How FIREBENDING Completes Aang - Avatar The Last Airbender

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

"Water is cool and soothing. Earth is steady and stable. But, fire... fire is alive! It breathes... it grows..." *- Master Jeong Jeong*

[@purgatory671]

Holy shit how long did you sit here and comment? ive found like a dozen or so

[@FlopNonStop]

@@purgatory671 It's in his name. He follows me wherever I go

[@aliveforlife]

Isn't it ironic how fire needs air (oxygen) to exist - pls don't go into clmplex physics about word choice and exceptions - and fire nation decided to destroy air nomads (we know what was their supposed reasoning but still).

[@nathanielreik6617]

"Fire is life, not just destruction." -Sun Warrior Chief

[@joelkoh7365]

"Water is cooling and soothing..." Introducing Hama

[@deandredukes95]

*”Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will and the energy and drive to achieve what they want.”* - Iroh

[@charmainen8475]

Fire makes him force his potential to cause harm. For a pacifist, that’s a deeply painful truth to face and admit.

[@DerfLlennod]

Which is sad as that's saying water, of all things, is not harmful.

[@samlung2724]

Ahhh, Face, I see

[@Drift_Potato402]

​@@DerfLlennodNo? We all drink water every day. We are mostly made of water. Does water kill? Absolutely, does it harm the moment it touches us? No. Fire does, it hurts us the moment it comes in contact with us. Fire has been used as a weapon for decades. Many uses for fire are related to ending lives. Water is inheritantly more peaceful than fire. Doesn't mean it doesn't carry it's own danger, it's just that the danger is less prominent.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Aang accepting Fire was the same as Aang accepting Zuko.

[@lucasscoz6090]

yep the part he missed to face firelord ozai was always zuko

[@Inneys]

I would love for you to cover Zuko in the Final Agni Kai and how he bends like he's using other elements

[@octaviohenrique6079]

This IS why a wanna to see more about the sand benders, they bend earth like It was air

[@alfonsopayan09]

@@octaviohenrique6079great point that’s not mentioned as much as it should

[@orionp4532]

​@@octaviohenrique6079Shit you're right

[@ericschuller908]

It's always challenging in martial arts to completely change your style and approach. I used to be a very mobile and dynamic fighter, emphasizing fluid and unpredictable movements, dodging and surprising people with a large and surprisingly adaptable body. But after a critical and permanent injury in my right leg, I had to completely change the way that I fight. Instead of being able to simply weave and dodge or run like I once did, I had to stand my ground. Thankfully, I had a teacher who helped me to change my ways to a more stable and grounded style, learning to cut off an opponent's options for lateral movement and making use of my long reach - for context I'm a swordsman - to go in for a finishing strike. I had to take ownership of my body and size, not simply trying to dance around opponents to strike them where it would cause the least pain. It took six months, training for about 20 hours a week, just to form the basis for a new way of fighting that would make my injuries worse. And it's taken seven years since then to truly understand my own philosophy when it comes to martial arts. My point in this lengthy anecdote is that I get Aang's challenge with how he struggles to adapt.

[@tentiapoe]

thank you for this anecdote, your story is inspiring for me

[@LaLloronaVT]

Very similar thing happened to me where I was quick and light on my feet but after injuring my knee and shoulder I couldn’t really even walk properly for a long time, had to adapt my style to be much more defensive and to also stand my ground, I’m happy you were able to adapt, I managed to heal from my injuries after years of practice and I gotta say that it’s magical to be able to have the option to be light on my feet again

[@michelle6250]

Damn i paused the vid to read this and completely forgot this was about TLAB 😭 you’re such a good storyteller I might have as well seen this in 4k. Was your new form a fusion of what you could salvage and Sth more head on or did you lean more to one? I just came watched his earth bending essay and the change in Aang’s style was so drastic. Esp watching him bend other elements after picking earth up-

[@mategido]

God if I could ever experience this for the first time again…

[@Koroto]

Same... same... 😭

[@Tay20]

Wonderful memories ❤

[@agbaya5314]

You and me both mate

[@AlphatrusBensIII]

Think about the avatar cycle as a whole. Fire. Air. Water. Earth Aang’s fear is POWER and RESPONSIBILITY A kin to Fire Benders Korra’s fear IS LOSING CONTROL AND CHANGE A kin to Air Benders The nature is the same but the nurture is different in the avatar cycle

[@andersonwonder9357]

Don’t bring korra into this she is just a lazy marry sue

[@dyssealex]

@@andersonwonder9357 korra has good elements and is overall a decent show

[@andersonwonder9357]

@ no lmao

[@alexanderwang540]

@@andersonwonder9357 Ah, yes. Everything went her way when conflict arose.

