#the great divide

[knightofthenewrepublic]

It doesn’t really make sense to say with any certainty that the flashbacks in this episode are Iroh’s biased version. People will point out he couldn't actually see her expression from his position, and speculate if he's just assuming it; but it is just as likely we the audience are seeing more than he did. Because while flashbacks in Avatar are always accompanied by some characters' narration, they are NOT shown to be confined to that character's viewpoint, or dependent on it.

In this same episode, we see Aang’s story about running away include a little scene where Monk Gyatso visits Aang’s room at night, to reassure him that he won’t let him be sent away; only to find that he’s already flown off. Obviously, Aang wasn’t there to see this happen, and can’t know that it did; but no one in the fandom ever questions the fact that it happened. We all accept that the flashback is showing us more than the actual teller of the story knows.

As another example; in The Avatar and the Firelord, we get a flashback from two points of view, Roku and Sozin, but we only see ONE version of events. We do not see the messy breakup confrontation in the throne room in one way, making Roku look good, and then another slightly different way, making Sozin look good. The One version of the scene we see is presented as objectively true. 

Off the top of my head, I can only think of one time the show presents a scene in the past as an unreliable narration; and that's in the Great Divide, with the Jin Wei/Wei Jin controversy. And that's not even a flashback, because none of the tellers were there.

Whatever you want to make of Azula’s expression here, it’s not the way Iroh wants to present it, but the way the creators are deliberately choosing to present it. Are they choosing to present Iroh as biased? To demonstrate he is unreliable here, they would have to follow it up with some concrete evidence, which they never do.

(Also, if what we see is limited to what Iroh is describing, then why is Ozai’s face shrouded. Did Iroh forget what his own brother looks like?)

The First and Second Time We See Azula

Actually both come within the same Book 1 Episode, The Storm, moments after each other:

This is the famous instance, where Iroh presents Azula and her reaction to the Agni Kai quite negatively.

Yet less than a minute later we get a memory from Zuko's perspective.

Zuko, Azula, and Ozai happily playing in a field. Quite incongruous with Iroh's presentation of Azula, wouldn't you say?

Zuko's other reminiscences quickly suggest that what is he mostly misses his father and his father's appreciation and respect for him, not Azula.

Still, the matter remains that the writers were complicating the story about Azula from the very, very beginning.

[james-farrow-did-nothing-wrong]

I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich, I hope you're scared of only ordinary shit

🎨:moncuries & moonsnqil

[mydeadgaywizards]

“Come with me, Reg. Please?” Sirius knows Regulus’ answer, but asks again anyways.

I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich

Regulus sighs and shakes his head. “You know I can’t.”

I hope you’re scared of all the ordinary shit

Tears leaking out of his eyes, Sirius pulls his brother into a hug. “Stay safe. You know where to find me if you ever need me.”

Like murderers and ghosts and cancer on your skin

Regulus nods, and Sirius gives him one last glance over before picking up his bags and slipping out the front door.

And not your soul and what He might do with it

It’s not until Sirius is long gone and Regulus is alone in his room that he finally lets the tears fall.

[highfantasy-soul]

Ready for a hot NATLA take?

The live-action DID include an adaptation of The Great Divide episode.

Instead of Sokka identifying with the war-like, meat eating, not prim and proper tribe and thinking 'yeah, I identify with them, therefore I'm on their side and will argue they can't be wrong' he identified with Sai, the mechanist where Sokka saw reflected his desire to be more than a 'great warrior' but also to use his mind and ingenuity to help his friends - therefore he didn't want Sai to be wrong.

Instead of Katara identifying with the prim and proper, well prepared, educated and clean tribe and thinking 'yeah, I identify with them, therefore I'm on their side and will argue they can't be wrong', she identified with Jet the freedom fighter where Katara saw reflected her anger, pain and desire to fight back against the fire nation as well as create a community to help people who were harmed be healed - therefore she didn't want Jet to be wrong.

The live-action was able to take the theme and lesson from one of the most maligned episodes of the animated series and reframe it within other plot lines to make it so much more poignant and nuanced, pushing forward a lot more character development than 'Sokka is dirty and lazy, Katara is uptight and prissy'. The live-action took the lesson and actually tied it to Katara and Sokka's core character motivations that will have arcs for them rather than surface-level character traits that never really change.

Anyways, the live action adaptation of Avatar the Last Airbender is really good and y'all should watch it - or rewatch it with an open mind to why they combined/altered the story elements they did. The writers clearly understand this world and the story the OG was trying to tell.

[piniatafullofblood]

watching that one ATLA episode with the two warring tribes and watching ATLA as a teenager is so different because Sokka says “I only sided with them because they fed me” and I don’t go ‘oh silly Sokka’ I go ‘oh shit he’ll do anything to assure himself that he’ll have another meal huh’

[yeehawfrogboy]

THEYRE SO GORGEOUS

Anna looks a literal goddess and Nate just skgndkskckdhfskslrllfdk 😫

[chicken-wayng]

Rhaenicent+TheGreadDivide, Luke Combs

[houseminyard]

jean i hope you settle down i hope you marry rich i hope you’re scared of all the ordinary shit like murderers and ghosts and cancer on your skin and not your soul and what he might do with it moreau

[asterixlabs]

[that-one-dude]

Ulysses: So I ask you now, Courier, in this crucible of uncertainty: Will your choice of company be the man, or do you decide to entrust your future with the bear? Courier six: What the hell are you on about?!

[stereotypicalswiftie]

The Great divide by noah kahan (unreleased)

A message from Remus to Mary when she decided to obliviate herself rather live through the pain of all they had lost.

I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich

I hope you're scared of only ordinary shit

Like murderers and ghosts and cancer on your skin

And not your soul and what He might do with it

Did you wish that I could know?

You'd fade

To some place

I wasn't brave enough to go

[christmassavestheyear]

i hope youre scared of only ordinary shit!!!!!!!!! like murderers and ghosts and cancer on your skin!!!!!!!! and not your soul and what he might do with it!!!!!!!!!!!

[memehex]

The Great Divide may have been a silly little episode but that doesn't make it bad. Plot obsessed folk who want 8 episode seasons wouldn't get it

[mydeadgaywizards]

whatever you do, don’t imagine “the great divide” by noah kahan from remus’ pov after he finds out mary obliviated herself

[longing-for-rain]

Appreciation post for the forgotten butch ATLA character, she doesn’t even have a canon name but honestly what an icon. Look at her. Imagine sharing a joint and a big juicy steak with her

[lunettia]