Most other episodes don't directly point to one another the way Serpent's Pass and The Drill do. There's usually SOME small gap in time between most other episodes. Only a couple of exceptions like Cave of Two Lovers + Return to Omashu, and Seige of the North 1 & 2.
In this episode every member of the Gaang lost their biggest strength: Sokka: Intelligence/Logic/A clear mind Toph: Sight Aang: Pacifism/Gentleness Only Katara was there to keep everything and everyone together.
"Water is the element of change. The people of the water tribes are adaptable to many things. They have a great sense of community that holds them together through anything." ~ Iroh I love how Katara perfectly fits this description in this episode. She's the one holding everybody together here.
@@daniellerobbins6503 And the fact that she WILLINGLY loses it so that her friends can have a drink, while not drinking any herself. True friend right there.
I love how it's not an epic moment, but rather a terrifying one; Aang is filled with rage and grief, and being in the Avatar state in such a situation could lead him to do terrible things, like he did when General Fong buried Katara alive. The Avatar state isn't heroic, it's scary
What I love about this episode is what's underlying heartbreak of Aang losing Appa. Appa isn't just his best friend but also one of the last things he has left of his people. We never really get to see Aang grieve the airbender genocide and I think that's partly because he always tried to see the bright side of his situation ' At least I have you, Appa '. So having Appa taken from him removes the thing he was leaning on to cope with the loss of everything he's ever known. The scene with Katara comforting him mirrors almost exactly when he saw Monk Gyatso's skeleton. Some people gloss over Aang's pain because he tries to be an optimist and copes with his losses well. But this is one episode where Aang gets to let out his pain and anger.
Thanks for posting this. I feel like people completely forget the amount of grief that weighs on him, what being the last airbender truly means. To lose your whole world, literally his world is gone - everything but Appa and Bumi ended 100 years ago. And, Appa is his paired companion. His grief in the form of anger is completely understandable.
Also he’s a monk , he was raised with the “don’t get attached to earthly things “ principle , ofc he’s a kid and he’s in pain but I’m sure this makes it easier for him but appa was the last straw
You can see the distress Aang is in because it is the only time in the show that he (deliberatly) killed a living being. The Vultur-wasp had already let go of Momo, it was no threat to him or anyone else at that point, but Aang went out of his way to give it a killing blow (you can see that it was sliced in half when it fell to the ground). There was no self defense anymore, just venting out frustration and anger.
It wasn’t sliced in half i rewatched it just has a skinny neck so it could have survived. But that doesn’t change the fact the he was seriously malicious in that moment
My favorite thing about this episode, and probably the most overlooked, is Toph's reaction to Aang going into the avatar state in front of her for the first time. She can't see the glowing tattoos, probably hasn't even been told about the avatar state, and then all of a sudden there are multiple overlapped voices coming from where Aang is standing, and then Sokka just grabs a hold of her and tells everyone to run away from one of her only friends.
Imagine how it looks through her Seismic Sense as well. She can see the fuzzy outlines of everyone present, and then suddenly her friend and student becomes the centre of a vortex of sand, an earth clad monster rising into the air.
and her reaction to his power as well. obviously she knows he is powerful, he is the avatar. but actually "seeing" how nice friendly gooffy twinkle toes becomes a nuke of raw power must had shocked her to her core
@@lucasM005my headcanon is that after this she thought about when she was pushing his buttons trying to get him to earthbend and realized she was seriously playing with fire there. She was hella confrontational before this episode with him too multiple times, and after this scene she doesn’t seem to try and push his buttons ever again 😂
Ive always thought about this exact thing to. Like at first she was probably like yeah rough them up!! And then her heart probably sank. This scene rips me up so much. The amount of tension is insane. And that hold to get him to calm down again. Man the emotions in that. Makes me tear up everytime.
This is what makes Katara among my top 3 favorite characters in the series- I know she comes off as bratty and over emotional at times, but it's never without underlying reason. At the end of the day, she really carries the weight of the group on her shoulders by providing support and hope. It's reflected in the way she believes in standing up for the vulnerable, as early as what she did to the earthbender prisoners in episode 4. It's always been there in subtle ways that are often outshined by Sokka's innovation and comedy and Aang's talent and innocence, and eventually Toph's assertiveness and skill. And I think Katara is the model symbol of her people, as Iroh says just the episode prior, that waterbenders are capable of adapting to whatever situation and that community is of upmost value to them. Here puts the group in really dire circumstances- the group is lost in a desert with NO resources (all but whatever they had on hand were stolen with the saddle Appa had on him), Appa (their transportation) is gone, Aang is grieving with no optimism, Sokka is hallucinating and unable to formulate any plans, Toph can barely "see" and had no solid earth to help them navigate, they only have a very limited amount of water (which later runs out that she can no longer use it to fight)--- and Katara decides that despite all that, the only option is to keep moving forward, and she would be the pillar of hope and salvation for all of them. She really had to emulate the strengths of the group atop her own. I firmly believe that had Katara not been there or gave up, they would have died in the desert. She saved everyone's life. No exaggeration.
PREACH to every single thing you just said. and on top of that, this is just *one* moment out of *MANY* where katara comes in clutch! like shes such an important part of the puzzle, it amazes me how many people dont see how absolutley critical she is to the whole story.
Remember in season 1 how Iroh diverted the ship all because he lost his lotus tile? Now we know it wasn't a throwaway joke, that lotus tile is important to the whole story!
Also, it is my fan theory that Monk Gyatzo was also a member of the white lotus. There are very few people in the show who play or mention the game, but he was playing it with Aang. Also, he seems to fit into the other characters we have seen to be part of the society.
@@Mysterios1989You mean he’s old 😂 but in all seriousness your comment made me think, and I realized that that fits with Gyatso’s line in The Storm: “I won’t let them take you from me.” I always thought that Gyatso going against the other monks’ decision was weird, but if he was in the WL it would make sense. His task would have been to raise Aang and he wouldn’t have been willing to let him go.
