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deird1So… Avatar.
I’d like to devote a post to telling you all about it, and why it’s so brilliant. And naturally, the first question that springs to mind is: What Show Am I Watching?
I’m watching… Toph and the Danger Girls
Toph is the world’s best “earthbender”; a tough, no-nonsense fighter; into nose-picking, mud-wallowing, gross-out humour; snarky, sarcastic, and generally awesome.
She’s also a twelve year old girl. Who’s teeny and blind.
This show’s girls kick arse.
There’s Katara and Azula, who are some of the best water/firebenders around; Mai, who fights with throwing knives, when she’s not busy hating the world; Suki, who leads a whole troop of teenage girl warriors; and Ty Lee, an acrobat who can take down any of them.
Some are good, some are evil, and all of them are interesting, full of character, and up for anything the plot-line can throw at them.
I’m watching… The Uncle Iroh Hour
This is Iroh.
He’s an incredible firebender and famous warrior. He can take on anyone, and generally wins every time.
He loves ginseng tea, playing tile games, and long, hot baths.
I love him. And, from what I can see, so does everyone who’s ever watched the show.
He’s just wonderful.
I’m watching… Zuko and his Delicious Manpain
Zuko has one of the more interesting character arcs – one which involves a great deal of angsting, whinging, pouting, and generally being as emo and teenaged as possible.
But, to be fair, he’s got good reason. His father favoured his sister Azula over him, banished him for being disrespectful, and, oh yes, burned half his face off.
The only way Zuko can restore his honour, and be welcomed home, is to capture The Avatar (our hero). So he spends a very long time trying to track down the good guys by any means possible, and probably destroy them.
Zuko’s main companion is the aforementioned Uncle Iroh. They love each other dearly, and don’t get along at all.
I’m watching… Magic Kung-Fu Smackdown
This show has kung-fu. Magic kung-fu. Need I say more?
Oh, I need? Well, okay…
There are four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. And there are “benders”, who can control one of those four elements.
Katara, for instance, is a waterbender. She can throw water at people, turn water to ice, throw ice at people, surf without a surfboard, move clouds… and many other things besides.
Airbenders can create small localised tornadoes, firebenders can throw fire around, and earthbenders can chuck massive rocks around. It’s kind of cool.
I’m watching… Discovery Channel’s Look at the Pretty
Pretty show. REALLY pretty show.
(Seriously, go look. Scroll down. I’ll wait.)
That post of pretty images got me to watch the show. It’s so extremely gorgeous, it really is.
I’m watching… History Channel’s Aftermath of Genocide
There were four different people groups in the world – one per element. Now there are three.
Aang is a twelve year old boy who wakes up one day to discover that his entire country has been wiped out.
…in fact, that happened a hundred years ago. (Yes, he’s still twelve. Kinda.) Now there are only ruins.
Katara is a fourteen year old girl who has been mothering her big brother for years – ever since their mother was killed. (By the same people who wiped out Aang’s country, I might add.)
Now the Fire Nation are trying to wipe out the rest of Katara’s people, the rest of the Earth Kingdom… the rest of pretty much everyone in the world except them. And so far, they’re doing a pretty good job of it.
(Did I mention this is a kids show? Yeah.)
The show is happy to be silly, at times. But it also takes its premise seriously – and that premise includes genocide and an ongoing war.
I’m watching… The Awesome Love of Sokka and Suki
Suki is Sokka’s second girlfriend. His first girlfriend turned into the moon – and after that, dating her became slightly tricky (long story).
She kicks arse on a regular basis. Usually better than him.
They didn’t get along when they first met, but Sokka quickly started to understand that “warrior” and “girl” weren’t mutually exclusive terms, and instead of him always rescuing her… he sometimes rescues her, but she comes to his rescue twice as often.
While the rest of the world are preparing to fight a war, and angsting earnestly about all the tragedy and heartbreak in their lives, Sokka and Suki are having a fun and delightful time dating. And also preparing to fight a war – they’re warriors, after all – but not letting it get them down.
They’re rather awesome together.
Plus… they’re teenagers. Their romance is sometimes really silly.
So… that’s my show. Or, well, shows. You should all watch it – and report back about what shows you end up watching.
I’d like to devote a post to telling you all about it, and why it’s so brilliant. And naturally, the first question that springs to mind is: What Show Am I Watching?
I’m watching… Toph and the Danger Girls
Toph is the world’s best “earthbender”; a tough, no-nonsense fighter; into nose-picking, mud-wallowing, gross-out humour; snarky, sarcastic, and generally awesome.
She’s also a twelve year old girl. Who’s teeny and blind.
This show’s girls kick arse.
There’s Katara and Azula, who are some of the best water/firebenders around; Mai, who fights with throwing knives, when she’s not busy hating the world; Suki, who leads a whole troop of teenage girl warriors; and Ty Lee, an acrobat who can take down any of them.
