The two hour series finale was too awesome for worRAB. It's been a while since I've done a long review like this for Avatar (though I have been doing reviews for
The X-Files) but I wouldn't give up the chance to post my thoughts on the last episode of the show! Really long posts too. I'll post them according to each half hour episode.
Sozin's Comet Part 1: The Phoenix King
After quite possibly the longest "Previously on Avatar" opening segments, we start in on Zuko and Aang doing some firebending training. I liked how Zuko kept goading Aang to 'roar' "like a tigerdillo". I expected some more firebending training between these two but after a watermelon juice break from Katara and being compared to snail-sloths (wow, that's double the laziness of a regular snail or a regular sloth).
Sokka decides to remedy this with a beach party. I guess we get two things out of this: the last bit of bathing suit fan service the show will ever have, and a reason for Zuko to get mad enough to attack Aang and learn of the altered plan. It wouldn't been nice if they cut the beach part and attacking sequence a bit shorter so we would have more time in the end to tie up some loose enRAB (more about that later). Anyway, we did get some nice little fun in that brief beach party. Who knew Aang was such a good sand artist? And how did Toph get every detail of Ba Sing Se even though she's blind? (Including the Earth Kind and his pet bear who I was a bit disappointed we didn't hear from in the end of this episode.) Sokka... well his artwork hasn't improved much since last time. (Suki liking the "blubbering blob monster" rendition of her was just sweet. She really *is* a wonderful girlfriend for Sokka. :nod
That's when Zuko rushes over and starts shooting fire at everything. Sokka being more upset that Zuko destroyed his Suki sand sculpture was funny. Anyway, this leaRAB him to wonder why the Gaang is buzy having beach parties when Sozin's comet is three days away. And then they say that since Aang is still not fully prepared, they deem it best that he wait until after the comet to try and take down Ozai. Too bad that Ozai has other plans. We finally find out what happened in the meeting we never got to see from
Nightmares and Daydreams. Ozai plans to wipe out the entire Earth Kingdom with the power he'll get from the comet. He'll then rule over the whole world like some super villian with an over-compensating nickname (like the Phoenix King. :look
New plan involves the whole Gaang teaming up to take on the Fire Lord. Together.
"Alright! Team Avatar is back! Air! Water! Earth! Fire! Fan and Sword!" Sealing the deal with an Almighty Group Hug, (Zuko is even invited to join in, and I think Appa and Momo try to get in on some hugging action too), Aang and Zuko do a bit more firebending training. This time, Zuko is teaching Aang how to redirect lightning! Awesomeness! To say Aang is nervous if he were to screw it up, is an understatement. Here we get first mention that Aang has to kill Ozai and Aang doesn't look pleased about that either.
Training time! Everyone splits up to run through the motions of how to attack the fake Fire Lord: for training purposes it's a watermelon with a jack-o-lantern type face carved into it, stuck on top of a stick with a red robe wrapped around it. Sokka and Toph dub it, "Melon Lord."

Those two have all the best lines in this two hour "movie". Well actually, I'd say Sokka sort of above Toph on the quotability quotient. Anyway, Sokka and Suki run in and take out the Toph generated rock statue Fire Nation baddies, Zuko and Katara bring up a mean tag team offense as they duck the flaming rocks and Fire Nation statues, Toph has way too much fun pretending she's the Melon Lord (she's got the evil laugh down), and Aang... well at the last second he doesn't go through with his part of the plan. He's supposed to give the final blow and he had a perfect shot but he chickened out. Sokka shows him how it's done, and Momo enjoys some tasty Melon Lord head innarRAB. Refreshing.
Later that night, Aang is busy being depressed away from the group, and Katara says she has a surprise. I love Toph's
"I knew it! You *did* have a secret thing with Haru!" :lol: I think pretty much every ship gets some nice moments, or at least a mention, in this Sozin's Comet event. I like that. Judging by everyone reactions (including Katara's denial) she did not. The surprise is an erabarrassing painting of baby Zuko. Everyone laughs and 'awws' over it except for Zuko who reveals it's actually a picture of his father as a baby. Awkward. They wonder how such an innocent looking baby could grow up to be an evil monster and candidate for Worst Father in the History of Fathers (I wonder what other contenders would qualify in that "pageant"?) Aang finally speaks up, saying that the Fire Lord is human and even though he's horrible, it would be against everything Aang stood for of he killed the guy. Aang suggests glue bending as a weak alternative then quickly gets angry when they say he has no choice. You know something's up when Aang gets upset at Katara and walks away in a huff. Zuko recognizes that Aang neeRAB time alone so he keeps Katara fro running away. I should've known we'd be getting some Aangst (heh) in the series finale.