@@eileensnow6153this does make absolute sense since their duty pretty much revolves around what’s best for the world just like the avatar, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he even would’ve taken Aang somewhere else away from the temple. Really makes you wonder what could’ve came out of that, cause I fully believe if he said he wouldn’t let them take Aang from him then it just wouldn’t happen.
I think Toph's reaction to Aang at the end is really interesting. It's the first time Aamg has lost it and gone into the Avatar State since she joined, and the normally smart mouthed and bratty Toph is speechless.
Katara calming Aang down. Such a moving scene. So many traumatic moments in my life where I just wish I had somebody like that to be there like she was for him. Such a great show and character development
(26:53) The transition from pure empathy and sadness for Aang , to intense frustration from the episode ending so abruptly is comedy gold. We felt your pain.
I just realized this episode made all of the Gaang deal with a very specific individual problem. Aang has spent a large amount of his backstory running from his problems and ignoring the task at hand. Now Appa, his main vehicle for escape, is missing and he can’t deal with it. Sokka is/was very sure of his abilities, physical and mental, and is usually the team planner. But drinking a Fishook Barrel cactus has completely incapacitated him and made him a liability. Toph is similar in that she very much desires to stand on her own and not rely on anyone, now she is forced to rely on everyone just to be able to walk the desert. Katara has been forced to be the mother figure for Sokka since their mom died and finally got to experience being a normal teenager during her travels. Now she has to single-handedly guide the entire group to safety or they will all die.
Katara immediately thinking that they are the only ones who know about the eclipse and so they HAVE to ger the message to the earth kingdom is soooo smart and grounded, of course the possibility of ending the 100 years war is the most important thing
I remember watching these episodes, with Sokka and the cactus juice with my brother back in the day. He kept glancing at me during it, so at some point I asked him what was up. He went "Y'know... you're a lot like Sokka!" I still take pride in it, nothing wrong with being like Sokka
I love how well they created a reason for sokka to act more like aang's carefree self, when aang is more serious this episode. The balance is necessary to help us focus on aang, and I think they do that almost seamlessly throughout
13:33-And here we go; one of Sokka’s most iconic moments. When drinking Cactus Juice(“It’s the _QUENCHIEST!!!”_ ) leaves him high as a kite for the entire episode.
It is so easy to forget that Appa really is all that Aang has left from the before times. Bumi, sure, but Bumi isn't the person he knew as a kid. Appa is the only living creature that has not changed for him.
It is shocking to see Aang hurt and possibly kill an animal unnecessarily, considering he already had Momo back. It just goes to show that angry and bitter people are so dangerous, even a gentle compassionate 12 year old monk gave up his principles blinded by rage. For me personaly, this is a very sad scene and I think it resonates with his character arc in the future. And when confronting the guy that stole Appa, I think if it wasn't for Katara, Aang would've killed the guy and his family. He was 100% blinded and consumed by hate.
KATARA IS A LEGEND!!! We see her being a bender throughout the show but her leadership and protectiveness is unmatched! I LOVE how a few episodes ago she was being a brat (after all, they are still kids) but she is able to keep things going when times are rough. It’s what got her and sokka through her mothers passing and her father going to war. It’s what keeps them alive in the desert. That sense of responsibility and perseverance.
no no, i think it makes u abnormal. especially when katara has those meltdowns randomly yelling at aang '' I am completly relaxed'' when she had a fight with toph i guess she has some anger issues cuz her nmom died and the firenation. but wstill u gotta admit somtimes katara gets crazy. remember when she told aang that he can shut his wisdom in his airhole, when she failed learning waterbending and aang tried to teach her. those are the specific moments i talk about, that she gets crazy for no reason@@hellogoodbyeandallinbetween
Hmm if you think about those instances, she had understandable reasons to become frustrated, though it does present in quite extreme ways. I guess you could say she feels emotions very strongly. All the main characters have points where we see their negative sides and when they get really angry, but it doesn't make any of them crazy. Just scarred by war
I love this episode and Katara, I'm so proud of her and how she's handling this situation. How understanding they are towards Aang in this moment where he's not his usual self. The characters in this show are much more mature than people (even those praising it) give them credit for. It's often reminded that they're children but honnestly in most situation they behave and handle their situation better than adult in real life do.
that's because they're trying to model good behavior for the audience. it is very intentional that most viewers (even adults) have a lot to learn from how these kids behave.
The White Lotus is based on several historical secret societies in Chinese history, usually organized in opposition to the imperial dynasty of the time. They claimed continuity with each other (though historians largely dismiss this narrative) and were usually religious in nature. The most significant one, centered on a sort of Messianic strain of Buddhism, started a revolt against the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (descendants of Genghis Khan) that resulted in that dynasty's collapse and the rise of the subsequent native-Chinese Ming Dynasty.
every detail of that last scene is perfect. the way Aang speaks with all the previous incornations' voices at once, all of which had their animal guides and understand the pain and anger of losing one. How fast Aang switches to the avatar state which usually indicates that someone close to him is in a grave danger. and even the thing that triggered him being a muzzle, which is put not just on his friend and his only connection to his people, which he lost, but on an innocent animal, who loves freedom and flying in the sky and doesn't like tunnels, which means that for him restricting his movement would be even more painful. ugh, and your reaction is Golden: calling out for him as if you are there shows your immersion and empathy and i love that. just great overall video and episode
This is such an underrated episode, most people will just remember the cactus juice, which is hilarious and memeable. But this episode did a great job of ahowing a side of Aang we don't usually see but it's super understandable so doesn't feel out of place. Plus that ending scene with Aang crying in the Avatar State and Katara pulling him back to himself. So tragically beautiful. Also this is Toph's first time seeing..? Feeling..? Hearing. The Avatar State.
