Pink Concorde

Thoughts:

Aww, baby Appa with his mama! I’m not ashamed to admit I got choked up.

Also aww, little Aang and Appa bonding! I want a sky bison companion. They’re so fluffy and sweet. I also liked how it emphasized that both Aang and Appa were loners.

That cut from baby Appa to present day Appa imprisoned HURT. HOW DARE YOU.

Sokka trash talking the Dai Li even when he’s being dragged off to prison. Same, honestly.

Yay, Sai! I thought for sure he was going to be brainwashed, and I’m glad he’s okay.

I enjoyed the conversation between Toph and her mother. I was completely buying her sincerity too, until she suggested that they finish their tea. Then my radar went off, and when Toph took the sip, I said to myself “well crap.”

The Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady are being thrown into prison together?

OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Seriously, I was kicking my feet and clapping my hands like a damn seal when I first watched this (and upon rewatch, who am I kidding?)

I mentioned last review that the setting of the Crystal Catacombs is gorgeous, and I’m so happy with how beautiful it looks brought to life. It reminds me of a nighttime starry sky, which is entirely fitting for the theme of star-crossed lovers.

The fact that Katara doesn’t blame her partner in crime (yet) for them being captured, and wanting to thank him for coming to her rescue… oof. Meanwhile he’s refusing to turn around until he has no other choice, because the second that he does, whatever camaraderie they shared as vigilantes will be over.

Katara: “Who are you?”

Zuko: “You don’t want to know.”

Katara: “You got captured trying to help me. Of course I want to know. I want to thank you.”

Zuko: “… you won’t.”

Then his reluctant sigh as he finally turns around to reveal his identity to her, the little gasp from Katara and instinctively taking a step back, his sad face? Oh, my heart.

Katara: “What do we do now? Fight to the death?”

Zuko, holding out his hands: “I’m not going to fight you.”

Katara: “I’m such an idiot!”

Zuko: “You’re not.”

Katara: “And I thought you were good, I…”

Zuko: “I’m trying.”

My heart is being thoroughly stomped on right now, no big deal.

It’s fine. Everything’s fine.

The fact that she immediately jumps to the conclusion that her vigilantism was stupid and selfish once she finds out that Zuko’s been doing the exact same is not surprising. It’s hard to reconcile that her longtime enemy is capable of good, and it’s easier to blame herself for “sinking to his level” if you will.

There is a whole essay or two that I could write on this, but for now, props to the show for doing their homework on why Zuko and Katara are such compelling characters both separately and together.

Like I pointed out in the last review, Katara argued to the rest of the Gaang that her vigilantism as the Painted Lady was to help people. Zuko did the same when explaining to his uncle why he was doing the same as the Blue Spirit.

At their core, both Zuko and Katara want to help others, and I love them being two sides of the same coin.

Katara: “Aang was right. They were all right. Everything I did was stupid, and selfish, and I put us all in danger, and this is what I deserve. To be locked in a cave with a monster.”

The way he just accepts that, his shoulders slumping… ouch ouch ouch.

She’s not wrong to be angry at him, though.

Azula ruthlessly taking out the royal Earth Kingdom military leaders was insane.

While I loved her verbal takedown of Long Feng in the original, I enjoyed this version as well. Played him like a fiddle, and we love to see it!

Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon! While I loved Iroh getting promoted to the Upper Ring in the original, him taking ownership of the tea shop in the Lower Ring makes more sense. I also love the little details of the friendships he’s made with the BSS residents.

Iroh, upon learning that his nephew has been captured by the Dai Li: well shit.

Aang and Momo hiding out with Amita! Yay!

Amita explaining the Painted Lady’s importance as a symbol of hope for the people of Ba Sing Se, immediately proving Aang’s previous statement as wrong, was a nice touch.

I really like Amita as a supporting character, I hope they bring her back for Season 3 and let her live happily ever after with Sai.

How did Mai know that the Dai Li also captured Zuko? How did she end up with his dao broadswords?

“Don’t you kind of love Zuko?” – Ty Lee to Mai, questioning why she sold him out.

So we’re definitely getting MZ next season, then. Lovely.

