I was wondering where those videos were and where part 3 was, and what the point of uploading part 1 and 2 separately was when you just release one big video
Good for you for figuring out that the algorithm currently prefers longer videos. This shows your channel is very serious about the algorithm but also presents something new for the viewer instead of only repackaging old videos and call it a day. I'm very happy to watch this entire video.
I disagree, the reason Aang can’t kill is because he is the last person who can uphold his air bender values. If he were to kill, he would no longer be a true air bender according to their values. So what’s at stake is his people’s ways.
Ooooh that explains things. I felt so confused cuz I knew I had seen this video before but I just couldn’t place it! Haha I thought I was having some insane case of Deja Vu. Incredible video, you did some great work on this!
22 years old and watched it for the first time this year. It’s not just nostalgia making you think it’s good. It’s fucking amazing even without the nostalgia.
I would say childhood nostalgia just enhances it. Im almost 25 and I grew up watching the series as it came out around season 2 which would've been 2005 or 2006. Throughout the years, I would watch a handful of episodes or favorite moments but didn't return to watch it fully until 2020 where I was 21 years old. It was on par if not better that time and was EVEN BETTER watching it again twice last year at 23. You can definitely watch for the first time as an adult but there was something about watching it at a time where I was not only close in age to the characters but had never seen anime or something like avatar before. It's my third favorite series of all time behind breaking bad and attack on titan
I can vouch for that! I’m 20 and I just watched it for the first time too and it’s literally so incredible. Though I am kinda sad it wasn’t a part of my childhood like it was for nearly everyone else my age. I don’t get to share that experience
@@aarondecker7980its better than AoT in the grand scheme but they are in the same tier i just feel as if avatar carries more weight because the whole cast was useful unlike AoT. But you enjoyed Avatar in its heyday just like me. Im 24 so we grew up in the same class. Its one of the best Stories ever told
read this in another comment section but when zuko reunites with iroh in the white lotus camp, iroh does not even say 'i was not mad, i was just dissapointed' but instead says he was sad because he was afraid zuko lost his way
I cannot think of another show that made me Laugh, Cry, and Cheer in equal amounts like this all-time classic! Forget the fact that this is an animated series, ATLA is one of the MOST emotionally gripping, well-acted, action packed, terrifying, astounding, laugh out loud, heart wrenching, gut busting, tear inducing, thrill ride of a show EVER!! It someone manages to cover a wide range of genres and keep it all cohesive! My entire family made it a habit of watching each episode during its original run and we STILL talk about it to this day, 15 years later! It should rank as one of the TOP TV SHOWS of all time - not just animated, but ALL of TV shows!
I watched this as each episode aired on Nikolodean, saving them on the DVR hoping it wouldn't get erased by someone else trying to clear up space. I remember telling everyone in the house the series finale is coming please please do not erase it!! Lol they didn't so I was able to see it live for the first time as it aired. I am so happy this story exists and I'm so happy I grew up with BoomerAANG. My absolute favorite thing about this show is how it introduced us to spirituality and the Chakras. I never knew what those were until this show. Now it's something I'm very passionate about in my life. The metaphysical aspects of reality, and sacred geometry like the Chakras. Zuko is my favorite too. Zuko displays the most complex of human emotions, goes through so much trauma and still fights to redeem himself. To me, he is the most relatable because we get to see the evil of humanity as well as the goodness, in a single character. I feel like the Fire Nation is more or less North Korea... at least before Zuko becomes the Fire Lord.
As a child watching this show live as it came out, I always considered the Lion Turtle a GOD tier Deus Ex Machina. I always emotionally connected most with Aang and his struggles, so having to watch Aang go through the ordeal of having to kill without choice was very hard. Through out the series we watch as Aang loses pretty much everything in order to save his innocence. He sacrificed his duty to the world, plunging it into a 100 year war causing untold death and destruction. He sacrifices his ability to become the Avatar by not letting go of his attachments, and we see Aang time and time again forced to become the World's Tool and destroy the work and lives of many. With all this struggle and all this pain, it was almost HARD to imagine that this is really is the Protagonist, the MAIN CHARACTER, the person you are supposed to see as a guide. With all of this accumulated pain and anguish, the last fight was always something I almost didn't look forward to, because it would basically amount to the Story of Anakin Skywalker, Hero who did One too many terrible things. If Aang Killed Ozi, in my eyes, it would set his character up to become evil. Even though he walked the path of good, Killing the worlds Dictator and installing a puppet regime in the Fire nation would result in a just retaliation from the World, or a equally just retaliation from the Fire nation against its new leaders or the Avatar. Aang NEEDED a way to save the world, REALLY SAVE IT, and his eyes were the only ones that could see clearly. So for the WORLD, THE WORLD of all things, the bestower of these magical gifts, the Origins of Bending would bestow upon our hero not only the means to save the world, but it gave his sacrifices meaning, it made all the loss of life seem fair, done by their own hands. It made the conquest of nations seem antiquated, why is humanity killing themselves over a world they themselves don't even understand? Aang was given a true gift and in a way, the Lion Turtles tell the True story or of the Avatar, and why they were no longer needed in this world.
Avatar does have one inefficient episode. Bato of The Water Tribe, it actually hurts the characters, mainly being Aang and Iroh as they both do something that is so unlike them in that episode and the only thing that comes back from that episode is Jun and Bato and Bato only comes back for the day of black sun
i saw atla as a kid when it aired. I got excited for every new episode and watched them with my family. I cried when it ended because I knew that was it, but to my surpise later on the movie came out, and it was garbage. Then way later korra came out and i got invested again. I thought korra was fine but it wasnt nearly as good as the original. The new netflix series is similar. I have always hoped that there would be a follow up that was just as good as the original, but now I believe that that is mostly an unrealistic wish, and thats fine. As long as the franchise makes stuff thats not bad im ok with it, even if its not nearly as good as the original. I will always have the original to go back to anyways. And who knows maybe ill be surprised again but with something really good in the future.
So just to clarify, that's not a sewer that Katara uses to defeat Azula. It's actually the "secret river that flows right under the firelord's palace" that aang learns about at firebending school in the Headband episode of season 3 ❤ little callbacks and details hidden in this series are just another thing that makes it so great
It’s number seven on IMDb‘s highest rated TV shows of all time list. It’s up there with Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, The Wire, and the good seasons of Game of Thrones.
I was 13 yo and my mom just died, there was nothing in the world that made me feel better but there was the last Airbender on tv. and i watched it like my live depends on it. It was such a beautiful aventure. It made me forget the pain for a moment. It made me feel hope in the world and i will be grateful for that all my life.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is number seven on IMDb‘s highest rated TV shows list. it’s up there with Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, the Wire, and the good seasons of Game of Thrones.
@@andrewgarfield9898 I don't know if it should be higher but the fact that a children's show somehow managed to be ranked higher on IMDB then most shows for adults, despite most of IMDB's users not being children is incredible. That means that the writing in Avatar was so good that the fact that it was technically made for really young children didn't stop massive amounts of adults from being huge fans of the show.
I also love how it develops both Katara’s and Sokka’s relationship with Toph in the runaway. Toph being pretty much another sister to Sokka by the end of the series is super great. Every character has a super great relationship with the others, the show is so fucking good lol
My favourite reason I've heard for Aang sparing Ozai is that, well, he is the last Airbender. The last one who remembers Air Nomad culture (aside from Guru Pathik, problably) and pacicism is a core belief held by his people. If Aang were to kill Ozai, he would be turning his back on not only his own beliefs, but those held by his entire culture; he is the only one left who _can_ hold them, and to not do so would mean that the Air Nomads and their way of life dies along with Ozai. It's not like with Yangchen, who didn't have to carry on the traditions of her people all by herself, and could afford to let go of some of the teachings of the Air Nation in order to be the Avatar. This is still very speculative and not stated outright in the show, but I feel it makes sense for Aang's character, especially with what we see of him in the comics and in Korra, with Tenzin's family and the acolytes carrying on the traditions of the Air Nomads.
I totally agree with this. He talks about there are no stakes, which is only true on a world level. The stakes in the final fight are a on personal level for Aang. He kills Ozai and he kills the air nomad culture. The show definitely didn’t do this perfectly by any means but I still think it’s so great. It even aligns with every this far in the story. Even Iroh says, he was wise to choose love over power.
100% this!!!! They actually do touch on this in the show, especially with Aangs conversation with Avatar Yangchen! Everybody seems to forget this whole cultural dilemma when talking about this choice 😅
I mean he had an entire episode where this decision was literally driving him insane. Its not stated to be THE reason but its a huge one. most people only remeber the App v Momo battle and it was filler.
I'm having a moment where I'm trying to get in touch with my culture. We live in a society. Cutting grass for example makes me mad. My mother is from a tribe in Mexico and I used to say mean things about her beliefs. Like saying it was stupid to think spirits and ghosts and witches and all these things were real. I didn't notice how whitewashed I was. I was spitting on my culture and now I desperately want to be part of it. My mother, the way she admires plants and has memories of her grandmother who had even more knowledge than her on these things. Who would ask where she was (sky/star/sun mapping?) When on calls, so she would know what direction to send blessings. I hate that even they are deep into Christianity. A colonial religion forced upon them. I don't know I'm going through it. Edit: i have made great strides on my appearance. I used to think parts of me were ugly as many of us do. But thinking that these are the features of my ancestors is so beautiful to me. I remember my mother saying that her grandmother was glad to have her blood live on. I don't want kids. And I feel like I'm destroying something. I know it's okay. I know no any reason for not wanting kids is a great reason. And not every reason to have them is a good one. And... I know, I know. And I'm okay. But I can still cry about it.
Imagine being Zuko and seeing a pissed off Katara whip out blood bending. Like he was probably thinking she was so angery she just created a new way to bend water.
I had never thought of it that way. His reaction to her was amazing not obvious but nuanced just like this entire show. I love seeing these new takes or perspectives that I never would have thought up.
I remember seeing "southern raiders" and rolling my eyes thinking it was going to be a filler episode. Holy crap was i wrong. Its one of my top favorite episodes. I never thought Katara would get such a powerful and important episode.
Omg jail, but your feeling is valid 🙏🏾. Watching the show as it aired, getting Southern raiders and slowly realizing what the episode was shaping up to be, I was so excited to get character development for my fave character.
I feel like Toph was largely inspired by more eastern media as well. Western media disabled or blind people are generally displayed as frail, but in eastern media it's very common for blind characters in particular to be either extremely powerful mystics and clairvoyant, or great masters of a specific form, the trope of blinding yourself so you can better focus is a more common thing in that media.
I don't know mate... you'd have to go back a long time in history to get to a point where the "Handicapped Badass" or even "Disability Superpower" trope didn't exist in western media. I mean history alone is full of examples of handicapped badasses, and a lot of those come from a long ass time ago. The Blind Weaponmaster subtrope might be more common in eastern media, but the main trope is likely older than dirt.
The Style of Shaolin Kung Fu that Toph's Style is based on, is called "Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu," which was said to be created by a Blind Shaolin Female Nun.
