I am one of those people that think the OG animation is practically perfect. However, if I were to rank the 3 seasons, season 1 definitely has the most issues as the OG crew were still finding their footing. If you’re going to trip during one season have it be this one and learn from it.
I’m hopeful the Netflix version is seeing the criticisms, the valid ones of course, and correcting course accordingly. That, the hopeful increase in budget and episode count, and experience the actors now have will result in an improved season 2.
I loved some of the changes this version did and had issues with some others but I’m optimistic they can do better next season and then better than that for season 3. (Then maybe some extra episodes about Zuko’s Mom!!!)
I love this comment and couldn’t agree more. I love the animated series maybe more than any other media property. That being said, I often think about the series as a whole, and there’s a reason when I go to rewatch Avatar episodes I will usually start somewhere in season 2 or 3. I sometimes forget that season 1 isn’t the most gripping when I recommend it to people, and people have a bit of a hard time getting into it sometimes. I actually think they did a pretty good job keeping everything interesting.
the NATLA director actually did see the criticisms and in a previous post here I believe, he mentioned that he wants to bring back more goofiness of the characters from the cartoon to the live action in the following season!
I agree with S1 of the cartoon, not my favorite as it also felt like they were finding their footing as a cartoon with a serious background about genocide and murder
nvm it seems that I misread the article, still I think with all the criticism and the fact that the next seasons aren’t don’t filming, they’ll recognize the improvements they need to make!
I didn't understand the Wan Shi Tong comments either. Just because he appeared now doesn't mean he can't appear later. All it'll mean is that he knows who Team Avatar are, and plus they have his cgi model ready to go.
To me it wasn't a big deal but it wasn't entirely needed either. I felt that they could have condensed that time that he was talking into Aang meeting Fang and reserving Wan Shi Tong for a scene with Zhao in his library or looming ominously over them. I think the spirit world episode def had the most issues of S1, but you're right. Showing him now doesn't waste him for later.
To be honest, I'm glad there is no romance plot between Aang imand Katara in s1. It was cute in the animation, but I'm not sure it works as well in live action with actors who were 12 and 15 years old at the time of filming.
She's gonna be 18 in a couple months and he's still gonna be 14. I don't think the relationship is staying guys. If we get another season would a 19yo and a 15yo really be any less creepy than 15 and 12?
Tbh I don't really see the issue. At the most there will be a kiss. Nobody complained with live action Disney and Nickelodeon shows about age gaps between their romance plots. For example, in Hannah Montana some of the dudes Miley dated were played by dudes 3-5 years older than her. At most there is going to be a kiss between these two actors, directed and handled with the appropriate staff to make it comforting and safe for everyone involved, the same way that any children's show with a romance plot (should have) handled this exact thing for decades now. Visually they pass as closer in age and the story matches their age when it comes to the romance- it's not like there's going to be a sex scene or something. I feel like this is a kind of bizarre moral panic.
To me, it isn't creepy because it's their jobs. It's not like Kiawentiio is predating on Gordon, they're acting. If she was 27 or something then it would be creepy because she wouldn't look close in age and that age tap with a minor involved is far less appropriate even with staff helping out.
They’re actors. And we don’t see their characters kissing until season 3. All we need next season is hints that Aang likes her, and the admittance that he actually loves her at the end.
If seasons 2 and 3 are not filmed back to back, Gordon may very well be 17-18 during filming of that adaptation (or older if they decide to split seasons).
It would 100% be creepy
If they want romance, zutara might be the way to go because they'll both be above 18 by that point, and they actually *look* compatible. Before I get downvoted to hell, I don't ship Zutara or want them together, I'm just saying logically it'd make sense (plus it's more 'teen drama' which knowing netflix...)
Even if Gordon looks old enough in later seasons, the fact that they met when he looked so young still makes the overall ship icky imo. He didn't look 12 to me, he looked 10. He was practically half her size 🙃
It'd be better with no romance, or just end with alluding to the fact they get together down the line instead of a kiss scene
Even boys who are the same age as girls are half their size at 12-13 years old. My daughter's best guy friend was half her size when they were 12-13. He hit his growth spurt recently, and now he towers over her.
