A:tLA fan here! I apply the same mindset to this as I do to my fanning (hurray for coining new meanings for existing words?) of Supernatural: I trust the creators. They did well the first time, they have always done remarkably well. I trust their ability to make this cool. Therefore, it deserves every bit of benefit of the doubt I can give it.

Actually, I'm pretty happy to hear that they're doing a sequel, and that they're doing something entirely new with it! I'd be far more worried if they were trying to follow around the children of the first gang. I can't think of any good example of that. Can you guys?

At first glance, I admit I was a little concerned with how this new series was described. "Hot-headed and independent" are hardly original descriptions for a main female character. *gestures towards his own PPC character list*

After some thought, however, I'm convinced that the new Avatar series should be something to be gleefully anticipated. My reasons are thus:

-- New characters. The story of the Gaang has pretty much been told. While it might be a little interesting to see how their lives progressed, an entirely new cast of characters allows for new situations or stories to be told.

-- Korra, the new Avatar. Her personality, while hardly original (if the press release is to be believed 100%), serves a marked contrast to Aang's typical cheerful mood. Plus, now we have a contemporary Avatar, rather than one that is disconnected by the present by 100 years. If the picture is anything to go by, Korra is older than Aang was during the first show. I'd quite like to see a more mature Avatar (not for that reason! Get your minds out of the gutter!).

-- The suggested storylines about city crime and anti-bending attitudes fit in with the general maturity set by the first series. I want to see how said topics are handled.

-- She already knows three of the four types of bending. Good! That means we don't have to watch more gorram training montages with fire, earth, and water. The first series had plenty of those, thank you!

-- Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (the original creators of the first series) are heading up this project. Rather them than some fan trying to redo all of the classic bits. They know what's been done, so hopefully they'll try to explore new territory and create new conflicts.

-- Steam punk is kinda cool.

I'll be looking forward to its release.

Only seventy years, and Aang is already dead? :/ We've already had several people living for over a hundred years with no problems, so why did Aang kick the bucket so early? Did someone murder him or something? And if so, how did they manage to bump off the Avatar?

Really, this makes me SO DAMN HAPPY. I have plenty of faith in the creators to pull a kickass, strong, non-Sueish, new and above all, INTERESTING character off, and a whole bunch of supporting characters. The old series had lots of dark stuff in it, so the whole rising-crime thing doesn't make me twitch, and I just love the idea of seeing what's happened to the world after the series ends. And there will be more Avatar squee-squee-squee-squee-squee!

...Please tell me I'm not the only one on a total fangirl high? Please?

...I really wanted to know what everyone thinks about this, especially since sequels are (usually) not as good as the original, especially one as well-crafted as Avatar: The Last Airbender was.

And there's also the matter of the next Avatar herself. Ever since I found out that characters I liked/tolerated are generally considered (by fans) to be... uh... unlikable, I've been somewhat paranoid about new series. (And as much as I like TVTropes, it hasn't exactly helped in some ways either...)

But hey, maybe I'm wrong. I'll just have to wait and see.

I'm forcing myself to rein in my cynicism. I don't know how they can follow such a great act. Will the characters be as good? Will the story be as rich? I honestly don't know.

As long as this does not become TeenageWasteland!Avatar, I am willing to entertain the general concept. What this depends on is execution...

Which means I'll extend my feeble patience to it, I guess. I am getting weird mixed feelings from this, but I find myself demanding proof of them and from a cursory glance I can't justify my leeriness.

So I guess I'll just make some tea and--

70 years, huh? I guess Iroh is dead.

Well, that just sucked the happiness out of this series prospect. No Iroh? No Sokka? Boo. It's going to suck.

I've just recently discovered the full extent of my obsession with the show.

While I agree that those are typical Canon!Sue characteristics, the first show also handled what could be considered other Sue-cliches (i.e. dead/missing parents, spirited kids doing cool things with special powers) very well indeed. Even Zuko's angsting isn't too bad at the worst of times.

I have become a little paranoid as well, with all the badfic I've seen in other fandoms, but this is one continuum I'm more than prepared to give the benefit of the doubt until I can decide for myself.

And if fearless, independent, passionate Miss Korra does turn out to be a Sue, well, I'll just watch the first series over again. And possibly again.

... that girl has Canon!Sue written all over her face...