Post by Pleading Eyes on Dec 2, 2007 23:41:45 GMT -5
So with The Day of Black Sun finally airing (legally), it's about time I post this.
The two DOBS episodes are some of the most controversial episodes in Avatar, and arguably the best in the entire series.
But what exactly is it about these episodes that makes them so special and...DOBS-y? I took it upon myself to investigate.
So here it is, the end result. It's time for another installment of...
Pleading Eyes' Season 3Predictions Highlights!
WARNING! The following contains SPOILERS and explicit fangirlism. Not to mention enough shipping references to give you a migraine.
So without any further ado, I present to you, Highlights from The Day of Black Sun.
Part 1
*Try to fast-forward through opening sequence. Realize that the stream is damaged; forcing me to sit through Katara’s outdated explanation. Minus one point for the episode already. Not a good sign.
*Realize Katara says “[Aang] has a lot to learn before he’s ready to save anyone.” Laugh for two minutes, because Katara just basically said Aang isn’t ready to save them, so DOBS is going to be a failure.
*Pause video to finish laughing, only to remember the stream is broken. Have to re-watch it from the beginning. DAMMIT!
*Annoyed during the “Previously on Avatar”, because the Zuko scenes show just what a whiney brat he’s become. “Waah, daddy doesn’t love me. Oh no, now he loves me too much! And the Avatar is mah great-grandfather! My hair is messy! AAAAANNGST!” Sigh, and to think he was once my favorite…
*Reminded how fine Sokka looks in blue. Totally digging his longer hair too.
*Katara’s new hairdo catches my eye. I pause the video to go and try to reproduce it on myself. After many a botched attempt, and tearing out half my hair, I give up and return to my video, just to remember the stream is broken and I can’t pause. Have to start over. My hair is messy! AAAAANNGST!
*Aang’s speech about his locked Avatar State is lazy exposition dialogue, minus one point for writing.
*Toph’s criticism of aforementioned exposition dialogue is brilliant. Plus two points for writing.
*Return of the swampbillies! Plus five writing points for the comparison of pants to death. Apparently they are equal in the great scheme of things. So logically, if you don’t wear pants, you never die.
*Haru has a MUSTACHE!? No, it’s a goatee! Ahh! Evil-Haru from the Nega-verse! No Katara! Run! HE’S TRYING TO SEDUCE YOU! Although… somehow he seems even twinkier now than he was before. Never mind Katara. Sokka, RUN!
*Aang introduces Toph to Evil-Haru. You get ‘im Toph!
*Oh no! Evil-Haru has brought reinforcements to deal with Toph. It’s the Hippo! And the Boulder! Oh, but they’re good now? Phew… Well, not that they were ever good villains to begin with. I mean seriously. They got their butts kicked by a little blind girl.
*The Boulder says “negatory”. Hmm, not sure if that’s a plus or minus writing point…
*T-T-Teo!? SQUEEEEEE! Oh, Pipsqueak and The Duke too…
*Aang’s got a spiffy new glider, with a snack compartment. I sense a recurring joke.
*Tough Firenation guards file their nails, apparently.
*Iroh hits on a hot female guard. Is anyone surprised?
*Sokka FAILS at public speaking. Though he mentions Evil-Haru’s goatee! He must know it’s evil too!
*“Prepping for battle” montage. Anyone else hearing “Eye of the Tiger” in their heads? No? Just me?
*Watertribe helmets are made of pure awesome. Appa’s sporting some customized Magic Armor, straight out of Twilight Princess (wonder how many rupees he has?). Aang shaves his head dramatically, signifying his shedding of his short-lived status as “pimp”. His new outfit’s interesting too, looks very Tibetan monkish, though I’m confused as to where the heck he GOT it.
*Zuko writes things. It’s his only appearance so far, and he’s still as unlikable as he has been the whole season. Boo! Back to the Gaang!
