Avatar the Last Airbender

[Dr.Epic]

I don't have time to watch that since I'm loading the playthrough, but I mean he has human athleticism and martial arts turned up to 11, with some magical augmentation like the ability to make ranged attacks with his fists, grow an extra four arms, and unleash a burst of fire to harm things close by.

But can he shoot large, glowing, fists out of his hands at his opponents?

[Hiro Protagonest]

But can he shoot large, glowing, fists out of his hands at his opponents?

Well, he can shoot glowing replicas of his hands, that's his ranged attack.

He also has a version where he just shoots fireballs.

[Ashen Lilies]

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Forget photography! I do believe I saw her flip over a car!

Also, did anyone else notice an art deco theme to the city? I know people were saying Steampunk stuff before, but I'm definately getting an art deco 20s kind of vibe.

Well, I believe that the creators have said that they're aiming for a 'Roaring Twenties's feel for the show (Including music! Yes! ) so I'd say that your vibes are pretty much on the money.

[Dr.Epic]

Well, he can shoot glowing replicas of his hands, that's his ranged attack.

He also has a version where he just shoots fireballs.

This. Just this.

[Flickerdart]

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Tank-> Car is not a very difficult step at all. Especially since they already had the makings of a truck.

That's not a truck. That's quite obviously a half-track. Second half, also track.

[Artemis97]

Well, I believe that the creators have said that they're aiming for a 'Roaring Twenties's feel for the show (Including music! Yes! ) so I'd say that your vibes are pretty much on the money.

Oh have they? Awesome. It's such a distinct time period, visually, at the least. Should make for some great set pieces and such in the show.

I wonder if that would make the big war the Gaang fought in something akin to WWI, and this is the boom after that? Will there be a WWII or the threat of one that needs to be prevented? Will there be Nazis? Am I rambling because it's 3 in the morning? Who knows!

[dehro]

Am I rambling because it's 3 in the morning? Who knows!

yes you are, but it's cute

[Hiro Protagonest]

This. Just this.

...Just watch the playthrough.

The best description I can give of Asura's abilities is: take Tai Lung from Kung Fu Panda, but with a lot less evil and a lot more anger. Take out any attacks that don't directly damage something (like tripping), give him the ability to shoot replicas of his fists at machine gun rate of fire, give him the ability to grow four extra arms when REALLY ANGRY, give him the ability to breathe in space, the ability to fly in space, the ability to hit the ground so hard the recoil blasts him into space (or onto a giant airship), and the ability to blast through the most powerful energy rays in existence. Asura's still got a couple extra tricks.

[Psyren]

So my roomies and I put on the entire box set this past weekend and binged on Avatar from sunup to sundown. Easily my favorite Western Animation series of all time now.

Now we're looking forward (with bated breath) to LoK. I wonder if she'll be able to Bloodbend?

And is Tenzin (that airbender guy) descended from Aang and Katara? Will Sokka and Tsuki's progeny be around? Zuko and Mai?

[RedBeardJim]

And is Tenzin (that airbender guy) descended from Aang and Katara?

Yes, he's their son.

[dehro]

Yes, he's their son.

I just realized that this may very well mean that at some stage we'll see Tenzin and Katara together...I don't know why, but I suddenly the prospect rather funny. a grannyfied katara with 3 airbending grandchildren and a pompous son? that must be worth watching

[Dr.Epic]

And is Tenzin (that airbender guy) descended from Aang and Katara? Will Sokka and Tsuki's progeny be around? Zuko and Mai?

In one preview, Katara said most of her old friends are dead including Sokka.

Also, what would happen if a waterbending avatar was born in that swamp where the waterbenders can control plants?

[Hiro Protagonest]

In one preview, Katara said most of her old friends are dead including Sokka.

Also, what would happen if a waterbending avatar was born in that swamp where the waterbenders can control plants?

Hence "progeny".

Yes, their children are around, Toph's daughter is the chief of police.

[thubby]

I just realized that this may very well mean that at some stage we'll see Tenzin and Katara together...I don't know why, but I suddenly the prospect rather funny. a grannyfied katara with 3 airbending grandchildren and a pompous son? that must be worth watching

what makes you call him pompous?

