Seeing hakoda’s unconditional love for his children them immediately followed but by zukos dad saying he was proud only because of his accomplishments shows how much Zuko is damaged
Not just, how much, but why. I can't even fathom the amount of pressure Ozai heaped on Zuko, and how many ridiculously high expectations Zuko failed to live up to.
@@TopNotchWatcher87 Azula is the fire bending prodigy and thus always got the respect and attention from their Father that Zuko craves so much. Thats why Azula became the way she is, because she is just as desperate to get his approval, she just has the skill and cold blooded nature to actually get it.
Remember, from Aang's perspective, he *just* got over his guilt for abandoning the world 100 years ago, and then he immediately fails to save Ba Sing Se and the world thinks he's abandoned it all over again. That's gotta hurt like hell
exactly, it deeper that even aang's own friends don't realize, because to him he's failed twice, and that takes a toll on him and hes a kid. alot of reaction channels miss this when reacting to this episode and this season. aang really suffered
right! i love when aang says he wants to redeem his honor when he’d had it before. and then it cuts to zuko being on his way to see his dad, showing that he technically has his honor back, when he didn’t have it before. there’s so much more mirroring with these two but this episode was a great example as well
Also I juxtaposition between Hakoda and Ozai. Hakoda, unconditionally loving his of his children and being the best father to them that he is capable of being, and then Ozai, who only feels "proud" of his children when they've done his bidding for him.
The contrast between the father reunions is very telling. Hakoda loving unconditionally and fully and Ozai only praising actions that helped him personally.
Rationally Sokka is correct. It’s an advantage that they think Aang is dead, however, the Avatar is a symbol of hope. He was already gone for 100 years. Aang doesn’t want people to lose hope again.
Katara coming to grips with her emotions towards her father gets to me every single time. The writing and acting is just so perfect; I never would've expected this depth from what's ostensibly a kids' show, if it wasn't for all the other times that Avatar was amazing.
Same. Always felt like that scene never gets enough appreciation from the fans. She is always so strong, but when she finally breaks for a moment, it hits like a truck.
And, they leave her question unanswered. She feels resentment, sorrow, and anger. They haven't seen their father for over a year because he went off to fight in the war. That's the most selfless and relatable situation possible. There is no good answer. Life isn't always fair, nice, or just.
@@IamnotJohnFord Those are pretty self explanatory though, right? The warriors aren’t going to take little kids into battle, and her dad being gone has an emotional response, even if there is a logical explanation.
Aang actually shaves his head in the first scene of "Tales of Ba Sing Se". I can see how you wouldn't remember it though, considering the other trauma in that episode.
The thing about Azula is that she may not seem like it, but she is afraid of her father. She’s seen how her father has treated Zuko, and if he’s willing to do that to him, then he would do it to her as well.
Katara and Hakoda's talk was heartbreaking. There's so much going on internally with Katara, she was wrestling with the rational and the irrational, and the only thing that could bring peace and resolution was being held by her father and being told she was loved.
On the note of Aang's tendency towards Airbending as his nature, after picking it up, Earthbending becomes his second most used, and I would likely attribute that to specifically being taught by Toph, who forced Aang to shift his base mindset a bit, so it became a second nature to him because he fundamentally changed as a person, as opposed to with water where he was very capable of adapting his Airbender mindset into how Waterbending works. In terms of learning a language, he learned Waterbending like a second language where he translated each term and compared the grammar, but learned Earthbending similar to attempting to learn a language by living in a country and picking it up directly through context.
I love the transition between Aang saying he wants his honor back and then them transitioning to Zuko, specifically the side where he has the scar. Show don't tell.
Speaking of transitions, Zuko and Katara's respective interactions with their fathers. Hakoda still unconditionally loves Katara, who is being emotionally vulnerable vs. Ozai's conditional love and only showing said love when his children are achieving for his own gain, thus following in his footsteps, and Zuko's clear discomfort and uncertainty of Aang being alive.
I think the Earth Kings decision to travel alone was pretty smart. He was extremely sheltered his whole life and to be an effective leader he had to go and learn a lot about the world
It reminds me of how the king of Portugal escaped to Brazil to avoid having to fight Napoleon. It is pretty controversial if he should be considered a coward or just pragmatic
@@LucasSampaioMaia Fleeing to an ally territory and leaving your people to fight an incoming war on their own is very different from self exile after losing a war you barely learned you were fighting with nowhere left safe.
@@georgesmith6218no, not even close All the men from the village left to help the war effort. The fire nation at this was evil and was destroying the world even committing genocide and they were gonna do it again if not for aang. It was a tough choice to go to war but he wasn’t “playing pirate” Maybe from a woman’s perspective sure and I’d get if you were a woman but when the world is being taken over and destroyed by evil men it takes good men willing to fight All throughout history this is the case. Katara was heartbroken but she understood it The themes of war and true heroism and bravery are too easily lost in times of peace so I get it but don’t disrespect my dawg Hakoda like that again
@@georgesmith6218 By "play pirate" do you mean assisting in any way they can to slow down the Fire Nation and help bring an end to a century long conflict which has almost completely wiped out their home over the decades?
The part with Zuko not being satisfied after everything is the best part of the episode and the first bit of the season, also this is the debut of the best hair in animated history
@@jasonschuler2256 not it's not. Zuko never gives "twinkle_toes" vibes... it's more discreet than that... It's their sense of responsibility and honour that's similar... both stemming from abandonment
There's a short comic that released a few days before this season called "The Bridge" that it's told from Katara's perspective. After Aang died and was brought back by Katara, he remained unconscious for weeks, meanwhile they reunited with Hakoda wanted to carry on with the invasion plan. The Earth King and Bosco learned that they knew nothing about the real world while talking to Sokka, so they decided to travel in disguise, to really learn how real people live and their needs. And Sokka had the idea of fake their water tribe ship destroyed, for him, Hakoda, Katara and a few soldiers to infiltrate the fire nation ship that found it at night and take it over. Which is how we start here.
