Random catching up...

Favorite episodes in ATLA? (I know the inquiry wasn't directed to me, but it's had me thinking of late). There are a lot of very good episodes in the series, but some favorites that come to mind are "The Blind Bandit" from season 2 (in which Toph is introduced in a very amusing spoof of the professional wrestling programs of times past), along with "Sokka's Master" and "The Avatar and the Firelord" from season 3 ("Sokka's Master" may well be my favorite from the entire series). There are others that rank right up there as well.

Whatever fan reactions were to "The Ember Island Players," it has (however inadvertently) provided fans a quick way to express their opinions about the recent live-action TLA movie (for example, here) - with Sokka's remark at the end about "but the effects were decent."

Regarding TNG seasons: While I don't dislike seasons 1 and 2 of TNG as much as some fans do, they're still not the first ones I reach for when I feel like watching an episode. Remaking original series episodes like "The Naked Time" wasn't really a good way to start things off. Still, the first 2 seasons do have some good episodes (like "Elementary, Dear Data" and "The Measure of a Man"). I think the show really found its legs in season 3 with episodes like "Yesterday's Enterprise" and never looked back. The character chemistry really came together in seasons 3-6 and many of the episodes are, I think, very good.

Season 7 lagged a bit, perhaps because it was known to be the last. Still, it had excellent shows like "Lower Decks" (which explored ship life for 4 ensigns rather than the usual major characters) and "Parallels" (a TNG look at quantum many-worlds theory).

I enjoyed watching the last new LOST segment to be made: the 11-1/2 minute long epilog "The New Man in Charge" on the season 6 DVD set. It includes a new Dharma Orientation film and answers a few questions fans have raised.

I also watched the series finale "The End" again. I really like about 90% of it - especially

I started re-watching LOST, Watching one episode every other day- just did the third episode yesterday.

Haven't started re-watching Avatar yet though.

Finally today I finished the first season of 24, I started it back in April. For a while I didn't think I would finish it- so I took some long breaks in between episodes. but from last week to today I watch about 11 episodes, and it was worth getting to the end of the season.

Will begin season two in few days. (I've never seen it before, this is my first time through the show and I know nothing about the later seasons)

I watched a short on Lost's sixth season that really explains a lot and I wished that this could have been the season finale, it was so great.

Spoiler

So I guess Walt is the new Jacob or will be and hopefully will set his fathers soul free. I really really loved it.

So I today I began to rewatch Avatar. Just saw the first episode, and it was strange.

I swear, Sokka and Katara look younger to me in this episode, and Zuko looks weird. I got used to his later look, which is much better. Aang looked like a "baby" to me too. I didn't notice that as the chapters progressed that they aged them.

I enjoyed the episode, but I love the later episodes much more, basically because there's already a history to the characters and the characters have been developed.

When I rewatched Avatar, I swear I almost hated Sokka's guts in the first couple episodes. There was just something about it that, after watching the whole series, irritated me.

Oh and does anyone know when season 3 of Merlin begins? I heard it was in September, but I haven't been able to find out the exact date. And yes yes I know I'm in the U.S (and it probably won't be released here) but I'm hoping someone will put the episodes on Youtube again like they did for season 1 and 2.

I've been watching Animaniacs, the irreverant Warner Bros. cartoon series from the early to mid 90's. It's fun and mischevious and sometimes educational. It contains both stupid humour (slapstick, visual gags) and more intelligent humour (satire on society and Hollywood, parodies of classic musicals - Les Miserables, Cats, West Side Story etc., movies (The Goodfellas/The Godfather etc.), books etc.) It also includes lessons in geography, science and history, amongst many other things. They even poke fun at Warner Bros. themselves. I remember watching some of the episodes back in the day but now they really hold-up well as an adult. That's probably because the show was written to be enjoyed by both children and their parents. It wasn't dumbed down for children. Sure, some of the physical humour/puns grow tired but the more intelligent humour is great. As a child, I never understood most of the references to other things but now I do.
When I have children, I'm going to raise them on quality shows like this (and Batman: The Animated Series, Round the Twist etc.)

