"How Do You Expect To Defeat The Fire Lord Without Pants!"

[redbrunja]

Okay, so I just mainlined Avatar episodes 3x04 through 3x11, (seven episodes in one night, woot!) and I need to go through chronologically and share my reactions, but first I need to get this out.

 

Oh. My. Fucking. God.

 

Oh, Zuko.

 

*bows before the awesomeness that is the Fire Prince*

 

*flails*

 

(See, sometimes threatening a character works! Yes, Zuko, you WILL get to carry Katara barefoot across hot, molten lava while she quotes ambiguous myths at you and is distracting! Because you have EARNED IT. -  and I promise this won’t sound as saccharine as it sounds in the summery.)

 

*flails harder*

 

I'm almost incoherent right now. This was perfect - this was everything I could possibly have hoped for, and never in a million years thought I would ever see - he untangled his family from the Fire Nation, and stood up to his father.

 

"I'm going to find Uncle and beg his forgiveness."

 

I have never loved you more.

 

And now! Now it looks like he's going to be joining up with the Avatar and teaching him firebending! Words cannot even express how happy this makes me. I'm just *vibrates with happiness*

 

*forces self to take deep breaths*

 

(While I was watching this, I kept glancing at the clock, terrified that there was going to be a last minute cliff that would involve Zuko dying, because that is the kind of cruelty that I expect from writers, but no. He’s alive. HE’S ALIVE AND IN CONTROL OF THIS DESTINY!)

 

Okay, let's take this in a more logical order, shall we?

 

"Sokka's Master"

 

While the realist in me goes 'there is no way you can master the sword in a day,' I greatly enjoyed Sokka getting a chance to shine, and seeing how creative and clever he is. I really, really like this boy, and I love how he's just as powerful as every other member of the team, but doesn't always think so.

 

The one downside is that I really miss his boomerang.

 

Also, this episode is reason 2,754 that Iroh is awesome. 

 

You and Sydney Bristow need to chat about how unbreakable and awesome you are.

 

And in my head, at this point, Iroh’s to-do list is ‘Get out. Get tea. Give my nephew the smack he deserves.’

I can't wait to see how the lotus tiles circle around. (And how impressed was I that the hot air ballons made a comeback in the finale?)
 

"The Beach"

 

This episode almost make me like Azula. I mean, how vicious and cutthroat she was with the volleyball was cute when it was, you know, a game.

 

But god, I am so sick of the Mei/Zuko relationship. To quote Jennifer Crusie, "There's a small contrast problem. They have none." You've got one emo, well-bred fire nation youth and another emo, well-bred fire nation youth. It's just... it's so frustrating to watch, mainly because this is Zuko at his most pod!Prince. (And I thought this was annoying when he was doing it with Iroh. That at least had the advantage of Iroh - who just makes everything better.) Plus, they have this boring dynamic - there are no sparks. Either Zuko's being nice and Mei's being her gothic, haughty self, or Mei's being nice and it's just sliding off Zuko's impenetrable shield of gloom.

 

One reason that I think I really like Katara/Zuko is that they are nothing but contrast (I mean the Fire/Water and Sun/Moon imagery is just screaming at us) with enough similarities deep down that you know they could actually like and respect each other, and you know that they would get under each other's skins. Mei and Zuko just seem to slide against each other without penetrating the other's defenses. (Shut up. If I could come up with a metaphor that didn't sound dirty, I would.)

 

So this episode was great regarding what we get to find out about the 'villains' however, I found the final tell-all a little... hard to swallow. For a minute, when Azula started clapping, I though she had manipulated it all the get Zuko to realize he was pissed at himself, but then that wasn't the case, and I was quite disappointed.

 

Also, they taunted me with the idea that Zuko and Mei were going to break up, and then retraced it. I was so disappointed.

 

Plus, when they draw Zuko and Mei together, they make Zuko's hair this weird black/brown shade to make Mei's look darker.

 

"The Avatar & The Firelord"

 

I don't have much to say about this beyond 'yay, backstory.' I love the idea of Zuko being the great-grandson of the last Avatar.

 

Which makes Katara, in a past life, his grandmother and Aang his grandfather. I have no idea where I'm going with this, but it makes me giggle.

 

And also, I really wished we had seen past-Katara actually do something besides be pretty. I was thinking she was going to be another firebender, but, while it’s still possible, they never showed it.

