Some of the changes were not for me. Like bumi “hating” aang. Idk that’s was weird. Also can Zuko do some fire ending. He’s just doing kicks. Can we get some hand to hand like it the shows. I hope they don’t change too much or change the character’s personalities. And yes the bending needs more work. As in make it more “interesting” like the tv series. More hand to hand not zuko doing a kick 3 times in a row.

I posted this in the wrong thread on accident so now I'm posting it here.

just finished watching the entire first season of NATLA and I…have so many thoughts.

It was good enough, respectable adaptation. There were a lot of things that I liked but there were a lot of things that I didn't. One of them being this...

But is it just me or did Aang do absolutely ZERO waterbending training? Like actually less than zero because the time that he could spend training, he spends walking around with a silly grin and giving Katara pep talks about waterbending. Like Aang, she’s literally trying to practice waterbending...couldn't you join here? And not a single soul in the North Pole stresses the importance that Aang learn and master waterbending; or any other element for that matter.

And the gag of it all is that Katara is surrounded by masters and she doesn’t even do any formal training herself. Not healing and not combat. Nothing at all!!! But suddenly, in the finale, she's pulling off these impressively crazy waterbending tricks. What really pissed me off about it was this exchange...

Zuko: You little peasant! You found a master!

Katara: Yes, I did. I'm the master.

I rolled my eyes so hard I almost passed out.

The only person that we see really training in this entire season is Azula. But that's a completely different topic that deserves its own thread...

And the show actually addresses that the Avatar is the master of all elements. But what were they playing at? Way too much time was spent on sequences where Aang is either talking with his past lives or where Aang is attempting to learn about and meet his past lives. Is this the only part of the Avatar’s training that they are planning to focus on? And why have they overemphasized Aang’s need to be in special, specific shrines to contact them?

And now, as of the end of the final episode, he can go into the Avatar State whenever he wants?

Part of the magic and joy and adventure of the original series was that it was also a martial arts training adventure. But that's completely gone in this adaptation.

I watched the first episode and liked it, but I just watched the second episode and I didn’t really enjoy parts of it. I know the series have been out for some time now, but I’m busy and have other things, so I haven’t had time to watch it.

I know things are supposed to change from the animated series. I hated how Kyoshi told Aang about it being his fault that the world is like it is. Yes, it is his fault, but he was a child. And he also wouldn’t be ready. I also hated how Kyoshi told him they have to go to the North Pole because there is something that’s going to happen. From what I remember, Avatars can’t predict the future. Didn’t they go to the North Pole in the original series to find a master? And Zhao and Zuko teaming up is not what I expected. I like the fact them both chasing the Avatar and clashing, but it’s not what the original show did and is a major plot change. I’ve heard of mixed reviews. I just hope the rest of the season/show gets better.

There are things that I did like. The romance between Sokka and Suki was good. I also liked that they changed the water bending scroll was given to Katara by Gran Gran as a gift when they left.

Does Sokka ever throw his boomerang? Like actually throws it like in the original show where it knocks people out or something?

Please don’t spoil the rest.

I hoped it would do something to justify its existence, but it did not. Guess I should have known better.

My review:

https://youtu.be/Ispa1XKLS8s

What did you all think of it?

While speaking at the PaleyFest last week, Albert Kim said that "Both of them were so involved in the first season. They were so vital in making the season what it was so I have utter confidence in what they are going to do,” Kim told the audience. “I know that Christine, who is here today with a bunch of our writers who are all here, they are hard at work on the scripts for season two. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do as much as anyone. I’m very very confident and happy of the hands the show is in and where it’s going to go."
https://aiptcomics.com/2024/04/16/avatar-the-last-airbender-paleyfest/

No one talking about sexism anymore. He's that good

Hello! I’m back with another commentary for ATLA! Let me tell you, I really need this one lol it’s been a rough week.

So I’m going to talk a little bit about my other commentaries for a couple paragraphs, namely Game of Thrones. If you’re not interested in that, I’ve marked the beginning and end with caps, so you can skip it easily.

OTHER STUFF

So, my Game of Thrones commentaries have temporarily stalled. The mods at asoiaf told me I’m not allowed to post them anymore, and the gameofthrones subreddit keeps deleting them. So I’m going to try posting them to a subreddit called naath. It’s gonna take a little while because I’m going to post the ones I’ve already finished there, but spread out so I don’t spam them. I’m also posting new GoT commentaries directly to my profile. I think they’ll be less visible but at least they’ll still exist.

On the topic of movies, I was recently mildly spoiled on Star Wars (and that’s no big deal! Star Wars is old, and people have no way of knowing what I have and haven’t seen). It got me thinking, maybe I should watch the big movie franchises I’m interested sooner rather than later. The same spoilery thing happened to me with Harry Potter as well, so… should I stop putting off Star Wars and Harry Potter? I feel like the longer I wait, the more likely it is I get spoiled because those are such pop culture staples, as well as being older movies, that I doubt anyone thinks to not spoil them for people anymore.

I’m also kind of interested in watching Marvel films because I’ve never seen a comic book/superhero movie or show, and Marvel seems to be the big one… but there’s so many of them lol dozens of movies and tv shows all sharing the same continuity? On the one hand, I’m impressed! On the other hand, I’m so intimidated by the sheer scale of it that I just want to put it off lol and maybe I should watch a nonmarvel comic book movie first. I’ve always been curious about Superman, who I don’t think is part of Marvel.

There’s just so much stuff out there I have to see!

END OF OTHER STUFF

Okay, let’s get going!

Episode 4- The Swamp

1. I freaking love swamps, man. Fishing them is so much fun, especially if you’re microfishing! Plus, there’s so many frogs, turtles, birds, crayfish. The wildlife is awesome. Most importantly, swamps are full of leeches! Leeches are hands down my number one favorite bait to use for fishing. I have never once been skunked while using leeches! But they’re so expensive to buy commercially, ugh.

Wow. There’s something kind of humbling about seeing Fire Nation royalty be panhandling in the street. Aw, Iroh is so charming. Oh wait, I may change my mind on that. There’s something slightly disquieting about a man who once attempted to conquer and occupy a city singing about how pretty the girls in that city are.

On the other hand, Iroh has the patience of a saint. I’m with Zuko on this one. I hate people who humiliate the homeless. I hope Zuko gives him a good and thorough ass-kicking.

2. What was that in the swamp? Aang was looking at it and I saw it too, it was like a shimmery, fast-moving mist. Oh, they’re building up the swamp as an ominous place. To be fair, swamps can be pretty scary. I once got lost in one after dark because my drunk uncle insisted he knew the way back. Probably one of the most terrifying nights of my life. Every single step, you’re never sure if you’re going to walk on solid/mushy ground, sink into mud, or just plunge into water.

It can’t be a coincidence that a tornado forces them into the swamp right after Aang decides to leave. Something in that swamp wants him there. I bet it’s spirit world shenanigans (Koh seems like he’d be right at home in a swamp, just saying).

Holy shit, that’s a big leech! This really feels like it’s gonna be an episode with a darker, maybe even a scary tone.

3. Wait, this fog they’re wandering around reminds me of the fog from NATLA. It was in the spirit world and it made people relive unhappy memories. I wonder if this is the same thing?

Yep, this is definitely a spooky episode lol

I love how no matter where he goes, Appa’s the biggest, toughest thing around.

4. They’re being attacked by vines! I heard a legend once about these African vines that wrap around people and eat them. Maybe this swamp wants to eat them lol

Uh… swamp people want to eat Appa.

Oh my god, is that a cross between an alligator and a catfish? I would love for those to really exist! Can you imagine how fun fishing for them would be?! Also, Appa fought one lol Why is Appa always getting into fights with other big animals? Are sky bison closer in temperament to water buffalo or cape buffalo, do you think? Cuz one of those can be domesticated and the other will kill you if you look at it too long.

I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m rambling so much today lol I guess the swamp setting got me all excited for nature!

5. This IS that fog from the spirit world! Oh, poor Katara. Damn it, her voice actress does a really good job with despairing sobbing. Every time Katara cries I want to cry too!

Yue! But wait, it’s not really her. Also, why did I get excited to see her again? I didn’t even like ATLA Yue that much lol Yep, definitely not the real Yue. The real Yue would never blame him for not protecting her. Ugh, this fog is evil.

Okay, flying pig and creepy giggling girl. This one has to be real, because Katara and Sokka both saw manifestations of their trauma. It doesn’t seem like Aang knows the girl or the pig. Maybe they’re the spirits of the swamp and he can only see them like that because he’s the avatar?

