Scattered thoughts on TLA: Book 3
Since I'm incapable of doing coherent, paragraph-structured reviews:
-- Sokka is officially my TV boyfriend. Or would be if I were ten years younger. :P I really love how his character has grown over the course of the series, from the immature arrogant chauvinist to the witty, clever, heroic heart-of-gold warrior/leader. The other characters go through journeys too - part of what makes this series so great - but it was Sokka's that struck me most.
-- With the exception of a mild soft spot for Suki/Sokka (wow, I actually chose a healthy, successful, nonangsty pairing?), I remain ship neutral.
-- That said, general thoughts on the main ships: Nothing in particular against A/K, but I'm not really invested in their individual characters to the point where I care whether they hook up or not. I expected it, but they're just a tad too sweet for my tastes. Z/K: I did find the development of their dynamic more interesting than A/K, and had the series lasted longer I could theoretically see it go even further... but again, not a full-fledged shipper. Mai/Zuko: no strong opinions either way. Definite baggage there - it is Zuko, after all - but still surprisingly functional in the end. Suki/Sokka: I've liked them ever since she first kicked his ass and made him reevaluate his chauvinistic ways in Book 1. I like that they're very much equals, too. (Plus, any ship that involves Sokka in drag is utter win.)
-- Love the revelation that the Avatar and Fire Lord were once friends (of course), and that Zuko is descended from both lines. Very fitting.
-- Kind of wished they would have delved more into Katara's journey into bloodbending. Creepy-ass shit there.
-- "My first girlfriend turned into the moon." "That's rough, man." HAHA, forget Kataang or Zutara, Zukka FTW!
-- I don't dislike Aang or Katara (though the former I definitely have want-to-smack moments), but I was kind of surprised how little I missed them in episodes like 'The Boiling Rock' duology. Sokka and Zuko FTW again! And of course yay for the return of Suki!
-- Zuko the moment killer! No tent sex for you, Sokka.
-- Aww, ickle Sokka and Katara!
-- Ember Island Players: probably the most mixed I've been over an episode. A semi-decent premise for recapping the series' events before the finale, but kind of over-the-top at times with the 'wink wink, nudge nudge' fandom moments, especially re: shipping. I do admire that the show can make fun of itself, though.
-- Of course Toph would love being portrayed by a big, burly screaming man. Of course. :D
-- "I am MELON LORD!" Oh Toph, must you always be made of such win?
-- It's only now occurring to Aang that he might actually have to oh, KILL Ozai? I remember being baffled by this attitude in HP too: Harry thinking that killing Voldemort would make him a "murderer." BZUH? I guess we're supposed to applaud their morals, but when it comes to villains like Ozai or Voldemort, who wouldn't hesitate to laughingly commit genocide at the drop of a hat, this is definitely a case of "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one." Little Mr. Chosen One, you just MIGHT actually have to sully your hands a little bit.
-- Gosh, who knew Azula was so unstable? ;) Glad Katara finally kicked her ass; I was beginning to wonder if she was going to spend that entire battle just standing there.
-- The turtle-lion's last-minute revelation about energy-bending felt like kind of a deux-ex-machina; I can't remember if it was mentioned elsewhere in the series. Not enough of one to make me too disappointed in the ending, though.
-- While I get it's important to wrap up the romantic ships, I kind of wish the two final scenes had been swapped: have Aang/Katara's big sunset kiss, then the final scene with the whole gang together. After all, the series was more about their journey than any romance.
-- What, no cabbage man, even in the finale? Well, at least he got referenced. Was kind of surprised the Earth King and Bosco didn't show up, either. Seems like nearly everyone else did.
It's everything I can do not to drop the $70 and buy the whole series right now. AFTER Celebration, dammit, AFTER Celebration. In the meantime, I'm going to probably do a rewatch at some point.
The consistently crappy reviews of the TLA movie bum me: if there's any movie this summer I wanted to enjoy, it's this one. I'll see it eventually, so I can judge it for myself, but shelling to see it in the theaters? Highly doubtful. I imagine once I do see it there'll be a play-by-play snarkcap similar to my experiences with the Twilight movies.
