How come I never stumbled upon this thread? Well, I'm glad I happened to do so now. Since I really like both shows and want to talk about both, that's exactly what I'm going to do now. I'll answer the questions in two parts, first part being about A:TLA and the second part being about TLOK.
(Be warned that you'll likely see a huge wall of text covering this page)
When and how were you introduced to Avatar?
A:TLA: I must say that I have a very bad memory, so I don't really remember, but if I were to guess, I'd say that it happened coincidentially when I would be sitting in front of the TV and seeing it on Nickelodeon.
TLOK: Funny thing is that I remember the things related to this show very well. Basically, the first thing I ever saw and heard of of the show was the German trailer on Nickelodeon. Ever since I saw it, I had been so pumped and hyped for it to air, and when it did, my dreams became true.
What was the first episode you've ever watched from Avatar?
A:TLA: Oh boy, I seriously have no clue. I do remember that we had a visit over at our house and that I was watching Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into the Inferno on the TV during a storm outside. The storm eventually made the TV turn off right at the best part (when Ozai was about to do his last attack while Aang was hiding in his ball of rock), and I remember that I was so upset because I couldn't get to see the rest after anymore, haha.
TLOK: My first episode was Welcome To Republic City. I still know my exact reaction to various scenes; how I was excited, curious and eager in the beginning. How I freaked out when I saw old Katara and discovering that she still wore the necklace of her mother, how this seemingly careless, badass girl took those firebenders on without any problem and how optimistic her attitude was which influenced my attitude as well. How excited I was to get to know Aang and Katara's son and his family, how perplexed I was when I saw Naga for the first time, how flabbergasted I was upon seeing Republic City and Aang's statue for the first time, sharing the same feelings as Korra, how excited I was seeing her doing all this awesome stuff and beating those three triad members but all the while wondering where her journey would go because I knew that there had to be more to it (I didn't know back then that the show was supposed to be running for one season only).
Good old times.
What appealed to you about Avatar?
I think I won't divide my answer into two parts here. I don't know where to begin, to be honest. One thing that strongly appealed - and still does! - are the characters; Aang, Katara, Korra, you name it. Of course, the story itself, the animation, music and the various themes we got to explore. What I really liked about TLOK was this 1920's vibe and the technology. I mean, I was like "WOW" when I saw those satomobiles. I also loved the idea of pro-bending because it was cool in my opinion.
I could go on and on about this, but I'll refrain from doing so. Simply put, I like the things about the shows that we all do.
Who was your favorite character and why?
A:TLA: Geez, whenever someone asks me that question, I never know how to answer. I actually don't have a favorite character, or so I thought. When watching shows, movies or reading books, there rarely are characters I'm really attached to, which was the same case for A:TLA.
But I really like Katara and Suki (and Iroh). Why? Because all of them are badass and have this unique thing about themselves and they are so confident in what they're doing, so full of hope and wisdom, they're so relatable and admirable that I just feel the need to bond with them. Also, we share a few things which is another huge and important factor in my eyes in order to connect with characters.
TLOK: In this case, it's the exact opposite; there are just so many characters I like! You could say that I like every character, safe for the 'bad' ones, haha.
But my all time - favorite characters would be Korra and Jinora because I liked both of them instantly. Korra already had me with her.. awesomeness and her personality. Her way of dealing with things and approaching them, saying whatever is on her mind, just doing what is right in her mind is what really got to me. I admire people like her, people who do their thing without any worries and stand up for themselves. That's something I can't do and it's one of the reasons why I look up to Korra.
As for Jinora, oh how I like her. Basically, if you want to have me in a version of a TLOK - character, it's her. If you guys knew how many things we have in common. Really, you'd be amazed.
She likes books, she's reserved, and polite, she's mellow, she's down-to-earth, she's responsible, she's bossy, she's.. so like me! It's amazing. There are probably more which I can't come up with right now, but you get my point. The point is, she's just so relatable and I really feel connected to her, I understand why she's doing what she is and why she feels the way she does. I don't think I ever really felt that attached to a fictional character.
Furthermore, she represents so much in the show, she's the voice of reason, she basically stands for change, she's intelligent and educated and she's cute, which is a bonus hehe. But if she wants, she can turn from this cute girl from next door to a more 'rebellious' and 'cheeky' girl who speaks out her mind and wants her voice to be heard, which, as you know, is something that I completely admire about people who are able to pull it off. On top of all that, she's the perfect leader and she's spiritual.
If I had to rank those two, I really wouldn't know how to because both have a big meaning for me and are such great characters with unique personalities.
Phew. Kind of a long answer, but who cares, right? I know I don't.
What was your favorite episode and why?
I'll already tell you that I have a couple of favorite episodes in both shows, but I'll stick to the absolute favorite ones or the ones that spontaneously pop into mind.
