There are, like, NO WORDS about how much I love this episode. So naturally, I shall expend many words talking about how much I love it, for that is how I roll.
This episode is very special to me, because it was this and "The Blue Spirit" that made me fall in love with the show, rather than just enjoying it a lot. Here is why:
- the fisherman calling Aang out on having run away. Now, I feel like in a lot of ways, Katara is right, and that had he not fled, Aang would not have survived the attacks on the Air Nomads. And I think it's very important that the war is ended by an Airbender, because it's Aang's background that makes him seek desperately for a way to end the war without killing Ozai, and had he not managed to find one, there would have been no lasting peace.
On the other hand, aside from the bit where it's a touch refreshing to have someone not go, "Oh, the Avatar! He'll save us!", I do think that Aang's early avoidance of his duties had to be addressed.
- Aang flashbacks! It's interesting that don't just get narrative flashbacks here, but also what looks very much like a post traumatic nightmare flashback in Aang, and Zuko's attempts to recall younger, happier days.
I also love seeing the Air Nomads, young and old, and seeing a little more of Aang's childhood. Though it makes me wonder about the upbringing of wee airbenders: are they fostered with a monk, or raised communally? How old are they when they leave their mothers? And so forth.
(Certainly it looks like they're trying to raise the Avatar by committee, which works out about as well as you'd expect.)
- Tiny Zuko! Tiny Zuko getting his little face set on fire! Those scenes are a bit amazing, from Zuko's honourable patriotism to the shot of Azula, fistpumping as her brother is mutilated.
- Someone on DW, and I can't for the life of me remember who, so speak up if you know, once said that, according to Confucian philosophy, a ruler is to his nation as a father is to his son. So by burning and banishing Zuko, Ozai has essentially forfeited the Mandate of Heaven.
Despite the enormous crowd at the Agni Kai, it can't have been common knowledge that Ozai burned Zuko, because otherwise his crew wouldn't have assumed it was a training accident. Really, Iroh is being very subversive in spreading this story -- and every stereotype I've ever encountered tells me that sailors are notorious gossips, so you can guarantee it will be common knowledge from here to the Northern Water Tribe by the end of the year. Is Iroh undermining his usurping brother? Is tea hot?
- Iroh's look of amazement when he successfully redirects the lightning is deeply amusing.
- Again, we have Zuko choosing the right thing in not going after the Avatar. The look he and Aang exchange as Aang flies away fills my heart with glee. "SEE THAT? THEY'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS! LIKE BROTHERS! WHO DANCE! WITH DRAGONS! LIKE A GEORGE R. R. MARTIN NOVEL!"
Oh, I hadn't thought about the idea of Iroh spreading the story to undermine Ozai yet. Maybe he finally decided to really start working to get rid of his brother, with the Avatar being back at all? Iroh has managed to keep Zuko safe for three years, but now there's actually a risk that Zuko will end up returning to the Fire Nation and end up in the same space as the child-burner again...
The lightning scene! *hearts* The look on his face makes me wonder if this is the first time he's redirected lightning in practice instead of just in theory. That would be double awesome. And he was doing it to save Zuko and Jee, too :)
The look he and Aang exchange as Aang flies away fills my heart with glee.
It's not often (or ever before?) that I can pinpoint such a thing like this, but that was the very moment that I fell completely in love with the series. Greatly helped along, of course, by the whole episode being so fantastic, but those were the few seconds that I had to immediately rewind and play again. And now it's wonderful to see it and think of dancing with dragons. :)
Now, I feel like in a lot of ways, Katara is right, and that had he not fled, Aang would not have survived the attacks on the Air Nomads.
This makes me wish that AtLA had something like Big Finish's Doctor Who Unbound series, because following this "what if" could make for a fascinating AU! Doubtless there are fanfics out there that build on this premise, but how to find the good one(s)?
Aw, you're welcome. I love this post as well, and the second I read your comment I was like "OH HEY I KNOW THIS ONE." I am an unashamed Fire Nation fangirl, so intriguing musings about FN culture is naturally going to find a special place in my heart and- if I am feeling smart that day- my bookmarks.
Speaking of Air nomad mothers (and girls): where did they go while the males went off to become monks? Did they have their own separate nun section of the temples, perhaps?
One of my favourite episodes of the whole show! Loved the flashbacks, especially to Zuko's past - what can I say, I'm a Zuko girl. Iroh was awesome as always, playing troubleshooter and being sympathetic to both the crew and Zuko.
Of course, the slasher in my immediately latched onto the tension between Lt. Jee and Zuko - steaming hot, hee. *g* Um, yeah...
