Yeah. As a kid you don't get it. Once you make your own laundry list of mistakes and failures, you see it. They really captured a kid who had to grow up too fast.
That gave a good hint about the character's growth. He was supposed to be happy because he got what he's always striven for, but instead, he's mad at himself because he knew it was a terrible decision made by himself.
When I seen this moment, even back then, I empathized and seen myself in his declaration. Because, like zuko, I'm angry at myself. It's a long, convoluted story
I feel another important aspect of Azula is that she needs to feel in control. She dominates the entire conversation. Never reveals her backstory or sympathizes with the group. Once everyone has opened up and made themselves vulnerable, then she says "My own mother thought I was a monster. She was right of course but it still hurt." She admits that what her mother said or thinks her mother meant by her actions hurt but immediately laughs it off and turns the conversation in another direction. She would rather play the callous villain than give up control and be pitied.
Something I've noticed about heroes & villains is that the only difference between them is that heroes grow as people - identify their problems and seek to resolve them - while villains don't. Azula's the only one of the four who doesn't change sides by the end of the series.
Zuko is probably the most relatable character in Avatar, at least for me when i was around 20 and i decided to rewatch this show and i learned a lot from it, now at 27 i watched it again, for no particular reason, just to learn even more
I am lucky enough to have great parents, but I feel anyone who comes from a toxic background can relate to Zuko and his choices, and even, to some extent, understand why he seemingly turned his coat at Ba Sing Se. Toxic families are difficult to leave behind.
"Circus Freak is a compliment!" Ty Lee may be treated as a comic relief character throughout Avatar for a bit but even she gets to show growth and some interesting perspectives on her own profession. I wish Korra did this with some of its own characters that were played for laughs more often. Like Bolin for instance.
@@crazypeopleonsunday7864 No. She admitted her mother’s opinion of her hurt her. Psychopaths are completely incapable of caring about other people and their opinions. The betrayal she felt is impossible for a psychopath. Azula is a fascinating character and a cautionary tale of what abuse could do to a person. So let’s not add fan fiction and ascribe labels meant for humans and not fictional characters.
@@SaraphDarklaw I completely agree with everything you said, except for the bit at the end. "and ascribe labels meant for humans and not fictional characters." Thats what makes them feel real, thats what makes them not just actors voicing characters, but their own "person". It makes them relatable. if you didn't give characters "labels meant for humans" it would make them nothing. So I dunno if its just me but what your saying doesn't make any since? Your saying Azula is a fascinating character because she was abused, which is a label, but in the same breath your saying lets not add labels to fictional characters? And I also feel like that last bit is passive aggressive, you really didn't need to add that part. (Though I could be wrong cuz I don't know your tone. and that being said, I'm not saying this in a passive aggressive tone, I'm just pointing it out)
The Beach is the kind of episode that could be considered "filler," as far as the plot goes. These kids are on vacation, go to a party, spend time on a beach. Not a whole lot happens, in that regard. In a lesser kids' show, there'd still be the lessons that The Beach has engrained in it, but it's the characters that elevate it beyond a filler episode. I've never, not once, seen anyone call it filler. It added so much to the story of the show as a whole and these characters specifically that I'd argue The Beach is obligatory viewing. So many other examples of filler can easily be skipped!
Part of the reason Avatar's "filler" episodes are so great, is that they kinda don't write them like filler. The writing doesn't take a dive, but continues the way its been. And it seems to always have connections to character arcs, just less connected to the main plot
Such an unmatched episode🙌 still one of my favourite episodes. It's the attention to detail that is so easy to overlook but when you grow older you're thinking... oh wow
Your final speech while the music is rising was beautiful. Keep up the great work! The videos you have made have really helped me become a better man, thank you!
The waiting for this type of episode for season 3 made it not a throwaway, but pivotal to the ultimate choices of the not-Azula member of the gang. By then we were fully invested in what they thought and would do.
To be honest, I really disliked Mai in this episode because of her disdain when Zuko was, in my view, trying to be a good boyfriend to her and she kept shutting him down. But your point about her parents buying her off with anything she wanted as long as she stayed quiet and her wanting someone to truly notice her for once makes so much sense and cast that character in a new light for me. Thanks for another wonderful Avatar video!!!
