In the twelfth episode of the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, ;A;AKSJD A;SKLDFJ A;KH ,A ;ASLDKHF ;ASDFIY A;KDSJF ;AASDFHA;KDJF;SKL A;KDF;KLAJDSFÂ F;D DF;AKDSJF. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Avatar.
I DIDN’T EXPECT ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN SO SOON. OH MY GOD.
I imagine that “The Storm” is a fan favorite, as I cannot believe what a gigantic slab of the mythology popped up so early into the series, and it’s told BEAUTIFULLY. What a gorgeous, heartbreaking story that parallels hope and disappointment, that deals with two young boys having to face the brutal reality of the world they live in, both of them refusing to accept to become a part of it.
This episode is seriously one of the most fantastic things I have ever seen. HYPERBOLE INTENDED.
In a large way, “The Storm” eschews a lot of the situational and dialogue-based humor to tell a very necessary story steeped in a lot of bleak, gut-wrenching imagery. The capacity this how has to pull my heart strings just twelve episodes in is unbelievable to me. I actually didn’t doubt that I’d enjoy Avatar at all, as I was looking forward to doing something very different for me, and many people I trust about television swore how good this show was. But I already feel comfortable saying that I’m outright addicted to this show and I’m starting to get those painful inklings to just sit and binge-watch Avatar and not tell anyone and it’ll be my beautiful, beautiful secret.
I MEAN….WHAT. (For the record, I only “cheated” once, at the end of Deathly Hallows, but I still took notes between chapters to try and preserve my reactions at the time. I do not plan to do that again with anything else.)
“The Storm” opens with a foreboding and haunting dream sequence, setting the tone for the entire story. I knew the show would have to deal with Aang’s disappearance, but I never anticipated it this early and I never anticipated how much the story would make my heart hurt. Aang’s dream was a manifestation of that pain, of the guilt he feels for disappearing for 100 years. Though, at the time, I didn’t understand exactly why he felt that way because I didn’t know the details. Thus, this episode plunges straight into a situation that highlights why Aang’s guilt has been so present since the first episode.
After realizing they’re out of money (I LOVE SHOWS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS REALITY SO MUCH), the trio head to a local harbor town, where Sokka manages to secure a job. (I do love that we still get some of Sokka’s signature sarcasm in this episode, despite that it’s such a serious episode. It’s stopped feeling like comedic relief and more like it’s simply his character. That is a wonderful thing.)
Upon securing a job, though, the fisherman who hires Sokka finds out that Aang is the Avatar, and immediately begins to heap scorn upon him. It’s particularly brutal, so much so that it actually shocked me how precisely mean it felt. On the one hand, I get why the fisherman was angry, and I would understand why anyone would feel betrayed by Aang, but what I adore so much about “The Storm” is that it shows us all that context is important. Learning the context of a person’s life helps explain their motivations and their choices.
From this point of the episode until the end, “The Storm” becomes a set of dual flashbacks, each told by a main character sitting around a fire to an interested party: Aang explains what happened 100 years ago to Katara, and Uncle Iroh explains to his crew what happened to Prince Zuko to make him such a raging asshole with a narrow vision.
It was hard for me not to immediately go to LOST, because there’s never been a show that had flashbacks so intrinsic to its narrative. Not only that, though: the writers of LOST used the flashbacks to provide parallels to the present time, to provide those crucial explanations for a situation or a behavior that may have seemed completely absurd without context. I don’t think I consciously do that with my writing because of LOST, but maybe there’s a part of my brain that really enjoys that kind of storytelling. I think, for me, I just like these sort of things to have a very specific, detailed context, and it’s why I have opened up and told such ridiculous stories to explain ONE CHAPTER OF A BOOK or ONE EPISODE OF A SHOW. If you can understand where I am coming from, perhaps you can understand why I loved (or hated) something I saw or read. (There will be some of this later in the review. OMG SPOILERS.)
While the episode had bits of Zuko/Iroh in it, I was convinced that we’d be devoted entirely to Aang’s backstory. Most of it is, but once the story switched over to Uncle Iroh’s campfire party, I literally threw my hands in the air and yelled YES YES YES YES YES.
I didn’t really want to discuss the details here in the space of the review because I wanted to talk about how the time Zuko’s flashback came to an end, I WAS COMPLETELY IN TEARS. As I’ve spoken about quite openly before, I did not have the most pleasant childhood. I don’t think I need to rehash a lot of those details, as I devoted a lot of Mark Reads Harry Potter to the subject, but for those who are new to this: I was ruthlessly bullied and abused and it led to me trying to commit suicide twice. It started fairly young, and now, looking back on it with a lot more insight and knowledge about what happened to me, I don’t think I had much of a childhood. I don’t necessarily mean that I grew up too fast, which sometimes sounds very cliche or pointless without context (THERE’S THAT WORD AGAIN). I had to grow up fast once I ran away from home when I was sixteen, but what I mean is that I lived in an environment that didn’t provide me with much joy. It did not provide me with some of the same stories and archetypes and stereotypes of American family living that I saw in nearly all of my friends.
Again, I’ll stay away from much of the triggery shit, since it’s particularly bad, but as “The Storm” moved through Aang’s story about how he was forced into being the Avatar at a very young age, I could not help but feel so intrinsically tied to that story in a deeply personal way. Aang’s flashback shows how who he was separated him from his friends and his mentor. It shows how the adults in his life made decisions for him. It shows how this disconnect from the life he wanted hurt him so deeply that he chose to run away, to leave it all behind because it felt so inherently wrong.
I’M SORRY, THAT IS BASICALLY MY FUCKING LIFE!!!! I felt that the disconnect my parents forced on me, the abuse, the bullying, all of that made me realize that my life wasn’t mine anymore. And even if I tried to kill myself or run away, I needed to do something to make it mine.
Prince Zuko starts out “The Storm” acting a a complete fool. Sorry! He does. He puts his ship in danger, he speaks to everyone with a tone of utter disrespect, and his egotistical viewpoint is…well, it’s rude. I think that was probably how most people felt at the opening of this episode. I SURE DID. As much as I loved Aang’s story and his depressing reason for why he froze himself and Appa for 100 years, I feel that Zuko’s story is a billion times more heartbreaking and revelatory.
I mean….PRINCE ZUKO’S OWN FATHER BURNED HIS FACE FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT. It explains why Zuko is so intent on capturing the Avatar and why he’s so reckless about it, why he’s always talking about gaining back his “honor.” AND FIRE LORD OZAI IS PRINCE ZUKO’S FATHER.
But honestly, that moment when Zuko is on all fours, looking up at his father and begging him to show mercy, is when the waterworks hit. I think that, for a long time, all I wanted was approval from my parents, a sign of affection that would make me feel wanted. I did eventually get that, long after I left home, but when Zuko looked up to his father with tears in his eyes, it wasn’t hard to imagine a time when I felt the same way.
The brilliance of this episode, though, is the way that it ends with such an unsettling, touching parallel: Aang’s existence is a sign of hope for two opposing ends. Aang gives the people of the world hope that they can escape the oppression of the Fire Nation. It also gives Prince Zuko the hope that he might one day earn the respect of his father.
I AM SO DEEPLY CONFLICTED, Y’ALL. I cannot believe how this episode made me feel so genuinely for both sides of this conflict. That is a magical thing, and I am so impressed that Avatar is able to do this to me.
THOUGHTS
- “I meant you no disrespect! I am your loyal son!” MY GOD, ALL THE TEARS IN THE WORLD.
- UNCLE IROH CONTROLLED LIGHTNING. Holy shit, WHAT A BAMF.
- “You guys want to hear about my dream?” [Silence.] “That’s ok, I don’t want to talk about it anyway.”
- “I’m too young to die!” “I’m not, but I still don’t wanna!” BRILLIANCE.
- I am glad that Uncle Iroh says that things will never return to normal for Prince Zuko. You cannot erase the past.
- SERIOUSLY, THIS SHOW. I am so excited.
I haven't been commenting as much or as hugely (haha) because I've been so busy. But I wanted to stop and say that I loved this episode. They way it allowed us to see the parallels between our protagonist and antagonist, and make us feel for both of them was SO WELL DONE. I'm sure everyone else has expounded on this more, and I loved reading your thoughts/personal connections about it, Mark. So that's that for me. Off to read some comments.
Here is a selection of comments that were not posted on previous entries:
"The Boy in the Iceberg": Oh man, I can't wait till you get to "The Storm"!
"The Avatar Returns": If you want to know how and why Aang went into hiding, wait till "The Storm"!
"The Southern Air Temple": Oh, you're going to learn so much more about Airbenders and Monk Gyatso in "The Storm"!
"The Warriors of Kyoshi": I love the Kyoshi Warriors! I also love "The Storm"!
"The King of Omashu": Bumi is so fun, but he's not in "The Storm"!
"Imprisoned": This is an episode of television. "The Storm" is ALSO an episode of television!
"Winter Solstice, Part 1: The Spirit World": It's so great that you're fascinated by your feelings on the ostensible "villains" Iroh and Zuko now. You're going to find "The Storm" very interesting!
"Winter Solstice, Part 2: Avatar Roku": WHAT DO YOU MEAN ZHAO AND ZUKO AREN'T THAT DIFFERENT?! WHY HAVEN'T YOU EVER EVEN COMMENTED ON ZUKO'S SCAR?! GET TO "THE STORM" ALREADY!!!
"The Waterbending Scroll": It's so sad that Cabbage Man isn't in "The Storm"!
"Jet": This episode is so awesome, and you've got another awesome episode coming up. I don't know if you've heard of it; it's called "The Storm."
"The Great Divide": "The Storm" "The Storm" "The Storm" "The Storm" "The Storm" "The Storm"!
Sherlock? But "The Storm"!
I had to sit on my hands to keep myself from making a comment like that myself, so I CAN sympathize. haha!
No one else comment this says everything.
100% Accurate.
Thiiiiis forever. FINALLY, WE ARE FREE (of that particular burden, there's about fifty billion more left).
