I absolutely loved how tight the adaptation was - given the constraints of budget and format.
Almost every actor (and especially the director) did justice to their character. Out of them all, the only one I wasn't able to connect very well with was Katara. She seemed a little too plastic and her angst and ferocity didn't shine through. Ang was very likeable and Azula was absolutely on point. Bumi was hilariously senile (like he should be).
While I loved most of the feats in bending, some of them felt inconsistent and lackluster. Hope to see season two get a little wilder on that. Absolutely loved the avatar state and the raw power it was able to depict. Weirded out that most of the waterbending attacks didn't get one wet. Or that a lot of firebending just tended to sweep you off your feet and not burn you. Earthbending was the best depicted.
Binge-watching the entire eight episodes gave me a better perspective of the gravity of the realism of the plot. I felt much more connected to the world and the war. The seriousness in the depictions of death and destruction elevated the original very tastefully. It's amazing how the relationships between characters were explored with tenderness. Also, nice to see references that are neatly closed up later and storytelling liberties that steer away from the obvious (Pakku recognizing but not mentioning about the necklace to Katara).
All in all, a very hearty watch. Something I will definitely watch again while I wait for the next book with bated breath 😮💨
Shout out to the cabbage seller.