Mai isn't a bad character in concept. I think the problem with her romance with Zuko is that the two are fundamentally incompatible. Their personalities clash in a way that makes them talk past each other or simply not notice things they should about one another. This consistent failure to communicate produces a lackluster, frustrating relationship in which they're incapable of fulfilling each other's needs and are reduced to a love-hate dichotomy of near-constant bickering or shallow carnality. It doesn't help that they never truly wrestle with these problems, the series just sort of hand-waves them away; this left me genuinely confused when I saw them get back together in the end. Overall, it's narratively unsatisfying. I prefer the two characters on their own, not together, and I don't think that'll ever change for me. ATLA's romance writing in general leaves a LOT to be desired, but maybe I'm alone in thinking that. It's easily the weakest aspect of the show's writing.
@@AnimaVox_ I completely agree. I like an idea I first heard from Sneezy Reviews (though maybe other people have said the same thing): Zuko's relationship with Mai is a mirror of his relationship with the Fire Nation. He betrayed his conscience to chase after something he thought he wanted (Mai/his father's love) but it ultimately doesn't fulfill him in the way he expected it to, and so he leaves the thing he wants that is holding him back in order to pursue what he needs (helping the Avatar defeat the Fire Lord).
@@vicky_la_france I've definitely seen that observation before, and I agree with it. Mai's greatest character hurdle is that she's spoiled into apathy. On one hand, she hates people trying to buy their way into her good graces, but on the other, she lowkey still expects and wants them to do it anyway (remember her suggestion to Zuko that they should bully the servants and her demand for fruit tarts?). She doesn't know how to articulate this, which makes it frustrating for people like Zuko, who are direct and often wear their hearts on their sleeves, to read her. It doesn't help that the writers' constant inability to provide depth to the relationship and portraying it as something good is why many people dislike Mai and Zuko's interactions. This is why Sukka is the most popular romance in ATLA, because it's the opposite of Maiko: a healthy relationship with good communication and character development. I want to stress that I don't have a problem with dysfunctional relationships being portrayed-if I did, I wouldn't like this show-rather, I take issue with dysfunction being ignored or depicted positively. Mai's arc should address her confronting her apathy instead of remaining indifferent and unwilling to change her situation-basically, Annie Leonhart's arc in Attack on Titan. Just as Zuko needed to step away from the Fire Nation for a while in order to grow as a person, the first thing I would do is get Mai away from court life, including Zuko; she needs to spend time apart from nobility and royalty, like Zuko and Ty Lee did-it'll make her more rounded as a person to just be among regular people, and she might even end up preferring that to her stifling upbringing, which will give her greater fulfillment. There's a compelling story here somewhere, the issue is that we never see it unfold, we're only told that everything's fine and expected to accept it because the showrunners said so.
4:00 Very true. People like her can never form real relationships or be truly vulnerable without some kind of drive to win. They're freaking dangerous. She pulls Zuko back to the friend group to control his actions. She's jealous of Tai Lee because , like you said, she wants that ability, to be genuinely likable and be a people magnet. She only shares her struggle to one up and act tough afterwards unlike everyone else. Just for that "self reflection" to NOT give her the insight to change.
One of the greatest part of Avatar is the amazing character writing. Even in episodes like The Beach or The Fortune Teller, episodes that are for the most part, could be concidered filler. But instead of just giving grist for the mill, the writers took these moments to keep developing the characters; how a character acts on a day to day basis tells the audience just as much about them as when they are facing conflict. But one of my favorite parts of the character writing is that the ages of the main characters were always in consideration. There is a certain amount of the chosen one and wise beyond their years tropes going on but Team Avatar and their main opponents are 12-16 years old and always act in ways that adolescents would.
My favorite shot in this episode is right after Chan leaves Azula has this small look that the rejection did hurt her feelings. I get the sense that she hates the idea of being vulnerable because it never works out when she is, thus her only solution in life is to force things to bend to her will through manipulation.