*Sokka angsts a bit. Aang swears he won’t fail this time. I have a bad feeling about this.
*INVASION TIME! Fog camouflage, fire walls, metal fish submarines… Best. War. Ever.
*Iroh cryptically warns a hot female guard. Is anyone really surprised?
*EEP! My head just went ‘splody! No way. KATAANG AHOY! Aang KISSES Katara! And it isn’t a dream this time! It’s beautiful! And dramatic! Inner Kataanger rejoices! Inner Zutarian dresses in black and lights candles.
*Zuko dumps Mai via a note left behind for her. ZOMG! TXT MESG BRK-UP! Inner anti-Maiko jumps in joy! Zuko is still not likeable though, back to the Gaang!
*Glider snack compartment joke. I told you so!
*Rock caterpillar tanks, exploding ice torpedoes, seaweed monsters, rhino catapults. Did I say best war ever? I meant BEST WAR EVAR!
*No! Chief Hakoda “Sexyfine” Watertribe aka Dad is down!
*Zuko talks to his mom’s picture. Why does that make me think of Tohru from Fruits Basket?
*Zuko grabs his gear and leaves, presumably to somewhere more interesting than wherever he is. He’s still pretty unlikable, though at least Mai’s not hanging all over him and exchanging poorly written/developed romantic dialogue.
*Back to battle! While Katara takes care of her sexyfine injured daddy, Sokka takes over and leads the invasion! Dude, it’s like he took all of Zuko’s likeableness and had it for breakfast.
*Aang flies on ahead solo to the Fire Nation palace! No one’s home. This should be our first clue that something is amiss.
*“Ozai dozai doo! Where are you?” Okay, so maybe Aang says it more dramatically, but you get the idea.
*Scene fades to black, leaving me with a vague sense of dread. The next episode’s going to have an even WORSE cliffhanger, isn’t it?
INTERMISSION! *cue Monty Python music*
Fig. 1: Shock Wave's scientific re-creation of Zuko's note to Mai.
Part 2
*Relieved that the episode starts off without the intro. Dodged that bullet.
*EXPLOSIONS! FIRE! RUBBLE! DESTRUCTION! Still the best war evar.
*Sokka’s instincts make a cameo.
*Dramatic Gaang pose. Can you say “wall scroll”?
*Toph finally DOES something. And there was much rejoicing.
*Sokka comments on Toph’s amazingness. Tokka-shipping squirms its way into my previously Tokka-less existence.
*Toph smashes a giant metal door open by KISSING it. Not joking.
*Sokka comments on Toph’s amazingness. Suki who? What’s a Yue?
*Aang blasts down the door to face Ozai, only to find… dun, dun, dun! Azula! Whoever saw this coming, give yourself a gold star.
*Zuko confronts his daddy, in full “defiant Prince” attire. Fashiko is SO canon.
*The Water Tribe/Earth Kingdom army puts on 3-D eclipse glasses. I stop to wonder why Viacom didn’t take this as a merchandising opportunity. I want stupid looking 3-D eclipse glasses…
*Zuko admits everything to Ozai, in a very dramatic fashion (‘cause as we all know, everything is fashion with Zuko). Ozai is mucho angry-o, but Zuko pulls the “listen to me daddy, or I’ll cut you! Wagh!” card. Yeah, every teenager pulls it on their parents sooner or later. Why I remember when I was fifteen—Ahem, but I digress. Zuko is starting to look promising again. But of course, right when we want to see him, we cut back to…
*…the Gaang (minus Katara) and Azula! Apparently, Azula is a four-hundred foot tall purple platypus-bear with pink horns and silver wings. No kidding, Toph even confirms it.
*Azula sicks her Dai Lee agents on the Gaang. I don’t get why they’re still serving her at all. Maybe they’re just jerkwads.
*A firebender tries to firebend, with flatulent sounding results. The Water/Earth army stamps a big “FAIL” sign on his forehead and force him to surrender.