Since I started writing this review, I’ve seen Thalia Tran’s interview where she confirms MZ, and it’s whatever. As long as they expand upon their relationship, sure, fine, what the hell, why not.

They’re also setting up for Mai to betray Azula for Zuko’s sake, clearly.

I love Aang and Iroh’s reluctant team up to rescue the others. Their interactions are always so good.

Katara trying to cut her way out of prison using waterbending, because of course she’s not just going to sit back and give up. Zuko offers to help, she turns him down, and he points out that what she’s doing is never going to get them out of there. Teamwork makes the dream work, Katara!

Katara accusing Zuko of using her as bait, and him admitting that it’s more of an elaborate plan than he could come up with was fantastic. Because it’s true, when he takes the time to think he’s nigh-unstoppable, but usually he rushes right into things.

Zuko: “I had no plan. When I saw the Dai Li attack you, I didn’t think. I just helped. That’s why I’m here.”

Katara: “Sure. I’m supposed to believe that innocent act from the son of the Fire Lord.”

Other people have already put together gifsets of this scene, pointing to how he does the same when he saves her from the falling rocks and intercepts the lightning. Yall, I am not ready for the Last Agni Kai.

I loved the additional lines they added to her dialogue from the original.

Katara: “I’m supposed to believe that innocent act from the son of the Fire Lord. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood. Whole generations have been lost because of your family’s lust for power. Forests burned. Families separated. People that just don’t exist anymore. Because of you and your father and his father, and all the little men that go all the way back to Sozin. Every Waterbender in my tribe has been taken or killed. Children taken. Except for me. I hid so I lived, and I have to live with the guilt of that every day. I feel guilty because I lived. What do you feel?”

*Zuko refuses to look at her or answer*

Katara: “Nothing? How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through. Me personally. The Fire Nation took my mother away from me.”

*Zuko finally turns around as she kneels down, sobbing*

Zuko: “I’m sorry. That’s something we have in common.”

His startled look of realization, then his glance back at her, and her surprised glance back at him? Beautiful.

Aang’s happy that he was right about there being more to Zuko and that there is good in him. Ohhh boy. Keep that in mind next season…

I’ve mentioned before that I like how this show has Aang take accountability of his actions, with him declaring to Iroh that he’s going to do whatever it takes to make things right with his friends.

I typed all that and forgot about Iroh’s lines immediately afterwards. Oh well.

“The best friendships survive the truth. The best ones even grow from it. You must be who you are, but you must also let them be who they are.” – Iroh

My point still stands, but this conversation between Aang and Iroh is very well done.

Ooh, Avatar Door! Cool.

Sokka and Sai’s discussion about his escape attempts was fun, as was Sokka still being partially paralyzed like Westley from The Princess Bride.

I could post the entirety of the dialogue between Zuko and Katara in the Crystal Catacombs and not feel the least bit guilty, it’s all so good.

I really liked their heart to heart about his mother, and how he admitted that his father was the one who scarred him.

Zuko’s speech comparing how hard it is to burn a firebender, enough to leave a scar at least, to a waterbender drowning was heartbreaking. All the flowers to Dallas and Kiawentiio for this scene. Him admitting that he felt like he deserved to be scarred by his father too? Oh, my heart.

Zuko: “Because my father hates me, everybody else does too. Those Fire Nation defectors? They would hate me if they knew who I was.”

Katara: “Why were you defending them?”

Zuko: “Because they were helpless. Why were you?”

Katara: “… same reason. For so long, when I saw the face of the enemy… it was your face.”

Zuko: “No matter how much you hate this face, Katara… I hate it more.”

Katara: “It’s not what I see now. I see someone in pain, someone who needs healing. This is water from the Spirit Oasis. It’s been known to cure the deepest and most dire of wounds. Maybe even those that reach back generations. Can I… try to heal you?”

His initial scoff of disbelief, then his expression when he realizes how sincere she is… quit stomping on my heart already!

Long Feng recognizing General Tran as the soldier that was taken captive earlier, plus the unsettling string music in the background, was a nice twist.

Poor Joo Dee.