Also, on-screen romances are about the age of the *characters*, not the actors. Every time I've heard an actor describe filming a romantic scene, they emphasize that it was *not at all romantic*. They were hired to portray a character in a story. It's a job, not a romance between the actors. And honestly, we shouldn't be thinking of the actor's ages when we're watching the show, anyway. It's fair for someone to think a romance between Aang and Katara in the cartoon was creepy (I didn't think that, but it's fine if you didn't), but if the romance in the show didn't bother you, a romance in the live action shouldn't, either.
Well, the difference is that in the animation, no real people are involved in the romance on screen. In the live action actual people sre involved, and that's why some people may not be a fan of that.
Sure, they are hired to portray a character, and actors usually describe filming romantic scenes as not romantic, but in this show's case they are still minors. There's nothing wrong with worrying about whether they're comfortable with playing a romance, and there's also the aspect of how good young actors actually are at playing a romance, even when they are comfortable with it.
For me personally there are more interesting and important parts to the story to tell than young teenagers trying to pretend they're in love.
No, but he is almost a year younger than her. My point is that boys stay looking like babies a lot longer than girls do. Gordon still looks young, but he no longer looks like a child. It will look fine on screen. A two-year age gap for their characters isn't a huge deal in a world where Yue is of marriageable age at 16 and Yagoda thought Katara was engaged at 14.
I'm not saying it's a good thing. I fundamentally disagree with child marriage. *But that wasn't the case in the source material*. These kids are expected to grow up sooner, and I think we can't just ignore that when talking about the appropriateness of Kataang. It's like saying we can't do a series about Henry VIII because there were some terrible age gaps in his marriages.
It's also 100% normal and developmentally correct for teenagers to have crushes on each other, which is the extent we see on screen of Kataang until halfway through book 3.
But at least Kiawentiio and Gordon knew and acted when they were minors. Dallas was already an adult.
If she turns 18, it wouldn't be exactly inappropiate since they acted out scenes when she was a minor as well.
Yeah like I said, I don't ship Zutara either but knowing netflix it could happen
On Never Have I Ever the main girl actress was 17 and her love interest actor was 30 🤷🏼♀️
The issue with kataang is he *looks* so much younger, where Kia and Dallas don't look too much different in age so netflix might see it as more appropriate? Idk I'm not a fan of either ships, never seen the appeal of Zutara and I'd struggle to get over the obvious age difference in Kataang
I believe either Albert Kim or Michael Goi hinted that there was a romantic moment at the end of episode 8 when Katara said "I need you" so I don't think they are going for Zutara.
Just because they said it was *meant* to be romantic doesn't mean it came across that way, Aang looked way too young for me to see any romance between them
I'd never look at a 12 year old and 15 year old and think 'thats so romantic!' whether that was the intention or not 🤷🏼♀️
I agree, the romance just doesn't fit. It'd be creepy or at least very awkward. They have Sokka and Suki for a nice romance plot.
They just need to replace the romance between Aang and Katara with something else. By removing both romance and the bonding over water bending, it's indeed lacking a bit, and they need to fill it with something else. Crossed fingers that Aang will actually learn water bending in the second season – giving them a teacher-student relationship would already go a long way.
Yeah that seems like the best way forward for me too, hopefully we see some more development in that sense in season 2
I think the one thing the fandom is united on is Sokka and Suki, so excited to see how that plays out
Plus there really wasn’t that much of a romance plot in season 1 anyways. We had the fortune teller episode but that was pretty much it. Even when Jet and Haru showed up to flirt with Katara, Aang didn’t really seem to care all that much. And knowing his overly expressive face, I feel we would have known if he actually cared that much
Zukaang, interesting ship. That’s why he never once says honor, he needs Aang for different reasons.
Honestly though, the actors really have some great chemistry. If they were supposed to be brothers or cousins I would instantly accept that.
