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luckyrave · 3 months ago

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Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1 - Water Retrospective Rating

I may have finished my highlights on all the episodes for Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1: Water, but one thing still remains. My full retrospective thoughts on the the first season as a whole after having rewatched it recently, and all I'm gonna do is discuss briefly on my thoughts for each episode unless it's a two part.

So let's go ahead and begin this once and for all with:

Episodes 1 & 2: The Boy in The Iceberg & The Avatar Returns

One could easily group the first two episodes seperately as their own thing, but given that they were aired together as a 1 hour special when the show debuted it only makes sense to group them together.

There was a lot of intrigue and wonder when it pertained to the world of Avatar The Last Airbender, and it really did an incredible job to establish Aang as the protagonist, but also set up what it is Katara aims to be for her goal, and of course with Sokka along with the establishment of The Fire Nation as the adversaries. Most importantly what it does for The Prince of The Fire Nation, Zuko with his own personal motives that sets up a lot for a journey.

Rating: Pure Perfection

Episode 3: The Southern Air Temple

Listen I've already said my piece when it came to what the contents of the episode, but considering how Aang felt from what he discovered one just couldn't help but feel for The Avatar that despite the loss his people , Katara and Sokka now taking the place as his family. At the same time there was still a lot to be said once more Zuko wanting to keep things a secret about Aang because he didn't want anyone to get in his way, and that led to Zhao discovering what the damages. That led Zuko down to a declaration of an Agni Kai against Zhao to prove his point despite what happened the last time he took part in an Agni Kai in the past against The Master. There was just a lot to say when it came to both our hero and of course the antagonist who was set up.

Rating: Pure Perfection

Episode 4: The Warriors of Kyoshi

On the surface one could say that The Warriors of Kyoshi doesn't really add too much to the overall narrative of Book 1 as whole. That statement isn't necessarily entirely wrong because it's very self contained, but that isn't to say that The Warriors of Kyoshi isn't important. This episode actually add a lot of value for Aang when it came to the attention he received being The Avatar two generations after Kyoshi along with how that affects his bond with Katara, and of course with Sokka coming to terms with his mindset about Suki and the warriors. Most importantly its the seeds from this episode that are planted here that bloom into the series as a whole.

Rating: Amazing

Episode 5: The King of Omashu

This one is very much similar to the previous one in the sense that it is very much a self contained story that doesn't do a lot for the overall importance for Book 1 as whole, but does a lot for what's to come for the future of the series. Aang being met with a series of trials by The King of Omashu and having to think about what ahead really set worth a lot when it comes to his intellect, and that plays a heavy part into the revelation pertaining to The King himself.

Rating: Amazing

Episode 6: Imprisoned

Another episode that falls into the similar list as the previous two that came before, and one might ask "So is there anything to say here?" There's a lot that it does for Katara's character in trying to help Haru and the other imprisoned Earthbenders to get their spirit back against The Fire Nation. Aang and Sokka don't play too much of a heavy role which is fine, and for the importance of Book 1 it doesn't much overall. However, what is demonstrated here with Katara does play a bigger role in the future of the series as a whole.

Rating: Great+

Episodes 7 & 8: The Winter Solstice

There is a lot I've already spoken about when it comes The Winter Solstice, and given that this is a two parter it only makes sense to group together as one. The concept of The Spirit World being introduced and what it means for Aang as The Avatar, but more importantly his first direct conversation with his predecessor, Roku of The Fire Nation. One in which sets up so much for Aang's journey moving forward when it comes to his eventual battle against Fire Lord Ozai and the relation a comet Fire Lord Sozin used to initiate The 100 Year War.

Rating: Pure Perfection

Episode 9: The Waterbending Scroll

This one really sets the mark up for Aang and Katara when it comes to the essence of waterbending. Katara having felt like a novice at her skills in comparison to Aang's natural gifts as The Avatar really was a great thing to be explored, and does so much for their overall relationship especially when The Waterbending Scroll comes into play. It could be viewed as a little lesser than Imprisoned (Episode 6), but The Pirates do play a brief minor part towards the end which helped keep it relevance to Book 1 as a whole.

Rating: Great

Episode 10: Jet

A very self contained tale that is centered around Jet and his freedom fighters whom Aang, Katara, and Sokka come across after being nearly ambushed by a group of Firebenders. It has a lot of interesting themes when exploring beliefs and ideologies of good and really does so much for Sokka's character as a warrior in contrast to what Jet stands for as a character. Now given the nature of the episode, Jet and The Freedom Fighters don't play a huge role in the rest of Book 1, but their importance to the future says otherwise.

Rating: Great+

Episode 11: The Great Divide

I'm not even gonna beat around the bush when it comes to Episode 11 known as The Great Divide. The reason being is because this was one that had been talked to death in the Avatar community, and all I'm gonna say is it is the one episode doesn't add too much to the overall series. Mostly because The Gan Jins and The Zhangs don't really ever appear again in the rest of the series. It does however provide an interesting stance on perspectives which is cool, but that's really it.

