AANG LEARNS EARTHBENDING! Avatar The Last Airbender Season 2 Ep 9 REACTION | ATLA 2x9

[@SpaceAngelMewtwo]

Fun fact, over the course of the entire show, Earth is Aang's second most used element, despite it being his opposite. I suppose since Earth was harder for him to learn, he feels more proud of himself for learning it, which motivates him to use it much more often than Water, which he was able to use immediately the first time he tried it.

[@UberLeetGlitch438]

Well, that, and he may have had more consistent access to earth than water. Why he didn't just take a page out of Katara's book and carry around some filled waterskins, I'm not sure; maybe it would've weighed him down too much to fly or do all those airbender acrobatics he's most proficient with?

[@HarukaLPs]

No one can understand zuko until they do. That ending always breaks my heart

[@Charsept]

Zuko at the end with the "You've never held back before!" My guys had a rough time.

[@boraicho6144]

"that's rough, buddy"

[@Hulkzilla0]

This episode is essential as it introduces one of the best characters in the series. Foo Foo Cuddlypoops

[@nathanielreik6617]

The first 2 moves Aang used against the saber toothed moose lion were more classic airbending styles with deflecting attacks, but while Aang still used air in his final move against it he used an earthbending style of directly forcing the creature back, facing it head on.

[@marvelsandals4228]

He didn't run, or redirect, or any funny business. He stood his ground, refused to be moved, and forced his enemy to yield to his overwhelming force. Even a wild animal immediately realized it was outmatched, turned around, and fled the area, recognizing Aang as the winner. Good stuff

[@androsram641]

Iroh: My beloved Lu ten. I will see you again (then zuko appears) this scene only emphasizes what iroh told zuko about seeing him as his son. He found a son in zuko.

[@The_One_In_Black]

It's not that Iroh is disappointed in Zuko, it's that he fears Azula will kill him.

[@victorjaneiro3562]

I always thought it was something else: He is not disappointed that Zuko couldn’t do it. Zuko’s failure confirms to Iroh about the turmoil. I think that is what worries him and that’s why he reacts that way.

[@stefankatsarov5806]

@@victorjaneiro3562For sure.

[@Shuyin128MK4]

Uncle Iroh is by far my favorite character in the series xD

[@northwestclasspnw7974]

I feel like Zuko might be my favorite. But it's absolutely a struggle between Uncle and Nephew

[@LitBoiLuke]

sokka my favorite he too funny

[@joshbetten3633]

Uncle iroh is everyone’s favorite!

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Ozai is my favorite. I like villains!

[@Shuyin128MK4]

@Eh......... ???

[@juanmanuelsernapulgarin5371]

toph is how a real master of earth bending should be, stubborn, obstinate, driven by her own will and as strong as a rock

[@lucasfurtado2224]

14:17 "Young man yells at cloud" 😂

[@The_One_In_Black]

I didn't realize: Aang worked to learn earthbending in the same episode that Zuko worked to learn waterbending.

[@marvelsandals4228]

Zuko didn't learn waterbending haha maybe you mean lightning

[@The_One_In_Black]

@@marvelsandals4228 Lightningbending is waterbending used by a firebender.

[@boraicho6144]

​@@marvelsandals4228lightingbending, at least in the way Iroh does, is waterbending form/principles applied to firebending. And that's why Iroh become so well versed at firebending, it's cause he traveller the entire world and incorporated teachings from others bends into his knowledge.

[@carlbowen7965]

The parallels of Zuko and Aang in this show are plenty. The storm in season 1. Incorporating the other styles of bending here. They keep coming and they keep on coming

[@curtiszyr]

13:39 momo was also worried about sokka

[@nicholasmaddocks7545]

Avatar Extras (apologies for the lateness) Bitter Work "Bitter Work" is a loose translation of the words "kung fu". Kung fu is more accurately defined as a skill acquired through hard work. And it applies to any skill, not just kung fu. 0:54 A "sifu" is a kung fu master who passes on their knowledge to others. 2:17 Iroh is a bit of a tea snob but a polite tea snob Airbending is evasive and earthbending is aggressive. Hence the natural opposite of airbending. 4:09 "Like a Rock" is a popular song by Bob Seger. This episode is a great parallel for Zuko and Aang as both are learning new kung fu and experiencing a kung fu block 8:39 It's like what Roku told Aang in season 1, he knows that he would learn it because he’s done it before. The saber tooth moose lion is a combination of a saber tooth tiger and a moose. 11:29 yeah seriously Iroh’s right. Here’s a fun story from history: A German physicist Georg Wilhelm Richmann attempted to recreate Ben Franklin’s (one of America’s founding fathers) famous lightning experiment only to die as a result of the ensuing explosion of the lightning ball. Georg would be the first person in history to die while conducting electrical experiments.

