The Avatar State?! | Avatar The Last Airbender Book 2 Episode 1 Reaction

[@MB.543]

Just to clarify the timeline: it was winter (the winter solstice to be precise) when Aang was told he had until the end of summer. So roughly speaking, Book 1 is winter, Book 2 is spring, and Book 3 is summer. It's only been a few months since the start of the series.

[@alwest4472]

And katara became a master of water bending almost solo

[@captainvietnam9941]

I just realized how the 4 seaons resemble the 4 elements Winter is water for obvious reasons. Spring is when the land is most fertile. Thus, earth. Summer is when the sun shines the most, so it's fire. Autumn is when the wind starts to ramp up, so it's air.

[@GAdmThrawn]

@@captainvietnam9941 Ah, I was wondering about that. Uncle Iroh was singing a song about the four seasons last season, so I tied that to the four elements but I couldn't figure out which ones. Winter for Water was a given, but I had assumed the Spring was for Air due to the changing of the wings and the seasons bringing rain. I couldn't decide if Summer was Earth for growing or Fire for heat. Same with Autumn with the leaves changing colors that resemble Fire or Earth for Harvest.

[@williamholtzclaw3029]

Aang treated the fire nation like laundry he doesn't want to fold, he spends a hundred years procrastinating and when he finally decides to fight he beats them in a few months

[@tennoyamamoto1800]

From the book "The Rise of Kyoshi" “In the Fire Nation, hair was heavily linked with honor. She’d heard that sometimes the losers of an important Agni Kai would shave parts of their head bald, laying patches of their scalp bare to symbolize an extra level of humility from their defeat, but the topknot was always sacred. It was never touched except in circumstances akin to death”

[@michaelfryers1914]

That's super interesting, because for season 1 Zuko has all of his hair in a ponytail, making most of his bald representing his lost honor

[@AugustoEL]

It also interesting because it is also based on feudal Japan culture. The samurais and even now a days the sumos, have hairstiles that.only them use and to have it cut it means either dishonor or no longer belonging in thay group.

[@Vaskalen]

Azula's 'Tides' dialogue with her captain is still one of the most chilling antagonist introductions I have ever witnessed in a cartoon. Welcome to Book 2!

[@Agent719]

Honestly, it wouldn't have vibed with the story, but that's the sort of attitude that wrecks ships and Azula would have deserved nothing less.

[@asurapain9224]

It was heat

[@MrFelblood]

Azula is such a terrifying villain, because while she's far too irrational to run a ship properly, let alone a country, she's still extremely competent in other areas. She's not just an immense physical threat. She's a master of the most insidious kind of deceit, telling a person the thing they most desperately want to believe.

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

It is objectively kinda dumb though. I imagine there's a parallel universe not far away from the shows one where the Captain sarcastically repeated Azuals orders back at her whilst they were sinking.

[@FriendlyGhost-rf7tq]

I think it also shows ignorance and delusion she is lucky they did not shipwreck it is not that different than when Zuko ignored Iroh warning about storm and almost got his crew killed

[@odolowa1]

Apparently there was an initial outline where Azula would just out and out kill the captain after he slipped up and called Zuko and Iroh prisoners. Then they remembered they were writing a kids show and they probably couldn’t get away with that.

[@AugustoEL]

Like I can totally see Azula doing that, she is fucking crazy and mercyless

[@matthewpopow6647]

I mean... we never DO see him again.

[@CJDM310]

I hope they don't hold back in the netflix series.

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

They totally could have just had her push him in the water and have him never appear again.

[@joshuagaither4866]

I never noticed Iroh noticing Azula's first lightning bending strike. She let one off, there was the resulting thunder and he woke up looked out the window to basically a clear sky. 👀👀

[@nicholaswilkerson4394]

One of the best things about Iroh is the fact that he KNOWS. He KNOWS Zuko doesn't mean to lash out so harshly. He understands zuko is, despite his demeanor, a sad, traumatized kid lashing out because he doesn't know how to handle his inner struggle. It's part of what makes Iroh such an incredible character, and such an amazing father figure.

[@KingZolem]

Azula's tides speach sounds badass, but I'm reminded of a piece of naval wisdom: "The tide outranks the admiral." Or in other words her words, while badass and intimidating, show a lack of understanding of naval reality that is actively detrimental to the running of a ship and shows that she is more interested in getting her way than in dealing with the reality of a situation.

[@thunderflare59]

Waterbenders: That's rough, buddy.