Excellent content, and a very well put together video. I love hearing so much truth put together and presented so well. But honestly, you could probably read off digits of Pi and I would leave a like so long as you put Thaxted behind it. One of my favorite pieces of music, and really it fits your topic wonderfully. At the end of the day, I agree, children deserve the best stories because as Lewis said so much more eloquently, children pretend to be the characters from the stories they read, and in so doing, find themselves growing into those kinds of people. Thank you for making this video. Godspeed.
In this series of excellent characters in kids entertainment, I’d love an episode on Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon. His development as a character, and especially how the “villains” of each movie seems to represent a part of himself, is fantastic and worthy of the Master treatment!
I love the use of Holst's "Jupiter" in the background, but ending the video on the half cadence before the next section drives me crazy. Music rant aside, we all deserve writing and character work at this level in everything.
It’s always a bittersweet feeling when you discover an amazing channel that only just started uploading. I look forward to seeing this channel grow, subscribed!
I love The Beach so much. It exemplifies how regardless of your past, it still doesnt have to define you. Setting up the personalities of Team Avatar against. Team Azula. Even the members within team Azula themselves. Even with some members having a childhood that the other wouldve wanted, that still didnt lead to happiness
The Legend of Korra is just fun, and don't live up to its predecessor. I don't like it nearly as much as I do The Last Airbender. The thing is: I don't really understand why. If it's adequate, I would like to know what you have to say about it. Thank you so much for the thoughtful videos! I learn so much. Here's a gift, take it!
I really love your use of "I Vow to Thee My Country"/ Its such a great song, which, inspite of its british origins, i as an american love beyond measure. My only gripe with it is that my favorite version is that from Battlefield V which introduced me to the song, but only has the lyrics from the first half, instead of the whole song. The vocalist they used is incredible, and i wish i could find a full version by her.
Just noticed that you used the Firelink Shrine music from DS1! I thought I was hallucinating cause I’d been listening to it to fall asleep the last few months
Totally agree about how characters are the most important aspect of a story. Any story can be good as long as the characters are believable and exist within the rules of the universe set
The more I grow up the more I sympathize with all the villains in this episode as people who don't understand how messed up they are, and the more I pity Azula for never realizing her own flaws. EDIT: This is one of the most important episodes in the series for the fact that ALL of the villain team grow in the episode, except Azula, which sets up everything that happens later on.
Playing Holst's Jupiter at the end of these isn't fair. Dropping eternal wisdom and insight while using one of the most awe-inspiring pieces of music ever composed should count as cheating.
You are doing a great job with your videos, and the way you deliver the narrative is fantastic to listen to. I believe your materials would look more professional if you added English subtitles, and as a result, your channel could gain more traction among non-native speakers.
What is the song / music starting at 10:30 and playing until the end? It sounds really familiar and I really want to remember it but I can't for the life of me. Please, if Mr.Samwise or anyone else can let me know :
Could you maybe cover Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima? I just finished it and it's a beautiful story and a very tragic one but also bitter sweet with a lot to be learned from such a great tale of war loss and triumph.
Okay gotta quibble here- Azula is not a minor character, she's the villain with by far the most screentime (unless you count Zuko as a villain). Sure she's technically not the Big Bad but neither was Darth Vader and we don't say that he was a minor character just because the Emperor outranked him.
Azula calling the way her friends open up about their feelings "a performance" is very revealing, I think. In her worldview admitting to even having feelings is a disadvantage and should only be done in the way of lying to gain the loyalty of a useful ally, which is how she thinks of Mai and Ty Lee. I think this is the episode where they start to understand that Azula does not value them as people. This is a great setup for the episode where they betray her. Mai and Ty Lee's friendship with each other is way deeper and more genuine than their connection to Azula who only ever tries to control them through fear.
@ But even then, that can’t be serious. They are siblings, so gross. Absolutely not. But even if they weren’t they have an awful relationship. There would be nothing to ship. She tries to kill him through the last episode
I disagree with your conclusions, I want to be loved for what I have accomplished, not loved arbitrarily, and I think most men would agree. I would freely love (in whatever sense) and give loyalty to someone like Azula, and I think most men would do the same. People like her make good allies and become great men. I was not expecting you to explain the Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomy through Ty Lee, however. That made me smile.
