@@davidpoole7098 i was sitting at my brothers house and he had music playing, i suddenly noticed i had tears. there was a lofi leaves from the vine playing and sub consciously it got me
The overarching theme here is likely falling under "consequences of warfare" which is also not a common theme to be depicted in cartoons. At least not realistically.
@@traviscue2099It’s a children’s show… doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by adults or handle deeper topics. People gotta stop trying to dumb down children shows. It’s alright for ATLA to be labeled a “children’s show”, it takes nothing away from it. We just need to broaden our scopes of what children shows can be, the issues they can tackle and who can enjoy them.
They explored it the first season, Iroh can see into the spirit world because he entered the spirit world to try and bring his son back. He has a very deep connection to it due to his grief over trying to bring his son back from the dead
@@CptApplestrudl I think, rather, is that out of pain and tragedy, something beautiful can be birthed from it. I don't remember if it is explicitly stated, but Uncle Iroh used to be General Iroh - a very different person than the wise and kind Uncle we all love. Heart-rending pain and suffering can make us far better and greater than we are, if we choose to let it; or it can destroy us. Whether if it is intended or not, that's the overarching theme that I see throughout the whole show, especially in Iroh.
@@pistazieneis415 He was too young to serve in WWII, only 11 when the war ended. Besides that his parents were political refugees in the US, while his grandmother raised him in Japan. Served in the US Army in the 50's, worked in the entertainment division called the Special Services.
32:43 The little girl talking to Fluffykins was actually a "make a wish" young girl that loved Avatar, so she asked to go to the Nick studios to meet Bryan and Mike, and they actually asked her if she wanted to be in an episode. So they drew a character just like her and had her voice, so she would live on in the series 💕 (And if external sources are correct, she actually beat cancer 🎉)
I saw the thumbnail and was like, "It's Tales of Ba Sing Se moment isn't it?". This series will get so more deep, mature and memorable than you'd ever believe. The creators were constantly raising it, with Nickelodeon a bit concerned. They slowly let go more and more and the brilliance shines through. You'll here Mako, the original voice of Iroh a few more times, but this was the last recording he did chronologically. He will always have a special moment in our hearts. Some kids grew up with great families, but some of us were Zuko, with parents that hurt us. Iroh was a teacher to us too, watching it on tv, telling us we could be more than what people thought we were.
Iroh was so weak and stupid. He let his emotions cloud hos judgement, instead of just killing Zuko, Azula, and Ozai, who were evil, or at risk of becoming evil. The white lotus also didn't fight in the war until after 100 years. And Iroh put his health at risk by being overweight, and thereby not being able to protect the world for as long as he could have.
@@ncard00 Bro doesn't understand the idea of the grief of losing you only son causing you to breakdown and lose control. Iroh changed for the better, but also went through a lot of misery. Getting overweight is absolutely understandable, who know what even happened in all that time.
SPOILERS It still baffles me how anyone would hate Mai. She's funny and cute, and has actually a lot of depth. Her contrast and chemistry with the various characters she meets is remarkable. I find her very intriguing. I'd say most of her haters are Jinko or Zutara shippers, the latter of which tend to live in a parallel reality. Zuko and Mai (Maiko) are the perfect pairing. Mai is calm and restrained, patient, and loyal, and her love for Zuko is unconditional and she would do anything for him; she needs, however, someone to encourage her to express herself and find her drive and fulfill her intentions. Zuko is driven and determined, fierce and unrelenting, but also loving and kind, and hellbent on pleasing the people he loves; however, his abandonment issues means he needs someone reliable and stable by his side. Thus they perfectly complement and strengthen each other: by far the most stable couple on the show, being together since childhood; as I understand, one of the reasons Zuko couldn't really give Jin a chance is due to his love for Mai -- though I heard that is better explored in the comics. Although the Zuko/Katara crack ship is popular, due to their superficial complementarity, it's evident in the canon, and confirmed by the authors, that not only do they never feel anything towards each other at all, but that if a relationship would happen between them it would necessarily be toxic: both Zuko and Katara are very self-righteous and stubborn in different ways (apparently both have a choleric temperament) so they would just hurt each other and fight.
"The best way to get anything you want is to be so miserable, you don't want it anymore". I remember hearing this from a TV show and immediately just thinking of Mai's character from Avatar
I love how when jet barges in and starts yelling zuko Hardly even hesitates to grab his swords and fight it’s every customer service workers dream to have a valid reason to beat up a customer Also I cry every single time and I mean literally every time
I think Leaves from the Vine is a nursery song that he used to sing to his son. That's why he used it to calm the screaming child, just like he used to do for Lu Ten. Then, after the loss of his son, the words took on a whole new meaning, particularly the lines "Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, come marching home". What was once the joy of a family reunited is now a eulogy for what can never be. Really beautiful writing
"It's complicated" I mean, you can unpack a lot of reasons why Zuko would be reluctant to start a relationship. A few people have pointed out him having a crush on Mai, but there are other reasons: Zuko has been lying to Jin since the moment they met, and the last time he revealed his true identity to Earth Kingdom citizens they rejected him. It's hard to start a relationship with that hanging over you. The fact that Zuko still used his fire bending to do something nice for her was incredibly brave on his part.
I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but the portrait of Lu Ten is based on a picture of a young Mako. It was such a beautiful tribute to an absolute legend.
Iroh is one of my favorite television characters of all time. He was a father figure even through the screen for me as a small child. His words and wisdom had positive impacts on me as a kid and his character still sits with me as an adult. I'm so grateful for this show and the writers, they really had a ton of respect for the children watching their show and weren't afraid to be serious and clever and impactful in meaningful ways.
Same. To this day be it a kid show or whatever irohs wisdoms have still helped me get back on track and center myself. I too feel like the creators did a huge service for many of us by not only the amount of passion and love they put in the whole series but not afraid to tackle philosophy, war, politics, personal beliefs and much more even in a kids show and then giving us an inspirational character like iroh who embodies not only the qualities every human should strive for but also a positive male role model and a good example of what true masculinity is. Iroh was also pretty much a reflection of his voice actor mako.
As a man looking toward his 50s, I look at Iroh and think, 'that's the kind of man that I want to be" Kind, wise and gentle, but dangerously powerful as well. One that has turned heart-rending pain into peace and wisdom. There are few characters, not just in animation, but in all of Fiction, that I resonate more than with Iroh.
Iroh is such a complex and wonderful character. He seems so jovial but he carries such a deep, aching pain; but rather than let that pain define him, he allows it to make him a wiser and better person. That's one of the things I love about this show - "weakness" is not shown as a weakness, but a different kind of strength. Toph is blind, but that blindness gives her a unique connection to the element of Earth and so makes her the greatest Earthbender of her time.
@@AL-fl4jkThis. A lot of people say how lucky Zuko is to have Iroh, but i think the inverse is equally as true. In his short, you understand why Iroh is so forgiving of Zukos verbal abuse. He probably sees a younger version of himself in Zuko, still influenced by the fire nations hatred. He sees in Zuko a chance to break that cycle of hatred, and raise the peaceful and loving son he always wanted, the man he himself always wanted to be
@@michaelgarrett139Definitely. But he was also a conquering general who joked about burning a city. I would never call him evil, but he wasn't necessarily a good person before he lost his son.
