Why Do I Love Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Or, Four More Reasons that You Should Love Avatar

Jana has covered this before (see Five Reasons to Love Avatar: The Last Airbender), but rewatching a bit today inspired me to reflect on it myself.

If you just glance at a few images, it’s hard to see sometimes what all the fuss is about.  I’m a smidge older than most people in the Avatar fanbase.  My middle school students adore it- it’s their childhood, as they tell me.  Some siblings and friends just a bit younger than me swear by it.  But what made me love it?  Honestly, I started watching it because the description sounded like something Tamora Pierce would write.  It feels right out of the Circle of Magic.  In reality those stories are very different, but the idea of a group of people controlling different types of powers intrigued me. That’s what got me started.  After I started, I couldn't stop.  I started talking friends into trying it, and raced through the entire series.  Here are the four main reasons I kept watching.

Sokka With His Dad

4.       The people on this show are just like us. Some of them have parents that love and accept them (Katarra & Sokka), some reject what makes them who they are (Toph), some are absent (Aang), and some are abusive and cruel (Azula & Zuko).  They have to learn how to make friends and get along with people.  They have to learn how to deal when things happen that they didn’t plan on. Sometimes it’s hilarious and ridiculous, and sometimes it’s tragic.  They have to grow up and struggle to find themselves in a world that isn’t always friendly.  Their goals may not match ours (I personally am still preparing for the attack of the Fire Nation, but true battle eludes me), but their lives mirror reality.

3.      They make the wrong choices sometimes, and there are real consequences. Like anyone in real life, they often make wrong decisions. Sometimes there are dire consequences.  Choosing the wrong time and place for a battle could lead to death and defeat.  Choosing the trust the wrong people, or not to trust the right people, has a consequence.  In a regular kids’ show, even bad decisions would be wrapped up quickly and resolved with a quick band-aid.  In Avatar it isn’t always that simple.

2.      Each person matters. Among the main characters, we learn that each of them contributes to the group in different ways.  “Team Avatar” wouldn’t stay afloat without everyone, but it goes beyond that.  Sure there are episodes highlighting the need for each character, but the show itself balances every week.  It shows the need for all people, of all talents, in nearly every episode.  Even the minor characters can have a major impact on the world.  Since these people are saving the world itself- it ALL matters.  The show magnifies the concept, but it reminds viewers that people matter in real life.  You personally can make a difference to somebody, so make the effort!

Zuko With His Dad

     1.      People grow and change.  Zuko is my favorite character on the show.  In the beginning he’s one dimensional and whiny.  He is living according to the standards and ideals he was raised with.  He is forced to reconcile himself to situations that he doesn’t want to be in.  Even with his understanding uncle shoving the right thing to do in front of him all the time, Zuko repeatedly throws it back in his face.  Zuko believes that he wants recognition from his father (don’t we all want to make our parents proud?), and it takes getting it to realize that it doesn’t make him happy.  I love that Zuko had to really learn for himself what was wrong with the world.  All the characters in this story grew in confidence and other things, but Zuko literally had to shed the ideals that he was raised with and create his own set of moral boundaries.  It's so rare, especially in things made with kids in mind, do you get to see such a shift.

Prince Zuko on His Own

So whether you’re completely on board with Aang saving the world, or you’ve never heard of the show, head into the world of the Benders and experience the awesomeness. (Can be watched on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or in reruns on Nickelodeon channels.)

Stay Shiny!

Kristin

5 Reasons Everyone Should Love Avatar: The Last Airbender

For Otherworld Saturday, I thought I would make a list of 5 reasons everyone should love a show. I think 5 reasons for a show could be something we make a regular post about... we'll see. Anyway, I chose Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Now, Kristin (again) gets the credit for alerting me to the pure awesomeness of this show. In my defense - I grew up with two nerdy little brothers who watched too much Pokemon and I thought Avatar gave off a Pokemon vibe. I was wrong (kinda... I mean they do travel around and solve problems in different towns while learning to use their "powers") - the overall quality of Avatar is so much better.

So here we go... 

5 Reasons Everyone Should Love 

Avatar: The Last Airbender

1. The "Bending" - I have never been the person that thinks martial arts are super cool, but the bending on Avatar is pretty sweet. Being able to manipulate the elements is a neat concept; what I love most though is that they have to train in bending to be good at it. You have the ability, but it's what you do with that ability and how you craft that ability that make you the bender you can be. I also love the conflict that bending provides in the show. We see characters that can't bend that might question their contribution to the group. We see characters who think their bending is all powerful and it consumes them. Such a cool aspect to a kid's show. It's no wonder bending itself is such an important part of The Legend of Korra - it is such a great avenue for conflict. 

Favorite episode: "The Firebending Masters"

2. The sibling dynamic: Socca and Katara/ Zoku and Azula - K and I were talking about sibling relationships on shows (mostly the lack thereof) and how much we love seeing that dynamic. Both of us grew up with a brother close in age, so that relationship between brother/sister is so realistic and hilarious to watch. I love that throughout the show, there are many times when Katara completely infuriates Socca or Zoku is the only one that can put Azula in her place (or vice versa) - that sibling relationship is the only kind of relationship that can work like that. Siblings have that I have to love you, but I don't have to like you thing. 

Favorite episodes:  
"The Headband" - Socca and Katara pretend to be Aang's parents - they play off of each other perfectly; only siblings would be able to do that.  
"The Beach" - Zoku and Azula go with their friends to the beach - the fact that they share the memories of that place and what it means/doesn't mean to each of them - very impactful (and hilarious - my favorite scene of Zoku and Mai is in this episode). 

3. Toph - I don't have to say much here actually; she's a master at Earthbending, creates her own style of bending (Metalbending), and is hilarous 95% of the time. Oh, and she's Blind and can kick everyone else's ass whenever she happens to feel like it. What's not to adore?

Favorite episode: "The Blind Bandit"  - we meet Toph for the first time.

4. The idea of the Avatar - I know, not a very original concept. One girl born in the generation, the dark lord will mark him as his own... I know, I know, the chosen one and all that. Jana obviously likes chosen ones. But you have to admit, Aang, Harry, and Buffy are pretty awesome. Like Buffy, Aang is connected to the past chosen ones - something I find intriguing whenever a flashback happens. And like Harry, Aang is often conflicted about the fame of his status - is it something to be proud of or ashamed of? I think what makes the Avatar unique is the "Avatar State" and Aang's lack of control over it (until later episodes anyway). This ability he has to become someone almost outside of himself, that admittedly is pretty freakin' amazing, but that in a way is very frightening; Aang dealing with the Avatar state is powerful stuff. 

Favorite episode: "The Southern Air Temple" - flashbacks and the first time we see the Avatar state, very interesting and emotional episode. 

5.  The cheese factor - Come on, who doesn't love when Katara says "everything changed when the fire nation attacked" (although after watching on netflix ALL day, it does get a little old). You have to love a show that can be cheesy, but then can pick on itself. Other cheesy awesomeness includes: The Boulder (The Boulder is no longer conflicted about fighting a blind little girl) and the Cabbage Guy (My cabbages!!). 

Favorite episode: "The Ember Island Players" - hilarious; best example of any show picking on its own characters there has ever been. 

So... there you go. One last awesome thing that just didn't quite make it on the list: Appa. He rules, just saying. Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender - it is full of awesome. Just, don't watch the movie version. Please. Just don't. I mean, I don't think the cabbage guy made it in the movie at all (one of MANY issues). 

DFTBA!

Jana