Overanalyzing Avatar: The Ember Island Players

Overanalyzing Avatar on the recap episode. But, probably one of the best recap episodes you're ever gonna find.
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[@overanalyzingavatar]

Like and comment on this video to be able to finally look yourself in the mirror. Also hey, one year anniversary of me starting youtube.

[@jasperofficial1911]

Congratz on the one year man!

[@noahcody2655]

Ayyyyyy that’s awesome! Really appreciate your work in delivering our hungry eyes with more avatar content!

[@pang_o_lin7956]

big winss

[@elitegamer9310]

Happy Anniversary

[@xanderheslar968]

Hey man, slight correction about Aangs Avatar state comment, he meant he’d get so pissed off that he’d actually go into the avatar state from the pure emotion. Love your content

[@pedroeljatib3210]

Also, it’s interesting how Zhao wanted to be remember in history, but, if we take this play into account, Zhao isn’t even mentioned, all the stuff he did, capturing the avatar, the north pole, they are remembered as stuff that Zuko did. So Zhao did everything to be remembered in history, but he was completely forgotten.

[@wildfire9280]

Zhao? More like lmao, cause he got absolutely clapped

[@matheusm.santana6527]

And the north pole attack was less then a year ago in universe. Zhao managed to become forgotten in record time

[@Poonchow]

There's a scene in Korra with the original voice actor trapped in the spirit world rambling about his Zhao the Conqueror titles and none of the characters know who he is. It's like the ocean spirit completely erased the guy from history. Honestly it's a pretty brutal end.

[@CaptainWobbs]

Actually, Zhao is present in the play. Ocean Spirit Kaiju Aang is holding and shaking around a little doll of him, if memory serves.

[@annaisntcool]

@@wildfire9280 got his ass

[@christophergonzalez3973]

I've always liked the head canon that the reason Toph's actor in the play is a giant buff guy is because people never wanted to admit that they lost so hard in a fight to a tiny 12 year old girl.

[@maryknudson9265]

I agree so much. Nothing will convince me otherwise and they all just told their commanding officer that an absolute unit of an earth bender took then down instead of a little blind girl.

[@mayo_poppins]

Exactly! I just commented this cause I realized this while rewatching it recently.

[@TheBluePhoenix008]

Ayy you're in over analysing over analysing Avatar.

[@paradoxzee6834]

My headcanon is the reason why the firelord won at the end is because the Avatar is the enemy of the Fire Nation, if they made the Avatar beat the fire lord they could lose all reputation or even get arrested

[@PunJee]

@@maryknudson9265 If you listen to the ATLA with Janet and Dante, the original creators said that Toph originally was supposed to be a tough guy then was changed to a blind girl, but it would’ve been cool if this theory was true haha

[@briannawhite9307]

I am fully in the camp that Zuko doesn't know anyone's name when he joins the group and is too awkward to ask what they are, so he waits until he hears them referred to by name.

[@theoldpea1]

^

[@newsearching]

LOL embarrassing as it is, I do that all the time.

[@williehughes1690]

That's hilarious but I think besides Toph Zuko would've probably tried to find out everyone's name back when he was still actively hunting Aang so that way if he here's word of any of them just by name he would know it's an actual lead.

[@dudeman5303]

Straight up dude I agree. There's no way it's an accident

[@nataliaborys1554]

Lmao yeah I can imagine it being too awkward to ask. "I'm sorry for all those terrible things I did to you. I'm so grateful you decided to give me a chance of restoring my honor. ...By the way, what are your names?"

[@nateds7326]

Zuko's "Did Jet just... Die?" Is alot less funny when you realize that the last time Zuko saw Jet he was getting arrested by the Dai Li. So Zuko probably just found out Jet died right at that moment.

[@cookiemocher388]

Dam

[@lunathedragon123]

Dam

[@boost3405]

dam

[@jhonnysilverhand13]

Dam

[@arzentvm]

dam

[@nickhelmer]

The fact Zuko thinks the Ember Island Players "butchered" Love Amongst the Dragons means he has a frame of reference for how that play is supposed to be done. Zuko would also be an overanalyzer

[@remixraptor1343]

Makes sense, cause according to the comics, his mother used to perform that very play, in her home village, before she was sent off to marry Ozai. With that knowledge, Zuko 100% knows how it's supposed to be performed because of his mother, and the fact she used to perform in it.

[@kappnk9821]

​@@remixraptor1343i want to imagine Zuko and his mother would quietly be making fun of how much they butchered the play to each other and thats why they went to see it every year

[@Gamerfan-zd8yp]

Or kid him heard his mom judging it and he just said the same things

[@cyz3566]

@@remixraptor1343 Which comic is it?

[@TerryFigueiraRamos]

@@cyz3566 the search

[@maem7462]

Something I love with the Blue Spirit is that they still have actor Zuko be there bc no one from the fire nation knew that it was actually Zuko who was the blue spirit

[@Xpwnxage]

Yeah that's cool af

[@yaellevi5448]

Imagine he just casually mentions the fact that he was the blue spirit and everyone is shocked and Zuko realizes he never told anyone about that

[@yaellevi5448]

Double fugitive

[@Luigi-hn1hu]

Maybe is also a reference to Zhao not being remembered, when he wanted to be known forever, everything he did was transfered to Zuko on this play

[@dsargus3]

@@yaellevi5448 but Aang knew he was the blue spirit. The blue spirit got unconscious bc of something, Aang saved his saviour, looked under the mask and was shocked. Talked to the unconscious Zuko as well. I'm not sure if Aang told the others about it, ... maybe, idk

[@yaellevi5448]

I love how the writer didn't know why Aang keeps saying "yip yip" and so actress Aang said "Avatar state! Yip yip!" when fusing with the ocean spirit

[@matthewolsen7300]

Zuko losing muscle mass might also be symbolic in his change of firebending styles. He no longer requires power, anger, and strength for each blast, but proper technique he learned in the dragon episode.

[@darkionx]

He now uses more breathing and sea of Chi. Probably does a lot of cardio which doesn't build up as much body mass.

[@raidenstark315]

1:07 i'm learning chinese feels great to know what is written on the title

[@Johnrich395]

BTW, the reason why Toph is cast as a big muscled guy is because THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR Toph. They made him up and then asked the question, “But, what if he was the opposite? Like a small girl?” And since Earthbending doesn’t actually rely on muscles, it completely works.

[@jordancampbell8597]

And it's hilarious in-universe. One gets the impression that all the soldiers who Toph beat up lied through their teeth to save face over being beaten by a itty-bitty girl.