There's not enough space on the internet to describe how much I adore this episode. It's a wonderful piece of storytelling, does a great job of pointing out the parallels between Aang and Zuko early on, and has a great balance between talking heads scenes and thrilling action. Lots of gorgeous imagery as well -Aang and the rest sinking underwater, Iroh holding the lightning, Zuko's hand catching the helmsman's...
Lieutenant Jee. I love him to tiny little pieces that I want to eat with sugar and cream. So many interesting details to this guy -the lack of a proper topknot, the way he explodes at his superior officer in defense of his men, his interaction with Iroh... That first scene were he pulls this face at Zuko when he overhears him barking that the crew doesn't matter! The way Zuko marches into his personal space to snarl at him! There's so obviously some kind of history there. "History" being "Jeeko" in my head canon, but well. Gawd, the way he smiles at Zuko when they rescue the helmsman together. Like he's thinking "I knew you had it in you". And Zuko smiles back. *cough*
This episode is a beautiful example of the kind of subtle characterization that makes A:tLA so special. We almost never find out more about Zuko's crew in the rest of the season, but the interaction between Jee, Iroh and Zuko in these few scenes says so much about them. And it's not just the speaking roles. When Iroh is at the end of his story, the camera pans across the faces of Jee and the other three crewmen who were listening, and their facial expressions speak volumes. I didn't notice until the eleventieth re-watching of this episode, but when Iroh says that the Fire Lord decided Zuko had "shown shameful weakness", the crew guy on the far left suddenly looks indignant -nearly furious, even. The way this show manages to give personality to background characters is amazing.
The almost-duel. I so hate Iroh for breaking up that particular fight. Also, they made the international slash sign with their arms! *COUGH* Anyway, it's really interesting that there seems to be another kind of formalized firebending duel. It's clearly less formal than an Agni Kai, but still ritualized to some degree, what with the clashing forearms.
The contrast between Zuko's seeming disregard for the safety of his crew and the reason why he got himself into an Agni Kai in the first place is just heartwrenching. Ozai taught him some bad, bad lessons there. Give a damn if the grunts die -> lose half of your face. No wonder Zuko's moral compass is all out of whack and doesn't manage to right itself for years. Which doesn't mean he isn't being a little rotter to pretty much everyone in this episode, but still... poor kid. Awesome storytelling.
Great detail: Zhao standing in the crowd at the Agni Kai. The way he's smiling is just... wow. Brrrrr. Of course Azula is also smiling, but we know she's a bit special that way. For a grown man to smile while a child is being burned... It adds a very, very creepy layer onto Zhao's character.
The Zuko bits in this episode were the most interesting for me, obviously, although Aang's back story also made his character a lot more fascinating all of a sudden. I was actually a little disappointed when Aang went "Oh, now I feel all better and my guilt is resolved" after unloading on Katara. It seemed like a too-easy resolution to an issue with Massive Angst Potential.
"You give people hope", and then "The Avatar gives Zuko hope". *sobs*
Airbender!Sokka in Aang's dream right at the start cracks me up every time.
Although I'd argue that it's in Aang's nature not to cling to angst, especially angst for which he knows there's no resolution. In this situation, there's no other way but forward, so he does that.
True, that's Aang. It sets him apart from certain other characters who shall remain unnamed. I shouldn't be imposing my desire for moar angst on the little guy :D
Glad you liked the fic, thank you! *bounce*
("Reply" is confusing, right? Right? I mean, there's often twenty "reply" buttons on one page, it's totally normal to click the wrong one half of the time. Right?)
True, that's Aang. It sets him apart from certain other characters who shall remain unnamed. I shouldn't be imposing my desire for moar angst on the little guy :D
I think the show would have been intolerable with two emo angst monkeys around.
Also, because clicking on the right link is hard, I just left this comment for dancing_serpent instead of you, in response to "People in the mirror are closer than they appear":
At first I was like, "...really?" and then you totally sold me on the pairing. And I loved the glimpses of crew life. ♥
Oh, I love this comment so much! Totally absolutely agree with you. On Jee, on Zuko's whacky moral compass, everything.
Also, they made the international slash sign with their arms! *COUGH* They so did! Come on, slashers, take the hint! *g*
Anyway, it's really interesting that there seems to be another kind of formalized firebending duel. It's clearly less formal than an Agni Kai, but still ritualized to some degree, what with the clashing forearms.