A:TLA: Well, while the finales are a few of my favorites, I'll decide to pick another one because of obvious reasons. One episode that isn't being mentioned a lot is The Avatar Returns, or the first two episodes in overall, which are quite good for an introduction. I can't really pick out the moments and things I like about those two, because this would turn into a wall of text that no one would want to read.
Other episodes that I really like are The Storm, The Avatar and the Fire Lord and The Southern Raiders, because all of them dive deeper into the past and into the characters. I always appreciate moments like those and I'm a huge sucker for flashbacks, just because we get to know more things we haven't known about up to this point and we feel more connected to the characters.
I like The Storm mostly because of Aang's side-story and the characters' interaction in this one. We get to see how Aang deals with rejection and how he got into that storm in the first time and how he really feels about being the Avatar. Plus, we got to see more of the Air Nomads and how much of a parent role Gyatso played for him.
I know that there's also Zuko's side-story, which is also a sad one. I especially liked the premise of it, how we get to see that his crew thinks about his actions and how Iroh lets them in on Zuko's past. Also, I liked the development between Zuko and the lieutenant in the end, as well as how the old man came to accept Aang, and the parallels.
The same goes for the other two episodes I listed above; I just liked that we learned more about Roku, Sozin and Katara's past which are all things that surprised me. The messages are also good and we learn that not everything has to be black and white, and that there's good inside of everyone.
TLOK: Wow, I almost forgot that I had to answer the question for this show as well. Guess that's what happens if you write so much. (Not that what I've written so far is a lot, but still.)
Anyway, as I said, I really like episodes that feature flashbacks and let us connect with the characters. Fans may hate this episode, whereas I love it - Remembrances. You don't know how long I've actually waited for an episode exactly like this one in TLOK!
I just loved that we got to take a break from all that's going on and instead to see how the characters feel about everything and how much they developed throughout the series. My favorite part was Korra's, because boy I waited so long for that. Everything about it was just like I expected and hoped it would be. We get to know what's happening in Korra's mind and her thoughts, feelings, fears, hopes, dreams and wishes. How she was excited to move to Republic City and complete her Avatar training, how she hates to have been so easy-going, how much she blames herself for all her actions, even for the good things she's done, but then we have Asami who reminds her of all the light she shed. (And yes, we got that Korrasami-moment of course, hehe.) Then, Tenzin joins in on them and we get one of those moments that are so.. sentimental and.. natural. Gah, I love moments like these, especially those Tenzin/Korra - moments!
In short, this episode is all I could hope for and despite everything, Bryke did a job well done.
Another episode I just have to include: Korra Alone. You know why. Literally, I've been on the edge of my seat during After All These Years, wondering the entire time when Korra would show up, only to see this cliffhanger-ending. And then, Korra Alone happened and everything changed.
This episode.. I don't know how to describe it. It's so intense, dark, heartbreaking.. and I absolutely love it. The way we see Korra, so broken and hopeless, trying to get through everything with the wish things work out fine in the end, but stuck to harsh reality at the same time. It's just.. sad. How she's struggling with her body and forced to face this darker version of herself, the letter she wrote her parents, being full aware that she lies to them, and the fact that she travels the whole world in search of.. hope, enlightenment, Raava, herself. Anything. It's really emotional and you feel with her.
One of the greatest episodes ever.
I could go on about other episodes I celebrate hard, but these are only to name a few.
What scene in the series gave thug at your heart strings? Did you cry? If so, do you still cry or feel when you watch it?
A:TLA: First up, it should be said that I rarely cry while watching shows, movies or reading books. It rarely happens, seriously. I can't recall a moment in this series I really cried in, only that a tear escaped once while watching the big Kataang kiss in the end, but that wasn't even at the first time I watched it. I do feel the need to cry, however, whenever I'm listening to Peace, which is one of the most amazing tracks the Track Team have come up with. Kudos.
TLOK: Same here, I rarely cried, but I did feel more with this show. I remember sharing a tear when watching Wan die and when Korra got poisoned. That was really tense.
What was the most epic moment to you and why?
Man, how am I supposed to answer this one? Every moment is epic. Let's see..
A:TLA: Epic.. When I'm thinking of that word, only two things pop into mind - Aang and Ozai's fight and Katara freeing Aang of the iceberg. The fight was so intense and you're just sitting on the edge of your seat, so thrilled and wondering who would win in the end because the person having the upper hand would change every moment. And also, when you see this composed Aang, approaching Ozai and suddenly their bodies glow in blue and orange and you're just like Oh my, what's happening? Will he be able to do it?, mixed in with the music.. Do I actually have to say more? It's outstanding and unexpected, but great at once. A perfect way to end the war and to begin Aang's journey as fully-realized Avatar.