Naturally weve all been waiting for tales of ba sing se so we can cry along with you, still tear up every time, absolutely crazy for a "kids show" to have that much heart and depth, and watching you love and care like we have is so wonderful, caaaant wait for the next one!!
Shattering as Iroh's tale is, I love the context it gives us for Zuko's tale. Zuko keeps referring to Iroh doing this or that, combing his hair, suggesting the tea coupon...you can imagine because of his military duties, he probably never got to do anything like this with Lu Ten: be a dorky dad getting to see his son go on a date and it's so sweet, on this of all days, for him to just be that for Zuko. I love Iroh's smile when Zuko admits the date was nice.
You can see the same thing in Iroh's own story. He helps a young toddler, a young boy, and a young man, in very fatherly ways. Adds just that bit more to him saying he wishes he could've helped Lu Ten.
Mako really sang that song in the short. Later, when fans requested Greg Baldwin to perform it, he refused, saying it was Mako's song, and not for him to sing.
Oh my... I saw the Tales of Ba Sing Se and said to myself that she is not ready for this one...then I realized that I am not ready to watch her react to this episode... I will have to watch this reaction later. Such a great episode to an already great show.
I’ve never patreon subbed to anyone except you. The way you interact with with this show, and love and analyse the characters is just amazing. I really love watching you react to this masterpiece, and I’m so happy that you love it. I’ve seen the show 8 times, and I’m happy to be spending my 9th watch through with you.
I "borrowed" the concept of Joo Dee for my D&D campaign. Every time a new Joo Dee showed up, my players got more and more freaked out, and I think I permanently traumatised one of them to wince whenever he hears the name. I consider this an example of successful Dungeon Mastering
That's honestly so freaking awesome! I wish I could have been there to see it. I don't play personally but I absolutely love to watch and have helped other DM's come up with stuff (I'm a writer so I feel like it comes easy to me) for their campaigns. I usually watch with the knowledge of a DM since I helped with it a little bit so I always find it fun to watch how the players react and play. It's so much fun! And this definitely sounds like a fun and amazing idea! Can you tell me how you used it in your campaign and how a new Joo Dee would show up? I'd love to know more!
Everyone's comments have pretty well covered Iroh's vignette (which is spectacular), so I would just add that the City of Walls and Secrets episode is a rather excellent reflection of Chinese authoritarianism, and of autocratic regimes in general. Not a *literal* reflection, there's much more history and nuance in there for that, but a great depiction put in a way that children could understand.
And yes, there's some avatar quotes that have become iconic, such as "There is no war in Ba Sing Se", or "My cabbages!!" or the most famous of all... you get real quiet... calm... and then... "SECRET TUNNEEEEEEEEEEL!!! SECRET TUNNEEEEEEL" xD
But seriously guys, careful with spoilers, that's a baby spoiler but we can't use the famous quotes in episodes BEFORE they happen. She's a smart cookie and one small hint and she'll think up the whole splot and spoil some fun stuff lol. So be patient.
Mako will not be replaced until Book 3. He continues to do most of Iroh’s lines for the rest of Book 2, but the new voice actor has already done some lines. If you haven’t noticed, that’s how good he is!
@@TheMrPeteChannel Greg did multiple lines in Book 2. In this very episode he did the part with the boys playing ball. He’s in the credits. I don’t know why you keep arguing this when everyone keeps correcting you.
About the girl at 32:42 -> The make-a-wish foundation fulfilled the greatest wish of a kid with cancer to visit the creators of her favorite show Avatar. Team Avatar then even gave her this guest role in the show. And the story has a happy ending: she recovered from cancer. 🙂
Long Feng reminds me of Cornelius Fudge from Harry Potter. Both are more concerned with having their jobs than doing their jobs and ignore threats to hold onto power.
@@Mnkeys they’re similar but biggest difference is Long Feng knows about the war and Fudge believed Voldemort returned when he saw him with his own eyes.
I went for a walk this afternoon with my wife and was telling her about how you clapped when the Tale of Iroh title card came up-she immediately started crying. It's been, almost to the date, 17 years since that episode aired and it _still_ hits hard. Andrew Huebner, who wrote that tale, should get a retroactive Emmy for it.
The words on Lu Ten's picture in The Tale of Iroh basically say: "General Iroh, I will see you again when victory is obtained. Your loyal son, Lu Ten". 😭
I've seen this series 100 times over and have never shed a tear during Iroh's story. Now that I'm a dad, that changes everything. First time for everything. One of the best characters and Mako did a fantastic job. RIP sir.
Also, about Jin and Zuko's fire bending, the majority of the commoners, including Jin, have no idea about the war. So she probably thought "oh maybe hes just a fire bender". It wouldn't matter to her since she doesn't even know that fire benders are "the enemy" to say. Oh, and Toph DOES have a crush on Sokka lol. Remember when Suki saved Toph from drowning, and Toph says "Oh Sokka, you saved me!" And then kisses Sokka's cheek? Yeah, she definitely had a crush on Sokka lol
Also: while The Tale of Iroh is some of the few minutes of television I've ever seen, it's a shame that it overshadows Zuko's story. Jin's a real one and def one of my favorite small-time characters in the show
Tales of Ba Sing Se gets me every time! Its absolutely amazing how they took a way of storytelling typically used for filler episodes and added so much depth to the characters with it. It's such an amazing show. By the way, the dedication at the end of Irohs story was to Mako (Makoto Iwamatsu) Irohs original voice actor. He unfortunately passed away from Cancer after recording for season 2. He did such an incredible job, especially with this episode. RIP Mako
I heard tales of ba sing se was the last episode they recorded (even though it’s not the last of the season) Mako passed away during the final stage of production. Notice Greg Baldwin and Mako mixed voice recordings during this episode around 27:30. Makes this more powerful that Mako knew he was dying around the time this was recorded.
Iroh remains one of my all-time favorite television characters. As for my favorite Tales, i think it would be: 1. Iroh 2. Katara/Toph 3. Momo 4. Aang 5. Zuko 6. Sokka I know most people like Zuko's. And I dont hate it. It was great to see him have a moment of actual happiness. But the events were less meaningful to me personally than some of the others. I like Aang's because it really shows what sort of Avatar he really is. He's missing the most important thing in the world to him but he still stopped to build an entire zoo for a bunch of animals he doesn’t know. I think this entire episode is great.
Tears from our eyes, Come rolling down, Like little drops of rain, When we hear the sound, Avatar fans, have nothing to defend Against Uncle Iroh's, ability to tearbend.
I haven’t seen anyone say it, but one thing that’s so sweet about the moment that Katara and Toph share together is that Toph can tell when someone is lying. So when Katara said she’s beautiful Toph could tell she was being sincere.
The part of the Earth King being a puppet is a very accurate real world parallel to a few times in China where the prince(s)/emperor(s) of several different dynasties in China grew up without parents and were raised by maids and such. These emperors were raised spoiled and kept dumb and their group/council of advisors ran the country and wielded 100% of the power. The spoiled emperors spent their whole lives drinking, sleeping with women, and basically just partying/having fun. It happened a few times but I can't remember how many.
The Tale of Iroh is easily one of the most memorable parts of this series. Running the gamut of emotions in such a short scene just shows how meaningful and kind he is as a person.
Even worse, the picture of his son he uses here? That's a young Mako, Iroh's voice actor when he served in the military himself. Mako recorded this knowing he was on death's door. From what I understand while he did record the majority of the rest of the season himself, this was one of if not his final episode he recorded before his passing, hence the "In honor of Mako" card at the end.
