LITV Presents: Avatar The Last Airbender Season 2

[Lost In The Void]

[HEADING=1]Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book Two: Earth[/HEADING]​

Spoiler: The Opening Snips

Thanks again to Sporky111 for the banner
This review has a marked section that only viewers of the entire series should view
The first season's review can be found here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.316432-LITV-Reviews-Avatar-The-Last-Airbender-Book-One-Water]

The point of a sequel is to improve upon the original product. Well that and make money, but let's assume the former in this case. When creating a sequel season to a successful show, you look to improve the plot, increase the scope and further flesh out the characters you've grown to love, while also increasing the amount of characters. A sequel should be bigger, better and more ambitious than its predecessor.

In 2005 the show Avatar: The Last Airbender made its debut and struck a chord with both children and adults alike.

[IMG_inline caption=The Blind Bender height=250 width=300]http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/2600000/Toph-avatar-the-last-airbender-2662073-640-480.jpg[/IMG_inline]​

Its believable characters, well paced story and beautiful animations made it a pinnacle in cartoons for that time.
While the first season had some problems being too kiddy at times for adults to fully enjoy, something I touched in on my review of the first season, the groundwork was laid for a second season of the successful show.

At the end of the first season, the fire nation had attempted to invade the Northern Water Kingdom at the North Pole. Though the protagonists of the show managed to fend off the invaders, they were not without losses. Sokka lost the one girl he loved in his life so far and the Kingdom was ravaged by the effects of the slaughter of the Moon spirit. In short it was a bittersweet victory. There were moments of celebration though, Katara had become a water bending master and even Aang had improved his own water bending skills. His Avatar state had become more apparent and its power more understood than before. However there were two more elements to learn and so Aang and the rest of the group departed for the Earth Kingdom, where the second season starts to speed up the pace of the plot.

[HEADING=3]I am the greatest Earth Bender in the world and don't you dunderheads forget it![/HEADING]

The tone of the show takes a sharp turn from the light hearted overall look of the first season is replaced by a more sinister and depressing look at the Kingdom.

[IMG_inline caption= The Fire Princess height=250 width=300]http://kkumqq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pPAbahcp45E1cwgwMQUHiXY_yBSe6xjaBBEaykumMgERsuAO7uYZtwY4Yvkn8eRS6V7XRERFGpHMo8p3EXcXWF8RTJIF7-Wd7/azula6mq.jpg[/IMG_inline]​

While there are moments of humour and sometimes outright comedy, the sober turn gives the show more depth and creates a more mature feel to the plot. We notice oppression, censorship, torture, betrayal and loss beyond all measures. This is reflected in the overall animation as well. Fire and Earth bending are more apparent; the destruction of both those elements made much more apparent, while the evasive and healing elements of wind and water less focused on.

The animation techniques themselves are greatly unchanged; while you notice the environments changing, the actual increase in skill is not immediately apparent in the show. The fights are greater in scope now though, the various types of element bending melding around each other in a majestic way not seen in the first season.

Character wise, the show improves greatly on the prior season. Characters such as Sokka and Katara are given more three dimensional personalities, reflecting on the changes that occurred in the season finale of Book One. Characters evolve from their previous personalities, learning truths about themselves and becoming better people; or wallowing in shame and becoming worse as a result of it.

[HEADING=3] I don't have sob stories like all of you. I could sit her and complain how our mom like Zuko more than me. But I don't really care. My own mother... thought I was a monster... She was right of course, but it still hurt. [/HEADING]

The setting of Ba Sing Se, the great capital of the Earth Kingdom is the main location for much of the second season. The design of the city from its great walls, to its fracuring and splintering tunnels and caves below it give the feel of Earth bending even if you take its local in the Earth Kingdom out of the equation. Its politics ensnare the protagonists and its immense size hide secrets from them as well; while other parts of the season may focus on other aspects of the world, Ba Sing Se is unmatched in the detail and care given to rendering its existence.

Spoiler: The spoilerish part of the review

[IMG_inline caption=The Fire Lord height=210 width=300]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090302124614/avatar/images/archive/3/37/20110106060221!Fire-lord-clothes.png[/IMG_inline]​

What exactly do I mean by this? The biggest one is naturally the betrayal that Zuko does, going against everything he had become in the second season in a moment of weakness, betraying his new ideals gleaned from walking the Earth Kingdom and most painful of all the betrayal of his Uncle Iroh's hope and love for him. This betrayal truly ranks up there for the most bitter and painful moments in animation, or even television in general.


In fact this conclusion, I feel was the best of the entire season. While the third's conclusion was great for resolving the central conflicts, the second was truly a brutal twist in the series, especially for what could be considered a children's cartoon. There was no victory, not even a pyrrhic victory, but rather sheer and overwhelming defeat at the hands of betrayal and deception of those considered evil.

[HEADING=3]You have regained your honour Zuko[/HEADING]

The final point I want to touch on in this spoiler box is the true nature of what Aang's defeat meant and could have meant in the long scheme of things. When the lightning strike hit him, he died; fans of the show know that the death of the avatar while in the avatar state means the severing of the avatar line forever, the death of the avatar spirit.

The true weight of the situation is only briefly touched upon in the beginning of the third season, but really that is what made the ending what it was, the true defeat only barely avoided by Katara's healing water. That is why I believe that this ending was as excellent as it was, because the writer's truly brought us to the edge of the abyss and through the events of the third season begin the redemption of the Avatar.

So what is the second season? The second season proves how much a series can benefit when a sequel is treated with respect and given plenty of room to evolve. It is evidence that a defeat can be far more interesting than a victory and most importantly, it shows that characters, like people do not simply get better, physically or mentally.