All the different parallels and comparisons in this episode are so good! The other comparison that I find super interesting is Aang's reunion with his friends compared to Zuko's. Aang has everyone greet him on deck when he wakes up, so excited to see him awake and feeling a bit better. Meanwhile, Zuko stands alone on deck (a place where in previous seasons he always has Uncle Iroh by his side) and only Mai comes out to check on him. I actually really like Zuko and Mai together and I think it's interesting that she's the only one to check on him and, in her own dry sense of humor (a sense of humor they share), try and cheer him up. These different reunions highlights how isolated Zuko is compared to Aang. After betraying and losing Uncle Iroh, Zuko only has one person he really cares about and trusts in the fire nation, everyone else he either doesn't trust or feels incredibly uncomfortable around. He's missing people he knows are completely on his side no matter what, like when he's sitting by the turtle ducks missing his mother. Despite Aang's frustration and anger, he knows he has his friends by his side. Besties literally searched the ocean to find him. Zuko, on the other hand, doesn't. The fact that the show is highlighting this difference in the first episode of the season (and throughout the series) just sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the show! This show is so freaking good!
Keep an eye out on all the little details this season. They do a lot of creative things to show parallels and themes in the way they show things. Can't wait for the rest of the season!
Imagine being a kid in 2008 and this episode airs and you hear Katara cry to her father about leaving to go fight in a war on the other side of the world ...
Our gang first visited Crescent Moon island in the episode, "Winter Solstice, Part 2". In that episode, Avatar Roku destroyed one of the island temples, and the lava still flows from that event.
I know Mai has been pretty apathetic, but we’ve also seen that she likes Zuko, so I’m surprised when people don’t realize that she’s trying to comfort him and not actually being mean.
The thing is that up until this point in the story the only time we saw her being anything else than a bored noble girl without any regard for other people was when she was a kid and kinda infatuated with Zuko. At this point in the story Mai has had very few redeeming qualities... or at least we had seen very few of these.
@@animusnocturnus7131 That’s totally fair. I’m not even a particularly big fan of Mai or her relationship with Zuko, I’m just surprised when people hear that one sentence and assume the relationship is toxic from her, despite them both seeming genuinely happy together there.
@@TukaihaHithlec sure but we've seen Zuko being mistreated by Azula and Mais primary concern being her boredom so much at this point that it's easy to suspect that this is just another ploy from Azula in order to keep her brother in line... particularly since in that moment we _don't_ see Zuko being particularly happy. We see him being concerned and then we see Mai being seemingly dismissive when he opens up about his feelings. Him leaning into a kiss with her can at this point have a lot of different reasons. It might be jumping to conclusions when people assume the relationship is toxic, but the suspicion is not entirely unfounded given what we know of the characters and their relationships with each other. We know Mai had feelings for Zuko before, but her entire behaviour back then was completely different, so if she changed so much since then, how much might her feelings have changed as well?
@@TukaihaHithlec Yeah even when I first watched the show I wasn't surprised by their relationship. Their relationship is realistic. You can see she is genuine (despite her disinterest to everything she always becomes girly at the mention of Zuko) and Ty Lee knows more about it than Azula.
also, gender equality. fire nation women, if they want to, are welcome to adopt just as much toxic masculinity as the men, and are equally rewarded for it. in no other nation would azula, a girl, be favored over zuko, a boy.
@@sirmoonslosthismind There’s the Dai Li favouring Azula over Long Feng, earthbenders choosing a new young firebender princess over their own longtime work-your-way-up Earth Kingdom male leader. That said, the Dai Li are very strange, and no one likes Ba Sing Se and its so-called “culture and heritage”.
It's interesting that you mentioned that you feel like Yue might have been from the Avatar group. There is a hypothesis regarding her: she was going to be the avatra after Aang if he had not disappeared. On the one hand, the fact that she was born "without life" but that the spirit of the moon intervened shows a connection of her with the world of spirits. On the other hand, if the Avatar reincarnates, it means that his soul rotates among people; that would explain why Yue was born without her. Finally, there is another element that explains but corresponds to the series that continues Aang: The Legend of Korra. I hope you see it!
Except that the auguries showed the next avatar would be a southern water binder (which is why the fire nation targeted them the way they did). Katara is closer to who the water binder avatar would have been (especially since Yue isn't a binder - we never see her giving Katara healing tips or cheering her on in her quest to learn to fight).
@@vampdan Never heard of these auguries, definitely not in the shows. The Fire Nation targeted the Northern Water Tribe too, but they were significantly larger and stronger. Had Yue been born with the Avatar spirit she obviously would have been a bender, but she wasn’t so she isn’t.
I haven't seen anyone that noticed this but since Yue is the moon spirit now and the moon is what gives the ocean waves and tides she took the wave that Aang made and made it much larger so that he could reach land in one go.
It's interesting the way different reactors view antagonists, especially ones whose plans aren't often foiled. Some reactors often love antagonists and the way they exert their power and stuff. Some seem to despise them. Some literally do not care at all. Of course, it's a spectrum. And I think that liking one reactor of a show versus another often depends on how much one likes to love or hate antagonists. Azula is a good example of this. These people hate her and the way she causes people pain by manipulating people, but other reactors might love her because they love hyper-competent villains. Personally, it takes a lot for me to hate any kind of character, but I can still appreciate these reactions nonetheless.
