History YMMV / AvatarTheLastAirbender

** A meta example: in "The Siege of the North, Part 1", Pakku sarcastically tells one of his pupils that if they keep their performance up, they may be able to fight a sea sponge in a couple of years. The creators confirmed in a commentary that this was intended to be a friendly TakeThat towards ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'', Nick's other most-popular show at the time. However, following TheNewTens, which had the SequelSeries ''Korra'' be completely ScrewedByTheNetwork at every possible opportunity [[AdoredByTheNetwork in favor of Spongebob]], this formerly lighthearted jab can seem a lot more serious/justified.

** Azula taking down the Kyoshi Warriors and impersonating them was bad enough in the last arc for season two. What made it worse was that she casually hints to Sokka during the Black Sun that she tortured Suki into a DespairEventHorizon during her time in prison, and mocking him for not realizing his girlfriend was locked up all this time. [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Sokka nearly killed her then and there]] if not for her powers coming back at that moment. 
** In "The Guru," Azula taunts the Earth King when he learns that Long Feng was manipulating him by saying "It's terrible when you can't trust the people who are closest to you." [[spoiler: It became dramatically ironic when Mai and Ty Lee turn against her in the third season, which causes her to undergo a VillainousBreakdown.]]
** Hama passing down bloodbending to Katara doesn't seem like a big deal until ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', where [[spoiler:two of the series' main antagonists are bloodbenders, ''and'' they don't need a full moon to bloodbend]].
** [[spoiler:Zuko]] blowing off Toph when she tries to tell him about her unresolved issues with her parents, followed by her feeling disappointed that she didn't find a resolution to this central issue for her, becomes much harsher when ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' reveals that [[spoiler:Toph not finding a resolution to her issue with her parents affects her parenting of her own future daughters, which creates a host of emotional issues with them regarding her parenting. Somewhat alleviated after ''The Rift'' shows her rebuilding her relationship with her parents and the last season of ''Korra'' has her make amends with her daughters as well.]]

** In "Jet":
--->'''Katara:''' We were following instinct.\\
'''Jet:''' [[spoiler:You'll get yourself killed that way.]]
** From "The Great Divide": "Settling feuds and making peace. All in a day's work for the Avatar." Tell that to [[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderThePromise the people of Yu Dao]].
** From "The Blind Bandit": [[ForeignWrestlingHeel An Earthbending member of the Fire Nation?]] [[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderThePromise Surely you jest]].
** Toph's attempt at having a "life-changing field trip with [[spoiler:Zuko]]" getting blown off, followed by her grumbling, "This is the worst field trip ever," is funny until one sees ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''. What she tries to resolve is her strained relationship with her parents, and [[spoiler:the TimeSkip sequel reveals that Toph's unresolved issues with her parents bleeds into her parenting of and relationship with her own daughters. ''The Rift'', at least, shows her reconciling with her parents while ''Korra'''s third season has her making amends with her daughters.]]

* AmericansHateTingle: The show did not do well in Asian countries - some commentators have theorised this to be due to a "Cultural UncannyValley", where characters in an ostensibly Asian-based setting acted too "western" for Asian audiences.

** Combustion Man is a menacing figure with unique firebending abilities and was hyped to be a major antagonist for the final season. However, other than acting as a somewhat arbitrary plot device to help Zuko earn Aang's trust, his relevance to the main story is minimal. He does not have any lines, his true name is never revealed and he is only fought in [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderThePaintedLady two]] [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheRunaway filler episodes]] before dying in his final appearance.

** Fire Lord Ozai is somewhat of a contested character in the fandom. Despite his rather short screen time, many felt that he was a truly intimidating KnightOfCerebus that made for a good BigBad. However, others felt that he was rather [[FlatCharacter generic and one-dimensional]], especially compared to his children who were much more fleshed out and given more screen time.

* AssPull: A lot of people feel the finale had two major ones. The first one with [[spoiler: Aang being granted energybending by the lion-turtle]] is hotly debated as to whether it was or not, with the issue mostly being accepted in concept as it fits with the lore with the timing of its implementation and lack of foreshadowing being the most controversial. The second with [[spoiler:Aang entering the Avatar state by hitting a perfectly-shaped rock as opposed to opening his chakras on his own]] is near universally considered a giant AssPull because it raises the issue of why this was never setup or hinted at.

* EvilIsSexy:
** [[TheBaroness Azula]]. Being an AxCrazy sociopath does little to mitigate this. The sultry voice performance by Creator/GreyDelisle adds a lot more seductive undertones to her as well.
** Ozai is this during the final battle, thanks to his WalkingShirtlessScene. As with his daughter, his voice actor definitely helps.
** Zhao could also qualify, thanks to his shirtless Agni Kai with Zuko in the first season. His being voiced by Creator/JasonIsaacs doesn't exactly hurt.
** Ty Lee fills the role of MsFanservice (among other things). She isn't ''evil'', though, she's just [[spoiler:initially]] on the wrong side.

