posted
I know there are a few "Avatar" viewers on the board so what's the consensus on the season finale.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The majority of this season was a huge letdown for me. There were a few moments of humor and charm. "The Headband" and "The Ember Island Players" come to mind. The latter being the best replacement for a recap-episode ever. But on the whole, it felt alittle hollow to me. Minor characters were conveniently shuffled around and it felt like we were going over the same issues again and again.
But wow, the finale was more than I expected. It started off as always. Group banter, some jokes, the occasional fight scene. And then it just jumped off the cliff. I mean, the past series finales have been dark but this one really surprised me. Maybe I'm gullible but I felt like I couldn't count out a character death. First Suki, then Zuko, then Toph. I'm probably still recovering from the last Harry Potter book or something.
The fight scenes were really well done. Zuko and Azula's duel being particularly gorgeous to watch. But how creepy was Azula losing her mind? She wasn't funny-crazy, she was scary-crazy. I was hoping that Sokka's battle strategy would have been alittle more ingenious. Why did none of the other airships notice the crew being tossed out, the ship breaking rank, and then taking a wide right turn away from the target?! But it was still plenty exciting and did anyone notice if Sokka found his "space sword." The White Lotus fight was kind of 'eh' and it seemed like there was alot of unnecesssary build up for the group over the series.
Aang vs Ozai came really close to being a high quality version of one of those DBZ fights were people are flying around seeing who can shoot off the biggest light show. But the animators snuck in a few martial arts techniques so I was happy. However, I wasn't convinced by the whole "unlocking the Avatar State" thing. Knowing why he closed his chakra in the first place, I would have expected some sort of soul searching to be necessary but I guess we have to assume it did and we just didn't see. Having not gone the murder-route, the creatorss came up with a pretty good ending. Very intense!
No on to something specific that has been on my mind since I heard it. When Aang is speaking to a former Air Nomad Avatar, she says something along the lines of how he will have to give up his spiritual needs...which I thought was pretty head for a kid's show. I mean, sacrificing one's physical well-being or even life is nothing I haven't already seen Disney movies and other media with a young demographic. Probably the children in the audience won't think about it, but as an adult that really struck me as terrible. Here is Aang, a monk and the last representation of his heritage from a culture that has the opportunity for true spiritual enlightenment with the ability to detach from the world and all of its illusions. Even less remarkably, Aang's spirituality is so much a part of who he is that to give it up would mean a life no longer worth living. Better to sacrifice one's life and die as yourself, than to live as a broken stranger. Maybe I'm making too much of it but that whole notion really depressed me.
Thank goodness he didn't have to take that path.
The very ending was interesting. A very obvious unanswered question to Zuko's mother's location. The creators have always said they have more stories to tell in the universe but considering how poorly Nick has handled the business following this third season, I wonder if they'll get a chance to tell us what happens next. Mind you, the live-action movie is still in the works so perhaps there is hope a few years from now.
Personally while I'm happy for Aang and Katara, watching 13 year olds kiss is alittle weird. But whatever. I guess it was a pretty and positive shot to end on.
One final note, the music was gorgeous. I've heard that you're only supposed to be able to notice when a musical soundtrack is bad. But I noticed because it seemed to add a depth to the fight scenes. Like an extra color on the screen. I loved it.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I didn't notice if Sokka got his sword back, or even his boomerang. I wish they had shown Sokka's master do something in Ba Sing Se, but I get that the power of the bending masters was easier to show. I still wonder what they did with Azula, they can't leave her chained to the ground forever. I like the queastion about Zuko's mother, and sort of hope for them to make more Avatar, but this was probably the best ending possible so maybe they should just leave it at that.
I did find it a little odd after Ty Lee's explanation in "The Beach" of why she hungers for attention, even to the point of being a circus performer, that she would join the kioshi warriors . And be just one of the group, but I'm sure she makes a great addition to their team.
It was an awesome finale.
Posts: 2332 | Registered: Jul 2003
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I have liked all three seasons of Avatar. I really enjoyed season three. I am not a season three hater.
The finale was awesome. I like everything...except the Avatar's last battle where he took away the the Phoenix King's powers.
I really am bothered by movies where the main character gets a sudden new power at the end that comes out of no where to save the day.
I loved Kung Fu Panda but hated that he knew awesome martial arts after being built up as a good hearted incompetent. It would have been better if the nature of his girth is what saved the day.