[@jordancampbell8597]

@Zanfitto Well, Big Bad Hippo might, but he has a huge soft spot for the itty bitty Blind Bandit.

[@atsukana1704]

@@jordancampbell8597 but when checking your sources seeing a giant guy like big bad hippo would make you think he called everyone itty bitty, and you would just trust the majority on that one.

[@theapexsurvivor9538]

And honestly, Toph would probably have confirmed those stories if she could, just because she'd find it funny and because it would give her more opportunities to mess with people. Plus I don't think she'd especially mind being completely jacked.

[@Slender_Man_186]

@@jordancampbell8597 I mean yeah, wouldn’t be good for moral if reports of a little blind girl taking out entire divisions started coming out, gotta pump out that propaganda.

[@jemma2607]

Two things to notice: - Zuko's hair jokes are about the fire nation not having a clue of how he looked like at the time, but supposing he changed his hair. - In the play, Azula hits Aang with the lighting from the front instead of the back. I think part of the propaganda is to make their heroes look brave and honorable.

[@KILAH4716]

Hate to break your thunder, but he actually got shot in the foot, and the lightning left through his back. But in fairness to the play, how the hell was Actor Aang supposed to catch the "lightning" with her foot?

[@jemma2607]

@@KILAH4716 from the back, not in the back

[@Delantho]

@@KILAH4716 he was hit in the back and the electricity traveled through his body and jumped to the ground from his foot as it was the closest point to jump from.

[@KILAH4716]

@@Delantho I don't remember that detail. I need to rewatch that scene, but I believe you.

[@flamingrubys11]

@@KILAH4716 thats how lightning works

[@llamawalrushybrid]

"How's Zuko so socially unaware of Aang's crush on katara?" "Hmm Aang stormed out after seeing a visual representation of Katara having feelings for Zuko.. seems like he's upset about Chakras"

[@donnadelrey]

😭no cuz i was so confused when he was commenting about the chakras. underrated comment

[@rffm1879]

He's a socially awkward guy after his goal to "..regain my honor.."

[@jordanestes1997]

Nah, he was saying like, he'd be in the avatar state at that moment, if it wasn't for the chakras. Like, he's so upset, that he would be in the avatar state because of the play

[@flux.aeterna]

Aang talks about blocking his chakra because it was closed in the first place due to his feelings for Katara. (And then later again when Azula yeets him)

[@birdtunes6199]

​@@jordanestes1997 I don't get how anyone could think any other way

[@Picturam_2]

Over analyzing fact: the reason Zuko’s mom probably made him go see “Love amongst the dragons” is because in the comics it’s shown that she used to perform that play before meeting Ozai

[@corenlavolpe6143]

Yep, and to add to that I'd say that since she had a lot of sentimental attachment to that play and she has knowledge of performance art, she would notice a lot more of the flaws and have higher standards. Zuko is probably just repeating the sentiment of his mother without realizing it. That or it was genuinely a bad performance, I dunno.

[@Yodah97]

@@corenlavolpe6143 I mean if she thought they butchered it every year, she'd probably stop going to the play. I think. It's more likely that she read the play to Zuko and he didn't like the changes the Emerald Players made. Or maybe her reading was so good that he preferred her version. I can see her doing the voices and facial expressions and all that.

[@corenlavolpe6143]

@@Yodah97 Damn I love that head canon, that's wholesome

[@nickkerber1145]

Also, the Blue Spirit is a character from the play, and the mask Zuko used is implied to have been from the set of Love Amongst the Dragons masks his mother owned

[@niloticnya]

And her bf performed there before Ozai “killed” him

[@SnakeMan448]

Zuko's scar being on the wrong side of the actor, besides being a dig at their own animation errors, makes sense in-universe given that he looks to the right side of the stage a lot and the audience needs to be able to see the scar.

[@elderliddle2733]

I was in theater for 4 years. The rule for scars, disfigurement, or any other prominent features in body or clothing are shown to the side that the audience sees first. So even IRL that would be a thing

[@TheChaosCorvid]

@@elderliddle2733 And all this time I thought it was just to poke fun at the play for being poorly made. They put in more effort than most fans of Avatar probably would have.

[@horse14t]

@@elderliddle2733 That's really cool!

[@GanonGhidorah]

It's actually interesting to consider how visual cues are presented here. In plays and film-making, a general consensus is that when a character's direction moves from stage-right to stage-left, that character is portrayed as villainous. When we see actor Zuko, the ship he's on is moving toward Stage-Left, indicating his time as a villain. Yet when Zuko joins Aang and the gang in the third act, he moves from stage left to stage right. It's a subtle nod to imply that Zuko is now joining the _right-side._ And in-meta-context to the show, the audience _cannot_ see his scar.

[@niume7468]

@@GanonGhidorah no way the creators even thought of that. I think we give way too much credit for the creators

[@cantaloupegodling352]

The Toph punching people montage was really heartwarming for some reason.

[@SirRebrl]

"It's how I show affection." [enter montage of Toph frequently showing affection to everyone in the Gaang]

[@alias3359]

@@SirRebrl Never seen Gaang wrote like that, it's freaking perfect

[@clownplayer7265]

@@SirRebrl "Your affection feels like a rock breaking my arm"

[@2triedforthis830]

No bc I never noticed that and was confused why she kept punching people but man I saw the scenes and it’s so cute man😭

[@LaLaBrave]

My favorite part about this episode is Katara's and Azula's voice actors doing purposefully hammy impressions of each other for the "actors".

[@MichaelCharlesAubrey]

I think the reason Aang brings up blocking his chakra, is because the chakra was blocked due to his love for Katara. The Zutara scene in the play has got him spiralling, "What was even the point if I'm nothing but a younger brother to her?"

[@2triedforthis830]

I feel like that family term that was used for aang in the play was to poke fun of the way they wrote Katara’s and aangs relationship cuz one moment it’s her mothering him and friend zoning him and to platonic, to them kissing and then it rinse and repeats. I don’t hate the main couple I do like it and do belive it’s the one of the better endings for them, but it got me feeling like the whole thing was a confusing mess idk

[@ashton_playz9341]

​@@2triedforthis830 am I the only one who thinks it was absolutely not the best decision for katara? after she married aang she was reduced to the role of baby maker and housewife and mother. she was the avatar's girl, woman, whatever. she fought so hard in book 1 against all sorts of misogynistic views, she wanted to fight, yet all she's remembered for is her advancements in healing and being married to the avatar? it seems so out of character for her to so willing step to the sidelines when she's never wanted that ever and hated the idea of it.

