Avatar the Last Airbender might be my all time favorite TV show. And back in May it dropped on Netflix. I rewatched it for the 7th time. Here are a few things before I start talking about the show:
1. The season I have in last place is still fantastic so just because it’s last doesn’t mean it’s bad it’s just a very good show.
2. Also this will include spoilers for Season 2 and 3
3. And here is my ranking!
3. Season 1: This season does a lot of things really well. The season may have my favorite world building in any season ever. They establish the rules of the world early on and the different nations in the world, in a way the kids can understand it and adults can enjoy. It also has a fun set of characters with Aang, Katara, Sokka, Appa, and Momo as the main heroes of the season they each get a funny moment to shine. With the Aang character they give him a character arc where in the first couple of episodes he is this goofy 12-year old, but by the end of the season he’s matured and learned a lot so he has a great character arc. And especially Sokka who might be the funniest character on the show. And I keep on mentioning this, but the season is very funny. Each episode there is some very funny laughs whether it’s people talking or people making funny faces. Now, the season does have some issues with it. 1st problem, Zuko in this season is too whinny, now we understand why. But he’s a one dimensional character where he only wants to get Aang so he can return home, and in some ways is emotional stuff that he father banished him but still wish the changed his character a bit. 2nd, some of the episodes are forgettable like the third episode where the group visits the Southern Air Temple I always forget that. And also the Great Divide episode is very filler and doesn’t need to be there. I love this season, and can’t believe it’s in last place on my list.
2. Season 2: This used to be my least favorite season of the show. But after rewatching I liked it more than I remember. I think this is the best season when it comes to the characters. What they do with Zuko and Iroh makes them more relatable then they were in Season 1. They get great character arcs that shine in the season. Toph is a great edition to the show. Where her sarcastic humor works well in the show that she gets a ton of funny moments. And Ba Sing Se as the major plot point in the back half of the season is so fascinating that you want to learn more about it. And that we get to know more about the Earth Kingdom where in Season 1 was very focused on the water tribe. Here we learn the Earth Kingdom’s past and how it is ruled by the Earth King. And the final episode of the season, The Crossroads of Destiny is great because it does a great job of closing out the story that was set up, and has a great cliffhanger. And Azula is a character that you love to hate. You don’t like her character because she is so evil but they humanize her a bit in scenes. The big problem with the season is there is to much going on. Aang needs to learn earth bending, Zuko and Iroh’s turn, Jet returns, Toph gets introduced, Appa is lost, Azula is tracking down the Avatar, Zuko, and Iroh, and the whole Ba Sing Se plot at the end that is a lot in this season with 20 episodes that are only 20-25 minutes long.
1. Season 3: There is a chance that this season might be my favorite season of all time in any T.V. show ever. There are so many fantastic episodes with the final 4 episodes with Aang battling Fire Lord Ozai. So powerful and something that you wanted to see happen and so when it does happen, it has great payoff to what was built up in the previous seasons. (Fun fact: Ozai is voiced by Mark Hamill). But I also like that they did something different with the Aang character where he failed at the end of Season 2 so he has to learn from that in this season and add some layers to his character and a broken side of Aang that we haven’t seen in the show yet. Also I like what they did with the Zuko character where they finished his character arc so when he joins Team Avatar it feels earned and that his character came around in a full circle. And just put the pieces together with the episodes, characters, and moments you get this fantastic season of television that like I said might be my favorite season of all time. But if somebody else was to have another season at number 1 I would understand because all 3 seasons are fantastic.
That is my ranking of all three Avatar: The Last Airbender seasons. And in less than a week I would be reviewing Man of Steel leading up to Wonder Woman 1984 (which hopefully would be released in October). And look forward for that and other content on this blog.
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