WATCH FASTER MARK
This comment is ~pure and utter truth.~ TRUTH.
This. So much this.
Mark, if only you could have seen the spoiler blog for the last 11 episodes. We were literally counting the days.
+1,000,000 internets for you!
LOL you summed up my feelings precisely.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
lol, I know right.
So, okay. Okay. I love this episode, okay? I love it. There are flashbacks and backstory and ANGST and dramatic weather shifts and parallels drawn between characters and fun with morality and sympathetic villains and storytelling around a fire and world building and delicious, delicious character development. Also, I have no gifs, just still images.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/lsqIK.png>
We start off with Aang’s dream. I actually really like how they handled this dream sequence. It wasn’t ridiculously subtle or anything, but I think it was nicely done. What was important was there and I think there was just enough dreamy weirdness for it be believable. But yes, so Aang starts out happy, having fun with the people he cares about, but then he gets called back to hid duties – “We need you, Aang” – and when he tries to ignore it, he gets confronted by the fears he’s been trying to suppress. The fear and guilt. The repitition of “We need you, Aang. We need you,” was nicely done. I also love the split second of the Fire Lord’s shadow that is right there at the end. Aang has a lot of stuff going on!
Back in reality, Katara lets us know that Aang has been having a lot of nightmares lately but he tells her it’s nothing. Oh, Aang. And they don’t have food… or money! I like how the need for supplies has been an ongoing problem for them. Sokka ends up getting a job to try to earn some money, which is a good idea in theory but he really should have hammered down what he was actually getting for his trouble before signing up. And Aang obviously reacts to the idea of a storm coming. Oh, Aang.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/jLovJ.png>
Over in Zuko-land, Iroh knows a storm is coming. Zuko, of course, get all annoyed by it. Man, he will get annoyed by anything! So yeah, he refuses to change course, blahblah, anger anger, and he ends up basically saying that he doesn’t care about the safety of the crew, that finding the Avatar is more important than any individual. Which is just… so sad, really, considering what we find out about him later. He’s basically decided that he was wrong to prioritize people’s safety over the mission and so is now trying to act the opposite way. I think it is debatable, considering his later actions, how much he deep down believes it. Iroh, of course, tells Lt. Jee that Zuko doesn’t actually mean it…
Lt. Jee, on the other hand, clearly thinks Zuko sucks and calls him out on disrespecting everyone, including his uncle. Which, true! But, also, sore spot! I loved how that whole scene, Iroh was making ‘abort! abort!’ gestures in the background until he finally just facepalmed. Poor Iroh, he just wants everyone to be more understanding of each other. I love that his suggestion for calming down involved eating noodles. But of course, Zuko just gets more mad. And I mean… I feel badly for him in this episode and I do find him to be sympathetic as a villain can possibly be, but the kid pretty much exists in light state of anger all the time and it becomes almost funny to me in a weird way. Less so in this episode than in others, admittedly, but still a bit. There’s just no winning with him because no matter what anyone says, he will still be mad!
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/gHI7p.png>
Back in the less angry story, the boat guy finds out that Aang is the Avatar and is mean about it. And I just feel so, so bad for Aang in this scene. It makes me so sad to watch him backing up while Katara is trying to defend him but is sort of making things worse. The way they did his body language and expression is just so perfectly done. I just want to hug him and tell him it isn’t his fault. And then Katara and Aang leave without saying goodbye to Sokka… poor Sokka! He gets no respect.
So, then we get into the real meat of the episode in flashback land! I really love the parallels they set up between Zuko and Aang’s stories. Both of them are told around a fire. But, I like how they also contrast. Iroh tells Zuko’s story because he knows it will make the crew understand him more and think better of him, maybe. Aang tells his story worrying that it will make Katara think less of him.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/EcVzd.png>
So, we find out how Aang first learned he was the Avatar, and how the Avatar is found in the first place. Apparently, your choice of toys as a kid are very meaningful! And we find out why Aang was told early- because of the war. The monks saw signs that a war was coming and so told him early. How good of a decision that was… well, it’s questionable. And then we find out that all the other kids kicked Aang out of their reindeer games. It made me sad how quickly Aang kind of accepted that they just refused to play with him anymore. I like to contrast that moment- where they won’t play with him because being the Avatar gives him unfair advantage- to when Sokka agrees to play airball with Aang in episode 3, despite not being a bender at all and not ever playing before. So yeah, Sokka >>>> all those jerks pretending to be Aang’s friends in the past. Gyatso obviously tries to pick up the Aang-needs-friends slack but of course, the monks have to throw a monkey wrench in that because apparently they want the Avatar to grow up with the reams of emotional baggage that would result in isolating him from the one person still treating him as an actual kid who has emotional needs.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/P6BEk.png>
Although, in clearly the most important information from this episode is that Aang plays Pai Sho. You know what this means? AANG AND IROH COULD PLAY PAI SHO TOGETHER awww yeah.
Over in Zuko’s story, we see him as a young prince. So, first of all, no scar. Which tells you that this story is going to get pretty ugly at some point. Also, he has more hair! Including a dorky piece that hangs down in his face! Also, he smiles. Basically, he’s like the anti-Zuko and it is weeeiiird. And sad, as mentioned before, because he’s all hopeful and wanting to learn more about ruling the nation. And Iroh tells him he can’t speak in the war room. Because Zuko is a paragon of self-control, I’m sure that will work out great! Or, you know, not at all. So yeah, obviously Zuko speaks up in defense of the new recruits the general wanted to sacrifice in a distraction. And in rewatch, I almost laugh when he’s all “they defend our nation” because… not so much on the defense when you actively trying to conquer every other nation in the world, Zuko. You guys are not the ones under attack here. But his speaking up still shows that he was a kid with a good heart, at least.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/LHPvK.png>
So obviously, that just can’t be born and obviously he has to have it beaten out of him by his dad. CLEARLY.
Just as I am digesting that turn for the OMFG, we jump over to the airbenders deciding to separate Gyatso and Aang. Because, as I said, why settle for just heaping a huge burden on a 12 year old when you can also emotionally scar him? I love that this episode shows just all these different ways you can screw up a child, and by love I mean that clearly the Avatar creators looked into my soul to find out exactly which buttons to press to make me cry. But yeah, I just feel so, so awful for Aang in that moment. And he is still so upset about it, since it only happened a few weeks ago, to him. It was both a little scary and sad that he goes all glowy for a few second thinking about it.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/oh2jR.png>
The scene where Gyatso goes to find Aang’s room empty just guts me. Both the sadness for Aang, that he ran away… and then I feel so bad for Gyatso, too. Remember, he never saw Aang again. He probably never really knew if Aang was even still alive or what had happened to him. I wonder what his plan was, since he was saying as he walked in that he wasn’t going to let Aang be taken away from him. But Aang never knew that part. It’s so sad on another level, because Aang and Katara only ever talk about two options: what would happen in Aang had stayed and followed through with the monk’s plan (and probably die), or what was happening with him leaving and now being in the present situation. But we, the viewers, get to know that there was apparently some third option and it is just Tragedy Forever.
So, yeah, right off that we to Zuko begging his father for forgiveness in what is possibly one of the most heartbreaking scenes ever. It’s awful. And it also is very smart, in that it makes you absolutely despise Ozai. We know he is behind all the horrible things the Fire Nation does, but seeing him being horrifying and cruel on an individual level, to his own child, is just… it really cements the viewer hatred of him. It means he doesn’t really have to continue to appear because even without him being all dastardly every week, his one big appearance is so appalling that it will stick. And Iroh looks away… which is also so sad because he clearly cares for Zuko a great deal, but he can’t do anything. And of course Zhao is there, smirking because he is the biggest bully in the world.
So, on top of that, apparently refusing to attack your father is a sign of weakness (clearly!) so then Zuko has his honor taken away and he is banished. With his only hope of return being the Avatar, which, remember, at that point nobody knew if the Avatar would ever return. I do like how Iroh is clear that even if Zuko could capture and Aang and return home, things will never return to normal. I’m honestly not sure if Zuko understands that, or if he sort of does but doesn’t want to think about it. The important thing, though, is that Aang being around gives Zuko hope. It’s an interesting twist on the whole hope theme through the show. And then we see Zuko meditating and having all these images of his past pop up… It’s all so sad.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/x9GsY.png>
Because, oh yeah, there is a plot around all the flashbacks, we find out that Sokka and the boat guy are stuck out at sea in the storm and Zuko’s boat is hit by lightning. Zuko saves the helmsman and Iroh redirects lightning(!!!). Then Zuko sees Aang and Katara on Appa going to save Sokka… but chooses not to try to follow them, although you can tell that decision is tearing him up inside a little bit. And Aang gets Sokka and the boat guy safely on Appa, but runs into trouble with the storm, in an obvious parallel to how he froze himself the first time. But, this time, he is able to get them out with his glowy powers.
So Zuko apologizes to Iroh (good for you, Zuko!) and then Aang and friends come up right next to Zuko’s ship, leading to one of my favorite moments ever. I just love the shots where they come up and Aang looks back at Zuko and Zuko looks up at Aang. I just love that moment. Although the moment that ends the episode, when Appa shakes water all over the gang is great, too, just in a different way.
SO YEAH this episode. It just makes me feel so bad for Aang and Zuko. And, knowing their backstory, there are so many moments in early episodes that just make you die a little bit inside on rewatch. Notably, for Aang, when Aang pretends not to be the Avatar in episode one (knowing now that this is, for him, right after the whole backstory that we just saw), when he goes to the Air Temple, when he find Gyatso’s corpse, whenever anyone comments on it having been 100 years. For Zuko, when he has Aang in episode two and says he is going home, when him and Iroh fight about going into Fire Nation waters and Zuko says that his father will understand, only for Iroh to say that Zuko gives his father too much credit and pretty much all of Zhao’s comments to him in episode 3, but especially about it being too bad that he couldn’t humiliate him in front of his father. Because at the time it was just sort of a generic insult but now we know that it was more along the lines of “too bad your father isn’t here to watch me beat you… because he would totally be on board with that, having set the precedent!”
