In the fifth episode of the third season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Zuko, Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai are sent on a forced vacation to Ember Island. In an effort to gives us backstory on these Fire Nation characters, the writers…I don’t even know. What the hell did I just watch? Oh, and FIREBENDING WITH YOUR MIND. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Avatar.
I am confused, and for all of the wrong reasons.
I don’t hate “The Beach.” Even when I strongly dislike something (Sherlock’s “The Blind Banker” is a great example), I can still make an attempt to find things to enjoy. And they are here, for sure! We’ve needed an episode about the Dangerous Ladies and Zuko; I’ve wanted more backstory on Mai and Ty Lee since they were introduced; I’ve wanted to see an episode that focuses on the group dynamic and the way they interact with each other now that Zuko is around. This episode gives me all of this, and I’ll still appreciate that.
At the same time….WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING. Writers, this might be one of the most awkward twenty-four minutes of my life and I’ve watched nearly every movie by Todd Solondz.
Ok. SO. I am glad that we got further stories on Mai and Ty Lee and that their backstories helped develop them further as characters, Ty Lee in particular. Thankfully, these stories don’t feel patronizing, and the method of their revelation is neat as well. It’s moments of anger and frustration that bring forth the understanding between these people. It’s about how they feel the need to define the past in their own terms, instead of whatever assumption people have about them. At the same time, it allows Zuko, Mai, and Ty Lee to begin to feel that they get why each of them has such distinct personalities and what came to shape them that way. In a way, it’s almost the (barely there) message of the episode: If you take the time to get to know those close to you, you won’t lash out at them as the characters do here.
Azula. I….I just don’t even know what to say about her anymore. Throughout “The Beach,” we get brief, fleeting moments of something hidden deep down inside of her, but her desire to be THE WORST HUMAN EVER ALIVE takes precedent over everything else. Must you manipulate and exploit everything, Azula? IT’S A GAME OF VOLLEYBALL. IT’S A PARTY. IT IS NOT A WAR CAMPAIGN. But at the very least, it’s within her character, and I respect that. Azula has no other way of relating to the world, so it makes sense that she would even translate that over to the way she deals with boys. THIS IS GOOD WRITING. I ENJOYED THIS.
but
but
but
BUT
(you knew it was coming)
what the hell is going on
I am trying to understand this, and perhaps I missed something, or maybe Netflix edited out a scene. Maybe I just don’t get it. But WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FINAL SCENE. What?!?!?!?! WHY. WHY WOULD YOU WRITE THAT. WHAT DOES IT EVEN MEAN??? I tried to look at it as like….a moment of celebration? Like, “YAY WE ARE ALL FRIENDS NOW,” but why are you destroying that young man’s house in the process????? Even worse, why on EARTH would Ty Lee, Mai, or Zuko ever get involved with such a thing? This act was so uniquely Azula-ish, and it makes no sense at all that the other three would help destroy a house and make someone else cry with despair.
I refuse to devote more than a thousand words on this. Few story line twists have ever left me feeling so confused and unsatisfied. I DON’T GET IT.
****************************************************
I almost wish that, instead, we’d been given more time with Team Avatar, because if there’s one thing “The Beach” does absolutely right, it’s the full introduction of Head Fire Man. I have no idea what his real/fandom name is, so for now, I’m sticking with this. When we first saw the man with the eye tattooed on his forehead, I assumed that it was a mere aesthetic addition to make him look more intimidating. Instead, we learn that Team Avatar is most certainly facing an enemy more difficult than any in the past:
HE CAN BEND FIRE WITH THOUGHT. WITH THOUGHT ALONE.
It must be stated that the sound work done to create the effect when Head Fire Man sends a blast of fire is half of why it is so creepy and horrifying. It’s this delayed crack of power, suggesting that the fire travels faster than the speed of sound. This antagonist exhibits no emotion aside from wrinkle-faced anger. (Seriously, dude, you’re gonna have those creases etched into your face forever if you don’t change your expression.)Â But even worse than all of this (and it’s already pretty bad), the team discovers they cannot stop any of the attacks this man sends their way. No water bending or earth bending helps. This man has more power than any of them. And what’s left for them to do? They run away on the back of Appa, shaken and jarred by the experience. Rightly so, Katara has a feeling this assassin knows exactly who they are.