Something to note about Azula. While she is a bi***, she's also only like 14 or 15 max in this show. She's a teenager who wasn't raised correctly, much like Zuko. You wanna know the difference between them? Zuko was closer to his mom and he had Uncle Iroh to help guide him into being a good man. Yes, Azula was more naturally mean, but maybe because she was closer to her father, who is evil. All I'm saying is, when thinking about what "she deserves" remember much like Zuko, she's a misguided child.
Aang is 12 …. Asking any 12 year old to do all the things he needs to do to maintain balance & peace for the world while also maintaining a high level of emotional IQ even for a 12 year old monk is a bit much … soo we just have to applaud 👏🏽 how quickly Aang learns from his mistakes & continues to move forward.
I think Mai wasn't being apathetic or toxic. She asked Zuko how he was feeling expecting him to say that he's excited and happy, but instead he admits being full of anxiety and fear. She says "I didn't ask for your life story" to get his mind off of those negative thoughts and to focus on being together.
3:19 Just realized that Ba Sing Se actually is Na Sing Se now that part of the wall was brought down. Learn something new every time I watch this show.
Notice how Ozai is only proud of Zuko because Zuko did something that benefited him, while Hakoda is happy just to see his kids at all. Such a contrast.
Somebody probably already said this and I could be misremembering, but I think they showed Aang shaving in Tales of Ba Sing Se. Amazing how into this people get.
Not really a spoiler, just an opinion, by the end one of you will have Zuko as your favorite character. Or one of your favorite characters. In this episode there was another similarity between Zuko and Aang. Aang now feels like he must "reclaim his honor", much like Zuko did for so long. Zuko feels guilt and sorrow over his "false honor" gained.
I'm so excited for you guys. Like, almost every episode in this season is fire. Even the one filler episode is epic. Pure feels. Wish I could go back and see it for the first time!!
They did show Aang shaving his head one time in Tales of Ba Sing Se. During the tale of Katara and Toph they're all getting ready in the morning and they show Aang shaving.
ATLA has always been a good show. Book 1 was endearing but it was definitely make for kids, until episode 12 where they finally showed us that this show is more than what it seems. Then book 2 is essentially and as flawless as The Empire Strikes Back, but it’s in book 3 where it becomes a timeless masterpiece. In book 3 everything comes to a satisfying conclusion in one of the best seasons, television has ever put to screen.
If you love a "multi ep series" that describes the journey of a reluctant hero, with great writing and PHENOMENAL acting, You need to dip your toes into " Buffy the Vampire Slayer". It's all about troupe reversals and metaphorical story telling with the amazing Sara Michelle Gellar as the main! While you think this show is " not at all what i expected/not a kids show" Buffy has been regarded as one of, if not the, best tv series. It has college classes dedicated to: character development, acting, writing. RUclips Reactors have been slowly been discovering it's epicness.
In between the last episode of season 2 and this opening season 3 episode, Aang had a whole adventure in the spirit world, reconnecting with his past few lives. He doesn't remember it, but we can see it in the video game they released.
Aang shaves his head in "Tales of Ba Sing Se". The first short story with Katara and Toph, they show everyone's morning routine, and Aang is seen shaving his noggin.
excited to see what you two think of this season, it's my favorite of the 3. What happens to Azula isn't what you'd expect but karma definitely catches her.
Season 3 Episode 1: A fantastic dramatic opening to the final reason, touching on the gravity of the fallout from the end of the 2nd season and dealing with some emotional topics. Episode 2: Avatar Footloose LOL
i just love how emotional this show makes you, because it's the same for me. but i've watched it so often that sometimes i forget how it felt the first time. and watching you reacting to it for the first time gives me kinda the same feeling again and that's so nice. i've cried with you in front of my screen. love u guys
@13:48 holy gamolee! Arianna! ive watched this series at least 6 times and i never thought about that that way! High Five! also @17:37 Please Maple! never let justice give you regret! Azula always lies.
Really? Ha! To me it just sounds like she’s tired. Like she’s just been woken from a sound sleep. Maybe I never heard it that way because they’re siblings. 🤷
@@TukaihaHithlecin all honesty, I wouldn't even be surprised if this would've been canonical... Azula is so full of herself and her birthright that her wanting an incestuous relationship seems completely plausible. So if not with the brother she's accustomed to push around, then probably with the only man she's ever taken orders from.
The contrast between Katara's & Zuko's fathers is brilliant. FYI, one of you might have your gain up too high or your mic is not on Cardioid mode as a buzz is resonating.
I like how Ozai is portrayed. From everything we’ve heard of him he’s; manipulative, sociopathic, psychotic and an overall terrible father. Yet he’s drawn to be a handsome man. It goes to show that what’s on outside doesn’t always match the inside
Zuko is definitely being set up. Azula believes he's lying about Aang somehow still being alive, so she told their father that HE struck down the Avatar. That way when it comes out that AAng is still alive Zuko having knowledge of Katara's healing and the spirit water will be seen as him lying to his father; even though Azula was the one who lied. That won't be important. Zuko knew Aang was alive and THAT trumps Azula lying about who struck Aang down.
Before the gang goes to the party for bosco AAng is seen shaving his hair and sokka shaving his mustache. You only ever see that twice in the whole show and that's the first instance. It does happen though
My daughter got me into this show. I love it! This is totally off topic, but I noticed you guys have watched all the Batman incarnations. EXCEPT the original modern day Batman movie that started it all: 1989’s “Batman”. Unbelievable film! Dark, gothic, and a dramatic, operatic quality to it, with some of the best music of all time. Id REALLY like to see Ariana review this. (I was searching for it, but didnt see it). Pretty please? I LOVE your reactions more than anyone else!!