*Zuko rants to Ozai. “Moan, moan, moan. Whine, whine, whine. B*tch, b*tch, b*tch.” But it gets better from there. He actually brings up some points against the war and finally credits Iroh! Ozai laughs in his face, but Zuko doesn’t let it get to him! Yes! Zuko is officially likeable again! My Zuko-fangirlism rises from its slumber. IT LIIIIIVES!
*Azula’s face passes mere centimeters above Sokka’s. As does her chest, stomach, and… well, just about everything. I can hear the Azulokka shippers rallying already.
*Aang mentions to Toph about trying to “pin [Azula] down.” Geez, these two episodes were just MADE to insight shipping wars, weren’t they?
*Sokka’s catches on to Azula’s plan, and warns the others not to be taken in by her diversion.
*Sokka is taken in by her diversion. D’oh!
*Azula calls Suki her “favorite prisoner”. Note to self: Hide from Azuki fans after this airs.
*Azula tells Sokka to “come and get it”. Toph helps Sokka pin Azula down. I forbid myself from finding anymore shipping references in this episode before I put myself in a coma.
*Zuko calls Iroh his real father! AWWWWW! I love Zuko! Wait, what was that!? ZUKO SAYS HE’S GOING TO JOIN THE AVATAR! Nothing could ruin this moment! NOTHING!
*Zuko brings up destiny again, ruining the moment. Sigh… he’s hopeless.
*Ozai talks about Ursa, something about betrayal and banishment, I dunno. I wasn’t really listening. I was too distracted by Zuko’s redeemed smexiness. Seriously, it’s like a friggin’ vacuum for all coherent thought.
*Zuko cries, and I want to give him a hug. But before I get a chance, Ozai bends enough lightning to make Azula’s look like a static shock. But Zuko redirects it, sending daddy dearest reeling back! If you called this, give yourself a platinum star.
*To quote Azula, “The firebending’s back on.”
*The Gaang and friends retreat. The Fire Nation pursues them in blimps. Seriously, whatever happened to Dragons? You’d think they’d be much more efficient.
*Aang and Katara battle the blimps together as everyone else retreats. This could be interpreted as romantic, but I promised myself no more shipping. Sorry Kataangers.
*Zuko goes to save Iroh, but finds his jail-cell totally decimated. Looks like everyone’s favorite Uncle wasn’t going to wait for his nephew to come around. Silly Zuko! The world doesn’t revolve around you.
*Aang makes an observation, “They’re headed for the beach!” As the Gaang realizes there’s no escape, I only worry about where Ty Lee is. Wouldn’t she have been an excellent asset during the eclipse? Hmm, maybe she got tangled in her own braid again. That explains Mai’s absence as well.
*The Water/Earth army stays to surrender, while the Gaang escapes on Appa. Oh, and by Gaang, I mean more than just Sokka, Katara, Toph, and Aang. They’re joined by Teo, The Duke, and Evil-Haru. Wow, with all this new membership, they’re going to need jackets! And health benefits! I wonder what Mike and Bryan’s take on socialized medicine is…
*Aang makes a dramatic speech to their loyal allies before DITCHING those suckas!
*Azula starts chasing them, but decides against it, they’re too fast to catch.
*The Gaang heads for the Western Air Temple, because that’s totally the LAST place the Fire Nation would look for them. Geez, Aang. WORST. AVATAR. EVER.
*Zuko follows them dramatically—hair flowing in the wind, reminiscent of Jack Sparrow without the eyeliner—in a blimp, despite the fact that Azula JUST implied that chasing the Gaang was futile since they’re too fast to catch.
*The credits roll. I scream uncontrollably in utter bliss. Maiko is OVAH and Zuko is back to his brooding but well-intentioned self. Oh, and also I feel for the Gaang’s plight.
*My exuberance dwindles, however, as I realize that there won’t be anymore new episodes until Agni knows when. AANGST!
