[donaldscrankshaw] Donald: *Avatar*

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Donald:
*Avatar*
http://www.donaldscrankshaw.com/posts/1203300066.shtml


   IFRAME:
   [1]http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=backoftheenve-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B
   000FZETI4&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF
   &f=ifr

   Over at the Black Gate blog, [2]Howard has some good things to say
   about Avatar: The Last Airbender:

     Thereâs one fantasy show on television today that I donât really
     hear people talking about. I mean fantasy in a stricter sense, not
     in the broad sense that would include science fiction or urban
     fantasy or horror; I mean epic fantasy in an imaginary land with
     simpler technology where magic works.
     The show has vibrant and compelling characters, a richly textured
     world and mythology, and crisp, clever writing. To these eyes it is
     the best fantasy show yet produced for television; certainly it is
     hands down the best written animated show on TV today.
     I am referring, of course, to Avatar.

   What is Avatar? As Howard says, the short version is that it's a kid's
   show. But similar to the Harry Potter books or Pixar movies, there's
   plenty for adults to like, too. A rich plot, complex characters, and
   entertaining fight scenes make it definitely worth watching.
   So, what is it about, really? The world of Avatar is Asian themed,
   based around the four elements, with nations corresponding to each of
   them. There are two Water Tribes, at the North and South poles, with
   civilizations based on the Inuit (eskimo tribes). At four Air Temples,
   one each for the four cardinal directions, live the Air Nomads, whose
   lifestyle is similar to the Tibetan monks. The Earth Kingdom is the
   largest, based on Chinese culture. Finally, there is the Fire Nation,
   roughly an analogue for Imperial Japan. In each of these nations,
   there are people who can manipulate, or bend, the native element.
   Firebenders can shoot fire from their hands and feet, waterbenders can
   use water as whips, earthbenders can bring rocks out of the ground and
   throw them at their enemies, and airbenders can fly. Doing so is not
   simply a matter of mind over matter. Each bending discipline is
   performed using a different style of martial arts. In addition to
   benders of each of the four elements, there is the Avatar, a spirit
   who is reincarnated every generation, who is capable of learning all
   four bending disciplines.

   IFRAME:
   [3]http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=backoftheenve-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B
   000QUEQ86&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF
   &f=ifr

   A hundred years before the start of the series, the Avatar vanished.
   At roughly the same time, the relatively technologically-advanced
   (steam power, but no gun powder) Fire Nation launched a war of
   conquest, wiping out the Air Nomads and attempting to conquer the
   Earth Kingdom (with frequent raids against the Water Tribes as well).
   Just when it looks like the Fire Nation will succeed in its conquest,
   the Avatar is found in a iceberg, where he has been frozen for the
   last one hundred years. Unfortunately for the world, the Avatar is a
   12-year-old Airbender named Aang, who, while he's mastered airbending,
   has yet to learn any of the other elements. Joining him in a quest to
   learn each element, starting with Water, are the two teenagers from
   the Southern Water Tribe who found him: Katara, the only waterbender
   at the south pole and thus untrained, and Sokka, her warrior brother.
   But learning waterbending will not be easy, as standing in their way
   is sixteen-year-old Zuko, the scarred Fire Nation prince who was
   banished by his father and can only return if he captures the Avatar.
   In order to sell you on this show, I want to give some insight into
   one of the characters. Not one of the heroes, but the villain, Prince
   Zuko, as he is certainly the most intriguing of the characters. To do
   so will require spoilers, so beware:

   ([4]show)

