In the nineteenth chapter of the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Fire Nation descends upon the Northern Water Tribe. As the city is destroyed, Prince Zuko makes a risky decision to go after the Avatar on his own. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Avatar.
Well, shit. I’ve finally made it here.
I’m excited that this first season’s arc started and ended with the Water Tribe, with the hope that Aang would eventually reach the North Pole to train under a water bending master. I don’t think this story moved too quickly, but I expected the journey to last longer than just this season, so this has been a terribly exciting journey for me. It’s already happening! Which means….NOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
We’ve got a much more urgent story, too, given what we learned in “Winter Solstice Part II,” and that need to have Aang’s talents accelerated beyond normal allows the writers to do exactly this: place a gigantic battle between the Fire Nation and Team Avatar and the Northern Water Tribe right here at the end of season one. I could not have anticipated such a massive undertaking so early, but it all just feels….right. That’s the only way I know how to describe it. The writers have done a fantastic job giving all the main characters their own time, enough for me, as the viewer, to empathize and relate to them, to adore them or excoriate them for their villainy.
But honestly? And I hope this is ok, because I really do love talking about all the analytical shit that dumps out of my brain, but…
THIS IS SO FUCKING ENTERTAINING
Which is not to say other shows I have watched are not. THEY VERY MUCH ARE. But good lord, this show never ceases to make me feel joy and excitement, time and time again. (Well….ok, I didn’t exactly feel joyous while watching “The Great Divide,” to be perfectly fair.) I think the very nature of the story that’s being told here lends itself to this phenomenon, as it is, at base, a story of oppressed people trying to rise up against their oppressors. And even that, like so many things on Avatar, is never quite as obvious as it could be.
Resuming shortly after where we left off, a great deal of “The Siege of the North, Part I” is all about that “stillness” that is so unbearable before the attack, as Chief Arnook tells Aang later on. And unbearable is a great word to describe what happens here: We are filled with the dread of the oncoming attack. We know just how large the Fire Nation force is. We know that Prince Zuko has plans to infiltrate the Northern Water Tribe to take Aang for himself. We know this as we watch Katara successfully dominate every member of Master Pakku’s class, and we know this when Aang jokes about his lack of attentiveness to the problem. It’s in everything these people do because the question remains: How on earth are they going to get out of this?
There’s a parallel, I feel, to what’s happening between Sokka and Yue, and what’s going on with the battle, though I don’t know enough to feel like I can properly guess as to what their story means for the end of season one. But the dynamic between the two is fascinating, as we see more flirting here and, while Sokka doesn’t necessarily feel like he’s on the same ground as Yue, it’s nice that the two can still talk to one another. But I can’t shake the feeling that whatever the outcome of this siege is, it’s going to affect the two of them rather dramatically. STILL CANNOT FIGURE THIS OUT.
I have to say that the reason I say this is because, in one of the shows most hauntingly beautiful moments, Sokka and Yue pull away from a kiss (GOD DAMN IT SO CLOSE!) and realize that charcoal-tinted snow is falling down upon them. As the camera turns to the village, fountains turning gray, the village knows what this means. The smoke from the Fire Nation fleet is a warning sign, a signal that the sheer size of the fleet must be large enough to cause such an effect. And then Sokka remarks to Yue that this same effect occurred on the day the Fire Nation attacked his village. If I’m not mistaken, that was also the day that his and Katara’s mother died, yes? So….THAT IS SO GRIM. This has to be one of the most depressing snowfalls of all time.
I know I’ve spoken quite candidly about it, but I really adore when a story shows us both sides of the conflict in terms of detail and character development. Not only does it create a fascinatingly confusing experience (I DON’T KNOW WHO TO CHEER FOR ANYMORE), it also allows us to witness some of the more creepy moments that we might not otherwise have known about. In particular, Admiral Zhao’s entire conversation to Uncle Iroh is just…unsettling. That’s the word, isn’t it? He talks about re-writing history, and while it’s never stated, he’s talking about erasing people from history. He is certainly aware that the Fire Nation’s siege of the Northern Water Tribe is not going to go without a high number of casualties and destruction, but the way he chooses to frame what is actually happening as if he is participating in an honorable and grand moment in the history of the world is seriously disturbing. And for him, it’s perfectly justified and perfectly sensible. To him, the Fire Nation deserves this place in history, since they are the “superior” element in the world.
Gosh darn, I really love this show.
Back at the Northern Water Tribe, the drums of war beat and the citizens assemble to listen to Chief Arnook’s final words before the FIre Nation ships arrive within firing distance. Prior to this, Princess Yue had broken things off with Sokka, knowing that she liked him more than a friend and that the act of merely being with him was too much for her, so this is what motivates Sokka to pipe up when Arnook requests warriors for a difficult mission. It is a bit cheesy to see him accept the marks from Arnook and look upon a crying Yue, but DON’T CARE. It works. Sokka hasn’t had the chance to truly express any sort of romantic interest until now, and he just lost it. Once again, we see his desire to be heroic pop up as he agrees to go on this mission that will surely end in tragedy for someone. Which….my god, during Arnook’s speech, when he says that’s he’s sad to know what some faces will no longer be with them at the end of the battle….UGH MY HEART. Why did they have to flash on all those faces and HAVE SOKKA AMONG THEM. good god WHYYYYYYYYY.
There are few moments in the entirety of season one that are as tense and difficult to watch as when Aang stands with Chief Arnook and they discuss the stillness before the battle. As I had said (I mean GUSHED) earlier, it’s really such a uniquely powerful moment. Despite that a lot does happen before that first fireball comes falling down on the city, it feels as if everything has moved in slow motion up to that point. When we hear the sound of the fireball rushing through the air, it’s just seconds later that this episode erupts into ordered chaos. God, it is amazing how horrifying and grandiose the siege feels. I know it’s a really obvious thing, but I’d not thought about how the Northern Water Tribe’s city is made of ice, and the fire balls melt that ice. Meaning THIS BATTLE IS GOING TO BE FUCKED UP.
And so far, what little that I do get to see in the first half of this finale is just….holy god. Aang flies aboard Appa into action, deflecting a fireball into a nearby cliff, and heading aboard that first Fire Nation ship, using his airbending and some fantastically clever techniques to disable the catapults and destroy the ship. As he rises up on the back of Appa, he looks on in horror as he sees a horizon full of Fire Nation ships.
How is one boy supposed to fight a thousand ships?
The narrative switches back to Sokka and we learn that Chief Arnook’s secret mission involves infiltrating the Fire Nation army in disguises. Again, Sokka’s humor isn’t just great for his character (which I’ve discussed in-depth in the past), but some of these dire situations really do work best with a bit of humor added to them. I love that Sokka is so casual in his dismissal of the uniforms and in stating the name of the admiral in charge of the Fire Nation.
But with the reveal that the man that Sokka has to work with is actually Princess Yue’s future husband, I’m not really sure what the hell is going on. I know that Sokka has a temper, but this is the only thing I’ve seen in season one that felt forced and rushed. Why was Sokka so quick to rush right to fighting Hahn? I mean, it works as a plot idea, especially since Arnook takes Sokka away from the mission in order to personally protect Princess Yue, which is OH MY GOD INTRIGUING, but it did feel a bit like it wasn’t exactly true to what we’ve seen of Sokka so far. ONLY A LITTLE BIT. It’s not some horrible, distracting thing, but it was just a bit of odd pacing.
But if we want to talk about perfect characterization, then we must discuss how hard I teared up when Uncle Iroh said goodbye to Prince Zuko, telling him that ever since he lost his own son, he know thinks of Zuko as his own. Holy fuck, it’s made even worse when Zuko briefly lets his guard down and says that he knows. That rush to hug Zuko…just good god. I really adore Zuko and Iroh so fucking much and now we know that Iroh’s own son died….fuck. IT’S TOO MUCH ALL AT ONE TIME someone hold my heart together.
So seriously, WHO DO I CHEER FOR. While I don’t want Zuko to get captured, he is going to KIDNAP THE AVATAR. So….ahhhhh i am so conflicted and what happens to Aang at the end of this episode DOES NOT MAKE THIS ANY BIT EASIER. Upon returning to the city, exhausted from trying to fight so many Fire Nation ships, Aang realizes that perhaps he can get some advice or help from the Spirit World. So, while Princess Yue takes him to that AMAZING OASIS hidden inside the city, Zuko is busy being a swimming badass by trying to find away into the city. (I have a slightly gigantic fear of drowning in deep water, so all those tunnel swimming sequences just made me so nervous. SO NERVOUS.)
As these two plots are intertwined, the camera switching between the two, I sort of knew where this was going. Aang managed to enter the Avatar State while meditating (THAT IS SO EXCITING, F U EPISODE FOR NOT SHOWING ME WHAT’S ON THE OTHER SIDE), and that’s precisely when Prince Zuko arrives. Katara makes an interesting statement, that Aang’s body can’t be moved while he is in the Avatar State. Does she mean from that spot? In general? Must Aang return to that cave in order to come back into his body? (Don’t answer this. I know it’s annoying that I have to add this to all my rhetorical questions, but fear not! If I don’t, someone will always answer these and spoil me. So yeah.)
It’s honestly riveting to see Zuko and Katara fight, especially since Katara has developed so quickly into into quite the admirable fighter. Unfortunately, with the rising sun, Zuko is able to melt out of the ice that Katara encases him, and he knocks her out.