I hadn't even thought of it that way...but hell yeah, now that you mentioned it, it's kind of obvious. *headdesk*
Descending into Avatar-o-geekery here, but combat traditions among the various nations are so fascinating! An Agni Kai seems to be a planned public spectacle, and the outcome clearly has legal repercussions -Zuko wins a throne through Agni Kai, and by defeating Zhao, he seems to win the right to pursue the Avatar. It makes sense to also have a slightly looser, more spontaneous dueling form to resolve smaller disagreements. The Fire Nation being as big on honor as it seems to be, they'd manage to ritualize even that sort of duel. I imagine that two people with an argument should first try to talk it out, then duel, and if that still doesn't bring satisfaction, they should issue a formal Agni Kai challenge. Like taking a legal case up through increasingly high levels of court. /geekery
Or maybe it's first talk, then fight with your clothes on, and if that doesn't work, fight topless in front of an audience. Which is an interesting sequence that makes me wonder about the dirty mind of whoever made it up. Kinky Sozin?
*off to make "international call sign for SLASH" icon*
Edited (forgot to use Jeeko icon, natch) Date: 2011-03-06 09:36 pm (UTC)
That makes me wonder if there are Fire Nation legal nerds, or the equivalent of birthers, arguing that Zuko and Azula's Agni Kai is invalid because both were wearing shirts.
(Management does not endorse underage topless fratricide.)
Maybe if Ozai had been at home during his kids' Agni Kai instead of far away burninating the Earth Kingdom, he'd have insisted on them observing proper Agni Kai etiquette? "Show your future subjects the goods or get off your sister's throne, Prince Zuko."
Oh, I'm all for Avatar-o-geekery! And what you said makes tons of sense to me. *imagines how it would work if the Fire Nation had something like those Earth Rumble Championships...*
Or maybe it's first talk, then fight with your clothes on, and if that doesn't work, fight topless in front of an audience....or take the fight fully naked to any available surface. With or without audience. *cough* Uh, did I say that loud?
Which is an interesting sequence that makes me wonder about the dirty mind of whoever made it up. Kinky Sozin? Nah, I'm sure it's an older custom...I mean, Sozin clearly had something going with Roku, but he wasn't quite into the bondage the latter subjected him to. *g*
....or take the fight fully naked to any available surface. With or without audience. *cough*
That really does sound like a logical next level, if Agni Kai still doesn't settle the matter. I bet they ritualized this as well. Don't start stripping before the sound of the gong, no toys or suspicious herbs allowed, and the man or woman who begs for mercy first loses.
You know, Zhao totally cheated the audience by blowing Zuko's ship up instead of going on to this next legal dueling level when their Agni Kai failed to resolve things between them. Boo. Or maybe Jee managed to put his foot down somehow.
Funny that you mention bondage, I was just writing something in that direction *g*
This episode solidified my already growing adoration. I was amazed that they had actually made the antagonist have a past - one that seemed to account for who he really was, one that showed him as a person and not a nameless gremlin. And the fact that they addressed the genocide frankly, openly, and even asked questions about what would have happened ... yeah. I also liked the special care they took when it came to displaying the culture of the Air Nomads because - being a budding secular Buddhist - it was wonderful to see what I was reading about shown in something as commonplace as a cartoon - shown respectfully, even!
Everything really seemed to be portrayed rather accurately. The populace's reaction; the want Aang runs again; the guilt and shame that Zuko feels and the eternal need to continue to try and win Ozai's love ... yeah. Amazing detail was taken with this episode.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 07:14 am (UTC)This episode is very special to me, because it was this and "The Blue Spirit" that made me fall in love with the show, rather than just enjoying it a lot. Here is why:
- the fisherman calling Aang out on having run away. Now, I feel like in a lot of ways, Katara is right, and that had he not fled, Aang would not have survived the attacks on the Air Nomads. And I think it's very important that the war is ended by an Airbender, because it's Aang's background that makes him seek desperately for a way to end the war without killing Ozai, and had he not managed to find one, there would have been no lasting peace.
On the other hand, aside from the bit where it's a touch refreshing to have someone not go, "Oh, the Avatar! He'll save us!", I do think that Aang's early avoidance of his duties had to be addressed.
- Aang flashbacks! It's interesting that don't just get narrative flashbacks here, but also what looks very much like a post traumatic nightmare flashback in Aang, and Zuko's attempts to recall younger, happier days.
I also love seeing the Air Nomads, young and old, and seeing a little more of Aang's childhood. Though it makes me wonder about the upbringing of wee airbenders: are they fostered with a monk, or raised communally? How old are they when they leave their mothers? And so forth.
(Certainly it looks like they're trying to raise the Avatar by committee, which works out about as well as you'd expect.)