This show helped me grow a lot as a child. It taught me how to embrace the elements (not in a bending way of course) but to have the mindsets they have. Water: Be as water, bring life, help things/people grow, be open to new ideas. Earth: Be strong, both physically and mentally, stand your grown when you need to. Fire: be warmth (basically be like Iroh), know you have the ability to help, but you also have the ability to do a lot of hurt (take accountability.) Air: Find inner peace, never seek to harm, help people, even if you are alone (last airbender) you can always find people who’ll be your family.. (even people who you’d least expect.) Seeing you get so emotional reminds me just how powerful this show is. Many people just see it as a kids cartoon, but it’s so much more than that. Thank you for letting me relive my childhood with you and so many others! ❤
I'm always impressed by how much you remember in this show... Most reactors I've watched forget about the weakness of the avatar state by the next time he uses it
Your reaction at 26:54 when you realized the episode ends... 😁😁😂🤣 To put Aang's pain in perspective: Appa is *the only thing* , the last friend, that he has left from his past life 100 years ago. If he loses Appa, the loss of his people is complete. MVP in this episode was clearly Katara who showed that she can be the leader who can keep the group together in a time of crisis. Sokka was in this episode from the writers' perspective the comic relief who was necessary for some lightheartedness to balance out Aang's darker storyline.
Using Fire isn’t difficult, bending the fire is. The show tends to make the distinction between manipulating the element and bending it with the proper techniques
I imagine Aang is also probably a pretty frustrating student to have. He's shown to be overly eager and lack patience; wanting to jump straight to the advanced stuff. And while normally gifted and quick to master, he is also quick to get disheartened, to give up, and to in fact become outright avoidant when he isn't able to quickly master a new skill or subject. When Aang needs to first start from the basics, the show really means it - he really needs to learn _how_ to learn. 😅😅
the talk you had at the start about appa munching people, so true! this entire series would be like 3 episodes long if appa had a gun (or a short temper lol), ozai who?
@@Theoneeyed_ghoul when did Zuko have the chance to "kill appa" in "day one"?! Appa wasn't with Aang when Zuko had him, nor did Zuko know about his existence or location. When they escaped, Zuko was hanging on a chain on the side of the Ship, right after he got back on the Ship Zuko and Iroh tried to shoot him down. Which Aang stopped. So when could he have killed Appa?!
After losing my dog for just an afternoon, I understand Aang so much, I was so upset with the person that allowed him to get lost, I was an emotional disaster for hours after I found him, and it was just an afternoon. Also Appa is his spirit animal, the last remnant of his civilazation, a reminder of all the people he loved. Katara's gentle but firm attitude is why she's my favorite since the beginning.
To answer your question Iroh breached the first wall. You'll see later that it's a giant city with multiple layers. Also, difficulty in learning the elements is due to personality, and the fact that air is opposite of rock was just Katara's guess of why it was difficult for Aang. Lastly , Toph's teaching style is not bad, it was exactly what Aang needed if he was ever gonna learn how to earth bend.
Loving your reaction to the series so far...i roughly remember watching A-TLA when i was 6 or 7 years old and now i am just reliving those moments again while watching it..its triggers an emotional thing......its not an anime or cartoon..its an emotion...❤from India🇮🇳
Well, your face in the thumbnail is exactly what I've been expecting. I'm about to hit play and I'm hyped. 1:56 The exact date of the previous eclipse, which Sokka found in the library, was written, in Chinese, as 'the nineteenth day of the seventh month of the cultivate rule (培治) of the Year of the Dragon'. 32:32 You're referencing the song Iroh sings in 'The Swamp'. Nooo! this isn't fair! You get to see the next chapter now while we have to wait? Nooooo! Anyway, great reaction as always. This episode really shows Katara's strength and the unique connection she has with Aang; up to this episode, she has been constantly terrified of the Avatar State: she even tried to stop Aang in the North Pole, but Uncle Iroh held her back. Also in the background you can see Toph is horrified: this is her first time witnessing the Avatar State. Looking forward to what is about to come!
What really makes this scene hit home if you dive deeper in is that not only was aang in pain but all of aangs passed lives were in pain for aang and that makes this to me the most emotional scene in the series bc it wasn’t just aang who was angry and sad, it was all of his passed lives also, which is why this is the only scene where aang is in the avatar state and crying at the same time
When this first aired in 2006 my dad and I were camping and I wanted to go home and watch this episode. So the moment Sokka said ITS A GIANT MUSHROOM!!! MAYBE IT’S FRIENDLY!!! I laughed so F@cking hard I was LITERALLY CRYING! My stomach hurt from laughing so hard! This was the most hysterical moment in the series!
Ooooooooh!!!!!! Lets cry together yall lol cant wait for the reaction :) 32:37 that is kinda a song Uncle Iroh sings to the guy that makes him dance and Zuko later robs haha
12:00 This is such a strange trope that always leaves me restless. It's not common at all, yet I have seen more than twice this scenario when some kind of "law enforcement" turns out to be a music band as well, and I literally can not find if this idea is just somehow funny, or if there's some historical or cultural reasoning
I haven't read it in the comments so far, so here's another little detail which you may have missed: We actually already met the Rough Rhinos in an earlier episode. They attacked the group in the "Avatar Day" episode where Sokka lost his Bumerang and at the end they attacked the city when Aang was about to be boiled in oil. :) I really love your reactions to ATLA by the way! You are very good at paying attention to details and you also seem like a very empathetic person - whenever I see you on the verge of tears that always makes me tear up as well. :D Thanks for putting your reactions and thoughts out here, I am sending you best wishes from Germany and I hope you have bought enough tissues because there certainly is a lot of emotional turmoil ahead!
I was having a very very bad day and currently sick in bed, but your reaction came just in time before i'm going to bed, and so i can turn this very bad day into a better one. Thank you so much 🥲
“Would you join the White Lotus?” Oh yeah! 1, because of Iroh and 2 because I LOVE secret societies. Also love when Katara hugs Aang and just how understanding she is.
Each bending style is based off a real life martial arts form. Because of that the style goes with the philosophy of the bending style. No style is easier or harder they all demand something different. This is one of the lessons that the creators are trying to get through. The Avatar is the embodiment of all styles. The style that is hardest to learn is created as the style that the avatar is least like. Ang has an issue with thinking different as all young people do. Growing up means opening your mind and learning to see things from another perspective. Something all characters are going to teach viewers.
