Finally somebody understands the possibilities of bending. Homma is a revolutionary. Katara, predictably outlaws the practice(We find out in legend of Korra) of course ensuring that the practice would be remembered in a way it never would have been if it hadn't been outlawed and brought attention to. I love Katara for her compassion but she is not a leader.
Quite enjoyed this series/season but didn't like the ending one bit.
I'm feeling a bit tricked by this episode, cause when Sean chose her propic the first time, you can see for a second that she also has pictures of her real self, so I'm a bit suspicious as none of the other catfishes have the realself album pics.
KORRASAMI!!!! That was the dankest of endings. What a great series. While "The Legend of Korra" wasn't as consistently good as "Avatar", I was still very entertained and loved getting more of this world. Sequel to the sequel, please?
Not cool that everyone is trying to get Nancy and Steve back together. When Jonathan isn’t around.
I always say in a good movie or series at least 10 deaths shall happen in the first 10 minutes. While this was a little bit longer, but the death count at the end made more then up for it. This is some seriously sick stuff.
woww ed is a douchebag. this dude needs to get a grip.
also, sean should have been honest from the start but im glad she opened up. better late than never. i mean, her decision to catfish didnt make a lot of sense since her whole career is about being proud of being plus size or whatever body type you have so catfishing as some skinny chick doesnt make a lot of sense then. these cliffhangers are really getting to me though. i never thought reality tv would be so entertaining
[9.5 /10] Oh man, I love me a format bender! I’ve talked a little bit about how it feels like the show’s momentum has stalled out somewhat with the journey to Ba Sing Se. There doesn’t seem to be the same urgency to the quest that there was in Season 1, even as the quality of the show has markedly improved. But this is the perfect kind of episode to do in the midst of this lull, a series of quick-hit pieces that give nice character moments and mini-adventures.
Things start off nicely with Katara and Toph having a spa day together and running into a trio of mean girls afterward. There’s something cathartic about the two of them using their bending powers to humiliate the bullies. But what really makes this one nice is the way it not only builds the sometimes shaky friendship between the two of them, but reveals some of Toph’s personality and insecurity. There’s a clear sense that Toph’s personality is somewhat a reaction to her princess-like upbringing, but also a reaction to her disability – that she turned an insecurity into a source of strength and part of who she is, but it still tugs at her a bit deep down under the surface. Katara telling Toph that she’s pretty, even though Toph professes it doesn’t matter to her, is a nice moment of bonding, and despite her protestations, it clearly means a lot for her to here.
It packs a punch in just a little bit of time, which is also true for Zuko’s story. Watching the socially awkward kid go on a date with and endlessly patient girl is a treat. (I guess being handsome buys you a lot of slack in Ba Sing Se.) His stilted attempts to make small talk and cover up his Fire Nation past are quite amusing. But the real show comes when he lights up those lanterns for his date, showing that behind his icy exterior there’s a young man who cares about doing nice things for other people. He doesn’t want to give into his feelings in this moment, because he feels he has a destiny, something that means he can’t put down roots or make connections with others in a place like this, but as he tells his uncle, it’s nice to do have those feelings, and it may be one of the few times Zuko’s had that sort of human connection apart from his mother and uncle.
Much of the episode, however, is just interested in providing some fun adventure or humor rather than anything too too deep. Aang leaning into his love of animals and using his Avatar powers to make an shiny, new, impromptu zoo after the old one has fallen into squalor is a nice story about him playing Superman – helping out with every day things and not just saving the world. Similarly, it’s slight as all get out, but Sokka getting into a haiku rap battle with the teacher at a local school is just silly enough to work.
Even Momo’s story is mostly a Warner Bros.-esque caper. I’m always impressed when shows tell stories without dialogue, and while I wouldn’t want a full Momo-episode necessarily (his little interlude with the baby in Omashu recommends against it) watching him run afoul of some souped up alleycats, free them from the chopping block, and then get the first big hint of Appa is a tidy little tale that has a lot of fun and creative direction in it. (His dance is eminently gif worthy.) There’s even the hint of melancholy with Momo missing his big bison-y buddy, and the scene of him curling up in Appa’s footprint is especially sweet and sad.
But holy cow, nothing in the episode can top Iroh’s story in the sweet and sad department. While most of the characters in A:TLA took a while to grow on me, Iroh was one of the few who clicked right from the start. Whether it’s Mako’s delivery, or just the character’s Impish charms, there was always a nice blend of off-kilter wisdom but a well of deep feeling as well. This story was the perfect encapsulation of that. The way he goes around Ba Sing Se as a humble but caring traveler, looking out for everyone and everything, from plants to babies to schoolboys to muggers, is delightful.
