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...begin to write coherently about the love that is Episode 1.13, when there is literally so much to love. Yes, this is the episode that sealed the deal for me, because not only do we get some crazy awesome plot development, but a nice helping of every other good thing to go with it. And that is a blend that lots of series can't handle. "Okay, now we're going to have the funny comedic gag episode with some nice repartee between the leads. We'll follow with another stand alone with some tension as the good guys narrowly escape the bad guys, maybe we can have the group separate for the kicker. And with that out of the way we can focus on doing the plot advancement episode." Here, we've got all of that in 20 minutes. And it all works.
The show opens with Our Heroes sick andhousecavebound. In the manner of teenagers the universe over, this can only lead to Trouble. Seeing as the Avatarverse lacks over-the-counter cold medication they can take since no one seems to have any pot, Aang sets off to get them some frogs to suck. ("Drugs are bad, mmkay?" wails another character from a different Viacom animation, but alas, Aang does not heed him.)
I mean, frogs to suck. I didn't know you could put stuff like that in a kids' show.
Luckily, Mr. Mackey uses his mind powers to summon some kickass archers who bag Aang and take him to Zhou's lair. We the audience now know that Zhou is an ubervillain, thanks to the torture room (complete with all the golden oldie standards like bondage racks and mood lighting and doors that slam shut ominously) he's presciently installed in his fortress for just such an occassion. (Actually, this scene would have been pretty darn terrifying to me if I'd seen it as a kid.) Thank goodness Zuko--I mean, some guy whom we totally don't know who it is, has seen fit to master some crazy ninja moves during commercial breaks in previous episodes, as he's able to infiltrate the fortress and sneak in to rescue Aang. He is thoughtfully obliged in this attempt by Zhou, who once again fulfills the ubervillain role to a tee by engaging in a long expository speech/bout of self-congratulation while Zuko--I mean, that guy whom we totally don't know who he is yet, is busy cutting down the woefully inadequate guards posted outside Aang's dungeon chamber. Some cuteness from the drugs--I mean, frogs, ensues.
Our two escapees attempt to flee the fortress, allowing Zuko--I mean, who is that guy, anyway?--to show off some totally awesome non-bending martial arts skillz before he's cruelly cut down by Zhou's archers right before their escape into the forest. Now comes our Moment of Truth, as Aang finally has a chance to unmask his savior (I would never have got away with this escape it if it wasn't for you meddling kid!) only to discover he's--get ready for this!--Zuko! (Here I explode into soppy puddles of squeeage and barely manage to collect myself before the episode continues on without me.)
We joinCrais and Creighton Zuko and Aang in the forest early the next morning for the opening salvo in Zuko's long and painful conversion to the Good ("Do you think it's an acident that our species are so similar?" I swear, they could do a scene like this on The O'Reilly Factor and I would be like, OMG YES MORE PLEASE.) before Zuko lashes out and Aang leaps away into the trees. He then gets the drugs--I mean, frogs to Katara and Sokka, Harold and Kumar get to Whitecastle, and I am SOLD! to the series currently airing.
I was so sure 1.13 was going to be my favoritest episode ever until I watched episode 1.14. Which was just so utterly, intelligently cute about puppy love and crushes that I kinda melted a bit watching it. Aang & Katara are my shining OTP beacon of (probably canon) love, and if the "powerful bender" she ends up with is, like, Zuko, Imma be peeved. Katara and Aang are just so wonderful together precisely because the series is avoiding all of the Inevitable Romance Between The Series Leads pitfalls with remarkable adroitness. No episode of Consuming Angst! from Aang because he finally built up the courage to tell her he likes her and she wasn't listening. No sidling up to the Pippy Longstocking love interest foil (who, even as a tertiary character avoids falling into her role) to make Katara jealous. Bad advice from Sokka, but it's entirely well-intentioned, and heck, the guy doesn't even realise what's going on. Best of all, the writers didn't dedicate an episode to the love lives of the characters, they wove it into the story; it's just one thing among many that's going on. And that means that I'm not running for the hills to get away from it. Cheers, Avatar people. Well done.
これで以上です。
The show opens with Our Heroes sick and
I mean, frogs to suck. I didn't know you could put stuff like that in a kids' show.
