So confused I'm TEARBENDING!
I have the seriously mixed feelings about the just-nowish Forever-Finale of Avatar.
On the one hand, it was pretty neat to go from thinking I'd have to wait almost two weeks and buy the dvd, to finding out it would be on tv the very next night! Talk about your instant gratification. And there was *sooo* much good.
The good:
1. I *love* the Secret Society of Old Dudes. Sooo much. Zuko's reunion with Uncle Iroh was wonderful, and I'd been waiting for it for so long. It was everything I'd been hoping for: redemption and understanding - and hilarity at the same time. Which is the magic recipe for Uncle Iroh. I had been so afraid that one of the two of them would die or something before they ever got to see one another again.
2. A lot of extraordinary heroism packed into just two hours! Sokka and Suki and Toph versus a whole fleet of airships. Zuko and Katara versus Azula's rapidly declining sanity. Old dudes and Destiny versus Ba Sing Se. Not to mention the main event. Action has to be pretty inventive just to keep my attention (I'm more of a dialog girl), but some of the fights tonight were really riveting. (Though it is also true that bolt after bolt of fire can only be so interesting).
3. Giant lion-turtles are cool! I found a lot of satisfaction in Aang's spiritual journey to consult the full cycle of past Avatars and in the challenges they posed to him. Not to mention that the quest tied up certain loose-ends (like the story of the face-stealing spirit, for example).
4. I am so proud of Katara. It was like Molly Weasely in Deathly Hallows - just so right. And Zuko! M'poor Zuko. I can no longer comprehend my former hatred for the boy. Uncle Iroh was right to call him an idealist; it's part of what makes Zuko a uniquely fascinating case. He wasn't just someone who was influenced a certain way and eventually redeemed himself; he was someone at war with the power of his own conscience. He was actively suppressing the peaceful champion he was meant to become, just burying himself in anger and thwarted hope. Nice to see some of those hopes finally come to fruition, if in unexpected ways and at great cost.
5. Glad to see that Toph made peace with Suki. It is the natural order of things, after all. Surely Toph must see that she and Suki have at least one thing in common; they are both more awesome than Sokka. (Awesome as he may be). Sokka and Toph's brush with death was really powerful, too. ('I don't think Boomerang's coming back this time, Toph...') All the same, I'm not sure I'm totally satisfied by the conclusion of Toph's story - more on that later.
6. Please oh please let Sokka call him 'GramPaku'! Or 'Gramp-gramps.' Heeheeheeheeheehee...
7. Space sword?!! Can't somebody use their Bending Whatnot to find teh Space Sword???
8. Not to forget 'Ember Island Players': The penultimate episode was a lot of fun, and in keeping with the Avatar tradition of comic episodes (usually with serious undertones) preceding peaks in the Big Drama. Seeing the kids' reactions to the performers playing them on stage was a total hoot. (Toph, regarding burly man!Toph: 'I wouldn't have it any other way!') Using the play to poke fun at the series (and some more of those loose ends) was clever. And I also enjoyed Toph's heart-to-heart talk with Zuko during the intermission. (To the point that the quote-unquote Toph/Zuko adventure joke in the next episode was, while funny, a bit of a step backward). Toph is so the little sister Zuko never had. Except for the part where he has a little sister.
9. Which reminds me: I felt seriously sorry for Azula by the end. The rapid and drastic progress of her paranoia seemed a little contrived. But her rage and desperation at being brought low did not.
Now for the parts that don't sit so well with me:
1. Making a joke out of the sheer number of loose ends to be tied up was probably a smart move. But that didn't stop some of the developments from feeling rushed.
2. Where IS Zuko's mother??? What was up with that? You want to end on Zuko demanding that his father tell him where to find her, and that's okay by me. You don't have to show me the reunion. (I want to see it, but I can live, y'know?) But instead, they cut straight from the cliffhanger ending of the conversation with his father to a scene where Zuko, current Firelord, is hanging out with his uncle and his friends, serving tea, as laid-back as you please. It just didn't feel right! And I FREAKING WANT TO KNOW WHERE SHE IS!!! (Other than in Azula's fractured mind, that is).