[@andersonwonder9357]

@@alexanderwang540 it did tho. When she got her bending taken from Amon she gained air bending to save the day.

[@Heylon1313]

Man, your analysis of the fight against Ozai is so beautifully written. Your scripts are getting better and better. Kudos to you, Koroto

[@phantasma_]

I think the reason Aang found it so easy to bend fire originally because he always had his inner fire lit, like most fire benders do. He just had to deal with the moral complexities developed during this time, and that's why he needed the sun warriors to realise where fire bending really comes from

[@yurkdawg]

I always thought that the momentary flash of the Avatar State is the epitome of mastering all 4 elements. We see Kyoshi and Roku using it, and of course Aang at the very end. It allows them access to the complete Avatar State power, but by that expert-quick flash, practically eliminates the risk of dying in the Avatar State and breaking the cycle. (Btw - that's also why I was annoyed as Tenzin to see Korra recklessly using it (at length) as a "booster rocket" in a silly race. 😜)

[@davidtran9455]

yea i noticed that too. when other avatars use it it’s always a quick flash but when aang uses it (except for at the end) he goes in for a while because it’s a reaction and he’s not in control

[@MicheleeiRettili]

gosh, your analysis was SPOT ON. I'm teared up

[@deandredukes95]

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

[@Soulheim]

Great video! And it also made me realise why I loved the final battle between Aang and the fire lord so much; Aang was in complete control. His moves were meticulous and calculated, unlike previously where it was more a reactionary bending style. I would love to hear your analysis on Korra's bending!

[@eonstar2441]

I feel so lucky to have grown up watching this on television

[@wherethetatosat]

Something I always found fascinating was that Aang should be well aware by the time he meets Jong Jong how dangerous fire is. But his kid mentality treats it as a parlor trick. It's an aggressive element from what the show presents. Fire also represents being able to assert your will. So when Aang finally decides it's time to learn firebending and take it seriously, it shows that he's matured enough to take his duty as the Avatar seriously.

[@mirmatron4172]

in defense of “the Phenix King” lol he was gonna just burn down the whole earth kingdom and rebuild the new fire nation from the ashes

[@andersonwonder9357]

Phoenix.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Zuko: I want to join your group. Aang: No. 😠 Zuko: I burned Toph. Aang: Okay. You can join.

[@jacksonadams9737]

Aang: "He's like me for real."

[@heehoopeanut420]

​@@jacksonadams9737🤣🤣

[@speismissing]

imagine if the Air Monks weren't pacifists.. they'd be terrifying. as shown in Korra, they can take the air off your lungs and just watch you suffocate

[@pickaxe6742]

Koroto you are genuinely such an important part of the video essay community on KZbin in a time where its increased popularity is resulting in more and more slop. It makes my evening every time you upload a new overanalysing AOT and its amazing to see that your good takes stretch across serieses. You are always thoughtful and constructive and have such an amazing brain for analysing visual media and storytelling. From this video in particular I loved the observation about how the cycle isnt just arbitrary, its a meaningful order based on the differences in each of the shows, thats so amazing I never imagined it like that !!!!!!! Terrific video man please keep it up you're one of the best !

[@DomyTheMad420]

ooh so that's why he refused to teach Aang; he* was an airbender through and through. 'too carefree'. also i somehow feel like if Aang had NOT mastered & accepted fire bending before the final fight i do not think he would have had the moral fortitude to stand his ground and demand a non lethal option. he wanted to before sure but i feel he wouldn't have had the courage to stand up against so many past avatars

[@lukaslambs5780]

Ang is just such a silly nice little goofy guy it’s so wholesome

[@inesatt1313]

I love how it became a part of him,he embraced its warmer side not it's burning side. But Korra,she is zerro,zilch in controlling fire and understanding its duality

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Imagine if Team Avatar found the Lion Turtle first before the Solar Eclipse.