Just….HOW UNBELIEVABLY BLEAK IS THE END OF THIS FIRST PART. Aang is gone. The first ship has broke past the Northern Water Tribe wall and soldiers pour into the city. Zhao states that the city will fall. And we are given a final image of Zuko, with Aang on his back, still in the Avatar State, trudging slowly through the snow, a storm above him.
Fucked up.
THOUGHTS
- Honestly? There’s a lot of greatness in this episode, but I’m just going to end this review with one statement: I’m probably not even remotely prepared for what’s coming. BUT I AM SO EXCITE.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege1.jpg">
This two part episode is, quite simply, my favorite from season 1. I love season 1 in general, but it was Siege of the North that cemented my absolute love for this show, above and beyond 'hey, this is a good animated series'.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege4.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege3.jpg">
Much consideration was given to what materials the Water Tribe would use in their architecture, due to their limited resources. In many places throughout the city, the supports were fashioned from whale bones, while Waterbenders formed the ice into beautiful buildings, bridges, and sculptures.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege2.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege10.jpg">
I know there are people that complain that Katara progressed ridiculously fast between The Waterbending Master and this episode, but I think they're taking it as simply being a few days difference. Zhao has to mobilize a huge fleet, and the last time we saw him was back in The Deserter. This obviously takes at least some time, because he has time to run out and steal Zuko's crew in the process. Then they have to sail to the North Pole, and we know it was at least two days flying on Appa from the Northern Air Temple to get there (so I imagine it's quite a lot slower for ocean-bound ships, let alone a whole fleet).
There's no telling how much time passed between these two episodes, but it's pretty obviously not just a few days.
Good god I love those freaking seal-turtles. Thank you for the artwork!
Turtleseal!
I am starting to be amazed that this show ever got made. They design whole cities and cultures and then make moving drawings of them with incredible details, how did it not take 20 years?
PS Thanks to you I'm really close to buying this book, it just looks so cool.
It really is. I should note that while I'm posting heaps of art, there's loads of it I haven't (and don't intend) to post. Most of what I put up is just stuff specific to the episode.
Plus, my scanner really doesn't do a lot of these images justice. They're gorgeous.
Awesome! I also figured there was lots more explanatory text that you're not including. Oh f it, I'm ordering it right now.
It's worth it. My favorite art book by far. So much delicious information about the show.
It's coming to my house on Tuesday aww yisssssssss.
You won't be disappointed! There's this whole awesome interview where Mike and Bryan talk about how the show came to be and you literally fucking follow them every step of the way from the very inception of any sort of idea. It's so cool.
(just to be clear, this is a thought touched off by what you said about Katara that I want to elaborate on a little; I agree with you about the time passing!)
Yeah, there's a trend I've seen in AtLA fandom going on about Katara being too perfect, or a Mary Sue, or advancing too quickly… now, I can understand a criticism of pacing, but it more often comes off as criticizing Katara as a character, playing into very common cultural trends of criticizing female characters for being too perfect or not perfect enough (there's no way to win).
Besides the many obvious problems with that, I actually also think the creators did an overall good job showing Katara's progression — remember her in the first episode? She's shown practicing constantly, and the show goes out of its way to make clear how strongly Katara considers waterbending to be a part of her identity. She works exceedingly hard at her art, and Master Pakku even points this out explicitly, citing Katara's success as stemming from "fierce determination, passion, and hard work", in contrast to Aang's "raw talent".
Given all that, even if the time passed between the episodes was fairly short (which I don't think it was, but either way), I actually still find quick advancement on Katara's part believable, because I read it as someone who already has the discipline down and just needed a master to give her direction and refinement. Put it this way: part of learning any art is learning how to study that art (this applies to things like formal education, too — it doesn't just teach you specific subjects, but, at its best, it's also supposed to help you learn how to study). So, by my read of the show — which is not necessarily shared by anyone else, of course! — Katara already had the discipline and good habits, the "how", and the thing she was really missing was the "what", things she could only really learn from sources like the scroll or a master.
Also, Katara just kicks ass, haters to the left >.>
I get this, its like in a sport when you've built up the endurance, strength and discipline, but are lacking finesse when it comes to technique. In that instance, simple changes in form can make a huge difference. Also, Katara is awesome!!!
Exactly! Way to say it so well with much less tl;dr XD
Beautifully put. Katara has spent years on this, and has encountered a lot of challenges on her journey to the North Pole. She's had plenty of battle experience; she just needed the guidance of a master to put it all together.
She's a fast learner too. We see this in the series pilot, where she sees Avatar state!Aang do a waterbending move, and then immediately tries to copy it. She gets it wrong, she adjusts, and then she manages it (albeit in a very novice-like manner).
And then there are all those things she managed to figure out entirely on her own, with no direction at all. Her ability takes a huge leap when she finds the Waterbending scroll, and again, that's basically learning to do martial arts from a book with illustrations.
So, you know, not only getting a Waterbending teacher, but a Waterbending Master and the best Waterbender available in the North Pole (which insofar as we know, means he's the best Waterbender alive) to instruct her? Of course she's going to progress like crazy. The only thing that was ever holding her back was simply not having anyone to show her the way, and it still wasn't stopping her.
"The only thing that was ever holding her back was simply not having anyone to show her the way, and it still wasn't stopping her."
Excellently said! =D
Yup. Her raw ability was clear from the outset and even factoring in Zuko's injuries I got the impression that if Katara has had months of training rather than weeks she would have probably torn him apart.
There’s also a point to be made about the students she’s training with. How many of them have ever been in actual battle like Katara has? Probably none of them, and that’s a HUGE advantage she has over them. There’s a world of difference between raining or sparring and a real battle where your life is on the line.
Another point is one of motivation. While Pakku’s students have a vague understanding that they’ll have to fight SOME day, Katara knows that, as long as she continues to travel with Aang, she needs to learn how to fight RIGHT NOW!
There’s so many more factors at play other than her just “being gifted”.
Indeed, and as anyone knows who has ever done Martial Arts (or even dancing or learned a musical instrument), even small changes in stance, a small variant in the angle your feet/hands, small changes in gripping and movements can mean tremendous changes in how powerful/elegant/effortlessly your movements become and how big a difference it can make in force applied and transmitted. I assume it is even far more pronounced when you would factor in something like bending. Katara has lots of raw power (as seen when she gets emotional), but she had only herself and her determination to train her. Even small adjustments and tips by Pakku would translate into a tremendous increase of the effects of her power.
Also, as I said somewhere earlier, she and Aang were probably training every day for at least two weeks (raising moon last episode, full moon now), maybe even six.
Hear, hear!
Exactly. I think haters conveniently forget that Katara was learning and studying on her own way before she met up with Pakku and it was clear in ep one that she had some natural talent anyway. Once she had a teacher there to give her tips it probably brought all that latent talent to the surface. Plus, I'm pretty sure at least a few weeks or so has passed in between the last episode and this one so I don't think it's as outlandish as haters try to make it.
You were able to articulate my thoughts on this whole issue with this comment way better than I could have. Bravo!
Katara haters, please familiarize yourself with the left-hand evacuation procedure!
I am disappointed Mark isn't saying this anymore.
God, I have so much love for Katara. HATERS USE THE LEFT-HAND EVACUATION PROCEDURE.
I also really liked that Katara progressed quickly because it was shown she *worked hard*. I think this is a good lesson for the young kids to learn. Practice makes the difference.
If you look at the moon it is at least two weeks (or six) between the last episode and the Siege, so her progression is fast, but not outrageously so. She's after all very powerful, all that she lacked was guidance and instruction on how to do it.
In the audio commentary for this episode, it's said that approx. 3 months passed between episode 118 and 119.
IIRC, it was three weeks.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege5.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege6.jpg">
We imagined the massive, towering trebuchet operators were mercenaries hired by the Fire Nation for the invasion of the North.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege7.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege8.jpg">
The Fire Nation's arsenal included tanks wielding giant crossbows and trebuchets that launched fireballs.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/siege9.jpg">
Although the head in the final design is that of a rhinoceros, the horn configuration is actually based on rhinoceros beetles.
I love these scans, as always. I especially like the dragon detail on the trebuchet. It seems fitting for the Fire Nation to tie in their culture with their weapons when they're engaging in a world-wide war.
I also agree with what you say up there about the time frame. Zhao has a thousand ships, and as mighty as the Fire Nation is, it takes time to get an invasion plan ready. And honestly, I don't think Pakku would be praising Katara after only a couple of days; he hates everyone.
And honestly, I don't think Pakku would be praising Katara after only a couple of days; he hates everyone.
It's kind of hilariously ironic that Katara turns out to be a bit of a kindred spirit to Pakku – she's probably the only person he's found who takes waterbending as deadly seriously as he does. (Though heaven knows her overall attitude towards others is miles better than his.)
You know, I just got the strangest idea that the city was mostly built by female waterbenders. Not sure why.
Can I just thank you for all the beautiful art you post in the comments every day? Looking through concept art is one of my favorite things to do with my favorite animated shows and movies, and as a wannabe artist, it just makes my heart fuzzy when I get to see all the behind-the-scenes stuff. So thanks! 🙂
You're very welcome!