47:58 totally get it. I've watched dozens of Avatar reactions and watched the show dozens of times and it still gets me every time 😢 rest in honour Mako
I love how everybody hates Joo Dee until, well, you know... Long Feng is such a great villain. A villain we all love to hate, like the Dolores Umbridge of ATLA.
When Tales Of Ba Sing Se - Iroh's Tale came up I said to myself "Oh boy, this one ALWAYS hurts...even men are usually reduced to two or three tears with this one.".🥺💔
Iroh is such an interesting character, hes flawed, broken, and violent. At the same time the kind, soft wisend and fatherly figure to Zuko and the gang. The lose of his son broke him down and allowed him to see what he was and the violence that he was visiting upon Ba sing sei, He chose to guide his nephew rather than to sacrific another royal son for an unjust war. This episode hits so hard for those of us who where just barely adults, at the time. I was going through a brutal divorce, and morning the lose of that relationship when this aired, and that line "if only I could have Helped you" it breaks me down everytime.
The tale of iroh hits like a goddamm truck I haven't run into any one not crying in that scene hell even my dad that's a old-fashioned man was sobbing on that scene
About Iroh's tale: The pic of Iroh's son is based off a young Mako (Iroh's voice actor). The writing on the picture roughly translates to: To General Iroh, See you after we win the war. Your loyal son, Lu Ten
City of Walls and Secrets is up there with my favorite episodes in this series. The fact they managed to include (in what is ostensibly a kids show) the idea of an authoritarian government stifling the flow of information to exert control over society and the public is wild. It's so heavy, nuanced and real and seems to come out of left field while still feeling organic within the story. The way it all comes together at the end there with Jet's brainwashing, Long Feng's speech then the arrival of Joo Dee 2 with the eerie music feels like such a revelation and I just love it. The fact that the Earth Kingdom is based thematically on historical China and at the same time the seat of power for the Earth Kingdom - Ba Sing Se - happens to implement policies that are similar to modern day China is another stroke of brilliance by the writers.
How nice that you watched the two episodes together. Combined, they take you through a succession of very varied emotions. The Ba Sing Se arc is definitely one of the best in the series. The ending of City of Walls and Secrets, with that shot of the "new" Joo Dee and that gloomy music is BY FAR one of the creepiest things I've ever seen in a kids' series. And no, it's not that NO ONE knows about the war inside the city, it's that they're not allowed to talk about it because the Dai Li threaten them. What is true, is that the King of Earth doesn't know. Regarding how I would rank the Tales: Iroh, Zuko, Momo, Aang, Katara & Toph, Sokka. I think Iroh's would have been even more devastating if it had been at the end; but I understand that it was necessary for the episode to close with Momo's Tale. Before the reactions you made a comment about whether Mai had a crush on Zuko: yes; something can be observed in "Zuko Alone", not only she blushes when she sees him passing by, but also Zuko tries to save her when Azula sets the apple on fire on her head. One thing I love about this series is that almost all of its characters, even the villains who don't seem so "important" are given great character development. I recommend not prejudging any character, and remembering that, at their core, they are kids/teens.
Anyone else confused at the end of episode 14, when the gAang were asking Joo Dee what happened to Joo Dee? Clearly, she is definitely Joo Dee, their guide who's been showing them around the city all day. She said so herself! Why would they think she was someone else? How rude of them to not remember what she looks or sounds like.... 😐😐
My dad and i loved this show when it was premiering. The premier of Tales of Ba Sing Se was the last thing I watched with my dad before he passed away when I was a kid. Rewatching the tale of Iroh hits me hard every time for Iroh's son, Mako, and my dad. Great episode that has me in tears every time. Just s quick reminder how much something simple like a TV show can mean to some people. Thank you for watching it and sharing your opinions and perspective
To this day I still can't avoid tearing up when I hear 'Leaves from the Vine'. You don't think Toph has a thing for Sokka? Remember her reaction when she got saved from drowning in The Serpent's Path, before and after learning it was Suki.
the Tale of Iroh is so heartbreaking. "If only I could have helped you" hits every time. Especially because we get to see Iroh help so many other people. Also at different stages of life. The only person he couldn't help was his own son. And then, the much sadder version of Leaves from the Vine. Just ouch 💔 But Momo's Tale is so heartbreaking as well. No spoilers for the next episodes but it's only going to get better and better from here on out. Hope you're ready!
Mako was the voice actor for iroh. he died soon after finishing the recording for book 2. tales of ba sing sei was actually the last thing he recorded. also I 100% belive Jin realised he's a firebender but didn't care
People say that the Tale of Aang is pointless or just less than the others, but I think it shows Aang coping with his feelings of grief from being separated from Appa by helping the animals right in front of him.
One of my favorite things I've seen someone notice is that he basically helps people in an order of a man growing up. Starts with a small crying child, the to some kids who made a mistake while having fun, and finally a young man who lost his way. We never got to meet Lu Ten outside of flashbacks, but I'd like to think that with Iroh guiding him, he would've been a great man someday
RIP Mako Iwamatsu, GOAT. As a fitting tribute to Mako, the new voice actor for Iroh (in Season 3, Mako was around for the rest of Season 2) has never sung "Leaves form the Vine" when fans have requested it. You should watch Conan the Barbarian, as it's genuinely good (directed by Oliver Stone) and Mako is in that in live action.
we are not shown what happened at Ba Sing Sa when Iroh was Dragon of the West. He only breached the outer wall. it took him years. The Drill did the same thing in a day. I don't recall which comic shows what happened then. Could someone say? I just don't have my copies at hand.
"mako" was the original Va for Uncle. He passed away, this song was his recgonition of that. After this episode you'll notice Uncle sounds different due to the actor change.
Someone's probably already said it. But, if you want even more heart break, the guy playing Iroh is a well known Japanese actor who most people only know as "Mako". He was dying from cancer during the filming of the series. It took a turn for the worst and he basically knew he was gonna die so he did some voice over for one, last episode. Tales of Ba Sing Se was that episode. The portrait of his "son" is actually a portrait of himself as a young man. Leaves from the Vine was about him. He was singing about himself. He was the soldier boy... Oh god, my heart. We miss you Mako. T_T
The other shorts in “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” are definitely good but they’re REALLY overshadowed by just how amazing Iroh’s short is. Aang’s and Sokka’s stories were hilarious, Katara’s and Toph’s and Zuko’s were touching, Momo’s was an interesting way to tell a story from the perspective of someone who can’t understand human language, but Iroh’s was just out of this world. Iroh’s story just had such an amazing amount of heart from a man who used to be the most feared threat to Ba Sing Se (Before he retired and Ozai got the throne) but spends his entire short helping its citizens at different stages of their life (baby, child, and adult). Then at the end, we see why he is the way he is. He was once a feared conqueror but once his son died trying to conquer the city at the heart of the Earth nation, something clicked. Iroh realized through losing his own son to war just how much pain he was causing to the families of the nation he was invading. This tragedy made Iroh understand that the Fire Nation’s war was just causing a cycle of death and misery, which is probably why he retired from the military. Up until this arc, Iroh could barely be considered a villain. The only villainous thing he does in the present timeline is try to shoot down Aang and the others at the end of the second episode but that was because he just wanted to help his nephew attempt to regain his honor. After that, as time went on, Iroh could slowly do what he wanted since his son died: Break away from the imperialism of the Fire Nation and have a life of peace. This is just the perfect episode and the peak of the show, in my opinion.
