Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV Series) Spirited Away (2024) User Reviews

I enjoyed the flashbacks!

[and_mikkelsen · 8/10 · 25 February 2024]

I think this was another episode, like episode 2, that didn't feel rushed, but instead allowed us to spend time with our characters, as well as exploring the spirit world!

I think the flashbacks were the best part of the episode! It gave some inside into Katara and Sokka, and it was actually dark and emotional! We know the story from the cartoon, but I liked the way it was told here! This is one of the strengths of the show! Giving us scenes that add something extra to the overall story, without changing things too much!

I think Koh was done well to! The effects for him looked great, and making him scary is the thing you just have to get right, which I think the show succeeded with, for the most part!

The scenes with Gyatso were great too, and adds something extra to his relationship with Aang, as they got to see each other after Aangs discovery in the Southern airtemple!

I just don't even know what to think

[poseyfan · 6/10 · 24 February 2024]

I honestly didn't feel much after the episode. I feel like it has an almost impossible bar to reach because of the cartoon.

I was not expecting Koh so soon. I think they did a pretty good job with him. And I definitely wasn't expecting a whole episode in the spirit world. Having Gyatso was a nice touch. Also showing Katara's mom's death was a good choice. I like how firebending actually kills people in this show. It seems like so much more of a menace.

Overall, I don't really vibe with Aang yet. His actor hasn't really done it for me.

Some aspects seem a little lacking. Like almost lazy. I have been trying to keep an open mind though.

successful translation from animated episode

[nerrdrage · 8/10 · 27 February 2024]

Last episode we had a mishmash of episode elements, including some goofy stuff that didn't quite translate to live action. This time we have some mystical and genuinely scary elements inspired by Hayao Miyazaki that come off much better, including some very nice voice acting. (Maybe the live action actors could get some tutoring in their voice work?)

Up until now, this series has dwelled more on politics and relationships but now we get into psychology, which is an important aspect of the Hero's Journey that this series draws from heavily. And the look and mood of the episode is strikingly different from previous episodes, which makes for a nice change of pace.

Overall this series has some weak points but the strengths are greater.

Spiritual Forest

[ZegMaarJus · 7/10 · 11 March 2024]

This Episode begins with Aang, Katara and Sokka, they are on the run for the Firenation in the woods. Aang, Katara and Sokka jump on Appa, they got away. Sokka is getting hungry, because Aang his ritual is taking long. Aang, Katara and Sokka got into the spiritual world, they can't bend. Katara sees how her mother got killed by the Firenation. Aang has to do a mission on his own, Appa and Momo can't go with him. Solid Episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1, just Solid. Expecting something more action during this Series. Aang is going on a big mission, looking forward to what is going to happen!

More of this pleae

[ladyliliroche · 9/10 · 23 February 2024]

Maybe it is my type for story but I felt like this episode was really well done.

The opening bit was a bit meh... borderlining bad because of the cg but the story that was told after that was really good and there was some good camera work / transition that I enjoyed.

I also felt such heart / emotional filled stories are needed in this series.

I think in the previous episodes they did tried to tell emotional story but with the cringe dialogue and all over acting and characters, it didnt really work out until this episode.

Sakka's bit actually made my eyes go teary and so was katara's. The flashback episodes were told really beautifully that I felt their pain while watching it.

Nice, but it also get's me worried for future episodes!

[tslstudio · 7/10 · 25 February 2024]

The episode on its self in nicely done, with all the flashbacks.

Aang finally asking "what do I need to do and how am I going to safe everyone?" was really necessary. Especially since they barely talk about 'learning all 4 elements', like why isn't Aang practicing water bending with Katara? So I am hoping meeting Ruko is going to 'fix' that (just like the anime).

The things that get my worried are all the elements we are getting from what suppose to be were potential 'future episodes'.

