[8.2/10] An Appa story that is essentially a one-bison version of Homeward Bound with a little Frankenstein thrown in for good measure? You can bet your behind I’m there.
What impresses me with this show is how much it conveys using just its visuals, without any dialogue. Particular kudos belong to Dee Bradley Baker, who gives the audience so much to go on as to what Appa is thinking and feeling through this ordeal with just a variety of grunts and groans.
When he’s fighting the various sandbenders, we feel his struggle and how hard he’s fighting. It’s a pretty easy bit, but when he’s captured by that jerk in the circus, we want nothing more than for him to escape such harsh and unfair environs. (And the connection to the kid who reminds him of Aang is a nice touch in that regard.)
My god though, those flashbacks to the little baby flying bisons melted my cold cold heart. Not only is a nice excuse to see some mini-bisons being cute out there, but it deepens the connection between Aang and Appa and helps explain further why Appa is so determined to get back to the Avatar.
His running into Suki is also a nice touch, if only because of how hurt and afraid he is at the time. The whole fear of fire gets overplayed a bit, but the way he’s clearly been through so much and is struggling to go on when Suki finds him creates such pathos in this poor mistreated creature. The scenes where he has spines sticking out of him, his fur looks haggard and fray, and he’s fearful of anyone coming near him create such a sense of pity for such a kind, gentle animal.
I don’t know that we really needed the run-in with Azula & Co. immediately after, but it was entertaining enough to see her and her compatriots clash with the Kyoshi Warriors. And the follow up, with Appa trying to return to familiar surroundings and ending up meeting a Guru at the Eastern Air Temple, portends all sorts of interesting things. The Guru is an appropriately weird character, but the way he bonds with Appa and sends him toward Aang, speaking in broad strokes mysticism all the while, made for an interesting denouement to all this excitement.
Of course, he has to get captured by the guy who seems to be the season’s big bad before we can go, which ends things on a bit of a down note, but still, it is, true to the Homeward Bound influence, an incredible journey that owes a great deal to the animators and design team for communicating so many emotions and so much character from a big fluffy sky buffalo. The fact that a wordless beast can inspire so much feeling is a testament to how good the A:TLA team is, even when they’re working with one hand tied behind their backs without the use of dialogue or typical story progression.
This is the saddest episode of them all, one full episode of seeing what all happened to Appa since he was captured many of episodes ago and how he had to suffer more and more.
When Appa's memories of how he and young Aang met and bonded for the first time were shown I really had tears in my eyes. And that all without using nearly any words. Amazing episode.
I really hope Suki is ok..
So heartbreaking and painful to watch
"It's time to look inward, and begin asking yourself the big questions; who are you? And what do you want?!"- Iroh- The Dragon of the West
This one was so sad!!! I can't believe we really went 6 whole episodes without Appa! Didn't think I'd miss a mute animal character so much.
what the hell, avatar! 20 minutes of animal abuse and suffering
This episode had no right to emotionally devastate me like that. I was crying real tears throughout. I mean the flashbacks to appa's childhood at the temple. the fire nation kids laugh reminding him of aang. him and aang sharing the same dream of their first meeting. him become scared of fire. just pure heartbreak.
my poor baby :( this was so painful to watch
poor baby, but phenomenal episode for a children's show it won an award!
My boi just wants some rest.
8/10
This is a rough one. But, in the end, props and kudos to the writers for not skimping out on a sensitive topic like animal mistreatment and their repercussions. Appa is one of those fixtures of the show you never really realize their importance until it's gone, and one of the great things about this spectacular episode is how it gives Appa so much character. He's an animal, yes, and he thinks like one, but getting into the mindset of this gentle giant allows us to empathize with his pain, and oh boy is it painful.
And yet, the episode still manages to also be a fantastic one in regards to keeping the story moving. Seeing Suki again allows to realize that she is about to become a fixture of the show, and the ending of the episode hints at greater plays made by the Dai Lee in regards to keeping Aang and the group out of the king's way. Along with some great flashback scenes to the Air Temples and important setup for the end of the season, and you got yourself a fantastic episode.
Shout by Reiko LJVIP 6BlockedParent2017-09-30T15:43:28Z
This episode focuses on a mute character essentially yet it managed to convey so much in that space. This coupled with the short stories episode before it really showcases what AtLA is capable of.
I only started watching this show as a means to an end so I could move onto Korra afterwards. I didn't expect to enjoy it much but here we are late season 2 and I think I teared up 3 or 4 times during the last few episodes. This show has genuinely surprised me.
A neat mixture of comedy, poignancy and solid action. I didn't think the relationship between a young monk and his flying bison would have such a strong effect on me.