[@2triedforthis830]

@@ashton_playz9341 bro my opinion has changed so quick after I made this comment I lowkey hate the main pairing now cuz what they did to katanas character. I just don’t like how she fought so bad to be recognized as a good fighter just to stay in the South Pole instead of tracking the world like the others did. This would’ve the that much of a problem until you see that the rest of the gaang had so many different accomplishments Sokka was recognized as the chef of the water tribe and did a lot Toph had a lot of impact in the Korea series and especially on her 2 daughters due to her questionable parenting and also the chef of police who invented metal bending Zuko became fire lord and then he retired to travel the world And katana? She’s at home doing nothing in particular 😭 Makes me mad actually

[@ilovedrawingstuff2395]

@@2triedforthis830if it makes you feel better in an official atla book in Katara section Aang is referred as master Kataras husband.

[@Sandy-mb2sc]

@@2triedforthis830thats a legend of korra issue

[@elitegamer9310]

What I find interesting about this episode is that Zhao is absent from the play. The only reference to him is a doll during the reenactment of Aang destroying the Fire Nation fleet. Even when they are reenacting the time Zhao captured Aang, they replaced him with Zuko. It hasn't even been a whole year since the Seige of the North, and already he's been forgotten.

[@napoleon950]

or specifically left out because he went too far?

[@giannovich8341]

I was wondering about that,he's just too bland.

[@Enchie]

@@napoleon950 I can see that. Even the most hard line fire supremacist would say he went to far.

[@Enchie]

@UCpSIXPn0qYnIWA4BGa_99PQ He wasn't a traitor, Iroh was the traitor.

[@abrahambarkhordar5572]

considering its fire nation propaganda they probably dont want to focus on Zhao who is pretty much an all around failure (invasion of north, blue spirit jailbreak, etc.)

[@ShinobiPXO]

Literally one of the best episodes of the show. It's perfect meta humour and commentary without the characters actually breaking the 4th wall.

[@fearedjames]

I think my only problem is the same thing he says near the end. The play itself feels like a 4th Wall Break because its structured like Aang and Co are the heroes in a story where they are the villains being mocked. If not for the crowd reactions in one scene, it feels like the play-write should be receiving an unwelcoming visit by the fire nation gestapo. It feels super made to be a parody of the show, and not something that makes sense in universe. And I'll admit sometimes actual propaganda can come off this way. See the Japanese Propaganda film Momotarou no Umiwashi (桃太郎の海鷲) about culture figure Momotarou and a bunch of other cute animal creatures bombing Pearl Harbour. There's a kind of dread and feeling of pain in the actual bombing itself, almost like it was trying to get you to sympathize with the US forces. It feels like the Japanese cultural history of treating one's opponents as equals was pushing through, despite the mostly successful attempts to push a dehumanization thing at the time. (I will also say, some of Momotarou is absolutely shitting on the Americans, but the final scene with a sad depressing star spangled banner showing a burning fleet and metal floating in the sea is bizarrely depressing for propaganga)

[@fishdishanimations2192]

i feel like it breaks the fourth wall because theres no way the fire nation play writers could know some of that stuff

[@thysleepyboy7274]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYSoiGqIZZpgkLc

[@CharlieQuartz]

@@fearedjames I have a couple of theories about what the in-universe explanation could be. First, it might be that the gaang is supposed to be a group of antiheroes or complex villains who, by being defeated by their savior the Fire Lord, elevates his status by comparison. Second could be that our view of the play omits some development on the Fire Nation side of events that aren't relevant to the caricature of the episode or we are seeing it through the lens of our protagonists, who would see themselves positively.

[@fearedjames]

@@CharlieQuartz Gonna say this now, anti-heroes is how you end up meeting the Gestapo. Go look at actual propaganda fiction to get a better sense of how this stuff works.

[@no-lifenoah7861]

I love how this episode explains why so few people recognized Zuko on his travels through Fire Nation territory even though his scar is such a distinguishing feature; it's because _specifically_ *this* play accidentally put his scar on the wrong side of his face. And since it's a traveling play it would spread the misconception far and wide. That's so unbelievably funny to me.

[@yuvalgabay1023]

There is probably also a larg amount of people whit burn marks .

[@jaysotho]

people in plays always put the scars on the opposite side-

[@meekolot]

what are the odds of nation with fire powers having a burn mark somewhere in their face

[@the_last_ballad]

​@@meekolot or their victims in a war going on for a century

[@JRexRegis]

@@yuvalgabay1023 oh god I never even considered that. In a war with firebenders, there'd be a LOT of burn scars.

[@goose_42]

I love the irony that all admiral zhao wanted was to be remembered and praised but he is not even featured in the play (besides the doll that ocean spirit aang holds). Super cool detail that probably wasn't intentional.

[@segadoeswhatnintendont]

It's very intentional, in the scene with the blue spirit it was a deliberate choice to have zuko replace Zhao as the guy who caught the avatar

[@codymartinson9518]

I love that you have your own running gags too. "He's Right!", the full moon, "FOOOOOLISH SAMURAI" and that cabbage guy that's never been mentioned before or since. And I always stay to hear the patron shoutouts because somehow you never run out of jokes for that. It does a lot to elevate this from simple analysis to entertainment in its own right.

[@redwarrior69340]

what cabbage guy ? It was never mentioned in the show until now !

[@itays7774]

I miss Aku... (sad face)

[@xXArtemis5Xx]

That's guud

[@RochRich.]

B l o o d b e n d i n g

[@Judicial_Cat]

I miss Zhan.

[@dannysantos1592]

I think Aang’s “I’d be in the avatar state right now” wasn’t about the guru or anything we missed in the play I think it’s that he’s so emotional and angry that he would have gone into the avatar state

[@dannysantos1592]

Whoops someone already commented that lol

[@treyt6474]

No. Hes saying that he regrets choosing katara over learning to control the avatar state after being dissapointed that they arent together, and the play brought those feelings out.

[@ecassanova2315]

No I think Danny Santos is right here. Aang says, "overreacting? If I hadn't...". He's trying to say that overreacting is an under statement because he's so mad that he'd probably be in the Avatar State right now if he hadn't blocked his Chakras.

[@chimchar87]

@@ecassanova2315EXACTLY

[@jr1648]

​@@ecassanova2315i kinda took it as him saying if he hadnt blocked his chakras, he would probably be battling the firelord ahead of the comets arrival.... so he'd be in the avatar state kicking ozai's butt, not because hes angry in the moment.

