Azula being raised into nothing more than a war machine, never learning how to socialize like normal people, is very sad to witness

@cattiefogelsong6399

9 ай бұрын

Ozi hurt both of his children. It manifested in different ways for Zuko and Azula. I like these to two as an exploration of generational trama.

@rainestar82

9 ай бұрын

her being aware her mother didnt like her, being under the influence of her father, the little glimpse of this girl whos actually sheltered and scared and thats why she grasps so desperately for power, because its the only way she's been taught to exist... she truly is one of the most tragic villains I've seen in media

@cattiefogelsong6399

9 ай бұрын

@@rainestar82 obviously Zuko Alone is biased twards Zuko. But what little we see of Azula and Ursa isn’t great. Ursa trying to get her daughter to be less violent or rude is fine. But from Azula’s perspective she is getting shut down a lot. Azula sees their mom being more physically affectionate with Zuko. We don’t know if Ursa was trying to have one on one time with Azula or how that went. And then her mother just disappeared. And her disappearance seems to be connected to Zuko and Azulan. What is she supposed to make of this abandonment other than Ursa just cared for Zuko more than her.?

@Joe-cm5kl

9 ай бұрын

@@cattiefogelsong6399 It's The Golden Child and The Scapegoat, a paradigm typically associated with being raised by a narcissist parent.

@cattiefogelsong6399

9 ай бұрын

@@Joe-cm5kl oh i get that. I love that part of the writing. What i am saying is that too many writers forget that the Golden Child is also being harmed. And these writers didn’t make that mistake.

That moment you realize Iroh had the Crown Prince's royal artifact because he was to be Fire Lord and the artifact was for his son 😭

@steakismeat177

9 ай бұрын

Well Iroh had it because he was the crown prince. Instead of passing it down to his son, he passes it down to his adopted son

@MrsDuck356

9 ай бұрын

​@@steakismeat177❤😢😢

@davelewis8270

9 ай бұрын

Yeah but where was he keeping it?

@gsintampalam

9 ай бұрын

​@@davelewis8270 my theory, Iroh have member of white lotus in fire nation, that also how zuko have the message.

@nickstockbridge3334

9 ай бұрын

My question was why/how did it end up in that cell specificallyl

Fang wrapping himself around Roku to protect him to the end always wrecks me.

@HahsJeje

9 ай бұрын

Love the implication of the bond, how deep it goes. They are spiritually connected.

@iustinmatei5655

9 ай бұрын

I think he did it so he can die with Roku, he couldn't protect him and he knew that, he just didn't want to live without Roku. That was such a sad scene.

@karaqi_2104

9 ай бұрын

why didnt he grab Roku and flew away with him? he had time to do so. But I guess story should progress.

@iustinmatei5655

9 ай бұрын

@@karaqi_2104Maybe he would've die anyway because of the gas-poisoning, who knows. But yeah, they needed to end Roku's story somehow.

@karaqi_2104

9 ай бұрын

@@iustinmatei5655 Totally agree. Either way it was an amazing episode

The Avatar and the Firelord is one of my favorites in the whole series. It reminds me a lot of the storm from season one with the parallel storytelling between Aang and Zuko

@ncard00

8 ай бұрын

Aang didn't have to literally or physically give up Katara to master the Avatar state. It was just a state of mind and emotional detatchment, like in star wars for the jedi. So stupid, he could've beaten the firelord so easily right after that final test, ending the war so much sooner, but he didn't, stupid writing, no wonder this is called a kids show...

@thesensiblesupervillain4625

8 ай бұрын

Firstly, I'm not sure why this comment is under the initial one. I assume it was a mistake. Regardless, I'd like to point out a different way of looking at it: Aang didn't reject the final test because "it's a kids show," he did it because he, specifically, is a kid. He's frankly not all that mature or responsible, and giving up a potential romantic relationship (which yes, would likely have been impossible with the detachment Gyatso demanded) was too much for Aang as a child to handle. It was imo a mistake, but not on the writer's part. Aang is a very flawed character, and him growing into the responsibility required of the avatar is one of the show's major themes. That said, there's also the fact that the avatar state isn't invincible. Azula literally takes it down with one well-placed lighting strike, and while that was with the element of surprise I doubt Aang just marching up to the fire nation capital would've gone well. I agree it would've made things way easier, and ended the war sooner, but it's not as clear-cut as you are painting it. @@ncard00

@theapocalex

7 ай бұрын

its like saying why didnt the bird fly the fellowship to mordor? because then there wouldnt be a story you muppet @@ncard00

i always saw Azula's "she was right of course" as deflection, like she immediately realizes she had a second of vulnerability and she needs to cover it up

I hope you enjoy the scenes of Zuko speaking w/ Iroh through the bars. The perspectives the artist gave us continue to impress people who discover that it's intended to being that question of who exactly is imprisoned.

