Toph has never taught anyone, but she knows what she is doing. Rocks dont move because you ask them nicely. She had to teach Aang to go against his nature as a pacifist monk, and imo you can see that change in him going forward. Although something else gets the credit for his behavior.
And the cool thing is, you can see her evolve as a teacher throughout the episode. Slowly focusing in on whats most effective, while still sticking to the lessons that need to be learned.
@@ultimateninjaboi Yep, actually she is an AMAZING earthbending teacher, rocks are hard and immovable, to bend earth you have to be even more hard, even more immovable.
@@ultimateninjaboiYes! She has a subtle arc in this episode too. It’s easily overlooked, but if she hadn’t accepted Katara’s criticism it would have taken Aang much longer to be a proficient (if not master) earthbender. He wouldn’t have been ready. Taking that criticism couldn’t have been easy for her-earthbenders are inflexible and stubborn.
@@eileensnow6153 Yeah I notice a lot of people miss that detail. Both Katara and Toph utilize a little bit of each other’s teaching styles in this episode, which ties into Iroh’s lesson. Aang does need to toughen up in order to master Earthbending, but Toph took it too far. She set him up to fail and berated him for it on his very first day of training. Aang is only able to start Earthbending after he gets that positive reinforcement. He needed some verbal encouragement from her. And Katara doesn’t just coddle him and sooth his ego. She pushes him to not run away from the problem while helping him understand why it’s difficult, and then she tests his reflexes in a less extreme way than Toph did. Both of their teaching styles are useful, but they needed to adapt in order to help Aang reach his full potential.
So what you're saying is that Iroh named his Ba Sing Se tea shop (the Jasmine Dragon) after not his own but ZUKO's favorite tea? He really is that boy's real dad.
Wan-chi Tong's voice actor absolutely nailed his lines in the planetarium. You can practically hear the primordial rage he is experiencing. The way he talks about war is just so potent, you can practically hear the moment he gives up on humanity as a whole when he says 'countless others', like he was just praying that at least one person would prove him wrong.
Something else to think about; Toph spent much of her life around people who coddled her because they assumed she couldn't master bending. Toph teaches in the exact opposite of how she was treated because that treatment never worked for her. She's being the teacher she wish she had.
Ooohhh, I hadn't heard this our thought about it before. Yeah, she would resent that kind of "kid gloves" soft treatment. She wanted to be challenged and pushed, so she thinks that is THE way to help someone achieve.
Also, aang needed to learn to stand up for himself. You cant tell someone to stand up for themselves or they will be doing it because you told them. Much like earth, she provided resistance so he could stand on his own.
God... Dante Basco kills it with Zuko's breakdown on the mountain... those lines could EASILY come across whiny and annoying... but he sells that it's a genuine breaking point for Zuko...
It also, while dramatized, doesn't minimize that many teens feel something similar. Like Dante's delivery never fails to remind me that I've been there, and that I've felt that primal loneliness.
10:17 'Bitter Work' is the literal English translation of the word 'Kung Fu'. 27:09 Zuko on the mount was when I realised I would probably need tissues from now on until the end of the show. It is also the first moment so far we see Zuko breaking his stern façade. On Toph's teaching style: yes, she needs some polishing, and could improve a little, but, as she explained it, earthbending *requires* toughness, and therefore he would never earthbend if she didn't rough him up a bit. You can notice she was pretty soft until she realised he couldn't even move a single rock, and thus she got progressively firmer until he stood up, which is what she wanted him to do from the start. So even if the executipn wasn't perfect, her theoretical method was correct. As a Brazilian, I find it amusing how you speak about 'having weather'. Yeah, we certainly do have weather here. 😂 Fun fact: the desert's name is 'Si Wong', which means 'death'. I'm really looking forward to your analysis of the roller coaster of emotions you have just entered.
Huh, and earth bending is specifically based on kung-fu, especially toph's unique style which is based on preying mantis style, bitter work really is a perfect episode title lol
Zuko really is a well written example of a character went through severe trauma, especially one that went through trauma because of an abusive parent. Someone so tortured and just trying to find that peace and confidence that was taken away from them. The writers truly did an amazing job writing him and his whole story ark
@insomnaholic I feel that, too. If so, that makes me both happy and sad. Sad that they went through that and happy that they found such a beautiful way to use their experience to create such a complex and amazing character
Toph is not at all shy about making blind jokes. This will not be the last. It's partly a defense mechanism, and particularly as it relates to Appa - when she's on Appa, she becomes actually blind, which is something she's never really had to deal with in her life because of her Earth-sight.
I don't know anybody who's blind to ask their opinions on how the show treats Toph, but it always seemed to me to be fairly well handled because the one making them is most often Toph. As well as her being incredibly strong even with her disability.
Thing is, Toph didn't just randomly get mean for no reason, she wanted to get a rise of Aang. Since the literal boulder didn't work on Aang, she started being a metaphorical one for h7m by continuously egging him on to make him push back against her, but instead he avoided and evaded conflict like an airbender, like he did with the actual boulder. Notice how Aang only started being able to actually earthbend once he started pushing back against the sabertooth mooselion and Toph herself. I turn Toph also learned how to be a teacher by trying out Katara's tip of giving him words of encouragement, telling Aang that he has the stuff and finally pushed back against her and now only had to put it into practice. A great episode for both teachers and students.
"Come on! Strike me! You've never held back before!" A boy yelling out his rage at the storm overhead, hot tears mixing with the cold rain on his face. That got me. That WAS me, when I was in middle and high school. I wish I had had an Uncle Iroh.
You may not have an uncle iroh, but you now have an entire community of people who can relate and understand (that was also me). Welcome to the fandom 😇
You expressed a lot of frustration with Toph's teaching, but the thing you need to understand about skilled benders is that they often have personalities which emulate the properties of the element they bend. You could say this is part of how they "understand" their element. So earthbenders like Toph tend to be hard, stubborn, and unyielding. She is trying to bring him over into this way of thinking so that he can understand the mentality needed to bend earth. This ties into the discussion Iroh has about each of the nations in this episode.
Yes, it is spelled out in this episode that it takes much more than a few fancy moves to produce bending. Bending is also philosophy... attitude... frame of mind. Bending is just as spiritual as it is physical. To get Aang into the right frame of mind for Earthbending, Toph needed to get him frustrated and angry enough to go against his nature and confront her directly. In contrast Iroh realised that getting Zuko into the right mindset for lightning would be a far more involved task with no quick or easy shortcut to achieve the desired results.