[@leonlevytskyy2045]

That is a fascinating way to look at it and I LOVE IT

[@lordscolipede7092]

Can we just appreciate the king shit Sokka's on? "I think inducing the Avatar State is important and we need to go through with it" Sokka: "Aite" Aang: "Actually, I think it might be best if we gave up trying to induce it." Sokka: "Aite." Just doesnt even question it and supports whatever his friend wants to regardless.

[@AugustoEL]

@@dracocrusher he is logical, but his friends are top of the list and pragmatisim can f off when they are in danger or feeling bad.

[@agustinlagos3340]

It begins, its all uphill from here

[@OutOfPocket-h9e]

You're gonna love Iroh even more in this Book. He's hands down my favourite character in ATLA, no character is gonna make me change my mind.

[@MB.543]

That's how I am with lil Zuzu. Iroh is indeed spectacular though.

[@lectro_legendary_electroni1852]

I mean, the man could achieve world peace with a tea party so... Yeah, not many can stand up to that

[@quentincoetzee4313]

Not sure if you've noticed or if anyone's pointed it out yet, but if you go back to episode 12 of book 1, where Iroh is telling the ship crew about the Agni Kai that got Zuko's face scarred, you can actually see Azula (opposite Zhao) with a massive smirk just before Zuko's scream rings out, when Iroh looks away. She isn't identified at the time, but still, knowing now that that same person is his own sister is quite something.

[@wastelandlegocheem]

Thats the hint i needed to know she was genuinely evil. She watched her own brother abused in frknt of egeryone by their dad sjd practicLly gets high.

[@Khornecussion]

Because of this show, I'll randomly start singin " Winter, Spring... Summer aaaand Fall. " - while doing housework or just work in general. Azula being shown to be so obsessive yet it not being revealed the Ozai basically went " You're not even my firstborn son. You're my firstborn daughter. You aren't what I wanted. " - which made her feel like " If I just prove myself to him, he'll love me like a son. "

[@thunderflare59]

Ironically the same mistake she mocks Zumo for making.

[@ethanquirk28]

To further explain the hair cutting scene: the design of the Fire Nation was heavily influenced by Japanese customs. One of those during the feudal era was the custom of wearing a top knot to notify your noble status as a Ruler/Samurai. It represents your position in society as well as your identity and service to your lord. If a Samurai was ever discharged or is made to become a Ronin then their top knot would be forcibly cut off and it was essentially the same as killing them as it symbolically represented the wiping out of the identity they had devoted their entire lives towards. By cutting off their top knots, Iroh and Zuko weren’t disguising themselves, they were quite literally discarding their identities as Prince and General of the Fire Nation. They were making an active decision to abandon all ties to their home and people and start again as nobody

[@thunderflare59]

But we all know Iroh only cared because the ladies loved his little cherry on top.

[@tennoyamamoto1800]

Azula's introduction is so good, not only on a superficial level like showing she's ruthless and perfectionist but also in the undertones

[@_zealos_8213]

I am so glad you completely understood the top-knot scene, cuz I sure wouldn't have. Still, the show does a really good job of giving you an idea of the weight of cutting it off, no matter your level of understanding. Whether you know the actual historical and traditional severity; put two-and-two together of "cutting ties"; or just actually think they're taking a little off the top to disguise themselves, which in turn means they want nothing to do with the fire nation regime.

[@matthewpopow6647]

"I feel like (Azula) is just a super damaged bean." I mean... I was wondering how long it would take for her to call azula a baby.

[@eglantinepapeau1582]

23:28 when he's in the avatar state he can bend all 4 elements instinctively ps: i loved your reaction !

[@markereyes]

Iroh really takes disrespect from Zuko and leaves it behind him for the best of his nephew, what a chad uncle!

[@Rhodair]

yeah, Iroh's great at giving Zuko the benefit of the doubt and knowing when he's serious and when he's being emotional and sputtering hot air

[@krys9463]

Azula is my all time favorite villian! Hard to believe shes 14. 🤣 Also hope your recovering and getting enough rest 😁

[@murciadoxial8056]

isn't she just a year younger than zuko?, wouldn't she be 15 - 16 by the time she shows up?

[@krys9463]

@@murciadoxial8056 Last I checked during the series he's 16.

[@murciadoxial8056]

@@krys9463 at the beginning, but it is implied he's 17 by the time the show ends, maybe even 18

[@pakman9794]

@@murciadoxial8056 whole series takes place in less than a year

[@calistodorren]

@@murciadoxial8056 No, she would be 15 at the end of the show because Ty lee and Mai are older than her, and they're listed as 15 and 16 on intro making Mai the oldest not counting Yue because she died at 16. The entire show only spans about three months time so the characters can only age a year at most...

