Overanalyzing Avatar: The Avatar and The Firelord

[@overanalyzingavatar]

Like and comment to be ensured heavenly afterlife, ignore to die immediately.

[@Jordash04]

no afterlife so what else a lie XD jk i liked

[@shmeegthelegend]

do i nead to subscribe and hit the bell?

[@jorrit_8292]

I'd say this is a win-win situation

[@MootMan0855]

Yes my lord

[@andyodley5200]

can i comment AND die immediately?

[@khumokwezimashapa2245]

Aang: Roku. It's that girl who didn't even know you were alive. Roku: *B R U H*

[@matthewpopow6647]

Kyoshi: ooh, did aang master fire bending cause Roku just got ROASTED

[@ostensiblyaverage5576]

You ever wonder if Aang being Roku's reincarnation is merely subconsciously voicing Roku's past insecurities?

[@Supertaldo916]

@@ostensiblyaverage5576 woaah damn, you literal madman, that totally makes sense.

[@redeye4516]

+Ostensibly Average Damn, that's a good take. I was just thinking Aang was saying that because he's been almost continuously ignored by Katara throughout the show in regards to how he feels about her.

[@stoianandrei2553]

Roku:You are the one to talk

[@119Bronco]

I dont know if anyone else caught this, but as we follow the story of Roku, it starts in the morning when Roku is young, then as Roku gets older and goes through the different Avatar trials, the sun gets higher, until it's at its peak when Roku throws all 4 elements out, then when Sozin tells Roku about his plan, the sun is getting lower, when Roku and Sozin are both older the sun is almost set, and finally when Roku dies it's night time. THEN WHEN WE SEE AANG BORN, IT'S MORNING AGAIN

[@meowcow21]

You can't see the sun in any of the trials though

[@TheCalmQber]

This is a genius comment and I never noticed that. Similar to lake laogai (kinda) in the way that Zuko hits a big low with his inner emotions and Jet dies in the dark of the underground but when the episode ends, they come out into the light and get appa back and Zuko reconsiders who he is meant to be.

[@CerealExperimentsMizuki]

This could definitely be a subtle bit of symbolism added.

[@Teo117]

I love this. This is head cannon now.

[@DDKolt]

Dude, I’ve thought about it a bit and I’m pretty sure that the head peace that Iroh gave to Zuko wasn’t the one Roku had, it was Iroh’s, because he used to be crown prince. That really makes this a lot more beautiful.

[@jacqslabz]

That is nice, but I think the pint was that there was only ever one, and it just got handed down from crowned prince to crowned prince. But I guess if they lost one to a natural disaster, well, time to make a new one???

[@arianamcvey9779]

If you think of it, it's possible Iroh probably excavated it or came across during his spiritual/finding self journey through the world after his son was killed and after he stepped down from being a general. Honestly it sounds like something he would've done

[@Direbeetus]

But Iroh discovered the sun people who had dragons when he was young, long before his son died (or was probably born). He got his nickname "the dragon of the west" by claiming he killed the last dragon before the siege of Ba Sing Sa.

[@hunacean]

Ok but how did Iroh have it? Like in these prison cells there isn't even a bed or a toilet, but they just let him bring in a royal artefact apparently

[@arianamcvey9779]

@@hunacean Well who sent Zuko Iroh's letter in the same episode? We don't exactly know because they never really told us or hinted at who it was, highly doubt the guard he was buddy buddy with did it even though she was very nice

[@andrewcetlemen6939]

Did anyone notice how when Saosin "steals the heat from the lava" he's doing the "redirect lightning form"

[@patrickbliss9264]

His name is spelled sozin not saosin

[@arazahl]

I noticed it, and it would link back to the idea of Sozin having an understanding of the other bending disciplines.

[@nathanlevesque7812]

second last airbender

[@KOSJ153]

Great band

[@millermichael]

the scene where sozin "steals the heat from the volcano in the form of volcanic fumes" I think is another form of energy bending. like lightning. if you think about it, lightning is the "pure" form of fire bending. but in reality it is just a form of bending the Chi in yourself to create a difference in energy. if you could use some form along the lines of lightning redirection. you would be able to redirect the energy of the volcano through yourself and calm it down, we already know that sozin has some intimate knowledge of how the other forms of bending operate and fight. so I don't think it is a far shot to think that he could pull the energy of the volcano through himself and redirect it as the fumes associated with the volcanic eruption. allowing for that shows sozin is a truly great master of fire bending, even stepping towards energy bending on a level that Iroh shows. that leads to a much more accurate and terrifying depiction of what he must have been like during the start of the war. as someone who can harness knowledge of the other nations to steal the energy and calm a volcano, it makes sense that he would be able to wipe out the air benders. It seems like the technique he used to calm the volcano was a form of air bending itself. just on the energy front like lightning is a water bending form for fire benders to harness internal energy or redirect external energy.

[@cherrypuddles]

"It's only once in a blue moon, so I'll let it slide." A blue moon is the second full moon within a month; considering the show we're talking about, I think you could have used a better metaphor.

[@iamcheesin]

but a blue moon only happens once every 2 or 3 years so, that's a fairly rare occurrence?

[@Pearlidiah]

But in the show it happens fairly often

[@cherrypuddles]

@@iamcheesin The joke is that it's almost always a full moon in the show.

[@thegreatauthoress4570]

@@cherrypuddles *THAT's how Amon figured out how to bloodbend the whole time, he just realized the moon was literally helping him*

[@TheDiegofernando13]

Overanalyzing Overanalyzing Avatar

[@jaylost3468]

Toph in ATLA: “Do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime?” Toph in LOK: “It’s good to see you again Twinkle Toes.”

[@marcelinoquintana5149]

Also Sokka questions the friendships lasting more than one lifetime and is not shown to actually have met Korra.

[@elzar5987]

@@marcelinoquintana5149 they do mention sokka meeting korra, but only when she was only 2 or 3 years old. When the red lotus attempted to kidnap korra, tenzon recalled "your father, Lord zoko, chief sokka and I managed to stop them"

[@joekaput747]

@@elzar5987 I like how much of the fanbase has agreed that, since we don't see Sokka in Korra and Katara mentioned that he's gone, this is when he died, protecting the next Avatar, just like he would have done with Aang

[@matijasostojic4288]

Yes! I letterally thought this when i saw this scene. That is also my favorite scene of Korra. Really nostalgic For some reason.

[@autisticdancer]

Yes

[@ponikis8399]

I can't believe you didn't mention that the whole war started with the avatar and the fire lord falling out, and ended by them befriending each other again. Awesome notice of the camera moves though. Love it.

[@MoBot249]

Probably because half of that isn't told, up to this point in the story.

[@ponikis8399]

@@MoBot249 good point. You might be right that he's saving it till the end. But he does make references to future episodes sometimes. Anyhow, stupid nitpicky stuff in a really good KZbin channel 😊

[@RacingSnails64]

My gosh, that's so obvious how haven't I ever realized that.

[@andyzhang7890]

holy shit i never realised that... genius...

[@SunshineTheLover]

i mean technically yea but Sozin would have went full war with or without arguing with Roku

[@CommonCommiestudios]

[Aang seeing the volcano erupt in The Fortuneteller] Roku: Whatever you do, don't fight the goddamn volcano, just dig a trench!

