8/17/20 - Book 1: Chapters 5-8
Book 1: Water
Part 2 - It’s Hip to Be Old
I for one, have basically always looked forward to being an old man.
(And as per perhaps too many things, Avatar played a big part in that).
Across ATLA, and especially in this batch of episodes, the audience is introduced to a colorful array of wise old men (and of course, women - I’ve already fawned for Gran Gran, and ATLA veterans will forever be scarred by “the Puppetmaster” - spoilers for Book 3).
I think you can find aspirational qualities in just about every character in Avatar; but I hold this world’s “old guard,” - if you will - up there among some of the best of the canonical Old Wise Men like Gandalf or Yoda.
Bumi was designed to be a parallel to Aang - a fellow outsider from another time, but one who has lived the century of war the Fire Nation has wrought upon the world. After your audience is over the age of say, five, the reveal of who “The King of Omashu” is is hardly surprising; but the fact that the weirdo who got up to capers with Aang a hundred years ago is not only a king but a spectacularly powerful earthbender is both impressive, and - in a way - inspiring.
In “Imprisoned,” we’re introduced to the plight of the rural Earth Kingdom under the Fire Nation’s conquest - namely in the form of Haru and his family. Haru’s father, Tyro, is a burly, Santa Clause-looking old man with a nigh extinguished spirit who’s been trapped on a prison rig for god knows how many years. By the end of the episode, we see how much of a badass earthbender he is, but even cut off from his element, he’s a strong, protective leader to his people in exile.
I’ve only begun to fawn over Uncle Iroh (who, among any of these examples, is easily ATLA’s Gandalf analogue); and in “The Spirit World,” we get a healthy balance of Iroh’s calm, old man wisdom and fighting prowess. Likewise, in the next episode, the eponymous Avatar Roku steps up to provide Aang an Avatar mentor - both a source of wisdom and bending badassery.
Somehow, I don’t expect to be as cut as Bumi when I’m 112 years old; but in addition to expanding the mythos of the Avatar World, I sincerely think each of these examples provides aspirational attributes to viewers of all ages.
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One of my favorite Proverbs (16:31) is “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is gained in a righteous life.”
When that sentiment was put down millennia ago in a collection that would one day become a piece of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles - old men were much rarer. Between war, ancient healthcare and hygiene, and plenty of other factors, the average lifespan before the advent of modern medicine floated around thirty - seeing a person in their fifties or sixties (let alone older) was a novelty. Surely they’ve led a good, wise life and that’s why they’re still here.
I think this idea is no small part of the reason that I get so frustrated with stupid and ignorant old people, especially political figures.
My generation is fortunate enough to have grown up with not just the elders of the Avatar universe to look up to, but literal millennia of wise old people, fictional and not; and while of course you’ll have racist, sexist, or just plain stupid outliers in any grouping, I am continously disappointed when we seem to select the dregs of our older generations to be our politicians.
Radical lefty sentiment I know - maybe don’t put dumb, intolerant people in power.
Uncle Iroh wouldn’t stand for it, I know that much.
In any case, while I’m still figuring out precisely what the hell I’m doing with the first half of my life, I eagerly anticipate the second half where I can dress fabulously and spend my days harmlessly messing with teenagers - which brings us squarely to:
1.5 - The King of Omashu
Omashu as a setpiece is just so effing cool; though, seriously, no handrails on that entrance highway? Good god.
**Aang, casually comes up with a nonsense name**; Katara: “Hi! June Pippenpadlopsicoplis.” - A Queen doesn’t stutter.
Furthermore - “Boomer-Aang” tho
First major glimpse of Earth Kingdom society sets the tone for the rest of the show - big, imposing, strict, and firm; minimalist and functionalism taking a leading aesthetic role.
Listen, the Bumi “twist” is hardly a shock for anyone over the age of five, but young Bumi is so cute
The score for the mail cart rampage slaps
“Men… It’s important that you be prepared for anything.” **Teenage hijinks ensue**
Upon rewatching, it’s clear Bumi - for all his act - is immensely sharp in his 110s, and recognizes Aang immediately upon the group’s arrest
To the question of Bumi holding the title of “King” - deferring as I always do to the Wiki, the Earth Kingdom as a unified nation is composed of an unknown (to the audience) number of diverse states - Omashu is a city-state, governed by a local monarch who answers to the federal government of Ba Sing Se
The Cabbage Merchant - if you know, you know
This episode has the recurring gag of “bad joke, offscreen cough” and I love it
Jennamite/”Creeping Crystal” is a cute, unique plot element - it only grows when it comes into contact with organic matter; otherwise it can be seen used as a glowing light source throughout the remainder of the series; it was named for Nickelodeon exec Jenna Luttrell.