Aang is eastern centric cartoon while korra iz westernized. Statue of fkin liberty (aang), NYC 1920, western poltical ideology pov villains, zuko dragon become western dragon instead eastern one from TLA. Date and fk everyone, very western culture. Even the philosophy aspect in LOK changes from eastern to western real quick. Whats eastern is nothing but the remnants of whats left from TLA.
Uncle Iroh explained why Aang doesn't have to kill Ozai when he explains why he can't become the next Fire lord. The Fire Nation structure is based on might is right. Whoever defeats the Fire lord and importantly How will set the example for the nation. If killing is the answer then the Fire Nation was never wrong. They simply didn't fight hard enough. Actual peace advocates understand this thinking. Good people should kill. By saying there are exceptions you open up opportunities for bad people. Aang is a good person. A monk who understands peace is fragile.
thank you! although i try my best to not be biased when hearing criticism of the show, i did feel a little confused when Gold Man said there weren’t any negative consequences of Aang killing Ozai. you’re bang on in saying that Aang killing the Firelord would imply that there were exceptions to pacifism, and the war would just end with more bloodshed, rather than a new era of peace. it is Aang sparing Ozai’s life that is able to become a turning point and a final conclusion to the war. thank you for this analysis!
HARD AGREE! Zuko AND Aang both had the chance to kill Ozai, but they didn’t because it was a statement, and there WOULD have been consequences if either of them had.
I feel there is a little more to Aang's arc in season three. In the beginning, he seems to almost be ignoring the problems he knows are coming, the invasion and how everyone is counting on him to perform. Instead, he does many things that show he still isn't quite ready to accept his role as the Avatar. He goes to school, hosts a dance party, things a normal kid would do, because that is what his wants were, for a return of normalcy. But as the Day of Black Sun approached, it dawned on him that that reality was far behind him, and soon he would have to take on that huge responsibility again, hence the anxiety building. Then he comes to the conclusion that he won't run away or fail again, like he did with his people, and at Ba Sing Se. He was at that point, unwilling to accept defeat. So when it inevitably happened, he finally, for the first time in his arc, accepted a loss with grace, which I personally felt was an important step for one in such a powerful position, particularly one who has had trouble standing up for his failures in the past. And to put his decision not to kill the firelord into perspective, I think that boils down to the fact that up until that point, they had been pointing at this unknown man as a target and that's that. Firebenders are bad, blah blah blah. But then, Aang had learned the truth; that firebenders, including Ozai, are people too, not just faceless foes. (insert Ozai macaroni art here.) it was also a key lesson in his 'field trip' with Zuko, learning that firebending isn't inherently evil or wrong. As for the lion turtle thing; I feel that has more of a connection to Aang's story then just randomly showing up, although it was never really fully explained. Aang could not have sought one out; we know they are untrackable because of the shirshu. Yet it is of my opinion that what happened with Aang was a moment where his unwavering spirituality, and unwillingness to give it up even for the sake of his duty, had acted as a call for the lion turtle, the very source of spirit. At the end of it all, we learn that to bend the spirit, your own spirit must be unbendable. This seems to correlate towards the notion Aang's spirituality beckoned the lion turtle to teach him, and not the other way around. I agree it wasn't well explained, but I think it could have been easy to fix without even changing much. All the way back in the Library, when Aang read about lion turtles, he could have just said 'they sometimes show up to spiritual people in their hour of greatest need.'
I think Aang not killing Ozai being his own choice is actually really important. Everyone says either he should do it or at best they don’t know. Aang has been told the entire show what his destiny is, what he will have to do. “Defeating” the fire lord like a cartoon villain was always a little naive, same way a bad guy “Destroys” a character. He was always gonna have to fight and probably kill him. So when he is once again put in a position where the world tells him what to do, he finally takes hold, stands firm and says no. I’ve lost enough, the worlds lost enough. I won’t sacrifice my own beliefs because they tell me too and no matter how bad ozai is he doesn’t deserve what he deals out. Maybe nothing would have changed for the world if he killed him but Aang would be irreversibly damaged if he knew saving the world cost him taking a life directly if his own free will. Just my thoughts though
Indeed. Stuff I can respect, even like that he took his own risk in using energy bending destroying himself if his spirit wavered for even a moment and allowed him to have his cake and eat it too along with Bumi asking him to "think like a mad genius". Still, I'm also not very fond that this power came into his lap at such a convenient moment and allowed him an easy out in many respects. Much as I love the idea around it, not very fond of the way it came to him and when it did.
@@wilsonz6796 He did that while he was deeply grieving. Ironically, he was grieving the loss of his best friend and last remaining companion who knows about their shared culture
It's also showing the whole World that his culture wasn't useless. That it has value despite its perceived "weakness". Ozai looked down on the Air Nomads and Aang showed him that he can defeat him not in spite of his upbringing but rather because of it. And he sure as hell isn't gping to throw his morals away for a person like Ozai
Aang refusing on killing the fire lord is a closed chapter of his inner conflict. He was scared to do things that goes against his believes just as you just did like earth bending, fire bending again, letting go of his love and peace to go fully on avatar state. Now “life” is everything that he believes on, what makes him who he is. The ending of him not killing ozai was him retaining who he is, after all the sacrifices he doesn’t have to actually kill who he is to become the avatar that the world needs. He can be both, an air nomad and the avatar.
I feel as though The lion turtles were always meant to be in the story because in season 1 and 2 they were hinted at and mentioned in a few episodes. But that they just didnt have enough time to properly introduce them into the story. So the plan was for Aang to always take his power away but the execution just wasnt 100% there.
Lion turtles were definitely always planned, because a statue of one is the statue that Aang crashes into in the opening credits. I think there was also art of one in a book at Wan Shi tong's library?
I know this is like four months old but I feel like saying that they were supposed to be a main part of the show it was mentioned by Bryke that they wanted to put the origins of the avatar in the last air bender but they couldn’t find out where to put it so they left it for Korra. But it was thought about since ATLA. And they said this in one of the commentaries I don’t remember which one tho 😅
Disagree that the Lion Turtles were handled improperly-someone else in the comments holds the same opinion I do that knowing about energybending before the finale episodes would have totally spoiled it. I believe the four final episodes were released all on the same day. I’ve always loved how cryptic the Lion Turtle’s quote was about it-“We bent not the elements, but the energy within ourselves.” A viewer who had never been introduced to the concept of energybending would probably go “The energy within ourselves? What does that mean?” But we were so caught up in the action that we didn’t have time to think it over and figure out what exactly was going to happen, making the reveal so dramatic and hard-hitting. (That’s how it was for kid-me, anyway.) Then we can go back later and find the Easter eggs hidden in previous episodes about them!
@@realawesomeos ehhh idk the Zanpakuto Rebellion and the Regai arc in Bleach was pretty good. Even G5 arc in One Piece was so good people didnt even know it was filler
I remember there would always be commercials that showed aang saying “the avatar is back” from book 3 episode 1 - whenever I rewatch the show and see that scene I’m like “time for a commercial break!” Lol
Yes! We didn’t get book 3 at the same time it was released in the US (I live in the UK) but I watched it online as soon as it was out week by week.. as an 11 year old that was some dedication and I think the first time I was so enthralled by a piece of art.
I'm 43. I watched the entire series as it played out originally with my at the time, young son. I still come back to videos about Avatar, search for favorite scenes, and rewatch episodes here and there as I have time. It is not just an amazing series for kids, it is one of the best, most well told stories that has ever graced the screen.
Even after 15 years Avatar The Last Airbender is still in my top 10 kids cartoon and I plan to show my parents. I'm grateful that they're continuing the series with a 10 years later film and a successor to Korra. Although personally I would wanted a Kiyoshi show instead but if the Netflix show is successful maybe they'll make Kiyoshi spin off and adapt the books. And if the Earth Bender successor to Korra is true then once that show ends I would also like one about a fire bender. Bringing the series full circle.
We spend too much time driding Kiyoshi in the avatar community lets move past the WNBA player and get to more modern times or go a millennium before AANg
@@redi.c.e.6046sorry I'm late. But to answer your question aside from ATLA my top 10 kids cartoon would consist of Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, The Amazing World of Gumball, Regular Show, Steven Universe, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Transformers Prime, Star Wars the Clone Wars and Phineas & Ferb. There's a bunch of others that I didn't listed that I also love like the Ben 10 franchise, The Owl House, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) and more but for the most part that's my top 10 list
At 41:40, zuko isn’t looking at katara out of surprise for her blood bending, but it’s meant to remind him of the time she threatened him by saying “ if you make one slip up I’ll make sure your destiny ends, permanently” and him realizing in that moment it wasn’t a bluff or an overstatement. Such good writing and setup/ppayoff
Honestly I love that iroh was such an important person in zuko's life that his grandson was named after him. That meant even his children had major respect and love for Iroh too. TBF if you were related to iroh you would too. I have major respect and love for him and he's just a fictional character.
The finale was written exactly the way it should've been. Going into the finale knowing Aang has the ability to take bending away would've spoiled it. There's no way the writers would've made Aang kill the firelord against taking his bending away and there would've been less tension
I agree. Obviously Aang was going to win, the only tension in the fight was whether or not he could do it without killing the Fire Lord. Revealing that Aang had a back up option the entire fight would have killed the tension.
Wish the turtles or even the myth of being able to do it would make it look like more of an intentional ending. Think him never trying before then adds drama and makes sense, but it also felt a bit like a rushed concept out of no where
I don't think using the scene where Iroh is clearly demonstrating Lightning bending to Zuko is a fair comparison of how skilled he is with it compared to his brother. Later on we somewhat see Iroh Lightning Bend to get himself and Zuko away from Azula in the Earth Kings Palace. The actual process is offscreen (since the camera is looking at the wall from the outside) but given the urgency of the scene, we can assume that it was quickly generated.
it's established throughout the show that Iroh and Ozai are similar in terms of power and skill. Ozai being younger, more ruthless and evil would probably make him the more dangerous opponent though.
@@aalleezzzzThat’s not gatekeeping. It’s just stating a fact. If you didn’t watch it when it was airing, then you’re not an OG. Nothing wrong about that
I watched it all the time! I remember when the desert episodes aired. At least in my area they replayed those episodes for days and so I would rewatch them over and over again until the next episodes or chapter came out
I'm 29 and never watched this show until 4 days ago (an entire week watching all 61 episodes, took me that long due to other responsibilities lol). I knew who the characters were and the overall plot of the story (very, VERY, surface level), but that was about it. I watched Shyamalan's movie like a decade ago and since I didn't watch the show prior to watching the movie, I didn't have anything to compare it to but yeah, it was bad, so bad I didn't wanna watch the animated series after that. After watching Netflix's new live action trailer and after enjoying One Piece live action so much, I decided to finally give ATLA a try and it is hands down one of the best shows I've ever watched, what an amazing experience, loved the "magic system", how balanced it is, the story telling, the world building, characters and their arcs, my favorite has to be Iroh. I also started Legend of Korra, I'm in episode 4 season 2, but it's not as strong as ATLA.