But yes, I love this episode. I love backstory and angst (and aangst!) and I love how this episode makes you feel so bad for Zuko and Aang that you want both of them to kind of win except clearly they can’t (and honestly, I don’t exactly think it is in Zuko’s best interests to try to get back to his father, but clearly he disagrees!) so it is just sad. Endless sad for everyone.
I like to contrast that moment- where they won’t play with him because being the Avatar gives him unfair advantage- to when Sokka agrees to play airball with Aang in episode 3, despite not being a bender at all and not ever playing before. So yeah, Sokka >>>> all those jerks pretending to be Aang’s friends in the past.
Yeah, it makes me love Sokka more, because he's a TRUE friend to Aang, unlike those jerks and why am I tearing up again ; ; And knowing that there was a third option for Aang and Gyatso just destroys me inside, that had me bawling.
Sokka is AWESOME.
When I first watched the show, it took me a while to warm up to his kind of humour (I found it awkward at first), but now I totally love him. <3
so then Zuko has his honor taken away and he is banished.
Apparently your honor is kept in your hair.
And in rewatch, I almost laugh when he’s all “they defend our nation” because… not so much on the defense when you actively trying to conquer every other nation in the world, Zuko. You guys are not the ones under attack here.
They never really say it (not that I can remember anyway) but I'm sure the Fire Lord probably made something up when the war started in order to justify attacking the other nations. It's possible that most of the Fire Nation (namely those who are not soldiers, like Zuko) really do believe that the Fire Nation armies are protecting them rather than trying to take over the world.
So yeah, obviously Zuko speaks up in defense of the new recruits the general wanted to sacrifice in a distraction. And in rewatch, I almost laugh when he’s all “they defend our nation” because… not so much on the defense when you actively trying to conquer every other nation in the world, Zuko. You guys are not the ones under attack here. But his speaking up still shows that he was a kid with a good heart, at least.
I bet that he has been told from an early age that the troops defend their nation and it's an honor to fight and blah blah. They're not going to go "yeah, we pretty much just attack and invade everyone" to the young prince, especially someone as optimistic as Zuko is here.
And he is still so upset about it, since it only happened a few weeks ago, to him.
ALL THE SADS 🙁 🙁 🙁
How awful must it have been for him to discover Monk Gyatso's body, just days (from his perspective) after running away from him?
Zuko's constant anger is a little bit funny…that's why it's so great when Iroh trolls him.
This is one of the episodes I was most eager to see the review for. So much backstory!
So, hey look, more Zuko characterization. Guy is driven by thoughts of honor (duh) and respect. And that includes respecting others, as in the case of him not wanting to use people as bait. He seems to idolize the concept of a loyal soldier/warrior to the extent that it defines his motivations. He needs to prove himself, but he can't let other people get sacrified for his own personal goals. For him, capturing the Avatar doesn't seem to have anything to do with helping the Fire Nation win the war, it's just the means of regaining his honor and proving himself loyal to the cause.
And it's nice to see the backstory behind his burn. I amuse myself by thinking of Zuko as the fandom!Draco so many people concieved of Draco's character as. Basically, a boy with a shitty, abusive father, and the struggle to juggle his own notions of right and wrong with the need to please his father and respect the traditions he comes from. Fandom loves its woobies, and especially when they have moral struggles. It's no wonder to me that Zuko is such a popular character in ATLA fandom. While we've seen glimpses of Zuko's "good" side before, this was the ep that really made me think that I was going to have to start paying extra attention to him now.
Also, I'd just like to point how how shitty his father is: Zuko's only way to redeem himself is to find and capture the Avatar, who his father and many others believed was dead.
Also, Aang backstory. Heavy burden for a child, basically. Poor Aang. It does make for an interesting premise of what would have been different had he not gotten trapped in the storm and stuck for a century. In either case, I'd love to see how the monks reacted when Aang went missing.
I'm also intrigued by how they deliberately compare Zuko and Aang in this episode. To me, it seems as though it was done to make sure we know Zuko is a sympathetic character, even if he is an antagonist. Hooray for moralistic grey areas!
<img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/acfiwn.gif">
But the character I really think needs backstory is Iroh. Let me point out that he essentially just stopped lightning with his body in this episode. Bad-ass. Also, I'm really glad that he's so sympathetic to Zuko. We've learned in this ep that Zuko kind of needs someone on his side, and Zuko's lucky to have Iroh. His face watching the Agni Kai is so heartbreaking to me.
<img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/2s9daok.gif">
(Also, hello Zhao and random woman who look to be taking way too much pleasure seeing Zuko getting hurt. Why that's not creepy at all. Although the disapproving look on the right guy's face is interesting.)
That last gif says it all, doesn't it?
Go die in all the fires, Zhao. >:C
*clamps hand to mouth* I'm not spoiling anything! I'm not spoiling anything!
GAH! But it's so frustrating, you want to say something, and can't, because you don't want Mark spoiled!
Who else is frustrated by the inability to hint at THINGS TO COME? 😛
I'm not because that's why we have a spoilers thread in the forums.
Well, yeah, but it's not the same thing, is it? 😛
Hey, what's with the downvotes? I didn't spoil anything! X(
Tauriel,
You're hinting that there are things to hint about related to the post. Just don't got there. At all.
Helping Mark stay completely unspoiled is a community effort. The downvotes are because you're approaching a line we want to stay miles away from.
I'm fond of the guy behind Zhao who appears to be giving him the side-eye (though that's probably me projecting my urges onto drawings). Punch him, Random Background Man!
Hah! I never noticed him! Totally looks like he's side-eying Zhao.
Maybe Zhao was just blocking his view… 😛
Oh, god, those gifs. I love them so much because of [SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS] and [SPOILERY FANNISH INTERPRETATION OF SPOILERS]. Irooooooooh! Zukoooooo! [SPOILERRRRRRRRRS]
It's interesting that the prevailing mood in that last gif seems to be somber, except for Zhao, who we know is a huge jerk, and that random girl. I wonder what her deal is.
Yeah, there's way too much sadistic glee in that last pic. Poor Zuko.
Iroh is the best, I'm glad Zuko has him on his side.
Yeah, without Iroh Zuko would be pretty much screwed.
I want Iroh for an uncle. <3
Yeah, what's up with random woman.
MARK FUCKING HAMILL!!!
I love it when people say he's done nothing since Star Wars. LOOKS LIKE HE'S BEEN DOING ALL RIGHT TO ME!
Have these people never seen Batman: The Animated Series?
It is so disturbing to think that the Joker = Luke Skywalker.
Luke has fallen to the Dark Side! And he's got Laughing Gas that KILLS!
RUN AWAY!
Apparently not. Which is blasphemy as far as I'm concerned.
People actually say that?
They do! I'm going to guess they're the people who feel that voice acting isn't "real" acting, but I've heard it a lot of places, sadly. Usually in "where are they now" type articles.
also COLONEL MUSCA is Castle in the Sky!!!!!!!
SHIT, I FORGOT HE SPOKE IN THIS EPISODE!
My favorite voice actor <3 <3 <3
FUCK YEAH MARK HAMILL~ am composing a love letter to him as we type
Isn't it hilarious that the actor who screamed in response to finding out "his" father was one of the worst human beings in the galaxy… ends up voicing one of the worst human beings in the galaxy?
Luke Skywalker grew up to be just like daddy, only he uses fire instead of the force [/stupid crossover theory]
"ZUKO… I AM YOUR FATHER…"
"I already knew that, Dad."
"Well… yeah… I just felt like saying it. I dunno."
Master Eraqus, don't do it! ;___;
lol It's still boggles my mind that that's him, not even going to lie.
This is where Zuko's character really hit me upside the head and I finally realized what he was about. It was never about winning the war, and it was never about catching the avatar. Not really. It was just about him earning back his father's love and respect.
…though I wish he'd open his eyes and notice that there's someone right there with him who already DOES love and respect him.
…and I'm starting to tear up myself.
This episode is amazing, for BOTH Aang and Zuko's backstories, that they have such a wonderful parallel. When Iroh says "The avatar brings Zuko hope" I wanted to dive into the screen and hug everyone.
I said it a couple of episodes ago, but this level of complex characterization isn't usually even in shows aimed at adults. This is why this show is so amazing.
GROUP HUG EVERYBODY!
YESSSSSSS! I LOVE THIS EPISODE AND I'M GLAD YOU LOVE IT, TOO!
So much delicious back story, about Aang not being ready for the responsibility of being the Avatar, and Zuko wanting more responsibility as a Prince, and both of them losing their normal lives. It's been mentioned before, but I love that Aang existence provides hope to the world and Zuko. And I love Iroh's sad admission that Zuko's hope is for naught.
Not only the bowing and pleading not to duel his father, but the terrified look on his face when he sees it is his father
<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/o77img.gif">
There's no way that can end well.
And fuck yeah, Iroh. Supporting Zuko AND controlling lightning.
awww, that gif 🙁
And he's fourteen there, right? Something like that? Fire Lord Ozai, you are picking on your fourteen year old son who is your presumable heir. Fuck.
13 actually. But yes, Fire Lord Ozai earned the Ikari Gendo Memorial Parent of the Year Award for this stunt….
Seriously. Zhao is standing there, smirking fiercely at a 13-year-old being burned and banished, and he's not even close to being the biggest asshole in the room. WTF, Ozai, what the fuck.
In the twelfth episode of the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, ;A;AKSJD A;SKLDFJ A;KH ,A ;ASLDKHF ;ASDFIY A;KDSJF ;AASDFHA;KDJF;SKL A;KDF;KLAJDSF F;D DF;AKDSJF.
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS KEYSMASH FOR SO LONG. AND THEN FOR LIKE THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES LONGER.
This episode is seriously one of the most fantastic things I have ever seen. HYPERBOLE INTENDED.
HYPERBOLE DESERVED.
After realizing they’re out of money (I LOVE SHOWS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS REALITY SO MUCH)
Yes! Isn't it great??