Iroh is a character I've looked at and said "I want to be that". This character has quite literally helped me recognize someone I want to be and slowly become like that. Iroh might not be real, but he's real to us.
Iroh's tale is one of the most touching and beautiful things put to animation, and the episode as a whole is just one of the most stunning works in the series.
Toph does have a crush on Sokka. Remember when Suki rescued Toph from drowning? Toph assumed it was Sokka and tried to thank him with a little peck on the cheek. She told Suki "Ok, you can let me drown now."😂 And the dedication "For Mako" was for the voice actor for Uncle Iroh who had passed. He was also in "Conan The Barbarian" as his Asian sorcerer buddy. Among other appearances. Mostly Remember a few Mash episodes with him.
Book 2, Episode 14: The dude on the train sucking on corn is an old way old cartoons used to visualize drunk people. It comes from the fact that bourbon is made with a corn mash. So the dude on the train was drunk. With Aang and Sokka, this episode perfectly encapsulates the "two friends who share one brain cell when together" trope. And yes, Long Feng is voiced by Clancy Brown. Book 2, Episode 15: What I love about the tale of Iroh is that you see him sort of be a father to all three stages of development. He gets to be the calming presence for a toddler/child, he then acts as the scolder/advisor for the adolescents, and then he gets to really be the advisor and friend that a father gets to be once their son has grown up. And this is probably all the stuff he did for Lu Ten. In Aang's story, the girl who says "Fluffikins, what are you doing down there" is a Make-a-Wish kid. Her wish was to visit the offices and they decided to put her in the episode. They even modeled the kid after her. And the girl beat cancer. Someone on Reddit revealed that the girl was either their girlfriend or an ex, I don't remember which.
Wait, how did you decide Toph doesn’t have a crush on Sokka?! She blushed in Sookie’s arms when she thought it was Sokka rescuing her from the water in The Serpent’s Pass episode!
Leaves from the time always makes me cry so much. It's so touching that earlier on he is singing this song so joyfully despite it reminding him of his son, because he's singing it to soothe a crying child, probably as he did with his son at that age
Hearing Mako break while singing gets me every single time. Rip to a legend.
Press F 😢
17 years and it still gets me every time
Same here bubby.😢
Yes, it gets to me everytime too.
It’s the crack at “fragile” that gets me
“If only I could have helped you”
Gets me EVERY time😭
It’s so heartbreaking 😭
What the... This video published only 3 hours ago. Yet your comment is from 7 days ago.. (at least youtube says that.)
@@vedatyildiz3998 There is a thing called Patreon...
i don't know. It just says 7 days ago...@@rpswedits
Patreon sees them a week early
"What kind of special occasion?"
Oh, you know. Just the heart-rending, soul-shattering sort.
Yeah, I didn’t see that coming
@funnylilgalreacts No one ever does the first time. After that, the first couple notes of the song will crush anyone who knows it.
@@davidpoole7098 i was sitting at my brothers house and he had music playing, i suddenly noticed i had tears. there was a lofi leaves from the vine playing and sub consciously it got me
my husband introduced me to this show. He did not warn me that the tale of Iroh was about to rip my soul out through my heart !
@@MasterKombatBro My roommate uses it as his alarm sound in the morning and it kills me every day.
Never seen a children's show tackle the grief of losing a child and how it changes you. It's really just something else.
The overarching theme here is likely falling under "consequences of warfare" which is also not a common theme to be depicted in cartoons. At least not realistically.
I'd argue that this show quickly stops beind a childrens show early in season 1. It has goofy moments sure, but its aimed at more young adults.
@@traviscue2099It’s a children’s show… doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by adults or handle deeper topics. People gotta stop trying to dumb down children shows. It’s alright for ATLA to be labeled a “children’s show”, it takes nothing away from it. We just need to broaden our scopes of what children shows can be, the issues they can tackle and who can enjoy them.
They explored it the first season, Iroh can see into the spirit world because he entered the spirit world to try and bring his son back. He has a very deep connection to it due to his grief over trying to bring his son back from the dead
@@CptApplestrudl I think, rather, is that out of pain and tragedy, something beautiful can be birthed from it. I don't remember if it is explicitly stated, but Uncle Iroh used to be General Iroh - a very different person than the wise and kind Uncle we all love. Heart-rending pain and suffering can make us far better and greater than we are, if we choose to let it; or it can destroy us. Whether if it is intended or not, that's the overarching theme that I see throughout the whole show, especially in Iroh.
The portrait of Iroh's son is actually Iroh's voice actor, Mako, when he was younger!
It was his USA Army photo.
@@TheMrPeteChannel i thought it was his Japan army photo, since he came to US later
@@pistazieneis415 He was too young to serve in WWII, only 11 when the war ended. Besides that his parents were political refugees in the US, while his grandmother raised him in Japan. Served in the US Army in the 50's, worked in the entertainment division called the Special Services.
@@RollerCoasterReptiles A legend and a veteran.
32:43 The little girl talking to Fluffykins was actually a "make a wish" young girl that loved Avatar, so she asked to go to the Nick studios to meet Bryan and Mike, and they actually asked her if she wanted to be in an episode. So they drew a character just like her and had her voice, so she would live on in the series 💕 (And if external sources are correct, she actually beat cancer 🎉)
PS. I did a deep deep dive once, and yep, she beat it.
@Saphthings hell yes, that's the good news I needed today. I hope she lives a long, happy, healthy life.
@@Saphthings Oh damn I knew the story but didn't know she actually beat cancer, that's amazing
She did. A boyfriend or ex-boyfriend of hers was the person who originally posted the story on Reddit
I didn't know that story yet, that's amazing! Thank you for sharing!
"To General Iroh:
See you after we win the war.
Your loyal son, Lu Ten”
[what’s written on the portrait at 29:16]
They never won the war😢
I have always wondered what the kanji/writing said. I think thats the right word. Thank you.
Wow... that's made it more sad
@@codybarnes1531 In Chinese it's called Hanzi.
@@codybarnes1531 Kanji is part of the Japanese language not Chinese.
Let us all cry in unison, at the beat of "Leaves from the Vine"
Seen this so many times, gets me every time.
Right from that first sorrowful twang.
i had the tissues on stand-by as soon as The Tale of Iroh popped up.
Tearbending in 3, 2, 1...
I cry every time I hear the song. Will play the song sometimes because I feel like I need to cry.
I have watched literally dozens of reactions to ATLA.
Leaves from the Vine makes me cry every. effin. time.
Diegesis watched it and they started crying and sobbing "They can't do that to us!" which i agree with completely.
That recording of mako singing was the last recording of him ever and the pic they used as his iron son was really mako as a young man
I saw the thumbnail and was like, "It's Tales of Ba Sing Se moment isn't it?". This series will get so more deep, mature and memorable than you'd ever believe. The creators were constantly raising it, with Nickelodeon a bit concerned. They slowly let go more and more and the brilliance shines through. You'll here Mako, the original voice of Iroh a few more times, but this was the last recording he did chronologically. He will always have a special moment in our hearts. Some kids grew up with great families, but some of us were Zuko, with parents that hurt us. Iroh was a teacher to us too, watching it on tv, telling us we could be more than what people thought we were.
