Avatar: The Last Airbender / The Legend of Korra

[RumblyTumbly]

I feel that avatar the last airbender is one of those kind of stories that can only work right in animation. A live action avatar, no matter how good the effects may be will always look weird and unconvincing.

Certain things just look better in animation.

Actually, I was just shown a great example of this.

While it is kind of neat that these kids recreated a moment from Phineas and Ferb in live action, when you compare the live actors movements to the animated ones, the live action just doesn't look quite right. The cartoon just looks more natural for the movements being created.

 

[One Man Bland]

I feel that avatar the last airbender is one of those kind of stories that can only work right in animation. A live action avatar, no matter how good the effects may be will always look weird and unconvincing.

That and ATLA’s in-story time frame combined with the average age of the main cast puts the usual film production assembly line in a really awkward position where they either have to age up the characters and lose a lot of the coming-of-age elements that came with a main character be a pre-teen, extend the timeline and risk losing the sense of urgency the “you have to learn all four elements by the end of the summer" gave the story, or you shoot every season at the same time, put your entire production and effects crew into crunch mode from day 1, and probably still won’t be able to get around the fact that your "12-year-old" has apparently grown a foot and had their voice drop in the span of a few months or even weeks in-universe.

If you’re going to do anything ATLA-related in live action, you’re better off doing some other story where the main avatar character is already an adult. It would be a lot easier to cast for.

 

[Dread First]

Apologies for the necro. Just wanted to say that I've been rewatching ATLA since I found my BD copy of the show that I bought shortly before the pandemic started. Top 5 moments that get me fucked up even now as an adult:

1. Zuko Alone, all of it.
2. When Yue became the moon spirit.
3. Guru Pathik helping Aang unblock the chakra dealing with love and grief.
4. When Appa and Aang had the same dream of them meeting for the first time at the Eastern Air Temple.
5. Katara breaking down at the fact that she couldn't murder the man who killed her mother in cold blood.

Also, anyone else salty as fuck over the fact that Sokka was done so dirty in LOK? Dude died alone and unloved despite fucking the moon and a Kyoshi warrior.

 

[Gar For Archer]

Apologies for the necro. Just wanted to say that I've been rewatching ATLA since I found my BD copy of the show that I bought shortly before the pandemic started. Top 5 moments that get me fucked up even now as an adult:

1. Zuko Alone, all of it.
2. When Yue became the moon spirit.
3. Guru Pathik helping Aang unblock the chakra dealing with love and grief.
4. When Appa and Aang had the same dream of them meeting for the first time at the Eastern Air Temple.
5. Katara breaking down at the fact that she couldn't murder the man who killed her mother in cold blood.

Also, anyone else salty as fuck over the fact that Sokka was done so dirty in LOK? Dude died alone and unloved despite fucking the moon and a Kyoshi warrior.

The existence of the guru raises some questions about where the fuck all the other Indians are.

 

[Juan's Sombrero]

Apologies for the necro. Just wanted to say that I've been rewatching ATLA since I found my BD copy of the show that I bought shortly before the pandemic started. Top 5 moments that get me fucked up even now as an adult:

1. Zuko Alone, all of it.
2. When Yue became the moon spirit.
3. Guru Pathik helping Aang unblock the chakra dealing with love and grief.
4. When Appa and Aang had the same dream of them meeting for the first time at the Eastern Air Temple.
5. Katara breaking down at the fact that she couldn't murder the man who killed her mother in cold blood.

Also, anyone else salty as fuck over the fact that Sokka was done so dirty in LOK? Dude died alone and unloved despite fucking the moon and a Kyoshi warrior.

Oh, wow, Sokka. He was the best character. Can't have him overshadowing the stronk, independent womxn!

No, no, we have Bolin. His Chinese, meth born, azn knock off who tells jokes as good as a plastic bag full of chicken bones and cucks himself more times than a male feminist (I'm not even kidding how pathetic he was with women).

