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flowrs4opheliaFinally finished! Thanks for all the comments, everyone - I'm not experienced with this picspamming business and it was nice to get a big response to the first post. :) Part 1 was here if you missed it.
[10]
HOW GENERAL IROH GOT THAT NICKNAME
Book II, Episode 20: The Crossroads of Destiny
FKDSJKVNFBKFDNKJNSLNVBGKFMFKDKLSNKSD. Practically a textbook example of a Crowning Moment of Awesome, hehe.
[09]
THE BLUE SPIRIT'S IDENTITY / "DO YOU THINK WE COULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS?"
Book I, Episode 13: The Blue Spirit
Oh man, how amazing is this episode in general? I mean, the frogs! And Sokka's delirious ramblings! And Aang getting shot at with arrows and just saying, "I think you dropped this..." ♥ I love that it's a little unique in how it starts with this really mundane premise that Katara and Sokka are sick, which is hilariously handled. Then so much serious stuff goes down once Aang gets into a lot of trouble on his own only for the episode to end with Aang admitting he didn't make any new friends, as if nothing much happened or has changed. Which is too bad because he and Zuko have now found they make a pretty good team, and throughout these scenes Zuko's actions and Aang's words show clearly that neither of them really wants to have to fight the other.
[08]
"THE EARTH KINGDOM HAS FALLEN…"
Book II, Episode 20: The Crossroads of Destiny
In capital Empire Strikes Back style, the middle part of the epic series ends with all kinds of crap hitting the fan and a feeling that things can't get any worse. Zuko is still confused and easily manipulated by the promise of regaining his father's approval, and by joining Azula he falls to his lowest point in a painful betrayal of his uncle. Aang has lost all access to the power of the Avatar state after almost getting killed. And after a century of trying to penetrate the walls of Ba Sing Se, the Fire Nation has taken the Earth Kingdom, essentially already winning the war. Cliffhangers like this make me really glad I discovered this show late on DVD and could burn straight through the whole thing.
[07]
THE JUDGMENT
Book III, Episode 13: The Firebending Masters
It's hard to say why this sequence really stood out to me on my first viewing of Avatar and is still one of my favorite moments in the series. The storytelling here just has an especially mythical sort of beauty and magnitude that probably speaks for itself, and it's all realized with gorgeous animation and score. And everything's always cooler with dragons, right?
[06]
INVADING THE EARTH KING'S PALACE
Book II, Episode 18: The Earth King
You know, manipulation of the elements honestly sounds like cheesy Captain Planet stuff you've seen before and which only kids could get into. Until you've actually seen the show. And this scene is exactly the one I'd show someone as an introduction to it if they need convincing that this is a really creatively developed universe and that bending is way more exciting than just kids throwing rocks and flames at each other. Aang, Katara, and Toph all get to take out all the stops in a display of their most seasoned bending abilities that we've rarely seen like this before this point, and never before with them all working together. Toph is my favorite character to watch fight and uses some of her most badass earthbending ever here, even though she was outvoted by the Gaang and didn't even feel like doing this. LOL.
[05]
AVATAR AANG VS. FIRE LORD OZAI
Book III, Episodes 20-21: Sozin's Comet (Part 3 & 4)
The first scene with all the birds flying away from the spreading fire and the music when Ozai starts approaching Aang is enough to give you chills. We finally get to see Aang pull out all kinds of skills he's learned in the past half year, from redirecting lightning to seeing through the ground like Toph does when he senses Ozai about to attack him from behind, and he even finally masters the Avatar state. Then he ultimately uses none of these things against Ozai. So what if energybending is a bit of an ass-pull? It's a lot more interesting to me than seeing invincible Avatar-state-Aang defeat someone. He wins not by being more powerful, necessarily, but by having a spirit that's "unbendable" and can withstand the process of drawing out someone's bending. So basically...12 years old and already the greatest incarnation of the Avatar ever, y/n?
