Avatar: A Study in Worldbuilding - The Water Tribe

[@HelloFutureMe]

And so this series comes to an end! What a journey. I hope you all enjoyed it. ~ Tim

[@pyeitme508]

Yep cool 😎

[@zenone9698]

You should analyze Xenoblade series world building.

[@balabanasireti]

Okay -Me

[@EmperorZelos]

Funny fact, I made a blogpost on food in worldbuilding.

[@ezraclark7904]

I was here

[@DanCreaMundos]

My theory is that their main export was ice. Not joking, for a while, ice was one of the biggest exports in our own world, back then before fridges and freezers.

[@Markus2E5I6]

And when you can literally freeze water at will it must be crazy easy to become rich off that.

[@zenebean]

Sokka getting an icemaker: I have matched your power at last, sister

[@blackpowderkun]

​@@Markus2E5I6Traveling waterbender making ice for ice houses throughout the land.

[@chartypeplays2396]

True, and that's what Kristoff from Frozen did.

[@revolutionaryrabbit7715]

Arctic fish and pelts might also be major exports. The fur trade was kind of a big deal back in colonial times.

[@OverlySarcasticProductions]

Big full circle moment. So proud to see the evolution from early OWAW videos to four fully published books! Also hooray for Ice-Venice getting some spotlight in this video. -B

[@jforgotten2620]

Hiiiiii 😅

[@growingoaks]

Venice is always so beautiful. I first saw the scenery in Pokemon 4Ever but this was really great too.

[@TeRenner123]

Ice venice good name

[@me0101001000]

@@growingoaks I'm sure it's in part because d o m e

[@justinwhite915]

I can't believe so much time has passed. Those videos are what led me to subscribe to this channel and it's been a fun ride.😌

[@Bogfrog1]

I’d love to see a video on non-Avatar nations like just talking about all the cool one offs. Like Zaofu, Kyoshi Island, the Foggy Swamp, etc. It could be a sort of honorable mentions video divided into different segments. Maybe even a section on hypothetical scenarios and nations if you’re into that.

[@AleXanDraPR369]

The Sun Warriors, the Sand Benders, they gave us so many sub-nations/factions

[@humanperson568]

Would love to see that. I really enjoyed these videos

[@lainiwakura1776]

How are these non-Avatar? Non-Avatar would imply they aren't from the show.

[@just_a_guy_here6]

@@lainiwakura1776I think OP means nations the avatar cycle gets born into

[@chowyee5049]

Brain drain is absolutely a term we use here in Malaysia to describe the migration of our skilled population to greener pastures overseas. It's a distict demographic problem for us.

[@dxgeek95]

Philippines uses that as well.

[@mvdum29]

@@dxgeek95Absolutely true, I've seen some of the smartest people I've known fly abroad to settle down there ☹️ I'm happy for them, but we desperately need more smart people here

[@_sansvisage]

we suffer the same problem here in indonesia

[@nadinebleeeeeeeeeep]

Same for the Philippines

[@Stettafire]

We use that term here too. I've also heard it applied to cities and smaller regions. I'm Welsh and it's very hard for young people to find skilled work here. Most end up moving to England and it's very isolating from your friends and family. Not to mention the English aren't always very accepting of our culture. It's no wonder why young Welsh people are struggling

[@hazok4351]

A few minor things I'd add is... I'd come up with an algae or pigment that is plentiful in the region or that has some special property that would justify them having blue pigments for their skin made clothes. Also, I'd make it clear that both tribes are scattered throughout the region and are not each just the one nucleus that we see in the show. Maybe include the idea of different accents for the regions and nations too, I know it would be hard to convey them in English, though, but it would be pretty coherent if there was at least mention that each part of the world had language and accent differences. Also, they could use earth to plant on, and live on land covered with ice, and not just live on top of icebergs.

[@hazok4351]

Maybe the blue thing could be for spiritual reasons too. This is one more thing I'd change; add more religion. The water tribes were supposed to be very connected to the spirits, so I'd expect something even more xamanistic or tribal forms of rituals, festivals (like Unalaq mentions there used to be) and stuff like that

[@hazok4351]

Also, I don't understand how the nations managed to stay that separate for 10k years. I mean, naturally the services of healer waterbenders would be required everywhere in the world, so the earthbending builders, etc, which would spread at least a few of them around. Also wars have happened, stuff like the Shang system in Yangchen's novels, but we barely see any bender out of their native region. I guessed in ATLA nationalism would push people to be together in their own nations, but it's not very believable that civilization is older than 10 thousand years old in their settings, especially with the technology and advantage that bending brings. Back to the water tribe, Unalaq says that the open portals used to be a way to keep the two sister tribes together with similar culture and people move more easily between them, but the last time the portals were open was 10k years ago and the water tribes didn't exist yet, as people lived on lion-turtles. Despite of the fact that this would have been REALLY COOL, I mean, the fact that the water tribes were two portals away from one another, he had to have been lying (edit: my bad, Any avatar could have opened or closed the portals without harmonic convergence like Korra did, so they could well have been united byvthe portals for some time until an Avatar decided to close them.

