#Kay Holdings

[kachowblueninja]

If youre having a bad day just remember this is literally cole:

[winter-tospring]

The Agni Kai between Ozai and Zuko was one of the smartest, best additions to the show. I see people complaining about Zuko "fighting back", as though that's a bad thing or takes away the victimhood of his situation.

Zuko is prepared to fight someone else. Then his dad steps in. There's already a ton of pressure, and now confusion overwhelms, because wth why would he fight his dad and HOW. He doesn't want to fight him. But this Agni Kai's point is for honor, to prove himself to him, and a) he is firstly DEFENDING himself from his dad who is the one who starts fighting him hard. (throwing fire at him?? Hello??? Is he just supposed to take it??) b) don't you think Ozai would think worse of him if he didn't do anything at all? And don't you think Zuko takes that in consideration pretty quickly as his dad attacks him?

It's clear Ozai will fight. Now Zuko looks confused and scared during the fight, rightfully so, and he tries to figure out how far this will go. My wife keeps saying that he is sparring (and that y'all don't know about sparring, lol), and that doesn't mean you have to hurt your opponent, not the way Ozai intends. Zuko engages defensively, and then fights his father, hoping that's enough to show him that's he's good at this, that he's skilled. It doesn't have to go as far as Ozai takes it, it COULD just be sparring. Zuko COULD jusy try to show him what he's learned and hope his dad is pleased enough. Isn't that what he keeps trying to do anyway? Get his approval? Both he and Azula. Unfortunately, we know that's impossible.

The unfolding of this Agni Kai drives home the cruelty of Ozai in an even more intense way to me. Because no matter how well Zuko fights, it's not about skills, it's about how far he's willing to go, that's what Ozai is judging. The mentality behind it. Zuko isn't willing to hurt his father when he could, he holds back! That is his "weakness". And the way Ozai punishes this by doing what Zuko refused to do - burning Zuko where Zuko could've burned Ozai - that is a horrible reminder of this "failure" to go far enough, and the consequences it entails.

Zuko's scar now isn't just random placement, it has meaning behind it beyond the basic cruelty of Ozai hurting his child. It directly references Zuko's "weakness". Ozai showing him how it's done directly on his face, serving as a constant reminder that he couldn't be the strong one, so he got hurt by the one who was willing to be.

The sequence of Zuko holding back and Ozai NOT holding back but purposefully pausing and choosing to punish him this way was mind-blowing. Such a powerful, terrifying moment that makes Ozai feel even crueler than in the OG.

I don't think Zuko not engaging in the OG is bad at all, it virtually gets the same result; but I also don't think it's bad for him to decide to engage. It doesn't take away anything from the point, for me, the way it plays out in the live action takes it further. It examplifies Zuko and Ozai's relationship and Zuko's efforts - never enough - perfectly.

[thesinglesock]

Nya's anger fascinates me. Kai is labeled the hothead of the group from the get-go but after gaining some confidence and closure he really mellows out and becomes much chiller. But Nya's anger never gets to burn out. She doesn't get closure on the things she's angry about, she's forced to push the feeling down to focus on whatever task she needs to complete and then it sits in her stomach and simmers until it boils over again. When her brother got character development and growth, she got fridged and traumatized. After being resurrected for the second time, how do you think she feels, seeing Kai smiling and careless? After all, he's the one who showed her how to feel about unfair situations. He's the one who taught her anger in the first place. So how come he got to snuff it out like it was nothing, while she still has to fight the raging storm inside her? It just isn't fair.

[colesother]

The only reason they added skylor to this episode was because the writers were scared it'll be too gay.

[thresholdbb]

I'm a Kai Winn apologist but not because I think she's a good person. She's a compelling tragic character

[theandrosaur]

My sis talked me into watching the ninjas. Its going great.

[vee-the-machine]

cw//blood (it's ultrakill what did you expect)

it's my first time doing anything like this so it kinda sucks,, I was rushing for the 7 day free trial in alight motion loll... anyways hi. I offer silly robot angst

[withdenim]

Lloyd Garmadon’s Bad Blood era

[suckishima]

New promo drawings by Furudate!

[al-luviec]

take my notes app away from me

[elderwisp]

◁ || ▷ now playing

Kai: Hey, you told me to call you if I needed a distraction.

Alex: At midnight? You know nothing good happens after midnight.

Kai: I guess my morals are fucked then.

Alex: Well I’m glad you’re being truthful with yourself. Let’s meet by the beach near the comic store.

Alex: You alright?

Kai: No, I think there’s something wrong with me.

Alex: I’m not following, do you need to go to the hospital?

Kai: Not that kind of wrong. I feel like such a phony and the one time I’m honest, it backfires. So what’s the point of pretending? 

Alex: Kai, Does it ever get tiring wearing a mask? 

Kai: Always. 

-

Alex: Leaving?

Kai: Yeah, people are gonna start showing up any minute.

Alex: Do you wanna go back to my place?

Kai: I don’t think that would be smart.

Alex: I thought we were moving past the whole not being ourselves thing.

Kai: I- My head wasn’t in the right place. 

Alex: So was this just a one time thing? 

Kai: Alex, what did you think would happen when you gave me your number? 

Alex: I don’t know.

Kai: When we first met, you left abruptly and then you suddenly seemed so interested, it felt superficial. I assumed this was something you do with people you hook up with. 

Alex: People I hook up with… Riiight. I didn’t realize your shame made you such a judgemental person. 

Kai: Well to be honest, you’re a complete stranger!

Alex: Wow. Incredible. You really are something else.   

Kai: I’m sorry-Alex: Whatever. Look, I’m comfortable in myself and I don’t need someone who has such a level of distrust in others to tell me who I am. Also, Kai, I had some personal things I was dealing with that day but you were the highlight of such a shitty day. My apologies if my excitement came off as “superficial.”

[long-lost-mcguffin]

possessed kai au but instead of him mentally beating the fuck out of morro for going after lloyd he helps him heal from his trauma because holy shit this angry kid just needs to be told he’s enough

[garmaballs]

sigh

[colesother]

Cole was definitely pretending to be drowsy because he wanted kai to continue holding him.

[rosie-tyler]

I'm looking respectfully

[thatonedudeinthecorner]

I don’t know who started it but it is SO FUCKING FUNNY TO ME the headcanon that Deku just does NOT remember offering his hand to Bakugo in the river like bro that was not a shared core memory you’re just cringe and gay