THOUGHTS
- Sorry this is dramatically shorter than usual. It’s not because of time constraints or lack of energy. I had plenty of time to write this, but I simply don’t have anything to say. I’d rather be honest and succinct than to find some artificial way to expand a review to twice its current size.
- I will say that I also liked Azula admitting she was jealous of Ty Lee. Finally she expresses some sort of doubt. Too bad it ultimately doesn’t seem to matter.
- For a brief moment, I thought this episode would turn into a Zuko-centric story: His scenes in the old vacation house are probably the best moments of that story line. Part of the reason, besides the writing, were how quiet they were. This episode had a great deal of loud dialogue and I appreciated the silent moments here.
- Why did Azula invite Zuko to the fire? I have a feeling she just wanted to gather more information on him to exploit at a later day.
- It was expected that Zuko would ultimately say that he was angry at himself, but the scene was still done really well.
- Nice parallel between Azula trying to tell a joke and Katara trying to tell a joke.
- Few things are more awkward than Azula trying to hit on a guy. Wow.
- “I heard you telling someone that you’d be partying from dusk ’til dawn. It’s dusk, so we’re here.” “But that’s just an expression.” Chan sounds so DEJECTED when he says this.
- why were there doves. what the hell.
- You know, I think I know why the ending bothered me so much: There are four members of the Fire Nation gang and it feels like this episode was meant as a parallel to Team Avatar, a chance to get to know these characters in a deeper way. We do get to experience this, but I just refuse to believe these characters can be reduced to such violent caricatures as they are here. They have to be more than that, or else what was the whole point of this story?
I LOVE the Beach! It was so refreshing seeing Zuko, Azula, Ty Lee and Mai in a situation without being in combat or in the palace. How do Ozai's Angels interact when there's nothing to hunt down or to conquer? And most of all: How does Zuko blend in with his invironment after being in exile for so long. He now has what he wanted for three years. He's back home, he has the acknowledgement of his father and on top of that he now has a girlfriend. Is he happy now? No he certainly isn't. And that's what this episode was about. Everytime he lashes out at somebody – even at Mai – is just his built up tension and frustration because he doesn't know why he isn't more relaxed and happy, now that he achieved his goal. Furthermore we see that Mai seems to further distances herself from Azula the closer she gets to Zuko.
But most of all this Episode was great because it poked fun at itself and a lot of movie and even Anime-clichés. The John Woo-doves paired with Zuko's bishonen pose was brilliant. As was the volleyball game.
Is just me or do Zuko and Azula have great combo-attacks despite their bad relationship?
And the four of them burning down the house? Ah come on. That HAD to happen after all the BS those newly rich fire nation brats gave Azula of all people. And Zuko himself has proven himself to be easily angered when it comes to his pride. Ty Lee always does what Azula tells her and does seem somewhat indifferent to "good" and "evil" as long as it is fun. Same goes for Mai who mostly goes along with the gang because she's bored.
And I wouldn't read too much into that scene either. Not everything in this show has to have a deeper meaning. The Fire nation Teenagers were designed to be instantly unlikable characters and I guess most audience members weren't at all sad when the fiery quartett got it's revenge on them (however misproportioned it may be).
Is just me or do Zuko and Azula have great combo-attacks despite their bad relationship?
They do! It's one of my favourite little blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments.
I hope you enjoyed this albeit confusing moment of relaxation, because you are about to lose your effing mind. i expect CAPSLOCK galore from now on.
I JUST finished rewatching this episode before I came to read your review, and you know…I remember that when this episode first came out, I really liked it. But re-watching it just now, I was like, "…wait, why did I enjoy this, again?" Because I didn't like it hardly at all. Maybe it's just because the first time, I was so stoked about finding out more about Mai and Ty Lee and the Fire Head Man (or whatever we're calling him) that I was willing to overlook the flaws? I honestly don't know. Hmm.