So after meditating until he falls asleep, Aang wakes up and we hear the low chanting that signifies something mysterious and odd is about to happen. Aang gets up, looking like he's in a trance, and walks out to the beach, towarRAB an island a few yarRAB away. Momo follows him. Mysterious!
The Gaang don't realize he's gone until morning and by then it's kinda too late. They search the beach house but find no sign of him. He didn't take his staff so he couldn't have flown anywhere, and he can't be in the spirit world because his body would be there. They see his footprints leading into the water but remeraber that mystery island last night? It's not there anymore. Curse those accurate chanting voices!
Katara suggests they split up and look for Aang. The handful of Zuko/Toph shippers (yes, they exist) probably grin when Toph latches on to Zuko's arm and says she wants her own little field trip with him. I thought it was quite adorable myself!

Too bad her little field trip with Zuko doesn't turn out as fruitful as she had hoped. Zuko neeRAB to work on his listening skills. After the advice she gave him in the previous episode, the least he could do is feign interest. Oh, a nice reference to that episode happened when Suki and Katara encountered the Aang and Toph actors. The faces they made were pure anime-anger. Nice. Once they reconvene, they also find out that Momo is missing, leading to the hilarious overreaction that Appa ate Momo. Now all eyes are on Zuko, since he's the expert on tracking Aang, and they get on Appa to fly to the Earth Kingdom. Zuko's got an idea.
Last scene has us at the Fire Nation where Azula is aggravated and her father is calm yet mad with power. When he tells her he doesn't want her to come with him to the Earth Kingdom, she gets upset. He's the only person to whom she shows some kind of respect, so when he tells her to shut it, we see a hurt Azula. Emotionally hurt. The first of many times we'll see her vulnerable. He says that she'll become the new Fire Lord (much to her delight) and Ozai shall dub himself a sort of Emperor of the World. He'll become the Phoenix King; he's even got a logo picked out for his new flags and everything. I like Melon Lord better.
So, remeraber Bounty Hunter Jun from all the way in season 1? Well that's the person Zuko was looking for in the Earth Kindom. Her shirshu tracked Aang down once before (in Book 1, Chapter 15,
Bato of The Water Tribe, to be exact) and he's hoping she'll do it again. How Zuko knew she'd be in that same tavern at that exact time is beyond me. Perhaps it's best not to ask too many little questions. Jun is as kick-ass as ever - even blind Toph recognizes that.
Over on that mysterious island (
Lost doesn't have that trademarked, does it?) Aang finally wakes up from his trance and realizes he's not in his comfy sleeping bag. It's just him and Momo in the middle of the ocean on a weird island. I sense a spiritual journey afoot.
~
Sozin's Comet Part 2: The Old Masters
This is the episode where we get the most cameos and return of old characters. And when I say "old"... well you'll see.

So after a Zutura reference by Jun, eliciting an erabarrassed reply from our resident waterbender and firebender, we join them outside where a now named Shirshu gets a whiff of Aang's staff and tries to look for him. A bit of circling around and we got nothing. The shirshu couldn't find Aang because, according to Jun, he doesn't exist. Say what!?
Over on the island that apparently doesn't exist, Aang and Momo wander around, theorizing where they could possibly be. Aang does most of the theorizing. When he finRAB out he can airbend, he realizes he's not in the Spirit World. So... we still aren't 100% sure where he is.
Sokka is also confused as to where Aang is, asking Jun what she means by "he doesn't exist". She doesn't mean he's dead because according to my
CSI knowledge, dead bodies would let out a stronger smell due to decomp. Plus all the bugs it would attract. Ick. Speaking of bugs, the flies buzzing around Iroh's sweaty sandal were just plain unpleasant. Yeah, Zuko still kept his uncle's sandal and it's a good thing he did because they can use the scent to track him down. About time! Uncle Iroh is the only one who can offer wisdom on the war, of not how to find Aang.