[04]
TOPH INVENTS METALBENDING
Book II, Episode 19: The Guru
Whenever I talk about the sophistication and cinematic feel of Avatar that's so impressive in a cartoon, this is one of the examples of that kind of writing that I think of. It's a classically epic moment, in the literal and non-netspeak definition of the word, and the way it overlaps with Aang's storyline through Guru Pathik's dialogue makes it work effortlessly as one of many heavily momentous events that seem to keep coming non-stop during the last hour of Book 2.
[03]
ESCAPE FROM THE BOILING ROCK / MAI AND TY LEE BETRAY AZULA
Book III, Episode 15: The Boiling Rock (Part 2)
THE. BOILING. ROCK. This is my FAVORITE EPISODE mostly because of this action scene and everything that follows, how can I even sum it up??
Well, for one thing, Suki. That's kind of all I need to say. Suki. Fighting Ty Lee. And Azula being her usual cool-headed, resourceful, and formidable self while craftily getting herself up onto the gondola and then fighting her brother and Sokka as if they're not all precariously passing over a body of boiling-hot water. And then the completely fearless and calm resolve with which Mai chooses to help Zuko escape and then prepares to face the consequences. And finally Ty Lee suddenly turning on Azula before she can hurt Mai, which makes a lot of sense and yet still made my jaw drop a little the second it happened. All this was clearly Bryke's test to see how hard they can make me flail.
[02]
PRINCE ZUKO VS. PRINCESS AZULA / KATARA TAKES OVER
Book III, Episodes 20-21: Sozin's Comet (Part 3 & 4)
Though Aang's battle with Ozai is the one the entire story builds up to, even Mike and Bryan have said this ultimate Agni Kai was the highlight of the series finale for them. This confrontation may be less critical to the outcome of the war, but it's a much more personal one, which probably explains why the main hero's last fight doesn't quite measure up to it in intensity. These scenes have a lot more emphasis on the emotional, with the music reflecting the unsettling and dark tone and the tragedy of a brother and sister fighting each other instead of drawing attention to the action. When Azula is finally subjugated and Zuko grimly watches her totally losing it, we see that this is a relief but not exactly a victory for him, and that's the only right way this particular resolution could have been handled. It's perfect that the final defeat of her is Katara's big heroic act while his is simply when he "takes the bullet" for her and gets hit almost fatally by Azula's lightning.
[01]
THE BLACK & WHITE SEQUENCE / PRINCESS YUE'S SACRIFICE
Book I, Episode 20: The Siege of the North (Part 2)
The time I reached the end of the first season finale was the moment I became a big Avatar fan and knew I was going to buy all the DVDs and hang out in the fandom and go to the midnight showing of the movie (well, thankfully that last one didn't happen). As much as the series gets even better past season 1, to me this brilliantly conceived and somewhat unconventional episode is still hard to beat as an example of what makes it special.
When Yue died and the already sad and doomed romance between her and Sokka came to a bittersweet resolution, maybe the surprise had a lot to do with it affecting me kind of strongly because a tragic death is just a little unexpected in a cartoon for kids, but I definitely got a little teary. Aang's revenge-of-Koizilla moment was a lot of fun for me as a huge Miyazaki fan because of the obvious homage to the end of Princess Mononoke when the forest spirit is killed and turns into a spirit of death and giant walking monster. And of course this whole sequence is just so visually beautiful to watch.
.
HOW GENERAL IROH GOT THAT NICKNAME
Book II, Episode 20: The Crossroads of Destiny
"Did I ever tell you how I earned the nickname the Dragon of the West?"
"I'm not interested in a lengthly anecdote, Uncle."
"It's more of a demonstration, really..."
FKDSJKVNFBKFDNKJNSLNVBGKFMFKDKLSNKSD. Practically a textbook example of a Crowning Moment of Awesome, hehe.
THE BLUE SPIRIT'S IDENTITY / "DO YOU THINK WE COULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS?"
Book I, Episode 13: The Blue Spirit
"Before the war started, I used to visit my friend Kuzon. The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together. He was one of the best friends I ever had. And he was from the Fire Nation, just like you. If we knew each other back then, do you think we could have been friends, too?"
