"I thought I was trying to be strong, but really I was just running away from my feelings." Can't tell you how long it takes to learn this. Even kind or sympathetic people can be so afraid to be weak or vulnerable, often because they never learned how. I love this show.
-
-
Part 1 - The Guru: A cynical, simplified comparison would be to call it "Luke's Dagobah choice," but because this show is so freaking grounded in psychology and meaningful story choices it just plays so beautifully - and with genuine insight into Aang's mind and journey.
Show this thread -
Part 2 - The Crossroads of Destiny: I have seen many stories and shows attempt to nail this kind of difficult crux in the story, to hit those difficult notes, to make those difficult choices... but I have never seen it executed as well is this. Wow.
Show this thread -
The Awakening: Largely a quick re-set, but works because it so rightly gets to Aang's feelings of failure. More just excited for what's next.
Show this thread -
The Headband: Now THAT's what I'm talking about. Organic world building, small stakes story, a dance party (!!!) and HILARIOUS- "you must be one of those popular kids I'm always hearing about!" / "And this one I made out of noodles!" / "Sapphire Fire!" / Toph's Nelson laugh.
Show this thread -
The Painted Lady: A little more clunk than normal, but the final stand-off seals the functionality of the build-up. I wish other shows understood apotheosis like this one. Every detail builds. "Now you look just like a little hill with horns!"
Show this thread -
-
By the way I love when shows redesign their standard models and the new fire outfits are


Show this thread -
Sokka's Master: A lovely episode that shows how much of our value lies in the way we're missed, and all the ways Sokka brings such strength, creativity, and versatility to all those around him. It's honestly best version of the "xander" archetype I've seen. Plus...
Show this thread -
1. A brief moment to talk about Toph's incredible comic timing and characteriztion, "you see nothin once you've seen it 1000 times." / "I learned from badger moles!" and 2. Iroh's training sequence!.
Show this thread -
Wait til I finish it cause I'm only five mins in, but holy shit there is basically a HORNY TEENZ HANG OUT ON THE BEACH episode!??!?!
Show this thread -
The Beach: HORNY BEACH TEENZ. 1. Zuko and Mai's disaffected goth romance is everything to me. 2. Azula as a sociopath trying to be social vs. Ty Lee's inherent likability... This is everything I didn't know I needed.
Show this thread -
The Avatar and The Firelord: Once again, it's all about quality writing. So much fantasy gets lost in the nonsense of history and lore, but Avatar takes those details and paints lovely brush strokes of how our family's history can effect our psychology in the here and now.
Show this thread -
The Runaway: Ah the "3 days earlier" trope, how I hate thee. At least the ep understands that it can ONLY work as misdirection, but again I hold fast and true to there is nothing you can with it that you can't do better in straightforward story. Also the scamming montage is aces.
Show this thread -
The Puppetmaster: 1. There show literally has a HELLRAISER HOMAGE. 2. I'll be honest, an unexpectedly poignant ending. Sometimes the worst thing we can pass on is the powers we should never possess, and the will to do whatever it takes :(
Show this thread -
So is this supposed to be making fun of goku because I dont know what a goku is i just know it has spikey hair like cloudpic.twitter.com/5ovTe5BrQn
Show this thread -
-
Daydreams and Nightmares: oh hey cool, it's my sleepless night and terrifying anxiety spirals coupled with the new paranoid effects that drugs have on me , all dramatized with devastating consequences cool cool. yup. cool. got it. THANKS AVATAR
Show this thread -
Day of the Black Sun: MY GOD. Where to start? Let's go chronologically 1. Look there's a certain cathartic power to "getting the team together" with everyone you met along the way, but it's even better when that's A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE
Show this thread -
2. Sokka having no idea how to give a power point / speak publicly is perfect, soooo much subconscious emotional vomiting 3. The amazing preparation montage with appa's armor etc. but ending it with little sheep is exactly what makes this show so damn humane. No tough guy B.S.
Show this thread -
4. The speech about moments of truth 5. Again, the action in this show is so freaking inventive, creative, thoughtful while being grounded in the basics of clarity, objectives, stakes, I'm in awe. What an attack. 5. "yes... he has." 6. Holy shit the lightning reversal callback
Show this thread -
The Western Air Temple 1. Zuko rehearsing his job interview! HE IS MY NEW NEW FAVORITE NOW (the show is so good at employing empathy in the right times / ways) 2. The ethos of "why am I so bad at being good?" so understands the muscle memory of anger / trauma. 3. The portrait
Show this thread -
The Firebending Masters: 1 "jerkbending... still got it" 2. RAIDERS VIBES 3. "He had a complicated past... family tradition I guess" 4. the way it reshapes our understanding of fire (a little heartbeat) is another reason I adore this show and it's philosophical underpinnings.
Show this thread -
The Boiling Rock: The first time I'm not sure it had to be a two-parter? But a bunch of moments I loved. Like Zuko thinking he can just say the punchline of a joke and be funny (but right after it shows how much growth he's had when people make fun of him back and he smiles) ...
Show this thread -
But the real coup is the way it elevates into the Zuko / Mei stuff and then dominoes into ty lee along with it - perfectly motivated stuff I loved it. And lastly, "My first girlfriend turned into the moon"
Show this thread -
The Southern Raiders: MY GOD THE SOKKA TENT GAG. / "why don't you take my mother?!" - But there's a bigger story about Zuko here (in chasing his own validation) is exacerbating and feeding the rest of the group's darker impulses... to a point, of course.
Show this thread -
The Ember Island Players: "This is the kind of whacky time wasting nonsense I've been missing!" The mission statement for this tremendously funny, but also thoughtful episode. There's so much in the layers in which we see ourselves and our own stereotypical behavior. And so many
Show this thread -
great gags like Zuko's long hair, toph as a tuff dude, the peter panning of Aang. But really the episode is about reflection "it takes all the mistakes in my life and shoves them back in my face" and serves to remind us yet again of just how impossibly young Aang is...
Show this thread -
It's sitting with the journey that got them here, all before before going into the deep trench of the the grim future that awaits...
Show this thread -
-
- Show replies
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.