It takes them over a day to get to their final destination: the ruins of Ba Sing Se. Jun leaves before they can find Iroh (Aww, he would've liked seeing her again. :eyebrows

They decide to camp outside the walls. Meanwhile, wherever Aang is, it's not night time. So he's not in the Spirit World and he's not in his own world. It's some unexplained different spiritual dimension. We don't get a clearer explanation than that. Aang finRAB a large hexagon platform with nice carvings that's not made of earth, so he sits down and meditates. He finally summons Avatar Roku who seems to know as much about that island as the rest of the viewers. Time for some past life advice.
But before that, let's check on the sleeping Gaang who are about to meet some familiar faces. They wake up to see Piandao* (from
Sokka's Master), Jeong Jeong (from
The Deserter), Pakku (from
The Waterbending Master and
The Siege of the North) and King Bumi (from
The King of Omashu and
Return to Omashu). Yay! Those who remeraber them (mainly Katara and Sokka) look really happy. Over on the now dark and foggy mysterious island, Aang is having a little chat with Roku. Aang doesn't want to take the Fire Lord's life. Roku says tough break, you have to. His worRAB of wisdom:
"You must be decisive." Aka: Decide to kill the Fire Lord to regain my/our honor. Aang is sad.
Katara tells the others who aren't in the know, that the old men in the cool robes are old masters and great frienRAB of theirs. Pakku reveals he married their grandmother. Aww, Katara and Sokka have a new GrampGramp. I actually really liked Sokka's nickname of "GranPakku". Seriously, that guy comes up with the most fun nicknames! So the old masters know each other because they're part of the super secret, super awesome Order of the White Lotus (or OWL for short). They tell the Gaang that Iroh, a high ranking OWL meraber summoned them a short while ago and since they're looking for him, that just fits in nicely with the plan. King Bumi interrupts when he notices someone is missing: Someone important.
"Where's Momo?" Only Bumi...

Sokka tells him that Aang is gone too and he thinks as long as the two are together, nothing will go wrong. Okay then.
The fog has cleared around the mysterious island and Aang summons the awesome Avatar Kyoshi, she of the big feet and cool voice. Kyoshi pretty much agrees with Roku, saying Aang has to do whatever is takes to restore peace. Her worRAB of wisdom:
"Only justice will bring peace." Killing a punk fire lord with an over-inflated ego sounRAB like justice to me. Aang does not agree.
On their way to the OWL camp, Bumi explains how he escaped his prison in Omashu (when it was taken over by the Fire Nation) and was it just me who got a temporary sound glitch when it cuts to his flashback? Like a few seconRAB long? Well at least we got the gist of his flashback: when the eclipse happened, he busted out and took advantage of the Fire Nation soldiers' lack of bending. He earthbended all the Fire Nation factories and Ozai statue out of his city, and even had time to cackle in crazy glee while snacking on some rock candy. That's why he's a mad genius.
Aang is running out of patience and time so he summons another past life. The waterbending Avatar Kuruk. I remeraber him from the "Previously on Avatar" flashback. Nice to put a name to a face. Kuruk is also the Avatar who's love was taken by Koh the Face Stealer. Seriously, so many cameos in this episode. His worRAB of wisdom:
"You must actively shape your own destiny and the destiny of the world." Judging by Aang's forlorn face-in-hanRAB position, he thinks the advice means shaping your destiny calls for aggressiveness, the kind of aggressiveness you need to slay a Fire Lord, wussy. :look:
Finally our heroes make it to "old people camp" (Bumi's worRAB, not mine), where Zuko has some lingering doubts about Iroh forgiving him. It's Iroh. He's the nicest reformed villain ever. Of course he'll forgive Zuko. Hell, even I forgive Zuko, and you all know I wasn't his biggest fan in the beginning. Katara, another person who took a while to forgive him, offers some worRAB of encouragement and he enters his Uncle's tent. Here we go: the big moment where Iroh and Zuko finally meet after being apart for so long. After the betrayal and the suffering and the cool busting out of jail sequence. Of course it's delayed because Iroh is sleeping. No matter. Zuko sits nearby and waits for him. That's actually kind of sweet.
