Soccer reflects on how Katara first learned she was a waterbender because ice would crack whenever she got super emotional, which we saw in the first episode. Toph opens the door and says that there is just one problem with finding students who get super emotional in public. The friends look into the room at the three students shouting and arguing like crazy people. Toph notes that the whole thing is just a theory. A game. You know, an avatar theory. Sorry, I was watching game theory and movie theory today. So that's whatever. Oh, yes. That's just a theory. And then there's a pause and it goes a game theory. Oh my gosh. Anyone who watches that YouTube channel probably be like, Oh, Greg, what are you doing? I mean, I think we say that a lot. Oh, Greg. That's fair. Yeah. Oh, none of Toph students have been able to move even the smallest piece of metal. Soccer gets an idea and tells Toph that what this school has needed was him. Soccer the motivational bender. If Toph just explains the basics of metal bending to him, she can leave the rest up to him. So people say that there are some soccer fans that want to be a bender and he's a bender of two different kinds of things. Sword bending and now motivational bending. That's right. And what a gifted guy. What a gifted guy indeed. If he gets two more different kind of bendings, he'll be an avatar.

Oh my God.

Just saying. Uh huh. For real this time, not just some random earth kingdom place that thinks he is a real play, a real avatar of made up elements. Would that make him the faux vatar? That makes it sound like he's afraid the faux. The faux vatar. The mock guitar. I don't know. We'll workshop this. Yeah. But the first lesson doesn't go as soccer planned. He puts the students into a strong stance and tells them to let their gut furnace refine their senses. He tells them to close their eyes and feel the earth around them. Then feel the metal within that earth and stop the coins that are now flying to their heads. He throws the coins at them, but they collide with each of the student's faces and they're no closer to becoming metal benders because they were not able to stop them. He wears his headband, which is like it's kind of funny. He's wearing a headband for no reason. Like tops not wearing a headband. He just has this view of if you're motivational, you have to wear a headband. There are two Chinese characters written on it and they literally mean add fuel. Add fuel. Add

fuel. ADD. Add more fuel. Add more fuel. Oh my gosh. So

it's kind of funny that he says things like feel your gut heat up like a furnace because he's he thinks he's adding fuel. So whatever you're feeling, add more to it. Add fuel. Right. Put a constant reminder of Tim, they look at his face. Yeah, just written on his forehead, literally. That's hilarious. Well, it's not quite enough because the students have weilts on their head now rather than any indication or evidence or proof of metal bending. Oh, yeah, yeah, well, you know, I guess the fact that they exist proves that they can't metal mend because if they could, they wouldn't have the welts in the first place. That's how logic in my brain works. Trying to

follow it.

Don't you'll hurt yourself. Or is it that they don't get well because they're actually metal benders and the metal can't harm them? I don't know if it works like that. I don't know if it works, however you were saying. I don't know either. Don't. Yeah, I'd never follow my logic. I'm getting hurt following my logic. Never mind it. An external source. That's okay. Let's jump back over to the Earth Kingdom. Yes. We find Aang and Katara in the official Avatar Aang fan club's clubhouse. Aang is giving the girls a demonstration of his airbending tricks. He shows them the air scooter along with a new technique he's been working on where he creates these little marbles of air, which he then turns into individual scooters. The girls are enchanted and keep whispering to each other about how dreamy Avatar Aang is, while Katara sits dejectedly across the room. Hey, one brings someone new over to Aang and introduces her as Yili, another co-president and co-founder of the Avatar Aang fan club.