I know I've said this before, but for anyone who likes this stuff (especially if you've got a big interest in how a show like this evolves) and also has a bit of money to spare, the book is something like 35$ on Amazon, and well, well worth the buy. There's a whole lot of stuff in there that would never fit into the comments here, and my scanner cannot do a lot of the paintings the justice they deserve.
That sounds great 😀
I've considered getting it as a birthday present for myself but I wasn't sure (I mean, $35 is a lot for broke little me), but if these scans are any indication, I think I'd really enjoy it, so I'll check it out. It definitely seems worth the price.
I empathize with money issues, oi. Amazon does provide a little PDF preview, if you want to see what some of the stuff is like (though I'm not sure what text is there beyond Shyamalan's forward, argh argh argh diaf). I THINK it also has a few pages from the first chapter, but I don't remember.
Spoiler warnings throughout, of course. It breaks down kind've like 'concept development', then a chapter for each season (where most of these images come from), and then a bunch of miscellaneous stuff that didn't fit in earlier. They've got a few pages on the calligraphy, the animals, the various challenges for each season (and wardrobe changes) that sort of thing.
If there's anything specific you're interested in knowing if they have, I can take a look!
Totally ordered it today. 😀 😀 I'm really looking forwards to it arriving some time next week.
This is the kind of attention to detail that I love from the fanbase! Of course, it goes without mention that this show is so brilliantly thought-out with acute detailing that enable our speculation. Avatar is like a novel, filled to the brim with rich information!
I really wish that I had that amazing oasis in my house….
So seriously, WHO DO I CHEER FOR
I cheer for Iroh and Gaang….
I should have said it yesterday, but I'm saying it now:
Mark, you are doing the right thing! Every episode is a masterpiece on its own and deserves undivided attention. This includes not only a full review but also the chance for everyone on the world to comment on it, which would not be given if you posted two reviews on one day.
I created a schedule of upcoming double episodes (http://pastebin.com/MXmZCx8N — no spoilers except episode numbers) and it looks good, so the best thing would be to just continue with 4 episodes per week (But don't deviate from this again!).
Also: SRSLY… THREE DAYS??? POST THE NEXT REVIEW NAO!!!!111(10/9)
I like splitting up multiparters too! There's easily a lot to talk about in this one episode, when it probably wouldn't get as much attention if both parts were combined.
I totally agree! I like getting to look at each of the episodes separately.
I don't mind splitting them up review-wise, but I still feel he should at least WATCH them within close proximity. The emotions developed during the first part of a multi-episode arc are meant to be brought straight into the following episode(s). For example, if you watched the Season 3 4-part finale one episode a day, I feel like some of the scale would be lost.
Maybe do something like he did with Harry Potter, where he wrote brief notes on each chapter before immediately going into the next?
I just don't want Mark's experience to be lessened for our own entertainment.
But you could equally say that the show is intended for a months-long wait between seasons, and that that buildup in anticipation is important to the experience.
Honestly, I don't think in either case, deviating from how it was originally meant to be watched really detracts any.
In Marks review of Serenity he did not stop every 30 minutes and do a review. Some episodes are meant to be scene together. I agree with RocketDarkness, some of the impact of an episode is lost when you stop watching halfway through and wait a day to start watching again.
BBBBLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGG…..
Is it Tuesday, yet?
This episode. My god, I love it. I think "grandiose and horrifying" is a great descriptor for the entire thing. it's beautiful and nerve-wracking.
Let's see. Katara’s become an amazing bender, so much so that not only can she kick the butts of complacent Northern Water Tribe students, she can match Zuko when the moon is in her favor. It’s fantastic getting more background about water and firebending. I didn’t really think about it until rewatching this episode last night, but the balance between the moon and the ocean, is similar to the balance there should be between waterbending for combat and healing. One complements the other.
<img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/15fi05l.png">
As for other amazing duos:
“I’m sorry, I just nag you because, well, ever since I lost my son…”
“Uncle, you don’t have to say it.”
“…I think of you as my own.”
<img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/16glq87.gif">
That scene kills me every time. I think we all need someone to hold our hearts. They only have each other, and they’re obviously close, but Zuko is determined to capture the Avatar before Zhao can. I wonder if, related to what Pakku mentioned at the beginning, his desperation to catch the Avatar outweighed Katara’s determination to protect Aang. Zuko is so frustratingly singleminded about this. I'm also not a fan of swimming in deep water, where you don't know where you're going. And then walking off into the arctic in the middle of winter? WHY MUST YOU TORTURE
MEYOUR UNCLE SO, ZUKO? (Keep your ears warm!)I also really liked Sokka and Yue's scenes, and when he decides to go to war, even though it's really corny. Don't care! This episode melts my cold heart. Besides, their relationship sets up Sokka fighting with Hahn, and that is so, so rewarding.
Poor Iroh!!! ALL THE SADS
Oh god, that gif of Iroh and Zuko ;_;
Hey Zuko, you might find a better father a lot closer to you than the real one is….just sayin'…
Yeah, I mean, isn't the whole reason he's trying to find the Avatar so hard is so he can get back to his father and restore his honor? FORGET YOUR ASSHOLE FATHER, YOU HAVE A BETTER ONE.
Oh Iroh… HOW YOU BREAK MY HEART INTO AN INFINITIVE AMOUNT OF PIECES!
I want Iroh hugs too. 🙁 🙁 🙁 That scene hit me so hard.
Aw. Watching it clipped here, I finally noticed that Zuko's hands don't just hang at his sides. He returns the hug, subtle though it is.
Dear God, Mark, YOU ARE NOT PREPARED.
As far as Sokka's reaction towards, Hahn, I felt it was perfectly understandable. Because we don't really know how long they've been with the Northern Water Tribe (it has to be longer than a couple days for both Aang and Katara to achieve mastery) Sokka's and Yue's interactions must have been painful because they're so attracted and yet can't be together. Sokka also feels lower on a socioeconomic scale to Yue and then to meet her fiance that she doesn't want to marry and to discover that he's not a good, kind man but a total tool… it must have driven him crazy! So he decided to pound on him for being a jerk, being engaged to Yue, and just plain existing.
But as for the rest of the episode… damn, I don't know how you're able to not watch the second part. Will of steel, man, will of steel.
Yeah, the fact the Hahn's all, "Yeah, Yue's nice and all, but this marriage is really gonna give me a leg up in the eyes of her dad, so I'll be in a great position, go team me," is more than enough reason to push Sokka over the edge.
Not to mention, now that I'm older, when he talks about the 'perks', I get the sense that the last thing Hahn's thinking about it Yue's personality, if you know what I mean.
Katara being the star student makes me glee.
I do find this episode interesting as we get to focus more on the Northern Tribe more than the last episode. Even though we've seen the Water Tribe before, it was never like this. It's interesting to me that it looks like there's basically never going to be any place that will truly be like Sokka's and Katara's home, even when they're at their sister tribe. I remember thinking the first time I watched this ep that I really wanted to see if there were such differences amongst locations in the Earth Kingdom or Fire Nation as well.
It's also important to note how much more industrialized the Fire Nation seems to be. They've relied a lot on technology, whereas it doesn't look like either Water Tribe really has, and the Earth Kingdom refugees at the Northern Air Temple seemed like an outlier and had that tech advantage solely due to the presense of the Mechanist. Omashu didn't seem to be particularly ready for offense, for example. Honestly, it's not a big wonder how the Fire Nation has been so successful if other nations haven't been adapting.
Sokka's superior intelligence regarding the Fire Nation is pretty fun to watch. He gets to prove himself with minimal effort, and is clearly of benefit to the Water Tribe. I will always appreciate his contributions to the fight even though he's not a bender. And I'll say it now: Hahn is probably my least favorite character on this show. He's just so pointless and has an unlikeable personality. I mean, he does that 'no offense (but I'm totally insulting you)' thing! Ugh.
I love that we get more Iroh characterization. His concern for Zuko is really heartwarming, and omg he lost his son. 🙁
MORE HYBRID ANIMALS! YES PLZ.
<img src="http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3058/119mhz.jpg">
They really are adorable, aren't they? And it gives Zuko a chance to be clever. I hate when a fictional nemsesis doesn't actually amount to much, or when they rely on brute force alone. I think clever enemies are the best fictional villains.
And the yin yang fish are super cool.
<img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/23m38no.gif">(source)
Very nicely done, show. Beautiful, without having to be all anvilicious about it. They don't tell us specifically what the opposites are, they just tell us that we should start thinking about contrasts and duality now. And just so everyone is on the same page, yin yang refers to the fact that opposing forces exist, but are more importantly connected and dependent on each other. It's important to note both the contrast and the symmetry. Black contains white, and white contains black; black flows into white, and white flows into black. You can't separate the two.
I appreciate that, since it's a fairly complex message coming from a kids show about war. Iroh was a hugely sympathetic character earlier on in the episode, and the Northern Water Tribe has shown us some pretty patronizing shit. We're not just told Fire Nation evil bad, or Water Tribe good and pure. I take the presence of the yin yang message as a reminder that it's about balance, not a moral dichotomy. This show isn't giving us a black and white image of the world where good must truimph over evil. It's more nuanced than that.
I have to admit, though, having Aang just sit there while Katara and Zuko fight makes me laugh. It's a great battle, though. I love seeing Katara use some advanced techniques. That water ball container thing looked awesome, for example.
