In the ninth episode of the third season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang and Zuko begin to simultaneously worry about the upcoming war. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Avatar.
This is not a fantastic episode (I will admit that it’s actually necessary to set up the invasion), but it is worth every second of its existence to watch Momo and Appa talk. This is, by and large, the weirdest episode of Avatar so far, and that’s not really a complaint. Again, I don’t think this episode was gifted to us by the gods up above, but it’s fun, silly, and finally acknowledges the timeline of the invasion. (I had been wondering this whole time when the rendezvous date was.) And I’m sure people were annoyed that the time right before one of the biggest events in the show’s canon was spent on hallucinatory dreams, so I’m not saying this is a necessary thing. I get it. But it was a lot of fun, and that’s all right for me.
Clearly, I only post ~edgy thoughts~ about the Avatar fandom.
“Nightmares and Daydreams” is rife with references, both to other episodes and other figures in anime and manga. It’s one sign that the writers just wanted to have fun with the story, though I do worry about those who didn’t get a single reference. I totally recognized the Goku outfit in the first dream, but after that, it sort of felt like hanging out in a room of people who all have one inside joke that I’m not a part of, and I have to keep hearing them laugh at the joke over and over again. That’s okay, though, and that’s not the writers’ fault or anything. But it was one of a few things that prevented me from fully enjoying the whole episode.
In this sense, this might be the weakest of the Aang/Zuko parallel episodes, though the story isn’t bad at all. It’s just not as powerful. But miles from each other, the two characters fret and worry about their nearing future, and I was fascinated by that more than anything. If you think about it, we haven’t had much confirmation about what the Fire Nation or Team Avatar is actually going to do during the Invasion of the Black Sun. I can’t remember perfectly, but didn’t Azula find out about the solar eclipse while undercover in Ba Sing Se? I mean…I guess she would have had to have found out, since the Fire Nation is clearly preparing for some sort of battle. But now my head is all mixed up and I have no idea. I feel like I haven’t been paying attention at all! Is the Invasion going to be an actual surprise this time around?
Ok, this isn’t that important right now. What is important is that Aang is surprised by the Invasion, and it’s this that sends him into a spiral of bad dreams and waking nightmares. I get that this is a huge moment in Aang’s life, and it’s perfectly reasonable that he would go through such a mental and emotional turmoil because of it. It’s not that this episode is unrealistic in that sense. As Aang cycles through his surreal dreams, it just feels a tad too repetitive to me. The content of the dreams changes only slightly each time, all with the same message: Aang is going to fail miserably at defeating the Fire Lord. Dreams can be cyclical in nature, but the episode as a whole (for Aang’s story) just feels like the same thing over and over. Bad dream. Wake up. Refuse sleep. Train until exhaustion.
A lot of the little details entertain me, though. The fire breathing cow/hippo thing is awesome. We’d not seen yoga before, either! The glorious Wang Fire beard makes another reappearance, and Sokka is a beautifully irritating therapist. Toph uses earth bending to try to massage Aang’s stress away. And there’s a boarcupine again! If anything, there’s a nice message amongst the silliness: Aang’s friends truly care about him and they’ll do whatever they can to make him feel better.
We see that manifested in his final nightmare, as Aang loses everyone during the invasion. It’s a remarkably creepy dream, and it’s obvious that more than anything, Aang could bear with the idea of losing the people that he loves. It doesn’t even seem like he’s that concerned with winning. The loss of his friends would be the absolute worst. Is this why his brain finally decides to confront Katara about how much he is totally in love with her? Because he worried that the end was coming soon, so it was now or never? There was a moment that I believed their makeout scene was actually real, but the whole “forever girl” thing was…oh, it was just too much. Just painfully awkward and weird and I DON’T
Yet somehow, the walking daydream/hallucination that Aang has is just….holy overwhelming. Wow. WOW. It’s silly, hilarious, upsetting, and terrifying all at the same time. There are like fifty things going on at the same time. I almost wish I could have recorded myself watching this episode last night. The sound I made when Momo started talking sounded like I was choking to death. It’s even weirder because…well, their voices sort of fit their bodies? Ugh, oh god, IT IS JUST SO STRANGE. And then there are koala sheep and Guru Pathik has six arms and what are the rocks doing and the tree is dancing and MY BRAIN HURTS FROM ALL OF THIS.
Bravo, Avatar. That was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen.
Thinking about it now, it is kind of tonally strange how Zuko’s story fits in to all of this. His story does have a direct parallel to Aang’s, but that’s the only real connection. We know now from “The Beach” that Zuko’s relationship with anger has become this consuming thing for him, and that his confusion with what moral standing he has is blanketing his life. Why doesn’t he feel right about getting exactly what he wants?
We get to see more of his life in the Fire Nation, and, even if the scenes are brief, I’ve completely warmed to the idea of Zuko and Mai as a couple. They just seem to fit well, and this episode shows how much she cares for him in a very genuine way. It’s especially sad when she reminds of the last time he wanted to be a part of a war meeting, and for a moment, you think she’s finally gotten through to him. And yet he turns his face away from her, and she knows that this is a futile journey. Zuko’s problems cannot become her responsibility anymore, and she can’t feel obligated to work his demons out.
At this point, Zuko’s story has taken him precisely to where he wants to be: he’s home, his father accepts him, he has a girlfriend, he’s a respected prince in the Fire Nation, and he was invited to sit at the right hand side of the Fire Lord during the war meeting. The writers have given Zuko everything he has ever desired, and Zuko has finally discovered that it makes him feel no different. That must be such a disappointing and frightening thing to experience, and you can see the heartbreak in his face when he leaves the war meeting and talks to Mai.
He is not himself anymore.
SO THIS IS TOTALLY A SET-UP FOR HIM TO JOIN TEAM AVATAR. RIGHT? RIGHT? right?!?!?!?! OH GOD PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN.
THOUGHTS
- Did the fandom erupt when Aang and Katara kissed? Because…seriously.
- What the hell was that thing Azula got her hair washed in? Amazing!
- “But I forgot my pants and my math test!” THE TRAGEDY. Sometimes, I still wake up and think I didn’t turn in an assignment. YOU TRAUMATIZED ME, HIGH SCHOOL.
- I honestly would feel better about most things if I got to scream into a Koala-Sheep.
- “We all died because of your tiny bladder!” TRUE STORY. I am mortified of being in a stressful situation and peeing myself, or like….getting kidnapped and peeing myself instead of running away or something. IT’S A RATIONAL FEAR I SWEAR.
- “Baby, you’re my forever girl.” It still makes my stomach twist in terror.
"During the meeting, I was the perfect prince. The son my father wanted. But I wasn't me."
ooh….I LOVED hearing that….
In fact, I still remember sitting on the edge of my couch silently cheering him on…yes, Zuko, yes….c'mon, you can figure this out….
The anticipation of any serious epiphany just builds and builds with him. Best character arc ever.
No, Mark, you’re not wearing any pants!
An Excerpt from My LiveJournal Post (“Where We’re Going, You Won’t Need Any Pants!”) on November 16, 2007
And now for “Nightmares and Daydreams,” which amusingly starts off with…SHEEP. Koala-sheep. The episode as a whole was decent with some hilarity, but it felt like filler, which Avatar doesn’t normally do.
But, oh my God, Aang’s nightmares! Okay, in the first one, he was clearly Goku (Dragonball Z). The second one looked like Naruto to me because of the headband, but it’s not a perfect fit. I’m not sure who it is. Suggestions have included Vash from Trigun, Cloud from Final Fantasy, and someone from Bleach. (I loved that the math test was on an abacus.) The third (well, fourth, but third in this series of homages) one has been identified as Chow Yun-Fat’s character in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and it’s a traditional enough style that I’ll buy that. But the actual third nightmare was awesome, with all the creepy flickering flashes and Toph with NO EYES and Momo shushing and the world exploding…that’s the stuff.
And then, Aang’s daydreams! “You’re my forever girl!” Ahahahaha. And then. And then.
MOMO TALKING.
APPA TALKING.
APPA VS. MOMO IN AN EPIC SAMURAI SHOWDOWN.
WITH CHEERING SQUADS OF KOALA-SHEEP.
