I'm not sorry I met you, I'm not sorry it's over

[herongale]

When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire.
Stars, "Your Ex-Lover is Dead"

Note: All Spoilers Under CutAvatar is not a series that needs me to recommend it, and I don't think I'm going to sway anyone's opinions no matter how convincing my praise. Nevertheless I feel compelled to talk about the last episode. So many

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[herongale]

The last American series that affected me so strongly had to have been Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and even THAT had many flaws and problems... mostly refusing to put a stake in when it was clearly dead (forgive the pun).

It's not like Avatar is perfect, but it told the story it set out to tell, and it told in such a way as to exceed my most generous expectations. The last time I felt this much GRATITUDE at an ending was either with Hikaru no Go, or Haibane Renmei. Which are definitely amongst the strongest anime series of all time.

Her turn around from invincible monster into pathetic, lost girl was tangibly embarassing.

"Embarrassing" is the perfect word for it, too. I cringed for her, and yet at the same time wanted someone to HOLD her already (er, not me eheh-- I value my skin). I would agree that she is not exactly sympathetic, but I felt that in this ending they did something to awaken a YEARNING on her behalf that certainly never existed before. I want her to find with her mother what Zuko found with Iroh. It is precisely because she doesn't deserve it, that I wish for it so much.

In Haibane Renmei, the secret to escaping the "circle of sin" was for someone outside of the circle to give you a hand, and pull you up from the spiraling whirlpool. The essential paradox of the circle of sin is that if you believe you are a sinner, then you can be saved... but if you believe you are saved, you are in sin. Azula believed in herself, thought she was justified... and even with everything that has happen, even with her shattered faith, she will still find herself trapped in this circle. Because the moment it dawns on her that maybe she made a mistake, she will then think that is all that she needed to do, and then proceed to forgive herself and think herself justified.

A lot of people find themselves in this dilemma. The reason we need someone outside of ourselves is because we need someone to hold us and tell us IT DOESN'T MATTER. That we can be BOTH sinner and saved... and either way, still be loved.

That's really what salvation is.