In the second season finale of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang travels to see Guru Pathik to master the Avatar state, but events in Ba Sing Se send everyone’s plans into complete chaos. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Avatar.
WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST WATCH
oh my god oh my god how did kids watch this and then not cry themselves to sleep for months straight
This, my friends, is some absolutely fantastic, poetic, emotional, and INTENSE storytelling. AND THIS WAS ON NICKELODEON I WILL NEVER GET OVER THIS AMAZING FACT THAT HANGS OVER THE WHOLE SHOW.
It’s fun to have these “double†episodes from time to time, allowing the story to stretch out, giving it all a much more epic feel. (Not like what just happened needed anything else to become epic.) And unlike the season one finale, I actually felt like there didn’t even need to be the split between the two parts (in terms of title screens denoting the chapter) because they flowed so well together.
In a similar manner to “The Earth King,†things appear to be going right for everyone on either side at the start of “The Guru.†That’s obviously a problem, since we have multiple warring and conflicting factions at work here, and not everyone can win. But we open things here solely in a whole lot of surreal weirdness: Zuko’s transformation is real. As he bids good morning to Uncle Iroh, a tone of actual calmness in his voice, Iroh is shocked. This is some Twilight Zone shit and if I didn’t know any better, I would have said that Zuko had a visit with the Dai Li. At the same time…I can’t deny that I like it. It’s weird, for sure, but it’s nice to see that Zuko can actually change.
Well….we will get to that.
It was also bizarre to get Sokka’s story of reuniting with his father and, over the course of this episode, all of it is good? In fact, for the entirety of this two parter, there was nothing I expected more than for Hakoda to express disappointment or to die himself. Given what this complete story shows us, I’m still surprised how pleasant and emotionally powerful the Sokka/Hakoda story line is. It’s about validation, and Sokka receives the validation from his father that he’s desired ever since the man left his life.
And that’s it. This is not bad storytelling at all, for the record, but it’s surely unexpected. There’s also a nice parallel to what’s happening with Zuko as well; I’m unsure if I’ve ever compared the two (and I can’t find it in any of my past reviews), but we have two young men seeking validation from their fathers and this is the first complete story where one gets what he desires. He does so by doing good and helping others. Is this supposed to be a subtle message for Zuko’s character growth as well?
This episode further sets the characters into place for the final battle during “The Crossroads of Destiny,†so there’s a lot of complex, interconnected plotting involving Katara, the Dangerous Ladies, the Dai Li, and Iroh/Zuko. The writers handle all of these interwoven plots with finesse, never stooping to over-confusing me but never insulting my ability to pay attention and keep track of multiple story lines. There’s no doubt, though, that I can’t think of a single “children’s†show that is this complex in terms of what sort of story that is being told. It’s enough that throughout both parts, I was kept guessing. That is half of the fun of this. Of course I’m drawn to emotional storytelling, to narratives that mean something to my life. A lot of us are! That’s why so many of us become attached to shows like this.
But good god, this is SO FUN. There were so many possible convergences that were set up during “The Guru†that it almost became a game to try to figure out how everyone would come together.
However, what ties the entire story together is Aang’s poetic journey with Guru Pathik, the man who teaches Aang how to control the Avatar state via his own chakras. It’s hard to cycle through these things without being repetitive or boring, and the writers use the ingenious device of flashbacks to not only remind of us of the past, but to re-contextualize them in a way to show how Aang is maturing as a young man. These trips to unblock his spiritual chakras are rife with emotional pain. No one needs me to summarize what happens for all seven of them, but I did want to touch on how Aang is forced to address the guilt he feels, the pain he’s caused, and the hurt he feels for a life that is largely filled with tragedy. It’s not that we haven’t seen this before, but the way that Guru Pathik brings out these memories is a way to channel a positive energy for Aang instead of bringing on more sorrow and grief.
Unfortunately, despite that Aang manages to master six of the seven chakras, it’s the seventh chakra that provides the inevitable conflict, and what a hell of a conflict it is. The Thought Chakra, which channels cosmic energy, is blocked by the most difficult of all energies: earthly attachment. I did not understand it at first, but when I came to, I knew that this would be hard for Aang. The one thing that is tying him to this earth is Katara. It’s glad that he can admit openly that he loves Katara and that here, it’s not tied to the shame or embarrassment he felt before. However, the concept is ridiculous to Aang. How is he supposed to let go of the one he loves? But he gives the concept a chance and we get the opportunity to see some of the most gorgeous animation we’ve ever seen on Avatar. Drenched in deep cosmic purples and blacks, Aang walks along a stream of cosmic energy resembling the aurora borealis as Katara falls far away. A large, oversized image of himself in the Avatar State stares over him, and the energy sphere radiates and flares in his palms.