Iroh was so weak and stupid. He let his emotions cloud hos judgement, instead of just killing Zuko, Azula, and Ozai, who were evil, or at risk of becoming evil. The white lotus also didn't fight in the war until after 100 years. And Iroh put his health at risk by being overweight, and thereby not being able to protect the world for as long as he could have.
@@ncard00 Oooo so edgy, so cool lol
@@ncard00 cope
@@ncard00 Bro doesn't understand the idea of the grief of losing you only son causing you to breakdown and lose control. Iroh changed for the better, but also went through a lot of misery. Getting overweight is absolutely understandable, who know what even happened in all that time.
Crying at Iroh's memorial for his son (and Mako) is a rite of passage for all of us who enjoy this series.
I remember seeing Uncle Iroh cry and I literally curled up and cried.
I've seen that scene so many times and I still cry everytime I see it.
@@niveshhnk9686I just teared up watching just now
At this point I cry just from hearing him sing to the kid, don't even have to wait until the Lu Ten memorial
He was dying from cancer when it was recorded so no doubt a farewell to the fans
Nice to see a reactor that doesn't immediately hate May
She’s my soul sister
SPOILERS
It still baffles me how anyone would hate Mai. She's funny and cute, and has actually a lot of depth. Her contrast and chemistry with the various characters she meets is remarkable. I find her very intriguing. I'd say most of her haters are Jinko or Zutara shippers, the latter of which tend to live in a parallel reality.
Zuko and Mai (Maiko) are the perfect pairing. Mai is calm and restrained, patient, and loyal, and her love for Zuko is unconditional and she would do anything for him; she needs, however, someone to encourage her to express herself and find her drive and fulfill her intentions. Zuko is driven and determined, fierce and unrelenting, but also loving and kind, and hellbent on pleasing the people he loves; however, his abandonment issues means he needs someone reliable and stable by his side. Thus they perfectly complement and strengthen each other: by far the most stable couple on the show, being together since childhood; as I understand, one of the reasons Zuko couldn't really give Jin a chance is due to his love for Mai -- though I heard that is better explored in the comics.
Although the Zuko/Katara crack ship is popular, due to their superficial complementarity, it's evident in the canon, and confirmed by the authors, that not only do they never feel anything towards each other at all, but that if a relationship would happen between them it would necessarily be toxic: both Zuko and Katara are very self-righteous and stubborn in different ways (apparently both have a choleric temperament) so they would just hurt each other and fight.
"The best way to get anything you want is to be so miserable, you don't want it anymore". I remember hearing this from a TV show and immediately just thinking of Mai's character from Avatar
@@Thelaretusand Mai got the best line in the show for me. I won’t spoil it.
@@Thelaretus I forget who made it, but the video "Why Zutara makes no sense" explains it pretty well.
I love how when jet barges in and starts yelling zuko Hardly even hesitates to grab his swords and fight it’s every customer service workers dream to have a valid reason to beat up a customer
Also I cry every single time and I mean literally every time
He took the swords off a customer sitting at the table, but other than that I agree ^^
as a customer service worker i can confirm the accuracy of this statement lol
He took them off some army/guard type person.
I think Leaves from the Vine is a nursery song that he used to sing to his son. That's why he used it to calm the screaming child, just like he used to do for Lu Ten. Then, after the loss of his son, the words took on a whole new meaning, particularly the lines "Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, come marching home". What was once the joy of a family reunited is now a eulogy for what can never be. Really beautiful writing
It's "comeS marching home"
And then the eulogy turns to joy once more when one little soldier boy DOES come marching home. Zuko:)
That sounds like headcanon
"It's complicated" I mean, you can unpack a lot of reasons why Zuko would be reluctant to start a relationship. A few people have pointed out him having a crush on Mai, but there are other reasons: Zuko has been lying to Jin since the moment they met, and the last time he revealed his true identity to Earth Kingdom citizens they rejected him. It's hard to start a relationship with that hanging over you. The fact that Zuko still used his fire bending to do something nice for her was incredibly brave on his part.
He also probably didn’t want lead her on because he still wanted to be the prince
She's also a ditz like Ty Lee. Not Zuko's type.
I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but the portrait of Lu Ten is based on a picture of a young Mako. It was such a beautiful tribute to an absolute legend.
Now imagine waiting a whole week for every episode Appa has been missing
As much as I was tortured, I couldn’t even imagine having to wait that many episodes to find out what happened to Appa
I actually think with hiatuses included, we waited for 3 or 4 months for Appa's return
@@funnylilgalreacts remember Serpents Pass Toph also has a crush on Sokka
@@lightningg252The Library came out July 14th 2006
Appa's Lost Days came out October 13th 2006
3 full months😮
and thats not even when Aang reunites with him, that would be Lake Laogai, November 3rd
thats 3 months and 3 weeks😵💫
Iroh is one of my favorite television characters of all time. He was a father figure even through the screen for me as a small child. His words and wisdom had positive impacts on me as a kid and his character still sits with me as an adult. I'm so grateful for this show and the writers, they really had a ton of respect for the children watching their show and weren't afraid to be serious and clever and impactful in meaningful ways.
Same. To this day be it a kid show or whatever irohs wisdoms have still helped me get back on track and center myself.
I too feel like the creators did a huge service for many of us by not only the amount of passion and love they put in the whole series but not afraid to tackle philosophy, war, politics, personal beliefs and much more even in a kids show and then giving us an inspirational character like iroh who embodies not only the qualities every human should strive for but also a positive male role model and a good example of what true masculinity is. Iroh was also pretty much a reflection of his voice actor mako.
He taught me how to be a better mugger.
As a man looking toward his 50s, I look at Iroh and think, 'that's the kind of man that I want to be" Kind, wise and gentle, but dangerously powerful as well. One that has turned heart-rending pain into peace and wisdom. There are few characters, not just in animation, but in all of Fiction, that I resonate more than with Iroh.
Iroh is such a complex and wonderful character. He seems so jovial but he carries such a deep, aching pain; but rather than let that pain define him, he allows it to make him a wiser and better person. That's one of the things I love about this show - "weakness" is not shown as a weakness, but a different kind of strength. Toph is blind, but that blindness gives her a unique connection to the element of Earth and so makes her the greatest Earthbender of her time.
And Irohs gentleness meant he never became fire lord but had the chance to shape Zuko into the man his father never would have
@@AL-fl4jkThis. A lot of people say how lucky Zuko is to have Iroh, but i think the inverse is equally as true. In his short, you understand why Iroh is so forgiving of Zukos verbal abuse. He probably sees a younger version of himself in Zuko, still influenced by the fire nations hatred. He sees in Zuko a chance to break that cycle of hatred, and raise the peaceful and loving son he always wanted, the man he himself always wanted to be
It does make you wonder what Iroh was like when he was younger
@@hellogoodbyeandallinbetween
An absolute badass
@@michaelgarrett139Definitely. But he was also a conquering general who joked about burning a city. I would never call him evil, but he wasn't necessarily a good person before he lost his son.
Naturally weve all been waiting for tales of ba sing se so we can cry along with you, still tear up every time, absolutely crazy for a "kids show" to have that much heart and depth, and watching you love and care like we have is so wonderful, caaaant wait for the next one!!
The tear bending will be epic the next few reactions.