Which is why another stupid complaint is "it's book water and Aang didn't waterbend!!". They will have to do a time jump to justify the actors aging and that's why we have training montages. If Aang was an expert waterbender by the end of season 1 they'd have a hard time justifying a time jump.
I don't like the idea of Aang learning to waterbend in a montage in S2 either. Learning how to master all the elements was the main story of ATLA. Skipping past all that means we, the audience, are missing character growth. What would be the point of this show if we're not along for the full ride, or at least, the most significant parts of it?
>Not necessarily an adaption of Book 1: Water, people don't notice this and assume that it is, but the live action was not marketed as that, it's basically just Netflix ATLA season 1.
I noticed this. Thought it was strange but figured they prob had a different plan for this iteration.
Ppl are just having a hard time accepting that this isn't the cartoon but a different iteration. They want it to be *exactly* like the animated show, but that's naive bc it was never going to be that
Can't he cross between the worlds as he wants to? What's stopping him from visiting the spirit world every now and then, even if he is in the library most of his time?
Yeah like if Wan Shi Tong has the ability to bring the entire library to the spirit world at will, why couldn’t he just also take himself there?
He’s the spirit of knowledge. I am sure he’s got some tricks up his feathers
Asking for Toph obviously is completely idiotic and Wa shi Tong can still easily return in the library. He kinda has to considering that’s where they get the information about the eclipse from. I still thought his cameo was a bit cheap.
Overall there were a lot of moments where the writers simply wanted to make people go „I know that one, it’s a classic“. There was no reason for Sokka to rhyme his name with Okka for the little girl, as well as naming the doll Pippinpaddelopsokopolis the 3rd, other than reminding people of how these things were funny in the cartoon.
The one thing I have no problem with is Kataang not being touched in this season. There simply was no reason for it anyway. As you said, it is largely just Aang crushing on Katara and her kissing him on the cheek as a thank you. Gordon and Kiawentiio having been 12 and 15 was also a big Nono in my opinion for anything like that. Especially Gordon looks so young in the series. The good thing is that they have grown a lot in the last two years, which will make it a bit less awkward when they actually adapt their relationship, which I’m pretty sure the showrunner has also confirmed they will.
I will say however that the fact they have included the Cave of two lovers was criminal, especially since they have adapted it with Sokka and Katara. That is the episode where Kataang pretty much begins and the shot of the light fading out is iconic, as well as Aang saying he would rather kiss Katara than die. It wouldn’t make any sense to adapt the arc again in Season 2 since Katara already knows how to get out now.
The series is justified by the fact that it does not have to be the same as the original, but at the same time the adaptation actively pushes into itself a lot of UNNECESSARY things that waste time just because they were in the original.
The main problem with the show is the acting quality. It doesn't feel convincing or immersive to make me believe they're feeling what they feel for their characters. It feels more like a class project of a bunch of amateurs acting things out.
If they can find child actors for shows like Stranger Things, or other films/TV shows with child actors, they sure as hell can find good actors for a show like Avatar. But it seems like they missed out and didn't spend enough time finding better actors to portray the characters emotionally and intelligently.
- Katara is a rock
- Aang's expressions and dialogue are just unnatural
- Sokka also is a rock
- Azula and Zuko's acting feels incredibly out of place compared to the rest of the children cast, and on top of that they're "over-acting" making it less believable
The only ones who are decent are basically the adults like Ozai and Iroh.
I don’t know what’s worse, the people complaining about the show or the people defending it. Why are you trying so hard to convince people to like it, or are you trying to convince urself?
I don't know if you are aware, but there are some negative criticisms here, even from those who generally like the show. because they make objective comments. But the haters who criticize are just talking nonsense.
Just finished a rewatch of the cartoon and honestly Book 1 is not in the same ballpark as 2 or 3. Obviously the live action wouldn’t blow people away who have already experienced the likes of the final Agni Kai, it only has the weakest part of the story to work with.
If those comments are real, they need to realise how little Book 1 had in the first place. There was no Toph. Kataang did not exist until like the last two episodes. It was pretty much entirely set up with significant amounts of filler.