Imagine waiting a year for this?! Then again, you get to appreciate it more! This is it, folks. The beginning of the end! On the bright side, my two favourite episodes are there waiting to be discovered! I think you'll enjoy Gargoyles! It's arguably the best Disney cartoon series they ever produced (minus the final season... just skip that). Nickelodeon = ATLA Disney = Gargoyles CN = *INHALES* Regular Show, The Amazing World Of Gumball, Teen Titans [insert your favourite CN cartoon]!
@@TukaihaHithlec lmaoooo no not that i knew aang was like 12 when he came out of the iceburgh but i never knew how old the characters really were. I would of thought alittle older for zuko azula etc katara & sokka like 14ish
@@noiisserpmii lol No worries. 12 - Aang, Toph 14 - Katara, Azula 15 - Sokka 16 - Zuko, Yue 17 - Mai Some approximate guesses for others, could be off by a year or so: Suki ~15 Ty Lee, Teo ~14 Haru, Jet, Jin ~16
Azula told their father that Zuko killed the Avatar because she has a feeling that he’s not actually dead. If Aang really was dead then no big deal, the Avatar is gone and the Fire Nation rules. If Aang survives then Ozai wouldn’t see it as Azula’s failure, it’d be Zuko’s. She’s really an evil genius
You want a child with an abusive father, who has no problems burning his child over the tiniest mistake, to get caught lying?! I was like 12 when I watched this episodes for the first time and obviously didn't like Azula always winning but I never wished for something that extreme. Also they did show Aang shave in Tales of Ba Sing Se
I understand Aangs innital upset about covering his arrow. That's something he worked his entire life for up until a few months ago. And it's a connection to his culture, a people who have been murdrerd in the thousands. I'd be really upset too
The island Aang washes up on is the same island they went to in season one, just the temple is gone now because Avatar Roku destroyed it by the end of the episode. Looks like that volcano has been erupting ever since.
Love the reaction vid as always! Although there was a prominent buzzing in the background of today's video that was kind of distracting. I hope you're able to fix it for future videos!
The way I look at it with a king going off to explore the world, as he wanted to get a life experience, more than likely Long Feng kept him and the palace through lies and manipulation of what was going on with Ba sing sei. so, the king wanted to see an experience, everything he missed out on.
Seeing hakoda’s unconditional love for his children them immediately followed but by zukos dad saying he was proud only because of his accomplishments shows how much Zuko is damaged
Not just, how much, but why. I can't even fathom the amount of pressure Ozai heaped on Zuko, and how many ridiculously high expectations Zuko failed to live up to.
Zuko and Azula are both damaged, Zuko just has the heart.
It's such a drastic difference, well done on the show part
@@TopNotchWatcher87damn, that’s really true
@@TopNotchWatcher87 Azula is the fire bending prodigy and thus always got the respect and attention from their Father that Zuko craves so much. Thats why Azula became the way she is, because she is just as desperate to get his approval, she just has the skill and cold blooded nature to actually get it.
Remember, from Aang's perspective, he *just* got over his guilt for abandoning the world 100 years ago, and then he immediately fails to save Ba Sing Se and the world thinks he's abandoned it all over again. That's gotta hurt like hell
that point went so far over arianna head she couldnt see it
exactly, it deeper that even aang's own friends don't realize, because to him he's failed twice, and that takes a toll on him and hes a kid. alot of reaction channels miss this when reacting to this episode and this season. aang really suffered
The mirroring between aang and zuko in this episode is strong
right! i love when aang says he wants to redeem his honor when he’d had it before. and then it cuts to zuko being on his way to see his dad, showing that he technically has his honor back, when he didn’t have it before. there’s so much more mirroring with these two but this episode was a great example as well
Also I juxtaposition between Hakoda and Ozai. Hakoda, unconditionally loving his of his children and being the best father to them that he is capable of being, and then Ozai, who only feels "proud" of his children when they've done his bidding for him.
The contrast between the father reunions is very telling. Hakoda loving unconditionally and fully and Ozai only praising actions that helped him personally.
i love you
@@MrsDuck356 I love you too MrsDuck. They can't tear us apart!
@@JoeVonD ofc we will be together forever 💕
Exactly, just made almost the same comment under another comment on here. Amazing juxtaposition between the two fathers.
Rationally Sokka is correct. It’s an advantage that they think Aang is dead, however, the Avatar is a symbol of hope. He was already gone for 100 years. Aang doesn’t want people to lose hope again.
And so begins season 3, with the legendary Mark Hamell as the Firelord.
For the record, it’s Hamill. Not Hamell.
Katara's va does such an incredible job in this episode it gets me everytime
Katara coming to grips with her emotions towards her father gets to me every single time. The writing and acting is just so perfect; I never would've expected this depth from what's ostensibly a kids' show, if it wasn't for all the other times that Avatar was amazing.
Same. Always felt like that scene never gets enough appreciation from the fans. She is always so strong, but when she finally breaks for a moment, it hits like a truck.
And, they leave her question unanswered. She feels resentment, sorrow, and anger. They haven't seen their father for over a year because he went off to fight in the war. That's the most selfless and relatable situation possible. There is no good answer. Life isn't always fair, nice, or just.
@@IamnotJohnFord It was closer to 3 years since Katara saw him, but I’m curious what question you think was unanswered?
@@TukaihaHithlec How could he/you just leave us behind? Why do I still feel this way. There are others.
@@IamnotJohnFord Those are pretty self explanatory though, right? The warriors aren’t going to take little kids into battle, and her dad being gone has an emotional response, even if there is a logical explanation.
Aang actually shaves his head in the first scene of "Tales of Ba Sing Se". I can see how you wouldn't remember it though, considering the other trauma in that episode.
