Depressed for the rest of the day thanks to LoK.
And here are my reasons why! Cumulative thoughts regarding the first season as a whole. . .
Honestly, I wasn't sure if the season finale would meet my expectations because the entire season fell short for me (which I had kind of expected, because I knew it'd be hard to beat tLAB). But it was actually surprisingly good and I ended up crying twice!!
I really liked Amon throughout the whole season. During tLAB Ozai* was meant to be the Big Bad, but he was mostly not involved directly until the very last season, so there wasn't much to feel intimidated about (imho), even if his final fight with Aang WAS totally the most amazing thing I'd ever seen in a cartoon. Now Amon, on the other hand, I thought was very well thought out and utilized throughout most of the season. I was no-kidding terrified whenever I saw him, and he wasn't even freaking real! So I thought he was a pretty kick-ass villain, but other than that we were given nothing to sympathize with. Although it could've been easy to empathize with his cause given there were benders who abused their power (and therefore abused non-benders), how Amon dealt with it felt more like a minor genocide than a righteous way to even the odds (especially when he was so merciless and even targeted children).
BUT THE FINALE. I really hadn't gotten caught up in speculation over who Amon was. Everyone I knew who was watching the series with me all had their theories, but I preferred not to think about it because I wanted to be surprised. But I wasn't so much surprised by the reveal itself as I was by the unexpected tragedy of his and Tarrlok's story. It was seriously unbelievably sad!! Even though Amon was still irrational and unrelenting, I just felt for him. And although we weren't given much of his relationship with Tarrlok, I ended up crying when he killed them both because. . .after all the pain they'd already been put through, it was just bittersweet that he thought to end it after they were reunited! Guuuuuhhh it's just so sad. ;___; WHY'D YOU HAVE TO DO IT TARRLOK? AMON WAS CRYING.
But what I want to know, is if Waterbenders can bend blood, why don't (evil?) Airbenders bend the air out of lungs so people suffocate?!
Which leads me to Aang, who made me cry for the second time. I SUDDENLY JUST MISSED HIM SO MUCH. And when he appeared to Korra at the end, and all the other Avatar with him, I just remembered his adventures and everything he went through and all his moments with his past lives, and I guess it just all came full circle. And something about that saddened me because I miss Aang and Sokka so badly. ;_; (I'm still mad that Sokka wasn't alive instead of Katara. /from the person who never liked her)
As for the rest. . .I was actually completely apathetic when it came to Korra and whatever happened to her. =/ Actually I just found myself annoyed whenever she and Mako appeared onscreen. I remember loving her after the first episode, but as the series went on I liked her less and less until it became a strong dislike. Which probably made Aang's appearances that much more bittersweet for me.
Asami ended up being a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure what to think of her (and Mako) after her first appearance, because they both came on so strong with each other that I couldn't help feeling a little suspicious. But it turned out she really was genuine and not just getting in with Mako to get close to the Avatar, and she really carried herself admirably until the very end. As Mako and Korra were getting closer and closer I couldn't help wondering if the creators would have Asami betray them out of hurt and spite. But she remained loyal, and took Mako's ultimate rejection like a lady. GOOD ON YOU ASAMI. This should have been the Legend of You, not Korra. I'm totally hoping that she and Bolin might get together next season because they'd make the nicest pair with their combined kindness. They both took Korra's and Mako's crap -- with grace! -- when they totally didn't have to!
Anyway, now that Korra is able to return everyone's bending powers, hopefully she'll return Tahno's and he'll play a role in the next season. :D
I also always wonder what kind of benders our Bleach boys would be-- and how cool would it be?! I totally think Starrk would have to be an Airbender. Airbending seems the most effortless and we all know Starrk wouldn't want to exert himself throwing boulders around (Firebending also looks strenuous to me, because they fight with so much aggression; and wouldn't it get hot?). Not to mention that he could totally chill out as a monk. How serene do the Airbending temples look?!
Renji'd just have to be a Firebender. How much fun would he have punching out fireballs?! But I could also see him as an Earthbender, because he's used to lugging big shit around (hello Zabimaru, just how ridiculous are you?).
Akon I see as a Waterbender. Cold, precise, and cutting. He'd be great with ice and he'd even get a kick out of Bloodbending because what 12th Divisioner wouldn't? Besides, water is a calming element and in my mind Akon is a calm individual.
Surprisingly, I can't decide on Grimmjow! Firebending seems the obvious choice for a hotheaded Leo such as Grimm. But I can't help feeling he'd be good as an Earthbender, simply because Earthbending is all about brute strength and smashing the shit out of things. Earthbending is actually my personal favorite, and a lot of the time I feel it's even more aggressive than Firebending. Grimmjow certainly has the agility and firey temper for all that Firebreathing, but wouldn't he get so much more out of pulzerizing people with rock instead of simply starting them on fire?!
I briefly thought about Airbending because of the tornado he spun out in his released form, but it'd probably be too tame a lifestyle and too tame a fighting style. As powerful as Airbenders can be, blowing air at people just wouldn't feel like enough for our Grimm. It's too light, and a guy like him needs bones breaking and faces shattering.