[@swerhve]

I'm surprised you never mentioned it, but it makes sense that Toph is seen as a big muscly guy, if this person went all over getting the story from all over the world, no one wants to say that they got beat up by a tiny little girl, especially not if they were in a group or something. So of course they would lie and describe Toph as a huge bulky strong dude, it's less embarrassing that way.

[@TheBluePhoenix008]

Ayyy this got mentioned in OAOA Avatar.

[@Inebriated_Goat]

Congrats you parroted the top comment hurrah and hooray for you.

[@swerhve]

@@Inebriated_Goat Dude my comment was posted before there's lmfao, why you pressed in the comments of a avatar video

[@swerhve]

@@metalhead2583 Eh it's probably less about sexism and more about her age, otherwise they would've lied about Katara too.

[@Lightning-gg5iu]

⁠@Metal Head 🗣️ Not really sexism. Toph is a 12 year old little girl. A group of soldiers being bested by one isn’t a good look

[@katieb9428]

Was anyone else kinda sad he didn’t mention actor Toph screaming? That is easily one of the best parts in this episode for me. The way Toph gets so excited makes me feel like she probably tried the scream technique after watching the play

[@allison8654]

my headcanon is that the playwright was a fire nation dissenter who couldn’t write an explicitly pro-gaang play without getting in trouble, so he wrote one as anti-fire nation as possible while still technically being propaganda

[@lonemotheomatshaba9640]

That would make alot of sense since he's traveling to different parts of the world and is seeing the devastation his nation is doing to the rest of the world

[@Dachusblot]

Headcanon accepted.

[@matheusm.santana6527]

The writter of the play is said to be from the earth kinkdom, so the fact that even tho tbe play ends with the fire lord winning (the only way it could have ended in the fire nation) he doesn't say anything about the "prosperity" the fire nation is sharing, he says "the world is now MINE" can be seen as sneaky anti-fire nation/war message.

[@nateds7326]

That actually makes a ton of sense, since in alot of ancient Greek plays the playrights were ordered to make stories glorifying the king or the emporer, so they made satires that were just barely positive enough to scurt by as propaganda like the epic of Anies.

[@flamingphoenix1425]

*stamps comment* HEADCANON APPROVED

[@erikm8373]

I think my favorite bit of this episode is Sokka getting hyped when the actor says the line he suggested. It's such a genuine reaction to something like that.

[@AegixDrakan]

Yeah, it's great. I really felt for Sokka in that moment. XD Also, Aang's reaction chain is hilarious too.

[@garrettpersyn3665]

I've always loved Suki's reactions to Sokka during this episode and the next, occasionally getting irritated when he jumps suddenly or whatever, but settling back into a look that says she's just happy he's happy

[@aliyahpulido953]

Yup, he can sometimes be an idiot and she knows it VERY well 😂 Heck, she served him a big slice of humble pie when they first met. But, he's HER idiot and she loves him 🥰😂

[@otta.8954]

4:20 its actually pretty deep to think Yue is looking out for them as the moon spirit and passive boosting waterbending with a full moon all the time

[@naufalmEZa]

She also watched Sokka making a move on Suki

[@b.a.m.mdoublem1196]

​@@naufalmEZaI like to think that she would want Sokka to move on she wouldn't want to be single and miserable for the rest of his life.

[@bullymaguire6091]

One thing that’s interesting about this episode is that in “The Search”, an epilogue comic, we actually see people preforming “Love amongst dragons”. One of the “Dragons” is wearing a mask that is almost identical to the blue spirit mask, meaning Zuko got it from or because of the play.

[@apeRenTice]

Most likely he did, since Ursa was an actress for the play before being taken to the fire palace, and we know she had some masks hidden in the palace to remember where she came from. So yes, Zuko did get it from the play, but he uses it because the connections to his mother. What a brilliant comic.

[@GanonGhidorah]

...That's heavy to consider, since the implication being that _Ursa_ probably gave him the mask as a present. The mask is a symbol reminding him of his mother, and he had to let it go.

[@Reisboy_PhD]

@@GanonGhidorah we also see some mask of the blue spirit being sold at a fair, so maybe he just bought one

[@dango470]

it goes deeper than that. the blue spirit curses the dragon emperor to live out among the humans. how zuko was banished from firenation and made to live out against uhh peastans?

[@segadoeswhatnintendont]

The comics confirm this

[@marcelineabadeer8380]

The Ember Island Plays is legitimately the greatest recap episode I’ve ever seen. It does a perfect job at being a hilarious overview of the whole show while poking fun at several aspects of it (The Great Divide joke never gets old) and at the same time Provides great closure and beautiful interactions between the group like Zuko and Toph’s scene and has a good intimidating ending note to build up to the finale. Just like with Avatar itself I’m really excited for the overanalyzing Avatar finale and I can’t wait to see what he has planned for the future.

[@CanadianKomodo]

So sad and pathetic how Korra tried its best to recapture that part, but with all the impact of a wet noodle.

[@blobbertmcblob4888]

@@CanadianKomodo That's because Korra was garbage.

[@CanadianKomodo]

@@blobbertmcblob4888 I would say so about the first and second season, 3 is overrated, and 4 was kinda mediocre.

[@themonkeyhand]

No doubt! Just said the same thing. Best recap ever with all new animation and guest voice actors!

[@Zakatak-mf4iq]

@@CanadianKomodo most of the episode I agree, but I still like the Varrick narration parts

[@trevorrather]

I love that when the blue spirit shows up he fights zuko because the fire nation has no idea who the blue spirit is. Who whole Toph being a huge man is also hilarious since no one would fess up to her being a little girl

[@penderagon9554]

My dnd group had their own ember island knock off.... my greatest moment was when I took a page from sokka and snuck backstage to make some changes... only instead of giving them jokes, he made all of the other party members even less accurate, while making his own character a perfect replica... it was amazing showing the party the "new and improved" play.

[@Dtoons]

Thanks for pointing out how Zuko never says Toph’s name at all during the show. That always bothered me. Hell, he doesn’t say AANG’s name until the Southern Raiders!

[@overanalyzingavatar]

Yeah I actually have that written into a later episodes because I forgot to mention it last episode.

[@oldtrash108]

In the southern raiders episode Zuko refers to katara when talking with sokka as "your sister" As soon as sokka mentioned kataras name with "nah she doesn't hate you, katara doesn't hate anyone [...]" zuko started using her name aswell. So pretty save to say zuko didn't know everybodys name and was too awkward to ask the people he was hunting for a fucking long time for their names

[@BurnBird1]

@@oldtrash108 I honestly feel like they could have made a joke about that, like maybe he asks the actors in the play what characters they're playing or something.