[@hadeskingoftheunderworld7010]

Avatar wisdom everyone

[@thalmoragent9344]

@@hadeskingoftheunderworld7010 Facts, Roku's tryna tell Aang not to go out the same way he did 😅

[@bubmaster338]

It's like when you think of the perfect comeback 10 minutes late, but it's Roku in the spirit world like "Why the fuck didn't I just dig a big hole?"

[@northstar4601]

@@bubmaster338 Yeah or he could have tried to pull a kyoshi and just push the town somewhere else.

[@2000....]

Roku could have just left. I mean were Was Fang 20 seconds prior to his arrival. Sozins dragon came right on time, Fang just chilled to long. But then Roku, even hardly damaged by the vulcano, shound be able to push himself into the sky with a really small earth platform, to jump on Fang and fly away. But plot needed him to die there. Or make an earth bubble like Aang did with the ice. And after some time get out

[@leanderhulzebosch2047]

14:58 notice how the prison bar covers Zuko's good eye when talking about Sozin as his grandfather, and then moves over to cover his bad eye when talking about Roku

[@jacqslabz]

I love that detail!

[@MomoTheDisciple]

Sozin is Zukos great grandfather. Fire lord Azulong is his grandfather

[@Mullkaw]

scar framing goes crazy throughout the entire show lmao

[@violetsmith8693]

​@@MomoTheDisciple sozin is his father's grandfather. Roku is his mother's grandfather. Azulon is his grandfather/Ozai and irohs father. It is pretty confusing with all the zs lol 😂

[@mirimirimore]

Loved this detail! Thanks for pointing it out!

[@gocanux15]

Re: Roku's headpiece, they're showing it to be right next to Roku's bed. Even after 25 years of not speaking to his best friend, he still carries it with him.

[@GadSammit]

Also, him wearing it in the spirit world. 😭😭 Sozin, for better or worse, shaped & effected Roku more than anybody, even post-life!

[@bbjygm]

It was gifted to him by his friend, he's grown with it so much it's part of his identity now no matter how his relationship with his friend evolved

[@GrouchyRaccoon]

It is a really valid question why Roku appears as an old man, as far as I can tell all the other Avatars appear in their prime. Maybe Roku saw himself at his best in his old age.

[@fireflymiesumae]

True

[@mynameismatt2010]

I mean, compared to kyoshi Roku in his 70s was still a baby.

[@aisha5156]

@@mynameismatt2010 Compared to Kyoshi, Roku in his 70’s was a young adult. I wouldn’t say a child, that estimate’s a bit too young.

[@michaelachapman2192]

He worked hard on that beard and he was gonna keep it

[@spiddey21]

I've heard that the Avatars are depicted the age of when something drastic happens. For Kyoshi, it was when she took down Chin the Conqueror, for Roku, it was when Sozin let him die and begin the war. Maybe the clothing could be the outfit the Avatar wore in their life that is native to their birth element?

[@nickbonamici9719]

The fact that Sozin’s statue is in the catacombs makes sense because according to Zuko in the firebending masters it was Sozin who popularized hunting dragons for sport. These may be the dragons that were killed during that period.

[@mirimirimore]

True :/

[@tayagpj]

When Iroh was telling Zuko both of his great grandfathers, the bars divided zuko's face "Sozin was your father's grandfather" *shows zuko's face with the scar* "Your mother's grandfather was avatar roku" *shows zuko's face without the scar*

[@KairuHakubi]

Meanwhile his other two great-grandpas are watching from the spirit world like "what, we don't matter?"

[@randomgamerdude98]

@@KairuHakubi LMAOOO

[@jordirocca1246]

This show is fire (and air, water, earth)

[@KairuHakubi]

@@randomgamerdude98 honestly all I could think of is the scene in Hard Day's Night when John's looking at Paul's grandpa like "that's not your grandfather, I've met your grandfather" and Paul goes "well everyone's entitled to two, aren't they?"

[@undeadjoker8517]

never noticed that it’s great attention to detail

[@jeeneeuz]

The zuko in prison analysis was god tier, can't believe we're already at season 3 but it's only gonna get better from here!

[@zero.Identity]

i am still hyped up for the last episode. aswell as the lion-turtle. (was that the english name? i just translated it literally from my language) That means, if i would feel anything at the moment, i would be.

[@matthewlee4834]

It was an amazing cinematography breakdown

[@jeremybabin7435]

@@zero.Identity you are correct, it's a lion-turtle.

[@zero.Identity]

@@jeremybabin7435 alright. thought maybe they didnt make the name translatable literally over languages. just like film titles. then again, since when are characters not?

[@poke8735]

Yeah the fandom been talking about this for a long time. This shit fire though

[@rewmnog]

I don't know if anybody else already said this, but I think the reason Aang was so impressed by Roku fighting the volcano was because of all the things you mentioned, and the fact that Aang had all the town's benders helping him plus Katara. Roku did it alone

[@vermillioncap8784]

Eh. Aang kinda did all the work tho (apart from the trench thing).

[@mgg9416]

Roku died fighting the volcano, which means Aang was basically born with that experience. That's why it was easier for him.

[@pedropimenta896]

​@@mgg9416plus, Roku was old

[@Hamzakarim-1]

Plus roku was old as hell, and aang was still young and agile

[@XOmniShadowX]

the question toph has about friendship lasting lifetimes hits different when you see her and Kora's interaction. it truly does last.

[@dier7470]

Toph fucking hates Korra! 😂😂

[@thegreatauthoress4570]

I know, that scene was the reason that I was pretty much screaming when I watched Korra and Toph meeting again.

[@Wicks897]

@@dier7470 no she doesn’t tf?

[@Ahti-u9x]

I am shocked I had to scroll down this far to see this. Glad she got her answer.

[@julianuga]

Kinda weird how Korra knows who she is

[@magicprison]

Honestly Avatar holds a deep place in my heart, you ever get those sad memories and you miss the smell, vibes etc, but watching avatar brings it all back? I’ve literally watched it 50+ times. Watching these videos really means a lot.

[@HaydenTalcott]

I felt this ^^^

[@JahanMisra]

nostalgia

[@rosskarraker3173]

100% agree

[@zjean3417]

Smell?

[@Zaileyx]

Bought channel

[@efoxkitsune9493]

The scene where Sozin just piles grass on Roku's face is one of my absolute favourite little scenes. It's so real lol. Always makes me giggle. I just love it.

[@matityaloran9157]

I would defend Sozin’s longevity given the fact that 1) King Bumi and Aang knew each other before Aang was frozen rendering him at least 112 years old 2) In the episode The Northern Air Temple, the man who tells Aang about the Airwalkers says that his great grandfather saw them last week. That man was already an adult and his great grandfather was still alive 3) Guru Pathik says he was a personal friend of Monk Gyatso Based on those facts, the fact of Sozin living to be 145 works within this Universe.

[@Apodexis]

Also don't forget Kyoshi's lifespan. Wasn't she 200 years old when she died or something?

[@redeye4516]

Damn, all these guys living centuries and then there's Azulon's reign of 23 years. I wonder if perhaps Azulon simply spent most of his adult life waiting for Sozin to finally die so he could become the fire lord. Or maybe Sozin's line about spending the last of his days searching for Aang was very literal and he left Azulon in charge of the nation and war for the remainder of his reign, adding some unofficial years to Azulon's reign that aren't counted because he was technically still the crown prince. Might fit thematically since Ozai does something similar to Azula when he goes all Phoenix King and decides to burn the whole world himself.