Bumi gets such a laugh out of messing with Aang I love it
Aang could’ve easily beaten either of the red herring warriors Bumi offers him for the duel; but the poor child had to pick the jacked centenarian.
Considering his advanced age, Bumi might be the only person alive at this time in the story who had sparred with an airbender before Aang’s return.
Bumi and Aang’s formal reunion is actually really touching - for everything Aang has lost in his missing century, he has at least one living person linking him to his home era.
I believe Bumi is the first person in the show to mention Ozai by name.
Dude can you imagine if your local governor just hijacked a post office truck for a joyride? Wild.
1.6 - Imprisoned
The quiet moments in this show - the Team camping in the forest - are just, aggressively peaceful.
“Hello there!” “General Katara!”
The theme for Haru’s village/family is subtle, but memorable (this was another one in rerun rotation on Nick).
To that end, Haru’s mother always stuck out to me as a memorable character - I was disappointed to realize she’s never even given a name.
Fire Nation extortion because of course.
Appa and the hay is an excellent sight gag.
Katara and Haru’s bonding is actually a nice moment - building empathy for people of different but similar backgrounds can be a healthy thing.
The unspoken moment with Haru’s mother is actually a really artful moment for ostensibly a kid’s show - baby’s first “show, don’t tell.”
Katara’s whole plot to get captured is delightful; “That lemur is earthbending!” has itself made a comeback as a meme format of late.
Perhaps it is because this episode was in regular rerun rotation, but the prison rig always struck me as another distinct locale.
Takei as the warden!!
Speaking of memorable voices; Haru’s father, Tyro, is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, known for his role as Captain Gantu in Lilo and Stitch, and Principal Lewis in American Dad.
Tyro, additionally, has some lines;
“The plan? The plan is to survive.”
“I admire your courage, and I envy your youth,”
Katara’s first rallying speech; “I’m not giving up on these people.”
“Which was it? A buffalo or a bison?”
I remember the coal gambit as the first time the show kind of encourages its characters (and its audience) to think outside the box about the limits and capabilities of bending
I believe this is the first time we see a major firebender vs. earthbender battle - and it slaps.
“I hear cowards float.”
Don’t wear your emotionally important jewellery into combat, kids.
1.7 - Winter Solstice Part 1: The Spirit World
“Turns out clouds are made of water” - Long term foreshadowing for “The Fortuneteller.”
Aang’s reaction to the burned forest is understated, but impactful.
Aang’s a-plot is entertaining, but Zuko and Iroh’s subplot make this episode.
“These acorns are everywhere, Aang” **Cue Momo stuffing his face with them.”
The worldbuilding in this show is done at a restrained enough pace that younger viewers can keep up; I believe it is not until this episode that we have explicit mention of “The Spirit World,” and the role spirits play in this world at large.
“You are the Great Bridge.” “Hey, Great Bridge guy?”
“Yeah… we’re all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster.”
Despite, you know, him being the Uncle to the heir to the throne, it wasn’t until the Earth Kingdom soldiers in this ep said it out loud that I really reckoned with Iroh being the spooky, big bad Fire Lord’s brother (as a kid, that is).
Hei Bai’s monster form is explicitly inspired by another Bryke favorite, Neon Genesis Evangelion (specifically the Third Angel, Sachiel, I believe); how Aang doesn’t lose his shit upon seeing that monster I don’t know.
Hei Bai’s abilities include sonic screams, super-speed, and bitch-slapping people through houses.
I’m not precisely clear on how Aang enters the Spirit World in this instance - perhaps as the Avatar, near the solstice, he just accidentally slips through? All following instances in ATLA require conscious effort.
Iroh’s backstory and his siege of Ba Sing Se get their first mention in this episode.
“But once I do that, no problem!” - Bless Aang’s positivity.
Fang cements the idea of Avatars having animal guides; Wan, the first Avatar bonded with Mula that cat deer; Roku rode Fang, the dragon; Aang has Appa, and Korra has Naga.
“These shackles are too loose!” - Bless Mako’s performance.
The Crescent Island is another iconic location - I may or may not have preserved fan art of it from sixth grade…
To be clear - the “Fire Temple” aka “Roku’s Temple” predates Roku - in the next episode, it’s stated Roku build secret passageways under the main structure; Roku used the temple as a training space to master the Avatar State. A destructive endeavor, Roku built his passageways during the reconstruction.
Notable that not halfway through the first season, Katara can fly Appa on her own.