[Hiro Protagonest]

what makes you call him pompous?

Probably the fact that he has a goatee, carries himself with his chin up, overall looks sorta like an aristocrat, and acts with the confidence of a master.

I haven't actually seen any scenes with him, since I couldn't load that one vid, but that seems to be the gist of it.

[Psyren]

Going back to the original series for a sec - was anyone else a little disappointed by the lion turtle? I'm glad Aang was able to Take A Third Option for beating Ozai without killing him but it seemed to come out of nowhere. Was it foreshadowed anywhere? A mention of it in the library or the weird buddhist guy would have been great; instead, it just sails by Aang's balcony with the solution to his dilemma and sails off again just as calmly.

And I was a bit disappointed by Bloodbending too. Katara mastered the ultimate waterbending technique, and she only got to use it on a crazy hag and a no-name Fire Nation lackey. Compare to Toph's metalbending that saved all their lives multiple times and even let her stand toe-to-toe with multiple comet-boosted firebenders... I hope Korra at least will get to put it to better use.

[Douglas]

Probably the fact that he has a goatee, carries himself with his chin up, overall looks sorta like an aristocrat, and acts with the confidence of a master.

I haven't actually seen any scenes with him, since I couldn't load that one vid, but that seems to be the gist of it.

It has a brief training scene with him in it. He's got Korra running through some sort of set of metal (or something) panels swinging on poles, I think intended as a sort of obstacle course to help teach her airbending style by having her practice dodging them all. She gets frustrated and blows the whole thing up with a giant blast of firebending, and Tenzin says in a very shocked and disapproving tone of voice "That was a two thousand year old masterpiece!"

[dehro]

what makes you call him pompous?

pompous may be too strong a word, but I seem to remember reading that he's supposed to be a rather serious individual.. plus, what Jade Dragon and Douglas said

[thubby]

pompous may be too strong a word, but I seem to remember reading that he's supposed to be a rather serious individual.. plus, what Jade Dragon and Douglas said

well being the last of a dying breed would make most people straight laced.

[dehro]

well being the last of a dying breed would make most people straight laced.

Aang wasn't..also, it seems to me Tenzin is doing his bit for the preservation of the breed

[thubby]

Aang wasn't..also, it seems to me Tenzin is doing his bit for the preservation of the breed

aang grew up happy-go-lucky and carefree, then his kin were blown off the map.
being raised knowing you're the last one is very different. (besides which, even aang got really down when he stopped to think about it)

[Copper]

And I was a bit disappointed by Bloodbending too. Katara mastered the ultimate waterbending technique, and she only got to use it on a crazy hag and a no-name Fire Nation lackey. Compare to Toph's metalbending that saved all their lives multiple times and even let her stand toe-to-toe with multiple comet-boosted firebenders... I hope Korra at least will get to put it to better use.

Yeah, but bloodbending is physically moving someone else's body. It's pretty well established as evil. Even though Korra is presented as much more of an edgy anti-hero than Aang, I doubt they would have a hero bloodbend regularly

[John Cribati]

Going back to the original series for a sec - was anyone else a little disappointed by the lion turtle? ... A mention of it in the library...

Funny you should say that...

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[Zeful]

And I was a bit disappointed by Bloodbending too. Katara mastered the ultimate waterbending technique, and she only got to use it on a crazy hag and a no-name Fire Nation lackey. Compare to Toph's metalbending that saved all their lives multiple times and even let her stand toe-to-toe with multiple comet-boosted firebenders... I hope Korra at least will get to put it to better use.

The "ultimate" waterbending technique that is only usable maybe three days a month, requires millimeter perfect precision or it will kill who you're using it on through hydraulic shock instantly with no chance of recovery, and has next to no near-peaceful applications.

It's lack of use is far from disappointing considering that and Katara's character.