Luckily, Mr. Mackey uses his mind powers to summon some kickass archers who bag Aang and take him to Zhou's lair. We the audience now know that Zhou is an ubervillain, thanks to the torture room (complete with all the golden oldie standards like bondage racks and mood lighting and doors that slam shut ominously) he's presciently installed in his fortress for just such an occassion. (Actually, this scene would have been pretty darn terrifying to me if I'd seen it as a kid.) Thank goodness Zuko--I mean, some guy whom we totally don't know who it is, has seen fit to master some crazy ninja moves during commercial breaks in previous episodes, as he's able to infiltrate the fortress and sneak in to rescue Aang. He is thoughtfully obliged in this attempt by Zhou, who once again fulfills the ubervillain role to a tee by engaging in a long expository speech/bout of self-congratulation while Zuko--I mean, that guy whom we totally don't know who he is yet, is busy cutting down the woefully inadequate guards posted outside Aang's dungeon chamber. Some cuteness from the drugs--I mean, frogs, ensues.
Our two escapees attempt to flee the fortress, allowing Zuko--I mean, who is that guy, anyway?--to show off some totally awesome non-bending martial arts skillz before he's cruelly cut down by Zhou's archers right before their escape into the forest. Now comes our Moment of Truth, as Aang finally has a chance to unmask his savior (I would never have got away with this escape it if it wasn't for you meddling kid!) only to discover he's--get ready for this!--Zuko! (Here I explode into soppy puddles of squeeage and barely manage to collect myself before the episode continues on without me.)
We join
I was so sure 1.13 was going to be my favoritest episode ever until I watched episode 1.14. Which was just so utterly, intelligently cute about puppy love and crushes that I kinda melted a bit watching it. Aang & Katara are my shining OTP beacon of (probably canon) love, and if the "powerful bender" she ends up with is, like, Zuko, Imma be peeved. Katara and Aang are just so wonderful together precisely because the series is avoiding all of the Inevitable Romance Between The Series Leads pitfalls with remarkable adroitness. No episode of Consuming Angst! from Aang because he finally built up the courage to tell her he likes her and she wasn't listening. No sidling up to the Pippy Longstocking love interest foil (who, even as a tertiary character avoids falling into her role) to make Katara jealous. Bad advice from Sokka, but it's entirely well-intentioned, and heck, the guy doesn't even realise what's going on. Best of all, the writers didn't dedicate an episode to the love lives of the characters, they wove it into the story; it's just one thing among many that's going on. And that means that I'm not running for the hills to get away from it. Cheers, Avatar people. Well done.
これで以上です。
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Okay, so. YOU GOT TO *THAT* EPISODE. I had to rewatch the scene where Aang talks with Zuko in the woods, when he tell Zuko about the friend he used to have in the Fire Nation. How poignant is that? I just love Aang in these moments, and I get how a cartoon character can be a positive role model for kids. (And I don't have to say how hot Zuko was, because that would be me being a broken record and just stating truth....) But that moment of considering silence when Zuko takes in Aang's words, and just lashes out? And you know that there was a flicker of warning, perhaps not even a subconscious one, for Aang to get out of the way so that *Zuko* could escape.
I would love for more Aang and Zuko interaction. Fantasy fic of them becoming friends and fighting crime....
And I'm NOT SAYING A WORD about your thoughts on Zuko's conversion into Good because. Because. You know because. But. Dear god.
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I got to *THAT EPISODE* last Wednesday, and it said Hi! and walked off with my soul. There's no shame in admitting. (And no, we aren't going to talk about how utterly HAWT Zuko is, because as you said, it's a given, and honestly, it isn't right to feel all gooey about ninjas.)
But yes! What must have been going on in Zuko's head during that silence? That Aang saved him when he was going to turn Aang over to dad (and Aang knew it)? That Aang treats him better than dad? That this is what he'd be giving up for the Fire Nation/could have had if he wasn't Fire Nation? Aah, that poor kid!
I have high hopes for more A/Z interaction. If I'm reading the show right it's being set up as a major plot arc.
So BRING IT ON ALREADY, GODDAMIT!I'm not saying a word about the conversion either, because I think I was partially spoiled for something while viewing Avatar icons, and I don't want to speculate more until I know whether I'm right or not.