In a moment of hard choices, it is also notable that Zuko chooses Iroh over the Avatar.
“These dangerous hands must be crushed,” GEEZ
“You are clearly outnumbered.” “And you are clearly outmatched.”
“You could give us some supplies and some money. What? We need stuff.” - Sokka, Practicality King
“The island is in the Fire Nation,”; as a kid, the Fire Nation had already been given such a status as a scary, forbidden place that this was a truly tense cliffhanger.
1.8 - Winter Solstice Part 2: Avatar Roku
I’m making a concerted effort to learn the names of the minor towns of Avatar upon this rewatch - the village Hei Bai attacked is Senlin Village
To create a tense chase scene (memory serving, this two-parter was the mid-season finale); Zuko quickly threatens Aang’s plan out of the village elder and gives chase to the Fire Temple. My question is - how on earth can a (vintage, mind you) Fire Nation ship keep pace with Appa? I was under the impression that as an aircraft, Appa could outstrip most terrestrial and naval vehicles but apparently not so.
The Fire Nation maintains an extensive blockade in spite of its unmatched naval supremacy.
A concentrated air kick from Aang is enough to shatter a stone Fire Nation projectile; while I initially saw this as overpowered, Aang did achieve airbending mastery at twelve, and is the Avatar to boot.
“That’s great! I am the Avatar.” “We know,” **Fireblast to commercial break**
Crescent Island is the outermost point of Fire Nation territory; Roku’s home island is located in the same volcanic island chain on the outskirts.
So, again, I was ten as this show was first airing - in spite of having the intro rather thoroughly burned into my head by this point in the show’s airing, it wasn’t until this episode that it really hit home for me that Aang, though untrained, is capable of firebending.
Sokka’s bomb ploy is another early example of his excellent creative thinking,
Roku’s voice (our “Previously, on Avatar…” lad) is just… so pitch perfect; props to his VA, vertern voice and character actor James Garret.
Annnnnd with this episode (and the explanation of Sozin’s Comet); Aang & Co. are officially on a timer to save the world before “Summer’s End.”
Prior to Sozin’s usage of the comet’s power to genocide the Air Nomads; the comet was simply called the Great Comet; furthermore, Avatar Kyoshi, living to the advanced age of 230, experienced three passings of the comet in her lifetime.
“I know you can do it, Aang - for you have done it before,” - Chills.
“I can help you face the threat; but only if you are ready,” “I’m ready.” - CHILLLLS
I believe this is the first time we hear the voices of the past Avatars speaking through Aang
Speaking of firsts; this is the first example of lavabending (later revealed in Legend of Korra to be an earthbending subskill); and the first example of a past Avatar manifesting through their current incarnation - something seen only twice in any Avatar media to my knowledge - here, and in Book 2, when Kyoshi manifests during “Avatar Day.”
Speaking of Roku - it does seem questionable to me that an Avatar so capable of lavabending died “fighting a volcano,” as is eventually revealed. Hmph.
At least according to Netflix captions, Zhao orders the sages thrown in “the prison hole,” as opposed to “hold.”
Presumably, this quiet, gorgeous moonlit closing shot of the Team on Appa is when Aang explains the implications of Sozin’s Comet to Sokka and Katara.
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History & Culture Corner: Yellow Crane Tower
The Fire Temple/Roku’s Temple was inspired by the Yellow Crane Tower of Wuhan, China.
It is evident at a glance that the structure is a masterpiece of traditional Chinese architecture. While broadly speaking, it is the Earth Kingdom that maps onto China, not the Fire Nation (who similarly, usually, maps onto Japan); I do appreciate Bryke for being flexible enough in their creative process to, as Iroh might say “draw their [inspiration] from many sources.”
While the modern building/complex was constructed in 1985, Yellow Crane Tower has existed in varying forms for centuries, dating back to the 200s CE. It is one of the Four Great Towers of China; alongside:
The Pavillion of Prince Teng (Jiangxi; originally constructed 653 CE; modern, 1989)
Yueyang Tower (Yueyang; original: c. 200 CE; modern, 1950)
Penglai Pagoda (Shandong, original: c. 1000 CE)
Sadly, to my knowledge there is not a tie-in alcohol to the Tower, but I have every intention of trying to visit it and the rest of the Great Towers someday.
- - - -
Alright, my second step back into Avatar down! Next time has Jet, the infamous Great Divide, pirates, and the cameo appearance of my favorite villain in not just Avatar; but I think storytelling, period (if you know, you know).
In any case! Till next time - be well, be safe, and May the Force be with you.
- JMC