<img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/33wnuya.gif">
It seems like Zuko was really outmatched, but I think it's more realistic to chalk that up to him being tired and injured. It looks like Katara's mighty powerful, sure, but she still seems to have less training than Zuko, and I think that still puts her at a disadvantage. And then there's that whole sun/moon thing. (The show takes place in a different enough world than our own, which is good else I'd be wanking about the length of a day at the noth pole. Although then it's problematic to use the term "earth" to mean ground when you're not on Earth.)
Final comment: I'm liking the non-standard clothing Zuko wears in this ep. It's interesting, and is perhaps a deliberate way of showing that he's not the typical Fire Nation fighter. He's not doing this for his nation, so it makes sense to isolate him this way. And I know what the outcome is already, but I think this was a pretty awesome cliffhanger.
Thank you for pointing out that it's a different world so things work differently – the whole "my waterbending works better at night because of the moon" thing really bothered me because SOMETIMES THE MOON IS UP IN THE DAYTIME AND NOT THE NIGHT!! But now I'll just tell myself it's a different planet & that's how it works there & my blood pressure will stay normal.
Well the moon is only up during the day sometimes and maybe the sun cancels it out in those circumstances?
Yeah, basically this. Its a fantasy world. I'm willing to allow the creators to lay down whatever ground rules they like or their magic.
Yeah, but not when it's close to being full moon – and this is the case here. 😉
As the show's big theme is "balance" I think it doesn't really matter that the moon is visible during days too (day or night only mean a difference of a few thousand kilometers after all, cosmically nothing, both moon and sun are still basically where they are on the opposite time during day, only the planets perspective shifts a bit), it is more a question of balance. During the day the sun is the dominant force, so the balance tilts torward it. You can still watebend, but a bit weaker, because the moon is still there, just (mostly) not visible. During night the moon is the dominant force, balance tilts torward waterbending. You can still firebend, but a bit weaker, the sun is still there, just not visible from where you stand, because the planet blocks it. It's all about balance.
Hahn is a terribly unlikeable character.. but that confrontation leads to one of my favorite lines from Sokka, "Well you're just a jerk wtihout a soul, no offense!"
I hope to someday find an excuse to use that in real life.
My one real criticism wtih this episode is that Aang's body can't be moved while he's in the spirit world. I recognize its relevance as a plot point, but how do any of them know it? Hasn't he only been in the spirit world once before this point, and as an accident? Maybe Roku mentioned it offscreen but it seemd a bit outo f place to me.
I always wondered if that wasn't just an assumption on Katara's part or on Aang's part that he passed on to her.
Awesome review is awesome. <3 I especially agree with this:
And it gives Zuko a chance to be clever. I hate when a fictional nemsesis doesn't actually amount to much, or when they rely on brute force alone. I think clever enemies are the best fictional villains.
Ineffective villains are one of my pet peeves in fiction. The villains should actually be a viable threat to the protagonists.
And seal turtles are sooooooooo adorable. <3 The yin yang fish are beautiful, too.
There is so much I want to say and can't until you see the second half of this two-parter so for now:
I ALWAYS crack up when Zuko yells at the turtle-seals to be quiet >.>
<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_laem69mhVI1qciulso1_500.jpg" />
That macro made me LOL. XD
Notice how he still pets them after he yells at them. To me, he's saying: SHUT UP!!! But you're still cute, so no hard feelings.
It doesn't look to me like he's petting them – he's pushing them out of his way.
I couldn't stop snickering for about a minute after Zuko ordered the turtle-seals to be quiet. He's so SRS BUSINESS it's kind of adorable, as long as you overlook the fact that his business is Avatar-kidnapping.
I love that about Zuko too!
BEIN ZUKO IS SRS BSNS OK
CAN'T STOP LAUGHING. OH. MY. GOD.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS
I love all the weird hybrid animals. Especially the ones that just have turtle shells. Can we combine everything with turtles please.
Anything we can do to tempt you to post the other half of the review today? 😉
I think the second half should be posted today, because that means you get to post the 1st episode of the 2nd season (the 21st episode total) on the 16th day of May, the 5th month, and as you know, 16 + 5 = 21.
This seems vitally important to me. XD
LISTEN TO THE MATHS!
You can't argue with SCIENCE!
<img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/store/imgs/stand_back_square_0.png">
<img src="http://www.demotivationalposters.org/image/demotivational-poster/1005/for-science-dr-insano-doctor-nostalgia-critic-that-guy-with-demotivational-poster-1274272750.jpg">
yeah, I have to agree – YOU ARE NOT PREPARED!
"(I have a slightly gigantic fear of drowning in deep water, so all those tunnel swimming sequences just made me so nervous. SO NERVOUS.)"
Actually, according to the audio commentary over the episode, one of the creators suffers from the very same fear, and that's actually why they included it. He'd probably be pleased that it affected you that way.
Final note, did you notice Mr. Fiance's pronunciation of "Sokka"? (Soak-a) That's actually how it's said in the movie – and Shyamalan claimed he was changing the names to get the RIGHT. Ugh.
Good luck waiting, my friend – AND YOU BETTER MAKE YOURSELF WAIT! HAHAHAHA!
Well, actually, I believe that the pronunciation of the names in the film WAS the more correct one; or rather, the pronunciation of the names in the TV show was Americanised. But I still think that Shyamalan should've stuck to the pronunciation set by the TV show, because it was so familiar to the audience.
The pronunciation of the names in the film wasn't more correct, Shyamalan just said it was to justify it. The spelling of the names was Americanized, but the pronunciations were more-or-less valid, with some artistic license taken and sometimes borrowing from different dialects. Shyamalan looked only at the spelling and changed the pronunciations to conform with Indian patterns. The best example is probably Iroh, which is a simplification of 艾洛 àiluò, which makes the movie's pronunciation of Ee-roh completely wrong.
As Hyatt said – Shyamalan changed the name pronunciations to fit ONE type of pronunciation based on the American spellings of the names, completely forgetting that this show is based on a variety of different cultures, all of which pronounce things differently (seriously, Shyamalan, you of all people should know there is no generic "Asian" that's something a white idiot like ME would think! And I don't!) and he paid NO attention to the Chinese spellings of the names – Aang for example is written in such a way on his wanted poster that it's pronounced as it is in the show. The worst that can be said for the show is that they SPELLED the names wrong, not pronounced them wrong, and even that's incorrect, since they're spelled correctly for English pronunciation.
Right, I get it now. Thanks for the clarification, guys. 🙂 I'm afraid I can't read the Chinese writing. I wish I could, though… 🙁
It was so goddamn annoying that every time someone in an interview asked him about the pronunciation of the characters' names, he would say he changed it to the original Asian pronunciation. And I never heard of any interview that asked him, "Well, which one? There are tons of Asian languages."
So there is an audio commentary over this episode?
I have the European DVDs and the first season box set (if you like) is totally bereft of audio commentary. 🙁 My season 3 DVDs has it I believe, and I'll find out if season 2 does when I put the DVDs in to watch along with Mark (I can't remember), but it makes me sad. 🙁
That is so sad. 🙁 Yeah, there's audio commentary on the last…three episodes of season 1, I think. Or maybe just two. I forget. For your benefit, a couple of the highlights from the commentary (i.e. random things I can remember off the top of my head) include:
-Mako, Iroh's voice actor, kept telling the creators to stop making him sing but they couldn't resist.
-While they were trying to find a voice actor for Zhao, they kept saying that they needed a Jason Isaacs type. So they were looking, and not finding anybody, and eventually somebody went, "Well…what about Jason Isaacs?"
-Um…it's really fun listening to them talk? There was something else I was going to say but now I have absolutely no idea what it was. :/
How is one boy supposed to fight a thousand ships?
I DON'T KNOW aaagh so nervous.
I'm with you on the Zuko swimming scenes. They totally set off my claustrophobia – especially when he swims up to find ice! – and I think I had to look away a few times. It also helps to repeat "It's only a cartoon, it's only a cartoon."
The dark snow is so chilling (pun not intended… sorry).
I do like Sokka's semi-flirty "Yip… yip ;D" when he takes Yue for an Appa ride.
OH ALSO: I was dreaming about birding last night and I saw a giant white bird and was really excited about it, and then it came closer and it was a really big MOMO yay! This show is invading my brain.
i keep trying to thumbs-up your comment and then it tells me that i've already done so. anyway but yeah, yip yip. YIP YIP.
Why was Sokka so quick to rush right to fighting Hahn?
Think back to how Sokka first acted toward Suki, dismissing her fighting ability because she's a girl. And now, this prick comes up and start talking about Yue like she's a piece of meat, and he goes crazy. Character growth. 😀
Booter-freak in response to this post.
<img src="http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs9/i/2006/054/c/d/Gagstrip_32_by_Booter_Freak.gif">
There was another one, but I can't find it.
EDIT:
FOUND!
<img src="http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs10/i/2006/099/c/3/Gagstrip_33_by_Booter_Freak.gif"/>
HAKU'S MASK HAKU'S MASK HE STOLE HAKU'S MASK ;o;
… actually I'm okay with that AWWWWWWWWW Zuko and Haku should totally have forest bonding times. ;o; AND THEN HAKU AND IROH CAN MAKE EACH OTHER TEA.