[@suprtroopr1028]

@@oldtrash108 that's honestly not a bad theory. If I'm remembering right, they never say Toph's name in front of him either, so it checks out.

[@horokush123]

@@oldtrash108 makes sense lol

[@zjean3417]

There is no other episode like this on television. To prepare us for our movie length finale, they sum up three years of TV in 22 compact minutes while managing to move the plot/character arcs along, and leaving us with some of the series most iconic lines/references. It is an absolute achievement.

[@Tornadica]

With most of the others who do this making it extremely painful to watch

[@joshrains25]

@@Tornadicaagreed

[@trankia1224]

Also they did it without reusing footage as flashbacks, we're getting summed up without seeing stuff we already seen.

[@unionfire]

@@Tornadica Every anime in existence that has recap eps... Immediate skip!

[@Tornadica]

@@unionfire yeah, but there weren't any flash backs, it was not too cringe, it had character development, it had actual funny moments. You might not like this one, but this is one of the episodes, unless I need to finish the series right away, I do not skip.

[@coreydabrowski2249]

I love the show's inconsistencies especially when it's followed up by a consistency that we never would've caught. Example: Toph's shoes aren't punched out and then 5 seconds later, Zuko has lost muscle mass for being on the run for so long.

[@DEarls-ye9tz]

The way they cast Toph in this play kind of suggests that the fire nation is more afraid of Toph than the avatar. 😂

[@dragonzrule55]

I think that moment during the play where the audience was yawning in boredom is because Team Avatar beat the drill attack on the wall. So the fire nation sees Team Avatar as the ‘bad guys’ so it was boring to see the ‘bad guys’ take down the drill, bc they know they didn’t win during that attack

[@ginacentanaro4645]

I'd say it's because it was 2 episodes of drilling the wall.

[@DirectorOfChaos9292]

@@ginacentanaro4645 but both parts were full of action. If it was JUST the drill then yeah buy it wasn't

[@leaffinite3828]

I think its a pun on boring, meaning to drill a hole as well as unentertsining

[@TheKeyblader133]

I'm pretty sure the "If I hadn't blocked my Chakra's I'd probably be in the Avatar State right now!" line wasn't him being upset about not having access to the Avatar state, but him saying that he was so upset about the play that if he had access to it, he'd be in the Avatar State.

[@franzkissel1369]

Yeah

[@SaloCh]

I still think the first one makes more sense but I see where you're coming from

[@cantusaeolus]

Yeh, he's super angry, and the only reason he's not glowing and breaking things is because his chakras are blocked.

[@dvs9019]

Why are there two identical comments? °~°

[@TheKeyblader133]

@@dvs9019 because people go into the comments section and post their thoughts then don't read the rest lol And I honestly don't doubt that I probably was the person in this situation who did not see the "first" comment made xD

[@Snadmonster95]

About Zuko’s scar being on the opposite side… I think that has to work within the symbolism that we have grown used to: scar=his dark side of trying to please his father, and unscarred side=his self realized self, the real Zuko that his uncle taught him to be. Now the fire nation would think that the part of him that helps the avatar is the evil side. Thus, the scar is flipped because this is the fire nation’s view of Zuko, his “evil” side is his good side and his good is bad.

[@zaep2791]

1:11 Your refusal to ever acknowledge The Cabbage Guy is genuine humor.

[@segadoeswhatnintendont]

What cabbage guy?

[@jordancampbell8597]

Late to the party, but one thing I *love* about this episode is the Toph-Zuko scene. Toph's been relatively nice to Zuko, but this scene is by far her most compassionate in the entire series. Her gentle tone, her encouragement and her firm belief that Iroh would be proud--with the teeniest bit of envy, because she wants someone to be proud of her the same way that Iroh is proud of Zuko. It's absolutely brilliant. And her punching Zuko to show affection is hilarious.

[@whocares9033]

Yeah, she seems to be sympathetic to people's "parental issues" Makes sense given her backstory

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Don't forget that Toph is the first Gaang member who suggested to have Zuko in the team and she didn't even mad when Zuko burnt her feet because she realized it was her fault to sneak in and made Zuko panic. And she took it like a champ instead of crying even though her feet is the way how she "communicated" Also, she was the one who suggested to Aang and Zuko to find the source of Firebending based on her experience from BadgerMole.

[@skeleletonboi4533]

@@margarethmichelina5146 yeah I mean she basically got flashbanged (or at least her equivalent cause it temporarily blinded her own way of seeing) and she just went "yea no, that wasn't malicious it's chill"

[@sorayashifamuna3009]

If I saw from Zuko's face when he heard Toph's words while sitting together, he seemed to smile comfortably. Like comfortable getting direction from someone who really sincerely gives it affection. Not much different from his uncle. So I thought, if Zuko didn't marry Kattara, why didn't he just choose Toph?

[@Great_Olaf5]

I think the avatar state reference during the intermission is just because Aang is angry. We've seen that sufficient anger can trigger it, and while I don't think he's that mad, exaggerating for effect is hardly out of character for him.

[@abrahambarkhordar5572]

yes to this

[@dw1419]

I was getting ready to comment the same thing. 💯

[@billmight5662]

Aangs avatar state freakout takes place in the season 2-3 intermission, where they just showed Aang dying to Azula. If Aang completed the chokras with the guru, then he would have entered the underground caves glowed up and mop the floor there. Instead, he was outmatched by Azula, resorting to unlock the chokra there, which lead to him doing the WORST possible thing he could do and dying in the Avatar state.

[@jennifer-cm6bo]

@@billmight5662 yeah but aang didnt see that part, he walked off after the zutara stuff

[@Talisguy]

Zuko's line to Katara does come off as weirdly flirtatious thanks to the delivery and body language - maybe he's channeling Azula when he tries to convince Katara to sell out Aang? This kind of thing doesn't come naturally to him even at his most antagonistic. He probably could have returned with Aang very early in the series if he'd taken a village where Aang was staying hostage, threatened to execute someone every five minutes unless Aang gave himself up and took several villagers with him to make sure he cooperated, but he didn't. It's not in his character. ...Yes, i know it's a kids show, so he couldn't have actually started executing people, but there are other ways around it - every single time the Gaang fights Azula (who would *absolutely* do this,) there are conveniently no innocent bystanders around to use as leverage, and I doubt that's a coincidence. So when Zuko had to try to be manipulative and conniving, maybe he copied someone he knew to be both of those things...

