Finally! "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is back! This week Laina and I have been plopping in front of the television every evening to enjoy our favorite, bald-headed, tattooed, hundred-plus-year-old pre-teen. What can I say? I'm a sucker for epic stories (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings...). The important question is this: what would happen if these characters were pitted against each other gladiator-style? Scintillating.
Aang vs. Anakin (alliteration!), Harry vs. Zuko (they both have teen ANGST...), Azula vs. Palpatine (they could take turns electrocuting each other!), Katara vs. Luke, Toph vs. Tonks, et cetera!
You know, it would be very bad if Lupin met Princess Yue...
So, what is going to happen? Will Aang battle it out with the Fire Lord? Will he finally get together with Katara? Will Zuko survive being Azula's traitor-brother? These are the questions that keep me up at night. I dwell not on the matters of this world (the foreign policy of the U.S., the presidential elections, the reverberations of the Beijing Olympics) but on the matters of a world far removed (and fictional). The best thing is that all of my questions will be answered by Saturday.
But is it really that spectacular? Yes, yes it is. This is a cartoon with a continuous storyline that explores morality and ethics while maintaining a balance between comedy and drama during a time when most other shows written for the same demographic are relying solely on gags to keep their audiences entertained. Not only that, but the world of Avatar is a beautiful conglomeration of cultural and fantastical elements, creating a distinct, interesting, and original reality. I understand that I am heaping on the praise, but it not often that something of this caliber appears on television.
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