TV Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book Three: Fire.

This was probably my fastest watch yet. I recently finished re-watching the third and final season/book of Avatar: The Last Airbender (click here for my thoughts on Book 1 and Book 2). I mentioned in my Book 2 review how Book 2 would be both easier and harder to make into a movie. Well, Book 3 would just be nearly impossible. There's hardly a completely unnecessary episode, and the series finale alone is an hour and a half... and it still didn't have time to wrap everything up.

So getting to it, this will be the same as the others. I'll give a summary, give my thoughts, and discuss if it should be used for the movie version. Again, I'll probably reference the first movie (despite its terribleness) because, unless there's a total Retcon of the movie (a la The Incredible Hulk), we'd have to go by what it set up. So here we go...

Book Three: Fire (Season 3)

Episode 1: The Awakening
Synopsis: Aang wakes up from his coma on a Fire Nation ship. It turns out his friends (and more) stole the ship and have made their way back into the Fire Nation. But he's upset because the world thinks he's dead, and he feels he's let them down. He goes out on his own to try to reclaim his honor, but ends up caught in a storm. After persuading, his friends talk him into keeping the secret that he's still alive, and he ends up burning his glider. Meanwhile, Zuko and Azula are welcomed back home as heroes, with the Fire Lord congratulating Zuko on his success. However, he also learns Azula lied and gave credit of Aang's death to him... just in case he's really alive, which Azula suspects he might be.

Thoughts: A good opening to the season. It's an incredibly dark episode, which sets up the tone of the rest of the season perfectly. Aang doesn't show his comedic side in this episode. Katara is upset with her father. Aang burns his glider to continue the secret of him being dead. Azula plots against her brother, giving him glory on the thought that the Avatar might not be dead... it's all serious stuff. I also said at the last episode of the second season about Aang and Zuko switching roles. It's even more obvious in this episode (to the point where Aang talks about regaining his honor).

The Movie: Like every other opener of the previous seasons, this would would have to be in the movie.

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Episode 2: The Headband
Synopsis: The gang steal Fire Nation clothes to disguise themselves, and Aang accidentally winds up in a school. There, he teaches the other students to loosen up a bit and live. Meanwhile, Zuko--who believes Aang is alive--hires a three-eyed assassin to find and kill the Avatar.

Thoughts: A fun episode, bringing back the fun side of Aang that the season opener was missing. And it also introduces a fun villain--Sparky Sparky Boom Man (or Combustion Man).

The Movie: Aang's half of this episode would be cut, but Combustion Man would have to be introduced.

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Episode 3: The Painted Lady
Synopsis: The gang find themselves at a fishing village on the water, but the water has been polluted by a nearby factory that is pouring sludge into it. Katara takes up the guise of a village myth hero, The Painted Lady, and helps the sick and needy villagers. She also, eventually, takes on the factory workers to help clean up the water.

Thoughts: It's good for building Katara's character, but otherwise unnecessary. There's some fun comedy with one of the villagers who appears to be crazy, as well.

The Movie: This would almost definitely be cut.

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Episode 4: Sokka's Master
Synopsis: Sokka, being the only person in the group who can't do any kind of bending, feels useless. So he goes out to train under a master swordsman, Piandao, and eventually creates a black sword out of a meteorite. Meanwhile, we start seeing Iroh--who has been imprisoned--start figuring out a plan to escape.

Thoughts: A really good episode that focuses on Sokka and his importance. There are some good scenes with the others waiting around, bored, without Sokka, and they learn how important he really is to them. And then, of course, Sokka learning swordsmanship. I also really like the side bits with Iroh that cover the next few episodes, showing how much of a genius the man really is.

The Movie: This would have to be incredibly shortened, as there is a lot of other stuff to get to. They don't necessarily need Sokka's sword or any of that. The sword doesn't exactly do anything major later on in the season. It's just character-building for Sokka. However, the Iroh stuff needs to be in there.

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Episode 5: The Beach
Synopsis: Almost completely focusing on Azula, Zuko, Mai, and Ty Lee, this episode shows them on vacation at Ember Island. The island apparently has the magical ability to show people who they truly are inside. While there, they try to act like normal teenagers at the beach and at a party. Meanwhile, Aang and the others are attacked by Combustion Man for the first time.

Thoughts: This is a really fun episode, mostly to see Azula try to act normal and fail epically at it. Overall, this episode is to help develop the more troubled characters of the show, but is completely unnecessary plot-wise. Well, except for the Combustion Man stuff.

