Anvilicious: Book 3's conversation between Sokka and Katara about Southern Water Tribe traditions pretty much just says the moral of the story out loud, with the former suggesting that the latter's opinions on what the South "was supposed to be" might be more or less Nostalgia Filter, as anyone older than Gran Gran isn't alive to tell them of the truth. This is also emphasized by the story's conflict between progress and past, with the latter represented by a group of Knight Templar Southerners who wish to restore the "ideal past" by driving out the foreigners, even if it means attacking their friends and families.
Even Better Sequel: To Smoke and Shadow, for those who considered that book a major step in the right direction.
Surprisingly Improved Sequel: To Smoke and Shadow. Gene wanted to write a story about a subject that always fascinated him which is cultural tradition vs cultural progress and this book really let him play to his strengths.
Tear Jerker: Katara and Sokka pay a visit to their mother's grave. Katara happily tells her about how much she still misses her but also about the changes coming to their land.
There's something sobering about seeing Hakoda kissing Malina in the first issue. Although it's realistic that Hakoda deserves to find happiness again after losing his first wife to tragedy, one can't help but sympathize with Katara's fear that Kya will be replaced by Malina.
They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot: Only a small example, but Katara being bothered by Malina potentially taking Kya's place in Hakoda's heart was ripe to be compared and contrasted with Sokka finding his Second Love in Suki after Yue's death. But while she's still uncomfortable with the prospect, she gets over that issue so quickly (admittedly with some quick prompting from Sokka) that the point is never raised between them.
