305 "The Beach"-Campfire Conspiracy?

[nandireya]

I never noticed that sinister look on Mai's face before (probably because I tend to not pay much attention to any scenes Zuko shares with her)...very suspicious...

[mahatista]

nandireya said:

I never noticed that sinister look on Mai's face before (probably because I tend to not pay much attention to any scenes Zuko shares with her)...very suspicious...

I hate to defend Mai, especially when I'm the one who brought up the expression, but it could be she's thinking 'Ha! Azula's plan backfired!'

But that still puts her in on the conspiracy.

[dragonflly]

I never noticed that look on Mai's face before, but like nandi, I try not to focus very hard on her.

That look really could go either way, I suppose. But when you add it to a number of other questionable looks and actions, it's just hard to look at the postive. I'm not saying there's not a possiblilty of a positive, not saying that at all. But there have been several instances where there have been questionable looks, which have been analized to death, as well as plain weird expressions and the way she acts with Zuko. It is strange that she went along with that interrogation, she could see how frusterated he was, why did she keep going?

The anti-Mai part of me would giggle with glee if this theory was in fact correct. However, the ever growing "nothing ever works out like I want it too" part is saying that we are looking too hard at this and it is all nothing. Although my patience is wearing thin, I think I'm gonna give the brain a rest and just watch and see what happens. I'm sure it won't be long until we see which of us have been right and those of us that were wrong all along!

[fuzzy2wumpkin]

excellent theory, I loved your evidence

[Alleluia]

Thank you. lol

And thanks everyone else for all the responses. If you have anything more, please go right ahead.

[Softmints]

I felt exactly the same with regards to the mood shift and general ambiguity of the stories, but I didn't think this far into it. Your theory makes sense; and has appreciable evidence; I like it!

[Caladbolg777]

I think your reading of that bonfire scene is very well done and deep. I could see this come back in a later episode (although I kind of doubt Mike and Brian are going to touch on this again).

I thought Azula's manipulation of this scene, depending on how far you look into it, is a large trademark. After all, Azual did "convince" Ty Lee to join her little Mod Squad.

But at the same time I have my doubts. I think that yes there is a conspiracy of sorts going on, but I think it's subconscious for the most part. Azula may or may not intentionally have conspired against Zuko (but again, I wouldn't put it past her). As for Mai and Ty Lee it's a little harder to decipher.

I think that Mai and Ty Lee don't mean to conspire against Zuko, but at the same time it happens. Assuming no other characters of Avatar other than Azula, Iroh, and Zhao have seen Zuko's Agni Kai, I saw Mai and Ty Lee's questioning as a morbid curiosity. If you think in terms of human nature, people often ponder, wonder, and stare at anything unusual on another person - especially if it's an injury, disability, or birth defect. Also, Mai and Ty Lee hadn't seen Zuko for years - perhaps the last time was before he got the scar.

I know they asked Zuko about his anger, but at the same time Zuko doesn't like to talk about himself. I'd say the same logic with Zuko's scar would apply to his personality as well. He definitely changed after that Agni Kai, so I think this bonfire scene was an avenue for Mai and Ty Lee to learn more about Zuko's behaviors and personality.

Ty Lee saying "I know you" can be interpreted in a slew of ways, but I interpret it as more along the lines of "I know the real you (pre-Agni Kai Zuko), but I don't understand this new you."

With these thoughts in mind, I'd say if Azula is conspiring (which she does frighteningly well) then whether Mai and Ty Lee are in on the conspiracy is a moot point if my logic holds up. It wouldn't matter where Mai and Ty Lee lie in the scheme of things because the same results end up in Azula's favor.

Although the one aspect that always intrigued me was the face that Azula had when she said "is it me?" I thought she almost sounded like she felt bad for him and was chiding herself. She does say a little later that Ursa thought she was a monster, and "it's true, but it still hurts." She's so nonchalant about it though it's hard to tell how she feels about anything in that scene.