When it comes to Korra season 1 is okay, season 2 is quite bad, seaon 3 is pretty good and season 4 is absolute trash. overall it's worth watching for season 3 alone and some fans do like the back story in season 2. it's definitely respectable that they weren't going for a rehash but tried a completely new approach.
Season 2 is the weakest of the korra seasons, but it is still better than a lot of other things on tv. Season 3 is arguably the best, and personally I would say season 4 is second best and season 1 comes in third. Basically, if you get through season two it’s all up hill from there.
Minor thing: the past Avatars never told Aang to kill the Fire Lord. They told him he couldn't be indecisive. Aang interpreted that as being told to kill the Fire Lord.
I have to contest the criticism that Aang sparing ozai’s life should have been set up as the true way to end the war, and that killing him would have had negative consequences like your Star Wars example. I think the fact that killing him would have also ended the war makes Ang’s decision SO MUCH more impactful. Because in life, there will always be opportunities to do things the “easy” way or, more importantly, the morally gray way…or the “eye for an eye” way. And a lot of times, yes, that will yield the results we want. But staying true to our character and our convictions IN SPITE of that IS the true mark of character. He could have, but he didn’t. Not because taking away Ozai’s bending was strategically the best choice to end the war, but because, for Aang, that was the right thing to do.
i think the energy bending thing is fine. because if he had not learned all the other elements, he would not have been able to get ozai into the position where he could use it.
Toph literally mastered earth bending, mastered a subgroup of earth bending (sand bending!), even going as far as creating a new form of bending! Although I agree that Toph could have had a grander showcasing of her growth and arc, but put some respect on her bending game!
Yeah I think toph is probably one of the most talented benders we see. Her mastery of earth is bananas but tbf being taught by badgermoles would naturally make her a little OP. Toph is definitely one of the most naturally capable characters, her and azula on top basically
Great comprehensive video - only thing left out was Azula and Zuko's relationship to the mother! She was actually very jealous of how her mother fawned over Zuko and this is shown when she is going insane and sees her mother in the mirror (my own mother thought I was a monster).
One thing I noticed it's that Iroh's story almost certainly parallels Zuko, while Zuko It's having his growth. Iroh starts as a military hero of an oppressive, genocidal state, and as the heir to the throne. He is usurped by a more malicious younger sibling and begins to be disillusioned by the war. We can infer that at the beginning of season 1 he isn't totally against the fire nation cause at this point, as he helped Zuko throw a fireball at Aang and friends in episode 2. Through season 1, he seemed primarily interested in helping Zuko chill out. He may have intentionally thwarted Zuko because he felt compassion for the gaang, possibly because they are kids, but it's unclear if that was the reason or if he just didn't want Zuko to go back to his abusive father. I think Iroh and Zuko both learned compassion for the Earth Kingdom, and the extent of the evilness of the war in season 2. Just as season 1 Zuko would not have joined team Avatar, I don't think season 1 Iroh would have re-conquered Ba Sing Se In the name of the earth king. I don't think he cared enough at that point.
I think Aang taking Ozai's bending aways ends the war because of how he ruled. He ruled through fear and a big part of that fear was how ruthless he was as a firebender. Taking that away leaves a power vacuum for Zuko to more easily fill. Moreover, there was evidence throughout the show that many firebenders were growing tired of the war and their authoritarian regime.
I think the thing Zuko probably appreciated most is how Iroh taught him how to make good tea, because even after Iroh was gone he would still be able to enjoy something that reminded him of his uncle.
Great video! I just wanna add that, while I don't believe their growth can be considered an arc necessarily, Ty Lee and Mai did not simply just realise that Azula was crazy. In that moment when Mai betrays Azula, despite her cool demeanor, she is actively choosing love, emotion and vulnerability as she is saving the life of Zuko, someone that she 1) loves and 2) has been heartbroken by; and she's openly declaring her love and risking her life, she's finally caring about something/someone instead of going along simply because she's bored or apathetic (let's remember she didn't even care enough about her baby brother when she was introduced). As for Ty Lee, there's not necessarily any growth happening there, as I believe she would've betrayed Azula in minute one if she had felt there was any chance of winning or if she knew she had the support of Mai. While Mai joined Azula because she wanted to (even though she didn't care particularly about the quest itself) Ty Lee was threatened and coerced to join, and I believe in that moment she saw a friend in danger, yes, but also a chance to escape and an unlikely ally in Mai (as she, unlike Ty Lee, could be just as ruthless as Azula and she probably believed they would never be on the same page because of that).
To me, the best thing of Aang sparing Ozai is exactly that the outcome would be the same if he had killed him. I think framing the Fire Lord's death as the "wrong choice" (in a sense that besides it being morally challenging for Aang, it wouldn't end the war) would be a bit manichaeist because the reality is: Ozai must die for the war to end and most people at that point think that the world would be a better place without him. And that is also a reality for the dictators and imperialists of our world. The struggle Aang is facing is that not only facing Ozai goes against his principles, but also that his friends and past lives are correct when that state that he MUST do it. Killing Ozai being a viable option is what puts so much weight in Aang's choice to spare him, because he did it for the sake of himself, for the world it would not make a difference. It shows the amount of resolve Aang has for going against everything everyone is telling him, no matter how right they are, and finding a different path that honor his beliefs Also, I think that if I knew Aang had the ability to take Ozai's bending away, I would've known from the get-go that he would spare him, to me it would be too obvious to the spectator and it would also lower the emotional stakes of the fight
I think it would have felt out of character for Aang to all of a sudden be eager to kill someone. Even if this was a TV-MA cartoon for adults, someone with Aang's personality would not want to take a life.
When the fire nation came looking for “for the last water bender” in the South Pole they were looking for Hama not katara. They had no way of knowing a 4 year old girl was a water bender they more than likely assumed Hama went home and that’s why they said “we aren’t taking prisoners today.” Bc she had already shown that prisons were useless against her.
When I saw for the first time Ember Island episode and saw Zuko remembering his childhood at the beach, there was an image of what I thought it was him as a kid with his father and baby Azula. And I even thought Ozai wasn't so bad in the past and maybe just when he got all that power and status he lost his mind. But no. That bitch was always bad and that image was not about that part of Zuko's family. That man in the pic was Iroh himself, the baby was Zuko and the kid was LU TEN T.T His true family maaaan.
The war doesn't really end because Aang takes out Ozai. It ends because Zuko challenges Azula for the throne and she accepts. Then she loses by default because she attacks a noncombatant to gain the upper hand. As the new Fire Lord, Zuko declares the war over. The Fire Nation, being as honor bound as it is, mostly respects this wish. I believe it's addressed in the comics that not all of the Fire Nation is on his side. The real criticism here is that by the end of the series, Zuko is more of the main character than Aang is.
16:20 You worded this incredibly elegantly and accurately. How people and societies leverage words to manipulate information to fit their narrative is around everyone; no matter the society. It's really scary how most of us naturally internalize that information and then continue dispersing the manipulated information because it's all we know and outside ideas are considered propaganda.
On the subject of filler, for me it’s really important to have those breaks from the main plot to flesh out the timeline. It also makes the dramatic fight scenes and everything going on feel much more rooted in reality when we see all the build up and waiting rather than having it all back to back. Filler is important to create a coherent storyline!
For me the final duel between Aang and Ozai was just pure amazement and awe at the magic, and the series had gotten me so deeply invested in this world that I didn't mind this one "deus ex machina" or "power escalation" of Aang acquiring over-power (similar to the Avatar state) for this one time.
For the Airbending flight mentioned, I remember reading that flight is only possible if you let go of all worldly things, including relationships. Aang can’t do this outside of AS because of his bond with Appa, and his love for Katara. Imo the strongest feat of Airbending off the top of my head is the concentrated gust of wind AS Aang disintegrates a giant stone pillar with during his fight with Ozai.
I'm probably the only one that really likes the "deus ex machina" regarding how Aang defeated Ozai. Because if we knew he could take his bending away, the fight wouldn't be tense at all. But since we didn't really know that this option is on the table, it makes the whole finale absolutely grand and unexpected in the best way. Because we feel like everyone else in this story: absolutely surprised that Aang did manage to find his own way, the "third way". I think it's a perfect conclusion to a wonderful story.
You questioned how the war ended by just "removing Ozai's bending". But that is just one portione of the finale. You also have to cosider "Zuko's part in the finale" where He basically took the "firelord" title thus offiicially taking over what's left of the fire nation army who lost the war. Like how do you think a lot of wars technically end? Have the enemy nation leader surrender or have him depose and be replace by a friendly figure. Since the fire Nation still respect fire nation traditions. It is still logical how the Fire Nation still accepted Zuko and Iroh being the next leader due to their blood and right to claim the throne
Kids? I was born in '77 and I was so hyped about TLA that my work collegues at the time just couldn't help checking it out. At first no one wanted to admit it but eventuallywe all did - TLA is peak entertainment!
To answer your question on why that ending worked; if Osai had been killed, Azula would have been the Firelord and would have been even more tyrannical than her father, and would no doubt have ended the war by killing off all other benders. Or, at best, the kingdom would have been torn between Azula's followers and Zuko's. Removing Osai's bending allowed Zuko to legally claim the throne because, as a non-bender, Osai could no longer rule.
Ok I just want to make the point, in Avatar The Last Airbender, it's not about who is more "powerful" cause that's lame. It's about who is more skilled, these are martial arts, remember that!
But there actually is power. It's both skill AND power. If there's two benders with equal skill, one of them could still be more powerful. The avatar has the most "sheer power" as commented on by Jeong Jeong, the firebending master. Even if Aang had no skill in firebending at the time, the amount of power he had when bending it was immense.
With the end of the series I completely agree that there could’ve been a negative consequence to aang betraying his beliefs- and it’s right there too! Imagine: Aang is at the utmost of power, he’s circled by all four elements in the avatar state and he shouts devastatingly, “Firelord Ozai! You and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world, and now: You shall pay the ultimate price!” He goes to kill Ozai, but suddenly all of the elements splash to the floor or into thin air. Aang remembers: How the fire nation would make Ozai a martyr, how Zuko would never know where his mother is- but mostly, how Aang would be doing taking the life of a monster yes, but how this is the very thing the fire nation has done all along. How the fire nation thought they were justified, how this cannot end with more killing. He understands death, he understands the loss of his people, and his understands through Katara and Sokka what the murder of their parent did to them. How the fire nation thought they were justified to kill Kya. He just can’t kill him. He decides to take the fire lord’s bending instead. As a sign for hope, as a signal for choice and change. It’s his destiny, but he chooses what to do with it.
I never saw this show as a kid but I watched it for the first time last week and just finished the last episode today. I was seriously missing out as a kid
Great video. Only thing I would add is I've always heard of "filler" as parts of a show not based on the source material, thus "filling in" parts that weren't actually there. This is how you have both good filler that expands upon and fits into the original work, and bad filler that ruins pacing or is contradictory to the original work. Original shows don't have filler as there's no source material to fill in.
