[8.3/10] Not quite as good at Part 1, particularly since this was almost all third act action sequence without as much of the character development and little moments that made the first part so striking, but it was a hell of a third act action sequence. I feel like I say this every five episodes, but this was some of the most beautiful animation and combat the show’s ever done. Between Suki’s parkour-esque pugilistic ballet to reach the warden, to the 3-on-2 fight between Zuko, Sokka, and Suki vs. Azula and Tai Lee, to the Mai’s badass run-in with the Boiling Rock guards, this was the show’s design and animation teams working at their most fluid, creative best.
And there were some great character moments even if they were more sprinkled into the action than the focus. Sokka reuniting with his dad (and the reunions at the end of the episode) were touching; Sokka and Zuko arguing about what to do and the merits and drawbacks of winging it once they’d started the prison riot were amusing, and there were obviously some big moments between Mai and Zuko. Mai and Tai Lee turning on Azula was a nice touch, one that brings the issues that have been lingering for a while in the background to the surface in an explosive fashion.
More than that, the episode was a constant thrill. There were, as there always are, some conveniences in how the escape happened, but it was done in exciting visual detail with the right sort of ticking clocks and stakes with everything. The second half of Season 3 has been superb so far. Let’s hope it continues!
Almost all third act but what a third act! The tables are set here thanks to the first part doing a ton of great leg work and here everything comes together in unexpected yet satisfying ways. And the cast dynamic remains as fun as ever here, particularly with Zuko, Sokka, and Suki, who are continuously a fun riot together. I especially love how, when things do actually go down, there isn't a single person who feels left out in the grand scheme as they all get a ton of stuff to do.
But honestly the real meat of the episode is everything with Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai, as Azula's own abuse of her friends finally comes back to bite her thanks to Mai. Mai has been a character whose seeming disinterest in everything was her only trait, but thanks to the strong leg work from prior episodes Mai's complicated personality turns on Azula which finally breaks Ty Lee out of the abusive hold that Azula has on her. It's a powerful moment and gorgeously animated too, leading to some fantastic fights on the gondalas which are simply phenomenal.
Shout by Clobby ClobstersBlockedParentSpoilers2021-09-23T02:23:08Z
8/10