![\"\"](\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Avatar-Cover-Season-1.jpg\" "\\"Avatar"){kind=avatar}
<\/a>Avatar, Season One<\/p><\/div>\n
I was babysitting three boys aged seven to eleven when an animated show I\u2019d never seen before came on the TV. Suddenly they all sat up straight and began pointing at the screen, telling me that this was a show they would happily watch for hours and hours if given the chance, all said with that earnest seriousness that every seven-to-eleven year old has when discussing something they enjoy. Obviously, I watched the episode with them. After returning home later that day, I switched on my computer and immediately ordered the complete DVD box set.<\/p>\n
Yeah, all on the basis of one episode. It\u2019s really that good.<\/p>\n
Where To Start<\/strong><\/h3>\nIt\u2019s hard to know where to start with Avatar: The Last Airbender<\/strong>. It\u2019s packed so full of creativity and ingenuity in regards to story, character and world building that trying to describe it to another person usually just results in excited gibberish. So it\u2019s just as well I have the advantage of writing everything down in an orderly manner. I think the strength of any successful fantasy drama lies in the aforementioned story, character and world building working together to create a well-rounded viewing experience, and Avatar<\/strong> provides these things in abundance.<\/p>\nWorld Building<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Avatar_world_map.jpg\" "\\"Avatar_world_map\\"")
<\/a>Map of the Avatar world<\/p><\/div>\n
This is the world where the story takes place, one divided into four distinct cultures: the Fire Nation, the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom and the Air Nomads. Unlike your usual medieval European-based fantasy world, this one is heavily influenced by Asian cultures, and the architecture, written language, philosophy, clothing, food, customs and physical appearance of the characters all have Eastern origins. That straight off indicates the unique nature of this series.<\/p>\n
Even more original is the art of \u201cbending\u201d. Best described as a combination of martial arts and elemental magic, bending is the ability to manipulate air, water, earth or fire. Not everyone in the world has this innate gift, but those who possess it can use it for any number of things, from combat to household chores, hard labour to playing games. As the show goes on, it becomes apparent that this ability is linked to a person\u2019s personality, community and spirituality, and that a person\u2019s skill at bending can be improved with training. Also, it\u2019s really cool to watch.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s not all! Benders can only ever bend the element they are born to, leading to the terms earthbender, firebender and so on. But there is one individual who can master power over all four elements, and here\u2019s where we get into the plot.<\/p>\n
Premise:<\/h3>\n
The individual known as the Avatar is a soul reincarnated through thousands of years of history who can manipulate all four elements; who carries with him\/her the wisdom of all his\/her past lives; and who is charged with maintaining peace between the four nations. However, prior to the beginning of the show\u2019s inception two drastic events occur. Hey, I\u2019ll let the opening narration spell it out:<\/p>\n
“Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements could stop them. But when the world needed him most \u2013 he vanished. A hundred years passed…”<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/avatar-the-last-airbender_characters-300x168.jpg\" "\\"avatar-the-last-airbender_characters\\"")
<\/a>From left: Appa, Sokka, Katara, Aang and Momo (the arrows make sense in context)<\/p><\/div>\n
The person talking is Katara, a young Water Tribe girl (and waterbender) who is fishing in the icy regions of the South Pole when she, along with her brother Sokka, makes an extraordinary discovery: a young boy and his wind bison trapped in a huge block of ice. Having just re-read that sentence I realize how strange this whole thing sounds, but bear with me.<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t take a genius to figure out that the boy they\u2019ve uncovered is the Avatar, and Katara in particular is excited about the fact that hope has returned to the world after so long. But Aang is reluctant about his role as Avatar: not only is he just twelve years old, but his responsibilities to the world are daunting. He needs to learn water, earth and firebending in order to supplement his airbending skills so that he can defeat the Fire Lord Ozai. In other words, a tween has to go up against a grown man in order to save the world. And what\u2019s worse? That there\u2019s a time limit to Aang\u2019s training.<\/p>\n
Though the story begins in winter, the approaching summer heralds the return of Sozin\u2019s Comet, a source of power for the firebenders that will render them twice as strong once it reaches the planet\u2019s orbit. Currently the Fire Nation is still invading various parts of the world, and now they\u2019re on the hunt for the long-lost Avatar.<\/p>\n