I mean….PRINCE ZUKO’S OWN FATHER BURNED HIS FACE FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT.
YOU WILL LEARN RESPECT, AND SUFFERING WILL BE YOUR TEACHER.
It explains why Zuko is so intent on capturing the Avatar and why he’s so reckless about it, why he’s always talking about gaining back his “honor.”
DOESN'T IT.
AND FIRE LORD OZAI IS PRINCE ZUKO’S FATHER.
So you really didn't pick up on that! I gathered as much. This part wasn't supposed to be a surprise, as it's mentioned a few times. That is, there are times when Zuko refers to his father and Iroh refers to the Fire Lord, and it's clear they're the same person. I was going to point it out, but I thought it would be more fun to let you capslock when you realized it here.
Aang gives the people of the world hope that they can escape the oppression of the Fire Nation. It also gives Prince Zuko the hope that he might one day earn the respect of his father.
I AM SO DEEPLY CONFLICTED, Y’ALL. I cannot believe how this episode made me feel so genuinely for both sides of this conflict.
This is the episode where it becomes clear that this show actually has DUAL PROTAGONISTS. EVEN IF ONE OF THE PROTAGONISTS HAPPENS TO BE THE ANTAGONIST.
HOW AWESOME IS THAT.
The show dual-wields protagonists like a master.
HAHA I am so funny.
DEUTERAGONISTS
I love this episode!! It is my favorite of Season 1. Not only for the mind bending information you get, but for the fantastic way it is structured. I think its fascinating that you have these two characters who are worst enemies, but whose backstories parallel each other. And that moment in the end, where you get the comparison of the hope the Avatar brings those who support him and the hope Zuko has in regaining his former life, its just brilliant.
Zuko's story just brings me to tears, young Zuko looks so innocent and he's so full of idealism and when you compare it to Zuko of the present, its just heartbreaking.
"Mind-bending".. lol
THE CREATORS MUST BE MIND-BENDERS! Therefore this is all real somehow and I will still get my flying bison and multi-flippered penguin and Freedom Fighter tree house (without Jet in it 'cause he's an asparagus-hole) and… yeah basically I want it all to be real. Is that so wrong?
That's the thing about this show – nearly everyone has a story, a motivation, a reason for being who they are. Not always, but almost. I won't say any more, even of this vague stuff, but really, this is what makes Avatar strong. Complex characters on all sides.
I suppose I have the coding wrong, trying direct links
(http://postimage.org/image/2a1ev7vfo/)
(http://postimage.org/image/2a16lj4ys/)
Oh, and Mark, guess what? You’re STILL not prepared! 😉
Ha!! I forgot the "Food eats people" line was in this episode. Its too funny!
This is when I fell in love with the show, and when Zuko started to become my favorite character. Up until this point I enjoyed the silliness and the pretty animation, but when they gave such painful backstory to the antagonist, I knew this was not just any kid's show.
Zuko… that poor bastard. I love that that scene both establishes Zuko's character and Ozai's so clearly and perfectly, with the contrast between Zuko's defense of morals and Ozai's complete disregard for them ("You WILL learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher" is one of the most eerie and chilling lines of dialogue I've ever heard.) Because really, who burns someone's face off for speaking out of turn? Let alone for speaking out in defense of people's lives. WTF is WRONG with you, Ozai? Then again, it also gives us a glimpse into the mentality of the people who are running the war that's lasted 100 years. I cannot imagine that someone who cares so little for his own kid would care much about the suffering he's inflicting on the rest of the world.
This is pretty much where the series really kicks off. The previous 11 episodes were pretty much set-up. NOW we're at the plot.
I do highly recommend doing a crazy binge-watch of Avatar later, though. Some things are just better all at once.
On a less serious note, this episode is another example of how amazingly fail the movie handles its subject matter. In 'The Storm' we see Iroh explaining Zuko's story to his crew with the aforementioned gorgeous parallel to Aang's story. Makes sense, right? In the movie, Zuko and Iroh are sitting together in a restaurant and Zuko calls over some completely random child and has the child explain his own backstory to him. It's one of the worst exposition dumps I've ever seen and makes absolutely no sense *sigh*
Actually the movie scene was even worse than that, because then Zuko interrupts the kid and keeps telling the backstory as if he's prodding along the kid. That boy was probably like "So why am I here?"
So, yes. The Wham Episode (second one, after Avatar Roku's reveal). This review is all I hoped for. The pararells, the yanked heartstrings, the keysmashing, Iroh being awesome. YOU ARE NOW HOOKED ON THIS SHOW FOREVER.
HEY GUESS WHO'S VOICING OZAI
<img src="http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp215/MoLeMaN318/scan0003-1.jpg">
OMG LUKE BE A BETTER PARENT THAN DARTH VADER
Seriously, Mark Hamill is an amazing fucking voice actor. He's probably my favorite Joker ever, with the hands-down creepiest laugh in existance.
Fuck embedding, have a link. http://youtu.be/lb8fWUUXeKM
Also, he was in the excellent Wing Commander series as Blair. Admittedly, I might be the only one here geeky enough to know that.
But to the actual episode. Yes, it is amazing. Everyone needed hugs after this episode. EVERYONE. I love getting backstory on various characters, so this episode was like heaven for me. Now all we need is more Iroh backstory, and I'll be happy.
Isn't it fantastic that a kid's show s taking it's audience seriously enough to go into something like this. I mean… we have a father burning part of his son's face as punishment. We have both sides of this current conflict being portrayed as sympathetic. We have a flying six-legged bison. This is some seriously twisted shit. And I love it all.
I didn't know that! I knew that Mark Hamill did a lot of voice acting, but I didn't realize he was that Joker (I think I've seen a few episodes of that version), nor did I recognize him as Fire Lord Ozai here. It's always cool to know these things.
I also TOTALLY agree with your last paragraph in every way. I've fallen in love with this show, the story and also how it's handled.
Most importantly, he's the voice of The Joker in the Timm-verse DCAU!!! I was freaking out!
OMG LUKE. DO NOT IMDB YOURSELF.
For the love of everything, Luke, seriously. It's better not to know what karma has in store for you.
God, I had such a crush on him in middle school. Of course now I realize Han Solo is what it's all about.
Iroh is the biggest BAMF ever. Him controlling lightning just put him above Chuck Norris.
ALL THOSE THAT OPPOSE, IROH WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN. THEN DRINK SOME WONDERFUL GINSENG OR JASMINE TEA.
I love the way he looks just a little fried afterwards.
I couldn't figure out how to fit it in my review, so here! Present for you!
<img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/kb1wrk.jpg">
Iroh ~smolders~
YES amazing gif. 🙂
<img src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110312020157/tangled/images/6/61/Smolder.gif">
It's the smolder…
Hee, I love his hair.
Sokka: Food eats people! …Also, Momo could talk. You said some very unkind things.
Ha ha ha ha, I forgot about that line. I LOVE SOKKA SO MUCH.
Ozai: You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher.
I love this line so much, it's so poetic and terrible.
Aang: I’m going to find them.
Katara: I’m going with you.
Woman: I’m staying here!
Sokka: I’m too young to die!
Boat Guy: I’m not, but I still don’t wanna!
Oh God, that boat couple is so hilarious.
I LOVE THIS EPISODE SO MUCH.
THIS EPISODE!!!! I love it so much! One of my Top 10s
While I enjoyed this episode at the beginning, the moment I realized we were getting Zuko backstory, I was SO EXCITED! That's one of the serious strengths of Avatar. Zuko is a bad guy. The villian of the series. And yet… they've written him in such a way that you are drawn to him, want to know why he acts the way he does. And now we (sort of) know. Going into the war chamber, he was so young, so hopeful. Nothing against Aang's story…. but I loved loved loved the Zuko story. Also- Lots of Iroh in this episode! Anytime Iroh is in the episode, it increases the likeablity (Learn from that, Great Divide.)
Things I liked-
1.) "Food eats people. Also- Momo could talk. You said some very unkind things."
2.) The eyebrow raise of the Firenation soldier when Zuko says the safety of the crew doesn't matter.
3.) "I'm staying here."
4.) "I'm too young to die! I'm not, but I still don't wanna!"
5.) Aang and Zuko's eyes meeting as the gAang flies away.
Things I didn't like-
I also loved that the captain apparently feels safe enough to actually call Zuko on his crap.
True- it's a nice comparison between the how the fire lord rules and how Zuko rules. Zuko makes one comment in a war strategy meeting about how they shouldn't sacrifice the division, and suddenly he's in a dual against his father, horribly scarred, and sent on a fool's quest so he can restore his "honor." Meanwhile, on Zuko's ship, his underlings feel "safe" enough to bad mouth Zuko, to bring up their concerns to his face, disagree with his opinions, etc. Sure, he duals the man, but it's nowhere near as intense as the fire lord's dual and in the end, the two work together and understand one another.
Hi Mark! Just started reading last month and have decided to start re-watching Avatar along with you. It was about a year ago that I started watching Avatar and it was about a year and a week ago that I finished watching all three seasons. I really, really admire your self-discipline not to binge on this series because these 20-ish minute episodes are like potato chips (JUST one more, it's not that much and it's sooo good … wait, how is it 4am???).
Re-watching this episode I was really struck by how pretty it was. I mean, the composition of some of the shots, especially the cut-away shots, was just stunning. It really helps to establish the mythology of the show, which all of a sudden establishes itself in this episode as deep and complex as something like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.
I still find it weird that Mark Hamill basically became a pure villain actor after Star Wars, and Ozai is probably the most evil character he's ever done.
It's so much easier to love to hate the villains in Avatar, because they're voiced by such excellent actors – Zhao (Jason Isaacs), Ozai (Mark Hamill). They're so deliciously evil. I love them. 😀
And Iroh is the biggest BAMF of them all. No competition.
George Takei is sad he is not on this list.
Sorry – I didn't know the actor until I saw him mentioned here, but yeah, he definitely counts, too! 🙂
He's also a fan favorite because frankly, (even though I'm firmly heterosexual, I have to admit) Zuko is one sexy thing.