[@seanakima50515e]

Understand what your saying 100% but the show wasnt that deep

[@sebastiansilverfox6912]

It would be easy t borrow from the real world with this. Snails are the source of the rare purple dye from the ancient world. This could be altered for fiction to be the ink sacs of arctic squid to make it more common and because the squid are edible, it would make sense for the southern tribes to use as a means of using every part of the animal they kill. You could take this a step further by making the Northern tribe either use snails for the dye or to enrich the ink with something else like kelp (something the Southern tribes would have no interest in doing). This would make a further visual distinction between the two where one uses simple ink to give a blue hue to their garments, possibly to blend themselves better against the backdrop of ice or ocean, the Northern tribe would be more decadent both in style and color. This would make a visual display of the cultural division and demonstrate, even at a glance, the deep schism between form and function that floats on the surface of the resentment between the tribes. This works particularly well because the more you explore why each would dress how they do, the more it reveals just how vastly different these two groups have become.

[@luisfilipe2023]

I think you are overthinking this a little 😂😂😂

[@WoAiTuMadre2698]

It’s actually astonishing how you manage to connect the World of Avatar to proper Historical, Social, Political, and Economical context to such a massive degree. A man of Social Studies I see.

[@devontekuykendall3565]

It's interesting that you mention Brain Drain and talk about the Water tribes. THe Water tribes are heavily based off of indigenous groups. This is a serious problem for Reservations in the United States and Canada, since we're so isolated and when kids go off to college, they call it brain drain and then they dont come back to help the reservations economy and we become ostracized because "we became elites" when really we were trying to find better means much like the dynamics for the water tribes

[@appa609]

This dynamic is not particular to indigenous groups. The entire world experiences this geographic flow of human talent from poor places to rich places. People from Nepal or Vietnam go to India or China. People from India and China go to Canada or Australia. And people from Canada and Australia head to the US. It's the main mechanism keeping rich countries rich and poor countries poor.

[@devontekuykendall3565]

@@appa609 I didn't say it was only indigenous people. And even then, I assume if you were to see where many of those people come from, it's either just rural communities or indigenous people from those regions going to more densely populated areas.

[@montolonzo3836]

they dont allow women to be benders and they achieve peak water bender architecture and civilization and were able to fend off the fireboiz coincidence!!???

[@JMObyx]

You're from one of the Reservations? How would you say does the government owning the land, and therefore your people not being allowed to develop it the way you wish, affect you?

[@valerian8063]

Good question, I'd like to know as well ​@@JMObyx

[@curtiswfranks]

It makes me sad that traditional Southern Style bending probably got basically totally lost. The Avatar (until the end of 𝘒𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘢 S2) and some old documents can provide resources, but most of the waterbenders in the South will have come from or been taught by the North. Moreover, Katara will inherently integrate Northern techniques and even Foggy Swamp and bloodbending styles and knowledge into her bending, meaning that there will be almost no clean continuance of tradition. Even Roku seems to have trained in the North, meaning that - at best - the most-recent in-depth and unadulterated Avatar knowledge is going to be from Kyoshi. But, actually, Kyoshi was trained in a rather slap-dash manner and then by a Northern Tribe bender. Kuruk was Northern. I do not recall about Yangchen, but she seems to have operated in the north. So, basically, the continuous tradition is utterly lost to the SWT and they will, at best, be rebooting from a very old back-up.

[@zenebean]

Yeah, Hama knew the traditional southern bending but focused on training Katara in her adaptable "find water wherever you are" style to ready her for bloodbending, so that one chance to learn directly was ruined by obsessive revenge. It is another layer of tragedy I didn't really think about

[@infinitylord4901]

Wouldn't there be scrolls or books, Katura did steal a scroll from pirates maybe they still it was a Southern Water Tribe one for all we know?

[@curtiswfranks]

@@infinitylord4901: There are, but that is nothing like learning the full choreography in a visual and tactile manner in-person.

[@ajnebula6622]

I'm unsure if he'd pass on the knowledge, and I know it wouldn't be the same, but I re-call Wan Shi Tong saying he knew Northern Water, Foggy Swamp, and Southern Water bending

[@curtiswfranks]

@@ajnebula6622: True, good point!

[@AbrahamVillanueva1]

Thank you! I learned “fuga de cerebros” (“brain escape” will be a more literal translation) is called “brain drain” in English. It’s not only a phenomenon in NZ. A lot of people here in Mexico leave Mexico to go to USA (and others go farther away, Canada or Europe) for better jobs, and better pay.

