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'''Zuko''': So far, this intermission is the best part of the play. |
'''Zuko''': So far, this intermission is the best part of the play. |
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| − | (Interlude to next entry) |
+ | ''(Interlude to next entry)'' |
==#10== |
==#10== |
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'''NC''' (vo): Number 10--"The Chase". This one is very similar to "The Drill", where most of the episode is just one big action sequence. But the reason I put this one over "The Drill" is not only is the action sequence really intense and brilliantly planned out, but it also allows for character reactions you wouldn't normally see. Toph and Iroh, for example, share a touching talk throughout all the chaos, mostly because they have no idea who they are, or that they're on opposite sides. |
'''NC''' (vo): Number 10--"The Chase". This one is very similar to "The Drill", where most of the episode is just one big action sequence. But the reason I put this one over "The Drill" is not only is the action sequence really intense and brilliantly planned out, but it also allows for character reactions you wouldn't normally see. Toph and Iroh, for example, share a touching talk throughout all the chaos, mostly because they have no idea who they are, or that they're on opposite sides. |
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'''Toph''' (stumpled against the saddle, exhausted): Don's know ... too tired to think. |
'''Toph''' (stumpled against the saddle, exhausted): Don's know ... too tired to think. |
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| − | (Interlude to the next entry) |
+ | ''(Interlude to the next entry)'' |
==#9== |
==#9== |
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'''NC''' (vo): Number 9--"The Firebending Masters". After Zuko joins the team, he agrees to finish Aang's firebending training. The problem is: Zuko's bending has gone downhill, because he doesn't have the rage he used to. So they have to travel to the original source. The closest thing they have is a civilization thousands of years old known as the "Sun Warriors". The ancient ruins, however, have a lot of tricky booby-traps that indicate something is still kicking. Sure enough, not only there still people living out there, but-- |
'''NC''' (vo): Number 9--"The Firebending Masters". After Zuko joins the team, he agrees to finish Aang's firebending training. The problem is: Zuko's bending has gone downhill, because he doesn't have the rage he used to. So they have to travel to the original source. The closest thing they have is a civilization thousands of years old known as the "Sun Warriors". The ancient ruins, however, have a lot of tricky booby-traps that indicate something is still kicking. Sure enough, not only there still people living out there, but-- |
||
| − | (The red and blue dragons appear) |
+ | ''(The red and blue dragons appear)'' |
| + | |||
| + | '''NC''' (vo): Holy shit! Motherfucking dragons! Fuck "Game of Thrones"! This is the first one that dropped the dragon bomb! |
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[[Category:Content]] |
[[Category:Content]] |
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[[Category:Guides]] |
[[Category:Guides]] |
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Revision as of 04:12, 10 October 2014
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Top 11 Best Avatars (with Dante Basco)
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Released
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September 23, 2014
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Running time
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35:39
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Previous review
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Next review
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Link
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(The opening)
NC: Hello, I'm the Nostalgia Critic. I remember it so you don't have to. Well, as a lot of you know last week, I did a Top 11 list of the WORST "Avatar" episodes, with the understanding there's really no such thing as a BAD "Avatar" episode, just some that aren't as good as others. Well, this week, I'm going from the WORST of the best to the BEST of the best.
(Footage from "Avatar: The Last Airbender")
NC: (v/o) Avatar is one of the most amazing shows ever put on the air. Its stories intriguing, its characters loveable, its message is thought-provoking, its philosophy enlightening, and its animation incredible. So as you'd imagine, finding the absolute best of this series is no easy task. There are so many great episodes with so many great moments. But we're here to discriminate for the best, and that's exactly what we're going to do.
NC: So let's not waste any time and take a look at the top 11 best episodes! Why top 11? Because I like to go one step beyond. So, sit back and enjoy the top 11- (Suddenly a fireball hits him, blowing him out of his seat and his face goes into the wall) What the fuck?! (He than pulls his face out and turns around to see who threw the fireball at him)
Dante Basco is standing in the door to the room, dressed as Prince Zuko.
NC: Dante Basco?
Dante: You have dishonored the franchise and so have dishonored me. The time has come to reclaim my honor you dishonorably dishonored by honorably honoring my honorable honor.
(beat)
NC: Okay, I have no idea what you said just now.
Dante: Don't worry, you'll feel it.
(He throws another fireball as NC dodges and runs out of the room, locking Dante in)
Tamara: Critic, what is it?
NC: It's Dante fucking Basco! I think he drank the Cactus Juice or something!
(knocking on the door)
Dante: (vo) Honor!
NC: (sigh) He thinks he's one of the characters from Avatar. Go dress in the appropriate attire. Maybe we can distract him.
Tamara & Malcolm: Right!
(Tamara & Malcolm leave as Dante opens the door)
NC: Look, it's okay. I'm doing a Top 11 BEST Avatar episodes.
Dante: You don't deserve the chance!
NC: Okay, look, maybe we'll come to a compromise: I can give you a really glowing review and take the lead.
(Dante continues throwing fireballs at NC, but NC escapes and flees for the front door)
Dante: Honor!
(Dante continues shouting honor while shooting fireballs at NC, even through his dick)
Malcolm: (dressed as Sokka) Halt! It's time to fight fire with fire, and Sokka knows how to do it!
Tamara: (dressed as Peter Pan from Hook) Arrgh! And us Lost Boys have to stick together!
NC: Tamara, that's not Avatar, that's Hook. And why are you talking like a pirate? Why do pirate talk like pirates? Now you need to try harder. I want you to go home, do some research, gimme an update on your process. Okay?
Tamara: (before leaving) Okay.
Malcolm: Alright, buddy! It's time to show you who's boss!
(Dante throws a fireball at Malcolm, which Malcolm ducks from)
Malcolm: Well, we'll show you who's boss. (to NC) Right?