But an image of Katara chained in some sort of prison interrupts this all and Aang falls out of this concentration in the worst way possible. Without tackling all seven chakras at once and opening them, Guru Pathik warns that Aang will be entirely unable to enter the Avatar state at all.
And Aang, following his heart, chooses to ignore this. goddamn it.
THIS IS SUCH A DIFFICULT CALL TO MAKE. I can’t even imagine what I would do in a similar situation and I can’t judge Aang either way. All I know is that while pursuing Katara is probably not practical at all, it sure is one gorgeous act of nobility. And I don’t mean that as if Katara is some damsel in distress, desperately needing Aang’s help. I just mean that Aang has chosen to follow what his heart is telling him is right and he’s doing it at a great sacrifice to himself.
The first of two convergences happens here at the end of the first part, as Toph learns to finally bend metal (!!!!!!!!!) to escape her captors; Aang picks up Sokka, whose father looks on with respect towards a son off to help the Avatar; and the unbelievable coincidence that is Katara walking in on Iroh’s tea shop and being COMPLETELY TRICKED BY THE DANGEROUS LADIES. The set-up occurs and it could not be more heartbreaking: Iroh and Zuko, believing that destiny has given them a final push towards the happiness they want, walk directly into Azula’s trap.
Christ. They just found happiness, and Azula has arrived to take it away from them. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
As the story transitions fully into “The Crossroads of Destiny,” I’m reminded of a comment I read (that I now cannot find, so speak up if it was you!) where a wonderful member of this community compared this finale to The Empire Strikes Back. (FYI, I do not consider that a spoiler, so don’t feel bad!) It’s now apparent that each “Book” in this show is part of a trilogy, and how season two ends is such a perfect (if unbelievably upsetting) analogy to the Star Wars trilogy that I almost feel like this is just one giant reference to that spectacular film. We’ve seen the growth of nearly every main and supporting character over the previous eighteen episodes, and the conclusion for this chapter of the story is necessary as much as it is heartbreaking.
There are three stars of this second half of the story, and each one’s journey is so satisfying to experience. Immediately, it’s clear that Uncle Iroh’s time to reveal his true intentions have arrived, and that starts when we learn why he earned the name “Dragon of the West.” I mean…..Iroh is the greatest badass ever. Even in a moment of defensive fury, he still seems to be in control of his emotions. But it’s crystal clear now more than ever: Iroh stands in complete defiance of the Fire Nation. He has let go of his kingdom to pursue what he believes is right and what will bring his spirit happiness.
Unfortunately, Zuko’s metamorphosis is tested with the arrival of Azula, and I suppose that I should have known right from the beginning what Zuko would ultimately do by the episode’s end. In a way, even his new temperament would allow him to fight Azula, but at the same time, he is unable to put aside his own pride and escape with his uncle, choosing to face her in an Agni Kai. WHICH SHE DENIES HIM. HOLY SHIT she is so fierce and I am so conflicted.
But as I said before, this first focus is on Iroh. In perhaps my favorite scene of all of season two, when Team Avatar return to their apartment and discover that Katara and Momo are not there, there’s a knock on the door. Ready in the defensive position, they expect the worst. Except Toph says she knows who this is, and she opens the door to see Uncle Iroh standing before them, and my longstanding wish for Iroh to join Team Avatar in any capacity comes true and EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURTS. I don’t even know if I have words for the rush of excitement that I felt as I watched him ask Team Avatar to join up with him to rescue Katara and Zuko. Naturally, there’s a whole lot of resistance from Aang and Sokka. And that’s for a good reason! I don’t think it’s at all irrational for them to react with caution and anger at the concept. Well, aside from my desire for them to be a big happy family of rainbow benders, but I’m not writing this show so what do i know
It’s at this point that the writers rather brilliantly contrast two opposing sides forced to communicate with one another. As Team Avatar heads to the Crystal Catacombs to rescue their family/friends, we learn that Zuko has been thrown in the exact same chamber as Katara. I’ll just get this out of the way first: I can see why Zutara is a thing now. The moments are few and far between, but knowing the ship wars that existed in this fandom, the entire conversation between these two characters made me understand why that dynamic was so appealing. At the very least, it’s probably the most fascinating interaction in the entire finale: Katara angrily lashes out at Zuko for his past actions, which have caused her and her friends such inherent pain and trauma, and Zuko, still unsure what he wants from life, simply accepts it all instead of fighting her. The “old” Zuko would have been cold and non-receptive towards Katara, and as she breaks down when she reveals that Zuko’s nation took away her mother, Zuko breaks down a little himself and tells her that now they both have something in common.
It’s a genuinely touching and emotive scene, and as both characters let down their guard when they realize that this situation is not what they expected, I was surprised (in a good way) to watch Katara suggest that she try to heal Zuko’s scar. Here, right before us, is the first manifestation of trust between Katara and Zuko, and it is one hell of a remarkable scene. For Zuko, his scar is a reminder of the pain of his “destiny,” and here’s a girl he has fought for months willing to take it away from him.
