![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaIt's not as good as the original but I'm liking it so far.
+ I haven't re-watched the series in years and purposefully chose not to do a re-watch before watching this hoping I wouldn't compare the two as much. That didn't really work I was just more confused lol.
+ Sometimes there are child actors you are amazed by and are phenomenal. Sadly none of the ones in this series were that for me. I think they're all doing a fine job and they've grown on me over these episodes but not amazing.
+ I think the biggest issue of the series for me is the writing. I always knew there were going to be issues since they were condensing 20 episodes into 8. I think that overall they're doing well at combining storylines and having everything flow and make sense. I just know what it could be at it's best and this is not it. It gets better but there's a weird flatness to the characters that I'm choosing to blame more on the writing.
+ The worst affected I think is Katara. Maybe I'm remembering this wrong but the animated Katara had a core of anger in her. Anger at the Fire Nation, but also anger at being a young woman in a patriarchal society who isn't getting the support she needed. She had a drive and determination in her caused by having to fight back against other's expectations. In the series that just wasn't there.
+ I'm deeply annoyed that they changed Aang leaving the temple from him actively running away to him needing to clear his head. No, wrong. It's a big emotional point for him that he ran away from being the Avatar and inadvertently abandoning his people when they needed him most. Sokka and Bumi and every other person who every calls him a coward or otherwise judges him for not being there/running away/abandoning his duties suddenly has a lot less impact because he didn't do that here. It was all only bad timing/an accident. Emotionally, and for Aang's character, it works so much better for him to really have run from his responsibilities and I think the show has done a disservice to his character.
+ I do find it amusing that I was mentally complaining about the lack of scientific interest in Sokka and then episode four happened and was like here you go.
+ I really liked Suki.
+ Overall the use of bending and the effects are pretty good. I like the fights and seeing the different elements against each other. But wow, are firebenders pretty weak. The average fire bending soldier is basically this show's storm trooper and I found that a little annoying at times.
+ The costuming is pretty good overall, as are the sets and general look of the series. The Kyoshi warriors looked amazing.
+ My one big costuming peeve is with Zuko's scar which is far too subtle and small.
+ I really liked the choice to start with Sozin and the Airbender massacre. The whole Earth spy stealing the plans only to fall into the trap Sozin set was a good addition that I enjoyed a lot. I liked how the massacre itself was shown and that they show didn't try and lessen the impact of it. The fights were well done.
+ Kyoshi taking over Aang and taking out the Fire Nation soldiers was a pretty excellent scene to watch. Enjoyed it a lot.
+ I like the addition of Avatar idols reacting to the presence of the Avatar.
+ Momo is very cute. And I am enjoying his interactions with Sokka. Sokka showing up with the armful of food trailed by Momo with an armful of food was funny.
+ I liked Katara and Jet bonding and that he helped her make a break-through in her bending by helping her deal with her trauma. I liked her "That was me" when he tried to take credit.
+ Overall Jet was done well.
+ I liked Azula.
+ Too much exposition.
+ I can't remember if Sokka/Suki was this into each other this fast but I don't think so. They really pushed their attraction to each other and I liked some of the moments but also I wish they'd pulled back a little on them. Subtlety can be a good thing.
+ I wish they had shown Airbenders trying to flee on the air bison during the massacre only to be shot down because I kept waiting for the air bison to come in and they didn't.
+ The addition of the previous Avatar's being able to take over the current Avatar if they're in their shine is eh. Not sure about that. It makes me wonder why the Avatar's haven't encouraged all the shrines being built all over the kingdoms in that case.
+ The fight on Kyoshi was way too bloodless. Really Kyoshi's big showy moment simply knocked them down and everyone was able to get up to runaway a moment later? No one died during that conflict? Unbelievable.
+ Similar but during the Jet vs the Fire soldiers forest scene the kids seemed to do way too well. The firebending spy gets an arrow in the shoulder and that completely taking him out of the fight and then I guess they easily murdered him off-screen? What?
+ The Fire Nation spy wearing red to do his spying in instead of the more common Earth tones made me shake my head.
+ I'm sad there hasn't been more of the weird and wonderful Avatar hybrid animals. I mean they're certainly there but I wanted more, lol.
+ Gran Gran was really not pulling her punches when she told Aang about the Airbender massacre. She could have softened it a bit more! Maybe tell him in private. Yeesh.
+ By sticking Sai and Teo in Omashu I think it hurt Sai's motivation. While they were trapped in the Airbending Temple it made sense that Sai was doing it for Teo. Teo was directly being held hostage! But shifting him into Omashu and adding in 'they'll keep not attacking if I just do this' makes me want to go "really??" at him. It's not an unbelievable motive I suppose but it is one that they didn't explore enough imo and didn't work as well.
