The Disney Cartoon about frogs got dangerously close to both making me cry and convincing me that they would fully kill the main protagonist.
Why have I never heard of this show before, this was great! A perfect blend of unbearable awkwardness and genuinely funny jokes, with superb commentary on what "reality" media would become with the rise of YouTube. Not only that, but every character still acts and reacts like a real person would, with even the over-the-top asshole Zach Stone feeling like an uncomfortable portrayal of everyone's desire to escape their failures and become noticed for once in their life. This is another superb outing from Bo Burnham, and I can't wait to watch more.
One of the few shows that is literally too cool to have a coherent plot.
We desperately need more stuff like this. Self-contained, bizarre, yet strangely captivating animated stories with huge talent behind them; combined with some nice, grounded, yet rather in-depth dialogue between characters that's mostly separated from the aforementioned visual storytelling. Sprinkle in touches of a subtle, wonderfully executed, and completely realistic character arc tying all the episodes together, and end it all with a dream-like masterpiece about dealing with grief and death. It may be a little divisive and overwhelming, but we really do need stuff like this to take us out of all the thousands of near-identical Netflix crap that blend together into indistinguishable white noise.
We may never get much more like this, but I hope for it.
I absolutely love this series, but upon reflection this is definitely the weakest episode of Mob Psycho 100. Unlike pretty much every other episode, the characters' personalities don't shine during any of their decisions and/or interactions (apart from Mob being not incredibly smart and starting to become more confident in his abilities). This episode is really just trying to get the plot moving to the finale, which is still pretty phenomenal, but in turn it leaves much of the series' charm behind. There are still some pretty good positives, namely the superb animation and introduction to the members of Claw, but like my first watch, I'm just waiting for Mob Psycho to get started again next episode. Funny how one of the more plot-heavy episodes in Mob Psycho is actually the only filler episode, if you consider character development as content (which I do).
This, as well as the last episode, is the point where Avatar usually surpasses expectations for people. Every character has been given a fairly good setup, mainly Aang and Zuko, and yet the previous episode "The Storm" is where this characterization is not only questioned, but also pushed forward into territories not usually expected from a cartoon, in a surprisingly well-thought-out way. With a firmly established setup, and the audience's minds wondering where ATLA will go next, this show sweeps out the rug and pulls off a masterpiece of an episode, where creative action and atmosphere excel far beyond anything we've anticipated, in a high-stakes, prison-escape episode, introducing new methods of combat along the way to further improve Avatar's already masterful worldbuilding. And to top it off, a beautiful ending that sets up many themes and character arcs that will last the rest of the series
In short: this gud.
You know what? Even considering that this is the weaker part of Avatar, these first few episodes are still really good. Even in this one, we can still see the development of a balance between genuine drama and comedy that only grows stronger as the show progresses.
Wow, that was the most I've ever laughed while watching a TV episode. Nichijou really doesn't miss, ever.
Don't care about the episode, but that's gotta be the best Simpson's Couch 'gag'.
Come on.
We're all going to die.
This fact breaks people. Humans will worry about death for their entire lives. And why shouldn't they? It's the end, after which comes the unknown. No one knows what happens when you die, but leaving this earth scares us. So we believe something actually happens when you die - you go to heaven, a paradise similar to earth, or you become reborn.
What probably happens when you die is similar to our personal experiences of the year 1856. Nothing. Everything ends.
But for Bojack Horseman, and for many others, he doesn't want his life to end, especially not at this point in it. So, he imagines closure. His brain has a lucid dream where he meets all his dead friends, and they tell him they forgive him. They all leave him, and prepare him for his turn. It's a pretty good way to go out, given the event itself.
But this closure isn't real. Bojack is drowning in a pool, and there is an overwhelmingly large chance that he is going to die. The View From Halfway Down, as expected from Bojack-level writing, expertly hints at the real outcome of this episode. He can't remember what's happening, a black-as-death liquid keeps dripping on his head, his food and water taste like chlorine, he is with those who have already died, a bird dying before leaving a house is an omen of death, and so on and so forth. Even more clever details are dropped as special little Easter eggs: the paintings are all from different places, and behind more warped as time passed; Bojack takes Sarah Lynn to the house, much like he took her to her death; and, for an extra kicker, it is revealed he is drowning 17 minutes in - exactly how long he waited while Sarah Lynn was dying before calling an ambulance.
At the same time, the content itself is brilliant - a final, grandiose goodbye to those who died, and phenomenal conversations on death, legacy and true selflessness between wonderfully charismatic and engaging personalities (all made up in Bojack's head), as well as the haunting portrayal of Bojack's impending and terrifying doom. Herb is awesome, Sarah Lynn is tragic, Zach Braff is hilarious, and Secretariat/Butterscotch Horseman is endlessly interesting. And that poem, man, that is absolutely impeccable.
