avatar: the last airbender - Season One

[tielan]

So, I listened to a whole slew of episodes through the middle of the season, because I was sewing, but I may want to go back and watch them for more detail.

I really really enjoyed Season One.

I just...I don't have the words. I can't meta it, it's just...fun and enjoyable and non-faily and fascinating. It's also very layered for a children's TV show - both the protagonists and antagonists are complex and complicated!

I love the world - so many small glimpses of Asian cultures and cities and customs, all intermingled with the 'bending' magic - the glimpses we've seen of the practical uses of Earth and Water-bending (the city with the mad ruler who was Aang's friend, the Northern Water Tribe at the end). It's so distinctive and unusual, and the philosophy has a different feel to it - although some of the episodes hover on the edge of being preachy, they don't quite lecture, which is definitely a relief!

I love the characters - even though I find Katara and Aang and Sokka and Zuko all annoying in their own way, they're still somehow adorable. I think it's because they're young and still in their formative stages. Zuko's the oldest of them, I think, maybe sixteen, but he's still a child in so many ways. And it's just...heartbreaking how much they've all been through and how it's marked them in its own way.

Best character in the show, though? Iroh. Hands down. He's just...amazing. And funny. And awesome. And cunning. If he was at Hogwarts, he'd be sorted into Slytherin; he knows how to keep his head above water, how to flow with the wind, when to stand his ground, and when to fight fire with fire!

I love his suggestions to Zuko - all the suggestions that Zuko keeps ignoring when he really really shouldn't. Iroh's survived as a General in the ambitious, politically murky Fire Nation for how long? That takes smarts.

Of course, Iroh's lived a lot more life, has a lot more wisdom built up over time. And he provides Zuko with an anchor of love and support (even if neither of them would call it that) which the poor kid is definitely missing.

Can't wait to see him grow. (Or the others, too - they've grown so much even between the first and last eps of S1. CHARACTER GROWTH, UR DOIN IT RITE.

Anyway, good show!

Now I have to hunt up S2. Unfortunately the whole series is rather expensive in Australia, which is a little off-putting. Then again, everything's expensive around here.

Comments

[havocthecat]

It's an absolutely brilliant show, as is its sequel series (of which I think only the first season has aired, though I'd heard it had been renewed for a full run). All the characters are so young, which can make them have annoying moments, so true. But I love them all.

Iroh is brilliant. I appreciate someone who's as sneaky as he is (and he only gets better).

Looking forward to hearing what you think of s2!

[tielan]

Definitely looking forward to S2!

[princessofgeeks]

yes to all this. I need to pick it up again. I stopped sometime in season 2.

[tielan]

I think I decided I was going to watch the series (I've been intending to for a long time) when frith_in_thorns announced she was going to do a rewatch, two episodes a week, with commentary.

It's interesting to see what other people notice and to gush a little. :)

[hickumu]

I would say that it only gets better in S2! Especially if you're fans of Zuko and Iroh. S2 has some of their best moments.

And honestly, S2 has some episodes that are still hard for me to watch. In good ways! But still. Damn emotional for a "children's show".

Needless to say, I'm glad you like it! \o/

YouTube has a few scattered full episodes. Unfortunately, Nickelodean is only slightly easier to find online than Cartoon Network, because they post their episodes online for a while anyway.

[tielan]

Whee! I'll probably buy the S2 DVD set (how I watched S1 because it was easier).

[hickumu]

Fair enough! But I can certainly understand the desire to avoid paying too much for DVDs. For S2, though, I would say the pain is less. I hope S3 is cheap, too. It follows S2 very well.

I'll look forward to seeing what you think of those episodes.

[deird1]

Expensive, yes. But worth every cent. It's such a great show.

[tielan]

Oh, I'm going to get it. I'm just unhappy about how much more we pay for media here in Australia.

*grumbles because she's going to pay $18 for an ebook that USians get for $7*