[@oKyuubi-]

Redeye this makes sense bc I don't see Azulon being a shitty leader and only for so little time. Like if your family is that great and powerful it makes sense to lose out on your reign if your father is still around and powerful

[@White__Ink]

Wait but then how old would that put his wife?!

[@pierwiastekz2935]

@@redeye4516 Azulon is prince Charles of the Avatar world, confirmed

[@eitan7888]

I'm pretty sure the Sozin room is literally the grave of Sozin. Also, it's always nice to mention how when Iroh talks about Sozin - the bar covers the right side of Zuko, but the moment Iroh mentions Roku - it covers the left side, the scarred face.

[@countyfactswailuigi]

I think the scrolls are all the history of Sozin, just in different volumes.

[@beastmaster0934]

It’s probably a nod to the fact that Zuko is descended from the both of them

[@NobleVagabond2552]

@@beastmaster0934 its the scarred eye that shows when Iroh talks Sozin, and the bar moves across and shows his unscarred eye when Iroh tells him about Roku

[@RemyKingKen]

I always loved how the scar represented his good side despite scars usually depicting the bad side of a characters past.

[@sextupledvanillabeans559]

Personally I like the idea that the scarred half represents the good in him. It’s a mark of what he’s experienced and how hard he’s worked to change

[@horseradish4046]

One more interesting detail about this episode is it's the first time we hear Iroh speak since the end of Book Two, which was 6 whole episodes ago. This was probably done because the original voice actor Mako Iwamatsu had passed away and was replaced by Greg Baldwin, so the long gap made the voice change less noticeable, but it adds so much weight to when we finally hear Iroh speak again to deliver a massive plot twist and one of the most important pieces of dialogue in the entire show.

[@leonpaelinck]

Possible but IIRC they confirmed they were always going to give Iroh less lines in this part of the story

[@Jarvalicious]

One of the few proper “Avatar moments” I felt while watching Korra was when old Toph meets Korra and says “Hello, Twinkle Toes” it just made me happy

[@str1fe13]

"Can friendships really last through lifetimes" really makes that hit different, makes me want to go rewatch the whole series now.

[@januzairamli4426]

Toph even has a twinkle toes granddaughter

[@gordon.sarratt]

i just love that aang is actually zuko's great-grandpa. never gets old.

[@zero.Identity]

now imagine all those who made weird fan fictions about zuko and aang who did not know that fact.

[@decarabiaumbra560]

@@zero.Identity Having seen some weird doujin in my time, I'm pretty sure them knowing this concept would disturbingly enough just inspire them to make more.

[@zero.Identity]

@@decarabiaumbra560 you are probably right... i will never get why there is an incest fetish

[@gordon.sarratt]

@@zero.Identity my comment got real dark real fast apparently

[@zero.Identity]

@@gordon.sarratt it seems like you have an attracting effect on dark talks

[@graetestfanever1]

Something not talked about is Ron Perlman's acting as old Sozin. When he first appears, his voice is light, happy, and friendly. But when he betrays Roku, it goes back to that deep villian voice that Ron uses for Slade and the Lich. It almost sounds like a different person, which describes Sozin's heel-turn .

[@karakattankurai]

Ron Perlman voiced him?! Imagine sozin with Ron's iconic Villain like the Lich(I know his slade also terrifying but just the Lich is my favorite cosmic horror villain)

[@kolapon6832]

I really like that Toph is the one to ask the friendship question. We see in her tone and posture, that she hopes that the answer is yes since she spend most of her childhood being alone with no friends. So I think she needed that kind of comfort that even death won't be able to separate them and she won't ever be alone again.

[@oliviamurphy9482]

🥺💔

[@Endurlay]

Also, Korra comes to her as a living answer to the question at the end of Toph’s life.

[@brolytriplethreat]

​@@Endurlayi mean, while they use the term reincarnation a lot, but they are not really reincarnations how it was actually shown in the series

[@timb.3171]

For some reason, I'm always so hyped when a new Overanalyzing Avatar comes out. I've seen the series at least 5 times over, but it's so fun finding out all that stuff that you point out. It's like seeing the series through a whole new set of eyes

[@IdiotandOpinion]

I’m just excited to hear what he says about his patrons. I need a super cut of that when this is over

[@Newt2799]

He’s a really funny and charming dude. I hope he keeps making videos after avatar

[@jordirocca1246]

Thats why I watcg people watching avatar for the first time

[@fitz8923]

16:25 Also fun to note that when Toph asks if friendships can last more than one lifetime, it's her and Katara that hold hands with Aang, while Sokka doesn't. In LOK, they become friends with Korra while Sokka doesn't. Probably just coincidental, but we overanalyze over here.

[@finn_underwood]

"Once in a blue moon" for this show is "every second night of a month" since the moon is basically never not full.

[@kason42kl]

I always figured Sozin mimicking the other benders was a subtle demonstration of how much more open-minded the “pre-Sozin” era Fire Nation was before the cultural regression and rise of totalitarianism that’s eluded to throughout book 3. And that the “heat bending” just needed a visual representation like air bending does. Honestly, it’s no more of a stretch than creating lightning which you could argue is closer to the purview of airbending.

[@kaganozdemir4332]

About the hairpiece thing... Iroh got it, so it must have been passed down to them. Either Roku or Sozin took it back from the village. If Roku did, it indicates that Roku still had friendly feelings for Sozin, so he kept it. If Sozin did, it must symbolize how Sozin betrayed Roku, that he even got his hairpiece back. It is a simple scene that carries a lot of meaning.

[@grabe1890]

i never realized the symbolism in sozin possibly taking the hairpiece back tying into his betrayal of roku, nice thought!

[@purplestareyes]

Now that i think about it... the hair piece was supposed to be for the heir to the throne, right? So it makes sense that Iroh has it, as he was supposed to take the throne (before Ozai killed Azulon). So it also makes sense that he gives it to Zuko, who is the rightful heir next in line, also foreshadowing Iroh refusing to claim the throne in the white lotos episode.

[@HispanicNach0s]

I've always appreciated the detail that goes into literally "overanalyzing" the episodes, but this one (even being a longtime fan) really displays why I love this channel. Explaining the camera framing between Zuko and Iroh so effortlessly, that it makes you go "how did I miss that?!" is what makes this channel an absolute gem.

[@zero.Identity]

also he manages to squeeze that in really short videos. if i imagine a video titled like that, i imagine it to be at least one hour long. and a boring voice. but you keep looking it cuz its interesting. Even though this one wasnt really short. it just felt like 10 min. and his 10 min. vids feel like 5 min. on the other hand thats a shame because i want more of it.

[@Erikkert]

You didn’t miss it, it just goes into our subconscious. Actually insane how our brains work and how they can be ‘manipulated ‘.

[@nd_4726]

@@Erikkert no, I literally didn't even think about it or notice

[@potatoesstarch2376]

@@nd_4726 not to be TOO impolite, but do you know what 'subconscious' means? Yes, most people didn't notice, and didn't think about it. That's the point. It still affects how we're absorbing the storytelling. Just how visual storytelling works. Things like framing, lighting, perspective angles, etc all matter, even to the people who aren't sitting down and thinking about each scene.