[@nikolakulic3810]

In my opinion, Zhao received a rather brutal fate when it comes to children's programming. We may not have seen his dead body, but it is obvious that the Ocean Spirit drowned him in the water.

[@pakman9794]

We find out where he ends up in the sequel series ;p

[@bthsr7113]

A looooooot of Fire Nation marines and sailors drowned, so his fate would logically be worse.

[@nikolakulic3810]

@@pakman9794 Honestly, I was very disappointed with the sequel. Especially the story about the First Avatar. Some things should be left as part of the mystery of that world.

[@bthsr7113]

@@nikolakulic3810 Let's try to avoid specifics in case she sees this.

[@pakman9794]

@@bthsr7113 Yeah, I was tryin' to keep it vague, maybe give her some extra incentive to watch it next

[@matiaspereyra9392]

11:17 i mean that's what he wants to do except he's focusing that practice study and discipline into the avatar state

[@benjaminc924]

Zhao is in fact, in a fate worse than death. You'll eventually see this in Legend of Korra if you ever watch it

[@ninjahaz0180]

These reactions give me life xD. Always puts a smile on my face when i see you upload them

[@aliciaxlife]

:D awehhh thank you!!

[@jojivlogs_4255]

the story starts in november and ends in mid august. they spent around 1 and a half to 2 months in the north pole, and we know there was a good chunk of time before they made it to the north pole (winter solstice in episode 8), so at this point in the story its like march. the only reason why the weather isnt colder is because theyre in an equatorial area

[@overlordsombra5495]

indeed; the fire nation is heavily based on chinese and japanese culture, and the cutting of the top knots is basically them going ronin and severing ties to the fire nation, knowing that they would never truly be welcomed there again

[@VyceofMataMertha]

Just the soldiers shaking their heads with the sound of maracas lives rent free in mine.

[@chaoscontroller316]

That line from Aang, "I don't have time to do this the right way." hits especially hard today.

[@Theunholyborn]

We got a glimpse of what toxic shit went down with Zuko in "The storm." but it gets even worse here. Azul was shown off top she is merciless and expects her subordinates to be the same. And now we know on top of burning and banishing his son for compassion and hesitation in the face of hurting loved ones. He wants to lock him away for failing what was an impossible task.

[@smallsnakeg4658]

Actually here early lol, love your content keep it up and I hope you get better. love frome Scandinavia

[@aliciaxlife]

:D thank you for the get well wishes! and I hope you have a great day!

[@meganclare7]

Oh I wasn't expecting season 2 so soon :D hope you're doing ok

[@DrC4Prez]

I honestly appreciate that they don't give Zhao a "satisfying" death because for all of season one he was very much a B-list villain who was the exact antithesis of everything that made Zuko a likeable character. He was disrespectful, ignorant, arrogant, and above all DISHONORABLE. He was so obsessed with power and status that it only makes sense to give him a pathetic death that could have easily been avoided had he not fucked around and found out.

[@puddinghoax]

no spoilers, but Azula is definitely to me the antagonist you can still love. and she's got so much nuance and depth to her. it's easy to forget that azula is.. yknow a kid and a product of her circumstances too. and she's younger than Zuko as well. i'm excited to see you uncover it all!!!

[@wubsvasnormandy9043]

UwU: you’re gonna love season two, its like the Empire strikes back of the series, its where all the depth of the show comes in, and really flushes out the characters.

[@Rhodair]

"really flushes out the characters" 🤣the season when Katara learns bidet-style water bending

[@nemasisdemarini8339]

This season is were the story actually starts to get going. Everything up till this point has been set-up and world building.

[@rkn5075]

Glad to have you back, hope your feeling much better from your hospital visit. Looking forward to continuing you avatar journey with us.

[@Cutiemiyuki]

I'll just add now that lightning is only something you can set up so if you saw that little blue spark she set off it's her fire bending which is kinda amazing cause she's literally that strong apparently since she is the only person in the show with blue fire showing how much of a prodigy she is and how her fire is more intense and crazy like she is of course

[@roberttheronin9803]

Of course the real reason for blue fire is different and is more apparent later in the show. If you know you know that best scene.

[@infamouse9263]

@@roberttheronin9803what scene?