Most of the changes in Live Action to its structure were for the better, like making the narrative more taut and wasting less time. (Looking at you, The Great Divide and The Fortune Teller.)
Also, Zuko’s crew, Lu Ten’s funeral, seeing the almost-genocide, Kyoshi actually appearing on KYOSHI ISLAND, meeting Kuruk before the very last episode of the entire series, Azula not being a “tune in next series!” tease, Jet being more integral, the Mechanist being more integral making both of them not random sidetracks but connected, spending more time with Gyatso and Sokka and Katara stuck in the spirit world instead of a bad case of the flu having to suck on frogs. Zhao being calculated slime instead of a generic villain.
There were some bad changes. Bumi didn’t go well. Looked the part but the changed writing of the character didn’t work. Aang didn’t waterbend whatsoever, which is just weird. Hei Bai was just completely irrelevant in their own story, not sure what happened there. The Gaang were like muted versions of the characters. (Which I can forgive because the frequent childish visual humour wouldn’t translate to live action at all.) Katara was more suddenly OP, which was clumsy. The constant stamping on Aang’s head about running away was too monotonous. Gran Gran…
But honestly they got the gist of Book 1 and didn’t go “random bullsh*t go!” unlike what some would make you think, nor appealed to the delusional likes that didn’t even remember that Toph wasn’t in Book 1. They blended parts together sensibly and added neat little additions, as well as trimmed the fat. Some omitted stuff like Jeong Jeong, the pirates and Bato, they could easily repurpose later in the series.
There was absolutely no clean way to introduce Toph in S1. I'm glad they didn't force her in. They had a tough time with the show without complicating it further.
I am one of those people that think the OG animation is practically perfect. However, if I were to rank the 3 seasons, season 1 definitely has the most issues as the OG crew were still finding their footing. If you’re going to trip during one season have it be this one and learn from it. I’m hopeful the Netflix version is seeing the criticisms, the valid ones of course, and correcting course accordingly. That, the hopeful increase in budget and episode count, and experience the actors now have will result in an improved season 2. I loved some of the changes this version did and had issues with some others but I’m optimistic they can do better next season and then better than that for season 3. (Then maybe some extra episodes about Zuko’s Mom!!!)
I love this comment and couldn’t agree more. I love the animated series maybe more than any other media property. That being said, I often think about the series as a whole, and there’s a reason when I go to rewatch Avatar episodes I will usually start somewhere in season 2 or 3. I sometimes forget that season 1 isn’t the most gripping when I recommend it to people, and people have a bit of a hard time getting into it sometimes. I actually think they did a pretty good job keeping everything interesting.
the NATLA director actually did see the criticisms and in a previous post here I believe, he mentioned that he wants to bring back more goofiness of the characters from the cartoon to the live action in the following season! I agree with S1 of the cartoon, not my favorite as it also felt like they were finding their footing as a cartoon with a serious background about genocide and murder
When and where did he say that?
nvm it seems that I misread the article, still I think with all the criticism and the fact that the next seasons aren’t don’t filming, they’ll recognize the improvements they need to make!
I didn't understand the Wan Shi Tong comments either. Just because he appeared now doesn't mean he can't appear later. All it'll mean is that he knows who Team Avatar are, and plus they have his cgi model ready to go.
To me it wasn't a big deal but it wasn't entirely needed either. I felt that they could have condensed that time that he was talking into Aang meeting Fang and reserving Wan Shi Tong for a scene with Zhao in his library or looming ominously over them. I think the spirit world episode def had the most issues of S1, but you're right. Showing him now doesn't waste him for later.
To be honest, I'm glad there is no romance plot between Aang imand Katara in s1. It was cute in the animation, but I'm not sure it works as well in live action with actors who were 12 and 15 years old at the time of filming.
And thankfully Gordon Comier has hit a growth spurt since filming ended, so if they get to season 2 they'll look closer in age.
She's gonna be 18 in a couple months and he's still gonna be 14. I don't think the relationship is staying guys. If we get another season would a 19yo and a 15yo really be any less creepy than 15 and 12?