[@nd_4726]

@@potatoesstarch2376 I do know, but they're assuming that your brain picks up everything, but it doesn't. If it goes into your subconscious, then you would already know it. Realizing it isn't already knowing it. Also, the people who complain about all that stuff but lighting are not the average person.

[@ElderPablo]

Sozin smokebending has been the cornerstone of "all bending from energy" theory for years. Even without theorizing, it's still a mind blower every time I watch it, and when I point it out to others.

[@thomasmiller8289]

I mean, Iroh can boil water. Introduce heat into one system, take it from another. The smoke is just along for the ride.

[@bboywolf]

Fire benders literally create fire lol

[@123newjersey3]

Airbenders create currents, not air. Waterbenders create water currents. Earthbenders mold earth, not create it. Firebenders bend heat energy (from the sun), none of this secret energybender/smoke bullshit.

[@jeroenritmeester73]

I always saw it as bending the heat/energy away from the volcano, causing a strong air current that goes with rising heat, trapping the smoke.

[@justanothercommenterwithan9089]

@@123newjersey3 and the actual energy bending in the show that lets you take and grant bending

[@azaleaflowers155]

In 16:38 I think it’s really interesting how it’s Toph who asks if he thinks friendships can last more than one lifetime, and if I remember correctly, it’s Toph who gets pretty close to Kora in the next series

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

13:34 According to iroh, firebending is the manipulation of heat. firebenders cannot bend without heat. It makes sense that a well-learned master firebender could manipulate heat like that.

[@wackyanimations3326]

i feel like the problem is that it goes through his body

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

@@wackyanimations3326 the heat does, sure, like lightningbending but less dangerous.

[@wackyanimations3326]

@@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606 lightningbending is moving the energy in the body, and i dont think energy in the body is heat

[@nobodyofimportance3922]

Could a firebender manipulate somebody's internal body temperature then? Some spontaneous combustion bending is exactly what I'd like to see in an adult avatar spinoff of some kind

[@fireflymiesumae]

@@nobodyofimportance3922 There is combustion man and Firebenders can insulate themselves

[@robertwinslade3104]

One small moment in this episode which actually hits me in the feels every time I watch it is when Roku tells Aang that Sozin "was my best friend" right after the vision of the two young characters sparring. Just the way Roku says it without a trace of bitterness tells you that despite everything that would later go down between them, including Sozin even being responsible for Roku's death, Roku is still able to look back at their early friendship with fondness. In some ways it even ties into the end of the episode about friendships lasting more than one lifetime, particularly knowing that Aang and Zuko, being the descendents of Roku and Sozin (albeit only spiritually in Aang's case), later become friends

[@junipersolis]

Personal theory. Each of the spritual forms are how they truly see themselves. Aang during ATLA sees himself in his nomad clothes and without hair because up to this point that's who he was for the longest time. Roku sees himself as he looked near the end of his life because he probably accepted he was always growing. He was always the best version of himself he could be every day. I think it would be interesting if Aang got that treatment in Korra, but he just saw himself as most of the other Avatars did. As who they were in their prime.

[@LordWyatt]

They could’ve done something special like it was linked to a large trauma like Roku/Kioshi/Korik/YangChen (or better yet have him remain young or even a teenager to show how large the War/Postwar decisions affected him). But no Unalak’s bloodbending without using the moon is SOOOOO impactful🤦‍♂️ Edit: also Aang took away the Firelord’s fire bending, no big deal. Aang takes away Unalak’s, *real shit*

[@wiillLiccs]

i personally think that aang sees himself the day tenzin was born, the day he was no longer the last airbender.

[@docomega7862]

To be fair, aang wasn't that old when he died, so it's possible that his spiritual self isn't that far away from his physical self when he died

[@unkindled6410]

@@docomega7862 he died at physical age of 65-66 if my calculations are right. actually not that old for the standarts we see around the series, but still, he was already an old man.

[@unkindled6410]

@@LordWyatt bro, its way more likely that the spirits just appear in the form theyre most confortable with, youre overhating it for no big reason.

[@InTeNat]

The fact that the visual story telling here is so subtle yet so obvious is amazing. The world building, the background, the exposition without straight up telling the audience is why this show is still popular.

[@alexkaruhn4165]

It makes it even better when Toph ask "Do you really think friendships can last more that one lifetime?" considering that she becomes a friend with Kora.

[@marcelinoquintana5149]

And Sokka questions it and doesnt meet Korra.

[@rewmnog]

While watching this video, I just realized that at 16:38 Toph asked Aang if friendships can last more than one lifetime and Aang agrees. Decades later in LoK, Toph and the avatar meet again through Korra and I love that she even refers to Korra as "twinkle toes" when they meet again. She experienced the answer to her own question

[@cecethequietlizard8706]

Still one of the best ATLA episodes. Something that I feel a lot of shows fail at is doing flashbacks. This flashback doesn’t just tell what happened with Roku and Sozin, it makes the characters actively involved in present day. Aang is being told this by Roku, and Zuko is going on an adventure to figure out what happened with Sozin. I like that a lot

[@darko-man8549]

I love SOzin's story - a classic, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions; and many empires in history have led with an idea of "bringing culture to the uncultured." It's also great to see how through his probably brooding, it moves further from just colonies to straight up conquering and successive firelords take it to more extremes.

[@LordWyatt]

Yeah but the ‘colony’ was set up in an Earth Kingdom City. They were conquering by that point. I agree though, every Firelord went farther in their cruelty and ambitions (Azulon cared about his family and the core islands of the fire nation and Ozai didn’t care about anything other than himself)

[@darko-man8549]

@@LordWyatt oh yeah, it definitely a conquering; but it was this deluded "I need to do it to help you." - in his mind, did he believe it? Or was it just a cover to consolidate power?

[@LordWyatt]

@@darko-man8549 I think it was a mix of both. Sozin wanted to “share th[e firenation’s] prosperity with the rest of the world” by “expanding” “the most successful empire in history”. He was the head of that Empire so naturally he’d gain power as his influence over the world grew but he didn’t set out from the beginning to conquer the world but essentially better it through the Firenation (most empires through history have this mentality). Firenation wins, world wins, everyone wins. Unfortunately for him, his best friend traveled the world for twelve years mastering the elements and saw the wisdom in the differences/division of the world. As such he saw through the hopeful ambitions and pointed out the world must remain as four (not one ruling the other three). Sozin countered saying Roku didn’t consider any possibilities/compromises and Roku made it clear there are No possibilities. (This is why I have a problem with the Comics saying Roku left the Colonies as they were so basically they had a right to be there older than Avatar Aang🤦‍♂️. Apparently I wrongly assumed Roku stopped Sozin’s plans even if several years after he launched his invasion plans but nah, he just let it go for 25 years)

[@angeldelgado7120]

He never had good intentions though, he was mad cause he was passed up by Roku for Avatar. He just told Roku he wanted to share the prosperity of the fire nation as a way to test and see if Roku would try to stop him form expanding.

[@cass7448]

The one thing I'd have loved this episode to do is for Sozin's intentions to be brought into question at some point. "Sharing prosperity" is such a cliche and weak excuse for imperialism that you'd think Roku (or someone else) would at least cast doubt on it rather than just saying "no don't, conquering people is bad".

[@DMoni2992]

The beginning story of Roku and Sozin was so beautiful. Even knowing how it ended it still has such positive loving vibes. It warms my heart.