[@lazybadger4384]

5:17 "she's a tiny dictator" Yep.....thats Azula in a nutshell

[@BreadGuy01]

So happy to see the return of Last Airbender reactions, and now you've met Azula. Strap in, things are just getting started! Also, get well soon! Don't push yourself and just enjoy the ride.

[@Norbert_Sattler]

I would say Azula is worse than her father. Because at least her father only demands possible things from his underlings. Also while the is no sadist (or at least not anywhere near Azula's level). He uses intimidation and harsh punishment as tools, while she delights in it.

[@MrGrimm22]

Throughout watching Avatar, I often keep forgetting that Azula's just frickkin 14

[@chaosismyjam8187]

Here comes the Earth Train of Pain, it will be a great ride.

[@infamouse9263]

20:27 just noticed aang sticking out his tongue while doing this they really gave attention to detail 22:35 also that was so cool I didn’t even think and earthbender could stop waterbending by having the earth/sand absorb it that’s amazing

[@vinny_s]

HERE WE GO BOYS time for the feels 🤺

[@sail_inh]

as a binger, I'm so happy with how fast you're getting thru this series LMAO

[@katsui28]

” when i fight a man, it's nuts or nothing” yes 😅

[@roberttheronin9803]

When I first watched this show, I'll be real, I thought Zhao got pulled into the spirit realm to experience drowning for the rest of eternity. Sounds like a fitting enough fate to me. Choking on your ambitions.

[@BlarghMeow]

Maybe you weren't too far off

[@samfisher6606]

The dude who voices the earth kingdom general in this is playing Fire Lord Ozai in the Live Action Netflix series

[@Goregreet]

You finally met Azula! She has such a strong introduction I love this episode

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

Good, you caught on about the topknots. Those are VERY significant in the Fire Nation. It’s only really explicitly stated in stuff like the Kyoshi novels, but like losing your topknot as nobility is basically like the ultimate sign to everyone around you that you are disgraced. In Iroh and Zuko’s case, it was also an identifier that they needed to discard, however, the significance of their disgrace is still very present.

[@zegenrenerd930]

The elements, the avatar reincarnation cycle, and the order the avatar learns the elements all correspond to the 4 seasons. Book 1 was during winter, and Book 2 takes place during spring

[@demagissi0n496]

This is probably overr 10th time I watch tis episode, and now when I think about it, it makes sense. Azula shows up on the banishment aniversary. It may seem for Zuko, that Ozai planned to make him come back after 3 years a while ago.

[@56brandonray]

SEASON 2 BABYYYYYYYYY omg I’m so excited for you dude, gonna definitely be lots of emotion and good times to come!!!

[@leurunner4764]

You're the first reactor i saw who recognised the import of them cutting off their top knots.

[@ceesechi]

Book 2 has some of my favorite episodes and moments. I look forward to watching it again with you, to see your reactions and your thoughts on what's going on. Glad you're enjoying the show.

[@saltyk9869]

"Not episode one, Alicia." *Laughs nervously and looks at episodes [redacted], [redacted], and [redacted].* For real, there's two episodes in this series that almost always make me shed a tear. One in this season. One in Season 3.

[@fullmetalpotato1258]

IT'S NUTZ OR NUTHIN'!!! - Sokka... probably

[@BalbazaktheGreat]

Glad to see you are continuing with the series. Hope you are feeling better. You will really enjoy this season, I'm sure.

[@markereyes]

Yesss thank you for this episode! Thank you for pushing through and glad to hear your getting your rest! A queen needs her rest -Iroh

[@Eternitycomplex]

Given where you are now in the series, it's crazy how accurate your insights into Azula were this early on!

[@nicholaswilkerson4394]

Also, this general definitely takes first place in the "didn't really think this through" awards

[@Twingrim]

Wow, you clocked Azula IMMEDIATELY!

[@Dialga9187]

Iroh really said, "Lmao Azula, get fuckkd"

[@ryanwight9116]

And the first of the Badass Triplets (Azula) has been revealed. One of the best villains from my childhood

[@troyo3172]

The attention to detail I loveeeee!!! It’s about to get really deep and really lit 🔥 you have no idea

[@marcusadrielsalesramos9601]

I dont know if you noticed, but Azula is so d*mn strategist, she waited to show up to zuko right on his banishment anniversary, when he was much morw emotional sensible

[@TheOnlyOne516]

She for real predicted Azula's psychosis

[@crowhaven895]

when you know but you don't want to ruin the experience for the first time watcher. everything in my head right now would come off as a spoiler and I don't want to do that to Alicia, so I will just content myself with waiting and watching her reactions

[@lazybadger4384]

lemme get my popcorn & slushie cause its SEASON 2 TIME BABYYYYYY!!!!!🤙🤙🤙

[@barbatosmcmurderton4209]

Yeah, see on the nature versus nurture debate Azula is something like a 60/40 split. She's definitely some flavor of sociopath or psychopath.