The Movie: Like I said, this is almost unnecessary except for the Combustion Man stuff. Normally I'm all up for having solid character development in movies, but there's way too much plot to cover for side trips like this.

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Episode 6: The Avatar and the Firelord
Synopsis: While Aang discovers the history of Avatar Roku, Zuko follows the story of his great grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, the man responsible for starting the war. He also turns out to have been Avatar Roku's best friend, and Roku turns out to be Zuko's great grandfather on his mother's side, giving more reason for Zuko's internal conflict.

Thoughts: This episode is very similar in style to "The Storm" from the first season. In other words, it's very good and gives a lot of interesting back story. We get to know about how and why the war started. And it's not just pure back story, as each story had purpose--they were given to help develop the characters of Aang and Zuko further, helping them to understand themselves and their destinies.

The Movie: I'm sure the background information would be given somehow, but I doubt they'd take 20 minutes to do it like this episode does. It would probably be given in a brief comment or story, taking no more than a few minutes.

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Episode 7: The Runaway
Synopsis: Toph begins to run con jobs in a small town, and Katara strongly disapproves, causing a rift between them. They learn a lot about themselves in the process, but end up caught by Combustion Man. He uses them as bait to catch Aang, but Katara ends up saving the day and they escape.

Thoughts: This episode is mostly to develop Katara yet again. She's accused of being too motherly and strict, while Toph is accused of not following enough rules. Toph does receive some development in this episode, but not as much as Katara. The bit with Combustion Man is good, too, showing Katara's quick thinking in using her own sweat to do some Waterbending.

The Movie: I think this would be a fun episode to see on screen if there would be time. I think, if I were writing the script, I'd put this episode in the first draft but might cut it in subsequent drafts after I realized how long the movie was going to be with it in there.

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Episode 8: The Puppetmaster
Synopsis: The gang stumbles across another small village that is plagued by a creature on the full moon. Every full moon, villagers go missing, never to be seen again. They shack up at an inn with a sweet old lady named Hama that actually used to be from Katara and Sokka's water tribe. Feeling a connection with Katara, Hama takes Katara out during the full moon to show her a powerful Waterbending ability. As it turns out, Hama was kidnapped from their tribe when she was younger and was held prisoner in a Fire Nation prison. She then taught herself to take and control water from everything around her, realizing that there is water in every living thing. So she teaches herself Bloodbending, which allows her to completely control another person like a puppet, but it can only be done at the full moon when the Waterbender is at his/her most powerful... and really can only be done by a master (such as Katara). Hama is revealed to be the one kidnapping the villagers, as she's getting her twisted revenge for what the Fire Nation did to her. Katara, who doesn't want to do Bloodbending and thinks it's wrong and sadistic, is forced to use it against Hama when she nearly has Aang and Sokka kill each other.

Thoughts: This is one of the darkest and scariest episodes in the entire show. There's another that's up there with it, and it's also in this season, but this one is by far the creepiest. The way Bloodbending is portrayed, from the animation to the sound effects to go with it (not to mention just the music playing over the scenes) makes you squirm. It's not like a fluidly moving marionette. No, it's like something out of Silent Hill--sharp movements, crackling bones, twisting limbs where limbs shouldn't be able to twist. You're completely with Katara on how wrong and sadistic it is. This is one heck of an episode.

The Movie: Oh, this should definitely be in the movie. If any of the side-stop villages are visited in the film, this should be one of them. It would be a very dark movie overall, and this would fit in with the tone perfectly. Not to mention if handled right, the Bloodbending would look so creepy.

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Episode 9: Nightmares and Daydreams
Synopsis: With the planned invasion just days away, Aang gets anxiety nightmares. He tries to stay awake after a while, but that just causes him to hallucinate. Though the gang finally gets Aang to rest after 3 days.

Thoughts: This is one of the strangest and funniest episodes of the whole series. And what more would you expect from anxiety dreams and hallucinations? At one point, Appa and Momo start talking to him before arguing with each other, which turns into an over-the-top samurai battle between the two creatures. It's totally bizarre, but hilarious.

The Movie: This should be cut. There's no way it would fit with the dark tone of the movie, and it's way too cartoonish for a live-action movie.