Haven't given much thought to Shuuhei, or Byakuya, or any of my other favorites. But what do y'all think?
Honestly, I wasn't sure if the season finale would meet my expectations because the entire season fell short for me (which I had kind of expected, because I knew it'd be hard to beat tLAB). But it was actually surprisingly good and I ended up crying twice!!
I really liked Amon throughout the whole season. During tLAB Ozai* was meant to be the Big Bad, but he was mostly not involved directly until the very last season, so there wasn't much to feel intimidated about (imho), even if his final fight with Aang WAS totally the most amazing thing I'd ever seen in a cartoon. Now Amon, on the other hand, I thought was very well thought out and utilized throughout most of the season. I was no-kidding terrified whenever I saw him, and he wasn't even freaking real! So I thought he was a pretty kick-ass villain, but other than that we were given nothing to sympathize with. Although it could've been easy to empathize with his cause given there were benders who abused their power (and therefore abused non-benders), how Amon dealt with it felt more like a minor genocide than a righteous way to even the odds (especially when he was so merciless and even targeted children).
BUT THE FINALE. I really hadn't gotten caught up in speculation over who Amon was. Everyone I knew who was watching the series with me all had their theories, but I preferred not to think about it because I wanted to be surprised. But I wasn't so much surprised by the reveal itself as I was by the unexpected tragedy of his and Tarrlok's story. It was seriously unbelievably sad!! Even though Amon was still irrational and unrelenting, I just felt for him. And although we weren't given much of his relationship with Tarrlok, I ended up crying when he killed them both because. . .after all the pain they'd already been put through, it was just bittersweet that he thought to end it after they were reunited! Guuuuuhhh it's just so sad. ;___; WHY'D YOU HAVE TO DO IT TARRLOK? AMON WAS CRYING.
But what I want to know, is if Waterbenders can bend blood, why don't (evil?) Airbenders bend the air out of lungs so people suffocate?!
Which leads me to Aang, who made me cry for the second time. I SUDDENLY JUST MISSED HIM SO MUCH. And when he appeared to Korra at the end, and all the other Avatar with him, I just remembered his adventures and everything he went through and all his moments with his past lives, and I guess it just all came full circle. And something about that saddened me because I miss Aang and Sokka so badly. ;_; (I'm still mad that Sokka wasn't alive instead of Katara. /from the person who never liked her)
As for the rest. . .I was actually completely apathetic when it came to Korra and whatever happened to her. =/ Actually I just found myself annoyed whenever she and Mako appeared onscreen. I remember loving her after the first episode, but as the series went on I liked her less and less until it became a strong dislike. Which probably made Aang's appearances that much more bittersweet for me.
Asami ended up being a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure what to think of her (and Mako) after her first appearance, because they both came on so strong with each other that I couldn't help feeling a little suspicious. But it turned out she really was genuine and not just getting in with Mako to get close to the Avatar, and she really carried herself admirably until the very end. As Mako and Korra were getting closer and closer I couldn't help wondering if the creators would have Asami betray them out of hurt and spite. But she remained loyal, and took Mako's ultimate rejection like a lady. GOOD ON YOU ASAMI. This should have been the Legend of You, not Korra. I'm totally hoping that she and Bolin might get together next season because they'd make the nicest pair with their combined kindness. They both took Korra's and Mako's crap -- with grace! -- when they totally didn't have to!
Anyway, now that Korra is able to return everyone's bending powers, hopefully she'll return Tahno's and he'll play a role in the next season. :D
I also always wonder what kind of benders our Bleach boys would be-- and how cool would it be?! I totally think Starrk would have to be an Airbender. Airbending seems the most effortless and we all know Starrk wouldn't want to exert himself throwing boulders around (Firebending also looks strenuous to me, because they fight with so much aggression; and wouldn't it get hot?). Not to mention that he could totally chill out as a monk. How serene do the Airbending temples look?!
Renji'd just have to be a Firebender. How much fun would he have punching out fireballs?! But I could also see him as an Earthbender, because he's used to lugging big shit around (hello Zabimaru, just how ridiculous are you?).
Akon I see as a Waterbender. Cold, precise, and cutting. He'd be great with ice and he'd even get a kick out of Bloodbending because what 12th Divisioner wouldn't? Besides, water is a calming element and in my mind Akon is a calm individual.
Surprisingly, I can't decide on Grimmjow! Firebending seems the obvious choice for a hotheaded Leo such as Grimm. But I can't help feeling he'd be good as an Earthbender, simply because Earthbending is all about brute strength and smashing the shit out of things. Earthbending is actually my personal favorite, and a lot of the time I feel it's even more aggressive than Firebending. Grimmjow certainly has the agility and firey temper for all that Firebreathing, but wouldn't he get so much more out of pulzerizing people with rock instead of simply starting them on fire?!
I briefly thought about Airbending because of the tornado he spun out in his released form, but it'd probably be too tame a lifestyle and too tame a fighting style. As powerful as Airbenders can be, blowing air at people just wouldn't feel like enough for our Grimm. It's too light, and a guy like him needs bones breaking and faces shattering.
Haven't given much thought to Shuuhei, or Byakuya, or any of my other favorites. But what do y'all think?