RANDOM APPEARANCE BY GURU PATHIK.
The whole pointless episode was worth it just for that.
Elsewhere, Zuko finally looks up “self-awareness” in the dictionary.
I agree, I find the "Baby, you're my forever girl." line HILARIOUS. But that's just me.
Yup, that line's a chuckle in my book, too. What's so cringe-worthy about it? I don't get it.
I guess second-hand embarrassment? I find it hilarious now, but now that I think about it, I think the first time I saw it I was completely mortified on Aang's behalf. Maybe the embarrassment jokes (like here and in The Beach) are funnier on rewatch.
Ah. Well, I guess I'm not wired for that; I see it as purely funny. Different strokes for different folks, as they say!
The second one is Vash, only they changed the color of his trench coat.
Pretty sure the creepy nightmare at the end is supposed to be a parody of Neon Genesis Evangelion, specifically the last episode.
Ooh, you think? I hadn't watched Eva when I saw this episode, so I wouldn't have picked up on that.
It would be fitting. All I have ever seen of Evangelion is that final two-part "movie" which makes no goddamn sense whatsoever. But doubly so without the rest of the series, I'd imagine. o_o
<img src="http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8883/1275979246593333.jpg">
a few days ago they were showing this episode on "avatar extras", with the little pop-ups that are only occasionally informative. a bubble appeared on the screen bearing the words "zuko LOVES war meetings" and unnervingly, my little sister could not stop laughing for a good three minutes.
should i be worried that she will shoot lightning out of her fingertips?
Y/N?
Yes. Maybe take her to a nearby pond and see what the ducks do. The ducks always know…
Oh Em Gee, that comic almost make me choke on my tea.
Hee, comic. What does "SIKE" mean? Did they mean "psych"?
I think so. When I was a kid everyone said "psych!" but nobody knew how to spell it. It was just something you said.
"zuko LOVES war meetings"
omg, I am a terrible person because I nearly cried trying to stop myself laughing when I read this. xD;;;;
Hhahahahahahaha the look on Ozai's face is AMAZING.
I think we need some Avatar picspam 😀
<img src="http://vicorientation.ca/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/AndHereWeGo.gif">
<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmx1o25id21qjf835o1_500.gif">Source
<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lefsy3bRdW1qciulso1_500.jpg">
<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9joiafOXe1qdmlfso1_500.jpg">
<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l7opbjKiat1qd21lso1_r1_400.gif">
<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lak6sdYURb1qd6r1xo1_500.png">
<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg3tmwXpy81qdopwjo1_400.jpg">
<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljvliu57Cq1qdyfaeo1_500.png">
<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lcqg2bqrOq1qciulso1_500.jpg">
<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lc4cl6qrBt1qciulso1_500.jpg">Source
<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm13vyIW5D1qjf835o1_500.gif"/>
BEST. GIFSPAM. EVER!!! XD
Fuck Yeah Toystory!
Beautiful beautiful gifspam.
I love you and nothing hurts.
Joy forever for the HP one.
Aang's dreams are so trippy, but all I could think throughout the entire episode was "I WANT A TALKING APPA. RIGHT NOW. BRING HIM TO ME." I would ride on him and we would discuss literature and it would be glorious.
<img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR07Jx3TG3Sh9d4_v29yH_CG1rdg5JOUETRy5pLLHOoh84XFjhN&t=1">
Also, why can't Momo be like that all the time? Life is unfair.
PS The Dragonball Z reference made my twelve year old self explode with happiness.
It’s even weirder because…well, their voices sort of fit their bodies?
ALL HAIL DEE BRADLEY BAKER.
I CAN FINALLY POST THIS VIDEO. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR LIKE FOREVER:
[youtube 7vL9NA6uHCg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vL9NA6uHCg youtube]
also, there's a slightly spoilery image way down in the related videos, so don't scroll down!
I watched this through TVtropes a while ago, and goodness gracious, it creeps me out. I was going to post it if no one else did.
Yeah, so I think dream stories tend to be hit or miss. And that this episode doesn't quite hit. I find it to have too much wacky too close to shit getting real, with the invasion being so close and all. (And Aang's Katara day-dream makes me rather uncomfortable watching it.)
BUT OMG APPA AND MOMO TALKING! AND FIGHTING! WITH SHEEP CHEERING ON! AMAZING!
And this is the episode where I really feel for Mai, so I can't bring myself to skip over it during rewatches. We've seen in the past that Mai is generally so stoic and unenthusiastic about everything. The main exception being when we see her getting angry during The Beach. But here, we see her expressing herself more than normal while in Zuko's company, and in a positive way. I don't know if she's deliberately and consciously trying to be more open with her feelings with him, or if simply being in his company brings out that behavior from her, but I enjoying watching it, and I like seeing another side of Mai. (And that talking/thinking about food puts a smile on her face. Her priorities – they are shared.) I'm honestly not fond of watching Zuko being all angsty and conflicted and insecure (I just get bored with it fast), and him being moody like that while Mai isn't and wants to be happy in his comapny just makes me want to really hug Mai and tell Zuko he needs to get over himself and appreciate his girlfriend more if he wants their relationship to work.
<img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/2m4pugp.gif">
Mai seems genuinely happy about Zuko geting invited to the war meeting, and it just seems like Mai is thinking about Zuko's happiness a lot more than Zuko is thinking about hers, putting her into an awkward situation. Oh Mai, I appreciate you!
Yaaaaaaaaaaaay Mai appreciation! Really, I don't think Zuko SHOULD be in a relationship right now. He's got shit he needs to work out and deal with before he can be in a healthy relationship, IMO. But when he's ready, he better treat Mai REAL NICE.
I don't think you need to worry about that. Mai would FORCE him to be REAL NICE; she's just the kind of girl he needs, who'd go through his moods and bring him back dragging by his honor ponytale. Oh the mental image is just too amusing.
I expect much from Mai. I really like her for herself first and then for being Zuko's girlfriend.
I appreciate Mai too! <3
This is episode where I started to actually like her. I didn't hate her before, I was just ambivalent but this made me go aaaw Mai, you're pretty nice and your snark is retroactively fun.
FLAMEY-O, HOTWOMAN.
Well I wanted to post these for “Tales of Ba Sing Se,†when they would have been more relevant, but I didn’t have them scanned in time. So here we go: In celebration of my favorite “filler†episode, let’s play Rejected Hybrid Animals!
(sorry for the crappy quality)
Draw and post your own! 😀
Can a mod please fix the images? They're not showing up for me.
Owlapus! Adorable!
Hah! I see your shitty hybrid animals drawn on napkins….
And I raise you THESE shitty hybrid animals drawn on napkins!!!
What now???
…you might want to upload smaller versions of these.
I tried actually, and failed….the internet hates me today….
Though I like the smaller, stretched out versions. It accentuates the shitty hybrid animal's shittyness.
I resized them for now.
I NEED my own owlapus! NOW!
Thing that I'm surprised made it past the censors: Zuko totally stayed the night at Mai's place. I mean, he's there in the evening, and still totally there the next day wearing the same clothes. It's subtle, but the implication is there…
I know the fandom assumes they did it, but they looked so unhappy. I think they just slept.
Besides:
<img src="http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1982/1220887932677.jpg">
And his hair is suddenly down and mussed…
Also, just as a note, her parents are still, as far as we know, in
Omashuthe city of New Ozai.…Bow chicka wow wow.
(strikethrough html here is "strike," not "s.")
themoreyouknowrainbow.gif
I'm honestly kind of impressed that I remembered not to use BBCode. XD Did you edit it to work? If so, thanks. 😀
Boy, I didn't really notice before now that the third season seems to be a little more disjointed and less serialized than the others, doesn't it? Oh well.
I guess they decided to take the humorous approach toward Aang's IMMENSE STRESS AT HAVING TO FACE THE FIRELORD FEELING UNPREPARED. MEIN GOTT.
This is kind of an irreverent and silly episode, and highly enjoyable from an entertainment standpoint. The anime references will never not make me laugh. The underlying tension behind Aang's stress dreams is still there, though. That last dream, OMG. So stressful. Eyeless Toph DO NOT WANT. GOD I HAVE SUCH A LOSS-OF-EYES PHOBIA D: (not blindness, but physically losing one's eyes).
