Book 3: Original Airbenders

[Musogato]

Discussion for the seventh episode of Book 3: Change, Original Airbenders.

[Leaf]

This new Air Nation definitely has a kick to it.

[Musogato]

I cannot get over how beautiful the Northern Air Temple looks. Wonderful restoration. I am a little sad that there was no Teo/legacy/etc, but I guess it makes sense that after the war ended the refugees would return to their homelands. And abandon their cool flying gear. ....sigh. (Well, maybe Teo's dad helped engineer the first plane, using the gliders as inspiration. I can dream.)

But I'm glad that Pema voiced my concern over the Airbender vs Air Nomad issue, and it was interesting seeing the airbender boot camp and them connect with the bisons at the end. (except ugh, that poacher had a BABY bison coat on, ugh. So Cruella.) After this ep I definitely feel better about these new airbenders creating the new Air Nomad nation. Like with Aang and Zuko's firebending field trip, it's good to start from the roots.

[Paraiba Ocean]

It's nice to see Pema take on a little larger role, especially as a spouse, in this episode. I've always felt she was kind of background except for a scene here or there in season 1. But I really do like them showing how a positive working marriage is supposed to be - partners communicating through a polite and respectful dialogue and being receptive! I like it! I'm all about reinforcing good communication in a successful and healthy long term relationship, especially for young chilluns, and even those closer to my own age.

I'm definitely glad she told Tenzin to throw on the brakes, though. I guess I was really kind of frustrated because he wants these people who are mostly (all?) Earth Kingdom citizens to adapt to his way of life at the drop of a hat, and it's a little insensitive to the dramatic change they have to go through, especially with the idea that upon becoming Air Nomads, they'll lose a lot of touch with their family since traditional Air Nomad culture isn't exactly the same.

However, I do wonder if Air Nomad culture will become less Nomadic, and more stationary as the Air Nation continues to rebuild. Both Aang and Tenzin have set newer precedents for the Air Nation culture by creating "nuclear" families, in the sense of a husband and wife with children, and while they may not have a precise home (especially with Aang being the Avatar, but Tenzin's family could argue their home is Air Temple Island), will Tenzin want to restore the Air Nation to what seems to be its former tradition of separating the sexes? It'll be kind of hard for him to press that argument with others, and I don't know if I can see him truly agreeing with the sentiment, especially if that meant separating him from his daughters, and possibly his wife.

I also wonder if the show is going to explain why airbending has resurfaced in random people. Are they not so random, meaning they are people who are descendants of Air Nomads with muddled genetics? Perhaps those Air Nomads trying to "hide in plain sight" from the Fire Nation during the war didn't practice bending much like Zuko and Iroh didn't while in Ba Sing Se, and eventually due to crossbreeding with others (mostly members of the Earth Kingdom) the gene sort of faded? Or were there just some Air Nomads who were already setting up shop in the Earth Kingdom before the Fire Nation attacked? I guess I've always found it rather hard to believe that the Fire Nation killed every, single, living, breathing Air Nomad during the war. Possible, I suppose, but if they're Nomads, it seems probable that many of them disguised themselves and began living in Earth Kingdom towns and cities? Whatever it is, I'd like to know.

Just some food for thought.