6. Oh! The swamp people are waterbenders? So there are waterbenders outside of the north and south poles. Also, Appa’s running on water, just like Aang did last season! Airbenders, human or otherwise, are such show-offs lol

Okay, they’re all back together. At least Aang didn’t have to rescue them from Koh this time.

Oh, but this spirit is pretty creepy too! Plant body with a wooden mask. It must have lured them all there so it could… do something to them. Do spirits other than Koh eat people? My man-eating vine theory could still be correct, except it’s spirit vines.

Wow! Katara’s bending would be absolutely lethal if she used it like that on humans!

Wait, they can’t be in the spirit world. You can’t bend in the spirit world, but both Aang and Katara are bending. Is this a place where the spirits are crossing over or something?

7. Oh! It’s not a spirit! Somebody is bending the vines to make themselves look like a spirit monster! But wait a second… someone is bending plants! I’m assuming he’s an earthbender. Plants do come from the earth, and we know earthbenders can bend coal and coal used to be plants, so there is a precedent for this!

Okay, so the spirit monster was fake but the swamp itself actually is a spiritual place (I mean, it must be, they did have those visions).

This dude is throwing lots of trippy hippy talk at us lol We’re all branches of the same tree. Time is an illusion and so is death. I think he’s been smoking too many vines! (but seriously, I kind of get what he’s saying on a metaphysical level). Okay, Aang wasn’t actually seeing the spirit of the swamp. The girl is someone he’s going to meet in the future.

Okay see, it’s things like Aang tapping into the mystical properties of a tree to find his friends that makes me think the avatar is a spirit or part-spirit. Even if you disregard the NATLA evidence for my theory, this show has done nothing to make me think otherwise!

8. lmao at Katara’s face when the swamp guy said they’re kin

Geez Sokka. “Greasy people” sounds like a slur or something.

Oh! Vine guy is not an earthbender, he’s a waterbender. He bends the water in plants to manipulate them! I had a whole theory about this a while ago! There’s water in every living thing. Our bodies are mostly water. Could this guy, or a skilled enough waterbender, bend the water in people’s bodies? That sounds too gruesome for a kid’s show lol but think of the possibilities!

9. Yes! Get wrecked, loser. That’ll teach you to bully the homeless.

This was a very interesting episode! It almost feels like a filler episode but it’s so unique and interesting that I still really enjoyed it! Where was this quality of writing for The Great Divide?

Episode 5- Avatar Day

1. lmao I’m sorry, that was a lot to take in. “What are you doing in my mouth?!” So many vulgar jokes to be made… lol but also, Sokka’s the guy they’re talking about when people claim (falsely, btw) that we swallow spiders in our sleep.

Oh hey, Fire Nation guys on rhinos. These ones seem to be actually competent lol do they work for Azula? I feel like probably not, if only because she’d want to personally capture Aang herself.

Also, Sokka gets no respect lol his boomerang is no less important than the other things!

2. Did Sokka just make a meta joke about cartoon characters always being drawn with the same things? I feel like he did!

Hey, Aang has his own holiday! GIANT KYOSHI FLOAT! That’s my girl! Oh, and Roku’s here too lol Oh wow, they even have Aang. Is he already that well-known that they’re making giant effigies of him in random parts of the Earth Kingdom?

Oh… they’re not celebrating the avatar lol This is actually interesting though. The presence of a powerful person who basically is a messiah figure who reincarnates into every generation is bound to be controversial, and not just to the villains of the world. I wonder if there are people who believe the avatar is an oppressive figure? I mean, they basically do impose their will on the entire world, regardless of nation or culture. That’s sure to cause some resentment.

Or they’re just pissed that the avatar abandoned them a hundred years ago lol

3. How far the mighty have fallen! Once he was the show’s main villain, now he’s a petty thief robbing unarmed civilians of food and livestock. Also… he has hair. I can’t get over how odd it looks.

Interesting that their first reaction to Aang exposing himself is to be afraid that he’s going to kill them. So these people really do see the avatar as a dangerous figure. Oh, he did something bad to them in a past life?! Ah, I’ve been wondering about this very thing! Like, Aang’s lived so many lifetimes that you have to figure that he was the bad guy in at least one of them, right? Surely there must have been an avatar at some point in time who abused their power for selfish gain.

Wait, forget everything I just said! I will not tolerate slander against Kyoshi! Actually, on second thought, Kyoshi does seem like the type who might kill someone if she thought she had to. What was it she said in NATLA? “You must be a mighty merciless warrior!” or something like that. Somehow I seriously doubt no Avatar ever killed someone before.

Did… did that dude just fart in Katara’s direction?

Uh… I don’t know if it’s such a good idea to willingly submit to a trial when you don’t know what their legal customs are lol but this does raise a lot of super interesting ethical questions. Is it fair to hold someone accountable for something they did in a past life if you know for a fact that it was them who did it? Sure, Aang is his own person… but he’s Kyoshi too. Everything the avatar has ever done was something he did, even if he doesn’t remember it. If you kill someone, then lose your memory of who you are and live as a completely different person for decades without ever knowing what you did in your previous life, are you still responsible for what you did?

4. Katara has an excellent point. Aang has a responsibility to save the world. Is it morally right of him to stay willingly imprisoned even when he knows he could escape? Is that just another form of running away from his responsibility? I mean, it’s admirable to want to be held accountable, but weigh the scales here. What if they find him guilty and the sentence is life imprisonment? Is the right thing to do to accept their punishment even if it means the Fire Nation conquers the world? Or is it more morally correct to break out of prison and stop them?

I’ve got to stop with these hypotheticals because I’m only seven and a half minutes into the episode still lol

Is it just me or is the animation for this episode slightly weird?

5. Oh, Zuko’s gone from survival stealing to “I’m taking your money” stealing.

Wow, so Kyoshi was alive 370 years ago? Interesting! Also, there’s no way that’s really her footprint lol Kyoshi was an absolute giant of a woman in NATLA and I somehow doubt that’s any different in ATLA. Can you imagine how ridiculous someone that tall would look with feet that small?

“We need to go to Kyoshi Island.” OMG ARE WE GONNA SEE SUKI AGAIN?! And be honest, is that why Sokka wants to go? Lol

6. Okay, so it’s nice to see everyone again but where’s Suki? Nevermind, they answer me immediately after I press play lol But wow, the Kyoshi warriors have joined the war.

I knew it! I knew she had to have giant feet!

Okay, what is with Sokka’s special hat and pipe?

Aw, Aang’s bonding with the inmates. Most imprisoned people aren’t so bad, they just made a mistake (or sometimes a lot of mistakes). But people who do bad things aren’t bad all the time. 99% of the time, a person is just a person. Also, he slipped out of that so easily lol

And these guys are so nice! Real men build each other up!

7. Okay, Sokka and Katara are convincing me. Maybe Kyoshi didn’t actually kill Chin the Great.

See? Never submit to a foreign justice system you know nothing about!

Annnnd that’s why you never represent yourself in court, kids.

Zuko can’t seriously think he can go back home if he captures Aang, can he? I mean, his sister tried to murder him on his dad’s orders. Even he has to realize his days in the Fire Nation are over.

8. AM I GONNA GET TO SEE KYOSHI THIS EPISODE?! You guys, I have been so patient. I fell in love with Kyoshi in NATLA and I have been waiting to see her again ever since! I swear, if Katara’s teasing me, she’s no longer my favorite!

Aang does look good in Kyoshi makeup though. I’m starting to think anyone would look good rocking it Kyoshi-style.

YES

Oh wow, she just immediately admits to killing him. But she calls him Chin the Conqueror, not Chin the Great. Distant relation of Zhao the Conqueror perhaps? Lol But nobody with a title of “Conqueror” is a good person so she probably had a good reason to kill him. I suppose I could just unpause the episode now and find out.

Yep, I knew it. Also look how big she is next to him! And before killing him she humiliates him by stripping him naked first. Damn. Kyoshi can lava bend too! That’s two avatars we’ve seen do it. Is Aang gonna lava bend before the end of this show?

You know, we don’t really see it because Aang is such an inexperienced kid, but the avatar is pretty much a god aren’t they? Kyoshi made an island. She manipulated tectonic plates to rip the earth apart and make a freaking island.

Also, I’m very happy with Kyoshi’s first ATLA appearance! She’s everything I dream of and more! And she’s an adult, so I can thirst for her!