I’m touched. I swear.
At the same time, I was giddy with joy to see Iroh and Aang venturing together to rescue these other two, and the conversation they have is just as gripping and insightful. I’ve never truly believed Iroh wanted to capture Aang; his growing resentment with the Fire Nation has been foreshadowed since season one. The confirmation of his allegiance in this scene is just….god IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY. Uncle Iroh is giving advice to Aang and telling him it is wise to follow his heart.
No, I’m sorry, you need to read that again:
UNCLE IROH IS GIVING ADVICE TO AANG AND TELLING HIM IT IS WISE TO FOLLOW HIS HEART.
one of the greatest days of my life tbqh
But I jest when I say that, because it can’t be the greatest day of my life when the last ten minutes of this finale is what I end with. Throughout this all, we’ve seen how manipulative Azula has been to Long Feng and the Dai Li, so much so that she even convinces the Dai Li to support her over their fellow Earth Kingdom leader. This allows the set up for the spectacular and chaotic final battle of season two, perhaps the season’s best. The final convergence occurs: Katara and Zuko are rescued, Team Avatar rushes off to save Toph and Sokka, and Azula closes in on Iroh and Zuko. The dreams that Zuko had during “The Earth King” become frighteningly real as Iroh and Azula almost act as competing dragons from his hallucination, both of them trying to convince Zuko where his destiny lies. (How heartbreaking is it when Iroh begs Zuko to think about what redemption means for him?)
We don’t see the end of this choice that Zuko is faced with as the episode cuts to the unbelievable battle that takes place between Aang, Katara, and Azula. Here, we see three masters at the height of their power duking it out in a shocking display of talent and violence. Sometimes I forget just how good these folks are at bending, and since the emotional stakes are higher than ever, no one holds anything back. And yet, the odds are completely changed when Zuko arrives in a ball of fire and I sit on the edge of my chair, begging Zuko out loud not to listen to Azula AS IF HE COULD FUCKING HEAR ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME
And I’m sure you can all empathize with my sorrow as Zuko sends a blast of fire towards Aang. He has chosen to side with his father’s destiny. ZUKO WHAT ARE YOU DOING 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁
As Zuko splits off to fight Katara (WHICH HAS TO BE SO DEARLY AWKWARD HOLY GOD), the fight between Azula and Aang is not going well, and when the Dai Li shows up, Aang’s moment of choosing his own destiny arrives. Throwing up a set of crystals around him, he knows the Avatar state is the only way he can beat these people, and he emotionally lets go of Katara in a gorgeous meditation sequence. I have goosebumps now just thinking about it; we’ve not seen these specific color palates used on the show before, and I’d like to think that’s entirely intentional. The purple gives way to emerald shining energy as Aang assumes the Avatar state, mastering the seventh chakra, and he raises into the air.
AND AZULA SHOOTS HIM IN THE BACK AND I AM NOT FUCKING OK WITH THIS!!!!!
I am still in complete and utter shock. It makes me want to cry, because Aang did everything he was supposed to, and at the end of it, Azula’s penchant for violence NEGATES ALL OF IT.
someone hold me forever
It’s at this point that we are given one bleak cliffhanger, one that I cannot believe aired for children. CHILDREN SAW THIS. Children saw Iroh face off against HIS NEPHEW AND NIECE, get captured, and watch Katara nearly fail at saving Aang’s life. THIS IS SO GUT-WRENCHING TO ME I CAN HARDLY HANDLE IT!!!!!
But it goes back to that reference to The Empire Strikes Back. This is not just shit getting real. This is the writers showing us that tragedy befalls those who choose to do good, that these characters can and do get hurt when they face unbearable acts of oppressive power. This is the writers showing us that Zuko’s transformation is not a simple paint-by-numbers exercise of goodness, that this boy has been traumatized by years of neglect and pain, and that even people who are truly good at heart will make confusing decision to find their own version of peace. And even at the end of this, Zuko is still unsure if he has done what was right.
I can’t imagine a more poetic and frightening way to end season two. On the back of Appa, Team Avatar, with a badly wounded Aang and a shocked Earth King, fly over Ba Sing Se. It is a sign of their failure and a reminder that being “good” never means you always win.
“The Earth Kingdom…..has fallen.”
And our heroes….well, they’ve fallen, too.
God damn it.
THOUGHTS
- I know that I usually post a lot of extraneous thoughts and quotes that I like, but I just want to include one thing here instead of the usual. I know that I am only going to be waiting one day or so to continue on to season three (tomorrow I’ll be posting my review of “A Good Man Goes To War”), but I still feel like this is a huge, massive development for this story and was certainly something I was completely unprepared for. What I wanted to say was: Thank you. Thank you, Avatar fans, for insisting I spend the time with this show. I’m not even done with it yet, and I’m already recommending it to people that I know. You were right to assume I would love this, and I just feel like it must be said that I appreciate that this fandom is here on this site, the way they have treated me, and, most importantly, that many of its more vocal members told me months ago to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender. You have made my life better. I mean that. So: Thank you.