Yeah, I'm gonna be honest, The Beach is one of my least favorite episodes in all of Avatar, if not my least favorite. One of my biggest gripes was the tone. The idea of some of the characters going to hang out on a beach might have been fine if it was Team Avatar, but for Zuko, Azula, Ty Lee and Mai, it just doesn't work for me. They're the villains, so why are they having this day off to mess around? It just doesn't feel like something Azula would normally do. The whole beach setting, with them playing volleyball and especially Azula trying to get a date just feels out of place in this high fantasy setting with deep worldbuilding, intense action scenes and phenomenal character writing. The teen drama feels off to me. While I can appreciate the character writing, it's a little too late in the episode for my liking, and considering this pairing of Zuko with Azula and her friends won't last in the long run, it just feels hollow, especially with that ending frame of the four of them together, like they'll always be friends. That, and my biggest gripe that I still have to this day is how Nickelodeon advertised this episode before it aired. They promised it would mainly be the big first encounter between Team Avatar and Combustion Man, with Zuko and Azula being relegated to a subplot. The Avatar stuff sounded awesome, and I was excited! Little did I know it would the opposite way, where only be about five minutes of the show and the dumb beach scenes would take center stage instead. I think Avatar has done so much better character episodes, like Zuko Alone and Tales of Ba Sing Se, and this is not one of them to me.
"who are you angry at Zuko?!!"
"I'M ANGRY AT MYSELFFF!!!!"
a dialogue that gains more meaning in my life the older I get.
Yeah. As a kid you don't get it. Once you make your own laundry list of mistakes and failures, you see it. They really captured a kid who had to grow up too fast.
That gave a good hint about the character's growth. He was supposed to be happy because he got what he's always striven for, but instead, he's mad at himself because he knew it was a terrible decision made by himself.
@@PhebusdesTours”Is it your OWN destiny, or is it a destiny someone else is trying to force onto you?!”
@@DarkEclipse23 Uncle Iroh spitting facts as usual 👌
When I seen this moment, even back then, I empathized and seen myself in his declaration. Because, like zuko, I'm angry at myself. It's a long, convoluted story
I feel another important aspect of Azula is that she needs to feel in control. She dominates the entire conversation. Never reveals her backstory or sympathizes with the group. Once everyone has opened up and made themselves vulnerable, then she says "My own mother thought I was a monster. She was right of course but it still hurt." She admits that what her mother said or thinks her mother meant by her actions hurt but immediately laughs it off and turns the conversation in another direction. She would rather play the callous villain than give up control and be pitied.
Something I've noticed about heroes & villains is that the only difference between them is that heroes grow as people - identify their problems and seek to resolve them - while villains don't. Azula's the only one of the four who doesn't change sides by the end of the series.
I love how Zuko's attempt at channeling Iroh is so terrible and so incredible at the same time.
It is such a wonderfull line! So silly yet so deep.
Zuko’s line “I’m angry at myself” still hits so hard all these years later
Zuko is probably the most relatable character in Avatar, at least for me
when i was around 20 and i decided to rewatch this show and i learned a lot from it, now at 27 i watched it again, for no particular reason, just to learn even more
For me it’s between Mai and Zuko
I am lucky enough to have great parents, but I feel anyone who comes from a toxic background can relate to Zuko and his choices, and even, to some extent, understand why he seemingly turned his coat at Ba Sing Se. Toxic families are difficult to leave behind.
The fact that this show is almost 20 years old and is STILL being talked about to this day.. truly timeless, it is
"Should Aang not prove to be fully dead"
Miracle Max "He's only MOSTLY dead!"
Dang, I really wanted that loose change.
"Circus Freak is a compliment!"
Ty Lee may be treated as a comic relief character throughout Avatar for a bit but even she gets to show growth and some interesting perspectives on her own profession. I wish Korra did this with some of its own characters that were played for laughs more often. Like Bolin for instance.
You miscalculated I love Zuko more than I fear you the boiling rock Mai
So much of the rest of the series rests on this episode.