You see his helpful bent, and the way he’s apt to help young boys of all ages. His song for the little baby is cute and his manner with this kid is adorable. Him getting into hijinks with some kids player earth-bending soccer is classic. And only Iroh could turn getting mugged into a teachable moment. The way he not only disarms his mugger with ease, but then bonds with him and encourages him to be a masseuse is wonderful.
But then, the scales fall. Iroh goes up to a tree, sets up a shrine to his deceased son, and sings the same song about a lost soldier boy, this time in tears. Suddenly, the reason for Iroh’s kindness, here and with Zuko, becomes much more clear. He wishes he could have helped his own son, to allow him to avoid such a fate. We know that Iroh was broken by this loss, that he might have beaten Ba Sing Se himself if such a devastating personal tragedy hadn’t cracked his spirit in twain.
But in the aftermath, Iroh reassembled himself into the kind, caring, avuncular caretaker we know, who has a connection to this world and its inhabitants deeper than anyone else we’ve seen. It’s a poignant moment, one that casts all his other guidance and care throughout the series into stark relief. That’s what these sorts of episodes do at their best. They don’t just cut the writers some slack by allowing them to write shorts rather than full episodes. Instead, they give you those powerful moments, the ones that are glancing, but which give you insight into who these people are, apart from larger story demands. As Iroh’s heart-rending moment up on that hill illustrates, sometimes those are the most affecting moments of all.
I see many people here complaining that the message of this episode was blatantly obvious and simple, but I don't really think that is the point of the episode.
In my interpretation, this episode was mainly here to tell a story of a tragic character that does immoral things out of desperation whilst also showing glimpses of humanity in his actions, which in no way justify his actions. Similarly, they try to humanise each and every side of this story. Even the big CEO of the company that arguably does a lot of social evil has his big humanising moment, where he admits that it all spun out of control, and I think we can all relate to that.
There is no evil character. It is all a complex web that creates evil, and the point, as I see it, was not to bash into the heads of people to not text and drive, or to stop using social media, but simply to tell a story. A story that utilises the all-consuming technology in our society, and I think it does that job fantastically. It is suspenseful, layered, and incredibly moving.
Terrific episode - I loved how it was almost like a mini horror film thanks to that creepy guy Villanelle met at the supermarket.
This doesn’t feel like Stranger Things it feels like a totally different show
"Do children have to be useful to their parents?" (NO.)
I'm not crying, you're crying.
I'm a quite sensitive watcher so you can imagine how much I cried during this episode. Like a baby. So sad yet brilliant!
the hearts game episode here
This was a really hard episode to watch. Pulled at every single emotional string in your soul. The ending, was beautifully done, but wow, crying like a baby.
This episode wrecked me emotionally.
The first episode was exciting (after half an hour), this one was slow, a bit boring and predictable (everyone will return). Nice introduction to the characters, but slow. Hope it gets better once they returned to the playground.
f:asterisk_symbol:ck me this was intense. in the first half of the episode i couldn’t help but feel sorry for the main character who only wanted to make his daughter smile on her birthday, and worked so hard after losing the money to try and do something nice to then see the look on his face when she said she had gone out to a fancy restaurant with her step dad. god that hurt me a little. i just want him to do well you know? then the set up for all the game happened etc etc. THEN THE FIRST FREAKING GAME. OMFG. THE DEATHS AT THE START AND THEN EVERYONE RUNNING AND EVEN MORE DEATHS. IT WAS SO WELL EXECUTED (ha ha) AND SO SO INTENSE I LOVED IT!!! I LOVE THE CONCEPT SO MUCH. thoroughly surprised !!
first episode is a 9/10 for me. ive been waiting since i first found out it was being released and so far i am seriously NOT disappointed.
also that gong yoo cameo >>> WE LOVE TO SEE ITTTTT
I saw that going differently in my mind... Also, if thats a 7 wtf is a 10?
i cried like five times watching this i'm such a fucking pussy
Can’t stand Ed! He comes across so cocky and douchey! I’m so happy that Sean is going to come clean about who she really is. I wanted her to be proud of her true self from the get go. She is cuter than her catfish pic anyway.
for fuck's sake zuko. make your mind up
Christian and Gabby sittin' on a beach...
BRENNER IS DEAD LETS PARTYYYYYY
Ughhh that whole past life thingy is breaking my heart :sob:
Probably my favorite episode so far! But I still kind of wish this entire drama was just the flashback scenes~
Why is the rating for this episode so low? It did quite a good job to explain the origin. What's more other storyline developed quite well.
they finally showed us how to communicate through lights!!!!! and also THAT FUCKING REVELATION THO I SERIOUSLY DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING!!!!!!! LASTLY, WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO TEAM CALIFORNIA???????
