Avatar: The Last Airbender Gives Me Hope

Avatar gives me hope. Here's a long-winded essay about why this show continues to inspire me, 15 years since Sozin's Comet aired.
Thumbnail by hyunota / hyunota
Special thanks to Clara Kay for illustrating some concept art for a personal project! / clarabellumsart
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
3:42 Roots
16:25 War
39:45 Destiny
1:09:13 Redemption
1:17:17 Sozin's Comet
1:27:01 Hope
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[@chubbyninja975]

I rewatch ATLA yearly to remind myself why being human isn’t so bad.

[@StarlitWitchy]

That's very sweet!! ☺️☺️

[@MrLiabu]

Me too, bud

[@FabioBrachtPlus]

For me, this is Doctor Who.

[@gaius5901]

Same bro I can never get tired from watching A:TLA

[@TheBandoBandito]

That leaf village music from storm one brings me back.

[@WillOldfield]

As someone who didn't watch ATLA until I was an adult, I can confirm that it’s as excellent, moving and beautiful without the nostalgia goggles.

[@NorthernWind_Vlll]

Absolutely. I watched it when i was 20 for the first time and I've been blown away by how great and beautiful this show is.

[@commisaryarreck3974]

It just amuses me that ATLA is derided by it's creators as "for children" Meanwhile their "adult" Korra became mired in childishness Seriously...what the hell went wrong, did they just not credit a third writer that actually had the talent

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

@@NorthernWind_VlllSame.

[@hannahmetzger4880]

Same.

[@devinurenda5229]

@@commisaryarreck3974”mired in childishness” could not disagree more. Seasons 3 and 4 of Korra are absolutely brilliant (minus the ugly cgi in season 4, but the writing holds up) in my opinion and i’m really getting sick of people putting that show down because of it’s rough start and weak second season.

[@Woody515]

“As punishment he was banished and sent to capture the avatar. Only then could he return with his honor” I’ve always loved this quote because in the end Zuko did return with the avatar and his honor

[@Miss_Trillium]

When really he was sent to go waste away on a fools errand. It really was supposed to be a permanent banishment, considering the context. A burden too insurmountable, especially considering many considered the cycle to be broken by that point. When Iroh tells the shipmates, the gravity of the situation hits

[@theshadowking9626]

​@@Miss_TrilliumJust like how Uncle was supposed to take down bas-sin-sa They knew it was impossible to penetrate the city. That gave him an impossible task so that they could banish him because he was contesting the war.

[@naturesfinest2408]

@@theshadowking9626 As far I as I remember Iroh wasn't against the war. At least not before Bas-sin-sa. He looked delighted in the flashbacks you get from him. He seemed to be fine with the war until he lost someone personal which made him rethink his values. The reason they went to Bas-sin-sa with Iroh was because he was one of the best fire bender, one of the only who could break the wall.

[@heathersmith4042]

@@theshadowking9626 there's no evidence of this? ba sing se had been the fire nation's objective for decades, and iroh was the firstborn son of the fire lord, an excellent strategist, and a powerful firebender. when ozai tries to take the throne, it makes azulon furious; the fire lord at the time clearly had no problem with iroh, and iroh clearly had no problem with the war. and if the goal was to banish him... why didn't they do that, when he not only failed the invasion but just up and left for years after retreating?

[@TheFoolishable]

I believe Iroh was genuinely trying to conquer Ba Sing Se initially but then he lost his son AND he failed to take the city. The fire nation council used Iroh, one of their greatest assets with only probably that one failure to his name, and they banished him to save face and not look weak to other nations and a disgrace for failing again. Supposedly, Iroh was the closest to actually seizing Ba Sing Se

[@zzz43344]

Not just THE best Nickelodeon show of all time, but also one of the greatest shows of all time. Period.

[@zoiperi4782]

just imagine how mutch better it could have been if the artists could have made it with no restrictions

[@Ty-cx5zj]

avatar the last Airbender only rivaled by a few shows like one piece, static shock and spectacular spiderman imo

[@theclockworkcadaver7025]

If anything, the restrictions showed the creativity of the show's creators@@zoiperi4782

[@pennyforyourthots]

​@@zoiperi4782honestly, I think the restrictions are part of why it's so great. Being forced to consider the consequences of violence beyond surface level death and destruction really forces you as a creator to think about these topics in a fundamentally different way.

[@jacklansdale77]

@@pennyforyourthots I always say restrictions breed creativity, looking at a lot of early media from shows to games you see it. As far back as the NES they had to make it both look and feel like something almost impossible to grasp with 4 buttons and a dpad or the graphics of most media in the early 2000's

[@metaKnightSpamer777]

'I was there for The Day of Black Sun' is a powerful sentence;

[@MrLiabu]

I was too, and even as a young kid at the time I felt it meant something. It is moving to see how many others felt the same years down the line.