And one more thing… even though this whole trial is clearly a farce, Kyoshi still took the time to show up and confess. That’s a badass warrior woman right there.

9. Why? Just why? Iroh gives Zuko great advice about not giving into despair and Zuko’s response is to abandon him and go off to find himself or whatever. Ugh. This boy frustrates me sometimes. No wonder so many of his relatives want to kill him!

If this I what these people consider justice, no wonder they think Chin was great. Some people just want to be oppressed lol Hey, Fire Nation to the rescue. “I’d love to help but I’m supposed to be boiled in oil” lol

Um… Aang just tossed a guy off a cliff. The same cliff that Chin fell off of and died. Is he just in constant denial about all the Fire Nation soldiers he’s killed? Lol kind of appropriate after he just spent the whole episode insisting he’d never kill anyone (and after his own past life showed up to contradict that!) And that explosion definitely killed that guy lol If an explosion is strong enough to blast your helmet clean off your head, that means your entire internal anatomy is now a blended mush.

“This is by far the worst town we’ve ever been to.” You said it, Sokka! Enjoy the salmonella from that uncooked dough!

I loved this episode! It was goofy, yes, but also a lot of fun! I was so so happy to see Kyoshi again (and I hope that they returned those priceless 370 year old artifacts to Kyoshi Island when they were done). Honestly it’s nice to see another Avatar other than Roku. I like Roku, but quit hogging the spotlight, man. Let some of the other avatars have a turn!

Episode 6- The Blind Bandit

1. I love it when Katara’s nice to Sokka. “You should get it, you deserve something nice.”

“Pst, you kids like earthbending?” STRANGER DANGER!

Lol even the Earth Kingdom has martial arts training scams.

Katara got good at waterbending and now she chooses violence or everyday problems lol

2. This earthbending competition seems like a scam too lol it’s clearly more performative than any actual test of skill. Is that the theme of this episode? Is it a commentary on how commercialized and curated professional and amateur sports are these days?

Oh there are badgermoles working on this thing? I guess even magic animals can be exploitative lol

“The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young blind girl.” lmao that might be my favorite joke on this show. And I love when characters refer to themselves in the third person like that.

Oh, that girl’s who Aang was seeing in the swamp. And she sees by sensing vibrations in the earth? Like the graboids from Tremors!

Okay, see this is why nobody wants to play sports with Aang lol being the avatar gives him an unfair advantage! Heck, just being an airbender gives him an unfair advantage in this case.

Yeah, I’d be pissed too if I was her. This is supposed to be an earthbending competition, no? I mean, it’s barely a competition but still. I wouldn’t blame that announcer guy if he refused to pay up either, but big respect to him for letting them have the gold anyway.

3. Katara has learned that intimidation on people you’ve previously victimized is effective at yielding results! Lol “Water tribe.”

Oh… so this Xin Fu wasn’t actually being nice when he let them have the gold earlier and now he thinks the Blind Bandit and Aang worked together to rig the game. Which is kind of funny to me because every match not involving the Blind Bandit seemed rigged already.

Why even have guards if it’s that easy to sneak over the wall? Lol Aang is one thing cuz he’s an airbender but Katara and Sokka climbed over it no problem. Most useless guards ever!

So the Blind Bandit’s name is Toph. Some of you have mentioned that name before, so I take she’s going to be an important character. Also… I caught earlier that those guys at the earthbending academy claimed her family didn’t have a daughter and now the guard says that her father doesn’t want her wandering the grounds unsupervised. Is she a “family secret” child because she’s blind? I know historically there are lots of examples of families, especially wealthy ones keeping one of their kids a secret because they have a disability like being blind, lame, mentally underdeveloped, or being a female child with opinions of her own.

4. Why even have a teacher for Toph if you’re not allowing her to learn anything more than basic forms and breathing exercises?

Hah! Aang taking advantage of his celebrity status to be invited in. Reminds me of “The Warriors of Kyoshi”. Just don’t stay too long this time or Azula will find you and burn the place down.

So she keeps her mastery of earthbending a secret from her parents on purpose. I wonder why? Probably something to do with her overbearing father.

So are all of the competitive earthbenders working with Xin Fu? Lol But you know what? I’m not even all that mad at him. He genuinely believes he was cheated (and he kind of was). I mean, kidnapping people is a pretty extreme reaction to that, but then this is a world that doesn’t follow the morals of our own and he hasn’t hurt anyone yet. It’s reasonable to want his money back.

Oh wait, nevermind. He’s a total piece of poop. But really? All of these earthbenders are perfectly willing to hand the avatar over to the Fire Nation?

Toph’s bending style is very similar to Bumi’s. Lots of footwork and hard stances! I’m so happy her dad gets to see what a badass she is.

5. Ugh, now that he knows his daughter’s basically a superhero, Toph’s dad is doubling down on being overprotective of her. He wants her guarded and cared for 24 hours a day? Does he not realize she could easily remove them if she wants to? Lol

“My dad changed his mind. He said I was free to travel the world.” Yeah, sure lol whatever you say, Toph. Hop on, and nobody ask questions!

I laughed too hard when Sokka chucked the belt at her lol

I’m just not worried about the guys her dad hired at all. I saw her single-handedly dump him and his entire crew on their asses. What the hell are they gonna do against Team Avatar?

Concluding thoughts: This was another great episode! So far Season 2 hasn’t had any weak episodes at all! Although I did notice them reusing a lot of animation in The Blind Bandit but I’m not holding that against them lol So I guess Toph is going to be a regular member of Team Avatar, at least for one season. It makes sense, Aang has to spend a lot of time with his teachers, too much to be covered in one or two episodes.

I did notice a lack of major villains in these three episodes (Zuko and Iroh don’t count anymore). It’s an interesting change from the first season, where Zuko was in every or almost every episode. I’m guessing the reason for that is they don’t want too many direct clashes with Azula. I noted last season that Zuko getting beaten by Team Avatar repeatedly did make him lose a lot of that “fear factor”. How can you be scared of a guy when you’ve whooped his butt three times this week already? Same thing happened with Zhao, he never once felt like he could actually take Aang in a fight. He couldn’t even take Zuko in a fight!

But Azula? They’ve only confronted her once, and they didn’t beat her. They ran away, and I’m pretty sure they had an advantage via the element of surprise because she initially had no idea she was confronting the avatar. So she still has that uncertainty factor. She still feels like a genuine threat, unlike Zuko who stopped being a threat the moment Aang smashed him into the ceiling with a mattress lol

I’m very excited to see where this story is going from here. It’s been a lot of fun so far!

BONUS: Just for fun, I added up the word count of every commentary I’ve made about Avatar so far, including NATLA. The combined word count of all of these posts, including this one, is 56,560.

That’s pretty insane. That’s a whole ass book. I’ve written a book’s worth of words about Avatar and I still have most of Book 2 to go, plus Book 3, all of Legend of Korra, and the movie!

Hear me out season 3 ends with invasion of the black sun and finale is defeat of the attackers so season 4 will have more time to tell rest of the episodes of avatar gang having adventures with zuko aang's training, and preparations for the coming of the Sozins comet because I personaly dont want it to be rushed with small amount of the episodes but its only my oppinion so plz dont hate

Is it true that Netflix made zuko 17 and sokka 16?

Source: @viv.lira on IG

What are your top 5 OSTs from the show? I've based them on how incredibly composed they are but how much they have an impact on the scene. Regardless of this ranking Takeshi Furukawa did an amazing job with OSTs, and I'm hopeful he takes liberties and does his own tracks more. My top 5 are:

Zuko's return

Lu ten's funeral

Kyoshi island

This is just the beginning

Aang becomes ocean

First, Ill say this. It might be problematic due to Sokka's arc in season 3 with Piandao. But one thing that always kind of bugged me in the animated series was that Sokka was able to fight benders much powerful with him with lack of fighting technique and weaponry.

Season 1 of NATLA was leaning towards Sokka's love for engineering with the Mechanic. And have him pick it up. What if he adapts certain items like maybe smoke bombs/slime bombs or other type of gadgetry to have him keep up with more benders.

I'm currently writing a paper on the process of transmediation from animation to live action and am looking at Avatar: The Last Airbender as an example. More specifically, I'm looking into whether beyond differences in writing, there are other reasons for people's affinity towards one version over another.

Right now, I'm collecting data for my study. All you have to do is watch a clip and answer some simple questions. If you have 5 minutes and nothing better to do, I have a survey that could be filled out. Any participation would be very much appreciated!