I didn't like in Avatar that he suddenly was granted powers to take away bending ability. It is was too...out of place and easy.
I was fully expecting Ang to destroy the comet in his Avatar state. That would have been a good way to keep his innocence by redirecting his power and rage and fear at the source of the fire nations enhanced abilities.
My favorite scene was when Katara fought the crazy Azula. It sent chills down my spine when she outsmarted Azula and froze both of them and then leisurely tied up Azula. My 12, 10, 9, and 7 year old cousins kept SHOUTING at Katara to blood bend Azula. They were disappointed she didn't.
I never knew my cousins could be so blood thirsty!
I think they nailed Azula's craziness.
Posts: 2445 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Darn I wanted to start this thread something like "OMG Avatar Yay!" comes to mind.
I believe they really pulled this together well. The final fight between Azula and Katara was awesome, How she froze herself and azula then swam around her was awesome. Loved Tophs perfection of metal bending.
But the greatest part of the finale was how they solved Aang's problem with taking life. Taking his bending was exactly what I expected which was completely unexpected (I thought Iroh was dead)
Taking away the Phoenix kings bending was perfect loved hope they make the movie with lots of earthbending (my favorite)!
Posts: 1574 | Registered: May 2008
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i liked it. the aang vs ozai fight did remind me very much so of dbz. but i kind of expected it since we needed a villain that was able to fight against the avatar. azula going crazy was awesome. i was hoping to see sokka and katara's dad in the fight. oh well. i found a torrent for the 4 eps of the finale all together as one long movie and downloaded it last night. i'll prolly watch it again tonight or tomorrow.
what a great series.
Posts: 813 | Registered: Nov 1999
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It would have been better if the nature of his girth is what saved the day.
But...that's what Po's fighting technique was based on.
If you mean his mastery of the finger hold, he was established from the start as the world's biggest Kung Fu fanboy. I don't think it's that far of a jump that being trained by a master would help him figure it out.
Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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well of course it will be easier for him than a regular bender. he has master each form of nature bending countless times before.
Posts: 813 | Registered: Nov 1999
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I have the same feelings regarding characters magically gaining special powers or abilities.
Its probably why I didn't like the "Firebending Masters" episode so much. There were quite a few episodes dealing with how Aang learned water and earthbending. His first experience with firebending with Jong-jong (sp?) was really interesting but his mastery comes from learning some magic dragon form?!
On the other hand, I don't have a problem with what the lion-turtle taught him. I guess because it was strictly a spiritual technique. Its not like he's learning to release his spiritual power through physical techniques, forms and stances. The avatar is Mr. Spirit World, Mr. Balance, so perhaps having knowledge of the ability is enough to use it on another person.
I didn't think about the Ty Lee thing. That is unusual. Maybe its meant to show that she's gotten over her issues. Hope she did. She won me over when she took down Azula at the end of "The Boiling Rock."
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Marek: I did find it a little odd after Ty Lee's explanation in "The Beach" of why she hungers for attention, even to the point of being a circus performer, that she would join the kioshi warriors . And be just one of the group, but I'm sure she makes a great addition to their team.
Bear in mind that I have not yet seen the finale of season three, and may therefor be unaware of certain developments that make what I'm about to say unfitting.
Earlier in the series, it was established that Ty Lee was attracted to Sokka. Maybe part of the reason for her joining the Kioshi warriors is a hope that this might spark Sokka's interest.
Posts: 993 | Registered: Jul 2006
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Everything was fantastic, this show was really a return to form for Nick.
quote: The White Lotus fight was kind of 'eh' and it seemed like there was alot of unnecesssary build up for the group over the series.
I'm with you on this. Iroh had become one of my favorite charaters and I was disappointed on how they handled the whole secret society of geezers. It seemed to me like the writers got to the end and were like "dang! what about that whole lotus tile hush hush deal we've been hinting at? ah hell let's just make them get together and...fight. Yeah that'll do." Which isn't bad per se, I just felt they needed a bit more coming to that point.
Regardless, show was great to the point that I may (*gulp) purchase it legally.
Posts: 247 | Registered: Jun 2008
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The final fight between Azula and Katara was awesome, How she froze herself and azula then swam around her was awesome. Loved Tophs perfection of metal bending.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
