HOW IS HE GOING TO MAKE COIN FOR HIS CABBAGE CHILDREN

April 13, 2019 5:21 PM

Do you want the vicarious joy of watching one of the best current media critics meet for the first time one of the best animated series of all time? Film Crit Hulk live-tweets Avatar.
posted by persona (22 comments total)

My cabb- Oh forget it.
posted by murphy slaw at 5:37 PM on April 13, 2019 [10 favorites]

Not gonna lie, after five years of regularly thinking about finally rewatching Avatar, this was the last push I needed ...and I can't believe how good this show is. I'd forgotten so much already and it's been such a joyous, thrilling ride so far.

I haven't even read much beyond the first few tweets by Film Crit Hulk in fear of spoiling some of those forgotten moments, but I'll definitely get back to his thoughts once I'm done.
posted by bigendian at 5:49 PM on April 13, 2019 [4 favorites]

My daughter has been obsessed with Avatar:TLA since we first showed it to her around kindergarten age, and when I think of all the TERRIBLE ASS SHOWS that she COULD have been obsessively watching over and over again, I thank my lucky stars

because I may love Avatar slightly less than I used to due to overexposure but I still love it a WHOLE LOT
posted by murphy slaw at 5:55 PM on April 13, 2019 [4 favorites]

Not to spoil anything for anyone, but the Cabbage Man turns out pretty well in Korra.

Which means you should probably add Korra to your (re)watch list, too. Which is a good sort of problem to have ;)
posted by filthy light thief at 5:58 PM on April 13, 2019 [6 favorites]

Oh! I might have asked this question before at one point but this is an opportune moment: as someone who really really loved ATLA the first time around and is having a blast now rewatching: will I enjoy Korra, too?

I remember watching the first season (only) and it not really clicking with me - as the politics of the show/the first season were putting me off. (Don't wanna be more concrete than that in fear of spoiling details for others.)
posted by bigendian at 6:06 PM on April 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

Oh! I might have asked this question before at one point but this is an opportune moment: as someone who really really loved ATLA the first time around and is having a blast now rewatching: will I enjoy Korra, too?

Personally, I think Korra's best episodes are better than anything from ATLA but when it's bad, it's really bad. It doesn't help that the first two seasons are mediocre so the show can be a hard sell, even though the third and fourth seasons are really good.

So... maybe? If you keep your expectations low until it finally hits its stride.
posted by Memo at 6:20 PM on April 13, 2019 [5 favorites]

Korra is its own different exploration of being an avatar when it's not save the world in a straight line adventure. It's much more a teenager growing into adulthood story and about ptsd and broken family and recovery. I love it fiercely but it works better for older kids in my opinion.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 6:20 PM on April 13, 2019 [5 favorites]

Everyone who watched Avatar the Last Airbender absolutely needs to see this tweet thread from Aaron Ehasz about the redemption arc he always intended for Azula.

I always intended for #Azula to have a redemption arc in the story of #AvatartheLastAirbender. (thread)

Longer and far more complicated than Zuko's. She had not bottomed in the end of season 3, she had further to go. At the deepest moment in her own abyss she would have found: Zuko.

Despite it all, her brother Zuko would be there for her. Believing in her, sticking by her, doing his best to understand and help her hold her pain that she can no longer hold alone. Zuko -- patient, forgiving, and unconditionally loving – all strengths he gained from Uncle Iroh.

That’s how she would have gotten out, and changed. With the faith and love of someone she had hurt, but who stuck by her anyway. Just as he had been saved by faith and love from someone he had hurt, but who stuck by him.

I'm not crying, you're crying
posted by yasaman at 7:06 PM on April 13, 2019 [20 favorites]

Korra's third and fourth seasons are decent but it's very much not on the level of The Last Airbender. They set themselves the challenge of reversing the central conflict of The Last Airbender - Aang has the wisdom to be the Avatar, but doesn't have the skills; Korra has the skills, but doesn't have the wisdom. I don't think they ever really sat down and planned out 'what does Korra need to learn to be wise enough to be trusted with this power', or if they did, it doesn't come through in the show. Or maybe the writing was so bad in the first two seasons (one of those seasons ends with multiple deus ex machinas) that they had to scramble to get back on track.
posted by Merus at 7:08 PM on April 13, 2019 [5 favorites]

Everyone who watched Avatar the Last Airbender absolutely needs to see this tweet thread from Aaron Ehasz about the redemption arc he always intended for Azula.