LINK TO SURVEY

or type it in: https://uva.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_agepOIRTu9mItNA

I'd also be interested in why you either liked or disliked the live action show.

How faithful should an adaptation be, visually or otherwise?

Is there an inherent conceptual flaw with transmediations such as these that try to recapture the magic of animation?

Does one medium feel more real than another?

Feel free to discuss. I'd be interested to hear all opinions on the matter!

For example, they ended the OG in jasmine dragon, how do you think they will end in NATLA?

My theory is that they will end it with zuko's speech as monologue.

Toph would already have started her metalbending academy

Sokka will be helping earth king with rehabilitation plans

Zuko will also be preparing rehabiliation plans around the world

And for aang and katara, we will see them landing on southern air temple, they slowly walk towards the grave of gyatso, while standing over it the shot pans out with aang and katara crossing hands confirming kataang without making any intimate scenes for Kiawentiio or Gordon.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/C50Pz3rOv3-/

Here's the first bit of coverage from the NATLA panel during PaleyFest.
https://nerdreactor.com/netflixs-the-avatar-the-last-airbender-cast-on-what-they-want-in-season-2/#google_vignette

I’m so torn on how k feel about this but i totally get them wanting to stick to the original character design but sometimes i lowkey hope on the next season they’ll experiment and switch up on the costume and hair designs for the characters. I think especially seeing Kia with her diff hairstyles with braids it’s be so cool to have katara with different hair braid styles. And same with the clothing, seeing new designs rather than the exact same replicas from the show. Idk what are y’all’s opinion on it?

Hello! I’m back, ready to watch Book 2 of Avatar!

I know I was disappointed by the finale of Book 1 and my reaction probably disappointed some of you as well. However, now that Book 1 is over, I officially am at the part of the story where I have no preconceived expectations! I have no idea what to expect, where the story’s going, nothing! So it’s probably going to be a lot harder to disappoint me lol All I will say is that I am super excited to see Azula again and I can’t wait to find out what kind of character she is.

Once again, I’m posting my Game of Thrones commentary alongside this one. Check it out if you want!

One last thing: a few people did Episode watch orders for this Book which were very helpful… but I can’t find them anymore. If you were one of those people who took the time to order the episodes for me, would you mind posting them again or mailing it to me via DM? I would appreciate it a lot! Thank you!

Okay, Book 2! Let us go!

Episode 1- The Avatar State

1. It’s a little weird not having any idea what to expect.

Aang’s having nightmares about his own Avatar State. Makes sense, I’m sure it’s a traumatic event for him. It only comes out when he’s in mortal peril, and he basically becomes a god of destruction at that point.

Oh! Chekhov’s spirit water! I swear I forgot about that in NATLA lol Pakku calling Katara a real master makes me happy. Oh come on, he didn’t have to do Sokka like that lol He’s related to your unrequited love too, you know.

Aang’s going to train with Bumi, huh? At the end of NATLA, Azula had conquered Omashu and I don’t think Bumi was in any position to teach anyone anything lol we didn’t see that happen yet but I bet it either will or already did offscreen.

2. Hmm… a shirtless Iroh is getting a massage from two buff men in pink uniforms. I know some people who would get excited at that idea!

Is Azula in that palanquin? She is, isn’t she?! Yes she is! And I can think of no better way to introduce her than by having immediately threaten to kill someone lol You guys don’t understand, my single favorite shot of NATLA was Azula smiling while she watched those people burn, the flames on their bodies reflecting in her eyes. It set the bar super high for me lol But this Azula seems to be, so far, just as evil as I hoped!

3. “Mighty Katara? I like that.” Me too! Lol It’s nice to see that General Fung appreciates Team Avatar properly! Earthbending fireworks is pretty cool!

Interesting. General Fung has a good point here, and it’s one I’ve thought myself but haven’t really talked about. Aang’s avatar state is so overpowered it’s basically an instant win against anyone he fights. I’m glad that someone in-universe brought this up, and I predict this episode is going to give us the reason why he can’t just use the avatar state whenever he wants (Although, Kuruk kind of explained it in NATLA. Without being able to master all the elements he won’t be able to control the avatar state, which puts everyone around him in danger. Still that’s only a problem if he’s not alone… hey that’s why Kuruk wanted him to be alone!).

Okay, logically I know it’s better that Aang learn the elements first but I really do understand General Fung’s impatience. He’s been in this war his whole life, and seen so much death and destruction. Now he sees a chance to end it all, but if Aang takes time to learn the other elements first, even more people are going to die before he can end the war. I get it, is all I’m saying.

4. YES! Azula lightning bending in NATLA was one of my favorite moments and I’m so happy I don’t have to wait to see her do it here! I’m also really happy to see that she still has her extreme perfectionist attitude in this version.

Oh… Iroh woke up to the sound of thunder just as Azula was practicing her lightning. Is that foreshadowing? You all know by now that I’m like 80% sure that Azula is going to kill Iroh at some point so Zuko can join Team Avatar. Is she going to kill him with lightning, and was this scene foreshadowing that?

Yeah, Aang has such a good heart. Of course he wants to go with the plan that causes the least amount of suffering.

5. Katara’s right, but she’s not expressing herself well. She just snaps on them and storms away. I like that she has a character flaw in the form of her temper to balance out all of her other awesome traits.

Aang’s drinking enhancing tea. Lol is it just caffeine?

I actually that old guy’s mud idea. Honestly, if I were trying to figure how to induce the avatar state, physically combining the four elements into one is something I might actually consider doing.

6. Aw, Iroh’s collecting seashells! (But is he going to enjoy them for years to come or is he going to die soon?) How did Azula get into their house without them noticing? Or was she there first and just waiting for the perfect time for a dramatic entrance? Lol

Ah, she called him Zuzu! Oh, she’s such a liar. I love it! Oh, and she’s aggressive toward Iroh even when trying to be “nice”. I am going to be so freaking nervous every time those two are sharing a scene.

Katara is so insightful and smart. She’s right, the avatar state is traumatic, not only for everyone else but probably for Aang too. Also, not to be “that girl” but she said “for the people who love, watching you be in that much rage and pain is really scary”. So… she kind of just let it slip that she loves him. Just saying. (I do understand she probably means it in a familial way, I’m just being cheeky)

7. Iroh knows something’s up. Oh no, Zuko just insulted Iroh big time. Man, I really hope those aren’t his last words to his uncle. That would be so awful! And Iroh clearly loves him more than his father ever did, and when he realizes that he’s going to feel like shit!

No! Iroh’s going with him! Azula clearly intends to kill them both!

8. Uh… what exactly is General Fung’s plan here? Even if he forces Aang to enter the avatar state by attacking him, he then has one very pissed off avatar who’s about to focus all of that destructive power directly onto him!

Oh, Aang can run up walls. That’s awesome lol

Oh shit, it’s about to happen. Iroh knows. Zuko’s such an idiot. You know who else is an idiot? The captain! “We’re taking the prisoners home.” Ooh, you see Azula’s glare? The captain is a dead man lol Oh no, they’re fighting. Azula’s not even bothering. She’s just letting her guards do the fighting. If they actually manage to beat the guards, then I imagine she’ll get involved and kill one of my favorite characters. I don’t like this!

9. “Maybe you can avoid me, but she can’t.” Oh, the general’s a dead man too. Huh, cool parallels.

Oh my god, that would be such a horrible way to die. And Aang’s crying and begging him to stop. This is dark, dude.

I love the look on his face after “It worked!”. That “oh… it worked” face lol

10. Oh damn, I love this! Azula vs Zuko! And she actually uses her fingernails like weapons too, slashing his head. She hasn’t even tried bending yet! This is giving me big “Ozai vs Zuko in NATLA” vibes. He’s going all out trying to win and she’s just playing with him. Oh man, is Iroh going to intervene to save Zuko and die as a consequence? I don’t want to press play!

Oh… guess not. He took her lightning and shot it somewhere else. He did the same thing to natural lighting in Book 1, if I recall. During The Storm, right?

11. Oh, Roku just snatched Aang’s spirit right out of his body lmao He’s dropping exposition on us now, explaining what the avatar state is. KYOSHI! I SEE KYOSHI! AND KURUK! My babies are all here! Oh, and that’s the other airbender avatar, the one before Aang. Brother Gyatso took Aang to her statue in NATLA. Crap, I can’t remember her name. I have no idea who that other avatar is lol

Oh shit. So if Aang dies in the avatar state, he won’t reincarnate. He’ll just cease to exist. I’d say that’s a pretty big damn good reason not to use the avatar state!