26:43 THANK YOU so much for saying this, people can be so harsh on others or, in this case, fictional characters instead of trying to see where they are coming from, nobody is perfect, not in Avatar either and that is one of the many reasons the show is just so good, it's real, is empathetic, is compassionate is unfiltered and authentic, Aang is if not my favorite fictional character in any story and the biggest part of it is not that I relate to him on so many ways, but that he is also an imperfect character that makes mistakes, the whole reason he he has to end the war is because (partially) he refused to take on the responsibility of becoming the Avatar and fixing the mess that Avatar Roku (inadvertently) caused before he passed, another mistake he made was when he impatiently tried to firebend and *accidentally* burned Katara and of course the most important example, when he took the life of fire nation soldiers, he did it because his hands were tied, if he had a choice that didn't require to let fire nation keep destroying and making the world worse, he would have obviously chosen to let every single person live, but *as you know* (pun intended) , it's not that simple, this kid literally has to fight a war, he was lucky not to have to fight more people to the death (of course the show being originally kid oriented is also a reason) so I'm glad someone is finally defending one of, if not the most mature and responsible and kind Avatar, Aang, the last airbender (of his time).
this was a fantastic video essay/retrospective. it’s the first video i’ve watched from you and to be completely honest, the sheer amount of oversaturation in the youtube video essay sphere leading me to think this one would just be another mediocre drop in the ocean but i was completely wrong
I really appreciate that, thank you so much for the kind words! If you don't mind me asking, what about this video separates it from other video essays you've watched? Just curious so I can keep trying to improve. Thanks again!
@@thegoldman25 i think i found the way you articulate your thoughts and go about analysis to be particularly effective/well done. every point you made was backed up by in story evidence and was satisfying/enough for me to accept due to sufficient elaboration on your part. to be more specific, when you talked about magic systems and what makes a good magic system. i never realized that it's more about what the characters can't do, rather than what they can. when you elaborated on this by stating that benders are only able to bend one element, with the avatar serving as an exception to that and thus, allowing me to understand why ATLA works so well. it seems very simple and i doubt this will give you any true insight you've never heard before or help you improve but it's what i think, nonetheless.
When looking back at Korra and seeing the flashbacks to "that trial" where we get a glimpse of an adult Aang, Sokka, and Toph - sure, we would all love more of the gangs lives between ATLA and Korra, but personally i think the most interesting and compelling story would be Sokka as an adult because just as you said, he learned the hallmarks of being a man and being a leader at such a young age but how does that shape the man he becomes as he gets older? Thats a story I would pay good money to see fleshed out.
Morality is a strong enough reason to not kill Ozai. Keeping Ozai alive is symbolic in the fact that Aang and everyone who is victim to this 100 year ware wants the killing to stop. By being an example to everyone, Aang shows that killing Ozai doesn't have to be the answer and killing him would just be another example of bloodshed. This is something the entire series builds up to and I don't think it needs an explanation. Of course, the biggest reason why Aang doesn't kill Ozai would be because the on screen murder of a major character probably wasn't allowed by Nickelodeon (like how Jet's death was always left a mystery and never confirmed canonically through the show). But I still think Aang keeping Ozai alive was the best message they could've given us and all the children watching. Also, keeping Ozai alive and energybending led to so many other points in the larger story: the New Ozai Society that wants to avenge the fall of Ozai, Zuko finding his mother, Aang taking away Yakone's bending, Aang giving back Korra's bending and Korra returning everyone's bending after what Amon did (even though the giving back bending is kinda weird and I don't understand it, the lion turtle teaching Aang the ability was necessary for any of this to happen). Another thing is that Ang suddenly learning energybending from the lion turtle isn't the most surprising thing. In the story of Avatar Wan, we learn the the lion turtles were the original beings to gift the ability to bend to humans. I don't think the act of energybending itself, which the lion turtles used to give bending to people, was ever given to humans to use. But Aang proved to be worthy of this power as the Avatar and having the strong will of doing good over evil. Especially as the Avatar, the lion turtle could grant Aang this power safely, without the danger of it being abused. Later, when Aang goes to use it on Ozai, we are shown that he has absolutely no mastery over it and he almost loses himself in an attempt to use it successfully on Ozai. As this happens, energybending is explained to us in a flashback to the lion turtle and what it told Aang when it gave him the power. Overall, Aang tried to use an ability he was absolutely not skilled with and the only reason he was even able to use it properly was because he had a strong sense of self and he knew who he was which goes back to the fact that there was no chance of Aang actually killing Ozai because if there was any bit of doubt in his heart that his morality would have to be abandoned and that he would have to end up killing Ozai, then the energybending would work against him and he would end up perishing. In the end it ties back to how strong Aang's character is and how big of a role model he can be to anyone watching. Besides, if we were told about energybending before the battle between Aang and Ozai began, there would be no doubt that Aang would end up using it instead of killing Ozai and the suspense of whether or not Aang would kill Ozai would be gone right then and there. I hope this helps anyone reading to understand that the plot really was done properly. Despite the criticism in the end of Aang's section of the video being valid, I have tried my best to answer that criticism.
I watched avatar as a grown adult and completely agree its one of the best shows ever. I never understood how he even took away Ozai's bending until now I just figured it was an avatar thing. If they treated it like Naruto's sage mode training at mount miyoboku it would be alot more fortified in the narrative but it's kind of flimsy
That line from Sokka’s dad hit me as I listened to it here. As a child of divorce I had to choose who to go with and I chose to go with my mom and sister as they may need me
I agree with you about the filler the one and only episode that in my eyes fits that description is the great divide, all the others do so much for character work and development the only other close to fit into the filler category is probably the fortune teller but even here you have a lot of development and it also show you for the first time how strong aang is without the avatar state and how good of an airbender he is that he stops a volcano And iroh is truly one of the best mentor and father figures of cartoons history
Aang needed to spare Ozai. If he had killed him then he would only be remembered as a violent criminal by the fire nation’s people. If Ozai became a martyr or war hero to the fire nation then they would have refused to live in peace with the other nations again. If the last air bender killed the leader of an entire nation then that’s the only thing people would think about when they remembered the air nomads. Aang wanted his people to be remembered for who they were, for the war to end, and for all the nations to live together in harmony None of that would happen if The Avatar became a symbol for violence and rebellion or if Ozai became a hero who sacrificed himself to protect his people from a vengeful, god like, “monster”
He the audience knew before the fight he could remove the bending there would have been less tension not more. I have watched too many people watch that fight to believe the opposite to be true.. Everyone gets emotional moved every time he leaves an opportunity to kill Ozai.
Personally, I believe energy bending was great addition to the magic system and in fact under-explored, it should have been better explored in book 2's episode 15 and in book 2 episode 19.
I think “The Library” would’ve been the best place to foreshadow it, I agree with you on “The Guru” being a good place to explore it, but I don’t think it would’ve fit well in “The Tales of Ba Sing Se”
This series is my biggest inspiration for my writing. the characters, the world building, the lore and power system are what i always look for how to build up my own.
I think the reason that the fire nation backed down after the end of the series is fear. If their leader can lose their bending so can whoever decides to step up after them.
@@asarishepard8171you asked for it Primal Unicorn Monkie Kid Vox Machina Invincible Arcane Kipo Castlevania Blood of Zeus Ducktales 2017 Wakfu Amphibia The Owl House Gravity Falls Infinity Train Blue Eyed Samurai Captain Laserhawk The Hollow DOTA Pantheon Pariah Nexus Kid Cosmic Hilda Glitch Tech The Dragon Prince Lost in Oz Over the Garden Wall Villainous Tear Along the Dotted Line This World Can't Tear Me Down Bojack Horseman
The reason why female characters done right is a thing is because men have been writing women poorly. A lot of writers do not know how to write well-rounded women without their stories centering on a man.
If ozai was killed there would be one less nazi in the world, ya know Taking his power works in that society at that time, because he loses respect and class. But he is still a master manipulator who would absolutely try to gain favour and power in the new world after his defeat.
Zahid ain't that strong for a airbender to fly he has to let go of there earthly attachment tenzin can hold 3 of the red lotus alone i hope i spelled everything correctly
DISCLAIMER: this video is a compilation of parts 1,2,&3. Part 3 is completely new while parts 1&2 have been repackaged into this video.
I was wondering where those videos were and where part 3 was, and what the point of uploading part 1 and 2 separately was when you just release one big video
That’s a relief because this seemed familiar but couldn’t remember why!
Good for you for figuring out that the algorithm currently prefers longer videos. This shows your channel is very serious about the algorithm but also presents something new for the viewer instead of only repackaging old videos and call it a day. I'm very happy to watch this entire video.
I disagree, the reason Aang can’t kill is because he is the last person who can uphold his air bender values. If he were to kill, he would no longer be a true air bender according to their values. So what’s at stake is his people’s ways.
Ooooh that explains things. I felt so confused cuz I knew I had seen this video before but I just couldn’t place it! Haha I thought I was having some insane case of Deja Vu.
Incredible video, you did some great work on this!
22 years old and watched it for the first time this year. It’s not just nostalgia making you think it’s good. It’s fucking amazing even without the nostalgia.
damn thanks thats what I've always wondered
I would say childhood nostalgia just enhances it. Im almost 25 and I grew up watching the series as it came out around season 2 which would've been 2005 or 2006. Throughout the years, I would watch a handful of episodes or favorite moments but didn't return to watch it fully until 2020 where I was 21 years old. It was on par if not better that time and was EVEN BETTER watching it again twice last year at 23. You can definitely watch for the first time as an adult but there was something about watching it at a time where I was not only close in age to the characters but had never seen anime or something like avatar before. It's my third favorite series of all time behind breaking bad and attack on titan
I can vouch for that! I’m 20 and I just watched it for the first time too and it’s literally so incredible. Though I am kinda sad it wasn’t a part of my childhood like it was for nearly everyone else my age. I don’t get to share that experience
@@lindseywolthuis9535yeah you missed out. Glad you caught it before 21
@@aarondecker7980its better than AoT in the grand scheme but they are in the same tier i just feel as if avatar carries more weight because the whole cast was useful unlike AoT.
But you enjoyed Avatar in its heyday just like me. Im 24 so we grew up in the same class. Its one of the best Stories ever told
I am very happy about the fact that this show has basically become a universally loved classic. If any kids show deserves it, it's this.
This show is so good. My 44 year old dad still watches it
read this in another comment section but when zuko reunites with iroh in the white lotus camp, iroh does not even say 'i was not mad, i was just dissapointed' but instead says he was sad because he was afraid zuko lost his way
I cannot think of another show that made me Laugh, Cry, and Cheer in equal amounts like this all-time classic! Forget the fact that this is an animated series, ATLA is one of the MOST emotionally gripping, well-acted, action packed, terrifying, astounding, laugh out loud, heart wrenching, gut busting, tear inducing, thrill ride of a show EVER!! It someone manages to cover a wide range of genres and keep it all cohesive! My entire family made it a habit of watching each episode during its original run and we STILL talk about it to this day, 15 years later! It should rank as one of the TOP TV SHOWS of all time - not just animated, but ALL of TV shows!
I watched this as each episode aired on Nikolodean, saving them on the DVR hoping it wouldn't get erased by someone else trying to clear up space. I remember telling everyone in the house the series finale is coming please please do not erase it!! Lol they didn't so I was able to see it live for the first time as it aired. I am so happy this story exists and I'm so happy I grew up with BoomerAANG.