[@TrinityCore60]

I learned that term from a Lazerpig video. Apparently Russia is suffering from it, too.

[@_oaktree_]

Brain drain is also a problem we see in Canada - we have a doctor shortage in part because doctors keep leaving to go to the US, where healthcare is privatized and you can make more money. (The other part of our problem is that we make it very difficult for foreign-trained physicians to practice medicine in Canada.)

[@unemilifleur]

Exode des cerveaux in French.

[@esthernavarrete1270]

Yes its a real and sometimes preocupating thing i see as a private uni studentnin central México how many of my classmates plan on moving to europe once they graduate or move to northern México so they can get into American companies. They hate that México Is so far back economicaly and technologicaly but they dont ever thing about helping our country themselves

[@HayatoFuhaku]

It's also a problem here in Brazil. The economy just doesn't give a lot of room for proper development, but it seems designed to allow for making ends meet just so people will stick around unless they're set for a brighter future overseas. Coincidentally, we also receive people from foreign countries for the same reason as students and workers leave it, which causes a whole other set of issues (a general feeling of "leeching" being performed by those immigrants). That makes me wonder whether there's a similar situation in the Avatar world, regarding people being marginalized by the locals due to their purpose in moving to a different nation. I know The Promise had something of the sort, but colonization is different from immigration, and Republic City's social issues seem to be mostly about benders and non benders.

[@earlybird2835]

Some may have thought that Tim forgot about this episode, and that the series was over, but I never lost hope. I knew that some day he'd return to teach me about fictional geopolitics. *Avatar Theme plays*

[@bella_daze3092]

*AVATER THEME INTENSIFIES*

[@trisramhughes9935]

Brain drain is the term in the US too. We get it a lot of it between states even, I go to school in Louisiana and it's often joked that the Louisiana Taxpayer has been paying to train Texas engineers for years, since so many people who get scholarships from the local government in Louisiana go to Texas for better job opportunities. Been watching since the Azula Psychology video, keep up the excellent work!

[@hi-ougidemonfang]

The show refers to katara’s and sokka’s tribe as the southern water tribe several times. So it definitely makes it sound like it’s the only one down there but I guess it doesn’t necessarily mean that.

[@Great_Olaf5]

It's entirely possible they aren't reallyaware that there are multiple tribes. I always assumed there had to be, but they're so young that it's reasonable they wouldn't know.

[@fantasymagic97]

Yeah, I took it as one tribe but one obviously made up by more than their village. Well, except when I was a kid and that was a little less obvious and I thought their village was the whole Southern Water Tribe, haha.

[@soupycask]

I think it is important to acknowledge that Avatar uses certain words like “Nation”, “Tribe”, or “Kingdom” differently than in the real world. So broadly speaking, there are four nations, however the use of “nation” is not something that denotes a unified country or even people, but a broad collection of various people who share a similar culture, values, world view, traditions, and of course, element. The Earth Kingdom for instance, despite its name, is not a unified state, but a broad collection of various kingdoms, tribes, and independent townships, united by their shared recognition of the Authority of the Earth King. However despite this, most denizens of the Earth Kingdom still strongly and proudly associate themselves with the idea and identity of the “Earth Kingdom”, rather than their village or with cities like Omashu. Despite their lack of centralized statehood, they still identify as part of a larger “nation”, a greater people, heritage, and tradition. This is similar to Germany before being unified by Bismarck after the Franco-Prussian War. Germany was a collection of various states, big and small, with a variety of different political structures, economies, and later even religious denominations. However despite all this, there was still a broad “German” identity, the people of these states still identified with a larger German heritage and nationhood, which is why despite not being one unified nation-state, they still had various forms of unifying social and political institutions such as the Holy Roman Empire (which is probably the closest IRL comparison to the Earth Kingdom) or the later German Confederation. So with that said, i think the reason why the characters in the show refer to the Northern and Southern Water Tribe as one monolith, is simply because that is the broad identifier and name that the people of this similar culture and people group use for themselves, and the name that members of other nations use for them.

[@darriongeorge5137]

I think they changed that around the comics from it being just that one village to other villages

[@fantasymagic97]

@@darriongeorge5137 Though, Gran Gran’s friend from Katara’s ghost story was from outside their village. And when Sokka claims he’s kissed a girl, he tells her she just hasn’t met her, which all suggests there’s a bit more.

[@hilarymajor3983]

I was in my mid 20s and working full time in 2005. It wasn’t until I started watching your videos in 2019 that I ever heard of ATLA, and that inspired me to watch it in 2020. You, personally specifically YOU, brought me into this world. Thank you.

