#yangchen doesn't like being called out

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Paparazzi: Please we just want to interview you all! Korra, holding the door down: Damn it they found out about us! Kyoshi, helping her: So uhhhh what do we do? Yangchen: Sigh, we could just answer their questions. Korra and Kyoshi: Yeah no our public image isn't the best, and we really suck with that type of stuff. Aang: I'm a child. :) Kuruk: I don't deal with people. Roku: Something tells me we'll regret talking with them. So, no. Yangchen: FINE! I'll talk to them. What's the worst that can happen?

Reporter: Yangchen! Yangchen! What's it like being the only Dom in a long line of Subs? Yangchen: This panel is closed!

[crystal-lillies]

General thoughts after watching Season 1 of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender (spoilers may be present)

It's not bad. It's weird, but it's not bad.

No one asked for this.

No one asked, but we got it anyway. So what did we get?

It's not a 1:1 remake. I don't think, despite everything people have worried and griped about before the show's release, anyone wanted that either. It doesn't retain the same character arcs for everyone. Not just Sokka, but everyone.

At the same time, they still have arcs.

They're weird, they feel weird, because this show does what the Shyamalan movie doesn't, and makes an honest effort to capture the essence of the animated show, of the characters, of the world, and there is respect in its efforts.

There are musical motifs from the original. The set designs are out of the original. Many scenes are shot exactly like the original as homages.

And yet, storylines are merged together, elements from later seasons are introduced earlier, character interactions happen differently, character motivations are presented differently, and that feels weird.

We know the motions but when we the audience try to follow them, the show changes its direction and pulls a weird flex out of left field.

I won't say I agree with every major and minor change made, but I'm not enraged or disappointed in the same way as I was (and many of us were) after seeing the movie.

Instead, I'm more inclined to see where these new threads intend to go, and how the story we all know and love can be told in a different way.

Roku had barely a presence in this season, whereas in the original, he was more or less Aang's spiritual teacher. Instead, we've felt more from Kyoshi and Kuruk and Yangchen, and Aang has felt lost in his spiritual journey as well as his physical one.

Ozai, who was just a shadowy one-dimensional nightmare for most of the original first book, is now a more fleshed out figure, but one of confusing motivations. It's not the tonal whiplash of the movie, of the Ozai who legitimately worried and cared about Zuko's well being while also having still scarred and banished him, but one who is playing a 4-D chess game with his kids as the pieces and doesn't care who wins so long as one does.

I don't think it was the right call to have Zuko fight back in the Agni Kai before getting burned, but it gives a different dynamic to Zuko and Ozai's relationship that he's not the towering, shadowy Mark Hamill terror Zuko cowers before.

This Zuko seems legitimately convinced Ozai cares about him and all it takes is the Avatar to win his full love back, whereas there's still bitterness in the OG Zuko of book one. He knows Ozai favors Azula over him, he knows he's had to struggle well before being banished.

I also think not casting Dee Bradley Baker was a mistake. But they have time to correct that mistake.

All the kid actors, being green, of course do not stand up to expressive and gorgeous animation with brilliant voice acting. But they are all giving it their best, and I think they have what it takes to grow into the Book 3 Team Avatar if they get the chance.

The music got to me a number of times, particularly the instrumental renditions of "Leaves From the Vine."

Do we need this show? No absolutely not.

We have the original ATLA, and we always will. It's a timeless classic of our generation. Nothing could ever compete with it or ruin it.

However, I do feel like this adaptation is worth giving a chance to stand on its own. It may be far from perfect, but after watching it through, I legitimately want to see where it goes from here. I want to see this cast grow and change in their own ways. I want to see Toph in live action. I want to see Ba Sing Se. I want to see the new directions this story chooses to take to end up in the same place at Sozin's Comet.

But that might not happen if Netflix decides to cancel it, and I think that would be a shame.

I really do think it's worth seeing this show through, for better or worse.

Overall, as a show, I would give it a modest 7/10. (With individual elements skewing higher or lower throughout)

I don't like that it's only 8 episodes, but that's been a trend of other streaming shows also, across platforms, so I cannot fault NATLA alone for that.

You don't NEED to have seen the original to understand what's happening or get key details (unlike SOME adaptations have been doing recently). You can get a complete picture with just this. Is it as pretty or vibrant as the original? No. But it is still a whole picture (or, could be, with all three seasons).

It has great effects, sets, props, choreography, good music. It has SUKI. And JET. and JUNE. And THE Cabbage Man!

