This episode kind of made me a little upset with the new adaptation. I heard Iroh’s song playing in the background and immediately knew that we wouldn’t be getting any true justice done to this portion of his character. It’s probably my favorite thing in all of Avatar, both series. I don’t get emotionally worked up often, but that sub story has always struck a chord with me, even more so now that I’m grown and have two bc sons of my own and a bit more lived experience…even just thinking about it as I type this, man…
I don’t normally get emotional during emotional scenes, but this show, a damn roller coaster, first 😃then 😔 then 🤪 immediately to😭 then back to 😃 and everything in between
A point that makes Iroh's story that much sadder is when you view the ages of those he helps. They keep moving up in age with him acting as a dad would to their child. Up until the hill where his son never got to be older than the bandit.
If it doesn't fully break the pacing of a narrative, I say that character building is in no way filler. In a lot of cases, mundanity is the best way to build up a character's flaws, conflicts, and personality
Edit: second best* IT’s filler because it’s one of the only four episodes in the series (the others being the great divide, Appa’s lost days, and Ember Island Players) that you can skip without missing literally anything… other than the second best episode of season 2, after Zuko alone.
If you spend the smallest amout of time on crunchyroll's comment section ( specially on shonen animes), you'll soon notice that every time an episode is "slow" a.k.a meaning it focus on character development or expands on the lore of that universe in a more subtle way, people will flod the comments complaining about it being filler. It tells a story of a lack of interest in the actual plot / characters, showing that some people are in only for the pretty visuals and "epic fight scenes" Which is fine, to each their own, everyone is free to enjoy media as they please But these kinds of shallow / biased feedbacks do influence the way the studio/ writer perceive the reception of the work ... Contributing to the overall tendency to create content that is focused on quantity and spectacle in detriment of quality
Many people also forget that the gang spent weeks in Ba Sing Se and spending some more calm, slice-of-life moments conveys the amount of downtime and waiting they have to sit through and making the best of it. They wouldn't just sit around doing nothing. Of course a girl is gonna ask Zuko out. Aang would sooner or later stumble upon the zoo. Why not go on a spa day with all this free time? Just makes the characters and the city feel that much more alive.
Guess the only down side to that is there isn’t a ju-dee(spelling?) following them all around tho Doubt she’d let aang just stumble upon areas, make leasing decisions for businesses, and start a major construction project 😅
@@bakedpotato1717 That's a good point. In defense of why she didn't monitor Aang here though, maybe the Dai Li were fine with him getting caught up in side missions rather than focus on the wall, Appa's true location, or anything else they wanted to keep under wraps.
@@bakedpotato1717 Joo Dee was a public agent of the Dai Li, but they were almost certainly still watching even when she wasn't there. Secret spies among the populace, etc. I see Joo De and other more "forward facing" agents as a part of basically onboarding new residents - a way of getting them familiar with what they can and can't do, and a subtle warning that the Di Lee are watching. After she's sure they're aware, their plainclothes do the rest. After all, if this wasn't the case, then EVERYONE would have to be followed around by a brainwashed person.
@@s.garciamusik2125 The gaang kept pushing back really hard with Ju Dee as well. Her presence only made them make more trouble when they first got to the city. The Dai Lee probably figured it was best to keep their hypnotized agents watching them from afar mostly after that. Let the gaang think they're sneaking around when in reality they always know what's going on, and none of it matters because they have Appa the whole time anyway.
Even watching videos about Iroh's tale brings me to ters just becasue of both the context in universe and in the real world. In the show, Iroh helps out all kinds of men in different times of their life, just like a father would. So him saying "If only I could have helped you" is like a stab through my chest. And for the RL context. Apparently Mako was already diagnosed with a terminal illnes when he performed leaves on the wind. And his voice cracking is in part because he comes to terms with his mortality. The story goes the entire recording studio wept during the performance...
It also hits even harder if you yourself have lost people and feel like it was because of your action or inaction. I lost my brother a couple years ago to suicide, and a little later I got my dad to watch TLA with me and when that scene hit, I knew we were both thinking the same thing. What if we could have helped him, too? Fact is, death and loss affect everyone, and it's an incredibly common experience to lose someone dear to you and to wonder if you could have done anything to save them. Seeing Iroh crying about his son, wishing he could have helped him just like he had helped the people of Ba Sing Se, resonates with us, puts us for a moment directly in Iroh's shoes. His emotions are our emotions. His regrets are our regrets. And from then on, we have an incredible amount of empathy for him, which makes both Zuko's betrayal and his eventual redemption and reunion with Iroh some of the hardest shit ever to grace a TV screen. I'm not a very emotional person; I almost never tear up over books or shows, but Iroh mourning his son, and him later embracing Zuko back after Zuko had betrayed and turned his back on him, those two scenes bring rare tears to my eyes.
The tale of Iroh is such a well crafted episode with so much depth. The fact that Ba Sing Se is the city that took Iroh's son from him. And now, gives him a day to be a father to the entire city is so beautiful and tragic at the same time. It completely changes the way you see him and why he is the way he is. This was definitely one of the episodes that solidified Iroh as one of my favourite characters ever.
The fact that instead of having resentment to the City for taking his son he actually shows it genuine human compassion, not on the big things that were his moral duty but also in the small things, shows a lot about Iroh's character.
The very first time I ever saw my dad cry was when iro sang leaves from the vine. Both of them tought me so much on what it means to be a man and I wouldn't be half the man I am today without atla. Thank you so much for doing this review
I like with Zuko’s tale, much like The Beach, we see characters as normal teenagers. Awkward but also capturing sweet moments. We often idealize these characters as superheroes (or villains) with bending and such and we forget that they’re still kids. Kids in a war situation that they are unable to do things that we do. It’s a nice contrast
The transition from Katara and Top to Iroh to Aang is actually pretty cool. Toph and Katara's tale ends on a rather happy note. The Iroh begins happy then ends (devastatingly) sad. Finally Aang eases, not jerks, us into a happier story by beginning sad (looking for Appa) but ending with hope (the zoo).