Interestingly it shows what all of Team Avatar does with their hair. Kind of funny when people just assume this kid is naturally bald for some reason.
The thing about Azula is that she may not seem like it, but she is afraid of her father. She’s seen how her father has treated Zuko, and if he’s willing to do that to him, then he would do it to her as well.
Katara and Hakoda's talk was heartbreaking. There's so much going on internally with Katara, she was wrestling with the rational and the irrational, and the only thing that could bring peace and resolution was being held by her father and being told she was loved.
Aang has been shown shaving his head before. In the second season/book episode, “Tales of Ba Sing Se”.
To me, they’re the first reactors to guess that Team Avatar was traveling in disguise and to not say that Aang was dreaming in the first scene.
On the note of Aang's tendency towards Airbending as his nature, after picking it up, Earthbending becomes his second most used, and I would likely attribute that to specifically being taught by Toph, who forced Aang to shift his base mindset a bit, so it became a second nature to him because he fundamentally changed as a person, as opposed to with water where he was very capable of adapting his Airbender mindset into how Waterbending works. In terms of learning a language, he learned Waterbending like a second language where he translated each term and compared the grammar, but learned Earthbending similar to attempting to learn a language by living in a country and picking it up directly through context.
I love the transition between Aang saying he wants his honor back and then them transitioning to Zuko, specifically the side where he has the scar. Show don't tell.
Speaking of transitions, Zuko and Katara's respective interactions with their fathers. Hakoda still unconditionally loves Katara, who is being emotionally vulnerable vs. Ozai's conditional love and only showing said love when his children are achieving for his own gain, thus following in his footsteps, and Zuko's clear discomfort and uncertainty of Aang being alive.
I think the Earth Kings decision to travel alone was pretty smart. He was extremely sheltered his whole life and to be an effective leader he had to go and learn a lot about the world
It reminds me of how the king of Portugal escaped to Brazil to avoid having to fight Napoleon. It is pretty controversial if he should be considered a coward or just pragmatic
@@LucasSampaioMaia Fleeing to an ally territory and leaving your people to fight an incoming war on their own is very different from self exile after losing a war you barely learned you were fighting with nowhere left safe.
I'm guessing it was probably the voice actor who played him had to go on to another project, hence why he never shows up again.
Hakoda is sich a great role model as a father figure!
You see this especially when he's contrasted with Zuko's father.
meh, abandoning your family to play pirate is not that admirable imo.
@@georgesmith6218yeah true, in war times better stay with your family untill the enemy catches up with you and all the people you love
@@georgesmith6218no, not even close
All the men from the village left to help the war effort. The fire nation at this was evil and was destroying the world even committing genocide and they were gonna do it again if not for aang.
It was a tough choice to go to war but he wasn’t “playing pirate”
Maybe from a woman’s perspective sure and I’d get if you were a woman but when the world is being taken over and destroyed by evil men it takes good men willing to fight All throughout history this is the case.
Katara was heartbroken but she understood it
The themes of war and true heroism and bravery are too easily lost in times of peace so I get it but don’t disrespect my dawg Hakoda like that again
@@georgesmith6218this is not one piece he didn’t just leave his family & home bc he wanted to journey the world….
@@georgesmith6218 By "play pirate" do you mean assisting in any way they can to slow down the Fire Nation and help bring an end to a century long conflict which has almost completely wiped out their home over the decades?
The part with Zuko not being satisfied after everything is the best part of the episode and the first bit of the season, also this is the debut of the best hair in animated history
there's reoccurring patterns between Aang and Zuko's personality, but it's so subtle. This is such a brilliantly written show
@@jasonschuler2256 not it's not. Zuko never gives "twinkle_toes" vibes... it's more discreet than that... It's their sense of responsibility and honour that's similar... both stemming from abandonment
@@jasonschuler2256 I like how you have zero explanations. obvious parallels would've been a terrible choice... but enjoy your own reality I guess
Aang was shown shaving his hair exactly once up to this point in the Tales of Ba Sing Se episode. It was so quick though so it's easy to miss.
There's a short comic that released a few days before this season called "The Bridge" that it's told from Katara's perspective.
After Aang died and was brought back by Katara, he remained unconscious for weeks, meanwhile they reunited with Hakoda wanted to carry on with the invasion plan.
The Earth King and Bosco learned that they knew nothing about the real world while talking to Sokka, so they decided to travel in disguise, to really learn how real people live and their needs.
And Sokka had the idea of fake their water tribe ship destroyed, for him, Hakoda, Katara and a few soldiers to infiltrate the fire nation ship that found it at night and take it over.
Which is how we start here.
Fun fact: Before production on season three began, the creators and writers went on a writing retreat, and outlined the major events of the season.
This was such an odd fact to label as “fun.” Fun fact: writers write…
All the different parallels and comparisons in this episode are so good! The other comparison that I find super interesting is Aang's reunion with his friends compared to Zuko's. Aang has everyone greet him on deck when he wakes up, so excited to see him awake and feeling a bit better. Meanwhile, Zuko stands alone on deck (a place where in previous seasons he always has Uncle Iroh by his side) and only Mai comes out to check on him. I actually really like Zuko and Mai together and I think it's interesting that she's the only one to check on him and, in her own dry sense of humor (a sense of humor they share), try and cheer him up. These different reunions highlights how isolated Zuko is compared to Aang. After betraying and losing Uncle Iroh, Zuko only has one person he really cares about and trusts in the fire nation, everyone else he either doesn't trust or feels incredibly uncomfortable around. He's missing people he knows are completely on his side no matter what, like when he's sitting by the turtle ducks missing his mother. Despite Aang's frustration and anger, he knows he has his friends by his side. Besties literally searched the ocean to find him. Zuko, on the other hand, doesn't. The fact that the show is highlighting this difference in the first episode of the season (and throughout the series) just sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the show! This show is so freaking good!