Or that the sea serpent makes an appearance as the class pet, with the elephant koi. I love how fast and loose they play with age, and even who's still alive. It's so gloriously nonsensical, like it's the creators simultaneously making fun of themselves and a tribute to the show.
I like how the elephant koi actaully says "Hey, that's mine!" LOLZ The true mindfuck is the ending of the episode. 😀
We're only six years away from the fortieth anniversary and I didn't want to go back and change it to thirty-four.
you are not helping
Yeah, same here.
Just tested, and I think adblock blocks them, if you're using that.
Nope, it's not adblock. Firefox 3.6.13, Windows 7, adblock disabled.
WOOPS SUDDENLY THEY ARE WORKING NOW FOR ME, do not lose hope!!!!
Seeing Aang ascend into the air, with a glance at the hope and pride in Katara's face, followed by the image of PAIN and SUFFERING on Aang's face when struck by lightning, is one of the most heartbreaking visuals ever. He sacrificed himself to do the right thing–all in vain. And the way the animators show this scene is BRILLIANT! You see the pain and suffering that Aang goes through reflected in the eyes of the sadistic Azula. The smile on her face in "killing" Aang goes to show just how murderous and vicious this girl truly is. She actually gets satisfaction in killing him.
I'm still shocked that this aired for children. Seeing Aang get killed, reflected through the eyes of a smiling Azula, is one of the greatest demonstrations of what a "sadistic" person is.
Also, how depressing is it to see not only Aang get "killed", but the spirit of the Avatar as well?
Seriously… someone hold me.
Hakoda is so handsome. Ugh, be still my heart.
There’s no doubt, though, that I can’t think of a single “children’s” show that is this complex in terms of what sort of story that is being told.
There is the DC animated universe as well as the X-Men series from the early 90s and some others out there that slip my mind atm. And then there's anime! *hint, hint*
Another gif of Toph metalbending!
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/LIntp.gif" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" />
Source
I'mma leave this gif right here.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/KQw35.gif" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" />
Source
Mark, did you notice how when Katara caught Aang, it looked like Michelangelo's Pieta? When I was 14, I was like "why does this look familiar?" -watches History channel- 'OHHH!"
This show… just awesome 😛
EPIC SEASON FINALE IS EPIC.EPIC SEASON FINALE IS EPIC.
Everyone's more or less said everything I was going to say, but I love the Empire Strikes Back analogy. It's very appropriate. Also, both are a mark of great storytelling. Powerful stories have high and low cycles — you bring the characters down, then you shoot them up. Then down further, and up higher. Over and over. The stakes keep getting higher and the emotions swing farther. The middle of a trilogy is a great place to have a big fall, because it paves the way for a HUGE climax.
This is why stories that don't feature those big falls and big rises tend to feel flat, or like the characters don't deserve the good things that happen to them. They didn't have to fall very hard. They didn't have to lose anything. The vast majority of "great" stories in our history will look like a graph with spikes and plummets, gradually getting bigger over time. Most "bad" stories look like almost-straight lines, or little dips, or constant rises.
Of course, there are exceptions. Kurt Vonnegut taught a great lesson about the variety of highs and lows in several stories. You can read it here: http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/voices-in-time/ku…
Oh I remember the outcry from this two parter like it was yesterday. Seriously, the fandom reaction to this was crazyness. The ship war between the Zutara and Katangers was at its most intense and ugly (I wisely stayed out of it). Theories abounded in the internet about Zuko and his future ranging from reasonable to ridiculous. Boy that was a long summer break…it was good for lulz though. Meanwhile I'm pretty sure the writers all just sat at their computers watching the madness and cackled evilly to themselves at our misinformed selves.
uaibguag okay so
not to be like, a broken record here or something
but i'm having a bad day and um
could you possibly
please
in the future perhaps
think twice about using the words "crazy" and "madness"
ndgkalen
confrontation omg
but yeah the fandom reactions were pretty varied, i remember?