AND OMA/SHU ARE LESBIANS! I mean, I see that as an absolute win.

[black-velvet-lady]

"Who's scarier? Ozai, Azula, Hama, or Koh?"

I think a question like this directly ignores some legitimately terrifying characters that we were introduced to in avatar last Air bender. Such as General Fong, the earth bender Prison Warden, Zhao, Avatar Yangchen, Fire Lord Sozin, Fire Lord Azulon, Combustion Man, the dragon of the west, and Long Feng to name a few.

Now many of these characters are undercut by little screen time, narrative framing, being overshadowed, or having their information be supplemental material.

Going in order of the books the Prison Warden of the earth bender Prison is a legitimately terrifying boss with violent impulses as volatile as a grenade locked behind a hair pin trigger. This guy throws fire at a prisoner's feet and locks him in solitary confinement for a week for coughing while he was talking. Coughing. Not only that he tossed his captain overboard for asking a question, he didn’t even know it was the captain. Then later near the end of the episode Haru throws a rock at his head and he immediately went to burn the kid for the offense. Course this is undercut by the end of the episode with him meekly saying he can't swim and Taro calling him a coward.

General Fong is another character that is legitimately terrifying due to his actual power hungry nature. Fong wants to weaponize a twelve-year-old boy and brandishes guilt upon the boy to achieve these ends. When told no he uses violence to achieve his goal against not only Aang, but Katara and Sokka as well. He buries Katara alive to force Aang into the Avatar State endangering the lives of his comrades and the injured stationed at his base, and he doesn't learn his lesson. He still believes he was right in doing all of this by the end of the episode cause he wants to wield the Avatar as the ultimate weapon and carve a bloody path of vengeance through the fire nation straight to the royal palace. Still he's undercut by sharing screen time with Azula who arguably steals the show from every major villain in the series.

The Rough Rhinos are kind of undercut by the fact that they always loose to the protagonist characters, but they were instrumental in the war effort as the forward troops. Not only that but they also have a canonical body count since they were responsible for the deaths of Jets parents during the burning of his village and they did have murderous intent in the village of Chin.

Sozin. Picture is worth a thousand words and I got two.

Enough said.

Azulon. Man was responsible for 90% of the hundred year war and ordered the death of his grandson cause his second son insulted him. He's a horrible POS.

Long Feng. Controls the largest city in the world through mind control and fear and is able to kill kids with impunity cause he's controlling the King like a puppet. Even when placed in prison he is still a danger to the city and its people.

Combustion Man. I think it's very telling that the gang will fight the dangerous ladies but their go to strategy with him is run and hide.

Yangchen and Iroh seem to stick out like a sore thumb now don't they? Don't be fooled. Yangchen's original lore actually states she took her job deadly serious. Yangchen was a fully realized Avatar at 17 and terrorized the world into such a state of paralyzing fear that there was a lasting peace for an entire generation after her death cause everyone feared her wrath. The framing around her and Kyoshi kinda makes them seem like the other way around but I find it very telling that Yangchen says you must sacrifice your own needs to protect the world while Kyoshi equates not lifting a hand to save Chin from dying to be the same killing him.

Iroh is the last one cause honestly you don't need me to explain why Zhao is bad. Let's keep one thing in mind with Iroh. He met the dragons before Zuko was born. He learned that fire is life 9 years before campaigning in the Earth Kingdom and laying siege to Ba Sing Se for 600 days. He only stopped when his son died. Did nothing as his brother took the throne and burned his son. Retired to the place he laid siege to. Brought the white Lotus into power and they continued his father's inhumane prisons on the red Lotus.

And Ty Lee is the scariest and most effective member of the dangerous ladies. No I will not elaborate.

[non-binaryandbisexual]

I'm not sure whether or not people will actually see this but I'm going to make the post anyway

For YEARS, I have seen so many people in the fandom misinterpret aangs moral conflict in the finale and view it as unsatisfying because they only look at the 1st half of it

At 1st, it seems like his entire problem just comes down to the fact that aang can not find a way to spare ozais life until he is given energybending by the lion turtle

And while that is certainly what is a part of his delima, I don't think it's entirely what it's about.

Energybending is purposely given to him in an easy way because it is a CHOICE for aang, a choice that the lion turtle gives to him in order to decide the fire lords fate

And you might be saying "well of course, aang would spare ozai," and I would agree, but what I am talking about is ultimately what the delima aang is dealing with is actually about

not WOULD, but SHOULD aang kill or spare the firelord?