[@lassegrotkjr6326]

Its weird but wholesome to think about how one person can have this much influence over another persons life with just one choice🤔😌. (in this case, the choice being to make a KZbin Channel about avatar)

[@hilarymajor3983]

@@lassegrotkjr6326 Because I watched the show, I started writing ATLA fanfic. Thats how I met my best friend.

[@Jacksbadatart]

The water tribe are my favorite from the world building stance and I’m so happy that they got the video they’ve always deserved

[@Jacksbadatart]

Also, great video!

[@NS-et5wh]

I'm from Greenland, it's so interesting to see worldbuilding and stories that relate so much to our history and current situation!😄 It's so rare to see stories that are inspired by our culture, I feel like Avatar is the only major one, it's honestly quite touching to see the how much care they've put into further representing parts of our lives in the comics. Great video! 💙

[@Trey-dp6tl]

You could do one of these for Republic City. I think it deserves a study in world building video. But if you wanna be done with this series I don’t blame you. I can tell these are very research intensive

[@appa609]

Republic city is honestly bad worldbuilding. They wanted so badly to create a Western liberal multicultural city that they just bodged the last 70 years of history to conspire to that goal.

[@Trey-dp6tl]

@@appa609 not really. I think it’s very interesting and it’s not purely western. It’s like Hong Kong, a combination of eastern and western culture

[@space_acee]

Korra should be decanonized

[@ultragalacticgamer7195]

@@space_aceeI agree I have no problem with the technology advancement but I do with the overall story of korra. Korra herself and her “team” (her own personal harem)

[@TerryTags]

I've been here for years, and I'm proud of you! As my kids have grown, they've used your videos on worldbuilding as inspiration for their own creativity. My middle kid is now a writer and he's an English major at university. My youngest kid is going to an arts magnet high school, and uses your worldbuilding tips to create the universe her art characters live within. You're an inspiration and a scholar and a gem. Here's to your continued success!

[@michaelyoung4972]

Dude I'm pretty sure I discovered your channel back in middle school and I'm 24 now. It mostly goes into my DnD stuff lately but you've undeniably left your finger prints on my style as a writer and I am much better for it. Thank you.

[@LostWhits]

Do you use any of the avatar world animal/creature mixes in your dnd world? Owl-bear? No it's a platypus-bear.

[@willhancock2453]

Brain Drain is also a term used in the US (don’t want to speak for other countries) - it’s often used in relation to more rural areas, especially Appalachia, but with the same basic pattern you described.

[@andrewwilliams7390]

In the English Speaking Caribbean as well. It is a very common subject in social studies and geography from secondary to university level

[@jamesbernadette6216]

I feel like the word has entered a wider consciousness here in Europe as well, in the context of Russia specifically.

[@kurtadams4791]

It feels very surreal to see this video after so many years of watching and enjoying your work. I’ve been working on my own writing, inspired by you for the past 4 years, in order to take my ideas and transform them into books. It’s been an exciting time and I’m happy to say I’m halfway thru writing my first novel. The journey continues but I want to encourage you to keep creating, both content and your own novels! You are amazing and I’m thankful for your passion and storytelling knowledge!

[@camdean282]

I remember when the earth kingdom video dropped. You have helped me learn to filter and appreciate the quality of writing in shows and I love it. I now know why I don't like certain shows or things in a story and I am even more obsessed with the shows I love because I know why. It helps me really appreciate talented writers and their works more. You the man Tim!

[@dominik6375]

I am so happy I discovered this series by you! As a development economics student this itches a part of my brain that I didn’t know needed itching. Whenever I get asked „Why do you study economics out of all the fun things you could do?“ and admittedly econ has its boring sides, this is why! I feel like it’s like a language and once you understand it you start to see the dynamics that shape every part of our daily lives, where we live, how we move, what we eat, what we don’t have, how we progress etc etc etc. I really love you pointed out to me that ATLA can be analysed for its economic development, makes me love it even more!!

[@meangreenmach0774]

Here, since before, the earth kingdom vid. I remember watching osp and seeing you guys colab and actually smiled bc I got to see two of my favorite creators working together. Keep up the good work, and thanks for so many hours of wonderful education, entertainment, and encouragement.

[@reaperman111]

i really would have preferred if the lion turtles had nothing to do with giving the power to humans. i thought it was cooler that they had learnt it all from the moon, ocean, dragons, sky bison, and badgermoles...the earth kingdom vid wasn't the first video i watched but i've been around more or less since then!! thank you so much for your hard work i always learn a lot and you're a great teacher!

[@AmericanImperium1776]

They got the power from the lion turtles, but each animal taught each tribe of people. Problem solved.