[@wyattrox11]

“Let’s just skill drain Azula rq, while we still have an easy(-ish) opportunity

[@go_selim]

To be honest, it was an amazingly mind-blowing storytelling about Avatar I've ever seen. Your commentary made me see once again how legendary the series truly is and helped me notice aspects I hadn’t been aware of before. After this beautiful narration, I decided to follow you-keep up the great work!

[@jastintheceooffinanasapost6204]

The roar thingy makes me remenber the buddism teach of the snake that practiced the no-action It used to bite people, until a monk thought it the teachings, the snake practiced it later the monk returned to see the snake all harmed since the people came back to harm it so the monk told it not to act, but never said anything about not Sizzing or for aang, never told not to roar

[@KrazyStargazer]

Glad to see you correlate a story and look for its deeper meaning~ Its not a skill many value nowdays haha

[@anthonycannet1305]

The air bending philosophy is to avoid conflict wherever possible, water bending philosophy builds on that with the flexibility to react to an impending conflict and make it out, earth bending philosophy then teaches him to stand his ground when it isn’t possible to avoid or escape, and the fire bending philosophy teaches him to finish the fight. When you cannot avoid conflict, escape it When you cannot escape conflict, defend yourself When you cannot simply defend yourself, fight back

[@ItsThatKidGreg]

I love these videos. You're talking about the show but this all could be applied to real life

[@bbjygm]

I *love* this video, it puts into words all the neat bending philosphies I just couldn't quite describe. I also like that the air temples are just were you go to be humbled (unless you get comet chear codes). Edit: I also like the "the whole world is on fire" quote, a neat way to relate fire to life since compared to other elements life is a physical manifestation of energy with a mind of its own. Also, I can just imagine the dragons singing into the swirling tornado of colors, "my world's on fire, how 'bout yours? That's the way I like it and I never get bored," and the Allstar whistling in the background while we see the fire in Aang's eyes and hear Zuko proclaiming, "I understand."

[@chocothun1]

"You are the Avatar, and therefore, you are a firebender." -- Guru Pathik

[@FrffyVsBoredom]

I love this video & your Earth one. Thank you for making these. My appreciation for Avatar has grown so much deeper

[@trinstonmichaels7062]

Fire is life and warm and that is a lesson that is important for people to learn.

[@lucasformolo]

Wow what an essay, I don't have words to say how good this analysis really is

[@codyhughes1147]

Nothing will ever be cooler visually than aang forming his multiple elemental ball. Chilla every time. Great vid. Very well done.

[@joshuahackett2060]

It enrages me that you have so few subscribers, can't wait for you to hop on the next big show to get the attention you deserve. Another BANGER video.

[@Cillranchello]

Zuko and Aang under the Masters' fire was such a powerful moment. I still get chills decades later. It was the first time I felt like I was learning the same lesson as the characters the same way they were.

[@Gemaco1397]

One thing the dragons do, that I feel is brushed over, is teach us as the audience the good parts of fire. Up until that point it's mostly been used for evil, bar from a few examples. But in order for Aang to use the "evil" element, they have to make it more than that to us as well. I think the sun also plays a far more important role there, it is the source of our daylight, warmth. We seek it out for comfort and look forward to it in the summer. Shifting fire from the evil destructive element, a wildfire consuming the world, to a sun inside of you, makes it appear more good-coded before showing Aang using it again

[@JerryFlowersIII]

The richness of Avatar lending to being able to talk about it in different ways for 20 years is amazing.

[@joeskys2362]

What a well thought out Avatar video!

[@LegalizeTax]

You seem to have forgotten that during the Day of Black Sun, Aang didn't have access to the Avatar State. Azula locked his Chakra when she shot him with lightning

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

Great video!

[@DannyStewart-z4p]

I think the reason the mastering the elements has a traditional order is because exactly of Aang burning Katara situations. Aang wants to let fire be free and grow and fire naturally wants to grow too, but you need the stoicism and fortitude to control and contain fire if needed. I think this goes between the other elements too where mastery or learning of the element before makes it easier to learn and begin with the next. I think in korras case she obviously learned all three incredibly quickly because of her personality but struggled with air until she almost used it exactly like you would firebending at the end of S1 because of passion (that leads into some level of freedom)

[@unknowncrow2004]

wake up babe new Koroto's Mystery shack ATLA video dropped

[@jarrelosu14]

This is an excellent video great job

[@davidl3346]

Wow it's cool to see a video essay take another angle on the fire bending journey Aang had.

[@jforgotten2620]

Great video!!

