Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Best Story of All Time
THE BEST STORY OF ALL TIME
There are many stories that are perfectly told, but Avatar: The Last Airbender is one that does this while having nearly universal appeal. With the show coming to US Netflix on May 15th, it’s as good a time as any to go over what makes this show so fantastic.
Here are some reasons why Avatar: The Last Airbender is possibly the best story of all time:
Complete story arc in a series held to three seasons. So much television is ruined by going on too long or being cancelled too soon. I came away from watching Avatar: The Last Airbender thinking the story shouldn’t have been any longer and couldn’t have been any shorter.
The quality doesn’t diminish as the series goes on. If anything, the story improves all the way to the end.
Compelling cast of characters.
Diverse cast of characters (making it more inclusive and more widely appealing).
Everything fits. Everything works. This is probably my main criteria for a perfect story. There are very few consistency issues in the show. This show will not ‘kick you out’ often (if at all).
It will make you laugh, cry, and stand up and cheer. A perfect balance of dark and light, despair and hope.
It’s an adventure. Everyone loves an adventure!
The episodes are not formulaic. Some even border on being innovative.
Storytellers and critics love this show and can’t stop talking about it (how meta is this bullet?). The reason I watched this show was because I heard it praised at writing conferences, by writer friends, on podcasts, and in numerous critic and craft videos. This story inspires writers as much as it inspires viewers!
Complete and wholly satisfying character arcs balanced perfectly with plot progression and tied into the central themes of the story.
The internal conflicts of the main characters mirror or compliment the main external conflict. These conflicts and character arcs come to a head in a final battle leading to one of the best endings in television.
Regardless of whether or not Avatar: The Last Airbender is the best story ever told, I believe it represents a master class in storytelling. All storytellers can learn from this show.
If you haven’t seen it--watch it. If you have seen it--watch it again