Everyone that aang has talked to has told him that he needs to take ozai out, that he can't spare him, otherwise the world will end

Some have been more neutral about it, like his past lives, but they still imply it is the right thing to do so, especially avatar yangchen who straight up tells him

"Selfless duty calls you to sacrifice your own spiritual needs and do whatever it takes to protect the world."

She is saying to him that he needs to sacrifice his moral values to get the job done

But should he? Well I think the final fight ultimately answers this question.

It is very one sided, with ozai going on the offensive and aang later doing the same when going into the avatar state

I've seen call it a shallow fight because of this, but the reason it is structured this way is to represent the moral delima I am talking about

The 1st time in the fight aang is given a choice to kill the firelord with the lighting, he doesn't, ending up costing his opportunity to end the fight since ozai doesn't know how to redirect lighting

This ends up being extremely bad for aang as he can't keep up with ozais superior firebending skills for long and hides in a rock to try and protect himself that ozai breaks apart, slamming him into exposed spikes in one of the rock pillars

This ultimately leads to him finally activating the avatar state and going after ozai, not only putting him on the defensive but also doing something that he was trying so desperately to avoid

Giving in and almost listening to what people were telling him to do, kill ozai, he almost makes the decision after speaking to him with the other avatars, but at the very end, right before his attack lands, he stops himself, giving up another opportunity to end the battle and says that he's not going to end it like this

He then restrains ozai before commencing the same pose the lion turtle did on aang and begins bending his energy

We hear the lion turtle's advice to aang, that his own spirit must be unbendable in order to succeed. Otherwise, he will be curropted and destroyed

Aang knows the risk here and almost fails, but then, his spirit dominates and wins the battle, getting rid of ozais firebending, ultimately not listening to what other people were telling him and sticking with his moral values even when it could've cost him his life and the entire world in the battle itself

Because the fight wasn't just about the world, it was about aangs morality and how he couldn't do something so awful to him, like taking another life, even from somebody as bad as ozao

I think this is a very important lesson to teach to people and that the finale, for the most part, handled it extremely well, and I don't think it deserves the decisive nature it's gotten from fans of the show for so long.

Sorry if this seemed rather long, but I felt like I needed to talk about this somewhere that I wouldn't have to argue with everyone. I hope you enjoyed what I was saying. Thank you for reading.

[blood-starved-beast]

Did you finish Dawn of Yangchen yet👀? I just finished it yesterday and have THOUGHTS and FEELINGS was wondering if you did too

I DID IN FACT FINISH THE BOOK LAST NIGHT. And I had planned to write up about my thoughts about it today actually. Same mind!

Funnily enough, despite what I had said in my original mid-way review the book quickly picks up around half-way. Ended up reading it all in one night fairly quickly.

(Warning: Spoilers for Dawn of Yangchen below:)

One of the biggest strengths I think it has (and it really shines in the second half) is how expertly Yee weaves all the subterfuge into the narrative. Cleverly placing red herrings and also foreshadowing to ultimately reveal and tie everything back together into the finale.

The biggest shock to me was the outcome of the relationship between Yangchen and Kavik though like man I did not expect something like that occuring between an Avatar and their companion at all. Does it shock me that Kavik would do something like that for his brother? No, but at same time I was: Boy. I really felt bad for Yangchen here and especially at the end. She's so used to people playing her (especially after that traumatic reveal that she'd been spied on since she was a girl, like man) only to reveal that your growing friendship with this guy was for naught? Ow man. Don't blame her for being frank with him and not calling him her companion anymore but man that must hurt like a bitch to be metaphorically alone.

Which is what gets me about Yangchen, cause essentially that's what she is. Her big sister figure's dead (at least physically, but I suspect a twist next book), Boma cares for her but gives her too much respect as the Avatar to be like an Iroh figure, Kavik did that, she's not close with Junjinta (could change, but after the events of DoY, she's gonna start keeping people at a distance). She feels in a lot of ways alone caught in this wave of secrecy, spies, and corruption. My impression that's gonna be a legacy of hers for a long time, if the 2nd book doesn't change things up. Which it could, based on that ending with Kavik being followed.

Yangchen herself as a character is so interesting though. One thing that stood out to me (I will confirm/deny this interpretation with a reread later) is her relationship with her past lives. In that she doesn't have one? I never really read the comics that much maybe they'd say something different but the impression is that cause she has these PTSD trauma-like hallucinations and historic visions of her past lives she feels as though she doesn't have to communicate with them. She thinks cause she experiences their past, that she doesn't need their guidance or their interpretation/advice and that makes for an interesting character flaw. Which brings me to my next point.

