My personal opinion is that she got her life changing trip with Iroh long before anybody else got theirs. A big part of the show is characters growing into different roles, and I believe that Zuko grew into the role of sage. We saw the groups need for a sage when Iroh found Toph and gave her some wisdom. We saw them find their sage in Zuko when he joined the rest of the gaang.
@@mattbrammeier8938 Dude... I had never thought of it like that! Also, Toph and Zuko might not have a 'life-changing trip' but she comforts him telling him about the conversation with Iroh, one of my favorite scenes.
The incredible thing is, that you didnt even mention the main character Aang yet... seriously if i wouldnt know this show, i would not know who the main character is, since nearly every character has as much depth as a main character. Incredible show
I think youre looking at this show wrong. Aang is not the "main" character. He is the titular character. He is the protagonist. But he is not THE main character. Zuko is a main character. Sokka, Katara, Azula, Iroh, Toph, even Appa and Momo are all main characters. And around each of them there is a cast of supporting characters. In the sake of still not using Aang and not using any character the video maker has used, lets look at Azula. After Zuko and Zhao, she is the core Antagonist of the series. This is in it of itself a huge accomplishment because for all intents and purposes you would believe Ozai to be the Core antagonist. Yes, Ozai is the series goal, the last true test for Aang. But he still isnt the Core Antagonist. Azula, the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation, takes that title. Even the show will try and convey this in subtle means. The fight between and Ozai is spectacular, and it does its duty as the goal of the series. The fight between Azula and Zuko is so much better. An amazing score, along with outstanding colours and shots combine to make an experience that feels so much more gratifying than watching Aang fight Ozai. I know im rambling, but Azula is character I could spend days talking about. My point is that Azula is Zukos antagonist. Shes Aangs antagonist. And at the end of the series, Azula is her own villain. Now. Compare her to Jet. Or Piando. Or Monk Gyotsu. Or even Mai and Ty Lee. All of those people are side characters. They serve to further the main characters. Be it Sokka, Katara, Aang, or Azula. And even then the side character's have depth. Just marketly less than the mains. Because at the end of the day Avatar is a show about characters. All of them. Not Just Aang.
Dillan Tomlin I couldn't agree more. Still, you might not forget that most of the plots are based around the Avatar and the war, which is why Aang as key character is irreplacable, while someone like azula can be cut out of the story. Although it would make the show much much worse haha
HerrBrotrand I believe that Aang's arc will be analyzed in Character's through Morality video. As you said, all the videos are not about the character who named the series, but about several characters as much as important as Aang himself. I think that detail was on purpose. The series cannot be simplified on Aang alone. Returning to my point, I have a feeling that Aang and the development of his arc can be related to morality. Aang is portrayed as a kid who run away from home because he couldn't face his destiny. At the end, he couldn't run away anymore because he faced the biggest dillema of his life: fight Ozai (and killing him) for the sake of the world, versus being faithful to himself. Aang is vegetarian, believed that everyone deserves respect and cared deepfully for others, so killing Ozai is against to not only what the air monks taught him, but to his own moral as well. If the next video is not about Aang, it won't bother me at all. All the videos (even the ones not related to ATLA) are exquisite.
Fillu I disagree. We can definitely see him mature into the role of the avatar and taking on the responsibility of being the world's peace-keeper, something he never wanted to be but learned to accept throughout the show. Also, when you think about it, Aang has every reason to be a bad and anger driven little boy considering the fire nation wiped his family out (for which he very often blames himself, which we can see on many occasions) but instead CHOOSES to be good. He chooses to joke around and be in a good mood and I personally think that's admireable. And it's not like he's always in a good mood. We also often see him struggling with the fact that he can't seem to repair the world that he abandoned for a 100 years. Not to mention that in his fight with Ozai he easily could've avenged his people and killed him as everyone in the show told him to but he stood his ground and decided that what his people taught him wasn't nonesense or weakness (as Ozai put it) but it had value. Just because a character chooses to handle the pain of loss differently it doesn't mean that they have little depth, in fact, it says a lot about the character and creates depth. Hope you understand my viewpoint, this has kinda turned into an essay, sorry 😅
I find it interesting that in the wide shot where Toph and Iroh are talking, Iroh is facing Toph while Toph is facing away from him, symbolizing the ideology they are both defending. More visual storytelling :)
It’s one of my favorite motifs that Toph has. She often doesn’t look people in the eye when arguing or disagreeing. However, the brilliance is that this also could realistically manifest in a person who is blind and hasn’t developed the social cue to turn and address those speaking to you.
"I'm gonna send a note to Katara and say it's from Toph who wants to apologize. Then everyone can be friends again." -Sokka "I know this is from you Sokka! Toph can't write!" -Katara "I guess plan b is we send a note to Toph pretending it's from Katara. -Aang "I think we're going to run into a similar problem." -Sokka This never fails to crack me up lol
Part One: Main foucs on Sokka (Water) Part Two: Main focus on Zuko (Fire) Part Three: Main focus on Toph (Earth) Part Four: Main focus on Aang (Air) ? The attention to detail...
An interesting tidbit I've seen before is that in that scene with Sokka where they are sitting with their feet dangling while Katara listens, is that that's the real big, defining final moment when Toph lets her guard down and truly opens up and accepts the love of the rest of Team Avatar. And in that moment, she sits with her primary mode of interaction with the world, her feet. dangling in a place where they can't "see". She's completely vulnerable in that instance, a place that she normally never allows herself to be. It's more akin to the Visual aspect like in the last video about Zuko, but when someone pointed that out to me it truly was incredible.
This made me cry. Avatar was just a masterpiece and no one can tell me otherwise. I feel like Toph sometimes gets overlooked and this absolutely did her justice. Thank you so much for this installment, it was definitely worth the wait and I'm beyond excited for the next one! Keep up the good work!