Aang asks how many

co-presidents and co-founders there are and all the girls raise their hands. Similar to logic not working. I don't think that works logically. It's very innocent, right? So they all formed this club and as actually kind of admirable, no one is higher than the other in this club. They made it super fair. Which just makes me think there was this argument that happened where they were like, well, how do we find her? And someone's like, we're all founders. It's like, okay, fine. They probably take turns making decisions for the club and stuff like that. Yeah. Yeah. I like this little club. Well, Yili shows Aang something that she bought off of a traveling merchant a couple years ago. It's a pan flute-like instrument and she believes it once belonged to the Aeronomads. Aang is actually excited to see it because he tells them, yes, it's an airbender flute. Monquiato even used to have one just like it. He proceeds to play it and the girls begin dancing with Momo. Momo was in that dancing. So cute. Momo's right at home. Yes. And this flute actually, so it is a pan flute. So if you ever seen like, you know, Greek mythology with pan, the goat person playing a pan flute, it's like these little reeds that are tied together, this particular type of flute is based on the real world Chinese instrument called the pie shell. I think, again, I'm probably not pronouncing that correctly, but pie shell, which again, I think is really cool because as we've talked about multiple times at this point, I love all of the real world inspiration that this series has pulled from. And I think like we said last episode, I think that's what makes this field more canon than the other comics do because there continues to be these inspirations from the real world. Yeah, I'd like to think that they kind of write it and then they go, well, where can we, where can we put this in, right? Like we have a gift for Aang from his past. Sorry, what can it be? Where can we draw from in the real world that already exists? And it just works like Yang did a really good job, not only with consulting break, but with just going off and taking out what we, at least you and I acorn, really appreciated about Avatar Last Airbender and continue that and not just in one facet, right? Like, I think we all really love the characters and the head cannons and, you know, a lot of the story elements, but I think subconsciously, at least we all really appreciate, like you said, these little details. And I've been doing a lot of thinking about this over the past couple of weeks when we finished reading like the little Lost Adventures and, you know, all that, it was great. But that was literally half of what we liked about Avatar. And this kind of completes the whole thing. And you don't realize how important this is, how important real world culture and identity is in Avatar The Last Airbender until it's gone or it's omitted. And it just feels absolutely, you know, which sadly happens a lot, you know, like, oftentimes with sequels to movies or people picking up on an existing franchise and like making a spin-off story about it, usually it's missing something. And oftentimes it feels like it's missing the heart of the story, which usually if you trace it back, it's something to do with the characters, motivations or desires or the culture of the world or something that's like baked into the story that's not obvious. So people who are just like, you know, going after the world or the franchise, they tend to miss that kind of stuff. Yeah. And even adapting from one format to another from like a connoctune animated format or animated to live action, if you don't have the original creators involved in some way, nine times out of 10, it feels hollow and it feels not what it was. We're looking at

you Netflix. We'll see. We'll see.

Well, at this point, they're having a really great time in the fan club. All the girls are dancing. Momo has been kind of forced to be a dance partner with one of the girls. Ang's having a great time. But Katara, meanwhile, she's not really having a good time. She's a little irritated. She finally gets up from her spot on the wall and tells Ang that they should probably get going to meet the Earth King. That's kind of the reason that they're there. They say goodbye to the girls and leave. Katara is stolen and quiet, but Ang doesn't really notice. And even when she makes a barbed comment about he certainly seemed to enjoy those girls attention, he reflects on how even though it's just a silly fan club, for a moment there, almost while the key was home again with his people. He tells Katara thank you for agreeing to stay there for the night. It meant the world to him. And Katara realizes what a jerk she was being. Yeah, she does not feel good about herself after that. She's like, Nope. Which because you mentioned the words of Kyoshi, I do think she was actually having this like flashback. Yeah, like a flashback to that time and how it was just like very silly and unproductive. And like it was just kind of a waste of their time. But this time around, it actually was really meaningful for Ang because of how much it represented his memories of home and his people. And you know what actually makes this even more emotionally devastating to me? Is this happened after that story in The Lost Adventures where he goes to the mountains and he seeks out that stupa? Oh, yeah. Supposedly like the the air nomads were and he finds out it wasn't. I don't think he ever told his friends, right? Because at the end of the story, that makes it. Why do you have to make

it? Satter a

corn? I know. I know. So meanwhile, Ang's like, Oh my God, I actually so it's not actually my people. It's not actually hidden air nomads. But like the culture is there. Yeah, the feeling and the heart is there. And I feel so happy to be back in this kind of environment. It's almost like it's the next best thing by like yeah, bounds. Yes. But it's like he gets that nostalgia that reminds him of home just playing that pan flute and and having everyone dance around him and be started by like friends and good vibes. Yeah, which I didn't realize what this was building to until I got to book three. So I can't wait to talk about that. Yeah. So Katara again, realizes what a jerk she was being. And she tells Ang to not thank her. She doesn't deserve it. And at that point, they just keep walking down the street on their way to see the Earth King. Back in the fire nation, Zuko returns to his father's prison cell the next day with another pot of tea. He tells his father that he stayed up all night thinking about what he said. When he was a boy, he'd been overwhelmed by the circumstances because he couldn't decide whose side to take. But he realizes now that he should have sided with the hawk. It was strong and noble, much like the fire nation. It had earned its meal. Zuko explains that he's already done that. And yet he still can't sleep. Ozai agrees that Zuko's sleeplessness does stem from his inability to choose sides. But he's wrong about the hawk. There is no right or wrong apart from what someone decides who they choose to defend deserves to be defended simply because they chose them. Zuko is the fire lord. What Zuko chooses is by definition, right? And that's the slippery slope in which Ozai lives. I was going to say, oh my goodness. It's like, I am the fire lord. I am all that is and will ever be in the fire nation. If I say red is green, guess what? Red is green. That is so frightening to hear basically because basically what he's saying is there is no right or wrong. What's right is what you decide. Yes, because you're in a