My absolute favorite thing about this show is how it introduced us to spirituality and the Chakras. I never knew what those were until this show. Now it's something I'm very passionate about in my life. The metaphysical aspects of reality, and sacred geometry like the Chakras. Zuko is my favorite too. Zuko displays the most complex of human emotions, goes through so much trauma and still fights to redeem himself. To me, he is the most relatable because we get to see the evil of humanity as well as the goodness, in a single character.
I feel like the Fire Nation is more or less North Korea... at least before Zuko becomes the Fire Lord.
As a child watching this show live as it came out, I always considered the Lion Turtle a GOD tier Deus Ex Machina. I always emotionally connected most with Aang and his struggles, so having to watch Aang go through the ordeal of having to kill without choice was very hard. Through out the series we watch as Aang loses pretty much everything in order to save his innocence. He sacrificed his duty to the world, plunging it into a 100 year war causing untold death and destruction. He sacrifices his ability to become the Avatar by not letting go of his attachments, and we see Aang time and time again forced to become the World's Tool and destroy the work and lives of many. With all this struggle and all this pain, it was almost HARD to imagine that this is really is the Protagonist, the MAIN CHARACTER, the person you are supposed to see as a guide. With all of this accumulated pain and anguish, the last fight was always something I almost didn't look forward to, because it would basically amount to the Story of Anakin Skywalker, Hero who did One too many terrible things. If Aang Killed Ozi, in my eyes, it would set his character up to become evil. Even though he walked the path of good, Killing the worlds Dictator and installing a puppet regime in the Fire nation would result in a just retaliation from the World, or a equally just retaliation from the Fire nation against its new leaders or the Avatar. Aang NEEDED a way to save the world, REALLY SAVE IT, and his eyes were the only ones that could see clearly. So for the WORLD, THE WORLD of all things, the bestower of these magical gifts, the Origins of Bending would bestow upon our hero not only the means to save the world, but it gave his sacrifices meaning, it made all the loss of life seem fair, done by their own hands. It made the conquest of nations seem antiquated, why is humanity killing themselves over a world they themselves don't even understand? Aang was given a true gift and in a way, the Lion Turtles tell the True story or of the Avatar, and why they were no longer needed in this world.
Man, I love these videos, hope the next one about Korra ❤
Avatar does have one inefficient episode. Bato of The Water Tribe, it actually hurts the characters, mainly being Aang and Iroh as they both do something that is so unlike them in that episode and the only thing that comes back from that episode is Jun and Bato and Bato only comes back for the day of black sun
i saw atla as a kid when it aired. I got excited for every new episode and watched them with my family. I cried when it ended because I knew that was it, but to my surpise later on the movie came out, and it was garbage. Then way later korra came out and i got invested again. I thought korra was fine but it wasnt nearly as good as the original. The new netflix series is similar. I have always hoped that there would be a follow up that was just as good as the original, but now I believe that that is mostly an unrealistic wish, and thats fine. As long as the franchise makes stuff thats not bad im ok with it, even if its not nearly as good as the original. I will always have the original to go back to anyways. And who knows maybe ill be surprised again but with something really good in the future.
So just to clarify, that's not a sewer that Katara uses to defeat Azula. It's actually the "secret river that flows right under the firelord's palace" that aang learns about at firebending school in the Headband episode of season 3 ❤ little callbacks and details hidden in this series are just another thing that makes it so great
Wow I didn't even think about that!
Great eye!!
I never noticed that and I've seen the show at least 3 times. The level of detail from the writers was amazing. Thank you
Wow! I literally just finished watching it and I didn't realize that's what that was
no way this whole time i thought he was lying so he could go back LMAO
Avatar The Last Airbender is one of the greatest TV shows of all time
It’s number seven on IMDb‘s highest rated TV shows of all time list. It’s up there with Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, The Wire, and the good seasons of Game of Thrones.
Fax
Indeed
Real
Wrong , it is The Simpson's
I was 13 yo and my mom just died, there was nothing in the world that made me feel better but there was the last Airbender on tv. and i watched it like my live depends on it. It was such a beautiful aventure. It made me forget the pain for a moment. It made me feel hope in the world and i will be grateful for that all my life.
Sorry for ur lost! I love this show dont know how Katara let her mom killer live! I would have ended him!
I'm sorry for your loss. Hold onto the good times. And let them carry you.
@@MONKEYDZETSThat part was not letting the cycle of revenge happen
Basically don’t sink to his level
wow the point about all the agni kais being battles where zuko has always had honor while his opponent doesn’t, is so poignant, loved that
Avatar: The Last Airbender is number seven on IMDb‘s highest rated TV shows list. it’s up there with Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, the Wire, and the good seasons of Game of Thrones.
That is a very impressive achievement, isn't it?
@@thevarietychannelofyoutube4769honestly it should be higher but that’s still good
@@andrewgarfield9898 I don't know if it should be higher but the fact that a children's show somehow managed to be ranked higher on IMDB then most shows for adults, despite most of IMDB's users not being children is incredible. That means that the writing in Avatar was so good that the fact that it was technically made for really young children didn't stop massive amounts of adults from being huge fans of the show.
I think you should also check out Attack On Titan.
@@benapeh854 I’m reading the manga right now
The development of Toph and Katara's friendship is one of my absolute favourite parts of this amazing series. Glad you discussed it!
It's wonderfully written!
I also love how it develops both Katara’s and Sokka’s relationship with Toph in the runaway. Toph being pretty much another sister to Sokka by the end of the series is super great. Every character has a super great relationship with the others, the show is so fucking good lol
My favourite reason I've heard for Aang sparing Ozai is that, well, he is the last Airbender. The last one who remembers Air Nomad culture (aside from Guru Pathik, problably) and pacicism is a core belief held by his people. If Aang were to kill Ozai, he would be turning his back on not only his own beliefs, but those held by his entire culture; he is the only one left who _can_ hold them, and to not do so would mean that the Air Nomads and their way of life dies along with Ozai. It's not like with Yangchen, who didn't have to carry on the traditions of her people all by herself, and could afford to let go of some of the teachings of the Air Nation in order to be the Avatar. This is still very speculative and not stated outright in the show, but I feel it makes sense for Aang's character, especially with what we see of him in the comics and in Korra, with Tenzin's family and the acolytes carrying on the traditions of the Air Nomads.
I totally agree with this. He talks about there are no stakes, which is only true on a world level. The stakes in the final fight are a on personal level for Aang. He kills Ozai and he kills the air nomad culture. The show definitely didn’t do this perfectly by any means but I still think it’s so great. It even aligns with every this far in the story. Even Iroh says, he was wise to choose love over power.
100% this!!!! They actually do touch on this in the show, especially with Aangs conversation with Avatar Yangchen! Everybody seems to forget this whole cultural dilemma when talking about this choice 😅
I mean he had an entire episode where this decision was literally driving him insane. Its not stated to be THE reason but its a huge one. most people only remeber the App v Momo battle and it was filler.
Yangchen be like 👀 but yes i agree
I'm having a moment where I'm trying to get in touch with my culture. We live in a society. Cutting grass for example makes me mad. My mother is from a tribe in Mexico and I used to say mean things about her beliefs. Like saying it was stupid to think spirits and ghosts and witches and all these things were real. I didn't notice how whitewashed I was. I was spitting on my culture and now I desperately want to be part of it. My mother, the way she admires plants and has memories of her grandmother who had even more knowledge than her on these things. Who would ask where she was (sky/star/sun mapping?) When on calls, so she would know what direction to send blessings. I hate that even they are deep into Christianity. A colonial religion forced upon them. I don't know I'm going through it.
Edit: i have made great strides on my appearance. I used to think parts of me were ugly as many of us do. But thinking that these are the features of my ancestors is so beautiful to me. I remember my mother saying that her grandmother was glad to have her blood live on. I don't want kids. And I feel like I'm destroying something. I know it's okay. I know no any reason for not wanting kids is a great reason. And not every reason to have them is a good one. And... I know, I know. And I'm okay. But I can still cry about it.
Imagine being Zuko and seeing a pissed off Katara whip out blood bending. Like he was probably thinking she was so angery she just created a new way to bend water.
I had never thought of it that way. His reaction to her was amazing not obvious but nuanced just like this entire show. I love seeing these new takes or perspectives that I never would have thought up.
He propably tought he doged a bullet
Or he couldn't believe he never got that treatment
@@noirspiderman44Zuko in his mind: *"SHE CAN DO THAT? FUCK I GOT OFF EASY"
Holy crap i knew he was scared, but the build-up to that moment now, i see that!
I remember seeing "southern raiders" and rolling my eyes thinking it was going to be a filler episode. Holy crap was i wrong. Its one of my top favorite episodes. I never thought Katara would get such a powerful and important episode.
Mine is Avatar Day
Omg jail, but your feeling is valid 🙏🏾. Watching the show as it aired, getting Southern raiders and slowly realizing what the episode was shaping up to be, I was so excited to get character development for my fave character.
I feel like Toph was largely inspired by more eastern media as well. Western media disabled or blind people are generally displayed as frail, but in eastern media it's very common for blind characters in particular to be either extremely powerful mystics and clairvoyant, or great masters of a specific form, the trope of blinding yourself so you can better focus is a more common thing in that media.
Fujitaro has joined the chat
I don't know mate... you'd have to go back a long time in history to get to a point where the "Handicapped Badass" or even "Disability Superpower" trope didn't exist in western media.
I mean history alone is full of examples of handicapped badasses, and a lot of those come from a long ass time ago. The Blind Weaponmaster subtrope might be more common in eastern media, but the main trope is likely older than dirt.
Everybody gangsta till a blind guy with a sword shows up and absolutely bodies the entire cast
The Style of Shaolin Kung Fu that Toph's Style is based on, is called "Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu," which was said to be created by a Blind Shaolin Female Nun.
Aang is eastern centric cartoon while korra iz westernized. Statue of fkin liberty (aang), NYC 1920, western poltical ideology pov villains, zuko dragon become western dragon instead eastern one from TLA. Date and fk everyone, very western culture. Even the philosophy aspect in LOK changes from eastern to western real quick. Whats eastern is nothing but the remnants of whats left from TLA.
Uncle Iroh explained why Aang doesn't have to kill Ozai when he explains why he can't become the next Fire lord. The Fire Nation structure is based on might is right. Whoever defeats the Fire lord and importantly How will set the example for the nation. If killing is the answer then the Fire Nation was never wrong. They simply didn't fight hard enough. Actual peace advocates understand this thinking. Good people should kill. By saying there are exceptions you open up opportunities for bad people. Aang is a good person. A monk who understands peace is fragile.
thank you! although i try my best to not be biased when hearing criticism of the show, i did feel a little confused when Gold Man said there weren’t any negative consequences of Aang killing Ozai. you’re bang on in saying that Aang killing the Firelord would imply that there were exceptions to pacifism, and the war would just end with more bloodshed, rather than a new era of peace. it is Aang sparing Ozai’s life that is able to become a turning point and a final conclusion to the war. thank you for this analysis!
