Book 1: The Northern Air Temple / The Waterbending Master

The last stop on the Air Temple world tour. Wouldn't it have been nice to visit one per book, but I get why they didn't.

Our kids approach the temple and see - people flying!

Book 1: Bato of The Water Tribe / The Deserter

Land of the One-Shots. 

Actually, Jun comes back in the series finale.

Book 1: The Blue Spirit / The Fortuneteller

It's all about Aang this time around. When is it not, when your show is called The Last Airbender.

Book 1: Jet / The Great Divide / The Storm

It's another "Suave, competent newcomer comes in, impresses Aang and Katara while Sokka is suspicious but in the end the suspicious person is right," story!

Oh, uh, spoilers?

Book 1: The Siege of the North, Both Parts

WELCOME

TO

THE 

BOOK ONE

FINALE!

Before we continue, I feel that we can summarize Book 1:

It fleshed out some of the world but a lot of it felt pretty ... inconsequential. Many of the people we see never come back, although some do!

The Gaang:

Aang isn't happy go lucky all of the time. He feels guilt that he abandoned his people and is overwhelmed by the task set in front of him. It's never "Don't worry guys, we can do it!" peppyness, he's pretty real about the fact that he has around six months to end this war before Sozin's Comet.

Over all three books, I think Katara is one who does not get a ton of character development, simply because she already was a great, well rounded character. Sure she becomes one of, probably the best Waterbender in the world, but most of her inner conflict and thoughts are more prevalent in the graphic novel North and South than in any of the seasons (I have to say seasons here). There is visually some, in Book 3, but it feels almost like an afterthought.

They really could have waited until Book 3 to kickstart Sokka's development, but they establish quickly that he is growing into a great tactician and strategist. His sexist bigot angle I always felt was half implemented and concluded a bit too hastily but it's no fun watching a sexist so I can overlook that.

We just begin to hit the deep well of fucked-up mindsets that is Prince Zuko, and it only gets worse in the Book 2 opener.

There's also some things that will be revealed, right now, in this recap!

Book 1: Avatar Roku (Winter Solstice pt. 2) / The Waterbending Scroll

All aboard!


Aang doesn't want Sokka and Katara hurt, so he plans to sneak off in the night. That doesn't work, and soon all three of them are on Appa, en route to the Crescent Island.

Think about this - this is actually a detour. I wish there were some more shots of the map so we can see exactly how erratically they travel.

After strong-arming the town, Zuko is in pursuit - and it's dangerous for him to be in Fire Nation territory as well, being banished. What's the worst the Fire Lord could do? Imprison him?

Book 1: Imprisoned / The Spirit World (Winter Solstice pt. 1)

*inhales deeply* BOY - 

We open with - here's another reminder that these are just kids; Sokka returning from foraging for food and found a handful of nuts and rocks.

They spot a boy earthbending in a nearby quarry, when Katara greets him, he runs off and collapses some boulders behind them.

Book 1: The Warriors of Kyoshi / The King of Omashu

Well, the Gaang is lost.

Book 1: The Southern Air Temple

Fun fact; This is the only episode in the series that does not have it's title card against a plain white background.

So Aang was a little caught up in the excitement of waking up, making new friends, and fighting the Fire Nation to fully realize that he was asleep for a hundred years, and that everyone he knows is dead.

Oops.

Book 1: The Boy in The Iceberg / The Avatar Returns

This is Avatar; The Last Airbender, one of the greatest shows Nickelodeon has ever produced.

And it's time to rewatch it.

Since these are twenty minute shows with an overarching plot and story, I'm aiming for two posts a week. I'm using the fan-remastered HD look that looks kind of funny for the first few episodes but straightens out, but you can buy an official HD version on Amazon and iTunes!

No, I will not touch that 'movie'.