[@andreimoga7813]

Iroh redirected lightning by imitating how waterbenders let their energy flow within the body Sozin knew at a young age how to mimic bending styles from other nations, including waterbending it could be that Sozin, like Iroh, can redirect energy. in his case not electricity, but heat

[@Thebig_KC]

Thank you someone finally said

[@kilikus822]

Toph: Do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime? Toph: Nice to see you again, Twinkle Toes.

[@someone857]

I guess they can

[@maximaldinotrap]

As much of a crap show Legend of Korra was that was a nice part of it at least.

[@xJayhawkFANx]

@@maximaldinotrap the only good parts of Korra were the parts with the old characters. That and Tenzins stress trying to live up to his father

[@ryanrodriguez644]

@@maximaldinotrap Oh come on. Season 2 was pretty bad (aside from the Avatar Wan stuff), but Seasons 1 and 3 are fucking amazing, especially 3. Season 4 is also really good until it gets pretty ridiculous with the mecha shit.

[@bboywolf]

@@ryanrodriguez644 amon was garbage lol

[@SweetenSols]

7:17 if you look at the border of the city, there’s no ice wall like the one when Aang visited which likely implies that they built it when war began to protect themselves against the fire nation.

[@22yhjjjj]

Toph's line about friendships just makes her return in Korra so much better. "Hey there Twinkle Toes!"

[@christoliver2065]

I was looking for THIS exact comment. It really does.

[@thess6327]

I just commented this too lol

[@scyye-gaming]

"nice to see you again, Twinkle toes"*

[@user-jz3gj9et4k]

NO. No. Her return in Korra is a disgrace.

[@scyye-gaming]

@@user-jz3gj9et4k why do you think that, attention seeker?

[@adityaagrawal4046]

I always assumed that the headpiece that Iroh gives Zuko belongs to Iroh, because he was the crown prince before the siege at Ba Sing Se went sideways. So in my mind it was the same gesture, but not the same artifacts. But who knows maybe I am wrong 🤷‍♂️.

[@aCavemanNamedJaR]

You know what that actually makes so much sense adding that on to the fact that they showed roku's artifact get buried and probably destroyed so it makes a lot of sense that it would be Iroh's and not Roku's

[@smokeyalpaca1910]

dang that's a great point! I was thinking the White Lotus went and dug it up, but making a new one for future crown princes is just plain obvious in hindsight lol nice catch! I wouldn't be surprised if it was made right after Roku left. Sozin's dad was probably shook he gave it away and commissioned a new one immediately

[@zero.Identity]

@@aCavemanNamedJaR yesnt. i think since zuko is having an existential crysis about being related to roku, the avatar, it makes more sense story wise that that is roku his and not irohs. even though i thought the same. because iroh gives him the artifact of an avatar. therefore having wearing a scar and an artifact from both sides. resembling a picture of what his story made him. i guess he somehow found it. i mean, he managed to keep the last two dragons secretly alive.

[@MaxWelton]

1:38 Roku can simply appear if Aang is being stupid, but he needs a special date and place to show him long exposition flashbacks.

[@ShAdoWj1995]

My interpretation was Sozin was controlling heat gradients and directing the heat away to cool the lava. The style looks like a hybrid of lightning and airbending. That actually feeds into your idea of him studying other fighting styles. Perhaps heat is what you get when you apply airbending style to fire ending.

[@HajpeQ123]

1:34 In avatar theres this recurring sentence that goes something like "when we reach our lowest point it's the greatest opportunity for change" and when Aang talked to Roku he kinda reached a low point, you know him "failing the world" and all.

[@chasenovak122]

I do really like that Toph asks Aang if he thinks friendships can surpass lifetimes, and she then appears in legend of Korra, I honestly just think that’s a really sweet touch.

[@2sweg4u28]

I'd enjoy a parody joke episode where the Avatar characters overanalyze your channel :D

[@TheLegendaryMemeKing]

This, I support.

[@gingernutpreacher]

Oh yes top mark's

[@mrcombustiblelemon2902]

The Ember Island Players episode is going to be... Interesting.

[@calebleach7988]

You… I like the way you think

[@redeye4516]

Somehow I feel like they'd be down for it if he could get their attention. The VAs of course. Aside from one, they're all still active

[@JJamahJamerson]

When Sozin redirects the fumes he does a similar technique to Iroh’s lightning redirection.

[@huggleskuishy]

Interesting!

[@vysharra]

Yup, heat and lightning are just free electrons.

[@Damascusdalek]

Sozins advanced age actually makes sense when you remember that Kyoshi Canonically lived until she was 233 due to how spiritually strong she was. And maybe a lot of that is just Avatar Stuff, but I think 149 isnt unachievable by a normal person if they are a similar level of spiritual strong. And since bending is connected to spiritual strength iirc, and sozin has mad bending strength and knowledge, that seems like hes pretty in touch with the spirit world. Just..you know. Maybe the evil parts.

[@JohnJones-nw2rz]

I always looked at the "heat bending" Sozin does more as heat redirection. And I think this is part of what gave Iroh the idea for lightning redirect later on

[@zero.Identity]

no... iroh hat the idea from water tribes .. water bending.. studying that.

[@JohnJones-nw2rz]

@@zero.Identity Yeah. I don't think its a stretch to say Iroh's idea for lightning redirection had multiple influences.

[@fatalshore5068]

@@JohnJones-nw2rz Except Iroh himself saying he learnt it by studying water bending...

[@donovanulrich348]

And us humans only conduct electricity cuz we are mineral *water* Its safer to assume *Lightning* and controlling it, was only possible. By studying water bending, and we have it pointed out here Sozin knows all 4 styles Iroh, just decided to master more of what was possible Like Toph and Metal Its already possible, now how can you do it

[@fatdinosaurfood8059]

@@fatalshore5068if you learn from one place… nahh I’m reaching too far here

[@gangstapenguin2773]

Knowing Iroh, he probably thought Zuko was smart enough to read the message against the light

[@donovanulrich348]

Knowing zuko hed toss it into or near a fire, And see it XD Like he did, Just toss it on a candle torch lamp XD

[@sebsational123]

For the prison scene with Zuko and Iroh, when Iroh is telling him Roku is his maternal great grandfather, the camera pans in a way where that bars cover half his face so we only see his scarred eye first, then by when it's revealed, it's switched to his healthy eye

[@Bioguy5]

Here's an interesting bit... 7:53 This looks like a continuity error, but it's actually spot on. Zuko grabbed the scroll all the way on the right to read first. Since the Fire Nation is based on Japanese culture, they would write right to left. So the scroll all the way on the right is actually the first part in the series of Sozin's last testament So the case on the floor in this shot is the first scroll Zuko picked up and just finished, the one is his hand is the second, and he has three left to go.

[@jordancampbell8597]

Heatbending makes sense for fire-bending, though. We see Iroh heat his tea in Ba Sing Se and a pool of water to give himself a hot spring bath. Sozin just pushed the heat away instead of pushed it in.

[@ozthebeeman]

I fucking love the line "some friendships are so strong they can even transcend life times" it's so fucking good like I find it so powerful its amazing

[@consistentsuffering2542]

I think the whole bit with Sozan performing a rough version of each type of bending is great foreshadowing for the fall of the Air benders. It shows his interest in fighting, but it could also be interpreted as knowing your enemy, which is probably what helped when the comet came. Yes there were soldiers and the comet, but the basic understanding of your adversary goes a long way in combat.

