Ron Does Stuff

It took me several days to get through the previous episode, which really isn’t a good sign, you all. That previous episode also smashed together a lot of episodes into one hour, and I’ll be honest, it only worked sometimes. But maybe this one’s better!

This episode starts with Aang trying to get away from Toph, because Toph isn’t exactly a teacher that believes in positive reinforcement. And it looks like he isn’t going to be getting away from her any time soon, because Toph senses something big following them. To ensure that the refugees stay safe, Aang and Toph separate from the group, since whatever it is that’s chasing them is probably after Aang.

Elsewhere in the Earth Kingdom, Iroh tries to teach Zuko about the four elements and how different benders use them, but Zuko only really pays attention when Iroh tells him this is how he’s going to beat Azula. Unfortunately, Zuko was expecting an offensive move, and not the lightning redirecting move that Iroh is teaching him. I can’t remember when Zuko mastered this in the animated show. I think near the end of the second season? He might just master it in this episode because this season only has a limited number of episodes.

Back to Aang and Toph, the two of them are having a difference of opinion when it comes to dealing with Azula. Toph is an earthbender and wants to face Azula head-on, while Aang is thinking of ways to escape if they lose against her. But what catches up with them isn’t the drill — it’s what I was expecting — but The Boulder and the Beifong man.

We got what we got and…well, it was what we got. Azula can’t get into a fight with Aang because she’s chasing after Zuko, who has ended up with Jet and his gang as they head to Ba Sing Se.

And who’s at Ba Sing Se, at least its outer walls? Aang and Toph, who find that the rest of the Gaang has been encased in the walls by Earth Kingdom guards. I thought it was going to be the Dai Li, but it’s just normal Earth Kingdom guards, and the fight scene between them, Toph, and Aang isn’t shown. I can agree with that, I guess, as long as they spend the big bucks on the fights between the main characters.

In the ferry headed to Ba Sing Se, Zuko is tending Iroh while also unloading his grievances with him. It’s during this moment of vulnerability that the judges were looking for when Jet swoops in and tries to enlist Zuko to his side. Zuko refuses since he wants to be on the down-low inconspicuous, until Jet brings up that there could be medicine in the captain’s quarters.

Back in Ba Sing Se, Katara and the rest of the Gaang have been let go, thanks to the Beifong name. And then we get to see Joo Dee and hear the sentence that spawned the meme: “There is now war in Ba Sing Se.” Which I think they pulled a little early. They should have done the tour first, and then pull the “There is now war in Ba Sing Se” card.

I do like how Ba Sing Se looks, even if we didn’t get to see a lot of it. And I understand that! This show looks expensive! I also like how Toph explains bureaucracy to the ~hicks~ of the Southern Water Tribe and the Avatar. Bureaucracy and navigating it and intrigue between houses are some of my favorite parts from other fantasy stories, like Daes Dae’mar in the Wheel of Time series.

Once the Gaang gets settled in their villa at the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se, they get a visit from Long Feng, the city’s cultural minister, who plys them with gifts, helps resettle the refugees from Omashu, and tells the Gaang that they’re invited to a party with the Earth King. Things are looking up!

It also seems like things are looking up for the refugees as they restart their lives in Ba Sing Se. Sure, Teo and the Kyoshi Warriors didn’t stay, but Sai and flower lady whose name I didn’t bother to Google are settling in. But then there’s Joo Dee constantly hovering around the Gaang, and when they finally get to the Earth King’s party the live action series kinda starts to channel how unsettling it is that the residents of Ba Sing Se refuse to acknowledge the war. And I like the genderbent General Sung!

Meanwhile, Zuko is still on the ferry to Ba Sing Se, and he’s joined Jet and his gang to steal from the captain’s quarters. He’s also seen a mask that looks like the Blue Spirit’s, so obviously we’re going to see him wear it further down the line. Is it happening in this episode? Probably, since earlier we saw flower lady’s kid with some rashes, like the one that Katara encountered in the Fire Nation in season three of the animated series. Why they’re speeding that up to this season, I have no idea. But maybe it’ll turn out good! Certainly can’t be as bad as how they’re blowing up Sokka’s Yue storyline. I don’t know, turning it into PTSD just isn’t landing for me. Something was charming about “My last girlfriend turned into the moon.”

Back at the Earth King’s party, we get a version of the episode where Katara and Toph bond by getting back at the mean Earth Kingdom girls, and what Toph learns from that is she’s being too nice to Aang. And to her credit, it does work out for her, because arguing with Aang and having him stand his ground worked.

What isn’t working, at least for me, is the Sokka PTSD. Am I being insensitive here? It just isn’t landing for me, and I don’t know if it’s the writing or the acting that’s lacking. Because thinking about it now, they also did this in the animated series, but I don’t remember it falling flat like this.

Elsewhere in the Earth King’s ballroom, Aang’s attempt to speak to him fails, and he presses Long Feng to help him out. Long Feng says he can do that if Aang can show the king that what he’s doing is for the good of Ba Sing Se, but even if you haven’t watched the animated series, you’ll know that this is a plan to usurp the king. If you’ve watched enough media, you’ll see this for what it is.

Fortunately, Toph probably has watched enough media because she’s not so sure about Long Feng. I am also not so sure about Katara being the Painted Lady so early in the story, but let’s see where this is going. Maybe it’ll work out!

The episode ends with Sai being accosted by the Dai Li and told that he’s been invited to Lake Laogai. I’m curious how they’re going to do that!

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