The decades-long war between the Fire Nation and the other countries of the world is entering its final stages, and the situation doesn't look good. Much of the globe is under Fire Nation dominion, and the Avatar and his companions still haven't found a firebending master to complete his training. It seems an insurmountable challenge: after all, the firebenders are the Avatar's enemies, led as they are by the royal family of the Fire Nation.
Perhaps the only glimmer of hope is an impending eclipse, when all firebending powers will be briefly suppressed. If the Avatar faces the Fire Lord then, he might triumph despite not yet mastering all four elements. But if he misses that narrow window, then what?
Avatar: The Last Airbender is renowned as one of the first western animated TV shows to invest heavily in an ongoing story, even as it sought to (with occasional exceptions for multi-parters) tell a complete story in each individual episode. That shows a refreshing level of trust in its audience, even if it does dip into goofy slapstick a little too often for my tastes. I mean, I like goofy slapstick, but I feel like the show could be a little more selective about when it uses it.
This is a solid concluding season to the Avatar's quest: if epic fantasy (especially epic fantasy that draws on inspirations other than Tolkien and medieval Europe) is your thing, check it out.
No comments:
Post a Comment