- Tiny Zuko! Tiny Zuko getting his little face set on fire! Those scenes are a bit amazing, from Zuko's honourable patriotism to the shot of Azula, fistpumping as her brother is mutilated.
- Someone on DW, and I can't for the life of me remember who, so speak up if you know, once said that, according to Confucian philosophy, a ruler is to his nation as a father is to his son. So by burning and banishing Zuko, Ozai has essentially forfeited the Mandate of Heaven.
Despite the enormous crowd at the Agni Kai, it can't have been common knowledge that Ozai burned Zuko, because otherwise his crew wouldn't have assumed it was a training accident. Really, Iroh is being very subversive in spreading this story -- and every stereotype I've ever encountered tells me that sailors are notorious gossips, so you can guarantee it will be common knowledge from here to the Northern Water Tribe by the end of the year. Is Iroh undermining his usurping brother? Is tea hot?
- Iroh's look of amazement when he successfully redirects the lightning is deeply amusing.
- Again, we have Zuko choosing the right thing in not going after the Avatar. The look he and Aang exchange as Aang flies away fills my heart with glee. "SEE THAT? THEY'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS! LIKE BROTHERS! WHO DANCE! WITH DRAGONS! LIKE A GEORGE R. R. MARTIN NOVEL!"
*eyedart*
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 01:34 pm (UTC)The lightning scene! *hearts* The look on his face makes me wonder if this is the first time he's redirected lightning in practice instead of just in theory. That would be double awesome. And he was doing it to save Zuko and Jee, too :)
no subject
Date: 2011-03-30 04:46 am (UTC)It's not often (or ever before?) that I can pinpoint such a thing like this, but that was the very moment that I fell completely in love with the series. Greatly helped along, of course, by the whole episode being so fantastic, but those were the few seconds that I had to immediately rewind and play again. And now it's wonderful to see it and think of dancing with dragons. :)
no subject
Date: 2011-03-30 04:16 pm (UTC)Now, I feel like in a lot of ways, Katara is right, and that had he not fled, Aang would not have survived the attacks on the Air Nomads.
This makes me wish that AtLA had something like Big Finish's Doctor Who Unbound series, because following this "what if" could make for a fascinating AU! Doubtless there are fanfics out there that build on this premise, but how to find the good one(s)?
no subject
Date: 2011-04-17 06:21 am (UTC)http://quigonejinn.livejournal.com/190239.html
no subject
Date: 2011-04-17 06:35 am (UTC)Also, wow, it's a bit embarrassing to realise how much of my whole idea of the Fire Nation comes from that one single post. Oops.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-17 07:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 07:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 07:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 12:19 pm (UTC)Of course, the slasher in my immediately latched onto the tension between Lt. Jee and Zuko - steaming hot, hee. *g* Um, yeah...
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 07:53 pm (UTC)At first I was like, "...really?" and then you totally sold me on the pairing. And I loved the glimpses of crew life. ♥
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 08:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 01:40 pm (UTC)Lieutenant Jee. I love him to tiny little pieces that I want to eat with sugar and cream. So many interesting details to this guy -the lack of a proper topknot, the way he explodes at his superior officer in defense of his men, his interaction with Iroh... That first scene were he pulls this face at Zuko when he overhears him barking that the crew doesn't matter! The way Zuko marches into his personal space to snarl at him! There's so obviously some kind of history there. "History" being "Jeeko" in my head canon, but well. Gawd, the way he smiles at Zuko when they rescue the helmsman together. Like he's thinking "I knew you had it in you". And Zuko smiles back. *cough*
This episode is a beautiful example of the kind of subtle characterization that makes A:tLA so special. We almost never find out more about Zuko's crew in the rest of the season, but the interaction between Jee, Iroh and Zuko in these few scenes says so much about them. And it's not just the speaking roles. When Iroh is at the end of his story, the camera pans across the faces of Jee and the other three crewmen who were listening, and their facial expressions speak volumes. I didn't notice until the eleventieth re-watching of this episode, but when Iroh says that the Fire Lord decided Zuko had "shown shameful weakness", the crew guy on the far left suddenly looks indignant -nearly furious, even. The way this show manages to give personality to background characters is amazing.
The almost-duel. I so hate Iroh for breaking up that particular fight. Also, they made the international slash sign with their arms! *COUGH* Anyway, it's really interesting that there seems to be another kind of formalized firebending duel. It's clearly less formal than an Agni Kai, but still ritualized to some degree, what with the clashing forearms.
