Ron Does Stuff

I wouldn’t necessarily call this new live adaptation of Avatar The Last Airbender the best thing ever, but it’s so far not a steaming pile of refuse like the 2010 film was. I feel like some of the changes made to the original were unnecessary or at least would have worked better if the show didn’t move at such a quick pace, but overall I have enjoyed the first two episodes I’ve seen.

Will that goodwill remain on this third episode? Let’s see!

This third episode is titled “Omashu”, so of course I am expecting King Bumi and the challenges that came with the trio’s hunt for him. But this episode starts with what looks to be resistance fighters from the Fire Nation, and I think this is the first time that Ba Sing Se has been mentioned in the series.

Now, having not been able to totally avoid all the marketing for this series, I immediately recognize that this new character is Azula in disguise, so I am checking to see how she reveals herself as the episode progresses. Which really isn’t that far ahead I guess because it happens immediately.

Again, the show is moving some things forward from the animated series. I know that there was no assassination attempt on Ozai at any point in the show, but this episode seeks to humanize the citizens of the Earth Kingdom for first time viewers. The animated show only got around to doing that in depth by Book 3. It’s a tweak that works and one of the things that makes this adaptation stand out from the animated series.

Also, as someone from Southeast Asia, can’t help but hear echoes of the Japanese Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere when Ozai talks about unity and prosperity under his rule. And the bad parenting on full display? Pitting Zuko and Azula against each other? If there’s one set of characters that have benefitted from the tweaks made, it’s the Fire Nation characters as they’ve been expanded and their motivations and dynamics made more clear. I just wish they could have done this without sacrificing the character building for the non-Fire Nation characters.

Like I was talking about, it’s the Fire Nation characters that have mostly benefitted from the tweaks made to the show, and you can clearly see it in the Zuko-Iroh-Zhao dynamic. Because the viewers know that Zhao is plotting behind Zuko’s back, there’s a tension whenever the three are together that keeps you watching.

Now I am no visual effects person or anything and a lot of times when people online complain about special effects being bad I can’t see what they’re talking about. So I am fully open to being told I am ~wrong~ but my golly I really like the effects they use for the location, in this instance for Omashu. It really feels grand to me!

One part I continue to struggle with is the decision they’ve made with Aang’s character. On one level, I get that they’re trying to build up to him finally facing his destiny at the North Pole, but I really do miss the actual child that Aang is in the series. I know that stuff like this is expensive to make and they’re doing the best they can with the time and money given to them, but I just wish that they also had the sense to say no to certain things? But then again I am not the one facing the wrath of executives. I’m trying my best to see your side of the story here, show producers!

Another place where the cracks are showing is the “hiding” storyline that they are pursuing again in this episode. It’s something that was already discussed in the Kyoshi Warriors episode and knowing that you have a limited amount of episodes to do this, why retread this storyline again with Teo and his father?

WAIT THE GUY AT THE BEGINNING WAS JET? IS THIS JET? OH MY GOD? Okay one thing that this show is doing better than the animated series is the romance. So far, Sokka/Suki and Katara/Jet have been really done well in my opinion.

Further on in the episode, we find that Azula is actively asking for Zhao’s help. This pushes Zhao to further undermine Zuko’s crew, which just like the animated series, does not really warm up to Zuko because of all of this anger issues. Honestly, the Firebenders really got the best deal in this adaptation.

And then when I was just about to rate this episode a meh this last third of it is some really exciting stuff! I like the tweaks that they’ve done to the Jet storyline and the whole fight sequence between Zuko and Aang without any bending was exciting to watch. I could say the same thing about Katara and Sokka utilizing the Omashu transportation system to get to the king as quickly as possible. And the payoff to the “My cabbages!” edging they’ve been doing throughout the episode? Hilarious!

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but they got me again. I want to watch the next episode!