Something that I don't think gets talked about "Leaves from the Vine" enough is that it gives the conflict another dimension. As much as we'd like to see the Fire Nation as war mongering colonialists, because we always seek simplicity and absolutes where there's actually nuance, their citizens also share in the pain of a war that benefits nobody but a few elite. We experience this plainly in book three when Aang and the team have to coexist and blend in with Fire Nation natives, but this heart wrenching lullaby is our first best look at the other's sorrow. It's incredibly moving because it's so tenderly humanizing.
Given that Iroh travelled all nations after Lu Ten died, I always just assumed he learnt that song from the Earth Kingdom, but having it be a Fire Nation song would remind me of a similar message to the novel All quiet on the western front
The death of his son, and the subsequent usurpation of his throne by his younger brother, started a process of redemption in Iroh. Before it, he was just as bad as the rest of the fire-nation leaders, believing in their own superiority over the other races and their right to rule. Even even now there are several conflicts on earth driven by similar people, who through great suffering are learning the errors of their ways. The terrible part is as part of their lesson, they inflict great suffering on others.
I'm 53 years old. Just thinking about 'The Tale of Iroh' makes me tear up. Actually watching it turns those tears into a stream that will not be denied. That is power of great storytelling.
Personally, I love Iroh's story cause you can FEEL the genuine emotion in Mako's (His original VA's) voice as he's singing to the portrait of his son... a portrait that's actually of a young Mako himself... For those who doen't know, Mako passed away before production of season 3 began to cancer, so it's a two-fold gut punch. You have a son who will never come back, as well as an incredible voice actor who will never return.
Loved the video as always. The scene where Zuko finally comes back to iroh, crying as he’s apologizing. The way iroh just turns around and accepts him back man🥲
I think this is very realistic too, you are not fighting all the time, nor working all the time, and when tragedy hits, you need your coping mechanisms. A moment of peace amidst a lull of chaos in this very well timed Moment, which in of itself is a struggle for the characters sounds wonderful, and beautiful.
To add upon Iroh's tale: The people he helped all had different ages; young kid, teens and an adult. As if he was guiding his own son through different phases of his life, helping him through every step of the journey.
One thing that I found really cool, yet from what I can tell didn't get picked up, is how zuko really did become a mirror to iroh in more subtle ways. Those that encountered Iroh (here, and team avatar) were helped by his presence and advice. When Zuko joins team avatar, he ends up doing the same for each of them. Heck, to the point that I think it was toph that said "I want a zuko moment". It was him, having learned the lessons from his uncle even after he abandoned him, still channeling him.
I choked up and cried so many tears the first time I watched that. The day that Iroh is having is so serene and so peaceful. You can feel that tranquility that Iroh feels in his life every day. And you’re watching it and you think, I want to live like this man one day. And then you get to the end and he’s mourning the loss of his son like it was yesterday for him. You realize the weight that Iroh carries with him every single day, and he still finds a way to be a shining light to everyone around him. It just makes me want to cry every time. Such a special episode and piece of art.
@@Ashbrash1998 yes LA is a bad adaptation but it doesn't retcon OG. Korra retcons OG makes Aang into a wimp that did "nothing" and was a bad father with Katara a bad mother. Sokka died without contributing anything and toph is a murder hobo police officer according to korra
This is a growth episode, we are following these people through a very difficult time, a lot is changing and we need time to get reintroduced to the characters
The filler episodes made it feel a lot more realistic. It was a way to show the audience that no, not every stop on the gaang’s, or Zuko and Iroh’s journey had earth-shattering significance. Sometimes, they were just normal people trying to get along in the world. Without episodes like this, the beach, ember island players, the great divide, the fortune teller etc., this show wouldn’t quite hit the same. Because I see how they behave in relatively low stakes situations, I appreciate them that much more as well-developed characters.
The "not caring about what people say" part has another dimension to it, because she's happy when Katara calls her beautiful, so she does care about others' opinions, it just depends on who the other person is. She rejects the expectations of people at large, but she does care about the opinions and feelings of the people who are important to her, that means her family (despite their differences) and the friends she makes throughout the story. Also I think it's kinda sweet that Katara confidently compliments Toph when Toph can detect lies and Toph asks her if she truly means it and believes her. This also doesn't even factor in how Toph not being able to appreciate her own beauty even knowing what she looks like impacts her outlook on maintaining her appearance.
Iroh's tale reminds me of a character from one of the most important novels in Italian literature, The Betrothed (1834). One of the supporting characters in the story is Father Christopher. In his youth, he used to be the son of a rich noble, and one day his hot headed self ended up killing a man out of his own warped idea of justice. From that moment on, struck by grief and regret, he abandons all earthly pleasures and riches, becomes a friar and devotes all his life to repenting for his sins by being the most compassionate and selfless he can be; he eventually becomes the father figure to the main characters that we know and pretty much the moral compass of the entire novel. Listening to your video made me realize how similar he and Iroh are
“Leaves from the vine Falling so slow Like fragile tiny shells Drifting in the foam Little soldier boy Come marching home Brave soldier boy Comes marching home” May Mako Rest In Peace.
the feeling I get from the episode is "The calm before the storm" there's always a calm point before the war happens, people say their goodbyes, and the place becomes almost a ghost town, things get a bit heavy, however the resolution to the storm is then built and resolve is steeled then, "it begins".
Iroh was always/is still my favorite character. This portion of his story still brings me to tears. Not only for the character, but also for the voice behind the man. The first time I saw that dedication image, I fully cried, because I had no idea. It just added/still adds to the weight of the scene. Well done! Fantastic writing and world-building. Great video! ❤
Sokkas story starts with Yue. He has lost someone he cared about deeply and he was definitely still struggling with it when they ran into Suki again and traveled the Serpents path. But he appears to be at a point where he can look back and see the love and joy not just the pain.