@Zukrad.Oudeteros

9 ай бұрын

I love this, you can see almost all shots of zuko the bars are infront of him making it seem like he is the one in the cell, while iroh's shots are almost all clear, also iron is in light and moves around freely, while zuko stays in place with shadows all around him.

@elfbreath

9 ай бұрын

Also when Iroh says "Sozin was your father's grandfather," the camera shows the scarred side of Zuko's face. When he says "Your mother's grandfather was Avatar Roku"- the camera pans to show the unburnt side of his face.

Dante Basco really gave it his all in this series. You can hear the torrent of emotions in his performance, whether screaming at the heavens, the frustrations at the campfire, the pain when Iroh was injured, even how desperate he's become when siding with Azula. I love the almost ridiculous dismal tone when he mentions Ozai thinks he is a war hero.

@pabloc8808

9 ай бұрын

When Zuko starts the rant about how "normal teenagers worry about bad skin" and how he's so angry he sounds furious, but when the others ask him who he's angry at and he goes "no, no" his voice breaks, his tone changes entirely and you can just feel the tears welling up. What a performance

@ncard00

8 ай бұрын

Roku was so weak and stupid, not killing Sozin the moment he mentioned his plans at the wedding, and not fleeing the island on his dragon. Places, people, and things can be taken away from you, so never attach yourself to these things, that's what it means to be an avatar.

@07Flash11MRC

6 ай бұрын

I think "stupid" is the wrong word. Roku knew what Sozin had in mind and what it would lead to. I think "naive" and "gullible" would be more fitting. He also wasn't weak. Heck, he used to be the Avatar, the most powerful being on the planet. Funnily enough, a lot of people judge Korra for lacking restraint (in the first season), but at the same time complain that Roku showed too much restraint. What most fans don't realize is that Korra being so strong and not holding back isn't even under her control. The Avatar spirit learned from the past Avatars' mistakes and Korra is the balance between too much and too little restraint. Roku himself is the outcome of Avatar Kyoshi mopping the floor with every kind of criminal, which still lead to conflict.

@TheSaxAppeal

4 ай бұрын

The avatar's whole thing is about balance. Keeping balance means not assassinating world leaders on a whim ​@@ncard00

Think back to Zuko's fever dream at the end of book 2. He's advised by two dragons, one with the voice of Azula, and one with the voice of Iroh. But the extra layer is that the blue dragon in that vision resembles the dragon that Sozin rode, while the red dragon resembles the dragon that was Roku's companion. So, in addition to the dream representing Zuko being torn between Azula and Iroh in the Book 2 finale, it represents the two influences of Zuko's heritage: Roku and Sozin.

@meganhutcheson5867

9 ай бұрын

OMG!!! You’re right I’ve never thought about it like that and I’ve seen this series multiple times.

Another touching thing is that when you hear Toph ask Aang if he believes that friendships can transcend lifetimes. For some reason I find it particularly touching.

@tycol322

9 ай бұрын

I like to think all the past avatars masters and friends find their way back to aang and korra eventually through the teams avatar. Maybe not everyone is a reincarnation. They're has to be room for new friends and bonds but the most important ones, the ones that reach into their souls and take root. Those definitely found their way back

@mranima748

6 ай бұрын

When you say for some reason, it sounds like you don’t know

@yomamma.ismydaddy216

6 ай бұрын

@@mranima748lol

"Roku, it's the girl who didn't even know you existed" "Aang, unlike you I'm not a pacifist and I can still slap you in the face for saying shit like that in the middle of my flashback"

Iroh revealing Roku is Zuko’s great grandfather always gives me chills

When Roku’s dragon wraps itself around him as he’s dying always gets me in the feels.

@ApexCalibre

9 ай бұрын

Reminds me of the dog that wrapped around the baby in Pompeii

Zuko being the great grandson of the avatar was crazy. Azula being the great granddaughter of the avatar is batshit crazy.

@Ramonsalazar_4.8

3 ай бұрын

BatshIT??! WhAT do yOU meAN? I dID nOT gEt it.

When you said “everyone should be forced to watch this show” I really felt that hahaha

I love this woman. She gets super emotional at all the perfect parts of Avatar. Especially when the animals protect their masters or get hurt. It's addictive watching other people cry at emotional scenes. I can't explain it but it makes me want to cry and for some reason it feels good.

Such a well hidden detail. "You have more than one great grandfather, Zuko."

@gabedamien

9 ай бұрын

He even has more than two! But I guess only two are relevant here.

@dargron7614

9 ай бұрын

Really well hidden, and it's all played out right in front of us. We see Roku getting married, starting a family, getting that family to safety from the volcano, and we are so focussed on the relationship between Roku and Sozin that it never once registers just how important this family Roku is making in the background is to the story.