Bojack still lives, though. Watching through to the end credits shows this - his heart is still beating. Whether that's what he deserved or not is obviously left up to discussion, but I still like how we're given reasons that he should live - he is remorseful, he holds himself accountable for mistakes, and as the final phone call makes clear, he just wants to know that his loved ones are ok. I'm absolutely fine with Bojack living on, and giving my one of my favourite final episodes of all time.
Bojack Horseman will still die. But he has time to make his life good again. And maybe, just maybe, it'll finally work.
Such a weird, unique, yet wonderful show. The characters were all likeable and memorable, every setting was wildly creative and intriguing, the humour was really great, and the story, whilst rushed in places, really was something excellent overall. There was a great sense of childhood nostalgia through Greg's adorable naivety, perfectly mixed with some really dark themes through Wirt and the overarching narrative. I'm serious - this gets pretty dark, especially in the last few episodes. It was a fun little trip, and an intriguing story, all capped off by a magnificent finale.
Sure, this was very strange and sometimes offputting. Sure, I didn't need to hear the Cartoon Network intro at the start of every episode. But this was a really great, really different experience that many would enjoy, and one that I will likely enjoy more on revisits.
Thanks for the 110 minutes, Over The Garden Wall.
You wonderful mistake of nature.
Well that was pretty great! Hilda is back with its signature creativity, wholesomeness and extremely likeable characters, and now it has magic, so that's awesome. Kaisa (the librarian) is an even better character, and Frida's a witch now, so that's cool. Overall a superb episode, and good proof that Hilda, thankfully, has not decreased in quality.
I don't swear that often. In fact, I pretty much don't swear at all.
I SWORE FIVE TIMES DURING THIS EPISODE ALONE.
WHAT THE $&*#ING HELL.
"Is it...terrifying?"
"No. I don't think so. It's the way it is, you know? Everything must come to an end, the drip finally stops."
"...See you on the other side."
"Oh Bojack, no. There is no other side. This is it."
I don't really know what to say about this show. I'm gonna try, anyway.
This is one of the most hilarious and most depressing things ever. You want to call it a comedy, because of the witty and funny dialogue, but you can't, because each episode has one idea, one subtle but major lesson for the viewers. Maybe it's a brilliantly constructed campaign for feminism, maybe it is a brilliant look at dementia, or suicide, or drinking. There is always a constant though - it is brilliant.
One of the biggest standouts for this show is its characters. Just the five main characters are some of the best I've ever seen - Todd, Princess Carolyn, Mr Peanutbutter, Diane and of course, Bojack Horseman. All five are broken in some way (some much more in others), and it's so engaging to watch how these people deal with highs, lows, and how they change/don't change. Bojack Horseman himself is hands down the most interesting character I've ever seen in television - you can't agree with his actions, and you want to hate him for his worst moments, but you can't help but root for him and his ability to change. And he does - and doesn't.
While the first six episodes aren't that great, the rest of the series (and I mean the rest) is absolutely the best stuff out there. In my opinion, the seventh episode is where things really start, and if you watch the eighth episode, The Telescope, and you still don't like this series, then this probably isn't your thing.
If you are willing to watch through some of the most depressing, yet astounding, episodes ever, this is the show for you. I think that really everyone needs to see this, if they are willing.
(Also just a quick seasonal ranking - 4>6>5=3>2>>1)
My words and descriptions could not do this episode justice. Just know that this is definitely Avatar's best episode, possibly one of the best episodes in TV, and a brilliant continuation of Zuko as a character full of life and complexity.
9.8/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #2
Look, this isn't a perfect finale. I do feel like Energybending is a bit of an easy way out for Aang, and a bit out of nowhere. In defence of this, however, it is evident that Aang could easily kill Ozai throughout the entire final fight. The purpose of the Energybending was to show that Aang is a pacifist, and does not believe in killing anyone. He wants to take his own path through life, and this is shown since the very start.
Other than that, everything else is amazing. The Final Agni Kai between Zuko and Azula is an incredibly satisfying payoff for his journey, and the music changes the context of the scene from an epic battle to a tragic circumstance, where a brother and sister are duelling, likely to the death. The faceoff between Aang and Ozai is incredibly epic and even has character relevance in it. In fact, basically every single scene in every battle is visually stunning and very cinematic. Even Sokka and Toph's side story, taking down the Fire Nation Fleet, is awesome, with each character showing the extent of their powers in taking down the airships.
