I'd forgotten that Iroh actually does bend lightening. For some reason I thought he only knew how to redirect it, and that only cold-blooded sociopaths Azula and Ozai could actually create it.
True he can use it but I think it speaks volumes for the Iroh that he mostly doesn't use it. It sets him far apart from Azula and Ozai since he has the power but knows when to and when not to use it. Azula and Ozai on the other hand are all about power which is what I think the lightning shows.

Good point. I think that episode might be the only time we seem Iroh use it, apart from re-directing it. Azula and Ozai, OTOH, seem to use it regularly--as often as, if not more often than, fire.

I like how that parallel works out; two of Aang's bending teachers learn (and therefore teach) a superior form of bending that comes directly from the source.

Do you think Zuko will ever be able to create lightening?

I think these two points could be related - not only do I think that Zuko is now capable of creating lightning since he knows where firebending truly comes from, but I also think he could figure out how to create different colored flames, like we see in that season 3 episode that the masters were able to create.

Since it involves how the "shipping" ends, I'll put it here. The Avatar relationships are more of a complementary rather than "opposites attract" nature. Elementally speaking, air and water (Aang and Katara) aren't opposites, unlike air and earth (Aang and Toph) and fire and water (Zuko and Katara). Both Zuko and Mai are complementary in the sense that she grew up as a noble of sorts in the Fire Nation, and can understand that aspect of life as Zuko's girlfriend. Despite it all being a bit comical at the start, Sokka grew into the warrior role (strategist, Piandao's student) and found a girlfriend in Suki, who is the (Young) Lady of War sort as noted therein.

I really do need to rewatch the entire series again, but I'm terrified that if I do, I'll be gripped by an unquenchable urge to write Avatar fanfic. Heh.

I also think he could figure out how to create different colored flames, like we see in that season 3 episode that the masters were able to create.

Yeah, I was a little surprised we didn't actually see this occur after that episode. Maybe he just needs more time for the lesson to sink in.

The Avatar relationships are more of a complementary rather than "opposites attract" nature.

Yes! I find it refreshing. I mean, I do enjoy ships that reconcile opposites, but I like that Avatar went a different way. There's a bit of complementing between Zuko and Mai (passionate and idealistic + cool and pragmatic), but for the most part, the Avatar couples are more alike than different.

I really do need to rewatch the entire series again, but I'm terrified that if I do, I'll be gripped by an unquenchable urge to write Avatar fanfic. Heh.

Hmm...that wouldn't be such a terrible thing. ;)

Maybe he just needs more time for the lesson to sink in.

In Zuko's defense, he was pretty busy, what with trying to help the Gaang stop his father from taking over the world. Heh.

I mean, I do enjoy ships that reconcile opposites....

Ron Weasley: Id. Hermione Granger: Superego. Enough said. :)

I already have about half my brain currently consumed with an epic Bleach fanfic, I can't afford to have the other half be consumed with Avatar fanfic - I won't have enough space left for this article I have to write for my work. Heh.

Okay, that's where we saw the Lion Turtle! I just watched book three on Nicktoons yesterday (I'd seen most of the episodes, but not in order) and yeah. Thanks!

:D You're welcome. I always get a kick out of seeing signs that authors have planned the twists in their stories far in advance.

From the other post:

peachespig was saying on one of my previous posts that Koh was the only truly scary thing in Avatar, but I think Wan Shi Tong is pretty creepy, too, even if he's not quite as malevolent.

You got me thinking about this, and while I stand by the idea that Koh is the scariest thing in the show, there are a few other things that are pretty creepy. Wan Shi Tong doesn't scary me much, but number two, I think, is Hama's bloodbending.

I wish the series would have resolved Toph's conflict with her parents more fully. I understand there were time constraints, and I don't consider it a major weakness. I just would have liked to have seen some reconciliation.

I agree, especially after she sent them a note via Hawky; this was more or less the end of the subplot as far as I can remember. Poor Toph, she wasn't quite important enough to have the life-changing field trip with Zuko that Katara and Sokka used to resolve their emotional arc subplots (and the show even admitted it).

When I first watched this, I took the smile from "Return to Omashu" and the blush from this episode combined as a pretty clear indication that Mai would be Zuko's love interest. Why create the crush only to leave the girl heartbroken?

I agree, this is a perfectly good bit of foreshadowing and set-up. Me, I just wish they had show us their getting together on-camera instead of putting it in a comic book! Which I've never read. You don't know how to get scans of it, do you?

I will admit that Toph-->Sokka is an exception to this rule.

It was interesting that they introduced this crush — it was obviously there and deliberately created — and did nothing with it. Poor Toph even had to "watch" while Suki saved her and Sokka's lives at the end! But I choose to think that it was just a casual crush, and nothing too heartbreaking. Sokka is pretty irresistible, after all.

But Ursa's advice is right for the long run. It's not his identity as Prince of the Fire Nation that she means for him to remember; it's his nature—his pure, noble spirit

I agree, and well said. In fact one might even say that what really wanted was for him to remember his nature, and remember that he is Prince of the Fire Nation, and thereby use that nature to start healing the wounds of his country. Which is, of course, what happens.

Do you think Zuko will ever be able to create lightening?

Yes, I expect his new inner peace and new knowledge of bending will make it easy for him eventually. But it seems unlikely it will ever be something he likes much!

but number two, I think, is Hama's bloodbending.

Oh, yeah. ITA. (Wan Shi Tong is more creepy than scary; I actually find him more disturbing *before* he vamps out and starts chasing the kids.)

You don't know how to get scans of it, do you?

As a matter of fact, I do! You can view all the Avatar comics at Nick's website here. Click on the Aang icon and then pick any comic you want to read from the righthand column. The Mai/Zuko one is called "Going Home Again". Also, some fans have uploaded scans of several of the Avatar comics, including GHA, in this thread.

But I choose to think that it was just a casual crush, and nothing too heartbreaking. Sokka is pretty irresistible, after all.

Yeah, that's what I think, too. Toph is a pretty tough cookie, so I don't really picture her pining for Sokka or anything. Same goes for Ty Lee. I think the purpose of both those crushes was not to make Toph or Ty Lee poor little broken-hearted w00bs, but to 1) provide a bit of humor, and 2) establish Sokka as a total chick magnet.

But it seems unlikely it will ever be something he likes much!

Yeah, especially having felt the effects of it personally, I'm sure he would use it sparingly (as Iroh apparently does).