[@ferdinandvillafuerte468]

Anyone else find it weird that Sozin's throne room leads directly to the outside? Like, it's not deep into the palace; it's literally the first room Roku walked into.

[@daydreamer3576]

Yeah lol. Feels like a temple

[@donovanulrich348]

Kinda shows the previous firelords were kind and open to the public But had the palace attached behind Then it becomes a military compound Huh XD

[@anatoldenevers237]

@@donovanulrich348 Sozin just took Roku destroying his palace as an opportunity to do some remodeling.

[@Cazaleb]

it’s his earth kingdom colony temple, not the main one.

[@anatoldenevers237]

@@Cazaleb Really? I was pretty sure it was the Fire Nation Royal Palace when I watched the show, and the Avatar Wiki certainly says it is.

[@casperrabbit7254]

My guess is the "smokebending" is more akin to energybending, as in bending the heat energy directly out of the magma so that it cools faster. You mentioned yourself that Sozin appears to be an insanely skilled firebender from what we're shown, so it makes sense that he'd be trained in some fairly advanced techniques 👀

[@weirdyou9497]

with fire you can see the heat above it, but in animation you need something to represent that heat. hence the use of smoke. sometimes you have to take liberties to get a message across

[@danielshore1457]

It also shows like how iron developed the counter for lighting from water bending sozims move may be derived from air bending

[@rudrodeepchatterjee]

It's probably exactly that. Sozin ruled during a time of peace amongst the nations, so the Fire Nation still adhered to their ancient techniques, which involved energy bending that was not inspired from rage. It's evident that the Fire Nation's bending style shifted from the original when the Dragon Hunting and the conquest began, therefore they lost the energy and chi aspect of their fire bending, and only maintained the fire and lightning aspects.

[@JRexRegis]

It always seemed like a shoe-in for lightning redirection. Sozin may have been too hot-headed to generate lightning, and didn't value the mindset of "savages" enough to learn how to redirect it, but channeling heat is what a firebender does. Iroh using the heat redirection stance with the mindset of a "humble guide" to redirect lightning is really plausible.

[@icantnotthink3282]

I figured in the same way that Water Benders can bend cold (to some extent) as they can turn water into ice and snow, Fire Benders are able to bend thr heat of things (Explaining explosion bending to an extent)

[@LucyRoseLuna]

"you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime?" said the lady who will meet aang in his next life

[@Wicks897]

Yea literally meets his reincarnation.

[@roseumbra4814]

Yeah and then she beats the shit out of Korra 💀

[@LiliannEnder]

"Heh, it's nice to see you again, Twinkle Toes." - Toph to Korra in LOK

[@JakeWolven]

I always cry during these videos but that part got me really bad

[@RoronoaZoroSensei]

I wonder why Toph said that line here... I don't know how the timeline matches up, but it's hard to imagine that they planned Toph's appearance in LOK at that point in time already.

[@Piper_____]

I don’t think the lamp lighting the scroll is quite so bizarre - they’re firebenders, they wield fire pretty regularly, setting something up to be revealed by fire actually seems like a pretty crummy way of keeping it hidden

[@dominickeijzer5844]

Plus, Zuko is known to be extremely volatile, Iroh was there for most of it. It's not difficult to assume that Zuko would, if he couldn't figure it out, burn the scroll and reveal the message.

[@LordWyatt]

It would probably be common within the fire nation for their culture, like a prank or trick or ancient secret passed down until it became more common (at least among firebenders which are very popular in the FN). When you point out the crumminess, I’d think Iroh would make it easy for Zukonto understand considering his inner struggles🤔

[@lurobs2677]

I think he was talking more so on the chance that Zuko threw it on the lamp so perfectly. It’s a piece of paper that’s unpredictable to throw somewhere specifically, it was all random odds.

[@Fufflunsify]

I think it's more about keeping it secret to outsiders. The airnomads having wind-powered doors, earthnation and northern water tribe making door out of walls of earth/ice etc

[@FuryousD]

7:00 The Avatar struggles with the element that is opposite their personality and not their element, if it were the element then Korra would of struggled with fire but she mastered that easily and Air bending was what she struggled with because it was the opposite of her personality.

[@iScAre1]

its both

[@cvilla1944]

Its because that show is poopie and the head writer didn't join them to write the show

[@FuryousD]

@@cvilla1944 it was the same with Aang though, Aang, for example, had all the freedoms in the world, including the ability to fly away from all his problems, that's why Earth is the element he struggled with, Earth is the element of stability and strength. Also Kyoshi the Earthbending Avatar struggled with Waterbending and not airbending which is Earths natural opposite so there goes the theory of the avatar struggling with their natural opposite since that was written by The Last Airbender's writers and not The Legend Of Korra's writers.

[@cvilla1944]

@@FuryousD Aaron Ehaz didn't write those terrible comics

[@FuryousD]

@@cvilla1944 what comics? i am not talking about something from some comics.

[@satan7512]

Every time I see Roku's dragon curl up around him in that scene it makes me tear up.

[@jahnybravo2168]

Every time I see Roku's dragon curl up around him I wonder why it didn't carry him away to safety lmfao. Fang was flying just fine, Roku was the one having trouble moving

[@bobbyferg9173]

@@jahnybravo2168 I mean considering how close he was to the volcano, perhaps Roku's dragon wouldn't be fast enough to grab Roku and fly away. But even if he could, I belive it was implied that the fumes already overcame Roku and he was basically already dead at that point and he woulnd't survive even if he got away

[@donovanulrich348]

The sad part isent Roku Dying or as sad as it is Sozin leaving him to die Fang would have lived, chose to die by his friend. Its rare we die with compony, even if your friend show up to see you pass, its rare you pass together

[@angeliparraguirre7329]

@@jahnybravo2168 Ash and debris emmitted from volcanos travel fast. I doubt anyone could have gone to save Roku fast enough to escape that.

[@kylegonewild]

@@jahnybravo2168 Roku was all but dead already. He was succumbing to the poisonous gases and ash he was inhaling and being blasted with. Fang was choosing to die with his friend rather than let him perish there alone after having just been abandoned. We know dragons are exceptionally intelligent and can live on as distinct entities in the spirit world after death so it's a safe bet Fang knew he would see the avatar on the other side.

[@seangethers9991]

I believe that in just the same as lighting bending, that maybe “heat bending” or “smoke bending” are more about energy release (yin yang). Maybe Sozin is simply pulling the heat energy from the volcano and redirecting it

[@user-zo7hi3lu5r]

I've always thought it's heat bending, they just needed that steam/smoketo depict it

[@donovanulrich348]

How do we cool off soup Same logic, just without air We pull the heat out *thumbs up* Glad people get it ^.^

[@gordon.sarratt]

Sounds right to me

[@dw1419]

"The Great-Grand-vatar and the Father's Father's Fatherlord is one of my favorite episodes." - Zuko, probably

[@Dusty_Ford]

"Ooh it's gonna be tricky getting him down from there" Honestly it's the stuff like this that gets me to lose it 😂

[@acridyd]

Can we just appreciate the fantastic performance of the voice actor that replaced Mako after he passed. Just doing a banger job through the remainder of the series with Iroh.