Anyone remember Animaniacs?

Somehow I missed Animaniacs, even though it aired roughly around the same years as other shows I did watch (such as Gargoyles). I should try viewing some of them online.

On other remarks made above:

Aang looked like a "baby" to me too. I didn't notice that as the chapters progressed that they aged them.

The change from season 1 to season 3 is really noticeable in retrospect, isn't it, though it wasn't obvious at first. The characters even note it in-universe, when (in "The Day of Black Sun") Katara tells Aang, "You're not that goofy kid I found in the iceberg."

I watched a short on Lost's sixth season that really explains a lot and I wished that this could have been the season finale, it was so great.

I agree that it was very nice to get this extra little 'new' snippet of LOST.

Regarding your spoiler about "The New Man in Charge" -

Spoiler

You're right, I think, that Waaaaaaaaalt! will eventually be the new Jacob. Hurley and Ben are recruiting him to follow in their footsteps - so he's the newest candidate. And this apparently will bring his father peace.

Finally today I finished the first season of 24...Will begin season two in few days. (I've never seen it before, this is my first time through the show and I know nothing about the later seasons)

Back when I first got into watching 24 (near the end of season 5 as I recall) I watched season 1 and intended to watch the others before season 6 began. I ran out of time. But good luck as you start this project! Enjoy!

Season 4 of Eureka ended last night (it was only 9 episodes long, but generally I enjoyed it as it delves into alternate timeline-type stuff). I missed the episode but will watch it on their website later. The blurb I've seen implies it's a cliffhanger to be continued next season...

I enjoyed Hellcats. I like how Ashley and Aly get along in the show cause I thought from the start, they were enemies, but turns out they were not. I love the cheer leading moves of Aly Michalka, she rocks! .

Oh and does anyone know when season 3 of Merlin begins?

I believe the first episode of Series 3 aired yesterday in the UK.

About the characters in AtLA progressing and aging over the series: I guess I hadn't paid too much attention to it, but I can see that upon thinking about it. But they do definitely grow up! sillygoose mentioned really not liking Sokka in the first few episodes upon rewatching---could that be because he's a bit of self-centered/self-important jerk (since he was the closest thing to a warrior in his village) and a lot of that gets smoothed over once he travels and meets other people?

Thanks, ValiantArcher. I found the first episode on Youtube and I'm uberexcited and watching it right now.

The 3rd season of Merlin really snuck up on me. I didn't realize it was airing! I watched the first episode and I wasn't really that impressed.

My thoughts on the first episode of Merlin-

Castle returns for its third season tomorrow evening (and the DVD release of season 2 comes the next day), but it happens to air at the same time as another show I'm curious about, the new remake of Hawaii Five-O on CBS (primarily because LOST's Daniel Dae Kim (Jin) has a starring role). Book 'em, Dano.

Lost in AXN Beyond is getting better, but I don't know which season is that. I think the plot, sorry if I'm somewhat wrong about it, where somebody tries to kill Sayid. It looked thrilling, which makes it awesome!

You're watching a TV broadcast of the LOST episodes, sandy? Enjoy!

*refrains from mentioning spoilers*

Last night's NBC premiere of The Event was billed as a sort of cross between 24 and Lost, and I can see how that analogy came about. There's some big conspiracy going on, so there's the inside-government perspective of Jack Bauer's show, and there's a hint of the supernatural (not in the spooky or spiritual sense, just the "beyond the realm of easily explained science") of LOST. There was a jumping-around-time aspect in the narrative which also reminded me of LOST.

I'll refrain from spoilers here too, but I will say I enjoyed it quite a bit. Now if the show can just live up to its beginning (I recall FlashForward, which also began with a bang but fizzled and only lasted 1 season).

I tried to watch the premiere of Hawaii Five-O but it didn't really grab me (though that may not be fair since I was watching Castle at the same time ). The opening theme song is virtually identical to the original, and many of the visual shots during the theme are updated versions of the original.