I like that Yangchen's major flaw is that she's overconfident in some respects, but at the same time overwhelmed with her status. It's so nice to see this flaw done right without some heavy-handed moralization or flanderization. Her Girlbossing Kavik around, her confidence in handling the shangs only to realize that she messed up, thinking she had a read on Chaisee only to realize certain things. She's confident, knowledgable, but also inexperienced and Yee does a good job of balancing these things without making her overbearing, incompetent or arrogant. Also I really love that detail where she burns the letter in her hand lmao. So different from Aang (love them both though).

As for Chaisee, there was so many red herrings with her man. Yee does a good job of pulling the reader back and forth - is she a horrible tyrant? Is she misunderstood/just strict? Is she playing Yangchen? Is she on her side? Kinda all of that. If they don't kill her off next book I know she's gonna be prodding Yangchen for years to come. Heck, would be wild if she became a link in Yangchen's connection network. I could see Yee doing that. If anything, Yangchen would probably have to come back to her eventually given the Unanimity project.

I've still got so much to say but I think I've said enough for now but I do have some criticisms:

While I'm so happy that we're getting more about combustion benders and learning about how their bending works (I'm guessing we're getting some answers later on in Book 2, hopefully), I'm disappointed that we're still getting them as villains/antagonists. Might change next book if any of them are willing to work with Yangchen but still.

The book did drag a bit in the beginning. Wish it had been longer if anything to balance that. Heck, i'd want two more books cause really.

Kavik got a bit too much POV focus. I'm actually glad Yee shifted away from the protagonist-centered POV that he used in the Kyoshi novels but I think Kavik got a little too much. Especially without Yangchen. This is Yangchen's book, not his. I was left feeling like I wanted to know more about Yangchen, about what she thought and felt and her relationship with the spirits, her visions, with Jetsun (is she dead for real? Was she the spy?), etc. I hope the balance is better next book(s)?

I wish we got a lot more Air Nomad culture here. I mean, we've got an Air Nomad avatar and all. I do like the details we got though, and I like how much influence she has over them (compare with other Avatars we know who don't really have special sway over the people of their homelands). I think this might have less to do with her being the Avatar but as a testament to the closeness of the Air Nomads in general. That's some good food there.

Thanks for the ask!

[myinterestsvary-writes]

Why do so many people think aang was wrong for having koizilla kill all those fire nation dudes in the North Pole? They were going to commit genocide on a native population they deserve to drown.

So I saw your ask before your comment on my other ask and now I know what you mean. You're talking about the Siege of the North season one finale and the name Koizilla makes so much sense now that I feel kind of dumb even if your ask needed a bit more context, haha.

From this post: https://muffinlance.tumblr.com/post/623569723374829568/what-are-your-thoughts-on-pacifist They did impeccable math to come to a very logical conclusion. They also mentioned that he wasn't in his right mind while doing that - the mass murdering - and also mention his refusal to kill Ozai in the same post, where he gained control of his pacifist self to choose to not kill him, making a compromise with the world to take away his bending as Ozai was only as much as a threat as he was a powerful bender. His political influence always becoming possible in getting revoked with Aang's and Zuko's overwhelming kind, him not killing him possibly causing more hurdles for the Avatar and the Fire Lord to overcome due to the message that theoretically could've sent. Their mentioning of how Aang dealt with Ozai kind of allowed me to keep believing that Aang's character has still always been consistently written when regarding his dearly held cultural beliefs. The Avatar state and status is a direct antithesis to Aang and only stopped being that when he'd gain control of it. Avatar Yangchen telling him he has to be the Avatar over an Air Nomad completely undermines his circumstances as the last airbender.

I could write off their post as irrelevant and noncanon since the writers never confirmed those (understandably debatable) deaths but elaborating on that post anyways, the Avatar State is a trump card Aang for a long time in the show had barely any control over and was used sparingly anyways. He was terrified of it as well and the narrative probably could've had him confronting the fact that he had specifically harmed people in the Siege of the North, but instead the narrative chose to show his turmoil with the Avatar State in general through increments, the most emphasis on that in the episodes "The Avatar State", "The Guru", and "Crossroads of Destiny".