@gabedamien

9 ай бұрын

@@sirmoonslosthismind Uh what? You have eight great grandparents, but only four great grandfathers. One father, two grandfathers, four great grandfathers.

I’m always blown away when I remember a “kids” show can also be one of the most well written series I’ve ever seen. Episodes like these two make that abundantly clear. This show did not get nearly the accolades that it should have all because it was a “cartoon” but the true fans know.

@amonjackson2072

9 ай бұрын

True fans know it may have started as a kid show but it definitely didn’t end like a kids show

@cloudwatcher608

9 ай бұрын

It is #7 in the highest rated TV shows (not just animated) of all time on IMDb. It has had a renaissance of sorts after it was uploaded to Netflix and a lot of people discovered how wonderful it is.

@amirmovsho6317

9 ай бұрын

nah its definitely a kids show from beginning to end, its not a bad thing but the target audience is still kids @@amonjackson2072

The thing that gets me about Azula’s “my own mother thought I was a monster” is that it’s not true. We don’t get to see much of their mom, and what we do is Zuko’s flashbacks. What I see there is a mom who doesn’t know what to do with her brilliant, manipulative daughter - especially when her husband is encouraging all Azula’s worst traits for his own ends. But Azula, being the perfectionist that she is, sees any form of correction as an existential threat. So when her mom corrects her, as good parents do, she doesn’t have the emotional maturity to see that as love.

@akhiltrc9708

8 ай бұрын

Yeah, that’s because she was still a child. I suppose it should’ve been both the parents’ job to fix that. Find what’s lacking and help your child with that. Ozai sucked ass, but I don’t think her mom did much good either, just ignored what Ozai enabled.

@Thoralmir

8 ай бұрын

@@akhiltrc9708 Being in depression probably didn't help Ursa's parenting. Ozai was as petty as he was evil. He had an assassin sent after Ikem, Ursa's childhood sweetheart, when he found out that Ursa still had feelings for Ikem. Even though the assassin was unsuccessful, Ozai still taunted Ursa with the news that her old boyfriend was dead.

@xandersorrows7341

7 ай бұрын

I always kinda assumes Ozai poisoned Ursa in Azulas mind, knowing that if they actually formed a loving bond, that Azula would be more kind hearted like Zuko is deep down. Ozai in my mind, is the one who told Azula that Ursa thought she was a monster, whereas Ursa was only concerned that Azula had such psychopathic tendencies and would have helped her grow through them into a more loving, peaceful woman.

@TheSaxAppeal

4 ай бұрын

​​@@akhiltrc9708she didn't ignore it. She just didn't know what to do. There's a difference

I definitely didn't see the Zuko being related to Roku twist coming and it 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 I also found it really touching that Toph (the girl who spent the first 12 years of her life without any friends) was the one to ask if friendships really can last more than one lifetime.

Also, Azulon(Ozais n Irohs father) actually forced Ursa (Zukos mom) into marrying Ozai because he knew she was a descendant of Roku and, that their Children would be really strong Firebenders (because their is a certain amount of bloodline and heritage involved in bending) and you can see the result of that in Azula and her firebending being blue flames

@laura_gieger

9 ай бұрын

mm isn't that kind of a spoiler for the Search comic? 😅 I mean they never say it in the show but it's in the comic. And if she plans on reading the comics... well I guess even if it classifies a spoiler it doesn't take away from the story that much 🙈

@jakeryan2805

9 ай бұрын

Its criminal that the whole story involving the mom is stuck in comic form. That was the one huge loose end/plot hole that never got resolved preventing the show from being a perfect complete work.@@laura_gieger

Girl I am in my early 30's and I would have never thought you were a day older than me!! If I look as good as you when I'm in my 40's I'll be delighted!!! You do such a great job with these reactions!! I find myself constantly checking if you've put out a new video. Considering patreon and I've never considered signing up for anyone else's patreon!

@Bako751

9 ай бұрын

I legit thought she was in her 20s, maybe early 30s How? Like how I need to know 🤣

@Bako751

8 ай бұрын

@@manolososadavinci1937 that's just rude

@Bako751

8 ай бұрын

@@manolososadavinci1937 yeah it kinda is

@33dbz

7 ай бұрын

@@manolososadavinci1937yeah it really is dude. Id apologize if i were u.

Fun fact: Roku's earthbending master "Sud" is the earthbender from the into sequence. He was originally supposed to be Aang's teacher before the writers came up with Toph.

@TheMrPeteChannel

9 ай бұрын

So some guy in his mid 20s was going to hang out with a bunch of middle school age kids?

@lukasr5867

9 ай бұрын

@@TheMrPeteChannel There is a difference between being a teacher and hanging out. The story probably would have been different than with Toph.

@cattiefogelsong6399

9 ай бұрын

@@TheMrPeteChannel i think they were going for 16 year old for male Toph. When they recycled the look they made Sud look older to match Roku.

