Avatar Recap: Book 3, Chapter 4
The journey into the Fire Nation continues! But Sokka's feeling bummed. All his friends can bend, but he can't. What's a 5th wheel to do? And what the hell has Iron been up to?
Spoilers within!
I don't know about anyone else, but I thought this episode was fantastic. The whole show just had me smiling the entire time. Every little thing was just placed so perfectly. Sokka finally gets something to do other than just be a tag-along who happens to be funny.
After Aang, Kitara, and Toph save the village from a fire using bending, Sokka is feeling really dejected. Another great visual gag from Momo when he puts out more of the little fires that spread before Sokka can get to them. It's been hinted at before that he feels kind of like he hasn't been particularly useful lately, but now it's confirmed. Being the one guy that can't bend in a group of other benders would be difficult, and I suppose it had to all come out eventually.
Luckily, the gang is able to raise his spirits by checking out a weapon store. It's neat to see him trying out all the different weapons. As well as the big wacky suit of armor that Aang found.
When Sokka finds a sword that really grabs his attention, he learns of the local sword master who made it and who also teaches students he finds worthy. Sokka's modesty and innocence helps win him some lessons from Master Piandao (voiced by Robert Patrick), and so his training begins.
Piandao just seems like a great guy. We are seeing more and more of that in the Fire Nation as this season progresses. Both the audience and our heroes are learning that the Fire Nation has many facets, just like anyone else. Sokka's new master teaches him in the ways of the sword, first beginning with lessons like calligraphy and memory. And true to form, the show takes a cliché story and handles it in a unique way. If this were any other show, they'd go the typical Karate Kid approach and have the kid learning but whining about it being hard the whole time but still persevering. But Sokka throws himself into the training, giving each new lesson his own personal approach. It really shows his character well.
The whole scene with Sokka training was just a lot of fun. The animation of Piandao's sword movements when he first shows them off is very pretty. You can see the effort that goes into this show in scenes like that. The detailed animation on top of the authentic movements as shown by their on-staff martial arts expert, Sifu Kisu.
Oh, and making his own dark-bladed sword out of ore from the meteor? Awesome.
When Sokka reveals that he is actually from the Southern Water Tribe, the following duel scene is also beautifully animated. The leaping around on the bridge, the run and slice through the bamboo. Man, just gorgeous. Every little bit about Sokka's time with Piandao was great to watch. And when you think it couldn't get any better, you get the giant "OH SNAP" moment when Sokka receives the White Lotus. Everything is building and building and it's gonna come to a head and be so freakin' sweet.
And let's not forget about Iroh. Oh holy crap, Iroh is gonna have to choke a bitch. Playing to the guard like he's just a crazy old man, desperate for the food and eating like an animal, only to return to his standard demeanor when the guard leaves. And then the hanging situps, the clapping push ups, the hand-stand push ups, one-handed pull ups. Every time it went back to Iroh pumping up, I just had to laugh. Not because the scene was funny, but just knowing what's coming up. Iroh is ripped as hell and is gonna just wreck everyone's shit who gets in his way. It's gonna be glorious. I can't wait.
This is definitely the best episode so far this season, and with the way they're going, it seems like it's just gonna go up from here. I am really looking forward to Iroh busting heads. And probably like most of you, I am thinking that Iroh is going to end up being Aang's firebending teacher. Sooooo excited you guys.
What say you?!