For the past three years Nickelodeon has been airing Avatar: The Last Airbender, the show has civilization split into four nations: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Air Nomads, and the Fire Nation. Each nation has benders, people who can manipulate the element of their own nation. The Fire Nation has been taking over the world with the peaceful air nomads made extinct during various attacks from the Fire Nation.

The world needs an Avatar — the one person who can control all four elements. There’s only one at a time, and when one dies the next is called (a la Buffy The Vampire Slayer). There’s one problem — the Avatar was last seen over 100 years ago.

Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe find the Avatar, named Aang, in a state of suspended animation. They free him and learn that Aang is an airbender and over a hundred years ago he learned he was the new Avatar — he had he responsibility of stopping the impending war. It was too much for him as it would be for any 12-year-old and he fled. During his journey he encountered a fierce storm and crashed into the ocean, which triggered his Avatar state and put him in the condition in which the duo found him.

Season one showed Aang learning to bend water, season two showed him learning to bend earth and the third had him learning to master fire. All of this led up to Aang and his friends taking on the Fire nation, with Aang taking on Fire Lord Ozai to restore harmony to the world. Each season is referenced as a book, and each episode is a chapter in that particular book.

Season three continued to build upon the tension and journey Aang must undertake as he becomes the Avatar and embraces his destiny. The show seems to be influenced by Japanese anime in both its story and look and works very well. I’ve watched it with my friends, wife, and children — the story appeals to a broad spectrum of viewers and that’s contributed to it being a success, not to mention the story is compelling, which makes you want to see how it will be resolved. Of course the last episode doesn’t wrap everything up in a nice bow, because the characters still have to adapt to the new world, but it’s a satisfying ending. My wife and I liked how it ended, but my daughter said “That’s it?” She’s used to everyone living happily ever after and we had to explain to her that this isn’t that type of story.