[@rinmoriuzumaki6448]

fun fact. they made toph's actor a giant tough man because the soldiers were too embarrased to say a 12 year old short blind girl beat the shit out of them. oh and they made it so that azula attacked aang with lightning from the front not the back. this was to make azula more honorable and make her look like she fought fairly

[@alexaadams6456]

That “oh, and there goes the staff” caught me totally off guard and cracked me up. It’s been one of my favorite parts of this whole series because I never realized how often he drops it even though I’ve seen the show at least half a dozen times.

[@atsukana1704]

One detail that wasn’t talked about here that I would like to add: I find it super cool the way they had the playwriter have no idea why zuko and iroh acted the way they did. So instead the playwriter just handwaved it away with Iroh saying “choose treachery, it’s more fun!!!” The general people have no idea what actually happened there and it shows in a more subtle way than the end of the play how they have been led to think via propaganda and the education in their country. So with all of this everyone just says “I have no idea why he did that, what we are doing is great!” Which adds to why the general populace goes along with the ideas of the fire nation.

[@jennym3883]

even if they did know why they wouldn't be allowed to show it in a play, cause the play itself is also propaganda

[@Yodah97]

I like that read. Plus there's only a handful of people who know what happened between Zuko and Iroh. I mean hell, who knows besides the two of them? Maybe the gang knows if we assume they talked about it off-screen. But that's really it, I think.

[@battlesheep2552]

​@@jennym3883 I wouldn't call it propaganda. Though their character traits are exaggerated, the play doesn't go out of it's way to depict the Gaang as evil.

[@jennym3883]

@@battlesheep2552 but it does show them being killed by the fire lord

[@ConDude25]

About Aang’s chakra line around 8:20 i think his point is that his reaction isn’t over the top, and that he could be in full avatar state because of how upset he is

[@tetravega567]

Suki's "joke" was her sounding serious/threatening when Sokka offered to give jokes to the players, as if she was going to stop him or threaten him from doing it only to surprise us by helping. Since it's a common trope for wives/gfs to stop their goofy guy's antics.

[@Slender_Man_186]

12:17 everyone looking at Zuko like “yo did they just kill you off?” gets me every time, and you know that’s exactly what all of them except maybe Toph is thinking.

[@EFG.]

*snoop dog noises*

[@thevikingbear2343]

It sets up the stage for the last Agni Kai really well. Zuko is gonna have to fight Azula to the death, no doubt about that.

[@Cyver]

Unironically one of the greatest episodes in the series, its extremely funny and is a perfect way to set the scene before the finale. I can't believe its almost over, Guess it's time to binge watch every overanalyzing avatar episode before the finale.

[@bookoopa64]

it really is one of the best ways to do a recap episode

[@thenomadichand7846]

I don't know what well do with out his content

[@scaledbeast12]

gotta study for that test

[@maiddragonbuilds1006]

@@thenomadichand7846 he told he will do something else and overanalyze other stuff

[@maiddragonbuilds1006]

@@imvictorhugs dunno i just saw some polls and other stuff about what to do after avatar ends

[@glitchyguru6468]

12:08 one of my favourite moments of this episode. It’s played off as a comedic moment contextually in the play and the audience’s reaction. But Zuko’s widening expression and the way everyone else looks at him, it’s like looking into a “bad ending” of the show

[@J4ck0fAll_Game5]

So many shows do recap episodes before they get to the finale and I think what makes this one particularly good is how they frame it. They could’ve just done a run-of-the-mill recap episode where the gang sits around a fire commenting on their previous journeys like every other show, but having it framed as an in universe play is really unique and that’s what makes it so fun.

[@Procrastronaut.]

Ah man, nothing about my favorite part of the whole series; Toph's "supersonic echolocation" explanation in the play. The look of confusion/ horror on everyone's face and then just Toph absolutely loving her character, kills me every time.

[@SlipspaceEntertainment]

Maybe the audience being bored was a play on words cause the drill is boring a hole, as in making a hole in something, especially with a revolving tool

[@Jammermaker]

Neat didnt expect you here.

[@commandingsteel]

i always thought that the audience was just getting board cause it seemed like a ridiculously long play, not that, that exact moment was boring,although it was literally

[@ducttapemaster1408]

Okay that's a decent pun, take my updoot

[@bakubread9308]

I always just assumed it was because they chose to retell the story from outside the drill, meaning all they got to see was a drill going into a wall for 15 minutes until aang shows up to stop it

[@Monstrosity9000]

i always took it as just calling to how Zuko was saying he hated the group

[@WizardToby]

Zuko's mom Ursa was an actress in the local theater in her hometown as seen in "The Search" comics. Nice to see that she wanted to introduce her kids to theater and acting too.

[@holyyakker]

8:37 Aang says "I'd probably be in the Avatar State right now" because of how upset he is and how being upset has triggered him into avatar state in the past.

[@amandahammond2691]

Seeing the tech guys in all black was a cool touch. Modern theatre techs wear all black to be less distracting on stage. The trope of ninja wearing all black comes from this, because in old Japanese plays they would hide among the theatre techs in all black then jump out and murderfy somebody.

[@AegixDrakan]

Ohhhhh, so THAT'S where the typical ninja uniform trope comes from! Suddenly that makes complete and total sense. XD

[@sinancothebest]

wow, now im actually enlightened about why the ninja costumes are like that and why ninjas are sometimes associated with stages. Thanks!

[@unistrut]

As someone who works in theater and has an interest in old stage tech it was neat seeing the backstage stuff and the effects. I've used the "long cloth for water" thing in a few shows.

[@alexanderrobins7497]

I know plenty of people though it was odd almost nobody in the show Naruto dressed in all black, but real life ninjas looked like farmers. They did this to look discrete, and carry around weapons that can be played off as farming tools.

[@beast_boy97]

Huh, I never thought the audience was yawning at the drill scene, I always figured they were getting tired because of how long the play must be (assuming they're recapping the entire series up to this point plus the imagined future)

[@LCRich2001]

I always assumed that they were feinting boredom. After all, the drilling of the wall of Ba Sing Se was a (somewhat) embarrassing failure for the fire nation. With the play being propaganda and all, but still telling a faithful rendition of what happened, it makes sense that a fire nation audience wouldn’t really be too stoked about a failed fire nation mission.

[@bookemist]

@@LCRich2001 I think it's at least partially a pun on "boring", because the drill is literally boring a hole in the wall. But either way it's a weird joke, since that's such a good episode.