But seriously. This is heavy stuff. A TWELVE-YEAR OLD BOY is going to have to take down an immensely powerful adult bender with an entire nation backing him. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT. You just do, I guess.
<img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d61/lostluck_personal/TV%20gifs/aangdealwithit.gif">
Purely from an amusement standpoint, there are some funny lines/gags here. APPA VS. MOMO. WHAT.
<img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d61/lostluck_personal/TV%20gifs/cactusjuice.jpg">
Really, I think this is just a "light" breather before SHIT GETS REALLY REAL.
Also:
1.) WHY DOES AANG SLEEP ON THE GROUND WITHOUT A MAT OR SLEEPING BAG. Is it so he feels closer to the earth? … does Toph sleep on something, or does she sleep on the ground, too? I didn't notice.
2.) KOALA SHEEP OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG
3.) Return of the WANG FIRE beard, yessss
4.) My royal parts are showing, lololololol.
THAT DEAL WITH IT GIF
MY GOD
I actually watched for this, because I was wondering the same thing. Toph isn't sleeping on a mat either.
Edited to actually make my sentence make sense.
Pretty sure Toph just sleeps on the dirt most of the time. In the Chase we see her put up a rock tent and then presumably go to sleep then and there; when she takes the tent down later there's no evidence of any mat or blanket.
Aang usually sleeps either on Appa's tail or on the ground directly. I always wondered why he didn't want a sleeping bag or at least a blanket. ):
He's just a simple monk, remember? 😉
This episode is really weird, but I think it’s great. Honestly, from “The Avatar and the Firelord” onward, I’m in love with Book 3 (the rest of the episodes are merely very good). I love how well the goofy, expressive animation mirrors Aang’s frenetic state of mind, while Zuko’s animation is more sedate as he wanders around feeling out-of-place. My very important thoughts and feelings:
— I want a flying hippo. Badly. Can’t wait for the firebending hippo versus airbending Appa face-off in the finale.
<img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/5l3293.gif">
— “Royal Parts” is my second favorite euphemism for the Good China.
<img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2ykf8eh.gif">
— Wang Fire for president. I love that Sokka is now spending half of his waking hours in that beard. Soon, Wang Fire will rule all.
<img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/mkw3yu.gif">
— “What are we doing?”
“What our hearts have been telling us for a long, long time. Baby, you’re my forever girl.”
<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/fc4n78.gif">
lololololol Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter’s beautiful encounter at the end of TGC, y/n? God, I love this show.
THANKS I'M GOING TO HAVE NIGHTMARES TONIGHT BECAUSE OF THAT LAST GIF AND THE COMPARISON TO ASRIEL AND COULTER
“Baby, you’re my forever girl.” It still makes my stomach twist in terror.
UGH, SERIOUSLY. YOU AND ME BOTH. LIKE, WTF WAS THAT, I CAN'T EVEN. make it go awaaaaaaaay~ ;_;
I… don't have any sort of in-depth review for this one, because… well, it's so trippy and weird, I wasn't sure what to say about some of it. I felt like I was on cactus juice the whole time I was watching it. o_o Except for the Zuko scenes. I really do love him and Mai together, HATERS CAN SUCK IT, YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. 8D But tempering that sweetness is his reaction to the whole war meeting thing. It's like you say, like I've been saying for a while now: he's got everything he wanted, and is finding out that it doesn't make him happy. How awful must that feel? 🙁 Oh, Zuko. This wasn't something that Iroh or anyone else could have told him, no matter how Iroh tried. Zuko has to live it, and it's painful and terrible.
And you are not prepared. 8D
I have a story that goes along with this episode. (Warning: boring story ahead)
My best friend introduced the series to me in spring of 2008. At the time, I was waiting to graduate with my BA in English Education and had requested clearance to return in the fall in order to take classes to get my teaching credential. Unfortunately I was not sure if I had turned in all of the correct paperwork, and there was no way for me to check at the time. As time went on and I receieved no word, I got more and more anxious that my request was denied. At one point I couldn't sleep for three days!
And then my friends got to this episode. It was as if my anxiety was defined on screen! I wasn't facing the Firelord, but anyone who has reached a life-changing event should relate to Aang right here. While this may not be the BEST episode of the series, it is the one I connect with the most.
And special thanks to Ruka for showing this to me; I slept well that night! 😉
I appreciate that the writers kept both points of hilarity and points of heavy drama in this episode. I wish I could shake the hand of the person who came up with the idea of the Appa-Momo duel! XD Brilliant!! And the nightmarish dream sequence still captivates me no matter how many times I watch it.
This show has matured in big ways. The surrealism does not suit the first season, where Aang and Katara go penguin sledding, but it does not feel out of place in this season. The transition has been so gradual, I don't think anyone can pinpoint the moment where this has become more of a "big kids'" show. It ranks right up there with Gargoyles and Batman: the Animated Series in 1) respect for the audience, 2) dealing with difficult issues, 3) story-telling, and 4) respect for characterization.
"I don't think anyone can pinpoint the moment where this has become more of a "big kids'" show"
I nominate "The Storm." That was the point when I thought, "There's a major part of this story that deals with parental abuse and a father BURNING HIS SON'S FACE OFF JUST FOR DISAGREEING WITH SOMEONE ELSE? The fuck kind of kid's show is this?!? anyway ^_^.;;
(But yeah, it has been a pretty subtle change. But I do think there are several points we can look to that showed what we were in for as the show progressed, even so.)
Agreed. "The Storm" is a good one, for exactly the reason you stated. 🙂 I'd also add that we get an antagonist w/ depth, versus most kids shows where the alignment is very black-and-white.
Personally, the point I realized this was no longer a show for your average kid was the first season finale. A character actually dies, and they don't try to cover it up by saying they "moved on" or "went to another dimension."
Actually, it deals with death way sooner – in "The Southern Air Temple", we see the evidence of a FUCKING GENOCIDE. That's pretty much the Avatar equivalent of visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau…
At the Comic-Con panel before S3 was aired, the Avatar team explained that the gang was going to have new clothes in S3, and as a teaser showed . . . sketches of Aang's nightmare outfits. Oh, Avatar, never change.
Not gonna lie, I was deeply annoyed by this episode on my first watch through. I wanted to know what was going to happen during the invasion, and here was this random series of dream sequences taking up space and delaying the moment of revelation. But now that I've seen the whole show and can rewatch without that level of tension? PURE COMEDY GOLD. Appa versus Momo: best Avatar fight or BEST Avatar fight?
YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LILAH!
Bravo, Avatar. That was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen.
Mark Watches FLCL, plz.
Oh god it would destroy his brain.
In interviews the writers would often site FLCL as an influence. This is the only episode were I noticed.
Yup, they mention it in the art book when talking about the first pencil test, too! I see it in a lot of places where their actions and faces are really liquid and exaggerated, like when Aang is talking to Bumi about jing.
<img src="http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/1161/zzzur.png">
i've noticed a few times
The Avatar creators actually made the whole crew watch all 6 episodes of FLCL. This might explain Nightmares and Daydreams. It is seriously fucking weird, but in a good way. I've never used mind-altering drugs, but something tells me they were involved in the making of that show.
<img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/5wwaqq.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
Broyles! <3
I really hope the Fringe writers find ridiculous ways for Broyles to accidentally ingest LSD in every single episode of Season 4. I'm usually against recreational drug use, but I'm willing to put aside my morals just to see more of Broyles contemplating the structural complexity of Red Vines.
WHAT DOES THAT STAND FOR
FLCL is the actual title of the show. It's pronounced "Fooly Cooly."
Psst it is only six episodes and I have it all on my computer.
We are never told. Apparently it's dirty. 😛
i've heard it means 'fondling a girl's cupcakes', but i think that's just a rumor and/or lie.
Seriously, watch it sometime. Like, maybe as a break between BSG seasons.
He has to watch TTGL first though.
You want to scare the man? The only thing on more crack would be Excel Saga!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
(he'd like Menchi, at the very least)
Excel Saga!
First anime I ever watched. Is it any wonder it took me almost a decade to try again?
