So watched the first two episodes of nAtla season two and OH boy (first impresions)
For the first I agreed with most of criticism but tried to focus on the positives mostly for the sake of the young cast, but the benefit has given and while I still need to see the rest I don’t have a good hope.
I am very character focused so I’ll make this post about it. I will take this out at once, while on s1 I thought Zuko and Iroh were quite spot on, on this the only one that has me satisfied is Ty Lee , the only one I consider actually good till now. That out of the way i´ll get this on tiers
(btw none of this implies anything against the actors)
first one: i don't hate it
And it´s very important to me that it´s understood: doesn't mean i like it, doesn't mean it´s good, it means i don't hate it, like i said the only one i consider good until now it´s Ty Lee
So the don't hate it tier has Toph, whom until now i don't find offensive as an adaptation, however she is quite uninteresting and weights the same as if you unlocked a videogame character. So by this two first episodes, she is simply there.
I don't know if this is unpopular but i also don't hate Suki´s portrayal. Are there problems YES of course, but here´s the thing: those problems are original sin, they were very present on the aminated version as well, i critize the netflix LA for the fanservice a lot but this may be the one i sort of shouldn't because so did the original. The only true downside coming exclusively from the netflix version is that oh she does NOT have chemistry with Sokka on this version. I have seen people say they made her stalkery but personally i don't find it quite, she is mostly foward, to me people feels it that way because of how bad the chemistry is. She has more with Katara.
Speaking of which, i am going to put a pin on it since i know she has a painted lady subplot in later episodes, until know Katara seems better than on season 1, NOT GOOD she is still kind of boring but better she has more charm (like, congrats , you put salt on your soy cube)
second tier: yeah this sucks
Now Aang barely manages to have SOME Aang like moments but the writers clearly don't like Aang so most of the time the acts like the classic angsty average protagonist with some playful scenes which feel obligated so they can say "SEE? HE IS MORE LIKE AANG NOW" and only do it once in a while so...no?
I could make a case on why natla aang doesn't work both as adaptation or standalone character (he is TOO boring) comparing him to the disney LA of Cinderella but won't extend too much.
Iroh, who along with Zuko i consider was good in season 1, it´s quite flanderized honestly. It´s like wise old man it´s his only trait now, like a caricature.
I also going to slide Mai now, she may have either better or worse appareances foward but until now i don't like how they play her either speficically that scene where she fights Ty Lee which is out of character for both her and Azula (if i don't drag Ty Lee is because she was mostly reactive) it sucks, the scene just sucks. Outside of that she simply exist without adding anything.
Now Zuko, i don't know if i would place him on this tier or the next but he is definitely no longer a highlight. To me is that they think Zuko´s character is his arc so everything about him revolves about it. I know it sounds like a ridiculous critism (it sounds to me) but hear me: they know and we know he is redeeming himself so the writing on Zuko is hammering his flaws on the audience so the redemption is spoon feed to the audience. The thing that stops me from putting him lower is that his changes kind of make sense with the show´s tesis...however, i HATE that tesis, which we are seeing at the final tier:
third: what in the FLYING FUCK was THAT?
so the fire royal family have one crucial change: what if Zuko was the favorite instead of Azula? and i hate it so much, it already goes against the set up on what made the original make sense, i would dare to say it even sends very bad implications (too early for me to call it sexist but trust that my finger is close there)
I said years ago netflix azula wasn't truly that bad on season 1 and i stand by it, because it was fair to wait. Season 2 Azula is an atrocity. As a standalone character is pasable i guess (BARELY) but she is being destroyed on the favor of Zuko, a bit Ursa and SPECIALLY Ozai.
Ursa is some disney live action remake level of correction i don't have time for but i definitely don't agree, i don't think this was the way. i could extend myself if asked.
Ozai is your typical villain, he has more screentime than his animated counterpart and...honestly it hardly matters, he is doesn't add big deal. Like, they are ruining Azula for THIS, a villain nothing special.
Okay, i am using "ruin" too freely, it´s truly not ruining it because the original will always be there, will always be the one beloved and the one people would come back to. Still, this level of incompetence is deeply sad, specially because they clearly think they are "we are the woke version of it" you can see it.
Oh yeah, Sokka, he is annoying as fuck, he is Joss Whedon's Flash, he is ember island player Sokka (he even made a i am starving joke) i can't stand everytime he opens his mouth, if he dies i won't be sad.
Like i said these are first impresions (Katara and Toph will likely change) but i think it´s only downhill from here.