[@MatsuoTanuki]

All the props to Greg Baldwin. ^^

[@zero.Identity]

meanwhile the germans (me included) with their own dubbed version. not knowing what you are talking about. avatar is actually one of the fewer series / films / Anime / cartoons.. just stuff in general where i like the german dub more in every way. the voice of iroh is just better. i dont think you will understand what i mean since if you dont undestand the language it kind of never sounds fitting.

[@RacingSnails64]

The new actor sounds noticably different, but not at all bad. Just moreso dry (like, literally dehydrated) and weathered. In fact, with the actor replacement from Books 2 and 3 correlating with Iroh having been imprisoned all that time, it's almost as if prison has taken an audible toll on him.

[@triplek-dysongamingwithdan7771]

@@zero.Identity Respectfully I think Mako's Iroh voice is the best and true voice of Iroh given he sounds the most East Asian (because he was), which is analogous to what inspired the Fire Nation (east Asian empires like China and Imperial Japan).

[@zero.Identity]

@@triplek-dysongamingwithdan7771 well its the morst lore fitting then. but it i think when it comes to characteristics of the voice and how well it fits to the actual character, that the german dub is better.

[@CHUANDREW-b9x]

At 0:27 the person who could have left the note is Piandao Because he is a white lotus and he has a bond with zuko

[@noahbaden90]

Volcanos cover a huge range of power levels. The volcano in "The Fortune Teller" is like a thunderstorm, while the volcano here is like a hurricane. Yeah they're technically made of the same stuff and they're both dangerous, but they're not really comparable. I don't think it's fair to say that Aang shouldn't be amazed at Roku, or that he did anything close to what Roku does here.

[@donovanulrich348]

Finally A logical Analyst XD Aang fought a Vii 5 at best Roku was taking on a Vii 8 super volcano, and showing it whats up He didnt "win" but prevented a super eruption They were feeling it on the main land 100+ miles away, the world was at risk fo so XD

[@cursedwithsetience4017]

And aang was a lot younger. Ruko was in his 70s or 80s. Avatars are still vulnerable to old age. He was battling something hard let at the disadvantage of being elderly.

[@lucasscoz6090]

@@cursedwithsetience4017 yes agree even if him beeing a fully realised avatar i noticed he coulnd keep the avatar state longer compare this to aang vs firelord ozai aang spends like 15 min on the avatar state

[@noahbaden90]

@@lucasscoz6090 While that might be the case anyway, it's explained that a fully realized avatar doesn't want to be in the avatar state for long, because they don't want to get killed and end the whole cycle. It's entirely conscientious to not do what Aang did.

[@danieldavid3766]

@@donovanulrich348 Wasn’t that literally said in the video? The point was that Aang’s choice of words completely undersells Roku.

[@wattsnottaken1]

“NO, How dare you, address your Firelord in such a manner. May I remind you that your loyalty is first and foremost to the Fire Nation. Anything less makes you a TRAITOR!” My favorite line of the whole series 🔥

[@tomkostolom6559]

My favourite is "Don't do this Sozin, don't challenge me, it will only end badly". Roku warned him he would mess him up lol, such a badass line.

[@wattsnottaken1]

@@tomkostolom6559 Well said mate, the tragic betrayal always crushed me. Imagine your best friend letting you die because he’s greedy and wants more power. It’s all too real which makes it even more sad

[@zimtschatten1997]

The foreshadowing in the beginning when Sozin catches Roku at first, but still let's him fall... damn, it's always worth rewatching the show

[@bekkayya]

2:35 if you had said "its only once in a full moon" it would have been the funniest thing in the whole series we were THIS close to greatness

[@BurningDuderino]

the scene where aang says : "its that girl you didnt even know you were alive" is actually a bit more fitting in the german dub. In german he roughly says: "the girl you were not worth a glance for", like "she never even looked at you", and thats actually more of what was happening.

[@TheDanielk4]

The German Dub for Avatar is very good. Can't think of a Miscast on that one. :)

[@Ray25689]

@@TheDanielk4 they changed the voice actors a lot and it gets very bad in season 3 with all the old friends having completely different voices in the day of the black sun. But I really like it as well, even though they have some bad translations for no reason. Like when the professor in the desert asks aang from which airtemple he's coming from, they translate it and add "which of the two" for no reason, even though there are 4 temples in total, not 2. Or even worse, when Zhao says "moon spirit in mortal form", they translate it to "moon spirit in human form". They already could've just watched the next episode and see what kind of mortal form it is, that's pretty annoying.

[@CatalinaLinal7710]

@@Ray25689 yes but that doesn't change that the german dub is seriously amazing and added so many language and dubbing culture specific elements that nitpicking about some lines here and there and only talking about the mistakes in between all the good stuff is doing it a disservice it absolutely does NOT deserve. It's honestly sad that the moment someone praises the german dub for how great it is there will always be people who will immediately talk it down by looking for things to complain about.

[@slaybutton1692]

​@@Ray25689 I don't think the "which of the two" line is that bad tbh For someone that knows a lot about airbenders the professor probably knew the north and south were exclusively male while the eastern and western were female. So he simply asks Aang if he's from the north or south one. Since he obviously wouldn't be from the Western or Eastern

[@AstralAnubes]

7:30 the earth bender is the dude in the intro and was originally going to be Toph. Confirmed from behind the scenes footage.

[@-axn-]

With Toph saying "do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime" I immediately had to think about LoK where she experiences this herself - in her own stubborn way

[@timondimare1976]

i love that toph asks if friendships can last more than a lifetime and reunites with the avatar in the legend of korra

[@thobiashivik1035]

I know some people don’t like Korra, but I think it’s really cool how Toph asking Aang if he thinks friendships can last multiple lifetimes kind of foreshadowed Korra being trained by her in the future.

[@unkindled6410]

people hate on Korra way too much for too many nitpicks, yes theres a lot of flaws due to internal production problems but even then, its nowhere near trash as people deem it.

[@sebastianmanthey742]

People hate on Korra mostly because its not as amazing as Avatar, but its still a great show in its own right!

[@unkindled6410]

@@sebastianmanthey742 exactly. its reasonable that the bar for the series was high because of how incredible ATLA is, but people really set their bars WAY higher than what would be at least good, and just place it on trash tier disregarding all of the many good parts it still has which are still most of the show.

[@chrisgarrett6305]

@@unkindled6410word, korra was like a 7/10 show, it’s just couldn’t live up to the 9.5/10 that was avatar

[@unkindled6410]

@@chrisgarrett6305 and people treat it like hot garbage because of it due to nostalgia blindness.

[@NeiroTxn]

I think that during the solstice, Aang can actually experience Roku’s memories “first hand” Like their connection becomes so strong that they can almost merge into a single consciousness,. Like how Roku fought the fire sages for Aang on fire island

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

Remember how I said my favorite episode was _"The Earth King"_ when you asked us on stream? I lied. _This_ is my favorite, full stop. It answers so many questions I didn't even know that I had in the first place. So much of what I find compelling about this series came straight from here, and I can't just act like that doesn't mean anything. Yes, at the end of the day it is one big lore dump, but it's a *really* good one at that.

[@tokioheist9697]

16:40 im just happy toph actually experienced this during LOK

[@dimains6011]

The scene where Roku activates the avatar state when fighting the volcano gives me goosebumps.

[@Secondary_Identifier]

I feel like it's worth pointing out that out of the three times Sozin could spare/save Roku, he only does it on the stairs when other people are watching, when it benefits him to show off. That he only bows after everyone else, and after he seems to perhaps internally consider if he should.