position of power. Like, oh, no. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Yep. Thankfully,

though, Zuko argues that right and wrong are bigger than he and his father, or even the avatar. Zuko believes that he, and the earth king will be able to come close to what's right by working together. But Ozai smirks and says he's heard a rumor of this little meeting. Ozai cautions Zuko that the earth king has no reason not to strike out against the remaining Fire Nation colonials after years of being humiliated by their mighty nation. As the fire lord, Zuko should defend Yudao ferociously. Zuko disagrees and says he's going to wait. His patience will be rewarded with a peaceful resolution for everyone. Ozai orders Zuko to leave, saying that he sickens him. When Zuko leaves the prison, Suki sees him from a parapet. Oh boy. And even though Zuko has a really terrible relationship with his father, even though he sees his father as a bad guy and not someone to be trusted, there is something to say about the influence that parents have over children. Even though Zuko consciously thinks I can't trust my father subconsciously, I think the words still get through. And we're going to see how what Ozai told him, what Ozai is advising him does kind of sink in to some extent. There's also like, like, I think maybe I'm being naive and stepping into Zuko's shoes here a bit too. But like, even a villain can offer good advice. And I think that's what Zuko is trying to get. But he can't help but be almost like indoctrinated by his father and his father's words. Yeah, he's being influenced. Yeah. Yeah. And like he's doing his best to stand his ground and basically like stay where he has wound up, which is like, you know, we're in this together. It's not just the Fire Nation, there's unity and collaboration and all the stuff that he learned with his time with Aang. But it's almost like, I don't know, it kind of comes across as a little boy fighting with his parents and the parents quote unquote, no better. So it's like, yeah,

like, it's

definitely that for him. Yeah, it's tough in any one of the scenarios. It's like, I think one of the more popular ones, at least here in the States is like, if you could relive high school, you do it all over again, because you learn your lesson and you wouldn't be the person you were. But chances are, and I think there's some stories that are written about this, you get to be in high school again, and you literally revert to the person that you were in high school, because it's not just you. It's the environment in which you are in your response to that environment. And it's very difficult to break out of that. Or even like, if you go to a high school reunion, I've been to like the past two, but if you do, you revert to where you were then because it's just like that instinct almost. And that's what's happening to Zuko here is he's trying to fight against his father. He's trying to remind himself that like, he's the bad guy, he should not be trusted, just like you said, but he can't help, but like still kind of want his father's approval. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And it makes sense because he was he went on for much longer trying to get his father's approval, then he has been trying to break free of his father's influence. Yep. Going off of what you were just saying. Yeah, it's you spend more time acting one way. You're going to more naturally fall into that kind of behavior. Old habits die hard. Exactly. There you go. Yep. Even after another day, Toph students haven't made any progress. No matter how perfect their horse dances are or how perfect their form is, the metal doesn't budge. Zaka tells Tophie has an idea and the two of them go outside. He tells Toph that if her bracelet budge when her students were emotional, then it stands to reason that the students should be able to metal bend if they get them super mega uber emotional. All they have to do is find each student's trigger point. Hotuns is obviously his sense of doom. Pangas is shoes for material possessions. And Toph reveals that the dark one hates his name more than anything else in the world. She once told the dark one that she wouldn't share his name with anyone, but agrees to tell Sokka so he can use it for training. Eugene just kidding. Yeah, that's what I was thinking too.