 

"The Runaway"

 

Great, fantastic episode. I wanted to point out how much I loved two strong, independent women having difficulties with each other that are completely unrelated to a man. It was just their personalities and issues bouncing off each other, and that scene with Katara in the water (god, she's a little hottie, isn't she?) made my heart squeeze. I love what Sokka said about not remembering his mother’s face, and seeing Katara’s when he thinks of his mother. I mean... what else can you say, beside 'awwww.'

 

"The Puppetmaster"

 

Katara gets all the best fight scenes.

What was great about this episode is that I've wondered before about using blood (hadn't thought about the idea of manipulating people like puppets though) and I adored that Katara did use it when her back was against the wall.

 

I just adore how the old women won even as she lost, as did Katara.

 

Although, this was one of the episodes where the fact that they don't really kill people (Suki is fucking well alive) really lessens the impact - I was fine with them skimming over what the Fire Nation prison was like, but I really felt keeping the villagers alive was a bit of a cop-out.

 

"Nightmares and Daydreams"

 

It was a nice choice to got for a comedic episode before the big show down, and I think everyone has been at that anxiety-dream can't-rest place before.

 

Was I the only one going 'Katara, just screw him already - a couple of orgasms and he'll be out like a light'? *crickets chirp*

 

Also, the bits with Zuko were excruciating to watch the first time - I keep hoping that it was his daydreams, only it wasn't. I was very much in a 'what the hell, you just found out backstory about the Avatar and the Fire Lord and you're entertaining your dull as dishwater girlfriend?' At this point, I was ready to disown him in my heart.

 

"Day of Black Sun"

 

What is there to say?

 

Katara didn't have enough to do, first off.

 

The lack of Kiyoshi warriors, even if Suki was absent, was really obvious.

 

Seriously, the swamp people come back but not the awesome chick fighters?

 

I really liked how they set up the trap - nothing like clever villains, although I'm back to hating Azula with the passion of a thousand fiery suns.

 

And here is why Suki is not dead: first, we are told that Azula can lie without getting caught. Second, she said that Suki had been her PRISONER. Which means, that after the fight we see, she was still alive. Third, Azula never says Suki's dead - she just said that Suki had given up hope on Sokka (which, you just know has broken his heart into a thousand pieces.) Plus, Azula said that Suki was her favorite, which totally made me think of the man who tried to brainwash Sydney. "You were my favorite. You never broke."

 
(*pst* smiliaraaq - I have a plotbunny that requires an alias for Suki - would you mind if I used 'Soo'? Because that has attached itself as another name for her in my head.) 

So Suki's totally alive.

Either a.) still locked in a Fire Nation prison, and despairing of rescue but knowing that she has to get herself out or

 

b.) she's already escaped, and is wounded and recovering, or back at Kiyoshi island, or... the possibilities are endless.

 

But back to Zuko.

 

I... words fail me. You know when you want something to happen, but you think short of fanfic it never will? And then it does? The only way that conversation could have  been better is if first Zuko had broken his uncle out wearing the Blue Spirit mask.

 

But I can't even complain about that, because Zuko is following his uncle's path and I... *waves hand inarticulately*

 

He mastered lightning! He was composed enough to say his piece and walk away!

 

And there is a post I should write about the Fire Nation as the US, but I am too in love right now to want to drag real world metaphors into this show.

 

I need post-DoBS Zuko/Katara fic now.

 

Thank you, wondrous writers, for giving me set up that can be turned to smut! (Because, seriously, I have been worrying that puzzle over throughout the serious.)

 

*glees*

 

*glees harder*

 

*glees harder still and goes to turn off the heater, because my body temp is high enough, thanks.*

 

Man, what am I going to do with my time now?

 

Oh, right. Studying for finals.

 

Or I could, you know, write fanfic.

 

Comments

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

I told you that it'd be obvious when you'd caught up! Told you!

"He's the one who's been a real father to me" = completely true. And it's AWESOME to have him realize it and tell off his bio dad with this factoid.

And it was really just odd that the Fire Nation kept dangerous prisoners alive, without getting any use out of them, and having to go through complicated procedures to even give them a drink of water. I mean, they wiped out an entire nation -- why keep the waterbenders alive? At the very least, killing them off would prevent any others who develop the abilities from mastering them (at least without sailing across the world).