Hey I don’t know if you are still reading the comments on this one but you should know that it is implied that Appa can perfectly understand human speech. It is part of the spiritual bond between the Air nomads and their bison. When Tooh talks about the unique way she see with earth bending you can see Appa look interested and pay attention. I love that detail.
Sokka is a HUGE CATCH! 1. He's good looking. His entire family has good genes. 2. He's a brave warrior and protecter, not afraid to fight for what's right and fight for the ones he loves. 3. He's a hilarious goofball that will always keep you laughing. 4. He's willing to grow and change his views once proven wrong. He went from being sexist to respecting women. 5. He's a bonafide genius. 6. He's resourceful 7. He's a leader, not afraid to go on the front lines. Honestly, the list just goes on and on.
The universe spared Zuko's life here. He was not ready to redirect lightning yet. If he had been struck, it would have gone through his heart, and killed him. Zuko wrongly things the universe has thrown everything at him, but it has all come from people: His father, Zhao, Azula.
More translation stuff: The owl’s name is Wan Shi Tong (萬事通), which is Chinese for “He who knows ten thousand things” (as he said himself). But this is also a commonly used phrase in Chinese, it means someone who knows/is good at everything. Kind of like “Jack of All Trades”!
Bitter Work is probably one of my favorite episodes because it really is what Kung Fu is all about: literally “bitter work”- *any* action, not just martial arts, that takes time and practice and study and discipline. This episode teaches us so much about the inner workings of the Avatar Universe from Bending to Culture and everything in between. It’s an amazing parallel between Aang and Zuko’s struggles to act unlike themselves. Aang is the last of his kind and needs to embody all cultures and bending in one person, but he only understands the mentality of an Airbender and not that of an Earthbender. Zuko only knows how to use hate, rage, and turmoil to fuel his firebending; but doesn’t understand how to calm his mind to generate lightning. Katara and Iroh serve as clever mentors, helping Aang and Zuko work through their blocks (using the same waterbending technique, mind you) Toph has the unenviable task of changing Aang’s mindset. She’s right: if he wants to be an Earthbender, he needs to be like an Earthbender. However, this episode is great for her too because Aang’s needs force *her* to think outside the box and come up with a clever way to help Aang overcome his block: he can’t Earthbend… but he CAN Airbend while holding his ground and that’s all he needed to realize he had what it takes. It’s such a good episode!
Azula attacked Iroh first for purely tactical reasons. She knew he was the greatest threat to her, and by pre-emptively striking him, she'd instantly take Zuko out of the fight too cause he'd be too distraught to focus on her. It was the ideal candidate to hit first to cause enough havoc in the united front arrayed against her that she could escape.
On top of that, with Katara and Aang being more pacifist/emotional (Katara less than Aang), seeing the old man, who never seemed to attack them (except for that one scene where he helped Zuko attack in the beginning of the show), and also tried to defend the moon spirit, getting hurt, would also distract them
Aang is avoidant, he has trouble facing his problems and responsibilities head-on. That is why he ran when he learned he was the Avatar, and that is why he has trouble with earthbending. Him learning how to earthbend shows he has become more mature, he learned not to run from things.
Also, im not trying to sound like a dick. I used to be a martial arts instructor, so i know that everyone has their own way of learning its one of the first things i was taught about instructing. But Aangs entire mindset was too evasive. Instead of trying to tackle things head on, which is the basis of what's required for earth bending, he tries to find ways around it. He absolutely needed a teacher who wasn't afraid to tell him to stop going around his problems and go through them.
I like to think Wan-chi Tong spared him under the pretense that he'd die in there eventually anyway when he actually just admired the professor's pure love of knowledge. Perhaps Wan-chi Tong enjoys the company for the rest of his short human life.
@c.isaaccastellanosvelazco3280 I was gonna mention that, but I think that's considered a spoiler. I know it's not plot relevant, but it's a cool moment and probably best left to experience blind.
Teaching is a skill. If you haven't done it before, you're not going to be very good at it. Toph is trying to convey self-taught knowledge, because she never really had a teacher either. She is the greatest Earthbender who ever was or ever will be, but being able to pass that knowledge on is a whole other matter.
Azula's first saving grace is her sense of humor, her impersonation of Zuko in The Chase was hilarious and only becomes more funny over time if you rewatch the show.
Agreed, Azula is so sassy and I love it. Come to think of it, both of them are a bit sassy. Azula is a gigantic b*tch but in a way that you can't help but love her.
suffering has a noble purpose - it's to awaken us. Zuko and Iroh's suffering makes them who they are, and makes them more aligned with purpose and awareness. love your empathy for zuko at the end. he's one of my favorite characters of all time and so excited to see your reactions going forward
It's worth mentioning that Iroh was considered one of the Fire Nation's best generals ever, and that is shown in that he was the first person to break through the wall of Ba Sing Se. It is entirely possible that without the loss of Lu Ten, the war ends way earlier with Iroh conquering the Earth Kingdom for the Fire Nation (interesting alternate histories there with "Firelord Iroh"). It is heartbreaking that Iroh has to go through that loss, but that loss helps make this story what it is.
I've been a teacher for 20 years and one of nicest compliments I've ever gotten was from a student who called me her Uncle Iroh because I never gave up on her, no matter how much of a pain she was in class :) It was a nice moment that I think about on all the days I feel more the firelord than Iroh.
13:18- Like Toph said, Earth is a stubborn element, so the bender must also be stubborn and forceful to move it. This is the antithesis of Airbending, where the motion is more loose and free, which is why Aang struggled to get started. If Toph wants to help Aang master Earthbending, then she needs to be tough on him as a mentor to toughen him up, if that makes sense.
I can think of 2 very particular episodes. Since she's done with ATLA now, I can say it, but potential spoilers for those watching along: Appa's Lost Days, and The Tales of Ba Sing Se.
In terms of the elements influencing their respective learning and teaching styles, I think the aspect of water that best reflects Katara is that it is very nurturing. Compared to the other three elements, water is the one that feels most directly connected to life. Traditionally, water sources are seen as the life blood of the planet, from which civilization spring from. It is what plants need to grow. In that sense, Katara is very nurturing in her teaching style, giving encouragement and regularly finding ways to encourage Aang to continue progressing.
Hmm, that's interesting. I've always viewed fire as nurturing and the source of life. The sun, hearth, and warmth. I suppose they are both life in different ways.