For some reason any discussion of shipwars or fannish wankery tends to bring on the ableist insults like a gentle snow of Fire Nation soot flakes. It's why F!W and its offshoots are…………………….. not my participatory communities of choice.
okay for the record "like a gentle snow of Fire Nation soot flakes" is an amazing simile and ily for it.
also this is true. 🙁 ship wars/fan wank bring out the worst of the fandom in general.
ableism, slut-shaming, etc. it all pops up! it's like the worst "COLLECT 'EM ALL" game i've ever seen.
i've been called "crazy" enough for one day, though, and then seeing it on here… i am just unable to deal rn.
uuugh i'm sorry for all the terrible stuff you've probably read over there. Dx they are definitely not very good. i stumbled across it once or twice and promptly /ran/ (internet ran?!) out.
okay for the record "like a gentle snow of Fire Nation soot flakes" is an amazing simile and ily for it.
and this is true. 🙁 ship/fan wank brings out the worst of the fandom. ableism, slut-shaming, etc… it's like the worst "COLLECT 'EM ALL!" game i've ever seen.
i'd just been called "crazy" enough times today and then to come on here and see it i just cannot deal with it rn.
ooh, yeah, i am sorry for the things you've probably read over there. Dx i've stumbled across it once or twice and had to /run/ (internet run?!) out.
UGH SORRY FOR THE AWKWARD DOUBLE SORT OF POSTING.
i am clearly incapable of posting correctly, fail.
And then there are the groups looking down on FW for cracking down on -ism bullshit. We just can't win, can we?
Considering the default icon, I hardly think they're "cracking down" on anything.
Well, if all you look at is the userpage that almost never gets altered, maybe you'd get that impression. If you read the posts, you might get a different impression. And if you want the icon changed, maybe you should take it up with the mods, as I doubt many members even know what the icon is.
And maybe I have lurked there for years and know what I'm talking about, and maybe you can stop making assumptions about my experiences or my willingness to go out of my way to engage with demonstrated indifferents. How's that sound?
Maybe I'm a member and regular poster and don't like being inaccurately insulted by association, especially when I also see the comm where it seems that there's the least amount of tolerance for bullshit get trashed for being too sensitive. Now that that's out, want to keep badmouthing the comm and myself to my face?
Enough with the passive-aggressiveness, both of you. This is not the place to personally attack each other over another Internet community.
Yes, General, sir, moving it along.
<img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/iokdpk.png">
Ooh, i was referring more about the actual "wank" that it chronicles.
i'm not in a position to say anything about the comm from my experience since, like i've said, i've been on it only once or twice.
i should have been clearer?
As part of the Zutarian bunch… I feel hurt. I was HURT DEEPLY BY THIS EPISODE. They GAVE ME ZUTARA and they THREW IT AWAY IN FIVE MINUTES. I was ANGRY and I was crying TEARS OF ANGER the moment this ended. I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS BETRAYAL, MIKE AND BRYAN. And I was 13 years old. 13. I WAS A GODDAMN KID. AND I GOT MY. HEART. BROKEN.
Word. Those biceps…
I always wondered why they had Haru make a sheep noise. Hilarious, though it may be.
Ha, so I wasn't the only one wondering if Zuko had had a discreet session in Lake Laogai before this episode?
I mean, don't get me wrong – it warmed my heart to see Zuko seemingly content and at peace, but yikes, it was so wrong. I don't think that the attitude he shows throughout "The Guru" is a lie – I do think he meant it and felt it at the time, and that his actions at Lake Laogai were what let him access that part of himself. Zuko cleared out a chakra or two with that fever, I suspect, which is why he really was capable of appreciating the pleasure of his uncle's success. But siding with Azula, Queen of Lies, is clearly a sign he has a ways to go. He's going to have to really see that his father's love is an illusion before he can let go of his need for it.
The parallels between Sokka and Zuko are indeed illustrative – Sokka worked and worked for Hakoda's approval only to learn that he had it all along. Hakoda never withheld love to manipulate his children. Ozai, on the other hand? If he's even capable of love, he uses it as a tool, and Zuko will never get what he wants from him.
Katara and Azula – the gifted sisters – are set up as parallels and opposites, too, yet another set of dragons on Zuko's shoulders. Katara, while hot-tempered, is all about compassion and connection, and cold, cold Azula is elitist, separatist, and all about completely disregarding human emotion and the needs of others except as they serve her own ends. If Azula feels too little, Katara sometimes feels too much, which is Zuko's tendency as well. He's jealous of Azula not just because she gets Ozai's favor, but because she can put aside or ignore the roiling emotions that are his repeated downfall. (As Iroh points out, Zuko has a serious problem with thinking things through.)
But hey, if Aang the boy-monk is allowed to be spiritually imperfect, I think Zuko deserves a little slack, too. I was so mad at him when this episode happened, but it really couldn't have gone any other way – he was the hinge of the whole plot, and if he'd sided wholeheartedly with the Gaang then Azula would have lost, the attack on the Fire Nation would have gotten the kind of logistical support it needed, and…well, that just makes things too easy. 😛
Instead we're left with Ba Sing Se fallen, Iroh imprisoned, Zuko allied with the Dangerous Ladies, Aang in ill health and possibly the last Avatar, the Kyoshi Warriors MIA, and no army to attack the Fire Nation on the day of the eclipse except the relatively tiny Southern Water Tribe fleet. (Well, them and the Gaang, who count as a mini-army of their own at this point.)