HARD AGREE! Zuko AND Aang both had the chance to kill Ozai, but they didn’t because it was a statement, and there WOULD have been consequences if either of them had.
I feel there is a little more to Aang's arc in season three. In the beginning, he seems to almost be ignoring the problems he knows are coming, the invasion and how everyone is counting on him to perform. Instead, he does many things that show he still isn't quite ready to accept his role as the Avatar. He goes to school, hosts a dance party, things a normal kid would do, because that is what his wants were, for a return of normalcy. But as the Day of Black Sun approached, it dawned on him that that reality was far behind him, and soon he would have to take on that huge responsibility again, hence the anxiety building.
Then he comes to the conclusion that he won't run away or fail again, like he did with his people, and at Ba Sing Se. He was at that point, unwilling to accept defeat. So when it inevitably happened, he finally, for the first time in his arc, accepted a loss with grace, which I personally felt was an important step for one in such a powerful position, particularly one who has had trouble standing up for his failures in the past.
And to put his decision not to kill the firelord into perspective, I think that boils down to the fact that up until that point, they had been pointing at this unknown man as a target and that's that. Firebenders are bad, blah blah blah. But then, Aang had learned the truth; that firebenders, including Ozai, are people too, not just faceless foes. (insert Ozai macaroni art here.) it was also a key lesson in his 'field trip' with Zuko, learning that firebending isn't inherently evil or wrong.
As for the lion turtle thing; I feel that has more of a connection to Aang's story then just randomly showing up, although it was never really fully explained. Aang could not have sought one out; we know they are untrackable because of the shirshu. Yet it is of my opinion that what happened with Aang was a moment where his unwavering spirituality, and unwillingness to give it up even for the sake of his duty, had acted as a call for the lion turtle, the very source of spirit.
At the end of it all, we learn that to bend the spirit, your own spirit must be unbendable. This seems to correlate towards the notion Aang's spirituality beckoned the lion turtle to teach him, and not the other way around. I agree it wasn't well explained, but I think it could have been easy to fix without even changing much. All the way back in the Library, when Aang read about lion turtles, he could have just said 'they sometimes show up to spiritual people in their hour of greatest need.'
I think Aang not killing Ozai being his own choice is actually really important. Everyone says either he should do it or at best they don’t know. Aang has been told the entire show what his destiny is, what he will have to do. “Defeating” the fire lord like a cartoon villain was always a little naive, same way a bad guy “Destroys” a character. He was always gonna have to fight and probably kill him. So when he is once again put in a position where the world tells him what to do, he finally takes hold, stands firm and says no. I’ve lost enough, the worlds lost enough. I won’t sacrifice my own beliefs because they tell me too and no matter how bad ozai is he doesn’t deserve what he deals out. Maybe nothing would have changed for the world if he killed him but Aang would be irreversibly damaged if he knew saving the world cost him taking a life directly if his own free will. Just my thoughts though
Indeed. Stuff I can respect, even like that he took his own risk in using energy bending destroying himself if his spirit wavered for even a moment and allowed him to have his cake and eat it too along with Bumi asking him to "think like a mad genius". Still, I'm also not very fond that this power came into his lap at such a convenient moment and allowed him an easy out in many respects. Much as I love the idea around it, not very fond of the way it came to him and when it did.
Don't ever forget Aang killed that Wasp vulture.
@@wilsonz6796 He did that while he was deeply grieving. Ironically, he was grieving the loss of his best friend and last remaining companion who knows about their shared culture
It's also showing the whole World that his culture wasn't useless. That it has value despite its perceived "weakness". Ozai looked down on the Air Nomads and Aang showed him that he can defeat him not in spite of his upbringing but rather because of it.
And he sure as hell isn't gping to throw his morals away for a person like Ozai
@@frauleinzuckerguss1906😊
Aang refusing on killing the fire lord is a closed chapter of his inner conflict. He was scared to do things that goes against his believes just as you just did like earth bending, fire bending again, letting go of his love and peace to go fully on avatar state. Now “life” is everything that he believes on, what makes him who he is. The ending of him not killing ozai was him retaining who he is, after all the sacrifices he doesn’t have to actually kill who he is to become the avatar that the world needs. He can be both, an air nomad and the avatar.
love that view
I feel as though The lion turtles were always meant to be in the story because in season 1 and 2 they were hinted at and mentioned in a few episodes. But that they just didnt have enough time to properly introduce them into the story.
So the plan was for Aang to always take his power away but the execution just wasnt 100% there.
Lion turtles were definitely always planned, because a statue of one is the statue that Aang crashes into in the opening credits. I think there was also art of one in a book at Wan Shi tong's library?
@@CallMeNoaYep, good eye catching it!
I know this is like four months old but I feel like saying that they were supposed to be a main part of the show it was mentioned by Bryke that they wanted to put the origins of the avatar in the last air bender but they couldn’t find out where to put it so they left it for Korra. But it was thought about since ATLA. And they said this in one of the commentaries I don’t remember which one tho 😅
Disagree that the Lion Turtles were handled improperly-someone else in the comments holds the same opinion I do that knowing about energybending before the finale episodes would have totally spoiled it. I believe the four final episodes were released all on the same day. I’ve always loved how cryptic the Lion Turtle’s quote was about it-“We bent not the elements, but the energy within ourselves.” A viewer who had never been introduced to the concept of energybending would probably go “The energy within ourselves? What does that mean?” But we were so caught up in the action that we didn’t have time to think it over and figure out what exactly was going to happen, making the reveal so dramatic and hard-hitting. (That’s how it was for kid-me, anyway.) Then we can go back later and find the Easter eggs hidden in previous episodes about them!
This is a great example at elaborating why great shows have no filler, even the "filler" is essential to the story
i can think of ONE episode that's filler...
@@TheHan464646 worst avatar filler episode is still better than the best filler episode of some other shows lol
@@realawesomeos ehhh idk the Zanpakuto Rebellion and the Regai arc in Bleach was pretty good. Even G5 arc in One Piece was so good people didnt even know it was filler
I still remember when the show was originally released, watching week by week… Good nostalgic memories
Yes to the yes. I remember being shook at the end of season 2.
yess I remember it so well
I remember there would always be commercials that showed aang saying “the avatar is back” from book 3 episode 1 - whenever I rewatch the show and see that scene I’m like “time for a commercial break!” Lol
Yes! We didn’t get book 3 at the same time it was released in the US (I live in the UK) but I watched it online as soon as it was out week by week.. as an 11 year old that was some dedication and I think the first time I was so enthralled by a piece of art.
I'm 43. I watched the entire series as it played out originally with my at the time, young son. I still come back to videos about Avatar, search for favorite scenes, and rewatch episodes here and there as I have time. It is not just an amazing series for kids, it is one of the best, most well told stories that has ever graced the screen.
Its still one of the best television shows ever made!!
you mean THE best
Even after 15 years Avatar The Last Airbender is still in my top 10 kids cartoon and I plan to show my parents. I'm grateful that they're continuing the series with a 10 years later film and a successor to Korra. Although personally I would wanted a Kiyoshi show instead but if the Netflix show is successful maybe they'll make Kiyoshi spin off and adapt the books. And if the Earth Bender successor to Korra is true then once that show ends I would also like one about a fire bender. Bringing the series full circle.
I think it's in my top ten pieces of media, let alone kid shows, lol
We spend too much time driding Kiyoshi in the avatar community lets move past the WNBA player and get to more modern times or go a millennium before AANg
So what else is is the 10?
@@redi.c.e.6046gravity falls definitely
@@redi.c.e.6046sorry I'm late. But to answer your question aside from ATLA my top 10 kids cartoon would consist of Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, The Amazing World of Gumball, Regular Show, Steven Universe, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Transformers Prime, Star Wars the Clone Wars and Phineas & Ferb. There's a bunch of others that I didn't listed that I also love like the Ben 10 franchise, The Owl House, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) and more but for the most part that's my top 10 list
At 41:40, zuko isn’t looking at katara out of surprise for her blood bending, but it’s meant to remind him of the time she threatened him by saying “ if you make one slip up I’ll make sure your destiny ends, permanently” and him realizing in that moment it wasn’t a bluff or an overstatement. Such good writing and setup/ppayoff
Honestly I love that iroh was such an important person in zuko's life that his grandson was named after him. That meant even his children had major respect and love for Iroh too. TBF if you were related to iroh you would too. I have major respect and love for him and he's just a fictional character.
I feel like Iroh lived to like 120 so his kids definitely knew him well lol
The finale was written exactly the way it should've been. Going into the finale knowing Aang has the ability to take bending away would've spoiled it. There's no way the writers would've made Aang kill the firelord against taking his bending away and there would've been less tension
I agree. Obviously Aang was going to win, the only tension in the fight was whether or not he could do it without killing the Fire Lord. Revealing that Aang had a back up option the entire fight would have killed the tension.
Wish the turtles or even the myth of being able to do it would make it look like more of an intentional ending. Think him never trying before then adds drama and makes sense, but it also felt a bit like a rushed concept out of no where
Sokka the rizzler:
You gotta admit, he pulled more than anyone in the series
Man had SUPERNATURAL charm, rolled 20 on charm, and 5 on everything else lol. He spends all his points on intelligence afterwards lol
I don't think using the scene where Iroh is clearly demonstrating Lightning bending to Zuko is a fair comparison of how skilled he is with it compared to his brother. Later on we somewhat see Iroh Lightning Bend to get himself and Zuko away from Azula in the Earth Kings Palace. The actual process is offscreen (since the camera is looking at the wall from the outside) but given the urgency of the scene, we can assume that it was quickly generated.
it's established throughout the show that Iroh and Ozai are similar in terms of power and skill. Ozai being younger, more ruthless and evil would probably make him the more dangerous opponent though.
The OG's watched Avatar when it was airing back on TV from 2005 - 2008.
I did! It's a phenomenal show with great characters, gorgeous animation, and a great story!!
@@aalleezzzzgatekeeping is how you keep bad actors out of communities. You should always gatekeep otherwise your community has no meaning.
@@aalleezzzzThat’s not gatekeeping. It’s just stating a fact. If you didn’t watch it when it was airing, then you’re not an OG. Nothing wrong about that
OG watcher and it's so awesome to see so many more people seeing this show and enjoying and appreciation coming to it. Lowkey
I watched it all the time! I remember when the desert episodes aired. At least in my area they replayed those episodes for days and so I would rewatch them over and over again until the next episodes or chapter came out
I'm 29 and never watched this show until 4 days ago (an entire week watching all 61 episodes, took me that long due to other responsibilities lol). I knew who the characters were and the overall plot of the story (very, VERY, surface level), but that was about it. I watched Shyamalan's movie like a decade ago and since I didn't watch the show prior to watching the movie, I didn't have anything to compare it to but yeah, it was bad, so bad I didn't wanna watch the animated series after that.
After watching Netflix's new live action trailer and after enjoying One Piece live action so much, I decided to finally give ATLA a try and it is hands down one of the best shows I've ever watched, what an amazing experience, loved the "magic system", how balanced it is, the story telling, the world building, characters and their arcs, my favorite has to be Iroh.