[@darriongeorge5137]

It should've been that the the lion turtles unlock the energy in the humans body allowing them to connect with nature and them learning to bend from the 4 sources

[@venomousfrog5546]

As the other replies mention, I see it more as the lion turtles giving the raw ability, and the Original Benders taught humans how to use their newfound abilities; this is the origin of the bending *arts*.

[@galenrichter41]

the way I always envisioned it when Korra added that lore was that the lion turtles only gave them the *ability* to use bending, but they learned how to use it and use it well from the badgermoles, or the dragons. if you watch the episodes closely, Avatar Wan learns to use bending from the spirits, whereas the firebenders from his village only know how to punch to make a small uncontrolled gout of flame. when they encounter Wan again, they make a point of showing how crazy good he is at bending now in comparison.

[@sparkyblue7016]

@@galenrichter41 I thought lion turtle lore was added back in atla, because aang got energy bending from lion turtle and didnt earn from any animal. So i didnt think of that theory.

[@neptuneamaru5649]

I've been watching your channel on and off for years. I just want to say that, I'm happy that you've got a book out. I hope your story is told to the world and makes it to the big screen. You deserve it.

[@the-nina-beans88]

I had a fanfic idea of one of the water tribe avatars creating the south water tribe to be free of the north’s control

[@Headtalk]

I’ve been watching your videos for ages now. You really helped me keep writing back when it felt like I was wasting my time, and even now I watch your videos whenever I get discouraged. Thanks for all the good work you’ve done!

[@galrozen1895]

I've been a follower of your channel for a few years now, not since the earth kingdom video but I've watched it together with the fire nation one, waited for the air nomads and finally got to see the water tribes - awsome as expectred! Your channel is one of my favorites for ALL of its content and realy inspired me as an author myself. Thank you, Tim, for all of the effort and quality you bring!

[@npzabov]

13:20 It was a term we used a lot in Bulgaria like 15 or 20 years ago. Today it comes up more rarely, but it's still in the public vocab

[@arghscuffelbut3226]

I'm a Nigerian and the term was used regularly in local education (British curriculum) in the last 10 years.

[@CuriousArchive]

And now the elemental cycle is complete. The attention you pay to how the craft of storytelling intertwines with the craft of worldbuilding really stands out. Great stuff as always, nobody makes worldbuilding videos like you!

[@tofupowda]

fascinating how relatively simple details and additions into a story can so broadly expand the world and add a lot more depth than youd think. the spirit oasis allowing for harvest due to the resistance against the changing of the seasons results in the population centering their lives around it which allows their settlement to make more sense due to the additional background. it's something so simple but so many stories lack stuff like this

[@dillonkury1666]

Great work as always man! I've been here since maybe 800 subscribers and I've enjoyed so much over the years watching the channel grow and change and seeing what you do with it. Its been inspiring your videos on writing and world building are what have inspried and allowed me to start working on my own novel. So thanks for all your great stuff over the years!

[@DannyUnruh]

Love you Tim! Been here since the Sub Furies era, when you had barely begun Avatar exploration. I have loved to see your skill grow in discussing these topics over the years, and your work has been a great resource for me in my own work. Thank you.

[@dylanmcaden285]

I think your Earthbenders video was actually the first video I’d ever seen of yours. It actually opened my mind up to watching the series. More than that, your videos have been a GREAT help in strengthening my writing and worldbuilding. Thanks for all your work dude.

[@madamemotarey]

What I love most about these videos is how much it helps me understand our own world better. Thank you Tim

[@jordanvickaryous-remenda876]

I really appreciate your channel. I recall when I found it about 4 years ago and I was blown away. You have gotten better and better, and I look forward to reading your books one day.

[@EmilyW1313]

ok I know this video is a few years old but I keep coming back to this series because I love your videos and I love avatar (separately, but especially together). I didn't realize I had the window I was watching in slightly off-screen. Imagine the jumpscare at 23:24 😅

[@KacielNolwen]

Avatar is how I found your channel, I started watching around your fire nation videos I think and went looking for more. I genuinely love hearing about how this world inspires you and about how world building comes accross through your eyes. Thank you for years of inspiring videos!

[@carlolazol3209]

I actually started watching your channel because of the Earth Nation Video. This. This is a mind-blowing thing. Truly the end of an era. 🎉

[@nathanmusenga398]

Been a fan of this channel since before the Earth Kingdom video and I respect the work you've done here, man! Never really noticed the dynamic between globalisation and developing countries in Avatar which is interesting because I'm from one. But anyway, I haven't read/watched much avatar content outside the original series because the stuff's not easy to access but I learn so much about worldbuilding from your work on KZbin so thanks a lot, Tim!

[@adri.a15]

Avatar is my favorite show ever and has some of my favorite world building. I came across your earth kingdom video when I rewatched both series about five years ago and absolutely loved it. It’s awesome to see how much your channel has grown and all the great work you do. Keep up the good work, I’m excited to see what’s next!

