DylanaZ

Many different metas have been written about this scene, but I want to draw your attention to one specific detail.

This is an amazing art, but what caught my attention is Ursa placing hands on Azula's shoulders.

What's interesting, is that in the actual canon the hallucination of Ursa doesn't try to touch Azula, or hug her or give her any physical affection at all.

She's not even standing very close to Azula. Ursa is just standing there with her hands in her sleeves, which wasn't far from reality, judging by the family portrait.

With Zuko and Ozai, this is not the only time we see Ozai being physically affectionate with Zuko.

Zuko wanted to go back to Ozai, even though he was horrible to him, BECAUSE he had shown him a bit of kindness in the past, so Zuko was clinging to happy memories of him and his father, not realising that they're gone.

With Ursa and Azula, in the portrait Ursa is very distant, holding back from touching Azula.

Maybe that's how Azula remembers her mother, so Ursa's hallucination also holds back from touching Azula.

We know that Ozai didn't love Zuko, but he did show him affection at one point.

The boy in Iceberg gets lots of attentions from the Fire Nation. Everyone starts talking about it. Rumor has it, the Fire Prince fell in love with a waterbender. He chose the girl over his Nation and started training the Avatar.

The rumor reaches the Caldera city and Azula hears it one day. It doesn't surprise her, though. Zuzu was obviously seduced by the stupid peasant. Stupid, weak and naive Zuzu. He will understand she doesn't love him soon. He will learn that he doesn't belong with the small group of rebels. Especially not with the waterbender.

Everyone starts talking about the girl. She's from Southern Water Tribe and she's a master waterbender. People say she saved a Fire Nation village, dressed as a spirit at night.

The rumor about Avatar's waterbending teacher being the Painted Lady flared through the Fire Nation and it died down after the last Agni Kai.

Everyone in the Fire Nation knows about the waterbender The Fire Prince loved to death. Rumor has it, he almost died shielding her with his body from his sister's comet powered lightning bolt.

The waterbender defeated Princess Azula before she tended the Prince, outsmarting the Princess with unlimited powers.

The maids said she slept by his side that night. Some said they kissed after the fight.

Whatever happened it only fueled the flames of gossips. The Waterbender from Southern Water Tribe became the hot topic.

Some says she's daughter of Chief Hakoda. So that makes her a Princess from Southern Water Tribe.

Some says she's the most beautiful from four nations. So that the Prince took a lightning bolt to his chest for her.

Rumor has it, the doctor saw The Prince curled in bed with the Princess from Water Tribe, comforting her with soft words they never heard from the Prince before.

So the people say that The Prince is madly in love.

Soon the words reached the Four Nation and the old General, who was more than happy to know it all.

------

But like, our dorks are idiots and also in denial. AND they have no idea what people are talking about.

Everyone thinks that they're together and they're almost planning their wedding and they have no clue about any of it. 😂

The Four Nations are convinced. Everyone is convinced. Even Momo and Appa are convinced they're together. Every single person heard about the rumors except them.

Iroh is just smug and happy about them, secretly planning their wedding.

But neither of them talks.

Sokka being the impatient guy he is, threatens Zuko. And Zuko's like, "We're not together. What are you talking about? Katara doesn't like me that way. She's just my best friend".

Katara says the same thing to Suki and Toph. But Toph is just as smug about it as Iroh, because she knows Katara is lying when she says she doesn't like Zuko. 👀

Katara: rises with the moon

Betty's lyrics are more like how Zuko came back to Fire Nation, but couldn't stop thinking about her and felt like he has to go back to her and see if she forgives him, even after he has done "the worst things to her".

"If I just showed up at your party

Would you have me?

Would you want me?

Would you tell me to go fuck myself?

Or leave me to the garden

In the garden would you trust me if I told you it was just a summer thing?

I'm only seventeen

I don't know anything but I know I miss you"

Also

"Would you kiss me in front of all your stupid friends" actually really make sense in some ways. Especially knowing that Zuko really wanted to join Team Avatar and have her approval. And probably had a false hope of really making things work with Katara.

I am listing M/aiko is a fling, because Zuko leaves her later, despite the circumstances that makes M/ai the official gf. He wasn't actually there in a sense of really being himself.

"She said James get in, let's drive

Those days turned into nights

Slept next to her, but I dreamt of you all summer long"

I think it kinda works with both Platonic!Zutara and Romantic!Zutara. M/ai obviously wanted Zuko back and actually was really happy to do so. "Get in, let's drive" could be interpreted as M/ai really trying to persuade him to go back to FN. And Zuko is still thinking about Katara and those times he could've said, "Yes". And maybe dreaming about that incident.

"When you are young they assume you know nothing

But I knew you..."

I think Zuko never actually excused himself for his own behavior. But I think Katara's maturity kinda plays a role if we interpret it that way.