Back when i first watched it when it aired on TV i recalled this "ark" being much much longer, like i remembered them to be the whole summer time in the city but in reality it is just few episodes. These are my favourite episodes because of Iroh, he is my favourite character of the whole show.
22:40 Why do I always cry whenever I watch those scenes, even a bit out of context... That's a youth trauma right there, since I was 7 years old. For info, I was part of the (very) young kids who watched the series as it aired. The Library was used as a mid-season finale of Book 2 here in the Netherlands, meaning I had to wait about half a year until new episodes came out. I was absolutely traumatized after The Library came out and probably cried hard.
If they manage to pull this off right in the live action series (if they ever make it that far) I know I'm gonna need a whole box of tissues for this part. Great video.
@@mermazing1672 If they get this episode right, and we hear the original audio of Mako singing leaves from the vine over the live action Iroh, I will fucking weep like a little girl.
At 20:30 I think part of the answer to that is because he tried to open up to people in the episode Zuko Akone. He helped those people in so many ways and when he revealed himself as Zuko at the end, he was still rejected. So, I think he believes that no one will accept him for him. No one from the earth kingdom, let alone the fire nation will accept him :( His story is really beautiful work of art.
This explanation video of a " children's show" made me burst up in tears and at the end of "the tale of momo" part i had to pause and cried 15 minutes straight. I always knew these were not just "fillers" but important insights to the characters we love and insight to our childhood or later struggles. I never knew how deep and hard they could hit us in our emotions though. Thanks for explaining it so well that I personally felt those sometimes forgotten sometimes suppressed emotions.
it never should be replicated. for an episode to hit like the tales of ba sing se, it needs to be a totally unique experience. But also, Iroh at this point had been a staple character for years, and always a person of happiness, wisdom, courage, bravery, and integrity. That finaly 2 minutes of that episode show us where all of that came from, how the loss of his son broke him as a man and he became determined to help as many people as possible avoid the same suffering and to be as much of a father as he could to anyone who'd need him to be.
I have never seen ATLA, I know almost nothing about these characters or the story. But that scene, that song, always has me in tears. Even the memory of it. It's such a testament to the writing and the performance that you don't need to know anything to feel for this character.
It just clicked for me in this video that Toph didnt get a Book 3 adventure with Zuko because she got the better adventure in her moments with Iroh in Book 2.
Exquisite presentation Korotos/ Your videos are such a massive pleasure to watch. Loved the dissection of the Tales as a whole and the exploration of Loss in each story. Never seen the Loss angle before
I loved the short story format, switching perspectives as we go through the episode. It was a great look into character's daily lives outside the dramatic plot. Not to mention the stories they chose perfectly matched and gave great insight into the characters. T_T
The last shot of Momo in Appas footprint is very reminiscend of "A Land Before Time"'s Little Foot sleeping in the footstep of his mother after losing her.
Now I really want you to talk about Mushishi! Watched this anime just last year and it quickly became my favorite within the medium. Love to hear you talk about this masterpiece of a show :)
I think these scenes do a great job at breaking down aspects of their characters in ways that just often aren't gotten to see on a more common level. Toph we know is strong willed and strong mouthed. She knows who she is and doesn't mind breaking out of femininity she was forced into for so long-- but she's still a person. Toph does care about how she is perceived to some level like everyone is, but she wants to make her own way by the culture's stance on being a girl/woman and know who she is. She likes being validated, just like so many other people even if being confident in themselves which Katara is able to do. And I think her being able to relax at the spa highlights parts of this, Toph doesn't need to change who she is to be girl and enjoy parts of femininity that were once forced on her, and she can want to look nice/feel validated in her looks without it being her defining self. Katara is who we know she is but on a smaller scale-- she is feminine and likes that as part of herself in a powerful way, and through all this she cares more about experiencing things with those she cares about. She sticks with and joins in with Toph when it comes to defending someone she cares for, and yet is still motherly in her final actions. Iroh is a father, that's what is character is all about and yet we hear Zuko talk about it in a sense of how he cared for him but it's more than that. In this episode we see how grief, loss, and introspection deeply changed Iroh. He parents everyone in the episode in little ways, by the silly run and joy that came from the boys playing/getting into trouble to the way he parents the thief in conversation. Similarly it forces the parallels of Ozai and him; when you see the big picture you lose the details. Iroh seized Ba Sing Se and played time a focusing as the big picture which made him lose the the only thing that mattered to him, his son. From then on you see him caring and celebrating smaller things like the flowers or tea and its through this loss/connect we see what has made Iroh into who he is. Edit; I want to come back and mention Sokka; as you mentioned it showcases his personality well-- someone who is genuinely smart and skilled. He was able to at least participate in a fine art and prove that even if he fails he always he at least tries. But I also think part of it shows he growth in willingness to participate in things that might have been culturally girly, such as a poetry class clearly designed for women. While it might have been brief it does mirror Sokka doesn't feel constrained by those defining aspects and is willing to makes parts of it his own regardless to it leans to in masculinity or femininity-- he can do both and still just be Sokka.
Mushishi is an anime I watched so long ago I sometimes forget it exists. This is the first time I've ever heard someone else talk about it. I remember it fondly and definitely need to re-watch.
Get rid of the "" around filler mate. This episode IS filler, but that's part of why it's great. We need to get out of the habit of using "filler" as a bad word, it's a neutral phrase. Filler episodes are important for shows since they give us a chance to spend time with the characters without worrying about the plot. Game of Thrones has made everything too plot focused in shows these days I think.
Just watched this episode last night with my partner, and man does it still stab me in the heart every time. For me, its the weight of Iroh's sadness that hits me as a parent who often fears failing my own, whether to their direct harm or my own. For my partner, what hits harder is the "In Honor of Mako" bit.
This show made me unexpectedly cry so hard, first with Momo's sad little search in the beginning chasing after a cloud and then ending with him curled up in Appa's footprint holding on to his fur and then they followed that up with Appa's Lost Days with his desperate search for his friends and seriously I haven't cried like that since I first watched Homeward Bound. I mean I was sad and moved during Iroh's story but I bawled like a child watching Momo and Appa.