Same goes for the moment Katara freed him from the iceberg. You don't know what's going to happen, but then, woosh, a boy with glowing tattoos and eyes emerges suddenly and you see this magnificent ray illuminating the sky from all corners and you're wondering if something good happened now or not.
And then, the journey begins..
EDIT: Also, the second time Aang enters the Avatar State!
TLOK: Personally, the most epic moment for me is the fight between Korra and UnaVaatu, especially the moment their beams clash with each other and the two sides of the scenery are colored in the beams' respective color, and you see those mighty powers colliding, each one battling for the fate of the world. There are a few really close calls and moments that have you sitting there with wide eyes and an open mouth. Definitely one of my personal favorite epic moments.
What was the most shocking moment to you and why?
Three more questions to go..
A:TLA: One of the most shocking moments, literally, was the moment when Azula shot that lightning towards Katara and Zuko jumping inbetween, taking in the lightning himself. The scene really had me stunned, because of Azula's cruelty and Zuko's heroism. Definitely an unexpected scene that folded out, but a pretty good one nonetheless.
The Boiling Rock. Who would have thought that Azula's most trusted allies would turn their back on her, especially because of love for her own disowned brother?
"I love Zuko more than I fear you."
Seriously, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who was like, Wow.. Somewhere in my subconsciousness, I was celebrating Mai and still am! But the real shocker came when Ty Lee actually chi-blocked Azula. Ty Lee, you too?! You sweet cinnamon roll attacking your apparent beloved friend of yours? I mean, this had me even stunned more than Mai's betrayal.
Another moment that shocked me was in The Southern Raiders: Katara willingly bloodbending someone. Boy, that was intense and you all know it. I was like, Wow wow wow, wait. Katara, what the heck are you doing? I was surprised because this was not like the Katara we know, not at all. You just see how much she was being ruled by her emotions, her anger in that moment that she went past her morales, how obsessed she was to find the murder of her mother, which reminds me of another moment in the same episode that shocked me: "Then you didn't love her the way I did."
Sheesh. That's such a harsh moment, and I really feel sorry for Sokka. This episode is shocking itself, in overall.
Oh yeah, and another literally shocking moment was when Aang got hit by Azula's lightning. I know, how shocking.
TLOK: Boat. Explosion. Airbending. Suffocation. Combustionbending. Blast. Mercury. Poison. Ripped. Past lives. Raava. New airbenders. Estranged family. Betrayal. Flight. Shocker.
I think that should suffice. For those, who find themselves having trouble deciphering, here's a list of the implied scenes:
Amon' a boat - Tarlokk commiting suicide and blasting the boat with himself and Noatak
Breathtaker - Zaheer bending the air out of the Earth Queen's lungs, suffocating her
Mind-blown - Suyin bending her armor around P'Li's head before she was about to fire at Lin, killing herself in the process
Triggered - The revelation of the mercury poison and the Red Lotus poisoning Korra, triggering the Avatar State and PTSD shit
Breath of Fresh Air - Seeing Bumi airbend for the first time
We're Family - Suyin revealing that she's Lin's half-sister
Doing the thing - Zhu Li faking to switch over to Kuvira's side
I Believe I Can Fly - Zaheer entering the void
Shocker - Mako successfully electrocuting Amon
What was your favorite romance and why?
Woohoo, second to last question!
A:TLA: Favorite romance.. Without a doubt, Sukka and Kataang because those kids are meant for each other and complement each other so well.
TLOK: Oh goody. My absolute OTP of both shows is Kainora. They're so cute. Gosh. I'm not much of a fan of those cliche 'girl next door meets bad boy', but in this case, I'll gladly make an exception! Sure, this couple may seem a bit.. 'exaggerated' and unnatural, but it's all about the fluffiness.
And finally, if it did, how much has Avatar influenced and shaped you in your life?
Last question, yay! Oh boy, this is a deep one but really justified. To be completely honest, I can't really tell how much of an influence it had on me, or if it had none at all. I encountered the show fairly early on, between 5-7 years old I think. That means that I was still a kid, carefree and just taking things in life granted without thinking about things too much. Avatar didn't really have a chance to 'change' or influence me therefore. I grew up with it, it was already planted in my system before I could have had a development.
The series taught me a lot and introduced me to many ideologies and its philosophy is one of the reasons why I enjoy it so much. Often times, I catch myself thinking about the show in the day time or calling after someone by a character's name instead of their real name. (It's always either Asami or Tenzin for some reason.)
When times call for it, I think back to the teachings of the show and the characters, to what I've come to know and that I should stick to it. So yeah, I try to act accordingly.
Wow, what a long comment, woops. I don't regret anything, though. Needless to say, I love talking about the show and it was fun to do this! In overall, I'm super glad I discovered this franchise and to have watched this beautiful series.