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Episode 10: The Day of Black Sun, Part 1: The Invasion
Synopsis: It's the day of the eclipse, and many characters from past episodes return to help in the invasion. Of course, they successfully penetrate the Fire Nation forces and get into the capital city. But once within the palace, Aang realizes nobody's home.

Thoughts: It's really cool to see a bunch of past bit characters return (mostly from season 1, but there are others). And you're cheering along with them as they successfully defeat the Fire Nation army and break in to the palace. And then your heart just sinks when you realize nobody is there.

The Movie: This would probably be at the mid-point of the movie, which makes sense considering it's mid-way through the season. But it would definitely have to be there, specifically for what happens next.

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Episode 11: The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse
Synopsis: Sokka and Toph help Aang go below the palace and find the Fire Lord before the eclipse has passed and it's too late. However, they run into Azula, who stalls them until the eclipse is over. Meanwhile, Zuko takes advantage of the eclipse to confront his father about all his evil ways and how he (Zuko) is going to free Iroh from prison and go join the Avatar to help him (I know I haven't included Zuko bits in the last few synopses, but there have been some brief Zuko moments where he really challenges who he is and the choices he's made). The eclipse ends, and the Fire Lord attacks his son. Zuko, however, redirects the lightning attack as Iroh taught him and escapes. When he goes to free Iroh, he realizes that Iroh has already escaped. Back with Aang and the others, they realize the day was a bust. The Fire Nation has raised their War Balloons and sinks their submarines, their only way of escape. So the gang (and a couple other of the younger characters) is forced to leave on Appa, while the rest of the troops are to stay and be arrested. At the end, we see Zuko following Appa in an air balloon.

Thoughts: A very good, though sad, episode. Azula shows her devilish nature in keeping them preoccupied long enough for the eclipse to end (though she does announce that they have captured Suki). Zuko shows his next leap of character development in facing and denouncing his father, showing his love for his uncle, and declaring his fate as helping the Avatar. And then, of course, the gang has to flee to fight another day while the rest of the invasion force is captured.

The Movie: Like I said for the last episode, this definitely has to be in the movie for multiple reasons.

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Episode 12: The Western Air Temple
Synopsis: The gang travels to the Western Air Temple (the only air temple they had yet to visit in the show) to stay low and figure out what to do next. Sokka declares that the new plan is the old plan, where Aang masters all 4 elements and that he now needs to find a Firebending master. Zuko desperately tries to prove that he's changed to the gang, but it's only after he helps defeat Combustion Man that they decide to trust him and bring him on to teach Aang Firebending. Though Katara, still hurt after Zuko's betrayal at the end of the previous season, doesn't trust him and threatens him that if he does anything that even remotely seems bad, it'll be the last thing he ever does.

Thoughts: This is pretty much the episode most people waited for--where Zuko joins the gang and becomes one of the good guys finally. It's like when Buffy fans waited for everyone to accept Spike into the party. It's just good stuff. And you're rooting for Zuko the entire episode, despite him continually screwing things up.

The Movie: Yeah... this has to be there.

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Episode 13: The Firebending Masters
Synopsis: Zuko tries to start teaching Aang Firebending, but realizes he can't for some reason. He realizes he had been using his anger and hatred to Firebend, but now that he doesn't have those things anymore, he has nothing to draw from. So Zuko takes Aang to the temple of the supposedly extinct Sun Warriors, those who learned to Firebend from the dragons. Of course, they learn the Sun Warriors still exist, and they send Zuko and Aang to meet with the Firebending Masters, who turn out to be the final two existing dragons. By the end of the episode, Zuko regains his ability to Firebend, and Aang loses his fear of it (after having burned Katara in the first season).

Thoughts: A good episode overall. It's fun to explore the source of Zuko's Firebending ability and how it stemmed from his anger. Also, there's some beautiful animation with the dragons sequence near the end.

The Movie: Like I've said before, I might put this in the initial script but cut it later. In fact, I might go so far as to film this sequence but probably end up cutting it from the final film. It'd be good for an extended version. It has everything visually appealing for a live-action movie, but overall isn't completely necessary. They could easily have Zuko still know how to Firebend and not have to do any of this.