@@bulmasan6331 I think they mean that Toph is often overlooked as far as character development as she probably has the most subtle change throughout the series, especially when you have standouts like Zuko who change so drastically in their role.
I have another one. Between Toph and Sokka when Sokka tells her he can't remember his mother's face. It's always Katara's face that appears in his mind. That's a scene that always makes me cry. Don't know exactly why but it's so deep and beautiful.
thats one of my favorites. i love her slower conversations with other characters, because it really shows how sweet she can be when she wants to. zuko so happily smiling at her when she brings up iroh just warms my heart.
You just made me realize why I didnt like Toph's part in the legend of Korra. By hiding in the swamp, being distant and cold to her daughters and even by having 2 different husbands she is not in touch with (unless they died, we dont know) she is undoing all the progress you showed she made in this vieo. Its not that I hate the legend of Korra, I just dont like it as much as the last airbender, and piece by piece Im beginning to understand why, largely thanks to your videos.
But that is indeed ignoring the development she had, as that is the character we had at the beginning of her appearance, not at the end. This video did amazingly at highlighting her development. By the end, she learned to accept being dependent and allowing others to depend on her. As Aylon pointed out, they forgot about her progress with relationships, to have her simply forget about important events and the way that changed her such as her talk with Iroh is bad writing. She shouldn't be focused on her parents when the whole point of her character arch was to forgive them and understand how opening up and forming close relationships is beneficial.
@@assasinsmine well realistically, a person isn't fully developed over the course of a few months, which is basically the length of her arc in the last airbender. Although the show ends with the implication that she is a new person, realistically she still has a long way to go. Similar to how Zuko in multiple occasions seems to have turned over to the good side only to turn back again. It just means that her development isn't finished yet, much like a person in real life. And you may or may not like it. It can be frustrating and even weird, but that's just how characters (and people) are.
most of the gaang had their character development unraveled in lok, which is what makes me dislike it so much. i think the only one who got the better end of the stick was zuko, who seemed fine in lok. katara's feminism gets washed away by her husband, aang chooses favourites between his kids and creates an unhealthy familial dynamic, toph also chooses favourites and is essentially a bad mom because her kids were not treated equally and to their best abilities, and well sokka and suki don't even have the chance to have their character developed. sucks how lok chooses to ruin our favourite characters in order to "develop" the characters in lok :/
This is such a new perspective. I always thought tophs character arc was all about self worth and strength. She's an amazing representative of the disabled community and honestly taught me so many lessons throughout my childhood. I never thought that her character arc was about accepting dependency. Thank you for this fresh opinion with evidence.
I love this series so much and your videos always show why. And I love how Toph kind of represents today's modern society: Everyone seems to value being independent and self-sufficient and see dependency and forming bonds and showing vulnerability as a sign of weakness and something to be frowned upon: "I can take care of myself; I don't need anyone; I can handle this!" and I keep thinking, why is needing/wanting love, help and support seen as such bad things nowadays? Toph is living proof that we need those things and how powerful they are and can change us for the better, if we let them.
Let’s just take a moment to appreciate that the fact Toph is blind makes so much sense in terms of talking about relationships because most of our judgement of a person is based on instant visual queues. So it would make sense that it be harder for Toph to interact with others based on her limited information and also upbringing which is another matter.
it's actually a very popular character theme: to understand that sovereignty and interdependence are not mutually exclusive. you can belong to yourself, _and_ to the people around you. it's one of the most notorious false dichotomies ever.
I have noticed that even Azula seems to learn and grow from her peers. In the day of the black sun pt 2 the weapon she chooses to defend herself with, during the she cannot bend, is one of Mai's throwing stars. She doesn't get to use it, but I think that shows a lot about how much she respects Mai's abilities. In the same episode she is seen to be extremely acrobatic, and even though she was acrobatic from the beginning, I get the impression that she becomes more agile and that would naturally be through Ty Lee's influence. I think that gives even more dramatic insight into her downfall, after the people she trusted and respected most next to her father betrayed her.
Toph is my favourite fictional character, ever. Growing up I never looked at tv shows or cartoons, as I thought that they were too childish, as I am, and was, very mature and 'serious'. Though one time I catched a glance on the tv when my brother was watching avatar, and it blew my mind. It was so diffrent from everything else on nickelodeon, cartoon network or disney chanel. I bought all of the cd's and watched the series over and over on my free time. And, you see, I have a disability, I dont know what it's called in english, but seeing a blind girl in this, made me feel strong. She inspired me. Sure, Im not blind, but Ive always been seen as kinda weird becuse of my disability, and seeing a badass little blind girl made, just, idk. The creators really showed how a disability can make on stronger, in such a good way.
I’m really really glad that you framed all of this in a way that centers Toph as the key to her own development, expressing agency in building relationships with other characters rather than developing as a result of those characters in a way that deprives her of such agency. Love all of your videos and cannot wait to watch part 4; thank you so much for these.
I've waited for this video ... And I guess the wait was worth it. But I'll say I was taken aback a little because it was based on Toph. When You mentioned the name "Development through Relationship" for this Part in the last video, I thought it would be based on Katara or Maybe Aang... Because you know, they're the ones who values relationships more than any other characters from the series. But I really enjoyed this one. You did an Amazing job there. Looking forward for the last part
While Aang and Katara both play critical parts in the show relationally, Toph's arc is foundationally centered around this concept. For Aang and Katara, their arc is centered around something else. That being said, I appreciate your comment so much! Keep your eyes peeled for the next one!
Once again you have created an excelent deep video. I loved the backround music to this and continue to love how much work you put into this. You make it seam like we are watching an epic saga in its self. Cant wait for the final installment of the seires. Aang may be the main charecter but you have shown what has made this show truley amazing, not just aangs storylines but how the other storylines work so increadably well. I really love that you put big points up on the screen in writing its not much but for me it adds a lot to the videos
I’ve been seriously amazed by these videos and if you’re watching, just wanted to say how great this content is. Video essays are inherently a manipulative concept and you don’t use them that way. And I’m impressed by it. Keep on doing what you do.