You know, going back and watching this again I realized something. Aang started to float away there at the end and only stayed because of Katara. How much you want to bet he was going to go directly to Ba Sing Se and tear that place apart in the Avatar State?
I have trypophobia too. I hate when I kept looking up the word because I couldn’t remember it. Google likes to include lots of photos of things with holes. So freaking creepy!
Toph can only see through the vibrations of the things that are connected to the earth in some way. She can actually see stuff on the air if they're connected somehow, like in her first appearance in episode 6 when she felt that wrestler swinging through the air towards her because he was carrying a rock, so she moved the arena to make him barge into his own allies.
For this episode especially, with regard to Toph's attitude - keep in mind that this is one of the only times in Toph's life where she has been without her disability aid (i.e. solid ground) for an extended period of time. That in and of itself sucks, but it's compounded by the fact that they are also stranded in an extremely hostile and unpleasant environment - which is certainly the LAST place where I'd want to be without my disability aid. Not to mention the fact that she a). probably feels a bit guilty over Appa even though it wasn't her fault and b). has barely had any meaningful social interaction with kids close to her age at this point in her life. So yeah, I'm honestly surprised she wasn't even *more* cantankerous given the circumstances.
The more logical assumption is that no lightning presented itself to Zuko and he spent several hours on the mountain top screaming until he wore himself out.
It is an ocerlooked detail that in this episode Aang actually kills. There have been iffy situations before, for insatnce when he throw frie nation tanks off the dge in the air temple or when he sank ships at the north pole. But all of these situations are arguable since they could have survived, or Aang was possesed by the Ocean spirit, or he was in the avater state. But here, that Buzzard already dropped Momo, it is not defedning itself, and is on the run. And Aang, not even in the Avatar state, staright up just cuts it in half. Anyway, I just wanted to point this out.
Also note this is the first time Toph saw (i.e. heard) Aang go into full avatar state and speak with that unearthly voice. Probably had no idea what was happening.
You saying you love Sokka because you’re also a goofball surprises me, while you laugh quite a lot especially during these episodes, I don’t see you cracking jokes very often if at all.
The one episode drop is because of how Netflix bundled episode 12 and 13 as one episode!
pin this maybe? thanks for the reaction 🩵🩵🩵
Most other episodes don't directly point to one another the way Serpent's Pass and The Drill do. There's usually SOME small gap in time between most other episodes. Only a couple of exceptions like Cave of Two Lovers + Return to Omashu, and Seige of the North 1 & 2.
Isnt 12 and 13 bundeled?
You are correct and I fixed it 😃
@@funnylilgalreactsit’s still not showing up as pinned….
In this episode every member of the Gaang lost their biggest strength:
Sokka: Intelligence/Logic/A clear mind
Toph: Sight
Aang: Pacifism/Gentleness
Only Katara was there to keep everything and everyone together.
Also, Katara lost her water bending, her ability to fight. But this only makes it more clear where her true strength lies.
"Water is the element of change. The people of the water tribes are adaptable to many things. They have a great sense of community that holds them together through anything." ~ Iroh
I love how Katara perfectly fits this description in this episode. She's the one holding everybody together here.
Damn Man! You're right!
@@daniellerobbins6503 And the fact that she WILLINGLY loses it so that her friends can have a drink, while not drinking any herself. True friend right there.
That’s right! Even though Aang is the Avatar, Katara is a born leader. 👧🏽💧🌊
"TELL ME WHERE APPA IS"
my favorite scene in the entire show - hearing all of Aang's past lives speaking through him with such pain and anger slaps.
every avatar bonds with a spirit animal, every avatar feels the loss
I love how it's not an epic moment, but rather a terrifying one; Aang is filled with rage and grief, and being in the Avatar state in such a situation could lead him to do terrible things, like he did when General Fong buried Katara alive. The Avatar state isn't heroic, it's scary
Yes!!!!
Yep. A thousand angry all-powerful Avatar's speaking through a sad and angry child who has lost his best friend. So well done.
All the Avatars and yet somehow I can still hear Kyoshi😂
It’ll Quench Ya!
It's the quenchiest!
Nothing’s Quenchier!
I wanna say quench too!
@@Ilix42 YAY You did it 😃
In the top 10 lines from any media that live in my head rent free
What I love about this episode is what's underlying heartbreak of Aang losing Appa. Appa isn't just his best friend but also one of the last things he has left of his people. We never really get to see Aang grieve the airbender genocide and I think that's partly because he always tried to see the bright side of his situation ' At least I have you, Appa '. So having Appa taken from him removes the thing he was leaning on to cope with the loss of everything he's ever known. The scene with Katara comforting him mirrors almost exactly when he saw Monk Gyatso's skeleton. Some people gloss over Aang's pain because he tries to be an optimist and copes with his losses well. But this is one episode where Aang gets to let out his pain and anger.
Thanks for posting this. I feel like people completely forget the amount of grief that weighs on him, what being the last airbender truly means. To lose your whole world, literally his world is gone - everything but Appa and Bumi ended 100 years ago. And, Appa is his paired companion. His grief in the form of anger is completely understandable.
Momo the last also 😩
@@cjjackson2423 There were lots of lemurs when the gaang were at the first air temple.
@@kryptonianguest1903 oohhh dang ok I forgot 😅
Also he’s a monk , he was raised with the “don’t get attached to earthly things “ principle , ofc he’s a kid and he’s in pain but I’m sure this makes it easier for him but appa was the last straw
You can see the distress Aang is in because it is the only time in the show that he (deliberatly) killed a living being. The Vultur-wasp had already let go of Momo, it was no threat to him or anyone else at that point, but Aang went out of his way to give it a killing blow (you can see that it was sliced in half when it fell to the ground). There was no self defense anymore, just venting out frustration and anger.
