The Problem With AtLA's Finale (that nobody talks about)

Summary

The video script critiques inconsistencies in travel times and distances in the finale of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.' It points out that characters traverse vast distances impossibly quickly, contradicting the show's earlier pacing. Despite these issues, the script acknowledges the finale's strong character development and emotional moments. The critique suggests that the finale's implausibility in terms of travel logistics detracts from the show's world-building.

Takeaways

• 😐 The finale of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' has been a topic of debate, with some fans questioning the plot points and character developments.
• 🤔 A particular issue with the finale that few discuss is the inconsistency in travel times and distances within the show's world.
• 🌍 The show's first season establishes a rough scale for travel times, suggesting it takes weeks to travel from the South Pole to the North Pole by Sky Bison.
• 🕒 In the second season, the gang's travel from the southern end of the Earth Kingdom to the North Pole on foot seems to take an unrealistically short time.
• 🚣‍♂️ The inconsistency in travel times is highlighted when characters manage to cover vast distances in a matter of hours or days, which contradicts earlier established travel metrics.
• 🔥 The finale's plot involving Ozai's plan to burn the Earth Kingdom with a fleet of airships seems implausible given the small number of airships shown.
• ⏱️ The laws of time and space appear to be bent in the finale, with characters traveling across the world in a timeframe that doesn't align with the show's own world-building.
• 🤷‍♂️ The script questions how such glaring inconsistencies in travel times could have been overlooked by both the writers and the fan base for over 15 years.
• 😢 The script suggests that the finale's pacing and travel inconsistencies detract from an otherwise compelling narrative and character development.
• 💡 Possible solutions to the issue include adjusting the show's timeline or splitting the team up earlier to allow for more believable travel times.

Q & A

What is the main issue the author discusses about the finale of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'?

The main issue the author discusses is the inconsistency in travel times and distances within the show's world, particularly during the finale, which contradicts the established world-building and distances from earlier seasons.

Why does the author find Azula's breakdown contentious?

The author does not elaborate on Azula's breakdown in the provided transcript, but it's mentioned as a point of contention among some viewers of the show.

What is the significance of the winter solstice in the first season of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'?

In the first season, the winter solstice is significant because it establishes Aang's deadline to master the elements and defeat the Fire Lord before Sozin's Comet returns.

How does the author use the travel time from the South Pole to the North Pole to establish a scale for the world map in 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'?

The author uses the travel time from the South Pole to the North Pole, which takes weeks by Sky bison, to give a rough idea of the scale of the world map in the show.

What is the author's concern about the travel time from the southern end of the Earth Kingdom to Ba Sing Se?

The author is concerned that the travel time from the southern end of the Earth Kingdom to Ba Sing Se is inconsistent with the show's earlier established travel times and distances.

Why does the author find the fleet of airships in Ozai's plan to burn the Earth Kingdom unrealistic?

The author finds the fleet of airships unrealistic because it only consists of a dozen airships, which seems insufficient to burn an entire continent like the Earth Kingdom in a single day.

How does the author suggest the show's inconsistencies in travel times could be explained?

The author suggests that the inconsistencies could be explained by the map not being to scale or the characters under or overestimating distances and travel times.

What is the author's critique of the travel times in the third season of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'?

The author critiques that the travel times in the third season are inconsistent and unrealistic, with characters seemingly traveling vast distances in a matter of hours or days, which contradicts the show's earlier pacing.

What does the author propose as a potential solution to the travel time issue in the finale?

The author suggests that the team could have been split up earlier in the season to allow for more time to travel, or the finale itself could have taken place over a longer span of time to account for the extensive travel required.

How does the author feel about the finale of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' despite the travel time issue?

Despite the travel time issue, the author feels that the rest of the finale is legitimately great, with compelling character arcs and emotional moments.

What does the author imply about the show's fan base and the overlooked travel time issue?

The author implies that the show's fan base and writers may have overlooked the travel time issue because the show is highly regarded, and such inconsistencies might be forgiven in well-loved stories.