Sokka and Sai trying to extract the crystal, only to realize that Aang’s already come to the rescue was fun. Their callback to the original show with Iroh assuring them that there is good inside Zuko versus good outside of him was fun too.

Katara: “I wonder if this is the reason I was given this water in the first place, because it was meant for you.”

Zuko: “I don’t deserve it.”

Katara: “You will.”

Oh, Katara. Bless you for your kind heart, but no, that’s not what the healing water is for.

I did appreciate Zuko’s admittance that he doesn’t deserve it, with her assuring him that he will. Seriously, Zutara tropes all over this season, and I’m not mad at all!

The hesitation as she reaches out to rest her palm against his scar, the terrified expression on his face… give them both all of the accolades, this was so well done.

Sokka bursting in like Anthony Bridgerton finding Daphne and Simon in the gardens made me giggle. Seriously, that’s a romance trope as old as time.

Plus Katara insisting not to attack him, standing between Zuko and her brother? I see you, show writers, letting your Zutara freak flag fly proudly.

Her immediately vouching for Zuko, claiming that she’s seen him helping people, was good too. The Gaang will need to remember that come next season…

Aang’s silent dejected look seeing how close Zuko and Katara had gotten was an interesting change from the original.

Loved Sokka and Katara immediately making up and apologizing, with the classic sibling interaction. That’s a sad contrast of how Zuko and Azula react to seeing each other again later on.

The uneasy alliance between Aang and Zuko to make sure everyone gets out was a good addition.

Aang almost admitting his feelings for Katara, only to back down at the last moment, was bittersweet.

Joo Dee noooooooo.

Okay but WHY did they make a point to show Zuko (and Iroh) running towards Katara, only for the Dai Li to shout “separate them!” and bending a wall of stone between them, just like they did with Sokka and Suki earlier this season?

COME ON, NOW. THE PARALLELS ARE PARALLEL-ING.

I did like Toph’s calling out of her mother, and the realization that her friends at least know her.

Toph discovering her metalbending capabilities was alright. Not the greatest, but not as terrible as the internet claims it to be. Didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either.

Yay for Aang using earthbending to sense where Appa is!

I did like the addition of Long Feng sticking around and offering to help Aang, whereas he disappears from the narrative in the original after Azula takes command of the city.

Nice callback of Long Feng saying their only option is to run away and fight another day, which Aang was saying not too long ago before Toph smashed that out of him.

Liked Aang’s calling out of Long Feng as well, plus Long Feng’s retort when Aang says he’s going to stay and fight and stop Azula:

Long Feng: “You will never defeat her. You are too kind, and that makes you weak.”

Yay, Appa’s reunited with Aang! Had the show been longer, Appa’s absence would have hit harder, but for the limited number of episodes we got, it was still devastating. Him telling Appa to get out, and that he’ll be okay though? Ouch.

Side Note: It was such a good call to select actors with actual martial arts experience for both Aang and Zuko in this show. Seriously, go watch the behind-the-scenes clips of the pair of them before the special effects are added.

The Fire Sibling’s showdown was done well, and I can’t wait to see their final fight next season.

Azula holding the blue flame near Zuko’s unscarred eye when she had him beaten was chilling.

Also, Azula invoking the memory of their lost mother to manipulate Zuko into joining her side was a good call for the adaptation.

My breath literally caught in my throat seeing the cavern where the final battle takes place. The crystals in the darkness are so beautiful, which makes the tragedy that’s about to befall our heroes even more haunting.

Aaaaaand here comes Zuko! Surely he’s decided to help Aang and Katara this time, right?

RIGHT???

(Also good grief at the arm muscles on Dallas. If I was that ripped, I’d have been pushing for a sleeveless shirt in this scene as well.)

Katara’s hopeful expression seeing Zuko again, thinking he’s come to join their side… I can’t. It hurtsssssss.

Maybe if Zuko had found them again before he’d crossed paths with Azula… but we all know how this chapter has to end. He’s got to make the worst choice possible, regain everything he lost, only to realize that he’s changed for good, and so on.

Of course Toph was able to track them down to Lake Laogai. Sure, why not?

