It still amazes me how unbelievably awesome this show is. Taking so many elements from Chinese and Japanese culture, Nickelodeon presented us with something fresh and new, making our jaws practically drop with an incredible saga that marked itself as one of the greatest animated series of all time.

We all know the story by now: long ago, the four nations (Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads) lived in harmony thanks to the power and effort of the continuously reincarnating Avatar, master of all four elements. When the Avatar disappeared, the Fire Nation sets out to conquer the world, throwing everything off balance. One hundred years later, the newest avatar Aang and his sky bison Appa are discovered by a faithful young water bender named Katara and her comical older brother Sokka. Together, our heroes set out to help Aang master the elements, make new friends, and defeat the Fire Nation once and for all to save the world while Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation struggles to find his own destiny.

Pure genius! This series has it all: complex characters, an intertwined story, impressive animation, memorable music, epic action scenes, great comedy, bizarre creatures, etc. Almost every character is a true delight to watch, each having their own strengths, weaknesses, and funny little quirks. By watching all the episodes in order, you can see how much they've changed from being ordinary people to legendary heroes/villains as they fight for what they believe as right. Character development is truly superb here and the journeys they take are proof of that.

There's more to like here too. The action scenes are some of the best, each time showing a character coming up with new ways to fight any enemy or two...or a hundred. Fluid animation and catchy music further add to the excitement of these battles. The creatures of the world of Avatar are rather interesting, often being hybrids of actual animals while some of them, the beings of the spirit world for instance, are strange and otherworldly. Comedy is to be commended as the jokes are simple but effective and the characters make hilarious facial expressions that are reminiscent of how anime people express themselves.

In conclusion, Avatar the Last Airbender is everything you would like about an action-adventure series. This incredible journey is just breath-taking and I defy anyone out there who would say otherwise. Even the highly disappointing live-action movie pales in comparison to this awesome saga. I implore you to check it out, watch the episodes in order, and marvel at the greatness that is Avatar.