And Zuko inna zeppelin! I honestly think he's at his hottest in that last bit.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I know! I was frantically typing this entry, and I though, 'this is what fairest1 was talking about.

""He's the one who's been a real father to me" = completely true. And it's AWESOME to have him realize it and tell off his bio dad with this factoid."

YES. I mean, often WE know that's the truth, but to have Zuko verbalize it, and to his bio-dad no less? *loves*

See, I didn't have that much trouble with the fire nation keeping them alive - or at least, I didn't until you mention it, but I really couldn't believe that the mad waterbender wouldn't be killing the villagers in various unpleasant ways.

I was too enthralled with the fact that he was actually alive and going to help the Avatar at the end to fully appreciate the hotness.

And frankly, the hair is getting a little to emo for me. I like it when he ties it up, though.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I mean -- Iroh said he viewed Zuko as a son way back in season one, but now Zuko's openly admitting that he feels the same. Though since Iroh went TOTALLY BADASS and broke out of jail without Zuko's help, it'll be harder to apologize. Zuko's best bet is to clearly be helping the Aang Gaang when Iroh finds him; otherwise he's gonna get a smack when they meet up again.

That, too -- really, what point is there in just locking them up? It didn't even seem like she was going after specific targets, like former guards or Fire Nation citizens who'd committed war crimes. It was just random people in the woods.

I suppose. But I like the emo hair better than the shaved head.

. . . and the zeppelin scene has him bearing a certain resemblance to Gil, so that added an extra heart floating up from my head.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yes, Zuko better has some 'see, see, this is what I've been doing' in his back pocket. And I sincerely hope he sees Iroh, and immediately kneels down.

And upon rewatch, yes that scene with his hair blowing in the wind DID make him rather resemble a certain Spark...

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

And also a big helping of "I'm sorry! I was a complete idiot! I know better now!" as soon as Iroh spots him. And with any luck, there's going to be hugging and all forgiven by a very patient Iroh who can at least tell when his nephew is really really trying.

Mm, yeah. Zeppelin Hair = new trend for fall!

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Well, I want Zuko to squirm a little bit before Iroh forgives him, but that's just because I love torturing Zuko.

Zepplin hair = win, especially when one is in said zepplin in order to chase down the love of your life save the world.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. Iroh will glare silently a bit while Zuko babbles semi-coherently about how sorry he is before the hug. They're too close to drag it out very long.

Mmmm, yeah.

. . . is it wrong that the 'love of your life' bit made me think of Zuko/Aang? The sheer level of obsession Zuko held has lead to some interesting fics.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Well, don't forget that way back in the first season, we saw the coal rig with all the imprisoned Earthbenders (and given how many prisoners were there, and Tyro's comment at the end about "taking back ALL our villages", they were from many different places across the Earth Kingdom; so there's precedent for them taking prisoners instead of killing them off. The Earthbenders were being used as slave labor, so it's possible they were keeping the Waterbenders alive for much the same reason -- break them physically and mentally, and then if you ever need their special abilities you can haul them out of storage and put them to work. The genocide of the Air Nomads was a special case, since they were trying to eliminate the threat of the Avatar -- keeping the other benders alive I think shows some of their imperial arrogance, nothing less than the Avatar can truly be a threat to them so they will deign to keep their wretched prisoners alive...

As for Hama holding the villagers prisoner instead of killing them, well, other than the obvious excuse of "it's a Nick show and they're tying not to kill too many people", I can sort of handwave that -- after her own long imprisonment, forcing them to suffer in the same lingering way she did might seem a more complete revenge than just giving them a mercifully quick death.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I guess I needed to see some torture, really. Because if she's going to kidnap them to as reparations for her own hurt, I need to see some blood and agony, because they all looked too cognizant and well-fed for me to buy that they'd been held for months and months by a madwoman.

But again, Nick show.

