The Avatar Returns 2:11
Sacred Reading of Every Episode - Scene by Scene
Zuko: I've spent years preparing for this encounter. Training, meditating…You're just a child!
Aang: Well, you're just a teenager.
Aang: If I go with you, will you promise to leave everyone alone?
Katara: No! Aang, don't do this!
Aang: Don't worry, Katara. It'll be okay. Take care of Appa for me until I get back.
I find this moment endearing as a viewer. I admittedly watched this first as an adult rather than as a child. But as an adult, Zuko also seems like a child - especially considering his prior interactions with Iroh. Because of my position as an adult, I found this moment particularly funny because of the irony. That said, when I put myself in a childlike state of mind - this scene seems funny because Aang has a bit of sass under the guise of confusion.
However, I am not sure it is sass. Aang seems genuinely confused as to why Zuko would mention Aang’s age. I can imagine being young and watching this, having heard several people comment on my age - you’re just a kid, you’re too young, you’re not old enough, etc. It would feel really empowering to watch Aang face off against a teenager - to watch Aang as a child like me stand up agains those that would bully him.
Then Zuko goes straight to bending, putting not just Aang at risk - but the whole tribe standing just behind Aang. Zuko has been training for this - meditating…honing tools that are certainly helpful in the world of Avatar, but also not necessarily the best tools for the job he is trying to accomplish. In a way though, it works because he gets Aang on his ship.
I have wondered about this for a while and I am still unsure as to how to feel about Aang choosing to get captured. It is conveyed to us as an audience as an admirable thing to do - to sacrifice one’s personal wellbeing for the sake of the vulnerable. However, I also see Aang as vulnerable here. I wonder about the intention behind Aang’s choice?
Is he confident that he can escape?
This option feels a bit arrogant. He is essentially in a new world. 100 years is a LONG time and I think his confidence could be a terrible choice. Of course, we know Zuko and his lackeys underestimate Aang - but Aang has no idea this will be the case. If Zuko were more ruthless, this could have been the end of the story.
Is he an optimist and simply doing what is right without thought as to the consequences?
This story treats Aang as reckless. It feels irresponsible to do what he is doing if he isn’t considering the consequences of his actions. To be fair - he might be considering the consequences of staying and weighing them against the consequences of going. But even that creates a binary situation…that said Aang is 12 years old…creating a binary is a normal way of responding to a situation for younger folks.
What other options can you think of as to Aang’s intention? Aang is smiling as he boards this ship - it seems like he is really leaning into trying to comfort Katara. Maybe that’s it? Why do you think he smiles here?
I must be said that Zuko’s final line here carry’s much weight also. After being away so long, he finally thinks he is done. In a way, I find this moment tragic - but in another, I see it as the beginning of his journey home to himself. I will have plenty of time to expand on that in the future.
Until Next Time,
Be Well and Do Good