The End
And a special thanks to SHOCK WAVE for her super special awesome contribution!
Thank you and Goodnight Everybody!
The two DOBS episodes are some of the most controversial episodes in Avatar, and arguably the best in the entire series.
But what exactly is it about these episodes that makes them so special and...DOBS-y? I took it upon myself to investigate.
So here it is, the end result. It's time for another installment of...
Pleading Eyes' Season 3
WARNING! The following contains SPOILERS and explicit fangirlism. Not to mention enough shipping references to give you a migraine.
So without any further ado, I present to you, Highlights from The Day of Black Sun.
Part 1
*Try to fast-forward through opening sequence. Realize that the stream is damaged; forcing me to sit through Katara’s outdated explanation. Minus one point for the episode already. Not a good sign.
*Realize Katara says “[Aang] has a lot to learn before he’s ready to save anyone.” Laugh for two minutes, because Katara just basically said Aang isn’t ready to save them, so DOBS is going to be a failure.
*Pause video to finish laughing, only to remember the stream is broken. Have to re-watch it from the beginning. DAMMIT!
*Annoyed during the “Previously on Avatar”, because the Zuko scenes show just what a whiney brat he’s become. “Waah, daddy doesn’t love me. Oh no, now he loves me too much! And the Avatar is mah great-grandfather! My hair is messy! AAAAANNGST!” Sigh, and to think he was once my favorite…
*Reminded how fine Sokka looks in blue. Totally digging his longer hair too.
*Katara’s new hairdo catches my eye. I pause the video to go and try to reproduce it on myself. After many a botched attempt, and tearing out half my hair, I give up and return to my video, just to remember the stream is broken and I can’t pause. Have to start over. My hair is messy! AAAAANNGST!
*Aang’s speech about his locked Avatar State is lazy exposition dialogue, minus one point for writing.
*Toph’s criticism of aforementioned exposition dialogue is brilliant. Plus two points for writing.
*Return of the swampbillies! Plus five writing points for the comparison of pants to death. Apparently they are equal in the great scheme of things. So logically, if you don’t wear pants, you never die.
*Haru has a MUSTACHE!? No, it’s a goatee! Ahh! Evil-Haru from the Nega-verse! No Katara! Run! HE’S TRYING TO SEDUCE YOU! Although… somehow he seems even twinkier now than he was before. Never mind Katara. Sokka, RUN!
*Aang introduces Toph to Evil-Haru. You get ‘im Toph!
*Oh no! Evil-Haru has brought reinforcements to deal with Toph. It’s the Hippo! And the Boulder! Oh, but they’re good now? Phew… Well, not that they were ever good villains to begin with. I mean seriously. They got their butts kicked by a little blind girl.
*The Boulder says “negatory”. Hmm, not sure if that’s a plus or minus writing point…
*T-T-Teo!? SQUEEEEEE! Oh, Pipsqueak and The Duke too…
*Aang’s got a spiffy new glider, with a snack compartment. I sense a recurring joke.
*Tough Firenation guards file their nails, apparently.
*Iroh hits on a hot female guard. Is anyone surprised?
*Sokka FAILS at public speaking. Though he mentions Evil-Haru’s goatee! He must know it’s evil too!
*“Prepping for battle” montage. Anyone else hearing “Eye of the Tiger” in their heads? No? Just me?
*Watertribe helmets are made of pure awesome. Appa’s sporting some customized Magic Armor, straight out of Twilight Princess (wonder how many rupees he has?). Aang shaves his head dramatically, signifying his shedding of his short-lived status as “pimp”. His new outfit’s interesting too, looks very Tibetan monkish, though I’m confused as to where the heck he GOT it.
*Zuko writes things. It’s his only appearance so far, and he’s still as unlikable as he has been the whole season. Boo! Back to the Gaang!
*Sokka angsts a bit. Aang swears he won’t fail this time. I have a bad feeling about this.