(Wrong! NC just walks into another room and locks the door.)
Malcolm: (grabbing at the door knob) Critic! Critic!
NC: (sitting down) Sorry, Malcolm. The needs of me outweigh the needs of you.
Malcolm: He's gonna kill me!
NC: Well, that's show business for ya! Just try to keep him entertained while I start the countdown.
(Malcolm nervously turns his head to Dante as the latter stars walking towards him)
Malcolm: Bangarang???
(Dante starts beating up Malcolm off-screen)
NC: Well, while they're lolly-gagging out there, why don't we go ahead and start the Top 11 Best Avatar Episodes.
(Title for "The Top 11 Best Avatar Episodes" with NC beat-boxing to ending credits for the show and Chester A. Bum says, "SPOILERS")
(For each interlude on the Top 11, NC beat-boxes to the show's ending theme over white clouds--similar to the original show's closing credits--with the number zooming in.)
#11
NC: (v/o) Number 11--"The Ember Island Players". The irony is: I was almost one step away from putting this on the WORST Episodes List, because, in many respects, it has little to do with anything. Team Avatar sees the Fire Nation is putting on a play of their travels, and, even though it's phenomenally dangerous, they decide to check it out. What follows is a theatrical interpretation of their adventures, only it's done from an incredibly biased and exaggerated angle, pissing all of them off.
Actor Sokka: My stomach is so empty that it's making me tearbend! (throws his arms up hopelessly before dropping to his knees, clutching on to Actress Aang's other leg, and crying)
Sokka: (leans forward in his seat; clearly annoyed) This is pathetic!
NC: There are one or two moments of emotional exposition, but for the most part, it's just watching the play. As an episode, little happens, but as a series recap that actually works its way into the show itself, it's actually friggin' brilliant. It's explaining everything that's happened on the show except with a comedic edge, making fun of theatrical tropes, story tropes, and even their own character tropes; Katara, for example, is too inspiringly emotional.
Actress Katara: We cannot give up hope! (begins to cry)
Katara (with crossed arms, displeased): Well that's just silly. I don't sound like that. (Sokka and Suki are laughing behind her)
NC (vo): Toph is a giant male neanderthal.
Actor Toph: I release a sonic wave from my mouth. (screams very loudly at the Team Avatar players)
NC (vo): And Zuko is always too much of an angsty sourpuss.
Actor Iroh (completely at ease): Let's forget about the Avatar and get massages.
Actor Zuko (turns toward his uncle, leaning forward menacingly; shouting): How could you say that?!
NC (vo): I think of all the other shows that do series recaps and they're usually just clip shows or something separate that just has a narrator telling you what happened, but they decide to take it in a different direction, actually incorporating it into the story. Truth be told, I can't think of any other show that has ever done that. At least in this clever a way, it shows the characters' reaction to the whole thing. Not just to their own adventures, but the villains' interpretations of their adventures, and their satire of both Broadway and movie styles. In fact, could it be interpreted as the characters' reaction to the Last Airbender movie?
Zuko: That ... wasn't a good play.
Katara: No kidding.
Suki: Horrible.
Toph: You said it.
Sokka (walking with Suki): But the effects were decent.
NC (vo): This might not be the most important or dramatic of the episodes, but it is one of the most clever and funny. And on that level, it definitely deserves the number 11 spot.
Zuko: So far, this intermission is the best part of the play.
(Interlude to next entry)
#10
NC (vo): Number 10--"The Chase". This one is very similar to "The Drill", where most of the episode is just one big action sequence. But the reason I put this one over "The Drill" is not only is the action sequence really intense and brilliantly planned out, but it also allows for character reactions you wouldn't normally see. Toph and Iroh, for example, share a touching talk throughout all the chaos, mostly because they have no idea who they are, or that they're on opposite sides.
Toph: So where is your nephew? Is he lost?
Iroh (Looks away; slightly sad): Yes; a little bit. I know he doesn't want me around right now, but if he needs me, I'll be there.
NC (vo): That's a really unique relaxing moment among super extreme intense panicking. Zuko fights Aang, Aang fights Azula, Azula fights Zuko, It's a Mexican stand-off of all the coolest combinations you could think of. You just feel so sorry for our heroes in this one. All they wanna do is get a good night's rest, but Azula's patsie is constantly on their back, never letting up. This not only adds to the suspense, but also just what an all-around kick-ass villain Azula really is: she's a fucking machine of evil and she makes sure everybody knows it; nothing seems to slow her down. The intensity just keeps going and going and going and getting more and more insane and crazy; it's just a huge rush. By the time it's over, you feel like you need a nap, which is exaclty how the episode ends. While certainly not devoid of story or character, sometimes the best way to simpathize with your hero is just to put them in the middle of what they're going through; to feel that racing heart-beat, to feel that running out of breath, and in this one, you feel every second of that panic. The fighting's great, the layouts great, the characters are great, it'll make sure you sleep damn well after watching it.
Aang: So what's our plan?
Toph (stumpled against the saddle, exhausted): Don's know ... too tired to think.
(Interlude to the next entry)
#9
NC (vo): Number 9--"The Firebending Masters". After Zuko joins the team, he agrees to finish Aang's firebending training. The problem is: Zuko's bending has gone downhill, because he doesn't have the rage he used to. So they have to travel to the original source. The closest thing they have is a civilization thousands of years old known as the "Sun Warriors". The ancient ruins, however, have a lot of tricky booby-traps that indicate something is still kicking. Sure enough, not only there still people living out there, but--
(The red and blue dragons appear)
NC (vo): Holy shit! Motherfucking dragons! Fuck "Game of Thrones"! This is the first one that dropped the dragon bomb!