Season three has begun. Looks like the tone of the show is going to be much darker this go 'round. I can wait until stuff starts happening!
Seanchai
In an interesting approach to the DVD marketing, NickToons has apparently decided to release the collected DVDs practically as the episodes air. Thus, Disk 1 of Book 3 -- episodes 1-5 -- goes on sale on Tuesday, October 30. That's a nice thing for those of us who don't get cable.
!i!
Quote from: SeanchaiSeason three has begun. Looks like the tone of the show is going to be much darker this go 'round. I can wait until stuff starts happening!
I think that for Zuko it may be darker before it gets light, but I think the other thread of that episode was about getting some of the grimness out of the way and getting back to business. Ultimately, it's still a children's show and while it hasn't shied away from some pretty dark subject matter, there is only so dark it's going to get. Also, the description of the next episode doesn't seem particularly dark except for Zuko.
Quote from: John MorrowI think that for Zuko it may be darker before it gets light, but I think the other thread of that episode was about getting some of the grimness out of the way and getting back to business. Ultimately, it's still a children's show and while it hasn't shied away from some pretty dark subject matter, there is only so dark it's going to get. Also, the description of the next episode doesn't seem particularly dark except for Zuko.
If I said the sun was yellow, you'd chime in, claiming it was blue.
Seanchai
Quote from: SeanchaiIf I said the sun was yellow, you'd chime in, claiming it was blue.
Yes, I can be quite the contrarian. Guilty as charged.
However, I do not believe "The children check out a Fire Nation school; Zuko confronts Uncle" (the description of the next episode) suggests a particularly dark turn
Spoiler
and I think they dealt with the Earth King, Aang's healing, Aang's angst, and got the gang back together and travelling on Appa's back as a small group again in the first episode for a reason
.
The authors of the show understand how to balance the tone, as was illustrated quite well in the episode
Tales of Ba Sing Se which contains in it's segments a microcosm of the tones and themes seen throughout the show. I certainly expect to be dark segments, as there have been in every season so far, but I expect it to maintain a mix as it has all along.
Personally, what I really want to know is what Azula did with Suki.
Quote from: John MorrowThe authors of the show understand how to balance the tone, as was illustrated quite well in the episode Tales of Ba Sing Se which contains in it's segments a microcosm of the tones and themes seen throughout the show. I certainly expect to be dark segments, as there have been in every season so far, but I expect it to maintain a mix as it has all along.
Avatar is, I think, the only television show I
encourage my children to watch -- admittedly, in great part because I enjoy it so. It's definitely a children's show, but it features an emotional depth that challenges children to understand and deal with tragic circumstances. At the same time, it's not overwhelmingly gloomy, and it liberally intersperses the tension with levity.
So, you're both right. The situation is definitely getting darker, but the producers are sharp enough to keep the tension under control. It's a great show.
!i!
Chiming in on the Avatar love here.
Wonder if I'll like it like I do Dini's Batman (or various other superhero projects) years from now...
Quote from: John MorrowThe authors of the show understand how to balance the tone, as was illustrated quite well in the episode Tales of Ba Sing Se which contains in it's segments a microcosm of the tones and themes seen throughout the show.
I agree with that. However, the set up for season three is already taking us to a darker place:
Spoiler
the last safe place in the world, Ba Sing Se, is occupied; the Fire Nation's prince and princess are home, able to turn their efforts toward conquest; Aang is literally, emotionally and figuratively scarred; and he has been forced by circumstances beyond his control to put aside his childish ways (i.e, the glider) and forge himself for the confrontation to come...
Absolutely, Avatar has lighter moments. It just seems to me that the stage as a whole is darker this season.
Seanchai
Quote from: SeanchaiIt just seems to me that the stage as a whole is darker this season.
We got a taste of this mid-way into Season 2 when Appa was stolen. Aang was, well, quite the angry little dick for a few episodes (weeks of story time). I hesitate to draw this analogy, but at this point in
Avatar, it's a lot like Frodo and Sam's journey into Mordor -- things have gotten bad, and are likely to get worse, but the hero still has the company of his friends.
!i!
Two reasons to resurrect this thread.
First, the season hasn't been all that dark so far, as I predicted. I'm sure it will have it's dark moments but I'm actually pretty surprised at just how light a lot of things have been.
Second, I'm a bit disappointed by the replacement voice they got for Uncle Iroh. I know Mako is a tough act to follow but now that we've gotten to hear him speak at some length, the voice was pretty far off and certainly nowhere near as close as it was in that comedy short shown earlier in the season.
Quote from: John MorrowTwo reasons to resurrect this thread.
First, the season hasn't been all that dark so far, as I predicted. I'm sure it will have it's dark moments but I'm actually pretty surprised at just how light a lot of things have been.
Second, I'm a bit disappointed by the replacement voice they got for Uncle Iroh. I know Mako is a tough act to follow but now that we've gotten to hear him speak at some length, the voice was pretty far off and certainly nowhere near as close as it was in that comedy short shown earlier in the season.
I agree with you on both counts. I hear the next few episodes are awesome (the UK folks have already seen them), so maybe they'll be some stuff in there.
About the voice, it's definitely not Mako. But they gotta do something.
Seanchai
And, for those of us who don't watch it on cable, the first volume DVD of Season 3 hits the shelves this Tuesday, only a week and a half after the last episode on the disk aired.
!i!
Quote from: SeanchaiAbout the voice, it's definitely not Mako. But they gotta do something.
Yeah, I know that they had to do something. I think that what got my hopes up was that they new voice actor did a much better Mako in the comedy short (the one with all of the kids in school together) than he did in the last episode. Not awful. Just disappointing and a sad reminder of Mako's loss.
Quote from: John MorrowJust disappointing and a sad reminder of Mako's loss.
Definitely, definitely a loss...
Seanchai
We finally got a pretty dark episode, which could be quite a bit darker if you fill in the blanks.