Tag Archives: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Jan 7 2024

Top Ten Most Anticipated Films & TV Shows of 2024

Despite the fact that there will be a noticeable lack of superhero-related films and TV shows in 2024 there will be plenty of genre fare for us to get excited about. With that, here is the list of the top ten most anticipated films and TV shows (both new series and returning favorites) coming out this year in 2024. Keep in mind, of course, that there will be many schedule changes as well as unexpected films or TV shows that could pop up without any notice that turn out to be great. Be sure to comment below on these picks or any others you may have.

Films

10. Sonic the Hedgehog 3

The previous two Sonic the Hedgehog films were much more fun and engaging than expected, so we should get more of the same.

9. IF

Director/actor John Krasinski follows up to A Quiet Place with this creative foray involving imaginary friends and stars Ryan Reynolds.

8. A Quiet Place: Day One

Speaking of A Quiet Place, the third film in the franchise will be a prequel that will feature the initial stages of the invasion by the sound-hunting aliens that decimate civilization.

7. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

The latest Monsterverse film looks admittedly goofy but fun as the kings of the monsters, Godzilla and King Kong team up to face their deadliest enemy yet in an underground society of kaijus.

6. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a great return to form for the Ghostbusters franchise with endearing new characters. The newest sequel will more closely follow the franchise with its New York setting.

5. Civil War

Alex Garland, known for his provocative sci-fi films, directs this film that could be taken from tomorrow’s headlines. Its setting of a United States in the thralls of a second civil war will probably emphasize challenging themes over action thanks to Garland’s directorial skills.

4. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Director George Miller’s latest entry in the Mad Max films focuses on Furiosa, the breakout character from Mad Max: Fury Road. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as a young Furiosa, this film functions as a prequel that embellishes her character.

3. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

The latest Apes film is set many years after the last film and Ceasar’s death. Naturally, this sequel will do more worldbuilding as it will feature new characters and situations as the ape society evolves further in contrast to a humanity ravaged by a plague.

2. Dune: Part Two

The second part of the sci-fi epic was delayed from last year due to the writers and actors strike which nearly crippled Hollywood. This development disappointed fans of the first film who craved to see the conclusion of the saga of Paul Atreides, the future messiah struggling to fight for his adopted people on the desert planet Dune.

1. Deadpool 3

The third Deadpool film (which could have a name change), has turned out to be a very important film for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Due to missteps the MCU faced last year, a lot is riding on the success of Deadpool 3.

The big draw for Deadpool 3 is not just Ryan Reynolds reprising his role of the Merc with the Mouth, but Hugh Jackman returning to his iconic role as Logan/Wolverine. The MCU and the multiverse will feature prominently in the film as the two traverse many universes, which should be more than enough to draw in fans.

Noteworthy Mentions:

Alien: Romulus, Beetlejuice 2, Joker Folie à Deux, Imaginary, Inside Out 2, Kung Fu Panda 4, Mickey 17, Nosferatu, Rebel Moon, Part Two: The Scargiver, Venom 3

TV Shows

10. 3 Body Problem

The adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel about an impending alien invasion will hopefully be as complex and mind-bending as the novel.

9. Fallout

Amazon Prime’s live-action adaptation of the popular post-apocalyptic video game looks both faithful to the source material and intriguing.

8. The Umbrella Academy

The fourth and final season of the quirky superhero family team should be as goofy and endearing as the previous seasons as it concludes their unique storylines.

7. Star Wars: The Acolyte

It is unknown if this Disney+ Star Wars TV show, which is set in the era of the High Republic, will air this year. But it seems to be the most interesting of the announced Star Wars TV shows.

6. Star Trek: Prodigy

The second and final season of this better-than-expected animated Star Trek TV show will stream on Netflix and hopefully will conclude its storyline of diverse alien youths turned into Starfleet cadets.

5. What If…?

The animated series set in the MCU went all out with its stories of alternate realities. There hasn’t been any word on when it premieres, but Disney+ already gave us a teaser, so it may drop soon.

4. Agatha: Darkhold Diaries

Agatha Harkness was one of the most popular characters and villains to come out of WandaVision. It was only natural that she was rewarded with her own spinoff show, which will dwell more into her background.

3. The Boys

Season 4 of the dark look at superhero celebrities will amp up the conflict between the amoral Homelander with his Superman-like powers and those trying to oppose the popular tyrant in the making.

2 Avatar: The Last Airbender

The Netflix live-action version of the popular animated TV show will be much more accurate than the awful 2010 live-action film that rushed through the intricate fantasy world of the element benders with its whitewash casting.