Not quite. Puni Puni Poemy is Excel Saga on crack mixed with softcore porn.
Hey everyone. I went to spectralbovine's house yesterday and watched FLCL.
what the fuck
That's as worthy a review as any.
You know you loved it and you totally wish you could pull a guitar out of your forehead.
Zuko gets to sit at his father's right hand. He is the perfect prince, the son his father wanted.
But he wasn't himself.
Who better to know what that's like, keeping your real self bottled up and having to behave as expected, than Mai?
Thank you for that!!! <3 OMG, perfect!!
I love this episode, mainly for Aang's (mostly funny) nightmares and the bizarre hallucinations.
Samurai Appa vs. Momo swordfight = BEST THING EVER, Y/Y? And is it just me, or does swordmaster Momo look a lot like Yoda? Just picture him green and with a lightsaber instead of a katana… O.o
And psychiatrist Wang Fire is hilarious. XD
I think he was a reference to Usagi Yojimbo.
Ronin bunny!
That makes perfect sense! 😀
Oh Usagi. 🙂 I was addicted to those comics when I was younger, maybe that's why I'm fond of this episode.
Appa! Appa!
Momo! Momo!
Man, those sheep-things get me everytime. Oh, and I want an mp3 extended version of Guru Pathik's chakras jam. Seriously.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/dreams2.jpg">
"No, Firelord Ozai, you're not wearing any pants."
I love how this episode is literally filler. The fact that they have four days to kill and it's nothing but waiting and trying desperately to be prepared on Aang's part is the entire problem. The need for filler is the plot.
And I love it, I do. There are so many moments in this thing that left me in giggles, and yet I do have serious commentary somewhere in this mess, so GUESS WHAT, lots of WORD SPAM TIME.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/dreams1.jpg">
Aang's anime dream-selves are the best. Apparently the concept artist is a big anime fan, so the ribbing is all in good fun.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/dreams3.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/dreams6.jpg">
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/dreams7.jpg">
I find it interesting that Ozai once again has no face time in this episode (on Zuko's side, he's just unseen, and on Aang's, he's seen a lot, but in obvious caricature (his most accurate appearance is when he's riding a flying, fire-breathing hippo cow, so uh). I wonder if that was intentional, given one of the reasons stated for keeping Ozai's face hidden until season three anyhow (the reveal was an indication that Zuko was finally seeing his father as a flesh and blood man, not a scary, intimidating, always disapproving shadow.)
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/dreams4.jpg">
Aang's fourth nightmare is UNBELIEVABLY CREEPY. The Puppetmaster had the excuse of being the Halloween episode, WTF IS THIS DOING HERE AHHHH. I wouldn't want to go back to sleep for days either if I'd had a nightmare like that.
Aang's kissing daydream, on the other hand, will never fail to crack me up until the end of time. It takes a beautiful deep-end swan dive straight into cheesy romantic fanfic territory. I HAVE READ THIS EXACT SCENE FOR EVERY POPULAR PAIRING EVER, YOU GUYS. His voice actor's delivery makes it gold. "What our hearts have been telling us to do for a long long time. Baby, you're my forever-girl!" Complete with romantic dip. Mike and Bryan are SUCH GLEEFUL TROLLS.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/dreams13.jpg">
This episode features Koala-sheep, the end.
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/Avatar/dreams14.jpg">
Aang using the MACARONI OZAI PICTURE for his training.
The Doctor speaks Baby? Aang speaks Momo!
The picutres are wonderful, as per usual. But your totally right – I never noticed before how this filler episode is filler in story too. That's so neat!
Another thing – having 3 kids under 10, I must say that this episode is a HUGE hit with kids. Especially the Firelord with no pants.
Haha, yes, my 8-year-old sister and 10-year-old brother really like this one. And any time there's some really out-there hybrid animal.
I wonder what it says about me that this is the part I laugh at the most? And end up quoting to my sister all the time.
FIRELORD OZAI ISN'T WEARING PANTS
Yep, when ever fighting or pants comes up in a conversation I have to resist the urge to yell either "How are you going to fight me? You're not even wearing pants!" or "No, you're not even wearing pants!!!"
Another funny thing is – Sokka has been so worried about the schedule back in "The Painted Lady"; but even though they seem to have wasted quite a lot of time between then and now, they still arrived at the rendezvous point four days early.
Clearly, Sokka is an overly pessimistic planner. 😀
he reminds me of me.
Consequence of having a mother who was always late, as a result, I tend to be overly early whenever I have to get somewhere on time.
This another episode I somehow missed during my first watching of the series but I am glad to see it this time around. What I really enjoyed in this episode is the different styles Aang is presented in the dreams with those interesting outfits. I cannot help but think that is a shout-out to anime or Final Fantasy. I can relate to Aang's anxiety about facing the firelord, as we have seen how scaring the prospect of facing such a foe would be to a person let alone the Avatar. As a personal note, I have problems with stress brought on by test taking (I feel for Aang's nightmare about math) and sometimes I end up making the stress worse while trying to de-stress. On a slightly happier note, I was happy to see the return of Sokka's fake beard and its use as the therapist. As for the hallucinations, I had to keep myself from laughing at the fight between Appa and Momo. Momo's fighter design is I think based on this comic character of Usagi Yojimbo:
<img src="http://www.samuraiweapons.org/images/usagi.jpg">
See the similarity?
Yeah, I totally thought that the Momo and Appa fight scene was a tribute to Usagi Yojimbo.
I've been told one of the others is FLCL but I never watched that show so I can't confirm. :/
Mark, you really gotta ease up and just have more fun with the episodes, man. =) I don’t think I’ve ever met an Avatar fan who was a total plotsnob, and most really loved this episode for all the hilarious dream sequences and surrealness overall, not just the Appa/Momo fight. Don’t worry too much about references (since you can always catch these on re-watches) or what might be running through the heads of other people, because we’re more interested in reliving the series through seeing how you react apart from that.
But back to the episode, as a fan of Kafka and Gaiman I just love anything with surreal elements. That koalasheep wool bed Aang slept on also looked so damn comfy.
I LOVE this episode! It's silly, awkward and yet unusually realistic. I got tired of kids facing enemies twice as big and powerful without any fear. Aang is terrified and with reason. Of course he's going to be nervous and worried and can't sleep. And I adore all the different ways his friend use to help him. Also, koala sheep! Cutest fluffiest things ever.
<img src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090406224203/avatar/images/3/3c/Koala_sheep.jpg">
And I agree, the dreams were a bit repetitive, but so are most dreams when faced with a big problem. I failed Sociology in high school for two weeks before and after the actual test.
So, in conclusion, it's a silly, funny, over the top, very quotable episode and I love it with all my heart.
WHERE IS MY KOALA-SHEEP
🙁
So here's the review I posted on AvatarSpirit the night this episode came out. Reading through it years later, my feelings on some things have changed to the point where I'm less angry with this episode and more… apathetic, I guess.
~~~
I, like many others, loved the concept for this episode, but hated the execution. When I first read the description, I was so excited to see it because I pictured this awesome episode that looked into the deepest fears of each member of the Gaang. I liked Aang's last nightmare where his friends are in trouble but he can't help them (eyeless Toph was creepy) and then the comet strikes (it'd be so cool if that was prophetic!) – those are the kind of dreams I was expecting. Not pants. Not math tests.
Maybe Katara could have had a nightmare about going out of control with her bloodbending (a nod to The Puppetmaster), hurting her friends and innocent civilians in the process. And maybe throw in a scene of the Fire Lord killing her mom or something (it would be an interesting way to see how her mom died). For Sokka, he could be stripped of all his weapons in a room full of enemies in the Fire Palace, with an inner voice taunting him, saying, "I betcha wish you could bend now, don'tcha?" and Sokka telling the voice to shut up, and throw in Suki and Yue somewhere. Toph…I'm debating between having her stand in a room made of pure metal so her vision is severely limited and a bunch of disembodied voices taunting her, like "Ha! You can't hit me can't you?! You really are just a helpless little blind girl!" and Toph tries to be brave at first but then starts freaking out when she feels flames closing in on her and she calls out for her friends but they don't come OR just having her own every FN soldier in sight, complete flames surrounding her and an evil laugh ala Blind Bandit. (It would be hilarious if everyone had horrible nightmares and then Toph says, "Actually, I had a great dream! Sucks for you guys, though!" )
Then when Aang decides to stop sleeping, after they try the methods of healing (cause they were funny) and after a few hallucinations from Aang (non-humorous though – maybe like his first vision with the Guru where he sees the Fire Lord and then starts attacking random objects) his friends calm him down and they all share their nightmares and talk about them until they're reassured with some message of friendship or whatever and go to sleep.