I like how you put it. The elements nurture/influence our characters way of thinking and personality. About your note on Katara, imo she's like water in that she's both a nurturing healer and a warrior who's a torrent/force of nature if need be.
Wait a minute, how did I never realize this until now? Unless I'm missing something, each season has exactly one episode evenly split between Aang and Zuko, where they both have parallel learning experiences and/or flashbacks. First season had the Storm, where we learn both of their backstories, this episode, Bitter Work, and of course, without spoilers, we know how The Avatar and the Fire Lord ends.
I'd say Zuko was screaming at his whole life or 'the universe' in general more than just his father or sister. And it definitely is too soon to say he let go all of that for shedding a couple of tears 😅. I think that scene just intended to show the audience his frustration and trauma more than him making important progress about it. Although shouting at your demons and allowing yourself to break into tears is somewhat of a step.
In the episode "The Storm," Azula was shown standing next to Iroh looking very much "into it" as Ozai scars Zuko and Zuko screams. (That is her first appearance, I think, outside of the opening credits, where her silhouette is the firebending example.)
I don’t know if you are ready for the second half of this season, I mean it’s amazing and you’ll see it. The next episode has my favorite scene from the whole serie ❤ I’m so excited to see your reaction. Great reaction. Greetings from Brooklyn NY!
So hot take about the library. I like the sequence of events where Appa kidnapping starts at the same time as Sokka decides to go back for the date of the eclipse. This is Sokka’s episode and his choices matter most in the one. He chose to turn back and as a horrifying consequence, the group looses Appa.
Iroh teaching Zuko about the qualities of the people of each nation is truly a remarkable piece of writing. It’s such a beautiful message about humanity with how we can improve ourselves by learning from one another despite our differences. It’s all the more impressive that it never feels hamfisted in the way it’s delivered.
I love that Toph would be the perfect teacher for someone with an Earth nature to them, but teaching an Avatar with the airiest air nature you'll ever see meant she also had to learn something.
Small detail that has been pointed out before by others, Zuko does not drink the tea he made. He just holds the cup. He tried but he probably knows it doesn’t taste good.
I Think episode "The Library" is the key episode of the series poviting to a mature perspective. First we really learn the actual roadmap for the future. also closing the gaps about how zhao leraned the moon spirit's physical form. He really refers to library in the first season if you rewatch. Also my favourite line is " do you think you're the first person to believe their war is justified?". Wonderful question. Very critical key episode of the series and i like that it's actually happening very middle of the series. i mean it's the exact middle episode if you conder whole series.
"It keeps blowing up in my face!...Like everything always does." Well that's definitely not angsty at all. And the lightning outside your place is definitely too on the nose for this chapter.
You have to understand Toph’s training is intense because that’s what’s best in order to learn Earthbending… each element is different… since Aang is a master Airbender he’s trained most of his life to be evasive and learn how to be calm like wind unlike earth which you need to be strong not just physically but mentally…
god I remember the marketing for the Library episode back in the day, they advertised the shit out of that one (along with the one after, they were originally aired as a double length special titled "The Fury of Aang"). It was a huge deal
You want a sympathetic aspect about Azula? Think about what iroh set about lightning being the cold-blooded fire, and think about how good Azula is with it. And then remember that she's only 14 years old. The firelord turned his own 14 year old daughter into a cold-blooded weapon of mass destruction.
This is the season where Iroh goes from a funny, fascinating, and mysterious character, to a character you will remember forever as one of the wisest, deepest characters ever put to screen (while still being slightly mysterious). Everyone should have an Iroh in their life.
Zuko screaming atop the mountain is really sad, because it shows that he really believes that something out there has been giving him all this turmoil he's endured. "youve never held back before" hes just trying to prove to Anyone that he is strong enough
A little detail I love is that Wan Shi Tong's beak movements don't match his speech at all. Just adds to the slightly unearthly and off-kilter feel to him.
Her voice when the sandbenders were taking Appa reminded me of The Princess Bride. "Appa's going to do something, right?" had the same tone as Fred Savage's "What does Fezzik mean 'He's dead?'" I moved from the Midwest to Arizona a number of years ago and I remember driving down the street during a storm. Every house had people standing at the window or in their garage staring out at the rain. I was thinking "It's just rain, people. It's not that exciting." Having spent a few years in the desert now, I understand.
If you remember when they showed iroh redirect lightning in session one, he seemed to look suprised, that was likely the first time he ever actually did it and was suprises that his technique actually worked
Two excellent episodes. I especially love Uncle Iroh's wisdom and how they parallel Aang's & Zuko's training in Bitter Work. Zuko on that mountain top at the end is heartbreaking. The show will reference the phrase "Bitter Work" in one of the best Book 3 episodes. And while turtle ducks are adorable, I think the baby moose lion cub is the cutest animal in ATLA (not counting Appa & Momo of course). As for The Library, that Owl Spirit is genuinely creepy and I love that the Misty Palms Oasis gives one Star Wars vibes with what looks like the death star hanging over the entrance to the cantina. And the first of several blind jokes from Toph.
Come on, STRIKE ME. YOU'VE NEVER HELD BACK BEFORE! Poor, poor Zuko. You feel all of the emotions built up inside of him in that moment. Bravo Dante Basco.
The way I see it, Sokka is not particularly "intelligent". Rather, he is "clever". He doesn't have vast swathes of knowledge at his fingertips or be able to figure out every permutation of a puzzle using a structured, organised approach, or anything to that effect. Rather, he is resourceful and able to quickly adapt and think on his feet, solving problems using what he has available in unconventional ways.
I remember playing the Avatar game in the Playstation 2 and man, escaping that owl on time was probably the most difficult level in the game As a kid I always thought it's design was creepy, nowadays I think it's awesome
I watched a video talking about how Toph’s stances are based on a different martial art than other Earthbenders stances, as she doesn’t see what other Earthbenders do, and is more in touch with the feeling of the rocks
27:08 Every time I see that scene I think that if God had sent lightning to Suko, he would have been indifferent. You have to remember the past chapters, now he is an exile, he has realized the damage that his nation does to others, his sister continues to surpass him, his father does not love him, his uncle almost died, the Avatar is still superior and He has practically been alone. Maybe he just hopes, in that scene, that God finishes him off. always makes me cry.
