Watching ATLA as an adult has led to a much deeper appreciation

Even as a kid, I loved Avatar for it's great cast, the comedic timing by the gAang, and the rich culture and history of the Four Nations.But when I was younger, I was far more enthralled in the thrilling Agni Kai's, the hilarious Cabbage Man, and Toph's badass attitude than the spiritual/moral philosophies weaved into the narrative and above all else, the epic character arcs, foils, and parallels.As an adult who's read a fair deal of Shakespeare, and has watched a great deal of complex character driven tv like Mad Men, BB, and the Wire (ik the main character is Baltimore sheesh), I feel like a rewatch of ATLA reveals so much more.For example, in the beginning of Book 3, Iroh is in a cell after being betrayed by his nephew and Aang and Co are disguised as Colonials in the Fire Nation. Iroh is frequently seen in short montages working out and keeping his physique intact but playing the ruse of a crazy, old man far past his prime as a FN General. Aang on the other hand lets go of his identity as the Avatar and disguises himself as a FN student to better understand the people that were supposedly his "enemy" from the very beginning. In this case the show questions the concept of Identity and Appearances.I was also taken aback when Aang talks of honor and letting the world down in the beginning of Book 3, sounding awfully like Zuko in the beginning of Book 1, obsessed with redeeming himself through the approval of his father, casting aside his own ambitions and path. Zuko's transformation and inner struggle as the grandson of both the Avatar and the Fire Lord acts as a foil to Aang's inner struggle of being the Avatar.And that's not even talking about the epic Guru Pathak episode with the chakras, or the Giant Turtle episode.And from a historical vantage point, the show manages to squeeze in so many references: from Inuits, to the parallels between Ba Sing Se and Isolationist China, the easily noticeable Tibet-Airbender parallels, and above all the Japanese/German parallels to the Fire Nation.Just the fact that a children's TV show on Nick managed to make a coup and the political gamesmanship between Long Feng and Azula intense and entertaining shows just how awesome the showrunners were.If any of you have never watched the show, or have watched it years ago....I sincerely recommend a rewatch. via /r/television http://ift.tt/2tgw1vb