Oct
14
So I finished the final season of Avatar: The Last Airbender last night. What a great season! I’d have to say this was my favorite of the three. So now that I’ve seen all of them, I’d order them three, one, two, though that is subject to change upon further viewings. Since this is the last season, I’m gonna go into spoilers, so if you haven’t watched, or are still watching (Enrico, welcome to the club! Yes, Enrico is watching. He didn’t tell me he was watching though. I only found out by accident from Twitter, which led to him yelling at me. He does that a lot.) don’t read any further.
I’d have to say that this was probably the funniest of the three seasons. Three episodes in particular had me dying with laughter. So much so that my Mom kept commenting on how much I was laughing in the other room. They were Nightmares and Daydreams, where Aang kept having strange dreams and visions, including a spoof of Dragonball and then of a talking Appa and Momo, leading up to the two animals having a duel, which was hysterical. The Beach, where Zuko, Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai try and act like normal teenagers. Their volleyball game was particularly funny. And of course The Ember Island Players where team Avatar have to watch a play based on their adventures from a Fire Nation point of view. Every aspect of the play was perfect. Aang being played by a girl, Katara constantly crying, Sokka making bad jokes (and then going backstage to give the actor playing him some better jokes) and Toph being played by an enormous guy (and her loving it!). Even the “Avatar State Yip Yip!” squeals were genius.
All the humor added another layer to the powerful season and balanced all the seriousness that was also going on. There were so many great episodes, it’s hard to name them all…but I will. Sokka’s Master was great because it gave Sokka some time to be serious and hone his nonbending skills. The Puppetmaster with it’s introduction to bloodbending, was creepy and amazing. I’m always surprised at how unpredictable and well thought out everything is. Of course there should be bloodbending! The Day of Black Sun episodes were great for their huge action sequences. The Avatar and Firelord was great because it delved into the Avatar and Firelord’s intertwined histories which was unexpected and beautiful. And of course the Sozin’s Comet episodes were a fitting finale.
The action sequences involving Sokka, Toph, and Suki aboard the Fire Nation warships was incredible. The final showdown between Zuko and Azula was amazingly choreographed. Though I think Azulo’s descent into madness was a bit random and rushed, it was also pretty fitting. And the final showdown between Firelord Ozai and Aang was really well done. I loved the little globe Aang built around himself using the four elements, and the final conclusion was smart, being violent, but not having to cross any of Aang’s personal boundaries. I would have liked to have seen more of the bigger battles going on, like with the Order of the White Lotus (They set that up from season 1! Can you believe it?) and Sokka and Katara’s dad, but I suppose the final battles were more personal and they stuck with the main characters.
So yeah, I can’t recommend this series enough. Thank you again to Adam for insisting that I watch them and loaning them to me. I really really hope the live action version does it justice, but it’s certainly a tall order.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:58 am
I wouldn’t hold your breath for the live action, they rarely live up to the original.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I felt so empty after it was all over. I mean, it was a great ending and I was happy with it but I didnt want to say goodbye to the Avatar gang.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am
GoKitty: Same here! Every scene after the final battle, I kept saying “Don’t end! Don’t end!” I would have been fine with a Return of the King length ending or a whole other episode just getting every ounce wrapped up.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Also, if anyone’s interested, I was still a bit confused about what happened to Zuko’s mother in the series and flashbacks. Here’s a good explanation:
http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Ursa
Really helped get my head wrapped around it.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:55 am
The Ember Island Players is totally my favorite episode of the season. It was genius, and I totally loved Man-Toph.
I really wish they would do another animated mini-special or something. I’m totally going through withdrawals especially after reading you enjoy the seasons the last few weeks.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
When did I yell at you?!
When I finished the season 1 finale and was blown away?!?
SPOILERS:
- The fight between Zuko and Katara (while she was guarding Aang) was amazing! So tense.
- The chick becoming the moon thingwa was so sad.
- Ihro is probably my favorite character on the whole show. I love how he cares about superficial stuff and bugs Zuko. And Zuko is so…. complex. Other shows need to take note and learn how to make multifaceted villains.
- And this is not about the finale, but the fortuneteller was SO funny! It was one of the funniest episodes of the season. I love how she was fed up with Katara asking so many questions.
- I love Appa (still reminds me of Totoro) and I loved when he attacked that giant lizard creature that paralyzes people with its tongue. It was so sweet. Aww.