@eileensnow6153

9 ай бұрын

@@TheMrPeteChannelYeah, like how Master Pakku “hung out” with the kids in his class, what a creep right 🤡

Zuko and Mai’s grumpy love is like a 90s teen movie

Dante Basco is obviously a great voice actor, but MAN HE IS SO GOOD. “I’m angrier than ever and I don’t know why!” hits me like a ton of bricks

I just love the Sokka interjection "Scientifically speaking there's no way to prove that..." and the perfectly timed pan over

@meganhutcheson5867

9 ай бұрын

Sokka, should’ve just given up with science at certain points, because scientifically speaking the three people beside him should not be able to do what they do and also he has seen Aang become Roku and Koshi at certain points. So can science explain that.

@XMarkVoidX

9 ай бұрын

@@meganhutcheson5867 If bending was real, a lot of people would seek to understand how it works. The same goes for souls/reincarnation etc. Science isn't the opposite of magic. It's a way to understand every aspect of reality.

@brutalchicken

9 ай бұрын

@@meganhutcheson5867 Scientifically speaking the benders around him can repeat what they do. Just because he can't explain it doesn't make it less real

@pabloc8808

9 ай бұрын

I like how this little moment has one of the greatest payoffs in all of Avatar. No spoilers, if you know you know

@cheslerpark7223

9 ай бұрын

"I think you all look perfect!!" -Toph

I’ve always loved how the episode titles in Avatar are always multilayered. “The Avatar and the Fire Lord” is obviously a reference to Sozin and Roku, but also to the battle within Zuko, which is revealed in the twist at the end of the episode.

I really like that ATLA has so many little nuances that are never explicitly stated, but make so much sense once one makes the connection. The crown Iroh kept safe has already been pointed out in another comment for example. What stands out to me is Sozin's betrayal. We don't get to see much of what Sozin did to the Air Nomad Temples other than the result, but i like the idea of Sozin being paranoid of "not succeeding" in getting the Avatar for good, because his betrayal would have been in vain manifesting in a deep paranoia in Sozin, which Ozai saw as weakness and foolishness, which in turn is why that was Zuko's task after his banishment. Someone really thought deeply about weaving those things into the fundamental fabric of the storytelling and i appreciate the intent in the way it is all revealed to the viewer.

31:50 Roku says: "It was bitter work.." which is also the episode where Aang first performs earthbending!

@devilsownweaponhaha

9 ай бұрын

Also, in S1, when Aang emerges from Roku's temple sanctum as Roku, he spares Zuko. Roku senses who Zuko is.

@yew2oob954

8 ай бұрын

It's a common phrase in Chinese Martial Arts...usually translated as "do not be afraid to eat bitter" (meaning bitterness or hardwork).

I love how you were talking about wanting to see growth and self awareness from Azula right before watching this episode. And Zuko's character arc is one of my favourites in all of fiction, _because_ he stumbles and makes mistakes.

@melanie62954

9 ай бұрын

I can't wait until she gets to The Boiling Rock!

@nicholaswilkerson4394

9 ай бұрын

Agreed! Although I will also say I'm so happy she was so excited for Sokka as a character whenever he has his own development episodes. Sokka and his character development, in my opinion, is absolutely on par with Zukos arc. It's just that the arc for Zuko is so fantastic that it seems to often overshadow Sokkas arc. Without Sokka, I 100% believe team Avatar wouldn't have had a chance at all of getting where they are now, and by the end of the show.

In the scene of the duel between young Roku and Sozin, Roku was “defeated” by the roots of the trees (i.e. nature), and Sozin initially picked him up, but at the decisive moment he allowed Roku to fall, many years later this scene was repeated, Roku was defeated by the forces of nature, and Sozin initially came to his aid, but at the decisive moment he left, allowing Roku to die

@07Flash11MRC

6 ай бұрын

*leaving Roku to die. But yeah, that's essentially it.

it shows that at her core Azula is a 14 year old girl that wants to be liked not just worshipped. I do like the fact that she went after zuko when he got kicked out of the party and found him at the house. She seemed compassionate telling him to come with her that the house was depressing. Very rare moment. It seems like she does try to be compassionate with him it sneaks out on occasion. I find those little moments interesting. The sozin Roku story always makes me sad, you got two kids who were unblemished by the world and grew up taking 2 paths and it ruined the world.

These 2 episodes are such good damn character development and backstory episodes, gosh I never get tired of watching them!

Aang and Zuko always had a lot of similarities. But who would have thought they'd be related, in a way 😂 Now we see why Zuko is always so conflicted about doing good or bad, he got both of his great-grandfathers good and bad natures!