Keep an eye out on all the little details this season. They do a lot of creative things to show parallels and themes in the way they show things. Can't wait for the rest of the season!
Imagine being a kid in 2008 and this episode airs and you hear Katara cry to her father about leaving to go fight in a war on the other side of the world ...
Our gang first visited Crescent Moon island in the episode, "Winter Solstice, Part 2".
In that episode, Avatar Roku destroyed one of the island temples, and the lava still flows from that event.
He doesn't fire bend to destroy his glider, just lets nature take care of it. Poetic.
He is also scared of fire bending at this point, and wants nothing to do with it.
We need more kids shows with this much depth and quality writing.
Or more mature shows with this much depth and quality writing.
@@silencedmaxim5889 Honestly also valid
@@silencedmaxim5889exactly lol it’s embarrassing how larger, more mainstream titles pale in comparison to atla
Steven universe is a great show. First half of season 1 is goofy but theres a lot of dark aspects
Mark Hammil read the script and thought the show would get cancelled because it was too smart 😂
I know Mai has been pretty apathetic, but we’ve also seen that she likes Zuko, so I’m surprised when people don’t realize that she’s trying to comfort him and not actually being mean.
The thing is that up until this point in the story the only time we saw her being anything else than a bored noble girl without any regard for other people was when she was a kid and kinda infatuated with Zuko. At this point in the story Mai has had very few redeeming qualities... or at least we had seen very few of these.
@@animusnocturnus7131 That’s totally fair. I’m not even a particularly big fan of Mai or her relationship with Zuko, I’m just surprised when people hear that one sentence and assume the relationship is toxic from her, despite them both seeming genuinely happy together there.
@@TukaihaHithlec sure but we've seen Zuko being mistreated by Azula and Mais primary concern being her boredom so much at this point that it's easy to suspect that this is just another ploy from Azula in order to keep her brother in line... particularly since in that moment we _don't_ see Zuko being particularly happy. We see him being concerned and then we see Mai being seemingly dismissive when he opens up about his feelings. Him leaning into a kiss with her can at this point have a lot of different reasons. It might be jumping to conclusions when people assume the relationship is toxic, but the suspicion is not entirely unfounded given what we know of the characters and their relationships with each other. We know Mai had feelings for Zuko before, but her entire behaviour back then was completely different, so if she changed so much since then, how much might her feelings have changed as well?
@@TukaihaHithlec Yeah even when I first watched the show I wasn't surprised by their relationship. Their relationship is realistic. You can see she is genuine (despite her disinterest to everything she always becomes girly at the mention of Zuko) and Ty Lee knows more about it than Azula.
The Fire Nation does two things better than anyone. #2. Their hype game is 2nd to none. #1. They got iconic facial hair game.
Big Austrian painter energy
also, gender equality. fire nation women, if they want to, are welcome to adopt just as much toxic masculinity as the men, and are equally rewarded for it. in no other nation would azula, a girl, be favored over zuko, a boy.
@@sirmoonslosthismind There’s the Dai Li favouring Azula over Long Feng, earthbenders choosing a new young firebender princess over their own longtime work-your-way-up Earth Kingdom male leader.
That said, the Dai Li are very strange, and no one likes Ba Sing Se and its so-called “culture and heritage”.
@@TukaihaHithlec more like WW2 Imperial Japan.
@@jacobhatcher5409 Nah, as far as “hype game” and “iconic facial hair” go, Imperial Japan has nothing on said Austrian painter.
It's interesting that you mentioned that you feel like Yue might have been from the Avatar group.
There is a hypothesis regarding her: she was going to be the avatra after Aang if he had not disappeared.
On the one hand, the fact that she was born "without life" but that the spirit of the moon intervened shows a connection of her with the world of spirits.
On the other hand, if the Avatar reincarnates, it means that his soul rotates among people; that would explain why Yue was born without her.
Finally, there is another element that explains but corresponds to the series that continues Aang: The Legend of Korra. I hope you see it!
I forgot to mention that she fell in love with Soka, while Aang fell in love with Katara...
Except that the auguries showed the next avatar would be a southern water binder (which is why the fire nation targeted them the way they did). Katara is closer to who the water binder avatar would have been (especially since Yue isn't a binder - we never see her giving Katara healing tips or cheering her on in her quest to learn to fight).
@@vampdan Never heard of these auguries, definitely not in the shows. The Fire Nation targeted the Northern Water Tribe too, but they were significantly larger and stronger. Had Yue been born with the Avatar spirit she obviously would have been a bender, but she wasn’t so she isn’t.
I haven't seen anyone that noticed this but since Yue is the moon spirit now and the moon is what gives the ocean waves and tides she took the wave that Aang made and made it much larger so that he could reach land in one go.
It's interesting the way different reactors view antagonists, especially ones whose plans aren't often foiled. Some reactors often love antagonists and the way they exert their power and stuff. Some seem to despise them. Some literally do not care at all. Of course, it's a spectrum. And I think that liking one reactor of a show versus another often depends on how much one likes to love or hate antagonists. Azula is a good example of this. These people hate her and the way she causes people pain by manipulating people, but other reactors might love her because they love hyper-competent villains. Personally, it takes a lot for me to hate any kind of character, but I can still appreciate these reactions nonetheless.