As for problems, I’m a little annoyed that they didn’t start water bending until the finale. I figured maybe the 2nd half of the season would be devoted to that so when I was on the 3rd to last episode and Aang still hadn’t learned ANYTHING, I was kind of annoyed. Since it takes years to master according to everyone on the show, I was hoping he’d have a lot of time training. Or at least a montage.
Oh, and the only other thing that annoyed me was when Katara was so rude to the Water Tribe peepz cause she didn’t agree with their customs. I didn’t peg her as being so rude and inconsiderate. If you are traveling somewhere and you don’t agree with their customs, you shut up and act polite. That annoyed me too. lol.
But overall, the season was really good, but the ending really made it even better.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:37 am
This is a good excuse to play Avatar: Legends of the Arena and get started playing MMOs
October 14th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Enrico: “When did I yell at you?!”
Well, right there for starters. Also:
“hoteltuesday @Puntabulous Do you expect me to ever watch the show when you keep spoiling it in your tweets?!?!”
I think you yell at me so much you don’t even realize you’re doing it. It makes me sad. And I cry and cry and cry. Or not. But still.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:49 am
But I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I think the first season finale was my favorite of the finales.
GoKitty: I don’t know much about MMOs, but I was tempted by the Avatar Wii games. I’m always willing to learn though!
October 14th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Okay, I finally checked it out on Netflix and queued all three seasons up. Only the first one is available for instant viewing, though. Bah.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Aww… I haven’t gotten the last DVD from NetFlix yet so I will have to wait a few more days before I can read this post (or any of the comments)
I just watched Book 3 Vol 2&3 last night, and I have to say that Bloodbender was creepy! I also think it is kinda odd that they waited so long into this season before Aang got his firebending teacher, I don’t know how he is going to master firebending in one DVD worth of episodes unless they use the standard 80s montage method.
Oh well, gotta go before I am tempted to read the comments. Catch all y’all tomorrow!
October 14th, 2009 at 11:27 am
We can all play on an MMO together and level up and have adventures! Then I’ll rain down destruction on your collective asses! yay!
I’ve always preferred strawberry milk to chocolate milk!
October 14th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I totally miss Avatar. I loved the series. My only complaint was that I thought season three felt a little rushed. I would have liked a little more time to explore some of the issues like Ursa’s actions and her ultimate fate as well as had more time to watch Azula’s madness unfold.
I loved the Blood Bending episode and thought it was excellently creepy. I also loved how Toph was able to eventually bend metal.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
This used to be our funhouse. But now it’s full of evil clowns. It’s time to start the countdown. I’m gonna burn it down…down…DOWN.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Hell yea! Avatar was so amazing as a whole but season 3 kicked it up a notch. There are so many things to love about it, Toph inventing metal bending, the Puppetmaster episode was one of my favorites, MoMo and Appa talking!
Also I love how the Lion Turtle was talked about in previous seasons (The Library episode) but we never new it would have such great significance!
It was a very epic series and was sad to see it go, perhaps there will be some sort of animated sequel one day because the mythology is just so great. Maybe it could be set hundreds of years before or after this series with a new avatar but I guess it wouldnt be the same. The movies look interesting but M. Night Shamyalan is either hit or miss.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Read the trivia section here for some interesting tidbits about The Ember Island Players episode:
http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/The_Ember_Island_Players
In regards to Jet:
“His death’s lack of clarity in the play refers to how his fate was never shown on screen.”
It’s true, I didn’t realize he was supposed to be dead until then. The actor playing Sokka’s comment about it being vague in the play now makes sense.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
The metal bending was definitely very cool. I liked anytime one of the characters would wrap themselves up in either rock or metal armor.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Does anyone else watch the web series, The Guild? Just wondering since there are a few Star Trek fans here and Will Wheaton is in season 3.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I just got a Big Boy Bed! And there is still plenty of room between my desk and my bed for my chair!
I just noticed that the first book of Avatar is on Netflix Instant Play, so I added it to my queue. Soon, I will know what Craig has been talking about.
October 20th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Ok, I FINALLY watched the last episode just moments ago, and OMF-ING-G it was awesome!! I agree with everything all y’all have said, I just kept wishing it would never end! Why can’t more animated shows be like that?
October 20th, 2009 at 1:47 am
I just added Book 2 to my queue. The shows in the Why Is This Recommended section:
The Wire
Arrested Development
Doctor Who
Very good company to be in.