I’ve checked TH-cam every day waiting for this video to come out. I love the way you describe and breakdown the complexities of one of my favorite shows. Many thanks
Toph as a character, has and always will be my favorite. Avatar the Last Airbender has got to be one of the most amazing pieces of work I have ever seen. I even got matching ATLA tattoos with my 3 best friends. Fire, Earth (mine), Water, and Air
FailoReachForge Sages Rain has some good insights, but I definitely prefer Weight of Cinema for the beautiful editing and well written narration (the latter of which I feel Sage’s Rain lacks a bit comparably).
Fuck me, I'm tearing up at 4:45. I haven't even finished the video but those points are so well made and I think you've effectively isolated the core of Toph's story. This isn't something I'd considered before, but it makes so much sense now. It may be because I have Asperger's Syndrome and can have similar barriers in relationships. I really identify with these struggles and it makes me happy to reflect on how Toph goes through them and comes out happy and healthy on the other side.
Hmm so development through relationships, rather than the common trope of development through self realization which happens when the character is alone. The first technique like you said gets you more for your buck. I need to practice that more in my writing
I am truly impressed. I have seen a lot of videos about the show, but never was mentioned tophs development through relationship and I did not see it until now. Thank you.
Man, I'm crying. No joke man, I am literally typing this through blurry vision with tears. My stage name isn't fake. I'm truly on the edge of blindness.
These Avatar videos are 3/3 on making me tear up. Brilliant work as always, can’t wait for the next one (which hopefully won’t be the last time you talk about the show)
Their relationships and struggles mirror the metaphor of the elements and how they mix and contradict one another but work harmoniously. And that it is with all four elements that the avatar is powerful enough to bring harmony to the world.
Beautifully inspirational video… I almost teared up a couple times :'0 This makes me think about myself… Can't wait for the next video! This series is amazing, every video is as good and even a bit better than the last one…
Awesome videos I love them Toph's character is somewhat alike Rocket Racoon from Guardians of The Galaxy You should do this type of series also with FullMetal Alchemist
Romano Coombs Well put. I recently started watching Trigun and I knew it reminded me of something, but with more impactful humor, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Thanks!
Avatar is a masterpiece, but it's not a stroke of luck, an one in a lifetime event... Avatar has nothing new, no innovative way of storytelling or animation... It's a masterpiece because it shows what it's like when things are done right, the characters are good, the development is good, the story is good, animation, music, etc... Nothing exceptional or innovative, just above average... But every aspect of it, it's perfectly made...
Nice pov. However, in another perspective, ATLA’s ability to perfect all these literary n cinematic elements are what makes it innovative and exceptional, and not simply above average... because no ideas or stories are really that novel, they’re evolutions or combinations of previous things that already existed, in one way or another.
Wow! I never realized how "blind" I was to Toph. I always thought Toph was the weakest character of the show as I did not realize her flaws I only saw her strengths. The reason being that I have her flaw of not wanting to accept help from others. I do this because I am a strong person and I want others to recognize that about me, I want them to see me as a pillar that they can lean on. It took me a long time to realize how wrong this was. I was always carrying my weight while helping someone else with there burdens while never speaking help for my own. It took a toll on me as I felt to much pain around me as I always felt my pain and the pain of others at the same time with no way to let it out. I was always carrying to much. But that did not matter to me, I could carry the weight that is what mattered to me. I did not want to be a burden. That is probably my only real fear, I do not want to cause someone more pain then they need to. When I realized I could lean on others I felt as if I had learned to breath for the first time, I felt unrestricted. This had happened to me after I had watched Avatar. Because of that when I watched this video I realized how well written Toph really is. She went through the same things I did. I was blind because I did not see her want for independence as a fault, I saw it as another of her strengths. So now that I can look back after what I have learned I can truly appreciate her as a character. Man this just proves to me again that ATLA is the HOLY GRAIL of stories. Thanks Weight of Cinema for opening my eyes!
I remember watching Avatar: The Last Airbender on tv before going to play squash on Saturday mornings back in 2005-2007. Since then I've watched the series 6 times. Avatar: The Last Airbender is truly a magnificent show. The thing that gets my emotions going is the music. Just listening to the soundtracks brings goosebumps and tears so so quickly. Watching your 4 part series brings back so many deep feelings about the show. I'm lost in speech , I can't describe how great the show actually is.
It makes me cry when I realize we will never have anything as good as avatar the last airbender. Especially with the new generation of artists. I just cannot help but find true beauty in the show, sure it has flaws but it is truly beautiful. Its a piece of actual art.
Dude, these videos are an absolute treat to watch. The background music and the minimalist overlay give this a lot of flair. Keep on doing what you're doing
It is video essays such as these, that show how amazing these characters and relationships are, that makes me wonder if the creators and directors were really thinking about their characters with this complexity.
Oh man! You taught me a lot about character building. Avatar is one of my all time favorite cartoons (/anime) and the story of Avatar still teaches me new things about story writing to this day, years after it's airing. Thank you for this informative video series! I can't wait to watch the fourth one when it comes out!
the best show ever. no contest. thank you for this! I love knowing that despite the series being completed years ago, people still admire the beauty of this show
Can we get a bonus episode on how Iroh was the most awesome treasure of this relationtree and how his warmth and care helped the group to find together? Not only Topf and Zuko, I think he also helped Aang at some point.
Man, I just discovered your channel today, and let me tell you that it is already my favorite TH-cam channel. Love the way you see things. Your style is so unique and brilliant. Keep up with this awesome work. Can't wait for the final chapter!