[Psyren]

Yeah, but bloodbending is physically moving someone else's body. It's pretty well established as evil. Even though Korra is presented as much more of an edgy anti-hero than Aang, I doubt they would have a hero bloodbend regularly

This goes back to the D&D alignment problem. How is bending someone's body more evil than shooting fire at them, trying to crush them with rocks, slash them to ribbons with razor sharp water etc.

Bloodbending is just a tool - and in fact, given that it is one of only two ways in the series we know of to turn off someone else's bending, can be used to capture other benders pretty reliably and (perhaps ironically) without bloodshed.

Funny you should say that...

I'm glad they put that in, but it doesn't really foreshadow much. Was that an Avatar in front of him? A Firelord? Earth King? How would we know?

The "ultimate" waterbending technique that is only usable maybe three days a month, requires millimeter perfect precision or it will kill who you're using it on through hydraulic shock instantly with no chance of recovery, and has next to no near-peaceful applications.

What's this about "hydraulic shock?" Granny was bloodbending her prisoners for months and she didn't kill anyone. Neither did Katara, and the first time she was scared spitless while the second time she was in a murderous rage. It seems to me that there's more of a margin for error than you claim.

[Lord Seth]

This goes back to the D&D alignment problem. How is bending someone's body more evil than shooting fire at them, trying to crush them with rocks, slash them to ribbons with razor sharp water etc.

Bloodbending is just a tool - and in fact, given that it is one of only two ways in the series we know of to turn off someone else's bending, can be used to capture other benders pretty reliably and (perhaps ironically) without bloodshed.

Yeah, I thought the fact the show treated Bloodbending as some sort of horrible action was always puzzling. I don't see how it's worse than the other techniques. Heck, the fact you can incapacitate opponents without causing actual damage actually seems to make it seem less violent.

I don't buy into the "there weren't many opportunities to use it" argument either. If there weren't opportunities to use it, then why did they introduce it in the first place? It's a recurring problem of season 3: They devote time to setting something up, and then really go nowhere important with it.

I'm glad they put that in, but it doesn't really foreshadow much. Was that an Avatar in front of him? A Firelord? Earth King? How would we know?

For some reason a lot of people seem to focus on the fact that it wasn't really established beforehand that Lion-Turtles existed. To which I say...so what? If it was established, would that have affected anything? If it was replaced with an established animal or a hermit of some sort, would that have affected anything? I had major problems with energybending, but I don't think whether the existence of Lion-Turtles was established or not has anything to do with it.

Though to be honest, while I disliked energybending and the way it was handled, my bigger problem was the fact that they spent so much time on the contrived dilemma about killing Ozai, and then proceeded to use energybending as a deus ex machina to make that part of the episode completely pointless.

[Zeful]

This goes back to the D&D alignment problem. How is bending someone's body more evil than shooting fire at them, trying to crush them with rocks, slash them to ribbons with razor sharp water etc.

Bloodbending is just a tool - and in fact, given that it is one of only two ways in the series we know of to turn off someone else's bending, can be used to capture other benders pretty reliably and (perhaps ironically) without bloodshed.

It can also be used to pretty reliably kill someone. Narrative convention: all the training between Hama and Katara in that episode was there to show the audience just how dangerous bloodbending can be without showing someone explode in bloody and meaty chunks.

And while bloodbending is a tool, it's still a tool with the most dangerous and cruel designs. It's comparable to a Cat O' Nine Tails. It's existence is to torture and harm. You can tie someone up with it, it's just a variant of the whip after all, but that doesn't change it's purpose.

What's this about "hydraulic shock?" Granny was bloodbending her prisoners for months and she didn't kill anyone. Neither did Katara, and the first time she was scared spitless while the second time she was in a murderous rage. It seems to me that there's more of a margin for error than you claim.

Hama was the inventor of the technique with decades of experience and Katara was a prodigy acting in desperation on her tormentor, Hama living can be chalked up to luck and Katara having some anatomy knowledge (or kids show). Totally proves the technique is safe.

As for hydraulic (or hydrostatic) shock, look it up, it may be a myth in it's current form but considering that Water benders can move a significant amount of water, with a significant amount of force, it's a very likely consequence of messing up bloodbending, even a little.

