Why 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is the Best Show Ever - Part I: 'Everything Changed When the Fire Nation Attacked'

Written by Kate McHargue

I realize that the title of this series makes a rather bold claim. Some of you reading this undoubtedly agree with me and will nod along with each of these articles muttering things like “yeah” and “for real, though” the entire time. Others might read this series and think, “Yeah, I mean, maybe it’s not the best show ever but she’s right, it is pretty damn awesome.” A few more might have no reference for this show and leave this blog on a quest to stream the entire series. But I’ll admit, I’ll be surprised to find anyone who actually dislikes this show. And why is that? Because it is the best show EVER.
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I’ll give some context for this sudden outpouring of love for ATLA. Until recently, my boyfriend had never seen ATLA (I fixed that). I, on the other hand, was the kid who raced home from school to watch it each afternoon and had long debates with myself about whether I was a water bender or an air bender (definitely a water bender). For me, this show came like lightning out of a clear sky. Those opening credits hooked me and I had to know more. I was attached not just to the entertainment of it all, but to the characters and their stories. I cared deeply about how the war was going to end and what would become of the world that had sucked me in. So obviously, if our relationship was to have any kind of future, he had to watch this show and he had to love it. Lucky for both of us, he did.

It was watching ATLA with someone who had never seen even a single episode that really reminded me of how magnificent this show really is. Of course I’d seen each episode a million times and I could quote along with almost every line, but suddenly it was like I was a kid again. Seeing it through his eyes was like rediscovering the series altogether. I was in awe at the animation, the character development, the perfect blend of humor and drama, the intricate stories lines, the vast world creation, all of it! And having just finished the series with this new yet familiar perspective, it seemed only right to geek out about it.

In this six part series (this being part one) I will look at all of the reasons why I personally think Avatar: The Last Airbender is the best show ever. You’ll notice I didn’t say “best kid’s show ever.” That was intentional.

I expect you all will have other reasons for why you love this show and I also expect that some of you may disagree with me on some of the finer points. If so, please comment and share your thoughts! The more the merrier when it comes to geeking out. But I will only be outlining the five reasons I think it’s the best. And I’d like to say right off the bat that I don’t necessarily believe that ATLA is the best show EVER in each of the categories. It is the combination of all of them and how well each one is executed that makes this show an untouchable of work of sheer genius. 

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