Some are good, some are evil, and all of them are interesting, full of character, and up for anything the plot-line can throw at them.
I’m watching… The Uncle Iroh Hour
This is Iroh.
He’s an incredible firebender and famous warrior. He can take on anyone, and generally wins every time.
He loves ginseng tea, playing tile games, and long, hot baths.
I love him. And, from what I can see, so does everyone who’s ever watched the show.
He’s just wonderful.
I’m watching… Zuko and his Delicious Manpain
Zuko has one of the more interesting character arcs – one which involves a great deal of angsting, whinging, pouting, and generally being as emo and teenaged as possible.
But, to be fair, he’s got good reason. His father favoured his sister Azula over him, banished him for being disrespectful, and, oh yes, burned half his face off.
The only way Zuko can restore his honour, and be welcomed home, is to capture The Avatar (our hero). So he spends a very long time trying to track down the good guys by any means possible, and probably destroy them.
Zuko’s main companion is the aforementioned Uncle Iroh. They love each other dearly, and don’t get along at all.
I’m watching… Magic Kung-Fu Smackdown
This show has kung-fu. Magic kung-fu. Need I say more?
Oh, I need? Well, okay…
There are four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. And there are “benders”, who can control one of those four elements.
Katara, for instance, is a waterbender. She can throw water at people, turn water to ice, throw ice at people, surf without a surfboard, move clouds… and many other things besides.
Airbenders can create small localised tornadoes, firebenders can throw fire around, and earthbenders can chuck massive rocks around. It’s kind of cool.
I’m watching… Discovery Channel’s Look at the Pretty
Pretty show. REALLY pretty show.
(Seriously, go look. Scroll down. I’ll wait.)
That post of pretty images got me to watch the show. It’s so extremely gorgeous, it really is.
I’m watching… History Channel’s Aftermath of Genocide
There were four different people groups in the world – one per element. Now there are three.
Aang is a twelve year old boy who wakes up one day to discover that his entire country has been wiped out.
…in fact, that happened a hundred years ago. (Yes, he’s still twelve. Kinda.) Now there are only ruins.
Katara is a fourteen year old girl who has been mothering her big brother for years – ever since their mother was killed. (By the same people who wiped out Aang’s country, I might add.)
Now the Fire Nation are trying to wipe out the rest of Katara’s people, the rest of the Earth Kingdom… the rest of pretty much everyone in the world except them. And so far, they’re doing a pretty good job of it.
(Did I mention this is a kids show? Yeah.)
The show is happy to be silly, at times. But it also takes its premise seriously – and that premise includes genocide and an ongoing war.
I’m watching… The Awesome Love of Sokka and Suki
Suki is Sokka’s second girlfriend. His first girlfriend turned into the moon – and after that, dating her became slightly tricky (long story).
She kicks arse on a regular basis. Usually better than him.
They didn’t get along when they first met, but Sokka quickly started to understand that “warrior” and “girl” weren’t mutually exclusive terms, and instead of him always rescuing her… he sometimes rescues her, but she comes to his rescue twice as often.
While the rest of the world are preparing to fight a war, and angsting earnestly about all the tragedy and heartbreak in their lives, Sokka and Suki are having a fun and delightful time dating. And also preparing to fight a war – they’re warriors, after all – but not letting it get them down.
They’re rather awesome together.
Plus… they’re teenagers. Their romance is sometimes really silly.
So… that’s my show. Or, well, shows. You should all watch it – and report back about what shows you end up watching.
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-26 04:38 pm (UTC)Maybe I'll watch some later tonight after I catch up on Castle. Speaking of Castle, I was thinking of you when I posted about my own show I've been enjoying lately. :D
no subject
Date: 2010-10-26 09:38 pm (UTC)*loves Castle*
no subject
Date: 2010-10-26 07:57 pm (UTC)You know Toph's background, right? Originally she was going to be a large sarcastic blind teenage boy, until Aaron Ehasz suggested making her a tiny girl with the same personality. THIS WAS THE BEST DECISION EVER.
My brother refers to Katara's duel with Master Paku as "the part where the writers realized how cool this series really was."
And yes, I have a powerful crush on Uncle General Iroh. He is the MAN.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-26 09:40 pm (UTC)BEST DECISION POSSIBLE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. YES.
*huggles Toph*
My brother refers to Katara's duel with Master Paku as "the part where the writers realized how cool this series really was."
Heh. Well, it's certainly the part where I realised how cool it really was. :) It suddenly stopped being a fun kids show and started being epic and awesome...
Zuko's character arc really is brilliant.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 02:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 07:03 pm (UTC)Hi!
Oh, yes
Date: 2011-02-02 10:54 pm (UTC)This was necessary because we'd been channelsurfing and came across "Sokka's Master", in which Uncle Iroh is preparing to explain to people why you don't do what they did to him. Sorry, trying not to spoil the heck out of it in case someone's not seen it yet.