We got mentions of the pirates, 'The Great Divide', 'The Fortuneteller', 'Bato of the Watertribe' and more in this episode. Most of it was fine... especially with June, but some things trouble me, like Koh and Wan Shi Tong. Does that mean we won't get Koh during the battle of the North, or we don't get the Library episode in book 2 (or without Wan Shi Tong)? Also, we got some Swamp episode vibes with Katara getting visions of her past with her mother (like 'The Southern Raiders' episode). We also got Sokka seeing his dad and Bato, after he did his ice dodging trial. Which Sokka apparently sucked at, and he overhears his father being disappointed in him. Which is completely different from the anime... where Sokka was mostly doubting himself, where his dad was always really proud of him no matter what!!!

All these flashbacks also happen thanks to the fog of lost souls (yeah Legend of Korra... and azula in the spirit temple kinda vibes going on).

Talking about Azula, she also doubts herself already in season 1 where she wasn't even suppose to show up in, in the first place for okay. I am like hmmm in the anime she was always admired because she 'acted' so self-confident, and we only see her breaking after the betrayal of her friends. Sure, it's good to see already that Azula's life is troublesome too and that she got issues.

Which fits in with the episode's theme of holding up to expectations and handling issues. So the episode itself and the connecting between all the storylines are done really nicely. But like I said, with all the changes and characters who we got to see already this early on... I just hope it doesn't influence the future episodes/books too much. It's also just really hard not comparing this series to the originals.

SO GREAT

[grizzardkris · 23 February 2024]

MOST OF THE HATE are crybaby millennials crying about the CGI it's a tv show and they did awesome I mean awesome I grew watching the 2000's and early 80s, late 90s shows and they are better then the garage now this is solid DUB.

Thank you Netflix for this one the acting is great I really am only 3episodes in but I don't think the whole adventure journey thing would have worked if I could give 10 stars I would I am very picky about shows as well and I scroll more then I watch shows anyhow give it a try and try and remember when you were a kid its good to see avatar live on through out all these years.

An oddity

[mickaeldelcey · 7/10 · 27 February 2024]

This episode stands out for many reasons. Its setting most obviously, but also its structure. While many episodes in this adaptation suffered from overstuffing, this one kept a single clear storyline. Despite this, it did not quite work because it was fairly aimless. We follow along without really knowing where or why we are going, and the episode felt like a mere setup for the next one.

It still had good moments. It gave us nice insights into the trauma of some characters, which is great to set-up their arcs. It also had a cathartic reunion.

On the downside, while I am willing to accept the breaking of dozens of rules and pieces of lore from the original show in this episode, the new interpretation of Azula's story is just not working for me. I feel that it weakens her character.

Overall, some may like the very unusual and fantastical elements of this episode. Personally, I appreciated the character moments and the breathing space the episode provided, but there was a lack of direction and clear hook which prevented me from fully enjoying the episode.

Fairly Descent

[julianperaza-86212 · 6/10 · 15 March 2024]

The only thing I really wasn't a fan of was how Aang mysteriously, miraculously and accidentally pulled Sokka and Katara into the spirit world. I especially liked the fox that spoke to Sokka. The CGI in this show doesn't bother me at all so I also don't know why people are griping so much over it.

I liked the interaction with Koh. I really liked the flash backs because it added context to their character that we haven't really been getting otherwise from the previous episodes.

That being said, I'm really really trying to not have any expectations for this series because I want to like it, but the plot points included in this episode seemed like they were just checking off boxes.

Lack of prior character development causes traumatic character beats to fall flat

[thegreendrinker · 3/10 · 27 February 2024]

This episode, like many before it, is scattershot in quality. Some of the plot threads and mini arcs work better than others. This shouldn't be the case but the way the show was written makes it feel like different plots and arcs were mixed together in a haphazard way without care for how cohesive it felt. I know one of the showrunners mentioned that they wrote each episode so that all of the plotlines/arcs tie things together thematically, but I think the characters should have been the driving force instead.