*INVASION TIME! Fog camouflage, fire walls, metal fish submarines… Best. War. Ever.
*Iroh cryptically warns a hot female guard. Is anyone really surprised?
*EEP! My head just went ‘splody! No way. KATAANG AHOY! Aang KISSES Katara! And it isn’t a dream this time! It’s beautiful! And dramatic! Inner Kataanger rejoices! Inner Zutarian dresses in black and lights candles.
*Zuko dumps Mai via a note left behind for her. ZOMG! TXT MESG BRK-UP! Inner anti-Maiko jumps in joy! Zuko is still not likeable though, back to the Gaang!
*Glider snack compartment joke. I told you so!
*Rock caterpillar tanks, exploding ice torpedoes, seaweed monsters, rhino catapults. Did I say best war ever? I meant BEST WAR EVAR!
*No! Chief Hakoda “Sexyfine” Watertribe aka Dad is down!
*Zuko talks to his mom’s picture. Why does that make me think of Tohru from Fruits Basket?
*Zuko grabs his gear and leaves, presumably to somewhere more interesting than wherever he is. He’s still pretty unlikable, though at least Mai’s not hanging all over him and exchanging poorly written/developed romantic dialogue.
*Back to battle! While Katara takes care of her sexyfine injured daddy, Sokka takes over and leads the invasion! Dude, it’s like he took all of Zuko’s likeableness and had it for breakfast.
*Aang flies on ahead solo to the Fire Nation palace! No one’s home. This should be our first clue that something is amiss.
*“Ozai dozai doo! Where are you?” Okay, so maybe Aang says it more dramatically, but you get the idea.
*Scene fades to black, leaving me with a vague sense of dread. The next episode’s going to have an even WORSE cliffhanger, isn’t it?
INTERMISSION! *cue Monty Python music*
Fig. 1: Shock Wave's scientific re-creation of Zuko's note to Mai.
Part 2
*Relieved that the episode starts off without the intro. Dodged that bullet.
*EXPLOSIONS! FIRE! RUBBLE! DESTRUCTION! Still the best war evar.
*Sokka’s instincts make a cameo.
*Dramatic Gaang pose. Can you say “wall scroll”?
*Toph finally DOES something. And there was much rejoicing.
*Sokka comments on Toph’s amazingness. Tokka-shipping squirms its way into my previously Tokka-less existence.
*Toph smashes a giant metal door open by KISSING it. Not joking.
*Sokka comments on Toph’s amazingness. Suki who? What’s a Yue?
*Aang blasts down the door to face Ozai, only to find… dun, dun, dun! Azula! Whoever saw this coming, give yourself a gold star.
*Zuko confronts his daddy, in full “defiant Prince” attire. Fashiko is SO canon.
*The Water Tribe/Earth Kingdom army puts on 3-D eclipse glasses. I stop to wonder why Viacom didn’t take this as a merchandising opportunity. I want stupid looking 3-D eclipse glasses…
*Zuko admits everything to Ozai, in a very dramatic fashion (‘cause as we all know, everything is fashion with Zuko). Ozai is mucho angry-o, but Zuko pulls the “listen to me daddy, or I’ll cut you! Wagh!” card. Yeah, every teenager pulls it on their parents sooner or later. Why I remember when I was fifteen—Ahem, but I digress. Zuko is starting to look promising again. But of course, right when we want to see him, we cut back to…
*…the Gaang (minus Katara) and Azula! Apparently, Azula is a four-hundred foot tall purple platypus-bear with pink horns and silver wings. No kidding, Toph even confirms it.
*Azula sicks her Dai Lee agents on the Gaang. I don’t get why they’re still serving her at all. Maybe they’re just jerkwads.
*A firebender tries to firebend, with flatulent sounding results. The Water/Earth army stamps a big “FAIL” sign on his forehead and force him to surrender.
