It seems to me that not many people are happy with the first few episodes of season three. I don't think people should be judging them as harshly as they are, because alot have been saying that so far the season is full of filler episodes. First off, the show is not going to start off with a fight after fight after fight, so let me explain a little bit of reason behind this.
1. Everyone thinks that the Avatar is dead, so why would they be going after him. Zuko and the assassin are the only ones who know that he is still alive and when they do go after him, it will be done quietly.
2. Aang and friends are disguised as being part of the Fire Nation colonies (brilliant in my book), and therefore are not prominently displaying their bending and home nations.
3. All TV shows have its slower episodes, especially in the beginning to help set up its story for the rest of the season. The Headband episode gave us the information on how the gaang got their new firenation outfits, the "big brother" firenation government, and last but not least the assassin. The Painted Lady showed us some new spirits in the Avatar World, Sokka's master plan, and how the firenation treats it's own citizens as if they were from the earth kingdom.
Its these details that help set up the story, because without this setup we would be completely lost when the final battle comes around. My whole point of this is to calm down. We will get our action packed episodes because when they do come its going to blow our minds. By having huge fight sequences right now, the ones that are the most important won't have the same impact.
In the recent events after the premier of the Season 3 opener, The Awakening, I've noticed that alot of people are not pleased with this episode. Now I'm trying not to be judging or anything as I know there are some episodes that are relatively blah in some peoples opinions. My point here is to try and help others understand that not everyone can be pleased. While I was extremely pleased with the episode, others I know were not. We have to keep in mind that this is a rather small portion of the Avatar community and that the majority of viewers are as pleased with the episode as I am. However, most of the concerns are coming from the technical aspect of it. Editing did seem like a slight problem in the episode and the episode overall seemed a bit rushed, but you have to consider the details and plot points that needed to be finished. This episode had to have a different outline that the season two opener. Season one closed on a happier note while season two closed on a cliffhanger. Trying to finish up the plot from season two had to be done fairly quickly. I'm sure that the writers could have wrote a two hour long opener for the new season, but they also had to start a new storyline and all this had to be done in 22 minutes. That is an enourmous challenge on their part and they pulled it off great! Yes there are a few inconsitances but what show doesn't? While I know that it is hard not to point out all of these minor mistakes, we shouldn't let it bother us. The show that we know and love is finally back and we are all looking forward to what could and probably is, the best season of Avatar yet!
Phantom Planet is probably the best cartoon series finale that I have seen (will see if I say that again for the finale of Avatar). It was a wonderful story, about Danny finally getting fed up with his ghostly half only to realize that he was more a part of him than he realized. The ending was beautiful, not just the Danny and Sam part but how all of the countries in the world recognzied his effort in saving the world and finally being accepted for who he really is. Its sad that it was not aired in the US first, but I would like to shout out a thanks for those considering us over here who are DP deprived and allowing us to see it along with you.
Haven't you ever felt at some point in your life that you can fly? When your walking down the street and you feel as if ever footstep you take is getting lighter and all you have to do is jump up into the heavens and fly? Lately this feeling has not left me. If I look down, I don't see a floor, I see the ground, the ground from several thousand feet in the air. Perhaps that I have an imagination that chooses for me not to grow up. It is strange how this one feeling of flight can lead to so many ideas, ideas of going to a far off place, ideas of somewhere there is this alternate universe waiting to be found, ideas that faires are real. If you are all wondering where all this is coming from, Peter Pan is the answer. A story about a boy who never wants to grow up is so fascinating that I would like to be in his shoes and see what it is like. His world is only in my dreams never in "real life", but then again how can we be so sure?
Ok well, after seeing a new episode of the Avatar, which was great by the way, I was basically all giddy. Well it turns out the the new Harry Potter trailer also came out that same night, and not hearing any new Harry Potter stuff in a while, well I was basically having a spaz attack. In the best way of course. Ok I'm done now.