Oh man, how amazing is this episode in general? I mean, the frogs! And Sokka's delirious ramblings! And Aang getting shot at with arrows and just saying, "I think you dropped this..." ♥ I love that it's a little unique in how it starts with this really mundane premise that Katara and Sokka are sick, which is hilariously handled. Then so much serious stuff goes down once Aang gets into a lot of trouble on his own only for the episode to end with Aang admitting he didn't make any new friends, as if nothing much happened or has changed. Which is too bad because he and Zuko have now found they make a pretty good team, and throughout these scenes Zuko's actions and Aang's words show clearly that neither of them really wants to have to fight the other.
"THE EARTH KINGDOM HAS FALLEN…"
Book II, Episode 20: The Crossroads of Destiny
"We've done it, Zuko. It's taken a hundred years, but the Fire Nation has conquered Ba Sing Se."
"I betrayed Uncle."
"No. He betrayed you."
In capital Empire Strikes Back style, the middle part of the epic series ends with all kinds of crap hitting the fan and a feeling that things can't get any worse. Zuko is still confused and easily manipulated by the promise of regaining his father's approval, and by joining Azula he falls to his lowest point in a painful betrayal of his uncle. Aang has lost all access to the power of the Avatar state after almost getting killed. And after a century of trying to penetrate the walls of Ba Sing Se, the Fire Nation has taken the Earth Kingdom, essentially already winning the war. Cliffhangers like this make me really glad I discovered this show late on DVD and could burn straight through the whole thing.
THE JUDGMENT
Book III, Episode 13: The Firebending Masters
"Their fire was beautiful. I saw so many colors."
"Like firebending harmony."
"Yes…They judged you and gave you visions of the meaning of firebending."
"All this time I thought firebending was destruction, but now I know. It's energy and life."
"Yeah. It's like the sun…but inside you. Do you guys realize this?"
"Well, our civilization is called the Sun Warriors…so yeah."
It's hard to say why this sequence really stood out to me on my first viewing of Avatar and is still one of my favorite moments in the series. The storytelling here just has an especially mythical sort of beauty and magnitude that probably speaks for itself, and it's all realized with gorgeous animation and score. And everything's always cooler with dragons, right?
INVADING THE EARTH KING'S PALACE
Book II, Episode 18: The Earth King
"Toph! Which way to the Earth King?"
"How should I know? I'm still voting we leave Ba Sing Se!"
You know, manipulation of the elements honestly sounds like cheesy Captain Planet stuff you've seen before and which only kids could get into. Until you've actually seen the show. And this scene is exactly the one I'd show someone as an introduction to it if they need convincing that this is a really creatively developed universe and that bending is way more exciting than just kids throwing rocks and flames at each other. Aang, Katara, and Toph all get to take out all the stops in a display of their most seasoned bending abilities that we've rarely seen like this before this point, and never before with them all working together. Toph is my favorite character to watch fight and uses some of her most badass earthbending ever here, even though she was outvoted by the Gaang and didn't even feel like doing this. LOL.
AVATAR AANG VS. FIRE LORD OZAI
Book III, Episodes 20-21: Sozin's Comet (Part 3 & 4)
"Momo…Time for you to go."
The first scene with all the birds flying away from the spreading fire and the music when Ozai starts approaching Aang is enough to give you chills. We finally get to see Aang pull out all kinds of skills he's learned in the past half year, from redirecting lightning to seeing through the ground like Toph does when he senses Ozai about to attack him from behind, and he even finally masters the Avatar state. Then he ultimately uses none of these things against Ozai. So what if energybending is a bit of an ass-pull? It's a lot more interesting to me than seeing invincible Avatar-state-Aang defeat someone. He wins not by being more powerful, necessarily, but by having a spirit that's "unbendable" and can withstand the process of drawing out someone's bending. So basically...12 years old and already the greatest incarnation of the Avatar ever, y/n?
TOPH INVENTS METALBENDING
Book II, Episode 19: The Guru
"Even the separation of the four elements is an illusion. If you open your mind, you will see that all the elements are one, four parts of the same whole. Even metal is just a part of earth that has been purified and refined."