Oh, they then

go below the school to a bunker of Fire Nation armor that Kuneo had gotten made in kid sizes, a little horrifying

as an aside. And

Sokka asks Toph to create something similar to what she made in the cabin of the Fire Nation airship during the final battle with Ozai. He pulls out a scroll with schematics and Toph reminds him for the hundredth time that she's blind. So he describes the designs to her and after some time and effort, Sokka exclaims that Toph has outdone herself. Just calling me the greatest earthbender of all time, Toph replies, then says, no, really, she's being serious. Yeah, Toph. No, say that right now. Yep. Sokka places his hand on her shoulder and tells her solemnly that she's the greatest earthbender of all time. Toph grands. She thinks Sokka, that's so sweet of you. You didn't have to say that. I love it. I love Toph. I love her so much too. I still continue to love Toph. I have a feeling I'm going to love her even into Korra. I just have a feeling. I remember the first time I was watching Korra. Again, I haven't finished it. I only watched maybe the first season or two. I was waiting for Toph and the older gang the whole time. Yeah. Once you realize what's going to happen in Korra and what you are going to be seeing, you just can't help it. It's like, who's next? What about this guy? What about this person? What about her? What about him? What

about them? I can't wait more more.

Feel like Kylo Ren more just

more. Yep. But we are still many,

many comics away, so we're going to have to hold tight. In the Earth Kingdom, Korra and a bunch of earth and firebenders train outside in an empty field. They practice combining techniques to create a defensive earth and barrier that the firebenders can attack over. When they successfully incinerate a line of straw dummies, Korra tells them that the training is over and they'll meet again in the same place tomorrow morning. Someone calls her name and she looks toward the line of trees and sees Snares, one of the freedom fighters. She runs into his arms and they kiss. Snares asks if she's really been missing their date so she can train with firebenders. Kori corrects him, saying she's been training with her cousins and only two of them are firebenders. They have to train in order to be ready to defend Yudao. Didn't he hear the protesters outside the city wall a couple days ago? When Snares uncomfortably looks away, she asks if he was a part of that. He admits that they were leading that and Kori pushes him away from her. Snares tries to explain that Yudao is a fire nation colony and that Kori has to choose. Is she Earth Kingdom or Fire Nation? Kori repeats what she said in front of Ang and Gattara, saying she chooses to recognize her earthbending, her Fire Nation citizenship, and her home of Yudao. She then turns to leave, telling Snares that it's his turn to choose. Does he want to follow Smeller B or does he want to be with Kori? A fun little tidbit about the art really quickly. Guri Hirou, who is the artist, is the same writing and artist team throughout all three of these, was under the impression that Snares was actually a woman until this page. I could kind of see that in book one, because there's a point where I was like, Snares, yeah, him. Then I was writing while looking at the comic and I was like, wait, am I just assuming a gender right now? I had to go deep into the wiki and figure out no Snares is actually male. So it seems like also the artist was a bit confused about Snares' gender. Yep. When I found that too, I saw so many comments of fans who were like, yeah, okay, good. It wasn't just me. I had to look it up. To be fair, I forgot that Snares did exist because we only saw him in book one up until now. So if you were confused, if you were wondering, you weren't the only one. Yep, exactly. So funny. And while we're on the topic of Snares, we haven't seen him in so long, which means he didn't theoretically leave his home where he used to live with the freedom fighters, like Smeller B and Longshot in Jet did. They went to Boston to say. So because of that, it seems like he didn't really develop a more nuanced or broad worldview like Smeller B and Longshot did. So he hasn't really gone through that metamorphosis. And for him, it's still very much like us and them, the Fire Nation and us, where the victims, they're the oppressors. And so for him to give her that kind of ultimatum, I mean, it really shows that his his worldview is still kind of stuck, even though his girlfriend is literally an Earthbender who has Fire Nation citizenship, and they live in a town that's very, very diverse and mixed. So he has some learning to do in this episode or this comic. I like that he hasn't learned yet, though, because it throws us right back into book one and the 100 year war, and this kind of reminder of the way things were, because we're so used to how they are now with King Avatar. And yeah, we're getting a lot of gray area, but it's a nice reminder that there are still people in this world that have this black and white view of everything and not everything is great to them yet. Exactly. Yeah, and gang, the writer even had a something to say about this. He said, sneers his relationship with Corey is what happens when ideology comes up against flesh and blood human beings. Often the ideology has to give way. Yeah, I agree. Yeah. Yeah, me too. Also, while we're here, I want to talk a little bit about Corey, because obviously she just said, I'm not just one thing. Well, we can actually visually see that in her outfit. If no one realized which I'm pretty sure most people have, it's very obvious in a really cool detail. The clothes that Corey wears is a combination of red and green reflected her mixed heritage as an Earth kingdom citizen, as well as a Fire Nation citizen. So I love that little nod to her mixed heritage. I like how, and I'm going to say fashion terms now, and I want everyone to know, I 110% have no idea what I'm talking about when I'm talking about fashion, but I'm going to say this noted.