Oh, and did I mention that during Aang\u2019s sojourn within the iceberg, all of his fellow Air Nomads were wiped out of existence?<\/p>\n
As you can see from this synopsis, a huge amount of time and detail is poured into this series, though the first season is relatively straightforward.<\/p>\n
Storyline: Season One:<\/strong><\/h3>\nCalled Book 1: Water<\/strong>, Season One involves Aang\u2019s journey from the South Pole to the North in search of a waterbending teacher, passing through the Earth Kingdom, a couple of the Air Nomad temples, and even a Fire Nation island on the way. On his trail is Prince Zuko, a banished prince from the Fire Nation who is allowed to return from exile only if he captures the Avatar.<\/p>\nPerhaps the show\u2019s most complex character, Zuko could have very easily been a one-dimensional villain out to thwart our heroes, but is instead rendered a complicated young man with a high code of honour who is torn between his duty to his nation, his desire to return home, and his deep-seated awareness of right and wrong. With him is his uncle Iroh, an ex-general gone to seed (at least a little bit) who provides encouragement and levity to his nephew as they pursue Aang.<\/p>\n
The Characters<\/h3>\n
As the episodes go on, we learn more about each character\u2019s backstory (particularly how and why Zuko got that nasty burn on his face) and watch them grow and develop as each new experience shapes them. Along with Aang, Katara and Sokka we get to meet other neat characters, such as Suki, a girl who leads a team of female warriors, or Jet, a freedom fighter with a dark streak, or Bumi, an elderly king who goes about ruling his kingdom in a highly unorthodox way. Plenty of people, concepts and locations are introduced in the first book that are brought back or given greater significance in the next two seasons.<\/p>\n
It all comes to an epic conclusion once the trio (with Zuko close behind) reach the North Pole and the beautiful Northern Water Tribe city. Here Katara struggles with a sexist waterbending master and Sokka falls for a beautiful princess, all of which is put aside when the Fire Nation fleet arrives. Hopelessly outnumbered, Aang makes a bid for reinforcements by travelling into the spirit world in order to seek guidance from a terrifying creature that dwells there…<\/p>\n
Why You Should Watch “Avatar: The Last Airbender”<\/h3>\n
Seriously, it\u2019s awesome. I could rave about it for pages yet, but I\u2019ll finish up with three final reasons why you should check out this show:<\/p>\n
1. It has a beginning, middle and end.<\/h4>\n
This isn\u2019t a show that\u2019s cut short at its peak, or one that carries on long past its use-by date. Instead it\u2019s a complete story, which starts out strong in its first part, becomes richer and deeper in its second, and comes to a definitive conclusion in its third. Though there are a few filler episodes, almost every single chapter of this story adds to the richness of the world and lays the seeds for things that can be explored later. The character development is wonderful, whether it be Zuko conflicted by his past, Aang struggling to accept his future, Katara reconciling her motherly qualities with her lost childhood, or Sokka getting over his chauvinism and becoming a leader in his own right.<\/p>\n
2. There\u2019s plenty of diversity in regards to gender and race.<\/h4>\n
Because this story is set in a world based on Eastern influences and in an Asian setting, the characters themselves reflect this heritage. Katara and Sokka are Inuit, Aang is Tibetan, and Zuko is Chinese \u2013 or at least fantasy world equivalents. Furthermore, there are plenty of great female characters who can be anything from hardened warriors to delicate princesses, and each one shows strength and vulnerability and three-dimensionality in their own way \u2013 and there\u2019s plenty more of them to come in Book Two!<\/p>\n
3. Beautiful Animation.<\/strong><\/p>\nAt times the artwork for this show reaches movie-level quality. Everything is gorgeously rendered, from the design of the characters to the locations that they visit to the manipulation of the four elements that benders can achieve. Between the creativity of the writers and the animators, the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender<\/strong> sucks you in with its beauty and makes you enthusiastic about exploring this world along with the characters.<\/p>\nSo despite how elaborate I\u2019ve made this show sound, it\u2019s amazingly cohesive and consistent, revealing just enough exposition at just the right times to get you hooked and hungry for more. The world of Avatar<\/strong> has its own culture, history and mythology, and part of the joy in watching is the excitement of discovery, whether it\u2019s the people, the places or the backstories that emerge with each new episode.<\/p>\nConclusion:<\/h3>\n
On a final note, the worst thing you could do for yourself is to assume that this is strictly a children\u2019s cartoon. Even from the first few episodes it\u2019s clear that this is a show that deals with hefty issues such as sacrifice, loss and the cost of war, and each character (even those who initially seem like comic relief) have emotional depth and complex backstories.<\/p>\n
