History YMMV / AvatarTheLastAirbender

* AccidentalNightmareFuel: [[NightmareFuel/AvatarTheLastAirbender Has its own page.]]

** Azula is a terrible, terrible person, and while it's possible to feel sorry for her, usually she's such a [[MagnificentBastard magnificent bitch]] that you temporarily forget those feelings. [[spoiler: Then she spends the whole series finale going steadily crazier and crazier, with her FreudianExcuse coming to the surface. Then she finally snaps after she loses to Katara and the last shot of her in the series is her sobbing uncontrollably, with Zuko and Katara themselves looking sad about it]]. Alas, poor villainess.

** '''Azula''': [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative bitch]] or is she just a product of parental neglect, much like Zuko, but without the benefit of having a [[ParentalSubstitute loving figure in her life?]]

*** Then again, even Zuko mentions that there "was a time when they were happy" (and visited Ember Island together), so it's likely that he wasn't always evil.

* AssPull: [[spoiler: Energybending.]]
** Actually, this was foreshadowed, since Book 1, but only with objects in the backgrounds, which people don't usually notice. Even if told which episode, what moment, where, you still have to look carefully.
* BadassAdorable: Toph
* BaseBreaker: Aang...and Katara...and Azula...and Suki...and Mai... and Ty Lee... and Zuko. [[BrokenBase Name a character, really.]]

* BrokenBase: Is this the first good cartoon made since TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation, or one in a long line of shows working to end the stigmas of TheDarkAgeOfAnimation forever? You decide.
** Also, the debate over the movie casting is so intense that entire forums are divided over it, with those supporting the casting and those against it being banned for their opinions. Protesters see those that are okay with the casting as blind and shrugging off a big issue, while those that eagerly anticipate the movie see the protesters as [[NoTrueScotsman not "true" fans]].
** many people didn't take Aang's actions in the finale well. [[InternetBackdraft Best not go there.]]
** {{Shipping}}, anyone? Let's see, we have [[OfficialCouple Kataang]] versus [[FanPreferredCouple Zutara]] versus [[PairTheSpares Taang]] versus [[NewOldFlame Maiko]] versus [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys Jetara]]. Then we have [[BetaCouple Sukka/George]] versus [[FirstKiss Yuokka]] versus [[PuppyLove The Doph]] versus [[PairTheSpares Taang]] versus Toko versus Tokka. And that's not even ''mentioning'' anyone outside of the {{Five Man Band}} or any of the [[CrackShip crack]]/ [[HoYay yaoi]]/ [[LesYay yuri]] pairings.

* CompleteMonster: Fire Lord Ozai qualifies big time. When his son disrespected one of his generals ([[WeHaveReserves who]] [[{{Jerkass}} deserved it]]), he responded by ''burning off a good portion of his face'', then banishing him until he could [[SnipeHunt capture the Avatar]]. Three years later, when Zuko mouths off again, he tries shooting him ''with lightning''. The whole reason he got the throne in the first place was by [[spoiler: manipulating his wife into killing his father for him, because his father ordered him to kill Zuko as punishment for suggesting that he give the throne to him instead of Iroh. ''And he was going to do it'']]. And then he spends half the finale ''burning the whole Earth Kingdom to the ground'' just to quell a few uprisings there, and the other half trying to kill a twelve year-old boy. He feels no remorse for any of this.

** Azula is an interesting [[SubvertedTrope subversion]]: in Season 2, she appeared to fit ''all five'' of the necessary CompleteMonster qualities. Then Season 3 came, she gradually unravelled, had her VillainousBreakdown, and ended up with only ''one'' of the criteria left (that she has committed horrible crimes.) In the end, although she did a good job emulating her father for a while, she couldn't escape being a TragicVillain.

* [[spoiler: DesignatedVillain: Arguably Zuko in The Promise comics, again.]]

** Suki was originally meant to be a one-off character, but brought back by fan demand [[spoiler: and eventually becoming part of the Gaang.]]

** Jet was meant to be a one-shot character, but fan popularity brought him back for [[ReformedButRejected four more appearances.]]

