But instead they LOST. And that's so so much more compelling to me. The Fire Nation was prepared. Aang never even got within sniffing distance of Ozai. Their invasion was never a threat.

But what the Fire Royal Family DIDN'T prepare for was Zuko's betrayal - Zuko who of course was in on everything and so knew where his father was - leading to the single best monologue in children's cartoon history. And STILL the implications of it all. That Zuko didn't just take his swords and lop his father's head off, which Ozai calls him a COWARD for. But Zuko says it's not his place - and he's likely right - what peace is there in the violence of a prince assassinating his father to steal power from him? What peace is there in Zuko doing exactly the same patricidal grab for the throne as his father did before him? Maybe there could be. But Zuko is placing his faith in having the Avatar end it.

And yet still. IS Zuko a coward for doing it this way? Here? Now? Speaking his mind to his father only while his father is powerless? Echoing the one-on-one confrontation which, last time, ended with half of Zuko's face burned off? Is he a coward to say this all to his father at the single moment that his father's hands cannot burn off the other side of Zuko's face?

And the fact that Zuko was gulled into sticking around past the eclipse's totality. The fact that Ozai DID get to take his second shot at Zuko - lightning now instead of fire - lethal now instead of maiming - an attempt to kill this time rather than an attempt to punish - only to have Zuko successfully deflect it with Uncle's technique with a water bender's technique with non-violent redirection when bending an element that only knows direct assault.

Ultimately, Fionna and Cake was a story of accepting your life, no matter how much it hurts to do so.

COMING DECEMBER 7TH!!

From Luke Pearson himself; The third and final season of Hilda is coming on December 7th! It's been an incredible 5 years with this show. It's meant a lot to me and I love dearly (as much as Gravity Falls and in some ways even more probably). It will be heartbreaking to bid it farewell, but I have faith it that we will be saying goodbye in the best way possible. I am beyond excited for this!! Time for one final adventure!