Avatar: The Last Airbender

According to an interview with Bryke many of Tenzin's solo "vacations" with Aang is because he would take Tenzin with him when he traveled to do Avatar stuff because he needed to learn airbending.

But its not like Kya and Bumi's entire relationship with Aang was defined by Tenzin's favoritism as much as they are angry at Tenzin's rose coloured glasses.

Edited by lycropath on May 21st 2020 at 2:01:48 AM

Someone further up mentioned that Rise of Kyoshi is well-regarded by the fans. I just want to say that I didn't like it much. I get that they were going for a more adult take on the Avatar 'verse, but the book has almost zero sense of humor. I mean, okay, maybe not lighthearted silliness, but at least there should be some dark humor? Gallows humor? It would make the characters seem more human.

My other issue is that everyone who isn't Kyoshi feels rather static. Rangi in particular needed more development; it's like she existed purely as a love interest.

But that's just my take.

Actually, there's one character who should probably be considered a main character if Ty Lee and Mai are...

Zhao.

...Also Roku even more, now that I think about it.

They both have a pretty big role in the series. You might say "what's the difference between Zhao and Long Feng?" but I think it's actually a big difference. Roku is of course Roku. Zhao has his own character "growth" and arc, relationships with other characters, subplots, actions, and impactful moments.

Edited by wanderlustwarrior on May 21st 2020 at 4:20:05 AM

Of course, Zhao is also forgotten about both in and out of universe, as he's almost immediately overshadowed by the far more interesting Azula and her crew.

Aside from both Zhao and Azula enjoying Ozai torching Zuko's face, it would be interesting to see more on how they interacted with each other.

I feel like Azula would've considered Zhao to be not a player of the game at first... except that he actually was, and had they both been in the field at the same time, she would've respected him. Especially given his accomplishments in the library.

Also, over the course of the first season, Zhao received two promotions, the latter of which put him in charge of the entire Fire Nation navy. That's a pretty big impact that shouldn't be underrated, especially given that season only takes place over about half a year or less.

Plus they could bond over their hate for Zuko.

Edited by wanderlustwarrior on May 21st 2020 at 4:38:12 AM

Azula would have liked the sheer guts and ruthlessness Zhao had, but then, he does things like burning down his own ships in what amounts to a temper tantrum.

Edited by Blueace on May 21st 2020 at 5:40:16 AM

For me, Long Feng was a far more interesting villain than anyone in ATLA other than Azula. He probably would have left more of an impression if hadn’t been completely owned by Azula in such a humiliating way.

As far as the Kyoshi book lacking humor, I feel like that would have felt out of place. I mean, the story is about grief and tragedy just as much as it’s about coming of age. But I do agree that, while I like Rangi, the supporting characters aren’t nearly as developed as Kyoshi.

Really makes you glad for the Flying Opera Company.

They add some levity to the book to prevent it from being totally grim especially since Kyoshi & Rangi are extremly dour & serious individuals.

Rangi is very boring yes. Sad thing for her is you know it will not work out because Kyoshi in the future will have at least one daughter and was "Well known for loving both men and women."

Unless the Avatar universe has an early lead on the turkey baster solution.

Edited by lycropath on May 21st 2020 at 3:07:16 AM

Rangi is more or less your typical bodyguard character.

A character that’s known the MC since childhood & utterly devoted to them so they can always have a constant partner & soundboard to interact with.

Of course the issue that can happen with these characters is they can risk not having much agency as their absolute devotion to the MC can make them satellite character whose only purpose is to constantly reassure them without that much else to them.

Edited by slimcoder on May 21st 2020 at 3:07:58 AM

Well, Kyoshi does live for 200 years. It's totally possible things did work out for her and Rangi, and Kyoshi had a kid after she passed away.

Now that I think of it, Long Feng joins Zhao in the "characters that everybody forgot about" pile. We never find out what happened to him after Azula takes over the Dai Li, nor did most people in or out of universe seem to care.

Edited by drac0blade on May 21st 2020 at 3:15:41 AM

Kyoshi’s serious and stoic nature is a pretty great contrast to Korra, Aang, and Wan though.

It helps that Kyoshi still manages to stoic without being bland.

True, and given that her daughter lived to succseed her as the Govenor of Kyoshi Island she must have had her well into her 150s.

Edited by lycropath on May 21st 2020 at 3:12:49 AM

Stoic and Bland in the same sentence doesn't sound right.

I wouldn’t really call Kyoshi stoic.

She gets pretty emotional & somewhat prone to losing control.

Rewatched the Storm, and now on The Blue Spirit.

We see Iroh redirect lightning in The Storm... and somehow get slightly burned. maybe it was because of the rainwater?

Zhao was apparently promoted to Admiral by the Fire Lord himself in Episode 13. Seems Azula would've at least shown some respect, had they interacted. Zhao's arrest of the Fire Sages probably helped his standing.

How do you earn Azula's respect?

This is the girl who forced Ty-Lee to join her by making her circus throw knives at her. Does she really respect anyone?

Zhao killed the moon. That *might* have gotten a word of praise from her if it weren’t immediately followed by Koizilla.

While the idea is cool in principle, doing something that'd really screw over the Fire Nation too might have gotten him fried by lightning.

And he found out about the spirits by finding Wan Shi Tong's library, studying, and destroying the section that could harm the Fire Nation.

That's rough, buddy.

Edited by wanderlustwarrior on May 21st 2020 at 8:18:47 AM

Did he though? All we know is he found went to the library and found a scroll. It's never stated he's the one that burned down the library.

Frankly, I think Azula would have dismissed him as an arrogant solider with delusions of grandeur. If they met, she would have been ordering him around for her benefit.

He's definitely the one who burned it. He's the last human Wa Shi Tong let in the library.

Doesn't mean he did it. For all we know, it was burned decades before Zhao even showed up.

I think the implication is pretty clear.