That line goes insanely hard
Anime Beach episodes are all about having fun at the beach
Avatar: The Last Airbender:
that "zuko, here" edit killed me bro. amazing work, as per usual
I laughed pretty hard as well
- Ty Lee has an identity crisis
- Mai has a low self esteem
- Zuko has anger issues
- Azula lacks the love of a parent
Me having experienced all of them in one way or another: "Well SHIT, no wonder it's taking years to learn how to MAN like a man."
I'm pretty sure Azula's a diagnosable psychopath, as well.
@@crazypeopleonsunday7864
No. She admitted her mother’s opinion of her hurt her. Psychopaths are completely incapable of caring about other people and their opinions. The betrayal she felt is impossible for a psychopath.
Azula is a fascinating character and a cautionary tale of what abuse could do to a person. So let’s not add fan fiction and ascribe labels meant for humans and not fictional characters.
@@SaraphDarklaw I completely agree with everything you said, except for the bit at the end. "and ascribe labels meant for humans and not fictional characters."
Thats what makes them feel real, thats what makes them not just actors voicing characters, but their own "person". It makes them relatable. if you didn't give characters "labels meant for humans" it would make them nothing.
So I dunno if its just me but what your saying doesn't make any since?
Your saying Azula is a fascinating character because she was abused, which is a label, but in the same breath your saying lets not add labels to fictional characters?
And I also feel like that last bit is passive aggressive, you really didn't need to add that part. (Though I could be wrong cuz I don't know your tone. and that being said, I'm not saying this in a passive aggressive tone, I'm just pointing it out)
At the end of the day, these were kids that grew up in this lifestyle
"She was right, of course, but it still hurt"
The Beach is the kind of episode that could be considered "filler," as far as the plot goes. These kids are on vacation, go to a party, spend time on a beach. Not a whole lot happens, in that regard. In a lesser kids' show, there'd still be the lessons that The Beach has engrained in it, but it's the characters that elevate it beyond a filler episode. I've never, not once, seen anyone call it filler. It added so much to the story of the show as a whole and these characters specifically that I'd argue The Beach is obligatory viewing. So many other examples of filler can easily be skipped!
Some of Avatar's best episodes are 'filler'
Part of the reason Avatar's "filler" episodes are so great, is that they kinda don't write them like filler. The writing doesn't take a dive, but continues the way its been. And it seems to always have connections to character arcs, just less connected to the main plot
"But the great stories..."
*Titanfall 2 campaign ending in the background.*
Based.
Such an unmatched episode🙌 still one of my favourite episodes. It's the attention to detail that is so easy to overlook but when you grow older you're thinking... oh wow
Your final speech while the music is rising was beautiful. Keep up the great work! The videos you have made have really helped me become a better man, thank you!
Zuko saying he's "Angry with himself!" must've been a huge relief on his soul.
It's always hard to admit that and feel unaffected by it. Yes, he did feel relieved admitting so
The waiting for this type of episode for season 3 made it not a throwaway, but pivotal to the ultimate choices of the not-Azula member of the gang. By then we were fully invested in what they thought and would do.
To be honest, I really disliked Mai in this episode because of her disdain when Zuko was, in my view, trying to be a good boyfriend to her and she kept shutting him down. But your point about her parents buying her off with anything she wanted as long as she stayed quiet and her wanting someone to truly notice her for once makes so much sense and cast that character in a new light for me. Thanks for another wonderful Avatar video!!!
Mai isn't a bad character in concept. I think the problem with her romance with Zuko is that the two are fundamentally incompatible. Their personalities clash in a way that makes them talk past each other or simply not notice things they should about one another. This consistent failure to communicate produces a lackluster, frustrating relationship in which they're incapable of fulfilling each other's needs and are reduced to a love-hate dichotomy of near-constant bickering or shallow carnality. It doesn't help that they never truly wrestle with these problems, the series just sort of hand-waves them away; this left me genuinely confused when I saw them get back together in the end. Overall, it's narratively unsatisfying. I prefer the two characters on their own, not together, and I don't think that'll ever change for me.
