OK, I shouldn't be in here, since I'm way behind on BSG. But would this be the place to discuss Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!11111111

I'm only 4 eps into Avatar (with a smattering of more recent episodes), and I'm wondering how the various cultures map to the real world.

I get that Aang is based on the Dalai Lama. At first I thought the Fire Nation was the Japanese (shogun-style helmets, WWII style warships), but now I'm pretty convinced they are the Middle Kingdom. Their martial art looks a lot like kung fu, for example.

I would have made the Water Tribes the Japanese, but having them be the arctic tribes is more interesting. Haven't seen their martial art (if any) yet.

Just watched the episode on Kyoshi, and that culture is extremely Japanese, from the warrior makeup and hakama uniforms to the aikido. Since they produced an Avatar, and wear green, I guess they are Earth?

Anyway, if this mapping is consistent and intentional (i.e., rather than just taking appealing elements from classical Chinese history, the writers want me to understand that the Fire Nation = China), there's some interesting political subtext going on.

Their martial art looks a lot like kung fu, for example.

It is. Northern Shaolin kung fu, to be exact.

I would have made the Water Tribes the Japanese, but having them be the arctic tribes is more interesting. Haven't seen their martial art (if any) yet.

Waterbending is TAI CHI!

Just watched the episode on Kyoshi, and that culture is extremely Japanese, from the warrior makeup and hakama uniforms to the aikido. Since they produced an Avatar, and wear green, I guess they are Earth?

Yep.

Anyway, if this mapping is consistent and intentional

Hm, I don't know whether the nations are actually supposed to represent countries entire since there is a lot of "taking appealing elements from classical Chinese history" for the Earth Kingdom as well.

there's some interesting political subtext going on.

Dear God, wait till you get to the second season.

Sarah Connor Chronicles dvd news - no release date but excellent prices for HD and bluray versions.

Hopefully, if they release it in August, like the article suggests, people will buy it and maybe the ratings will go up in the Fall.

Cool. I pretty much love this show so far.

And I can watch it with Mal, who's in it for "the big flying dog and 'Gitarra'."

I'm going to guess that Chinese and Japanese history and culture both contribute to both Fire and Earth. I don't know how expansionist Earth Kingdom ever was, but my "knowing nothing about the 'verse" hunch is "expansive." Reason: you have two Water Tribes, one of which is decimated. The Air guys seem to be pretty thin on the ground (heh) too. So the rest of the world is Fire and Earth.

I kind of wish they'd used the Chinese elements and included metal, but that's another whole essay.

I pretty much love this show so far.

If you love it now, you're going to want to marry it by the time you catch up. I love watching people get into Avatar !!

I don't know how expansionist Earth Kingdom ever was, but my "knowing nothing about the 'verse" hunch is "expansive."

Well, take a look at the map in the opening credits. That huge chunk of land on the right is the Earth Kingdom. Or was, until the Fire Nation took over most of it.

If you love it now, you're going to want to marry it by the time you catch up.

So true! Love me some Avatar!

Yeah, I think the Avatar analogues are a bit of a hash. E.g., the Fire names are all basically Japanese-style (although the phonemic vocabulary is different), and there are political of Earth nations that are strongly Chinese (in spirit if not in details), but there are also vicey-versy elements.

(And also that random cabbage guy who shows up everywhere.)

But I think that's cool: it's a synthesis of several vague history/mythology systems into something new. Kinda like how the animals are (almost) all chimeras.

Also, it is the best show on TV for "Wait, I know that voice!" games. Everybody who has a cool or recognizable voice has been on that show, I swear.

Moonlight is cancelled.

Nikki Finke is reporting that WB might pick it up. It's a long shot.