Oh wait, HOW COULD I FORGET?
I can now post this GIF:
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/soakapunch.gif">
Caption: "It's pronounced 'SOKKA', you jackass!!!"
Sokka: This is what you deserve!!!
Okay, this makes me really happy.
Perfect GIF is perfect. XD
GIF is from part 2. BYE.
Um, after checking the episode…no it's not.
Someone posted another gif after mine. It's fabulous, but THAT scene is from the next part, alas.
No, it's definitely from Part 1. Mark even mentions it in the review.
I like how the soldier in the right hand corner just looks straight ahead and ignores the fight at his feet.
Nothing brings me more joy than GIFs of characters beating up Shyamalan.
I just re-watched the movie.
…I feel like doing this so much.
THANK YOU CAPSLOCK_ATLA FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL GIFS
This… this is a truly beautiful gif. *sniffles*
Dear gods and angles, this episode filled me with so much dread. You know that something awful is going to happen. You know this will not end well. And the only thing you can do is wonder if all the bad things will happen this episode or the next one. The writers did so well showing the calm before the storm, where the water tribe prepares to make a stand knowing that many of them will not live to see the end of the battle. It breaks your heart.
I CANNOT SAY ANYTHING UNTIL YOU WATCH PART TWO OR I WILL ACCIDENTALLY SPOIL YOU.
Guess why? Because you are SO NOT PREPARED for the amount of SHIT GETS REAL.
NEVER EVER PREPARED.
So seriously. WHO DO I CHEER FOR.
o/ Cheer for everyone! o/
Except Zhao. X(
Aww, it cut off one of my victory arms. *sad*
First part of the finally, aw yeah! It’s hard to write about it without the second part, since I don’t think I’d ever watched them separately until yesterday! But I will do my best.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/sglIY.png>
So, you know. Epicness. Let’s get that out of the way. First of all, I like that we start out with Katara kicking ass some more. I liked how they made it clear that Aang had more natural talent, which makes sense, but Katara’s hard work and determination mean that she is the better waterbender. I love that. Katara obviously does have a lot of natural talent herself, but I love that her main strength is actually her willpower and strength of mind. Basically, I just love Katara.
I also like how this episode takes Aang from acting all silly, making snowmen, not really practicing, to suddenly getting very serious. It’s hard, because he is a kid, a really sweet funny kid, but he does have all this responsibility thrust on his shoulders and he has to deal with the reality of that. I also enjoyed the moment when he had spent the last few minutes trashing one ship, only to fly up and see hundreds of ships left. A lone airbender who also knows a bit of waterbending is no match for a full fleet invasion. From what we’ve seen of Roku, a fully realized Avatar could be, but Aang is nowhere close to that yet.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/ez74Y.png>
So, he decides to go to the spirits for help. I also liked that. And that spiritual garden place is so gorgeous and amazing. Also, it was funny when he was trying to meditate and Yue and Katara kept distracting him accidentally. Hee. The problem, though, is that when he actually goes al glow-y… he’s helpless. Not good!
I still really enjoy Sokka and Yue’s relationship and I was quite pleased that Yue spent some time with Katara and Aang in this episode and bonded with them a bit. I like Yue a lot, actually. I feel really bad for her. She obviously really cares for Sokka. He doesn’t expect anything from her, just likes her for who she is, not her “perks” (ew) or anything else. And she doesn’t love or even like Hahn, the guy he’s engaged to. But she loves her people and clearly believes that marrying Hahn is what she has to do for them. Sadness.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/JtOuU.png>
On the subject of Hahn… eh. The scenes of him being a jerkish buffoon were funny but there wasn’t a lot of depth to his character. In as packed an episode as this, that’s understandable, but it means I don’t have any deep thoughts about him or his scenes, except that it amuses me how Sokka looks with some of his hair pulled out of his ponytail.
In Zuko’s story… first of all, Zuko is a legitimate badass, no questions asked. Seriously, the second I thought the only way to get in somewhere would be to swim through freezing water with no idea where I could come up, that would be the second I turned around. Also, his fight with Katara was very cool. I loved seeing how much Katara has grown! She could really hold her own against him… while the moon was up.
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/wfQXU.png>
How cool is it that the moon and sun are related to water and fire bending, by the way? I love learning more of the show’s mythology. It’s so cool!
Anyway, Iroh and Zuko’s parting conversation was so sad. Poor Iroh. He lost his son! And now he thinks of Zuko as a son! And it makes me so sad, because he cares for Zuko so much and Zuko… well, I think Zuko cares for Iroh, too, but he’s so messed up, and I would assume especially with any kind of paternal-esque caring. So that scene made me choke up. Hug him back, Zuko!
Also, I love the sad moment where Sokka and Katara clearly both recognize the soot and what it means. I want to give them hugs!
<img src=http://i.imgur.com/xOyK8.png>
Quotes!
Pakku: Nice try, Pupil Sangok. A couple of more years and you might be ready to fight a sea sponge.
Arnook: The stillness before battle is unbearable. Such a quiet dread.
Aang: I wasn’t there when the Fire Nation attacked my people. I’m going to make a difference this time.
Iroh: I’m sorry, I just nag you because, well, ever since I lost my son…
Zuko: Uncle, you don’t have to say it.
Iroh: I think of you as my own.
Zuko: I know, Uncle. We’ll meet again… after I have the Avatar.
Iroh: Remember your breathe of fire! It could save your life out there!
Zuko: I will.
Iroh: And put your hood up, keep your ears warm!
Zuko: I’ll be fine.
Hahn: What would you know of the political complexities of our life? No offense.
Sokka: You’re just a jerk without a soul! No offense!
Yue: The legends say the moon was the first waterbender. Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves.
Katara: I’ve always noticed my waterbending is stronger at night.
Yue: Our strength comes from the spirit of the moon, our life comes from the spirit of the ocean. They work together to keep balance.
Yue: Maybe they’ll give you the wisdom to win this battle!
Aang: Or maybe they’ll unleash a crazy amazing spirit attack on the Fire Nation! …Or wisdom. That’s good, too.
Yue: Why is he sitting like that?
Katara: He’s meditating. Trying to cross over into the Spirit World. It takes all his concentration.
Yue: Is there any way we can help?
Aang: How about some quiet?! C’mon, guys! I can hear every word you’re saying!
Zuko: You rise with the moon… I rise with the sun.
Anyway, so this episode holds up pretty well by itself, although it turns into a hell of a cliffhanger.
(All images from the avatar wiki)
Zuko: You rise with the moon… I rise with the sun.
Bad. Ass.
HELL YEAH!
His most badass line to date, hands down.
"The legends say the moon was the first waterbender. Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves."
That's such a gorgeous quote.
Oh, and I forgot to mention this but I like that Sokka and Katara both wear Northern Water Tribe clothing at different points in the episode. The designs are slightly different!
I love that her main strength is actually her willpower and strength of mind.
Sounds kind of like Hermione, actually, who was also plenty gifted but came into her own because she focused her energy on studying and working really hard at magic.
This episode is amazing for showing how badass Zuko is, he swims through freezing cold water then manages to firebend his way through solid ice while still underwater. Then he engages a very talented waterbender and manages to win with a quick boost from the sun and then grabs Aang and escapes across an icy tundra with him on his back. Probably should have had a plan to get out really though.
You're going to kill us waiting for your final review, so I just hope you know OUR BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS.
My favorite part of this episode is the turtle-seals. OKAY NOT REALLY, but seriously, they're so cute.
RE: Sokka's slightly out-of-character RAEG… I don't know, I actually thought it kind of worked? They set the guy up as a tool from the start, and then added on that (admittedly heavy-handed) commentary from him about how he doesn't actually care about Yue at all but is marrying her for political reasons. Mirror that with Sokka, who has developed a genuine relationship with her and knows how miserable she is about the whole thing, who often feels like a punching bag, who sometimes feels like he isn't special or important because he's not a ~*powerful bender*~ like his companions, but Yue has made him feel briefly special… he snaps. I can follow it. But I do agree that that whole plot point is pretty heavy-handed.
I love watching the evolution of the animation throughout this series. It just gets better and better. The action, the stills, the details. I don't even know where they assembled this near-perfect bunch of artists, writers, voice actors, and directors, but they deserve ALL OF THE PROPS.
Katara/Zuko fight is just spectacular. I love the juxtaposition of their strengths and the night/day metaphor. Loooooove. Kind of wanted to flick Zuko's ear for the "peasant" comment, but whatever.
Iroh and Zuko's scene always punches me right in the feelings. Put your hood up, keep your ears warm! SO ADORABLE AND HEARTBREAKING.
I have many more things to say, but YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE OTHER PART FIRST. GET ON THAT!
<3
I agree with your thoughts about Sokka's RAEG and would also add that Hahn also pushed the whole upper class-lower class thing at Sokka, which we know he's insecure about from his last episode talk with Yue. I think that contributed a bit to him snapping as well.
Yes, absolutely! Dang upper-class snobs with their upper-class snobbery.
"Kind of wanted to flick Zuko's ear for the "peasant" comment, but whatever."
"Iroh and Zuko's scene always punches me right in the feelings."
let's be friends
Hahahaha okay! I made you a bracelet! 😀
I think that Zuko had to make up for being nice to Iroh by proving that he's still a dick with that "peasant" comment.