Whenever I talk about the sophistication and cinematic feel of Avatar that's so impressive in a cartoon, this is one of the examples of that kind of writing that I think of. It's a classically epic moment, in the literal and non-netspeak definition of the word, and the way it overlaps with Aang's storyline through Guru Pathik's dialogue makes it work effortlessly as one of many heavily momentous events that seem to keep coming non-stop during the last hour of Book 2.
ESCAPE FROM THE BOILING ROCK / MAI AND TY LEE BETRAY AZULA
Book III, Episode 15: The Boiling Rock (Part 2)
"This is a rematch I've been waiting for."
THE. BOILING. ROCK. This is my FAVORITE EPISODE mostly because of this action scene and everything that follows, how can I even sum it up??
Well, for one thing, Suki. That's kind of all I need to say. Suki. Fighting Ty Lee. And Azula being her usual cool-headed, resourceful, and formidable self while craftily getting herself up onto the gondola and then fighting her brother and Sokka as if they're not all precariously passing over a body of boiling-hot water. And then the completely fearless and calm resolve with which Mai chooses to help Zuko escape and then prepares to face the consequences. And finally Ty Lee suddenly turning on Azula before she can hurt Mai, which makes a lot of sense and yet still made my jaw drop a little the second it happened. All this was clearly Bryke's test to see how hard they can make me flail.
PRINCE ZUKO VS. PRINCESS AZULA / KATARA TAKES OVER
Book III, Episodes 20-21: Sozin's Comet (Part 3 & 4)
"I'm sorry it has to end this way, brother..."
"No, you're not."
Though Aang's battle with Ozai is the one the entire story builds up to, even Mike and Bryan have said this ultimate Agni Kai was the highlight of the series finale for them. This confrontation may be less critical to the outcome of the war, but it's a much more personal one, which probably explains why the main hero's last fight doesn't quite measure up to it in intensity. These scenes have a lot more emphasis on the emotional, with the music reflecting the unsettling and dark tone and the tragedy of a brother and sister fighting each other instead of drawing attention to the action. When Azula is finally subjugated and Zuko grimly watches her totally losing it, we see that this is a relief but not exactly a victory for him, and that's the only right way this particular resolution could have been handled. It's perfect that the final defeat of her is Katara's big heroic act while his is simply when he "takes the bullet" for her and gets hit almost fatally by Azula's lightning.
THE BLACK & WHITE SEQUENCE / PRINCESS YUE'S SACRIFICE
Book I, Episode 20: The Siege of the North (Part 2)
"Destroying the moon won't hurt just the Water Tribe. Everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world!"
"He is right, Zhao. The Fire Nation needs the moon, too. We all depend on the balance. Whatever you do to that spirit I will unleash on you ten-fold! LET IT GO, NOW!"
The time I reached the end of the first season finale was the moment I became a big Avatar fan and knew I was going to buy all the DVDs and hang out in the fandom and go to the midnight showing of the movie (well, thankfully that last one didn't happen). As much as the series gets even better past season 1, to me this brilliantly conceived and somewhat unconventional episode is still hard to beat as an example of what makes it special.
When Yue died and the already sad and doomed romance between her and Sokka came to a bittersweet resolution, maybe the surprise had a lot to do with it affecting me kind of strongly because a tragic death is just a little unexpected in a cartoon for kids, but I definitely got a little teary. Aang's revenge-of-Koizilla moment was a lot of fun for me as a huge Miyazaki fan because of the obvious homage to the end of Princess Mononoke when the forest spirit is killed and turns into a spirit of death and giant walking monster. And of course this whole sequence is just so visually beautiful to watch.
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Date: 2010-08-31 05:59 am (UTC)That's an interesting point. I realized before while watching "The Southern Raiders" that there's a parallel between Katara and Zuko because both of their mothers were lost because of a willing sacrifice they made to protect them. Of course the finale shows that in her own way, Azula has been deeply affected by the separation from her mother as well. It also really shows the contrast between her and Katara that Katara takes her down without hurting her at all or even having to weaken her first.