Rating: Okay

Episode 12: The Storm

Wow what a contrast from the previous episode, and going straight into One of the best episodes in Avatar: The Last Airbender period. The definition of two sides of the same coin perfectly describes the essence of Aang and Zuko's personal upbringing. Each starting out with a sense of curiosity and being led to a decision that shapes where our hero and our villain stands in the series. The day Aang become The Avatar, and the day Zuko received the scar on his eye. In fact, one could even say that things really change an outlook on how Zuko is viewed as a character. He is still the antagonist but not necessarily in the sense of the villian, but more of the anti-hero, and the way both Aang and Zuko parallel one another is so master class.

Rating: Pure Perfection

Episode 13: The Blue Spirit

The definition of being kept on your toes is a great way when it pertains to The Blue Spirit. Aang trying to find some herbs to cure Katara and Sokka from their sickness due to the events from the Storm which led to him being captured by Zhao who had been promoted to Admiral. It is also where you are introduced to The Blue Spirit character and you are just unsure as to what their goal to save The Avatar and the reveal behind the mask is so genius. The perfect followup coming off from The Storm.

Rating: Pure Perfection

Episode 14: The Fortuneteller

The big importance to The Fortuneteller is further solidifying the chemistry and budding romance between Aang and Katara. All that pertains ot the future was in store for the eventual couple to be, and it is without a doubt a sweet episode, but one could say this was more tell than show, and that could be a hinderance especially since Aunt Wu doesn't really play anything critical in the story beyond this episode.

Rating: Good

Episode 15: Bato of The Water Tribe

It's always great to learn more about Sokka and Katara's culture in the Water Tribe especially with Bato who grew up their father Hakoda. Very similarly to some of the other episodes like Imprisoned, and Jet it can be considered self contained, but on with a lot of importance. ritual to dictate where the trio is marked on their trial and that provides a valuable lesson to Aang, Katara, and Sokka. Not to mention it does bring one plot thread to a close in regards to Katara's necklace that belonged to her mother, and also June is such an interesting character.

Rating: Great

Episode 16: The Deserter

Fire can be a very dangerous thing to handle, and that was something Aang learned first hand upon his excitement to learn from Jeong Jeong who deserted from The Fire Nation Army a long time ago. He knew that learning Firebending needed to be done and in midst of his excitement that came with consequences that just stuck with The Avatar in a belief that The Deserter warned him about. A simple fact that Aang just wasn't ready to learn Firebending. Yes, it is a self contained tale, but much like some of the others The Deserter does a lot when it comes to Aang's growth as the main protagonist.

Rating: Amazing

Episode 17: The Northern Air Temple

The idea of revisit an ancient relic that comes from Aang's past in particular his heritage as an Air Nomad is really sweet. The opportunity for him to revisit The Northern Air Temple again after so many years really threw him for a surprise that was similar to what happened at his home in The Southern Air Temple. The Fire Nation was involved in particular to the Past when it came to the eradication of The Air Nomads, but even now currently at The Northern Air Temple towards a group of refugees seeking shelter. Aang had a lot to come to terms with when it came to his beliefs and accepting what lies in the present for the refugees which is great for his growth, but like many other episodes it's very much self contained that sets up so much for the future.

Rating: Good+

Episode 18: The Waterbending Master

The Waterbending Master has a lot to say for Aang and Katara since after a long journey they finally arrived at The Northern Water Tribe, and of course Sokka finding himself in a trance of love for The Princess of The Northern Tribe. They learn that things aren't exactly what they seem to be due to cultures and beliefs in particular with Katara in proving herself as a worthy Waterbender to be trained under the same guidance as The Avatar. A result in which comes with an interesting revelation about her heritage and connection to The Waterbending Master himslf. Not to mention, what it means for the impending battle that is about to be ensued by The Fire Nation.

Rating: Amazing+

Episodes 19 & 20: The Siege of The North

There is a lot ways to consider the closure to a particular book in this case to a season, and Avatar: The Last Airbender demonstrated this through it's two part finale The Siege of The North. It gave Aang a chance to shine especially when it came to his display of being The Avatar in the battle that The Water Tribe had to face against The Fire Nation. It's also a great parallel in that Book 1 begins with Southern Water Tribe, and it ends here at The Northern Water Tribe. A battle that wasn't particular an easy victory, and it came with a cost on both sides of the spectrum. Especially for what it does Zuko's journey moving forward, and as they say the battle may have been victorious, but the war still wages on.

Rating: Pure Perfection

So with this now being said, and done after viewing all the episodes of Water as a whole. There's a lot to be said about the journey Aang, Katara, and Sokka have went through from where they started off and where they've ended up by final moments of The Book. Especially when you get to witness what the journey had been for Zuko early on in the season and to see that there's more to him than meets the eye by the end of this Book.

Overall Rating: Great+

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