So, in conclusion \u2013 watch it.<\/p>\n
—-<\/p>\n
Next time: a look at a New Zealand made fantasy series that incorporates magic, time-travel and circus performers in the midst of a dystopian world: Maddigan\u2019s Quest<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n—<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Rebecca-Fisher-95x150.jpg\" "\\"Rebecca")
<\/a>Rebecca Fisher<\/p><\/div>\n
About The Reviewer:<\/span><\/h3>\nRebecca Fisher is a graduate of the University of Canterbury with a Masters degree in English Literature, mainly, she claims, because she was able to get away with writing her thesis on C.S. Lewis and Philip Pullman. She is a reviewer for FantasyLiterature.com<\/span><\/a>, a large website that specializes in fantasy and science-fiction novels, as well as posting reviews to Amazon.com<\/span><\/a> and her own LiveJournal<\/span><\/a> blog.<\/span><\/p>\n
World Building<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/a>Map of the Avatar world<\/p><\/div>\n
This is the world where the story takes place, one divided into four distinct cultures: the Fire Nation, the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom and the Air Nomads. Unlike your usual medieval European-based fantasy world, this one is heavily influenced by Asian cultures, and the architecture, written language, philosophy, clothing, food, customs and physical appearance of the characters all have Eastern origins. That straight off indicates the unique nature of this series.<\/p>\n
Even more original is the art of \u201cbending\u201d. Best described as a combination of martial arts and elemental magic, bending is the ability to manipulate air, water, earth or fire. Not everyone in the world has this innate gift, but those who possess it can use it for any number of things, from combat to household chores, hard labour to playing games. As the show goes on, it becomes apparent that this ability is linked to a person\u2019s personality, community and spirituality, and that a person\u2019s skill at bending can be improved with training. Also, it\u2019s really cool to watch.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s not all! Benders can only ever bend the element they are born to, leading to the terms earthbender, firebender and so on. But there is one individual who can master power over all four elements, and here\u2019s where we get into the plot.<\/p>\n
Premise:<\/h3>\n
The individual known as the Avatar is a soul reincarnated through thousands of years of history who can manipulate all four elements; who carries with him\/her the wisdom of all his\/her past lives; and who is charged with maintaining peace between the four nations. However, prior to the beginning of the show\u2019s inception two drastic events occur. Hey, I\u2019ll let the opening narration spell it out:<\/p>\n
“Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements could stop them. But when the world needed him most \u2013 he vanished. A hundred years passed…”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>From left: Appa, Sokka, Katara, Aang and Momo (the arrows make sense in context)<\/p><\/div>\n
The person talking is Katara, a young Water Tribe girl (and waterbender) who is fishing in the icy regions of the South Pole when she, along with her brother Sokka, makes an extraordinary discovery: a young boy and his wind bison trapped in a huge block of ice. Having just re-read that sentence I realize how strange this whole thing sounds, but bear with me.<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t take a genius to figure out that the boy they\u2019ve uncovered is the Avatar, and Katara in particular is excited about the fact that hope has returned to the world after so long. But Aang is reluctant about his role as Avatar: not only is he just twelve years old, but his responsibilities to the world are daunting. He needs to learn water, earth and firebending in order to supplement his airbending skills so that he can defeat the Fire Lord Ozai. In other words, a tween has to go up against a grown man in order to save the world. And what\u2019s worse? That there\u2019s a time limit to Aang\u2019s training.<\/p>\n
Though the story begins in winter, the approaching summer heralds the return of Sozin\u2019s Comet, a source of power for the firebenders that will render them twice as strong once it reaches the planet\u2019s orbit. Currently the Fire Nation is still invading various parts of the world, and now they\u2019re on the hunt for the long-lost Avatar.<\/p>\n
Oh, and did I mention that during Aang\u2019s sojourn within the iceberg, all of his fellow Air Nomads were wiped out of existence?<\/p>\n
As you can see from this synopsis, a huge amount of time and detail is poured into this series, though the first season is relatively straightforward.<\/p>\n
