Review- Avatar: The Last Airbender

There are two well-known "Avatar" franchises known to the public and, truth be told, this one is far superior to the blue people movie. A pro to this one? It's got the blessing of being a show and actually has fleshed-out and likeable characters in addition to its breathtaking world-building. But, to get into more in-depth reviews, I'll have to break this down further.

PLOT: Lightning in a bottle!

To every good show requires a good plot and this show delivers. The plot is delivered within the first episode cleanly and has the stakes written out as well as main characters and villains almost immediately. This allows them to build up the relationships between characters flawlessly for a season, only introducing new threats when needed. The plot runs smoothly (for the most apart) and doesn't miss a beat in introducing characters seamlessly. When they need to introduce Toph, it's because he's not good at earthbending. Makes sense for the kind airbender kid. A lot is thrown at you but it's delivered in a way where you're never overwhelmed. This show is phenomenal at plot and delivers pulse-pounding action, gentle romance, and light-hearted fun while also keeping the stakes up at all times. Moments like Aang being struck by lightning, Zuko meeting Iroh again, and the revenge of the Avatar on General Zhao really are built up well and ultimately deliver proper emotions needed. Truly lightning in a bottle, I have seen few forms of media able to deliver plot half as well.

CHARACTERS: Iroh is my favorite.

Well... they're great. All of them. Aang, Sokka, Toph, Katara, Zuko, and of course, Iroh. There's very few poor characters and of them, usually they get removed quick. The heroes are all likeable or become better over time. The performances are great, with a personal favorite being Dante Basco as Zuko and the two actors who played Iroh. Credit to the late Mako for his stunning performance and credit to Greg Baldwin for his ability to recreate Mako's voice for an audience. This is just an easy section to say "yes, this show rocks."

SHOTS: Animation is always better.

Wow, the animation at first kinda... is rough. But, in later seasons? It rocks! The fight between Aang and Ozai is well-animated and has amazing shots. Everything about this show is well-designed down to its shots and animation. Credit to those who made the show's anime-esque art style that also pays homage to old artforms from various Asian areas, making the show feel tied to its roots. On top of stellar design choices, the animation grows with the seasons and becomes truly master class.

MUSIC: *Agni Kai intensifies*

What can I say except the music is phenomenal? Agni Kai, the Avatar theme, and of course, Leaves from the Vine. I cry every time I see Iroh light the candles for his son because of Mako's weak voice delivering the lyrics of a beautifully heart-wrenching song. Not much to say here either.

WRITING: Well...

The writing in this show can balance along a fine line of sometimes feeling a bit kiddy but also achieving a maturity rarely seen in entertainment meant for Saturday morning cartoons. The writing is sharp, clever, and can often impact a scene to the point of delivering a completely different emotion. The scene with Iroh and Zuko after they reunite would not work if the lines were any different. It gets me every time due to the genuinely well-placed and well-delivered dialogue. Beautiful, but sometimes lacking in the filler areas.

CONS: Always a bad episode...

Hey, what's this? The Great Divide? Let's skip it! Of all the episodes, there are quite a few skippable episodes as per most shows. However, compared to most where there's often ten or fifteen, this one has only three or four that aren't mandatory for a full watch. Great Divide, The Cave of Two Lovers, The Headband, and the first half of The Boiling Rock. These episodes run down the pacing to a grinding halt and often are skipped in runs for me. However, with only four episodes I prefer to skip

VERDICT: A near-perfect show.

Some people, ESPECIALLY in the industry, mock animation as a kid's entertainment, something that cannot entertain properly. But, animation is cinema and should be considered its own form of filmmaking just as much as some CGI messes that have released recently (ANT-MAN!). But, this show is exactly why we should never doubt the ability of a kid's show to deliver emotion in many forms. From the triumph of beating Fire Lord Ozai to laughter at the pain of the Cabbage Merchant to the sadness of an old man singing a song for his son, this show is lightning in a bottle. Something this good will likely never be recreated, but never should be either. Good thing they aren't planning to make an adaptation out of this, there is no movie in Ba Sing Se. Nor will there ever be a show like Avatar: The Last Airbender.

SCORE: 9.5/10