marycrawford (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
marycrawford) wrote2008-07-26 02:33 pm
marycrawford) wrote2008-07-26 02:33 pm
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Avatar: the finale
I watched the Avatar: the last airbender finale last night (all four parts of it, in one downloaded file) and loved it. And now there is no more! Woe!
I love how Avatar ended, though I'm very sorry that it did end. As far as I'm concerned, it just got stronger from the first few episodes and rarely hit so much as a false note; ditto the acting and animation. This level of quality and commitment, over the course of three seasons and a whole story arc, is just immensely impressive - why the hell is Nickelodeon doing their best to lose viewers for such a fantastic series by airing it in odd chunks?
So many great moments, and for me the high note was the reunion between Zuko and Iroh. (Iroh is my favorite character on the show, though I really like all of them - he is just so awesome, and I love the way he develops over time, from an apparently minor comic relief character to the wise and powerful advisor.)
I adored the reunion scene opening, with Zuko shaking in his boots at the thought of seeing Iroh again, only to find him asleep and snoring, and then sitting down to watch over his sleep. And then we got the hug, and of course Iroh's reaction was nothing like what Zuko thought it would be, and! SNF!
I was watching this in chat, which was great, as I could share my reactions and go eee! at the moments when things were looking bad for our heroes. (Especially when Zuko pulled an Iolaus and took a lightning bolt in the chest to save Katara. It's kind of hilarious how those visual cliches carry over from one show to another - the slowing down of speed, the drawn-out "Noooo!" and the body of the hero moving sideways into the shot.)
Other moments I loved:
- group hug, with Appa! (fwomp)
- Momo eating the watermelon that was representing the Firelord's brains. Heeee.
- Sokka's tribal helmet, which looks just like the Wolfrider helmets in Elfquest.
- Mad King Boomi (omg I love him) and his spectacular escape. Also, "Where is Momo?"
- "I knew it! Appa ate Momo!" (dies)
- "All old people know each other!"
- Toph making herself a mecha
- the lionturtle. So gorgeous, and his voice sounded like James Earl Jones (it wasn't - Arduinna looked him up, it's Kevin Michael Richardson, who is apparently also the Joker on Batman)
- Sokka and his hilarious ruse on the airship. I am convinced, convinced that the Firelord got those henchmen from the Monarch (as in Venture Bros). Or maybe they went to work for the Monarch afterwards. "I can't believe the captain remembered my birthday!" Hee hee heee.
I would have liked to see Azula's unraveling happen a little slower, over the course of more episodes (or maybe there were hints and I missed them?) and there were some unanswered questions, like what happened to Azula in the end? And where is Zuko and Azula's mom? Okay, that last was definitely deliberate, a loose end left dangling in front of the viewer. Maybe by way of leaving room for a sequel? I hope so.
I love how Avatar ended, though I'm very sorry that it did end. As far as I'm concerned, it just got stronger from the first few episodes and rarely hit so much as a false note; ditto the acting and animation. This level of quality and commitment, over the course of three seasons and a whole story arc, is just immensely impressive - why the hell is Nickelodeon doing their best to lose viewers for such a fantastic series by airing it in odd chunks?
So many great moments, and for me the high note was the reunion between Zuko and Iroh. (Iroh is my favorite character on the show, though I really like all of them - he is just so awesome, and I love the way he develops over time, from an apparently minor comic relief character to the wise and powerful advisor.)
I adored the reunion scene opening, with Zuko shaking in his boots at the thought of seeing Iroh again, only to find him asleep and snoring, and then sitting down to watch over his sleep. And then we got the hug, and of course Iroh's reaction was nothing like what Zuko thought it would be, and! SNF!
I was watching this in chat, which was great, as I could share my reactions and go eee! at the moments when things were looking bad for our heroes. (Especially when Zuko pulled an Iolaus and took a lightning bolt in the chest to save Katara. It's kind of hilarious how those visual cliches carry over from one show to another - the slowing down of speed, the drawn-out "Noooo!" and the body of the hero moving sideways into the shot.)
Other moments I loved:
- group hug, with Appa! (fwomp)
- Momo eating the watermelon that was representing the Firelord's brains. Heeee.
- Sokka's tribal helmet, which looks just like the Wolfrider helmets in Elfquest.
- Mad King Boomi (omg I love him) and his spectacular escape. Also, "Where is Momo?"
- "I knew it! Appa ate Momo!" (dies)
- "All old people know each other!"
- Toph making herself a mecha
- the lionturtle. So gorgeous, and his voice sounded like James Earl Jones (it wasn't - Arduinna looked him up, it's Kevin Michael Richardson, who is apparently also the Joker on Batman)
- Sokka and his hilarious ruse on the airship. I am convinced, convinced that the Firelord got those henchmen from the Monarch (as in Venture Bros). Or maybe they went to work for the Monarch afterwards. "I can't believe the captain remembered my birthday!" Hee hee heee.
I would have liked to see Azula's unraveling happen a little slower, over the course of more episodes (or maybe there were hints and I missed them?) and there were some unanswered questions, like what happened to Azula in the end? And where is Zuko and Azula's mom? Okay, that last was definitely deliberate, a loose end left dangling in front of the viewer. Maybe by way of leaving room for a sequel? I hope so.
no subject
There were only two things I would have liked to see done differently. One, as you've already mentioned, is that Azula's breakdown happened too quickly. If I had seen one or two little things here and there since Mai and Ty Lee's betrayal, then I could have believed it much more quickly. But she just seemed to lose it all at once with little to no provocation.
The other thing was the final battle - while awesome (Sokka ROCKS, Suki ROCKS, Toph ROCKS) - was still kinda small-scale. It was just Aang and the gang, as in every other finale. I would have liked to see them bring an army of rebels and really lay the smackdown, a big final battle with Fire Nation rebels and the White Lotus old guys and Earthbender rebels and maybe the Northern Water Tribe could finally show up and freaking DO SOMETHING.
But overall it was fantastic. I'm just sad and bitter there's not going to be a season for Air.
no subject
Yeah, I agree there. The battle was awesome, but it felt less epic than the previous attempt to overthrow Sozen, where the Aang gang did have an army on their side. Also, hee, yes, the Northern Water Tribe could've gotten involved.
I always thought Iroh would have more to do in the final conflict, as well, along with the rest of the White Lotus crowd. In fact, I thought he was off doing awesome covert operations with Zuko's mom. But I'm just so happy that Zuko got him back! It made me pretty sniffly too.
I'm just sad and bitter there's not going to be a season for Air.
Oh man, yes. I want another season so much. (I know there's going to be live-action movie stuff happening, but I have more of a 'wait and see' attitude there.)
no subject
As for Iroh, I was certain they'd run into him for the first time in a battle somewhere. I had it all worked out in my head!
Aang: *firebends* "Oh! General Iroh!"
Iroh: "Avatar. I see your firebending skills are coming along nicely."
Aang: "Really? You think so! Thanks!" *over his shoulder* "See? I told you-"
Zuko: "He's being polite. You suck. Hello, Uncle."
And then they fight
crimeOzai together!no subject
You have no idea how much you just improved my morning. I can see this happening! And hear it, too, especially Iroh's voice. Heee.