People are mentioning plenty of the other stuff I would've, but one thing I never stop thinking about is how Roku's spirit is STILL wearing that crown/hair-piece. They clearly show him losing it, but his spirit still wears it. It breaks my heart. The Avatar and The Firelord, easily one of my favorite episodes EVER

The Avatar and the Fire Lord is one of my favorite episodes. Such a huge twist and cool story telling

Aang has Roku to act as a kind fatherly figure to guide him. Roku had Kyoshi as his guide. Terrifying

@CoreanCorp

9 ай бұрын

Damn man, I would have loved to have Kioshy as a mentor/guide 😂😂😂

@kateorgera5907

9 ай бұрын

There's going to be a Roku book in the vein of the Kyoshi and Yangchen novels, I'd be VERY curious to see Roku and Kyoshi's interactions, especially in regards to Sozin.

@streamspoart2671

9 ай бұрын

Roku after fought Sozin Kyoshi: FINISH HIM!

@MrsDuck356

9 ай бұрын

​@CoreanCorp everytime you'd ask her for advice she'd be like KILL EM😂

The ancient Chinese warrior-philosopher Lu Su had a saying. "If you have not seen your friend in three days, you should look at him with new eyes." The meaning is that you and your friend may have been allied before, but with distance you may each change so much as to now be enemies. Roku and Sozin had not seen each other for 12 years. Both had changed a lot in that time. Notably, Roku had seen and lived among other cultures, Sozin had not.

Grey Delisle, (the voice of Azula as well as many other well known cartoon characters), said she had a lot of fun doing this episode. She even went to say that this one was her favorite

These two episodes solidify Atla as having the greatest character development in an animated series for me personally.

These two episodes are seriously very well written & shows the dynamic between the siblings very well

The avatar and the firelord is easily one of my favorite episodes of the show. That conversation with Iroh really ties everything together regarding Zuko’s internal struggle and what he thinks his destiny is (capturing the avatar) vs his true destiny (restoring balance & cleansing the sins of his family). Love it.

How they took the concept of "fire nation teens at the beach" and came out with a TOP 5 episode is beyond me

Ooooh boy. buckle in for some character and lore building today!

Roku is a total weapon. I’m so excited for you to meet Korra 😭😖💜💜💜

Azula tryin to flirt is always hilarious.

"I just adore Aang. And I would love for him and Zuko to actually be friends..." 😁

I love episode 5. I think it might actually be my favorite of the series. I love when shows do explorations of villains. There’s the obvious stuff with Zuko, of course, but also with our trio. I admittedly don’t have a lot to say about Mai because she and Azula pretty much spell it out but I like that we get the context of why Mai is so monotone all the time. But we’ve also seen her care in how she does smile when she sees Azula and Ty Lee for the first time last season, how she accepts Ty Lee’s hugs. Ty Lee is the sweetest of the bunch but she also uses her own form of social manipulation. It’s mostly harmless. She plays the ditz but she’s actually the most socially aware of the group. And then there’s the explanation of why she’d join the circus, why she acts this way. She’s wants to be special, unique, to have eyes on her because, as Mai stated, she didn’t get that kind of attention at home. And then there’s Azula. Man, this episode goes above and beyond to remind you that while Azula is absolutely terrifying, she’s also just a 14 year old kid. She has no idea how to actually act her age or talk to people her age in a normal setting. Shes prone to jealousy over her perceived shortcomings. And she’s also been trapped in this abusive family situation, she just gets a different flavor of that abuse. It’s the Golden Child, the prodigy, the one who gets all the love… as long as she stays the Golden Child. She’s even incapable of taking it easy during a game of volleyball because everything is something to conquer, to prove how good she is. Everyone always talks about the “my mother thought I was a monster” line (which is great) but my favorite moment is actually when she goes to get Zuko at the Old Beach House. Her whole demeanor is so different than anything she’s had before and the line “this place is depressing”, while so throwaway, tells us she sees the tragedy of these memories too. It’s one of the few moments from Azula that I feel is completely genuine.

@cattiefogelsong6399

9 ай бұрын

Yes i also love Azula and Zuko at the old house. She shows some empathy and compassion.

@rainestar82

9 ай бұрын

I love the moment she goes to find Zuko, 100% agree how its a rare genuine moment. In the end I think she does actually care for Zuko as well as her other friends. Had Ozai not gotten into her head so early, she and Zuko may have even grown up close, had a similar bond to Katara and Sokka! (Which is a reason to love a certain fight even more) Its also interesting that SHES the one who directly calls out Mai and her stoicism--"you shut down". Much the way Azula herself hides her vulnerability behind aggression and power. You start getting the sense that she does actually feel EVERYTHING deeply, and has just learned to shut it all out/down because she was taught that it doesnt help her do what her father wants....her attempts to set up, mock or attack Zuko now read like her hating things in herself she tries to ignore. When she asks Zuko who hes mad at, her tone implies she knows the answer--because she's been there. ATLA writers proving how powerful leaving things left unsaid can be.