3. You cannot require someone NEVER EVER to break up with you! It's against the rules. Unless you're married, and then those *are* the rules.
4. Which brings me to my main source of bafflement: the assorted romances. Before 'Ember Island Players,' I was completely torn. Really moved by the high regard Zuko felt for Katara's opinion and far from immune to their chemistry - but! Also feeling sorry for Aang and Mei (who was dull, but who defied Azula for her boyfriend's sake, which is certainly something). The thing is: 'Ember Island' convinced me once and for all that Aang, despite all of his good qualities, is *too much of a child* for Katara. I don't want his little feelings hurt, but that's not enough reason to root for Katara to, I dunno, marry the kid or whatever! Much the same can be said of Mei. Mei is smug and dull; she hardly brings out the best in Zuko. I don't want Zuko to cheat on her, per se, and I don't want her to be repaid for her courage with a slap in the face. But does that mean they ought to be TOGETHER FOREVER?!! This I cannot accept!
If 'Ember Island Players' hadn't been enough to convince me that Zuko and Katara loved each other, tonight's battle with Azula would have sealed the deal. Zuko almost gave his life for her! - and while that's equally (if not more) admirable if he only loves her as a friend and ally, there was such a strong sense of intimacy and camaraderie between the two. Add that to the fact that Aang's final battle with the Firelord seemed to put him at an emotional distance from the other characters, and I was NOT expecting the ending to be: And Aang and Katara Live Happily Ever After. I was hoping that when Aang's injuries freed him to reenter the Avatar state he would finally discover the real meaning of the love-paradox in the teachings of the old Guru. Like maybe: Loving Katara without worldly attachment means not demanding that you keep her for yourself. Or something.
I was similarly disappointed with the way Toph's feelings for Sokka were seemingly swept under the rug.
Normally I don't get all rabid about teh shipping, but this time? I think I'm going to have to mind-write a new ending of my very own... After all, no one quits growing up or making life-decisions at fourteen, right? Plenty of time to set things right.
And thus concluded Avatar. *sigh*
On the one hand, it was pretty neat to go from thinking I'd have to wait almost two weeks and buy the dvd, to finding out it would be on tv the very next night! Talk about your instant gratification. And there was *sooo* much good.
The good:
1. I *love* the Secret Society of Old Dudes. Sooo much. Zuko's reunion with Uncle Iroh was wonderful, and I'd been waiting for it for so long. It was everything I'd been hoping for: redemption and understanding - and hilarity at the same time. Which is the magic recipe for Uncle Iroh. I had been so afraid that one of the two of them would die or something before they ever got to see one another again.
2. A lot of extraordinary heroism packed into just two hours! Sokka and Suki and Toph versus a whole fleet of airships. Zuko and Katara versus Azula's rapidly declining sanity. Old dudes and Destiny versus Ba Sing Se. Not to mention the main event. Action has to be pretty inventive just to keep my attention (I'm more of a dialog girl), but some of the fights tonight were really riveting. (Though it is also true that bolt after bolt of fire can only be so interesting).
3. Giant lion-turtles are cool! I found a lot of satisfaction in Aang's spiritual journey to consult the full cycle of past Avatars and in the challenges they posed to him. Not to mention that the quest tied up certain loose-ends (like the story of the face-stealing spirit, for example).
4. I am so proud of Katara. It was like Molly Weasely in Deathly Hallows - just so right. And Zuko! M'poor Zuko. I can no longer comprehend my former hatred for the boy. Uncle Iroh was right to call him an idealist; it's part of what makes Zuko a uniquely fascinating case. He wasn't just someone who was influenced a certain way and eventually redeemed himself; he was someone at war with the power of his own conscience. He was actively suppressing the peaceful champion he was meant to become, just burying himself in anger and thwarted hope. Nice to see some of those hopes finally come to fruition, if in unexpected ways and at great cost.