It wasn’t sliced in half i rewatched it just has a skinny neck so it could have survived. But that doesn’t change the fact the he was seriously malicious in that moment
My favorite thing about this episode, and probably the most overlooked, is Toph's reaction to Aang going into the avatar state in front of her for the first time. She can't see the glowing tattoos, probably hasn't even been told about the avatar state, and then all of a sudden there are multiple overlapped voices coming from where Aang is standing, and then Sokka just grabs a hold of her and tells everyone to run away from one of her only friends.
Imagine how it looks through her Seismic Sense as well. She can see the fuzzy outlines of everyone present, and then suddenly her friend and student becomes the centre of a vortex of sand, an earth clad monster rising into the air.
and her reaction to his power as well. obviously she knows he is powerful, he is the avatar. but actually "seeing" how nice friendly gooffy twinkle toes becomes a nuke of raw power must had shocked her to her core
@@lucasM005my headcanon is that after this she thought about when she was pushing his buttons trying to get him to earthbend and realized she was seriously playing with fire there. She was hella confrontational before this episode with him too multiple times, and after this scene she doesn’t seem to try and push his buttons ever again 😂
Ive always thought about this exact thing to. Like at first she was probably like yeah rough them up!! And then her heart probably sank. This scene rips me up so much. The amount of tension is insane. And that hold to get him to calm down again. Man the emotions in that. Makes me tear up everytime.
@@mitcheltillman2461 And that's with not knowing what happened to the previous Earthbending button-pusher.
This is what makes Katara among my top 3 favorite characters in the series- I know she comes off as bratty and over emotional at times, but it's never without underlying reason. At the end of the day, she really carries the weight of the group on her shoulders by providing support and hope. It's reflected in the way she believes in standing up for the vulnerable, as early as what she did to the earthbender prisoners in episode 4. It's always been there in subtle ways that are often outshined by Sokka's innovation and comedy and Aang's talent and innocence, and eventually Toph's assertiveness and skill. And I think Katara is the model symbol of her people, as Iroh says just the episode prior, that waterbenders are capable of adapting to whatever situation and that community is of upmost value to them.
Here puts the group in really dire circumstances- the group is lost in a desert with NO resources (all but whatever they had on hand were stolen with the saddle Appa had on him), Appa (their transportation) is gone, Aang is grieving with no optimism, Sokka is hallucinating and unable to formulate any plans, Toph can barely "see" and had no solid earth to help them navigate, they only have a very limited amount of water (which later runs out that she can no longer use it to fight)--- and Katara decides that despite all that, the only option is to keep moving forward, and she would be the pillar of hope and salvation for all of them. She really had to emulate the strengths of the group atop her own. I firmly believe that had Katara not been there or gave up, they would have died in the desert. She saved everyone's life. No exaggeration.
i really don't understand how people sleep on katara, cuz no one "outshines" her for me.
PREACH to every single thing you just said. and on top of that, this is just *one* moment out of *MANY* where katara comes in clutch!
like shes such an important part of the puzzle, it amazes me how many people dont see how absolutley critical she is to the whole story.
Remember in season 1 how Iroh diverted the ship all because he lost his lotus tile? Now we know it wasn't a throwaway joke, that lotus tile is important to the whole story!
Well, he didn't actually lose the tile so I'm still convinced he knew where it was and just wanted to go shopping
Also, it is my fan theory that Monk Gyatzo was also a member of the white lotus. There are very few people in the show who play or mention the game, but he was playing it with Aang. Also, he seems to fit into the other characters we have seen to be part of the society.
@@Mysterios1989You mean he’s old 😂 but in all seriousness your comment made me think, and I realized that that fits with Gyatso’s line in The Storm: “I won’t let them take you from me.” I always thought that Gyatso going against the other monks’ decision was weird, but if he was in the WL it would make sense. His task would have been to raise Aang and he wouldn’t have been willing to let him go.
@@TheJokerAkaCirque I always thought the Order of the White Lotus was behind the scenes influencing this and that without taking action directly.
@@eileensnow6153this does make absolute sense since their duty pretty much revolves around what’s best for the world just like the avatar, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he even would’ve taken Aang somewhere else away from the temple. Really makes you wonder what could’ve came out of that, cause I fully believe if he said he wouldn’t let them take Aang from him then it just wouldn’t happen.
I think Toph's reaction to Aang at the end is really interesting. It's the first time Aamg has lost it and gone into the Avatar State since she joined, and the normally smart mouthed and bratty Toph is speechless.
Yahh
Like she is just speachless to realise how much untamed and raw power our twinkle toes has
Its such a nice little detail i love it
Totally! I love to see her reaction about Aang being so mad and powerful
Katara calming Aang down. Such a moving scene. So many traumatic moments in my life where I just wish I had somebody like that to be there like she was for him. Such a great show and character development
(26:53) The transition from pure empathy and sadness for Aang , to intense frustration from the episode ending so abruptly is comedy gold. We felt your pain.
SO true
At least she doesn't have to wait months for the next chapter like a lot of us did lololz.
I just realized this episode made all of the Gaang deal with a very specific individual problem.
Aang has spent a large amount of his backstory running from his problems and ignoring the task at hand. Now Appa, his main vehicle for escape, is missing and he can’t deal with it.
Sokka is/was very sure of his abilities, physical and mental, and is usually the team planner. But drinking a Fishook Barrel cactus has completely incapacitated him and made him a liability.
Toph is similar in that she very much desires to stand on her own and not rely on anyone, now she is forced to rely on everyone just to be able to walk the desert.
Katara has been forced to be the mother figure for Sokka since their mom died and finally got to experience being a normal teenager during her travels. Now she has to single-handedly guide the entire group to safety or they will all die.
Katara immediately thinking that they are the only ones who know about the eclipse and so they HAVE to ger the message to the earth kingdom is soooo smart and grounded, of course the possibility of ending the 100 years war is the most important thing
I remember watching these episodes, with Sokka and the cactus juice with my brother back in the day. He kept glancing at me during it, so at some point I asked him what was up. He went "Y'know... you're a lot like Sokka!"