So basically I was expecting a great lead up to what could be one of the most epic battles in TV history. And I got this.
For some reason, the rest of the Gaang don't seem to be all that concerned about the fact that there's a good chance they will DIE the next day. If you ask me, Aang's the only sane one. I mean seriously, they're just kids. You mean to tell me they're totally confident that they can take on a nation that engaged in war with the rest of the world for 100 years with only a group of their friends and allies? Even grown-ups would be freaking out over that. Besides that, this episode was so…juvenile. I mean, I know the demographic is aimed at kids but still, I thought Avatar was better than that. They were proving that cartoons can be appealing to kids and still be engaging for teens and adults without resorting to cheap gags. I mean, Aang's about to face the Fire Lord, the world's biggest threat, for Pete's sake. Is he really that concerned about losing his pants? And a math test? WTH? After a while I resorted to peering out out at my TV screen through my fingers for some scenes. I couldn't bear to watch them full-sighted. Not to mention the extreme Mood Whiplash from The Puppetmaster. I mean, yes, I laughed but only because it was so ridiculously out of place in the Avatar I know and love. It was either that or cry…
I did like some pieces of dialogue, though:
"That's okay, Aang. The eclipse will block all firebending anyway. You don't need to know any. Plus, it's a stupid element."
"In my dream, we were right in the middle of the invasion, and you had to stop to use the bathroom. We died because of your tiny bladder!"
*grin* "Acupuncture!"
"Goodnight, Katara. Goodnight, Sokka. Goodnight, Toph. Goodnight, Appa. Goodnight, Momo. Goodnight, Appa and-"
"GO TO SLEEP ALREADY!"
"Uh, I kinda think I sorta might slightly feel a little better…maybe."
"Then our work here is done."
Hearing Appa and Momo talk was…interesting.
The Kataang scene was cruel and unusual punishment. T_T They just love teasing the shippers…
Now for the Zuko part…that probably saved this episode (I think my hatred for him is starting to wear off since he's so close to redemption). The Maiko didn't make me gag this time. Zuko has everything he's always wanted: pampering, his father's love, a girlfriend…and he's still not happy (let's ignore the fact that he came to the same conclusion he did FOUR EPISODES ago…). Oh yeah, something big's gonna happen in The Day of Black Sun, I can feel it.
It would have been nice to seen some of that TLC Zuko's allegedly been getting from his father lately. It'll help us understand his turmoil better. The war meeting would have been the perfect opportunity. Whatever happened to showing, not telling? And would it have killed them to give us a cliffhanger ending, to make the two week wait even more agonizing? (yeah, I'm evil like that)
Anyway, right now I'm trying to decide whether to give this episode a 5 or a 6. It'll probably be a 5, unless I rewatch it and something changes my mind. It really hurts to give an episode of Avatar less than a 6, but if it has to be done…
Man, Book 3 has got a redemption of its own, because season 2 is blowing it out of the water, big time. I can only hope things will go uphill after the invasion.
~~~
So yeah, like I said, I'm a bit more forgiving toward this episode now – I think my initial feelings resulted from my own unfulfilled expectations. I still skip it when I rewatch the series though :/
The reason Aang has nightmares about "losing his pants" and the "math test" is because those are common dream tropes. How many people have dreams about turning in an assignment late, or going to school naked and not realizing it until you're there? Remember all the eyes that pop up when Aang forgets his pants? Everyone is watching him. It's scary. And it can be related to. It also helps remind us that even though he's the Avatar, and even though the whole Gaang is a very skilled fighting team, they are still kids. Aang still has childish fears.
Also, the comet striking was a reference to "Apocalypse Now."
I know they're common dream tropes, but to me it just seemed out of place considering that's not an environment Aang was really exposed to over the course of the show (with the exception of The Headband, of course) or even at all (I have no idea if Air Nomad schools were conducted in a similar manner to Fire Nation schools, but I doubt it).
Thank you so much for the pictures as usual, but even more so for the comment on Sokka's schedule. I agree with every word.
I actually always thought Aang's hallucinating because a lack of sleep was a little too over the top for my tastes. Then I found out that hallucinations actually are a side effect of sleep deprivation.
Though, even if I hadn't read about it. I ended up confirming it for myself a few months later when it actually happened to me. I was trying to drive from Chicago to Oakland, CA in one straight shot. After about 30 hours on the road (with nothing but stops for gas and whatever crappy food I could pick up from said gas station), some weird shit started happening at about 2 in the morning in the middle of Nevada. I finally decided to pull off the road and sleep at a rest stop when the conversation I was having with the other dude in the car started getting really really odd… Especially considering I was traveling alone.
Ah Mark, I've sat here for several minutes trying to think of something clever to type in regards to tomorrows episode. But alas, I don't think I can really trust myself to type anything at all even remotely hinting at tomorrows chapter. So I'll just leave it at this. Does your couch have a seat belt? Cause you might need it.
I had auditory hallucinations after pulling an all-nighter in graduate school. Sitting in class, hearing conversations that weren't actually happening. At least I was aware enough to realize that it was, in fact, a hallucination.
I gotta say, I like this episode. Very much. As a Zutara fan (I'll repeat this until I die) I was glad that the make out scene was a dream. Yup. Indeed I was. Also, Zuko's problems make him cute. And kinda desirable.
Also, the dancing rocks didn't remind you of Mario? To me they did. I also think that the DBZ reference is a thing THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD UNDERSTANDS. Because DBZ is a rule of the universe… isn't it?
Two words for you Mark: Avatar Abridged.
Not necessarily, but I don't think the writers would have shied away from implying that they did, either. Ahrm…
Yeah, confirmed in the art book that it's Usagi Yojimbo. They basically let their concept artist run wild with the designs for this episode, since there was no need to fit them into the usual Avatar 'style'.
On the list of things I would dearly love to see footage of, Mark Hamill in a recording booth shrieking "MY ROYAL PARTS ARE SHOWING" is definitely up there.
I second that! XD
I wonder how would the Doctor rate Wang Fire's comfy coalasheep sofa… Better or worse than Freud's sofa? 😛
At least for my experience in the fandom, at TV.com and dongbufeng, this was one of the most beloved episodes. Seeing it in real time, after such a dark episode and with the expectation that things would get even MORE intense with the invasion and what not, having a really funny episode did feel out of place at first but then… Well, with the amount of awesome that happened in Nightmares and Daydreams, you can't but help and fall in love with the episode. It's funny, cleaver and that freaking hilarious Kataang kiss was just AMAZING. Zuko's story was fantastic and (the rest has been rot13'd for possible spoilers) ernyyl znqr zr ybir uvf eryngvbafuvc jvgu Zvn. Guvf rcvfbqr jnf arprffnel sbe gur nhqvrapr gb ernyyl oryvrir jung unccraf nsgre ur yrnirf ure. Nyfb, jvgu rnpu rcvfbqr gung cnffrq, ng yrnfg hagvy Rzore Vfynaq Cynlref, V sryg gung Avtugznerf naq Qnlqernzf orpnzr zber vzcbegnag. Gur snaf arrqrq gur pbzrql naq yvtugarff bs guvf rcvfbqr va beqre gb abg qvr sebz nyy gur fnq naq fnq naq FNQ gung pbzrf yngre va gur frnfba. No matter what, I will ALWAYS LOVE THIS SO MUCH YAY!
http://www.rot13.com
OMG, you were on TV.com? Me too! Were you there for the "minds of teens/ adults" thread?
This is my favorite Mai and Zuko interaction since "The Beach," when she made it clear that she wasn't going to put up with him being a jerk. The two episodes combined make them a perfect couple, in my mind. And gold-digging fruit tarts? LOL fandom. Like Mai needs a prince to order servants around; they're at her house.