[Xondoure]

Going back to the original series for a sec - was anyone else a little disappointed by the lion turtle? I'm glad Aang was able to Take A Third Option for beating Ozai without killing him but it seemed to come out of nowhere. Was it foreshadowed anywhere? A mention of it in the library or the weird buddhist guy would have been great; instead, it just sails by Aang's balcony with the solution to his dilemma and sails off again just as calmly.

And I was a bit disappointed by Bloodbending too. Katara mastered the ultimate waterbending technique, and she only got to use it on a crazy hag and a no-name Fire Nation lackey. Compare to Toph's metalbending that saved all their lives multiple times and even let her stand toe-to-toe with multiple comet-boosted firebenders... I hope Korra at least will get to put it to better use.

A) It was vaguely foreshadowed (as has already been pointed out.)

B) It must be remembered that in mythology Lion Turtles represent the hand of god. So it is literally Deus Ex Machina. In my opinion this makes the Lion Turtle one of the most brilliant pieces in the show. And as a result, I actually really like the last few episodes. (well that and a love of Mark Hamill's voice acting. On the other hand, it was a little too heavy with the Zutara but meh. Not enough to ruin it.)

[Psyren]

It can also be used to pretty reliably kill someone.

And lightning can't?
How about spears made of ice? Or giant rocks?

Narrative convention: all the training between Hama and Katara in that episode was there to show the audience just how dangerous bloodbending can be without showing someone explode in bloody and meaty chunks.

Even learning it for the first time, Hama didn't accidentally kill a single rat. Nor did she kill any of her FN hostages, whose welfare she had no reason to care about.

So we can either believe that Hama was born an expert bloodbender with the self-control to avoid lasting harm to any of her targets, despite being both demented and amoral... or that bloodbending is not as dangerous as you seem to think it is. Occam's Razor.

And while bloodbending is a tool, it's still a tool with the most dangerous and cruel designs.

This is BoVD logic. It's "dangerous and cruel" because we're told it's dangerous and cruel. No, actually, it's dangerous and cruel because it's squicky. There are no negative consequences to Katara for using it in anger or fear, none to her targets, none to Hama for kidnapping people with it, none to the hostages themselves, none even to the rats.

If you're wondering about evil bending, what about Toph? She imprisons several people in metal once she learns metalbending (e.g. the two schlubs sent to take her back to her parents, and the dai li agent she locks in the support column underground.) And she was the world's only metalbender at that time. She even locked the former two in with the key. Those people were left to starve to death/die of thirst with no bender on the planet able to free them, including themselves - and that's assuming anyone even found them in time. Isn't that "dangerous and cruel?"

As for hydraulic (or hydrostatic) shock, look it up, it may be a myth in it's current form but considering that Water benders can move a significant amount of water, with a significant amount of force, it's a very likely consequence of messing up bloodbending, even a little.

Do you have a source for this phenomenon within the show?

It's equally possible that... bloodbending has no side effects at all. More likely in fact, given that nobody on the receiving end of it has received lasting harm.



@ The Turtle: It may have been the... I dunno, Tibetan?... symbol for Deus Ex Machina, but that's beside the point. It's clear that at least from the library scene they had an idea of introducing this important character and what his role would be; it would have been easy for them to drop a line in about Aang reading some cryptic message to go with that drawing, or better yet having the Guru guy mention an ancient technique linking chakras to bending or something. Anything but they way they actually handled it.

[dehro]

Yeah, I thought the fact the show treated Bloodbending as some sort of horrible action was always puzzling. I don't see how it's worse than the other techniques. Heck, the fact you can incapacitate opponents without causing actual damage actually seems to make it seem less violent.

it's used only by the strongest benders (the old woman qualifies as being the last one of her kind to surrender..and katara pretty much is awesome)

we've always seen it being used to basically violate other people.. and it's inherently much more dangerous than any other form of bending, which has also a lot of good applications, from keeping warm to healing, building a house or pushing a sailboat..
the step from bloodbending to fist-of-the-north-star like exploding heads is a bit too close for comfort.
this IS a kids show after all.