[@santiagovelasco1717]

8:18 um i'm pretty sure Aang means that he is SO ANGRY about the play's portrayal of him that if he could, he would enter the Avatar State out of pure anger He is telling Katara "no i'm not over reacting, I'm mad AF"

[@Ragnarok26]

Honestly, easily one of my favorite episodes; not a lot of shows have the balls and skill to poke fun at themselves in such a satisfyingly hilarious way.

[@doccampbell2006]

If the Netflix show doesn’t verbatim copy the “It’s the great divide, nah let’s keep flying” joke then I’m not watching it

[@KossolaxtheForesworn]

I just wonder if its going to be even worse than the live action movie

[@dawsynlarson696]

@@KossolaxtheForesworn well the cast actually looks apart so their already doing 100x better but it prolly won’t be good honestly avatar doesn’t deserve to be live action

[@xenn4985]

@@KossolaxtheForesworn bryke left, so it will at the very least be better than korra.

[@OpinionatedAussie]

I mean, they could also just not do The Great Divide in the live action since it was a shit episode that nobody likes. Probably a better use of time and resources than doing the shit episode nobody likes AGAIN just so you have setup for one joke two seasons later.

[@zjean3417]

This was honestly one of my favorite episodes of the entire series. So many great jokes, ("You know, it was really unclear", "I release a sonic wave from my mouth", "Avatar state, yip yip!", "What's that, I think it's your honor?" "Where?!?!?", real Zuko saying, "How can you say that?" and then actor Zuko saying, "How can you say that" is pure comedy, "Your Zuko costume is pretty good, but the scar is on the wrong side", "The scar's not on the wrong side!", Zuko and Katara sliding away from each other when their romance comes up, and lastly, the Gaang skipping over the Great Divide. All in all, an excellent Avatar episode, and the best filler episode ever.

[@sunfurycommenting1013]

Slappa-pow!

[@thysleepyboy7274]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYSoiGqIZZpgkLc

[@dboymax1]

You forgot the part where Aang was offended by having a woman play his part in the play!!!

[@itays7774]

Bro the part about actor Toph seeing through sonic waves has me in tears every time. I love this episode, it doesn't have a weak moment in it

[@AtlasBlizzard]

This was the most creative 'recap' episode I've ever seen. Brilliantly conceptualized, telling us both about what happened as well as the attitude of the enemy nation - not to mention creeping us out about how the hell the playwright knew all of this.

[@lorddragonskin3603]

I just love the fact that the creators actually made a canon parody of their own series

[@lord_matto8660]

The drill part and them yawning is a "drill" joke the drill is "boring" a hole in the wall very much a subtle dad joke but its kinda funny

[@RochRich.]

This is my favourite of all the explanations I’ve seen

[@xanderfulton3186]

I feel like it’s worth shouting out that when Actor Zuko and Actor Katara start doing the flirty stuff Zuko and Katara start inching away from each other as if they’re afraid what people will think

[@FifteenRavens]

I didn’t really get the vibe that they were afraid. I think they were disgusted at the thought.

[@2triedforthis830]

@@FifteenRavensI think it was just pure awkward ness cuz they know that it wasn’t like that, it was an intimate scene where they started talking about there mothers and katara offering to heal his scar. It would be clear if it was disgust though

[@TheEgoshoooter]

​@@2triedforthis830 i think they just cringed because they aren't attracted to each other as the play hints

[@lorimandle]

They were VERY clever with how they made this episode. It would’ve been so easy to mess it all up and make it feel weird, but they managed to bypass pretty much all the risks. Gotta give them props for that

[@hero9267]

I liked the way Aang reacted to the "The Comet is already here, and I'm Unstoppable!!" line. The next episode we find out that Aang planned to fight Ozai after the comet, so his reaction pretty much says "maybe that's not the best idea.."

[@timtsai9285]

Actually it totally makes sense for Ozai to just be sitting on his throne in the play. Can't exactly display secret military plan in a play.

[@silverish9081]

Not like the actors would know about that anyways. Hell, even Azula didn't know the full plan until the very end.

[@annaschwind914]

9:48 I‘m pretty sure the kid dressed like Aang who talks about the scar is voiced by Aang’s voiceactor ☺️

[@diy_cat9817]

Oh, it must be lol

[@samshannahan8116]

When Aang says "If I hadn't blocked my chakra I would probably be in the avatar state right now!" I interpreted it as him saying he was so upset that he would be in the avatar state. I never thought of it as him being mad over that part of the play

[@Sploberrie]

8:24 I always interpreted Aang referencing the Avatar State as an exaggerated expression of his emotional state, that he's so angry and frustrated he would've entered the Avatar State due to said emotions if he wasn't blocked off.

[@garrettpersyn3665]

I definitely agree with this, and feel like that's most likely what the creators intended that line to mean

[@awesomeperson5150]

The audiences reaction to the Drill Part of the play could be because of how they most likely would have to wait 10-30 seconds for the drill to move, since it doesn’t look like it shows what happened on the inside

[@Torryq]

I always thought they yawned because the fire nation lost that siege

[@potapich2]

am I tripping or you guys just missing the pun? I would explain the drill joke but it's kinda boring, you know

[@potapich2]

I'm sus oaa actually whooshed us

[@theapexsurvivor9538]

@@potapich2 yep, that's the hole point of that scene.

[@butterflybeauty615]

You know what I love about this episode? The writers took all of the criticism they’ve received over the years regarding the characters and used it all to their advantage in this episode😆

[@Toadkillah]

Embers Island Players will forever be the golden standard on how to do a recap episode.

[@NoCake]

My favorite part of this episode was when the actor for Toph was explaining how she "sees" then proceeds to just scream at the rest of the cast

[@nyetloki]

There. I got a pretty good look at you. Ten bucks says she tries it later at full volume just to double check if it works

[@useovenmitts6337]

6:19 what a way for zuko to find out that that guy he met that one time and then fought, is dead

[@adamforsstrand2048]

At 10:35, when Katara opens her eyes, part of her eyebrow is replicated and frozen in place. Never noticed that before, wtf

[@diy_cat9817]

AAHHHH NEITHER DID I

[@Yeibaldreamss]

What the.. I thought it was a shadow

[@dayminder7414]

"If I hadn't blocked my chakra I'd probably be in the avatar state right now" He's referring to how upset he is at the play.