[@olived9560]

AMAZING VIDEO!

[@nerds-nonsense]

omg i literally just finished binging your other avatar videos

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

"The only way to win is to fight!" *- Mikasa from Attack on Titan*

[@enderreaper1482]

I thought it was Eren

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

​@@enderreaper1482 Eren said, "The only way to live is to fight!"

[@melissamwai2321]

Excellent, analysis. Thanks!

[@rosekrios6630]

Beautiful analysis!

[@Plingdom]

ended that video smiling ear to ear. Fantastic 🔥 the element of fire is one that it always puzzled me when friends of mine said they would like to be a fire bender. All I see is great responsibility. So much can go wrong with firebeneding. I also respect it’s power though as an element but yea definitely not a burden I’d like to take on. I’d Much rather airbend, or waterbend

[@JackiPineapple]

"After some 15 to 20 minutes of my yapping" you’re too funny 😂

[@stranger5011]

Jeong Jeong should go to the Sun temple as well to know about true forebending

[@samlung2724]

He may be a master but he still has some things to learn.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

There are theories that if Katara didn't have the ability to heal... then Zutara might have been a thing.

[@kimicrewe4443]

Zutara was never going to be a thing. It was always Katang.

[@andersonwonder9357]

No there isn’t.

[@starkid910]

Not so much a theory as it is a headcanon....

[@andersonwonder9357]

@@starkid910 no. It’s just wrong. Without katara healing aang would have died and she would have been imprisoned by the fire nation, zuko would have 0 reason to talk to her from there.

[@angelvilla2568]

Yes great point! Another KZbinr made a very similar video that helped open my eyes

[@dominicnevins2144]

"Take a deep breath. And if you really need to, roar...with all of your might"

[@TheDustyPeaches]

The cycle of the elements majes sense because the first element is the one that the avatar is "born" with, the second is a complementary element with minor similarities, the third element is opposite to the original demanding a higher dicipline to master, and finally the fourth element is similar to the first while being at the same time nearly opposite in application.

[@benjamingrieco3928]

24:15 As kool as that move looks. I can't quite grasp how that would be a fatal blow...

[@cosmiceyness]

It would pierce the hell out of ozai

[@Artjom217]

babe wake up, new latvian guy video dropped

[@Koroto]

🫡🫡

[@SuperCityscan]

Creativity Adaptivity Sturdiness Precision

[@dontask8639]

Koroto just dropped got to lock in

[@andrews6411]

Id love to see an earth avatar. Earth immediately followed by fire sounds like it would be a very hard learned lesson from the air nomads

[@snowboundwhale6860]

I think part of why fire comes after earth is because of earth's stubbornness. It demands a forceful user to move at all, but careless earthbending could amount to earthquakes and landslides; it's not the same type of destruction as fire but it still establishes a need to control your output. As is made most clear in Toph's style and seismic sense, earth being stubborn leads to it's useage having an emphasis on deliberacy and precision. The earth doesn't want to move so we'll use exactly as much force as necessary to move it to precisely where we want it. It's a good introduction to the control needed to use fire responsibly, and much like how earth won't move easily, weak half hearted firebending cannot do much beyond serve as a candle.

[@niostaur]

Loved this

[@christianleeperrr7641]

Face reveal?! Hell yeah, you rock Korotos! You look like you can pull, too.

[@gouthamsdskodali2466]

Absolute goosebumps narration

[@alfonsopayan09]

Revisiting the whole series makes me wish we had more episodes or more content for each element being learned I know he a prodigy avatar and learns each element like TM move being taught to a Pokemon in a few months mastered all 4 but Idk 🤔 had me wishing we had a longer series, loving it more each year Hopefully the new series doesn’t suck 😢

[@kidkoiii]

I really wish we could have seen Aang do more firebending, and just overall just having more control over his full power with all 4 elements

[@orbracha25]

Can't wait for a waterbending video, if you can manage that with such little time without him knowing it

[@gabrielibarra5551]

this is a good as video

[@Hallow_Shade]

I had never put thought into the core lessons and values of each bending style/ culture would be most beneficial to learn in a specific order and the cycle of the avatar is that order for a reason. I understood that fit Aangs arc, obviously. BUt I never considered that the same order would still be specifically designed to work for any avatar from any element. The only one I am having trouble connecting the lessons is Water to Air. Water and Air are both already the most spiritual of the nations but in different ways. Water nation people seem to be deeply connected and passionate while air nomads seem to be about striving to be completely disconnected and free. I can see how that would be the most challenging for a water avatar but I don't see how the cycle order would lead into it. This will keep me up for days, help.