You have no idea how deep that Toph line is about friendships lasting more than one lifetime. It comes full circle in the most beautiful way.

Anyone else really appreciate, considering how briefly it was featured, how richly detailed the design of Lo and Li's (the two old ladies who are Azula's advisers) beach house was?

These reaction videos are a highlight of my week. Your ability to connect with the characters brings me a ton of nostalgia for this series. I'm not ready for the series to end.

Man, you saying "I really want more character building for the Girl Gang!" and me looking at the episode titles, I knew I was in for a good ride!

That might be one of the more emotional reactions I've seen to the reveal of Zuko's heritage, and I love it! It really just heightens all the parallels we've seen with Aang and Zuko throughout the series, and it does show Zuko that he's more than just the prince of the Fire Nation. The odd thing is, Azula is just as much Roku's relative as Zuko is, so it isn't just blood that makes Zuko the one to end the conflict, like some weird blood right thing. It's also Zuko's conflicted spirit - Iroh points out how this dual legacy has affected Zuko, in a way that it hasn't for Azula. As Iroh is sort of the resident spiritual expert, he gets that more than anyone. In addition, like Roku, Zuko has travelled the world outside of the Fire Nation and lived among its people, which gives him a perspective the rest of the royal family (outside of Iroh) lack, which Sozin lacked as well. In this way too, Zuko takes more after his mother's side than his father's. Had Sozin really listened to Roku, the one who had actually travelled to the countries he thinks are so poorly off they need to be "helped", the war would not have happened. (But then again, was it ever really about "spreading prosperity"? Or was that just a nicely-worded excuse to take power?🙄 )

"You should definitely watch this show if you like great story-telling, character arcs, music, action scenes, comedy, life-changing themes..." Yeah I agree. As long as you exist you should definitely watch this show 🤣

They don't really bring it up in the show, but Firelord Sozin had a legitimate complaint against the Earth Kingdom. The Earth Kingdom was incredibly corrupt, much like Ba Sing Se still is at this point in the series, but worse in the Fire Nation's opinion was they had basically dominated world politics for a long while. There's multiple reasons for that I don't want to get into for spoilers reasons, and doesn't excuse what Sozin did, but a distorted worldview could easily see the people of the Earth Kingdom as better off under Fire Nation leadership.

@spacemonkeyentertainment6413

9 ай бұрын

Imo Sozin gets a bit of the short end of the stick. Sure it was a bit dumbed down to make it more pallatable to kids, but i would have liked a bit more time on the theme of "sharing the prosperity" and how it all comes down to perspective. It's in there for sure, but imo it gets way overshadowed by the whole betrayal deal.

@rachelespiritu4215

9 ай бұрын

As they say, the road to hell… Yeah, there’s definitely something to be said about a more technologically powerful nation seeing other nations’ struggles and believing it’s their destiny to spread freedom by imposing their superior culture and government.

@georgesmith6218

9 ай бұрын

@@rachelespiritu4215 although I do agree with, but... both were monarchies.

@Matuse

9 ай бұрын

Ba Sing Se has always and will always be a complete toilet.

@coltonpiper6156

9 ай бұрын

@@spacemonkeyentertainment6413it’s one of the reasons I think Roku was incorrect to just brush off Sozin so quickly. I think if he didn’t use the word expand, Roku might have been down for it. When he said to spread the wealth to other nations, I don’t think he was thinking take over the world. It was only until years later that he probably saw that the fire nation was still doing great and other nations were not.

The beach is without a doubt my favorite episode. Aside from Azula’s comedic moments, the final scene on the beach where they opened up was literally perfect. Especially Zuko coming to grips with his emotions. In a show already filled with excellent character moments, this one took the cake. Plus, we never really knew much about why Mai and Ty Lee are the way they are so this was long overdue

If you didn't notice it, this is the first time in Book 3 we hear Uncle Iroh speak...with his new voice actor, Greg Baldwin. And I heard Baldwin will never sing "Leaves from the Vine," out of respect for Mako. Ugh my heart

I feel one of the things that makes the show so memorable is its very mythic, larger-than-life storytelling - a schism between two best friends leading into a 100-year war; the world's one hope being a child who is also the last of his people; the main characters all being kids who visibly have had to take on adult roles and grow up far too early because of the conflict..... Zuko's lineage of both, the Fire Lord that started the war as well as the past Avatar being a metaphor of his own internal conflict is just another perfect touch of that mythic, larger-than-life storytelling. 😊😊

In the episode where Zuko gets sick, when he dreams that he is the fire lord with the 2 dragongs and without his scar, he looks a LOT like young Roku.