[@kytexgd1463]

It’s also interesting how the “future scene” in the play basically forecasts the events of the finale, without the main characters dying of course. Zuko does indeed face down with Azula (and almost dies) and Aang faces the fire lord (and also almost dies). So the play basically foretold the events somewhat accurately if you think about it…

[@sunwukong5518]

I think Aang fighting Ozai was obvious and Zuko vs Azula wasn't really far fetched either. Now if they did Zuko and Katara vs Azula that would have been a hint.

[@sefeo0]

Zuko also got shot by Azula, but didn`t die like in a play

[@crowsenpai5625]

12:46 I do like how the play was accurate to Aang’s staff continuity.

[@garrettparker949]

Holy crap when zukos actor says "I thought you were the avatars girl" aang in the stands nods his head like yup. That's a very subtle detail that I didn't think about too much.

[@karakcze7515]

13:07 after you watch The Last Airbender movie for the first time

[@hufflepuffvoldida7977]

What movie

[@mabelpines8500]

The show runners (in the EIP) probably didn’t know what happened to Combustion Man after The Runaway. They hadn’t seen Combustion Man in public after Toph hit him with a rock, so they probably assume he died then

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

You made me realize that Zuko never really sees Toph fight. He sees little bits in the groups fight against azula in season 2 and in the western air temple but those were short bits mixed in with the whole gaang. Zuko just has no idea he's hanging out with the world's best earthbender because it just never comes up

[@PaulPower4]

You know... it sorta continues like that in the comics (comic spoilers below): They mostly have different plotlines in The Promise, then Toph sits out the Zuko-focused The Search, Zuko sits out the Toph-focused The Rift, Toph again sits out the Zuko-focused Smoke and Shadow, Zuko kinda only has a bit part in North and South and then is again absent from Imbalance. There's an internal logic to it - Zuko has the Fire Nation to run as well as wanting to spend time with his mum, Toph has her metalbending academy to run as well as getting involved in business interests with her dad - but it's kinda interesting that no-one really knows what to do with them together.

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

@@PaulPower4 it bummed me out so hard that they sidelined Toph for the Search. Just give me more adventures with the full Team Avatar

[@zphill248]

The "if I didn't get my chakra blocked, I would be on the avatar state." Part was Aang stating how angry the play displayed his and kataras relationship.

[@Radam53142]

8:23 aang isn't talking about how he's pissed he can't access the avatar state, he's just saying he's so pissed off about the play existing in general that without his chakra blockage he'd be angry enough to be in the avatar state in that moment

[@itays7774]

I'll borderline say this episode is my favourite, just because how perfectly is condenses the whole show into one 22 minutes long episode. It's a recap episode, showcasing the highs and making fun of the lows, it's hilarious, it has the love drama pre-teen me couldn't get enough of, it had genuine heartfelt moments, and Sokka is killing it with every line he's saying. It's the perfect Avatar episode in my opinion, because it feels like watching the essence of the show. Also, this episode is so quotable, like Yue's line about pickled fish, or Toph hearing through her screams, that shit cracks me up every time

[@stanieldaniel5912]

"They are trying to stop you" might genuinely be my favorite line read of the entire series

[@tetravega567]

Plus the exaggerated double point pose. That was hilarious!! Wonder if that was a fusion dance nod...

[@SlyJMan]

One of my favorite details in this episode is not what's there, but what isn't Admiral Zhao is not in the play, nor is he ever mentioned. You could argue it was to save on actors in universe, but it also serves as an amazing poetic cap on Zhao's comeuppance in the series. Zhao lived his whole military life in the Fire Nation with the goal of going down in history and in the end, in the recap of Avatar Aang's adventures, he isn't even a footnote. To me, that's just perfect!

[@dango470]

hey, notice how Sokka mentions that "Katara was the painted lady"? Quick question, how does the playwright know about that incident? Could be it that the townsfolk couldnt keep it quiet that the AVATAR came by and kicked some fire army butt, and then Zuko heard about it from his spies, and thats how he was so confident that the avatar was alive? And thats how sparkysparkyboomman found them, because he started his search and investigation from that town, they gave him a rough "they went thatta way" and from there it was just easy to figure out where they're going and where they'd stop.

[@thetwizard9290]

The reason he says that he would be in his avatar state right now if his chakras weren't block is not because he is complaining about failing by blocking his chakras, it's him saying that he is so upset right now that he would have entered his avatar state if it wasn't for that

[@l33tbishop]

The reason I think he talks about his blocked chakra at that weird moment is because the blockage is based on his inability to let go of Katara. So when he's reminded of the fact that Katara might not love him, he gets even more angry at himself because he feels like it might have been a waste to give up his best chance to save the world for a romantic relationship that can't exist. The kiss right after is not just him trying to convince Katara to love him, but it's also him looking for proof that he didn't make an unbelievably stupid and foolish mistake.

[@Brick_One_A_Lego_Story]

Foolish mistake? FOOLISH -SAMURAI- AVATAR WARRIOR

[@givecamichips]

6:00 For me, the way I experienced Avatar was through the post-Christmas full series marathons they ran pretty much every year. The Drill episode always came on when I was tired, so this joke hit me more than most, I suppose.

[@catsinwonderland7473]

9:49 What always got me about this joke was his gaping mouth after the kid says "Your Zuko costume is pretty good" hahahahahah

[@DangerDurians]

I saw something floating around a while ago that said, watching through the episodes, you can see where Zuko learns most of the Gaangs names Picking it up from when other people address them I think the post said at some point that we never see Zuko in a seen where someone says Toph’s name Of course there are 100% conversations that don’t happen onscreen, and he definitely would have learned her name at some point But it’s still a funny thought

[@KairuHakubi]

I freaking love the idea that he's too socially awkward to ask her name, and by total coincidence he never hears it, and it's just this Curb Your Enthusiasm situation.

[@RochRich.]

“My name is Toph. Because it sounds like ‘tough’.”

[@prideguy3233]

I think Zuko not knowing Toph's name and being to awkward to ask so he just never learns it until they see this play is very on brand for Zuko

[@Chiller326]

Re: Azula and the door: I distinctly remember a shitload of people on message boards convinced that Azula had used firebending to teleport because they didn't notice the door. I have no evidence that the ember island players scene is a direct acknowledgement of this phenomenon but I choose to believe that it is.

[@Jel_likes_rabbits]

When aang says “if I hadn’t blocked my chakra I’d probably be in the avatar state right now” he’s basically just saying he’s pissed

[@shadowwsk3507]

1:44 this made me think that social akwardness ran in their family, but then just look at how much of a smooth talker iroh is when he is talking to that one woman in Ba Sing Sei