Avatar: The Last Airbender

No misunderstanding, I'm loving the latest Netflix live action series. I've really liked One Piece, Yu-Yu Hakusho and Avatar, and I finally see that things are being done right.

The issue with Avatar is another: it's born from a cult series that is very difficult to fill. On the one hand, it has effects that are sometimes very noticeable in terms of green screens. On the other hand, between chapter 3 and 6, so many stories are mixed together that it's a literal mess. We have a good cast, but perhaps the weakest point is Ang himself during some moments. Chapter 2 was a delight, I really liked 7 and 8. It feels like there isn't as much chemistry between the main trio and perhaps the Ang-Katara ship wasn't seen at all during this season. The best thing for me is the Zuko and Ioh plot that develops very well. Well, that's why the title of my review: given the original material, it can and should give more...I look forward to the next seasons.

I know Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most popular and loved animated shows of all time. They even tried to make a movie about it back in 2010 the is universally panned. The animated series has a 9.4 rating here and the movie only a 4.0 so people have been hungry for a good live adaptation of the animated series for a long time. It's finally here. It's almost impossible to please everyone who liked the original animated series because everyone has their own expectations on how it should be and they hate when it differs even a little from the original. They don't seem to understand how they don't have the luxury of having unlimited episodes and get go as in depth as the original, it has to be adapted into only 8 episodes per season. I had no problem at all, I liked this series so much that I binged all 8 episodes in only 2 days. I just couldn't stop watching and already looking forward to next season.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is based off the animated series of the same name. It takes place in a world that is divided into 4 different nations, each nation is made up of an element (Fire, Water, Air and Earth). The Avatar is the only one who can master all 4 elements and the one who brings balance between all the nations until one day the Fire Nation decides to invade. The Avatar is the only one who can stop them but he suddenly disappears. A hundred years later a new Avatar named, Aang, emerges. With some help from friends he must master the elements to bring peace and balance back to the world. I have to admit that I've never seen the animated series or movie so I went into this with no expectations or prior knowledge of the series. I've read good things and the trailer looked good so I gave it a shot. I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed it. I thought it was going to be more aimed to younger audiences but it's enjoyable for everyone.

I'm too exhausted with these pointless live action remakes of animated classics to get angry anymore. This Netflix redo of AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER is at best competent, with handsome production design and costuming. Storywise, it strips out the humor of the original, leaving us with grim imitations of the characters we so loved. The sadsack reimagining of the feisty Katara is particularly horrid.

The acting is spotty. Some of the performers are pretty good, but so many of the line readings come off like community theater. Where's the passion?

While not the fiasco the previous live action feature was, this new AVATAR is just pointless. Yeah it's not bad, but why settle for not bad when the original show was great? I'd rather just rewatch the old one for the hundredth time.

Sooo, all in all, I think this is a decent adaptation with an okayish casting, though the acting and scripting is a little lacking. The characters seem at times too grim, or lacking the humor that defined them.

Aang is a great choice as an actor, but the character is far too mature, instead of the kid he is supposed to be. Katara is more somber than in the animated version, and she and Aang lack chemistry. Originally I didn't like Zuko's actor choice (Zuko is my favorite character), but he grew on me by the end. Uncle Iroh is pretty good, but like could've been better? He seems too somber as well. I mean he's ok, but he doesn't inspire in you the ways the original uncle Iroh did, if that makes sense. I did not like the Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee castings at all. However Sokka is perfect. I think the actor is a tremendous choice that embodies Sokka both in looks and in character.

The plot is kinda messed up at times, with plot holes and some scenes that could've been done better. But overall I enjoyed watching the series and the special effects were amazing. But I felt that it lacked the epicness of the animated series.

I'm excited for seasons 2 and 3 though, to see where it goes.