Shattering as Iroh's tale is, I love the context it gives us for Zuko's tale. Zuko keeps referring to Iroh doing this or that, combing his hair, suggesting the tea coupon...you can imagine because of his military duties, he probably never got to do anything like this with Lu Ten: be a dorky dad getting to see his son go on a date and it's so sweet, on this of all days, for him to just be that for Zuko. I love Iroh's smile when Zuko admits the date was nice.
You can see the same thing in Iroh's own story. He helps a young toddler, a young boy, and a young man, in very fatherly ways. Adds just that bit more to him saying he wishes he could've helped Lu Ten.
Mako really sang that song in the short.
Later, when fans requested Greg Baldwin to perform it, he refused, saying it was Mako's song, and not for him to sing.
Long Feng is voiced by the great Clancy Brown. (The Kurgan, voice of Surtur and Lex Luthor ... and Mr Krabs)
Mr Krabs?! Haha I can hear it now
“Connor! Tf are you doing?”
And of course Ryder Azadi in Rebels and Ahsoka.
And Career Sergeant Zim in Starship Troopers... and countless other roles.
iconic
Oh my... I saw the Tales of Ba Sing Se and said to myself that she is not ready for this one...then I realized that I am not ready to watch her react to this episode... I will have to watch this reaction later. Such a great episode to an already great show.
The real heartbreaking thing about Iroh is that Lu Ten died in Irohs legendary siege of Ba Sing Se. Iroh probably feels like he sent his son to die
One of my favorite memes says “Be the person Uncle Iroh knows you can be.”
I’ve never patreon subbed to anyone except you. The way you interact with with this show, and love and analyse the characters is just amazing. I really love watching you react to this masterpiece, and I’m so happy that you love it. I’ve seen the show 8 times, and I’m happy to be spending my 9th watch through with you.
I "borrowed" the concept of Joo Dee for my D&D campaign.
Every time a new Joo Dee showed up, my players got more and more freaked out, and I think I permanently traumatised one of them to wince whenever he hears the name.
I consider this an example of successful Dungeon Mastering
Yes. That's how DMs keep score, the amount of money the player spend on therapy :D
Impressive. Many DMs have to resort to the Tomb of Horrors to give their players that kind of trauma.
That's honestly so freaking awesome! I wish I could have been there to see it. I don't play personally but I absolutely love to watch and have helped other DM's come up with stuff (I'm a writer so I feel like it comes easy to me) for their campaigns. I usually watch with the knowledge of a DM since I helped with it a little bit so I always find it fun to watch how the players react and play. It's so much fun! And this definitely sounds like a fun and amazing idea! Can you tell me how you used it in your campaign and how a new Joo Dee would show up? I'd love to know more!
@@butterfly702angel
Same hear, I wanna hear a bit of Joo Dee context, ideally a story or two!
Wow you are the first person I’ve seen actually notice Aang shaving his head! Good job!
Everyone's comments have pretty well covered Iroh's vignette (which is spectacular), so I would just add that the City of Walls and Secrets episode is a rather excellent reflection of Chinese authoritarianism, and of autocratic regimes in general. Not a *literal* reflection, there's much more history and nuance in there for that, but a great depiction put in a way that children could understand.
And yes, there's some avatar quotes that have become iconic, such as "There is no war in Ba Sing Se", or "My cabbages!!" or the most famous of all... you get real quiet... calm... and then... "SECRET TUNNEEEEEEEEEEL!!! SECRET TUNNEEEEEEL" xD
But seriously guys, careful with spoilers, that's a baby spoiler but we can't use the famous quotes in episodes BEFORE they happen. She's a smart cookie and one small hint and she'll think up the whole splot and spoil some fun stuff lol. So be patient.
There are no Illegal Immigrants in USA.
@@Saphthingsalso, nothing will ever beat "My cabbages!!!"
Secret Tunnel - th-cam.com/video/qMgUUw6zBbs/w-d-xo.html
Mako will not be replaced until Book 3. He continues to do most of Iroh’s lines for the rest of Book 2, but the new voice actor has already done some lines. If you haven’t noticed, that’s how good he is!
Greg Baldwin didn't do any lines in Book 2. I don't know why this keeps getting said. Greg only voiced Iroh in book 3 only.
@@TheMrPeteChannel Greg did multiple lines in Book 2. In this very episode he did the part with the boys playing ball. He’s in the credits. I don’t know why you keep arguing this when everyone keeps correcting you.
About the girl at 32:42 ->
The make-a-wish foundation fulfilled the greatest wish of a kid with cancer to visit the creators of her favorite show Avatar.
Team Avatar then even gave her this guest role in the show.
And the story has a happy ending: she recovered from cancer. 🙂
She survived in the end, no? Still pretty cool regardless...
another reason why atla AND lok are GOATED.( I know I triggered a lot by saying lok but I don't care )
Long Feng reminds me of Cornelius Fudge from Harry Potter. Both are more concerned with having their jobs than doing their jobs and ignore threats to hold onto power.
GREAT comparison. Long Feng is definitely more malicious vs Fudge's cowardice/greed but love it
@@Mnkeys they’re similar but biggest difference is Long Feng knows about the war and Fudge believed Voldemort returned when he saw him with his own eyes.
@@JordanWylde_ true that's why I said one was malicious and one was more cowardice/foolish
@@Mnkeys precisely.
Good comparison but I always compare him to Jafar from Aladdin
I went for a walk this afternoon with my wife and was telling her about how you clapped when the Tale of Iroh title card came up-she immediately started crying. It's been, almost to the date, 17 years since that episode aired and it _still_ hits hard. Andrew Huebner, who wrote that tale, should get a retroactive Emmy for it.
The words on Lu Ten's picture in The Tale of Iroh basically say: "General Iroh, I will see you again when victory is obtained. Your loyal son, Lu Ten". 😭
I've seen this series 100 times over and have never shed a tear during Iroh's story. Now that I'm a dad, that changes everything. First time for everything. One of the best characters and Mako did a fantastic job. RIP sir.
Also, about Jin and Zuko's fire bending, the majority of the commoners, including Jin, have no idea about the war. So she probably thought "oh maybe hes just a fire bender". It wouldn't matter to her since she doesn't even know that fire benders are "the enemy" to say.
Oh, and Toph DOES have a crush on Sokka lol. Remember when Suki saved Toph from drowning, and Toph says "Oh Sokka, you saved me!" And then kisses Sokka's cheek? Yeah, she definitely had a crush on Sokka lol
WE'RE HERE, TIME TO TEARBEND
😭😭😭
Nice lol
So glad we've made it here. Ba Sing Se is my favorite arc, like a little dystopian political thriller in the middle of my fantasy action show
Also: while The Tale of Iroh is some of the few minutes of television I've ever seen, it's a shame that it overshadows Zuko's story. Jin's a real one and def one of my favorite small-time characters in the show
Tales of Ba Sing Se gets me every time! Its absolutely amazing how they took a way of storytelling typically used for filler episodes and added so much depth to the characters with it. It's such an amazing show. By the way, the dedication at the end of Irohs story was to Mako (Makoto Iwamatsu) Irohs original voice actor. He unfortunately passed away from Cancer after recording for season 2. He did such an incredible job, especially with this episode. RIP Mako
Tales... Made me cry so hard. I love this show!