This is such a great episode, and it has me cracking up!
Aang's story is great, funny and relatable. I LOVE THAT! Those dreams are straight out of every kid's nightmares.
Fave Parts:
1. Anime shout-outs! Goku from Dragonball, Vash from Trigun and, k, I'm not sure of the last one.
2, Koala sheep look so fluffy and adorable!
3. Wang Fire=Freud, but more awesome!
4. "Baby, you're my forever girl!" Awww!
5. Daydreaming of living underwater. "Sounds Neat!"
6. The Momo vs. Appa battle is just so awesome! Ronin vs. Full fledged Samurai! and they can talk!!!
Zuko's Part:
This has my favorite Mai/Zuko scenes. It's nice to know that Mai likes something…Zuko and fruit tarts! Although, I don't like her suggestion of "ordering servants around." Otherwise, they're cute together this ep.
Walking half a block shouldn't be too much trouble for someone who's walked around the entire Earth Kingdom (practically!)
Zuko's invitation to the meeting was so upsetting. They weren't planning to invite him at all, and Mai's comment of "remember what happened at the last meeting…" OUCH! Poor Zuko!
But the boy is finally putting 2 and 2 together-this life is not what he really wants. Keep going, Zuko! You'll get there! 🙂
"I'm not sure of the last one"
I thought Li Mu Bai from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but the hair doesn't fit.
Yeah, we watched it in an anime culture class; to this day I have no idea why the teacher thought it would be a good idea to present just those two episodes to us. It gave me no real desire to watch the actual series… however, given a choice between rewatching the Evangelion movie and watching Barefoot Gen again, I would probably pick Evangelion. Barefoot Gen is an important film everyone should see, but the effects are so horrifying you probably never need to see it again after that. D:
Never watched Evangelion, but if there's an anime I think I'll avoid rewatching ever again it's Now and Then, Here and There…this show is basically conceived to destroy you. The creator was influenced by the Rwanda Genocide, and it shows.
The series itself is a work of art in terms of storytelling, character development and animation, but it manages to carry these themes of despair and devastation with such impact that I probably won't be able to watch it a second time…even though it's definitely on my "Must Buy" list because that's the kind of shows that should be passed on to future generations.
This series dos not even use excessive gore imagery to portray violence, and yet it's still frightening to an extreme.
What I loved about Mai in this episode was less in what she said, than in what she did. Specifically, her expressions. While some of her lines may have sounded a little silly or off, the expressions on her face had so much care and concern. It was beautiful. Animation is a visual medium too, yo.
I almost forgot:
“That’s okay, Aang. The eclipse will block all firebending anyway. You don’t need to know any. Plus, it’s a stupid element.”
NO, IT’S NOT!!! It’s the BEST ELEMENT EVER!!! Firebenders are also the only benders who can CREATE THEIR OWN ELEMENT, which is awesome!
Plus, Uncle Iroh says so, too:
[youtube bw2Ye46CvOM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw2Ye46CvOM youtube]
Damn, how do you embed videos? Can a mod fix this, please? 🙁
In the textbox where you type in your comment, above the box on the right is an "embed video" option for youtube videos. Simply paste the youtube URL there.
(I don't think this is the same uploaded copy you originally linked to, but I needed a different URL format than the one left in the borked html, so I just searched for any copy of this vid.)
Ahhhh, thanks! 🙂 I can't believe I haven't noticed that button. *facepalm*
It didn't used to be there.
No, firebenders can't create fire, haven't you seen the movie?
I've come to the conclusion that they're not real firebenders.
1. They can't create fire.
2. Their movements look suspiciously like airbending (lots of circular motion, etc.).
Conclusion: They're actually airbenders, who have been brainwashed by the Fire Lord into thinking that they're actually firebenders. But in reality, they only bend the air around the existing fire, moving the fire around. The only real firebender is Eeroh.
the eyes in the background of the first nightmare
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/eypog.jpg">
reminded me of the character Pride from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/hwZDr.jpg">
but…. FMA: Brotherhood was made after Avatar. just a coincidence i guess 😀
the eyes in the background of the first nightmare
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/eypog.jpg">
reminded me of the character Pride from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/hwZDr.jpg">
but…. FMA: Brotherhood was made after Avatar. just a coincidence i guess 😀
I think this was in the first FMA anime? But I'm not sure.
The eyes in the background were used in Yu-Gi-Oh at somepoint, though….
add 'as well' to the end of the first sentence there.
Nope, this is definitely from Brotherhood.
AAAH! I just realized it was from Brotherhood. Bad FMA fangirl, BAD!
I always thought that was a reference to Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound.
Me, too. If you're gonna do a bizarre dream sequence, Dali's eyes are a must.
Well, they WERE in the FMA manga, and Pride first appeared in that in 2006, I believe.
Could also be a reference to Hellsing. Allucard does have a habit of using lots and lots of eyes to creep people the fuck out. And Hellsing's older than FMA.
Hellsing maybe? /bias Hellsing fan
Mmm, I don't think getting the specific jokes adds or detracts from the episode, honestly. My brothers aren't big into any animation except this and Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks/etc. (and those are just out of nostalgia, sadly), so I don't think they got all of the anime/manga/other series refs at all but they still laughed at the weirdness of it all. For that matter, I found out after the fact that I'd missed some three or four references to things, a couple of which I HAD seen and should have gotten, but I didn't even notice because I was giggling too much at all the absurdity.
Of course, my favorite movie growing up was "Yellow Submarine."
Yellow Submarine is AWESOME. <3 <3 <3 A psychedelic fairy tale full of bizarre creatures and puns that would impress even Sokka.
"I wonder what would happen if I pulled this lever."
"Oh, you mustn't do that!"
"Can't help it. I'm a born Lever-puller."
"Look, it's a school of whales."
"They look a bit old for school."
"University, then."
"University of W(h)ales…"
"It's a Cyclops!"
"But it has two eyes."
"A Bicyclops, then."
"A whole Cyclopedia."
<img src="http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/Tauriel/BeatLOLz/submarine_beatlol.jpg">
Mark should totally review Yellow Submarine. 😀
….oooo, that would be FUN! ^_^. Guess it's time to go nominate it on the suggestions page!
(Also, how could we forget: "Hey…I've got a hole in me pocket!")
I've got a hole in me pocket!
This episode felt like that deep breath before the plunge to me. Sort of a, Hey-guys-Nick-wants-some-silly-time-and-shit-gets-real-soon-so-we-need-something-quick feeling. It could also just be a breather for the younger fans considering the last episode was The Puppetmaster. While not the most entertaining thing, it did get me pumped for the battle, because I felt like they were trying to get all the silly out before doing anything epic.
Is it just me, or was Ozai testing Zuko in this ep?
Think about it, Azula makes sure that Zuko knows about the war meeting (which could have been her trying to tempt him into screwing up by going uninvited), and it's only when Zuko clearly doesn't try and enter the meeting without an invitation, that Ozai specifically sends someone to invite Zuko and let him know he's wanted at the meeting..
As if
Pnag'g jnvg hagvy jr trg gb gur grag fprar!
I know! I mean, how the hell…?
Every time this episode gets mentioned I point out to the confused masses that it has a reference to the splattertastic cave horror film "The Descent" and everyone looks at me sideways. Seriously watch the movie, pay close attention to the hallucinations involving the little girl and tell me he scene wasn't referenced in one of Aang's dreams
Glorious.
Though I actually don't remember this happening, Rocko also spent some time working as a phone operator.
I'm pretty sure that this episode is just a collective hallucination on the part of the fandom.
The “forever girl” line always makes me irl lol. Also, I’m pretty sure that the first indicator that that dream IS a dream is that Aang is no longer shorter than Katara. Could be wrong as it’s been a while since I’ve watched this episode but I vaguely recall hearing that somewhere lol.
"This is not a fantastic episode"
Aaaand you lost me there. MOMA. AND APPA. TALKING. AND SWORDFIGHTING. AND CHEERING SHEEP. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT FROM AN EPISODE.
Personally, I loved this episode. Yeah, it was weird, but in my opinion, also hilarious. Maybe repetative, but I enjoyed pretty much all the jokes, and it let me have a good time.
