Book 2: The Guru / The Crossroads of Destiny

The Crossroads of Destiny is just, the coolest name of anything ever. Second place is probably Sons of Destiny.

If you don't know what I'm talking about re: The latter, you will.

Anyway, Book 2 finale. Took us long enough, hasn't it.

The episode already starts out in a pretty uncanny way; Zuko has a positive attitude.

Can't relate.

Aang drops Sokka off at the Water Tribe camp as he heads up north to meet the Guru.

I'm crying, you're crying. Don't lie.

And the Trio of Dangerous Ladies have infiltrated the Earth King's court, where they learn about the Day of Black Sun that Katara is helping to organize.

There's a super bit of foreshadowing here.

There's something great about this color scheme.

Back in their quarters, Azula hatches a plan to conquer Ba Sing Se...and notes that for a hundred years, the Fire Nation has been trying to do so from the outside.

Now, I can't quite recall if this was clear in the previous two books, but...the Fire Nation...has airships. They're very prominently featured in Book 3.

What happened there? Why didn't they use those?

Aang is learning about chakras from Guru Pathik, a spiritual relative to the Air Nomads, and possibly the precursor to the Air Acolytes.

Starting with earth, which correlates to survival and fear. Here's some screenshots of interest;

This is Avatar Yangchen, the previous Air Nomad Avatar.

The episode has lovely setpieces.

Meanwhile, Toph discovers a new form of bending - Metalbending. And she traps her captors in the same box, presumably for the rest of their (probably short) lives.

I love my girl!

And Katara learns that Zuko is among them in Ba Sing Se and goes to warn the "Kyoshi Warriors". She doesn't even know that isn't Suki until Azula speaks and Ty Lee stops her bending.

The final chakra requires Aang to let go of earthly attachments - including the one person on it he loves most. He even says "Why would I let go of Katara? I love her!"

As you should.

 He gives in and goes on a wild cosmic acid trip.

Space_trip_steps.mp3

Until he sees that Katara is in danger, and abandons his quest to not only control the Avatar state, but possibly use it at all.

With The Crossroads of Destiny, Iroh and Zuko have been "invited" to the palace to serve tea to the king, 3/4ths of the uncaptured Gaang hasten back to Ba Sing Se, and Azula gives a speech to the Dai Li, instructing the coup to be quick and decisive .

There's a "fight" between Zuko and Azula, and by "fight" I mean, "The Dai Li incapacitate and imprison him."

Company!

And the remaining members of The Gaang team up with Iroh to rescue both of them. I appreciate how Iroh knows that Zuko is...challenging, and they learn where the two are located - and about the oncoming coup.

This is a very nice bit that lays the groundwork for Zuko and Katara's arc throughout a portion of Book 3. Nothing romantic, but it's something I wish had been explored a bit more, though you can find a fair amount of them in the bridging material, the comics, between Book 3 and the beginning of Korra.

Meanwhile, after a heart to heart talk, she offers to try to heal his facial deformity...

I also wish we had seen more of Aang and Iroh just talking, especially as the latter lived and mingled among people from (most) of the other bending disciplines.

But here, he gives our boy good advice; "Perfection and power are overrated. I think you were very wise to pick happiness and love."

Meanwhile, Toph and Sokka fight the Ladies of the Fire Nation Disguised as Kyoshi Warriors and lose.

There is something very cool about this shot.

The following sequence is even cooler - Azula gives a "The Reason You Suck" speech to Long Feng.

"But true power, the divine right to rule, is something you're born with."

Aang frees Katara while Iroh gives Zuko yet another "You're not tied down to your past, or your history, or any expectations of you. Be good, damn it!" - before immediately being encased in crystal by the Dai Li, under Azula's orders.

We might see crystal-bending more in Korra, if I remember correctly. Might just be spacing out.

Azula says "Hey, you can still make our father proud, you're not a traitor.", before leaving him to go attack Katara and Aang.

Another cool shot.

Here, not so much.

Zuko immediately enters, and whose side does he take?

That says it all, I guess.

Let the record show that Katara was the only person in the series to ever get the best of Azula, or even come close.

With Katara hurt and surrounded, the Royals ready to attack, and the Dai Li in action, it's time to kick it into High Gear.

But this isn't Sailor Moon - magical transformations are not a free action, as Azula shoots him in back with lightning, knocking him unconscious.

The two manage to escape...but Iroh is captured, and the Fire Nation is officially in control of the Earth Kingdom.

"What have I done, sweet Jesus, what have I done."

Your friend is only mostly dead.

Once again.

And that was Season 2: Earth! I enjoyed it much more - several new and favorite characters were introduced in Toph and Azula, Earthbending is the greatest element available, and the fights are fill of finesse and finery.

No filler to be found here, and none to be found next up, in in the final season, Book 3: Fire.