Storyline: Season One:<\/strong><\/h3>\nCalled Book 1: Water<\/strong>, Season One involves Aang\u2019s journey from the South Pole to the North in search of a waterbending teacher, passing through the Earth Kingdom, a couple of the Air Nomad temples, and even a Fire Nation island on the way. On his trail is Prince Zuko, a banished prince from the Fire Nation who is allowed to return from exile only if he captures the Avatar.<\/p>\nPerhaps the show\u2019s most complex character, Zuko could have very easily been a one-dimensional villain out to thwart our heroes, but is instead rendered a complicated young man with a high code of honour who is torn between his duty to his nation, his desire to return home, and his deep-seated awareness of right and wrong. With him is his uncle Iroh, an ex-general gone to seed (at least a little bit) who provides encouragement and levity to his nephew as they pursue Aang.<\/p>\n
The Characters<\/h3>\n
As the episodes go on, we learn more about each character\u2019s backstory (particularly how and why Zuko got that nasty burn on his face) and watch them grow and develop as each new experience shapes them. Along with Aang, Katara and Sokka we get to meet other neat characters, such as Suki, a girl who leads a team of female warriors, or Jet, a freedom fighter with a dark streak, or Bumi, an elderly king who goes about ruling his kingdom in a highly unorthodox way. Plenty of people, concepts and locations are introduced in the first book that are brought back or given greater significance in the next two seasons.<\/p>\n
It all comes to an epic conclusion once the trio (with Zuko close behind) reach the North Pole and the beautiful Northern Water Tribe city. Here Katara struggles with a sexist waterbending master and Sokka falls for a beautiful princess, all of which is put aside when the Fire Nation fleet arrives. Hopelessly outnumbered, Aang makes a bid for reinforcements by travelling into the spirit world in order to seek guidance from a terrifying creature that dwells there…<\/p>\n
Why You Should Watch “Avatar: The Last Airbender”<\/h3>\n
Seriously, it\u2019s awesome. I could rave about it for pages yet, but I\u2019ll finish up with three final reasons why you should check out this show:<\/p>\n
1. It has a beginning, middle and end.<\/h4>\n
This isn\u2019t a show that\u2019s cut short at its peak, or one that carries on long past its use-by date. Instead it\u2019s a complete story, which starts out strong in its first part, becomes richer and deeper in its second, and comes to a definitive conclusion in its third. Though there are a few filler episodes, almost every single chapter of this story adds to the richness of the world and lays the seeds for things that can be explored later. The character development is wonderful, whether it be Zuko conflicted by his past, Aang struggling to accept his future, Katara reconciling her motherly qualities with her lost childhood, or Sokka getting over his chauvinism and becoming a leader in his own right.<\/p>\n
2. There\u2019s plenty of diversity in regards to gender and race.<\/h4>\n
Because this story is set in a world based on Eastern influences and in an Asian setting, the characters themselves reflect this heritage. Katara and Sokka are Inuit, Aang is Tibetan, and Zuko is Chinese \u2013 or at least fantasy world equivalents. Furthermore, there are plenty of great female characters who can be anything from hardened warriors to delicate princesses, and each one shows strength and vulnerability and three-dimensionality in their own way \u2013 and there\u2019s plenty more of them to come in Book Two!<\/p>\n
3. Beautiful Animation.<\/strong><\/p>\nAt times the artwork for this show reaches movie-level quality. Everything is gorgeously rendered, from the design of the characters to the locations that they visit to the manipulation of the four elements that benders can achieve. Between the creativity of the writers and the animators, the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender<\/strong> sucks you in with its beauty and makes you enthusiastic about exploring this world along with the characters.<\/p>\nSo despite how elaborate I\u2019ve made this show sound, it\u2019s amazingly cohesive and consistent, revealing just enough exposition at just the right times to get you hooked and hungry for more. The world of Avatar<\/strong> has its own culture, history and mythology, and part of the joy in watching is the excitement of discovery, whether it\u2019s the people, the places or the backstories that emerge with each new episode.<\/p>\nConclusion:<\/h3>\n
On a final note, the worst thing you could do for yourself is to assume that this is strictly a children\u2019s cartoon. Even from the first few episodes it\u2019s clear that this is a show that deals with hefty issues such as sacrifice, loss and the cost of war, and each character (even those who initially seem like comic relief) have emotional depth and complex backstories.<\/p>\n
So, in conclusion \u2013 watch it.<\/p>\n
—-<\/p>\n
Next time: a look at a New Zealand made fantasy series that incorporates magic, time-travel and circus performers in the midst of a dystopian world: Maddigan\u2019s Quest<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n—<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Rebecca Fisher<\/p><\/div>\n