My favourite scene in this finale is probably Azula's final scene, having a full-on mental breakdown at the prospect of her loss. It's not satisfying to see her like this, the primary antagonist defeated, it's saddening, to see a manipulated 14-year-old crying. And that's brilliant.
I don't have much else to say about this finale, it's just really amazing. Not perfect, but amazing.
9.7/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #3
This is just a really nice filler episode. We get to see each of the characters just going about their lives: Aang helps someone make a nice zoo, Katara and Toph go to a spa, Iroh goes about helping people (because of course he would), Sokka gets in a haiku rap battle (because of course he would), Zuko goes on a date, and Momo has a wacky misadventure with some big cats. It's just nice to have a break from all the big events happening, and settle down with these characters a bit.
But Avatar goes further and inserts deeper meaning into these episodes. Katara and Toph's spa day helps them develop a better friendship, and so does their encounter with some bullies, who they drown like the trash they are. This encounter reveals some of Toph's worries about her looks, and Katara comforts her. Momo's adventure also conveys his feelings towards the disappearance of Appa, and how he misses him. Zuko's date shows his softer side, and he expresses happiness for possibly the first time in the series. And Iroh...I don't think I need to talk about Iroh's tale. You all probably know already. It's really sad, I cried, I don't often do that, moving on.
Overall, a phenomenal filler episode, although not really one, considering the amount of character development present.
9.7/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #4
Hell yeah, spooky episode!
Bloodbending is a really unsettling idea for Avatar to explore, and I applaud them for not only going down this path but also doing it as well as they usually do. The idea of being controlled by someone moving your blood around is such a chilling thought, and watching someone using this skill makes you flinch each time. The buildup to this revelation is very nice, showing how Hama is willing to drain water out of life for her own benefit. The end of the episode is great, with Katara having to bloodbend in order to stop Hama, and crying when Hama tells her, with glee, "Congratulations. You're a bloodbender."
Very haunting episode, and a welcome departure from Avatar's usual tone.
9.6/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #5
This episode (and the previous part) kind of feels like a finale in itself. We have almost all of the characters we've seen in the series coming together for one big invasion. We see Sokka showing his growth from the start of the season, and leading a full-on attack on the Fire Nation. The plan of attack has so many things going for it and is very interesting to watch play out.
However, the plan fails. Azula knew what was coming, and made some incredibly clever preparations for the Day of Black Sun. Even when she is caught by the others, she is still able to outmaneuver both Aang and Toph, and doesn't give up any information. The Invasion is a total failure, and that's what makes this episode so awesome. It ups the stakes for the finale, and gives a brutal sting to the audience knowing that many characters have been captured, including the reveal of Suki. Not only that, but the introduction of the Fire Nation Air Fleet is haunting, and a bit terrifying.
On the plus side, we get to see one extremely positive note near the end of the episode - Zuko finishes his character arc, one of the best redemption arcs all time, in an amazing confrontation with his father, luke skywalker Fire Lord Ozai. This scene is brilliantly written, with Zuko telling his father straight up that what he did, everything he has done to him is wrong, and redirecting his father's lightning right back at him. And seeing him following Team Avatar in a hot air balloon, while in previous episodes would be a cliffhanger for a possible fight, is instead a fist-pumping moment for the audience.
This is the 'Empire Strikes Back ending' of season 3, and a brilliant way to further set up the finale.
9.5/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #6
Now things are getting REALLY great. We see Aang taking a spiritual journey to find a way to save the Northern Water Tribe, and he faces off against an incredibly threatening spirit, Ko. The facedown between these two is really engaging, as we watch Aang using his training as a monk to overcome Ko's incredibly terrifying threat of removing people's faces. Finding out the concept of the Moon and the Ocean, Yin and Yang, was quite an interesting revelation.
However, the real treat of this episode is when the Moon Spirit is captured, and the entire world goes red. This feels like a big burst of artistry and goes even further when Zhao kills the spirit, and the entire world goes dark. This is quite an intense turn of events for a kid's show, and from here on in I was extremely invested in this series, although The Blue Spirit may have been my turning point. Aang going into the Avatar State, saying that hope is never lost, and becoming a giant water monster was extremely cool, even if it was a bit out of nowhere. Yue's sacrifice is also quite intense, and I truly believe that for Sokka, it is extremely rough. Iroh was also awesome in this episode, helping Zuko whenever he can and facing off against Zhao.
Overall, a really great episode. It may not be worth the 10 I gave it, but this really felt like the point in which Avatar started to ascend to the heights it would eventually reach.
