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

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Well, they've pretty much been taking turns -- as Aang himself comments, it's Katara's turn to take a road trip with Zuko.

And Zuko's been in Katara's position; he faced down his father to confront him and show that he wasn't the weak little coward that dear ol' dad kept saying he was. "I can kill you, but I choose not to" is a powerful message to convey.

I think it would have been fine if Katara had settled for crippling his hand or castrating him or something -- make him live with the pain of that day like she had to live with the pain of the day he first faced her. Not killing the guy, but without the ability to take him to trial for war crimes, enacting a form of justice.

Aang is far too innocent. He hasn't really lived through all that he's suffered. The death of the monks he knew, when most of them would have died of old age anyway by the time he resurfaced? A vague realization. The death of all the other air nomads? Too big. It can't really sink in. He never lived through the raids on the temples, never looked in the eye the ones responsible. It's easier to forgive the man who killed your mother when you never actually knew your mother.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Aang is far too innocent. He hasn't really lived through all that he's suffered. The death of the monks he knew, when most of them would have died of old age anyway by the time he resurfaced? A vague realization. The death of all the other air nomads? Too big. It can't really sink in. He never lived through the raids on the temples, never looked in the eye the ones responsible. It's easier to forgive the man who killed your mother when you never actually knew your mother.

Yes, exactly. As someone else mentioned, the Avatar State is a great way to have your hero kill people without having your hero be responsible for people dying, and without having to have Aang deal with killing people.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

My view of morality in cases like this is best summed up in a Firefly quote: "If someone tries to kill you, you try to kill them right back."

I'd like it more if Aang could make peace with himself over what he'd done in the Avatar State (rather than going the "Not my fault, not my concern" route)-- siege of the north, he killed people on those ships, but they were launching an attack on a city, not caring about the civilians, the children, who would get killed in the process. To accept that yes, sometimes you need to take one life to preserve the lives of many.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

My view of morality in cases like this is best summed up in a Firefly quote: "If someone tries to kill you, you try to kill them right back."

Hell yes. Or you actually plan effectively to make them not a threat anymore, instead of waiting for a deux ex machina to drop in your lap.