Saturday, May 21, 2011

AtLA 30 Day Meme: Day Nine - Book Season

What is your favorite Book?

Spoilers will be below.



For me, I've gotta say 'Fire.' While it's missing the best character the show's ever had (Iroh) for a lot of it we finally get to see Zuko redeemed and joining the Gaang just like we always wanted. The biggest thing that I ever found frustrating was that I wanted that redemption arc for most of the Slytherins in Harry Potter. Draco seemed like the perfect person to get a redemption arc for the entire book series, but while it's obvious by the end that Draco is a complicated person who finds himself way over his head, he doesn't ever officially become a 'good' character.

So what about you? What is your favorite Book arc?

Tomorrow: Favorite Weapon

Comments (12)

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Book 3: Fire for me, too! :) Since Zuko is my favourite character (and I was originally so disappointed in his choice in "Crossroads of Destiny", but in retrospective I can see why it was necessary), I really like the development his character takes in this season. There's also some great humour (namely the Gaang trying to pass as Fire Nation), historical flashbacks ("The Avatar and the Firelord", one of my top favourite episodes, and "The Southern Raiders" and "The Beach" to a certain extent), Sokka takes a few A levels in badass by studying swordfighting with Master Piandao, and the finale is just an epic level of epic awesomeness. And it does seem to have the tightest story arc - "The Painted Lady" and "The Ember Island Players" are the only "filler" episodes that come to mind, and even the latter serves the purpose of summarising the story so far and providing a bit of comic relief before the dramatic finale.
While I think Book 2 is the strongest season, and the best written... Book 3 is my favorite. Can't help it. It has SO MANY of my favorite episodes, the stakes are higher, the battles more desperate, and of course it contains the MIND-MELTINGLY AWESOME FINALE.

I really love the last installments of things for some reason. It's when everything comes to a head and the ultimate goal is accomplished and we get payoff and resolution for everything.
Can we have a tie? Because honestly I can't choose between 3 and 2. Two definitely has some great character developement and I love where they take the plot and where they end it, but I also find the beginning episodes rather meh (but still enjoyable). However 3 has the complicated Zuko redemption episodes but a sad lack of Iroh...probably in the long run I'd go with 3. But there is a lot to like about Book 2.
1 reply · active 727 weeks ago
I agree!!! Book 2 and 3 are both amazing, I can't choose!!
It really is hard for me to choose between Earth and Fire, but I think I'll be different and go with Book 2: Earth. There are very few episodes I don't enjoy, and I love seeing Zuko and Iroh refugee-ing it up through the Earth Kingdom. The whole Ba Sing Se arc is just perfection to me.

On the other hand Book 3 does have a lot of great things like Piandao, Zuko finally redeeming himself, and of course the Grand Finale, but I'm not really a fan of the animation style used in the episodes... I think it's DoBS. All their noses look weird. But that's a personal opinion, so...
1 reply · active 727 weeks ago
That should say post-DOBS.
Well, it's not season 1. It's probably Season 2, just cause I love the Earth Kingdom, and it's when a lot of awesome new characters are introduced, but I really love S3 too.

I think the reason I like Earth, more than Fire, has to do with the fact that I find a lot of joy in S2, as there's a lot of new stuff to get excited about: it's the time when we see a great big expansion of the world building. I think overall, S3 is more plotty and serious, and so while very good and very important, doesn't appeal to me as much.
I think I have to go with Season 2 - it's so flawlessly written overall and there's great plots, and the whole Ba Sing Se arc blew my mind.

Plus, it introduces Toph and has Zuko Alone (next week eeeeeee). Can't go wrong with Toph and then a full 22 mins of Zuko.
MichelleZB's avatar

MichelleZB · 727 weeks ago

I'm going with Season 3, also because I loved Zuko's redemption arc.
Book Earth. Strangely enough this was my least favourite when I was younger, but as I've matured I've found the overall plotting to be tighter, and I simply love so many of the individual episodes. The only one I don't really care for is Avatar Day, and I basically love every other one. I still remember watching 'The Library' with my sister, and when it finished, breathing in awe the words "that was a good episode."

Its also great in terms of characters. Aang becomes far more mature due to the loss of Appa. The introduction of Toph, Azula and Ozai's Angels added so much in terms of character dynamic and kick assery that you have to appreciate that. Zuko's character arch also goes to full throatle, and I will never stop admiring the Crossroads of Destiny for so wonderfully subverted our expectations.

That being said, the second half of season 3 is pretty amazing too.
It's a tough choice between Earth and Fire, but in the end, I have to go with Fire because of Zuko redeeming himself. I can't help it, I love adorkable Zuko too much. :D
1 reply · active 727 weeks ago
He's so cute when he's trying to convince Team Avatar to let them join and practices... "Why am I so bad at being good?!!" I wanted to give him a huggle then...

And some of their humour got stuck to him, too: "Yeah, then you can show him his baby pictures and all those happy memories will make him good again!" "Do you really think that will work?" "No!!" XD

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