What about this quote
Zuko: "Well aren't you a big girl now?'
I've probably watched quite a few A:TLA AMVs (Anime/Animated Music Videos) that started with that quote! It's a very exciting way to start their fight….Yes, Katara has been studying and now she can totally kick your be-hind, Zuko, so don't you dare underestimate her!
Even though Zuko wins at the end, Katara really shows off some incredible waterbending here!
" You rise with the Moon, I rise with the Sun."
Zuko's the antagonist here but I love this line so much.
I'm scared of saying anything else in case I say something spoilery. So have this picture instead.
<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l66m2r81KA1qcgl5to1_500.png "/>
YAY CHIBI SHORT ZUKO!
Mark is going to watch these clips y/y?
This is probably one of my favorite lines from the entire show.
As cheesy as some complain it is "You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun" is my favorite (non-funny) quote from this season. I think a big part of that is how Dante Basco delivers the line, its so ominous.
Also! Can't wait for part 2!!!
The line delivery in this episode is fantastic. I also liked the way Zhao sounded while describing his plot to Iroh, and how Katara told Sokka and Yue what happened to Aang. They were perfectly threatening and despondent, respectively. I love this voice cast!
I know it's all classist and terrible but my favorite line from this episode is "You little peasant – you've found yourself a master, haven't you?"
Just the vocal emphasis on peasant was so sneering and so derisive, it was a deliciously antagonistic moment from Zuko when we haven't had a chance to see him in that position, really, since Warriors of Kyoshi. As much as we want to believe Zuko really has a good heart underneath it all because we know now the tragedy that is his past, he's still informed by his background as a rich King's son in a nationalistic empire fueled by racism and zealotry. Omfg Zuko. I love that you can remind us that you can still be such a jerk
That one is great, too! It's a great reminder that even though Zhao is on the brink of invading the Northern Water Tribe and laying it to waste, and Zuko is his enemy, Zuko's still the team's enemy. And he's a bit stupid and classist and has amazing bad guy lines!
also. can we all just be excited for a minute about dante basco. i mean. you can hardly blame zuko for all his personal problems because once upon the 90s he took over for the lost boys and then died at the evil hands of cross-dressing cougar-loving pirate dustin hoffman! and now his pa's got him all exiled, and some more pirates just tried to re-assassinate him. WHAT'S A MAN TO DO. no wonder his personal compass is all pointing "morally ambiguous."
i need a tardis so i can do that comment over again.
i can't remember what's in part one that isn't in part two, so i'm gonna shut up now.
EXCITE.
Motherfucking AWESOMENESS is in part two. Oh wait, that's in part one too.
Dammit.
Wait, I thought that's what happened in season 2 and 3. I am confused now.
AUGH why did you split this up over the weekend, Mark??? Now I have to wait to see the finale too!
Oh that scene with Zuko and Iroh just tore me up though…
Why is there no way for everyone to be happy???
I just want Aang to save the world and get together with Katara, and for Sokka to be happy with Yue, and for Zuko to regain his honour, and Iroh to open a tea shop and for everything to be pretty flowers and rainbows all round.
Zhao is a douche though. I'm glad I can hate him guilt-free. 😛
Kill Zhao, then everyone will be happy. Except Zhao. But he doesn't count.
Another rambling thought I had about this episode, that I've only had on this most recent rewatch: the Fire Nation doesn't even bother with preliminaries here. There's no attempted deal to turn over the Avatar. No demand for surrender. No dialogue whatsoever. They just sail in and start firing and tearing the city apart.
Also, there's a pretty haunting sequence in this episode that I think is easy to miss or forget about with everything else going on, but remember a certain abandoned ship at the South Pole?
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/wpnickus048tj.jpg">
Look familiar? And Katara's words about it being 'a very bad memory for my people'. We see Waterbenders doing this exact thing right after Aang flies away from the first ship on Appa.
Of course they don't demand the Avatar first. It becomes very apparent that capturing the Avatar is not really Zhao's goal. He wants to be a CONQUEROR.
He wants both, natch. His smug is very demanding.
I was just struck by how he didn't even ask for a surrender from the city. It's just 'nope, gonna start killing you lot straight off' all the way.
Pretty much. It sounds awesome that he conquered the avatar, but even more epic if he captured the Avatar and burned the Water Tribe to the ground. He's just out there trying to become famous.
omg the abandoned ship from the very beginning! I never noticed that before! It makes you think about what horrible battle nearly wiped out the Southern Water Tribe, and whether the same fate might befall the Northern Tribe… =O
Honestly, you don't muster that many ships to have a diplomatic chat to demand a prisoner. That sort of naval presence is what makes the invasion so grim. Zhao and the Fire Nation have no restraint.
I really like all of the callbacks to the premier in the finale. And that's a gorgeous illustration.
That image is beautiful. I love the art in this show so much.
I was sold on Avatar in the first episode where Aang summons the Avatar Stage.
HOWEVER
This two parter turned me into a rabid fangirl.
LOL, I just saw that on this site and posted it in Caps.
IT'S THE CIIIIIIIIRCLLLLLLE, THE CIRCLE OF
LIIIIIIIIFEMACROOOOOOOOOOS!gah. from here on out, it's just every episode, not prepared, not prepared. i mean, straight up all of season 2 and season 3 are just one giant load of being unprepared
my thoughts exactly. I keep wanting to post comments telling Mark how excited I am for him to watch the upcoming episodes, but I don't want to spoil him, so I end up just going "UNPREPARED UNPREPARED" and I imagine it must get annoying when all he reads is those kind of comments, but… IT'S SO HARD.
You know what's weird? Now every time I watch something on TV I can't help but think 'I wonder what Mark would say about this?'
I end up with a kind of running commentary in my head, full of italics and CAPS LOCK RAEG at the bad stuff.
…I think my subconscious now runs in a sort of Mark-speak! 😛
I've caught myself thinking "I wonder what Mark would think of this" on more than one occaision…<small>Even some of my own projects…which I realized he'd probably dislike…but I shall try harder!</small>
YAY for borked coding! WHOO!
I know. I do this too, mostly with books though.
I always wonder that now too about stuff I watch/read!
I remember watching this season finale as a pre-teen just going O_______________O the entire time. I was just at awe with anything and everything. Until this finale, for me, this show had been something entertaining for me to watch every week that I could laugh about and enjoy in the safety of my own home. But when these episodes aired, I saw shit get SO REAL, everything just coming together in one clash of awesomeness and badassery and terror, I got legit shivers, and knew this show was something really special. When I reached the end of the finale I was speechless and it was VERY hard for me to wait the few months until season two.
But if I could tell my past self one thing, I'd tell her (and you) this: It only gets better.
This is going to be super short because I have a lot more thoughts about part 2 which I will have to restrain until tomorrow. Anyways, I am going to focus on the scene between Zuko and Iroh. This scene made my heart tremble for Zuko to show some vulnerability towards his uncle. We also learn of Iroh's loss of his son and how he considers Zuko a son. I get tears in my eyes just rethinking that moment. We already know that Zuko will go to any lengths to capture Aang, like when he was the blue spirit. This time we get to see his rescourcefulness in action and it makes choosing who to root for even harder. This show does a great job of creating characters who may be seen as the bad guys but they have such compelling backstories that we can't help but root for them. Then there are bad guys like Zhao who are the masterminds of doom we grew up dreading.
Deleted my previous comment because it is now straight from the redundant department of redundancy. But, I have thought of something to say for this episode beyond HNNNGGG SO EPIC
I think there is some fantastic voice acting going on in this episode in particular! Iroh talking about losing his son is gutwrenching, and Aang sounds so defeated when he says that he's just one kid (I love that line, because I think a lot of people in the show fail to see him as a kid. They just see the Avatar, and they expect him to be able to do all kinds of amazing things. But he's 12 and he's far from a fully realized Avatar and he's scared).
*flails* I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL PART 2.
cheer the people you like in their respective exploits?
NOT. PREPARED.
…. at all.
Ugh, Mark, YOU ARE NOT PREPARED. I just hope that you watch future season finales together because THEY DESERVE TO BE FANGASMED AND KEYBOARD MASHED OVER.
Also, Zuko is such a badass. For real. A totally attractive, intuitive, determined, firebending royal badass.
See, I think Sokka's fight with Hahn is somewhat in character. He's worked himself up thinking he has a chance with Yue not because of his bloodline but because of his merits. Despite his intellect, wit, and sincerity, he is turned down from Yue for an arrogant son of a bitch. This itself is hurtful and the way Hahn talks down to someone who is providing insight to not get everyone killed when they infiltrate the Fire Nation ships is more infuriating. Hahn is basically telling Sokka that he's not worth anything because of his "peasant" status and, in tandem, is telling him Yue would never be interested in someone so low in the hierarchy. I view it as him reaching the breaking point over taking Hahn's crap.
Mark, get your blanket, a plushie and soundproof your apartment… That's the right way to be slightly prepared. But you're not prepared. Remember to hold your breath and stay still when the moment comes, and by moment, I mean EPISODE.
And also, because I want you to live the full experience, I suggest you watch The Last Airbender after you finish this season. Just cuz… In fact, you should make it a live blog. Yup.
