If you've spent even a few minutes online this week, you probably know that "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is being rerun on Netflix starting May 15 However, you may not be aware that you should drop everything else you're watching and watch this film, or that you should rewatch it

We know you probably have other things in your media queue; we know it's a children's cartoon that debuted in 2005 Still, you should do it Because the last time it was on Netflix, you put it off and look how it turned out Look at it

"Avatar" came to Netflix in the early 2010s Then it was available on Amazon Prime for a while But with the "Fire Nation" attack, everything changed For years, it was impossible to watch "Avatar" on streaming services, and one had to either buy the show a la carte or hunt around for old DVDs and Blu-rays

Now, thanks to an upcoming live-action series, the animated version of "Avatar" appears to be available on Netflix for the long haul Frankly, unless you are watching the follow-up to Better Call Saul, this is the one to watch If you've seen this show before, you know why If you haven't, here are my most compelling arguments to correct that oversight

"Avatar: The Last Airbender," not to be confused with James Cameron's mediocre film or M Night Shyamalan's outrageous adaptation, was a three-season cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008 Like many of Nickelodeon's cartoons, it was aimed at an audience between the ages of 8 and 13 Unlike most Nickelodeon cartoons, however, Avatar was not a droll comedy, but a fairly highbrow martial arts drama, with a season-long arc and a cast of three-dimensional characters that grew and changed as the show progressed

The basic synopsis goes like this: in an East Asian fantasy world where four nations live peacefully, one for each of the classical elements, an "Avatar" is created in each generation who can manipulate the four elements However, the current Avatar, a young monk named Aang, is trapped in a block of ice for 100 years During his absence, the belligerent Fire Nation invades other nations and attempts to take over the world Sokka and Katara, brother and sister from a peaceful water tribe, accidentally free Aang from his icy prison Now the three must embark on a globe-trotting journey to help Aang master his powers and restore balance to the world

This is a pretty good setup, but what really makes "Avatar" work is the show's strong driving force Beyond the first half of the season, no plot point is static If the characters hint at a major turning point, rest assured, that turning point will come and radically alter the status quo This applies to everything from Aang's vow to master the new elements to the villain who struggles for three seasons to redeem himself

"Avatar" was released just as mainstream television was beginning to experiment with feature-length storytelling, so it is a bit episodic at first: Aang and his friends visit new places, solve problems, and declare that they will make real progress next time But as the show grows in confidence, interesting things begin to happen almost every episode The group attracts new members and sometimes splits for long stretches Supporting characters get the spotlight, major characters falter, and even a character dies on screen, which is pretty dark for a children's show

This means that the tone of the show also changes over time Avatar begins in the setting of a week-long adventure, but eventually tackles romance, war stories, historical flashbacks, prison escapes, and even a strangely metaphysical episode in which Ang must tackle a profound philosophical question: can taking a life ever be justified?

I could talk about the story all day, but the bottom line is that the story is interesting and the script is very good The same goes for animation, sound effects, music, and other production values The film features a stellar voice cast, including Jason Isaacs, Mark Hamill, Jennifer Hale, Mae Whitman, George Takei, Clancy Brown, and the late, great Mako Iwamatsu

Can I get on my soapbox for a second: Most TV shows have really boring characters I can't analyze every modern show in this article, but here's an example from my analysis of "Star Trek: Picard"

What sets "Avatar" apart from many other shows, both for children and adults, is that its characters are constantly growing and changing Take the main cast, for example Aang and Sokka start out as easygoing goofballs, while Katara is more of a scolding mother

By the end of the first season, Aang and Katara have become diligent students, while Sokka has become humble enough to know that she needs to change By the middle of the third season, Aang is struggling with issues of life and death, Katara's powers have grown to the point where she can be actively evil with them, and Sokka, unable to bend the elements like her friends, is dedicated to proving herself in battle

This is not to mention the pampered young prince Zucco of the Fire Nation or the enigmatic Uncle Iroh If anything, the show's villains are even more interesting than its heroes: the ambitious and resolute Admiral Zhao, the arrogant and superpowered Princess Azura, and the unyielding and Machiavellian Fire Nation King Ozai (Jason Isaacs plays Zhao, Grey Delisle plays Azura, and Mark Hamill plays Ozai) That should give you a general idea)

The evolution of the characters in this program is interesting to watch on its own But it also makes one feel as if one has truly embarked on a journey with the characters over the course of three years As the show progresses, the characters grow and there is a real sense that circumstances change over time Also, the characters occasionally make catastrophic mistakes and have to face the fallout

Perhaps the most compelling reason to watch "Avatar" now is simply that it is almost guaranteed to make you feel good Because "Avatar" is a children's show, it never gets too dark, and there is plenty of silly humor and gags (The main characters almost always amuse each other, and the characters they meet along the way are often honest, forthright, and kind

There is an enthusiasm that runs throughout the show Yes, there are hostile forces at work, but good people working together almost always triumph Furthermore, as the program progresses, we see that the "Fire Nation" is not a monolith of evil There are countless good deeds on the "enemy" side as well

But above all, "Avatar" is a show that believes in the power of change By working hard and making the most of who they are, the heroes face many challenges As some of the villains learn, evil is a choice we make over and over again, not an innate character trait Even if the whole world believes that compromising one's morals is the only way to win, there is always another way

If you can make it through to the end of "Avatar" without cracking a smile, then you have no sense of humor

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" won't be leaving Netflix anytime soon, but haven't you put it off long enough? It's time for fans to argue over a magical martial arts drama with a hardworking hero, a redeeming villain, and at least two love triangles, even after all these years If you have kids, watch it with them

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