Avatar: The Last Airbender Re-Watching

[beccadg]

One, I've always been a fan of the show. Two, however, when it was new I didn't venture into the fandom because I could see from the fringe how spectacularly toxic some of the shipping wars got and I'm not very 'shippy about the show. Don't get me wrong, as I've been re-watching I've been reminded of canon 'shippiness that I liked. Hell, I'd

Comments

[liadtbunny]

You're quick:) I've slowed down because I don't want it to end: five to go!

[beccadg]

I may slow down once I get into the third season? I really was scared not everyone was going to survive to the end of the series the first time around. The only characters I was sure had the "Main Character Protective Bubble" were Katara and Aang. I think some of it was the body count the show had right off in their first season finale. If they were that rough out of the gate how much worse would the actual series finale be? I think there was also the feeling there might be "heroic sacrifices" from characters that were "secondary" to the mains. Not to mention it took a long time for me to believe they were really letting Zuko have the arch that he does. I was afraid Zuko would die a villain. I was afraid Sokka would die in some big heroic gesture that eliminated the longtime third wheel to Katara and Aang. Re-watching the final season won't be as scary as it was the first time, but given Azula does still creep me out, other things will still hurt.

[liadtbunny]

I was convinced they were going to kill off Iroh all along series 2 because he's a middle aged man and 'Avatar' is a show for teenagers so I reasoned if anyone was brown bread it was the adult, still not sure if he'll make it to the closing credits of series 3 though! I did think they were going to have him die at the start of series 3 cos the original voice actor had passed away

[beccadg]

I was convinced they were going to kill off Iroh ... because he's a middle-aged man and 'Avatar' is a show for teenagers...

Heh. My thinking was kind of the opposite. I figured Iroh was relatively safe because he was a sensible re-occurring adult who gave grounding in a show for teenagers. I say "relatively safe" because I figured if Aang could get a lot of his "sensible re-occurring adult" advice from past Avatars, Iroh might wind up in the Obi-Wan position of giving out some of his "sensible re-occurring adult" advice as a ghost.

I did think they were going to have him die at the start of series 3 cos the original voice actor had passed away.

Aww. I didn't know the original voice actor passed away while the show was still in production.

I went into 'Avatar' thinking I'd like Azula but one of the first things she did was try to kill Iroh so that was it for me!I'm not sure I can tell you exactly why Azula has always creeped me out, I'd have to give it some thought, but she has always been a character that I truly don't feel

[liadtbunny]

At least Azula isn't in it too much, mind you I thought she'd be in it loads so my assessment may be off.

[beccadg]

As someone that finds Azula creepy, I think that's a fair assessment. I also think it's one of the many examples of how well made the show is. They don't have Azula in the show enough so that I get used to whatever it is about her that I find creepy. They retain her creepiness by using her carefully. I mean intellectually I know she is really a very sad character because whether her issues are "nature or nurture" they aren't under her control. Hell, with how heavily the show uses Destiny being creepy is part of her... path. Knowing all of that intellectually, it doesn't change my emotional reaction to her. I still find her creepy.