One of the really cool things about this episode is that from here on out, when Zuko firebends, he no longer grunts and yells. He’s no longer fueling his firebending with anger and rage, and you can hear the difference. The only instance before this of Zuko not grunting or yelling when he firebends was in Tales of Ba Sing Se when he lights the lanterns on his date, because in that moment, he wasn’t firebending out of anger. Amazing attention to detail in this show.
This was one of my favorite standalone episodes just because of the whole dragon sequence with Aang and Zuko. It’s such a beautiful shot and moment seeing all of the different colors and meanings of fire bending other than what we’ve known it for in the show. Also, Zuko and Aang having heavy sibling energy makes me smile 😂
This episode proves that earlier in the episode 2 (book 3) "The Headband", which was essentially a Footloose parody episode where young Fire Nation students weren't allowed to dance, was NOT just a filler episode. Re-watching this episode where Aang & Zuko met these last 2 dragons & danced with them made me realize that by suppressing dancing, it also meant the Fire Nation was intentionally suppressing a key aspect of fire bending. "Dance" took huge part of firebending moves. See how manipulative the Fire Lord is with his propaganda, first he started the tradition of killing the dragons (the original source of firebenders) and glorifying it. And then they banned the dancing activity which is literally the core of firebending movements. This show was the king of foreshadowing & referencing even the smallest of details from earlier episodes. By the way, since eps 1 book 1, When Iroh taught Zuko firebending, he already told Zuko that firebending power comes from breath and the breath becomes the energy, not from muscle and rage. Zuko didn't listen and still relied on his anger. The writing of this show is just top tier 💯
I mean honestly I think your reasoning here is a bit of a stretch but it totally was not a filler episode just not for this reason. Zuko hires combustion man and this is the first episode where they are hiding out in the fire nation so we see them do things like steal the clothes they wear the whole time.
Yeah you are right about the Moon being the original water bender, I always thought it was odd it wasn't an animal, The Unagi seemed to be able to control water somehow.
I absolutely love your take on Aang & Zuko's switching perspectives on firebending.. seeing this episode MANY times over, I never even made that connection to Zuko telling his dad about an era of love and peace vs. the current era of fear. (That's what I like about watching genuine new reactors to the show! There's always these new, interesting extrapolations in every scene/character bit, etc
12:00 he got a nickname dragon of the west ofc because he was deemed worthy and because he "conquered a dragon", but the "of the west" part is because sun warriors are on the west, just like the air tample gaang is staying in
The entire Fire Nation is in the "west" of the world, that's why it's called the Western air temple. Within the range of just the Fire Nation the Western Air temple is in the north.
It's really nice to see Zuko and Aang work together. Just wish they could've had more time to show how well they fight together, like in the blue spirit episode.
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One of the really cool things about this episode is that from here on out, when Zuko firebends, he no longer grunts and yells. He’s no longer fueling his firebending with anger and rage, and you can hear the difference. The only instance before this of Zuko not grunting or yelling when he firebends was in Tales of Ba Sing Se when he lights the lanterns on his date, because in that moment, he wasn’t firebending out of anger. Amazing attention to detail in this show.
This was one of my favorite standalone episodes just because of the whole dragon sequence with Aang and Zuko. It’s such a beautiful shot and moment seeing all of the different colors and meanings of fire bending other than what we’ve known it for in the show. Also, Zuko and Aang having heavy sibling energy makes me smile 😂
@@Pink-yeti23 seeing them interacting and getting along is such a treat 😂
This episode proves that earlier in the episode 2 (book 3) "The Headband", which was essentially a Footloose parody episode where young Fire Nation students weren't allowed to dance, was NOT just a filler episode.
Re-watching this episode where Aang & Zuko met these last 2 dragons & danced with them made me realize that by suppressing dancing, it also meant the Fire Nation was intentionally suppressing a key aspect of fire bending. "Dance" took huge part of firebending moves.
See how manipulative the Fire Lord is with his propaganda, first he started the tradition of killing the dragons (the original source of firebenders) and glorifying it. And then they banned the dancing activity which is literally the core of firebending movements. This show was the king of foreshadowing & referencing even the smallest of details from earlier episodes.
By the way, since eps 1 book 1, When Iroh taught Zuko firebending, he already told Zuko that firebending power comes from breath and the breath becomes the energy, not from muscle and rage. Zuko didn't listen and still relied on his anger. The writing of this show is just top tier 💯
could not have said it better
I mean honestly I think your reasoning here is a bit of a stretch but it totally was not a filler episode just not for this reason. Zuko hires combustion man and this is the first episode where they are hiding out in the fire nation so we see them do things like steal the clothes they wear the whole time.
Yeah you are right about the Moon being the original water bender, I always thought it was odd it wasn't an animal, The Unagi seemed to be able to control water somehow.
I absolutely love your take on Aang & Zuko's switching perspectives on firebending.. seeing this episode MANY times over, I never even made that connection to Zuko telling his dad about an era of love and peace vs. the current era of fear.
(That's what I like about watching genuine new reactors to the show! There's always these new, interesting extrapolations in every scene/character bit, etc
@@SubZeroJill thank you I appreciate that! Same reason I enjoy watching other reactors myself!
12:00 he got a nickname dragon of the west ofc because he was deemed worthy and because he "conquered a dragon", but the "of the west" part is because sun warriors are on the west, just like the air tample gaang is staying in
The entire Fire Nation is in the "west" of the world, that's why it's called the Western air temple. Within the range of just the Fire Nation the Western Air temple is in the north.
It's really nice to see Zuko and Aang work together. Just wish they could've had more time to show how well they fight together, like in the blue spirit episode.