[@Latonx]

I remember the new episodes for me aired around the time i had to leave to go to school. Back then as a kid, i thought the day of black sun was gonna be the finale, and i was about to miss it cuz i had to go to school, and i had no idea when i'd be able to see it next (cuz this stuff wasn't just freely available online at the time) i still remember some vague details of that specific school day, of how pissed off i was i had to miss it, in order to go to something i inherently HATED.

[@dr6559]

I was there for all of it. Did everything in my power to ensure I didn’t miss an episode. Sozin’s Comet was a once in a lifetime experience for me.

[@MarkusHobelsberger]

Been there, done that :)

[@Crackedcripple]

I was there for that the drill and the entirety of countdown to the comet. I was so very young, but I can remember it all. Goes to show how powerful the series was.

[@dachking6657]

It’s kinda funny how so many renowned Western shows beg to be dark and end with tragedy, but this one manages to stand right alongside them (if not surpassing them) with a positive central message of hope.

[@WretchedRedoran]

Perhaps, at our core, we all seek what hope we can find

[@uncroppedsoop]

it never allows itself to be delusionally optimistic, understanding the nuance and complexity behind reality and how many things truly are just plain fucked up, but refusing to let go of hope in spite of it, because good things don't come from giving up

[@DanSutherland]

@@uncroppedsoop It never allows itself to be delusionally optimistic except the final battle with Aang and Ozai 🤐

[@uncroppedsoop]

@@DanSutherland oh see you're mistaken here. Ozai isn't a character the plot focuses on much as a person so much as a force of nature, therefore his optimism about fighting the fucking _Avatar_ of all people being to a delusional extent isn't really any message the show itself has for the viewers

[@machodgdon]

Aang is a character that was a vital cornerstone of development. He was able to show me that no matter how dark things get, there’s always hope

[@mantrad0r]

and yet you are a one piece fan 😢 /s

[@jschannel6319]

Please don’t start that here.

[@StarlitWitchy]

Of your development right? I read it as the show's development at first but your development probably makes a lot more sense lol

[@machodgdon]

@@StarlitWitchyOof the autocorrect 😭

[@vm141789]

And that if you just complain enough, a deus ex machina will appear so you won’t have kill a tyrant.

[@Chillarmyssb]

Azula is a masterclass in writing a villain who is mentally powerful but also extremely vulnerable and can snap at any moment

[@Marcara081]

Goodfellas.

[@HS-mn6jc]

Maybe this is just a selfish part of myself but Azula’s ending is the part of the show I just cannot bring myself to agree with. It’s entirely true that there ARE people out there who knowingly choose to do the wrong thing again and again, and it’s entirely within anyone’s right to not forgive such people. But I can’t help but feel like the whole thing about Azula exhibiting psychopathic tendencies since she was a child to be rather hypocritical of the series’ overall theming about redemption. It’s almost like the show is saying that she was doomed to be this way from the beginning due to a mental condition that was beyond her own control. There are plenty of people in the real world that have suffered from conditions that limit their ability to feel empathy, but still choose to do right anyway, to fight against that stigma and do their best to treat others kindly. Azula is yet another of hundreds of examples of psychopathic characters that are given zero redemption, zero sympathy, depicted as wholly villainous and destined to never do the right thing. This is why I feel insults like “psycho” or “sociopath” are redundant, because they treat these involuntary conditions as a choice someone makes. Yes, the choices one makes despite their condition is on them. Azula deserves to face consequences for the evils she’s committed. Nobody is obligated to forgive her or even empathize with her. But to act like she made those decisions of sound mind, that there wasn’t some other factor involved that inadvertently pushed her to make the decisions she did, is simply ignorant. I’m not saying Azula should have been given a redemption arc like Zuko. I’m not saying Azula should have been redeemed or forgiven last minute. But I do believe that by writing her specifically as a character exhibiting psychopathic tendencies, the writers and showrunners further stigmatized those suffering from such conditions, making them feel more alone and isolated, thus less likely to reach out for help.

[@chroma2992]

@@HS-mn6jc yeah i can see that for sure rather than getting locked up like a rabbid beast it may be more consistent and thematic if zuko were to dedicate some kind of firelord resources to helping his sister in some way, perhaps even to no avail

[@chroma2992]

on second thought itd be sick if it was to no avail but at least a fucking therapist ya know

[@salmence100]

I didn't expect to tear up at the mention of just about every scene, but here we are

[@nicholasramirez8417]

Same. Just the music was making me tear up

[@HermanTG]

Avatar is the show where I've probably cried the most. So many episodes just get to me. Shed a couple of tears during the video too

[@survivordave]

He knew exactly what he was doing putting clips from the Tale of Iroh even without audio. Definitely some tearbending going on 😭

[@hextech687]

Im crying in the club fam.