The sheer brutality of this fight, oof. I felt the flame whips when Zuko unleashed them. The special effects were fantastic.

The “I thought you had changed!” “I have changed.” exchange was heartbreaking. Cue Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” because we could have had it allllllllllllll

Side Note: Zuko/Dallas looks a lot like Bruce Lee in this scene. I can see him being cast if they make another movie about him.

I did like that Mai and Ty Lee joined the Dai Li as they arrived in the caverns, because what else were they doing during this part of the original show? Ty Lee’s hands were trapped I guess, but surely there were enough Dai Li floating about to free her? Anyways, I did like this addition.

Ooooh, Katara’s glare at Zuko and his glare right back.

I loved this interpretation of Aang calling upon the Avatar State and seeing his past lives, as well as the giant celestial form of himself like in the original.

I liked how Mai and Ty Lee got the heck outta Dodge when Aang reached the Avatar State. Wise move, ladies!

Admittedly, it was really cool seeing Aang able to control three of the elements in the Avatar State. It’s going to look so good in the final season when he’s able to control all four.

Lol at Zuko trying to shoot fire at a powered up Aang, only to get knocked flat on his ass. He tried.

Aaaaaaaaand here’s the second big change to the show that I referenced earlier in my review of Episode 5.

I would have preferred if Azula had blasted him immediately, not letting him have the chance to fully power up. I still remember the absolute devastation that I felt watching that for the first time, how it was so unexpected. I kept waiting for Azula to preemptively strike, and she didn’t.

That being said, this does tie back in to Long Feng’s parting words about Aang being too kind to defeat Azula, and the parable of the two dragons from the previous episode. So I get the change, but I still prefer the original version.

For what it’s worth, fomer ATLA writer Aaron Ehasz has stated on Twitter that he likes the change, so eh.

I don’t like it, but I also don’t hate it, and it does make sense narratively, so oh well.

I’m glad that the live action removed the reference to Michaelangelo’s Pietà. It makes sense narratively why Bryke included it in the original show, but then they had to add all the layers of Katara mothering Aang as well, only to have her end up marrying him. Appreciate the art reference, but in the original context… no.

Another change I liked (minor as it was) is that only Azula advanced on Katara while she’s holding Aang’s lifeless body, instead of Zuko joining her. It’s a crumb, but I’ll gobble it up regardless.

Iroh to the rescue! His heartbroken glance at his nephew out of the corner of his eyes before he’s led away, plus Zuko not even looking at his uncle… damn.

Zuko staring up at the waterfall to where Katara just escaped with Aang, and the look in his eyes… chills. I cannot WAIT to see them interacting next season.

The shot of King Kuei looking up at Appa flying away from Ba Sing Se, and the callback to how the city would fall into panic to see anything flying overhead was a tragic callback. Poor Amita and the rest of Ba Sing Se.

Yay, Aang’s back from the dead! Unfortunately, he doesn’t wake up in this version, because they’re saving it for next season.

Aaaaaand that’s a wrap!

Favorite Scene: Everything about Zuko and Katara’s interactions in this episode, from their conversations alone in the Crystal Catacombs, to their reunion during the fight against Azula, and his ultimate betrayal.

Favorite Line: As predictable as it is, I’m going to have to go with the Katara and Zuko dialogue from their imprisonment in the Crystal Catacombs. Shocking, I know!

Overall Thoughts: To say that I enjoyed this season more than the first would be a massive understatement. The actors are doing a fantastic job, and there’s been a noticeable effort to capture more of the essence of the original show that we all know and love. I’ve really appreciated the additional details and worldbuilding they’ve added, and I can’t wait to see what they do with Season 3. If you go into this expecting an exact replication, then you’ll be disappointed. Maybe if Netflix allowed them to have more episodes, then it would be more faithful to the source material. As it stands, I’ve enjoyed what the show has done with remixing the story elements into a new format. There’s more that I can say, but this review is already more then 3K words long, plus watching and writing down my reviews of the last two episodes has literally taken me 5 and a half hours. So I’ll end this by saying I would recommend at least checking it out for yourself, because it’s an enjoyable ride at times.