The Episode 3x5 is very important to see the deeper desires and problems of our four teenagers of the Fire Nation. Zuko who suffer on his decisions and the fact that he now HAVE all what he wanted, but isn`t happy. May and Ty Lees problems in past and their difficulties now. (I think that Ty Lees strange comment to the Kyoshi Warriors was connectet with this.) And Azula the perfect princess, warrior and manipulator, but doesn't know anything about normal life. This was the most interesting thing in this Episode. And our powerful bounty hunter, of course. 😄💥 And episode 3x6: It`s crazy how normal and friendly Zosin was first, before his plans to enlarge the Fire Nation. And what this young man would do about it later. Betrayed his friend, killed an entire ethnicity and start an 100 years long war. And for what?

I knew you'd love The Beach. Great reactions to both of these wonderful episodes.

"Every time I watch one, I just feel like I can walk on air." Airbender Angela confirmed.

when Zuko found out that he's a descendant of both Sozin & Roku I was just as shocked as Zuko was but worse.

The emotion. The deep analysis, connection, and understanding of the characters in ATLA. THIS is why I love your videos. THIS is why I look forward to them, and why I continue to watch. You and your channel are simply amazing. Thank you for growing close to the show and allowing us to observe the same emotions we felt watching these episodes for the first time.

Azula is literally so hilarious. Like who told girl that megalomaniac machiavellian rizz was a good idea

Look at how strong Sokka and Katara and Toph have become by growing in the Avatar's example of the world coming together, without force.

Speaking about voice actors, that was Ron Perlman as old Sozin. As for what happened to him, there's the thing that happens to people that are in power for too long- "absolute power corrupts absolutely". And his excuse of sharing the success of his people (or rather their cultural superiority) with the world was one European and Japanese colonizers were very fond of using.

The Beach was a powerful episode and a critical one for Zuko.

Whats a beautiful detail is iroh didnt know aang was alive. So he was entrusting zuko with what was essentially aangs duty of restoring the fire nation

"Some friendships are so strong, they can even transcend lifetimes." That's powerful, thats a line to remember!

The beach has been a highly anticipated episode for me I thought you’d enjoy seeing the fire nation kids just hanging out and talking about their problems together

These are my two favorite episodes for the first half of season 3. The Beach in particular is SO good at exploring the trio and Zuko. Azula especially since we practically never get to see her be vulnerable or honest like she was in this episode.

My Own mother thought I was a monster 🥺 The biggest phrase by Azula. That explains everything! ❤❤❤ Such a great reaction!

You weren't wrong about teenage boys liking this episode, swimsuit Ty Lee and Azula awoke something in me. I also love seeing Azula just freely admit she's a horrible monster and acts like she doesn't care, but clearly she craves actual real attention so much she asks Ty Lee for advice about boys.

@bluexephosfan970

8 ай бұрын

I really wonder how Azula would have turned out if someone insistently gave her affection the way Iroh did to Zuko

@xandersorrows7341

7 ай бұрын

I always assumed it was Ozai convincing Azula that Ursa thought she was a monster, to prevent exactly that. He saw the kindness and car in Zuko that Zuko learned from Ursa, and decided to prevent that 'ruining' Azula. IMO Ursa showed genuine worry for Azula when she said 'what is wrong with that child', in regard to her paychopathic tendencies, not Azula as a whole, but because of Ozai, it felt like hatred and not concern.

Azula would turn bedroom time into competition

Mai & Toph are a lot alike in many ways, they just went to opposite extremes in how they delt with that.

Roku was Sozin's best friend and due to Sozin's position in the fire nation, quite possibly the only real friend he had. When Roku went to train, Sozin would've been left alone, surrounded by nothing but yes-men for 12 years, all trying to suck up to him and telling him that everything he does and thinks about is the greatest thing ever done or thought of. So he'd naturally develop a hero complex with an ego to match that justifies everything he does and after 12 years, he would've probably expected his one true friend to agree with him as well, so after that it was Sozin's ego vs his faithfulness in the friendship with Roku. When challenged his ego lashed out and made him want to prove that he is correct, which is why the Earth kingdom territory was occupied, but even years after when the volcano erupted, the faithfulness to Roku was winning within him until he saw Roku in trouble and his ego saw an opportunity. I think Sozin was actually very much a two-sided character, the bad side won out in the end, but the other side wasn't weak either.

You know, blocking is one of those things most people normally don't notice unless it's really good or really bad. In prison scenes, the convention is to draw attention to the bars when showing the prisoner (zoom outs so more bars are visible, panning the camera so the bars move across their face, etc) and to draw attention away from them when showing the visitor (zoom in so the bars are less prominent, etc), but the shots with Iroh and Zuko do the exact opposite. The blocking is telling you that whilst Iroh is in the cell, it's really Zuko that's imprisoned. That's some next-level blocking, it tells you a vital part of the story and most people probably didn't notice it at a concious level, but most of them probably registered something at a subconscious level about what it was telling them about these two characters.