I still take pride in it, nothing wrong with being like Sokka
I love how well they created a reason for sokka to act more like aang's carefree self, when aang is more serious this episode. The balance is necessary to help us focus on aang, and I think they do that almost seamlessly throughout
13:33-And here we go; one of Sokka’s most iconic moments. When drinking Cactus Juice(“It’s the _QUENCHIEST!!!”_ ) leaves him high as a kite for the entire episode.
Indeed.
Nothin's Quenchier!
_"TELL ME THE NAME OF GOD, YOU FUNGAL PIECE OF SHIT!"_
I have that t-shirt
This episode always reminds me that happy go lucky Aang is the best. Because that boy is a nuke and the last thing you wanna do is upset him.
"...fear the anger of a gentle man."
Toph’s reaction to Aangs avatar state is my favorite part. This is her first time seeing it and having her jaw dropped in awe 😮 was amazing to see
This episode will forever always break me 💔 😭
Appa's Lost Day's hits more in the feels imo
@@basilisk.. this episode sets up off up appe lost episode thou 😭
Me too! It hits me like n the feels so hard
It is so easy to forget that Appa really is all that Aang has left from the before times. Bumi, sure, but Bumi isn't the person he knew as a kid. Appa is the only living creature that has not changed for him.
It is shocking to see Aang hurt and possibly kill an animal unnecessarily, considering he already had Momo back. It just goes to show that angry and bitter people are so dangerous, even a gentle compassionate 12 year old monk gave up his principles blinded by rage. For me personaly, this is a very sad scene and I think it resonates with his character arc in the future.
And when confronting the guy that stole Appa, I think if it wasn't for Katara, Aang would've killed the guy and his family. He was 100% blinded and consumed by hate.
Aang speaking with the voices of all the Avatar at the same time is both fascinating and terrifying.
KATARA IS A LEGEND!!! We see her being a bender throughout the show but her leadership and protectiveness is unmatched! I LOVE how a few episodes ago she was being a brat (after all, they are still kids) but she is able to keep things going when times are rough. It’s what got her and sokka through her mothers passing and her father going to war. It’s what keeps them alive in the desert. That sense of responsibility and perseverance.
The only thing is katara's anger issues. And stubborn ness that makes her lack character
@@Moesiethat makes her more human. I love the consistency in their flaws and growth, in most episodes
no no, i think it makes u abnormal. especially when katara has those meltdowns randomly yelling at aang '' I am completly relaxed'' when she had a fight with toph
i guess she has some anger issues cuz her nmom died and the firenation.
but wstill u gotta admit somtimes katara gets crazy.
remember when she told aang that he can shut his wisdom in his airhole, when she failed learning waterbending and aang tried to teach her.
those are the specific moments i talk about, that she gets crazy for no reason@@hellogoodbyeandallinbetween
Hmm if you think about those instances, she had understandable reasons to become frustrated, though it does present in quite extreme ways. I guess you could say she feels emotions very strongly. All the main characters have points where we see their negative sides and when they get really angry, but it doesn't make any of them crazy. Just scarred by war
@@Moesie
"lack character"? katara?
them's fighting words, friend.
I love this episode and Katara, I'm so proud of her and how she's handling this situation. How understanding they are towards Aang in this moment
where he's not his usual self.
The characters in this show are much more mature than people (even those praising it) give them credit for.
It's often reminded that they're children but honnestly in most situation they behave and handle their situation better than adult in real life do.
that's because they're trying to model good behavior for the audience. it is very intentional that most viewers (even adults) have a lot to learn from how these kids behave.
@@sirmoonslosthismind Yet it very rarely come of as cheesy, posturing or unrealistic,
It flows naturally.
The White Lotus is based on several historical secret societies in Chinese history, usually organized in opposition to the imperial dynasty of the time. They claimed continuity with each other (though historians largely dismiss this narrative) and were usually religious in nature. The most significant one, centered on a sort of Messianic strain of Buddhism, started a revolt against the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (descendants of Genghis Khan) that resulted in that dynasty's collapse and the rise of the subsequent native-Chinese Ming Dynasty.
This kinda stuff is always interesting to learn about, do you have any good books on the subject of China's secret societies to recommend?
When a show is so good, you don't want the episode to end: No,no
I felt that so much
every detail of that last scene is perfect. the way Aang speaks with all the previous incornations' voices at once, all of which had their animal guides and understand the pain and anger of losing one. How fast Aang switches to the avatar state which usually indicates that someone close to him is in a grave danger. and even the thing that triggered him being a muzzle, which is put not just on his friend and his only connection to his people, which he lost, but on an innocent animal, who loves freedom and flying in the sky and doesn't like tunnels, which means that for him restricting his movement would be even more painful. ugh, and your reaction is Golden: calling out for him as if you are there shows your immersion and empathy and i love that. just great overall video and episode
Just carry a tissue box for the rest of season 2.
This is such an underrated episode, most people will just remember the cactus juice, which is hilarious and memeable.
But this episode did a great job of ahowing a side of Aang we don't usually see but it's super understandable so doesn't feel out of place.
Plus that ending scene with Aang crying in the Avatar State and Katara pulling him back to himself. So tragically beautiful.
Also this is Toph's first time seeing..? Feeling..? Hearing. The Avatar State.
"To see" can also mean "to witness" so it applies here :)
This show helped me grow a lot as a child. It taught me how to embrace the elements (not in a bending way of course) but to have the mindsets they have. Water: Be as water, bring life, help things/people grow, be open to new ideas. Earth: Be strong, both physically and mentally, stand your grown when you need to. Fire: be warmth (basically be like Iroh), know you have the ability to help, but you also have the ability to do a lot of hurt (take accountability.) Air: Find inner peace, never seek to harm, help people, even if you are alone (last airbender) you can always find people who’ll be your family.. (even people who you’d least expect.) Seeing you get so emotional reminds me just how powerful this show is. Many people just see it as a kids cartoon, but it’s so much more than that. Thank you for letting me relive my childhood with you and so many others! ❤
I'm always impressed by how much you remember in this show... Most reactors I've watched forget about the weakness of the avatar state by the next time he uses it
"Old friends tht don't wanna attack me "- Ohh he's got someone in mind🔥🔥
Your reaction at 26:54 when you realized the episode ends... 😁😁😂🤣
To put Aang's pain in perspective:
Appa is *the only thing* , the last friend, that he has left from his past life 100 years ago.
