Let me start by saying this is hands down the best animations ive ever watched. It is so ahead of its time. It has everything you could ever want in a series. I can’t even remember who introduced me to it because I watched it a really long time ago and since then I have watched it a lot of time more, cant even count. Its just an ever green piece of entertainment. On the surface, it looks like a children's cartoon about bending water, earth, fire and air. Then you actually watch it and realize there is so much more happening underneath. Politics, war, friendship, responsibility, grief, redemption, family, identity, it just has everything you want.
I mean its about Aang, the last Air Nomad and the Avatar, who has been missing for 100 years. During that time, the Fire Nation has basically gone on a world domination tour. Aang wakes up after a hundred years to discover that the world he knew is gone, and suddenly he has the responsibility of ending a war he wasn't even around to witness. He is a kid who would rather have fun, eat, fly around on Appa(his flying bison) and avoid responsibility whenever possible.
Then their is Zuko. My God, Zuko. 😂 If there is one character who demonstrates how incredible the writing is, it is him. At the beginning, you think you understand exactly what his role is. Angry prince, scar on his face, chasing Aang across the world. Simple enough, but the more you learn about him, the more complicated everything becomes. His relationship with his father, his uncle, his sister and ultimately himself turns him into one of the most memorable animated characters I've watched.
I cannot talk about the show without mentioning Uncle Iroh. 😂 This man can make you laugh in one scene and then casually deliver something so profound that you have to pause for a moment. What makes Iroh special is that his wisdom doesn't feel forced. He has experienced loss, he is genuinely talking from his experience, failure and regret, and he understands that life is bigger than power or status. His relationship with Zuko is also beautiful because he doesn't simply tell Zuko what to do. He gives him the space to discover the right path himself. Honestly, Iroh might be one of the greatest fictional uncles ever created.
The rest of Team Avatar is just as important. Katara starts as someone who wants to learn waterbending and becomes a powerful and confident person. Sokka begins as the comic relief but gradually proves that you don't need bending abilities to be valuable to the team and becomes one of the most memorable characters too. Toph arrives and basically decides that everyone else is going to have to adjust to her personality, different personalities altogether but somehow this group works.
The animation may look dated compared with what we get today, but I honestly don't think that matters much. To be honest because the show is sooo good, you hardly even notice it. The action sequences remain incredibly enjoyable, and each bending style feels different because it is connected to the culture and philosophy of its respective nation. Waterbending feels fluid, earthbending feels powerful, firebending feels aggressive, while airbending reflects movement and freedom. There is thought behind almost everything.
And then there is the ending, without spoiling it for anyone who hasn't watched it, I think the show gives its characters conclusions that actually make sense for who they are. Aang's final decision especially matters because the easy answer would have been to simply make him another powerful hero who solves everything through brute force. Instead, the story asks what kind of person he wants to be and what it means to remain true to his values while carrying an enormous responsibility. I think I even cried at the ending. Lol!! A must must watch if you are into animations and haven’t watched this.
Image Source:https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/246-avatar-the-last-airbender/images/posters
Rating: 100/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/tv.