[@DaVinc-hi7hd]

same here man

[@Catt0]

Man, just watching footage of the finale still makes me tear up. AtLA is by far the most masterfully crafted piece of western animation in history, and I dare say it isn't even close.

[@nicholasramirez8417]

Just hearing the music for certain scenes made my heart feel things 😭

[@ezracohen6020]

Personally I think gravity falls equals it, but nothing else comes close

[@KopfdesRiesen]

Arcane is another gem!

[@G3NTOK1]

@@ezracohen6020gravity falls is cool but I don’t think it’s there. Story wise? Absolutely, maybe I need to rewatch gravity falls again to see if I think the same way.

[@ezracohen6020]

@@G3NTOK1 I get that, a lot of the people I’ve met say it’s great but it’s not avatar, I just really love the mystery and it feeds into my love of puzzles so my perception of the show is likely better than what the general consensus is

[@HansHammertime]

This show is going to persist into perpetuity as legend, isn’t it?

[@spartanwar1185]

I sure hope it does If there was one piece of human-produced art that would persist far into the distant future, i think i'd want it to be this show

[@gergomi7289]

One Piece too.

[@xJayhawkFANx]

​@@gergomi7289one piece has major pacing issues. It's highs are extremely high but then you have 20 episodes of slow burn

[@havesomeculture]

Zouko keeping his birthright even after being banished???

[@AstroSully]

Nothing is perfect. One Piece is definitely there. @@xJayhawkFANx

[@lasercraft32]

One thing I really like (a small detail) is that even after Zuko burned her feet, Toph _still_ was fairly understanding after she calmed down. She panicked at first but realized Zuko didn't mean to hurt her and she doesn't go into a blind rage like everyone else.

[@prettyinpink903]

My most vivid memory of watching this show as a kid was Sozin’s Comet. I was 10 years old and I was visiting my dad’s parents. I remember seeing that they were finally airing the series finale and I remember begging my grandmother to watch it. She put it on the tv she had in her kitchen that she would watch while she cooked and she put up with me watching it even though she had no idea what was going on. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was such a visceral experience

[@gayweedlobster3581]

I watched ATLA in chronological order for the first time at the beginning of the pandemic. At the time I had just quit my job, and I was fearing what the future held. I couldnt believe I was so lucky to grow up watching this on cable and being able to see the premiere of the last episode. Even if kid me didnt watch in order because I'd watch reruns, I was so invested and was able to catch Book 3. The show to me felt like the answer to some important life questions I'd yet to answer, and showed me that you dont have to lose or compromise yourself for the sake of others, and if anything, the more intact you are, the better off everyone is. I could finally forgive myself for being human and being compassionate and gave me hope to strive for the change I want to see in the world, which I find is hard to take seriously. I'm so glad this show exists, and I cant wait to see all thats been inspired by this story.

[@jessedellross3245]

One of the greatest animated shows of all time. I was in college when the final season came out and made sure to watch every episode. When my friends tried to put me down for still watching cartoons, I told them to watch it themselves……..they apologized.

[@qiyo2812]

@@spinlock1785L opinion

[@anaccidentthathappened]

⁠@@spinlock1785L opinion

[@bazhumke4040]

@spinlock1785 terrible take lmao get out of here

[@bazhumke4040]

@@spinlock1785 it def went to waste lol

[@ChespinCraft]

@@spinlock1785 Please enlighten me on your picks that blow avatar out of the water. I've watched many anime that people adore generally and I think avatar stands among them as some of the greatest pieces of media.

[@aradgouklani2239]

44:44 "the show often conveys being true to yourself inspite of societal norms, is most important" literally made me the person i am today

[@Thunder-Sky]

I know newspapers weren't a thing during ATLA, but imagine being Jin and waking up one day to a newspaper about the new fire lord declaring the war over, and you open to see a picture of that cute tea shop boy you went on a date with once

[@phatbrain]

No one is talking about the opening monologue . This guy is opening up about a deep meaning and inspiration behind his reasoning for this channel. This immediately caught my ear, and after watching this whole video you sir have a way with words I wish I had. You have an amazing an amazing way of expressing what you have to say. All I have to say is I hope you grow big. Cheers

[@YouTubeMonkeyWrangler420]

The greatest lesson this show taught me with that finale but also all of Aangs decisions is that there is always another way.