About The Reviewer:<\/span><\/h3>\nRebecca Fisher is a graduate of the University of Canterbury with a Masters degree in English Literature, mainly, she claims, because she was able to get away with writing her thesis on C.S. Lewis and Philip Pullman. She is a reviewer for FantasyLiterature.com<\/span><\/a>, a large website that specializes in fantasy and science-fiction novels, as well as posting reviews to Amazon.com<\/span><\/a> and her own LiveJournal<\/span><\/a> blog.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/a>Map of the Avatar world<\/p><\/div>\n
This is the world where the story takes place, one divided into four distinct cultures: the Fire Nation, the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom and the Air Nomads. Unlike your usual medieval European-based fantasy world, this one is heavily influenced by Asian cultures, and the architecture, written language, philosophy, clothing, food, customs and physical appearance of the characters all have Eastern origins. That straight off indicates the unique nature of this series.<\/p>\n
Even more original is the art of \u201cbending\u201d. Best described as a combination of martial arts and elemental magic, bending is the ability to manipulate air, water, earth or fire. Not everyone in the world has this innate gift, but those who possess it can use it for any number of things, from combat to household chores, hard labour to playing games. As the show goes on, it becomes apparent that this ability is linked to a person\u2019s personality, community and spirituality, and that a person\u2019s skill at bending can be improved with training. Also, it\u2019s really cool to watch.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s not all! Benders can only ever bend the element they are born to, leading to the terms earthbender, firebender and so on. But there is one individual who can master power over all four elements, and here\u2019s where we get into the plot.<\/p>\n
Premise:<\/h3>\n
The individual known as the Avatar is a soul reincarnated through thousands of years of history who can manipulate all four elements; who carries with him\/her the wisdom of all his\/her past lives; and who is charged with maintaining peace between the four nations. However, prior to the beginning of the show\u2019s inception two drastic events occur. Hey, I\u2019ll let the opening narration spell it out:<\/p>\n
“Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements could stop them. But when the world needed him most \u2013 he vanished. A hundred years passed…”<\/em><\/p>\n From left: Appa, Sokka, Katara, Aang and Momo (the arrows make sense in context)<\/p><\/div>\n The person talking is Katara, a young Water Tribe girl (and waterbender) who is fishing in the icy regions of the South Pole when she, along with her brother Sokka, makes an extraordinary discovery: a young boy and his wind bison trapped in a huge block of ice. Having just re-read that sentence I realize how strange this whole thing sounds, but bear with me.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t take a genius to figure out that the boy they\u2019ve uncovered is the Avatar, and Katara in particular is excited about the fact that hope has returned to the world after so long. But Aang is reluctant about his role as Avatar: not only is he just twelve years old, but his responsibilities to the world are daunting. He needs to learn water, earth and firebending in order to supplement his airbending skills so that he can defeat the Fire Lord Ozai. In other words, a tween has to go up against a grown man in order to save the world. And what\u2019s worse? That there\u2019s a time limit to Aang\u2019s training.<\/p>\n Though the story begins in winter, the approaching summer heralds the return of Sozin\u2019s Comet, a source of power for the firebenders that will render them twice as strong once it reaches the planet\u2019s orbit. Currently the Fire Nation is still invading various parts of the world, and now they\u2019re on the hunt for the long-lost Avatar.<\/p>\n Oh, and did I mention that during Aang\u2019s sojourn within the iceberg, all of his fellow Air Nomads were wiped out of existence?<\/p>\n As you can see from this synopsis, a huge amount of time and detail is poured into this series, though the first season is relatively straightforward.<\/p>\n Called Book 1: Water<\/strong>, Season One involves Aang\u2019s journey from the South Pole to the North in search of a waterbending teacher, passing through the Earth Kingdom, a couple of the Air Nomad temples, and even a Fire Nation island on the way. On his trail is Prince Zuko, a banished prince from the Fire Nation who is allowed to return from exile only if he captures the Avatar.<\/p>\n Perhaps the show\u2019s most complex character, Zuko could have very easily been a one-dimensional villain out to thwart our heroes, but is instead rendered a complicated young man with a high code of honour who is torn between his duty to his nation, his desire to return home, and his deep-seated awareness of right and wrong. With him is his uncle Iroh, an ex-general gone to seed (at least a little bit) who provides encouragement and levity to his nephew as they pursue Aang.