Still looking for fic/icon/comm recs! :)
-- Sokka is officially my TV boyfriend. Or would be if I were ten years younger. :P I really love how his character has grown over the course of the series, from the immature arrogant chauvinist to the witty, clever, heroic heart-of-gold warrior/leader. The other characters go through journeys too - part of what makes this series so great - but it was Sokka's that struck me most.
-- With the exception of a mild soft spot for Suki/Sokka (wow, I actually chose a healthy, successful, nonangsty pairing?), I remain ship neutral.
-- That said, general thoughts on the main ships: Nothing in particular against A/K, but I'm not really invested in their individual characters to the point where I care whether they hook up or not. I expected it, but they're just a tad too sweet for my tastes. Z/K: I did find the development of their dynamic more interesting than A/K, and had the series lasted longer I could theoretically see it go even further... but again, not a full-fledged shipper. Mai/Zuko: no strong opinions either way. Definite baggage there - it is Zuko, after all - but still surprisingly functional in the end. Suki/Sokka: I've liked them ever since she first kicked his ass and made him reevaluate his chauvinistic ways in Book 1. I like that they're very much equals, too. (Plus, any ship that involves Sokka in drag is utter win.)
-- Love the revelation that the Avatar and Fire Lord were once friends (of course), and that Zuko is descended from both lines. Very fitting.
-- Kind of wished they would have delved more into Katara's journey into bloodbending. Creepy-ass shit there.
-- "My first girlfriend turned into the moon." "That's rough, man." HAHA, forget Kataang or Zutara, Zukka FTW!
-- I don't dislike Aang or Katara (though the former I definitely have want-to-smack moments), but I was kind of surprised how little I missed them in episodes like 'The Boiling Rock' duology. Sokka and Zuko FTW again! And of course yay for the return of Suki!
-- Zuko the moment killer! No tent sex for you, Sokka.
-- Aww, ickle Sokka and Katara!
-- Ember Island Players: probably the most mixed I've been over an episode. A semi-decent premise for recapping the series' events before the finale, but kind of over-the-top at times with the 'wink wink, nudge nudge' fandom moments, especially re: shipping. I do admire that the show can make fun of itself, though.
-- Of course Toph would love being portrayed by a big, burly screaming man. Of course. :D
-- "I am MELON LORD!" Oh Toph, must you always be made of such win?
-- It's only now occurring to Aang that he might actually have to oh, KILL Ozai? I remember being baffled by this attitude in HP too: Harry thinking that killing Voldemort would make him a "murderer." BZUH? I guess we're supposed to applaud their morals, but when it comes to villains like Ozai or Voldemort, who wouldn't hesitate to laughingly commit genocide at the drop of a hat, this is definitely a case of "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one." Little Mr. Chosen One, you just MIGHT actually have to sully your hands a little bit.
-- Gosh, who knew Azula was so unstable? ;) Glad Katara finally kicked her ass; I was beginning to wonder if she was going to spend that entire battle just standing there.
-- The turtle-lion's last-minute revelation about energy-bending felt like kind of a deux-ex-machina; I can't remember if it was mentioned elsewhere in the series. Not enough of one to make me too disappointed in the ending, though.
-- While I get it's important to wrap up the romantic ships, I kind of wish the two final scenes had been swapped: have Aang/Katara's big sunset kiss, then the final scene with the whole gang together. After all, the series was more about their journey than any romance.
-- What, no cabbage man, even in the finale? Well, at least he got referenced. Was kind of surprised the Earth King and Bosco didn't show up, either. Seems like nearly everyone else did.
It's everything I can do not to drop the $70 and buy the whole series right now. AFTER Celebration, dammit, AFTER Celebration. In the meantime, I'm going to probably do a rewatch at some point.
The consistently crappy reviews of the TLA movie bum me: if there's any movie this summer I wanted to enjoy, it's this one. I'll see it eventually, so I can judge it for myself, but shelling to see it in the theaters? Highly doubtful. I imagine once I do see it there'll be a play-by-play snarkcap similar to my experiences with the Twilight movies.
Still looking for fic/icon/comm recs! :)