Azula’s threatening people. So are those people in the pink outfits Fire Nation colonists? That makes so much sense from a thematic point of view. The Fire Nation army is all decked out in red, but the civilians are in pink. Maybe it’s meant to symbolize their innocence in the war, or their separation from their home country. I imagine plenty of Fire Nation descendants were born in the Earth Kingdom.

Well, Zuko and Iroh just cut their hair. I’m pretty sure that’s symbolically important. They’re both fugitives now, not only banished but actively being hunted down by the Fire Nation. Does that mean they’re no longer villains?

Alright, that was an incredible episode! After the bitter taste the Book 1 finale left me with, that was exactly what I needed to remind me why I love Avatar!

Episode 2- The Cave of Two Lovers

1. Hey, I know this! The Cave of Two Lovers was a thing in NATLA too! The hippies explained it to us lol Oma and Shu, the lesbians who first started earthbending (I know they’re not lesbians in this version, but they will always be lesbians in my heart) used to meet in that cave. This is gonna be a fun one! Am I gonna get to see a badgermole? Lol I think so!

Erm… Aang’s a little “hot for teacher” right now lol I suppose that makes sense. They’re both in their underwear and now she’s pressing up against him. How is else a twelve year old boy supposed to react You know, maybe it wasn’t the best idea to have Katara teach him waterbending lol Also, can I just praise the writers and animators for having the sheer gall to go there?

Also, I love how she’s not babying him. She’s throwing ice spears directly at him with the expectation of him catching them! If he screws up, she’ll impale him!

THE HIPPIES!!! I love them so much! Lol But, uh… maybe don’t compliment a minor’s underwear though.

2. Zuko looks so weird with hair! Also, I love his little tantrum lol I guess a prince wouldn’t be used to hard living. Iroh’s willing to risk poisoning to get delicious tea and I love that for him. Zuko’s going fishing, and I also love that for him. I wish I were going fishing but the weather so far has not been cooperative lately.

So… that guy in the pink and white robes gushing about the never ending rainbow… is his deal what I think his deal is? Lol “Secret tunnel! Secret tunnel! Through the mountain!” It’s the same song from NATLA! I love the hippies so much!

“Secret love cave. Let’s go.” lmao

3. Aw poor Iroh! You know, one time while camping I was running around naked in the woods (don’t ask) and I fell into the bushes and got poison ivy everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Most miserable three weeks of my life!

Lmao I love how the Fire Nation’s mortal enemies are still a preferable option to being turned over to Azula.

Lol I love Sokka. And Aang is adorable! Trust in love little buddy!

4. Oh, these are the Zuko and Iroh moments I love. Just them hanging out in the world, chatting with Earth Kingdom people. Mushi and Lee, huh? I like it. Also Iroh does look very similar to how I looked during the poison ivy incident. The way to Iroh’s heart is with roast duck!

Badgermoles are messing up Sokka’s map! They need to feel some strong love, so the badgermoles will sense it and help them.

Yes, Zuko! Feel that guilt! Realize what the enemy actually are: people, just like you. That’s the key to stopping atrocities and war everywhere, understanding the other side’s humanity.

5. Wolf bats? Those weren’t in NATLA. Creepy! Also, jesus Sokka! He practically set Appa on fire!

Oh, it is hard to watch Zuko slowly regain his empathy and compassion. He’s really the only hope for ending the war, I think. Even if Aang beats Ozai, someone has to be in charge. Either Iroh or Zuko needs to assume the throne and end the war, and since I’m pretty sure Iroh’s gonna die any minute now, it’s probably going to be Zuko.

I would love to hang out with hippies.

Oma and Shu’s graves! Oh, I love Katara’s telling of their story and this artwork. So beautiful.

Wait no, the hippie’s idea might actually work! Badgermoles are blind, so they get around via hearing and sensing things, right? They’re also intelligent and can communicate with humans. So if they play a love song, the badgermoles might hear it, and they’ll know that the hippies and Sokka are friends to love, and help them!

6. Ah! Lol be honest, Katara, are you just using this as an excuse to kiss Aang? Oh… Aang, buddy, you fucked up.

Oh… that was one of the more heartbreaking moments on this show. Zuko steals their bird, and forces Iroh to go along with it. And the look on the girl’s face when she saw them and closed the door… I feel like crying.

Oh! Oh!!! Did Aang and Katara just kiss?! I know it’s a bit weird to be excited by the idea of two kids kissing but I’m gonna chalk it up to my inner child rooting for them. Go, Kataang!

7. I love the badgermoles! They didn’t attack, and not just because they love music! But because Sokka and the hippies are full of love! They probably sensed Sokka’s fear and worry for his sister and Aang and came to the rescue.

I kind of forgot about the crystal thing.

Momo and Appa are straight up talking to each other! I wonder what they’re saying?

“Nobody react to what I’m about to tell you, but I think that kid might be the avatar.” *smack* lmao I love the hippies and Sokka.

Yep! Omashu has been conquered!

This episode makes me really appreciate the second half of the Omashu arc in NATLA even more, and it also makes me realize just how impressive the NATLA writers are! If you read my NATLA reactions you may have some idea of this, but… the themes of this episode tie perfectly into its NATLA counterpart! But not just the tunnels and Oma and Shu, but also Bumi’s arc and Iroh and the Earth Kingdom soldier. All of the themes about love, about losing hope, about realizing your enemies are human, all of those are present in this episode too! Even Iroh and Zuko’s visit to that Earth Kingdom family!

Of everything I’ve seen so far, I think NATLA’s writers did their best work with Episode 4- Into the Dark. Watching this episode now makes me realize just how much thought and planning they put into it!

So far I am very impressed by Book 2! Maybe it’s just my imagination, maybe it’s just because I’m not constantly comparing it to NATLA, but it seems like the writing for these last two episodes has been better than Book 1’s writing.

Episode 3- Return to Omashu

1. I’m only just now noticing that the Fire Nation erected bridges to get to the city. That explains why the earthbenders didn’t just collapse their rock bridges!

Of course Aang wants to save Bumi. And he’s getting a little aggressive about it too! Meow!

Lmao Aang and Katara just bend the sewage but Sokka gets it all over him! He’s gonna get pinkeye! And possibly cholera.

2. Or he’ll get adorable eldritch monstrosities stuck to his face.

“We better go wash our hands.” It’s nice to see that the Fire Nation takes hygiene seriously. Can you imagine a plague running through a society and a bunch of them would refuse to do even the bare minimum to stop it, like wash their hands or stay at home? Crazy!

These twin old ladies intrigue me. I wonder what their deal is.

3. Wait, Mai? Is that Azula’s friend from NATLA? The monotone emo one?

Oh hey, Aang just saved those Fire Nation people from the people they’ve conquered and oppressed! That’s… good for him? Lol But now those same people are attacking him. Mai is kind of a badass, isn’t she? Likes to hide sharp projectiles up her sleeves and seems to be really good at aiming them lol

Hey, that’s Azula’s other friend! Holy shit, she has incredible core strength.

Bumi didn’t fight back at all? That sounds suspiciously like something NATLA Bumi do, in a “please end my torment” kind of way lol I’m curious to see this Bumi’s reasoning. Also, not only did Aang prevent the assassination of Fire Nation officials, he’s also convinced the resistance to give up and leave without a fight. ...are we sure he and Bumi aren’t secret Fire Nation spies? Lmao

4. Sokka’s so smart. I love him. And I just love how seriously the Fire Nation Governor takes a potential epidemic. Now that’s quality leadership. Ahem.

THEY ENSLAVED FLOPSY?! Bastards!

Wow, that is one strong, fast, and resilient baby. Fire Nation people are just built different, I guess. I’m not even worried about him wandering out with the fake sick people. He can probably fend for himself just fine lol

5. Why does Azula’s presence at this circus feel ominous? Oh, that’s why. Is she threatening… her name’s Ty Lee, right?

Well, Bumi can’t be dead. People in the comments kept going on about how great he’ll be later.

“The universe is giving me strong hints that it’s time for a career change.” Oh, is “The Universe” her nickname for Azula? Understandable, she’s clearly a goddess. But this is interesting! Azula had to threaten Ty Lee into going with her! That suggests her “friend” may not be as friendly as she thinks. We didn’t get to see much of Ty Lee or Mai in NATLA, but nothing I saw there hinted that they were anything but fully supportive of Azula. But if Azula has to threaten Ty Lee to get her to fall in line, that could lead to problems for her later down the road.