Oh, hell yeah! *huggles Zuko-chan* <3
YESSSSSSSSSSS! YOU GOT THERE
THIS IS HEARTBREAKING, GUT WRENCHING D: OH GAWD HIS OWN FATHER.
+9001 points for you, creators/writers of ATLA.
+9001 points for you
I see what you did there.
Yes yes yes yes.
Families are supposed to be safe havens.
It's so sad when they're not, and I know they're not far too often.
Ok, I am officially sold on Avatar. Before this episode, I was just sort of going along and watching it to keep up…
But HOLY SHIT THIS EPISODE.
That was some amazing storytelling! I feel like I've finally got why people are so obsessed with this show, and I'm finally really looking forward to seeing the rest!
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO SUGGESTED THIS TO MARK! I would probably never have watched it otherwise!
*grins* Yes, for me this is really the game changer, because it gives you such incentive to know what happens to the characters. Glad that we have succeeded in stealing your soul- er, um, got you enjoying this show in a way that does not involve black magics. At all.
>_>
<_<
>:3
I never would have, either. And I love it too. And this episode was amazing.
Me too. I would never have pulled Avatar for viewing if Mark wasn't watching.
Welcome. We're handing out tissues and pints of ice cream/candy/feelbetter food in that line over there and if you're interested, we're all getting together to play Redemption later. Bring your own air scooter though.
And just fyi if you find a lost White Lotus tile, that's mine. I dropped it last week AFTER MOTHERFUCKING BURNING MY OWN SON'S FACE OFF 'CAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT LOYAL FIRE NATION SOLDIERS TO DIE.
So if you happen to find it and pick it up, I'd be much obliged. 🙂
Yayyyyyyy!
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO SUGGESTED THIS TO MARK! I would probably never have watched it otherwise!
I'd been meaning to watch it but still probably would have put it off if it weren't for Mark. I'd heard it was good but I didn't know it was THIS good!
I'm so frustrated because I tried to introduce a friend to Avatar while I was visiting him a couple of months ago, and we ended up having time for… exactly ELEVEN EPISODES. So, yeah, we ended on "The Great Divide" instead of this piece of brilliance. *shakes fist at universe*
Brace yourself, Mark. It only gets better from here.
I already knew Zuko's backstory when I first saw this episode, but it's the WAY it's told that makes it so damn effective, and why it never ceases to make me cry whenever I see it. I had a relatively good family life (there was a divorce, but overall my parents treated me pretty well), but what I love about Zuko's story is that it pulls you in and makes you consider things from his perspective.
What I like about this show's portrayal of the Fire Nation is that it humanizes the enemy and makes us realize that those on the opposite side are often not so different from ourselves. A lot of shows aimed at children will justify enemy casualties either by making them non-human, or at the very least making them wear face-concealing helmets so that they all look identical and unrelatable. NONE OF THAT HERE. We get to see their side of the story as well, and it drives home the point that in order to save the world, our heroes will have to save the Fire Nation too.
This is without question my favorite episode from the first season, and it ranks up there in the top five overall. I look forward to seeing your opinion on the next one.
our heroes will have to save the Fire Nation too
Exactly. Perfect.
*flails*
I'm so, so happy you enjoyed this episode so much! "The Storm" is what really got me into the show when I watched it for the first time last year. I knew it was highly-regarded, but up until this point I didn't really see why ("Avatar Roku" aside). Then we learn precisely what it was that made Aang run away and, more importantly, gave Zuko his obsession with finding the Avatar. The minute I realized how utterly tragic Zuko's backstory was was the minute I fell in love with Avatar. Just wow. Complex characterization is pretty much my favorite thing ever in fiction, and once it became readily apparent that there was far more to Zuko than I'd ever expected, I knew I was hooked. Congrats on getting to this point, Mark!
I especially love the sequence right after the big backstory reveal, where Zuko is in his chambers reflecting, and we are shown sepia stills of his childhood. There's a lingering shot of young, smiling, unblemished Zuko, with his father's hand on his shoulder, and then, BAM, scarred, scowling Zuko. It really captures why "The Storm" hit me like a ton of bricks. Again, just wow.
Avatar is not to be underestimated. Ever. This is storytelling and characterization at its finest. I really wish I could experience it for the first time again. But since I can't, thank you so much for giving me the closest thing to it, Mark! Flawless review.
I’m starting to get those painful inklings to just sit and binge-watch Avatar
DO IT. It's been said millions of times but still, I cannot comprehend how much willpower you have to be able to watch one episode at a time especially after episodes like this that make you want to know all the things. This is the first episode I watched along with you guys and I was so tempted to keep going but then I reminded myself that I have finals.
As much as I loved Aang’s story and his depressing reason for why he froze himself and Appa for 100 years, I feel that Zuko’s story is a billion times more heartbreaking and revelatory.
Yes. I love Aang but Zuko is starting to get so much more intriguing to me.
Also FOOD EATS PEOPLE.
Oh, how did I forget the FOOD EATS PEOPLE line??? So good!
It's a pretty cool idea for a horror movie, isn't it? Genetically mutated food that hunts people. *shudders*
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes?
The Terror of the Giant Man-Eating Cauliflower!
I forget which one, but in some old Nickelodeon cartoon someone keeps having nightmares that a giant lima bean is trying to eat them. I think it was Jimmy Neutron…=]
What if the Cabbage Man is sekritly selling CANNIBAL CABBAGES??
Or rather, man-eating cabbages. I suppose if they were cannibal cabbages they'd just eat other cabbages.
Definitely a top contender for my favourite episode here.
I do love some of the more ‘epic’ storylines; ones which feature huge battles, amazing animated sequences, and huge change in plot dynamics, but at the same side, get a chance to look at the characters. Especially the characters, since that’s what I love about stories. And ooh, boy, does this episode deliver in terms of characterisation.
Let’s start with the main focuses of the episodes; Aang and Zuko.
I do feel great sympathy for Aang. In the words of the Great Uncle Ben, “With great power comes great responsibility.” I can’t imagine this would exactly appeal to a little twelve year old boy, who’s far more concerned about playing with friends and hanging out than anything else. Of course, I think Aang could have handled being told he was the Avatar after the initial shock. I mean, yeah, it would really affect how you view yourself, and the knowledge that you would one day have to go master the other elements and become the world’s peacekeeper might be a little daunting. But Aang is a peaceful and also a self-confidant guy, and I think he would have rose to the challenge with a ‘no sweat’. Unfortunately, the pronouncement that he’s the avatar slowly chipped away at his life.
He suddenly had a larger workload, probably hell to the playful kid. His friends started distancing themselves, and having been on the receiving end of bullying, I know exactly how it must have felt to suffer that. Being taken away from Gyatso, the one person who genuinely seemed to care about him, as a person, must have felt horrible. And so he reacted the way so many young, rash kids would- he ran away. Of course, in the end that means he was still separated from Gyatso, but I suppose it was more about getting his life in his hands, rather than the temple monks’. Still, considering what being the Avatar did to him, I wonder if the changes he’s gone through in the last months has affected him more than he lets. This is a kid who tried to deny he was the Avatar, and now, that’s pretty much how he’s defined; he’s the last hope in the war.
As much as Aang suffered, I do understand the monks’ point of view. If there was a war coming (and yes, there was), they were right to feel they would need to make sure Aang was ready, both for his sake and world’s. It was painful, but in the end, what matters most? A kid’s childhood, or the lives of thousands- millions?
It has lead me to analysis the whole concept of the Avatar, which is the world’s spirit in human form. Do you guys think it would be more efficient to have just as its self? A god like force of nature with morality, that doesn’t have a physical being? That would prevent it from having to die and re-learn the elements, or from it being used and manipulated by people. Of course, I’ve been thinking about the benefits of the reincarnation system. It allows the Avatar to bond on a personal level with the nations, so it’s not a god-like-Dictator, but a person. I think the different body thing also works something like how having different presidents and prime ministers function; it allows for different leading styles and prevents corruption. Maybe in one life you get saddled with an avatar that’s far too egotistical and self-serving, where the next one is someone dedicated and sacrificing. Whereas an continuous spirit would never change. You’d be stuck with it.
*looks up* Okay, that was something of a detour in my comment. But let us go onto the half of the story that I love in particular. Zuko’s.
So, firstly, I like that we begin by looking from the point of view of his crew. As the audience has been watching the show, there’s bound to be times that everyone has though, at least once, “Geez, Zuko’s a jerk.” It’s nice to see that his crew thinks the same, and that they aren’t actually faceless mooks who are driven completely by their leader’s desire to do eeevvviiil. Also, I love they all sit down in the galley complaining about Zuko over alcohol and dinner. Come on, who hasn’t done the same about a boss/teacher/authority figure?
Iroh comes and is surprisingly mellow. Well, surprisingly for the crew, not the audience, because we know how BAMF Iroh is. And although Iroh does love Zuko, he knows he’s not exactly the nicest guy to be around, but knows he can at least partly justify his actions. We fade into flash-back, and I think this is the moment when I realised how good this episode was about to get; when I saw that Zuko didn’t have his scar yet.
I mean, wow. This is a back-story I absolutely adore. I love that past!Zuko was still him; he was still proud, out-spoken and rash. Yet the character we see in the flashback is far more light-hearted and childish, and with this things, he has more room for empathy. How wonderful is it that he was the one who spoke out against a plan that would purposely allow young soldiers to be slaughtered? I also love that he stands by his choice. The decision to fight I’m sure was partly due to his own pride and unwillingness to back down from a fight, but I also think part of the reason Zuko accepted the Agni Kai was because believed in what he said. He felt that the general’s plan was wrong, and would back his belief up by fire.
Unfortunately, it went so, so wrong. It’s one thing to fight an old general who you only know as wanting to sacrifice innocent lives. It’s another thing entirely to fight your own father and king, who you’ve been raised to love and respect. This whole concept is particularly poignant when placed in the context of Asian culture, where filial piety is a very central belief. Now imagine that not only are you supposed to fight someone that your entire life and culture has told you to respect and care for, but knowing that this guy wants to hurt you. He wants to burn you. Zuko does what I think most thirteen year olds would do. He cries, he begs, he says I’m sorry….but it falls on deaf ears. And then, on a kid’s show, on prime time Nickelodeon we watch a parent burn his son’s face off.