[@nathanielreik6617]

Sifu is a term used in Chinese martial arts that is basically the equivalent of Sensei.

[@marvelsandals4228]

Yes, Sensei is Japanese for teacher/master/doctor and Sifu is similar in Chinese

[@saphcal]

yes and the earth kingdom is heavily based on chinese culture IRL.

[@silentassason]

You know when Iroh says someone's gotta be taken care of he means it 😂

[@user-yf6zz3cl8i]

Sifu is basically the Chinese version of sensei

[@kittyunderwood8918]

Zuko yelling at the sky, and all I can see is your bedspread lol. Which is fine cause I've already seen all of these a dozen times at least

[@Zukrad.Oudeteros]

if you see the stand aang used at the end against the beast that is the same stand toph told aang to use against the rock, he stood his ground literally, there is another character that uses a stand of a different type of bending (other than zuko/iroh using a waterbending move to redirect lightning )

[@stefankatsarov5806]

All water benders use earth style when they use ice.

[@NeddyMontz]

2:32 Iroh admitting that Azula's crazy 🤣 I don't blame him; she almost killed him.

[@MauPauBL]

Haha they let toph eyes uncovered in the stone armor instead of her nose and mouth, like she needed to see through the armor

[@cattievogelsong96]

The other point i almost forgot to make is about the Saber Toothed Moose Lion. So saber toothed cats are extinct making it harder to speculate and know things about their behavior. But moose and lions are both territorial. Lions will absolutely fight intruders in their territory even if the cubs are safe for now. So that is what i think is happening. This mama moose lion doesn’t like the two lagged creatures who are clearly big enough to be a threat to her cub. So she tries to drive them out of her territory or fight them even after her cub is safe.

[@marvelsandals4228]

In other words, the only way to protect your "cub" (or in this case, your friend) is to stand your ground and be the bigger, stronger saber toothed moose lion. Be so stubborn that a wild animal runs away from YOU after being defeated. You don't have to kill it, but you have to bear your fangs and say "NO" you will not get any closer, if you do, I will push you back with extreme force. That whole scenario snapped Aang out of his usual airbender attitude and proved to him that when the chips are down he does have what it takes to be strong and brave, when his friends are in danger.

[@magne7771]

Oh don't worry, Iroh stuff makes _me_ bawl inconsolably, too.

[@MrMayes-qy5ru]

You can tell the favoritism of Iroh when you call him "Uncle" as well😊

[@stephentaylor3437]

And they say Sokka still thinks about whatever that was to this day....

[@cattievogelsong96]

Part of what makes the magic system in avatar so interesting is the emphasis on philosophy. Aang can do lots moves. He is a talented martial artist. But the mentality alludes him. Toph begins with more normal training exercises. Seeing her student is struggling because he can’t get the stand your ground mind set. She changes plans and does more and more drastic exercises. Her says yeah whatever go splash around until you feel better was in part protecting her own ego. She believes she is the greatest earthbender in the world. But when faced with a difficult student she initially fails and threatens her perceived greatness. The fact that for both Aang and Zuko the new skills are about a mindset is wonderful. Instead of simply saying someone has a power level, the characters have to build of discipline and mental clarity. Its not just punching air. You have to look at a boulder and say, you are moving not me. I don’t know if that made any sence….

[@gerrya2133]

I never took Toph telling Aang to go splash around as a weakness she saw in herself. She was quite adaptable in trying out different teaching techniques and altering the plan throughout the episode. I took that as her recognizing that Aang wasn't ready mentally, and at worst was giving up on him for the moment, but I don't think that's the case either. She recognized he needed a break but didn't want to say it outright and/or needed some time to think up a new approach (which ended up being trying to push his boundaries by taking his bag of nuts and all that.) The other parts are spot on though.

[@ILikeCHEEZ9]

Episode one they emphasized it's not magic within the first few lines of the show Also you read way too much into that. She's just a spoiled only child who didn't emphathize much with others, but she really didn't care about aang giving up to "protect her ego". The only time she's done anything close to that is denying she cared about her parents Also, she literally is the greatest bar none

[@HazySkies]

This makes perfect sense, especially about the discipline and mental mindset to being a bender. With such heavy eastern inspiration, it's natural there would be a lot of focus on discipline, balance and directing of energies. Much like any discipline and art form, there's always more to learn and improve on, and throughout the show there's anyways another lesson and knowledge to be gained.