But oh, oh, how EPIC was this whole story? Every possible amazing thing that could have happened, happened. Zuko made his choice! Iroh teamed up with the Gaang! Sokka reunited with Hakoda! Toph invented metalbending! Aang voluntarily got into the Avatar State! And almost got killed anyway! Azula crushed Long Feng and took over Ba Sing Se with an "army" of 3.5! Appa gave a ride to a bear! THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH EXCLAMATION POINTS IN THE WORLD FOR THIS FINALE.
Maaarrrkkk, watch hurry uuuuppppp and get to the final season alreadeeeee!
Sorry for the whiny tone, but seriously hurry up! YOU. ARE. NOT. PREPARED.
LOL, Mark, I wish you had been in fandom when this aired! The commercials were all "And there will be a SHOCKING TWIST" and fandom was like "Yeah, yeah, Zuko switches over to help Aang, how 'shocking,' whateva" and then Zuko DIDN'T SWITCH SIDES and the fandom exploded pretty much. It was kind of glorious.
Though the "shocking twist" might have been the whole AZULA SHOOTING AANG UP WITH LIGHTNING thing. At least, that's what killed me when it aired. Because damn.
…I have nothing smart to say. Just that you're so unprepared.
Sorry if somebody already posted this, but there's a great video on YouTube that gives a wonderful and simple explination for Zuko's actions at the end of this season. Don't worry, there are no spoilers in the video, but you should probably beware of the comments. Here goes my first attempt at a link:
<link src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHmE1ZWLxv0">
Take two:
<url src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHmE1ZWLxv0">
It's a href.
What is a 'href'? I'm not very computer savvy.
The code is (a href="http://yourURLhere.com")link text(/a), except with angled brackets instead of parentheses.
Thanks!
It should probably be pointed out that you don't need to use the code if you're just using a raw link rather than text linking. This website does that, at least, automatically.
<img src="http://files.myopera.com/Smooth%20Chef%20D/albums/114099/Homer%20D%27OH.gif">
Oh finale. On the second season cover for Netflix I assumed that Zuko was going to join Team Avatar in the beginning and was disappointed when it didn’t happen.
I watched too much sadness today with this episode and also with Naruto which I’ve started watching OT but oh my goodness: Gaara!
I actually cried in that Gaara back-story–I started watching Naruto online (English sub only! The dub is like the nails-grating-against-the-chalkboard) before I started reading the manga. Kinda miss the old-school Naruto now and the focus on Team 7.
Oh my gosh, Gaara breaks ALL MY HEARTS, his sad baby panda face kills me. ;o; I LOVE THAT SERIES, it has made me feel bad for basically EVERYONE, even if that sadness only lasted about two panels in some cases. Kishimoto is a master at making me cry.
… I totally want to make Mark read Naruto but I'm not sure how well that would work out at a chapter a day. D:
Watching the series, it's so easy to forget that KATARA AND AZULA ARE THE SAME. AGE.
Btw, would it be considered a spoiler to state ages for various characters? When I first viewed this I wanted to know all the ages and it's the same for every thing else I'm really into (HP for example). I would gladly just compile a list of ages of characters (lists! I love making lists) for those who want to know, but don't want to look it up in fear of encountering spoilers.
(a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHmE1ZWLxv0")A Simple Explanation – Why Zuko Made That Choice In the Season Finale(/a)
You're welcome. xD
Pffffffffffffffffff, fail.
A Simple Explanation – Why Zuko Made That Choice In the Season Finale
Thanks! I can't seem to figure out how to link.
OH man, OH MAN.
I loved watching this two-parter. The chakra explanations were poetic and wonderful, and my sisters and I were shrieking at Zuko fighting against Aang. Then we shrieked some more when Aang got shot.
IT IS GLORIOUS
These two episodes are like:
<img src="http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd494/Jaxx_zombie/tumblr_lgb85h6GXG1qzoidjo1_500.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
<img src="http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd494/Jaxx_zombie/orig-10091071jpg.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
<img src="http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd494/Jaxx_zombie/n5rfbp.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
….
I rest my case.
I what—what–whyyy oh god that last gif
this episode made me go AWWW and OMG AIEUBUGABG and also WHAT THE FUCK AHHH and have ALL OF THE FEELINGS.
i remember watching it with my brother when it premiered, we were extremely freaked out (IN A GOOD WAY OFC)
as a huge lost fan even at that time i was used to WOAH INTENSE OMG WTF finales, but never on a cartoon that i'd seen!! so this was an amazing experience for me, truly, and watching it again now makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside <3 AND ALSO LIKE I WANT TO CRY
On the use of the Oasis water, I still wonder why Katara didn't use it so save Jet.
I know they were all in a rush, but, MAN!!! (Still sad that Jet died…all the tears…)
I've been dying to see this review since you started watching Avatar. I cannot express how happy I am that you chose this show. I'll never be able to watch it for the first time again, but seeing the reactions of a like-minded first-timer is the next best thing. So thank YOU.