ATLA's romance writing in general leaves a LOT to be desired, but maybe I'm alone in thinking that. It's easily the weakest aspect of the show's writing.
@@AnimaVox_ I completely agree. I like an idea I first heard from Sneezy Reviews (though maybe other people have said the same thing): Zuko's relationship with Mai is a mirror of his relationship with the Fire Nation. He betrayed his conscience to chase after something he thought he wanted (Mai/his father's love) but it ultimately doesn't fulfill him in the way he expected it to, and so he leaves the thing he wants that is holding him back in order to pursue what he needs (helping the Avatar defeat the Fire Lord).
@@vicky_la_france I've definitely seen that observation before, and I agree with it.
Mai's greatest character hurdle is that she's spoiled into apathy. On one hand, she hates people trying to buy their way into her good graces, but on the other, she lowkey still expects and wants them to do it anyway (remember her suggestion to Zuko that they should bully the servants and her demand for fruit tarts?). She doesn't know how to articulate this, which makes it frustrating for people like Zuko, who are direct and often wear their hearts on their sleeves, to read her. It doesn't help that the writers' constant inability to provide depth to the relationship and portraying it as something good is why many people dislike Mai and Zuko's interactions. This is why Sukka is the most popular romance in ATLA, because it's the opposite of Maiko: a healthy relationship with good communication and character development. I want to stress that I don't have a problem with dysfunctional relationships being portrayed-if I did, I wouldn't like this show-rather, I take issue with dysfunction being ignored or depicted positively.
Mai's arc should address her confronting her apathy instead of remaining indifferent and unwilling to change her situation-basically, Annie Leonhart's arc in Attack on Titan. Just as Zuko needed to step away from the Fire Nation for a while in order to grow as a person, the first thing I would do is get Mai away from court life, including Zuko; she needs to spend time apart from nobility and royalty, like Zuko and Ty Lee did-it'll make her more rounded as a person to just be among regular people, and she might even end up preferring that to her stifling upbringing, which will give her greater fulfillment. There's a compelling story here somewhere, the issue is that we never see it unfold, we're only told that everything's fine and expected to accept it because the showrunners said so.
I literally had the exact same thing. As soon as I heard what he said, it just clicked
He punched a guy for chatting with Mai
4:00 Very true. People like her can never form real relationships or be truly vulnerable without some kind of drive to win. They're freaking dangerous. She pulls Zuko back to the friend group to control his actions. She's jealous of Tai Lee because , like you said, she wants that ability, to be genuinely likable and be a people magnet. She only shares her struggle to one up and act tough afterwards unlike everyone else. Just for that "self reflection" to NOT give her the insight to change.
thank you really Master Samwise for helping recognize and appreciate the truths in these stories
One of the greatest part of Avatar is the amazing character writing. Even in episodes like The Beach or The Fortune Teller, episodes that are for the most part, could be concidered filler. But instead of just giving grist for the mill, the writers took these moments to keep developing the characters; how a character acts on a day to day basis tells the audience just as much about them as when they are facing conflict. But one of my favorite parts of the character writing is that the ages of the main characters were always in consideration. There is a certain amount of the chosen one and wise beyond their years tropes going on but Team Avatar and their main opponents are 12-16 years old and always act in ways that adolescents would.
My favorite shot in this episode is right after Chan leaves Azula has this small look that the rejection did hurt her feelings. I get the sense that she hates the idea of being vulnerable because it never works out when she is, thus her only solution in life is to force things to bend to her will through manipulation.
Love the way you summed up the lessons each character teaches at the end. 👏👏
Sidenote, love the Bluey soundtrack in the background
Excellent content, and a very well put together video. I love hearing so much truth put together and presented so well.
But honestly, you could probably read off digits of Pi and I would leave a like so long as you put Thaxted behind it. One of my favorite pieces of music, and really it fits your topic wonderfully.
At the end of the day, I agree, children deserve the best stories because as Lewis said so much more eloquently, children pretend to be the characters from the stories they read, and in so doing, find themselves growing into those kinds of people.
Thank you for making this video.
Godspeed.