6. Lmao I love it when Katara smacks Sokka.

The Fire Nation governor is making quite a gamble offering Bumi for his son. Not only is Bumi the old king but he’s an incredibly strong and skillful earthbender. Could be a major threat to him! Then again, is there anything we won’t do for those we love? Well… I doubt Ozai would do that much for Zuko lol

God, imagine having to carry a freaking palanquin up all those stairs. “Please tell me you’re here to kill me.” lol I like Azula’s friends. Oh wow, I love Mae’s nails. Oh wait, Mae is spelled “Mai”. Sorry, my bad!

I love how Azula just casually wields the power to rename an ancient city. Gives me Alexander the Great vibe lol New Ozai, huh? It’s okay. Not very creative but whatever. Got to suck up to daddy in the never-ending struggle for a crumb of affection from him.

7. Oh wow, we’re getting Team Azula vs Team Avatar! I am so hyped for this.

Holy shit, Mai is cold. She didn’t even try to disagree with Azula. Does she not care about her brother? Or does she know there’s no point in defying Azula and is just very good at going along with it?

Woah! Azula’s flames are so beautiful! We saw her fire turn blue a couple of times in NATLA. Here it seems to be permanently blue. Also, she’s a stone cold badass in this fight! She reacts quickly and is calm the whole time. Compare that to every time Zuko goes up against Aang. He gets all hotheaded and impulsive.

How does Ty Lee take away Katara’s bending? It looks like she was hitting nerves in specific places.

Man, Bumi is going to be feeling sore from this chase for a while lol

That whole fight was amazing… but it was also just a teaser. Nobody won, Aang and his group ran away. They didn’t beat Team Azula the same way they beat Zuko their first encounter, they escaped them. Much like the resistance couldn’t beat the invasion, so they escaped. And now Bumi’s about to tell us why he surrendered without a fight and I bet it fits the theme!

Hmm… I guess it kind of does. Neutral jing, huh?

Azula’s mission wasn’t even to capture the avatar. She just took it upon herself lol

Concluding thoughts: This season is great so far! It definitely has a more mature tone than the first, and I think the writing has improved. And it could just be my imagination but the animation looks sharper too.

Azula is the stand-out here! I had high hopes for her character because I loved her in NATLA and so far she’s not disappointing me! Weird, multiple people told me to prepare myself because her character in NATLA is different from ATLA but… so far they seem like the same person lol Obsessive perfectionist, check. Sadistic and merciless, check. Sucking up to Ozai, check. An absolute beast in combat, check. How is she different? Maybe she’ll change down the line but even if she does, I don’t think it’ll bother me because her introduction in both shows is basically the same character.

I will say I like cartoon Bumi a little bit more this time than in his first episode. At least here he has a semi-logical reason for behaving the way he does. So I guess y’all were right about that. He gets more interesting as the story progresses!

I’m very interested in Azula’s friends and her relationship to them. Ty Lee seems likes she’s being forced to tag along. Mai seems to be there willingly. Both are amazing fighters without bending.

Zuko and Iroh’s arc seems to be slowing down, and I actually love that. Some of my favorite Zuko and Iroh moments in Book 1 and NATLA is when they’re off on little adventures together. But this adventure seems like it’s going to be a big one! I can’t wait to see how it happens (right up until the moment Azula murders Iroh and Zuko runs off to join Team Avatar)!

Anyway, if these first three episodes are indicative of the quality of Book 2, then I can’t wait to see how awesome it’s going to get!

What is the one thing that will totally make you go “Yeah, I’m NOT watching season 2”. Apart from them getting Toph wrong(this should be everyone’s first dealbreaker to start with lol). I wanna hear them.

Well, this is it, guys. We’re finally here! The finale of Book 1 of ATLA! I’m quite excited to see this one. The Northern Water Tribe arc was my favorite arc from NATLA. Seriously, it was just so freaking good, and I have high hopes for it in its original.

Several people warned me that Yue will likely disappoint me, and I am preparing myself for that. It does suck though because I really liked her in NATLA. Nevertheless, I am still excited to see Hahn, Kuruk, and even Pakku, weirdly enough.

I won’t lie, it’ll be a bit of a relief when Book 1 is finished, only because I’m tired of comparing the show so much to NATLA. My enjoyment of Book 1 has definitely been somewhat hindered by the absence of things I enjoyed in NATLA. And of course, that’s not the OG show’s fault at all! They came first! NATLA’s writers had it easy because it’s easier to improve on existing material than to make material perfect the first time around. But once Book 2 starts, that won’t really be a problem anymore (unless Azula and Ozai are disappointments but I have faith they won’t be)! I’ll be able to relax and just enjoy the show without missing the things I liked about NATLA.

Real quick announcement before we get started: I am posting my commentary of Episode 2 of Game of Thrones at the same time I post this, so you can read that if you want! The main location for it will most likely be in the asoiaf subreddit, since that gave me the least amount of problems last time.

Okay, here we go! Wrapping up Book 1: Water!

Episode 18- The Waterbending Master

1. I’m assuming the title is referring to Master Pakku? It’ll be cool to see the sexist old bastard again. I can’t wait to watch Katara teach him a lesson in respect!

So weird to see Sokka and Aang being cranky toward one another. Usually it’s Katara being cranky toward someone else lol Oh, they’re being attacked by waterbenders.

Zhao’s planning his invasion! I’m so hyped for this! I’m a little curious about how they’re going to do a massive devastating battle on a kid’s show, but I have faith in the creators.

2.Huh. I just realized that both of the shows I’m watching right now have giant ice walls lol

Interesting. The entire city appears to be made of snow and ice in this version. Oh wait, I think I see some wooden doors.

Yue! Okay, bye! Lol Sokka’s already acting the fool but I’m here for it.

3. I am so happy we get to see Iroh’s music night, finally! Oh, but here’s Zhao.

Huh, I can’t remember if the day they arrived at the tribe was the same day as Yue’s birthday in NATLA. Heck of a coincidence though. I don’t like the way her father said she’s “of marrying age”. I know, I know, different cultures but even so, it feels icky to have your dad announce something like that.

Oh, Pakku and his students are performers in this version.

Lol I love how ‘Prince’ Sokka just goes for it. Hopefully he and Yue can “do an activity” lmao

Okay, I actually do love that Pakku tells Aang not to expect special treatment right off the bat.

4. As much as I prefer NATLA Zhao, I do like this Zhao’s audacity lol Just straight up tells Zuko “I’m taking your crew.” And he figures out on his own that Zuko is the blue spirit without any help from Azula! I’ll give him props for that.

Oh, here it come. Ugh, he’s even more insufferable here (or is that just my imagination?) lol But I will say this: I very much prefer the way Aang reacts here as compared to NATLA. He immediately defends Katara and dismisses Pakku like the trash he is!

But also, this raises an interesting question… Aang’s lived many times before. I’m sure that at some point in the past he’s been a female waterbender. Who taught him then? Southern Waterbenders? Or did they make special exceptions because he/she’s the avatar?

I appreciate Katara convincing Aang to stay with Pakku though. I’m not sure if it’ll do any good. If Aang doesn’t respect his master because his master is an asshole, then he’s not going to be open to him. How can he learn from someone he doesn’t respect? All of my worst classes in school had teachers who were real shitheads.

5. Yeah… I’m already not sure about this Yue. Don’t get me wrong, I like her, but in NATLA she’d already started forming an emotional connection to Sokka before he even arrived at the Northern Water Tribe. He had no idea who she was but she already knew he was brave and caring, so her attraction to him made perfect sense. And his attraction to her made sense too because he’s a teenage boy and she has a pulse.

She already seems to be attracted to him here if those animated blushes are any indication… but why? He’s a complete stranger. Maybe she likes his boldness?

Hey, the pirates are back, and working for Zhao!

6. Okay, here’s something completely new! Katara’s necklace is a betrothal necklace (hmm… the last person to give it to her was Aang. But before him, Zuko tried to exchange it… curious, isn’t it, shippers?). And Exposition Granny has a name, and was born in the Northern Tribe! She was arranged to be married to a waterbender who carved the necklace for her.

...so, it’s Pakku, right? He’s the only older waterbender we’ve met lol

Blasting jelly, huh? Zhao’s trying to blow Zuko up again, I see. Oh, but it was a much bigger boom this time!

7. Ooh, teenage love drama! ...don’t think I need it, but okay.

Okay… Katara’s idea to have Aang teach her the waterbending he learns from Pakku is logical, but I’d still prefer she beat him up instead.