Irohs story in Tales is one of my favorite parts of the entire series. Glad we finally got here. Iroh is really the best.
I heard tales of ba sing se was the last episode they recorded (even though it’s not the last of the season) Mako passed away during the final stage of production. Notice Greg Baldwin and Mako mixed voice recordings during this episode around 27:30. Makes this more powerful that Mako knew he was dying around the time this was recorded.
Iroh remains one of my all-time favorite television characters. As for my favorite Tales, i think it would be:
1. Iroh
2. Katara/Toph
3. Momo
4. Aang
5. Zuko
6. Sokka
I know most people like Zuko's. And I dont hate it. It was great to see him have a moment of actual happiness. But the events were less meaningful to me personally than some of the others. I like Aang's because it really shows what sort of Avatar he really is. He's missing the most important thing in the world to him but he still stopped to build an entire zoo for a bunch of animals he doesn’t know. I think this entire episode is great.
If uncle iroh's story doesn't make you cry,even just a little bit, there is something really wrong with you as a human being
Gotta feel bad for Jin's back having to carry that conversation with Zuko on her own
Tears from our eyes,
Come rolling down,
Like little drops of rain,
When we hear the sound,
Avatar fans,
have nothing to defend
Against Uncle Iroh's,
ability to tearbend.
I haven’t seen anyone say it, but one thing that’s so sweet about the moment that Katara and Toph share together is that Toph can tell when someone is lying. So when Katara said she’s beautiful Toph could tell she was being sincere.
The part of the Earth King being a puppet is a very accurate real world parallel to a few times in China where the prince(s)/emperor(s) of several different dynasties in China grew up without parents and were raised by maids and such. These emperors were raised spoiled and kept dumb and their group/council of advisors ran the country and wielded 100% of the power. The spoiled emperors spent their whole lives drinking, sleeping with women, and basically just partying/having fun. It happened a few times but I can't remember how many.
The Tale of Iroh is easily one of the most memorable parts of this series. Running the gamut of emotions in such a short scene just shows how meaningful and kind he is as a person.
wanna cry more? leaves from the vine is the lullaby he used to sing to his son when he was a child
Even worse, the picture of his son he uses here? That's a young Mako, Iroh's voice actor when he served in the military himself. Mako recorded this knowing he was on death's door. From what I understand while he did record the majority of the rest of the season himself, this was one of if not his final episode he recorded before his passing, hence the "In honor of Mako" card at the end.
47:58 totally get it. I've watched dozens of Avatar reactions and watched the show dozens of times and it still gets me every time 😢 rest in honour Mako
I love how everybody hates Joo Dee until, well, you know...
Long Feng is such a great villain. A villain we all love to hate, like the Dolores Umbridge of ATLA.
When Tales Of Ba Sing Se - Iroh's Tale came up I said to myself "Oh boy, this one ALWAYS hurts...even men are usually reduced to two or three tears with this one.".🥺💔
Iroh is such an interesting character, hes flawed, broken, and violent. At the same time the kind, soft wisend and fatherly figure to Zuko and the gang. The lose of his son broke him down and allowed him to see what he was and the violence that he was visiting upon Ba sing sei, He chose to guide his nephew rather than to sacrific another royal son for an unjust war. This episode hits so hard for those of us who where just barely adults, at the time. I was going through a brutal divorce, and morning the lose of that relationship when this aired, and that line "if only I could have Helped you" it breaks me down everytime.
No matter how many times I watch The Tales of Ba Sing Se over the years, I can't do anything except bawl my eyes out.
The tale of iroh hits like a goddamm truck I haven't run into any one not crying in that scene hell even my dad that's a old-fashioned man was sobbing on that scene
About Iroh's tale:
The pic of Iroh's son is based off a young Mako (Iroh's voice actor).
The writing on the picture roughly translates to:
To General Iroh,
See you after we win the war.
Your loyal son,
Lu Ten
I think iroh borrowed yhe neighbors spark rocks because he took zukos scolding last episode to heart. He genuinely learned from that mistake.
City of Walls and Secrets is up there with my favorite episodes in this series. The fact they managed to include (in what is ostensibly a kids show) the idea of an authoritarian government stifling the flow of information to exert control over society and the public is wild. It's so heavy, nuanced and real and seems to come out of left field while still feeling organic within the story. The way it all comes together at the end there with Jet's brainwashing, Long Feng's speech then the arrival of Joo Dee 2 with the eerie music feels like such a revelation and I just love it.
The fact that the Earth Kingdom is based thematically on historical China and at the same time the seat of power for the Earth Kingdom - Ba Sing Se - happens to implement policies that are similar to modern day China is another stroke of brilliance by the writers.
I don't know a single ATLA/LOK fan who would say The Tale of Iroh isn't their favorite moment in the entire series. It's perfect from start to finish
Yeah that scene with Iroh celebrating his son will ALWAYS make me cry. Every time. Without exception.
If you don't get at least slightly misty-eyed when Iroh sings for his son, you're just not human.
How nice that you watched the two episodes together. Combined, they take you through a succession of very varied emotions. The Ba Sing Se arc is definitely one of the best in the series.
The ending of City of Walls and Secrets, with that shot of the "new" Joo Dee and that gloomy music is BY FAR one of the creepiest things I've ever seen in a kids' series. And no, it's not that NO ONE knows about the war inside the city, it's that they're not allowed to talk about it because the Dai Li threaten them. What is true, is that the King of Earth doesn't know.
Regarding how I would rank the Tales: Iroh, Zuko, Momo, Aang, Katara & Toph, Sokka.
I think Iroh's would have been even more devastating if it had been at the end; but I understand that it was necessary for the episode to close with Momo's Tale.
Before the reactions you made a comment about whether Mai had a crush on Zuko: yes; something can be observed in "Zuko Alone", not only she blushes when she sees him passing by, but also Zuko tries to save her when Azula sets the apple on fire on her head. One thing I love about this series is that almost all of its characters, even the villains who don't seem so "important" are given great character development. I recommend not prejudging any character, and remembering that, at their core, they are kids/teens.
Anyone else confused at the end of episode 14, when the gAang were asking Joo Dee what happened to Joo Dee? Clearly, she is definitely Joo Dee, their guide who's been showing them around the city all day. She said so herself! Why would they think she was someone else? How rude of them to not remember what she looks or sounds like.... 😐😐
She is not joo dee
@@thehhhdream I don't know what you're talking about. That's definitely Joo Dee, and there's definitely no war.
No that's Ju Di. There's also Jew Dee, Joo Di, Ju Dee, Ju De, Jew De, Jew Di, Joo De, Juu Di & Juu De.
When you got emotional even before he got to the 'picnic' i knew that scene was gonna be devastating haha
My dad and i loved this show when it was premiering. The premier of Tales of Ba Sing Se was the last thing I watched with my dad before he passed away when I was a kid. Rewatching the tale of Iroh hits me hard every time for Iroh's son, Mako, and my dad. Great episode that has me in tears every time.
Just s quick reminder how much something simple like a TV show can mean to some people. Thank you for watching it and sharing your opinions and perspective
I know it will and always hurt but may I suggest as to start a tradition of watching the episode on the day when your father passed?
To this day I still can't avoid tearing up when I hear 'Leaves from the Vine'.
