Seriously, the only character that seemed to relate to their show!self was Zuko. Personally, I love Zuko, but there is so much more to the show than just his angst.
Movie!Aang: It's like they forgot that he's a prodigy at waterbending (not 'til earthbending) and that Koizilla (yeah, remember that? actual giant fish-person thing, not just huge-ass tidal wave) was him completely losing his shit, not coming to grips with his angst. Plus, Show!Aang had to learn to get with the whole "seriousness" thing, not constantly be staring solemnly into the screen.
Movie!Katara: Show!Katara is supposed to be a bitchy sister, a motherly figure, and a kickass bender. She's driven by her mother's death, fighting against injustice, and there ain't no one gonna tell her what not to do. I'm really not sure what Movie!Katara's purpose even was.
Movie!Sokka: The Meat and Sarcasm Guy. Supposed to be dealing with having become the man of the entire village, coming to grips with having to be a leader, the pragmatist, a brother and really the only nonbender of the group. Instead, Movie!Sokka was reduced to awkward attempts at Show!Sokka humor. And what was up with your warrior's wolftail?
Movie!Iroh: For two whole seasons, we all thought Show!Iroh was just this fat old guy who liked tea. He was awesome, but mainly because he didn't put up with any of Zuko's shit and was the kindly wise influence that everyone should listen to. We sort of knew he was a general, got a couple of glimpses of possible coolness, but it's mostly old man goodness. So when he busts out his Dragon of the West moves on us, we flipped out. So unexpected and therefore so completely awesome! Movie!Iroh always looks like he is perfectly capable of kicking ass even without fire and then when he finally does break out his superspecialawesome firebending... he doesn't do anything with it. It feels completely pointless, rather than the freakin' awesome moment of kickass by Show!Iroh.
Movie!Ozai: Wait, was Ozai even in Book One?
Movie!Zhao: Arrogant kickass independent thinker to weaselly stooge. Also, his sideburns weren't nearly big enough.
Movie:Pakku: What happened to his superiority complex? It really stung to hear "water is acceptance" out of that show!chauvinistic old dude's mouth.
Is it really that hard to get a character arc right?
Seriously, the only character that seemed to relate to their show!self was Zuko. Personally, I love Zuko, but there is so much more to the show than just his angst.
Movie!Aang: It's like they forgot that he's a prodigy at waterbending (not 'til earthbending) and that Koizilla (yeah, remember that? actual giant fish-person thing, not just huge-ass tidal wave) was him completely losing his shit, not coming to grips with his angst. Plus, Show!Aang had to learn to get with the whole "seriousness" thing, not constantly be staring solemnly into the screen.
Movie!Katara: Show!Katara is supposed to be a bitchy sister, a motherly figure, and a kickass bender. She's driven by her mother's death, fighting against injustice, and there ain't no one gonna tell her what not to do. I'm really not sure what Movie!Katara's purpose even was.
Movie!Sokka: The Meat and Sarcasm Guy. Supposed to be dealing with having become the man of the entire village, coming to grips with having to be a leader, the pragmatist, a brother and really the only nonbender of the group. Instead, Movie!Sokka was reduced to awkward attempts at Show!Sokka humor. And what was up with your warrior's wolftail?
Movie!Iroh: For two whole seasons, we all thought Show!Iroh was just this fat old guy who liked tea. He was awesome, but mainly because he didn't put up with any of Zuko's shit and was the kindly wise influence that everyone should listen to. We sort of knew he was a general, got a couple of glimpses of possible coolness, but it's mostly old man goodness. So when he busts out his Dragon of the West moves on us, we flipped out. So unexpected and therefore so completely awesome! Movie!Iroh always looks like he is perfectly capable of kicking ass even without fire and then when he finally does break out his superspecialawesome firebending... he doesn't do anything with it. It feels completely pointless, rather than the freakin' awesome moment of kickass by Show!Iroh.
Movie!Ozai: Wait, was Ozai even in Book One?
Movie!Zhao: Arrogant kickass independent thinker to weaselly stooge. Also, his sideburns weren't nearly big enough.
Movie:Pakku: What happened to his superiority complex? It really stung to hear "water is acceptance" out of that show!chauvinistic old dude's mouth.
Movie!Suki: Wait...
Movie!Jet: Erm...