1. House of the Dragon

The prequel series to Game of Thrones was unbelievably better than expected as we were instantly enthralled with the family dynamics of the Targaryen royal family.

Season two promises to push these envelopes further with the bitter rivalry with the family as they use their deadly dragons to duel over the rightful claim to the Targaryen throne.

Noteworthy Mentions:

Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief in Halo Season 1, Episode 1, streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Adrienn Szabo/Paramount+

Dark Matter, Echo, Halo, Invincible, Orphan Black: Echoes, The Penguin, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Sugar, Time Bandits, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

Jun 22 2014

Top Ten Episodes Of Avatar: The Last Airbender

cast airbender

Few animated series have been as rich and complex as Avatar: The Last Airbender. Showcasing emotionally deep characters and thrilling story arcs, the show was beloved by many and has spawned the popular sequel The Legend Of Korra (its new season airs June 27), plus an ill-received live-action film. The following are ten of the best episodes from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

10 winter solstice part 1

10. “The Spirit World (Winter Solstice, Part 1)” While the early episodes were entertaining it was this first season story that really began embellishing the show’s mythos with airbender Aang’s spiritual meeting with the previous Avatar.

9. “The Blue Spirit” Aang’s primary antagonist for the first season was exiled Prince Zuko who was wracked with anger and confusion. While previous episodes in the first season showed Zuko’s ambiguous nature, this one had him assume more of an anti-heroic role.

9 blue spirit

8. “The Southern Raiders” By the time this third-season show aired, Zuko had reformed and joined Aang’s quest to defeat his own father and bring peace to the four elemental nations. While Aang had accepted Zuko, his companion and love interest Katarra had not. She hated the Fire Nation (Zuko’s tribe) for killing her mother and took it out on Zuko. In this episode she confronts her feelings and we learn about what happened to her mother.

7. “Appa’s Lost Days” Aang’s beloved flying bison Appa was stolen during the second season. This episode shows what happened to Appa after he was abducted by the sandbenders. Add extra points if you are an animal lover and hate seeing animal cruelty.

zuko and evil sister6. “The Crossroads Of Destiny” The final episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s second season brings Aang and his companions to their most imperiled state. Their mission to protect the Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se from the Fire Nation fails, Aang is mortally wounded by Zuko’s evil sister and Zuko does a heartbreaking about face and strays from his redemptive path by throwing his lot with his father’s forces.

5. “Sozin’s Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters” The second episode in the show’s final four-part arc has several popular characters encountered by Aang and friends throughout the series meet up with our heroes to defeat the Fire Nation. What really drove this episode were Zuko’s reunion with his kind Uncle Iroh and Aang’s torment over the idea that he has to kill Fire Lord Ozai in order to bring peace and freedom to his world. His spiritual meetings with previous Avatars were very illuminating into his nature.

4 black sun part 24. “The Day Of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse” In the show, there was a prophecy that the Fire Lord would be weakest during an eclipse (because firebenders derive their power from the sun). Aang, his companions and allies make an ill-fated attempt to attack the Fire Lord and his forces in this third-season episode. This one also marks the point where Zuko completely turns against his father and decides to aid Aang.

3. “Zuko Alone” Aang and his companions do not appear in this second-season episode which seems a lot like a western. By himself, Zuko arrives in an Earth Kingdom village as a mysterious stranger and assumes a heroic, lone gunfighter type of role against thuggish soldiers. Viewers also see flashbacks to his younger days and see his troubled family life. Though revered by villagers, the episode’s outcome is rather depressing for this anti-hero.

2 iroh2. “Tales Of Ba Sing Se” This second-season episode is really a series of vignettes about each major character. While the stories were amusing and presented interesting looks at the characters during quiet moments, the standout was Uncle Iroh’s tale. Throughout the series Iroh is shown to be a gentle, light-hearted, wise man who counsels Zuko and teaches his nephew right from wrong. In the story, Iroh travels solo around the city and humorously interacts with several citizens. At the end of the story, the mood changes dramatically as Iroh tearfully sings a song for his dead son during the anniversary of his son’s birthday.

1. “Sozin’s Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang” This is the final episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender and it goes out in a blazing glory. Aang and his friends have a final battle with the avatar aangFire Nation and Fire Lord Ozai. The airbender embraces his destiny and mission and becomes a fully realized Avatar during his fateful, spectacular battle with Ozai. The animation was amazing, awe-inspiring and a bit frightening as viewers witnessed the true nature of an Avatar’s powers. Also many of the other characters confronted their enemies and most plot points were resolved except for one -what happened to Zuko’s mother; this seemed to tease viewers of another story (which was alluded to in the first episode of The Legend of Korra), which has yet to be told.

Waldermann Rivera