<img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/ohl8w0.gif">
What especially stands out to me is to what extent this is so much like in real life. I have met many people who were either physically or mentally abused by either parents, parental figures or from someone else in a close relationship. Despite the abuse, they’ve told themselves its their fault. That the abuser was in the right, that they deserved it somehow. This is what Zuko’s convinced himself of. That he was doing something in the wrong by standing up for those soldiers’ lives, and that he completely deserved the burning and banishment. In light of this, I think Zuko’s status as a villain becomes all the more tragic. I remember how in ‘The Boy In The Iceberg,’ one of the people commented about how they didn’t like the scarring trope, the whole “he has evil, ugly scars he must be bad.” This is part of the reason I think this show is justified in its use. Zuko is not bad because of his scars; he got those scars doing something kind and honourable, and since then he’s been conditioned to regard his actions otherwise. One a personal level, his moral compass has been retuned. I think this is the logic in his mind. ‘I did something bad, I got the scar and lost my honour. If I capture the avatar, I get my honour back. Therefore, capturing the avatar must be good’.
One of the most painful moments in this entire show is watching Iroh as Zuko is burned. That absolute pain on his face, and the knowledge he can’t do anything. That is endless tragedy, and probably one of the most painful things any parent figures could go through.
In my opinion, the ending of the episode doesn’t have quite the emotional weight of the flashbacks, but it’s still a nice and fitting end. Yes, the storm metaphor is a little obvious, but far more enjoyable than the last episode’s metaphor, and it does really fit the character’s angsty and turbulent minds, and I love how coming to the eye of the storm suggests that they’re coming to peace. We see the part of Zuko who stood up in the War Meeting is still there when he saves the helmsman’s life, and we see Aang willing to overcome his guilt and realise he can still make a difference in the present.
To finish the review, I’d like to comment on Iroh’s line; “The Avatar gives Zuko Hope.” I mentioned in my ‘Boy in the Iceberg’ comment the strange fact that both Katara and Zuko are the ones who have hope in the Avatar, and how ‘strange’ it was that that both a primary protagonist and antagonist would have that. But it really isn’t strange at all, as Zuko has just as much resting on the Avatar as everyone else, just in a completely different way. I like that Iroh says that it doesn’t mean that anything is going to change, and that it isn’t going to fix past deeds. Aang may have returned, but that hasn’t erased the troubled past he went through, or the war he accidently allowed to consume the world. Similarly, Aang’s return isn’t going to make Zuko’s life suddenly fix itself. But the Avatar gives hope, and gives people a way of getting through the day, and coming to a better place.
Poignant and beautiful, all of it but I would just like to highlight this one little bit –> " and probably one of the most painful things any parent figures could go through. "
It carries with it an important implication about parenthood, something I've always believed. Just donating DNA does not make one a parent. A parent cares,a parent wants the best for you, a parent accepts the worst parts of you and hopes to teach you how to tame them, a parent would wholeheartedly abandon the safety and comfort of a palace to accompany you on a tiny boat all over the world for what seems aimless to them because they /love/ you.
(cont)
I know some people have likened Iroh to someone who got pulled out of retirement to go trooping all over the world with Zuko and trolls him to get his jollies but I think Iroh would rather burn in all the fires than spend every moment in the Fire Nation not knowing what was happening to Zuko and wondering what state he was in emotionally/physically. And that makes Iroh Zuko's true father to me.
Which just makes it sadder when Zuko just. cannot. appreciate. what a blessing it is to have someone care for you the way Iroh cares about him.
BRB ALL THE TEARS FOREVER.
Yes, so very much. Being a 'parent' isn't just donating 50% of the genetic material. I've known people who do that and care jack about their kids, while at the same people have known many, either indirectly related such as a grand mother or uncle, or just close protecting friend who would do so much for their 'children'.
I very much feel that Iroh chose to come with Zuko, because he wanted to help him, and didn't want him to be alone. Before Aang came out of the ice, Zuko probably assumed the Avatar would never appear, so it would be up to him to guide Zuko's life, and he knew the prince would need him.
There's also the Avatar's role as the bridge between the human and spirit worlds, as we saw in "The Winter Solstice." He has to be a human with the avatar spirit to mediate between the two, so that humans do not neglect or anger the spirits, and so that the spirits do not harm humans. I think a god-like spirit would be too distant from humanity to relate to and guide them.
Yes, this. It's like those stories and myths about gods taking human form, and how they have to do so once every [x time period], because it reminds them what it is to be human. The Avatar is like that, only all the time.
Yeah, I know Ozai didn't start the war, but I can't comment too much more deeply about the Fire Lord and his family without spoilers. :/
And yeah, the movie scene was very very fail.
I know you know — though I'm sure you know I know you know. Just commenting on what we've seen. Ozai's own background has only been hinted at, if that, but we've still got material for speculation.
I love this episode. But it is the sads forever. I mean Prince Zuko's dad melted half his face off for defending the sanctity of human life and then banished him from his home and sent him on a snipe hunt to find a person who hadn't been seen for a hundred years. And omg Aang just wants to be a kid and have fun throwing pies at people with Gyatso why did this have to be ruined why why why why my heart
The GIFS will take it from here:
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<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2vuddmd.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
Mean monks and especially Ozai, this is for you:
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<img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/23uc6jq.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
So you know everything from everyone else's reviews.
MARK HAMILL IS FIRE LORD OZAI WHO WAS THE JOKER OMG OMG OMG OMG
I have been wanting to scream that since episode one and now I can do it!!!
Yeah, I know he was Luke Skywalker, but I associate him more with Joker because I grew up on B:TAS, so…
Everyone's already said all I want to say, but I just have one more thing to add about Iroh. How powerful is this guy?! He redirected lighting with his fucking body. I mean, they kind of played it off when he was slightly singed and astounded afterward, but still. Lightning, you guys.
The saddest thing is that Aang never knew that Gyatso was willing to disobey the council of monks to keep him at his side.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS EPISODE SADDER FOR ME
BRB SOBBING MYSELF TO SLEEP
I KNOW, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY I BAWLED AT THAT PART
I NEED A FIX FIC THAT HAS GYATSO FINDING AANG AND THEM HAVING WONDERFUL ADVENTURES TOGETHER.
Part of that Fic is required to be an older!Aang teaching little!Iroh to play Pai Sho.
…Why do I come up with ideas that I lack the skills to write.
Mike and Bryan mentioned in an interview that Momo was originally supposed to be Gyatso reincarnated, but the idea was scrapped. I like to think it's still true, but never actually came up in conversation.
Just another thing I wanted to comment on. I can't remember who it was, but someone in the review for the first episode expressed concern that the villain was marked with a birth defect/scar, as if to emphasis that he was super bad. If they're still reading/watching, I want to ask if this episode assuaged some of that concern. For one, Zuko's not really a cut-and-dry bad guy. The scar isn't there to show how evil he is, but serves as a constant reminder of Zuko's traumatic past. The mark didn't turn him evil- his father being an asshole and setting him on fire just happened to set him out of this antagonistic path. In short, the scar isn't there to prove how bad Zuko is- it's to humanize him.
I think the scar is used in a really interesting way in Avatar, and I think we should revisit how the meaning attached to the scar changes throughout the course of the show.
Here are my initial thoughts on the scar after watching this episode:
Zuko's scar, symbolically, I think acts a lot like Harry Potter's. These scars are big and on their faces, and so become a part of their identities to other people. (What is the first thing that anyone does when they're trying to figure out if the kid with black hair and glasses is Harry? They lift up his bangs.) However, for the characters, this scar is directly tied to traumatic childhood experiences. So we've got appearance & identity tied up inextricably with death or abuse. I think it really affects how the characters perceive themselves.
There are criminally few images for this episode in the book, but I think that's just because there really isn't a lot of new stuff that would need to be designed for this one. But! It's The Delightful Storm of Backstory, so onward.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/thestorm1.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/thestorm2.jpg">
Elsa Garagarza joined the crew straight out of architecture school. For her first assignment, the Fire Lord's throne room, she was given three words: Egyptian, Chinese, scary. She passed the test.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/thestorm3.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/gyatso1.jpg">
We wanted Monk Gyatso to look wise and learned, but also warm and playful. He was a wise sage who knew how to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/gyatso2.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/southernairtemple.jpg">
The Air Nomads traveled the world, herding their flying bison, but they had…cultural and spiritual centers where they held ceremonies and festivals, and trained the apprentice monks. Being a reclusive, monastic society, they built their Air Temples at high altitudes, in very remote locations.
Zuko. Zuko, Zuko. Someone in the last few reviews called his quest for the Avatar a 'snipe hunt', and that is really and truly the best description of it. Before that super lucky chance encounter at the South Pole (two years after being banished at that), everyone thought the Avatar was probably dead or the cycle had been broken or that he'd never been reborn at all. So basically Zuko was disfigured, banished, and told he could only return if he found Big Foot. Fire Lord Ozai is such a bastard.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/zuko1.jpg">
Unlike Aang, Katara, and Sokka, whom we created in those first two weeks of brainstorming, Zuko came later in the development process. The only villain we had was the Fire Lord, whom we imagined leading the war from the comfort of his throne.
Hehe, he looks like Shredder. I'm glad they added a secondary villain, because a Dr Claw-like character directing things from the shadows would be boring!
I love seeing these earlier versions of the characters; its great fun to watch the development process. I have to second monkeybutter; having just one, typical 'Evil Emperor' villain would have been boring.
"So basically Zuko was disfigured, banished, and told he could only return if he found Big Foot. Fire Lord Ozai is such a bastard."