Great video! Not to mention the great script, the clips were put together really well and perfectly timed
In this series of excellent characters in kids entertainment, I’d love an episode on Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon. His development as a character, and especially how the “villains” of each movie seems to represent a part of himself, is fantastic and worthy of the Master treatment!
I should watch Avatar for the 7th time. Episodes like "The Beach" really make you feel with and for the characters
I love the use of Holst's "Jupiter" in the background, but ending the video on the half cadence before the next section drives me crazy.
Music rant aside, we all deserve writing and character work at this level in everything.
holy shit, this is a good video! Great job dude! You must be very wise to make all those observations
It’s always a bittersweet feeling when you discover an amazing channel that only just started uploading. I look forward to seeing this channel grow, subscribed!
The Zuko Iroh line is simply the best from the whole show 😂 so silly and yet so wise.
Zuko is probably the best written cartoon character ever
"It does not remind us of real life, but real life reminds us of it" Honestly such an AMAZING statement.
Love the video! A shame you can’t show audio with the clips though, I think it would add a lot
***** copyright strikes…
Legally he can, something like this would fall under fair use, but sadly big companies don’t really care about fair use.
Bro, your content is soo good bro.
I love The Beach so much. It exemplifies how regardless of your past, it still doesnt have to define you. Setting up the personalities of Team Avatar against. Team Azula. Even the members within team Azula themselves. Even with some members having a childhood that the other wouldve wanted, that still didnt lead to happiness
Nice video bro
And also, nice choice of background music, I love Halo ost
That scene when Ty Lee attack Azula, I remember gasping when that happened, that scene is incredible
Hit it out of the park once again, Samwise. Keep it up
One of the greatest episodes. Loved how well we got to know all the characters in this show. It was both hilarious and insightful
The Legend of Korra is just fun, and don't live up to its predecessor. I don't like it nearly as much as I do The Last Airbender. The thing is: I don't really understand why. If it's adequate, I would like to know what you have to say about it. Thank you so much for the thoughtful videos! I learn so much. Here's a gift, take it!
Thank you!
"A children's story that is not worth reading as an adult was not worth reading as a child." -- C. S. Lewis.
I really love your use of "I Vow to Thee My Country"/ Its such a great song, which, inspite of its british origins, i as an american love beyond measure. My only gripe with it is that my favorite version is that from Battlefield V which introduced me to the song, but only has the lyrics from the first half, instead of the whole song. The vocalist they used is incredible, and i wish i could find a full version by her.
Dark Souls music in the background felt right.
Avatar the Last Airbender is hands down; the best show I’ve ever watched. I love this show.
Just noticed that you used the Firelink Shrine music from DS1!
I thought I was hallucinating cause I’d been listening to it to fall asleep the last few months
Totally agree about how characters are the most important aspect of a story. Any story can be good as long as the characters are believable and exist within the rules of the universe set
The more I grow up the more I sympathize with all the villains in this episode as people who don't understand how messed up they are, and the more I pity Azula for never realizing her own flaws.
EDIT: This is one of the most important episodes in the series for the fact that ALL of the villain team grow in the episode, except Azula, which sets up everything that happens later on.
zuko is one of the most relatable characters
11:26 putting the WISE in @Master Samwise right here
Playing Holst's Jupiter at the end of these isn't fair.
Dropping eternal wisdom and insight while using one of the most awe-inspiring pieces of music ever composed should count as cheating.
You are doing a great job with your videos, and the way you deliver the narrative is fantastic to listen to. I believe your materials would look more professional if you added English subtitles, and as a result, your channel could gain more traction among non-native speakers.
Let's be real. Zuko just needed to get out of the house.
My own character arc is taking its dear sweet time to develop...
I loved everything in it!!!
Any day Master Samwise uploads is a good day
11:38 very cool
Ah yes, the episode where everyone just overtly states all their emotions and motivations without any subtlety. Peak indeed.
Did you watch the video? He addressed this
Could you make a video on Crosshair? Or the ending of the Bad Batch in general? I’d love to hear your analysis 😊
It’s weird, the older you get, the more you notice about this show and the deeper it feels
I personally don't think a show will top Avatar the Last Airbender anytime soon. To me its beyond a masterpiece
As a young man the beach was a very formative episode... the scenery was just as good as the character work
For the algorithm
The plot was great too.