+ I haven't re-watched the series in years and purposefully chose not to do a re-watch before watching this hoping I wouldn't compare the two as much. That didn't really work I was just more confused lol.
+ Sometimes there are child actors you are amazed by and are phenomenal. Sadly none of the ones in this series were that for me. I think they're all doing a fine job and they've grown on me over these episodes but not amazing.
+ I think the biggest issue of the series for me is the writing. I always knew there were going to be issues since they were condensing 20 episodes into 8. I think that overall they're doing well at combining storylines and having everything flow and make sense. I just know what it could be at it's best and this is not it. It gets better but there's a weird flatness to the characters that I'm choosing to blame more on the writing.
+ The worst affected I think is Katara. Maybe I'm remembering this wrong but the animated Katara had a core of anger in her. Anger at the Fire Nation, but also anger at being a young woman in a patriarchal society who isn't getting the support she needed. She had a drive and determination in her caused by having to fight back against other's expectations. In the series that just wasn't there.
+ I'm deeply annoyed that they changed Aang leaving the temple from him actively running away to him needing to clear his head. No, wrong. It's a big emotional point for him that he ran away from being the Avatar and inadvertently abandoning his people when they needed him most. Sokka and Bumi and every other person who every calls him a coward or otherwise judges him for not being there/running away/abandoning his duties suddenly has a lot less impact because he didn't do that here. It was all only bad timing/an accident. Emotionally, and for Aang's character, it works so much better for him to really have run from his responsibilities and I think the show has done a disservice to his character.
+ I do find it amusing that I was mentally complaining about the lack of scientific interest in Sokka and then episode four happened and was like here you go.
+ I really liked Suki.
+ Overall the use of bending and the effects are pretty good. I like the fights and seeing the different elements against each other. But wow, are firebenders pretty weak. The average fire bending soldier is basically this show's storm trooper and I found that a little annoying at times.
+ The costuming is pretty good overall, as are the sets and general look of the series. The Kyoshi warriors looked amazing.
+ My one big costuming peeve is with Zuko's scar which is far too subtle and small.
+ I really liked the choice to start with Sozin and the Airbender massacre. The whole Earth spy stealing the plans only to fall into the trap Sozin set was a good addition that I enjoyed a lot. I liked how the massacre itself was shown and that they show didn't try and lessen the impact of it. The fights were well done.
+ Kyoshi taking over Aang and taking out the Fire Nation soldiers was a pretty excellent scene to watch. Enjoyed it a lot.
+ I like the addition of Avatar idols reacting to the presence of the Avatar.
+ Momo is very cute. And I am enjoying his interactions with Sokka. Sokka showing up with the armful of food trailed by Momo with an armful of food was funny.
+ I liked Katara and Jet bonding and that he helped her make a break-through in her bending by helping her deal with her trauma. I liked her "That was me" when he tried to take credit.
+ Overall Jet was done well.
+ I liked Azula.
+ Too much exposition.
+ I can't remember if Sokka/Suki was this into each other this fast but I don't think so. They really pushed their attraction to each other and I liked some of the moments but also I wish they'd pulled back a little on them. Subtlety can be a good thing.
+ I wish they had shown Airbenders trying to flee on the air bison during the massacre only to be shot down because I kept waiting for the air bison to come in and they didn't.
+ The addition of the previous Avatar's being able to take over the current Avatar if they're in their shine is eh. Not sure about that. It makes me wonder why the Avatar's haven't encouraged all the shrines being built all over the kingdoms in that case.
+ The fight on Kyoshi was way too bloodless. Really Kyoshi's big showy moment simply knocked them down and everyone was able to get up to runaway a moment later? No one died during that conflict? Unbelievable.
+ Similar but during the Jet vs the Fire soldiers forest scene the kids seemed to do way too well. The firebending spy gets an arrow in the shoulder and that completely taking him out of the fight and then I guess they easily murdered him off-screen? What?
+ The Fire Nation spy wearing red to do his spying in instead of the more common Earth tones made me shake my head.
+ I'm sad there hasn't been more of the weird and wonderful Avatar hybrid animals. I mean they're certainly there but I wanted more, lol.
+ Gran Gran was really not pulling her punches when she told Aang about the Airbender massacre. She could have softened it a bit more! Maybe tell him in private. Yeesh.
+ By sticking Sai and Teo in Omashu I think it hurt Sai's motivation. While they were trapped in the Airbending Temple it made sense that Sai was doing it for Teo. Teo was directly being held hostage! But shifting him into Omashu and adding in 'they'll keep not attacking if I just do this' makes me want to go "really??" at him. It's not an unbelievable motive I suppose but it is one that they didn't explore enough imo and didn't work as well.