5. Glad to see that Toph made peace with Suki. It is the natural order of things, after all. Surely Toph must see that she and Suki have at least one thing in common; they are both more awesome than Sokka. (Awesome as he may be). Sokka and Toph's brush with death was really powerful, too. ('I don't think Boomerang's coming back this time, Toph...') All the same, I'm not sure I'm totally satisfied by the conclusion of Toph's story - more on that later.
6. Please oh please let Sokka call him 'GramPaku'! Or 'Gramp-gramps.' Heeheeheeheeheehee...
7. Space sword?!! Can't somebody use their Bending Whatnot to find teh Space Sword???
8. Not to forget 'Ember Island Players': The penultimate episode was a lot of fun, and in keeping with the Avatar tradition of comic episodes (usually with serious undertones) preceding peaks in the Big Drama. Seeing the kids' reactions to the performers playing them on stage was a total hoot. (Toph, regarding burly man!Toph: 'I wouldn't have it any other way!') Using the play to poke fun at the series (and some more of those loose ends) was clever. And I also enjoyed Toph's heart-to-heart talk with Zuko during the intermission. (To the point that the quote-unquote Toph/Zuko adventure joke in the next episode was, while funny, a bit of a step backward). Toph is so the little sister Zuko never had. Except for the part where he has a little sister.
9. Which reminds me: I felt seriously sorry for Azula by the end. The rapid and drastic progress of her paranoia seemed a little contrived. But her rage and desperation at being brought low did not.
Now for the parts that don't sit so well with me:
1. Making a joke out of the sheer number of loose ends to be tied up was probably a smart move. But that didn't stop some of the developments from feeling rushed.
2. Where IS Zuko's mother??? What was up with that? You want to end on Zuko demanding that his father tell him where to find her, and that's okay by me. You don't have to show me the reunion. (I want to see it, but I can live, y'know?) But instead, they cut straight from the cliffhanger ending of the conversation with his father to a scene where Zuko, current Firelord, is hanging out with his uncle and his friends, serving tea, as laid-back as you please. It just didn't feel right! And I FREAKING WANT TO KNOW WHERE SHE IS!!! (Other than in Azula's fractured mind, that is).
3. You cannot require someone NEVER EVER to break up with you! It's against the rules. Unless you're married, and then those *are* the rules.
4. Which brings me to my main source of bafflement: the assorted romances. Before 'Ember Island Players,' I was completely torn. Really moved by the high regard Zuko felt for Katara's opinion and far from immune to their chemistry - but! Also feeling sorry for Aang and Mei (who was dull, but who defied Azula for her boyfriend's sake, which is certainly something). The thing is: 'Ember Island' convinced me once and for all that Aang, despite all of his good qualities, is *too much of a child* for Katara. I don't want his little feelings hurt, but that's not enough reason to root for Katara to, I dunno, marry the kid or whatever! Much the same can be said of Mei. Mei is smug and dull; she hardly brings out the best in Zuko. I don't want Zuko to cheat on her, per se, and I don't want her to be repaid for her courage with a slap in the face. But does that mean they ought to be TOGETHER FOREVER?!! This I cannot accept!
If 'Ember Island Players' hadn't been enough to convince me that Zuko and Katara loved each other, tonight's battle with Azula would have sealed the deal. Zuko almost gave his life for her! - and while that's equally (if not more) admirable if he only loves her as a friend and ally, there was such a strong sense of intimacy and camaraderie between the two. Add that to the fact that Aang's final battle with the Firelord seemed to put him at an emotional distance from the other characters, and I was NOT expecting the ending to be: And Aang and Katara Live Happily Ever After. I was hoping that when Aang's injuries freed him to reenter the Avatar state he would finally discover the real meaning of the love-paradox in the teachings of the old Guru. Like maybe: Loving Katara without worldly attachment means not demanding that you keep her for yourself. Or something.
I was similarly disappointed with the way Toph's feelings for Sokka were seemingly swept under the rug.
Normally I don't get all rabid about teh shipping, but this time? I think I'm going to have to mind-write a new ending of my very own... After all, no one quits growing up or making life-decisions at fourteen, right? Plenty of time to set things right.
And thus concluded Avatar. *sigh*