I also started Legend of Korra, I'm in episode 4 season 2, but it's not as strong as ATLA.
Respect 🎉
When it comes to Korra season 1 is okay, season 2 is quite bad, seaon 3 is pretty good and season 4 is absolute trash. overall it's worth watching for season 3 alone and some fans do like the back story in season 2. it's definitely respectable that they weren't going for a rehash but tried a completely new approach.
Season 2 is the weakest of the korra seasons, but it is still better than a lot of other things on tv. Season 3 is arguably the best, and personally I would say season 4 is second best and season 1 comes in third.
Basically, if you get through season two it’s all up hill from there.
Season 3 is super good even though 2 flops hard
Just push through, and prepare for a slight letdown in season 4
Minor thing: the past Avatars never told Aang to kill the Fire Lord. They told him he couldn't be indecisive. Aang interpreted that as being told to kill the Fire Lord.
I have to contest the criticism that Aang sparing ozai’s life should have been set up as the true way to end the war, and that killing him would have had negative consequences like your Star Wars example.
I think the fact that killing him would have also ended the war makes Ang’s decision SO MUCH more impactful. Because in life, there will always be opportunities to do things the “easy” way or, more importantly, the morally gray way…or the “eye for an eye” way. And a lot of times, yes, that will yield the results we want. But staying true to our character and our convictions IN SPITE of that IS the true mark of character.
He could have, but he didn’t. Not because taking away Ozai’s bending was strategically the best choice to end the war, but because, for Aang, that was the right thing to do.
i think the energy bending thing is fine. because if he had not learned all the other elements, he would not have been able to get ozai into the position where he could use it.
Toph literally mastered earth bending, mastered a subgroup of earth bending (sand bending!), even going as far as creating a new form of bending! Although I agree that Toph could have had a grander showcasing of her growth and arc, but put some respect on her bending game!
Yeah I think toph is probably one of the most talented benders we see. Her mastery of earth is bananas but tbf being taught by badgermoles would naturally make her a little OP.
Toph is definitely one of the most naturally capable characters, her and azula on top basically
Great comprehensive video - only thing left out was Azula and Zuko's relationship to the mother! She was actually very jealous of how her mother fawned over Zuko and this is shown when she is going insane and sees her mother in the mirror (my own mother thought I was a monster).
One thing I noticed it's that Iroh's story almost certainly parallels Zuko, while Zuko It's having his growth.
Iroh starts as a military hero of an oppressive, genocidal state, and as the heir to the throne. He is usurped by a more malicious younger sibling and begins to be disillusioned by the war.
We can infer that at the beginning of season 1 he isn't totally against the fire nation cause at this point, as he helped Zuko throw a fireball at Aang and friends in episode 2.
Through season 1, he seemed primarily interested in helping Zuko chill out. He may have intentionally thwarted Zuko because he felt compassion for the gaang, possibly because they are kids, but it's unclear if that was the reason or if he just didn't want Zuko to go back to his abusive father.
I think Iroh and Zuko both learned compassion for the Earth Kingdom, and the extent of the evilness of the war in season 2.
Just as season 1 Zuko would not have joined team Avatar, I don't think season 1 Iroh would have re-conquered Ba Sing Se In the name of the earth king. I don't think he cared enough at that point.
I rewatch it every few years and have for a decade. Every time I do a run, I feel something new. It feels fresh even now.
I think Aang taking Ozai's bending aways ends the war because of how he ruled. He ruled through fear and a big part of that fear was how ruthless he was as a firebender. Taking that away leaves a power vacuum for Zuko to more easily fill. Moreover, there was evidence throughout the show that many firebenders were growing tired of the war and their authoritarian regime.
"Waterbenders can't just bend water out of thin air"
Hama and Katara: Hold my watermelon juice
Literally an incredible show, one of, if not, the best
Love the show so much could re watch it every year.
I think the thing Zuko probably appreciated most is how Iroh taught him how to make good tea, because even after Iroh was gone he would still be able to enjoy something that reminded him of his uncle.
Great video! I just wanna add that, while I don't believe their growth can be considered an arc necessarily, Ty Lee and Mai did not simply just realise that Azula was crazy.
In that moment when Mai betrays Azula, despite her cool demeanor, she is actively choosing love, emotion and vulnerability as she is saving the life of Zuko, someone that she 1) loves and 2) has been heartbroken by; and she's openly declaring her love and risking her life, she's finally caring about something/someone instead of going along simply because she's bored or apathetic (let's remember she didn't even care enough about her baby brother when she was introduced).
As for Ty Lee, there's not necessarily any growth happening there, as I believe she would've betrayed Azula in minute one if she had felt there was any chance of winning or if she knew she had the support of Mai. While Mai joined Azula because she wanted to (even though she didn't care particularly about the quest itself) Ty Lee was threatened and coerced to join, and I believe in that moment she saw a friend in danger, yes, but also a chance to escape and an unlikely ally in Mai (as she, unlike Ty Lee, could be just as ruthless as Azula and she probably believed they would never be on the same page because of that).
To me, the best thing of Aang sparing Ozai is exactly that the outcome would be the same if he had killed him. I think framing the Fire Lord's death as the "wrong choice" (in a sense that besides it being morally challenging for Aang, it wouldn't end the war) would be a bit manichaeist because the reality is: Ozai must die for the war to end and most people at that point think that the world would be a better place without him. And that is also a reality for the dictators and imperialists of our world.
The struggle Aang is facing is that not only facing Ozai goes against his principles, but also that his friends and past lives are correct when that state that he MUST do it. Killing Ozai being a viable option is what puts so much weight in Aang's choice to spare him, because he did it for the sake of himself, for the world it would not make a difference. It shows the amount of resolve Aang has for going against everything everyone is telling him, no matter how right they are, and finding a different path that honor his beliefs
Also, I think that if I knew Aang had the ability to take Ozai's bending away, I would've known from the get-go that he would spare him, to me it would be too obvious to the spectator and it would also lower the emotional stakes of the fight
I think it would have felt out of character for Aang to all of a sudden be eager to kill someone. Even if this was a TV-MA cartoon for adults, someone with Aang's personality would not want to take a life.
When the fire nation came looking for “for the last water bender” in the South Pole they were looking for Hama not katara. They had no way of knowing a 4 year old girl was a water bender they more than likely assumed Hama went home and that’s why they said “we aren’t taking prisoners today.” Bc she had already shown that prisons were useless against her.
Then wouldn't they be looking for a 70 year old woman (assuming Hama was 80 in the canon)
When I saw for the first time Ember Island episode and saw Zuko remembering his childhood at the beach, there was an image of what I thought it was him as a kid with his father and baby Azula. And I even thought Ozai wasn't so bad in the past and maybe just when he got all that power and status he lost his mind. But no. That bitch was always bad and that image was not about that part of Zuko's family. That man in the pic was Iroh himself, the baby was Zuko and the kid was LU TEN T.T His true family maaaan.
I was 37 when I saw it for the first time and it blew me away.
The war doesn't really end because Aang takes out Ozai. It ends because Zuko challenges Azula for the throne and she accepts. Then she loses by default because she attacks a noncombatant to gain the upper hand. As the new Fire Lord, Zuko declares the war over. The Fire Nation, being as honor bound as it is, mostly respects this wish. I believe it's addressed in the comics that not all of the Fire Nation is on his side.
The real criticism here is that by the end of the series, Zuko is more of the main character than Aang is.
16:20 You worded this incredibly elegantly and accurately. How people and societies leverage words to manipulate information to fit their narrative is around everyone; no matter the society. It's really scary how most of us naturally internalize that information and then continue dispersing the manipulated information because it's all we know and outside ideas are considered propaganda.
On the subject of filler, for me it’s really important to have those breaks from the main plot to flesh out the timeline. It also makes the dramatic fight scenes and everything going on feel much more rooted in reality when we see all the build up and waiting rather than having it all back to back. Filler is important to create a coherent storyline!
For me the final duel between Aang and Ozai was just pure amazement and awe at the magic, and the series had gotten me so deeply invested in this world that I didn't mind this one "deus ex machina" or "power escalation" of Aang acquiring over-power (similar to the Avatar state) for this one time.
And we had zuko and azula’s agni kai to make up for aang’s deus ex machina moment
I started watching this show whilst I was 17, and the beautifully balanced simple yet so complex storylines were just so addictive to watch.
I started a rewatch (my first watch was actually in 2011) -- this show is still REALLY good and really layered.
Fun fact: You can see the Lion Turtle in season 2. Although only on a scroll which was found in the library in the desert.
Very nice video man. You feel that you love the show and put that in excellent writing and editing. Good stuff man
For the Airbending flight mentioned, I remember reading that flight is only possible if you let go of all worldly things, including relationships. Aang can’t do this outside of AS because of his bond with Appa, and his love for Katara. Imo the strongest feat of Airbending off the top of my head is the concentrated gust of wind AS Aang disintegrates a giant stone pillar with during his fight with Ozai.
"Zuko had his honour all along"
That felt pretty powerful to hear. I'm glad I watched this video because it's not something I noticed on my own
I'm probably the only one that really likes the "deus ex machina" regarding how Aang defeated Ozai. Because if we knew he could take his bending away, the fight wouldn't be tense at all. But since we didn't really know that this option is on the table, it makes the whole finale absolutely grand and unexpected in the best way. Because we feel like everyone else in this story: absolutely surprised that Aang did manage to find his own way, the "third way". I think it's a perfect conclusion to a wonderful story.
My thoughts exactly
Wow No Mention of Suki?
Avatar is my favorite show of all time, and I based a lot of personal philosophy off from it.
Did YOU ever hear the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?
I've read it! The book by James Luceno was great!
I remember the first time I watched Avatar, I watched all of it with my brother, and it is one of his, and one of my favourite shows of all time.
Gold Man and Avatar you know your in for a Good Time ❤
You questioned how the war ended by just "removing Ozai's bending". But that is just one portione of the finale. You also have to cosider "Zuko's part in the finale" where He basically took the "firelord" title thus offiicially taking over what's left of the fire nation army who lost the war.
Like how do you think a lot of wars technically end?
Have the enemy nation leader surrender or have him depose and be replace by a friendly figure.
Since the fire Nation still respect fire nation traditions. It is still logical how the Fire Nation still accepted Zuko and Iroh being the next leader due to their blood and right to claim the throne
Kids? I was born in '77 and I was so hyped about TLA that my work collegues at the time just couldn't help checking it out. At first no one wanted to admit it but eventuallywe all did - TLA is peak entertainment!
To answer your question on why that ending worked; if Osai had been killed, Azula would have been the Firelord and would have been even more tyrannical than her father, and would no doubt have ended the war by killing off all other benders. Or, at best, the kingdom would have been torn between Azula's followers and Zuko's. Removing Osai's bending allowed Zuko to legally claim the throne because, as a non-bender, Osai could no longer rule.
Ok I just want to make the point, in Avatar The Last Airbender, it's not about who is more "powerful" cause that's lame. It's about who is more skilled, these are martial arts, remember that!