I do like this episode but mostly for the flashbacks and awkward!Azula. Seriously she's so confident in other things but when she tries to act like a real person she fails. I kind of like that.
Am I the only one who wonders why they have no idea who Zuko is? I mean, his scar is pretty identifying.
Well that whole episode was just lolariously awkward wasn't it?
I really…don't know what to say about that.
LOL Great trope reference! 🙂
Man, what is with IntenseDebate today? I keep seeing comment threads at the top of Last Activity which don't have any recently timestamped replies? And threads with "x replies" that actually have x – y replies when expanded, where x >= y and both are natural numbers.
I've had that problem here for a few days. I thought it was just me!
The doves were supposed to be a shout out to John Woo, he loves to use doves in his movies.
I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this, but in "The Awakening" one of the Fire Nation naval officers whispers to his captain that Admiral Chan has been on leave on Ember Island, and that's what gives away that Hakoda and his crew are imposters. So now we meet his son! I love little things like that.
I know… ATLA is full of stuff like that! When you rewatch, you realise not a word was wasted.
Maybe I’m alone in this but this was one of my favorite episodes besides…well, we aren’t there yet 😉 I haven’t rewatched this one, but one of the lines I liked best was Azula saying
“My mother thought I was a monster-” a beat. “It hurt of course, but it was true.”
I might not be getting it word for word but that was the gist. And Azula tearing Mai down (from what I remember) about how everything was fine as long as she did /exactly/ as she was told.
So yeah. It didn’t make me think Azula is *nice* or anything. But it gave a slight hint at another side. Maybe she secretly wants her mother’s approval? Hmm.
I’m itching for the next episode already. Monday will be too long 🙁
She said, "She was right, of course, but it still hurt."
Right?
I am obsessed with reading these reviews and ALL the comments 🙂
"Even worse, why on EARTH would Ty Lee, Mai, or Zuko ever get involved with such a thing? This act was so uniquely Azula-ish, and it makes no sense at all that the other three would help destroy a house and make someone else cry with despair."
Right, defying Azula would have been soooo smart.
And I can DEFINATELY see Zuko get involved with this; he's burned down whole VILLAGES in the past.
I absolutely love this episode for its unflinching honesty in showing us how awkward and messed up these characters are, and how they got that way. The creators didn't pull a single punch, and I revere them for that.
In the previous episodes of Season 3 we have seen how the War Effort has messed up the children (Headband), the villages (The Painted Lady), the effort to pass down traditional Fire Nation culture (Sokka's Master), now we get to see how Ozai's actions have messed up the Royal children as well.
And messed up they are. But we also get to see that underneath all their problems three of the four of them would straighten up without Queen Bee Azula's influence. But as long as they are around Azula they can't improve. She's too controlling. The only reason she set up the bonfire scene was to get more blackmail material.
And the ending was just Azula cementing her leadership. After all that emotional honesty they might have matured a bit if she hadn't done something to pull them back under her influence.
Why? What's currently going on? The war is basically won, there isn't much to do for them. Team Avatar on the other hand has basically to wait for the Day of Black Sun.
Even though I don't like The Beach at all, I still give it up to the writers for taking a risk and making this "strange" episode.
A lot of this episode was homages to movies, like the ending bit there was Weird Science, if I'm not mistaken. And the doves were a jab at blatant fanservice, note that there were screaming girls like right afterwards.
I honestly like this episode, if for no other reason than it shows how incredibly broken Azula is as a person. She's spent so much time becoming a cold hard killer that, even when she wants to, she just cant function in the normal world. That said, I don't think she invited Zuko to the fire out of spite and assumed she'd learn something about him, she doesn't respect him enough to value his secrets. Chances are she assumes she already knows them. I think it was a rare sympathetic gesture brought on by their shared past in that place.
I like this episode despite the crippling awkwardness. It does serve to develop Azula’s character further. She’s been molded by her father to be this perfect little militant princess which has had the unfortunate side effect of giving her no clue as to how to properly socialise. All she knows is coercion & fear mongering, which isn’t the best way to win new friends. I kinda like that the show highlights this.