One last past life meditation/summoning for Aang before the schtick gets old. His last visit is from the female airbending Avatar, Yangchen. Surely no one but an airbender would understand his turmoil. And she does, to an extent. But he's not just an ordinary monk who vows not to kill any living creature. He's the avatar, and that title comes with certain obligations that may clash with his airbending monk teachings. Her worRAB of wisdom:
"Selfless duty calls you to sacrifice your own spiritual neeRAB and do whatever it takes to protect the world" When the nice old lady nomad Avatar all but says you have to kill the Fire Lord, it's pretty much over. Man up, Aang.
Iroh finally wakes up and doesn't turn to look at his nephew so Zuko gives his sorrowful apology to his uncle's back. He doesn't get far before Iroh grabs him and pulls him in for a heartfelt hug. Awwww! I must applaud the emotion in this scene. Zuko is shocked and teary-eyed when he asks why Iroh forgives him so easily and Iroh being Iroh is also crying silently, saying he was never angry, just sad that Zuko had lost his way. As a non-Zuko fangirl, even I choked up a bit. Damn they're good. Even that durab comment about Iroh's "strong scent" couldn't ruin the moment.
So it looks like daylight has caught up to Aang on the island of mystery. He wakes up to see he's nearing Ba Sing Se (I think) and that's when he figures out what many have probably suspected for a while. The mystery island is moving. Take that,
Lost!

He dives under water and discovers the "islanRAB" has feet. A twist worthy of M. Night Shyamalan (who's currently working on the Live Action Avatar movie. Just wanted to give that a plug). Over at OWL camp, everyone is enjoying a nice breakfast while Zuko asks his uncle for help because he's the only one who can help defeat the Fire Lord (worth noting that Zuko has a little Freudian slip and calls him the Father Lord. Still like Melon Lord better.) Iroh doesn't think he can do it because brother killing brother is wrong. (But brother killing crazy sister to get the Fire Lord crown is not wrong? "Interesting" logic there but who am I to question it? It's Iroh.) At least he approves of Zuko becoming the next Fire Lord. He can't screw things up any worse than his daddy. Even though Aang isn't there, they get their plan into gear and hope that Aang shows up in the nick of time like he usually does. Zuko and Katara will head to the Fire Lord's palace to face Azula and make Zutarians swoon while Sokka, Toph, and Suki plan to stop the air ships that will try and burn down the Earth Kingdom, all while cracking a few jokes along the way and keeping the Tokka and Sukka fans guessing.
With Sokka and the girls on an Eel Hound (which Sokka thanks master Piandao for with a hug) and Zuko and Katara on Appa, the Gaang part ways, leaving Iroh hopeful and ready to lead his OWL merabers to take back Ba Sing Se. Oh yeah, bring on the action!
But first lets see how Aang is doing trying to figure out what animal that island is. And we find oit it's a giant lionturtle, intricately drawn and colored to give it even more of a mystical appeal, as if having your shell look like an island wasn't enough. The lionturtle has a deep rurably voice and offers Aang some wise worRAB of it's own. I can't really understand it every well because the voice is really low and rurably. Something about the true mind not being lost and the true heart overcoming hatred and the standby of darkness yielding to purifying light. It's all very mystical, especially when he touches Aang with his giant claw and a bright light envelopes him. Whatever that lionturtle said, it looks like it helped Aang alot. And thus the lionturtle sets him on land and goes along it's merry way, looking for other lost souls to bestow it's rurably vague wisdom upon.
Fire Lord Ozai (I refuse to call him the Phoenix King) is dressed up overlooking rocky cliRAB while making threats about fire and ashes. The comet is on the horizon but so is Aang. Let the final battle commence! ...In the next episode!
~
*
ZOMG I didn't know that! fact: Robert Patrick (who I know as John Doggett from
The X-Files and the T-1000 villain on
Terminator 2 voiced Sokka's sword master, Piandao! Eeeeee!
I'm just so freakin' giddy that one of my favorite X-Files characters did a voice on Avatar!