One of my favorite things about Iroh is he is truly one of the most powerful firebenders in existence, and he knows this, yet he chooses tea over war when he can
I think what gives more context that the previous episode zuko alone where the flashback of know the information of lu ten’s death and Iroh coming back is when young Zuko says, “he’s probably sad that his only son is gone…forever.” That pause in Zuko’s words that even though we don’t know much about Lu Ten at all. It was enough that Zuko as a young child understands death and knows what could happen as he of course being royalty and brainwashed by fire nation propaganda. He still understands his cousin and technically, the main person in line to become fire lord. Lu Ten’s death is a hole in the family and Zuko had a neutral relationship with him.
I think that Saka’s form of loss in the episode are the little losses he has along the way as well. Hes really good at rolling with the punches. He takes the L and moves on and keeps trying. And like you said, he doesn’t always stick the landing, but that doesn’t invalidate all the other wins along the way. It’s a great reminder within an episode that gives us insight into great loss.
Every time someone brings up Mushishi a little part of me that would be excited feels this intense zen from how perfectly that show encapsulates that genre. I didn't know before today that was a whole genre and now I have a rabbit hole of anime to fall down.
I truly believe the tale of iroh is the best 5 minutes in television history. Even without context as to the series or who iroh is you still get that feeling of regret. And if you actually watched the show and love iroh as a character like everyone inevitably ends up doing. It doesn’t matter how many times you watch it, you will cry
I think tophs episode was actually meant to fortify us going into irohs, it had to be wholsomely fun so it wouldnt be too jaring and we are supposed to remember to have strength even in loss
Yes, this episode was like no other. The fact there are a lot of incredible episodes in the ATLA series like when team Avatar watching a play about themselves on Amber Island is just a summary of books 1-3 before they face Ozai
A similar style of episode from a different show is "Knock Knock Knocking On Hooty's Door" from The Owl House. It looks like it's going to be a filler episode with three little short stories, but then each little short story massively advances the plot. 3 huge things happen in what looked like a cute little slice if life episode
The hardest part of watching that episode was "In Honor of Mako."
If the rumor is true it becomes more sad. That the picture of Iroh’s son’s is actually a picture of Mako when he was young.
@@557floresI assumed that was true and never heard of a rumor
"Leaves from the vine...
Falling so slow..."
@@557flores iirc he was singing to himself when he was in the terminal stages of cancer. 😭
This episode kind of made me a little upset with the new adaptation. I heard Iroh’s song playing in the background and immediately knew that we wouldn’t be getting any true justice done to this portion of his character. It’s probably my favorite thing in all of Avatar, both series.
I don’t get emotionally worked up often, but that sub story has always struck a chord with me, even more so now that I’m grown and have two bc sons of my own and a bit more lived experience…even just thinking about it as I type this, man…
Tearbending, the fifth bending type. It always gets me.
Well technically tears are also water
I don’t normally get emotional during emotional scenes, but this show, a damn roller coaster, first 😃then 😔 then 🤪 immediately to😭 then back to 😃 and everything in between
@@Kvh47Technically, tears are water *_in the body_*
"Tearbending, son, I crumple in response to emotional trauma!"
why does tearending unironically sound so badass, like portal bending
A point that makes Iroh's story that much sadder is when you view the ages of those he helps. They keep moving up in age with him acting as a dad would to their child. Up until the hill where his son never got to be older than the bandit.
Damn bro, that hits hard
😭
Absolutely, in Iroh's eyes, each boy/ young man he helped represented a stage of his own son.
Why do you have to point that out, I already cant handle the scene, now it hits even harder 😭😭😭
Leaves from the vine…
Falling so slowly…
If it doesn't fully break the pacing of a narrative, I say that character building is in no way filler. In a lot of cases, mundanity is the best way to build up a character's flaws, conflicts, and personality
100% agree. The people who find character building as "filler" are the same people who are just here for the flashing lights & colors.
Biggest true of all trues. Filler definitely seems to have become a word people throw around for anything that doesn't interest them in particular.
Edit: second best*
IT’s filler because it’s one of the only four episodes in the series (the others being the great divide, Appa’s lost days, and Ember Island Players) that you can skip without missing literally anything… other than the second best episode of season 2, after Zuko alone.
If you spend the smallest amout of time on crunchyroll's comment section ( specially on shonen animes), you'll soon notice that every time an episode is "slow" a.k.a meaning it focus on character development or expands on the lore of that universe in a more subtle way, people will flod the comments complaining about it being filler.
It tells a story of a lack of interest in the actual plot / characters, showing that some people are in only for the pretty visuals and "epic fight scenes"
Which is fine, to each their own, everyone is free to enjoy media as they please
But these kinds of shallow / biased feedbacks do influence the way the studio/ writer perceive the reception of the work ... Contributing to the overall tendency to create content that is focused on quantity and spectacle in detriment of quality
@@lordindisar4709 Character work isn't filler, and Zuko alone is one of the most important episodes in the whole show for that
Many people also forget that the gang spent weeks in Ba Sing Se and spending some more calm, slice-of-life moments conveys the amount of downtime and waiting they have to sit through and making the best of it. They wouldn't just sit around doing nothing. Of course a girl is gonna ask Zuko out. Aang would sooner or later stumble upon the zoo. Why not go on a spa day with all this free time? Just makes the characters and the city feel that much more alive.
Guess the only down side to that is there isn’t a ju-dee(spelling?) following them all around tho
Doubt she’d let aang just stumble upon areas, make leasing decisions for businesses, and start a major construction project 😅
@@bakedpotato1717 That's a good point. In defense of why she didn't monitor Aang here though, maybe the Dai Li were fine with him getting caught up in side missions rather than focus on the wall, Appa's true location, or anything else they wanted to keep under wraps.