True, but Aang wouldn't even let him explain. It's hard to explain something to someone who wouldn't listen. And to be honest, Aang didn't seem like listening (REALLY listening) at that point…
He's twelve…
Well, he has a supportive uncle… Which is not, of course, the same thing, but still, it's SOME help at least…
Damn, I knew I forgot something yesterday… I really love this pic by Isaia – Long Feng's backstory:
<img src="http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs18/f/2007/146/d/8/Art_Trade_for_Booter_freak_by_Isaia.jpg">
Source
OMG, WIDDLE BOSCO! <3 <3 <3
Isaia is the best.
oh that is fantastic. so much tragic potential
i want to know everything that's EVER happened in the avatar universe
dat first panel – long feng, stop making me feel bad for you!
I read that in the voice of Dumbledore from AVPM.
Mark, as a HUGE fan of your writing and an even HUGER fan of Avatar, I have been waiting for this chapter. I love reading your reviews, as it's the closest I can ever get to experiencing again those emotions I felt when I watched it the first time. Zuko's betrayal, Aang's defeat – there are so many amazing moments in Crossroads, and even the ones that BREAK YOUR HEART are worth it to make you realize that you feel so strongly about a Nickelodeon animated series! I love this show, I love how it sucks you in, makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you care.
…And I can't WAIT for you to experience Book Three. Oh Mark, you are not prepared.
I remember when I first watched the finale, I was actually a little disappointed when Aang was able to activate the Avatar state because, well, the battle was nice while it lasted, but now that Aang just activated his automatic win card, there's really noHOLY FUCKING HELL!!! WHAT THE SHIT AZULA!! You can't just attack people in the middle of their "power up" sequence! Haven't you seen DragonBall Z, that's against the rules!
So yeah, if she hadn't been by now, this pretty much solidified Azula as my favorite villain of all time.
I remember when these episodes came on. I was, I believe, 7 or 8. I loved this show, but after the cliffhanger, the show went into a hiatus. The hiatus lasted about a year.
It was painful.
It's so much more than shit getting real, Mark, because the Holy Shit Quotient goes through the roof with this finale. SO AMAZING.
-Toph learns to Metalbend. Iroh, The Dragon of the West, fucking BREATHES FIRE. Everyone's a BAMF. The ending battles are amazing!!!! <3
-The beautiful purple coloring of Aang dealing with the last chakra. Gorgeous.
-Zutara/Kazuko dynamic. This is when I saw that Katara and Zuko really could get along with each other, and even help each other to grow in a positive direction. If I couldn't have Zutara, then Kazuko friendship forever!
-Zuko's character development. I was so disappointed when he betrayed his uncle, but then I realized just how much more complex Zuko was as a character and I admit I was quite excited (but still sad, because it's Iroh for God's sake!)
-Azula is so good at being bad. She is the most manipulative, conniving, magnificently evil villain to appear in animated form. Transformation is not a free action! Azula is dangerously genre savvy, and we love/hate her for it.
-I HAD TO WAIT NINE MONTHS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. The ultimate cliffhanger.
Mark, you are not prepared for Season 3. NOT PREPARED.
Oh, portmanteau couple names. Some of them are great, some not so much, but they're better than the "Team Insert Name Here".
I'm not sure about the Kazuko practice, as it's something I adopted several years ago from my times at AvatarSpirit.Net. I happen to think of Katara's and Zukos' friendship as Kazuko because it's easier to type than friendship!Zutara and it seperates itself from the romantically inclined ideas of Zutara. Something as special as Katara and Zuko's platonic bond deserves its own name, IMO.
I love these episodes. The Iroh/Aang bonding, Toph metal-bending, Aang going through the Chakras and proclaiming how he feels about Katara (just love it). The ending where he gets shot in the back reduces me to tears even years later. The Gaang flying off to who knows where, broken.
Just too many things to list.
Avatar makes everyone's life better, Mark. 🙂 I'm glad you love this show so much.
Also, Toph is a badass.
More like:
HALF THE GUEST CAST
VOICED BY STAR TREK ACTORS
UGH I MISS WITCH, and was quite irate they didn't play the second season much on US TV.
The pop-up extras, IIRC, also included a lot of blatantly false factoids, which many people took to mean that it was strictly a trolling-for-the-lulz trivia set. Also IIRC, the creators were baffled by Zutara when they first heard about it, though they warmed up to it enough to throw in teases as the show went on. Still, they say that they were Kataang shippers from the beginning in the commentary to the pilot episode.
It wasn't the writers strike I think it was just Nickelodeon jerking kids around. Happens alot with cartoons I think, JLA and JLU suffered from it too, You'd get ages of no episodes and then they'd put them on again and blow through them in a couple weeks.