Thank you so much for these videos! Toph was my favorite character, I could relate to her a lot (probably because I was around the same age as her when I watched Avatar). I am very dependent, but kinda wanted to show that I wasn't, even so, I could still relate to her a lot, especially regarding her relationship with Katara which was very similar to my relationship with my sister.
Thank you so much, I've seen lots of avatar analysis videos here, but yours are my favourites. Each of them make me think about avatar in different ways and bring about a torrent of feels.
I'll take a moment to appreciate how perfectly the TH-cam Loadcircle fits the the inner circle of your logo when it's on screen. Well, i kinda have to... ;)
So. This came up on my home page. I wasn’t sure if I’d already watched the first two parts. I had. I’m still glad I went back to rewatch them. Thank you for reminding me again and again why I loved this series as a child. :) Edit: Summer though...? Like, June summer or August summer? ‘Cause I really, really can’t wait to see how you cap this little info-mentary off. :D
The Avatar videos you do are excellent. Your analysis is fantastic and this one might be my favorite for biased reasons because Toph is my favorite character.
I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE MAKING THESE VIDEOS!!!!!!!! You're genius at them!!! I LOVE AVATAR!!!! *flails* THE LOVE FOR IT IS STILL ALIVE (even though it's an ""old"" show) I LOVE IIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT ok no more caps lock ahahah! THANK YOU!!!!!
I came here to watch these videos to enjoy a diagnosis of a delightful an amazing show and learn from said features. I received an extra gift of insight that resonated with my recent self discoveries; discoveries concerning my character and aspects.
Toph's journey with the gang was about her learning to really on others no because she couldn't take care of herself but because she didn't want to be all alone. She developed as a character to form relationships with others for emotional support. Relationships made her happy. It was for her emotional health that she developed Interdependence. When she first joined the group she was transitioning from being wholly Independent to somewhat reluctantly Codependent.
This was such an amazing video! You nailed everything about Toph. She’s such an amazing character and she is my favorite too. I can’t wait for the next one! :)
Awesome video! As always. Love the Avatar content. Just a quick question, where did you get the music from? Every "soundtrack" I find lacks in quality. This sounds absolutely fantastic.
For this video, Legend of Korra is right :) Also, when using music from ATLA, I do my best to pull the best quality from the audio file by EQing the music; I work to eliminate the "bad" frequencies and so on.
I. Th. They both use a variety and Western, East Asian, and other ethnic instruments. Every orchestral sound you hear is a Western orchestra. You are correct that Korra makes use of a wide variety of East Asian instruments, the most notable being the Erhu, a spike fiddle from Mongolia that is kind of the trademark instrument of China. However, the Tsungi horn, a fictional instrument, was created by overdubbing several western instruments (I believe saxophone and trombone among them) with the Duduk, a type of single reed instrument, similar to the clarinet, that is used widely in gypsy and Eastern European folk music styles.
Zuko still owes her a life changing trip
Jack Castillo that can make a good comic
Yeah, like having children.
Zuko x Toph forever.
My personal opinion is that she got her life changing trip with Iroh long before anybody else got theirs. A big part of the show is characters growing into different roles, and I believe that Zuko grew into the role of sage. We saw the groups need for a sage when Iroh found Toph and gave her some wisdom. We saw them find their sage in Zuko when he joined the rest of the gaang.
@@mattbrammeier8938 Dude... I had never thought of it like that! Also, Toph and Zuko might not have a 'life-changing trip' but she comforts him telling him about the conversation with Iroh, one of my favorite scenes.
@@mattbrammeier8938 It was also a pretty efficient way to establish Zuko's dynamic with each team member in the short time they had left.
The incredible thing is, that you didnt even mention the main character Aang yet... seriously if i wouldnt know this show, i would not know who the main character is, since nearly every character has as much depth as a main character. Incredible show
HerrBrotrand so true, I’ve watched this show abwt four times now and I still wanna watch it again.
I think youre looking at this show wrong. Aang is not the "main" character. He is the titular character. He is the protagonist. But he is not THE main character. Zuko is a main character. Sokka, Katara, Azula, Iroh, Toph, even Appa and Momo are all main characters. And around each of them there is a cast of supporting characters.
In the sake of still not using Aang and not using any character the video maker has used, lets look at Azula.
After Zuko and Zhao, she is the core Antagonist of the series. This is in it of itself a huge accomplishment because for all intents and purposes you would believe Ozai to be the Core antagonist. Yes, Ozai is the series goal, the last true test for Aang.
But he still isnt the Core Antagonist. Azula, the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation, takes that title. Even the show will try and convey this in subtle means. The fight between and Ozai is spectacular, and it does its duty as the goal of the series.
The fight between Azula and Zuko is so much better. An amazing score, along with outstanding colours and shots combine to make an experience that feels so much more gratifying than watching Aang fight Ozai.
I know im rambling, but Azula is character I could spend days talking about.
My point is that Azula is Zukos antagonist. Shes Aangs antagonist. And at the end of the series, Azula is her own villain.
Now. Compare her to Jet. Or Piando. Or Monk Gyotsu. Or even Mai and Ty Lee. All of those people are side characters. They serve to further the main characters. Be it Sokka, Katara, Aang, or Azula.
And even then the side character's have depth. Just marketly less than the mains. Because at the end of the day Avatar is a show about characters. All of them. Not Just Aang.
Dillan Tomlin I couldn't agree more. Still, you might not forget that most of the plots are based around the Avatar and the war, which is why Aang as key character is irreplacable, while someone like azula can be cut out of the story. Although it would make the show much much worse haha
HerrBrotrand I believe that Aang's arc will be analyzed in Character's through Morality video. As you said, all the videos are not about the character who named the series, but about several characters as much as important as Aang himself. I think that detail was on purpose. The series cannot be simplified on Aang alone.