@@bakedpotato1717 Joo Dee was a public agent of the Dai Li, but they were almost certainly still watching even when she wasn't there. Secret spies among the populace, etc.
I see Joo De and other more "forward facing" agents as a part of basically onboarding new residents - a way of getting them familiar with what they can and can't do, and a subtle warning that the Di Lee are watching. After she's sure they're aware, their plainclothes do the rest.
After all, if this wasn't the case, then EVERYONE would have to be followed around by a brainwashed person.
@@s.garciamusik2125 The gaang kept pushing back really hard with Ju Dee as well. Her presence only made them make more trouble when they first got to the city. The Dai Lee probably figured it was best to keep their hypnotized agents watching them from afar mostly after that. Let the gaang think they're sneaking around when in reality they always know what's going on, and none of it matters because they have Appa the whole time anyway.
Even watching videos about Iroh's tale brings me to ters just becasue of both the context in universe and in the real world.
In the show, Iroh helps out all kinds of men in different times of their life, just like a father would. So him saying "If only I could have helped you" is like a stab through my chest.
And for the RL context. Apparently Mako was already diagnosed with a terminal illnes when he performed leaves on the wind. And his voice cracking is in part because he comes to terms with his mortality. The story goes the entire recording studio wept during the performance...
These are the things that elevate this "cartoon for kids" into an enduring masterpiece
Specifically, Mako had throat cancer. He passed halfway through Book 2's original run.
@@rennakahara7851that itself is cruel irony, an amazing voice actor dying of throat cancer
It also hits even harder if you yourself have lost people and feel like it was because of your action or inaction. I lost my brother a couple years ago to suicide, and a little later I got my dad to watch TLA with me and when that scene hit, I knew we were both thinking the same thing. What if we could have helped him, too? Fact is, death and loss affect everyone, and it's an incredibly common experience to lose someone dear to you and to wonder if you could have done anything to save them. Seeing Iroh crying about his son, wishing he could have helped him just like he had helped the people of Ba Sing Se, resonates with us, puts us for a moment directly in Iroh's shoes. His emotions are our emotions. His regrets are our regrets. And from then on, we have an incredible amount of empathy for him, which makes both Zuko's betrayal and his eventual redemption and reunion with Iroh some of the hardest shit ever to grace a TV screen. I'm not a very emotional person; I almost never tear up over books or shows, but Iroh mourning his son, and him later embracing Zuko back after Zuko had betrayed and turned his back on him, those two scenes bring rare tears to my eyes.
Thank you. The information about the Actor of Iroh was new to me .. now I am sad ..
The tale of Iroh is such a well crafted episode with so much depth. The fact that Ba Sing Se is the city that took Iroh's son from him. And now, gives him a day to be a father to the entire city is so beautiful and tragic at the same time. It completely changes the way you see him and why he is the way he is. This was definitely one of the episodes that solidified Iroh as one of my favourite characters ever.
The fact that instead of having resentment to the City for taking his son he actually shows it genuine human compassion, not on the big things that were his moral duty but also in the small things, shows a lot about Iroh's character.
Yup 👍 mine too.
Iroh & Zuko are my favorite characters.
The very first time I ever saw my dad cry was when iro sang leaves from the vine. Both of them tought me so much on what it means to be a man and I wouldn't be half the man I am today without atla. Thank you so much for doing this review
bro this comment made me cry
We all love ATLA and it’s taught us all so much. So many valuable life lessons
Leaves on the vine
Falling so slow..
Little soldier boy.....
Man I can't even get through it.
I like with Zuko’s tale, much like The Beach, we see characters as normal teenagers. Awkward but also capturing sweet moments. We often idealize these characters as superheroes (or villains) with bending and such and we forget that they’re still kids.
Kids in a war situation that they are unable to do things that we do. It’s a nice contrast
The transition from Katara and Top to Iroh to Aang is actually pretty cool. Toph and Katara's tale ends on a rather happy note. The Iroh begins happy then ends (devastatingly) sad. Finally Aang eases, not jerks, us into a happier story by beginning sad (looking for Appa) but ending with hope (the zoo).
And then BAM, in pure Sokka fashion, he bursts onto the screen and gives us a freaking break from the emotional rollercoaster.
Something that I don't think gets talked about "Leaves from the Vine" enough is that it gives the conflict another dimension. As much as we'd like to see the Fire Nation as war mongering colonialists, because we always seek simplicity and absolutes where there's actually nuance, their citizens also share in the pain of a war that benefits nobody but a few elite. We experience this plainly in book three when Aang and the team have to coexist and blend in with Fire Nation natives, but this heart wrenching lullaby is our first best look at the other's sorrow. It's incredibly moving because it's so tenderly humanizing.
Given that Iroh travelled all nations after Lu Ten died, I always just assumed he learnt that song from the Earth Kingdom, but having it be a Fire Nation song would remind me of a similar message to the novel All quiet on the western front
The death of his son, and the subsequent usurpation of his throne by his younger brother, started a process of redemption in Iroh. Before it, he was just as bad as the rest of the fire-nation leaders, believing in their own superiority over the other races and their right to rule.
Even even now there are several conflicts on earth driven by similar people, who through great suffering are learning the errors of their ways. The terrible part is as part of their lesson, they inflict great suffering on others.
@@TheEvertwHe wasnt quite as bad, he did meet and spare the last dragons before he assaulted the wall of Ba Sing Se
I'm 53 years old. Just thinking about 'The Tale of Iroh' makes me tear up. Actually watching it turns those tears into a stream that will not be denied. That is power of great storytelling.
Personally, I love Iroh's story cause you can FEEL the genuine emotion in Mako's (His original VA's) voice as he's singing to the portrait of his son... a portrait that's actually of a young Mako himself... For those who doen't know, Mako passed away before production of season 3 began to cancer, so it's a two-fold gut punch. You have a son who will never come back, as well as an incredible voice actor who will never return.