Wan Shi Tong's title "he who knows 10,000 things" is a figure of speech and is more impressive than it sounds. Chinese counting system groups things in 10,000's. So, culturally, he's saying his knowledge is near infinite/ or he's close to reading everything that's been written.
giiiirrl, you're in for a rough few episodes this season, get more tissues asap lol loving your reactions - yours are probably my favorite of any channel i've watched so far
Sokka makes up in planning and ingenuity what he lacks in power. He's their Batman or Captain America, but with jokes. Bending earth isn't remotely like the other elements. You're bending a solid, and it doesn't want to acquiesce to your whims. Yes, being able to bend a certain element seems to influence the bender. But, I think bending is as much about attitude as it is ability. And, hats off to Toph. She held up a huge building full of books for what would have to be 5-10 minutes. She's is both precise and powerful. Aang is very sad because Appa and he are connected spiritually. Also, Appa is all he has left from his world. It's like part of his soul has been ripped from him.
I freaking love how mature this show treats its audience. So many kid shows have good guys good, bad guys bad. This show has a villain with almost main character status, guided by the wisest character in the show, who also could have been the rightful ruler of the evil empire. And how many kid shows, with heroes as pure-hearted as Aang, have anyone like Wan Shi Tong? Dude stood up to the innocent, pure child whose job description is "Messiah figure " and told him "you think you're the first to think your war is justified?" And he was immediately proven right to be suspicious.
Bitter work episode was meant to be to show the difference in personalities of the nations: Aang with his love & peace and avoiding conflict Katara with his intention to keep everybody happy and peaceful Toph with his rough attitude and straight forward (the opposite of aang actually) And sokka with his good old sarcasm 😂
Welcome to Avatar: The Last Painbender. I have watched this show and reactions many multiple dozens of times, and I NEVER NOTICED THE DEATHSTAR! OMG! LOVE that you recognized the great Hector Elizando! Hmm, Iroh vs Palpatine...⚡⚡⚡
Enjoying your reactions. As for the lightning during your outro: Ironically you were talking about lightning. By the same logic you can talk about Uncle Iroh and the lightning should be countered. Toph was always babied and coddled. She never got the blunt training she craved. She became the teacher she always wanted.
Sokka has the heart of a girl from every nation, except the air nomads, of course, but his sister has that covered. Lol There is a comic about what happened with Zuko’s mom. It takes place after the show ends. I recommend it.
One thing to know about the Fire Nation royal family is, that they often have arranged marriages. That was the case for Ozai and Ursa (Zuko's mom). They don't really go into that in the show, but the comics expand on it.
The problem with Aang's attempt at Earthbending is that he needs to _unlearn_ that Airbending mentality. Remember what Bumi said when they had that duel. The general tactic for Airbenders is "avoid and evade." To successfully Earthbend, the key is to be *tough.* And until Aang let go of that passive Airbender mentality, he wasn't going to get it.
They don't really bring it up much, but honestly Aang needs someone like Toph in his life, especially in this period of his life where literally the fate of the world depends on him learning the four elements. Katara is fantastic, but she really doesn't push Aang to be more disciplined. With waterbending that was fine, but as seen with both fire and earth now, Aang needs to learn control and discipline for when something doesn't cater to his natural talents. Unfortunately for someone like Aang that requires being tougher on him to stop him from goofing off. All that being said, Aang is freaking 11, this is only true because fate of the world and all that. Please don't stick your child in front of falling rocks or charging moose-lions.
When I first saw the lightning, I thought, "Cool!" It was "Awesome" when Iroh first redirected the lightning and how nonchalant he was about it. Baby, you ain't seen nothing yet!
I love that Iroh's explanation of lightning actually lines up with a scientific description of it, just without knowing words like "electrons."
he did say positive (protons) and negative(electrons) energy. good catch !!! SCIENCE !!! sorry trivia joke
@@rp8piYeah, but can your "science" explain how it rains?
@@alrush34 YES. YES IT CAN
Toph has never taught anyone, but she knows what she is doing. Rocks dont move because you ask them nicely. She had to teach Aang to go against his nature as a pacifist monk, and imo you can see that change in him going forward. Although something else gets the credit for his behavior.
And the cool thing is, you can see her evolve as a teacher throughout the episode. Slowly focusing in on whats most effective, while still sticking to the lessons that need to be learned.
@@ultimateninjaboi Yep, actually she is an AMAZING earthbending teacher, rocks are hard and immovable, to bend earth you have to be even more hard, even more immovable.
@@ultimateninjaboiYes! She has a subtle arc in this episode too. It’s easily overlooked, but if she hadn’t accepted Katara’s criticism it would have taken Aang much longer to be a proficient (if not master) earthbender. He wouldn’t have been ready. Taking that criticism couldn’t have been easy for her-earthbenders are inflexible and stubborn.
@@eileensnow6153 Yeah I notice a lot of people miss that detail. Both Katara and Toph utilize a little bit of each other’s teaching styles in this episode, which ties into Iroh’s lesson. Aang does need to toughen up in order to master Earthbending, but Toph took it too far. She set him up to fail and berated him for it on his very first day of training. Aang is only able to start Earthbending after he gets that positive reinforcement. He needed some verbal encouragement from her. And Katara doesn’t just coddle him and sooth his ego. She pushes him to not run away from the problem while helping him understand why it’s difficult, and then she tests his reflexes in a less extreme way than Toph did. Both of their teaching styles are useful, but they needed to adapt in order to help Aang reach his full potential.
Sassy Toph always been my favourites, lol.
You mentioned that Iroh would offer jasmine tea. He mentions jasmine a lot because it’s Zuko’s tea. Iroh’s favorite is ginseng tea
So what you're saying is that Iroh named his Ba Sing Se tea shop (the Jasmine Dragon) after not his own but ZUKO's favorite tea? He really is that boy's real dad.
@@Ebon_Seanfacts!!!!
@@Ebon_Sean Every time I think I can't love Iroh more...
@@Ebon_Seanyeah but also it is much catchier lol kinda hard to think of a short and catchy name with ginseng, lol that rhymed
this melted my heart, iroh fr the goat
Wan-chi Tong's voice actor absolutely nailed his lines in the planetarium. You can practically hear the primordial rage he is experiencing. The way he talks about war is just so potent, you can practically hear the moment he gives up on humanity as a whole when he says 'countless others', like he was just praying that at least one person would prove him wrong.
Something else to think about; Toph spent much of her life around people who coddled her because they assumed she couldn't master bending. Toph teaches in the exact opposite of how she was treated because that treatment never worked for her. She's being the teacher she wish she had.