I really enjoyed this episode because it took on a different format than the others. First off, we finally get a look on what the Fire Nation kids are up to. Turns out they were ordered to go on vacation to Ember Island, a vacation hotspot for the Fire Nations elite. While there, we see Zuko and Mai problems along with a hilarious Azula, in a mix between getting a boy to notice her with her mentality of ruling the world. We then learn a bit of the characters such as Ty Lee being part of a large family, Mai always being told to keep her emotions in check, Azula feeling betrayed by her mother, and Zuko being angry at himself for what happened in Ba Sing Se. The gaang on the other hand is having to face with the Combustion Man, who can shoot a laser out of his forehead. I have to applaud the Avatar staff on this sequence because it has to be my favorite of all time. Because there was no background music involved, it gave the entire sequence a much heavier feel and definitely left me wanting more. The season keeps getting better and better and I know that we cannot wait another week for the next installment.
As the gaang continues their journey through the Fire Nation, Sokka realizes that he can not contribute like the others can. He sets out to search for a master to teach him and finds a master swordsman. This was a well needed episode for Sokka. We saw not only his insecurities but his strengths. We have always seen Sokka's creative side and that gives him an advantage when he fights, by using his surroundings to his advantage. Aang, Katara, and Toph also realize how much they need Sokka, as he has been the master planner in this journey. Iroh in this story is amazing. His strength as the Dragon of the West truly comes out as he is spending all his time in jail by working out, which is making us believe that he is going to break out soon. This was a fantastic episode by not only giving us some character development but by furthering the storyline, leaving us wanting more.
The Painted Lady is a water spirit who used to watch over a Firenation fishing village until a factory was built and polluted the water. Since then the village has fallen into a state of complete disrepair with citizens to match it. Hungry and sick families plague this town, until the gaang comes in. Katara, pretending to be the Painted Lady, goes into the factory and steals food and medicine to help these people, believing it was the Painted Lady herself. This plan backfires after Katara and Aang destroy the factory and the firenation comes to destroy the village. The gaang are able to scare away the firenation and help clean the river to restore it to its original state. This heartwarming story, is beautifully written to show that Katara has grown so much from the first season, where she was scared to leave her home and now is taking force against the firenation. This also shows some good insight on how the Firenation treats its own citizens. Overall, I believe that the point of this episode was to show that the gaang has to earn the trust of the firenation citizens in order to overthrow the Fire Lord.
This episode gives great information on what the Fire Nation is truly like. Up until now, we see the Fire Nation as mean spirited people, but this episode humanizes them. They show everyday people going to school and working in their various jobs. While these people are living their lives as normal, they are being constantly overseen by their government along with Fire Lord Ozai picture hanging in every public place. I wouldn't be surprised if the Fire Nation had their own Dai Li. Aang's story is fueled by trying to show the children a bit of freedom, by throwing them a dance party. This of course leads to a bit of Kataang fluff along with many hilarious quips from Sokka. Zuko is again searching within himself, in trying to figure out if regaining his honor was truly what he wanted all along. The Zuko/Iroh scenes were very touching and gives us the sense on how betrayed Iroh felt when Zuko helped Azula. Like every Avatar episode, this leaves us with wanting more as we hopelessly wait for the next thrilling segment of Avatar.
In this season 3 opening, we are pretty much reminded of what has happened in the last few weeks after Crossroads of Destiny. The water tribe captured a Fire Nation ship, Zuko is together with Mai, Aang has hair, the Earth King is now living off the land, and most importantly... the Fire Nation now controls the Avatar Nation. While I think that this episode was a bit rushed (probably because it was only 30 minutes long), the writers did an excellent job on setting up the new season for us. Katara's problems with her dad were especially touching and showed us how she really feels not only for her water tribe family but the family she has made with Aang. Aang's burning of the staff was really emotional. It symbolizes the "death" of his past lives and his physical ties of being the last airbender. The action in the episode was awesome, although I still have a difficult time watching Toph metal bend (I can't figure out how she can GRAB metal!). Overall, this episode is the foundation of the rest of the season and with the expectation of great things to come.
Hey y'all, I'm a big fan of animation, computer design work, and stuff blowing up (courtesy of Mythbusters). If y'all have any questions regarding how animation is made or have any questions regarding the Disney Company, I'm your girl.
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