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Episode 14: The Boiling Rock (Part 1)
Synopsis: Sokka takes his turn to go off on a mission with Zuko alone. Zuko tells him that war prisoners would probably be taken to The Boiling Rock, an almost inescapable prison. Sokka wants to go and free his father, though isn't completely sure that he'll be there. Unfortunately, after they get there and their method of escape is destroyed, they realize that Sokka's father is, indeed, not there. However, Suki is, and Sokka decides to try and help break her out instead. Another prisoner gets word of the escape plan and demands to join in. But when the time comes to escape, Sokka hears of a new shipment of prisoners that could include his father. So he, Zuko, and Suki stay behind while the other prisoner and his companions try to escape... and inevitably fail. And fortunately, it was for the better, as Sokka's father was with the new group of prisoners.

Thoughts: Of the "Zuko Field Trip" episodes, this is the only two-parter, which is a bit strange. Sure, it's focusing on rescuing Hakoda and Suki, but my biggest issue with this season is just that. It seems every time they rescue or find either of those two characters, they're forced to leave them again immediately after. So it feels as if all the rescue or meet-up episodes are pointless or redundant. However, it's still a good, fun episode, and the teamwork between Sokka and Zuko is a pleasure to watch, as their chemistry is really funny.

The Movie: With Suki cut from the first movie and possibly not introduced in the second, this two-parter would become a lot shorter. It would also become slightly unnecessary. I would definitely cut all the side stuff with the other prisoner. Actually, I'd probably cut this whole sequence to begin with. It's good development for both Sokka and Zuko, but it's just taking time away from other important things.

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Episode 15: The Boiling Rock (Part 2)
Synopsis: They come up with another escape plan, this time involving the hostage-taking of the warden. But their plans become a bit screwy when Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee show up. Of course, they still end up escaping, but only because Mai decides to help Zuko instead of fear Azula. Azula goes to attack Mai, but Ty Lee sticks with Mai and attacks Azula first, taking away her bending abilities momentarily.

Thoughts: Really, the only important part of this episode is Mai and Ty Lee turning on Azula, which is the first major thing to cause her to eventually snap and lose it. The new escape plan is fun, and the fight scene between everybody on the gondola is a lot of fun, too.

The Movie: Like I said, the only important thing is the Mai/Ty Lee thing. But I could put that in another scenario just as easily, maybe even closer to the climax.

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Episode 16: The Southern Raiders
Synopsis: Katara decides to take her little field trip with Zuko now, as Zuko knows who was responsible for killing her mother all those years ago. He takes her to the Southern Raiders' ship, where Katara goes on a rampage. But she discovers the captain isn't the right man. Zuko and Katara hunt him down, finding that he's mostly a pathetic old man living with his mother. She takes pity on him and doesn't kill him, learning that vengeance wouldn't have solved it. However, she also takes a lesson from the trip and decides to forgive Zuko, fully accepting him as a part of the team.

Thoughts: Of all the "Zuko Field Trip" episodes, this is probably my favorite. Remember earlier how I was saying there was one other really dark episode in this season? This is it. Katara is almost Azula-level crazy in this episode. She's not one to be reckoned with. Really, Katara is frightening in this episode, doing some Bloodbending, as well as some amazing Waterbending that we haven't seen before... though probably because it's fueled by pure rage. This is a really good episode.

The Movie: I would definitely include this in the movie. There is a lot of Katara stuff in this season, but of the character development necessary for her, I'd probably say this one and The Puppetmaster would be the best ones to include. It shows a darker side of her character, but also her moral side to contrast with. It's also good for her development in her relationship with Zuko, finally forgiving him and accepting him.

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Episode 17: The Ember Island Players
Synopsis: The gang, now staying at Zuko's family home on Ember Island, decides to check out a play based on their adventures. But what they discover is how distorted and wrong the show gets it, yet also how right, emphasizing their flaws and how everybody else perceives them. This forces the gang to evaluate themselves and their relationships with each other.

Thoughts: Quite nearly a filler episode through and through, this is pretty much just a creative way for the show to do a "montage/recap" episode to catch everybody up before the series finale. But this even proves how great this show is, by taking something as overdone as a montage/recap episode and making it humorous and purposeful, using it for one last stretch of character development before the finale. The ending is also perfect when you think about it in context with the recent movie adaptation. It's like M. Night Shyamalan only watched this episode before making the movie. In fact, somebody else thought this, as well (click here to see what I mean). There's also a funny line during the play that portrays when Jet is fatally wounded at Ba Sing Se. Zuko asks "Did Jet... die?" Sokka replies something along the lines of "You know, they left it really ambiguous." It was just one of the many fan-based self-referential jokes in this episode.

The Movie: No way. The only part of this that might be incorporated is Aang questioning Katara about the status of their relationship due to them having kissed at the Invasion and not having brought it up since.