Ooohhh, I hadn't heard this our thought about it before. Yeah, she would resent that kind of "kid gloves" soft treatment. She wanted to be challenged and pushed, so she thinks that is THE way to help someone achieve.
We all have different ways of helping someone, and sometimes a person’s way of helping someone might only be hurting them.
Also, aang needed to learn to stand up for himself. You cant tell someone to stand up for themselves or they will be doing it because you told them. Much like earth, she provided resistance so he could stand on his own.
I'm not sure why, but Sokka's dry delivery of "Now come back, boomerang" is probably my favourite line in the entire series.
Similarly, his deadpan introducing of Foo Foo Cuddly Poops to Aang.
lol really? even funnier than “aang! have you got any meat!?” 😂 immediately upon rescue after vowing to never eat meat again lmao
God... Dante Basco kills it with Zuko's breakdown on the mountain... those lines could EASILY come across whiny and annoying... but he sells that it's a genuine breaking point for Zuko...
It also, while dramatized, doesn't minimize that many teens feel something similar. Like Dante's delivery never fails to remind me that I've been there, and that I've felt that primal loneliness.
Oh boy, she's not ready for the next half of the season. I think you're only going to have one reaction video where there aren't any tears.
Which one? I feel like all of them will be tearjerkers lol.
There's going to be one which is nothing BUT tears. Like, not one single second.
To be fair, NOBODY is ready for the second half of season 2. Even on rewatch.
@@jacobamidon3114fantastic,atleast it's better than half the people on youtube witch a dead reaction who barely show emotion or reaction lol
@@Joseph-ky3ostell me about it
10:17 'Bitter Work' is the literal English translation of the word 'Kung Fu'.
27:09 Zuko on the mount was when I realised I would probably need tissues from now on until the end of the show. It is also the first moment so far we see Zuko breaking his stern façade.
On Toph's teaching style: yes, she needs some polishing, and could improve a little, but, as she explained it, earthbending *requires* toughness, and therefore he would never earthbend if she didn't rough him up a bit. You can notice she was pretty soft until she realised he couldn't even move a single rock, and thus she got progressively firmer until he stood up, which is what she wanted him to do from the start. So even if the executipn wasn't perfect, her theoretical method was correct.
As a Brazilian, I find it amusing how you speak about 'having weather'. Yeah, we certainly do have weather here. 😂
Fun fact: the desert's name is 'Si Wong', which means 'death'.
I'm really looking forward to your analysis of the roller coaster of emotions you have just entered.
Huh, and earth bending is specifically based on kung-fu, especially toph's unique style which is based on preying mantis style, bitter work really is a perfect episode title lol
Zuko really is a well written example of a character went through severe trauma, especially one that went through trauma because of an abusive parent. Someone so tortured and just trying to find that peace and confidence that was taken away from them. The writers truly did an amazing job writing him and his whole story ark
There has to be at least one of the writers that's lived it to write it that well.
@insomnaholic I feel that, too. If so, that makes me both happy and sad. Sad that they went through that and happy that they found such a beautiful way to use their experience to create such a complex and amazing character
"You think you're the first person to believe their war was justified?" That is a hard hitting line.
The scene of Zuko yelling at the sky is one of my favourites in the whole show. Breaks me everytime.
Toph is not at all shy about making blind jokes. This will not be the last. It's partly a defense mechanism, and particularly as it relates to Appa - when she's on Appa, she becomes actually blind, which is something she's never really had to deal with in her life because of her Earth-sight.
I don't know anybody who's blind to ask their opinions on how the show treats Toph, but it always seemed to me to be fairly well handled because the one making them is most often Toph. As well as her being incredibly strong even with her disability.
I wish people wouldnt throw words like "defense mechanism" around, or at least pull out a doctorate to back it up.
Thing is, Toph didn't just randomly get mean for no reason, she wanted to get a rise of Aang. Since the literal boulder didn't work on Aang, she started being a metaphorical one for h7m by continuously egging him on to make him push back against her, but instead he avoided and evaded conflict like an airbender, like he did with the actual boulder.
Notice how Aang only started being able to actually earthbend once he started pushing back against the sabertooth mooselion and Toph herself. I turn Toph also learned how to be a teacher by trying out Katara's tip of giving him words of encouragement, telling Aang that he has the stuff and finally pushed back against her and now only had to put it into practice.
A great episode for both teachers and students.
"Come on! Strike me! You've never held back before!"
A boy yelling out his rage at the storm overhead, hot tears mixing with the cold rain on his face. That got me. That WAS me, when I was in middle and high school. I wish I had had an Uncle Iroh.
We all should have an Uncle Iroh. sniff
You may not have an uncle iroh, but you now have an entire community of people who can relate and understand (that was also me). Welcome to the fandom 😇
You expressed a lot of frustration with Toph's teaching, but the thing you need to understand about skilled benders is that they often have personalities which emulate the properties of the element they bend. You could say this is part of how they "understand" their element. So earthbenders like Toph tend to be hard, stubborn, and unyielding. She is trying to bring him over into this way of thinking so that he can understand the mentality needed to bend earth. This ties into the discussion Iroh has about each of the nations in this episode.
Yes, it is spelled out in this episode that it takes much more than a few fancy moves to produce bending. Bending is also philosophy... attitude... frame of mind. Bending is just as spiritual as it is physical.
To get Aang into the right frame of mind for Earthbending, Toph needed to get him frustrated and angry enough to go against his nature and confront her directly. In contrast Iroh realised that getting Zuko into the right mindset for lightning would be a far more involved task with no quick or easy shortcut to achieve the desired results.
Would that mean sand-benders' approach to earthbending is rather shifty?
Hey I don’t know if you are still reading the comments on this one but you should know that it is implied that Appa can perfectly understand human speech. It is part of the spiritual bond between the Air nomads and their bison.
When Tooh talks about the unique way she see with earth bending you can see Appa look interested and pay attention. I love that detail.
It’s such a random, small moment, but Sokka dramatically announcing his vacation will be “TO THE LIBRARY!!!” Is one of my favorite Avatar moments. 😂
I use it all the time. :)
Sokka is a HUGE CATCH!