[@Bellomancer]

One of the best animated series ever and a formative one for my childhood. Glad to see you cover this timeless series.

[@RammerHammer]

Not me sobbing throughout this entire video because of how much I love this show. It can't be overstated how much this show means to me, I wouldn't be the same person without it. Yes it's a fun goofy show that's consistently entertaining, but it's so much more than that. Aang's journey helped teach me that destiny is what you make of it, Katara helped me learn to let go of my anger at the past, Sokka informed my sense of humility and my sense of humour, Iroh taught me that every life is precious, Toph taught me to put my faith in others and to be ok with asking for help, and Zuko taught me that nobody is truly evil. This show has shaped so much of who I am, it's helped craft my morals and values and has taught me that I need to fight for what is right. It's a near-flawless masterpiece that I think should be passed down through the generations as an example of how the media we consume is so important and valuable as not only a tool for entertainment and creating a sense of community but also how it affects the decisions we make and the way we live our lives. There's truly nothing else like it.

[@daisho509]

Nothing to me will ever surpass how amazing the continuity of this show is. Hands down the number 1 best series to ever be released on television.

[@slartymcguarty2954]

They say everytime someone mentions Avatar, someone rewatches it. And boy, it's been a minute for me!

[@Latonx]

I can never see enough longform avatar content on youtube. I will always stand by the opinion that ATLA is the single best piece of cinema ever made. It is powerful and meaningful in a way nothing has ever been able to match in my opinion. It's characters, world, storylines and topics are treated with so delicately, with utmost care and passion. It's beautiful in ways i can't ever truly explain

[@ltrigga219]

Bravo, man. I was in my 20s when I started watching this series. After watching the full series multiple times, it was the first show I watched to completion with my girlfriend at the time, now my wife of 12 years and mother of my two boys. And it’s a series they’ve both watched to completion multiple times. It’s a timeless, brilliant work of storytelling and art. Thank you for putting this together, there can’t ever be too many reminders of how wonderful a gift to all of us that this show was.

[@KarmaExtonline]

I grew up with this show from 2005-till now. love it to death and even still have all the dvd's from back in the day. it will always be the best animated show ever in my heart that will never be replaced. I cried buckets on the final episode 😭

[@superamigo987]

Easily the best show ever made imo. The moment where Zuko apologies to Iroh still bring me to tears even after over a dozen rewatches. When, despite every single time Zuko fucked him over, despite all the sin Zuko has commited, Iroh still loves him

[@joshuamillerknight7530]

And that's how God is with mankind. Every time we screw up, He still loves us and shows us his mercy, daily, and He gives us opportunity after opportunity to get things right. Cain had that opportunity back in Genesis to redeem himself and he blew it, when Cain's offering wasn't accepted by God and Abel's offering was, Cain grew angry and decided to murder his brother Abel, even going far as to be smart with God after killing Abel.

[@lagomorph736]

​@@joshuamillerknight7530 you really went and ruined it by bringing your God into it

[@joshuamillerknight7530]

@@lagomorph736 I'm saying that I see a similarity in Him and Iroh. And plus I don't care if anyone thinks that I ruined this. This is a truth. How many times have ppl supported you, and you stabbed them in the back in return? Or vice versa?

[@lagomorph736]

@@joshuamillerknight7530 fuck are you on about with that second part.

[@joshuamillerknight7530]

@@lagomorph736 Oh now you wanna get a 'tude bc I asked a question about ppl supporting you and you stabbing them in the back?

[@AsobiMedio]

34:00 Small correction, Katara never forgave the man who killed her mother. She just considered him too pathetic to kill. That the best revenge was to let him keep living his miserable life. Pretty big difference. Also, just gotta say. Zuko is the best revenge wingman. Dude was ride or die on that mission and he didn't even ask for anything in return other than acceptance.

[@strangelandian]

There's another level of sadness I get from the episode The Storm. It's overall very sad but what really hurts is that Monk Gyatso was gonna run away with Aang which is portrayed in the episode for the audience's sake but Aang doesn't know this which just adds to the tragedy. I'm ashamed to say I didn't pick up on this as a kid but as an adult it really hits.

[@craigbernhardt1698]

The last Airbender is the most well put together and we'll written show I have ever seen. It's givin me very high standards about how a story should be told.

[@baneenab]

This TV show changed my life, in a good way of course, I rewatch it almost every 1 or 2 years, every time watching it I feel good, safe, nostalgic, I watched like over 100 shows, and no other show made me feel like that. ATLA is my favorite TV show of all time, and I think it's going to stay like that

[@MrLiabu]

This is my favorite show, no contest! It is a stunning achievement, and it isn't "just a kids show" to me, and never has been. I still tear up in many scenes rewatching again after so many years.

