oyceter: teruterubouzu default icon (Default)
Oyceter ([personal profile] oyceter) wrote2007-11-04 10:19 pm

Avatar 3x01-3x07

Spoilers for all seven eps!

Huh! I'm enjoying this show a lot more than I thought I would! Prior to this, I was watching the first two seasons as my knitting show. I.e. I'd pay attention to it sometimes but I wouldn't feel too bad if I missed bits because I was concentrating on lace knitting or something.

The emotional drama of the show still doesn't get me, as the dialogue is often too anvilly for my enjoyment, but I really like the creativity in some of it. And it never fails to make me laugh, which is highly welcome.

I loved the Sokka sword episode, especially since Sokka sneaks up on you and suddenly he's one of your favorite characters. I still laugh at Zuko's extreme angst -- I think he and Sasuke would get along! Uncle Iroh continues to be cool (the push-ups!), and 3x06 had me rewatching the entire thing for historical flashbacks. You just know there's Sozen/Roku slash out there now...

I'm still not a fan of the way the show's been pushing Katara/Aang, but oh well. Azula used to get on my nerves (mostly b/c of her voice actor), but now that she and Zuko are interacting more, I've been enjoying her scenes more. Her being socially awkward and interrupting romantic conversations with plans to rule the world was awesome.

I laughed and laughed and laughed at the emo of the "let's all share our feelings on the beach" episode.

Also, Toph episode! Whoo! I was grouchy at first with the two girls fighting, but I like that the show focused solely on their relationship. So often, it's the relationship between a man and someone, and aside from Azula and her friends, there's very little in the way of female friendship in the show. Plus, we don't get to see much friendship among Azula and her cronies. I also liked that the two of them broke out and saved Aang instead of having Aang and Sokka rescue them.

I continue to be impressed with the cultural research the animators have been doing. Every single time there's a sign or scroll, I pause the screen, and I can always read the Chinese, and it always means what it should mean. Also, the paintings of the past Fire Lords look Chinese. It's little details like this that make me love the world so much. I don't care if it's cultural appropriation, because they're getting so much right that you can tell they put a ton of time and effort into it. And I really appreciate that.
ext_12512: Hinoe from Natsume Yuujinchou, elegant and smirky (VICKI SO WINS AT THE INTERNET)

[identity profile] smillaraaq.livejournal.com 2007-11-05 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
You just know there's Sozen/Roku slash out there now...

*koff* [livejournal.com profile] roku_sozin *koff*

As for the signs and posters, I do believe they list the calligraphy consultant in the credits (although the way Nick squashes those they're probably pretty unreadable). They also credit the martial arts consultants who were involved in giving the different bending styles distinct looks, the sifu Mike and Brian have studied with has even been on con panels with them.
ext_1888: Crichton looking thoughtful and a little awed. (roger icon by harbek)

[identity profile] wemblee.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 07:08 am (UTC)(link)
Just jumping in to say your Zuko-as-Shane icon is MADE OF WIN. <33333
ext_12512: Hinoe from Natsume Yuujinchou, elegant and smirky (Sokka: poetrybending by sporkyadrasteia)

[identity profile] smillaraaq.livejournal.com 2007-11-07 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
That one was made for me by shameless begging request by the talented and hysterically funny [livejournal.com profile] vickiso. :)

[identity profile] magicnoire.livejournal.com 2007-11-05 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
I'm curious to see what you'll think of episode 3x08. I have quibbles with it myself, but it hit so many of my kinks, I can't help but love it anyway.
ext_6366: Red haired, dark skinned, lollipop girl (Default)

[identity profile] the-willow.insanejournal.com (from livejournal.com) 2007-11-05 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Just watched Book 3 Chapter 8 and I think I see where people might have quibbles about it. And yet to me it seems both a natural evolution of the art and a natural result of the horror and catastrophes of war, especially one that's gone on for so long. Also I can see positives in it as well that I think could be used in the future.

[identity profile] magicnoire.livejournal.com 2007-11-05 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Technically, no! You haven't missed it. But for some reason, the UK's already aired up to 3x09 so the episodes leaked online. (Of course.)

[identity profile] yeloson.livejournal.com 2007-11-05 03:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I mentioned before, I think they're rushing a bit clusmsily on S3, but it's been fun and they've covered tons of exposition. I'm always down w/ more Toph, and getting two Katara-centric episodes this early in? I'm impressed. Likewise with Azula- the beach episode I fell in love with her, if only for the "rule the world" trip out.
ext_6366: Red haired, dark skinned, lollipop girl (Default)

PS

[identity profile] the-willow.insanejournal.com (from livejournal.com) 2007-11-05 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Have you ever watched The Twelve Kingdoms?
ext_6366: Red haired, dark skinned, lollipop girl (Default)

Re: PS

[identity profile] the-willow.insanejournal.com (from livejournal.com) 2007-11-05 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Juuni Kokki by Fuyumi Ono. There are 11 stories. Here's a link (http://www.animeyay.com/the-twelve-kingdoms/) but it should also be easy to find on Veoh.com.

I happen to adore it like no one's business. That and Saiunkoku Monogatari.
ext_10182: Anzo-Berrega Desert (Shigure loves his popsicles)

[identity profile] rashaka.livejournal.com 2008-01-15 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
::stalking you just a tad::


In season 1 I was griping about the lack of female characters-- major or minor. Now in season 2 and 3 it's like we've been given an awesome basket of dynamic--and very different-- girls/women on the both sides. I love Azula because she's hilarious and good to hate at the same time. The Azula/Zuko relationship is one of my favorites on the show, because I don't think it'd be any different if Azula were a boy.

Toph rocks my socks, and Katara does too, being that she's the most roundly developed female character, and her worst traits are her best traits. I love that Mei and Ty Lee, while they could use some more development, are also very distinct characters and don't always mesh perfectly with their mistress. I am endlessly fascinated by the fact that Ty Lee ran away to be a poor working professional, which makes her different from just about all the other FN characters we've seen, Zuko and Iroh included. I wish we would learn more about stuff like that, but I fear we're running out of episodes for it.

Do you know there are no female action figures for this show's toy dept? Boggles the mind.