You don't think Toph has a thing for Sokka? Remember her reaction when she got saved from drowning in The Serpent's Path, before and after learning it was Suki.
the Tale of Iroh is so heartbreaking. "If only I could have helped you" hits every time. Especially because we get to see Iroh help so many other people. Also at different stages of life. The only person he couldn't help was his own son. And then, the much sadder version of Leaves from the Vine. Just ouch 💔 But Momo's Tale is so heartbreaking as well. No spoilers for the next episodes but it's only going to get better and better from here on out. Hope you're ready!
I have the whole collection on DVD, so I always have access to this show. Physical media is a must!
Mako was the voice actor for iroh. he died soon after finishing the recording for book 2. tales of ba sing sei was actually the last thing he recorded.
also I 100% belive Jin realised he's a firebender but didn't care
I do kinda think that too, like what if she came from one of the older colonies where fire and earth have been integrated for a while?
People say that the Tale of Aang is pointless or just less than the others, but I think it shows Aang coping with his feelings of grief from being separated from Appa by helping the animals right in front of him.
I love Joo Dee (The OG, not that imposter at the end). She fits with the vibe of "City of walls and secrets" too well. Perhaps a bit too well in fact
One of my favorite things I've seen someone notice is that he basically helps people in an order of a man growing up. Starts with a small crying child, the to some kids who made a mistake while having fun, and finally a young man who lost his way. We never got to meet Lu Ten outside of flashbacks, but I'd like to think that with Iroh guiding him, he would've been a great man someday
RIP Mako Iwamatsu, GOAT. As a fitting tribute to Mako, the new voice actor for Iroh (in Season 3, Mako was around for the rest of Season 2) has never sung "Leaves form the Vine" when fans have requested it. You should watch Conan the Barbarian, as it's genuinely good (directed by Oliver Stone) and Mako is in that in live action.
45:40 even Toph likes him, remember in the serpent's pass episode when she was drowning and thought he was the one who saved her and kisses Suki
Iroh in a tea shop living a simple life is truly his happiest, even if he is as powerful and revered as the former general he once was
"It seems like all the girls have a crush on Sokka except his sister and Toph."
The Serpent's Pass two-parter sure looks like that includes Toph.
we are not shown what happened at Ba Sing Sa when Iroh was Dragon of the West. He only breached the outer wall. it took him years. The Drill did the same thing in a day. I don't recall which comic shows what happened then. Could someone say? I just don't have my copies at hand.
"mako" was the original Va for Uncle. He passed away, this song was his recgonition of that. After this episode you'll notice Uncle sounds different due to the actor change.
Happiness and clapping at the start of The Tale of Iroh.
Oh.
Oh, no.
Someone's probably already said it. But, if you want even more heart break, the guy playing Iroh is a well known Japanese actor who most people only know as "Mako". He was dying from cancer during the filming of the series. It took a turn for the worst and he basically knew he was gonna die so he did some voice over for one, last episode. Tales of Ba Sing Se was that episode. The portrait of his "son" is actually a portrait of himself as a young man. Leaves from the Vine was about him. He was singing about himself. He was the soldier boy...
Oh god, my heart. We miss you Mako. T_T
Oh no, it's the "Leaves from the vine" episode....
*braces for tissues*
I've been waiting for this 😅
The other shorts in “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” are definitely good but they’re REALLY overshadowed by just how amazing Iroh’s short is. Aang’s and Sokka’s stories were hilarious, Katara’s and Toph’s and Zuko’s were touching, Momo’s was an interesting way to tell a story from the perspective of someone who can’t understand human language, but Iroh’s was just out of this world. Iroh’s story just had such an amazing amount of heart from a man who used to be the most feared threat to Ba Sing Se (Before he retired and Ozai got the throne) but spends his entire short helping its citizens at different stages of their life (baby, child, and adult). Then at the end, we see why he is the way he is. He was once a feared conqueror but once his son died trying to conquer the city at the heart of the Earth nation, something clicked. Iroh realized through losing his own son to war just how much pain he was causing to the families of the nation he was invading. This tragedy made Iroh understand that the Fire Nation’s war was just causing a cycle of death and misery, which is probably why he retired from the military. Up until this arc, Iroh could barely be considered a villain. The only villainous thing he does in the present timeline is try to shoot down Aang and the others at the end of the second episode but that was because he just wanted to help his nephew attempt to regain his honor. After that, as time went on, Iroh could slowly do what he wanted since his son died: Break away from the imperialism of the Fire Nation and have a life of peace.
This is just the perfect episode and the peak of the show, in my opinion.
When seeing Uncle Iroh cry there is only one response, to also cry your self.... like, an ugly cry
I just love how Uncle Iroh always calls Zuko by his title
This is the episode i’ve been waiting on you to get to.
Pretty sure I’m not the only one.
Iroh is a character I've looked at and said "I want to be that". This character has quite literally helped me recognize someone I want to be and slowly become like that. Iroh might not be real, but he's real to us.
Tale of Iroh one of my favorite stories in Avatar. RIP Mako I'll always remember him as Akiro The Wizard In the 80s Conan the Barbarian films.
I always remember him as Aku from Samurai Jack
EXTRA T H I C C !
Iroh's tale is one of the most touching and beautiful things put to animation, and the episode as a whole is just one of the most stunning works in the series.
Iroh is wise, but that wisdom was not innate or cheap. He was once a willing conqueror. But he has seen the price of war.
Toph does have a crush on Sokka. Remember when Suki rescued Toph from drowning? Toph assumed it was Sokka and tried to thank him with a little peck on the cheek. She told Suki "Ok, you can let me drown now."😂
And the dedication "For Mako" was for the voice actor for Uncle Iroh who had passed. He was also in "Conan The Barbarian" as his Asian sorcerer buddy. Among other appearances. Mostly Remember a few Mash episodes with him.
Rip Mako. Luckily, since episodes aren't recorded in order, we still hear him until the end of season 2
Book 2, Episode 14: The dude on the train sucking on corn is an old way old cartoons used to visualize drunk people. It comes from the fact that bourbon is made with a corn mash. So the dude on the train was drunk. With Aang and Sokka, this episode perfectly encapsulates the "two friends who share one brain cell when together" trope. And yes, Long Feng is voiced by Clancy Brown.
Book 2, Episode 15: What I love about the tale of Iroh is that you see him sort of be a father to all three stages of development. He gets to be the calming presence for a toddler/child, he then acts as the scolder/advisor for the adolescents, and then he gets to really be the advisor and friend that a father gets to be once their son has grown up. And this is probably all the stuff he did for Lu Ten. In Aang's story, the girl who says "Fluffikins, what are you doing down there" is a Make-a-Wish kid. Her wish was to visit the offices and they decided to put her in the episode. They even modeled the kid after her. And the girl beat cancer. Someone on Reddit revealed that the girl was either their girlfriend or an ex, I don't remember which.
Wait, how did you decide Toph doesn’t have a crush on Sokka?! She blushed in Sookie’s arms when she thought it was Sokka rescuing her from the water in The Serpent’s Pass episode!
It hasn't been as obvious yet, but _of course_ Toph has a crush on Sokka.
Leaves from the time always makes me cry so much. It's so touching that earlier on he is singing this song so joyfully despite it reminding him of his son, because he's singing it to soothe a crying child, probably as he did with his son at that age
Uncle Iroh and Samwise Gamgee are peak masculinity. There, I said it.
THIS
so it's all down hill from here I guess. lol.