Something to note about Azula. While she is a bi***, she's also only like 14 or 15 max in this show. She's a teenager who wasn't raised correctly, much like Zuko. You wanna know the difference between them? Zuko was closer to his mom and he had Uncle Iroh to help guide him into being a good man. Yes, Azula was more naturally mean, but maybe because she was closer to her father, who is evil. All I'm saying is, when thinking about what "she deserves" remember much like Zuko, she's a misguided child.
You can type out the word "bitch", lol.
RUclips only really puts out warnings against racial/ethnic slurs.
This episode truly just sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the show
Not understanding Ang’s frustration after he failed the entire earth kingdom is wild.
The predictions for Azula's story arc ate amazing, it's a good thing that they are yoo gar ahead to be easily spoiled
we actually did see aang shaving his head in the tales of ba sing se but it was played more for a joke; the beginning of toph and katara’s short.
Aang is 12 …. Asking any 12 year old to do all the things he needs to do to maintain balance & peace for the world while also maintaining a high level of emotional IQ even for a 12 year old monk is a bit much … soo we just have to applaud 👏🏽 how quickly Aang learns from his mistakes & continues to move forward.
Dont you realize that transition at 8:28 ? " I need my honor back" moment.. Aang / Zuko scene ...
I think Mai wasn't being apathetic or toxic. She asked Zuko how he was feeling expecting him to say that he's excited and happy, but instead he admits being full of anxiety and fear. She says "I didn't ask for your life story" to get his mind off of those negative thoughts and to focus on being together.
3:19 Just realized that Ba Sing Se actually is Na Sing Se now that part of the wall was brought down. Learn something new every time I watch this show.
I have a feeling this will be a very emotional season for yall but I am here for all the laughs and tears
Notice how Ozai is only proud of Zuko because Zuko did something that benefited him, while Hakoda is happy just to see his kids at all. Such a contrast.
the language analogy is very accurate when talking about avatars and their native element !!!
Somebody probably already said this and I could be misremembering, but I think they showed Aang shaving in Tales of Ba Sing Se.
Amazing how into this people get.
Roku in S2 E1: "If you are killed in the Avatar State, the reincarnation cycle will be broken and the Avatar will cease to exist."
Not really a spoiler, just an opinion, by the end one of you will have Zuko as your favorite character. Or one of your favorite characters.
In this episode there was another similarity between Zuko and Aang. Aang now feels like he must "reclaim his honor", much like Zuko did for so long. Zuko feels guilt and sorrow over his "false honor" gained.
I'm so excited for you guys. Like, almost every episode in this season is fire. Even the one filler episode is epic. Pure feels. Wish I could go back and see it for the first time!!
I don't think they ever noticed the fact that they didn't show Ozai's face a single time up until this point
They did show Aang shaving his head one time in Tales of Ba Sing Se. During the tale of Katara and Toph they're all getting ready in the morning and they show Aang shaving.
ATLA has always been a good show. Book 1 was endearing but it was definitely make for kids, until episode 12 where they finally showed us that this show is more than what it seems. Then book 2 is essentially and as flawless as The Empire Strikes Back, but it’s in book 3 where it becomes a timeless masterpiece. In book 3 everything comes to a satisfying conclusion in one of the best seasons, television has ever put to screen.
The Fire Lord is designed to look like an older, scarless version of Zuko.
If you love a "multi ep series" that describes the journey of a reluctant hero, with great writing and PHENOMENAL acting, You need to dip your toes into " Buffy the Vampire Slayer". It's all about troupe reversals and metaphorical story telling with the amazing Sara Michelle Gellar as the main! While you think this show is " not at all what i expected/not a kids show" Buffy has been regarded as one of, if not the, best tv series. It has college classes dedicated to: character development, acting, writing. RUclips Reactors have been slowly been discovering it's epicness.
In between the last episode of season 2 and this opening season 3 episode, Aang had a whole adventure in the spirit world, reconnecting with his past few lives. He doesn't remember it, but we can see it in the video game they released.
Azula doesn't lie. Her first reason to Zuko was just as honest as her second reason.
Aang shaves his head in "Tales of Ba Sing Se". The first short story with Katara and Toph, they show everyone's morning routine, and Aang is seen shaving his noggin.
excited to see what you two think of this season, it's my favorite of the 3. What happens to Azula isn't what you'd expect but karma definitely catches her.
Season 3 Episode 1: A fantastic dramatic opening to the final reason, touching on the gravity of the fallout from the end of the 2nd season and dealing with some emotional topics.
Episode 2: Avatar Footloose LOL
i just love how emotional this show makes you, because it's the same for me. but i've watched it so often that sometimes i forget how it felt the first time. and watching you reacting to it for the first time gives me kinda the same feeling again and that's so nice. i've cried with you in front of my screen. love u guys
I think this is going to be the strongest season yet! I am really looking forward experiencing them with you two!!
that convo with katara and her dad hit me hard too
@13:48 holy gamolee! Arianna! ive watched this series at least 6 times and i never thought about that that way! High Five! also @17:37 Please Maple! never let justice give you regret! Azula always lies.
You've seen Aang shaving in Book II, Episode XV: The Tales of Ba Sing Se, right at the beginning int the Tale of Toph and Katara.
The tales of Ba Sing Se, Aang is literally shaving his head at the start.
The voice actress of azula when voicing the bedroom scene said she was trying to make it sound like she was seducing zuko
Grey DeLisle Griffin, one of the best voice actors out there! 🙂
Really? Ha! To me it just sounds like she’s tired. Like she’s just been woken from a sound sleep. Maybe I never heard it that way because they’re siblings. 🤷
Grey DeLisle always kinda sounds like she's trying to seduce someone
Very believable. She’s also made comments about Azula wanting to have Zuko’s babies. Probably not canon, but that’s Grey nonetheless.