“You have disrespected me, my teachings, and my entire culture. You are no longer welcome as my student.” Your culture sucks, asshole. You know who has culture? Charles Darwin. Adapt or die. Who the hell does he think he is refusing to teach the avatar? I kind of want Roku (or even better, Kuruk) to possess Aang again and put the fear in him like he did with Jeong Jeong!

8. Apologize to that man for treating you like a second class citizen, Katara! Hell, we have to deal with the same bullshit in real life, why not you too? Ugh.

“I’m waiting, little girl.” Oh, I fucking hate him lol Come on, the city is full of waterbenders. Just pick literally anyone else!

YES! KICK. HIS. ASS!

9. Hmm. This scene between Iroh and Zhao was done better in NATLA (I’m sure you’re sick of hearing it. Don’t worry, Book 2’s almost here and you won’t have to much longer). Both Zhao’s and Iroh’s live action actors gave pretty good performances in that scene. Here… well, you can’t really judge acting in a cartoon well, can you? The voice acting was good enough but nothing about it stood out like it did in NATLA. But I can’t hold that against ATLA since it’s mostly an issue of medium.

Yes! Go Katara! Okay, I said the same thing in NATLA: don’t do hand-to-hand! He is a grown man and you are a 14 year old girl! You are not winning a fight with fists!

SHE DID THE ICE DISK MOVE! 10 out of 10!

Oh wow. I thought in NATLA that Katara’s hair looked beautiful when it was down and I think the same thing here (which is weird because this is animation. Colors on paper, not real hair).

I knew it. He was the one in an arranged marriage with Exposition Granny.

Okay, let me just say, that fight was excellent and I was not disappointed at all! It was just as good as NATLA’s! I mean, they’re so similar to begin with, so that makes sense. I love them both!

10. Whaaaat?! Zuko’s alive? That’s crazy! (For those of you who didn’t finish NATLA, Zuko actually died. It was very sad)

Okay, I don’t know why Yue’s crying here. But I’m loving how savage Katara’s is. “Yeah, that’s right. The love of your life didn’t love you back cuz you’re a sexist jerk. She moved to literally the farthest point on this planet from you.”

Also, I love how the chief is just kinda there, standing around lol He was the exact same in NATLA! Just kinda there!

11. Sokka, every interaction you’ve spent with this girl totals up to about 45 seconds. Maybe slow down a bit?

Okay, their total interaction time is up to about 50 seconds, and she’s kissed him lol I’m confused too, Sokka. Oh, she’s engaged. Is it to Hahn? It’s to Hahn, isn’t it? Don’t think I haven’t noticed the conspicuous lack of Hahn in this episode!

Okay, so at this point she hasn’t broken off the engagement yet. Oh, what if Hahn’s the one to break it off in this version? Don’t get me wrong, I loved that Yue broke it off herself in NATLA, but it would be a really cool moment for Hahn to realize she doesn’t want to be with him and take that step himself. It would be a great moment if Sokka’s there too and Hahn gives him his blessing! They had a really good rapport in NATLA. What if the breaking of the engagement is the start of that goodwill between them here?

A part of me does like how sassy this Pakku is lol Oh, he’s teaching Katara too?

I have to be honest, I don’t know how to feel about that. In NATLA, Pakku eventually abandons his tribe’s customs of no women benders because they’re under attack and they need the reinforcement. Even the women of his own tribe tell him as much. He’s forced to choose between his outdated beliefs and the survival of his people (adapt or die) and he makes the right choice.

But here it’s… what? Because of Katara’s grandma? So did he decide to do away with the tradition altogether and let any girl learn waterbending or is he just making a special exception for Katara because he still loves her grandma? Either way it seems kind of weak.

Oh yeah, there’s Zhao’s armada!

Well… so far the Northern Water Tribe arc is a mixed bag. On the one hand, I fucking love that Aang stood up to Pakku too. I also loved the fight between him and Katara.

On the other hand, Sokka and Yue’s scenes just feel bland compared to their NATLA counterparts. Yue doesn’t seem to be as interesting of a character here. Her whole existence on the show so far is defined by men. Sokka’s love interest. Hahn’s (I assume) betrothed. In NATLA she had a personality! She traveled the spirit world in her dreams, where she met a boy who was desperate to save his sister and best friend despite the danger! She was a priestess, one of the last few people alive who still respected Avatar Kuruk. She played with children and used waterbending to make them ice cream! And… oh yeah, she herself is a waterbender!

Here, she’s one third of a love triangle.

I know there are still two more episodes to get through so maybe she’ll get a chance to shine (well, she is gonna die to save the moon, so I guess that counts lol). But I understand now why people warned me that I’d be disappointed by Yue.

And Pakku agreeing to train Katara also feels less meaningful in this version. I don’t think I need to rehash why.

Okay, onto the next.

Episode 19- The Siege of the North Part 1

1. lol that’s my girl, Katara! She’s advanced more quickly than any student Pakku’s ever trained, huh? And in what? A day or two? She’s just that good.

“No, Sokka. I can’t talk to you. You see, you’re a boy, and I’m a girl, and I’m engaged, and we simply mustn’t!” Okay, I actually do admit that Sokka taking her flying is a pretty smooth move.

2. Alright, let’s get this war going! Also, “Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects.” That’s a great line by Iroh! Damn, they should have kept that one for NATLA.

I got super excited when Iroh asked Zuko “Do you have a plan?” But alas lol “I’m working on it, Uncle” does not lend itself as well to a witty follow up.

For crying out loud. The North is under attack and everyone’s running for their lives but now is the perfect time to stop and tell your inevitable future boyfriend that you can’t see him anymore. Because, you know, he doesn’t have anything more important to worry about at this exact moment.

Okay, I’ll give ATLA this: the chief just gave a great speech. Could have used that in NATLA.

3. Hey, that’s the opening shot (kind of)!

Oh shit, they actually showed screaming people being caught in the explosion. Hardcore for a kid’s show. Respect!

Aang’s assault on the fire nation ship was pretty cool! Another thing to compare to NATLA, which had a similar scene. I don’t have a preference for one scene or the other though.

4. Interesting! This plan to infiltrate the Fire Nation navy wasn’t a part of NATLA at all!

Oh. That’s Hahn. Well, Sokka is being a bit a jerk so I guess it’s understandable that he’d be a jerk back.

I do like that Aang’s freaking out here. He took out a dozen ships by himself, but still more is being asked of him and he’s cracking under the pressure. And he’s right, he’s just one kid.

5. We’re finally touching on Iroh’s lost son, and him thinking of Zuko as his own. Aw, that hug was so heartbreaking (don’t know why, I know Zuko survives lol)

Well, I guess Hahn is a reflection of his tribe’s sexist attitudes towards women in this version. But with even less empathy than Pakku.

6. It is cool to see exactly how Zuko sneaks into the city.

Oh hey, look at that. They gave Yue something to do.

That’s the spirit oasis? Well, alright then lol Zhao’s not gonna have to search this one for very long, is he?

7. Okay, at least the chief isn’t a big jerk.

Yes! Zuko vs Katara! Let’s go! That fight was pretty cool lol Everyone’s fights against Zuko are getting more and more one-sided.

Oh nevermind. Spoke too soon lol

8. Speaking of one-sided fights, Zhao’s troops are invading the city. Does he even need to kill the Moon Spirit in this version? Kind of seems like he’s doing just fine on his own.

Zuko’s just gonna carry Aang across a tundra, on foot, in a snowstorm? Lol

Episode 20- The Siege of the North: Part 2

1. This is kind of cool. They didn’t need to rescue Aang from Zuko in NATLA so I’m curious to see where this is going.

Spirit world, here we go! Is Aang gonna meet Kuruk here? Or a monkey spirit lol Oh, it’s Roku again. I’m not gonna get to see Kuruk, am I?

Lmao I’m sorry, but the way Zuko just threw Aang down and banged his head off that rock was kind of darkly funny. And Aang’s not even aware anything’s happening!

2. KOH! We’re gonna meet my scary boy! This is an interesting place in the story to put him lol Oh, in this version he can only steal your face if show emotion? Actually, that kind of makes sense. In NATLA Koh didn’t kidnap Sokka and Katara until the end of their memories, when both were at their most emotional. It’s not quite the same but I can see the inspiration.

Zuko’s talking about Azula! She’s a firebending prodigy! And he’s right, everyone does adore her! I adore her! I want to see her cartoon version so badly!