*Zuko rants to Ozai. “Moan, moan, moan. Whine, whine, whine. B*tch, b*tch, b*tch.” But it gets better from there. He actually brings up some points against the war and finally credits Iroh! Ozai laughs in his face, but Zuko doesn’t let it get to him! Yes! Zuko is officially likeable again! My Zuko-fangirlism rises from its slumber. IT LIIIIIVES!
*Azula’s face passes mere centimeters above Sokka’s. As does her chest, stomach, and… well, just about everything. I can hear the Azulokka shippers rallying already.
*Aang mentions to Toph about trying to “pin [Azula] down.” Geez, these two episodes were just MADE to insight shipping wars, weren’t they?
*Sokka’s catches on to Azula’s plan, and warns the others not to be taken in by her diversion.
*Sokka is taken in by her diversion. D’oh!
*Azula calls Suki her “favorite prisoner”. Note to self: Hide from Azuki fans after this airs.
*Azula tells Sokka to “come and get it”. Toph helps Sokka pin Azula down. I forbid myself from finding anymore shipping references in this episode before I put myself in a coma.
*Zuko calls Iroh his real father! AWWWWW! I love Zuko! Wait, what was that!? ZUKO SAYS HE’S GOING TO JOIN THE AVATAR! Nothing could ruin this moment! NOTHING!
*Zuko brings up destiny again, ruining the moment. Sigh… he’s hopeless.
*Ozai talks about Ursa, something about betrayal and banishment, I dunno. I wasn’t really listening. I was too distracted by Zuko’s redeemed smexiness. Seriously, it’s like a friggin’ vacuum for all coherent thought.
*Zuko cries, and I want to give him a hug. But before I get a chance, Ozai bends enough lightning to make Azula’s look like a static shock. But Zuko redirects it, sending daddy dearest reeling back! If you called this, give yourself a platinum star.
*To quote Azula, “The firebending’s back on.”
*The Gaang and friends retreat. The Fire Nation pursues them in blimps. Seriously, whatever happened to Dragons? You’d think they’d be much more efficient.
*Aang and Katara battle the blimps together as everyone else retreats. This could be interpreted as romantic, but I promised myself no more shipping. Sorry Kataangers.
*Zuko goes to save Iroh, but finds his jail-cell totally decimated. Looks like everyone’s favorite Uncle wasn’t going to wait for his nephew to come around. Silly Zuko! The world doesn’t revolve around you.
*Aang makes an observation, “They’re headed for the beach!” As the Gaang realizes there’s no escape, I only worry about where Ty Lee is. Wouldn’t she have been an excellent asset during the eclipse? Hmm, maybe she got tangled in her own braid again. That explains Mai’s absence as well.
*The Water/Earth army stays to surrender, while the Gaang escapes on Appa. Oh, and by Gaang, I mean more than just Sokka, Katara, Toph, and Aang. They’re joined by Teo, The Duke, and Evil-Haru. Wow, with all this new membership, they’re going to need jackets! And health benefits! I wonder what Mike and Bryan’s take on socialized medicine is…
*Aang makes a dramatic speech to their loyal allies before DITCHING those suckas!
*Azula starts chasing them, but decides against it, they’re too fast to catch.
*The Gaang heads for the Western Air Temple, because that’s totally the LAST place the Fire Nation would look for them. Geez, Aang. WORST. AVATAR. EVER.
*Zuko follows them dramatically—hair flowing in the wind, reminiscent of Jack Sparrow without the eyeliner—in a blimp, despite the fact that Azula JUST implied that chasing the Gaang was futile since they’re too fast to catch.
*The credits roll. I scream uncontrollably in utter bliss. Maiko is OVAH and Zuko is back to his brooding but well-intentioned self. Oh, and also I feel for the Gaang’s plight.
*My exuberance dwindles, however, as I realize that there won’t be anymore new episodes until Agni knows when. AANGST!
The End
And a special thanks to SHOCK WAVE for her super special awesome contribution!
Thank you and Goodnight Everybody!