I was told by several friends that I absolutely HAD to see this show, because it was so amazing. So I rented four out of the five Book 1 DVDs (Vol. 2 was absent from the library shelves) and spent a day becoming completely absorbed in this world. I'll be the first to admit that I don't like Japanese anime very much, so something that is so heavily influenced by that style has got to be pretty darn good for me to like it despite that. Avatar was all that and more. Gorgeous character designs, animation, and backgrounds make for a feast for the eyes.

Also, this is the first show that I've seen in a very long time that isn't completely dumbed down and filled with aesops, despite its target audience. Yes, there are overall themes of friendship, loyalty, good vs. evil, and teamwork that are pretty evident in any children's cartoon, but Avatar is a nice change in that it doesn't beat you over the head with those ideas (usually). The characters are diverse and well-developed - even the random extras, like Foaming Mouth Guy and Cabbage Man have their fans - and it's a perfect blend of action, humor, adventure, and (dare I say it) the beginnings of an epic romance.

One warning though: make sure you have plenty of time when you start it. Avatar is like visual crack; one episode and you're hooked.

I can say in all honesty that out of the three seasons, this was the best one. The writing and storyline were tighter here than they were in Season 3, and this boxset is definitely a must-have for any Avatar fan. I never get tired of watching these episodes, especially 'The Waterbending Scroll', 'Jet', 'Bato of the Water Tribe', and 'The Deserter'.

This season is what really started it all. Its also has the best special features of all three seasons