[@TheLetterbomber]

Ah! Finally! I've loved this series so much since it began thank you for your hard work. Extremely minor correction-Agna Q'ela was first named in one of the Kyoshi books. It was Wolf Cove, Sokka and Katara's home, that first got a name in the TTRPG sourcebook :)

[@lumunusgetsuei7763]

I can't believe it's already been that long since I've been watching your videos!! I actually looked back and figured out I must have started with your On Writing series about How to Desing a Hard/Soft Magic System... one day I'll finish writing that novel I did so much research for! Thank you, btw, for your videos and On Writing and Worldbuilding books! I've been getting them when they come out. I can't wait to get this 3rd installation!!

[@TiffinVStorm]

I have been around here for a while and remember the Earth Kingdom video well. I subscribed for How to Train your Dragon content (Dragon Tournament episode 7 when?) but stayed for the other stuff. At the time, I had not actually seen Avatar before and I actually watched in order that I might watch you videos on it and see more of your content. I'm definitely still here and enjoying every video you come out with to this day.

[@fluffy_fluffinity]

Really happy to finally see this video. This brings this mini series to a fitting close. After all this time you finally got to it and you can easily see the love and respect you have for Avatar as a series and as a world. Always appreciate your work

[@CaptainAce2187]

I’ve been here since before the Earth Kingdom video. It’s been amazing to see you and this channel grow! Congrats on all of your hard earned success ❤

[@connordavidson7170]

13:16 That’s been a very real thing in Hawaii. The high cost of living here has driven a lot of people to move to other places in the mainland US such as Washington and Nevada (especially Vegas). Admittedly we describe it as being “priced out of paradise,” but still. The state economy has suffered for it.

[@wildfire9280]

Wow, that really makes you think about Progress… and Poverty.

[@chevin0]

Very glad to see this one! I have been here since the very early days, and now I have the first 2 Volumes next to me while I try to create my own world. I know it's a bit of a meme, but I really appreciate how you come back to Airbender so frequently. Some of the topics are complex, especially the more abstract stuff, and having a series that is so very familiar as a point of reference makes it a lot easier.

[@stevepot]

I've been watching this channel for about 6 years, love your stuff When I think of the concept of "worldbuilding" I think of you

[@ashtingreene8725]

I remember the earth kingdom video. Was one of my favorites then and you've gone on to make so many more bangers! Its been great to see your journey so far. Here's to more greatness to come

[@flamingtunapictures]

My favorite videos of yours are the deep dives into the worldbuilding of the Avatar Universe. The show is already so interesting and believable and you manage to articulate it so tangibly. I love that you narrate as if these are real places, because "they are real" in the context of the original content. Love this one!!

[@FrenchSwissBorder]

THIS IS THE ONE I WANTED THE MOST AND I WAS SO PATIENT FOR SO LONG AND IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Am I the only one super, super interested in how healing abilities of female waterbenders would impact chlldbirth practices? Honestly, the confirmed lack of Water Tribe world-building is a big part of why I DNF-ed the first Yangchen novel. Earth Kingdom politics were interesting enough for one book, but I was 1000% Not Interested in another book about them. (brief reminder that they also mention the name Agna Qel'a in the first Kyoshi novel)

[@taitewilson2075]

I've watched all of your other avatar world building videos!! I'm so happy you finally did the water tribe! I also just got volumes 1 and 2 and hope to get volume 3 soon. I've been using them to help with a redemption arc for my dnd character and help me work on building my own dnd world. Your content always just makes me happy, I can't wait to see what you talk about next! ❤

[@omegamansparkybubbles9159]

Sad to see an end to this series as I've been following it since it began, when I was just a young teenager. Started watching your old How To Train Your Dragon videos back in the day and it's been a joy to watch your work explode in the way that it has. It feels as if you and your channel have kind of matured along with me through the years. Excited to see what comes next from you. It's always a treat

[@themuffinmaster22]

So I went back through your videos to try and remember when I first found your channel and I distinctly remember the How to Design a Magic System series on hard and soft magic. Apparently that was 6 years ago, even before the Earth Kingdom video, and I've been subscribed to you off and on since then. You're very thoughtful and inspiring. You explain things really well and in a captivating way. Whenever you make a video on a topic I find interesting, I am never disappointed. I'm certain you get a lot of positive feedback and you definitely deserve it! I look forward to seeing more of your work!

[@meowsaystiger]

Where is Zuko's Mother was the first time I ever saw you. I have been following you for a long time and seeing your breakdowns and seeing how much passion you had for writing even with the how to train your dragon stuff. You got me to have a different perspective on that series and enjoy it even more than I had before. Avatar has been my favorite show since it released when I was 8 and I appreciate how much you have praised it because it is a writing beacon, and in my biased eyes, a masterpiece. Thank you for not changing too much of how you present things because I love the passion. Thank you, sir.

