enough to elevate them to such a revered status, and being mentioned centuries later in the Earth Kingdom as one of the greatest avatars.

In the Chronicles of the Avatar I hope they make another book about Kyoshi that deals with her after she defeats Chin up until her death, and then continue with other Avatars

New here and subbed!!!

Just curious where you found that Salai means Tree or incense or whatever? What I found was that it meant road, which would make sense as an earth bender. I figure he's the earth bender before Szeto. I personally don't think it makes sense for them to name drop an avatar 7 cycles before Kyoshi without any context as to why he was a great avatar in his era. Frankly, being that they were mentioned with the same reverence as Yangchen, I'd say they had to be more recent, which tells me that it had to be the avatar before Szeto. Plus, it seems like avatars tend not to talk about past lives more than 4 cycles prior to theirs. They seem to stop at the previous avatar of their native element, like Aang and Yangchen or Korra and Kuruk.