* FanDumb: Fans complain about the pronunciation in the movie (which appears to be for the most part more phonetically correct), to be fair the wrong pronunciation in the cartoon is constant so it can be considered as the right way to say the names in that world.
* FandomRivalry: "A couple more years, and you might be ready to fight a [[SpongeBob sea sponge]]." (For the record, [[http://www.avatarspiritmedia.net/news.php?year=2008&month=3#n525 we were]]. "[[MemeticMutation Yes! We have defeated you for all time! You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation!]]"[[hottip:*:Well, that was fun.]])

--> '''Katara''': We were following instinct.
--> '''Jet''': [[spoiler: You'll get yourself killed that way.]]

** When [[spoiler: Haru]] shows up again in "Day of Black Sun" to help in the invasion of the Fire Nation capitol, he has grown facial hair (lampshaded by Sokka in his DisorganizedOutlineSpeech).

* HesJustHiding: [[spoiler: Jet]] and [[spoiler: Zhao.]]

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfDk3I6di5E this youtube video puts it in cartoon form]]

* JerkassWoobie: Zuko during Season 1 and early Season 3. And in the end, [[spoiler: Azula]] becomes one as well.

-->'''Azula:''' [[FreudWasRight I could sit here and complain how our mom]] [[SiblingRivalry liked Zuko more than me]], but I don't really care. My own mother thought I was a [[CompleteMonster monster.]]\\

* MaryTzu: Deconstructed with Azula. In the beginning she was cold and calculative, [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy smart enough]] to ''predict'' the movements of the Gaang, [[ImprobableAge very young]], and already a skilled tactican. She conquered a city only with her friends, in a few days and this city had resisted for 100 years without falling. Iroh failed to do this in 600 Days Siege. Did I mention [[spoiler: She killed Aang?]]. Her FatalFlaw, however was that [[spoiler: she [[EvilCannotComprehendGood cannot comprehend]] why Mai and Ty Lee betray her]]. This was bad for her mental health.

* MemeticMutation: [[Memes/AvatarTheLastAirbender Has its own page.]]

* MoralEventHorizon: Zhao crosses it by [[spoiler: killing the moon spirit.]]
** Long Feng when he [[spoiler: brainwashed Jet, and then killed him as soon as he came to his senses.]]
** In-universe, Zuko feels his father crossed it [[spoiler: being willing to commit genocide instead of dealing with a few rebellions]]. This breaks Zuko of his need to get his father's love at all costs.

** Azula crossed it when she [[spoiler: shot Aang in the back with lightning,]] thus proving she will do ''anything'' to serve her father. Unless of course, you find that [[MomentOfAwesome disturbingly awesome.]]

* TethercatPrinciple: The last we ever see of Azula is [[spoiler: her being chained to a grate, completely insane and screaming in despair]]. While WordOfGod stated that [[spoiler: Azula was committed to a high security asylum,]] it's not actually shown in the series proper.

** According to WordOfGod, it was at least confirmed that [[spoiler: Sokka's hawk]] managed to deliver the letter.

* VillainDecay: Zuko as Season One progressed. He hadn't even become all that conflicted about what he was doing yet, but he still kept on failing in his endeavors. No wonder Zhao wound up the final enemy of the season, despite Zuko being it's main villain.

** Zhao destroying the moon. [[SarcasmMode Best]]. [[ThisIsSPARTA Idea. Ever.]]

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: While it seems to be primary a kids show, it does has its fair share of NightmareFuel and especially in the third seasons deals with a series of very tough issues. The main character is the lone survivor of a genocide during which an entire ethnicity was completely whiped out and the 100 year long war seems to have spared not a single family from having lost relatives in combat or war crimes. Some episodes in the 3rd season even deal with an assassin hired to kill the protagonists and one of the heroes [[spoiler:setting out to kill the murderer of her mother]].

** This show has two diametrically opposed Woobies at the same time, in Aang and Zuko… especially after "The Storm" where we learn about [[spoiler: Aang's feelings of guilt over running away from home and Zuko's abuse and exile at the hands of his own father (demonstrated nicely [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/2159446.html?#cutid1 here)]].]]

