She's Standing In The Ashes At The End Of The World

[redbrunja]

It's been a long time darling, but it's good to have you back:

Okay, 2 minutes in and we have one of the most awesome Zutara moments ever. Seriously, Mike & Bryan - he saves her from falling rocks, lies on top of her for a bit with his hand curled around her waist, and they stark at each other for a bit, and you don't know why we ship them?

I think that moment right there was my second favorite bit of the episode.

Even mom, the Maiko shipper, was holding my hand and squeeing through that scene.

Azula is awesome. I really like her when she's being badass and not totally winning, and that shot of her with her hair flowing was fantastic.

I wish the animators would have lingered more on that scene where Katara catches Zuko.

Okay, Suki and Sokka? Totally fucking. I mean, totally. And I love a girl who sneaks into her lovah's tent.

Bloodbending? For the motherfucking win!

That was my favorite scene - Katara bloodbending with no angst about it, Zuko's look of 'holy fuck she's even more powerful than I thought', and then Zuko's utter disbelief that the Fire Nation officer could ever forget about anyone he hurt. Because I think that's something Zuko has always had - even if you're on the opposite side, you damn well remember who you hurt.

And I love love love the repeated images of Katara looking up just like Hama looked up. You guys rock, Avatar animators.

Katara and Zuko ninja-ing around was everything Stormbenders promised us it would be.

And have to say, I'm a little ambiguous about the resolution of the episode - it was only saved by the fact that Katara didn't forgive that man - she just didn't kill him.

I really like Aang's 'oh fuck' epiphany. That said, Avatar State hello? Is he completely not responsible for anything he did while under that? I mean, he's already killed people.

Also, I've been avoiding spoilery icons posts, but if anyone has good icon recs for just this episode I'd be interested.

Comments

[tobu-ishi.livejournal.com]

The MINUTE Azula started to talk, I thought, "O shi, she's finally snapped." Her voice has gone crazy-growly and she's lost her delicate edge of snark. Highly alarming development, though she looks incredible with her hair down (and disturbingly similar to her mother).

NINJAS NINJAS NINJAS NINJAS NINJAS :DDDDD pretty much sums up my opinion of that. Also, "We weren't behind the bush" was the best kind of vaguely Pythonesque failed badassery.

I'm glad Katara chose not to rip the guy apart in cold blood. I think it won her respect points with Zuko, too. She's not a psycho crazy like his sister.

(Also, as long as we're talking Hama comparisons, how about Jet comparisons? Not just Sokka bringing it up, but later, with the attacking defenseless (albeit formerly murderous, in this case) old men.)

Miscellany: So much gorgeous animation. So many gorgeous shots. Sleeping Teo maxed out my seeving quotient in the first ten seconds. ROCKS FALL, ZUTARA LIVES. Zuko's capybara!face when confronted with seductive half-dressed Sokka. I totally called bloodbending without a full moon--or was it full? I should go back and watch again...

SO MUCH LOVE. SO. MUCH. LOVE. :D

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

The MINUTE Azula started to talk, I thought, "O shi, she's finally snapped." Her voice has gone crazy-growly and she's lost her delicate edge of snark. Highly alarming development, though she looks incredible with her hair down (and disturbingly similar to her mother)

You know, I wouldn't describe Azula has having snapped - she's not no longer winning so effortlessly, and I love it. She's kind of in the same boat Zuko was in season one, and I think it's doing fabulous things for how I view her character.

And I think the moon WAS full, but I had NO DOUBT that Katara could bloodbend without it.