@@TukaihaHithlecin all honesty, I wouldn't even be surprised if this would've been canonical... Azula is so full of herself and her birthright that her wanting an incestuous relationship seems completely plausible. So if not with the brother she's accustomed to push around, then probably with the only man she's ever taken orders from.
The katara and hakota moment always makes me tear up
The contrast between Katara's & Zuko's fathers is brilliant. FYI, one of you might have your gain up too high or your mic is not on Cardioid mode as a buzz is resonating.
Avatar was written and produced in Burbank, California.
The Avatar crew shared the same floor with the crew of SpongeBob SquarePants.
I like how Ozai is portrayed. From everything we’ve heard of him he’s; manipulative, sociopathic, psychotic and an overall terrible father. Yet he’s drawn to be a handsome man. It goes to show that what’s on outside doesn’t always match the inside
Zuko is definitely being set up. Azula believes he's lying about Aang somehow still being alive, so she told their father that HE struck down the Avatar. That way when it comes out that AAng is still alive Zuko having knowledge of Katara's healing and the spirit water will be seen as him lying to his father; even though Azula was the one who lied. That won't be important. Zuko knew Aang was alive and THAT trumps Azula lying about who struck Aang down.
Ozai already unfairly favours her over him regardless.
For Azula "Not to the death but to the pain." [Princess Bride]
Before the gang goes to the party for bosco AAng is seen shaving his hair and sokka shaving his mustache. You only ever see that twice in the whole show and that's the first instance. It does happen though
My daughter got me into this show. I love it! This is totally off topic, but I noticed you guys have watched all the Batman incarnations. EXCEPT the original modern day Batman movie that started it all: 1989’s “Batman”. Unbelievable film! Dark, gothic, and a dramatic, operatic quality to it, with some of the best music of all time. Id REALLY like to see Ariana review this. (I was searching for it, but didnt see it). Pretty please? I LOVE your reactions more than anyone else!!
"I don't want you or anybody else risking your lives to fix my mistakes." Such Harry Potter vibes.
No spoilers but I am really excited for you to watch the episode "The Beach".
you can actually see Aang (and Sokka) shave in the beginning of Tales of Ba Sing Se (The Tale of Katara and Toph).
Imagine waiting a year for this?! Then again, you get to appreciate it more!
This is it, folks. The beginning of the end! On the bright side, my two favourite episodes are there waiting to be discovered!
I think you'll enjoy Gargoyles! It's arguably the best Disney cartoon series they ever produced (minus the final season... just skip that).
Nickelodeon = ATLA
Disney = Gargoyles
CN = *INHALES* Regular Show, The Amazing World Of Gumball, Teen Titans [insert your favourite CN cartoon]!
I can't wait for you guys to see where Azula's story will go, these comments are wonderful foreshadowing to a great reaction later on
Cannot WAIT to watch this season alongside of you. Ready for ya'll to be SHOOK!!
We actually have seen Aang shave his head before! In the very beginning of The Tales of Ba Sing Se!
Azula being so evil at 14 is insane.
Shes 14?!
@@noiisserpmii Yup, better purge your computer
@@TukaihaHithlec lmaoooo no not that i knew aang was like 12 when he came out of the iceburgh but i never knew how old the characters really were. I would of thought alittle older for zuko azula etc katara & sokka like 14ish
@@noiisserpmii lol No worries.
12 - Aang, Toph
14 - Katara, Azula
15 - Sokka
16 - Zuko, Yue
17 - Mai
Some approximate guesses for others, could be off by a year or so:
Suki ~15
Ty Lee, Teo ~14
Haru, Jet, Jin ~16
Can’t wait to see more of your great reactions to the rest. This season rocks!
Azula told their father that Zuko killed the Avatar because she has a feeling that he’s not actually dead. If Aang really was dead then no big deal, the Avatar is gone and the Fire Nation rules. If Aang survives then Ozai wouldn’t see it as Azula’s failure, it’d be Zuko’s. She’s really an evil genius
You want a child with an abusive father, who has no problems burning his child over the tiniest mistake, to get caught lying?!
I was like 12 when I watched this episodes for the first time and obviously didn't like Azula always winning but I never wished for something that extreme.
Also they did show Aang shave in Tales of Ba Sing Se
I would give anything to be able to watch this show for the first time again
They actually did show Aang shaving his head in one episode of season 2
I can't wait to see thier reactions to all the masters 😇🥰🫢
Such a great season opener, such an awesome season, such an amazing show 😁
Katara needed to vent. Glad she could with someone she can look up to.
I understand Aangs innital upset about covering his arrow. That's something he worked his entire life for up until a few months ago. And it's a connection to his culture, a people who have been murdrerd in the thousands. I'd be really upset too
The island Aang washes up on is the same island they went to in season one, just the temple is gone now because Avatar Roku destroyed it by the end of the episode. Looks like that volcano has been erupting ever since.
In the Tales of Ba Sing Se, in the Tale of Katara & Toph. We see Aang shaving his head...
"I just asked if u were cold, I didn't ask for ur whole life story" nah Mai was so real for this😭
Love the reaction vid as always!
Although there was a prominent buzzing in the background of today's video that was kind of distracting. I hope you're able to fix it for future videos!
The Bosco and Earth King story was made into a comic.
The way I look at it with a king going off to explore the world, as he wanted to get a life experience, more than likely Long Feng kept him and the palace through lies and manipulation of what was going on with Ba sing sei. so, the king wanted to see an experience, everything he missed out on.
Actually, in the first tale of ba sing say, the tale of katara and toph they did show him shaving his head.
Enjoyed your reaction. As excellent as most of book 2 is, season 3 is my favorite. Looking forward to re-experiencing it with you.
I can't believe it's Book 3 already...this is going to be fun!