[@CortexNewsService]

Brain drain is a thing here in the US internally as well. My native state of Indiana has some truly excellent universities. But they have struggled for decades to keep more of those graduates in the states. It's true within states as well. Rural areas across the country are slowly shrinking because there just isn't opportunity there.

[@zenebean]

It doesn't help many rural areas tend to be less friendly for many ethnic and social minorities, so we go to cities instead where it's often safer with larger communities

[@CortexNewsService]

@@zenebean very true. It's why I left Indiana. Not a good place to be an out gay man. Add in highly educated people also tend to be more progressive and don't want to deal with those attitudes either...

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

Is that why the schools in flyover country often don’t have AP classes?

[@cameronmarshall-straw6627]

Hey Tim, I've been around since the sub-fury era ha came for the HTTYD content, stayed for the amazing deep dives into worldbuilding and writing videos. Planning to pick up your books over the christmas holidays 🙂

[@theshadowsagas3617]

As someone who's been around since the "hey Subfuries!" era, I'm glad to see you give this series a worthy conclusion!

[@Master_WannaBe_]

I have been around since the Earth Kingdom video and your four videos about them got me thinking about world building in a way I never had before. I never considered seemingly mundane things like transportation, food, and logistics as vitally important to think about when world building. It surprisingly made the process a lot more fun, and it was already fun to me in the first place.

[@carlosffm]

As someone that has been here for years, your videos are amazing. And as much as I love the series, these videos are singlehandedly the main reason I had to read the books.

[@Gvern100]

Honestly it had been so long I completely forgot that you didn’t do the water tribe so thank you for sticking with it lol crazy to think I’ve been watching for over five years already

[@ChazzKaskes]

I've started running a game in the Atla world and this series has been so helpful. Thanks, as always!

[@urazoe8240]

Truly an amazing video. I often times find myself looking at an interesting Tv Show or Anime with good ground work for interesting an amazing world building and how that could also lead into character development. sadly they mostly stay far below that finding easy solutions instead. So its really fun and comforting to listen to someone with such a great mind about world building. I somethimes feel crazy ranting so in deapth about missed oportunities in worrldbuilding and listening you you help ground me and feel like there are ppl that understand.

[@lazylazerrsp8781]

It's always nice to see the channel revisit old ideas or topics. Not necessarily reverting but more so a fresh perspective on what had become stale with time. The world building of atla is crazy rich and it's characters nuanced enough that a hundred conversations later you still find something new to appreciate of what is now decades old. A children's show that accounted for it's audience growing old enough to understand the deeper themes is sublime.

[@43110M]

I’ve been a fan of this channel not just since the Earth kingdom video, but since the theories about HTTYD, and let me just say, I have loved seeing this channel grow so much since then! Your videos have made me think deeper about my writing and just life in general, and I know I’ll be sticking around for as long as you continue 😊 Also completely unrelated, but I’ve always loved that you end your videos with rain sounds

[@niety5914]

Oh finally I have been wondering when this episode would come for years ever since the Earth Kingdom video

[@PhoenixCrown]

Yes Tim I've been here for the whole journey. Been watching you for years and love your content. Thanks for the deep research, critical thinking, and passion around what fantasy can do for humanity. Stay nerdy.

[@benmaiorella6296]

You mentioned there were other tribes in the south and north briefly, but I was curious if you could point me in the direction of where you got that from? I had always been confused by how small the southern water tribe looked in the original series, and the idea that they were just one tribe of many makes a lot of sense. also nice vid and yes i've been here since that earth kingdom episode and am happy to see the tetralogy finally completed!

[@lauramarschmallow2922]

the comics show how the world changes after the war and in one episode there are other tribes people shown who oppose what happens during that book. (rich north water tribe people help to "help" the southern water tribes. it's actually a pretty nice read)

[@racool911]

I'm excited to see how the water tribes have changed in the next show after being connected directly with each other and Republic City with portals for some time.

[@kiwinostalgianz]

Appreciate the references to Aotearoa, I always felt the southern water tribe mirrored NZ in so many ways.

[@zackwicklund186]

I've been here that long. Congratulations, man. I regularly watch very few KZbinrs and you're one where if i see a post, I'm clicking it as soon as i can.

[@FreelancerStudios100]

been here long tim. ive been here since you were doing how to train your dragon videos or your iroh in the spirit world video that you hate. your worldbuilding lessons have always improved my personal projects. and have been just fun things to rewatch. so here's to more in the future.

[@crystinapierce6833]

I love your deep dive videos. I would love to hear you break down the expanse books (or even just the first one) because they are an amazing case study on writing.