1. He's good looking. His entire family has good genes.
2. He's a brave warrior and protecter, not afraid to fight for what's right and fight for the ones he loves.
3. He's a hilarious goofball that will always keep you laughing.
4. He's willing to grow and change his views once proven wrong. He went from being sexist to respecting women.
5. He's a bonafide genius.
6. He's resourceful
7. He's a leader, not afraid to go on the front lines.
Honestly, the list just goes on and on.
The universe spared Zuko's life here. He was not ready to redirect lightning yet. If he had been struck, it would have gone through his heart, and killed him. Zuko wrongly things the universe has thrown everything at him, but it has all come from people: His father, Zhao, Azula.
I always love the performance of the voice actor for Uncle Iroh, Mako Iwamatsu.
Phenomenal work from Mako 🖤
More translation stuff: The owl’s name is Wan Shi Tong (萬事通), which is Chinese for “He who knows ten thousand things” (as he said himself). But this is also a commonly used phrase in Chinese, it means someone who knows/is good at everything. Kind of like “Jack of All Trades”!
Bitter Work is probably one of my favorite episodes because it really is what Kung Fu is all about: literally “bitter work”- *any* action, not just martial arts, that takes time and practice and study and discipline. This episode teaches us so much about the inner workings of the Avatar Universe from Bending to Culture and everything in between.
It’s an amazing parallel between Aang and Zuko’s struggles to act unlike themselves. Aang is the last of his kind and needs to embody all cultures and bending in one person, but he only understands the mentality of an Airbender and not that of an Earthbender. Zuko only knows how to use hate, rage, and turmoil to fuel his firebending; but doesn’t understand how to calm his mind to generate lightning.
Katara and Iroh serve as clever mentors, helping Aang and Zuko work through their blocks (using the same waterbending technique, mind you)
Toph has the unenviable task of changing Aang’s mindset. She’s right: if he wants to be an Earthbender, he needs to be like an Earthbender. However, this episode is great for her too because Aang’s needs force *her* to think outside the box and come up with a clever way to help Aang overcome his block: he can’t Earthbend… but he CAN Airbend while holding his ground and that’s all he needed to realize he had what it takes.
It’s such a good episode!
Azula attacked Iroh first for purely tactical reasons. She knew he was the greatest threat to her, and by pre-emptively striking him, she'd instantly take Zuko out of the fight too cause he'd be too distraught to focus on her. It was the ideal candidate to hit first to cause enough havoc in the united front arrayed against her that she could escape.
On top of that, with Katara and Aang being more pacifist/emotional (Katara less than Aang), seeing the old man, who never seemed to attack them (except for that one scene where he helped Zuko attack in the beginning of the show), and also tried to defend the moon spirit, getting hurt, would also distract them
Aang is avoidant, he has trouble facing his problems and responsibilities head-on. That is why he ran when he learned he was the Avatar, and that is why he has trouble with earthbending. Him learning how to earthbend shows he has become more mature, he learned not to run from things.
I love these two episodes so much. Also Toph is right about what Aang had to learn. Man this is where the fun begins.
Tophs way of teaching is exactly what Aang needed
Also, im not trying to sound like a dick. I used to be a martial arts instructor, so i know that everyone has their own way of learning its one of the first things i was taught about instructing. But Aangs entire mindset was too evasive. Instead of trying to tackle things head on, which is the basis of what's required for earth bending, he tries to find ways around it. He absolutely needed a teacher who wasn't afraid to tell him to stop going around his problems and go through them.
I don't think the owl spirit would kill the professor, though, he was the only one of the group who was seeking knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
I like to think Wan-chi Tong spared him under the pretense that he'd die in there eventually anyway when he actually just admired the professor's pure love of knowledge. Perhaps Wan-chi Tong enjoys the company for the rest of his short human life.
in legend of Korra it appears the corps of the profesor. He simply enjoyed of the knowledge till the end of his days
@c.isaaccastellanosvelazco3280 I was gonna mention that, but I think that's considered a spoiler. I know it's not plot relevant, but it's a cool moment and probably best left to experience blind.
Teaching is a skill. If you haven't done it before, you're not going to be very good at it. Toph is trying to convey self-taught knowledge, because she never really had a teacher either. She is the greatest Earthbender who ever was or ever will be, but being able to pass that knowledge on is a whole other matter.
"Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source"
Your impressions are refreshing. Hard to find people who don’t immediately love everything about Azula and Toph while disliking Katara.
Azula's first saving grace is her sense of humor, her impersonation of Zuko in The Chase was hilarious and only becomes more funny over time if you rewatch the show.
Agreed, Azula is so sassy and I love it. Come to think of it, both of them are a bit sassy.
Azula is a gigantic b*tch but in a way that you can't help but love her.
suffering has a noble purpose - it's to awaken us. Zuko and Iroh's suffering makes them who they are, and makes them more aligned with purpose and awareness.
love your empathy for zuko at the end. he's one of my favorite characters of all time and so excited to see your reactions going forward
It's worth mentioning that Iroh was considered one of the Fire Nation's best generals ever, and that is shown in that he was the first person to break through the wall of Ba Sing Se. It is entirely possible that without the loss of Lu Ten, the war ends way earlier with Iroh conquering the Earth Kingdom for the Fire Nation (interesting alternate histories there with "Firelord Iroh"). It is heartbreaking that Iroh has to go through that loss, but that loss helps make this story what it is.
I've been a teacher for 20 years and one of nicest compliments I've ever gotten was from a student who called me her Uncle Iroh because I never gave up on her, no matter how much of a pain she was in class :)
It was a nice moment that I think about on all the days I feel more the firelord than Iroh.
Man that's praise of the highest caliber. I'd have bawled like a baby!
13:18- Like Toph said, Earth is a stubborn element, so the bender must also be stubborn and forceful to move it. This is the antithesis of Airbending, where the motion is more loose and free, which is why Aang struggled to get started. If Toph wants to help Aang master Earthbending, then she needs to be tough on him as a mentor to toughen him up, if that makes sense.
Air is a fluid like water, so Katara understands him. Toph is hard because rock is hard, thats also why earth is the hardest for him.
"The stomach is the source of energy in your body."
Sokka must be really strong then.
A literal bottomless pit of energy for sure.
Angela: " be a little bit nicer to him Toph"
Toph: " we don`t do that around here"
I feel fairly confident in saying that all of watching her reactions are highly anticipating... a specific episode.
God is it going to hurt, but I can’t wait just the same 😅
I can think of 2 very particular episodes.
Since she's done with ATLA now, I can say it, but potential spoilers for those watching along:
Appa's Lost Days, and The Tales of Ba Sing Se.