Dear God, could he not have acted like an awkward teenager that was trying to be funny? Because that's what he was. That's his character. That's entirely who and what he was the whole time. People who thought he was "adorable" have clearly forgotten that one guy or girl in school who was trying so hard to be relatable, funny and likeable. Who made you cringe inside and gave you that primal feeling of pity that you could only reserve for a sick puppy.

 

[BroccoliBrain]

Oh, wow, Sokka. He was the best character. Can't have him overshadowing the stronk, independent womxn!

No, no, we have Bolin. His Chinese, meth born, azn knock off who tells jokes as good as a plastic bag full of chicken bones and cucks himself more times than a male feminist (I'm not even kidding how pathetic he was with women).

Dear God, could he not have acted like an awkward teenager that was trying to be funny? Because that's what he was. That's his character. That's entirely who and what he was the whole time. People who thought he was "adorable" have clearly forgotten that one guy or girl in school who was trying so hard to be relatable, funny and likeable. Who made you cringe inside and gave you that primal feeling of pity that you could only reserve for a sick puppy.

Thank you. I fucking hated Bolin the moment I saw him on screen and it immediately felt like he was the token slapstick comedic relief for the sake of having one, an annoying fat prop that sucked precious screen time from characters who needed it more.
They kept focusing on his shitty gag romance with the twin waterbender bitch which I thought was supposed to lead into development that would turn them into substantial characters but it remained a shitty “Bolin’s unwanted stalker” joke until the very end when they flipped a switch and reveal he did like her back but was “afraid” to admit it (and I thought that was a ploy to get her off his back because she went psycho on him during the season climax, it wasn’t). Who. Fucking. Cares about these two wastes of cels when Korra over here needs all the air time she can get to stop being an unlikeable cunt? Sokka was clever, as in sometimes he had moments of serious intelligence, and acted like a real person. This dirtbender right here was nothing but “HAHA funny man on screen plz laugh now!!!”

Then they had to give him lavabending in the last season to give him something to do and remind us he’s one of the main cast. Bolin is so obnoxious, fuck him. And that useless Prince Wu character would piss me off just as much but luckily he wasn’t there for a lot of the time. The yellow big guy from Voltron is annoying for the same reasons, it’s probably not Studio Mir’s fault but I’m calling it Mir humour when it’s those token eccentric guys with that stupid lopsided Mir smirk that makes me not want to watch the things they animate - they’re not god’s gift to western animation by a long mile and my autism gets activated whenever somebody calls their works “anime”.

Whoever writes characters like him need to learn what actual comedy is because it sure ain’t some ex-highschool uggo projecting his insecurities onto a script.

 

[Juan's Sombrero]

Thank you. I fucking hated Bolin the moment I saw him on screen and it immediately felt like he was the token slapstick comedic relief for the sake of having one, an annoying fat prop that sucked precious screen time from characters who needed it more.
They kept focusing on his shitty gag romance with the twin waterbender bitch which I thought was supposed to lead into development that would turn them into substantial characters but it remained a shitty “Bolin’s unwanted stalker” joke until the very end when they flipped a switch and reveal he did like her back but was “afraid” to admit it (and I thought that was a ploy to get her off his back because she went psycho on him during the season climax, it wasn’t). Who. Fucking. Cares about these two wastes of cels when Korra over here needs all the air time she can get to stop being an unlikeable cunt? Sokka was clever, as in sometimes he had moments of serious intelligence, and acted like a real person. This dirtbender right here was nothing but “HAHA funny man on screen plz laugh now!!!”

Then they had to give him lavabending in the last season to give him something to do and remind us he’s one of the main cast. Bolin is so obnoxious, fuck him. And that useless Prince Wu character would piss me off just as much but luckily he wasn’t there for a lot of the time. The yellow big guy from Voltron is annoying for the same reasons, it’s probably not Studio Mir’s fault but I’m calling it Mir humour when it’s those token eccentric guys with that stupid lopsided Mir smirk that makes me not want to watch the things they animate - they’re not god’s gift to western animation by a long mile and my autism gets activated whenever somebody calls their works “anime”.

Whoever writes characters like him need to learn what actual comedy is because it sure ain’t some ex-highschool uggo projecting his insecurities onto a script.