All the upvotes for you.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/zuko2.jpg">
Thankfully, Eric Coleman posed a question that gave birth to the banished prince: What if there was a young villain going after Aang in each episode? A flurry of sketches and story ideas followed.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/zuko3.jpg">
Bryan drew a scary-looking kid with a scar over one eye, and we thought, "What if his father gave him that scar?" From there, we focused on Zuko's motivation, deciding that he could restore his honor and return home only by capturing the Avatar.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/zuko4.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/zuko5.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/zuko6.jpg">
Zuko in his more samurai influenced design, just prior to season one. At the last minute, we went with more of a Chinese style for the Fire Nation's clothes and architecture.
The Fire Nation architecture is simply GORGEOUS.
FIRE NATION ARCHITECTURE, SO BEAUTIFUL
Air Nomads had some pretty rad temples though. Which makes one wonder- if they're nomads, they couldn't all have lived in temples. Some must have wandered around… maybe they reincorporated themselves into Earth Kingdom by not tattooing their kids? I dunno, I just want them to be around. Genocide is no fun.
I think the "nomad" name meant that they traveled between the temples. Like Aang was supposed to go to the Eastern Air Temple to continue his training. Also, Aang has evidently visited a lot of places around the world and had friends in every nation – all that while he was still a kid! So it's not too huge a stretch to imagine that the Air Nomads traveled all around the world (given that every Airbender had his/her flying bison, the traveling was pretty easy!).
Just wanted to say these posts are awesome please never stop
WELL EVENTUALLY I WILL HAVE TO WHEN I AM DONE THE WHOLE SHOW but I will continue on until then!
When you're done with the show… then we'll tell you something. 😉
😀
Where'd you get the first picture?
I once found a picture from avatar on a site I can't remember, and I used in a collaboration (http://www.habbers.nl/worm/2009 , if you're wondering. DON'T LOOK IF YOU'RE AFRAID OF BEING SPOILED WITH A BACKGROUND OF ONE EPISODE SOMEWHERE IN THE SERIES even though the background itself could be from anywhere it doesn't really say anything.)
It was also a background from an episode, those who watched the series will recognize it somewhere in the picture (with the text 'something is watching us').
But the site had more of these detailed background pictures 😛 So, uhm, where'd you get it?
I was waiting for you to get to this episode since the beginning because ASIEFCLWRW SO MUCH BACKSTORY I love it.
Also, I watched the whole three series in about three days. Binge-watching is tremendous fun.
I'm watching this show for the first time, and I have to say this is my favorite episode so far. I was all, "Yay, Aang backstory!" and then "OMG, Zuko backstory too?" and then "OMG THIS IS AWESOME!" I had some ~deep thoughts~ but alas my excite has scattered them.
I was so excited for you to reach this episode because it answers so many questions. AND ALSO RAISES NEW ONES, WHICH IS THE MARK OF A GREAT PLOT AMIRITE.
Iroh + Lightning = brilliance forever
Before I saw this episode, Zuko's constant ANGSTY RAEG tended to annoy me. I was like OMG HAVE A TEMPER TANTRUM WHY DON'T YOU. After this episode, whenever the rage came out, I'd make sadfaces forever instead.
Yeah, it's nice to see that sometimes ANGSTY RAEG can be actually justified.
I am a fan of anything Iroh does, as a general rule. Bending lightening pretty much just catapulted me to the next level.
Also, MARK OF A GREAT PLOT, Lmao unintentional pun
Totally was going to reply saying the same thing earlier but I thought no one else would see it/think it was funny~~ <3
I thought the same thing as I was writing it but went with it anyway, lulz.
I had the same reaction as you…plus I didn't know how to phrase what I found so hilarious!
MARK OF GREAT WRITING, HUH HUH? -elbow elbow-
WAY TO SUCK UP.
^-This is what I was thinking but then I thought no one would get it and on top of that, I thought need to stop portraying my personality online as that of an uncool and loud frat boy.
Ha! That is brilliant!
This is the reason claims that Zuko is 'Emo' seem so off. If you had his life, would you not have an attitude problem too?
Seriously there just are no words for this episode. I've written and deleted this comment a thousand times because this episode and Zuko's story just blows me away and I can't even come up with a coherent comment. You're already more than halfway through season 1, and shit is about to get several different interlocking layers of real and unpreparedness.
An thought has just occurred to me: The Air Temples were attacked and the Air Nomads wiped out while Gyatso was still alive (Aang found his skeleton in "The Southern Air Temple"). Which means that GYATSO HAD A STATUE OF HIMSELF IN ONE OF THE TEMPLES WHILE HE WAS STILL ALIVE!!! How cool is that? 😀
Gyatso seems like the kind of guy who would have a statue of himself made and put in the temple, just to see how long it would take people to notice. Just as a joke. Iroh would do that too.
I still say there should be a spinoff comic where all the cool old people go and have adventures. And Gyatso, because who cares if he's dead? ADVENTURE DOES NOT ACCEPT EXCUSES!
Gyatso seems like the kind of guy who would have a statue of himself made and put in the temple, just to see how long it would take people to notice. Just as a joke. Iroh would do that too.
LOL, totally! 😀 (hehe, now there's a fanfic idea!)
OMG I LOVE THIS THEORY.
rufio.. ruuuufio
This episode is awesome and made Zuko my favourite character.
I know this episode is full of tragic backstory and important mythology but my brain is being silly and focusing on one tiny detail: are there any airbender women? Cause I don't remember seeing any and all those kids didn't come from looms. Do not answer if spoilery.
The spoiler-free answer: yes, there are airbender women. If you want a more detailed answer, we can take it to the spoiler blog.
ahahah looms. I see what you did there!
haha, looms. Whhhyyyyy.
Mark, I’ve been waiting for you to get to this episode. Easily one of my top 5 episodes. I consider the 4 part series finale 1 long episode, and it was shown as such, so that only takes up one spot. The other three you haven’t gotten too yet, so I won’t even bring up the titles (I hate spoilers as much as you do).
There’s actually one little tidbit I’d like to correct you on. I saw that you labeled the Kyoshi warriors Earthbenders. They’re not. Just good old fashioned straight-up warriors. No bending required. Which brings up one of (the many many) things I really like about this series. Nothing against Hary Potter (I love that series also), but it always bothered me that the muggles were basically treated like a lower class of people. In the Avatar world, even the “muggles” can be bad asses.
And now, for a bit of spoiler free random trivia.
The 4 bending styles are based on actual real-world martial arts. The creators of the show hired a martial arts Sifu (Master), Sifu Kisu, to not only come up with the styles that best fit with the elements, but he worked on all three seasons as a fight scene choreographer (how many animated shows get one of those).
From the Wiki about the styles (de-spoilered);
— — — —
“The series employed Sifu Kisu of the Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association as a martial arts consultant. Each fighting style was chosen to represent the element it projected.
Tai Chi was used for “Waterbending” in the series, and it focuses on alignment, body structure, breath, and visualization.
Hung Gar was used for “Earthbending” in the series, and was chosen for its firmly rooted stances and powerful strikes to present the solid nature of earth.
Northern Shaolin, which uses strong arm and leg movements was used for “Firebending”.
Ba Gua, which uses dynamic circular movements and quick directional changes, was used for “Airbending”.
— — — —
Just thought I’d post that, since I think even that little tidbit really shows just how much work went into creating the depth and richness for this show. They could have easily just had the characters randomly punching and kicking at each other, but no, that went that extra step (several extra steps actually) and hired an actual Kung Fu master to work in-depth with them on the show.
Heh, I see everyone's ecstatic to be able to stop sitting on their hands to prevent themselves from saying WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO "THE STORM". It was especially difficult after "The Great Divide", let me tell you. 🙂
All the thoughtful and insightful commenters here have pretty much said everything I can think of saying, except for one thing: I bet that if someone like Zhao tries to turn Zuko's crew against him again, he won't find it nearly as easy as he did the last time. The banished prince might be an asshole, but he's their (our) asshole.
I think this was also the episode where I realized this is NOT a "kids show," at least not in the sense that a lot of people seem to think kids shows are. It's not overly violent or filled with death (that we see, anyway), there's not a lot of sex or "adult" things, but it doesn't treat kids like idiots by pulling punches and HOW FUCKING HORRIFIC IS FIRE LORD OZAI'S PUNISHMENT? I mean, not only has he disfigured his son for life, not only did he cause Zuko INCREDIBLE pain while that burn was healing (and, at least in fandom theories, potential vision issues, at least in the future), but doing it to his SON, while hundred of people watch?
That's this close to nightmare fuel to me. And major, major points to the show for not brushing over that, for showing in one terrifying moment just how evil Ozai is (and therefore how evil "Evil" can be), and how power and war can do terrible things to both sides.
THIS EPISODE <3 <3 <3
<img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/53718l.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
I AM SO HAPPY YOU LOVED IT THE WAY I LOVE IT, MARK. SERIOUSLY. I CRIED TOO. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL EPISODE THAT CEMENTED FOREVER MY LOVE FOR THIS SHOW.
I WILL NEVER NOT LOVE THIS GIF.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE HAPPY GIF
Oh, Mark. And this is only episode 12 of the FIRST season… You're in for a LOT of crying, laughing, and general Avatar awesomeness.
"FOOD EATS PEOPLE!
Also, Momo could talk. You said some very unkind things!"
Oh, Sokka.
I literally stopped following the site for the last few days because I didn't think I could contain myself until this episode. (Especially with the Great Divide between us the beginning of this week and us now)
As anyone who's been watching/reading my comments is probably well aware by now, my interest was sparked in Zuko early, early on (because I /always/ gravitate to Mr. Angstyface for some reason) so by the time this episode hit, I felt like I wanted to unhinge my jaw and consume the series whole. This episode was so heart-wrenching, to see Zuko with bright idealism in his eyes and not want him to lose that when some logical part of your brain points out that this is the main villian's son. And the thing he has optimism for is that his nation will soon CRUSH ALL RESISTANCE AND HE WILL RULE THE WORLD FROM THE FIRE NATION'S THRONE.
