Avatar: The Last Airbender Gives Me Hope

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@Mister_Don888]

I honestly feel more for her than I do Mai. Zuko missed out on a better girlfriend.

[@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

[@TyandOnGoing]

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

[@chubbyninja975]

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

[@StarlitWitchy]

That's very sweet!! ☺️☺️

[@MrLiabu]

Me too, bud

[@FBracht]

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.

[@Chillaccino1]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@BadMarriageKawagoe]

"Blind rage" lmfao

[@wiiaoio3865]

Which makes sense when you remember that king bumi said aang needed a teacher that mastered neutral Jin, toph waits before attacking, and waits before judging

[@netcat22]

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!

[@ningmushii]

@@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]

@@ningmushii 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

[@FeralSB2S351]

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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😭

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@slartymcguarty2954]

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

[@elleyncat23]

Wait until you have kids and you show it to them for the first time. You then realize trifold just how much it means to you 🙏

[@KP_Uravity]

Avatar is my baseline for greatness in storytelling. I was 7 when the finale aired and me my sister and my mom watched it intently. My entire memorable life had been leading up to defeating ozai. It was masterful

[@LapisLazuliVA]

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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@liam-no2kn]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@rupeescreamerjones8404]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@littlebigmarc]

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

[@pinkajou656]

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

[@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.

[@mcmario4810]

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

[@loganbeaumont2490]

needed this video today

[@BoserPSN]

2:28 I’ve been rewatching it at least once per year since I got the blu ray box, I watched it when it first aired, I still get goosebumps thinking about it (several times at this point in the video already) I’m 30. one of the greatest shows ever made and besides bojack horseman my go to answer when asked “what’s your favorite show” I hate that I have to specify that I’m not talking about the blue people movies

[@bazhumke4040]

dude the blue people movies make me almost as mad as mrs. buttersworth syrup (i'm from vermont and make maple syrup lmao)

[@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

[@komang1224]

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

[@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.

[@tomaspiraino934]

The ending of your video made me cry... I´m in a moment of my life in wich is difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel or trust the process, yet hearing your journey, as well as ATLA, gives me hope and I want you to know that. Thank you for being the words I needed to hear, yor voice has come a long way.

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@dovahkiinhowey]

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

[@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.

[@greninjadeluxe5061]

I also remember the eight month hiatus. in 2008 I was five and didn't know why new episodes weren't coming out. I was there for the airing of sozin's comet also. Lastly, I owned all the original dvd's and remember the last one for book 2. It's really special when I see and hear about anyone who had the same experience with with this show as I had. Thank you for making this video. I'm happy you made this because I don't think I ever could. I might be doubting my ability but that really doesn't matter at this point.

[@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

[@chrisxtoff1191]

Such an amazing recap of everything Avatar. The story telling was so good with emotion and depth. I literally went back to the tears as if i was watching it again for the first time. The Zuko inner conflict, his final fight with Azula, his relationship with his uncle. I couldnt agree more he is one of the best characters of all time. Great video dude. You got a sub out of me.

[@acemstudio]

Ozai told Aang that his people were weak and didn't deserve to live in HIS world, simply because of their way of life. And people in the fandom tend to view Aang as weak because of his pacificism as well. Forgetting often, that Aang is a very powerful bender in his own right, and a Master Airbender, who would be able to bring ANYONE to heel if he needed to. He simply chooses not to. And it takes a special kind of courage to do that. He wanted to prove to the world that what his people stood for BEFORE the war MATTERED. And he was in the right to fight so hard FOR his beliefs. And THAT is why I love and respect Aang so much. He proves to us all that you can be a badass without constantly fighting.

[@RobertRosenberger-v8n]

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.

[@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...

[@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!! :)

[@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

[@jarednorris9559]

One of the best breakdowns of the BEST content anyone can experience and I'm only half way through! Flameo! My good hotsman! Lol no but seriously, it's always so good to hear anyone elses thoughts on this masterpiece. Long live Avatar!!! Thank you so much for making this, there could be 1000000 videos on the last Airbender, and they still wouldn't be enough. I think the more we look into this series and it's characters the way they change and grow, the themes and hardships our beloved heros have to overcome- the more we learn about ourselves. And more importantly, possibly, how we too may be able to bring balance to our increasingly unbalanced world.

[@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.

[@officialprincelouie]

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.

[@ParUhDroyd]

I've watched ATLA a couple times through and you remind me why it's a good to show to come back to. This video came at a perfect time for me as I'm at a crossroads with my life right now and just being reminded of the themes in the show and its journey has always been inspirational for me. Thank you as always as your videos are always a joy to watch.

[@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 ❤

[@aliph7838]

What a great analysis of the series. And the message at the end... yeah, I'm tear-bending 😭. Keep the videos coming man, they're great!

