Since the day it first came on television, I have loved the world of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender.’ Many people consider this show to be not only one of the best animated series ever but one of the best tv shows of all time, period.
This is a show many people hold close to heart worldwide, me included. I grew up watching every episode as it came out, and it is one of my few childhood relics that has truly stood the test of time. If anything, my adoration of the series has only increased over the years.
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender” first premiered on Nickelodeon in 2005, the start of a three-season arc that would run until its conclusion in 2008. In the beginning, we are introduced to a world of four nations on the brink of war, with only one person able to avert an apocalyptic event that would decimate the population: the titular “Last Airbender,” Aang, a 12-year-old child with the ability to control(bend) the four elements: earth, fire, water, and air.
The show then follows Aang on his journey to restore balance and bring peace to the world. I truly do not even know where to begin when explaining what makes this show so incredible. What is even more bizarre to me is that one of the greatest tv shows of all time premiered on Nickelodeon right next to a show such as ‘SpongeBob SquarePants.’
To think that the pinnacle of modern animated story-telling was shown alongside a show about an anthropomorphic sponge is insanity. This is a show that dealt with heavy and mature themes on a regular basis, covering material that would not be out of place in a live-action series targeted solely toward adults.
There is an indescribable allure about this series that I struggle to put into words, as I am sure many other fans can attest to. When people ask me why I adore this show so much, I tell them that it truly is a part of me.
All the great pop culture properties have the ability to ingrain themselves into the hearts of people. This show captured my attention years ago and it has never let go. The cultural impact this series has made across the world is incredible, and I would go as far as to say it is the best animated show of all time.
I believe the best things in this world have an inexplicable quality about them that one struggles to put into words. When I used to talk to my dad about why he considered Michael Jordan the greatest NBA player of all time, he told me it wasn’t all about what is on paper.
Beyond all the stats and accolades there was a greatness to him that cannot be understood unless you watched him play yourself. I believe this inherent quality is present in Avatar: The Last Airbender as well. There is something endlessly appealing about the story of this show that I truly can’t get enough of. Only those who have watched it for themselves can attest to this.
I am always one who stresses the importance of world-building when crafting a good story in any medium, and this show hit that out of the park. From the get-go, we are introduced to a small portion of a world full of potential.
As we follow the journey of the protagonists, we are introduced to an increasingly complex universe that this series inhabits. With every episode, more layers are added to both the setting and characters to create a truly living, breathing world.
Perhaps the best part about this show is the moral greyness inherent within it. Most of the characters presented in this series are morally complex, with both strengths and flaws in abundance.
The character development present within this show is incredible, with all the characters going through believable story arcs that would not look out of place in an HBO tv show. All of the main cast evolve across the three seasons, suffering both great lows and experiencing extravagant highs that test them to their limits.
By the time the series came to an end, nobody is quite the same as the first episode when we were introduced to them. In all honesty, I struggle to put into words the many things that make this animated series as incredible as it is.
There are countless thoughts circulating in my head, but in the end, I think the best way for you to understand its greatness is to watch it for yourself. I have been a fan since the day it premiered, rewatching it countless times over the years.
I am a 19-year-old college student now, and I adore the series just as much as when I watched it for the first time. I fully recommend that all of you take the time out of your day to be introduced to this world. You may just fall in love with it yourself.
