It's certainly implied that their village is the only group of Southern Water Tribe people. Compared to the Northern Tribe, it's pretty pathetic, huh? I just assumed they were mostly wiped out by the Fire Nation. We learn later on that they were ravaged during a search for water benders.

I never really considered her decision to leave as "banishment" -- more like, she really believed Aang was the answer and that if she didn't do anything, things would only continue to get worse. Her tribe seemed to accept this. -- Or I could be wrong, it's been a little while since I've watched the first episodes.

In the very first scene, the village is angry that Aang's presence lured the Fire Nation (none of them yet realize he's the Avatar), and the adults pronounce him banished. Katara is angry at losing her chance to learn from another bender and says something like, "Then I'll be banished, too!" Then Sokka says something like, "Would you really leave behind your home and your family for Aang?" She backs off after that, and then it's not until the end of the episode, after Zuko captures Aang and it's revealed that he's the Avatar, that both Katara and Sokka decide to follow him.

Ahah, that's right XD Yup, it's been a little while. I knew they banished him, but I thought they sorta went back on what they said. Now I need to do a marathon, too!

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that village is the whole Southern Water Tribe at this point; I think I'm basing it on things Sokka said to Yue, but it's been a while.

Good point about Katara's willingness to "banish" herself from her people, in contrast to Zuko's unwilling banishment. Of course, Aang also tried to run away from the airbenders, and then they were all killed, so in a sense he banished himself and the banishment became permanent. And (since this is a spoiler-friendly post) Toph also eventually "banishes" herself from her parents to join with the Gaang. I detect a theme....

This was too spoilery to post on the other thread, so I'm replying here instead.

I thought you made an interesting point about how the contrast between Zuko and Iroh vs. Zhao and Ozai made it easier to sympathize with Zuko and Iroh. I would say that to some extent Azula also contributed to that, in that she was a more evil/corrupted character than Zuko. But she was also, if not exactly less evil than her father, at least more--what's the word?--understandable? I would say if Zuko is like what Draco-fans wanted Draco to be, Azula is more like what Draco actually was: not redeemed at the end, but at least humanized.

(I would also say that Azula made Mai and Ty Lee more sympathizable by comparison.)