[@GonnaDieNever]

I think that's also a youth thing though. They are clearly good friends at that point. Prior to their falling out there is no reason for Sozin not to help his friend.

[@johnspence234]

To be fair to Sozin on the last thing, he just found out his best friend was the avatar, it's understandable for him to be a bit shocked for a moment before bowing.

[@darko-man8549]

Nah, the first time, I put that to, he stops it and then let's him fall for laughs - it still stops you falling unprepared - you have far less momentum falling after that. Of course he's going to stop him falling in front of a crowd though. I think the bowing is more, he is young and unsure what to do and then realises he should bow, but doesn't let his pride tell him "no, don't bow like everyone else"

[@Secondary_Identifier]

Sozin could have spared his friend from falling the first time, when no one else was around. He had caught him, that was his reflex, but then he weighed it for a moment in his conscious mind, and found it suited him for Roku to fall. You could say it was for laughs, but making someone fall for laughs takes at least a degree of sadism. Further, reminding Roku verbally of his ongoing inferiority in their sparring? Would you treat a friend you valued as an equal like that? Sozin looks down on Roku. That's their status quo. Roku laughs it off because he is good natured, and accepts it, but their friendship is that of a superior and inferior. So one might say he was just shocked when the news is given of Roku's Avatar-Hood. But really, Sozin is the Crown Prince, and he doesn't look at his good friend in shock he looks at everyone else. People focus on the things they're concerned with. His concern is that everyone is bowing to Roku, he's shocked because everyone is bowing to Roku and not him their soon to be king. Eventually he had to keep face and bow because it's expected of him at that point, he must or he alone will look sacrilegious. But you'll notice while the whole room kowtows, Sozin only deigns to take a knee, because he still needs to show his superiority to everyone else in the room. That at worst he's the number 2 here. And when he decides to catch a stumbling Roku, it's a pointed display that religious positions aside, in combat ability he's still the superior. And then there's the scene where he gives Roku the Fire Nation crown of the Crown Prince, it seems humble and kind, but it's also only shortly before he dons the crown of the King of the Fire Nation. In iconography he's establishing Roku as significant, sure, but ultimately just his number 2, a prince before a king. A piece of regalia that is meant as a reminder to Roku, and everyone he will meet in his travels, that this great man serves The King of the Fire Nation. Then just as he only bows when forced by the situation to bow, Sozin only withholds his imperial goals because he must. Not out of respect or care for his friend, but only when physically defeated before his nation in a fight where he threw the first blow. And the culmination of this is the true tragedy of Roku and Sozin. Roku always thought they were friends. Almost to his last, but Sozin only ever viewed Roku as a tool that would amuse and serve him, or be destroyed. At least that's my take.

[@qureshiiiii]

@@Secondary_Identifier this should have all the likes

[@anaionescu8913]

Man, I LOVE your series. I adore this show, but sometimes, I feel like I'm annoying people if I keep bitching about how great it is. Your videos make it feel like I'm sharing this pure passion with hundreds of thousands of other people. It's great. Keep it up.

[@origulator]

One thing they probably didnt have in mind when they originally made the show but was pointed out online I really like is how every Avatar looks like the previous Avatar's love interest.

[@baha17222]

I like how at 15:03 the camera pans across zuko’s face when iroh tells him about his lineage. When he tells him about his father side his scar is visible but then when he tells him about his mother’s side the camera pans to the side of his face and the bars cover his scar showing that he has two sides.

[@baconjakin4442]

holy freaking crap i just realized that in the first flashback to Sozin and Roku firebending together, Roku slips and Sozin catches him for a moment, before still letting him fall. THAT IS A PARALLEL/FORESHADOWING TO AT THE VOLCANO WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN SOZIN REFUSES TO HELP UP ROKU AND LEAVES HIM TO DIE

[@novagames1304]

14:50 in regards to Aang’s birth, it makes complete sense that he is surrounded by women, otherwise I’m not sure who everyone expected to birth Aang lol

[@redgeoblaze3752]

Certainly not the Air-Nomad Nuns. we don't exactly know how Air Nomad procreation usually goes, but Nuns typically wouldn't have children. (if you mean aid the mother in giving birth, then anyone can help with that if they know how.) Given the scene of Aang already being in a crib with no parents around, I'd say it's likely that this took place when he was a few months old. Maybe instead of the Avatar being born at the exact moment the previous one dies, it has a bit of a window for how old the baby is for the Avatar Spirit to take a new vessel. I'd say it's pretty possible that there are AirBenders that don't take the role of a monk, and maybe spend their time exploring the world as a Nomad would. Then when it's discovered that a baby is an Air-Bender, they're taken to the closest Air Temple to be trained by the Monks or Nuns. Maybe after a few months so that the newborn can still nurse from the mother while that's necessary, though I doubt that any bending would be obvious at that young an age.

[@lyly_lei_lei]

@@redgeoblaze3752 Nah, I think it’s air nomads whose only purpose in life is to breed.

[@Woogoo336]

Could be that they participate in arranged marrages. Or just arranged births.

[@redgeoblaze3752]

@@Woogoo336 That doesn't sound like something the Element of Freedom would do. Which is why I also think that you can choose not to become a monk if you want. Thus, travelling the world as a Nomad.

[@Woogoo336]

Yeah probably. Though it feels wrong to me to say they acted like real life nuns and monks when it comes to sex. Obviously their tribe would go extinct if they did. Maybe they had more traditional courting and marriage ritules which where done outside the gender exclusive temples.

[@xxSuperFrogxxGaming]

I absolutely love this episode! One of my favorites from a story and visual standpoint. Can’t beat watching Roku grow and become the avatar and the ultimate Zuko reveal, just incredible!

[@joelbibeault1169]

Wasn't a fan of LOK but I loved how innocently Toph asks if friendships could really last more than lifetimes, then later becomes friends with the next Avatar

[@user-gr9kh2jv2f]

Its also cool how the bar pans over zukos face in the reveal, splitting his face between the scarred and unscarred halves as iroh tells him who each of his grandfathers are respectively

[@garganchua]

I wish you had a contrast between Toph saying "do you really think friendships can last more than one life time?" And Toph being the first person we see in KORRA and her first line is "hi twinkle toes" THATS JUST BRILLIANT

[@madeliefynana]

How is Toph the first person we see in Korra?

[@garganchua]

@@madeliefynana sorry, I said that wrong, I meant the first time we see Toh not the first time toph is seen. Brain fart

[@androkguz]

Brilliant? Nah Beautiful? Absolutely

[@lilmissannajo1371]

I like how in Korra she struggled with airbending. It’s not just ‘the opposite element’ but the opposing ideals. Aang is by no means an earthbender, he’s free and adaptable. Earthbenders are stubborn and hard minded. Korra was short tempered and determined and outspoken. The opposite to airbenders

[@FireallyXTheories]

I agree that friendship isn't given enough credit or justice in most media, it's usually treated like Roku's wedding in this episode - a pat on the head, footnote, or joke material. I really wish that it was explored more because it's just as interesting and important to our psyche as romantic relationships imo.

[@evantschabold9060]

Toph to Aang: Do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime? Toph to Korra: Nice to see you again Twinkletoes :')

[@MaxWelton]

1:50 I bet the rules are opposite for the two solstices. You can only talk to Roku during the day on the shortest day of the year and vice versa.