[@blakebridges8989]

If you go back to the episode “The Storm” you can see Azula in Zuko’s backstory.

[@punkypony5165]

AZULA! I love her so much! She's my favorite character in this show!

[@hihi123hiful]

I was jonesing for that top shelf avatar reaction content

[@katsui28]

Zhao's death was clearly shown on ~the movie 😅 ~it hits different🤭

[@gravenwolf6535]

Azula is one of my fav characters.

[@GenuisSocietyNo83Herta]

Azula is best villain of the series ngl they created such a complex villain 😍

[@iansebroke2697]

Yay finally avatar contents back! Also Hope your doing well alicia.

[@clove2490]

Uncle Iroh is a man so respectable i actually bother to capitalize his name

[@afterdinnercreations936]

"If you are killed in the avatar-state, the reincarnation-cycle will be broken, and the avatar will cease to exist." Right. That's bad. Okay. All right. Important safety tip. Thanks, Roku.

[@josh_miester_x511]

Azula an evil baddie queen. I can fix her. Lol

[@isaacevilman7586]

22:57 Me when a glow squid spawns in my Minecraft world

[@naveenmagapu4670]

Zhao ain't dead. His fate is much worse than death and it will be VERY satisfying and shocking when you finally find out what happened to him.

[@Arcadian-Nova]

hearing general fong talk after watching netflix's atla..... i Keep thinking of firelord Ozai now.... AND hiroshi sato afcourse.

[@ge5744]

Awwwwww yeahhhhhh i love your reactions and i hope you're feeling ok 😁 10:00-10:30 i like to think its a bit of both when it comes to Azula

[@leviHeichou]

Azula is very much her fathers daughter while Zuko is his mothers son. That in short sums them up pretty well.

[@soulstealer5625]

Okay Zuko is everyones baby but Azula is my baby. Its harder i know but its like scara from genshin. Despite the bad stuff, i can’t help but feel sorry for her.

[@alternategender8471]

When you finish the series I hope you watch a character analysis on Azula. She’s got some of my favorite characterization but a lot of people just kinda take her at face value (crazy evil).

[@thunderflare59]

"Do the tides command this ship?" Well, you ain't a water bender, so yeah.

[@oct91988]

azula is so scarry but beautifull

[@UnfaithfulServant97]

Azula is SCARY!

[@nairdacnalbel]

You might wanna raise your likes goals.

[@BB-fx8qo]

Azula and zuko are 2 sides of a coin, one is gifted, the other isn’t, one is loved by the father, the other isn’t, etc etc. azula has her own problems sadly

[@olgabutorina4156]

Yaaaay! Second season! Wooohoooo!!!

[@MokuTheMagi]

This is my favorite season

[@ivybennett2274]

Book 2. She approaches "the episode"...

[@Starphoenix]

Ah yes, even now, I can hear the song... "SECRET TUNNEL!!!" ... But really, I have an idea of what episode you're talking about... But the fact that there are multiple episodes that could be called, "the episode," it can get kind of murky.

[@ivybennett2274]

@@Starphoenix leaves from the vine

[@georgesmith6218]

I don't think it's a big spoiler, in Korra season 3 Zhao has brief cameo appearing in spirit world hell kinda place. So he spent there 100-ish years. Ocean spirit does not mess around once you get on his bad side.

[@adamyoung6797]

Aang is a pacifist. He straight up kills people in the avatar state

[@victorcordero1994]

Book 2 is a massive ride so I hope you're ready! ^^

[@GenuisSocietyNo83Herta]

Azula is best villain of the series ngl they created such a complex villain 😍 Unpopular opinion azula only needed somebody to love her She didn't grow up having somebody to guide her 🥲 mAh baby girl Have a dck emo jealous older brother Have Hitler as her father A mother who have weird favoritism 🤬 for his baby boi Born as a princess of a war freak country 😢 she just needed true love and guidance which she never received

[@Cwronaga216]

About the timeline. The entire series is one year.

[@MiniT2025]

Bro if my CO said "ATTACK THE AVATAR!" I'm dropping my weapon immediately fuck all that nonsense.