NO! No watching the movie until after the series! Besides the spoilers for season 2 and even 3 plot points, the movie is best watched after seeing the whole series so one can see just how badly it messed up not only the season it was adapting but the seasons after it. Also, the best .gifs and quotes to use for the movie come from one very late episode, so why would you want to spoil the commenters' fun by not allowing them to use those quotes for fear of spoilers?
Mmhmm… True… Very, very true. Plus the movie shows things that were not supposed to be shown. So… Yeah. Forget it, Mark.
Mark, we can understand you for splitting this two parter, but if you decide to split season's 3 finale into 4 parts, heads are going to roll.
It just isn't done.
2 parts would be understandable though.
I really don't think the S3 finale even holds up as individual episodes. They're all too linked together.
"(I have a slightly gigantic fear of drowning in deep water, so all those tunnel swimming sequences just made me so nervous. SO NERVOUS.)"
ME TOO, MARK, ME TOO.
And I once read a fanfiction where a girl took a few wrong turns at Hogwarts, had to hide from Filch, dived into a cupboard/broom closet/whatever and FELL INTO A GIGANTIC BLACK HOLE THINGY. She then followed a tunnel INTO WATER. And had to swim though a tunnel WITH WATER. Because the only exit was to swim to the Lake. And it was a terribly long chapter and she almost drowned and I could feel it and it was so scary and it was dark and cold and wet and there was water in her lungs and she felt the her lungs begging for air and the pressure on her chest and and and GOD THE MEMORIES. All my traumas come from fanfiction.
You rise with the moon. I rise with the sun.
Zuko is full of dramatic, poetic lines like this. But that's not my point. (I just wanted to quote that line because I love it.) My point is that in preparation for your reviews, I've been re-reading the transcripts of each episode. There are no spoilers in the transcript for the episode, but as I was reading it and your review, I was reminded of how exquisitely written this show—and, in particular, this episode—is. Every line, every scene has a purpose. It moves the story forward or adds something to the character.
I can say with full confidence that you are so utterly unprepared for the next episode that Appa has bet his horns that half your review will be in capslock.
Suggestion: Don't watch the live action movie until at least half way through next season. The movie only covers season 1, but it gives way too many hints about season 2.
And no, you are not prepared. Next ep is BIG!!!
I had forgotten you learn Iroh had a son in this episode. 🙁 Poor man. His love for Zuko, and Zuko's love for him, is part of what drives this series. In a way they save each other.
Cheer for individuals, not nations.
And in my humble opinion, cheer for the best outcome for the individuals you think can be "saved."
Suggestion: Don't even bother watching the movie.
I love this ep. That is all that needs to be said because others pretty much covered it.
On looking at it though my artist brain kept thinking "wow, how much blue paint exactly went into making these three episodes I wonder?" Yes, this is the wierd sort of thing my mind conjurs up during tv and no I don't understand it either.
It’s always so difficult to talk about two parters- I’m so afraid that I’ll accidently give something away. But it’s a wonderful episode, even on its own, and it warrants a nice long comment.
Firstly, I love how very epic this feels. When we see the giant fleet of ships approaching the Water Tribe, this does not feel like the little squabbles we’ve had in the past. I think a good deal of this is due to the time the episode takes to increase tension. When the first signs of attack come, it’s not big and explosive- there are no cannon balls or alarmed shouts. It’s something simple and sinister- the snow turning black. It’s a demonstration of how changing something familiar into something wrong and unnatural can immediately place the audience (and the characters) on edge. The writer’s are wise to not launch straight into the battle, but to draw the moments out. We see the preparation of the city as they prepare for war- the frightened looks on people’s faces which signifies that this is real. It is only further heightened by the chief stating quite outright that some people are not going to return from the battle. There will be deaths. It makes it all the more poignant when nonetheless, Sokka and the others sign up for a potential kamikaze mission.
The Chief says something along the lines of “the silence before battle is unbearable,” and I think this defines much of the early part of the episode. This isn’t true just for the characters, but the audience as well. By forcing us to sit through this period the writer’s allow for tension to build, and for the battle to seem even more important.
The events on the Fire Nation fleet very much help add to this effect. The political discussion about war tactics adds to the realism, along with many of the veiled hints about what Zhao’s real plan is. I really love the conversation between Iroh and Zhao, it’s just so fascinating. “History is not always kind to its subject,” is such a wonderfully true line. How many people have acted in a way which they thought would have them be revered throughout history, only to be detested?
The emotional stuff in this episode is wonderful as well. If I could take a moment to focus on Princess Yue, I can’t help but admire that she does seem genuinely strong. Often characters in the ‘princess’ position don’t really seem to do much but look pretty (and judging from Northern Water Tribe opinions on gender, that might be all that’s she’s expected to do) but she seems incredibly brave and sacrificial. “You’re not marrying your tribe,” Sokka says, and maybe she isn’t literally doing so. But she’s the monarch, and she knows (or feels) that it’s her duty to keep what’s best for its politics and morale, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness for it.
What we get from Zuko and Iroh, though, is even more powerful. The love and respect emanating from Iroh is so very strong, it almost feels tangible. For all that he’s spent this last season trolling his nephew to death, there’s always been the sense that it was only to help him- to try and have Zuko relax, and enjoy what he can in life. Even though the care he had for Zuko was always present, I think this is the first time where he outright states to Zuko that he loves him. And to Zuko’s credit, he doesn’t need to be told. He might be a self-centered, arrogant jerk, but this is one of the moments where we see he’s more perceptive than we give him credit for. When they hug, it’s an emotionally touching scene.
….it’s almost enough to make up for the fact that his motives are directly against Aang’s. Ugh, its so weird to be rooting for too completely opposing groups at once, isn’t it? One moment I’m thinking “ugh, Zuko, you’re such a bamf ninja, breaking fire through the ice,” and the next one I’m like “COME ON KATARA, YOU CAN BEAT HIM.”
And so the episode ends with the battle against the Water Tribe resuming in full force, with Aang kidnapped as Zuko sets off with him unconscious, into a blizzard. DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUN.
Normally I take the time to read other people's comments to make sure that mine isn't just repetitive and engages in both the discussion other commenters are bringing up and what Mark himself (or 'you yourself' in case you're reading this) brings up in his review … but fuck that so hard 'cause it's the god damn season finale and all I have to say is "oh my god oh my god oh my god how hard are you going to love the conclusion how hard the world may never know too good oh my god no periods too much excite no punctuation not this time too much excite"
And also: when Iroh's voice cracks in his little speech to Zuko, my heart suddenly just sags under the weight of my profound desire to hug everyone. Like I once said in another comment, Iroh *is* Zuko's dad and Ozai is just his genetic materials supplier.
I feel like Sokka wasn't hasty in punching that guy. Did you even hear what he said about Yue? WHAT A PIG.
I agree completely. Han talked about Yue like she was a commodity to boost his social status. Even at the beginning of the season when Sokka was at his most pigheaded, he still had a basic respect of people. He just needed a lesson about the damaging effect of gender roles. Han doesn't even seem to see Yue as a person, all he sees is her usefulness as a tool to raise his social status and to serve him sexually.
I was just dissappointed that the fight was broken up before Sokka could break his face.
Ahhhh, Mark. I found a link to your site on the capslock_atla community, and reading your posts is making me fall in love with this series all over again!
The Siege of the North is the first episode I ever saw, and it is still one of my favorites. Just you wait, everything gets better. Bigger, badder, funnier, more real, more heartbreaking, etc. You are not prepared, but that can only mean you'll be pleasantly surprised!
I can't imagine coming into this episode with no previous knowledge of the show or characters. Holy cow.
I know, right? Then I went back and watched Season 1, and suddenly it all made sense. =D
I know! It's so bizarre re-watching it with all the knowledge of the future seasons.
Man, this episode is do awesome. And check out this awesome fanart by Isaia. She is so amazing. This made me cry http://isaia.deviantart.com/gallery/6402195#/dhnh…
Oh, Isaia, that's such a beautiful piece, and so very true.
Is Isaia the artist who was drafted to work on Avatar? I know one fanartist got hired by them from DeviantArt.
That's so awesome.
That really was beautiful.
Lol, that's brilliant. XD
Sorry for the OT, but could somebody tell this poor newbie how to post GIFs and pictures in to my comments?
Find the link to the image (link should end in .jpg or similar).
Type: < img src="LINKHERE" > Take out the spaces before and after the < and >.
That should work for you! Basic HTML.
Much obliged!
<img src="http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv182/Pipe_Foxx/Avatar%20The%20Last%20Airbender/CrazyFoamingGuy1.gif">
The S1 finale is so starkly beautiful and grand. It does raise quite a few questions, though. I mean,the armor they give Hahn is from battles fought 85 years ago against the Fire Nation. The show never fully explains what that means, but I strongly suspect that means the last pitched battle the Norther Tribe fought was 85 years ago. It would explain why their city is so large and why they still have a thriving population, as opposed to the Southern Tribe that has more than decimated. How did they manage that? Did they strike a deal saying they'd hand the Avatar over if s/he was reborn in their city? I mean, clearly Arnook doesn't follow that, but he's also not the only leader they've had, and Pakku was far too quick to decide against teaching Aang when it seemed he would be recalcitrant about the sexism issue.
