And forging bravely onward...

[lebateleur]

...we enter season two of The Zuko Show. It is The Zuko Show, isn't it?

Isn't it?....

Episode 2.01
Oh man. Poor Zuko. Spending the entire episode knowing that he was going to have his heart broken and just waiting for it to happen was rough. Iroh was as amazing as always. I love that character. And I'm pretty sure that he was Santa Claus in another life. Also, so firebenders can manipulate lightening? Does it then follow that earthbenders can manipulate living plants? Cause that would be cool. But returning to what's important, Z&I's little spa/hideaway made me heartily nostalgic for: hanami, onsen hotels, Thai massage, and Asian riverscapes. This show does Asia so, so well. Anyway, the end of the Dynamic Duo's half of the episode was pretty much what I'd feared it would be, but no less painful for that. I'll admit to squeaking when Zuko pulled out the knife and I saw that '非' character (I'll have to rewatch and puzzle out the rest of the inscription), but luckily he'd decided that a new haircut was just what the doctor ordered to cheer him up. Makes you feel like you've got a new lease on life, a new haircut does.

And onward to Our Heroes. Nice little bit on the boat with Celeborn Paku giving the gang their going-into-the-wilderness gifts. And poor Sokka! I really wish the show would cut him some slack already. Also: a big way to go to the shows' writers for once again injecting a healthy dose of reality into people's treatment of Aang. Specifically, in this case, people who view Aang as a tool and are willing to let the ends justify the means. Good stuff.

Episode 2.02
"Delicious tea or deadly poison???" God, I <333 Iroh,probably more than is good for me. And I'll be darned if that wasn't chima cheogori those refugees were wearing. How cool is that? This episode is clearly introducing Zuko's Main Character Development Objective for the season, as he slowly comes to terms with the fact that a) this is how the majority of people in the Avatarverse live (with a side helping of Not Living Like Royalty Sux) and b) that his people are in large part responsible for it. Really appreciated how genuine his reactions were, though; you could see the disbelief and then refusal on his face when the girl talked about how the Fire Nation was responsible for her circumstances, and then inadvertently linked her scarred leg with Zuko's very deliberate maiming by his father. Best of all, far from being won over to her way of thinking, it just sent him off into anger and denial. Stealing the chocobo was also a nice touch: this is someone who is not going to be convinced to join the Dark Side in under 17 episodes and/or prior to a season finale easily.

Also, thinking back to Azula's lines in the previous episode? What are the chances, do you think, that there really is a plot afoot to dethrone Ozai? Could the whole META-point of Zuko's exile lie in him being educated to be a Kind & Loving Ruler? Probably, but something in me would really prefer to see him give up the throne wholesale, unlikely though that may be.

And why am I writing so much about Zuko? Because I wanted to REPEATEDLY STAB MYSELF IN THE FACE FOR EVERY ON-SCREEN MINUTE IN WHICH I WAS SUBJECTED TO THOSE OBNOXIOUS POTHEADS. No wonder Sokka was facepalming himself crimson. I WAS TOO.

これで以上です。

Comments

[fragilistikal.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm really doubting that Zuko is being groomed to rule. I'd actually be surprised if the show went in that direction, whether he converts to the Light Side or not.

(I would love to talk more about this. However, I don't want to shade your perception of the episodes or inadvertently spoil you. Damn.)

But the main thing is, I don't think Zuko is really cut out to be a ruler. I think the really tragic thing is that he really isn't that talented; I mean, he is, but compared to the rest of his family? Azula?

(Oh man. How awesome is Azula? So deliciously evil. Really reminds me of
that vampire chick from Baldur's Gate. Uhm. Bi...?)

And I deleted so much of what I wanted to say. Rawrr.

Do you still have the same AIM name? I'd love to catch up real time. =)

[lebateleur.livejournal.com]

Really, I totally see him going in that direction. I think the whole point here is that he is learning valuable lessons about how a true leader treats his people, that it has more to do with understanding and compassion than fear and brute force as his father rules. I mean, yes, his father and likely his sister are certainly more powerful benders and utterly more ruthless, but does this necessarily equal a good ruler? (It's certainly one way to keep a stranglehold on your power, but people don't love or respect you. Going slightly Meta here, I think the current Fire Nation is based on Qin China, and that Zuko's China would be equivalent to the Tang dynasty. But, yeah, Meta.) I guess what I'm trying to say is that I can see the message that a good ruler is knowledgeable and compassionate as opposed to just strong, is a message which I think very much fits in with the messages of the series.

Azula rocks. She's so utterly wicked, but in a way that I sit there going damn as opposed to just rolling my eyes. And you're right, she is totally Bodhi.

Anyway, save the stuff you want to say, because I'm sure I'll (sob) be finished with this season sooner than I'd like to be...

And thinking about it, I wouldn't be surprised to see him getting the throne with Iroh as regent until he matures enough.

[lebateleur.livejournal.com]

PS: same AIM name. I'm not energetic enough in my old-ladyhood to actually register multiples.

[fragilistikal.livejournal.com]

Awesome. I guess I just need to go on AIM more often, as I never catch you.

And regarding Iroh: The voice actor who played Iroh passed away this summer, so I don't know what's going to happen with his character. It was very clear that the creators were setting him to be a huge player with his own backstory. He's got huge shoes to fill if they decide to go with another actor to play the same part.

(I can't wait until you get to The Tales of Ba Sing Sei, mid-season.)

[lebateleur.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes you do. Come feed the addiction for me.

I'd heard about Mako, and that sucks big time (because the guy was cool, not just because he was Iroh's VA.) I really do hope they pull a Dumbledore and get someone else to play him, because he's one of my favorite charas and I'd really hate for him to just be abruptly written out, a la Darius in Highlander.

I'm really, really trying to go slowly with the eps now, one a day. That way I won't have as much downtime between finishing 2 and the start of the next season.