** Then there's [[spoiler: Azula]], who goes from one of the greatest {{Magnificent Bastard}}s to TheWoobie over the course of only four episodes. And it actually works.

** {{Shipping}}, anyone? Let's see, we have [[OfficialCouple Kataang]] versus [[FanPreferredCouple Zutara]] versus [[PairTheSpares Taang]] versus [[NewOldFlame Maiko]] versus [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys Jetara]]. Then we have [[BetaCouple Sukka/George]] versus [[FirstKiss Yuokka]] versus [[ToyShip The Doph]] versus [[PairTheSpares Taang]] versus Toko versus Tokka. And that's not even ''mentioning'' anyone outside of the {{Five Man Band}} or any of the [[CrackShip crack]]/ [[HoYay yaoi]]/ [[LesYay yuri]] pairings.

* MaryTzu: Deconstructed with Azula. In the beginning she was cold and calculative, [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy smart enough]] to ''predict'' the movements of the Gaang, [[ImprobableAge very young]], and already a skilled tactican. She conquered a city only with her friends, in a few days and this city had resisted for 100 years without falling. Iroh failed to do this in 100 Days Siege. Did I mention [[spoiler: She killed Aang?]]. Her FatalFlaw, however was that [[spoiler: she [[EvilCannotComprehendGood cannot comprehend]] why Mai and Ty Lee betray her]]. This was bad for her mental health.

* BaseBreaker: Aang...and Katara...and Azula...and Suki...and Mai...and Zuko. [[BrokenBase Name a character, really.]]

* {{Memetic Sex God}}dess: Pretty much every young female character on the show, but especially Katara, Toph, Azula, and Ty Lee.

* LoveToHate[=/=]EvilIsCool: Azula, for those that prefer her to not be a [[DracoInLeatherPants DILP]]. Long Feng too.

*** If you do find that to be a MomentOfAwesome than her being the one to advocate the whole "raze the Earth Kingdom until it's all ash" plan of her father's will be an even better one.

** If you buy that it wasn't intentional on the part of the creators, which is a ''very'' hard sell. For most people the question is: was Azula messing with Zuko's head...or is she ''really is trying seduce her brother''?

** Possibly FridgeBrilliance, if you think about how most people find her attentions uncomfortable -and bear in mind how her brother turned out ''with'' a healthy father figure/mentor- its certainly plausible that she would end up attracted to one of the few men who are more or less her equals. Doesn't excuse the shippers, but makes for some interesting AlternativeCharacterInterpretation.

* FanPreferredCouple: Zutara (Zuko/Katara) is the biggest example-- about 22% of the [=AtLA=] fanfics at [[{{ptitle2ugbrwb8sjn4}} FanFiction.net]] ''alone'' list the two as main characters. Doesn't help that Zutara had an unusual amount of ShipTease in the show, or that they had their own ''canon'' shippers, in the form of June and the Ember Island Players. Other couples like Aang/Toph, Sokka/Toph, Sokka/Azula and Ty Lee/Azula also attract large numbers of shippers.

* BrokenBase: (Regardless of It's fan base) Is this the first good cartoon made since TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation, or a insult to animation as a whole?, you decide.

** And even the pathetic and powerless Ozai after the end of the war is Woobie-ish for some.
** ''Appa'' during Season 2 - the episode "Appa's Lost Days" has him go through a certain level of Hell.

**** Ba Sing Se disagrees with you.

*** If you do find that to be a MomentOfAwesome than either her being the one to advocate the whole "raze the Earth Kingdom until it's all ash" or blowing up when she can't be part of the massacre will be a better one.

**** It wasn't that (from a purely military, in-the-moment tactical point of view) the idea ITSELF was bad; it was doing it right in front of the [[{{Ptitlepxwjzg04}} rage-awakened]] Avatar. Seriously, he's the ''page image'' for a trope more famously paired with the freakin ''[[TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]]''!

** Jin and Ty Lee have this in common for [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean two very big reasons]].

** And even the pathetic and powerless Ozai after the end of the war is Woobie-ish for some.