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Episode 18: Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King
Synopsis: When Aang reveals he was planning on waiting until after the comet to take on the Fire Lord, Zuko reveals that his father is planning on using the comet to destroy the Earth Kingdom much like Sozin destroyed the Air Nomads the last time the comet came around. Aang becomes conflicted in how to defeat the Fire Lord. Everything he's been taught and everything he stands for involves not taking his life. In the middle of the night, he sleepwalks into the ocean and, along with Momo, ends up on another island that disappears. All the others wake up the next morning and begin searching for him. They put Zuko in charge since he was the master at tracking Aang in the past, and Zuko takes them to June, the tracker/assassin from the first season. Meanwhile, Fire Lord Ozai decides to turn over his title to Azula, as he's planning on becoming the Phoenix King, ruler of the world, after he destroys the Earth Kingdom.

Thoughts: Basically just an introduction to the finale. This 4-part finale is shown as an hour-and-a-half movie (without commercials), so this is really only the first 20 or so minutes. There's really nothing all that exciting, as most of it is setup for later.

The Movie: This would definitely be there. I'd like to say they could cut the "missing island" stuff, but they can't, as that's pretty vital to Aang's revelation. Though they might be able to cut down on the searching bit a little, I suppose.

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Episode 19: Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters
Synopsis: Still on the island, Aang summons the last 4 Avatars from the spirit realm and asks each of them for advice on how to defeat the Fire Lord. They all basically have the same reaction--that Aang needs to suck it up and kill him for the good of the world. Meanwhile, when June is unable to find Aang, Zuko uses her to find Iroh instead. In the process, they find themselves with the Order of the White Lotus, which includes King Bumi, water master Pakku, fire master Jeong Jeong, and Sokka's sword master Piandao. They are led by, of course, Iroh. Zuko has his heartfelt reunion with Iroh, and everybody decides to split up to do different things for this final battle. At the end, Sozin's Comet finally arrives, and Aang discovers his island is really a giant Lion Turtle, who gives him advice on what to do.

Thoughts: This is where it starts its segue from setup to main story. There's still some setup here, of course, for the final battle. But the big part of this episode is Zuko and Iroh's reunion, which is great. There's a bunch of hugging and crying and apologizing, etc. It's really emotional. And you also get a fun, though brief, recap of how Bumi retook Omashu from the Fire Nation. The strangest part is the Lion Turtle, mostly due to the animation. The animation feels very different than usual (in fact, there are a few things in these final episodes that are different than usual).

The Movie: This one is tough. Bumi was cut from the first movie, and he could easily be cut from the second. Pakku wasn't in the first, either, nor was Jeong Jeong. And Piandao could easily be cut from this movie. That pretty much negates the entire Order of the White Lotus. It would cut some time, but not a whole lot.

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Episode 20: Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into the Inferno
Synopsis: Azula finally begins to snap the closer she gets to becoming Fire Lord. Zuko and Katara arrive to defeat her, but she challenges Zuko to an Agni Kai. He knows she's purposefully trying to split them up (as an Agni Kai is one-on-one), but he does it anyway. The fight goes on for a while before she attempts to kill Katara with a lightning blast. Zuko jumps in the way and saves her. Meanwhile, Sokka, Toph, and Suki try to stop the fleet of War Balloons that are going to help destroy the Earth Kingdom, and all almost die in the process. Finally, Aang faces Ozai and fails to defeat him, as he refuses to kill the man. Oh, and the Order of the White Lotus infiltrates Ba Sing Se and fights to reclaim it for the Earth Kingdom, as well.

Thoughts: There is a lot going on in this episode, and it's almost pure action. The fight between Azula and Zuko is amazing, mostly due to the mix between the visuals and the sound. The music and sound effects are really muted, making the fight seem that much more epic. The bits with Sokka, Suki, and Toph are probably the most suspenseful and emotional. When Sokka and Toph get separated from Suki, and then Sokka loses both his boomerang and his sword, and then when it seems both Sokk and Toph are about to die... it's all pretty hardcore. The rough part is when tears actually start welling up in Toph's eyes when she thinks she's about to fall to her death. The Ba Sing Se stuff isn't all that focused on. It's interesting, but not that major. But the fight between Aang and Ozai is where it's at. Aang attempts to use all the elements against him, and Ozai just keeps up his hardcore pace against him. Both prove to be totally badass. And by the end of the episode, it seems Aang is trapped and in trouble.