9.5/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #7
This is a really nice finale. We get to see all of the main characters cross paths, and the result of many of these characters actually interacting with each other, such as Zuko and Katara's heart to heart. All of the major characters make a choice, and these choices are big - Katara decides to hear Zuko out, Azula manipulates Zuko, who then betrays his uncle for a chance to reunite his family, Aang gives up Katara to continue his journey as the Avatar, and Iroh defends the gAang. All of these choices lead to consequences - Zuko's betrayal causes his uncle, the person who believes in him and helps him the most, to be arrested and captured, Azula's plan/lightning almost kills Aang, even in his Avatar State (which gives quite a scare to the viewers), Katara loses her superpowered water to save Aang, and biggest of all, the Earth Kingdom falls. Plus, we get to see one of the greatest fight scenes in the series, Aang and Katara vs Zuko and Azula.
Overall, this is a great finale to an amazing season and sets up the next one very nicely, as well as continues Zuko's character arc quite well.
9.4/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #8
In my opinion, this is a better version of The Storm. While that episode is a great exploration of Aang's flaws and Zuko's origins, this episode parallels that by having both characters explore the same story - why the war started.
In that sense, it is an amazing piece of worldbuilding, showing the relationship between two important figures, how it changed over time and how ideals tore them apart. Not only that, but it gives a very believable start to the war - Sozin believed he could fix the rest of the world by invading it and 'treating' it to the Fire Nation's wealth. The Avatar could have stopped this, but he cared too much about Sozin to "do the right thing" and stop/kill him when he went too far. Despite his mercy towards Sozin, due to their history, Sozin's ambitions were too important to him, and he watched his friend die, giving him the opportunity he needed to carry out his plans and start a 100-year tragedy.
Another amazing thing about this episode is, while Aang and Zuko are viewing the same story, it provides a different message to each of them. It emphasizes to Aang the point, explored in previous episodes, that there is good in everyone, in every nation, if only people would try to look for it. On the other hand, it shows Zuko that there is both good and bad in himself, and that he has the choice to become a good person and shape his own destiny.
This episode further paves the way to the conclusion of Zuko's arc and helps further build up the world of Avatar to feel like a real place.
9.5/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #9
This is a great episode for Katara, a character who often doesn't get much character development. It outlines Zuko and Katara's relationship, and a major reason why she doesn't trust him - her association of him, and in extension the fire nation, with the death of her mother. As a solution, Zuko gives her an opportunity to gain revenge against the man who killed her mother, and Katara takes it willingly, going so far as to bloodbend a fire nation soldier without hesitation and almost kill the murderer himself, in an astonishing scene where we see the extent of Katara's powers stopping rain in its tracks.
But, she doesn't kill the man. She doesn't forgive him, but she understands that killing the man, or in extension, anyone, is wrong, as Aang said near the beginning of the episode. And her closure from finding the pitiful excuse for a human helps her, finally, move past the death of her mother, and forgive Zuko.
My only real problem with this episode is that the dialogue is a bit heavy-handed every so often, but this isn't that big of a problem for me. Overall, this an astounding episode for Katara, and a bold one for a kid's show to create.
9.2/10
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #10
While The Storm is the episode I consider to be the turning point of this series from good to great, this episode is the point in which this series got GOOD. We get a great, action-packed episode that, in accordance with the previous episode, gives depth to Zuko's character and his relationship with the Avatar.
The escape from the fortress is amazing, with Aang and Zuko using the powers they have, such as sword fighting and wind bursts, to try and overpower the Fire Nation soldiers working as hard as they can to stop them. The escape sequence also works to establish Aang and Zuko as a powerhouse when working together, instead of against each other, hinting towards the events in Season Three.
The only real downside for me in this episode is the side plot with Katara and Sokka's illnesses causing wacky hijinks, which is quite ill-fitting with the rest of this superb episode.
9.1/10
I laughed way too hard at the Oasis reference and the Sailor Moon reference.
Also I'm starting to believe that Callum is the reincarnation of Sokka.
This show is very much seeming to feel a lot like Avatar. These past two seasons feel a lot like two halves of the same season, and I hold it in a very similar regard to Avatar's first season, with an 8 overall. However, the first season is the lower half for me, maybe like a 7.7, and the second season has been an 8.4, exploring many character arcs extremely well.
I was spoiled about almost every part of this show when I started it. I was also not a child when I watched it, and understood what makes a show good or bad.
The fact that I was still floored by how amazing this show is says a lot.
leave it to avatar to make a filler episode meant to be a recap one of its most enjoyable and memorable
Hey guys! Zuko here.
That's it that's the review.