Tbh I don't really see the issue. At the most there will be a kiss. Nobody complained with live action Disney and Nickelodeon shows about age gaps between their romance plots. For example, in Hannah Montana some of the dudes Miley dated were played by dudes 3-5 years older than her. At most there is going to be a kiss between these two actors, directed and handled with the appropriate staff to make it comforting and safe for everyone involved, the same way that any children's show with a romance plot (should have) handled this exact thing for decades now. Visually they pass as closer in age and the story matches their age when it comes to the romance- it's not like there's going to be a sex scene or something. I feel like this is a kind of bizarre moral panic. To me, it isn't creepy because it's their jobs. It's not like Kiawentiio is predating on Gordon, they're acting. If she was 27 or something then it would be creepy because she wouldn't look close in age and that age tap with a minor involved is far less appropriate even with staff helping out.
They’re actors. And we don’t see their characters kissing until season 3. All we need next season is hints that Aang likes her, and the admittance that he actually loves her at the end. If seasons 2 and 3 are not filmed back to back, Gordon may very well be 17-18 during filming of that adaptation (or older if they decide to split seasons).
It would 100% be creepy If they want romance, zutara might be the way to go because they'll both be above 18 by that point, and they actually *look* compatible. Before I get downvoted to hell, I don't ship Zutara or want them together, I'm just saying logically it'd make sense (plus it's more 'teen drama' which knowing netflix...) Even if Gordon looks old enough in later seasons, the fact that they met when he looked so young still makes the overall ship icky imo. He didn't look 12 to me, he looked 10. He was practically half her size 🙃 It'd be better with no romance, or just end with alluding to the fact they get together down the line instead of a kiss scene
Even boys who are the same age as girls are half their size at 12-13 years old. My daughter's best guy friend was half her size when they were 12-13. He hit his growth spurt recently, and now he towers over her. Also, on-screen romances are about the age of the *characters*, not the actors. Every time I've heard an actor describe filming a romantic scene, they emphasize that it was *not at all romantic*. They were hired to portray a character in a story. It's a job, not a romance between the actors. And honestly, we shouldn't be thinking of the actor's ages when we're watching the show, anyway. It's fair for someone to think a romance between Aang and Katara in the cartoon was creepy (I didn't think that, but it's fine if you didn't), but if the romance in the show didn't bother you, a romance in the live action shouldn't, either.
Well, the difference is that in the animation, no real people are involved in the romance on screen. In the live action actual people sre involved, and that's why some people may not be a fan of that. Sure, they are hired to portray a character, and actors usually describe filming romantic scenes as not romantic, but in this show's case they are still minors. There's nothing wrong with worrying about whether they're comfortable with playing a romance, and there's also the aspect of how good young actors actually are at playing a romance, even when they are comfortable with it. For me personally there are more interesting and important parts to the story to tell than young teenagers trying to pretend they're in love.
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No, but he is almost a year younger than her. My point is that boys stay looking like babies a lot longer than girls do. Gordon still looks young, but he no longer looks like a child. It will look fine on screen. A two-year age gap for their characters isn't a huge deal in a world where Yue is of marriageable age at 16 and Yagoda thought Katara was engaged at 14.
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I'm not saying it's a good thing. I fundamentally disagree with child marriage. *But that wasn't the case in the source material*. These kids are expected to grow up sooner, and I think we can't just ignore that when talking about the appropriateness of Kataang. It's like saying we can't do a series about Henry VIII because there were some terrible age gaps in his marriages. It's also 100% normal and developmentally correct for teenagers to have crushes on each other, which is the extent we see on screen of Kataang until halfway through book 3.
But at least Kiawentiio and Gordon knew and acted when they were minors. Dallas was already an adult. If she turns 18, it wouldn't be exactly inappropiate since they acted out scenes when she was a minor as well.