“My father says she was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born. I don’t need luck though, I don’t want it. I’ve always had to struggle and fight, and that’s made me strong, it’s made me who I am.” Wow! ATLA Zuko has an amazing moment here. Don’t get me wrong, I loved seeing NATLA Zuko’s realization that his father prefers his sister over him, but I like seeing this side of Zuko who already knows! This raw underdog determination!

3. Um… they’ve kind of taken the city already? I mean, not the whole thing but damn.

Ah, so there goes Hahn. There goes a one dimensional character with no redeeming traits, getting thrown off a ship for a joke. That’s fine. It’s not like I really liked the other version of his character. It’s not like I was impressed by his heartfelt moments with Sokka, or how bravely he fought during the battle. It’s not like I cried when I saw his burnt corpse or anything.

Oh, this is interesting. Zhao didn’t get the information about the Ocean and Moon Spirits from the Fire Sage, he got it from a secret underground library? And Iroh has traveled into the spirit world?! I want to know more about that! And this version of Zhao seems to have no problem killing the Ocean Spirit too.

Why did I just jump? This is a cartoon. What’s scary about a cartoon monkey with no face?

Okay, but Koh is still just as scary.

4. What exactly is Zuko’s plan if Aang wakes up on him? I know he tied him up, but… that’s the avatar, dude.

“It’s been a long time since I added a child’s face to my collection.” What the fuck, ATLA writers? Lol I’m only laughing because I’m freaked out!

Hey, did Koh just change his face to the Blue Spirit?

Well, it was nice of Koh to be so helpful lol But then he is a spirit and he probably doesn’t want humans killing his kind at all.

5. Oh Hei Bai! Nice to see him again.

Okay, now that the moon’s up, the waterbenders are kicking ass again.

Wait, why was Katara able to see Aang’s spirit body this time?

Lmao what did I say? Aang wakes up and the first thing he does, with his hands and feet bound, is knock Zuko on his ass! And then Katara one-shots him lol Maybe the writers really needed to bring Azula in to give the show some stakes. At this point Zuko might as well be an angry puppy.

I simultaneously appreciate Aang’s desire to save Zuko’s life and Sokka’s complete willingness to let him die lol

6. Here we go! Red moon!

WAIT A MINUTE! Okay, back when I watched NATLA, I theorized that Aang, and the avatar in general, is not fully human. Yue is part spirit, which is why she was able to enter the spirit world in her dreams and appear as a fox spirit (and by the way, I’m annoyed I didn’t get to see her fox spirit form in this version). I thought that the avatar might be either part spirit, or a full spirit that takes human form like the Ocean and Moon Spirits.

This scene right here gives me more evidence for that theory! When the Moon is cut off, only Yue and Aang start feeling faint. It’s because the part of them that’s spirit is reacting to it, I’m sure of it!

Yes! That was what I wanted to hear from Zhao! Zhao the Conqueror! Zhao the Moonslayer! And he even gave us a bonus one: Zhao the Invincible! Lol Good Momo.

Zhao doesn’t seem to be using Kuruk’s special spirit-killing knife here.

“Whatever you do to that spirit, I’ll unleash on you ten-fold!” Aah! That was one of favorite Iroh lines in NATLA and I’m so happy to see it here!

He killed the Moon with firebending! Appropriate, I think. And I love how Iroh is a beast in this version too. And I love that they still have the black and white color scheme lit up only by fire!

7. Oh, I almost forgot about the giant Ocean Spirit! Wow, it looks so beautiful here!

Yeah, Zuko vs Zhao!

Okay, Yue sacrificed her life to save the Moon. Wish I could say I was more moved by it, but she was barely a character in this version of the show. Though I will say I like that her body is left behind in this version. It definitely would have added to the emotional impact of the scene in NATLA if Sokka had her body afterwards. She just kind of disappeared then.

8. Ocean Spirit is being way more gentle with the Fire Nation ships in this version lol I think they were all dead by this point in NATLA.

Oh, Yue’s body disappeared. Oh but her spirit is saying goodbye. Okay, that scene would have been awesome to see in NATLA too.

The Ocean Spirit is killing Zhao personally! I mean, that makes sense, Zhao killed the love of its eternal life. I’d drown his ass too. Hmm… you know what? I think I like Zhao’s death in ATLA as much as I liked it in NATLA. Both were very appropriate for their respective stories. And I love that Zuko tried to save him. Underneath all of the trauma and the horrible parenting, he’s fundamentally a good person. And I especially love that Zhao refused. One last way his Fire Nation ideals failed him.

9. Pakku wants to go to the South Pole to “rebuild the sister tribe”. I’m sure the fact that his unrequited love is living there now has nothing to do with it. I hope she still rejects his ass after he shows up lol

YES! Azula! I’ve missed that vicious little psychopath so much! Ozai still isn’t showing us his face lol

Concluding thoughts on these episodes: I guess the Northern Water Tribe arc was pretty good. Lots of good moments. Lots of lackluster moments too. Lots of missed opportunities with characters, you might say.

I know. I’ve never felt less objective in one of these commentaries. I don’t think even the Bumi change bothered me as much. Maybe because it was only one episode. But like… I’ve never really had to deal with seeing alternate versions of characters I love be so disappointing. I imagine a lot of you felt something similar when you watched NATLA. I knew Yue was going to disappoint me, and she did. But Hahn? No one warned me about Hahn (and to be clear, I’m not saying anyone should have warned. I like going in as blind as possible) and I’m kind of surprised his character upset me so much. And I can’t even call it a character assassination because this is the original! The shitty version of the character came first!

I can live with not seeing Kuruk, and I can deal with Pakku’s arc being weaker.

It’s weird to say, but this is the one occasion where I prefer the pacing in NATLA too. The Northern Water Tribe arc’s pacing felt perfect in NATLA. Here it seemed rushed. Zhao barely spent any time in the Oasis, his forces seemed to have little difficulty invading the city, his final confrontation with Zuko didn’t really have an emotional payoff. Yue’s scenes with Sokka went by so fast they were barely there.

Yeah, I’m sorry guys. I’m really let down by this. I don’t even feeling like posting this anymore. I kind of want to just move on to Book 2 and pretend I’m picking up where NATLA left off. Of course, I know that’s not possible. The plots are too different to even pretend.

Concluding thoughts on Book 1: Disappointing finale aside, I did enjoy the cartoon a lot. The highlights were the character building moments with the main three of Team Avatar. ATLA definitely had better development for Aang and Katara, and to a degree Sokka as well. I loved all the little moments between them, all the times they could be goofy, all the times they snapped or were grumpy with each other, all of the jokes. They did feel more like a family than the NATLA crew.

The cartoon also had pretty amazing moments that NATLA didn’t. The entirety of The Deserter, for instance, and Roku’s destruction of his own temple.

Now for the weaknesses: The story definitely suffered from being a children’s cartoon sometimes, especially in the first half of the show. There were times when things just got too zany, to the point where it takes me out of the story.

ATLA did have the lowest point of the franchise (that I’ve seen) in The Great Divide. It wasn’t even a badly written episode, it was just boring and forgettable.

ATLA’s side characters were sidelined (heh) in favor of focusing more on the main characters, which is fine. If that’s what the writers want, then that’s perfectly valid. And some of the characters were as good as or even better than their NATLA counterparts. Suki, for example, or Jet. But for the most part, the side characters (especially the ones from the Fire Nation) were done better in the live action.

Overall, I’ll rank Book 1 at 7/10 and NATLA’s first season at 7.5/10. That’s with me trying to disregard the “first watch” bias and keeping in mind the limitations and necessary plot differences. If you factor in my disappointment at the parts ATLA didn’t do as well as NATLA, then it becomes a 6.5/10

Boy, I can’t wait to read the opinions of that. No doubt they’ll be strong lol But you go ahead, guys. Feel free to explain why I’m wrong.

Like I said earlier, I cannot wait to start Book 2 and be done with the comparisons. It was fun for a while to compare the two shows, but I’m burnt out on it, and I’m ready to move on. I have no idea what to expect from Book 2, and that fact excites me! I still have my theory that Iroh is going to die at some point, likely killed by Azula, and that will drive Zuko to join Team Avatar. Beyond that, I really have no idea what to expect.

But I can’t wait to find out! Next time I post, it’ll be for Book 2!

She was just on Pop Culture with Pat, where she talked a bit about her thoughts on the live action Netflix series as well as the advice she would give to whoever the lucky girl is that'll end up playing Toph in seasons two and three.
https://youtu.be/DUwjFJbPakc?si=SU7QemRnIthFG0nO