[@flameguy21]

It's kinda funny that, being on Nickelodeon, The Last Airbender is seen as kid's show, but I liked it more as an adult than I did as a kid. So much stuff just went over my single digit aged mind that there's no way I could have experienced it like I was obviously meant to at such a young age.

[@LARVideos]

Probably the best animated series of all time. I've rewatched it countless times and I'm still impressed by the end every time.

[@Arena1999]

Just in case I haven't posted this already, thank you for making this. I've been with the show from the very beginning, and loved it from the start. I've grown to respect it immensely over the years. Also, concerning the "Jet" episode, I always loved the illustrations of Sokka explaining how he convince the villagers to evacuate before the dam exploded. If he wasn't already my favorite character, it was that moment which solidified him as such. There was even an official flash game based on that episode.

[@boopustheoctopus456]

That ending got me bro. Without going into detail, the last three months for me have quite possibly been the most chaotic and life-changing months of my life. And Honestly, discovering how much passion and creativity I truly have is one of those more prominent aspects of this change. It feels like I’m having the same exact identity struggle as Zuko here. But now, with all these new people I’ve met on my journey, and the new realizations they’ve helped me make and accept, I feel like I’m finally becoming someone that’s more…..me. These videos (as cliche as it sounds I know) have also been helping to inspire this repressed creative flame of mine. I was hopeless on my projects, but now. Thanks to that ending, to those words, i know i can’t give up this passion. I can’t wait to see where else this creativity journey takes me, but I know at least for now that I will let this flame of mine burn bright. Thanks Liam, from the bottom of my heart.

[@WretchedRedoran]

The last three months have been hard for me, too. Though I don't think I have very much to show for it... I congratulate you for discovering your passion and creativity, despite hardship.

[@divvyhuh]

i rememeber watching this on the biggest tv we had in the house, the clunkiest 32" crt TV, and i Stood There in awe when the finale aired for the first time, like. the impact this had on me at 9 yrs old??? ive rewatched it yearly for 15 yrs now, sometimes more, and now as an adult with a passion for writing i am just so thoroughly impressed with the storytelling throughout this series. its just SOLID. its GOOD. one of my favorite stories hands down

[@deepdirt]

I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was 2005 I was flipping back and forth between Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon trying to find something to watch. Saw this new show airing on Nick didn’t think much of it but thought I’d give it a chance. As soon as I heard Kataras voice saying “water, earth, fire, air” with the corresponding benders I was HOOKED hooked. Such a beautiful show that taught kids such important values, like honor and friendship and spirituality without religion. While also tackling darker subject matter like war and genocide and nefarious government practices like brainwashing and gaslighting and coups overthrowing leaders. I could go on all day. To this day I can’t watch The Tales of Ba Sing Se without crying real tears. Iroh’s song, Appas lost days. I actually felt the anguish Aang felt losing his oldest best friend and with all his power just how helpless he felt. Never has a show been so consistent for me all the way thru in terms of quality and just keep getting better each book. I still don’t think I’ve ever watched a series finale that was better that ATLA. Sorry I’m very passionate about Avatar lol

[@rupeescreamerjones8404]

Damn, the more mellow tracks of the Shadow of the Colossus OST is an inspired choice for Avatar discussion. It fits shockingly well.

[@Emperor-Quill]

The thing that gets me so bad about the scene in the Southern Air Temple, is that Monk Gyatso wasn't the only body in the room. There were soldiers there too, who clearly had died, or their bodies wouldn't have been there. The only explanation is that Monk Gyatso killed them. Even the kindest of the monks had to turn to violence as a means of self-defense, which hurts so much more. The most peaceful human was driven into a corner, and had to go against their own nature to survive. It's an incredible merit to the storytelling, to be able to show another horrible, tragic aspect to the story with just a picture.

[@BELACHAE]

Zuko and Sokka are characters i can relate to the most

[@havesomeculture]

What about Satore the engineer who was first introduced in the RIFT????

[@havesomeculture]

Sokka Toph and Zouko vs Aaang and Katara

[@lauramarschmallow2922]

"hope" is a concept I apreciate more and more with age.

[@heknowswherefranceis4838]

Just to add another thing I adore about the finale that I dont think is mentioned enough, is that right after Aang grabs Ozai by his goatee, Ozai lights his hand up in flames and goes to burn the left side of Aangs face, but instead of hitting him, Aang effortlessly deflects the blast. A perfect mirror of what happened with Zuko. What's even cooler is that Ozai is in a nealing position with Aang standing above him, reversing the positions in Zuko's first Agnia Kai. It's also the first time we see a change in the fight to Aang's favor, he's fully fighting back now, not just on the defensive. I don't know if the parelels are intentional, but either way, this show is just so incredible and will stand the test of time for ages.

