Avatar: The Last Airbender: Season 3, episodes 10-11

[meganbmoore]

Comments include mild spoiler for Boiling Rock.

Invasion! Eclipse! Battle scenes! Naval warfare! Submarines! Flying warships! Sieges! Bombs! Torpedoes! Tons of random guest characters! But not bounty hunter girl that Iroh liked! That one causes me woes. But what is that thing of Haru’s face? That wasn’t there because, was it? It needs to go away. I love how Sokka apparently just wrote own a list of every person he ever met over the first two seasons.

And Iroh finally breaks out of prison! And I am so very, very happy that there was someone to sneak him tea. There has been woefully little Iroh this season, but what there has been is choice. Even when he doesn’t speak. And I love that he’d already destroyed the prison and escaped by the time Zuko got there to rescue him. And I love this line: “Ming, you’ve been kind to me and treated me well, and I do not think you want to be here this afternoon. Take the day off.” And she was all “Oh, jailbreak time. Guess I’ll head home. I wonder if my binoculars will work far enough for me to see the show?”

And Zuko finally turns traitor! I’m actually surprised it took this long, as it was obviously coming since early season one. Uhm…uhm…I think I’m a bad fan, because, while I appreciated the drama and importance of his facing Ozai, I was thinking “Zuko! You are being serious and impressive with your angst! But you’re more fun when you’re being a highstrung emotastic angstmuffin with a side of dork!” And I’m glad they mentioned Ursa, and that she was alive. So, she committed treason and put Ozai on the throne to save Zuko? I think there’s more of her in Azula than Azula realizes.

But Zuko…saying goodbye to your girlfriend’s painting and leaving her a note without ever even (that we know of) dropping feelers to see if maybe she’d come with you? I’m glad I know Mai later whacks you with that letter and tears you a new one. Also, she thankfully isn't one given to angsting and blaming herself, so hopefully there won't be more than the necessary amount of moping.

Katara/Aang romantic scenes continue to be awkward. I’m very much on board with “Aang has a crush on Katara, and when they grow up, they will get married,” but the way they’re pushing the pairing this season is just making me go “OMG NO TWELVE AND FOURTEEN!” But then, I’m 28. I’m sure the 8-12 year olds the show is written for think it’s awesome, and that’s what matters. At least the kiss was supposed to be a bit awkward.

Did anyone else compare Azula to Spider-Man in their heads when she was fighting Aang, Sokka, and Toph? I mean, I’m sure she moves like that all the time, but I think it stands out more when she doesn’t have any powers. I loved how blatantly she was setting them up, and the lying exchange with Toph. Azula trying to flirt in The Beach was fun, but nothing’s like Evil Azula.

The invasion, of course, was going to fail from the start. You can’t have them take down Ozai and the fire nation halfway through the season. I’m glad, though, that Sokka’s first go at leading troops ended in failure, just because it’s good for character growth. And I may or may not have rewound his war speech a few times to rewatch it. I’m sorry, Sokka.

And there was a Suki name drop! And Suki name drop causing Sokka to lose it! Suki name drop! (I only have a few more episodes to wait on this front, right?)

But where were Mai and Ty Lee during this?

Also, Azula’s idea of souvenirs is a pair of secret agent earthbending spies. Azula is the best shopper ever.

Randomly:

1. Was Azulon mentioned by name before? Because I’m pretty sure I hadn’t realized before that Azula was named after her grandfather.
2. Aang got a Dramatic Haircut! Err…shave. I love dramatic haircuts! Though I was kinda getting used to his new look.
3. Speaking of haircuts, I rather hate Katara’s new hairstyle. The one she’s been sporting all season worked because of the fire nation clothes, but the should have gone back to the braid.

And in conclusion: airships and jailbreak!
 

Comments

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

I think I mostly I agree with you. Except I did love Zuko's speech in DotBS. I mean I thought it was ridiculously overly dramatic (this is why I have a oh, dramatize Zuko icon, in many ways :D) but I also thought it was awesome. It was pay off. For how long it had taken for Zuko to make his mind, and for the regular pathos that Zuko had had to undergo before (despite how much I had fun mocking him for his angsty ways before)
But I still prefer him as the dork he is.

Someday I need to get around to read Saiyuki.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Oh, I liked the speech, it's just that I don't get as much enjoyment out of Zuko being serious and played straight as Angsty Young Hero.

Zuko and Kougaiji are essentially the same character in different circumstances, IMO. When I started watching Avatar, it was very hard for me not to call Zuko Kougaiji.