[@luz1673]

16:04 despite the MANY rewatches I have done of this show, I never noticed how adorable Sokka looks in this scene with Aang with the fake beard on! Great video so far

[@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

[@daephx]

1:25:50 Awesome moment, aang using toph's seismic sense masterfully. SO many parallels and closed loops to construct a beautifully symmetrical bow to close the final book with.

[@greatazuredragon]

One of the best shows ever. Thanks for the episode.

[@clarabellumsart]

awesome analysis as always 🙏 and aaaa so happy to have been able to do some work with you on your personal project! i cant wait for more vids and the opportunity to work with you again in the future!!! -patiently sits for the next essay-

[@komaedakat1583]

This is by far one of the best ATLA video analysis I've ever watched. Avatar truly is one of those shows that anyone can relate to in some way, and take from it thought-provoking messages. The way that you have looked in depth of this show has really made me stop and think. From the parallels of each characters arcs to learning to find their own destiny and peace despite of their circumstances, Avatar The Last Airbender has so much meaning for just being a kids show on Nickelodeon. Not to mention the fact that this show gave me hope, and did for so many others. I also think that Zuko is one of the best and most beautifully written character in animation/media. This show truly deserves all the hype and appreciation it is given.

[@Nodim1er]

This video was awesome, Liam. As always, you didn't disappoint. I particularly appreciated how you took your time to dissect each character in relation to the show's themes. Good work👏

[@jamiehorner2595]

I turn avatar on while I’m sleeping and it turns off after a while and I just sometimes stay up and watch an episode or two just because of how good it is. Also, I finish the show like every 2 weeks

[@fantasticcat9539]

it gave me chills when you said "this show gives me hope, both in the story it tells, and in the fact that it happened to begin with." you're completely right, it sometimes feels completely unreal that a masterpiece like avatar exists for us.

[@kazaaakplethkilik3229]

I've started rewatching it yesterday. What a timing

[@FeltonDood]

I just recently rewatched ATLA and I recently rewatched my favorite video from you, "The bittersweet comfort of Majora's Mask." It only seems natural that you'd then drop a video about ATLA. My favorite video essayist, talking about one of my favorite pieces of fiction. Thank you.

[@myplace4play]

3:45 and Aaron Ehasz, don't forget about Aaron Ehasz

[@rocki7852]

Every video I watch from your channel has left me in tears. They way you talk about Zelda and now Avatar (one of my favorite shows of all time, not that surprising I know) is so well spoken, moving and relatable. Thank you for your hard work and dedication :’)

[@JoshGolus]

Well done, Liam. Well done indeed. It is apparent in this project that this was a major help to breaking out of your writer's block, and hopefully you can carry that momentum into upcoming projects. It really paid off with this one.

[@theloaten17]

Holy crap, KZbin ACTUALLY notified me for your upload. Amazing. I haven't watched it yet but I'm actually very interested in the seen what this video has to offer, I've been watching Avatar since the day it aired. However I never really got into the show until I saw the finale premiere on Nickelodean, I was so intruged by how it ended that it made me want to start over and see how all of the characters got to that point. If I'm being honest, I don't think I realized it until now but I think Avatar is probably my favorite TV show ever... every episode to me, (even the bad ones) always gave me something to look forward to. Im assuming you're probably going to go into the history of the show, and I'm intetested, I'm just gonna shut up and enjoy this video. Your videos are always a treat to watch Liam.

[@IMeanIt100]

Oh wow, I remember the countdown of the comet! I completely missed it, but I remember

[@Nightlife135]

ATLA is one of my all time favourites! *Because* of the lore and the underlying deeper motifs. I love how you analyzed this show and also included some background information! ❤ I think it's time to binge watch Overanalyzing Avatar (which I can really recommend btw!) once again! :)

[@Maliique]

Watching ATLA with my child is one of the most rewarding things ever received from TV. One learns so much about humanity. Truly beautiful series.

[@229Poseidon]

I may have originally clicked on this video because I'm always looking for another reason to relive the beauty that is The Last Airbender, but damn it you really know how to bring out the most intriguing details and illustrate the profound allusions and parallels from the show as well as provide some very interesting background information on the making of the show. Hats off to you sir, thanks for the emotional trip down Avatar lane and the motivational message to take away from it all.

[@elena_eleen]

a channel i subscribed to for zelda content talking about avatar the last airbender?? SIR I LOVE BOTH OF THESE THINGS AND I LOVE YOU

[@TheExFatal]

I'm only 15 minutes in - great video so far, I just wanted to say that I appreciate how you cropped everything to fit 16:9, and you did a pretty good job

[@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.

[@FelisGlacialis]

I can't put into words how much I love this show and I don't even have the nostalgia element. Watching it for the first time as a 35 years old....was an experience I will never forget. This show is excellent...it's perfect. I will surely re-watch it over and over again. Thanks for putting this video together and for having found your voice.