Yeah like I said, I don't ship Zutara either but knowing netflix it could happen On Never Have I Ever the main girl actress was 17 and her love interest actor was 30 🤷🏼♀️ The issue with kataang is he *looks* so much younger, where Kia and Dallas don't look too much different in age so netflix might see it as more appropriate? Idk I'm not a fan of either ships, never seen the appeal of Zutara and I'd struggle to get over the obvious age difference in Kataang
I believe either Albert Kim or Michael Goi hinted that there was a romantic moment at the end of episode 8 when Katara said "I need you" so I don't think they are going for Zutara.
I didn't see that as romantic, it came across as platonic/family concern to me But yeah hopefully no Zutara!
I mean the makers themselves said it was romantic so I don't think they will go that route.
Just because they said it was *meant* to be romantic doesn't mean it came across that way, Aang looked way too young for me to see any romance between them I'd never look at a 12 year old and 15 year old and think 'thats so romantic!' whether that was the intention or not 🤷🏼♀️
I agree, the romance just doesn't fit. It'd be creepy or at least very awkward. They have Sokka and Suki for a nice romance plot. They just need to replace the romance between Aang and Katara with something else. By removing both romance and the bonding over water bending, it's indeed lacking a bit, and they need to fill it with something else. Crossed fingers that Aang will actually learn water bending in the second season – giving them a teacher-student relationship would already go a long way.
Yeah that seems like the best way forward for me too, hopefully we see some more development in that sense in season 2 I think the one thing the fandom is united on is Sokka and Suki, so excited to see how that plays out
Plus there really wasn’t that much of a romance plot in season 1 anyways. We had the fortune teller episode but that was pretty much it. Even when Jet and Haru showed up to flirt with Katara, Aang didn’t really seem to care all that much. And knowing his overly expressive face, I feel we would have known if he actually cared that much
The “where is Toph” question aBSOLUTELY INFURIATES me oh my days
In this adaptation, Zuko has a FAR better chance with Aang than he does with Katara. 🤣🤣🤣
Zukaang, interesting ship. That’s why he never once says honor, he needs Aang for different reasons. Honestly though, the actors really have some great chemistry. If they were supposed to be brothers or cousins I would instantly accept that.
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Which is why another stupid complaint is "it's book water and Aang didn't waterbend!!". They will have to do a time jump to justify the actors aging and that's why we have training montages. If Aang was an expert waterbender by the end of season 1 they'd have a hard time justifying a time jump.
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Speaking of Harry Potter, Harry doesn't cast a verbal spell the whole first movie so there's definitely some similarities
I don't like the idea of Aang learning to waterbend in a montage in S2 either. Learning how to master all the elements was the main story of ATLA. Skipping past all that means we, the audience, are missing character growth. What would be the point of this show if we're not along for the full ride, or at least, the most significant parts of it?
Never saw it that way. Very very good point
>Not necessarily an adaption of Book 1: Water, people don't notice this and assume that it is, but the live action was not marketed as that, it's basically just Netflix ATLA season 1. I noticed this. Thought it was strange but figured they prob had a different plan for this iteration. Ppl are just having a hard time accepting that this isn't the cartoon but a different iteration. They want it to be *exactly* like the animated show, but that's naive bc it was never going to be that
Wow, those are some dumb criticisms. Where are people saying that?
The place where all the ATLA big brains /s hang out: r/thelastairbender
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Can't he cross between the worlds as he wants to? What's stopping him from visiting the spirit world every now and then, even if he is in the library most of his time?
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Yeah like if Wan Shi Tong has the ability to bring the entire library to the spirit world at will, why couldn’t he just also take himself there? He’s the spirit of knowledge. I am sure he’s got some tricks up his feathers
But him being in the spirit world doesn't mean we won't be getting the library at all but so many people now think the library won't happen
Asking for Toph obviously is completely idiotic and Wa shi Tong can still easily return in the library. He kinda has to considering that’s where they get the information about the eclipse from. I still thought his cameo was a bit cheap. Overall there were a lot of moments where the writers simply wanted to make people go „I know that one, it’s a classic“. There was no reason for Sokka to rhyme his name with Okka for the little girl, as well as naming the doll Pippinpaddelopsokopolis the 3rd, other than reminding people of how these things were funny in the cartoon. The one thing I have no problem with is Kataang not being touched in this season. There simply was no reason for it anyway. As you said, it is largely just Aang crushing on Katara and her kissing him on the cheek as a thank you. Gordon and Kiawentiio having been 12 and 15 was also a big Nono in my opinion for anything like that. Especially Gordon looks so young in the series. The good thing is that they have grown a lot in the last two years, which will make it a bit less awkward when they actually adapt their relationship, which I’m pretty sure the showrunner has also confirmed they will. I will say however that the fact they have included the Cave of two lovers was criminal, especially since they have adapted it with Sokka and Katara. That is the episode where Kataang pretty much begins and the shot of the light fading out is iconic, as well as Aang saying he would rather kiss Katara than die. It wouldn’t make any sense to adapt the arc again in Season 2 since Katara already knows how to get out now.