[@casthelion416]

Hard to say I was here when you posted the original earth kingdom video, I joined around that time though, maybe a couple months before, maybe a couple months after. Have enjoyed your videos ever since and can truthfully say you are one of my favourites on KZbin!

[@yellowplaidqueen]

So so excited to hear about your continued accomplishments as a writer, Tim!

[@khadrathunderborn5180]

I’ve been here since your OWAW series began, and it’s truly been an incredible journey to follow

[@Ri-ver]

Just stared a road trip. This will be perfect to listen to. Thanks Tim :)

[@LancePuns]

Christ, when you mentioned it'd been over 200 videos since the Earth Kingdom video, felt like the earth itself collapsed on me. Didn't realize just how long I've been here. Congrats on everything that's happened since then, and on completing the 4 Nations Worldbuilding Series!

[@miguelvales5125]

I've been around since the video on the Earth Kingdom, but I don't remember the content. I'll rewatch it. Thank you for mentioning it.

[@altenbraun7081]

I love this show I love this show I love this show I love this show Thank you for making me watch it (fully, as opposed to my blurry childhood memories of it) 3 years ago because of my curiosity for your video essays

[@jonastoftered4061]

Just wanted to say as you asked. I have been here for about 6 years. Love you videos and analysis. Keep going!

[@k-c5369]

I've been around since the how to train your dragon days.. since before the race to the edge how to train your dragon days.. it's been amazing seeting you grow and develop your craft and although I don't plan on writing any books its still really fun to just sit down and watch these subjects be laid out and discussed in your format. Been here since 65k, hopefully you one day reach that 10mil achievement :)

[@lukelavigne5474]

I’ve been here since before the earth bending video, but these are some of my favorite things to listen to. Thank you so much for your hard work.

[@kairon156]

I enjoy coming back to your channel's content now and again. I like both Avatar and generally thinking about world building stuff. I recall the Cabbage Corp viceo and some of the earlier ones too.

[@danielg.9075]

Definitely been a long term fan, started watching when I was still in school. Always have had a great perspective in writing towards a lot of popular media. Love the videos keep it up!

[@BiTurbo228]

On the multiple tribes front, I've always squared it as there being a couple of layers of ethnic identity at play. People will say 'North Tribe' or 'South Tribe' as a way of distinguishing whether people are from the jorth or south pole, amd then within those two supra-groups there are other sub-tribal distinctions (which themselves might be called tribes). This is fine, and is how ethnic identity works. It layers upon itself. For me, I count myself as European, then British as a layer below, then English, then a Southerner.

[@sWEEc]

I've been here for years, which is honestly crazy to me as well. I guess I didn't realize how long it's been. I always look forward to your videos!

[@casfletcher4076]

Hi! I have actually been around since the earth kingdom video! I love your work and I have all your books. You've helped me a lot with my own writing and I hope to publish soon myself. Thanks for everything!

[@ehdrake]

OOOOF your comment about food was a great focus for me. Working on a zombie western right now and this is something that's been making my brain twirl.

[@maxvanstraten818]

Yess! Finally the last edition to this great series. I’ve been watching you since your httyd era, keep up the great work! I actually don’t write myself. But your videos help me understand the world around me better. It also helps me fall asleep lol. Ps. Really hope this is not the end of this series, republic city, the swap, whatever. More worldbuilding on avatar please!

[@Gigasmasher]

Not sure if I’ve been around for all of the Avatar Studies, but I have been here for a while, and your videos have been a great help in my own writing. I self-published my first novel this year, and you’ve been a big help in making me consider things for my own world building that I hadn’t before. You stay nerdy too, Tim, can’t wait for more videos in the future.

[@darkwarriormaster9644]

Whenever I watch your credits scene with the rainy background, it always reminds me of “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams. so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens

[@SiggiGumma]

I have been waiting for this episode since you posted the one about the earth kingdom. Love this video (and all of your content) and hope you have a wonderful christmas

[@FireStrikerShadow]

I've been here since the earthkindom study video! Didn't realise its been that long... thank you for all the fun and help with writing over the years

[@balabanasireti]

There's a lot of world building in Avatar that you can talk about

[@20000dino]

What a nothing comment lmao.

[@nidohime6233]

That's why is so popular as a show and as a source on how to write one.

[@excaliburturkey8208]

I have been here since the OG earth kingdom vid! it's crazy to think how long it has been and how much the channel has grown!

[@davidalejandrocardonanaran6216]

I have been here brother, it's been a great journey and the way you've impacted my story building and telling thanks to the explanations you give is incredible. Thanks thanks thanks!

[@gfandbflove]

I’ve been around since your earth kingdom video. I absolutely love your world building videos and it really helps me with my own writing.