Hey there!
Have you watched Avatar: The Last Airbender yet? If so, let's have a chat over a cup of tea, shall we? Afterall,
Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights!
If you have not yet, let me begin with how everyone lived together in harmony, then, everything changed when the fire nation attacked.
I came across this series randomly while browsing through Netflix and searching for the next series to escape into. I actually watched the live action movie adaptation, and liked it. It was not the greatest, but the plot intrigued me. At that time I could recall having seen movie posters of the last airbender in 2010 when it got released. Naturally, I googled more and learned that there is a animated series, and the fandom did not like the live action movie that well. Coincidentally, the series got released on Netflix around that time (perhaps during 2020, when pandemic began?). And then, I was hooked and I am obsessed since then.
I loved every bit of the series, the character building, the plot device, the scripts, the dialogues, the story telling style, the humor, the animation...every little thing. I don't know how many times I have watched the series already. It is now my go-to series, I like to play it in the background often whenever I am working on chores, or doing office work. I like to play it if I want to feel the comfort of something familiar. I like to play it if I want some laughter in the day.... and I like to play it if I want to seek some wisdom.
To me, the whole series is just beautiful. So people who have not watched it, here is my little attempt to convince you to watch it and make your life a little better than it is :D
Let me introduce to you Aang, the Avatar and the protagonist of the series. He is a little kid with immense raw power, and a heart of a gold. A beautiful paradoxical combination of wise old soul and a little child, filled with optimism and despair, ruthless warrior and a silly playful kid, magnificent and vulnerable, all in one body. As you watch him, you cherish him, laugh with him, cry for him, want to protect him, wish you had a protector like him, and feel a little proud of him for the long way he has come.
The problem is Aang is gone missing for 100 years and is frozen in an iceberg for all this time, until one day gets accidentally discovered by Katara, a young girl from water tribe in south pole, and the only waterbender in her community. She has magical powers of controlling and manipulating the element of water at her will, but she is still at beginner level since she has to work without a teacher. She is soft, trusting, motherly, caring and gentle, yet ... cross with her and she is the most fearsome and devastating human being you have ever met. She is only excited to find Aang, and sets with him in the journey of many adventures. She acts as the core strength of the team that slowly gets built over time and strengthens. At times, you would wish you were her and at other times, you would wish you had someone who would protect you like she does.
Then comes Sokka, Katara's big brother, opposite in
temperament to Katara in every aspect possible. Deeply cynical, yet highly curious, cold-hearted yet highly protective of his loved ones, silly
and goofy yet a brilliant strategist. He is the one who comes with the
name "Team Avatar", everyone whines about it until they all get used to
it. He is the general in Aang's army, bringing his visions and missions into fruition.
The fourth addition to the team is none other than Toph! A blind girl and youngest of all the other members, and is overprotected by her strict parents... she learns earthbending on her own and leads a double life of delicate princess vs ruthless earthbender. She manages to succeed in the double role until Aang discovers her and pursues her to be his teacher. She is less paradoxic in nature compared to the other characters though, though she manages to show multiple dimensions of her personalities through her impressive double life. She is ruthless, tough, sassy, prankster, very practical, wise, and extremely brave, not to mention the greatest earthbender of all the time.... and she knows it! And when you get used to her, she shows the softest of hearts and melts you in an instant. You will be in awe with her, sympathize with her a little bit, but will know that you wanna be on her good side at all costs.
Meet Zuko, the last addition to the team and Aang's firebending teacher. He in fact is the antagonist in the story for a long time since the beginning of the series. For years, the only mission of him is to chase and capture the Avatar. He is one of the most grey characters and it is a delight to watch him struggle with the light and dark sides of his personalities, and get confused over and over again eventually finding himself...one of the best character redemption arcs I have seen so far. Honestly, I had the hardest time understanding his character....Anyway, long story short, in the end, he becomes Aang's firebending teacher and the most supportive ally.
Well, here are Team Avatar for you. Hope you liked the introduction and are excited to watch the show! For me, I am excited to watch the new live action series set to release in 2024!
Readers who have already watched the series, Thank you for sticking with me till the end! Who is your most favourite character, and why?
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