But there actually is power. It's both skill AND power. If there's two benders with equal skill, one of them could still be more powerful. The avatar has the most "sheer power" as commented on by Jeong Jeong, the firebending master. Even if Aang had no skill in firebending at the time, the amount of power he had when bending it was immense.
With the end of the series I completely agree that there could’ve been a negative consequence to aang betraying his beliefs- and it’s right there too! Imagine:
Aang is at the utmost of power, he’s circled by all four elements in the avatar state and he shouts devastatingly, “Firelord Ozai! You and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world, and now: You shall pay the ultimate price!” He goes to kill Ozai, but suddenly all of the elements splash to the floor or into thin air. Aang remembers: How the fire nation would make Ozai a martyr, how Zuko would never know where his mother is- but mostly, how Aang would be doing taking the life of a monster yes, but how this is the very thing the fire nation has done all along. How the fire nation thought they were justified, how this cannot end with more killing. He understands death, he understands the loss of his people, and his understands through Katara and Sokka what the murder of their parent did to them. How the fire nation thought they were justified to kill Kya. He just can’t kill him. He decides to take the fire lord’s bending instead. As a sign for hope, as a signal for choice and change. It’s his destiny, but he chooses what to do with it.
Reminds me of Hercules. At some point, he is challenged to capture and not kill because killing is too easy.
I never saw this show as a kid but I watched it for the first time last week and just finished the last episode today. I was seriously missing out as a kid
Great video. Only thing I would add is I've always heard of "filler" as parts of a show not based on the source material, thus "filling in" parts that weren't actually there. This is how you have both good filler that expands upon and fits into the original work, and bad filler that ruins pacing or is contradictory to the original work. Original shows don't have filler as there's no source material to fill in.
26:43 THANK YOU so much for saying this, people can be so harsh on others or, in this case, fictional characters instead of trying to see where they are coming from, nobody is perfect, not in Avatar either and that is one of the many reasons the show is just so good, it's real, is empathetic, is compassionate is unfiltered and authentic, Aang is if not my favorite fictional character in any story and the biggest part of it is not that I relate to him on so many ways, but that he is also an imperfect character that makes mistakes, the whole reason he he has to end the war is because (partially) he refused to take on the responsibility of becoming the Avatar and fixing the mess that Avatar Roku (inadvertently) caused before he passed, another mistake he made was when he impatiently tried to firebend and *accidentally* burned Katara and of course the most important example, when he took the life of fire nation soldiers, he did it because his hands were tied, if he had a choice that didn't require to let fire nation keep destroying and making the world worse, he would have obviously chosen to let every single person live, but *as you know* (pun intended) , it's not that simple, this kid literally has to fight a war, he was lucky not to have to fight more people to the death (of course the show being originally kid oriented is also a reason) so I'm glad someone is finally defending one of, if not the most mature and responsible and kind Avatar, Aang, the last airbender (of his time).
this was a fantastic video essay/retrospective. it’s the first video i’ve watched from you and to be completely honest, the sheer amount of oversaturation in the youtube video essay sphere leading me to think this one would just be another mediocre drop in the ocean but i was completely wrong
I really appreciate that, thank you so much for the kind words! If you don't mind me asking, what about this video separates it from other video essays you've watched? Just curious so I can keep trying to improve. Thanks again!
@@thegoldman25 i think i found the way you articulate your thoughts and go about analysis to be particularly effective/well done. every point you made was backed up by in story evidence and was satisfying/enough for me to accept due to sufficient elaboration on your part.
to be more specific, when you talked about magic systems and what makes a good magic system. i never realized that it's more about what the characters can't do, rather than what they can. when you elaborated on this by stating that benders are only able to bend one element, with the avatar serving as an exception to that and thus, allowing me to understand why ATLA works so well.
it seems very simple and i doubt this will give you any true insight you've never heard before or help you improve but it's what i think, nonetheless.
I appreciate it, thank you
When looking back at Korra and seeing the flashbacks to "that trial" where we get a glimpse of an adult Aang, Sokka, and Toph - sure, we would all love more of the gangs lives between ATLA and Korra, but personally i think the most interesting and compelling story would be Sokka as an adult because just as you said, he learned the hallmarks of being a man and being a leader at such a young age but how does that shape the man he becomes as he gets older? Thats a story I would pay good money to see fleshed out.
That’s definitely what I’m hoping the 2025 film will showcase seeing we get a glimpse into their lives as adults!
I truly hope the Netflix writers watched and studied this.... what an excellent group of essays.
This video is so well-written. Absolutely no fluff and is pure gold for two hours!
Morality is a strong enough reason to not kill Ozai. Keeping Ozai alive is symbolic in the fact that Aang and everyone who is victim to this 100 year ware wants the killing to stop. By being an example to everyone, Aang shows that killing Ozai doesn't have to be the answer and killing him would just be another example of bloodshed. This is something the entire series builds up to and I don't think it needs an explanation. Of course, the biggest reason why Aang doesn't kill Ozai would be because the on screen murder of a major character probably wasn't allowed by Nickelodeon (like how Jet's death was always left a mystery and never confirmed canonically through the show). But I still think Aang keeping Ozai alive was the best message they could've given us and all the children watching. Also, keeping Ozai alive and energybending led to so many other points in the larger story: the New Ozai Society that wants to avenge the fall of Ozai, Zuko finding his mother, Aang taking away Yakone's bending, Aang giving back Korra's bending and Korra returning everyone's bending after what Amon did (even though the giving back bending is kinda weird and I don't understand it, the lion turtle teaching Aang the ability was necessary for any of this to happen). Another thing is that Ang suddenly learning energybending from the lion turtle isn't the most surprising thing. In the story of Avatar Wan, we learn the the lion turtles were the original beings to gift the ability to bend to humans. I don't think the act of energybending itself, which the lion turtles used to give bending to people, was ever given to humans to use. But Aang proved to be worthy of this power as the Avatar and having the strong will of doing good over evil. Especially as the Avatar, the lion turtle could grant Aang this power safely, without the danger of it being abused. Later, when Aang goes to use it on Ozai, we are shown that he has absolutely no mastery over it and he almost loses himself in an attempt to use it successfully on Ozai. As this happens, energybending is explained to us in a flashback to the lion turtle and what it told Aang when it gave him the power. Overall, Aang tried to use an ability he was absolutely not skilled with and the only reason he was even able to use it properly was because he had a strong sense of self and he knew who he was which goes back to the fact that there was no chance of Aang actually killing Ozai because if there was any bit of doubt in his heart that his morality would have to be abandoned and that he would have to end up killing Ozai, then the energybending would work against him and he would end up perishing. In the end it ties back to how strong Aang's character is and how big of a role model he can be to anyone watching. Besides, if we were told about energybending before the battle between Aang and Ozai began, there would be no doubt that Aang would end up using it instead of killing Ozai and the suspense of whether or not Aang would kill Ozai would be gone right then and there. I hope this helps anyone reading to understand that the plot really was done properly. Despite the criticism in the end of Aang's section of the video being valid, I have tried my best to answer that criticism.
I watched avatar as a grown adult and completely agree its one of the best shows ever. I never understood how he even took away Ozai's bending until now I just figured it was an avatar thing. If they treated it like Naruto's sage mode training at mount miyoboku it would be alot more fortified in the narrative but it's kind of flimsy
That line from Sokka’s dad hit me as I listened to it here. As a child of divorce I had to choose who to go with and I chose to go with my mom and sister as they may need me
I really think Iroh was more of a father figure this Zuko's actually father.
Zuko literally says that in season 3 lol
War doesn't decide who is right, just who is left
Wow, that is a really good quote
Holy crap that's good
I agree with you about the filler the one and only episode that in my eyes fits that description is the great divide, all the others do so much for character work and development the only other close to fit into the filler category is probably the fortune teller but even here you have a lot of development and it also show you for the first time how strong aang is without the avatar state and how good of an airbender he is that he stops a volcano
And iroh is truly one of the best mentor and father figures of cartoons history
Aang needed to spare Ozai. If he had killed him then he would only be remembered as a violent criminal by the fire nation’s people.
If Ozai became a martyr or war hero to the fire nation then they would have refused to live in peace with the other nations again.
If the last air bender killed the leader of an entire nation then that’s the only thing people would think about when they remembered the air nomads.
Aang wanted his people to be remembered for who they were, for the war to end, and for all the nations to live together in harmony
None of that would happen if The Avatar became a symbol for violence and rebellion or if Ozai became a hero who sacrificed himself to protect his people from a vengeful, god like, “monster”
He the audience knew before the fight he could remove the bending there would have been less tension not more. I have watched too many people watch that fight to believe the opposite to be true.. Everyone gets emotional moved every time he leaves an opportunity to kill Ozai.
Thanks for the video Goldman, and thanks for the rebels shoutout!
Thank you for watching!
Personally, I believe energy bending was great addition to the magic system and in fact under-explored, it should have been better explored in book 2's episode 15 and in book 2 episode 19.
I think “The Library” would’ve been the best place to foreshadow it, I agree with you on “The Guru” being a good place to explore it, but I don’t think it would’ve fit well in “The Tales of Ba Sing Se”
Sorry I meant Appa's last days
@@kwanelesigcau3218 ah, that makes a bit more sense
This series is my biggest inspiration for my writing. the characters, the world building, the lore and power system are what i always look for how to build up my own.
I think the reason that the fire nation backed down after the end of the series is fear. If their leader can lose their bending so can whoever decides to step up after them.
The last great idea western animation had. Come at me, modern animation. Yall suck.
Castlevania, Arcane Supremacy
@@buzzwithdrip6347 arcane league of legends blew me away. Ok I meant my comment for the cal art crsp like Steven universe. And castlevania ws great.
Ride of the tmnt Lego Monkie kid
Infinity Train.
@@asarishepard8171you asked for it
Primal
Unicorn
Monkie Kid
Vox Machina
Invincible
Arcane
Kipo
Castlevania
Blood of Zeus
Ducktales 2017
Wakfu
Amphibia
The Owl House
Gravity Falls
Infinity Train
Blue Eyed Samurai
Captain Laserhawk
The Hollow
DOTA
Pantheon
Pariah Nexus
Kid Cosmic
Hilda
Glitch Tech
The Dragon Prince
Lost in Oz
Over the Garden Wall
Villainous
Tear Along the Dotted Line
This World Can't Tear Me Down
Bojack Horseman
The reason why female characters done right is a thing is because men have been writing women poorly. A lot of writers do not know how to write well-rounded women without their stories centering on a man.
If ozai was killed there would be one less nazi in the world, ya know
Taking his power works in that society at that time, because he loses respect and class. But he is still a master manipulator who would absolutely try to gain favour and power in the new world after his defeat.
Technically, water can come out of thin air as its litterly in the air. 2:45
Zahid ain't that strong for a airbender to fly he has to let go of there earthly attachment tenzin can hold 3 of the red lotus alone i hope i spelled everything correctly
1:01:13 gonna be honest dude, there really are right and wrong ways to portray women, just like there are right and wrong ways to portray men