"A friend to all is a friend to none

Chase two girls lose the one"

Self-explanatory. Zuko can't be friends to all of them in order to do what's important. He had to choose. (I mean, Crossroads of Destiny) And lose Katara in the way.

"You drew stars

Around my scars

And now I'm bleeding"

Zuko has made her really care for him and gave her a false hope of change. Then, she is left alone and hurt.

"Leaving like father

Running like water"

Why does it make sense too much even if it's not entirely about them??? Katara was angry at her dad for neglecting her. She has abandonment issues. Zuko left her. Another person who she thought would be someone she could trust and potentially become partners.

"I knew I'd curse you for the longest time"

And she did. She couldn't trust him even after he has showed that he had no bad intentions at all.

"I knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired

And you'd be standing in my front porch line

I knew you'd come back to me"

And he did came back.

I think M/ai could be Betty, but then, their dynamics don't exactly match.

I'd do Willow analysis, but maybe later?

Edit:

I just realized that "I knew you" could mean that she thought that she knew everything when it came to Fire Nation. And by betraying her, he just proved her point further.

Later in Willow it goes,

"The more that you say

I love your analysis! It's beautiful and sounds so smart. I am in awe. I would love to see more from you should the mood strike for some Taylor and Zutara.

So.

It's okay. B, maybe a C+.

That's it.

Now for the spoilers:

the whole point of the play is that the gaang do recognize aspects of themselves - their mistakes and desires and choices - in it! aang is cheerful and traditionally non-masculine, katara is intrinsically hopeful, toph is strong and doesn't conform to social norms of femininity, sokka is comedic, and zuko was obsessed with regaining his honour.

the reason it affects them at all is because it does hold a kernel of truth - because, though exaggerated, it draws upon traits, actions and relationships that genuinely exist. and so having katara call aang her brother and implying real romantic feelings between zuko and katara in this episode where every supposed exaggeration is underscored by reality only lends credence to those implications instead of dismissing them.

Character flaw? We don't have it.

Solutions? Pretty much handed to them.

The episodes don't feel as satisfying as the original show because they don't learn a lot by the end of an episode (because they're nearly perfect). It's like watching a history documentary instead of a show that is supposed to teach you morals and dilemmas. Also, none of the episodes are focused on a specific character.

The biggest character defining moments? Nahhh. Because they're perfect, they don't exist. Sokka will learn the watered down version of accepting that he is a bad fighter. Instead of assuming that girls can't fight.

Katara won't steal anything because she's not that desperate to learn waterbending. Also, because it's not feminist, she won't have any bad treatments due to being a girl. Oh and she never got to save earthbenders from the Fire Nation through the power of her persuasion. She doesn't need to feel like she has to be in charge because Sokka will take care of her.

Zuko won't save anyone's life besides his Uncle's, because he is a tolerable jerk. He won't call out Zhao and win, just to not be cruel. He's neither kind nor angry. Oh and Zuko tried to KILL Katara eventhough in the original Zuko tries to explain his situation.

Aang learning to accept his fate as the last one of his kind? We don't have it. Instead we have Gyatso tell him about it and Aang is like, "Ok. I won't be sad anymore". And Aang doesn't want to goof away. He just wants to save the world.

Uncle Iroh doesn't feel as genuine as he is in the original.

Take away the flaws and the complexity of the characters and it is just another story of a chosen one and their gang of friends trying to save the world… there is PLENTY of them already. What made them think that NATLA would stand out?

I know many of us feel hurt and betrayed by NATLA. I know this. I feel the same.

Please stop cursing Albert Kim and the production crew. The fact is, he inherited a huge mess that was already behind schedule. Studios nowadays want the fastest turn around possible and are willing to pour money into projects.

But not time.

I’ve said it before, but LOTR is the absolute gold standard for production. They took years of pre-production time to hand craft their costumes and props and wigs. They hired artisans to hand make tunics and chainmail by hand. They sourced and layered real human hair for their hair pieces. It was incredible.

GOT also attempted something similar though not nearly at the same scale.

That’s why both of these productions have such fantastic and realistic feeling costumes, wigs, and props.

Modern studios just want fast turn around. They’ll pour in money but they want it fast. That’s why the modern takes on LOTR and GOT (ROP and HOTD) look like mediocre cosplay by comparison. The stylists are doing their best, but there’s only so much you can do with so little time.

That’s exactly what’s happened here. You can tell in how awful all the wigs and beards look, even compared to the Shyamalan film of all things! It’s why you can see machine stitching and the fabrics aren’t thick enough to pass for animal pelts. It’s why Iroh’s beard looks like it’s going to fall off, and Yue’s hair looks like a Lego piece, and Azula’s bangs are visibly attached extensions of a completely different sort from the rest of the synthetic wig. It’s why Zuko’s scar looks like a birthmark and not a burn.

