This is a great episode for Katara, a character who often doesn't get much character development. It outlines Zuko and Katara's relationship, and a major reason why she doesn't trust him - her association of him, and in extension the fire nation, with the death of her mother. As a solution, Zuko gives her an opportunity to gain revenge against the man who killed her mother, and Katara takes it willingly, going so far as to bloodbend a fire nation soldier without hesitation and almost kill the murderer himself, in an astonishing scene where we see the extent of Katara's powers stopping rain in its tracks. But, she doesn't kill the man. She doesn't forgive him, but she understands that killing the man, or in extension, anyone, is wrong, as Aang said near the beginning of the episode. And her closure from finding the pitiful excuse for a human helps her, finally, move past the death of her mother, and forgive Zuko. My only real problem with this episode is that the dialogue is a bit heavy-handed every so often, but this isn't that big of a problem for me. Overall, this an astounding episode for Katara, and a bold one for a kid's show to create. 9.2/10
Review by CookieGodBlockedParentSpoilers2020-07-21T02:35:48Z
My Top Ten Avatar Episodes: #9
This is a great episode for Katara, a character who often doesn't get much character development. It outlines Zuko and Katara's relationship, and a major reason why she doesn't trust him - her association of him, and in extension the fire nation, with the death of her mother. As a solution, Zuko gives her an opportunity to gain revenge against the man who killed her mother, and Katara takes it willingly, going so far as to bloodbend a fire nation soldier without hesitation and almost kill the murderer himself, in an astonishing scene where we see the extent of Katara's powers stopping rain in its tracks.
But, she doesn't kill the man. She doesn't forgive him, but she understands that killing the man, or in extension, anyone, is wrong, as Aang said near the beginning of the episode. And her closure from finding the pitiful excuse for a human helps her, finally, move past the death of her mother, and forgive Zuko.
My only real problem with this episode is that the dialogue is a bit heavy-handed every so often, but this isn't that big of a problem for me. Overall, this an astounding episode for Katara, and a bold one for a kid's show to create.
9.2/10