[@lancetarrazona4788]

Netflix's ATLA show, for better or for worse with people's opinions, has really rekindled the love we all have for the series and characters. I know I haven't watched the series in a while, but watching netflix's adaptation and seeing clips again of the animated version on social media again, truly sparks joy back in me. Love the show, not just for its childhood nostalgia, but for just seriously how amazing it is.

[@JanbluTheDerg]

I forgot to mentally prepare myself for the inevitable "Leaves from the vine" crying

[@littlebigmarc]

ATLA is my favorite show ever. I'm glad I was lucky to watch all episodes as they aired. Good memories.

[@sparxstreak02]

1:19:58 One thing to remember however, is that it’s Azula who always says her mother saw her as a monster & while yes, Ursa asks herself “What is wrong with that child?” that doesn’t mean she didn’t love Azula or see her as the monster Azula believed she was seen as by her mother- as proven when she wanted to take both her children with her upon her banishment in the sequel comic ‘The Search’ & even when she couldn’t, still kisses both of her children goodbye. She may not have understood Azula the way she did Zuko or even been there for her in many ways but she still loved her regardless.

[@W4LT3Rego]

An ATLA video? Count me in!!!

[@dovahkiinhowey]

This series (along with LOTR) is the best demonstration of the importance of fiction.

[@felman87]

Fun tidbit. Yue means moon in Chinese. As for Japanese, it's Tsuki. But, a lot of foreigners tend to pronounce it as Suki. Yeah, Sokka has a type.

[@tomg5119]

This channel just gets better and better. The Zelda content with already top tier but now Avatar, my favourite show of all time? In another lifetime we were best friends, I can feel it, haha.

[@clonetrooper2003]

Playing the dragon theme from BOTW during the dragon portion from ATLA was a genius editing choice

[@mcmario4810]

43:30 "Ultimately, she turns into the moon" - A quote that only makes sense when you watch this show.

[@labrynna87]

ATLA is so much more than an animated series for kids. I don't have nostalgic feelings for it because I never watched the show as a kid (I'm not even sure if it was aired in Germany back then...). I can't remember how old I was when I first watched it but I'm quite sure I was deep into my 20s. But still this series resonated with me. It's just such a beautifully told, compelling story with lovely characters who feel like true people and not just like plot devices. And I'm not a single case. When I introduced my husband and one of my best friends to the series, both were around 30 years old but still ATLA struck a nerve and they now are both fully into it. Too bad, the sequel never really got a fair chance to shine...

[@komang1224]

Man at 36:38 when you talked about hope, i teared up a bit 😢

[@tuntemon]

Simply watching this made got me to tear up. Just shows that how fantastic this show was. I've rewatched the show once a year for several years now and will do so for the years to come!

[@Volgotha]

Everyone should go back and re-watch/play everything that touched them deeply as a child. Itll have new lessons for you as an adult. Its not bc youre grown that you've outgrown the need for new perspectives.

[@liam-no2kn]

People need to be reminded of this show every once in a while, thanks for a great deep dive.

[@memeJoestar]

The writers blockade is just pain man, im right there with you

[@fullmetalheel]

Make sure to share this to anyone in your life interested in avatar to not only keep ATLA alive but also to support Liam so we get more quality video essays! Keep up the great work gang 💪

[@SamuraiMujuru]

There are so many times throughout this video that an excellent line or a musical stab gives me goosebumps, and to this day just hearing those first notes of the liuqin brings an invasion of the onion-cutting ghosts.

[@HanayoSora]

I was literally re-watching Avatar when you posted this! Thank you so much for completing this retrospective! Love your videos so much, they're so inspiring and full of wonderful, priceless insight.

[@artistna]

Avatar is one of the few show I come back to every few years after forgetting some of the story. The characters and world definitely influence me to this day, so much nostalgia looking back.

[@loveyallyangu]

Sister and I recommended our grandpa watch the show, and he didn't understand for a bit of the first season (it was much lighter then) but as a retired world religions teacher he was very quick to catch all the smaller details that sold the worldbuilding especially in season 2-3, and he found it fascinating. It's not just nostalgia that places this show in a special place for us.

