Probably the most shocking thing I saw in this episode was the skeleton of Gyatso. For a show that's C8, that's pretty mature - especially when the details are given out and it's revealed that there was genocide involved.
Also, I loved the Agni Kai. Seeing Zuko's turmoil, having hints of his not-so-black-and-white history, was really interesting and refreshing to see in what usually would be a flat Gargamel of a character. Seeing the martial arts in the scene was also pure eyeporn.
"Probably the most shocking thing I saw in this episode was the skeleton of Gyatso."
Agreed. I hadn't actually realised, when I first watched the series, how young the intended audience was -- I had assumed it was aimed directly at the tween market and up. So it's not until now that I've recognised what a visceral (and even slightly scary) moment that is.
"Seeing the martial arts in the scene was also pure eyeporn."
Every single firebending sequence makes me want to take up martial arts. Even though I am totally unco-ordinated.
I also thought it was for tweens and up, which was why I was so shocked when I saw books for the series in the Very Young Readers section (after I started watching it). I was like... Huh.
I thought the skeleton surrounded by Fire Nation uniforms was plenty creepy, and I'm a good thirty years older than the target audience. If I'd actually been a little kid watching this, it would have scared the hell out of me.
One of the unspoken little things I liked is that Gyatso obviously took down a hell of a lot of soldiers before he finally fell. Which is pretty impressive for a peaceful monk.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-01-09 02:06 am (UTC)Also, I loved the Agni Kai. Seeing Zuko's turmoil, having hints of his not-so-black-and-white history, was really interesting and refreshing to see in what usually would be a flat Gargamel of a character. Seeing the martial arts in the scene was also pure eyeporn.
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Date: 2011-01-09 02:43 am (UTC)Agreed. I hadn't actually realised, when I first watched the series, how young the intended audience was -- I had assumed it was aimed directly at the tween market and up. So it's not until now that I've recognised what a visceral (and even slightly scary) moment that is.
"Seeing the martial arts in the scene was also pure eyeporn."
Every single firebending sequence makes me want to take up martial arts. Even though I am totally unco-ordinated.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-09 03:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-09 03:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-09 03:46 am (UTC)