As for the ending, if Azula tells you that she wants to burn the the house of the guy who turned her down, are you really going to argue with her? Azula always gets her way & I think her friends have learnt to just roll with it. It’s either that or put up with an angry, spoilt fire bending prodigy that doesn’t know how to socialise outside of her wartime activites. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather stay on her good side even if that does mean a little wanton vandalism.
Totally.
One of the main things are the campfire situation. We get a bit of exposition on their past, but really, couldn't we have gotten actual short flashbacks for the dangerous ladies? I mean, Zuko got a few shots.
It certainly would've beat the nonsensical destruction of Chan's house.
Though the images of Azula and Zuko playing happily gives me so much Aangst. Why, Ozai? Why? We now know he has successively worked their sibling friendship apart- even at the time of the Zuko Alone flashback, Azula and Zuko can still clearly enjoy playing with eachother- even if Azula has started down the dark road.
It could have been salvaged. Urrrrsaaaa!
Ugh. Stupid Ozai.
As a parent, one of the best things to see is the way my kids interact and the way the love each other. (Even if that means they gang up against me sometimes XD!) Long after I'm gone, I hope that they will still have each other and be close. It's always so fucked up to me when parents (intentionally or not) pit siblings against each other – through comparisons, manipulations, favoritism, etc. I wouldn't put it past Ozai though to have deliberately driven that wedge between Azula and Zuko. It makes it even sadder that Ursa wasn't there. (Though honestly, I doubt she had much pull with Ozai or any power to actually change things – which actually brings up a huge other point here of Ozai as a total domestic abuser – as if there wasn't enough reason to hate him already….)
/rant
How does no one recognize the Prince and Princess? Well, Zuko's been away for years, and Azula mainly fights overseas or traipses around in palanquins… so if you weren't a really important member of court, you wouldn't have seen them around.
I think this is a good sign that all the beach party kids aren't as "upper class" as they think they are…
^Late to the party again, so most of what I wanted to say has been said. (I'm in the loved The Beach camp.)
BUT…has no one brought up the part of the fireside drama where Ty Lee (to Zuko) says, "I know you…" with such conviction? I mean, what the hell is that supposed to mean? I DEMAND backstory!!
[Also, if I'm not mistaken, that one line set sail the TyLuko ship…]
personally the most heart hurting image is mhxb pelvat va gur svanyr
I like this episode. No, I take that back. I -love- this episode. And love is about knowing limitations and flaws and continuing to love in spite of these, yes? (Else my copies of Chicken Soup for the Whatever Soul have been lying ) So I'll admit that the "Let's all take turns spilling our guts in totally non-awkward ways, yeah!" scene around the bonfire on the beach is my not favorite handling of the writing but everything else on this episode was just so awesome for me. I love that Azula's ferocity knows no bounds and she cannot comprehend a situation where the fun is supposed to come from just competing as opposed to defeating your opponent. I love that the awkward aspects of Zuko and Mai's relationship see a little bit of an address here.
I think it was no small secret that I was no big fan of Mai since she was first introduced and thus was promptly horrified when they paired her with my ultimate Avatar fan-love but this episode went at least a little ways towards taking a little steam out of my thunder. I knew they would have to get around to it, how else could they expect me to believe that such a simmering pot like Zuko (who is tormented with every move by reminders of the past and simultaneously his inability to predict/plan for the future) could ever possibly mesh well with someone who represents the exact opposite of that? Yes, opposites attract and all that but sometimes attraction does not necessarily mean "the exact complement of each other". So I was glad to see that. And also, I too like Azula's admittance to Ty Lee that she was jealous. Azula's a fantastic villian and part of that is because she's so goddamn smart .
And because she's that smart, she's bound to notice a discrepancy in the rates between which Ty Lee scores the hot man-flesh and which she scores. I would have lost a lot of respect for Azula if the writers wrote in an implication at this juncture that Azula is delusional. She's terribly emotionally stunted but she couldn't have presented the threat she's been portrayed as thus far if she weren't at the very least observant. Which leads her to wondering, just how is it that Ty Lee continues to rake in the boys and she, of all tactical greatness, can't plot to accomplish this one simple thing. Which, in turn, gives a greater perspective on just how fucked up she really is.