I recommend this season, nay this series as a whole because while it follows a certain trope in its episodes much like say Star War's own plot journey, it executes it well and stands apart from any other series like it.

[HEADING=3]Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, come marching home...[/HEADING]

Spoiler: Other Reviews by Lost in the Void

[HEADING=2]Games[/HEADING]
Sins of a Solar Empire [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.145037]
Dragon Age: Origins [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.161457]
MX vs ATV: Reflex [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.165581#comment_form]
Mass Effect 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.171506-Lost-in-the-Void-Presents-Mass-Effect-2#comment_form]
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.172605-Lost-in-the-Void-Presents-Knights-of-the-Old-Republic]
The Witcher: Director's Cut [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.206375-LITV-Presents-The-Witcher-Directors-Cut]
Golden Sun: The Lost Ages [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.207308-LITV-Rides-the-Epoch-Golden-Sun-The-Lost-Ages]
Amnesia: The Dark Descent [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.264458-LITVs-10-000th-Post-Review-Amnesia-The-Dark-Descent]
Dwarf Fortress [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.273815-LITV-Presents-Dwarf-Fortress]
Mount and Blade Warband [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.283804-LITV-Presents-Mount-and-Blade-Warband]


[HEADING=2]First Impression Reviews[/HEADING]

Bulletstorm [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.259669-Bulletstorm-First-Impressions]
Dragon Age 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.269033-LITV-Presents-Dragon-Age-2-First-Impressions#10316738]

[HEADING=2]Satirical Reviews[/HEADING]
The Ice Pick Lobotomy [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.186914-LITV-Presents-The-Icepick-Lobotomy#5696492]

[HEADING=2]Literature Reviews[/HEADING]

Stephen King's Cujo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.268847-LITV-Reviews-Stephen-Kings-Cujo#10305683]

[HEADING=2]Television Reviews[/HEADING]

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book One: Water [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.316432-LITV-Reviews-Avatar-The-Last-Airbender-Book-One-Water]

 

[ChupathingyX]

Season Book Two is definitely the best one.

Ba Sing Se was such a great setting and gave us a much better look at the dark side of the show and how the Earth Kingdom, although in conflict with the Fire nation (and therefore the "good guys"), still contain corruption and oppression.

Speaking of Ba Sing Se, you never even mention it in your review. Considering a good chunk of the season takes place there and its significance and detail, this would make it a highlight of the season.

What's also so great about this season is that it goes into much more detail about Zuko and I found the story of Zuko and Iroh to be interesting than that of Aang.

It's also a real shame that Mako died after the end of the season, he was such a great voice actor and the tribute to him is one of my favourite scenes in the show.

 

[AboveUp]

Great review, Void. I pretty much agree on the whole thing. In a story like that of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the second part is really the one that makes or breaks the whole thing. It's when the dust settles from the creation of both the world and the conflict, and we're left to explore what we're given as an audience. In that light, Book 2 got things down perfectly.

And man, the whole situation in Ba Sing Se. Absolutely spectacular.

One minor note, the bit where you pointed out the alliteration. Personally, I'd have pointed that out paranthetically so as not to break the flow of the sentence, or not at all. This stood out to me because I mentally stumbled over it and had to rebuilt my reading momentum from there.

 

[Lost In The Void]

Season Book Two is definitely the best one.

Ba Sing Se was such a great setting and gave us a much better look at the dark side of the show and how the Earth Kingdom, although in conflict with the Fire nation (and therefore the "good guys"), still contain corruption and oppression.

Speaking of Ba Sing Se, you never even mention it in your review. Considering a good chunk of the season takes place there and its significance and detail, this would make it a highlight of the season.

What's also so great about this season is that it goes into much more detail about Zuko and I found the story of Zuko and Iroh to be interesting than that of Aang.

It's also a real shame that Mako died after the end of the season, he was such a great voice actor and the tribute to him is one of my favourite scenes in the show.

Hilariously enough, I did have something written in my first draft about the city, but it appears between moving it from Word and onto the Escapist mixed with my bb coding, I must have deleted it and not even noticed. As you should see now though that particular problem has been repaired.

I loved the focus on Zuko and Iroh myself as well. The focus on their relationships with those around them made them interesting and dynamic characters even more so than their roles in the first season. I feel they might have even overshadowed Aang in this season.

Spoiler: More words but shhh spoilers

When it came to Zuko walking the Earth and doing good in the village bullied by the soldiers, I found it extremely interesting to see the writers have Zukop face rejection at the end of the episode, even by the little boy that had idolized him so much, I think that events like that were what truly drove Zuko to betray his uncle, the fact that even if he did well, people still hated him because of his clan. It was almost like half justified racism, but it was still very interesting to see such a trope broken.

Great review, Void. I pretty much agree on the whole thing. In a story like that of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the second part is really the one that makes or breaks the whole thing. It's when the dust settles from the creation of both the world and the conflict, and we're left to explore what we're given as an audience. In that light, Book 2 got things down perfectly.

And man, the whole situation in Ba Sing Se. Absolutely spectacular.

One minor note, the bit where you pointed out the alliteration. Personally, I'd have pointed that out paranthetically so as not to break the flow of the sentence, or not at all. This stood out to me because I mentally stumbled over it and had to rebuilt my reading momentum from there.

Exactly, the reason I made the reference to the Empire strikes back is not because it is just so well known but because

Spoiler

in both series the 2nd title ends with the 'bad' guys winning and the 'good' guys reeling from the vicious defeat.

In the end I have to agree that this season was the best one over all

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I still kinda like the third arc more because we finally got to see Aang actually team with with Zuko and start, which we all knew was going to happen after the events in book two.

As for the format, be wittier.