Whenever I go to Arizona, it's a tradition that I get a pedicure with my aunt. And let me tell you, that scene in ATLA, in which Toph absolutely launches this poor technician through a wall?
Another great shot is when Zuko is deciding whether or not to join Azula.
I remember watching it for the first time wondering who he would chose; his Uncle, who gave up everything to teach him and look after him, or his sister, who has only ever caused Zuko pain and anguish.
There are so many great close-ups on Zuko’s scarred and unscarred side, to emphasize whether he’s reacting out of his trauma or he’s growing past it.
But my favourite is this pair of shots; it’s the scarred boy who comes home to his father hoping to find closure and healing, but the one who walks away is his own person, the one who will not let himself to be defined anymore by his abuser, who’s learnt that he’s free to make his own choices and choose his own destiny.
This scene will never cease to amaze me. Katara’s ability to think on her feet and come up with a way to capture azula without harming her is absolute genius. This scene shows how far Katara has really come. Katara has always been creative with her bending and always thought outside the box, but this scene really takes the cake.
When Katara freezes herself and Azula, Azula seems suprised. She did not see this coming. Azula who was always in control, Azula who was always perfect. The way she looks back when Katara shackles her is pure terror.
This scene is an absolute masterpiece and I get goosebumps every time I watch it.
I think about this a lot. Aang’s teachers were so diverse in more ways than one.
Firstly, Tophs blindness opened her earth bending potential. She literally taught aang her style of earth bending which Aang utilised during his battle with Ozai.
Secondly, Zuko’s banishment led him to discovering himself and learning from Iroh (which he would never have done if he wasn’t banished). Aang also used this during his final battle, becoming the first avatar to redirect lighting.
Thirdly, Katara mastered Northen water bending style, Southern water bending style, blood bending and healing. She went from being a complete novice to a master in a short amount of time. Her journey was so similar to Aangs. As you said, Aang used the technique she taught him in the final battle.
Do you ever think about the fact that during the final battle with Ozai, Aang used techniques he learned from all three of his teachers that literally saved his life? When he was knocked out momentarily and then falling through the air, he pullled the water up to catch himself–the first waterbending move Katara ever taught him (in “The Waterbending Scroll.”). He redirected lightning, a technique Zuko taught him on Ember Island. And he used the earth to sense Ozai’s movements and stop his attack at the very end of the fight. It’s just so cool how deliberately they show that he was meant to have those teachers–that their specific presence in his life led him to survive these moments in this fight that could have very easily gone another way.