Returning to my point, I have a feeling that Aang and the development of his arc can be related to morality. Aang is portrayed as a kid who run away from home because he couldn't face his destiny. At the end, he couldn't run away anymore because he faced the biggest dillema of his life: fight Ozai (and killing him) for the sake of the world, versus being faithful to himself. Aang is vegetarian, believed that everyone deserves respect and cared deepfully for others, so killing Ozai is against to not only what the air monks taught him, but to his own moral as well.
If the next video is not about Aang, it won't bother me at all. All the videos (even the ones not related to ATLA) are exquisite.
Fillu I disagree. We can definitely see him mature into the role of the avatar and taking on the responsibility of being the world's peace-keeper, something he never wanted to be but learned to accept throughout the show. Also, when you think about it, Aang has every reason to be a bad and anger driven little boy considering the fire nation wiped his family out (for which he very often blames himself, which we can see on many occasions) but instead CHOOSES to be good. He chooses to joke around and be in a good mood and I personally think that's admireable. And it's not like he's always in a good mood. We also often see him struggling with the fact that he can't seem to repair the world that he abandoned for a 100 years. Not to mention that in his fight with Ozai he easily could've avenged his people and killed him as everyone in the show told him to but he stood his ground and decided that what his people taught him wasn't nonesense or weakness (as Ozai put it) but it had value. Just because a character chooses to handle the pain of loss differently it doesn't mean that they have little depth, in fact, it says a lot about the character and creates depth. Hope you understand my viewpoint, this has kinda turned into an essay, sorry 😅
I find it interesting that in the wide shot where Toph and Iroh are talking, Iroh is facing Toph while Toph is facing away from him, symbolizing the ideology they are both defending. More visual storytelling :)
Jack Landry Kool observation bro.
The Immigrant Experience. TV
Thanks!
Damn, that's deep and true
It’s one of my favorite motifs that Toph has. She often doesn’t look people in the eye when arguing or disagreeing.
However, the brilliance is that this also could realistically manifest in a person who is blind and hasn’t developed the social cue to turn and address those speaking to you.
So good!!
"I'm gonna send a note to Katara and say it's from Toph who wants to apologize. Then everyone can be friends again." -Sokka
"I know this is from you Sokka! Toph can't write!" -Katara
"I guess plan b is we send a note to Toph pretending it's from Katara. -Aang
"I think we're going to run into a similar problem." -Sokka
This never fails to crack me up lol
I alredy can hear it
Part One: Main foucs on Sokka (Water)
Part Two: Main focus on Zuko (Fire)
Part Three: Main focus on Toph (Earth)
Part Four: Main focus on Aang (Air) ?
The attention to detail...
Mac shame part 2 and part 3 weren’t swapped
Part One: Main focus on Katara (Water)
@@luckyhare2576 But... the main focus was on Sokka.
And you were right
An interesting tidbit I've seen before is that in that scene with Sokka where they are sitting with their feet dangling while Katara listens, is that that's the real big, defining final moment when Toph lets her guard down and truly opens up and accepts the love of the rest of Team Avatar. And in that moment, she sits with her primary mode of interaction with the world, her feet. dangling in a place where they can't "see". She's completely vulnerable in that instance, a place that she normally never allows herself to be. It's more akin to the Visual aspect like in the last video about Zuko, but when someone pointed that out to me it truly was incredible.
I'm not tearbending, you're tearbending!
Seriously though, great work.
bertimusprime yah, Eric is the greatest.💪🏻
tearbending😂
I remembered the theater episode
Ailin Ell same👍
Think about it this way, without Tearbending, Ozai would've never been beaten.
This made me cry. Avatar was just a masterpiece and no one can tell me otherwise. I feel like Toph sometimes gets overlooked and this absolutely did her justice. Thank you so much for this installment, it was definitely worth the wait and I'm beyond excited for the next one! Keep up the good work!
Lol what are you talking about Toph has been a fan favorite ever since she joined the team
@@bulmasan6331 I think they mean that Toph is often overlooked as far as character development as she probably has the most subtle change throughout the series, especially when you have standouts like Zuko who change so drastically in their role.
My friend described the series best like this: A:TLA has healing powers. It is about healing, but it also mends the people who watch it
One of my favorite and I believe most underrated scenes in the show is Toph's conversation with Zuko at the play.
That and her conversation with Iroh makes me feel so warm. God, this is a good show
I have another one. Between Toph and Sokka when Sokka tells her he can't remember his mother's face. It's always Katara's face that appears in his mind.
That's a scene that always makes me cry. Don't know exactly why but it's so deep and beautiful.
thats one of my favorites. i love her slower conversations with other characters, because it really shows how sweet she can be when she wants to. zuko so happily smiling at her when she brings up iroh just warms my heart.
You just made me realize why I didnt like Toph's part in the legend of Korra. By hiding in the swamp, being distant and cold to her daughters and even by having 2 different husbands she is not in touch with (unless they died, we dont know) she is undoing all the progress you showed she made in this vieo. Its not that I hate the legend of Korra, I just dont like it as much as the last airbender, and piece by piece Im beginning to understand why, largely thanks to your videos.
But that is indeed ignoring the development she had, as that is the character we had at the beginning of her appearance, not at the end. This video did amazingly at highlighting her development. By the end, she learned to accept being dependent and allowing others to depend on her. As Aylon pointed out, they forgot about her progress with relationships, to have her simply forget about important events and the way that changed her such as her talk with Iroh is bad writing. She shouldn't be focused on her parents when the whole point of her character arch was to forgive them and understand how opening up and forming close relationships is beneficial.
didn't Toph say that she was connected to the entire world through the swamp though?
@@assasinsmine well realistically, a person isn't fully developed over the course of a few months, which is basically the length of her arc in the last airbender. Although the show ends with the implication that she is a new person, realistically she still has a long way to go. Similar to how Zuko in multiple occasions seems to have turned over to the good side only to turn back again. It just means that her development isn't finished yet, much like a person in real life. And you may or may not like it. It can be frustrating and even weird, but that's just how characters (and people) are.