Whether you think those people deserved to drown doesn't matter as much at least in terms of context since it was Aang who was the primary focal point of the dilemma, meaning what he thought mattered a lot in how you should view it, especially when regarding character consistency and development. It was depicted as an empowering moment at the time of the Siege as it signaled the beginning gradual change in the dynamics of the war; yet later on Aang viewed it as something out of a horror movie. He wanted to liberate the North Pole, but he wasn't in control when he did it, he would've figured another way of holding onto his identity if death was a discussed possibilty of dealing with the Fire Navy like he did with Ozai. Making those deaths count then would make Aang's story in my opinion, needlessly more complicated.

All of this was from memory, so apologies if I'm somewhat wrong or if you just don't agree.

One question, did the creators actually call it Koizilla? 😭

[ruby-x3]

Is Suyin the child of Toph and Sokka?

Disclaimer

I tried to get as much "true" information as I could, but because I have not much time I couldn't write down all the sources. If you need the proof you can easily find it on the internet. Sorry for that!

This entry has more or less comments of my personal opinion. Therefore I want to highlight those parts in purple.

EDIT: It's confirmed, that Sokka and Suki lived in the suburbs together after ATLA. It was confirmed at ComicCon in an Q&A. Thanks to the cautious readers out there :) I hope you still enjoy the text!

OK so I have stumble upon this theory on what happened to Sokka between the end of the comic arcs (yet) and the beginning of LoK. Therefore I found a pretty interesting picture on Instagram from somebody, who tries to find evidences that Toph and Sokka have a child and it's Suyin Beifong.

As you can see the person compares to facial and body proportions as well as skin tone and similarities. Especially between Sokka and Suyins children you can see a good amount of similarities. I can also agree with the point that Suyin have facial similarities to Sokka. For example if Tophs and Sokkas gene mixed, the skin tone would fit and Suyins heart-shape face would make sense (Toph has a square/round face and Sokka a pointy/oval face shape). The only thing I can't agree is the shoulders? I mean they are just shoulders? You can't tell that they are pointy because Suyins shoulder pads are obviously pointy, but Sokkas are just normal shoulders?

Anyway the text also says that Suki died in a war (it's right according to Google but please feel free to correct me) so there could be room between Sokka and Tophs relationship.

So first of all I want to show parts of their relationship in ATLA and then slosh to the comics.

As we look in the past, there are some points where Toph and Sokka seems to have a bit of chemistry - at least they really care for each other.

At the beginning I want to take emphasis on their trust to each other. In the episode "The Runaway" in Book 3, Sokka and Toph both shared some deeper feelings and fears of themselves to each other. As friends, this is nothing new, but still a great moment of their bond.

Secondly on the war ship Sokka protects Toph and holds her. Again, this might be just a thing between friends. I see nothing romantical here, because she can't see the falling rocks and she also did the same thing for Sokka at "The Serpent's Pass" in Book 2.

Now going a bit deeper Toph is holding Sokkas arm as they went back to Ba Sing Se with Appa and Aang after he went to the Guru in the episode "The Guru". The same thing happened in the boat in episode "The Painted Lady", book 3. Usually Toph doesn't need a helping hand on Appas back as you can see in various episodes. This hug also doesn't seem very much on a friendship base but more "romantically". It's a pose you would usually do to a crush in my opinion.

Especially in the last picture after Sokka went to master Piandao she showed affection towards him because she missed him after only one day. She mentioned her missing of Sokka before in the Gaang part, which nobody else did. They also tent to trust each other, because they didn't fear to tell their fears and problems. She even complimented his drawings (more as a joke), but they sort of picking on each other a lot. Toph also seems to have some sort of interest in Sokka, because she thought he saved her in the water and wanted to thank him with a kiss.

To be honest this isn't very typical for Toph. Yeah, she has also shown some affection towards Zuko, when they tried to find Aang. But this was more like a kind act, because she wanted to know Zuko better and also have some adventure with him as everybody else. She also tried to kiss "Sokka" on "his" lips, because in the she goes towards them with her face. This is no "this just naturally happens", because animators take a long time to animate a few seconds. Therefore there was an intention in this gesture by the creators, leading Toph to show her soft spot, which she usually doesn't show. She rather appear very hard (like a rock) and is indeed very badass, but you should also consider her as a girl with an interest in boys. She also should have hit puberty around this time and the only guy in her reach would be Sokka. We should not forget that Sokka is kind of a "playboy" - at least he has the most relationships in the Avatar universe. Therefore I guess that she could have developed some feelings for him. Maybe not that far, but I think the interest was definitely there.

There are also some other scenes where their bond shows even further, but first I want to talk about the characters. I am mainly talking about characters who have something to do with the Tokka theory.