In terms of the elements influencing their respective learning and teaching styles, I think the aspect of water that best reflects Katara is that it is very nurturing. Compared to the other three elements, water is the one that feels most directly connected to life. Traditionally, water sources are seen as the life blood of the planet, from which civilization spring from. It is what plants need to grow. In that sense, Katara is very nurturing in her teaching style, giving encouragement and regularly finding ways to encourage Aang to continue progressing.
Hmm, that's interesting. I've always viewed fire as nurturing and the source of life. The sun, hearth, and warmth. I suppose they are both life in different ways.
I like how you put it. The elements nurture/influence our characters way of thinking and personality. About your note on Katara, imo she's like water in that she's both a nurturing healer and a warrior who's a torrent/force of nature if need be.
Wait a minute, how did I never realize this until now? Unless I'm missing something, each season has exactly one episode evenly split between Aang and Zuko, where they both have parallel learning experiences and/or flashbacks. First season had the Storm, where we learn both of their backstories, this episode, Bitter Work, and of course, without spoilers, we know how The Avatar and the Fire Lord ends.
I love how HARD you love Zuko and his story. It's so heartwarming to see how much care you have for his character.
I'd say Zuko was screaming at his whole life or 'the universe' in general more than just his father or sister. And it definitely is too soon to say he let go all of that for shedding a couple of tears 😅. I think that scene just intended to show the audience his frustration and trauma more than him making important progress about it. Although shouting at your demons and allowing yourself to break into tears is somewhat of a step.
Expecting lots of tears this season 😭😂
Legend speaks of a time when Prince Zuko challenged a storm to battle. The storm refused.
So happy to see Hector Elizondo get some recognition!!! Everyone says his voice is creepy but I just hear dear Joe :’)💗💗💗
I will always have a special place in my heart for his portrayal of Ioz in The Pirates of Dark Water.
I mostly know him from Tim Allen's Last Man Standing.
In the episode "The Storm," Azula was shown standing next to Iroh looking very much "into it" as Ozai scars Zuko and Zuko screams. (That is her first appearance, I think, outside of the opening credits, where her silhouette is the firebending example.)
I cannot waiiiiiit for the rest of this series. Honestly I feel like the library really starts "part 2" of the series and part 2 fucking rules
You have such great empathy for these characters, it's wonderful to listen to your reactions and analysis.
I don’t know if you are ready for the second half of this season, I mean it’s amazing and you’ll see it. The next episode has my favorite scene from the whole serie ❤ I’m so excited to see your reaction. Great reaction. Greetings from Brooklyn NY!
So hot take about the library. I like the sequence of events where Appa kidnapping starts at the same time as Sokka decides to go back for the date of the eclipse.
This is Sokka’s episode and his choices matter most in the one. He chose to turn back and as a horrifying consequence, the group looses Appa.
Can't respond to this without spoiling anything. Do me a favor and tag me when we get to the right point in the show.
Zukos back story is so good but so tragic at the same time 🥲
“Not funny, she got me”
But that makes it funny 🤣😊
Iroh teaching Zuko about the qualities of the people of each nation is truly a remarkable piece of writing. It’s such a beautiful message about humanity with how we can improve ourselves by learning from one another despite our differences. It’s all the more impressive that it never feels hamfisted in the way it’s delivered.
We're well into the swing of things! This is why this is considered the best book by many fans
I love that Toph would be the perfect teacher for someone with an Earth nature to them, but teaching an Avatar with the airiest air nature you'll ever see meant she also had to learn something.
Small detail that has been pointed out before by others, Zuko does not drink the tea he made. He just holds the cup. He tried but he probably knows it doesn’t taste good.
I Think episode "The Library" is the key episode of the series poviting to a mature perspective. First we really learn the actual roadmap for the future. also closing the gaps about how zhao leraned the moon spirit's physical form. He really refers to library in the first season if you rewatch. Also my favourite line is " do you think you're the first person to believe their war is justified?". Wonderful question. Very critical key episode of the series and i like that it's actually happening very middle of the series. i mean it's the exact middle episode if you conder whole series.
omg she gonna have a roller coaster of emotions in the next few episodes
"It keeps blowing up in my face!...Like everything always does." Well that's definitely not angsty at all.
And the lightning outside your place is definitely too on the nose for this chapter.
You have to understand Toph’s training is intense because that’s what’s best in order to learn Earthbending… each element is different… since Aang is a master Airbender he’s trained most of his life to be evasive and learn how to be calm like wind unlike earth which you need to be strong not just physically but mentally…
Exactly. He needs to unlearn that Airbender mentality, first.
god I remember the marketing for the Library episode back in the day, they advertised the shit out of that one (along with the one after, they were originally aired as a double length special titled "The Fury of Aang"). It was a huge deal
You want a sympathetic aspect about Azula? Think about what iroh set about lightning being the cold-blooded fire, and think about how good Azula is with it. And then remember that she's only 14 years old. The firelord turned his own 14 year old daughter into a cold-blooded weapon of mass destruction.
the smile on your face while iroh is teaching zuko about the other nations. i love it too.
This is the season where Iroh goes from a funny, fascinating, and mysterious character, to a character you will remember forever as one of the wisest, deepest characters ever put to screen (while still being slightly mysterious). Everyone should have an Iroh in their life.
Zuko screaming atop the mountain is really sad, because it shows that he really believes that something out there has been giving him all this turmoil he's endured. "youve never held back before" hes just trying to prove to Anyone that he is strong enough
You cried for Iroh, you cried for Zuko, you cried for Appa, this show knows how to hit those feels eh?
The question is when all is said and done, will she cry for Azula?
No need to ask about Ozai though, that one's an unambiguous "no"
Yeah and I hope she's hydrating herself well for the rest of the show 🤣
Zuko's monologue on the mountain is one of the most powerful moments in the show, and it doesn't get talked about a lot.
A little detail I love is that Wan Shi Tong's beak movements don't match his speech at all. Just adds to the slightly unearthly and off-kilter feel to him.
Her voice when the sandbenders were taking Appa reminded me of The Princess Bride. "Appa's going to do something, right?" had the same tone as Fred Savage's "What does Fezzik mean 'He's dead?'"
I moved from the Midwest to Arizona a number of years ago and I remember driving down the street during a storm. Every house had people standing at the window or in their garage staring out at the rain. I was thinking "It's just rain, people. It's not that exciting." Having spent a few years in the desert now, I understand.
