2x13 The Drill

[8.7/10] Pretty damn epic! I loved the unifying challenge that the drill presented. We check in with Zuko and Jet a bit (and the tipoff for Jet being that Iroh firebends to heat his tea is a nice touch) but for the most part, this is all about Team Avatar vs. The Drill, and it’s pretty exciting throughout.

If nothing else, I appreciated the problem solving aspect of. Some of the most enjoyable episodes of television, not just A:TLA, come when the protagonists have to figure out some big puzzle and the audience gets to follow along. To that end, I like how Sokka was used here. He is the only normy in the group, and it occasionally makes you wonder why he’s along beyond comic relief. But the notion that he is a problem solver, someone who can come up with good plans for the rest of the crew to use their powers in effective ways, shows his value to the group, even if they go back to reducing him to comic relief for the rest of the episode.

At the same time, a giant drill boring into a massive wall created some pretty cool imagery. The design work on the drill in particular was superb. It stretched out like a steampunk caterpillar, and the cacophonous inside revealed an intricate lattice work tinged with gunmetal gray and dusky reds that made it seem like a technological monstrosity. While the art direction in A:TLA bothered me a bit at first, the show has truly come into its own in terms of its design and animation.

It also tied nicely into the problem solving. While the metaphor of using pressure points was a little simplistic, it was good for showing the thought process of the characters and gave purpose to their efforts rather than just indiscriminate water bending. Weakening the structure of the drill, ahead of delivering the “final blow” made sense as a plan of attack.

But it also led to some pretty damn cool fights! Ty Lee vs. Sokka and Katara (and eventually Toph) was cool for the mess of the slurry. The idea of a combination of water and rocks was a nice way to allow Katara and Toph to work together. Again, using the slurry to stop up the drill (at Sokka’s direction) is another nice instance of the show thinking through the ways Team Avatar will stop this thing.

Still, nothing tops Aang vs. Azula, which, despite the fact that Azula miraculously survived being blasted by all four elements at once, was a real treat. The way the episode depicts the fight as both a confrontation between two preternaturally skilled element-wielders, but also shows them slipping and sliding in the mud created a nice contrast. And Aang delivering the final blow – with him racing up the wall of Ba Sing Se and then rocketing back down, was an incredibly exciting sequence.

Overall, probably the most epic episode of Avatar there’s been. The focus on one giant problem, and everyone having a hand in solving it, created a real sense of excitement and unity throughout.

A heavy, action oriented episode, but it really works. Most of it comes down to fantastic layout of the geography of the fighting, which is crucial in an episode like this. You know where everybody is at each moment in time, which makes the action feel impactful and important, and allowing the plan to make sense in the long run. I especially love how the plan evolves over time, showcasing Sokka's quick resourcefulness and thinking that become crucial in later chunks of the show. The drill is also just a great design in general, and it's far more unique and creative then just a normal drill - it's mechanics make sense in universe, which really help it. And that duel between Aang and Azula? Top tier.

Zuko's storyline is far more lowkey, but still fantastic as we get to see the small things that could come back and bite them if they aren't careful. I appreciate how the show never relies on "stupid characters" and coincidences in order to move the story forward. Instead, it feels extremely natural and in character for all of the cast, making these decisions all the more impactful and resonate because of it. Brilliant stuff once again.