What is the song / music starting at 10:30 and playing until the end? It sounds really familiar and I really want to remember it but I can't for the life of me. Please, if Mr.Samwise or anyone else can let me know :
Jupiter by Holst
it's still hold up about identity crisis and self-discovery they need to know
I love your analysis of Mai, nobody seems to get her and just label her as annoying and cold but there's more to her.
Aw yeah it’s samwise time
1:10 - Not sure if i would call Azula a minor character.
I wish my writing could be that good.
Could you maybe cover Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima? I just finished it and it's a beautiful story and a very tragic one but also bitter sweet with a lot to be learned from such a great tale of war loss and triumph.
In tlok how were the chi blockers able to chi block is it now a well known thing after ty lee taught the warriors
Okay gotta quibble here- Azula is not a minor character, she's the villain with by far the most screentime (unless you count Zuko as a villain). Sure she's technically not the Big Bad but neither was Darth Vader and we don't say that he was a minor character just because the Emperor outranked him.
Jupiter 🥲
Funny enough i just finished watching this show
I have arrived
Azula calling the way her friends open up about their feelings "a performance" is very revealing, I think. In her worldview admitting to even having feelings is a disadvantage and should only be done in the way of lying to gain the loyalty of a useful ally, which is how she thinks of Mai and Ty Lee. I think this is the episode where they start to understand that Azula does not value them as people.
This is a great setup for the episode where they betray her. Mai and Ty Lee's friendship with each other is way deeper and more genuine than their connection to Azula who only ever tries to control them through fear.
Very true! And also this episode has Ty Lee in a bikini
dawg
👍🏻
Fun fact: Azula's voice actress ships Zuko and Azula
That has to be a joke
Ew.
Griffin is an ultra-liberal, sadly.
@
But even then, that can’t be serious.
They are siblings, so gross. Absolutely not.
But even if they weren’t they have an awful relationship. There would be nothing to ship. She tries to kill him through the last episode
@@Eilonwy95 Did you not hear her ultra sultry tone when they spoke in her bedroom?
I HATE the idea of “kids shows”. Why should the idea of wisdom and maturity not be presented to young children?
I disagree with your conclusions, I want to be loved for what I have accomplished, not loved arbitrarily, and I think most men would agree. I would freely love (in whatever sense) and give loyalty to someone like Azula, and I think most men would do the same. People like her make good allies and become great men. I was not expecting you to explain the Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomy through Ty Lee, however. That made me smile.
Bearing in mind she's a teenager, that throwaway line from Wonder Woman applies- 'I am both frightened and aroused'
Yeah, I'm gonna be honest, The Beach is one of my least favorite episodes in all of Avatar, if not my least favorite. One of my biggest gripes was the tone. The idea of some of the characters going to hang out on a beach might have been fine if it was Team Avatar, but for Zuko, Azula, Ty Lee and Mai, it just doesn't work for me. They're the villains, so why are they having this day off to mess around? It just doesn't feel like something Azula would normally do. The whole beach setting, with them playing volleyball and especially Azula trying to get a date just feels out of place in this high fantasy setting with deep worldbuilding, intense action scenes and phenomenal character writing. The teen drama feels off to me. While I can appreciate the character writing, it's a little too late in the episode for my liking, and considering this pairing of Zuko with Azula and her friends won't last in the long run, it just feels hollow, especially with that ending frame of the four of them together, like they'll always be friends.
That, and my biggest gripe that I still have to this day is how Nickelodeon advertised this episode before it aired. They promised it would mainly be the big first encounter between Team Avatar and Combustion Man, with Zuko and Azula being relegated to a subplot. The Avatar stuff sounded awesome, and I was excited! Little did I know it would the opposite way, where only be about five minutes of the show and the dumb beach scenes would take center stage instead. I think Avatar has done so much better character episodes, like Zuko Alone and Tales of Ba Sing Se, and this is not one of them to me.
Hot take