Thanks for the clarity, I saw all the comments about Mako and was slightly confused
I actually never noticed the change in voices. They sound so similar
Loved the video as always. The scene where Zuko finally comes back to iroh, crying as he’s apologizing. The way iroh just turns around and accepts him back man🥲
I think this is very realistic too, you are not fighting all the time, nor working all the time, and when tragedy hits, you need your coping mechanisms. A moment of peace amidst a lull of chaos in this very well timed Moment, which in of itself is a struggle for the characters sounds wonderful, and beautiful.
i agree and I think thats what both ATLA and TLOK do best, its having character development and not filler
Godammit korotos now i have to rewatch atla again
You're blessed then 🙌
Thank me later 😎
Ur welcome
To add upon Iroh's tale: The people he helped all had different ages; young kid, teens and an adult. As if he was guiding his own son through different phases of his life, helping him through every step of the journey.
The Tale of Iroh is the best short story I ever saw in my entire life. He's also my greatest hero.
One thing that I found really cool, yet from what I can tell didn't get picked up, is how zuko really did become a mirror to iroh in more subtle ways. Those that encountered Iroh (here, and team avatar) were helped by his presence and advice. When Zuko joins team avatar, he ends up doing the same for each of them. Heck, to the point that I think it was toph that said "I want a zuko moment". It was him, having learned the lessons from his uncle even after he abandoned him, still channeling him.
I choked up and cried so many tears the first time I watched that. The day that Iroh is having is so serene and so peaceful. You can feel that tranquility that Iroh feels in his life every day. And you’re watching it and you think, I want to live like this man one day. And then you get to the end and he’s mourning the loss of his son like it was yesterday for him. You realize the weight that Iroh carries with him every single day, and he still finds a way to be a shining light to everyone around him. It just makes me want to cry every time. Such a special episode and piece of art.
Only ATLA can have filler episodes and still have them be so memorables. Will never be another ATLA
Yeah basically no studio greenlits a 3 season show
Case in point: the ember island players
its why Korra is such a slap in the face. This one episode shows what Korra lacks in its entirety. SOUL.
@snintendog Are ypu sure about that after the live action?
@@Ashbrash1998 yes LA is a bad adaptation but it doesn't retcon OG. Korra retcons OG makes Aang into a wimp that did "nothing" and was a bad father with Katara a bad mother. Sokka died without contributing anything and toph is a murder hobo police officer according to korra
Sages rain does a beautiful exploration on Iroh's past, pain, and path to peace. And your take on Iroh was also great imo.
Yeah, his video about him is a classic for me. Sage's rain is awesome
This is a growth episode, we are following these people through a very difficult time, a lot is changing and we need time to get reintroduced to the characters
I love how this debrief is longer than the actual episode itself. That’s honestly so funny and I enjoyed every second of it
The filler episodes made it feel a lot more realistic. It was a way to show the audience that no, not every stop on the gaang’s, or Zuko and Iroh’s journey had earth-shattering significance. Sometimes, they were just normal people trying to get along in the world. Without episodes like this, the beach, ember island players, the great divide, the fortune teller etc., this show wouldn’t quite hit the same. Because I see how they behave in relatively low stakes situations, I appreciate them that much more as well-developed characters.
The "not caring about what people say" part has another dimension to it, because she's happy when Katara calls her beautiful, so she does care about others' opinions, it just depends on who the other person is. She rejects the expectations of people at large, but she does care about the opinions and feelings of the people who are important to her, that means her family (despite their differences) and the friends she makes throughout the story.
Also I think it's kinda sweet that Katara confidently compliments Toph when Toph can detect lies and Toph asks her if she truly means it and believes her.
This also doesn't even factor in how Toph not being able to appreciate her own beauty even knowing what she looks like impacts her outlook on maintaining her appearance.
Iroh's tale reminds me of a character from one of the most important novels in Italian literature, The Betrothed (1834).
One of the supporting characters in the story is Father Christopher. In his youth, he used to be the son of a rich noble, and one day his hot headed self ended up killing a man out of his own warped idea of justice. From that moment on, struck by grief and regret, he abandons all earthly pleasures and riches, becomes a friar and devotes all his life to repenting for his sins by being the most compassionate and selfless he can be; he eventually becomes the father figure to the main characters that we know and pretty much the moral compass of the entire novel.
Listening to your video made me realize how similar he and Iroh are
Perhaps he could have been a inspiration of iroh
“Leaves from the vine
Falling so slow
Like fragile tiny shells
Drifting in the foam
Little soldier boy
Come marching home
Brave soldier boy
Comes marching home”
May Mako Rest In Peace.
the feeling I get from the episode is "The calm before the storm" there's always a calm point before the war happens, people say their goodbyes, and the place becomes almost a ghost town, things get a bit heavy, however the resolution to the storm is then built and resolve is steeled then, "it begins".
You still made me cry, even that one line where he said 10:00 still made me shed tears
Iroh was always/is still my favorite character. This portion of his story still brings me to tears. Not only for the character, but also for the voice behind the man. The first time I saw that dedication image, I fully cried, because I had no idea. It just added/still adds to the weight of the scene. Well done! Fantastic writing and world-building.
Great video! ❤
Sokkas story starts with Yue. He has lost someone he cared about deeply and he was definitely still struggling with it when they ran into Suki again and traveled the Serpents path. But he appears to be at a point where he can look back and see the love and joy not just the pain.
broooooo. im crying. Iroh's tale still hits
Back when i first watched it when it aired on TV i recalled this "ark" being much much longer, like i remembered them to be the whole summer time in the city but in reality it is just few episodes. These are my favourite episodes because of Iroh, he is my favourite character of the whole show.
22:40
Why do I always cry whenever I watch those scenes, even a bit out of context...
That's a youth trauma right there, since I was 7 years old.
For info, I was part of the (very) young kids who watched the series as it aired. The Library was used as a mid-season finale of Book 2 here in the Netherlands, meaning I had to wait about half a year until new episodes came out.