It’s why the bending, despite having impressive animation, doesn’t line up well with the actors’ movements and feels pasted on. Almost as if the artists and fight choreographers didn’t get to communicate and plan together.

It’s why the scripts are a poorly juggled mish mash of plots, with threads left to hang in the wind while others are so oversimplified that it feels like a playschool version of ATLA rather then the “adult” version it’s supposed to be.

And it’s why the the Chinese writing is grammatically a mess like they just ran it through Google translate.

I have nothing but respect for Albert Kim and the cast and crew that worked tirelessly to bring this disaster to life under these conditions.

I worry about the poor crew being put through some awful crunch time for this show…

I'll be honest. It's not a great show, but the best live action remake ATLA ever had.

It's making a difference with the all people of color cast. It may not matter to some people, but it matters to me so much. Seeing people like myself on the screen makes me feel like I matter. And it was a big opportunity for the actors and everyone who worked on the show. And I'm not blaming them. They did their best with the material they had, although I have some acting criticism for some characters. It could've been avoided with better directing. But I understand that the whole project was rushed. It pretty much crammed everything in. And you can't have a lot of control with decisions when you're tight on time.

It’s poor quality and more sexist than ever, and I worry about the hostile working conditions the crew is being put through and the harassment the very young cast is suffering due to the poor quality of the finished product.

I support the cast and crew for all their hard work, and have nothing but respect for them.

But I will not support the finished product, personally.

btw i cried in more scenes i.e. aang buring gyatso & kya’s death, but these were the silliest ones to me. like wdym lt jee saying ‘OUR prince… has returned’ got me crying 💀

The leaves from the vine made me so emotional. I can't even put it into words.

Katara and Kya hugging definitely made me shed a tear or two.

And the 41st division made me cry in shock, because it was a good twist.

The 41st division that Zuko saved being his crew on the ship. I L o v e that to no end. Just the fact that Zuko saved their lives entirely and yeah they’re kinda banished with him but they would be dead otherwise and ahhhh my gods it’s amazing. I think it’s an amazing addition to the story and I’m glad it was put there.

Sure I didn’t agree with some of the other changes but keeping in mind that it’s difficult to adapt cartoon to live action and that a lot of the original episodes when the show was coming out were fillers I think they did well including as much as they could even if it was put in the background. Like that one pub scene you can hear a patron mention that the avatar defeated the canyon crawlers or something along those lines.

I know many of us feel hurt and betrayed by NATLA. I know this. I feel the same.

Please stop cursing Albert Kim and the production crew. The fact is, he inherited a huge mess that was already behind schedule. Studios nowadays want the fastest turn around possible and are willing to pour money into projects.

But not time.

I’ve said it before, but LOTR is the absolute gold standard for production. They took years of pre-production time to hand craft their costumes and props and wigs. They hired artisans to hand make tunics and chainmail by hand. They sourced and layered real human hair for their hair pieces. It was incredible.

GOT also attempted something similar though not nearly at the same scale.

That’s why both of these productions have such fantastic and realistic feeling costumes, wigs, and props.

Modern studios just want fast turn around. They’ll pour in money but they want it fast. That’s why the modern takes on LOTR and GOT (ROP and HOTD) look like mediocre cosplay by comparison. The stylists are doing their best, but there’s only so much you can do with so little time.

That’s exactly what’s happened here. You can tell in how awful all the wigs and beards look, even compared to the Shyamalan film of all things! It’s why you can see machine stitching and the fabrics aren’t thick enough to pass for animal pelts. It’s why Iroh’s beard looks like it’s going to fall off, and Yue’s hair looks like a Lego piece, and Azula’s bangs are visibly attached extensions of a completely different sort from the rest of the synthetic wig. It’s why Zuko’s scar looks like a birthmark and not a burn.

It’s why the bending, despite having impressive animation, doesn’t line up well with the actors’ movements and feels pasted on. Almost as if the artists and fight choreographers didn’t get to communicate and plan together.

It’s why the scripts are a poorly juggled mish mash of plots, with threads left to hang in the wind while others are so oversimplified that it feels like a playschool version of ATLA rather then the “adult” version it’s supposed to be.

And it’s why the the Chinese writing is grammatically a mess like they just ran it through Google translate.

I have nothing but respect for Albert Kim and the cast and crew that worked tirelessly to bring this disaster to life under these conditions.

I worry about the poor crew being put through some awful crunch time for this show…

I'll be honest. It's not a great show, but the best live action remake ATLA ever had.

It's making a difference with the all people of color cast. It may not matter to some people, but it matters to me so much. Seeing people like myself on the screen makes me feel like I matter. And it was a big opportunity for the actors and everyone who worked on the show. And I'm not blaming them. They did their best with the material they had, although I have some acting criticism for some characters. It could've been avoided with better directing. But I understand that the whole project was rushed. It pretty much crammed everything in. And you can't have a lot of control with decisions when you're tight on time.