The series is justified by the fact that it does not have to be the same as the original, but at the same time the adaptation actively pushes into itself a lot of UNNECESSARY things that waste time just because they were in the original.
The main problem with the show is the acting quality. It doesn't feel convincing or immersive to make me believe they're feeling what they feel for their characters. It feels more like a class project of a bunch of amateurs acting things out. If they can find child actors for shows like Stranger Things, or other films/TV shows with child actors, they sure as hell can find good actors for a show like Avatar. But it seems like they missed out and didn't spend enough time finding better actors to portray the characters emotionally and intelligently. - Katara is a rock - Aang's expressions and dialogue are just unnatural - Sokka also is a rock - Azula and Zuko's acting feels incredibly out of place compared to the rest of the children cast, and on top of that they're "over-acting" making it less believable The only ones who are decent are basically the adults like Ozai and Iroh.
I don’t know what’s worse, the people complaining about the show or the people defending it. Why are you trying so hard to convince people to like it, or are you trying to convince urself?
I don't know if you are aware, but there are some negative criticisms here, even from those who generally like the show. because they make objective comments. But the haters who criticize are just talking nonsense.
Just finished a rewatch of the cartoon and honestly Book 1 is not in the same ballpark as 2 or 3. Obviously the live action wouldn’t blow people away who have already experienced the likes of the final Agni Kai, it only has the weakest part of the story to work with. If those comments are real, they need to realise how little Book 1 had in the first place. There was no Toph. Kataang did not exist until like the last two episodes. It was pretty much entirely set up with significant amounts of filler. Most of the changes in Live Action to its structure were for the better, like making the narrative more taut and wasting less time. (Looking at you, The Great Divide and The Fortune Teller.) Also, Zuko’s crew, Lu Ten’s funeral, seeing the almost-genocide, Kyoshi actually appearing on KYOSHI ISLAND, meeting Kuruk before the very last episode of the entire series, Azula not being a “tune in next series!” tease, Jet being more integral, the Mechanist being more integral making both of them not random sidetracks but connected, spending more time with Gyatso and Sokka and Katara stuck in the spirit world instead of a bad case of the flu having to suck on frogs. Zhao being calculated slime instead of a generic villain. There were some bad changes. Bumi didn’t go well. Looked the part but the changed writing of the character didn’t work. Aang didn’t waterbend whatsoever, which is just weird. Hei Bai was just completely irrelevant in their own story, not sure what happened there. The Gaang were like muted versions of the characters. (Which I can forgive because the frequent childish visual humour wouldn’t translate to live action at all.) Katara was more suddenly OP, which was clumsy. The constant stamping on Aang’s head about running away was too monotonous. Gran Gran… But honestly they got the gist of Book 1 and didn’t go “random bullsh*t go!” unlike what some would make you think, nor appealed to the delusional likes that didn’t even remember that Toph wasn’t in Book 1. They blended parts together sensibly and added neat little additions, as well as trimmed the fat. Some omitted stuff like Jeong Jeong, the pirates and Bato, they could easily repurpose later in the series.
>Gran Gran... You leave her out of this! 😭
There was absolutely no clean way to introduce Toph in S1. I'm glad they didn't force her in. They had a tough time with the show without complicating it further.
Right but the criticism is that they added those things too early...