[@heathermallalieu6966]

This was an excellent video! I cried at various points throughout, ATLA truly is a masterpiece and you did such a great job exploring why. Thanks for making this

[@jr117jamesstrait5]

I didn’t grow up with the show. I watched it for the first time a few years ago after a friend’s recommendation. It’s one of the most profound stories I’ve ever experienced. Watching the journeys and struggles of these characters culminate into not just the victory over the fire lord, but the victory of the characters within themselves is so well done. I still haven’t found another story that resonates with me like ATLA, and if I never do, that’s okay.

[@theformidablefrog1967]

Sokka just casually convincing an entire town there is gonna be a massive flood is top tier manipulation 😂

[@ibelieveingaming3562]

I never realized that Zuko taught Aang lightning redirection! That's such a cool subtle detail!

[@wildfire9280]

I used to wonder why the Dai Li never bothered to crack down on actual crime when they were easily the most imposing force inside city limits. …And then I remembered real life examples. This show keeps getting better each time I revisit it.

[@nocturnaliism]

14:47 This hit home. For a while, creating music was the perfect way for me to express my artistry. In a time of great suffering, it was the only viable way I had to make my dreams of creation come true. By combining my love for art, storytelling, philosophy, pop culture, sound and psychology with my personal experiences, I was able to unleash near limitless amounts of emotion into anything that I created. The opportunities that music held enticed me like nothing else. I could paint my own world, my own unique sound just by putting together a couple of notes. I didn't need to conform to any genres, any how-to's, I could just.. Create. And to me that was beautiful. However - I grew too ambitious. As my personal life was ramping up with struggles, the once 16 year old who made music for fun became lost. He fell into a trap. Not only was my family situation getting worse, but I couldn't handle it much longer. All I wanted to do was disappear. From the day I started, I always foresaw one specific kind of album that I wanted to make. It was music bending. It was immersive, with deep and enriched emotional value which took advantage of an experimental, mostly instrumental approach to make room for the music to speak for itself, and to leave room for as much interpretation and replay value on the listener's part. This album would take everything from my love of what I mentioned earlier, all of my pent up emotions, and use them both to create a beautiful, versatile, and imaginative experience. After the regretful decisions I made during my aforementioned state of crisis, which include the deletion of my two previous BandLab accounts (The platform I used to make music), that once dream album finally became a reality. I have it posted on my channel right now, under the playlist "Lewis - Cortex (Full Album)." If you'd like, you can check it out, I hope you enjoy it and give your thoughts if you do decide to. EDIT: Thanks for reading if you did, this video is amazing.

[@ashtingreene8725]

In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. I think that reflects the thesis of the show perfectly

[@JanManRow]

leaves from the vine never fails to make me tear up no matter how many times i hear it

[@MattTheWab]

I just finished watching Avatar for the first time this week. Whenever you touched on the moments that made me tear up, you only enhanced the way i felt about those scenes already. Iroh's part in Tales of Ba Sing Se will always be my favorite moment of the show. Just a beautiful sequence in every sense.

[@adrianklug4810]

atla is hands down the greatest piece of art ever created

[@pinkajou656]

Perfect timing! I just finished rewatching the series for the first time with my little brother!

[@user-sj4oz4fd5c]

55:00 zuko gets offered food by the family he ends up staying with for the night here. He declines, the familys mother picks up on his character and offers him to help work on the farm in exchange for food. Zuko wont be just given anything, at this point in his character arc, not, if he hasnt earned it. The show is full of these small character beats, I love it.

[@Lorenzovd]

Wow. Just wow. This video really did the show justice, it is such a good video, written super well and the shots that you picked were great

[@worshipthecomedygodseoeunk4010]

i mean, hope is all we have, and we must never relinquish it, even to our dying breath. it makes you tearbend just thinking about it

[@fantasticcat9539]

its so crazy that i started watching your videos a few weeks ago and recently did a rewatch of atla and then right when i finished that rewatch, this channel of yours that id happened to have been watching drops this fucking amazing video. chills in so many parts, great video liam

[@robertmartin6957]

The avatar dragons with the TOTK dragon music is something I didn’t know I needed.

[@royalblue5367]

All it takes is the twang of those first four Leaves From the Vine notes to get my eyes watering. So effective.

[@Dionaea_floridensis]

Pluto put it really well too. "Nothing is born from hatred"

[@Brittanyknuckles1427]

I heard the first few notes of leaves from the vine and started sobbing, I didn’t even need to see the scene. This show is amazing, it’s something my very best friend and I bonded on since we were kids and still get together once a year to watch this. I even have a Atla tattoo lol this show means so much to so many ❤

[@brainrich1358]

The time when Aang loses Appa is so relatable. Most of us have felt the pain of losing a pet that we loved very much and when we finally reunite with them we hold them like we'll never them go. Such a great story throughout. I got to ask Grey Delisle about her performance as Azula and asked her about the scene when she's subdued and just loses it. I asked her how she was able to pull that delivery off and she told me that her mother suffered from mental breakdowns when she was a kid, so she's had experience seeing how someone mentally losing it looks and acts. Very chilling.