<\/p>\n As the episodes go on, we learn more about each character\u2019s backstory (particularly how and why Zuko got that nasty burn on his face) and watch them grow and develop as each new experience shapes them. Along with Aang, Katara and Sokka we get to meet other neat characters, such as Suki, a girl who leads a team of female warriors, or Jet, a freedom fighter with a dark streak, or Bumi, an elderly king who goes about ruling his kingdom in a highly unorthodox way. Plenty of people, concepts and locations are introduced in the first book that are brought back or given greater significance in the next two seasons.<\/p>\n It all comes to an epic conclusion once the trio (with Zuko close behind) reach the North Pole and the beautiful Northern Water Tribe city. Here Katara struggles with a sexist waterbending master and Sokka falls for a beautiful princess, all of which is put aside when the Fire Nation fleet arrives. Hopelessly outnumbered, Aang makes a bid for reinforcements by travelling into the spirit world in order to seek guidance from a terrifying creature that dwells there…<\/p>\n Seriously, it\u2019s awesome. I could rave about it for pages yet, but I\u2019ll finish up with three final reasons why you should check out this show:<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t a show that\u2019s cut short at its peak, or one that carries on long past its use-by date. Instead it\u2019s a complete story, which starts out strong in its first part, becomes richer and deeper in its second, and comes to a definitive conclusion in its third. Though there are a few filler episodes, almost every single chapter of this story adds to the richness of the world and lays the seeds for things that can be explored later. The character development is wonderful, whether it be Zuko conflicted by his past, Aang struggling to accept his future, Katara reconciling her motherly qualities with her lost childhood, or Sokka getting over his chauvinism and becoming a leader in his own right.<\/p>\n Because this story is set in a world based on Eastern influences and in an Asian setting, the characters themselves reflect this heritage. Katara and Sokka are Inuit, Aang is Tibetan, and Zuko is Chinese \u2013 or at least fantasy world equivalents. Furthermore, there are plenty of great female characters who can be anything from hardened warriors to delicate princesses, and each one shows strength and vulnerability and three-dimensionality in their own way \u2013 and there\u2019s plenty more of them to come in Book Two!<\/p>\n 3. Beautiful Animation.<\/strong><\/p>\n At times the artwork for this show reaches movie-level quality. Everything is gorgeously rendered, from the design of the characters to the locations that they visit to the manipulation of the four elements that benders can achieve. Between the creativity of the writers and the animators, the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender<\/strong> sucks you in with its beauty and makes you enthusiastic about exploring this world along with the characters.<\/p>\n So despite how elaborate I\u2019ve made this show sound, it\u2019s amazingly cohesive and consistent, revealing just enough exposition at just the right times to get you hooked and hungry for more. The world of Avatar<\/strong> has its own culture, history and mythology, and part of the joy in watching is the excitement of discovery, whether it\u2019s the people, the places or the backstories that emerge with each new episode.<\/p>\n On a final note, the worst thing you could do for yourself is to assume that this is strictly a children\u2019s cartoon. Even from the first few episodes it\u2019s clear that this is a show that deals with hefty issues such as sacrifice, loss and the cost of war, and each character (even those who initially seem like comic relief) have emotional depth and complex backstories.<\/p>\n So, in conclusion \u2013 watch it.<\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n Next time: a look at a New Zealand made fantasy series that incorporates magic, time-travel and circus performers in the midst of a dystopian world: Maddigan\u2019s Quest<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n —<\/span><\/p>\n Rebecca Fisher<\/p><\/div>\n Rebecca Fisher is a graduate of the University of Canterbury with a Masters degree in English Literature, mainly, she claims, because she was able to get away with writing her thesis on C.S. Lewis and Philip Pullman. She is a reviewer for FantasyLiterature.com<\/span><\/a>, a large website that specializes in fantasy and science-fiction novels, as well as posting reviews to Amazon.com<\/span><\/a> and her own LiveJournal<\/span><\/a> blog.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Storyline: Season One:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Characters<\/h3>\n
Why You Should Watch “Avatar: The Last Airbender”<\/h3>\n
1. It has a beginning, middle and end.<\/h4>\n
2. There\u2019s plenty of diversity in regards to gender and race.<\/h4>\n
Conclusion:<\/h3>\n
<\/a>About The Reviewer:<\/span><\/h3>\n