I was absolutely traumatized after The Library came out and probably cried hard.
That owl legit traumatized me in the past
This episode was also released right after Iroh's voice actor the amazingly talented Makao passed from cancer, which makes it hit that much harder.
iroh's tale makes me cry every single time without fail. it's so powerful.
If they manage to pull this off right in the live action series (if they ever make it that far) I know I'm gonna need a whole box of tissues for this part. Great video.
They wont.
The should have leaves from the vine dubbed, nothing should replace it.
@@mermazing1672 If they get this episode right, and we hear the original audio of Mako singing leaves from the vine over the live action Iroh, I will fucking weep like a little girl.
Hey, i’m here from the future to tell you- it’s not looking good, chief.
At 20:30 I think part of the answer to that is because he tried to open up to people in the episode Zuko Akone. He helped those people in so many ways and when he revealed himself as Zuko at the end, he was still rejected. So, I think he believes that no one will accept him for him. No one from the earth kingdom, let alone the fire nation will accept him :( His story is really beautiful work of art.
Man that Iroh moment goes up there with mufasa's death for me. So hard to watch and I always still cry
So I was at a convention cosplaying iroh walking through the halls playing leaves from the vine ppl were crying so much and hugging
I've already watched overanalizing avatar but i would easily watch your version of it too. Your videos are amazing
Dude are you Eragon Shadeslayer? You’re a legend.
@@natedawg1007 Aww thanks, it's a shame Paolini didn't write more about me
This explanation video of a " children's show" made me burst up in tears and at the end of "the tale of momo" part i had to pause and cried 15 minutes straight. I always knew these were not just "fillers" but important insights to the characters we love and insight to our childhood or later struggles. I never knew how deep and hard they could hit us in our emotions though. Thanks for explaining it so well that I personally felt those sometimes forgotten sometimes suppressed emotions.
Everytime I have a lot of feelings that are just too much but I still can't get myself to cry I watch the tale of Iroh
I might actually use this as a therapy technique, thank you so much
I do that too. Works every time.
Was doing alllllll okay, then you started talking about Momo's Tale and I nearly started crying
(i don't cry guys)
it never should be replicated. for an episode to hit like the tales of ba sing se, it needs to be a totally unique experience. But also, Iroh at this point had been a staple character for years, and always a person of happiness, wisdom, courage, bravery, and integrity. That finaly 2 minutes of that episode show us where all of that came from, how the loss of his son broke him as a man and he became determined to help as many people as possible avoid the same suffering and to be as much of a father as he could to anyone who'd need him to be.
Dude, love your content! And now finding out you're also Latvian just adds more to your greatness! Veiksmi darbā!😊
Your editing is always so enjoyable to watch.
I have never seen ATLA, I know almost nothing about these characters or the story. But that scene, that song, always has me in tears. Even the memory of it. It's such a testament to the writing and the performance that you don't need to know anything to feel for this character.
Very well said. But, I suggest you give it a shot one of these days, it's undoubtedly one of the most amazing pieces of fiction.
this is one of the only channels ive found that utilizes the book cannon regularly, kudos
I don't think anybody could've analysed this episode better than you did I might be too drunk/high but still I feel you brother 👏👏👏
It just clicked for me in this video that Toph didnt get a Book 3 adventure with Zuko because she got the better adventure in her moments with Iroh in Book 2.
this was so well done! i'm glad you didn't scrap this!
First time I’ve seen someone talk about mushi-shi. It is one of my favorite animes!!!!!
Exquisite presentation Korotos/ Your videos are such a massive pleasure to watch. Loved the dissection of the Tales as a whole and the exploration of Loss in each story. Never seen the Loss angle before
This was really insightful and I enjoyed it. Thanks for posting it.
I loved the short story format, switching perspectives as we go through the episode. It was a great look into character's daily lives outside the dramatic plot. Not to mention the stories they chose perfectly matched and gave great insight into the characters. T_T
Sokka's tale, the first poem that gets his attention is about the beauty of the moon. Which has very intense and personal meaning to him.
Great video, this is one of my favorite episodes of airbender. Thanks for your insights
The last shot of Momo in Appas footprint is very reminiscend of "A Land Before Time"'s Little Foot sleeping in the footstep of his mother after losing her.
Now I really want you to talk about Mushishi! Watched this anime just last year and it quickly became my favorite within the medium. Love to hear you talk about this masterpiece of a show :)
it's so damn beautiful
I think these scenes do a great job at breaking down aspects of their characters in ways that just often aren't gotten to see on a more common level. Toph we know is strong willed and strong mouthed. She knows who she is and doesn't mind breaking out of femininity she was forced into for so long-- but she's still a person. Toph does care about how she is perceived to some level like everyone is, but she wants to make her own way by the culture's stance on being a girl/woman and know who she is. She likes being validated, just like so many other people even if being confident in themselves which Katara is able to do. And I think her being able to relax at the spa highlights parts of this, Toph doesn't need to change who she is to be girl and enjoy parts of femininity that were once forced on her, and she can want to look nice/feel validated in her looks without it being her defining self. Katara is who we know she is but on a smaller scale-- she is feminine and likes that as part of herself in a powerful way, and through all this she cares more about experiencing things with those she cares about. She sticks with and joins in with Toph when it comes to defending someone she cares for, and yet is still motherly in her final actions.
Iroh is a father, that's what is character is all about and yet we hear Zuko talk about it in a sense of how he cared for him but it's more than that. In this episode we see how grief, loss, and introspection deeply changed Iroh. He parents everyone in the episode in little ways, by the silly run and joy that came from the boys playing/getting into trouble to the way he parents the thief in conversation. Similarly it forces the parallels of Ozai and him; when you see the big picture you lose the details. Iroh seized Ba Sing Se and played time a focusing as the big picture which made him lose the the only thing that mattered to him, his son. From then on you see him caring and celebrating smaller things like the flowers or tea and its through this loss/connect we see what has made Iroh into who he is.