This is my rendition of the ending: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzwFYESRjak
a further parallel to empire strikes back, is Aang having a premonition of his friends in trouble, and then leaving his training earlier than he should have, is similar to Luke having a premonition of his friends in trouble when training with Yoda and leaving early also.
oh my god how did kids watch this and then not cry themselves to sleep for months straight
When this aired, I was 11 years old, right in their target age for the audience. I didn't cry the night of the finale. I cried AFTER, once I realized Nick was going to screw with me for the next freaking 9 months and make me wait to see if Aang really did die in the Avatar state, thus ending the cycle, and if Iroh was going to be FREAKING OKAY: LOOK, HE'S GOING TO BE IN A PRISON UNDER AZULA'S ORDERS, THAT CAN'T BE GOOD.
Talk about traumatizing. These nine months of waiting were when I first went online and discovered what "fandom" truly was.
That being said, this two-part finale was probably one of the greatest episodes of both the series and cartoons in general to me. Not just for the amazing battle sequence in the cave, but for the fact that all of the characters grew in some way. As a little kid, I wasn't expecting the Zuko hate after this aired. Everything you ever wanted? I would pick that too, especially when your sister is convincing you with her scary voice.
This is my first comment, but it just makes me happy to see these reviews, Mark. As a child (and even now), this was by far my favorite series, both for its beautiful animation and its outstanding story. It's nice to see someone truly appreciate it years after it finished its run on TV.
Mark, you should watch the trailer for the 3rd season. If that goes against your spoiler policy (and it probably does), just listen to music. I'm pretty sure you can find just the music clip on youtube. It is seriously amazing
Mark:
I was just wondering if you knew about any of the supplementary comics that Nickelodeon produced for Avatar. Three in particular come to mind: “The Bridge,” “It’s On;y Natural,” and “Going Home Again,” which tell some stories about what happens in the time between the season 2 finale and the season 3 premier and fills in some gaps nicely. I’m pretty sure you could find some of them just by a simple Google search, and I think a lot of them are being re-released by Dark Horse soon.
Ahem, I meant to say “It’s Only Natural” lol. Typo!
Okay now that you've seen this, I want you yo think for a minute. Bear with me, this has no spoilers because it is an imagination exercise. :Bb
Imagine that instead of watching this amazing two parter now, you watched it the night it premiered several years ago on Nick.
Now imagine not having the ability to see what happens next for MONTHS, if not OVER A YEAR.
Why yes, it was pure hell in the AtLA fandom, thanks for asking!
I JUST
ALKJSFHLDSKJFHSDLFKHDS IT STILL MAKES ME FLAIL THINKING ABOUT IT, HOLY CRAP.
Anyway, as a huge Zuko fan then as I am now, I can say I was utterly FLOORED by his choice in the catacombs under Ba Sing Se. I'd say more on that, especially my feelings looking back, but I'll refrain until you finish the entire show as I have too damn many spoilery thoughts rolling through my head right now. DX MY BRAIN HAS TOO MANY CONNECTIONS WITH LATER EPS, FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU- At least we're getting closer to the end? alskjfhdslfkhdsflkasjdfhldkagjh
Though tbh, I will always love these two eps in particular. I will always adore the whole process of going through the chakras in The Guru (STILL FLOORED THERE WASN'T ANY MAJOR CHRISTIAN GROUP ATTACKING ATLA AFTER THAT, NEGL) and Zuko and Katara's scene where they finally, truly connected, even if only for a little bit, is very memorable for me because I knew I shipped them beyond "ooh, they look good together!" at that point (lol, I ship for so many shallow reasons sometimes |D; /brick'd).
And the FIGHTS, OH MY LAWD THE FIGHTS. IROH VS THE DAI LEE WHEN HE SHOWED WHY HE'S CALLED "THE DRAGON OF THE WEST", KATARA VS ZUKO, AANG VS AZULA, TOPH METALBENDING AND PROVING SHE'S THE BEST EARTHBENDER, IT WAS ALL SO BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT~ (well, except for my heart at the end, but you know what I mean x3).
Why yes, the bar was/is set v high for Season 3. Does it meet expectations? I'll let you be the judge. C: *sits in the corner and eagerly waits for more*
Aang, Power Floats is not a good idea all of the time.
Completely amazing finale and season; definitely the episode to convince skeptics of this show!
Zuko's development of his personality and who he is up to now is just so compelling. I appreciate your little auto-biographical connections in your previous entries ("The Storm" / "Zuko Alone" …?). Kinda makes you forget that these characters are twelve to fifteen years old!
And noticed how smooth the animation has gotten this latter season than previous episodes? Absolutely gorgeous.
On a final note, here are two images to compare and think about in regards to an interesting symbol. Sorry, if it comes off as too blatant.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/37935203/ep13-254.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/37935203/ep39-944.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
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