Who would have thought a cartoon on Nickelodeon would be this good? This show surpassed the hype for me. I was worried that it would fall into the same trap as so many other things, where the hype is built up so high that you can't help but be disappointed. On the contrary, this show may even surpass said hype.
I watched this through Netflix's instant watch and loved every second of it. The characters are well written and come off as real, likable people. The story is epic, while still giving us self contained episodes that are easy for the newcomer to follow. The soundtrack is very well done, the voice acting is solid, and the animation style grows on you as you watch it.
The best part of the show is the humor. Unlike other shows where awkward and clumsy "comedy relief" is shoved in, the humor here works through the dialogue. I found myself laughing quite frequently, more so than I would if I were watching a modern day sitcom. I was a little worried when Momo, the group's flying lemur (and second team pet) was introduced, but he doesn't get in the way too often, and when he is brought in, it results in a decent gag.
I did also love whenever the show went meta-physical. Anytime Avatar Roku showed up, I knew it was going to be awesome. He just had a certain gravitas that had me enthralled anytime he spoke.
Clancy Brown and Mark Hamill both play villains. The beauty is that they both use their Lex Luthor and Joker voices respectively, but it still works perfectly. Sadly, the Joker laugh isn't heard here, but it would sound out of character for the villain that Hamill is playing.
Also surprising for a Nickelodeon show is how many heartbreaking moments there are. Sokka's romance in the first season finale was very well handled and I found myself invested in what was going to happen. Appa's Lost Days, an episode in the show's second season that follows the group's flying bison after he gets kidnapped, also puts the viewer through the emotional wringer.
Not only are there sad moments, but some surprising bits of nightmare fuel as well. I don't want to give away too many details, but Hama is one of the most horrifying things you'll see in a cartoon. When Aang, the show's main character, goes into his Avatar state, it can also be very creepy. I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one who thought Aang's voice sounded nigh demonic when he demanded to know what Appa's kidnappers had done with him. It's creepy enough that it will give older viewers the heebie-jeebies, but it doesn't go so far as to alienate younger viewers or become inappropriate for it's targeted demographic.
This probably ranks in my all time favorites as far as not only animated series, but shows in general. I'm not sure what spot it would take exactly, but it's up there. I can't recommend this show enough. It was a joy to watch and I look forward to going through it again at some point.
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