Edit; I want to come back and mention Sokka; as you mentioned it showcases his personality well-- someone who is genuinely smart and skilled. He was able to at least participate in a fine art and prove that even if he fails he always he at least tries. But I also think part of it shows he growth in willingness to participate in things that might have been culturally girly, such as a poetry class clearly designed for women. While it might have been brief it does mirror Sokka doesn't feel constrained by those defining aspects and is willing to makes parts of it his own regardless to it leans to in masculinity or femininity-- he can do both and still just be Sokka.
Mushishi is an anime I watched so long ago I sometimes forget it exists. This is the first time I've ever heard someone else talk about it. I remember it fondly and definitely need to re-watch.
Your rambling is beautiful. Such a well-constructed video and greatly appreciated 👍
Get rid of the "" around filler mate. This episode IS filler, but that's part of why it's great. We need to get out of the habit of using "filler" as a bad word, it's a neutral phrase. Filler episodes are important for shows since they give us a chance to spend time with the characters without worrying about the plot. Game of Thrones has made everything too plot focused in shows these days I think.
What a wonderful video this is I truly enjoyed watching it a listening to your voice thanks for the great 26 minutes spent
Just watched this episode last night with my partner, and man does it still stab me in the heart every time. For me, its the weight of Iroh's sadness that hits me as a parent who often fears failing my own, whether to their direct harm or my own. For my partner, what hits harder is the "In Honor of Mako" bit.
Avatar being so good folks write video essays on it
This show made me unexpectedly cry so hard, first with Momo's sad little search in the beginning chasing after a cloud and then ending with him curled up in Appa's footprint holding on to his fur and then they followed that up with Appa's Lost Days with his desperate search for his friends and seriously I haven't cried like that since I first watched Homeward Bound. I mean I was sad and moved during Iroh's story but I bawled like a child watching Momo and Appa.
“This looks like a good video to kill time with” *15 minutes later* “WHY DID I WATCH THIS 😭😭”
One of my favorite things about Iroh is he is truly one of the most powerful firebenders in existence, and he knows this, yet he chooses tea over war when he can
I think what gives more context that the previous episode zuko alone where the flashback of know the information of lu ten’s death and Iroh coming back is when young Zuko says, “he’s probably sad that his only son is gone…forever.”
That pause in Zuko’s words that even though we don’t know much about Lu Ten at all. It was enough that Zuko as a young child understands death and knows what could happen as he of course being royalty and brainwashed by fire nation propaganda. He still understands his cousin and technically, the main person in line to become fire lord. Lu Ten’s death is a hole in the family and Zuko had a neutral relationship with him.
man, you even getting to the topic "Tale of Iroh" made me tear up. What a craft of an episode.
I think that Saka’s form of loss in the episode are the little losses he has along the way as well. Hes really good at rolling with the punches. He takes the L and moves on and keeps trying. And like you said, he doesn’t always stick the landing, but that doesn’t invalidate all the other wins along the way. It’s a great reminder within an episode that gives us insight into great loss.
Sad yet beautiful.
One of my favorite episodes in the series.
LETS GOOOOO!!!!!!!! LOVE THESE AINT EVEN WATCHED 10 SECONDS YET BUT POGGGGGG
FROM FUTURE ME LETS FUCKING CRYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!
Oho, Tev totāli nesitas cauri latviešu akcents, es nekad neuzminētu! Paldies par tik padziļinātu ieskatu Avatarā!
LATVIJA PIEMINETA! 🙌🙌
Every time someone brings up Mushishi a little part of me that would be excited feels this intense zen from how perfectly that show encapsulates that genre. I didn't know before today that was a whole genre and now I have a rabbit hole of anime to fall down.
Newer knew you were Latvian, Love from Lithuania
Baltics represent 🙌
*Tale of Iroh plays
No I'm not crying!! I... Just just caught something in my eyes. ("what did you catch") TEaARrS!!!
This episode is a favorite. Especially the Iroh segment. I cry every time.
I truly believe the tale of iroh is the best 5 minutes in television history. Even without context as to the series or who iroh is you still get that feeling of regret. And if you actually watched the show and love iroh as a character like everyone inevitably ends up doing. It doesn’t matter how many times you watch it, you will cry
This video, at least the Tale of Iroh part, pairs well with the most recent Cinema Therapy video about Iroh.
I think tophs episode was actually meant to fortify us going into irohs, it had to be wholsomely fun so it wouldnt be too jaring and we are supposed to remember to have strength even in loss
Great take. I think u did a fine job explaining it.
Yes, this episode was like no other. The fact there are a lot of incredible episodes in the ATLA series like when team Avatar watching a play about themselves on Amber Island is just a summary of books 1-3 before they face Ozai
Ahh on that tree on the hill. (near a wall no less 😜)
I love episode/movie deep dives. Thank you
Even seeing an image of Iroh kneeling at his shrine for Mako chokes me up without fail.
Hey I'm Latvian too and your English is really good
dude both iroh in this episode and iroh reuniting with zuko in part 3 always make me cry man
This is the first episode of avatar I ever watched. I had zero context for the rest of the show, but I was so hooked I had to watch it.
Loved this video, so well written. Please please please, do the half hour video on Iroh.
My girl is watching the show for the first time and I told her she could watch any episode but this one without me 😂
A similar style of episode from a different show is "Knock Knock Knocking On Hooty's Door" from The Owl House. It looks like it's going to be a filler episode with three little short stories, but then each little short story massively advances the plot. 3 huge things happen in what looked like a cute little slice if life episode
Uncle irohs story made me cry real quick im crying rn....it gets sadder when you have experienced it irl:(
i'm a 30 year old man, and that scene where iroh is at the tree still makes me cry so hard.
love ur aot content but i also love when u make videos on shows outside of that
Fun Fact: This episode has a book version, and each tale is a chapter.
I really love the fact that we get this moment for Liu Ten. Not only did a father lose his son, the entire Fire Nation lost the future Fire Lord.