LOK wasn't good, period.
most of the gaang had their character development unraveled in lok, which is what makes me dislike it so much. i think the only one who got the better end of the stick was zuko, who seemed fine in lok. katara's feminism gets washed away by her husband, aang chooses favourites between his kids and creates an unhealthy familial dynamic, toph also chooses favourites and is essentially a bad mom because her kids were not treated equally and to their best abilities, and well sokka and suki don't even have the chance to have their character developed. sucks how lok chooses to ruin our favourite characters in order to "develop" the characters in lok :/
Toph goes from being completely independent, to relying on others, to having all sorts of family drama, to being connected to the the entire world.
This is such a new perspective. I always thought tophs character arc was all about self worth and strength.
She's an amazing representative of the disabled community and honestly taught me so many lessons throughout my childhood.
I never thought that her character arc was about accepting dependency. Thank you for this fresh opinion with evidence.
I consider "The Blind Bandit" to be a turning point in AtLA. IMO, beginning with that episode, a show that had been very good became incredible
I love this series so much and your videos always show why. And I love how Toph kind of represents today's modern society: Everyone seems to value being independent and self-sufficient and see dependency and forming bonds and showing vulnerability as a sign of weakness and something to be frowned upon: "I can take care of myself; I don't need anyone; I can handle this!" and I keep thinking, why is needing/wanting love, help and support seen as such bad things nowadays? Toph is living proof that we need those things and how powerful they are and can change us for the better, if we let them.
so that's why Toph's big moment in the finale is holding onto Sokka for dear life
Let’s just take a moment to appreciate that the fact Toph is blind makes so much sense in terms of talking about relationships because most of our judgement of a person is based on instant visual queues. So it would make sense that it be harder for Toph to interact with others based on her limited information and also upbringing which is another matter.
it's actually a very popular character theme: to understand that sovereignty and interdependence are not mutually exclusive. you can belong to yourself, _and_ to the people around you. it's one of the most notorious false dichotomies ever.
I love your Avatar videos. Nice work 👍
I have noticed that even Azula seems to learn and grow from her peers. In the day of the black sun pt 2 the weapon she chooses to defend herself with, during the she cannot bend, is one of Mai's throwing stars. She doesn't get to use it, but I think that shows a lot about how much she respects Mai's abilities. In the same episode she is seen to be extremely acrobatic, and even though she was acrobatic from the beginning, I get the impression that she becomes more agile and that would naturally be through Ty Lee's influence. I think that gives even more dramatic insight into her downfall, after the people she trusted and respected most next to her father betrayed her.
Toph is my favourite fictional character, ever.
Growing up I never looked at tv shows or cartoons, as I thought that they were too childish, as I am, and was, very mature and 'serious'.
Though one time I catched a glance on the tv when my brother was watching avatar, and it blew my mind. It was so diffrent from everything else on nickelodeon, cartoon network or disney chanel. I bought all of the cd's and watched the series over and over on my free time.
And, you see, I have a disability, I dont know what it's called in english, but seeing a blind girl in this, made me feel strong. She inspired me.
Sure, Im not blind, but Ive always been seen as kinda weird becuse of my disability, and seeing a badass little blind girl made, just, idk. The creators really showed how a disability can make on stronger, in such a good way.
I’m really really glad that you framed all of this in a way that centers Toph as the key to her own development, expressing agency in building relationships with other characters rather than developing as a result of those characters in a way that deprives her of such agency. Love all of your videos and cannot wait to watch part 4; thank you so much for these.
I've waited for this video ... And I guess the wait was worth it. But I'll say I was taken aback a little because it was based on Toph. When You mentioned the name "Development through Relationship" for this Part in the last video, I thought it would be based on Katara or Maybe Aang... Because you know, they're the ones who values relationships more than any other characters from the series. But I really enjoyed this one. You did an Amazing job there. Looking forward for the last part
While Aang and Katara both play critical parts in the show relationally, Toph's arc is foundationally centered around this concept. For Aang and Katara, their arc is centered around something else. That being said, I appreciate your comment so much! Keep your eyes peeled for the next one!
Notice that Azula didn't truly have this, and we see her at the end.
Once again you have created an excelent deep video. I loved the backround music to this and continue to love how much work you put into this. You make it seam like we are watching an epic saga in its self. Cant wait for the final installment of the seires. Aang may be the main charecter but you have shown what has made this show truley amazing, not just aangs storylines but how the other storylines work so increadably well. I really love that you put big points up on the screen in writing its not much but for me it adds a lot to the videos
+Lawson Burghart Seem* , series* , truly* , Aang's* , incredibly* , it's* .
StygianTraveler141 spelling and gammer May not be my strong suit but really it’s that’s forgivable right
+Lawson Burghart Grammar* , may* , that* , right?*
I'll continue to correct you 'til you get it right ;)
The Legend of Korra Soundtrack always makes these epic.
Your thumbnails have improved. I'm enjoying this series
I’ve been seriously amazed by these videos and if you’re watching, just wanted to say how great this content is. Video essays are inherently a manipulative concept and you don’t use them that way. And I’m impressed by it.
Keep on doing what you do.
I’ve checked TH-cam every day waiting for this video to come out. I love the way you describe and breakdown the complexities of one of my favorite shows. Many thanks
Antwone Barnes I know right, Eric sometimes sounds like he’s a cinematic commentator.😂
Toph as a character, has and always will be my favorite. Avatar the Last Airbender has got to be one of the most amazing pieces of work I have ever seen. I even got matching ATLA tattoos with my 3 best friends. Fire, Earth (mine), Water, and Air
Weight of Cinema or Sage's Rain. Like choosing my left or right hand.
FailoReachForge Sages Rain has some good insights, but I definitely prefer Weight of Cinema for the beautiful editing and well written narration (the latter of which I feel Sage’s Rain lacks a bit comparably).
