LogFAQs > #979050411

It's not really the plot points, but the themes and core conflicts. S2 is so different because it's all about earthbending, badass new characters, and Zuko+Iroh turning sympathetic. So far in the live action we've seen all of those spoiled already, except Toph. That's why it's weird to put secret tunnel so early - it's the earthbending origin story, when we haven't even learned much about waterbending yet. They added so many extra sympathetic lines to Zuko and Iroh already, it's obvious that they're going to be good vs Azula and the fire nation.

I guess the original issue is they got rid of S1's core conflict which is Aang's reluctance to be the Avatar and own the responsibility. So then this S1 would have no conflict if they didn't cannibalize some of S2's conflicts.