You almost forgot about that bitch of an actress and them participating in that production of some unholy rendition of Tarzan and Jane.

 

[Atropos]

And don't forget Opal, who I found to be somehow even more boring than Mako.

 

[Chilson]

And don't forget Opal, who I found to be somehow even more boring than Mako.

I genuinely forgot who this character was until I looked it up. God LOK was a shitshow.

 

[The Great Chandler]

Thank you. I fucking hated Bolin the moment I saw him on screen and it immediately felt like he was the token slapstick comedic relief for the sake of having one, an annoying fat prop that sucked precious screen time from characters who needed it more.
They kept focusing on his shitty gag romance with the twin waterbender bitch which I thought was supposed to lead into development that would turn them into substantial characters but it remained a shitty “Bolin’s unwanted stalker” joke until the very end when they flipped a switch and reveal he did like her back but was “afraid” to admit it (and I thought that was a ploy to get her off his back because she went psycho on him during the season climax, it wasn’t). Who. Fucking. Cares about these two wastes of cels when Korra over here needs all the air time she can get to stop being an unlikeable cunt? Sokka was clever, as in sometimes he had moments of serious intelligence, and acted like a real person. This dirtbender right here was nothing but “HAHA funny man on screen plz laugh now!!!”

Then they had to give him lavabending in the last season to give him something to do and remind us he’s one of the main cast. Bolin is so obnoxious, fuck him. And that useless Prince Wu character would piss me off just as much but luckily he wasn’t there for a lot of the time. The yellow big guy from Voltron is annoying for the same reasons, it’s probably not Studio Mir’s fault but I’m calling it Mir humour when it’s those token eccentric guys with that stupid lopsided Mir smirk that makes me not want to watch the things they animate - they’re not god’s gift to western animation by a long mile and my autism gets activated whenever somebody calls their works “anime”.

Whoever writes characters like him need to learn what actual comedy is because it sure ain’t some ex-highschool uggo projecting his insecurities onto a script.

I actually wanted to like Bolin since the premise of Mako looking after his eccentric brother kind of reminded me a bit of my family, but then Bryke forgot Bolin was a person and instead kept him as the dancing monkey. Much like his brother Mako, Bolin too ended up having little relevance to the plot.

That said, Sokka ftw

 

[Nero You're DeadWeight]

I actually wanted to like Bolin since the premise of Mako looking after his eccentric brother kind of reminded me a bit of my family, but then Bryke forgot Bolin was a person and instead kept him as the dancing monkey. Much like his brother Mako, Bolin too ended up having little relevance to the plot.

That said, Sokka ftw

Maybe i'm the minority on this, but I really liked Bolin and Mako? Then again, I couldn't stand anyone in Legend of Korra and I dropped it due to the show sucking, and personal reasons due to very shitty people. Probably dodged a bullet there.
The inventor dude was pretty funny here n there too i'll admit. Bolin and Mako had potential I feel, but I feel like they were created just to be Korra's flings and nothing more, which I think is very highlighted since all I really remember was Bolin sobbing his eyes out seeing Korra and Mako kiss, and Korra having a HUGE bitch fit (even though it was HER fault) and flipping Mako's desk while he's like "ayo tf is your problem bitch??"

Then the show was like "OH YEA BOLIN AND MAKO........Let's make them go "oooo Koora plz date us again UWAHHHH until we remember they're actual characters/plot calls for it or we need to add something spicy to the shitty love decahedron."
Mako they more or less made all moody and piss baby, Bolin they just kept throwing every woman at him like shit on a wall until something stuck or they got bored which is a shame.
I guess I like what they could've BECOME instead of what we got? I'll admit I just remember bits and shreds of Korra but those two were the only good part of the show and i've blocked out a majority of my memories around the show.

Sokka deserves so much better those are just facts. How the fuck didn't he score or have some kind of kid? There's no way he didn't spread his seed SOMEWHERE.

Tbh, out of curiosity, would anyone watch another ATLA adaptation but based on the comics? Like finding Zuko's mom arc n stuff ETC or would you rather it stay untouched?

