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it’s father’s day!

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Nearly two decades later, I think it just fully hit me why Iroh told Zuko's crew about how he got his scar. It wasn't just to say, "Have some sympathy for him, he had a hard childhood." It was because the crew were all upset (rightfully so) that Zuko had said, "The safety of the crew doesn't matter." and Iroh was trying to point out that, yes, what Zuko had said was wrong, but that's not what he really thinks, at least, that's not what he used to think. There was a time when Zuko cared about the safety of soldiers he had never even met, so much so that he spoke out of turn, which is what led to the domino effect that caused all of them to be sitting on that ship together. And this is brought full-circle when Zuko climbs the ladder to help the helmsman at the end of the episode. And that's when the crew realizes that, temperament aside, Zuko actually has been and is still willing to put everything on the line for the safety of others.

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I love when there’s a really bending heavy episode because you just KNOW Sokka is about to get the dumbest C plot

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Iroh: The Missed Opportunity

I will be the first to admit it: I am not the biggest fan of Iroh. Or rather, I'm not the biggest fan of how he is presented in the franchise nor by anyone who insists that he was a saint that could do no wrong.

Cause he did do wrong. He was the man responsible for behind the bloody 600-Day Siege of Ba Sing Se. Even if he ultimately relented, that was only when his son was killed and after he had waged a bloody campaign that spread great suffering throughout the Earth Kingdom. It's a black mark against him that calls into question whether or not he's really as saintly as the series (at least post Book 1) makes him out to be. It especially calls into question his position as Zuko's mentor and whether or not he's truly the person who should be guiding him on the path of redemption.

Which...ironically should've been something that made him more fascinating than the jolly old uncle people envision him as.

Think about it: if Iroh was a warmongering general, that would bring into question almost all his advice to Zuko. What experiences colored his perception and wisdom, and how that would affect his nephew who idolizes him. It would bring into question Zuko's own morality and redemption arc if he's basing himself so much on Iroh's approval, a man who not too long ago was fighting for the Fire Nation. Sure, there's no doubt Iroh would want to help Zuko, but his instincts as a general and manipulations into preparing his nephew for the role of Fire Lord would interfere with what Zuko needs now.

The idea of a flawed father figure isn't a new one, but there's a reason it has a lot of staying power. For example: Long John Silver from Treasure Island is a pirate, yes, but his mentor figure to Jim Hawkins along with their dynamic was what made him an enduring character. Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars kept vital information from Luke about his father which strains his relationship with him, but it's implied he was suffering from PTSD and was having issues with the truth himself. Lord Shimura from Ghost of Tsushima genuinely cares about Jin's wellbeing, but their clashing ideologies leads their relationship to tragedy.

You can make flawed father characters work. And that's how Iroh should've been written. There should've been more doubt. Of what advice and wisdom is coming from a place of genuine heart or from a past of conquest. And Zuko blindly accepting his every word, but then learning to forge his own path would've made for a much stronger redemption arc instead of being handheld the whole way through. Especially since it's that craving for acceptance which led to his toxic relationship with Ozai in the first place.

Instead, Iroh was turned into a saint, a flawless figure. The general forgotten in favor of the goofy wise uncle. And so too was any nuance that came from his character.

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AU where Sokka’s high-on-cactus-juice encounter with the giant mushroom takes a dark turn. (Also he has a gun)

based on this beautiful tumblr post

bonus:

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Hyalinobatrachium valerioi, sometimes known as the La Palma glass frog, is a species of frog in the family Centrolenidae.

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best thing about uncle iroh is that if you pay attention he is actually just as much of an idiot as zuko but has just mastered the art of coming across as a wise old man. the even better thing is that zuko is the only one on the planet who somewhat realizes this and no one would ever believe him because he's zuko

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Aang: Why are you on the floor?

Zuko: I'm depressed.

Zuko: Also I was stabbed, can you get Katara, please.

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personally i think there should have been at least one episode where sokka collects aang and zuko and is like, “looks like we’re running low on supplies.  time for a GUYS-ONLY field trip.  three days of hunting and fishing and polishing our swords.  y’know, manly warrior stuff.  (aang, sotto voce: actually sokka i’m a vegetarian as you know–)  you girls have fun sitting around braiding your hair and talking about your crushes” and then the entire episode is just zuko and sokka lying around by a river, plucking blades of grass and staring up at the stars confiding in each other their deepest feelings and most secret insecurities while aang braids flower crowns, and whenever the screen cuts back to katara and toph and suki, they’re fighting and screaming and hacking away at river pirates and evil spirits and legions of assassins and hired mercenaries with swords.  you know, as girls do.

and when the boys finally drag themselves back to camp (they stayed up way too late discussing what true leadership really means and whether or not power always corrupts)  they find suki and toph and katara lounging around with black eyes and fresh bruises and bloodstained weapons and sokka shrieks, “what were you guys DOING while we were gone???”  and karata just shugs innocently and says in her sweetest voice, “oh, you know.  just girly things”

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Avatar: the Last Airbender + Twitter Posts Part 2

[Part 5][Part 4][Part 3][Part 1]

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How *I think* atla characters will answer an "I love you" message

Note that they're in a modern au here

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yo…. when jet breaks in the tea shop and accuses zuko and iroh of beinh firebenders….

do you think any of the patrons looked at zukos scarred face - obviously done by a firebender - and immediately think jet was an asshole? like

jet: hes a firebender!!!!

patrons, thinking about the backstory they concocted for zuko and iroh where their home was invaded by firebenders and they barely survived with their lifes so they could come and have a peaceful life selling tea in a city the war doesnt touch:

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She was born ducky

I was ducky to be born

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Fire Lord Zuko passing a law that forbids challenging anyone under the age of majority to Agni Kai

Fire Lord Zuko waiting until the day he reaches the age of majority to pass this law, lest anyone think he is a coward

(No one. Literally no one would have thought that, but it’s generally regarded as a very classy move regardless)

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Piandao: Write your name

Sokka, who doesn’t actually know how to spell his name in the Fire Nation’s language:

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personally i feel that the happy medium between “zuko knows zero cursewords” vs. “zuko knows cursewords that would send toph into frenzies of delight and cause aang to astroproject himself straight to the spirit world” is “zuko can, if suitably provoked, swear with the mouth of a sailor on leave, but would never dare curse in front of iroh because he’s been brought up to have better manners than that, and shocking and disappointing his elderly uncle by the liberal application of foul language is a line that has not yet occured to zuko to consider crossing” with the addendum of “and zuko learned the filthiest and most shocking turns of phrase while listening to iroh playing pai sho with lieutenant jee in the boiler room when they thought he was asleep in his cabin”