…And yet… it doesn't matter 'cause he's just a kid and he just wants to live up to the bar he believes his father has set in order to win his love or approval. To know that gets taken away with such brutality and that it makes Zuko into the embittered and angry character we see today… you almost wish he had just stayed an idealist who earnestly, earnestly wanted to CONQUER EVERYONE Z!oMg.
But then you don't wish that because then you would be wishing for someone to buy wholeheartedly into racial superiority and supremacy complexes.
But then you do wish it 'cause you still feel so bad.
And then you realize: Avatar the Last Airbender was just all up in your morality, fucking shit up.
And then you realize that this is you as an ADULT who is supposed to have fully conceptualized shades of grey before and that situations are often more complicated than just right/wrong dichotomies… so then you get to thinking what this must have done to KIDS who were watching this show.
And that is why Avatar wins all the things all of the times forever.
So in conclusion: Oh Mark. Oh Mark Watches readers and first-time Avatar followers.
THE SMASHING OF THE KEYS HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.
I AM SO DEEPLY CONFLICTED, Y’ALL. I cannot believe how this episode made me feel so genuinely for both sides of this conflict.
Right? This show is so RICH WITH THE SHADES OF GRAY and sympathetic characters on all sides of everything and I love it so!
I think when I was watching Avatar the first time through, this is when I fell in love with Aang (and a little in love with Zuko, but he took a while longer to earn my complete devotion). His friends wouldn't play with him anymore just because he was the Avatar and it wouldn't be "fair" all the sadness forever.
<img alt="" src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h90/TariElensar/GIFs/taylorswift2.gif" />
I pretty much adore this ep (and the next one coming up). This is the ep that made me go from a casual Avatar fan to being outright in love with it. But now you see that Zuko is not like Zhou, right? If anything, I see Zhou as what Zuko may have become if not for his Uncle and other factors that I can't go into due to spoilers.
♥
Say whatever you want about the Fire Nation, some of those dudes have epic mustaches.
They spend a copious amount of time scaring stray strands into submission.
This is the episode that ends Zuko as a simple villain and recreates him as really-a-good-guy-at-heart.
Unsurprisingly, it's the episode that made me (and many other people) such fan of him. ;D
Also like many other people, I'm so glad you finally got to the Storm! Now at least we can answer SOME of your questions without everything being a spoiler.
—
On a sidenote, AvatarSpirit.Net, the largest Avatar fansite, has a thread dedicated to your reviews. Obviously, it's full of spoilers, because it contains all of our comments that we can't say here, but perhaps you would like to have a look at it after you're finished.
WARNING, SPOILERS: http://forums.avatarspirit.net/index.php?topic=20…
I have always thought that, re: The Great Divide. I liked the show but wasn't *really* invested in it yet, but then I saw Jet, and thought 'Damn, this is awesome!'. And then the very next episode was mediocre at best. Then The Storm – 'WOW! Fantastic episode!'. It was like whiplash. 😛
this is the reason in a nutshell why i just skipped the divide when showing this show for the first time. it totally breaks up the momentum of the first half of the season, yo!
A great review for a great episode. I only discovered this site a couple days ago, but I'm hooked. Not to sound ungrateful, but waiting a whole day between Avatar reviews is tough. That's how much I enjoy reading them.
meeee too 😀 on both counts.
I love this episode too. My mother has a bad habit of entering the room during the most awkward or violent scenes in any show I watch. Including Ghibli movies for Pete's sake. So, naturally, she walks in during the scene between Zuko and Ozai.
Mom: "Umm…Isn't this a kids show?"
Me: "Yes. It's wonderful."
Mom: "That man burned a child."
Me: "His son, actually. It's a big part of the motivation behind his actions. And it makes the viewer hate Ozai more. "
Mom: "Kids show?"
Me: "Yup. Kids can handle deep things."
She doesn't watch the show, but I got my older brother and a lot of friends into it.
LOL, yeah. It's interesing how kids can handle some pretty intense stuff, so long as there is a happy ending. Just look at Don Bleuth's movies and the classic Disney films to see what I mean.
SERIOUSLY. DISNEY MOVIES ARE SO SAD
also The Land Before Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love how the revelation in "The Storm" changes the way I see the previous episodes. Starting from the Agni Kai in Episode 3.
But also it changes the beginning of "The Storm" itself! Zuko is seconds from becoming his own father here ("You WILL learn respect") while that elderly sailor is playing young Zuko's part here ("You don't care about your hardworking crew").
So that when Zuko saves that helmsman, and then apologises to Iroh, I go "Uff. His soul is saved. He may now know it yet, but he is not turning into his father."
I never even thought about how exact the parallels are. The scene had made me mostly embarrassed, to see Zuko trying to exert authority he hasn't earned, over someone much older than him — despite what Zuko says, boy, does he need his uncle to maintain order. Can you imagine what the interpersonal relations on that ship would be like without Iroh?
But thinking about one line in particular — "Lieutenant, you'd better learn some respect, or I will teach it to you" — and it just makes me shiver. Not because I think the lieutenant's in any danger, but to see how much Zuko has internalized what his father did to him. It shows what he's fighting against when he does choose to do the right thing.
If Iroh wasn't on the ship, I think the crew probably would've marooned Zuko on some remote island long before Aang was even freed from the iceberg.
Mark, I could not WAIT for you to get to this episode. I AM SO HAPPY.
And, people, if he glosses over particular details, and you all go "RRRRGH! I CAN'T SAY ANYTHNG ABOUT THIS SPOILER! SPOILER, SPOILER!" you're pretty much hinting at things to come. So, stop it now.
This episode is just amazing. It's easily one of my favorites, if not the favorite. Both backstories, the relationship between Iroh and Zuko, between Aang and Gyatso – just so much melting of the heart. Both stories are incredibly moving and I actually cried at both of them because just…ah, rips your heart out. I will admit bias towards Aang. I just enjoy him more and always have, but this episode just proves to anyone who dares to watch this show how it is so moving, how it is so engrossing, and how it amazingly can break your heart and raise your spirits, make you cry and make you smile in the same 22 minutes.
I couldn't wait for you to reach this episode and share your thoughts on it!
This is why Zuko gets the fangirls.
Well. It's *one* of the reasons Zuko gets the fangirls. 😀
Testimony as to the other reasons can be provided by myself (and a shit-ton of others on this site, I assume) if necessary. :DDD
Finally caught up and I cannot believe I put off watching this show for so long. It's so great, and this episode just cements it. The show has so much strong characterization in such a short amount of time, and covers really deep topics for a kid's show. Right here, you have parallellism between 'good guys' and 'bad guys,' the burden of responsibility, Zuko's struggle with honor and duty vs. morality. This is really interesting stuff, and I can't wait to see more.
I would say Avatar's strengths is it's characters. You care about Zuko and Aang in this episodes. You respect Iroh and Sokka due due to the episode, but the story stops to give exposition. Iroh literally sits down the crew to say to the audience "Yeah, Zuko is a jerk, but you gotta understand why he's a jerk." Good story telling should have skipped having the crew show us Zuko's redeeming backstory through the plot. This is why I think the movie was on to something but the execution of Zuko's backstory is what failed. Zuko has his backstory told not through flashbacks but in a an attempt to prove to his uncle that his shame is far reaching and very real. Any random kid in the colonies knows how the Fire Lord banished his son. Until then Zuko's obsession seems like it lacks real motivation. Problems: (1) The kid knows all this backstory but cannot recognize Zuko when he's standing right in front of him. (2) Zuko fills in most of the story on his own. Let the kid finish. That's the point.
I personally think this episode could have come sooner for Zuko. We get a lot of examples prior to now of him being obnoxious. We saw a small example of how he can make selfless choices to save his uncle even when faced with the opportunity to capture the Avatar.
As someone who is rewatching this series to coincide with Mark's reviews, I have forgotten a lot of things that are introduced in the first season. But, THIS episode, I remember because of the parallel backstories of Zuko and Aang. I am a big fan of Zuko because he is so conflicted and complicated early on. Learning the motivation behind his unceasing hunt for the avatar provided so much clarity for me as a viewer. He spoke out of turn which is bad, but his concerns were in the right place. Instead of a light punishment, he has to duel with his own father. Just that by itself would frighten me, having to fight the man who raised you who you look up and everything. To then be burned for not fighting just breaks my heart. Lord Ozai sees that by backing down Zuko was showing weakness and disrespect. I hate Ozai's logic here, and I yelled at the screen. But, I agree with Iroh that even if Zuko captures and delivers Aang to Ozai, Zuko will still be conflicted and hurt by his father's spurning.
Oh god, Mark. Reading this review hurts me a little. This show will break your heart. You are not at all prepared.
Also, there's so much you notice when you go back and watch this series! Holy crap–I'm so glad to be rewatching!!
Arrrgggghhh! Every time I watch this episode my heart goes out to Aang when he is excluded and I think, "If the kids didn't want Jinju so much, why couldn't Aang and Jinju be on the same team to make things fair? Then everyone would be happy." 🙁
Also, every time, my brain goes "100 years later…" when Aang goes all glowy and makes a ball of air while they're underwater. There's even the shot of his hand glowing! So lolz if he had frozen them…
So I only just found out about this, so this might have already come up. I do so hate posting things that someone else has said, but sometimes you just have to hope you haven't missed anything by reading all 200-odd comments that came first.
This is one of those episodes that leaps to mind on a second watching. I'm not telling you to do a Mark re-watches Avatar, but just think about that scene in the pilot where Zuko says, "This staff will make an excellent gift for my father. Of course, you wouldn't know of fathers. You were raised by monks." Or something pretty close to that. Now watch that again after seeing The Storm.
Just sayin'.
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I appreciated the "I don't eat meat" "well, fish ain't meat!" bit. I've had similar arguments. I don't understand how people can't see that seameat is still meat. Healthy meat, but still it's an animal.
I love how Iroh always has a suggestion to help Zuko calm down, whether it be noodles, jasmine tea, or the hot springs.
Also of course loved the back story. I fall into the category of might not have watched it if it weren't for Mark Watches. I had heard very lovely things about this show in the past, but this project was a final push to get me to start watching.
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