The contrast between Zuko's seeming disregard for the safety of his crew and the reason why he got himself into an Agni Kai in the first place is just heartwrenching. Ozai taught him some bad, bad lessons there. Give a damn if the grunts die -> lose half of your face. No wonder Zuko's moral compass is all out of whack and doesn't manage to right itself for years. Which doesn't mean he isn't being a little rotter to pretty much everyone in this episode, but still... poor kid. Awesome storytelling.
Great detail: Zhao standing in the crowd at the Agni Kai. The way he's smiling is just... wow. Brrrrr. Of course Azula is also smiling, but we know she's a bit special that way. For a grown man to smile while a child is being burned... It adds a very, very creepy layer onto Zhao's character.
The Zuko bits in this episode were the most interesting for me, obviously, although Aang's back story also made his character a lot more fascinating all of a sudden. I was actually a little disappointed when Aang went "Oh, now I feel all better and my guilt is resolved" after unloading on Katara. It seemed like a too-easy resolution to an issue with Massive Angst Potential.
"You give people hope", and then "The Avatar gives Zuko hope". *sobs*
Airbender!Sokka in Aang's dream right at the start cracks me up every time.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 07:54 pm (UTC)Although I'd argue that it's in Aang's nature not to cling to angst, especially angst for which he knows there's no resolution. In this situation, there's no other way but forward, so he does that.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 09:18 pm (UTC)Glad you liked the fic, thank you! *bounce*
("Reply" is confusing, right? Right? I mean, there's often twenty "reply" buttons on one page, it's totally normal to click the wrong one half of the time. Right?)
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 08:35 am (UTC)I think the show would have been intolerable with two emo angst monkeys around.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 08:03 pm (UTC)At first I was like, "...really?" and then you totally sold me on the pairing. And I loved the glimpses of crew life. ♥
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 09:00 pm (UTC)Also, they made the international slash sign with their arms! *COUGH*
They so did! Come on, slashers, take the hint! *g*
Anyway, it's really interesting that there seems to be another kind of formalized firebending duel. It's clearly less formal than an Agni Kai, but still ritualized to some degree, what with the clashing forearms.
I hadn't even thought of it that way...but hell yeah, now that you mentioned it, it's kind of obvious. *headdesk*
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 09:34 pm (UTC)Or maybe it's first talk, then fight with your clothes on, and if that doesn't work, fight topless in front of an audience. Which is an interesting sequence that makes me wonder about the dirty mind of whoever made it up. Kinky Sozin?
*off to make "international call sign for SLASH" icon*
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 10:07 pm (UTC)(Management does not endorse underage topless fratricide.)
no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 10:22 pm (UTC)"They say I'm not properly Fire Lord why now?"
"Don't worry, you just need to fight her again, but half naked with everyone watching this time. Arena's sold out already and Katara' making popcorn."
"Can we rub you down with oil first?"
(But management thinks underage fratricide is fine so long as it's done with clothes on? Sigh. What's our culture coming to.)
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 08:34 am (UTC)Hey, Fire Lord makes the rules; I just work here.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 12:12 pm (UTC)Maybe if Ozai had been at home during his kids' Agni Kai instead of far away burninating the Earth Kingdom, he'd have insisted on them observing proper Agni Kai etiquette? "Show your future subjects the goods or get off your sister's throne, Prince Zuko."
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 09:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 08:26 am (UTC)Or maybe it's first talk, then fight with your clothes on, and if that doesn't work, fight topless in front of an audience....or take the fight fully naked to any available surface. With or without audience. *cough* Uh, did I say that loud?
Which is an interesting sequence that makes me wonder about the dirty mind of whoever made it up. Kinky Sozin?
Nah, I'm sure it's an older custom...I mean, Sozin clearly had something going with Roku, but he wasn't quite into the bondage the latter subjected him to. *g*
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 12:21 pm (UTC)That really does sound like a logical next level, if Agni Kai still doesn't settle the matter. I bet they ritualized this as well. Don't start stripping before the sound of the gong, no toys or suspicious herbs allowed, and the man or woman who begs for mercy first loses.
You know, Zhao totally cheated the audience by blowing Zuko's ship up instead of going on to this next legal dueling level when their Agni Kai failed to resolve things between them. Boo. Or maybe Jee managed to put his foot down somehow.
Funny that you mention bondage, I was just writing something in that direction *g*
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 12:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-06 11:35 pm (UTC)Everything really seemed to be portrayed rather accurately. The populace's reaction; the want Aang runs again; the guilt and shame that Zuko feels and the eternal need to continue to try and win Ozai's love ... yeah. Amazing detail was taken with this episode.