First I want to talk about Sokka

Well you all know Sokka as an womanizer. He had an relationship with Yue, a princess, he is/was together with Suki and even in the comics girls had interests in him. In LoK we literally know nothing about him. We only know that he was a member of the console in Republic City and that he died before we started with LoK. This is very strange, because people thought he would have been with Suki, but she wasn't mention in Lok at all. I want to talk about her later.

Did Sokka has an interest in Toph?

Well, I can clearly say no, at least in ATLA. We can see by the pictures and gifs above that Sokka had just friendship in mind. For the fact that around this time he was in a relationship with Suki, he never thought of Toph as a potential girlfriend. He was just protective around the last arc, Zosins comet, because they were friends. Nothing more, nothing less. But, as I said, I can still sensor some deeper trust between them, because Sokka told her she saw her mother in Katara, which is an information that he is not keen to speak about. This changed a bit in the comics. Their interaction were much more present than in the series. A part of it is because in the series the focus was much more in Aang. In the comics they clearly have more interactions because the focus on Aang serving the world went away. In the comics we saw a lot of Zukos life in the palace and how he rules. We also saw an arc, where Aang wants to spread the air nomads culture to volunteers and the issue of avatar Yangchen. Katara and Aang being busy being a couple and Sokka and Katara only come together at the Northern Water Tribe.

Sokka has, more or less, plenty of time to spend. Because Suki worked as a guardian for Zuko, Sokka didn't see Suki on a regular basis. Sokka helped Toph with her metal bending academy in "The Rift". Also in "North and South" Sokka spend time with Toph.

He even gave her all the soft toys he won. In my opinion this is a typical boyfriend-girlfriend moment. He could either safe the toys for Suki, but he doesn't. Also in other situations he wants to be with Toph instead of Aang and Katara. He also praises Toph a lot during the series, in the comics and even LoK you can see it (when Yakone was in court).

Now to Toph Beifong

As a blind, but a noble girl she was restricted by her parents to do any physical work or task due to her disability. She also hates authority and rules a lot due to her parental treatment. In the series, she was 12 year old, as old a Aang. In this time many hit puberty, so I guess she may be in puberty at this time and also starts being interested in the opposite gender. So therefore I asume she had a crush on Sokka for various points (examples) mentioned above.

In the comics she found a metal bending school. For the first time in "The Rift" we get to know a man called "Kanto". Toph seems interested in him as well.

If you read the comic you'll notice that she clearly wants to be in a relationship with him. I think he is the father of Lin, because he has the same hair colour and wavy structure, but also her father's name is "Kanto".

As we know in the end Toph was chief police officer of Republica. She has a second child, who is Suyin.

So indicating Sokka might be the father, what speaks for this theory?

After the end of the war we were sure Sokka and Suki will be together and in the comics and they still are. But according to Google Suki died in a war, so this leaves space between Sokka and Toph to develop a relationship. Furthermore Suki seems to have an interest in Zuko.

This actions are, sure, typical for friends, but the way of acting is hinting of an interest. I wouldn't deny it, it seems very suspicious. Also Zuko might be interested in Suki as well, since they see each other everyday and Mai broke up with him. He still have eyes for Mai, but it's not completely impossible that Suki and Zuko are attracted to each other since they both are very badass and attractive characters.

Due to this fact the relationship between Sokka and Suki might have crumbled, leading to a break up between them. We don't see something about Suki in LoK at all. She just vanished completely, which could indicate her early death. Since we know that Toph has interest in Sokka and he maybe has an slight interest as well, so they might end up. The next hints are in the appearances of Suyin and her children, who have heavy resemblances to Sokka.

I first thought that the resemblance is heavily of Bataars side, the father of them. But the similarities to Sokka are stronger!

Therefore, many of those "evidences" turn into the favor of their relationship.

But what speaks against ist?

So basically I would say that it's still a theory. Sure, there are times where many theories were right, but not all. We are speaking in a room of speculations and as you might know, not all things are clear. For example the mother of Izumi is not mentioned at all. There are things, which should(?) be a mystery or unimportant. Maybe for spicing up the series or just because the authors forgot and made it up later on (e.g. J. K. Rowling does every time).

Secondly I want to point out the strong friendship game everyone has in ATLA. We see a lot of strong friendships, which could hint an interest towards the person, but mostly they stay friends. One reason could be that the authors want to trick us, but I believe that the friendships are strong on purpose, because they want to show how much they connected through the war and their experiences. Having a bit of a chemistry does not mean anything relationship wise, that's nothing new for sure.