The Movie: Of course. Again, they might cut down on the Ba Sing Se stuff due to no real Order of the White Lotus (unless they have Iroh take the town back single-handedly, which I suppose would be pretty cool). Otherwise, all of this needs to be in there.

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Episode 21: Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang
Synopsis: Ozai accidentally triggers the Avatar State in Aang, and Aang goes badass, summing all 4 elements at once to surround him like an atom. Then Ozai goes on the run, unable to even harm Aang or hide from him. In the end, Aang takes Ozai's Firebending powers away from him, a technique he learned from the Lion Turtle right before the battle. Meanwhile, Katara takes Zuko's spot and continues the assault on Azula. In the end, Katara gets her chained up and unable to get free. She heals Zuko. Sokka, Suki, and Toph finish off the War Balloons. Zuko is crowned the new Fire Lord and declares the war officially over. Zuko then goes to his father, now in prison, and demands from him the location of his mother. The gang (including Zuko and Iroh) hang out together, and everything ends as Aang and Katara kiss.

Thoughts: First, it's a bit bumming that Azula isn't killed. Sure, Katara takes her down in a pretty interesting way, but after what we saw in the "Southern Raiders" episode, this was weak in comparison to what we know she can do. Though I suppose it would also counteract the lesson she learned in that episode had she killed Azula, so... yeah. I think part of it has to do with the fact that Ozai isn't killed either. I think that one bugs me a little more... not for the fact that he's not killed, but for the way Aang takes him down. It almost felt like a deus ex machina. You don't even know that the Lion Turtle taught him that move until right when he does it to the Fire Lord. I think if it would have been set up better, it might have worked better. But as it stands, it's just kind of awkward. Everything else about the fight, though, is amazing on every level. The Zuko as new Fire Lord thing reminded me a lot of a kind of Return of the King-type story. Now, the one bit of information fans (myself included) are a bit upset with that is never resolved is Zuko's mother. The whole thing is played up quite a bit over the second and third seasons, but you never find out. I guess you can assume she's alive, maybe. But it would have been nice to have some sort of confirmation. So yeah, anyway, Mai is back and Ty Lee has joined the Kyoshi Warriors. And the ending was good, as it ended on the kiss between Aang and Katara, cementing their relationship for good.

The Movie: Yes, again, it would have to be in the movie. It's the ending. Not sure how they'd handle the "remove Firebending" trick, though. And I'd hope maybe to get some kind of answer to Zuko's mother. Otherwise, it could stay pretty faithful. If they had to cut down on anything, I'd say cut a bit from Sokka, Toph, and Suki's segment. The War Balloons thing got slightly repetitive after a while. Otherwise, good stuff.

Conclusion

One thing I didn't mention at all in this season's summary was the relationship between Zuko and Mai. It's built up in this season that the two of them are a couple. However, I've never really liked them as a couple. They're just kind of... boring. Of course, it's all important for when Mai decides to help Zuko instead of Azula. But as Mai is such a dull character (purposefully, at that), I never cared for their relationship. Much like everybody else, I actually liked the prospect of Zuko and Katara, which is hinted at as somewhat of a possibility. This begins even at the end of last season when they're trapped in the cave together before Azula shows up. And I know it had to be Katara and Aang at the end, but... it's kinda like... you know somewhere deep down that Buffy and Angel should end up together, but you'd rather root for Buffy and Spike, because it's just that much more entertaining (yeah, I had to go to another show to make my relationship connections). There's even a few jokes on this in the "play" episode before the finale.

I think that's about it, though. This is a great, dark season and an overall great way to end the series. I might have handled a couple things differently, but that's just me. I think this season found a good tone. When it was funny, it was really funny. When it was disturbing, it was really disturbing. The action was amazing... I'll just stop there, as you'll know I'll just gush over it all.

As for a movie version, including all episode stuff that's pretty important (not including those ones I'd say "I might include but cut later"), my version of this movie is at a guesstimate of 3 hours and 15 minutes if kept very similar to the show. I'm sure if you tried really hard, it could be cut down to 2 and a half hours, but it couldn't be any less than that. There's just no way.

Anyway, it's definitely a great season and a great end to a great show. Have I mentioned the word "great" enough? So yeah, go check this show out if you haven't already. These reviews were based on my second viewing, and they were still as good as the first time through (if not even better).