And yes - I can definetely see choosing to keep other benders alive in case/in order to use their powers.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and given the constraints of a Nick show marketed to such a young audience, I am constantly astounded at how much they DO get away with. There's genocide, and brain-washing, and a creepy secret police, and plenty of character deaths and injuries (just discreetly bandaged, off-screen, or otherwise non-bloody), and hints of racial/cultural prejudice, and refugees...really, for all that they have to play some of the darkest stuff with a very light, subtle hand, they're still managing to give a surprisingly good portrait of life under siege/occupation. Even with all the magical elements, this is still very clearly a world where violence has lasting consequences, and people aren't just going to shrug off their injuries like action-movie heroes. And that even extends towards showing the mental/emotional toll -- Aang's anxiety before the invasion, Jet's and Hama's unreasoning hate towards even FN civilians... There are still a few things that you would expect to be coming up in this sort of wartime setting, like rape or more direct forms of torture, that I'm sure will never ever be dealt with directly since it's a kiddie show, but the world's been portrayed with such realism that an adult viewer can imaginatively fill in all the little dark corners for themselves.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Normally, I can forget that this show wasn't made for adults - with all the fantastic details they Do put in, like the emotional toll of the war and how oppressed people react - it's fabulous. That's what makes the when they CAN'T quite show what should be there that it sticks out.

And yes, I'm sure that rape and torture are not going to make an appearance.

Which, actually, I was pondering this earlier. So, I've found it rather unbelievable (but I know it's because of the constraints of the show) that so far none of the heroes have killed anyone yet.

So, as someone who's read more fic than I have - how is that best dealt with? Do most people continue that, that no one really dies, or do they have people killing people, and if so, does it feel fake or out of character?

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

But Aang did kill people while in the Avatar state -- mostly a bunch of nameless soldiers, sure, but killed nonetheless.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Oh, also, the thing with the slaughter of the entire Air Nomad culture is a very special case, in ways that might not be readily apparent because it's not mentioned directly in the show but has been brought up as canon by Mike and Bryan: with the other three nations, benders are just a subset of the population. But the Air Nomads were ALL Airbenders; destroying them all was the only way Sozin thought he could be sure he'd eliminated the threat of the Avatar (and it might have worked, if Aang hadn't conveniently decided to run away).

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh. But if you kill the Avatar, they'll only reincarnate. Which means that you'd be best off killing the waterbenders so, at least, when he's born there, he won't get any training.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Well, in the short term at least, killing off all the Air Nomads meant Sozin would have a break of twenty years or so waiting for the next one to be born and trained -- and he was old enough at that point that it might have been a matter of conveniently leaving the problem for the next generation. ;)

But then when the Air Nomads were all gone and no new Avatar showed up for a hundred years, well, maybe they figured the cycle was already broken somehow. (And that may be the case anyway when Aang eventually dies, unless there's a secret hidden population of surviving Air Nomads somewhere -- three more rounds of reincarnation after this one and whoops, dead end, no more Avatar cycle!)

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Hm, true . . . but why go to all the trouble of containing the waterbenders? As near as I can tell, this was about 50 years back, and they didn't seem to make any use of the ones they had. It's not like they went through training to break their wills and put them to work on ships or something; they were just kept there.

Actually, there was a note in the latest magazine, semi-joking, that the title might be changed to "Avatar: One of the last few airbenders"

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Well, for now that 'last' seems accurate. I wonder if the bending is genetically linked, or if you could get some weird mish-mash of genes that would have an airbender born in the earth kingdom or a waterbender born in the Fire Nation.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Yeah. We'll have to wait and see. The bending is pretty clearly genetically linked; otherwise, you'd see Earth Kingdom citizens fighting back with fire or something.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Unless, of course, Aang has kids and trains them as airbenders so that in three cycles there will be at least SOME airbenders around.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Plus, I have a feeling that the Fire Lord would be more threatened by the water tribe than the earth kingdom, just with the way that their bending opposes each other.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Right. That, and the fact that it's easier to wipe out a smaller tribe than a nation that takes up what, 2/3 of the world?

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Very true. I really need to pause on the map of the world and study if for a bit - I always mean to, and I always end up sliding past in order to get to the episodes themselves. ^_^

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Heh. I think that's something everyone does when mainlining a new series -- you rarely watch the opening credits every time.

Also -- I got your postcard. And I hope you're caught up with GG -- Gil is so cute when making an extra effort to impress Agatha.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

No need to pause -- here's a labelled map (http://avatarrevisited.proboards54.com/index.cgi?board=info&action=display&thread=1190532462&page=1)!

The Earth Kingdom, as you can see, is HUUUUGE, which makes wiping them out problematic -- no wonder in the current timeline there were still big unconquered chunks even after a century of war. And the Water Tribes, while much smaller, were much more remote and in fairly inhospitable climates, so it's not too surprising they had a bit of a standoff, particularly with the bigger Northern Tribe.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oh, how interesting.