Third and lastly I want to stick out that shipping everyone with everyone not only does ruin the atmosphere and characters of the series, but also makes it kinda awkward? I mean I have nothing against ships, but not every gesture means love from both sights. That's nothing new in the avatar world and also in ours. We sure can make ships like we want, but if they happen to be real, wouldn't that make their whole situation somehow awkward? Like Suki and Zuko having "an affair" while Sokka doesn't know anything. Or Sokka making up with Toph because they don't have anyone left. This does not only bring some people in a bad light, but also let the characters seem desperate. I wouldn't like the idea that Sokka lost a love again or that Zuko and Suki cheating, which speaks against their natural characteristics and morality.

So what's the conclusion?

As mostly seen many aspects are based on personal preferences. There are hints of a relationship, but there must not be one. This vision is clearly on the readers mind whether they believe the signs or not. I wouldn't doubt the possibility of their relationship though. There are evidences and there is no clear story in between the comics and the start of LoK. I wouldn't mind if Tokka really happened, but I would not state it as the only truth. As a Tokka shipper, I would say yes to the theory, as a Sukka/other Sokka-ship shipper probably no. Feel free to have your own opinion based on this entry, because that's only what's left.

[loopy777]

1/2 Been reading your blog for a while and figured it was time to send you an ask :P Regarding the Book 1 finale: do you think it's fair when people bring up the climax of the episode to "prove" that Aang doesn't stay true to his beliefs and kills whenever it's convenient for him? But before you answer that question, how exactly did you interpret the climax? From what I've read over the years, people seem to believe that Aang deliberately teamed up with the Ocean Spirit and

2/2 and killed all those Fire Nation soldiers. But the way I saw it, the Ocean Spirit took over Aang’s body to be able to manifest and take revenge for the death of the Moon Spirit. He was the one that did all the killing, not Aang (who was in the Avatar State and thus not in control of himself). So, what do you think? Is it a fair complaint, or just a load of bull?

Yeah, I think it’s a terrible example. I’ll give those people ‘The Northern Air Temple,’ where Aang is flinging tanks off of a mountain before he realizes they can shoot grappling hooks (although I’m less inclined to use this as proof that Aang’s a hypocrite, and much more likely to say that the creative team just hadn’t figured out the extent of Aang’s pacifism yet), but not the thing with Koizilla.

An actual look at the sequence of events (with pictures from Piandao.org!) reveals that it’s all The Avatar State:

1. Everyone is standing around after the fish are fried. Yue says, “It’s over.” Aang immediately lights up and says in the voice of the legion, “It’s not over.” So, from the earliest point, Aang is no longer in control; this is Roku, Kyoshi, Kuruk, Yangchen, etc.

2. Still glowing, avatarState!Aang walks into the water. The Avatar State is in control, and moving with purpose. Aang likely didn’t even know he could interface with the Ocean Spirit, but apparently one of his past lives was all about combining with primal forces of nature.

3. Still glowing, avatarState!Aang has a wordless conversation with a fish, and then the fish starts glowing, too! Has the Ocean Spirit joined the collective of the Avatar State?! I didn’t know non-Avatar spirits could do that, but I guess there’s a passenger seat. Like a sidecar on a motorcycle. So now, I’m forcing you to picture all the past Avatars piled up on a motorcycle, with a big koi fish in the side-car going, “Blub, blub, blub, blub…”

4. Still glowing, avatarState!Aang does that creepy sink-into-a-puddle thing and joins with the Ocean Spirit. So up to this point, there’s been no interruption in the glow since the moment Yue spoke, and no sign that Aang himself has been conscious. Theoretically, he might have had the original thought about this, but if so, there’s no sign of it. And AtLA is not subtle about what it wants us to think is going on in its storytelling, so anyone who thinks Aang initiated things is reading against the text.

5. Koizilla proceeds to RAMPAGE. We see Aang glowing the whole time. This raises the question of who, exactly, is in control of this operation. We know it isn’t Aang, because he’s glowing, and the cartoon made a fairly big deal out of the fact that Aang couldn’t control the Avatar State until he turned it off by will in the very last episode. Aang’s movements here make it look like his body is needed to do all the Waterbending, and we know the Avatar State has the power to throw water around on this scale, so what is the Ocean Spirit bringing to this? My guess is that the Ocean Spirit is in control, but wasn’t actually needed for any part of this; avatarState!Aang could have done the whole thing without help. Rather, the Avatar State was offering its power to the Ocean Spirit, so that it could get its revenge. The Avatar State was, essentially, giving the Ocean Spirit a professional courtesy.