[@acenull0]

Nice. I love this and agree ❤️🔥💪🏾

[@tic857]

The 3 lessons Aang learns from fire bending from his 3 fire masters is that it's alive. Just like humans. If you just do whatever you wish, things will burn. You have to have constraint to stop when needed, be able to control and adjust the output and to keep it steady. Knowing all 3 can create beauty and warmth, it can create sustenance and destruction . I do believe if he hasn't learned fire he would not have been able selectively chosen and thought to be able to take Ozais bending away

[@CamreyBlankenship]

Jong jong felt that the other elements help teach self control to the degree that angg learning them first would be advisable and would help him properly use fire instead of misuse it which he was right.

[@newdeoterent1340]

i also think its poetic that the first element he has to learn is water. water is the element of adaptability, so for someone who was just asleep for 100 years, learning how to adapt to the new way of life is crucial.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Aang is everyone who made a terrible mistake, and never want to do it again.

[@amanimucavele]

Earth and fire where the elements that changed Aang's way to think and fight

[@Purpose_Porpoise]

Maybe you should do a Korra analysis video one day to help people understand that character a bit better.

[@Banditt_Red]

Fire is the single greatest discovery of humanity

[@christianleeperrr7641]

24:25 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@lassegrotkjr6326]

I gotta tell you this, in all my years of being an avatar fan, i never understod why the order of wich elements the avatar must learn Them in existst, i was alwas thinking “why cant the avatar just chose the order in wich he learns the elements” the closes i could come was when i was on Reddit one day, a guy had written that its the order of the yearly seasons, winter fore water, spring fore earth, summer fore fire and autumn fore Air, but that was never realy that satisfying to me, i mean why most the avatar learn the elements in the order of the yearly seasons, especially if he is not the spirit of the planat. This video changed that, i dident click on it expekting to finaly get my answer on this question, but now that i have watched it, i can finaly say i understand why the cykel exsist, this video will get a GIANT like from me, because it finaly gave me inlightentment on the biggest thing i never understod as a child and teenager.

[@kammbanks]

5:31 the cycle never really made sense to me, because there’s no way to keep it straight… Roku (being a firebender, obviously learned fire first, Korra was firebending before airbending, idk that never really made sense to me

[@christionpulliam9870]

I think it’s simple water teaches you fluidity , and flexibility, earth teaches you to be strong and resilient , air teaches you to be unbound and free and fire teaches you power and strength , together you learn balance to me that’s why fire is shown as the one you should learn last. as avatar fire is the most destructive and easily effective weapon , one that should be used correctly not freely like air

[@tanner_mlg87]

more aot my goat

[@Koroto]

Let me cook 😤

[@Natediggetydog]

@@KorotoI await the next delicious meal chef

[@tanner_mlg87]

@@Koroto thank you

[@TheOnly-p5p]

May we please get an Overanalyzing Arcane series please

[@JerryFlowersIII]

How long is Rokus neck?

[@thehermitman822]

Fire is one of the scariest elements to to the living but the other 3 are actually more globally destructive when taken to their extremes. Wind can feed but also extinguish fire and life at high speeds or lack of. Water just straight up extinguishes anything with enough of it. Earth can cause the power of air, water, or fire with great earthquakes, sinkholes, landslides, or eruptions.

[@revanimmortal1318]

Fire requires self control Fire is life not something to be feared

[@angelrivera2291]

Fun fact: most Asian dragons are also considered immortal (just funny thought with the phoenix joke he made)

[@arenbengi9014]

fuck, such a great analysis

[@ny2354]

Yipeee new vid

[@SmallOneEyedKing]

Dark souls is also about the FIRE 🔥

[@AlphaHawk44]

I was accidentally this early and I feel really good about it

[@Vivi-yc1hs]

he's cooking

[@botimportant]

I'll be there no matter what

[@sanitater3271]

Waang Fire

[@FernandoAR760]

I think that's why they avoided having a firebending bad guy in Korra they had 2 bad water benders and brought back the airbenders to make a bad airbender rather than make another bad firebender

[@NeonW55]

LETS GOOOOOOO

[@Saintncl]

Do you like FMAB?