** [[DarkIsNotEvil June]] is a sultry, [[WhipItGood whip-wielding]] bounty hunter who uses her shirshu Nylah to masterfully track targets across the world, using Nylah's paralyzing tongue and her own fighting skills to easily accomplish her missions. Hired by Prince Zuko to hunt down Avatar Aang, June first tracks down and ambushes Aang's friend Katara, then uses her as bait to lure Aang into a fight, where June works with Nylah to take down Aang's sky bison Appa. Even when beaten by the group's quick thinking, June simply [[GracefulLoser dusts herself off]] and continues her successful career, spending her free time kicking ass in [[BarBrawl bar fights]] while endearing herself to the occupants before [[BackForTheFinale working with Zuko once more]] on a mission to help protect the Earth Kingdom with her usual snark and skill.

* CompleteMonster: Fire Lord Ozai (see the next folder below), [[YMMV/TheLegendOfKorra Unalaq]], and [[YMMV/TheRiseOfKyoshi Xu Ping An]].

* CompleteMonster: [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderFireLordOzai Fire Lord Ozai]] is the [[EvilOverlord power-hungry tyrant]] of the Fire Nation seeking to wipe out all resistance to his rule, even children. As a family man, Ozai [[ControlFreak controls]] all aspects of his family's life, limiting their freedoms and encouraging their worst traits just to please him. Ozai obtains the throne through manipulating his wife Ursa to help murder his father Azulon, and then banishing her, on the pain of death, without letting her see her children again. Ozai is also a horrendously [[AbusiveParents abusive father]]: He punishes his son [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko Prince Zuko]] whenever the latter shows kindness or mercy, going as far as burning his face and banishing him for speaking out of turn; he encourages his daughter, [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderPrincessAzula Princess Azula]], to be a perfect, merciless weapon for the Fire Nation, only to cast her aside when he no longer needs her. When faced with open rebellion in the Earth Kingdom, Ozai plans to use Sozin's Comet to [[FinalSolution incinerate the entire continent]] and rule from the ashes as Phoenix King. A horrible father and a brutal dictator, Ozai represents the very worst of Fire Nation imperialism and [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderAvatarAang Avatar Aang]]'s ultimate test to stay true to his pacifist ideals.

!!Video Game
* CompleteMonster: [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderFireLordOzai Fire Lord Ozai]] is the [[EvilOverlord tyrannical overlord]] of [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheFireNation the Fire Nation]]. Ozai is an [[AbusiveParents abuser]] who burned [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko his own son]]'s face and banished him for speaking out of turn. Through his reign, entire cities are invaded and subjugated by the Fire Nation; villages are poisoned to the point of lethal sickness by his weapons factories; and the kingdom of Ba Sing Se is almost decimated by a massive drill. In his ultimate move of malicious ambition, Ozai plans to use the power instilled upon the Fire Nation by Sozin's Comet to burn the entire population of the Earth Kingdom to ash. When confronted on his reasoning for this atrocity, Ozai simply notes that "the people did nothing to me, they're just in my way".

'''Azula:''' (''outraged'') No, you miscalculated! You should have feared me more!\\

** It's safe to say that Iroh is this. He's easily the most beloved character in the ''Avatar'' universe, but what truly cements this was being voiced by the late [[Creator/{{Mako}} Makoto Iwamatsu]], whose passing only amplified people's love of Iroh. It also helps that he is an AllLovingHero with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCtiRD1OfUQ a backstory]] that can and will [[TearJerker break your heart]].

* InferredHolocaust: The show is often quite open about death by kids' show standards, but in particular there is no way that [[spoiler:Aang didn't kill a hell of a lot of people in his Avatar-state rampage at the end of "The Siege of the North"]], though it is downplayed since it's heavily implied that this is one of the main reasons why [[spoiler: Aang doesn't want to enter the Avatar State again, as it clashes with his [[ThouShallNotKill pacifistic ideals]].]]
** In the finale, it seems highly likely that [[spoiler: many Fire Nation soldiers died when Sokka, Toph, and Suki crash their air fleet]].

** Zuko's HeelFaceTurn was fairly surprising when it first occurred, but it has since become one of the most popular and well-known parts of the show, and is frequently cited as an example of how to do character development and a redemption arc ''right.'' Most people who have been on the internet since Netflix announced the show was coming to the platform are likely aware of this before even seeing the first episode.

** Azula's worst wrongdoings are rather often overlooked, typically in some fan works that depict her reconciling with other major characters her age.

** Zutaraang (Zuko/Katara/Aang) is one of the most popular threesome ships because it puts an end to the infamous Zutara vs Kataang ship war, and according to the creators they are the three most important characters of the story. By the end of the series the characters form a classic TheHero, TheLancer, and TheChick trio.

* GatewaySeries: 2000's {{animesque}} cartoons like ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' are credited with helping foster interest in anime and anime-inspired cartoons in the West.