If he loses Appa, the loss of his people is complete.
MVP in this episode was clearly Katara who showed that she can be the leader who can keep the group together in a time of crisis.
Sokka was in this episode from the writers' perspective the comic relief who was necessary for some lightheartedness to balance out Aang's darker storyline.
It's not that it's hard for Aang to do firebending as seen with jeon jeong but Aang decided to swear off fire bending after burning katara.
Using Fire isn’t difficult, bending the fire is. The show tends to make the distinction between manipulating the element and bending it with the proper techniques
I imagine Aang is also probably a pretty frustrating student to have. He's shown to be overly eager and lack patience; wanting to jump straight to the advanced stuff. And while normally gifted and quick to master, he is also quick to get disheartened, to give up, and to in fact become outright avoidant when he isn't able to quickly master a new skill or subject. When Aang needs to first start from the basics, the show really means it - he really needs to learn _how_ to learn. 😅😅
the talk you had at the start about appa munching people, so true! this entire series would be like 3 episodes long if appa had a gun (or a short temper lol), ozai who?
if appa had a gun 😂
@@sam-psonsmith9951"Appas got a gun" 🎶
Yeah and the series would’ve been 1 episode long if Zuko would’ve used his brain and just killed appa day 1 😂
@@Theoneeyed_ghoul when did Zuko have the chance to "kill appa" in "day one"?!
Appa wasn't with Aang when Zuko had him, nor did Zuko know about his existence or location.
When they escaped, Zuko was hanging on a chain on the side of the Ship, right after he got back on the Ship Zuko and Iroh tried to shoot him down. Which Aang stopped.
So when could he have killed Appa?!
@@sam-psonsmith9951. bro really pulled a "you never think these things through Zuko" on big stepper there 😆
"It'll quench ya. Nothing is quenchier. It's the quenchiest!"
After losing my dog for just an afternoon, I understand Aang so much, I was so upset with the person that allowed him to get lost, I was an emotional disaster for hours after I found him, and it was just an afternoon. Also Appa is his spirit animal, the last remnant of his civilazation, a reminder of all the people he loved. Katara's gentle but firm attitude is why she's my favorite since the beginning.
I haven't even started watching yet and I'm already seeing the insane arm flailing.
The writing is incredible
To answer your question
Iroh breached the first wall. You'll see later that it's a giant city with multiple layers.
Also, difficulty in learning the elements is due to personality, and the fact that air is opposite of rock was just Katara's guess of why it was difficult for Aang.
Lastly , Toph's teaching style is not bad, it was exactly what Aang needed if he was ever gonna learn how to earth bend.
Loving your reaction to the series so far...i roughly remember watching A-TLA when i was 6 or 7 years old and now i am just reliving those moments again while watching it..its triggers an emotional thing......its not an anime or cartoon..its an emotion...❤from India🇮🇳
Well, your face in the thumbnail is exactly what I've been expecting. I'm about to hit play and I'm hyped.
1:56 The exact date of the previous eclipse, which Sokka found in the library, was written, in Chinese, as 'the nineteenth day of the seventh month of the cultivate rule (培治) of the Year of the Dragon'.
32:32 You're referencing the song Iroh sings in 'The Swamp'.
Nooo! this isn't fair! You get to see the next chapter now while we have to wait? Nooooo!
Anyway, great reaction as always. This episode really shows Katara's strength and the unique connection she has with Aang; up to this episode, she has been constantly terrified of the Avatar State: she even tried to stop Aang in the North Pole, but Uncle Iroh held her back. Also in the background you can see Toph is horrified: this is her first time witnessing the Avatar State. Looking forward to what is about to come!
Watching this while drinking a calming jasmine tea... Making Uncle Iroh proud
What really makes this scene hit home if you dive deeper in is that not only was aang in pain but all of aangs passed lives were in pain for aang and that makes this to me the most emotional scene in the series bc it wasn’t just aang who was angry and sad, it was all of his passed lives also, which is why this is the only scene where aang is in the avatar state and crying at the same time
Omg a new episode already, and a single one too. You're feeding us!
Sandbenders: We've got you surrounded.
Aang: Good, now it's harder to miss.
Note to self, don't send her lotus seed pods as a gift lol.
"It's the quenchiest!"
😂😂😂💀
Just imagine toph who cant see whats going on suddenly hearing the light hearted “twinkle toes” saying in this demonic voice “tell me where appa is”
Just the realisation of how much untamed and raw power our twinkle toes has and her feeling it for the first time its sooooo good and i am loving it❤
When this first aired in 2006 my dad and I were camping and I wanted to go home and watch this episode. So the moment Sokka said ITS A GIANT MUSHROOM!!! MAYBE IT’S FRIENDLY!!! I laughed so F@cking hard I was LITERALLY CRYING! My stomach hurt from laughing so hard! This was the most hysterical moment in the series!
26:28 The look of terror on Toph's face... She'd never witnessed him in the avatar state before 😮
26:28 you know this is a bad situation when the blind person even get shocked
This the first time Toph "saw" Aang in the avatar state
The glow on your nose... once you see it, you can't unsee it hahaha
Appa is basically his Brother. Close to his twin.
The Rough Rhinos were in an earlier episode; "Avatar Day" when Aang was put on trial for crimes committed by Kyoshi.