I also tend to view these episodes as a huge turning point for Iroh. I think spending time in Zhao's company, as well as the suicidal nature of Zuko's plan, had a very strong effect on him.
My theory is that the majority of the Fire Nation's forces have pretty much been committed to fighting the Earth Kingdom since the Air Nomads were wiped out. If you look at the map (not a spoiler as such, the map's been shown a few times in the show now) Fire Nation territory is near the equator with Earth Kingdom territory nearly encircling it (and Earth Kingdom territory is huuuge). Both Water Tribe bastions are pretty out of the way for the Fire Nation, but the Southern Water Tribe was never the huge fortress city that the Northern Water Tribe is. Listening to the various planning speeches between Fire Nation commanders, they're pretty much always talking about the Earth Kingdom.
I expect the Fire Nation probably assaulted the Northern Water Tribe a number of times near the beginning of the war, but gradually focused most of their efforts on the Earth Kingdom as the Northern Water Tribe proved a whole lot harder to smash than the Southern, and the Earth Kingdom dug in (hurrhurrhurr) for a long fight.
They are definitely more focused on the Earth Kingdom, and I think it's largely because it's land they consider habitable/useful. Firebenders don't exactly want to live in arctic condition. But, at the same time, there's the huge contrast between what happened to the Southern Tribe and what happened to the Northern Tribe. In living memory, there were raids on the South, but no one in the North even knows what Fire Nation uniforms look like. And do we know for sure that the South never had a fortress at all? I find it a little hard to believe that the current iteration of the Southern Tribe is the standard for their villages. Not saying it would be on the same scale as the Northern Tribe, but it seems like they've been beaten down and their glory stolen from them.
Given the resources gathered for the siege, it's also not like the Fire Nation was stretched too thin to bother. They, for whatever reason, de-prioritized taking on the Northern Tribe. They could easily have raided boats as they went out for food, creating true siege conditions to try to starve them out. They just… didn't.
" They could easily have raided boats as they went out for food, creating true siege conditions to try to starve them out. They just… didn't."
Who says they didn't try? It seems to me that a ship would be pretty easy to take down with a dozen Waterbenders in a canoe in the dead of night. If the Fire Nation tried to blockade the NWT, they'd be throwing their ships and soldiers away pointlessly. The Water Tribes seem to pretty much keep to themselves, and they are much smaller than the Earth Kingdom. As long as they weren't taking an active role in the war effort there would be no reason not to wait until after the Earth Kingdom was defeated to deal with them.
And I seriously doubt that the Fire Nation has ever launched a campaign as massive as Admiral Zhao's siege. It's probably almost every single ship in the Fire Navy. The only reason the siege is so massive is because the Avatar is in the NWT.
Didn't someone mention in the comments for the previous episode that the Southern Water Tribe is (or might be) actually just an offshoot of the Northern? That would explain why they're so small; they just don't have the population to defend a huge city like that.
I remember reading somewhere (I think on the Avatar Wikia) that originally there was just the Water Tribe at the North Pole. And at one point a group of them left for similar reasons as Kana and founded the Water Tribe at the South Pole. So yes, the Southern Water Tribe was always much smaller.
I love reading your take on this series. I'm currently watching the final episodes of the series and am thinking to myself how much you are going to LOVE the rest of this series. Can't wait to read what you have to say on Part II. 😀
Yeah, I say this even though this split into two parts is killing me (mainly because of the weekend factor), I think for the series finale I'd rather each of the four parts be given its full due. Or at least, as Patrick said above, broken into parts 1-2 and then 3-4.
YAAAAAAAAY EXCITE
I am excited for you too. I just- yeah. You pretty much said everything. But, how much do I love Aang's snowman? Not to mention the great little touches like Momo coughing after swallowing soot, that really add to the impending DOOM of the attack.
Ah yes, thank you. Her comic on the live action film was pretty nice, poor Haru.
Dude, just wait until the next episode. That's all I'm going to say.
The villains in Avatar are some of my favourites. There are so many gray areas, so much backstory. They have their goal, like every villain, but they also have motivation and reasons behind their actions. And you do find yourself never sure which side to take. That's what makes Zuko AWESOME. No characters in Avatar exist purely for plot reasons (or at least very few do). Every one of them is a full, fleshed out character that hassomeone rooting for them. Avatar doesn't take sides…
"You rise with the moon… I rise with the sun." Does it sound weird that THAT LINE is when I became a Zutara shipper? I'm not trying to start a shipping war here, but Zuko said that and my mind went to the whole "opposites attracting" trope and how they'd mostly balance each other out and all that, and yeah… It doesn't help that the series, and especially this episode focuses so much on the balance… My name is Anonymouse, and I am a Zutarian. The first step is admitting it…
This episode is filled with Zuko/Katara chemistry for me. But I'm an equal-opportunity shipper.
Well, given that they were fighting over… and Zuko was obsessivly pursuing (not to mention carrying off) Aang… it came off as more of a Zukaang ep….
Yeah, but they didn't actually interact, since Aang was unconscious or… something… the whole time. Whereas Zuko and Katara actually fought, and they had a lot of tension and chemistry going on. Don't get me wrong, I can see Zuko/Aang, but not as much in this ep.
But if we want to talk about perfect characterization, then we must discuss how hard I teared up when Uncle Iroh said goodbye to Prince Zuko, telling him that ever since he lost his own son, he know thinks of Zuko as his own. Holy fuck, it’s made even worse when Zuko briefly lets his guard down and says that he knows. That rush to hug Zuko…just good god. I really adore Zuko and Iroh so fucking much and now we know that Iroh’s own son died….fuck. IT’S TOO MUCH ALL AT ONE TIME someone hold my heart together.
YES YES THIS ENTIRE PARAGRAPH. ;_; Oh, Iroh. First he charmed his way into my heart with his funny and his awesome and his love for tea and hidden badass, and then I found out his son died and he thinks of Zuko as one… yeah, I got all teary at that scene too. YANA.
I'm way way late, so I don't have much time/brains for a proper comment, but suffice to say that I LOVE this episode and everything about it, and YOU ARE NOT PREPARED. FOR ANYTHING.
BRILLIANT. XD
The classism always bothers me. Isn't Hakoda the _chief_ of the Southern Water Tribe (or is that just fanon)? Doesn't that kind of make his children a prince and a princess? Granted, they didn't live much like royalty, but we haven't seen much of what life was like at the south pole before the Fire Nation damn near wiped them out. They might have had a very snazzy igloo indeed, or whatever other status symbols there were. It's perfectly reasonable for Zuko, of course, not to know or care much, and call Katara a peasant no matter what, but as far as the Sokka/Yue thing it seems weird to me that he would be so looked down upon instead of anyone thinking, "Hmm, the son of a chief, and our chief has a daughter…" Or is it less of a class issue than one of xenophobia? Is it just that he's a dirty furriner?
On one hand we have a 'primus inter pares'(sp?) among a scattering of subsistence-level villages/camps, On the other we have what looks like the doge of arctic Venice. It would be easy for the latter not to register the rank of the former on a subconcious level, although the job he gave Sokka may have been a sign that he is considering edging Hahn out of the picture.
I doubt that rule in the SWT is based on lineage – meaning that while Hakoda is chief now it doesn't mean Sokka will be chief simply because he is his eldest son. That's what "Prince/Princess" after all denotes – born to rule simply because who their parents were, which is apparently the case in the NWT.
One thing bothers me about this episode, story-wise. The Fire Nation fleet stopped for the night, because, as Iroh rightly said, the waterbenders' power would increase due to the almost full Moon.
Why, then, didn't the Water Tribe actually USE this as an advantage to strike back? They could've sent a team of waterbenders to, for example, make holes into the Fire Nation ships trying to sink them, sabotage them.
It seems like a waste of opportunity and rather poor tactical thinking. Aang himself took down "about a dozen ships" – imagine what a group of, say, twenty powerful waterbenders could do.
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Could you link to the actual deviantART page in the future? I'm sure the artist would appreciate the attention/publicity.
Unfortunately, the artist's account no longer exists. What I linked to was found through a google cache of the original page. In any case, the URL to the artist's page is included in the comic, so if he ever returns with that account, people can find him through that.
I've been watching the show alongside Mark in order to make my own observations. I love having a reason to go back and rewatch this show! It's superb storytelling.
I really love the visual of the black snow falling. It's so quite and yet so ominus. And it can be interpreted in many different artistic ways. Personally, I think it's a great metaphor about how evil poisons everything pure and beautiful around them just by the nature of their existence.
And speaking of visuals that I love…
<img src="http://www.testriffic.com/resultfiles/32089katara2.gif">
BAD ASS
The show does seem to use the slow motion effect during bending battles to an excellent result. B-)
oh my gosh i loved the teen titans! (still love it)
appa= awesome!
<imgscr =http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljcodunCek1qewk6no1_500.gif>
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So you've not been around for a while. Hope all's well, and that you get this message via email.
Hi! This was such a sweet notif to get- I didn't think anyone would notice I disappeared! I should be back soon. My mom has had some medical stuff come up and so I haven't had time to be online much. I should be back, hopefully next weekish, though I might disappear again later.
<3
A number of people were wondering and worrying about you, and made comments to that effect on various past episode reviews.
A lot of people, including Mark, have commented on your absence – so yeah, a lot of people noticed!
Best wishes with everything.
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