I didn't need to know that they wanted to do a fourth season but decided to take advantage of the momentum from the movie.
posted by Merus at 7:10 PM on April 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

Korra had a really weird sense of pacing to it: it was pretty clear that it was originally intended as a multi-season thing, but that it got cut down to a single season during production, so they changed the ending, and then it got greenlit for a second season anyway. The third and fourth seasons were at least made in the knowledge that by that point, they could see the thing through to the end, but the first season in particular has a really weird ending that feels obviously broken.
posted by DoctorFedora at 9:30 PM on April 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

ATLA is generally very good overall, though, especially once you get past the first season with its Obligatory Animal Sidekick Hijinks
posted by DoctorFedora at 9:30 PM on April 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

I watched AtLA for the first time just a few years ago, with FanFare for company. Sometimes I'm sad that this show wasn't around when I was a kid, but at least I get to watch it now.

Legend of Korra doesn't quite recapture what I love about AtLA, but it's good in its own way. Also, if you want more Avatar, you should read the comic books. They continue where the show left off, and they're very good! I especially like North and South.
posted by mbrubeck at 9:51 PM on April 13, 2019 [3 favorites]

Korra is more for pre teens, and is a wonderful tale of how to break up with someone. Both series are great.
posted by eustatic at 12:25 AM on April 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

Aang had me hooked on episode 2. "You know, I could beat you with my hands tied behind my back." And he does! Aang is the most stupid, aggravating, adorable, lovable kid. It's actually painful as The Last Airbender proceeds, because you know the good times won't last forever.

Korra had me hooked on episode 1. "I love being the Avatar! Woohoo!" Her interactions with Master Tenzin (JK Simmons!) are gold. She's impatient, irrational, aggressive, admirable and idealistic. The sheer invention of Legend of Korra is breathtaking.
posted by SPrintF at 12:36 AM on April 14, 2019 [7 favorites]

Okay, got it: Korra's later seasons = good, but adjust expectations. ATLA Comics = good, also.
Thanks all! :)
posted by bigendian at 2:43 AM on April 14, 2019 [3 favorites]

That was a lovely, heartfelt, and insightful read. It's a distinct pleasure to find someone else who really enjoys something you enjoy, isn't it? Thank you, persona, for posting it!

Now do The Dragon Prince
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 5:00 AM on April 14, 2019 [4 favorites]

Korra is an excellent, beautiful show, but suffers noticeably from having a cut budget- half as many episodes each season.
posted by cricketcello at 5:37 AM on April 14, 2019 [4 favorites]

TLOK is really, really good. Korra's a more complex character than Aang, less prophesied savior, more overpowered teenage fuckup muddling along.
posted by signal at 10:13 AM on April 14, 2019 [4 favorites]

TLA and Korra are my top two favorite shows. Korra has an uneven first season, but it picks up by the second and comes into its own by the third. Where it beats TLA for me is in its representation of villains with complex motivations. Ozai is probably the most two-dimensional character on TLA, while Korra gives us Amon, who is calling for non-bender equality, Zaheer (Henry Rollins!) a passionate anarchist, and Kuvira, who is definitely a fascist but also wants to bring peace and unity to the world. Each of these villains is given a complex backstory and emotional ties to other characters. Her victories are never as simple as Aang’s.

And yes, the show’s depiction of PTSD is a masterclass in compassionate storytelling. And and. Two words. Queer representation.
posted by lieber hair at 10:19 AM on April 14, 2019 [5 favorites]

Among the fandom I hang out with, Korra is the show that has had the most intense fandom, in spite of its flaws. And that's simply because it was the first show that ended with the girl getting the girl, and the producer flat out saying "Yes, they are a couple." And then following it up with a comic where they're together.

I watched fans saying "Asami is totally in love with Korra" in the fourth season, and getting a shrug from others of "Yeah, this is fans reading into things, as usual." And then the final episode. The sheer explosion of reaction when speculation turned into fact from people starved for any representation was amazing. And so there's still fan works of Korra Sami.

I mean now there is Adventure Time, and Steven Universe, and Dragon Prince, but flawed as it is, Korra opened the way.
posted by happyroach at 10:27 AM on April 14, 2019 [5 favorites]

That "BLT" is actually full of arugula. Or rocket if you're English.
posted by heatherlogan at 5:34 PM on April 14, 2019