** Never, ever, ''ever'', call any part of this franchise "anime"; the universe was developed with anime stylings, yes, but it is a ''western'' cartoon. It's a common mistake, but doing so gets certain people really angry. Fast forward to 2020 and it seems the opposite is now true, with Avatar even being considered an honorary anime in some circles.

* CompleteMonster: [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderFireLordOzai Fire Lord Ozai]] is the power-hungry tyrant of the Fire Nation seeking to wipe out all resistance to his rule, even children. As a family man, Ozai controls all aspects of his family's life, limiting their freedoms and encouraging their worst traits just to please him. Ozai obtains the throne through manipulating his wife Ursa to help murder his father Azulon, and then banishing her, on the pain of death, without letting her see her children again. Ozai is also a horrifically [[AbusiveParents abusive father]]: He punishes his son [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko Prince Zuko]] whenever the latter shows kindness or mercy, going as far as burning his face and banishing him for speaking out of turn; he encourages his daughter, [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderPrincessAzula Princess Azula]], to be a perfect, merciless weapon for the Fire Nation, only to cast her aside when he no longer needs her. When faced with open rebellion in the Earth Kingdom, Ozai plans to use Sozin's Comet to incinerate the entire continent and rule from the ashes as Phoenix King. A horrible father and a brutal dictator, Ozai represents the very worst of Fire Nation imperialism and [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderAvatarAang Avatar Aang]]'s ultimate test to stay true to his pacifist ideals.

* CompleteMonster: [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderFireLordOzai Fire Lord Ozai]] is a genocidal, child-abusing fascist dictator who has dedicated weeks at a time and large portions of his [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheFireNation national]] army to hunting down and killing a twelve-year-old and his friends. He forced Ursa into marrying him, and tried to kill her old lover out of spite. He obtained the throne when he manipulated Ursa into murdering his father to usurp the throne from his grieving older brother Iroh. [[UngratefulBastard He then thanked her with banishment from the Fire Nation]] and threatened to hunt them down and kill the children if she took them with her. He [[AbusiveParents abused his son Zuko]] out of spite when [[spoiler:Ursa claimed that Zuko was not his son even though he knew it was a lie]], burned his face for speaking out of turn, and [[OffingTheOffspring tried to shoot him with lightning]] [[spoiler:when he decides to join [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderAvatarAang Aang]]]]. He manipulated his loyal daughter Azula into becoming his [[DaddysLittleVillain perfect little villain]] to the point where she snaps from the pressure, only to later discard her to a completely meaningless position. Finally, his reaction to news of rebellions in the Earth Kingdom is to try to incinerate the continent. Even after his downfall he still tries to [[ManipulativeBastard manipulate his son Zuko into being a tyrant like himself]].

* BetterOnDVD: Watching one of the series on streaming or optical discs is a nice way to watch/rewatch the series in a marathon. It helps that each DVD holds a movie-length set of episodes, helping one take in the story progression.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: The comic books that the show is based on. While the show already had a lot of themes you wouldn't expect to see from a children's cartoon, ranging from abusive families to what growing up in a war does to a child, the comics went full in on the political themes that were only touched on in the show, spending a great deal of time exploring the realistic consequences of 100 years of war:

** While it's nowhere near the treatment given to Zuko and Azula, Fire Lord Sozin has managed to receive this from a few fans who support his goal to expand the Fire Nation to other nations of the world, believing [[WellIntentionedExtremist his claim that the Fire Nation's resources would help other nations thrive]]. Although he can partially be considered ALighterShadeOfBlack compared to his [[DrunkWithPower descendants]], this completely ignores the fact that he [[spoiler: [[FinalSolution committed genocide]] on the peaceful Airbenders, killed the current avatar and [[KillTheOnesYouLove his own best friend]] Roku when he refused to let him go through with his plans, and his actions were shown to drive many of the nations he conquered into a state of fear and poverty.]]

** While it's nowhere near the treatment given to Zuko and Azula, Fire Lord Sozin has managed to receive this from a few fans who support his goal to expand the Fire Nation to other nations of the world, believing his claim that the Fire Nation's resources would help other nations thrive. Although he can partially be considered ALighterShadeOfBlack compared to his [[DrunkWithPower descendants]], this completely ignores the fact that he [[spoiler: [[FinalSolution committed genocide]] on the peaceful Airbenders, killed the current avatar and [[KillTheOnesYouLove his own best friend]] Roku when he refused to let him go through with his plans, and his actions were shown to drive many of the nations he conquered into a state of fear and poverty.]]

** Jet is an incredibly divisive character because of his radical approach to decolonization. The series portrays him as an extremist and he is eventually killed off. This rubbed many fans the wrong way because they saw Jet as a traumatized teenager who only did what he had to to survive and they thought it was bizarre that [[spoiler:Jet was one of the only characters to die in the series while the BigBad Ozai did not]]. Other fans agree that Jet was in the wrong and they do not like him because of his manipulative personality.