[@gerrya2133]

@@ILikeCHEEZ9 And you're using too narrow of a definition of "magic" in a casual conversation. Bending in magic in normal, real world, casual conversation. She definitely did care about teaching Aang, which is why she kept trying different strategies. OP is just wrong in that she didn't think him not being able to pick it up in a single day was a failure on her part. And there is a dispute in who is the greatest. Bumi is in the conversation. (Without spoilers, apparently there's even a comic or novel or something that brings up that question about the two, likely created because there is some dispute)

[@cattievogelsong96]

@@gerrya2133 you know i had a much longer writeup explaining myself and my perspective on the episode. I felt like it was too much of a summer and only kept that part about Toph possibly being insecure. It’s and interpretation. I though i would put it out there. Yes i know about how in many eastern stories people work for their gifts. I am eastern asian believe it or not. Often when i comment of reaction videos, i try to post hot takes, less popular opinions or more obscure observations. Not that I don’t appreciate or even agree with many main stream options but it makes the comments more interesting if there is potential for disagreement. The point i was trying to make is after trying the conventional Tooh tried the unconventional to get Aang to earth bend. She then tried being a dick to insight him and get hime to stand up to her by wacking his staff around. After that failed she capitalized on an organic situation Aang found himself in, fighting the saber toothed moose lion. And upon victory she encouraged him telling him he can do it. And he does. Good characterization for Toph.

[@williamrosmer5629]

sifu is the chinese word for teacher/master

[@HazySkies]

Effectively the Chinese Sensei

[@The_One_In_Black]

Although the fluent speakers I've heard pronounce it more like "shirfu."

[@Stimulation334]

Iroh threw azula in the ocean the first episode they met. Last episode he dropped her on the ground.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Azula's first words to Iroh was probably "go die".

[@Stimulation334]

@@TheMrPeteChannel she was evil coming out the womb. I think her first words to iroh is "Azulon going to kill you. Really he is."

[@lightningg252]

I've always been like Aang in temperament, very go with the flow, happy to share and compromise. But there are times when others, intentionally or not, have taken advantage of that and I've had to learn to stand my ground. Great lesson, great episode.

[@thewandering01]

Sifu is teacher in Chinese, the same way you may have heard of Sensei, which is teacher in Japanese.

[@estebanventura4620]

She isn’t ready for these next 2 episodes😭😂I’m excited for her to release them

[@carlbowen7965]

100% agree

[@Coolguy365es]

She loves Appa 🥺😭😂😂😂😂😂 poor girl

[@brianbeach3024]

In the last episode where Iroh realized that Toph was fighting alongside the Avatar, after having a heart to heart with her, followed by early in the next episode saying how Azula needs to go down, I think it’s that moment he realized just what the Fire Nation had turned in to. Before this point he was a good person, but still sided with his Family, yet after only sided with good.

[@rogertemple7193]

This episode of Avatar is good i saw it on Nickelodeon awhile back and i really like Avatar and the characters.🙂👍🐶👋

[@HarukaLPs]

Air is freedom Earth is substance Das why Aang didn’t get it at first

[@quintorro]

"Hey Melon, it's guys here" 😂

[@northwestclasspnw7974]

This is the FIRST TIME i've heard the Naruto/Sasuke comparison!!! You're very right; and it's INSANE to think both of these shows aired around the same time. Watching Naruto AND Avatar in my childhood is UNMATCHED

[@HareemByron]

facts

[@marcoftheninja6278]

Sifu is the chinese term for martial arts master or teacher

[@northwestclasspnw7974]

Katara is such a sweet loving mother character, then Toph is an unrelenting loving older sister.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Ehhhhh, younger sister.

[@Shnauften]

Here we have peak emo Zuko

[@KutlwanoMosime-bb2rc]

Did you just say "hey melon it's guys"

[@DrekeXorn13]

WHAT TURMOIL?

[@MrGBH]

Even Iroh doesn't think Azula can be redeemed

[@no1guy825]

saying she's crazy and needs to go down doesnt necessarily mean....kill your sister. Honestly that whole line Zuko has about getting along with his sister is an obvious joke setup. It makes no sense on its own. There's no way either of these men believe they should be making peace with Azula at episode 9 of this season. So, it's a bit of a break from the actual logic they have about her. Jokes can do that. However, "taking her down" essentially means giving her an L. She needs to be defeated or repelled, and she can't be reasoned with in terms of actually dissuading her or being left alone as fugitives. He knows her and she needs to suffer a defeat in order to be avoided. So, in a perfect world, he and Zuko would turn her away or possibly injure her so she can't attack, bend, or bring them in for punishment. Iroh really gives no commentary on Azula on a serious level.