If you remember when they showed iroh redirect lightning in session one, he seemed to look suprised, that was likely the first time he ever actually did it and was suprises that his technique actually worked
Two excellent episodes. I especially love Uncle Iroh's wisdom and how they parallel Aang's & Zuko's training in Bitter Work. Zuko on that mountain top at the end is heartbreaking. The show will reference the phrase "Bitter Work" in one of the best Book 3 episodes. And while turtle ducks are adorable, I think the baby moose lion cub is the cutest animal in ATLA (not counting Appa & Momo of course).
As for The Library, that Owl Spirit is genuinely creepy and I love that the Misty Palms Oasis gives one Star Wars vibes with what looks like the death star hanging over the entrance to the cantina. And the first of several blind jokes from Toph.
It was Zhoa that destroyed the Fire Nation part of the library! This is where he found out about Tui and La's physical forms.
Come on, STRIKE ME. YOU'VE NEVER HELD BACK BEFORE!
Poor, poor Zuko. You feel all of the emotions built up inside of him in that moment. Bravo Dante Basco.
The way I see it, Sokka is not particularly "intelligent". Rather, he is "clever". He doesn't have vast swathes of knowledge at his fingertips or be able to figure out every permutation of a puzzle using a structured, organised approach, or anything to that effect. Rather, he is resourceful and able to quickly adapt and think on his feet, solving problems using what he has available in unconventional ways.
I remember playing the Avatar game in the Playstation 2 and man, escaping that owl on time was probably the most difficult level in the game
As a kid I always thought it's design was creepy, nowadays I think it's awesome
I watched a video talking about how Toph’s stances are based on a different martial art than other Earthbenders stances, as she doesn’t see what other Earthbenders do, and is more in touch with the feeling of the rocks
27:08 Every time I see that scene I think that if God had sent lightning to Suko, he would have been indifferent. You have to remember the past chapters, now he is an exile, he has realized the damage that his nation does to others, his sister continues to surpass him, his father does not love him, his uncle almost died, the Avatar is still superior and He has practically been alone. Maybe he just hopes, in that scene, that God finishes him off. always makes me cry.
This is where the emotions start
Bro, how are you forgetting The Storm
It breaks my heart when Zuko checks if his uncle is looking before crying in the rain.
Wan Shi Tong's title "he who knows 10,000 things" is a figure of speech and is more impressive than it sounds. Chinese counting system groups things in 10,000's. So, culturally, he's saying his knowledge is near infinite/ or he's close to reading everything that's been written.
It's so good to see people experiencing how amazing this series is for the first time.
giiiirrl, you're in for a rough few episodes this season, get more tissues asap lol
loving your reactions - yours are probably my favorite of any channel i've watched so far
Sokka makes up in planning and ingenuity what he lacks in power. He's their Batman or Captain America, but with jokes. Bending earth isn't remotely like the other elements. You're bending a solid, and it doesn't want to acquiesce to your whims.
Yes, being able to bend a certain element seems to influence the bender. But, I think bending is as much about attitude as it is ability. And, hats off to Toph. She held up a huge building full of books for what would have to be 5-10 minutes. She's is both precise and powerful.
Aang is very sad because Appa and he are connected spiritually. Also, Appa is all he has left from his world. It's like part of his soul has been ripped from him.
Your eye rolls never fail to make me laugh and when they are particularly good, I watch it again in slow motion 😂
I freaking love how mature this show treats its audience. So many kid shows have good guys good, bad guys bad. This show has a villain with almost main character status, guided by the wisest character in the show, who also could have been the rightful ruler of the evil empire.
And how many kid shows, with heroes as pure-hearted as Aang, have anyone like Wan Shi Tong? Dude stood up to the innocent, pure child whose job description is "Messiah figure " and told him "you think you're the first to think your war is justified?" And he was immediately proven right to be suspicious.
God damn that last scene with Zuko in 2x9 still hits like a truck all these years later.
“Our time is limited with him I feel like” I hate how (allegedly) accurate this statement is
The Gaang just literally be raiding somebody’s library and stealing stuff…then beat the owner up.
The second half of this season made me cry more than most shows. Good luck.
Bitter work episode was meant to be to show the difference in personalities of the nations:
Aang with his love & peace and avoiding conflict
Katara with his intention to keep everybody happy and peaceful
Toph with his rough attitude and straight forward (the opposite of aang actually)
And sokka with his good old sarcasm 😂
Welcome to Avatar: The Last Painbender.
I have watched this show and reactions many multiple dozens of times, and I NEVER NOTICED THE DEATHSTAR! OMG!
LOVE that you recognized the great Hector Elizando!
Hmm, Iroh vs Palpatine...⚡⚡⚡
Enjoying your reactions. As for the lightning during your outro: Ironically you were talking about lightning. By the same logic you can talk about Uncle Iroh and the lightning should be countered.
Toph was always babied and coddled. She never got the blunt training she craved. She became the teacher she always wanted.
Sokka has the heart of a girl from every nation, except the air nomads, of course, but his sister has that covered. Lol
There is a comic about what happened with Zuko’s mom. It takes place after the show ends. I recommend it.
One thing to know about the Fire Nation royal family is, that they often have arranged marriages. That was the case for Ozai and Ursa (Zuko's mom). They don't really go into that in the show, but the comics expand on it.
The problem with Aang's attempt at Earthbending is that he needs to _unlearn_ that Airbending mentality.
Remember what Bumi said when they had that duel. The general tactic for Airbenders is "avoid and evade." To successfully Earthbend, the key is to be *tough.* And until Aang let go of that passive Airbender mentality, he wasn't going to get it.
They don't really bring it up much, but honestly Aang needs someone like Toph in his life, especially in this period of his life where literally the fate of the world depends on him learning the four elements. Katara is fantastic, but she really doesn't push Aang to be more disciplined. With waterbending that was fine, but as seen with both fire and earth now, Aang needs to learn control and discipline for when something doesn't cater to his natural talents. Unfortunately for someone like Aang that requires being tougher on him to stop him from goofing off.
All that being said, Aang is freaking 11, this is only true because fate of the world and all that. Please don't stick your child in front of falling rocks or charging moose-lions.
When I first saw the lightning, I thought, "Cool!"
It was "Awesome" when Iroh first redirected the lightning and how nonchalant he was about it.
Baby, you ain't seen nothing yet!