Having to choose one would be evil
Fuck me, I'm tearing up at 4:45. I haven't even finished the video but those points are so well made and I think you've effectively isolated the core of Toph's story.
This isn't something I'd considered before, but it makes so much sense now. It may be because I have Asperger's Syndrome and can have similar barriers in relationships. I really identify with these struggles and it makes me happy to reflect on how Toph goes through them and comes out happy and healthy on the other side.
Hmm so development through relationships, rather than the common trope of development through self realization which happens when the character is alone. The first technique like you said gets you more for your buck. I need to practice that more in my writing
I am truly impressed. I have seen a lot of videos about the show, but never was mentioned tophs development through relationship and I did not see it until now. Thank you.
fantastically written
It's amazing that with all of the character development and everything serious going on, so many of the scenes were funny.
This was another great video. I loved how you teased out Toph's origin and it's juxtaposition of the others.
Man, I'm crying. No joke man, I am literally typing this through blurry vision with tears.
My stage name isn't fake. I'm truly on the edge of blindness.
These Avatar videos are 3/3 on making me tear up. Brilliant work as always, can’t wait for the next one (which hopefully won’t be the last time you talk about the show)
Their relationships and struggles mirror the metaphor of the elements and how they mix and contradict one another but work harmoniously. And that it is with all four elements that the avatar is powerful enough to bring harmony to the world.
Beautifully inspirational video… I almost teared up a couple times :'0
This makes me think about myself…
Can't wait for the next video! This series is amazing, every video is as good and even a bit better than the last one…
MogamiArt i agree 💯%
Another fantastic Avatar video. Will be sad when you finish this season off with this last video.
Awesome videos I love them
Toph's character is somewhat alike Rocket Racoon from Guardians of The Galaxy
You should do this type of series also with FullMetal Alchemist
Adan Castillo Brotherhood? Because I believe it is superior to the 2003 show
Romano Coombs Well put. I recently started watching Trigun and I knew it reminded me of something, but with more impactful humor, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Thanks!
Avatar is a masterpiece, but it's not a stroke of luck, an one in a lifetime event... Avatar has nothing new, no innovative way of storytelling or animation...
It's a masterpiece because it shows what it's like when things are done right, the characters are good, the development is good, the story is good, animation, music, etc... Nothing exceptional or innovative, just above average... But every aspect of it, it's perfectly made...
Well that is is perfectly made is in itself already exceptional right ;)
Nice pov.
However, in another perspective, ATLA’s ability to perfect all these literary n cinematic elements are what makes it innovative and exceptional, and not simply above average... because no ideas or stories are really that novel, they’re evolutions or combinations of previous things that already existed, in one way or another.
Wow! I never realized how "blind" I was to Toph. I always thought Toph was the weakest character of the show as I did not realize her flaws I only saw her strengths. The reason being that I have her flaw of not wanting to accept help from others. I do this because I am a strong person and I want others to recognize that about me, I want them to see me as a pillar that they can lean on. It took me a long time to realize how wrong this was. I was always carrying my weight while helping someone else with there burdens while never speaking help for my own. It took a toll on me as I felt to much pain around me as I always felt my pain and the pain of others at the same time with no way to let it out. I was always carrying to much. But that did not matter to me, I could carry the weight that is what mattered to me. I did not want to be a burden. That is probably my only real fear, I do not want to cause someone more pain then they need to.
When I realized I could lean on others I felt as if I had learned to breath for the first time, I felt unrestricted. This had happened to me after I had watched Avatar. Because of that when I watched this video I realized how well written Toph really is. She went through the same things I did. I was blind because I did not see her want for independence as a fault, I saw it as another of her strengths. So now that I can look back after what I have learned I can truly appreciate her as a character.
Man this just proves to me again that ATLA is the HOLY GRAIL of stories.
Thanks Weight of Cinema for opening my eyes!
This series is stunning. It's wonderful to see someone so passionate a show I love.
I remember watching Avatar: The Last Airbender on tv before going to play squash on Saturday mornings back in 2005-2007. Since then I've watched the series 6 times. Avatar: The Last Airbender is truly a magnificent show. The thing that gets my emotions going is the music. Just listening to the soundtracks brings goosebumps and tears so so quickly. Watching your 4 part series brings back so many deep feelings about the show. I'm lost in speech , I can't describe how great the show actually is.
I alllllmost can't focus on what you're saying for the first 2 min and 19 seconds....the music in this show is JUST TOO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just wanted to say you did an amazing job on the music mix and transitions. Flameo sir. Flameo.
It makes me cry when I realize we will never have anything as good as avatar the last airbender.
Especially with the new generation of artists. I just cannot help but find true beauty in the show, sure it has flaws but it is truly beautiful. Its a piece of actual art.
Damn something hit me in the eye. Like a flying elephant or something. Those aren't tears I'm seeing.
Dude, these videos are an absolute treat to watch. The background music and the minimalist overlay give this a lot of flair. Keep on doing what you're doing
YOUR EDITING IS SENSATIONAL. BRAVO.
It is video essays such as these, that show how amazing these characters and relationships are, that makes me wonder if the creators and directors were really thinking about their characters with this complexity.
This video was brilliantly done. I am looking forward to watching the last episode.
Keep up the good work.
I LOVE THIS SERIES (Both ATLA and TH-cam)! I NEED THAT PART 4!!
So far, all your videos in the series have left me in tears and introspective thought. Thank you!
Oh man! You taught me a lot about character building. Avatar is one of my all time favorite cartoons (/anime) and the story of Avatar still teaches me new things about story writing to this day, years after it's airing. Thank you for this informative video series! I can't wait to watch the fourth one when it comes out!
the best show ever. no contest. thank you for this! I love knowing that despite the series being completed years ago, people still admire the beauty of this show
PART 4 HYPE
Can we get a bonus episode on how Iroh was the most awesome treasure of this relationtree and how his warmth and care helped the group to find together? Not only Topf and Zuko, I think he also helped Aang at some point.