 

[Muttnik]

Tbh, out of curiosity, would anyone watch another ATLA adaptation but based on the comics? Like finding Zuko's mom arc n stuff ETC or would you rather it stay untouched?

If they adapt the poorly-written pig-shit that is The Search, I'm putting my head in an oven.

 

[Chilson]

Tbh, out of curiosity, would anyone watch another ATLA adaptation but based on the comics? Like finding Zuko's mom arc n stuff ETC or would you rather it stay untouched?

You do know the ATLA comics are such absolute gutter trash shit that they make LOK look competent, right?

 

[Nero You're DeadWeight]

You do know the ATLA comics are such absolute gutter trash shit that they make LOK look competent, right?

I only read the search and I thought it was okay, but nothing monumental.
The art was the only thing going for it tbh.

 

[Chilson]

I only read the search and I thought it was okay, but nothing monumental.
The art was the only thing going for it tbh.

Bruh, I don't know what to say then. You might just have bad taste in entertainment media.

 

[Sergeant Major Buzzkill]

I only read the search and I thought it was okay, but nothing monumental.
The art was the only thing going for it tbh.

I agree. Looking back on it story wise, though? They could've done everything a lot better.

Was not a fan of Ursa. Wish she could've done more to help Azula, given that she was fucked up by Ozai, too.

 

[cactus]

Bryke have the problem of not knowing how to write characters. They know how to do the overarching story, some lore, and the art. AtLA was good because it was a combination of Bryke's strengths and Aaron Ehasz's strengths, since he seems to be a good character writer. It was Aaron who suggested that Toph be a girl, instead of another love interest for Katara.

I fucking hated Bolin the moment I saw him on screen and it immediately felt like he was the token slapstick comedic relief for the sake of having one, an annoying fat prop that sucked precious screen time from characters who needed it more.

What makes it worse is that the promotional material said Bolin was the ladies' man of the trio. He acted like a bumbling idiot who was naive despite having grown up on the streets and had trouble with his love interests the entire series. At least he didn't two time like Mako did.

The ending with Korra and Asami is also bad because during the first season, Bryan said on his Tumblr that Korra and Mako were made for each other. The writing in LoK was all over the place and Bryke needed a someone to reel them in, both for the characters and for the lore, since they somehow managed to fuck that up too, and they're the ones who came up with it!

 

[DDBCAE CBAADCBE]

Bryke have the problem of not knowing how to write characters. They know how to do the overarching story, some lore, and the art. AtLA was good because it was a combination of Bryke's strengths and Aaron Ehasz's strengths, since he seems to be a good character writer. It was Aaron who suggested that Toph be a girl, instead of another love interest for Katara.


What makes it worse is that the promotional material said Bolin was the ladies' man of the trio. He acted like a bumbling idiot who was naive despite having grown up on the streets and had trouble with his love interests the entire series. At least he didn't two time like Mako did.

The ending with Korra and Asami is also bad because during the first season, Bryan said on his Tumblr that Korra and Mako were made for each other. The writing in LoK was all over the place and Bryke needed a someone to reel them in, both for the characters and for the lore, since they somehow managed to fuck that up too, and they're the ones who came up with it!

It’s okay though cause Korra’s hot.

Lookit dat. Bitch swole.

 

[Prophetic Spirit]

Well, anybody is talking about how TLOK is wasted and nobody mentioned Jinora. You know, best deus ex machina in S2.
So many problems with the sequel. I said so many times before in this thread about that. And i'm surprised how this again reappeared. I love you, guys.

 

[Sergeant Major Buzzkill]

Well, anybody is talking about how TLOK is wasted and nobody mentioned Jinora. You know, best deus ex machina in S2.
So many problems with the sequel. I said so many times before in this thread about that. And i'm surprised how this again reappeared. I love you, guys.

Not surprised that happened. I probably hadn't gotten that far in season 2 yet when the show was still airing on TV. Last I remember, there was some weird origin story about the Avatar and that was when I chirped out lol.