Oh, THIS EPISODE! It starts off so hilarious and ends up in a world of pain. And along the way, there are owls. Everyone is fond of owls.
Thoughts:
- I'm with Sokka. Many a satisfying vacation has been spent at the library. - However, as a former librarian, I take issue with Wan Shi Tong's policies. - ...on the other hand, burning library wings? NOT ON, FIRE NATION. I like this sign of how dedicated the Fire Nation is to ensuring that no one learns anything about them that they don't want to be discovered. - GRATUITOUS ZHAO FLASHBACK. He found a secret library. Did he mention that he found a secret library? - Zei's approach to Aang, treating him as a talking anthropology textbook, is an interesting and subtle critique of ethnocentric practices of anthropologists. Amirite?
If only Zhao had a song about his secret library, he might have been a better person for it.
Ah, the first time I watched this episode, I was so innocent. Now when I watch, I'm still loving it, but simultaneously waiting in dread, willing what's going to happen at the end to NOT HAPPEN this time. But it always does. :(
I love the creepy, mythic feel of this episode, which reminds me very much of Spirited Away -- discovering an ancient, hidden location full of spirits who aren't necessarily benign. But oh, that ending :(
Did anyone else get seriously freaked out when they first saw Wan Shi Tong? I mean, barn owls usually freak me out (I have no clue why), so you can imagine how freaked out I was to see a GIANT FREAKING BARN OWL. Especially when he got nasty and fighty. BLEGH.
That aside, I love the foxes, and I love Wan Shi Tong's way of speaking - right out of a Miyazaki film!
The...planetarium?...thing is one of my favourite places in the series. It's just so beautifully put together - it really seemed realistic to me. It was lucky that they managed to find out about the eclipse, and I love how clever and smart Sokka is in this episode. It really preludes the brilliant tactician we see in the third season.
And poor Toph and Appa. I really hate that scene, because it's so real in its heartbreak. And it only preludes sad things to come.
I got freaked out, haha. Just really eerie to see a giant owl, and the way he moved and spoke...argh. (Although Koh is still the creepiest character to grace the show.)
One thing I liked about this episode was that, in a way, it made the protagonists feel like the villains. After all, they WERE using the library to crush their enemies -- they were there to specifically use information in a war. They lied to the Owl, too...I had no problem understanding his anger when he confronted them later. (Although trying to kill them is a bit much.)
Oh hey, that's a neat perspective! I never thought of it that way. Looking at it that way, even Sokka's seemingly innocuous "smart enough to fool you" seems almost...malicious.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-07-03 07:37 am (UTC)Thoughts:
- I'm with Sokka. Many a satisfying vacation has been spent at the library.
- However, as a former librarian, I take issue with Wan Shi Tong's policies.
- ...on the other hand, burning library wings? NOT ON, FIRE NATION. I like this sign of how dedicated the Fire Nation is to ensuring that no one learns anything about them that they don't want to be discovered.
- GRATUITOUS ZHAO FLASHBACK. He found a secret library. Did he mention that he found a secret library?
- Zei's approach to Aang, treating him as a talking anthropology textbook, is an interesting and subtle critique of ethnocentric practices of anthropologists. Amirite?
no subject
Date: 2011-07-03 12:49 pm (UTC)Ah, the first time I watched this episode, I was so innocent. Now when I watch, I'm still loving it, but simultaneously waiting in dread, willing what's going to happen at the end to NOT HAPPEN this time. But it always does. :(
no subject
Date: 2011-07-03 06:15 pm (UTC)Something like that?
no subject
Date: 2011-07-03 07:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-03 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 01:33 pm (UTC)That aside, I love the foxes, and I love Wan Shi Tong's way of speaking - right out of a Miyazaki film!
The...planetarium?...thing is one of my favourite places in the series. It's just so beautifully put together - it really seemed realistic to me. It was lucky that they managed to find out about the eclipse, and I love how clever and smart Sokka is in this episode. It really preludes the brilliant tactician we see in the third season.
And poor Toph and Appa. I really hate that scene, because it's so real in its heartbreak. And it only preludes sad things to come.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-29 02:32 am (UTC)One thing I liked about this episode was that, in a way, it made the protagonists feel like the villains. After all, they WERE using the library to crush their enemies -- they were there to specifically use information in a war. They lied to the Owl, too...I had no problem understanding his anger when he confronted them later. (Although trying to kill them is a bit much.)
no subject
Date: 2011-08-29 12:38 pm (UTC)