She thinks romance is something you can defeat, something you can strategize for and she has no sense of any emotions further developed than those basic primal ones we all are equipped with at birth – anger, jealousy, desire, ambition. Basically what I'm driving at is that, outside of the world of tactics and military, Azula's all brain stem and no frontal lobe. No higher functions, none of those abilities that take us away from being homo sapiens sapiens (of the hunting and grunting) and makes us into Mankind (of the art and philosophy and music and humanity)
I know! I feel kind of bad now that everyone's pointing out how terrible it was, but I was totally cheering for the destruction! It didn't even occur to me that any of them would even need to be manipulated/convinced by Azula into doing it — but of course, I feel that people who have no problem invading cities wouldn't have moral compunctions against revenge.
Is it a blind spot? We don't see her assessing her father as loving or kind or good.
Nanny Ogg: Gurl got game.
I like that in Discworld, when Pratchett makes jokes about Nanny Ogg's sexuality, it's not because she's old, but because she's worse than any stereotypical teenage boy EVER. SOMETIMES THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE, WOMAN.
Yeah, see, THAT'S a way to make jokes about an older lady with a sex drive WITHOUT being offensive. Nanny Ogg is awesome.
It occurs to me that Azula probably wouldn't feel out of place in a Michael Bay movie. Or a Mythbusters episode. Come to think of it, I'd love to see an A:tLA equivalent of Mythbusters. That'd basically be the coolest thing ever.
I love this episode specifically because it is so ridiculously awkward. It shows us that even though they are the "bad guys" and even though they are fighting a war and have super awesome abilities, they are still just stupid teenagers in the end. It's hilarious and fantastic to me. Also character development.
Awesome! Thanks for the guidance. 🙂
I'm suprised you didn't like this episode! The house they destroyed was the house of the party they were just at, and they did it because the party made them all feel like shit and they needed somewhere to take out their anger! 😛
8. Eh. Sokka gave Aang bad relationship advice back in the day. I thought it was funny how Aang went out of his way to be around Katara only to be like "oh… didn't see you there."
Actually now that I think of it, there are a lot of "person trying to modify their personality in order to win over the object of their affection" stories. And it never works out. They always make an ass out of themselves when they try to be someone other than themselves. So there.
Sounds like someone's having sister issues with this episode. 🙁
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lol@ "U MAD, ZUKO?" I think if I knew Zuko I would just say that to him all the time.
I think the awkwardness of this episode is the point! And what makes it fun to watch. Azula especially is not used to acting like a normal teenager, someone who's NOT Princess of the Fire Nation. It's kind of glorious.
Also, I guess the island brings out your ~true feelings~ or something? Or makes you act like an asshole to everyone. IDEK.
Random thoughts while watching:
ZUKO'S EMO HAIR IS EMO
Lo and Li kinda creep me out. The way they talk like one person. (Not the "ha ha, sexual old ladies" stuff. Whatever to that shit.)
How did Toph even know Aang was exposing his tattoo? What?
Haha, great Aang, just JUMP DOWN A TUNNEL without knowing where it ends up.
AZULA Y U DESTROY SAND CASTLES AND HAPPINESS.
"Don't girls like stuff like this?" OH ZUKO
When Azula plays beach volleyball, SHE PLAYS TO WIN
AHAHAH ZUKO ANGST SHOT WITH FANGIRLS BEST SHOT EVER
I'm pretty sure that standing on the net is cheating, Ty Lee.
"TOGETHER WE WILL DOMINATE THE EARTH!!!!"
"Hey watch it! That food was for my cranky girlfriend!"
ZUKO'S EMO BONFIRE IS EMO
When Azula party-crashes, SHE PARTY-CRASHES TO WIN
So… yeah. I love a lot of things about this episode. Especially on the rewatch. I think the first time I watched it, I was nearly as baffled as you, Mark. But I think we get a lot of good character moments here, and a lot of HILARIOUS character moments as well. I enjoy it more the more I watch it/think about it.
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