Iroh, Dragon of the West

[sistermagpie]

Okay, the Avatar finale--so much awesome. And I haven't heard a lot of complaining about it, but right after it was over there were some issues raised about stuff being done badly that I heard. So this is my post about how I actually think those same things were done REALLY AWESOMELY!

Comments

[scriva]

Nice essay, again. I totally agree with you regarding Iroh's roles in the story, and though I also heard several complaints that his backstory was not completely explained, I always thought it was not really necessary for the narrative. For example, Iroh's travel to the Spirit World was important for the Finale of Season 1 and to give some indications about the changes after his son's death.

I also liked the open end, regarding Ursa. I think the search for her, just like the re-building of the world, are the projects of the future. They wanted to end this show on a lighter tone, but it is already hinted that the hardest things are still laying ahead.

[sistermagpie]

Thanks! And yeah, I thought the same thing about the search for her. I loved the way it was clear that this wasn't an end end, because the whole group had just as much to do the next day.

And also, they had to hug more. There can never be too many hugs.

[etrangere]

I love your points about Iroh and Zuko's relationship, and about why we didn't see Ursa.

When I imagine where Ursa might be right now, my mind jumped to imagining her with Song, helping heal people.

Azula preferring fear is also because it's something that she can control; and control - perfectionism - has been since the beginning one of Azula's big issue. Zuko's always known how to fight even when he wasn't in control, and that's also why Zuko survives everything he goes through and eventually comes through all of it stronger where Azula breaks at the first betrayal. Azula can't control love, whether it's Mai's love or Ursa's love, or even her father's (who in a way was the person who let her down the worse in the finale).

[sistermagpie]

I think the same thing about Ursa--healing would make sense given she had to murder someone. She and Zuko must have a really interesting relationship once they reconnect since once she gave him the chance at life he had a really interesting one! Talk about a kid having grown up in her absence!

Also agree about Azula. Zuko himself says it early on to Aang, when he says that his struggles have made him stronger, but at that point we can't see it yet. Even he doesn't really understand how strong it's made him yet.

Sad that in the end Azula was really brought down most by the thing that tripped up Zuko, that it turned out her being perfect didn't make her father think all that differently about her than he did Zuko.

[moonspinner]

there is something really wonderful the way in a show with young heroes there's no sense that youth is better than old age.

Hear! Hear!

I really liked your analysis and I found myself nodding at every other sentence. You are completely right that Ursa & Zuko's reunion would have been too complicated and just too much for the story. Perhaps this is where the movie might have some potential, eh? :p

but what makes Aang and Zuko better is their instinct to get along with the other person instead

Only it is Katara that shows mercy, not Zuko.* Zuko was all for commiting the necessary evil (he won't have hesitated to redirect Azula's lightning back at her). But at the end, he was clearly relived that he didn't have to kill his sister and he - and the audience - really came to see Azula was, as you've described in this meta, as the ultimate victim of this story.

*(It was actually this moment that reconcilled me with the Southern Raiders. I still have some issues with that episode but generally, every aspect of the episodes in

[etrangere]

Zuko was all for commiting the necessary evil (he won't have hesitated to redirect Azula's lightning back at her)
Zuko might have talked big in Southern Raiders, but he doesn't have a good history of killing people off. Remember when he even tired to save Zhao's life, someone he had no reason to do anything but hate? And he didn't look like he would have been happy of Azula's death in the Southern Raiders beginning either. So I'm doubtful he would have gone through with it even given the chance.

[sistermagpie]

Yeah, I do think that ultimately Zuko was not about killing. It wasn't a vow like with Aang, he always held that option open, but he would do anything to avoid it.

[scriva]

Zuko might have talked big in Southern Raiders, but he doesn't have a good history of killing people off.

I thought today that one of the reasons why Zuko talked so big in The Southern Raiders and even why he seemed to put so much pressure on Aang might have been fuelled by his own insecurities about the whole thing. I mean, he could not kill his father in DOBS, and I doubt he could have killed Azula.

[ali_wildgoose]

I was waiting to comment on this until I had something more useful to say, but...

Really, this just made me feel a million times better. About Iroh and Ursa and the handling of their arcs at the end of the season, and various related narrative decisions that were made.

You should absolutely crosspost this around! <3

[sistermagpie]

Yay! The Fire Family is Love--finally! Lots of hugging!

The more I think about it, I think the emotional arcs (which were most important and thematic) were all handled really confidently. I've seen some complaints that they weren't sometimes as detailed as they would be in fanfic, but the broad strokes are what's important to show us what's going on. (And there's at least one instance where minor characters were said to be left dangling when I thought they got one of the best endings in the series so OMG, don't touch them!)

[aangryjerk]

That was a very interesting and thought provoking essay. I can't really say anymore. I think I'll go read it again now.

[sistermagpie]

I'm glad you liked it!