I love how this explains why monk gyatzo wanted to be Aang's caretaker and was never going to leave his side

One thing I’ve always appreciated in Avatar was how in seasons 1 & 2 the storytelling was already very mature for a Nickelodeon show, but I love how season 3 ramps the storytelling up to a 20 and it’s just phenomenal. Genuinely some of the best storytelling and character building of all time. I love watching people discovering it’s majesty for the first time.

Your respect for life, and overwhelming empathy is truly incredible. The fact that you flinched when Sozin nearly felt from the volcano is amazing. Even knowing the monster that he was, you still had no hesitation with your concern. You are absolutely beautiful, right down to your core, please don't ever change.

Never ever is there a boring scene with Azula. She completely steal every moment :D

The beach episode is why i came around on zuko's heel turn at the end of season 2. he needed that moment realizing for himself when he has everything what he truly wanted and needed. had he just joined team avatar at the end of s2 it would have been emptier.

Some people read Sozin as perhaps wanting to be more than friends with Roku, as one possible explanation of the change in attitudes. He gave Roku what's essentially his crown when Roku leaves for over a decade and it's especially interesting timing that he proposes that the two of them rule the world together right when it's Roku's wedding, like it's a last desperate chance for them to be together. Of course the show's really old so all of it is subtext and headcanons.

I love how Roku says bitter work as a call back to the episode with toph.

@mranima748

8 ай бұрын

Kung fu directly translates to bitter work

39:09 the symbolism of the light in the prison cell. Despite Iroh being imprisoned Zuko is one locked away in the dark

I like the paralel between Great Divide and The Avatar and the Fire Lord as both episodes show that it's not always black and white, sometimes the Avatar has to make a choice to do something they might not like or want to do, or do something that's immoral, to save the world from worse. Aang had to lie to get the two tribes to work together, Roku would have had to kill Sozin to stop him, but he did not.

Zuko’s mom was personally arranged to Ozai because her being a descendant of Roku would make strong firebenders. Makes you realize that Zuko is even more of a failure in Ozai’s eyes

Note that in all the Zuko Iroh scenes, it looks like Zuko is the one in prison; he's in the shadows, clinging to the bars, while Iroh looks like he's free, in the light, with space around him.

I’m convinced this show wasn’t meant for kids. It was meant for young adults/mid-late teens. How can you expect a 7 year old to comprehend everything that happens in this show?

Azula is my favorite character in this show. Not just because her being evil is just so fun to watch, but because there’s actual depth to her. She’s just as scarred as Zuko, it’s just more obvious when you look at him.

Underrated part about the beach episode but azula was actually trying to be a good sister this episode

'Some friendships are so strong they can even transcend lifetimes' One of my favorite lines.

You get a little insight into the Azula group. Because they are Fire Nation you can easily underestimate how a lifetime of war has effect them. They have all had rough lives even when they are living in luxury. It speaks to the false assumption that rich kids have everything going for them. It's clear that their parents screwed up their kids. There is one line that a lot of people gloss over. In the Beach episode Zuko is with Azula in the old house. Azula says. "Come down to the beach with me. This place is so depressing". It's the first time you get a idea that maybe Azula was negative thoughts and emotions about her life growing up. You see later that her mother's opinion of her bothers her. Then, she says she is a monster but it still hurts to have your own mother acknowledge it. Azula knows how evil she is. And, I think she was envious of Zuko long before she was envious of Ty Lee. Zuko had real love and affection from their mother and Uncle Iroh. Azula was taken under the wing of Ozai. Going down that path cut ties with anything remotely resembling love, affection, compassion and any other emotion. Traveling with Ozai is all about merciless, tyrannical ruling of deemed inferior subjects. All other things are weakness and lack of resolve. She almost appears human in this episode.

"Monkey feathers! The Winter Solstice again."-Aang, The Last Airbender. The sailor potty mouth on Aang, huh? 😂

The way I seen Iroh’s transformation is that Uncle Mushi is gone and now General Iroh the Dragon is going to handle business.

Taking a "beach episode" and making it an emotional look into several characters' back stories and motivations? That's great writing. But doing it for a group of antagonists?! Amazing.

Some of the best writing I have ever seen in a TV show period.

I think some part of Sozin wanted to be on the same mission as Roku, but he didn't have the grounding to know what that should mean - he and Roku both had incredibly privileged upbringings, but Roku had it taught out of him.

@SnowyWolborg

5 ай бұрын

It's like the speech that Iroh gave to Zuko during the episode Bitter Work. Taking both life experience and knowledge from only one source is limited. Roku did not only travel to the other nations to learn bending, he lived with them, he wore their clothes, he ate their food, and he became a part of their cultures, too. Meanwhile, Sozin remained in the same environment and did not ever come to respect the other nations as equals.

I actually think that Azula was genuinely concerned when she saw she made her friend cry

Lilgal: "It's just volleyball" Azula: "Put your life on the line"