Jon Boyenga

So... I'm going to be honest in my review... There are so many issues with the story progression, sequencing of events, and base character of characters that it isn't even funny... And, I would have LOVED for the first season to actually follow the exact show's first season - but, that would be way too much to ask. With the animated series, we had a perfect show to watch, and all we wanted was to see it come to life, and in all fairness, we did... The scenery is actually amazing, it was really wonderful to see the Air Temple and Omashu in beautiful CGI glory (actually nice, not sarcasm). That said, it would have been nice to at least get the sequencing of events correct, and to not take character growth away from the characters (I'm looking at you misogyny, unfunny, Sokka). Let's talk about sequencing too, because... uhhh? Too many things were jumbled together in places that made absolutely no sense - characters interacting and knowing each other to where there was absolutely no reason for them to. And, bruh... How are you going to give half the plot away in the first episode? Like, what!? IF this show gets a second season, I'd watch it, but I seriously hope the actors take some acting lessons (minus Dallas Liu who played Zuko, he was brilliant!), and get some new wigs... Netflix could do better than this. I'm reminded that the animated show's creators jumped ship pretty quickly into the production for "creative differences," and maybe that should have been a red flag for Netflix to divert course, but they didn't, and now we will be reminded, again, of live-action failures... "There is no movie in Ba Sing Se." more like, "There is no live-action in Ba Sing Se." Netflix should have stuck to the original and just remade the show that everyone already LOVED. But, instead, they'll be facing backlash. It's a shame, really. PS: I'm only giving this 3 stars because I DID watch it all, and I really enjoyed some moments, specifically just seeing the places from the original show, and bending not taking 12 people working in unison to do simple things, and Dallas Liu's portrayal of Zuko was actually spot on (who has the best character development story of the entire series IMO)! PPS: I think it's really funny how Katara's waterbending is literally just splashing water (slowly), and the people she hit flies backward, and stay down. Anyway, didn't want to give spoilers for the show, just know that if you watch the show to not be surprised by complete glaring differences between the shows. It has it's moments of beauty, but lots of ugly too...