25/02/2024
I really enjoyed Avatar: The Last Airbender overall, but there are 7 major issues I had that kept it from being great to me. (No major spoilers)
1. There's no real clear sense of time throughout the entire season. I have no idea how long their journey was or how much time passed for these characters.
2. There is NO downtime whatsoever. This issue is connected to #1, as the show never takes a break. It flashes through at top speed to get through each story they want to tell. Myself, as a viewer never got to spend time with these characters on a journey as much as I felt like I needed. They seemed to jump from one place to another, and battle or hardship to another so fast there simply wasn't any breathing room.
3. Also linked to issues #1 & #2. The show is too damn fast. Without comparing it to the cartoon and the episodes it intends to adapt in any particular way or order, this show is in a serious hurry, and I think it weakens the overall narrative.
4. THIS SHOW NEEDS MORE APPA! I understand the show is a massive expense and Appa can't be in all the scenes, but spending time with the sky bison or at least on his back as a traveling group would dramatically increase the amount of downtime I think this show needed.
5. Next season the cast needs to step up the acting. It's not horrible, by any means, but sometimes it's hard to believe what the main cast is saying. That also may be a writing issue, and improvement in that is always a good thing too.
6. Iroh's personal reveal wasn't great. It didn't feel earned. Again, this was rushed.
7. Aang learned a few things about responsibilities and how war changes you, but he never learned at least a little of any other bending techniques. Again, this is linked to the above issues, as the show was rushed so much that Aang never had the downtime to spend with the cast to learn much of with Katara and the gang to better develop his character. Katara learned so much throughout the season, but the show left out the small intimate moments these characters could have spent with each other to better grow their relationship as the journey progresses. There absolutely is a sense of progression with these characters relationships as you reach the seasons' end, however it doesn't feel earned once we get those close moments. They feel somewhat forced when they present themselves.
Over all, I felt that the cast was spectacular and the characters were seriously on point. As an adaptation to the cartoon, I felt that the stories they told were done quite well, albeit rushed. The show is absolutely beautiful and the effects were amazing. The portrayal of every bending character was expertly performed in stunts and effects. I'm very excited for season 2 if that ever happens.