Yep, we've definitely made it to the Tear Bending part of the season
This Ep is so strong... Hits you in the heart especially in the end
Ooooooooh!!!!!! Lets cry together yall lol cant wait for the reaction :) 32:37 that is kinda a song Uncle Iroh sings to the guy that makes him dance and Zuko later robs haha
You're reached my favorite avatar state. I love how much emotion is in this one
Sokka is unafraid in the face of danger. Hearing him say “RUN” is eye opening for people who rewatch this knowing what he faces later without fear
12:00 This is such a strange trope that always leaves me restless. It's not common at all, yet I have seen more than twice this scenario when some kind of "law enforcement" turns out to be a music band as well, and I literally can not find if this idea is just somehow funny, or if there's some historical or cultural reasoning
I haven't read it in the comments so far, so here's another little detail which you may have missed: We actually already met the Rough Rhinos in an earlier episode. They attacked the group in the "Avatar Day" episode where Sokka lost his Bumerang and at the end they attacked the city when Aang was about to be boiled in oil. :)
I really love your reactions to ATLA by the way! You are very good at paying attention to details and you also seem like a very empathetic person - whenever I see you on the verge of tears that always makes me tear up as well. :D
Thanks for putting your reactions and thoughts out here, I am sending you best wishes from Germany and I hope you have bought enough tissues because there certainly is a lot of emotional turmoil ahead!
I was having a very very bad day and currently sick in bed, but your reaction came just in time before i'm going to bed, and so i can turn this very bad day into a better one. Thank you so much 🥲
“Would you join the White Lotus?” Oh yeah! 1, because of Iroh and 2 because I LOVE secret societies.
Also love when Katara hugs Aang and just how understanding she is.
Fun Fact: The rough Rinos where the ones who attackt team avatar in "avatar day".
I loved Sokka during this episode also Aang sounded like he was possessed when he said tell me where Appa is
He is, quite literally, possessed...
by all the past Avatars
Scariest Avatar state by far
Katara staying and weathering the storm of Aang's anger and pain is probably the most powerful moment in the entire series.
"You suggesting i BREAK YOUR FINGERS?!"
one of the HARDEST lines ive ever heard lmfao
Each bending style is based off a real life martial arts form. Because of that the style goes with the philosophy of the bending style. No style is easier or harder they all demand something different. This is one of the lessons that the creators are trying to get through. The Avatar is the embodiment of all styles. The style that is hardest to learn is created as the style that the avatar is least like. Ang has an issue with thinking different as all young people do. Growing up means opening your mind and learning to see things from another perspective. Something all characters are going to teach viewers.
32:28 Iroh had a song about Ba Sing Se in The Swamp episode.
Appa: *goes missing*
Aang: "Friendship ended with Pacifism; Murder is now my new best friend."
Fun fact
This is the exact half point of the series
You know, going back and watching this again I realized something. Aang started to float away there at the end and only stayed because of Katara. How much you want to bet he was going to go directly to Ba Sing Se and tear that place apart in the Avatar State?
13:23 An oasis is a water reserve in the desert from which plants grow. I think what you meant was a mirage/fata morgana.
I have trypophobia too. I hate when I kept looking up the word because I couldn’t remember it. Google likes to include lots of photos of things with holes. So freaking creepy!
"You muzzled Appa?!"
And the sandbenders almost got done with all their living at that moment.
Hot damn "tell me where appa is" gives me chills every single time
There it is my favorite scene 🎬 that end in the desert. Anng crying in Avatar State. That’s heartbreaking 💔
The image of Appa just chomping someone in half like a titan in AoT was just SUCH an alarming mental image... NO. BAD FUNNYGAL.
21:48 Fun fact: Certain species of Bees eat meat and make red "honey" out of it. I assume these insects do the same.
It’s the “Aang Aang Aang” for me 😂
Toph can only see through the vibrations of the things that are connected to the earth in some way. She can actually see stuff on the air if they're connected somehow, like in her first appearance in episode 6 when she felt that wrestler swinging through the air towards her because he was carrying a rock, so she moved the arena to make him barge into his own allies.
This is the first episode that we see Aang chose to go into the avatar state and control it. Before he saw the guru.
For this episode especially, with regard to Toph's attitude - keep in mind that this is one of the only times in Toph's life where she has been without her disability aid (i.e. solid ground) for an extended period of time. That in and of itself sucks, but it's compounded by the fact that they are also stranded in an extremely hostile and unpleasant environment - which is certainly the LAST place where I'd want to be without my disability aid.
Not to mention the fact that she a). probably feels a bit guilty over Appa even though it wasn't her fault and b). has barely had any meaningful social interaction with kids close to her age at this point in her life.
So yeah, I'm honestly surprised she wasn't even *more* cantankerous given the circumstances.
I also have trypophobia (fear of hole patterns), but I never noticed with this episode and the vulture wasp hive before. Thanks for triggering me :)
The more logical assumption is that no lightning presented itself to Zuko and he spent several hours on the mountain top screaming until he wore himself out.
Aang absolutely breaks my heart in this ep. Appa is truly soul bonded w/ him. 😭😭😭
Also I have the same necklace as u! ☺️
I love your avatar reaction! You’re so charming and smart, I’m glad you really seem to enjoy the show.
in this episode, you just have to love Katara.
It is an ocerlooked detail that in this episode Aang actually kills. There have been iffy situations before, for insatnce when he throw frie nation tanks off the dge in the air temple or when he sank ships at the north pole. But all of these situations are arguable since they could have survived, or Aang was possesed by the Ocean spirit, or he was in the avater state.
But here, that Buzzard already dropped Momo, it is not defedning itself, and is on the run. And Aang, not even in the Avatar state, staright up just cuts it in half. Anyway, I just wanted to point this out.
Great reactions to a great show, I am glad I can watch these back to back lol
Also note this is the first time Toph saw (i.e. heard) Aang go into full avatar state and speak with that unearthly voice. Probably had no idea what was happening.
they’re called buzzard wasps A.K.A my fav pro bending team
That feeling with the holes is called trypophobia and me too
"Cracking nuts with his staff" best line on TH-cam 😂🤣
“I never thought I’d miss the taste of mud so much.” Dang, when Toph is honest, she’s honest.
"some of sokka that rubs off on [katara]"
...
must... restrain... self...
You saying you love Sokka because you’re also a goofball surprises me, while you laugh quite a lot especially during these episodes, I don’t see you cracking jokes very often if at all.