And like Mark said, in a way it was necessary. I don't only mean in the sense of framing the invasion, and showing Aang and Zuko's linked reactions to the fact its not far away, but also in preparation of the audience. Having a 'break' episode if common before a season finale. Something which is more focused on fun and light-heartedness, like 'Boom Town' or 'The Lodger' in Doctor Who. Usually I prefer it to be "ALL SERIOUS, ALWAYS" but I don't mind funny when its like this.
But anyways, not prepared for tomorrow.
I'm of the firm opinion that the level of silly in such 'breather' episodes is in direct correlation to the level of Shit Getting Real in the next 'serious' episode.
There was a lot of silly in this episode, I'm just saying.
You know, you might be on to something. The sillier the "breather" episode is, the realer the shit gets in the following episode or episodes…
I usually love those kinds of episodes, and comedy and lightheartedness is important to me in fiction, but aside from a few moments, this one didn't really click with me. I can't explain why. It's weird. :s
I didn't like this episode much the first time I saw it, but after rewatcing it I better appreciated the mild mental breakdown that Aang has. Not only is he diving in to a full on offencive move against the Fire Nation capital, but the lives of his friends and the fate of the whole world rests on him defeating Ozai. This episode is the culmination of all the responcibility and uncertinty he's been able to avoid thinking about through out the entire series. Before he could always concentrate on his training or the immediate situation at hand, but now that the Day of Black Sun is only a few days away and there is nothing to distract him, the weight of the whole situation comes crashing down on him, a 12 year old boy. I think this episode does a good job at just how important a role the support of his new family is for him.
Oh, and Sokka is making armor for Appa to wear during the Invasion. This is 147 different flavors of awesome.
Be jove I think he's….well, not got it, really. Is starting to get an inkling? Maybe?
Huh. Aang's outfit with the topknot doesn't look like Jin to me at all – Jin wore his hair in a ponytail, not a topknot, he had glasses, he wore geta rather than boots, he didn't have a cloth tied over his hakama, his kimono sleeves were open in the front…basically, the whole thing looks different to me. If anything, Talking Momo's outfit is what looks Jin-esque. 😛
Agreed on all counts.
I remember when this episode was first released, the fandom started speculating the final nightmare intensely as if it were a revelation from God himself. I still remember all the predictions I made based off that final dream!
I switched on the tv right in the middle of the stranger dreams. I had no idea what I was watching (having never watched Avatar before). I just kind of…stared.
Then my Mum came in. She stared too.
After an awkward pause, I switched it off.
Mum: "What…what was that?"
Me: "I don't know."
(and then I googled avatar that night: huzzah!)
TRUE STORY.
I LOVE THIS EPISODE. IT'S SO FUNNY AND WEIRD. it's also on the most out of season 3 episodes i find…
"It’s a remarkably creepy dream,"
i find this an understatement.
"What the hell was that thing Azula got her hair washed in? Amazing!"
i don't know BUT I WANT IT. THAT WOULD FEEL SO WONDERFUL.
The thing that most disturbed me about this episode was the dream sequence of Toph without a face. ACK. Besides that, this episode was pretty silly. But what do you expect after an episode like "The Puppet Master"?
And then the "whole tray of fruit tarts" comment…
Longtime lurker delurking at last with a little RL story about this episode… I came to the show VERY late, just before the finale aired, and I marathoned most of it (I'm sorry, don't hurt me!). This was one of the last episodes I could watch at will before I had to watch on TV with everyone else, and it was one of the few times I went, "Filler? AT A TIME LIKE THIS?!?!" when it came on. Usually the breather eps didn't bother me because I didn't have to wait, but the end of the show was SO CLOSE, and an invasion needed to happen, etc. etc.
BUT. THEN. THE DREAMS. I recognized Goku in the first one and it made me smile a little but I was mostly grumbly at the time-wasting. And figured if there would be any more anime references, they would be to other shows like Dragon Ball that I didn't watch growing up, like Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh – I just missed that whole phase of 90s childhood somehow – because I figured those shows were more angled to the Nick audience. But then there was the second dream, and I really need a gif here of the Tenth Doctor going "What. WHAT. WHAT." BECAUSE, YOU GUYS. VASH. TRIGUN. THE ANIME LOVE OF MY LIFE. I didn't watch anime in my childhood, but I discovered it in high school, and Trigun was the very first show I ever watched. I can remember so clearly how I was dubious at first, and then I started understanding the conventions of anime cuteness and its storytelling tropes, and I finally warmed up to the humor and the characters, AND THEN IT ALL EXPLODED AND SO DID MY BRAIN. Then I watched Bebop, Eva, FLCL, FMA and everything else Adult Swim was showing at the time and my world was changed forever. But Trigun started it, and will always be my favorite anime somewhere deep down in my soul.
But Trigun has such a small online/fandom footprint nowadays, and it usually takes a backseat to the biggest classics like Bebop and Eva, and if I had seen some Bleach or Naruto reference on Nick I wouldn't have been surprised, but there was VASH. IN MY A:TLA. MY LIFE IS COMPLETE FOREVER. EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL AND NOTHING HURTS~
Thus my love for this episode and the animators on this show was cemented for eternity. My love for the show itself vastly transcends one reference, of course, but it was an important reference for me! And now that I have delurked I guess I should, like… make intelligent comments that are relevant to the episodes from now on, instead of telling pointless anecdotes. *sheepish* Making relevant comments shouldn't be hard, though, since Znex vf jngpuvat zl nyy gvzr snibevgr rcvfbqr, Gur Jrfgrea Nve Grzcyr, BA ZL OVEGUQNL. "Uv, Mhxb urer!" Oeo, qlvat bs nqbexnoyr bireybnq.
I also want to say that the entirety of Mark Does Stuff is the best place I have ever found on the internet, please never change. 😀
I actually watched Pokemon (and some Digimon, which always seemed better) as a kid, and didn't watch some of the other popular ones like Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Trigun, or Yu-Gi-Oh (mostly because I grew up without cable. That's why I was late in the game on A:TLA, too.)
Someone showed me a few eps of Cowby Bebop but I never got into it…
Then when I was living out-of-state with no TV, my brother started sending me episodes of the first Full Metal Alchemist…soon I was going to the library to check out manga…and then I was pretty much hooked. Viva La Japanese Pop Culture! 🙂
Oh, but you know what the best part of Yu-Gi-Oh's existence is? Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged by LittleKuriboh! (AKA CardGamesFTW, AKA Ninjabridge). Seriously, I've found that sometimes the best way to enjoy anime is to just watch how some very talented person completely satirizes it on the internet.
I can't recommend Abridged Series enough! (The Avatar:TLA Abridged series by GanXingba is incredible, too!)
*anime nerd high five on the astral plane*
I actually ended up watching all of Yu-Gi-Oh a couple of years ago because of YGO Abridged – it was so amazingly good that I wanted to be able to get more of the in-jokes by watching the source. XD Voice acting and comedy improv are two of my big weaknesses and LittleKuriboh is just obscenely talented at both. And alas, his Youtube account is down again… it's like Schrodinger's YT account. There is exactly a 50/50 chance at any moment that it is online or offline, until you look.
I've seen a certain sexyfine video from GanXingba, and the Zuko's date one that someone posted here a while ago, but I need to go look up the rest!
"In this sense, this might be the weakest of the Aang/Zuko parallel episodes, though the story isn’t bad at all. It’s just not as powerful. But miles from each other, the two characters fret and worry about their nearing future, and I was fascinated by that more than anything. If you think about it, we haven’t had much confirmation about what the Fire Nation or Team Avatar is actually going to do during the Invasion of the Black Sun."
I'm glad you brought this up. I agree that the parallels are generally strong in the series. Maybe they feel weaker here because we learn nothing new about Zuko. Would it have worked better if Zuko had experienced his own waking nightmare? What getting everything he wanted were finally portrayed as scary and unpredictable on his end? I really am not sure.
I really appreciate that Aang has understandable anxiety about the war. A lot of time is easily spent dissecting Zuko's journey, but Aang has his own. Exploring reasonable fears before a big battle in a comical way was refreshing for me.