6. After Yue returns the moon to the world, Koizilla abandons its rampage and goes to finish up business by getting revenge on Zhao. It deposits Aang on the ice before nipping off, and Aang is very clearly still glowing, still in the Avatar State, and thus still not in control. As soon as the Ocean Spirit moves away, Aang stops glowing and collapses.

Conclusion: Aang himself was not conscious for any part of the rampage. The Ocean Spirit itself was in control. Aang could not know that it was possible to let the Ocean Spirit work him like puppet. It was the Avatar State that chose this method, and then ceded control to the Ocean Spirit.

Of course, we have the next episode, ‘The Avatar State,’ where Aang has nightmares about the whole experience, but that’s all in the context of Aang being confronted with exploiting the Avatar State, and learning about the Avatar State. In an episode called ‘The Avatar State.’ So anyone who thinks it was about Aang’s personal guilt for killing anyone is suffering from a comprehension deficit. Or else they’re being what the kids call disingenuous and prioritizing an agenda over the evidence.

Thanks for Asking! It’s fun to hear from new people.

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Kyoshi/Roku first meeting prediction:

Ok ok I know I talked about Kyoshi being a fucking menace to her past lives. But like......I really just started thinking about what her first meeting with Roku might be. *w*

I know I said I kinda wanted him to be a fanboy of her (which I still do). More so before he meets her, but I'm fine if it doesn't happen until AFTER (it'd be at least a little different compared to Kuruk, who fanboyed the whole time, and Roku only did it after meeting her).

And I thought it'd be cute if he accidentally called her mom. And she's like "Yup, we're def the same people" jfkldsajf

But WHAT IF.....they have like the WORST meeting? TT0TT Like boi is PISSED, people keep comparing them. They keep putting pressure on him to fill her big ass shoes ("She has the largest feet out of any Avatar, what do they expect me to do?!"), Fire Nationals are like grabbing his shoulders and shaking him like "This bitch lived to be 230 and TERROIZED US please you need to figure out how to top that!" And he's like "????? I am 16 sir/ma'am wtf you talking about???"

Like imagine he has all that pressure, he's going through it in the novel, he can't communicate with Kyoshi (yet) and is just DONE.

Then finally he gets connected, and Kyoshi rolls up and:

Kyoshi, appearing all regal and neutral/emotionless as usual: You seem to be in some trouble, how can I assist? Roku: You know what? I don't NEED your assistance, you're just going to make things worse! Like how you made my life worse! Kyoshi: ???? You mean how you grew up in an era of peace and prosperity and never had to worry about going hungry? Roku: I-no, that's-ALL THE OTHER STUFF! Kyoshi: You'll need to explain, I've done a lot of 'stuff.' Roku: You're a tyrant! You scared people shitless, you're shadow is so large it's suffocating, everyone expects me to be like you, you're TERRIFYING *lists off all the anti-Kyoshi propoganda he can think of* Basically, I HATE YOU! I hate you so much, I wish you never existed. I wish you alive right now so I could watch you die again so I'd get at least SOME satisfaction out of it. I hate you Avatar Kyoshi. I hate you! Kyoshi: ............. Kyoshi: *closes eyes and puts head down* Kyoshi: snrk... Roku: ? Kyoshi: *throws head back and starts laughing* Roku: ?????!!!!!!!!!!!! Wha-you're laughing?! You really are as mad as they say? Kyoshi, still laughing: M-mad??? I-I'm not mad! This-is-oh. Oh my Yangchen! Snrrrrk. I haven't laughed this hard in over 100 years. Oh this is priceless! Oh I can't wait to tell Kuruk and Yangchen, they're going to love this! Oh that was so brutal, is this what it felt like for them? Oh my spirits, my sides! How do my sides hurt when I'm already dead! Roku: Wha-what are you talking about??? Kyoshi, gasping for air and laughing: Oh baby boi, you have no idea. You really ARE me. Roku: That doesn't make any sense! Kyoshi: Oh it does to me! Roku: I just said I hate you and you're laughing! What's the matter with you?! Kyoshi: Oh, sweetie, join the club. If I cried over every person who told me they hated me, I could've flooded the entire Earth Kingdom 10 times over.

And then sometime after her advice he becomes a fanboi afjdlksjfl;a Cause I think it'd be cute, and a cute arc, and I need my girl to have more in-universe fans (that aren't her weapons or Rangi-yes I'll make that joke a second time 8U)