Man, I just discovered your channel today, and let me tell you that it is already my favorite TH-cam channel. Love the way you see things. Your style is so unique and brilliant. Keep up with this awesome work. Can't wait for the final chapter!
Despite having a list of things to do and things to watch, I'm going to have to find time to rewatch this lovely show again. Thank you for this video.
I just want you to make a video for every single character's arc at this point 😂
Ugh, why is it so hard to get people to watch such an amazing series
Wonderful work. I've been saving (watching) this video for later.
This was a breath of fresh air after seeing Infinity Wars.
Can't wait to see it myself!
Brace yourself.
Absolutely beautiful, masterfully crafted analysis of the show! You have given me yet another reason to rewatch the show. Thank you!
Dude you're editing, your narration, basically everything is just perfect ^^ very nicely done!
you're gonna make me cry, for real, this is so much
Bro!!!! THESE ARE THE BEST VIDEOS!! Please don’t stop on the next video! I want to hear more thoughts about the show from your perspective!
Heath Dotson
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I adore this series of videos, they make me love and appreciate the Avatar series even more than I already did. Beautiful work 💕
Just came across these videos after rewatching Avatar and I have to say these videos are amazing! Very well done!
Thank you so much for these videos! Toph was my favorite character, I could relate to her a lot (probably because I was around the same age as her when I watched Avatar). I am very dependent, but kinda wanted to show that I wasn't, even so, I could still relate to her a lot, especially regarding her relationship with Katara which was very similar to my relationship with my sister.
Thank you so much, I've seen lots of avatar analysis videos here, but yours are my favourites. Each of them make me think about avatar in different ways and bring about a torrent of feels.
I’m glad I watched this AFTER you released the last part!
Excellent as always Eric. Finally got around to watching the last one and you post this! Thanks for showing me this series dood. :D
You're the coolest, Kyler!
I'll take a moment to appreciate how perfectly the TH-cam Loadcircle fits the the inner circle of your logo when it's on screen. Well, i kinda have to... ;)
You forgot to mention the greatest character: MELONLORD
So. This came up on my home page. I wasn’t sure if I’d already watched the first two parts. I had. I’m still glad I went back to rewatch them. Thank you for reminding me again and again why I loved this series as a child. :)
Edit: Summer though...? Like, June summer or August summer? ‘Cause I really, really can’t wait to see how you cap this little info-mentary off. :D
I'm not committing to a specific date, but I am expecting sometime in June. Thanks for watching!
The Avatar videos you do are excellent. Your analysis is fantastic and this one might be my favorite for biased reasons because Toph is my favorite character.
Omg this soundtrack, so beautiful oml.
These videos are fucking amazing I literally feel more at peace than I ever have when I listen to them
THIS VIDEOS ARE EVERYTHING. GOOD WORK! 😭👏
Loving the extremely well-timed edits. Keep up the work.
Love The Last Airbender videos
Thank you a lot for this small analysis, which was moving and enforced me to love this amazing show even more!
still the best commentary work done about The Last Air Bender .
I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE MAKING THESE VIDEOS!!!!!!!! You're genius at them!!! I LOVE AVATAR!!!! *flails* THE LOVE FOR IT IS STILL ALIVE (even though it's an ""old"" show) I LOVE IIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT ok no more caps lock ahahah! THANK YOU!!!!!
This is going to be enjoyable.
I came here to watch these videos to enjoy a diagnosis of a delightful an amazing show and learn from said features.
I received an extra gift of insight that resonated with my recent self discoveries; discoveries concerning my character and aspects.
Avatar The Last Airbender in great. So is this video. Excellent narration and music selection 10/10
Toph's journey with the gang was about her learning to really on others no because she couldn't take care of herself but because she didn't want to be all alone. She developed as a character to form relationships with others for emotional support. Relationships made her happy. It was for her emotional health that she developed Interdependence. When she first joined the group she was transitioning from being wholly Independent to somewhat reluctantly Codependent.
Impressive. You're truly amazing at this. Made me feel af newfound love for story, character and the show :))
You did it again. Great job dude. :’)
Your videos are so thought provoking and relaxing.
bravo! I love your analysis! I hope there may be more to come even after part 4! I will wait patiently :)
I love this video series. Awesome work!
I'm really enjoying this series! Your videos are so well done and well articulate!
This was such an amazing video! You nailed everything about Toph. She’s such an amazing character and she is my favorite too. I can’t wait for the next one! :)
Awesome video! As always. Love the Avatar content. Just a quick question, where did you get the music from? Every "soundtrack" I find lacks in quality. This sounds absolutely fantastic.
XJ3
I'm fairly certain it's from Legend of Korra, because it uses the violin so much
Jack Landry Yea it’s from legend of korra
For this video, Legend of Korra is right :) Also, when using music from ATLA, I do my best to pull the best quality from the audio file by EQing the music; I work to eliminate the "bad" frequencies and so on.
could you put into the description exactly which songs you used please... Thanks!
I. Th. They both use a variety and Western, East Asian, and other ethnic instruments. Every orchestral sound you hear is a Western orchestra. You are correct that Korra makes use of a wide variety of East Asian instruments, the most notable being the Erhu, a spike fiddle from Mongolia that is kind of the trademark instrument of China. However, the Tsungi horn, a fictional instrument, was created by overdubbing several western instruments (I believe saxophone and trombone among them) with the Duduk, a type of single reed instrument, similar to the clarinet, that is used widely in gypsy and Eastern European folk music styles.
Wow, you've really opened my eyes to these deeper themes, made from a truly powerful tv show. Thanks for the vids and keep it up!
Been checking this channel everyday waiting for this video