   As I said, Zuko was banished from his homeland, accompanied by his
   uncle and mentor, Iroh, and unable to return until he has captured the
   Avatar. As the Avatar vanished a hundred years earlier, the quest was
   a wild goose chase in which he was never supposed to succeed. However,
   Zuko believes that it is his destiny to regain his honor and return to
   his rightful place, so that he will find the Avatar where all others
   have failed. As it turns out, he's right. Three years into his exile,
   he's within sight of the energy released as the Avatar escapes his
   iceberg, and he quickly tracks young Aang to the Southern Water Tribe
   village where he's staying. Aang, being the hero, of course escapes
   Zuko's attempts to capture him, time and time again, leaving Zuko
   increasingly frustrated and desperate. It is not until the middle of
   the first season, however, that we learn the prince's backstory. Zuko
   was banished not for some awful crime, but because he spoke out of
   turn during a war meeting, protesting a general's plan to sacrifice
   rookie troops as a decoy. When his father challenged him to a
   firebending duel on account of his disrespect, he refused to fight,
   and his father burned him, giving him his characteristic facial scar,
   and banished him. Zuko is angry and bitter, and clearly misguided, but
   he's not evil. Nor is Iroh, who is wise and kind, and was never that
   into capturing the Avatar but is loyal to his nephew. By the end of
   the first season, Zuko is a sympathetic [5]antivillain, whom the
   audience would be happy to cheer on if he wasn't constantly trying to
   capture the hero.
   They're given their chance in Season 2. Zuko's father, Fire Lord Ozai,
   has sent his daughter, Azula, to bring her failure of a brother and
   her traitorous uncle home as prisoners. Azula is a firebending prodigy
   and an evil mastermind, and she nearly manages to trick Iroh and Zuko
   into coming home with her, but they manage to escape at the last
   moment. Now fugitives from both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom,
   Iroh and Zuko have to blend in, and in doing so, they get to know the
   Earth Kingdom a little better. At first, Zuko is quite willing to rob
   from the enemy in order to survive, but he slowly becomes more
   sympathetic to them, and risks quite a bit to help a town beset by
   bullies. Of course, once the town discovers who he is, they drive him
   out. Throughout the season, Zuko faces a number of tough choices, and
   slowly chooses to become a better person. By the end, we expect him to
   fully change sides. After all, his uncle has already decided to do so,
   and he's been encouraging his nephew to move in that direction. And
   just when it seems clear to both the audience and the characters that
   he's about to join the side of good, Azula returns. She offers her
   brother the chance to return home, to reclaim his rightful place and
   his father's love, and the temptation is too much. Zuko betrays his
   Uncle in order to help Azula defeat the Avatar and conquer the last
   stronghold of the Earth Kingdom. And they succeed.
   Zuko returns home a hero, only to discover that all those things he
   had been trying to regain for so long no longer make him happy. He's
   miserable and frustrated, and with his imprisoned uncle's help, he
   learns the truth. He thought he wanted his honor back, but really, it
   was his father's love he sought, and only now does he realize that his
   father is undeserving of his devotion. When he tells his father that
   he intends to free Iroh and join the Avatar, Ozai attempts to kill
   him, and he narrowly escapes. He then goes to free his uncle, only to
   discover that Iroh has already escaped on his own, and it's up to him
   to pursue the Avatar without his uncle, this time with an offer to
   help, if his former enemies will trust him. And this is where the
   story leaves off, as Avatar has gone into one of its frequent
   hiatuses.
   ([6]hide)

   So, if you read that, you've seen how interesting and complex Avatar
   can make its characters, so you'll appreciate why I think the show is
   worth watching. If you didn't, you'll just have to take my word for
   it.
   Overall, I highly recommend it. Avatar is available on DVD, almost,
   but not quite, up to what's aired in the US. You can also get
   everything that's aired in the US on iTunes, which I like--you can
   play your iPod on your television with the right connection, its
   cheaper than DVDs, you can get a season subscription even before the
   season's done, and you can download it today.

References

   1. http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=backoftheenve-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000FZETI4&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr
   2. http://bg-editor.livejournal.com/9808.html
   3. http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=backoftheenve-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000QUEQ86&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr
   4. file://localhost/var/www/powerblogs/donaldscrankshaw/posts/1203300066.html
   5. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AntiVillain
   6. file://localhost/var/www/powerblogs/donaldscrankshaw/posts/1203300066.html