[@paulbrown9328]

@Eh.........I hard disagree azula isn’t beyond redemption. Most of her actions are driven from being a daddy’s girl. Plus she is 14 years old and never experienced anything outside her father, conquering, and training. You can tell from the ember island episodes where she doesn’t even know how to socialize when she wants to. In Zuko alone she even goes on about how her dad would be so much, better always hyping him up.A good arc for her wouldnt necessarily be redemption but, discovering who she is without her father and a nation. Yes she is crazy but, crazy people can do stuff for the greater good. Since there was a Naruto reference in the vid I’ll make one as well. Azula could very well be like the foundation or anbu black ops from Naruto. If she used her manic personality and skill for people instead of just a whim and conquering. There are so many places they could go with her character and none of them are bad even a redemption arc although I prefer her to become like a black ops who is manic but for herself and not for daddy or a nation or a someone who escapes and tries to slowly rebuild what Ozai and sozin wanted. If they had a series that takes places after this and before Korra. I can see Azula plotline where Zuko finds his mother and brings her back to the fire nation and Azula is confronted by her and she sees just how broken she became and Azula gets a talk from her mom about how she needs to let go of her defeat and her father to figure out who she is without that. That’s just my personal fan fic though. For this series specifically I think it’s perfect she was a villain the entirety but, it’s easy to see how the could do so much more with her character because there were plenty of signs of it in the series.

[@coltchan7380]

Ik you weren’t ready for the next 6 episodes.

[@Animelon]

I wasn’t

[@tstuart9148]

well it gonna be a tuff learn for aang edpsically since he dealing with he oppised element and 5:54 is what happens when you try to command an advance from of elemently bending with without proper practice and pacencite it will blow up in your face.

[@Kayoss13212]

Yeah. That’s why I was kind of annoyed with Katara. Aang is learning a completely different style and philosophy. She shouldn’t have kept interfering. Or even trained him at the same time as Toph. They should’ve had a schedule (at least realistically speaking. Lol.)

[@andrewsotelo70]

Hey melon it’s guys? Haha I just caught that at the beginning 😂

[@MarisuSedai]

All hail the Melon Lord! 🍉

[@Renegadetev1]

She threw some rocks at the avatar and he got all whiny and sokka fell in a whole

[@dashinhayes]

Okay I suscribed but only cause u watching my favorite show of all time nd I want to take that journey with u lol

[@rowlandandrew9597]

Hi Melon The one thing is all great about Avatar the last Airbender is the Character righting is fantastic For both the hero and villain And that can be felt especially at the end of this episode with Zuko speech moment in the storm

[@StarrPower2232]

Toph has to be hard on Aang because Katara always babies him.

[@smdownh9]

no she doesn't

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

​@@smdownh9yes she does. That is when he's not out bending her.

[@smdownh9]

@@TheMrPeteChannel no she doesn't she is just calm and has different teaching style mainly because she is a water bender and Toph in earth Bender. and she can't be babying him when he out bends her because that is when she is the baby

[@IamnotJohnFord]

Aang easily got air bending and water bending because those styles are based on going with the flow and/or redirecting. Fire bending requires discipline. Earth bending requires being aggressive and assertive. Aang is not disciplined, aggressive or assertive. But, he's learning. I imagine that the way the monks teach air bending doesn't take anything else into consideration because air benders won't be bending any other elements. Enter the Avatar. They have to be a balance of all things.

[@dayhen8581]

I love watching people who never seen Avatar before

[@elyisusking3603]

Melon really isn't ready for the next few episodes...

[@coltchan7380]

She already finished recording Season 2

[@HazySkies]

@@coltchan7380 Then I guess it'd be more accurate to say she _wasn't_ ready for it.

[@elyisusking3603]

@@HazySkies considering how she loves Appa, i can't imagine her reactions to his kidnapping or the "Appa Lost Days" episode

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

I warned her to stop!

[@antonioherrera1324]

Bbbbbbooooosssttt the algorithm 🎉🎉

[@naijagerd7909]

Melon Lord. 😂 I'll keep typing this (whenever I watch your reaction), till THEN.

[@TK-hw2ph]

You mean you’ve never heard of “Sifu Seagal” ? 😂😂😂

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

9:46 Asking Aang for meat is like asking a Vegan for meat or Jew for bacon or a Muslim for alcohol or a Hindu for a hamburger. 12:29 that's the mom. It's a she.

[@miguelzepeda9086]

Did you say "hey melon it's guys here"

[@Matagu1]

Strange... people pronounce Appa correctly but Aang totally wrong.

[@saintjimmy9114]

yoooo I'm the 666th like 🤘

[@jakesmith5278]

Hey Melon, love these reaction videos of yours. Btw, since this is a melon channel, why not show some actual melon eating to go with the channel?

[@ILikeCHEEZ9]

thats creepy

[@JSargeK]

If you need more Melon, just watch Anthony Fantano too

[@zxpy_not_real3080]

Where the hell is dragon ball z at???

[@The_One_In_Black]

Dragon Ball Z has never been on this channel.

[@KutlwanoMosime-bb2rc]

Did you just say "hey melon it's guys"