The best mini-arc is Sokka's. His whole arc is facing how insecure he actually feels and that his humor is a means of deflection. In the vision, we see Sokka secretly observe his dad talk about how disappointed he is in Sokka's performance in an ice dodging ritual. This is what Sokka has always feared- that he isn't good enough and what his dad said only serves to exacerbate that insecurity. It's a great moment, because Sokka has been given enough dimension (through the solid acting by Ian Ousley and okay writing) that the moment feels earned. We know Sokka enough that we can start to delve in to the deeper stuff.

The grim focus on constantly making the characters deal with their deepest traumas falls flat, however, when it comes to Aang and Katara's mini-arcs. Gordon Cormier's performance, the writing, and the direction he was given (which I blame far more than Cormier- he is young and has time to get better) is not strong enough to convey any kind of nuance in Aang's character thus far. Aang's conflict is more singular in the live action show- he can't accept that he was not responsible for the genocide of his people. That would be fine if there were any more texture to his character. But, as it is, Aang is very one note in this episode and all the previous ones. He is always very serious and obsessed with responsibility. This one note depiction means that Aang's character has nowhere to go. Every episode, including this one, emphasizes the same beat- that Aang is traumatized and wants to make up for his own perceived mistakes. It's not a bad conflict in theory but is boring and one-dimensional in practice. The show would have been better served to allow time to develop all the facets of Aang as a character before digging too deep in to his inner conflicts.

Katara's arc also doesn't work because we just haven't gotten to know her enough as a character. We learn, in a flashback, that she tried to waterbend to save her mother from a firebender, but that the failed waterbending attempt actually made it so that her mother had to sacrifice herself to get the firebender off Katara's trail. This would have been an interesting thing to learn if it wasn't just one more relentlessly grim beat in the show. Every episode seems like it wants to torture Katara for being passive and meek and it's starting to feel redundant and a little mean. Kiawentiio, who plays Katara, is maybe the weakest actor of the trio and this makes it so that we never really learn much about her. Once again, however, I blame the direction and writing more than I blame the young actor.

This one and the previous episode should be remade.

[clementzmartin · 1/10 · 5 March 2024]

The title is a form of speech but the fans review should be taken in count in the future, there are things the production should not change because they are for a reason. We welcome some fan service, specially hidden things, but the show needs to respect chacarcter arcs more. Lots of things feel rushed, forced to happen with no reason. In ATLA everything happens for a reason, it gives meaning. Basically just put a freaking Dragon taking Aang to Roku, leave Sokka and Katara out of the spirit world instead of over complicating things to make sense and respect Bumi the orginal was such a lovely character. Secret tunnel was tottaly unnecesary.

*Just putting a 1 because it doesnt deserve a 7 in average but is probably a 4.

This sucked

[thisiscronan · 3/10 · 25 February 2024]

I understand they've decided to turn the story into fewer episodes, but the episodes that have been stitched together here diminish the effects they originally had. Apparently some people don't like the CG but it's fine. The actor for Aang is no good btw, I'm 5 episodes in and he's not Aang nor is he believable and almost every line delivery isn't great. He is, however, a child, and by season 2 he could be great. I hope. There's so many minor issues through out every episode but having such a frankensteij mess that loses the soul of the original episodes be on top of that creates an episode of television that if you haven't seen the original is probably a 6/10, but I have mad this sucks. Episode 2 is the best one so far.

Excuse me? Why is Koh here?

[DantiMovies · 4/10 · 13 April 2024]

Introducing the spirit world must have been handled with better care.

Katara and Sokka should not have been there or even faced Koh during their flashbacks because they are both very emotional especially early on their adventure. According to canon they should have their faces stolen but of course this didn't happen.

Also, when Aang saw him for the first time he acted like he's never seen him before, which it's in someway true but not. He saw him and looked scared therefore his face should have been stolen.

I'm sorry but this ruined the story for me, I understand that some changes are necessary but you don't go ahead and change the rules of the game for absolutely no reason.