[@Cjaj2]

ok Hear me out Aang's flirting follows airbender idealogy when he's fueled by feelings of jealousy or possessiveness, times when he's too focused on earthly attachments his flirting fails. But the times when it works are when he's bringing freedom to the fire nation kids, on the day of black sun when he's following his destiny.

[@andi01452]

12 years has gone since watching it for the first time on a complete rerun on tv. I never had nick growing up so that was why I was 12 and a half before i watched it. I just remember putting on nick after school one day and coincidentally, I believe it was faith, the pilot and the 2nd ep aired. Since that day I watched 2 eps everyday after school, almost running home excited of what would come next. It took 1 and a half month to reach the end. It was a slow burn as it was still the cable life, but the sheer awe in me watching the finale for the first time is something I’ll never forget. It also sparked my love for anime futher as I have grown up with anime, anime/East Asian styled Western shows and was very interested in Japans pop culture at 12. The use of Asian culture in some of the worldbuilding just clicked. I’m currently on my first rewatch after remembering all the good memories while watching the netflix version. It still holds up bigtime and feels more relatable than ever as an adult. Absolutely amazing how they made such mature themes fit a show aimed at children, but at the same time not completely coddling them. I’m grateful I got to watch it as a tween/child when my life still was all about children’s tv. I also literally watched it at Aang’s age and it formed me to the person and interests I have today.

[@RyloTheBird]

I didn’t grow watching Avatar the Last Airbender (mostly because I didn’t exist yet) but finally watched it when I heard that it was so good. Wonderful, even. But I sometimes forget how impactful it was on a whole lot of people, and this video helped remind that there is hope in the world, even when there is a lot of bad around it. To just see people so passionate and actually making this happen… it makes me tear up. Like, that is NOT easy by any means, but they still did it because they were passionate about. Thank you so much for covering this and for all of the hope *you* give. Thank you all for everything. As always, stay safe and well, and may beautiful colors fill your world. 🌈❤️

[@interflys6749]

ATLA has had a huge impact on me, it taught me sm about forgiveness. hope, loss, and love that little me needed when i was going through a ton of stuff, and even now it's a big comfort to me. Toph, Zuko and Sokka are my favorite characters, both because of their arcs and how much i relate to them and their own struggles and shortcomings. I love this show so so much and the ways its helped me!! :)

[@becca4leafcloverMC]

So I clicked on this video expecting yknow, a normal analysis of ATLA because no matter how many times I hear someone talk about it, it never gets old. I definitely was NEVER expecting such a beautiful and powerful message about fighting for creation. It's been a long time since I've felt this strong of an urge to create my stories again. Hello old friend... hope :)

[@Fatman.skibidi]

I really wished netflix viewed this before making season 1 of Avatar live action. All I want is for the show to dive into the deep details and word building and characters, and make it more than just a binge watch show.

[@kazaaakplethkilik3229]

I've started rewatching it yesterday. What a timing

[@scottjacobson6619]

This videos so hard to watch without just wanting to cry every 5 minutes. Every little moment in this show holds so much meaning and so few pieces of media deliver meaning the way avatar does. It's just so perfect.

[@ajmccoy11]

me and my dad watched avatar as it aired when I was a kid some of the best memories of my childhood

[@ronaldleesantiagoalvarez789]

I always remember watching blind wave's reaction the show and they always repeated amongst themselfs " this is not a kid show " it tells you how well it's made

[@ClickyCrisp]

we're making it out of the iceberg with this one 🔥

[@ThePsh07]

Excited for the sequel video about the Netflix version, “Avatar: The Live Actionbender killed my hopes.” 😄😅😭

[@valeriebee5238]

I was there for the Day of the Black Sun too. I was also there on Tumblr for the “we will be popping the biggest bottles when Makorra gets together.” I feel as old as the Lion Turtles.

[@dasraffnix9471]

There will never be a kids show as good as Avatar ever again.

[@RileyG]

honestly every time I stop and think about atla im just BAFFLED at its incredible quality. the show has been special to me for years, ever since I was a little kid watching any episodes I could catch on nickelodeon, but only in recent years have I been able to really appreciate it for all of its incredible achievements in storytelling and animation. Easily my favorite show, and one I come back to year after year!! This video was an absolute pleasure to experience, and it served to really remind me of all the things I love about avatar

[@JohnTK]

oh frick yeah hour and a half avatar video essay lets go