"A lot of the little details entertain me, though. The fire breathing cow/hippo thing is awesome. We’d not seen yoga before, either! The glorious Wang Fire beard makes another reappearance, and Sokka is a beautifully irritating therapist. Toph uses earth bending to try to massage Aang’s stress away. And there’s a boarcupine again! If anything, there’s a nice message amongst the silliness: Aang’s friends truly care about him and they’ll do whatever they can to make him feel better."
I like that all of these things show a interesting mix of western and eastern philosophies. Sokka engages in a Western version of cliche-therapy. "Yes life can sometimes feel that way" Meanwhile Toph prepares acupuncture which is an Easter version of therapy. Katara coaches Aang through yoga but in a sauna. And that's not to say that stream hasn't been used in a variety of cultures. Still, the mixture of east meets west is really apparent in this episode.
I'm glad you brought this up. I agree that the parallels are generally strong in the series. Maybe they feel weaker here because we learn nothing new about Zuko. Would it have worked better if Zuko had experienced his own waking nightmare? What getting everything he wanted were finally portrayed as scary and unpredictable on his end? I really am not sure.
Afsfs, ALL I CAN SAY ARE SPOILERS. I do have thoughts here! I'll uh, try to remember this when I'm able to talk about it.
Dammit. You and and your stupid attachment to that word. Seriously, using anything other than filler will kill you?
Padding, standalone, breather episode. Those terms don't exist? Goshdamn you.
ASHFLAKSFHALS "NIGHTMARES AND DAYDREAMS"! I don't care what anyone else says, I love this episode deep in my soul!
It might possibly be because of how tremendously I was shipper-spoiled for this episode.
Oh who am I kidding? It's completely because of how shipper-spoiled I was for this episode.Just… just… Aang and Katara and Zuko and Mai I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I LOVE THEM.Aang being nervous and stressed and Katara being worried about him and trying to comfort him as best she can is just adorable. I especially like how she just can't seem to stop touching him.
<img alt="" src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h90/TariElensar/ep49-571.png" />
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/0002649p" />
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/000259zg" />
Comforting hands on his shoulders, comforting hands on his face… it's all very tender and "girlfriendly". I like how comfortable they are now giving and receiving this kind of physical affection. It shows us how far they've come from the beginning.
And then because Mike and Bryan are EPIC SHIPTEASING TROLLS we have Aang and Katara confess and then kiss before it's all revealed as only a daydream. Ha ha, wow, how incredibly frustrating. Still, it was nice of them to underscore this moment with their Cave of Two Lover romance leitmotif. (And no, I will probably never get over the fact that AANG AND KATARA HAVE THEIR OWN ROMANCE LEITMOTIF ASFHALSFHALBLURBLE.)
And now, because I'm shameless, have a mini-picspam of the daydream kiss:
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/00027h6w" />
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/00028ew0" /><div><img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/00029pc2" />
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/0002ac97" />
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/0002bwr9" />
And it's terrible of me, but I just love how Aang has such a kid's reaction to the stress of knowing he has to face the Fire Lord so soon. It reminds you how young he still is. You can see it in the first two dreams. Aang dreams about being embarrassed and humiliated at first, and then about forgetting a test. Really basic, childish, school-age fears. And then in the third dream he graduates to full-on primal and adult fears. (Being trapped in enclosed spaces, almost drowning, losing one's friends, losing one's identity, failing at an important task.) It mirrors his character maturing quite nicely. He's a lot more ready to shoulder the burden of saving the world than he was when he started the journey, a fact which his friends reassure him of, in a very sweet episode end.
(cont.)
And then over in the B plot with Zuko and Mai… just… Zuko going to her house just to hang out all day and cuddle on the couch and being happier than we've seen him in a while.
Very nice touch with her bangs covering his scar just so. Symbolism ahoy!
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/0002cch7" />
And Mai having Character Development and expressing herself more, because Zuko likes it when she expresses herself and they've worked out the relationship issues that had caused so much friction in "The Beach" and have reached a nice compromise. And Mai giggling and smiling and being happy! And being happy when Zuko's happy and worried and sad when he's sad and just generally caring so freaking much about him that it hurts because it's hard to love Zuko. And she can't fix his problems for him. He has to do it himself. He has to choose his own destiny. And I think he's closer to it than ever.
It's interesting how Zuko makes such a big deal out of the war meeting. His self-depreciation jumps to the conclusion that because he didn't hear about it, he must not have been invited. But in reality it's the complete opposite: they want and expect him there. He's given a place of honor even. Zuko is just so quick to assume that he's unwanted and unloved and that's heartbreaking. It's significant, then, that his realization of disappointment comes not in the moment of rejection, but in the moment of his greatest acceptance and honor, by his achieving everything he ever wanted… and finding it does not fulfill him. He gets everything he's desired, and finds it hollow and empty. Meaningless. Not what he really wanted at all. And I like that he can say as much to Mai. She can't really help him, because she doesn't have the same frame of reference or hard experiences he has, and because he keeps it all so internal and bottled up and doesn't tell her the full story, but she worries and tries to comfort him all the same, as best she can. (And that's a nice parallel to Katara there, I just noticed.)
And I have to chuckle at the crap they snuck past the censors with Zuko and Mai here. They spend all day together, cuddling on the couch, and then here they are in Mai's house, alone, at night, having sent the chaperones away earlier:
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/0002dr1x" />
And when we cut back to them in the morning he's still there. With mussed up hair. And she's fixing him tea.
<img width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/tari_silmarwen/pic/0002ewkc" />
Told you you should have been more worried about the dirty implications between Zuko and Mai, Mark.Conclusion: In spite of this episode's weirdness and uneven mood-swingy tone, I unabashedly love it for what it is: a quiet Day At The Bizarro character study.
Wow. You just made a Mai/Katara parallel. Just wow. If I didn't like Maiko before, you make a really strong argument for them being a great couple. Word!
The best part is the innuendo.
“What were you dreaming about?”
“Uh…Living underwater.”
GET IT?
No.
Um, I always thought it was a reference to The Little Mermaid and the song "Under the Sea". Or the 90's cartoon "Bobby's World", which parodied The Little Mermaid with a musical sequence called "Under Water The Fish Don't Stink."
So, um, how naive am I? *blushes*
Ehh, no… It was just a way of covering up the fact why he was making weird motions with his mouth (like a fish).
Ah, but that just proves she is a slut/vamp using her body to keep Zuko tempted away from the path of Kata*cough* Goodness.(/Sarcasm)
Seriously, the fandom got that bad
Ugh… I mean, I'm a "liberal Zutarian" you could say, but that level of obsession and hatred I just simply can't understand…
Zuko taking a royal palanquin like TWENTY FEET to Mai's house will never fail to crack me up. Also, his resistance to using the palanquin, plus his reaction to Mai suggesting he order servants around, really drives home how uncomfortable he is being The Prince and having all that power over people. Compare that to when he was in exile with Iroh and constantly complaining about how he "can't live like this!" I <3 you and your character development, Zuko.
I know that we don't get a lot of Zuko time in this episode, but I really think that his little story here is the most important thing IN the episode. It's him realizing that now that he has everything he wants, he's… not himself. That's a big step for our Zuzu. Maybe he'll finally realize that some of what his uncle was always saying to him actually makes sense.
The rest of the episode is just… pure silly. I love silly, especially anything having to do with Appa and Momo. I love the shot where everyone is telling Aang he needs to get a hold of himself, and then it pans over to Appa, who's STANDING UP and TALKING… love it.
Pingback: Google
Pingback: garmin nuvi 1490t gps
Pingback: apartments Brookline
Pingback: auto body jobs
Pingback: Simple golf swing system Review
Pingback: Jetblue Promo Code
Pingback: opportunities for investment
Pingback: Quickest Way to Lose Weight
Pingback: Sex Cams
Pingback: town car
Pingback: Conveyancing
Pingback: Immigration
Pingback: Tattoo Fever Review
Pingback: Q&A: Error 421 with Belkin Router. How to change settings? | Best VPN Router
Pingback: Boston lofts
Pingback: Conveyancing
Pingback: Family solicitors
Pingback: Investment opportunities
Pingback: Conveyancing Solicitor
Pingback: Property Solicitors