ALARIS' REVIEWS

14th March 2010
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book 1: Water (2005)

It's rare for a U.S. cartoon to feature an Asian lead character. It's even rarer for the entire cast to be Asian. And it's downright improbable for the series to be good.

When Avatar:TLA was recommended to me, all I knew about it was that there's a movie version coming out, and the fans are up in arms over questionable casting choices. ("Let's make the heroes Caucasian, and leave the villains Asian!")

Avatar:TLA is set in a world resembling the ancient Asia Pacific region, with various nations entrenched in a bloody, 100 year war. When 14 year old village girl, Katara, and her brother Sokka, stumble across a mysterious figure frozen in an iceberg, they're drawn into an adventure with the potential to change the course of the war.

When I started watching the series, I was initially taken aback by how clearly it is aimed at children. There isn't a lot of hardcore drama or subtext, and barely any angst. However, as the season progressed, I became more and more impressed with the quality of the production, the consistency of the writing, and the values of the show.

Avatar:TLA is highly episodic, but every episode has a well-considered plot, and emotional theme. The pacing is tight, the dialogue entertaining, and the action sequences are amazingly cinematic for a children's cartoon. There are moments of poignancy and tragedy, but they are gently handled.

Themes of friendship, compassion, fate, war, and responsibility run throughout the series, raising complex moral issues in a form accessible to young viewers.

The characters, who seem slightly simplistic at first, become increasingly engaging as the series goes on. Katara is brave, compassionate, and sensible, and quickly becomes the kind of heroine I would have adored as a kid. Sokka is alternately dour and easy going, streaked with arrogance as well as moral courage. Aang, the mysterious central figure, is wonderfully cheerful and childlike, and his flying bison deserves a plushie. Even the antagonists are ambiguous and empathetic - the mark of a truly standout children's show. All the voice cast give commendable performances, largely avoiding the painful overacting which can damn an otherwise acceptable show.

Season one of Avatar:TLA delivers a thoughtful, entertaining, dramatic and funny series. I look forward to Season 2.

Verdict: A fun fantasy series of exceptional calibre. Best suited for primary school aged kids, but also enjoyable for adults not looking for dark themes or mature content.