After watching The Dark Knight at the Metreon with my cousin and his fiancée, I was able to top off my evening (or is it early morning?) with the two-hour season finale of Avatar: the Last Airbender. All in all, my weekend has turned out pretty good. TDK lives up to the hype (watch it! it's been a long time since I left the movie theater as satisfied as I was when it was over) as did Avatar. Under the cut are my thoughts on the Avatar finale. Please forgive me if there are repetitions in my post-finale thoughts.


I was satisfied overall with the finale. I admit there were some parts that seemed to lag (I was tempted more than once to fast-forward, but I managed to resist - well, except for the one part where Azula dismisses the Dai Li), but still, I enjoyed it on the whole.

I'm also glad I was able to view and enjoy the finale without having any shipper goggles on. Well, I did pick up on every single Zutara moment, but what I mean is that I didn't cringe when the Kataang and Maiko eventually appeared. I was honestly surprised to see I was okay with it when it appeared on screen. Actually, it was all rather sweet. Mai is more attractive when she smiles, and the Kataang kiss was drawn beautifully. And I love that no words were said between them at the end. They didn't need any.

The music was perfect throughout, and the animation was gorgeous. I really can't complain. Definitely worth the wait.

Zutara Alert!:
♥ she tells him to join the group hug
♥ sokka's "liquidy-hot offense" comment
♥ their teamwork during the training against the melon lord
♥ he stops her from going after Aang
♥ their "I'm/She's not his/my girlfriend" moment - heh, cute
♥ she gives him the pep talk before he talks to his uncle
♥ he asks her to come with him to confront Azula
♥ their talk on Appa about Aang
♥ confronting Azula, Zuko accepting the Agni Kai and saying that no one else will get hurt this way (he means you, Katara!)
♥ Katara watching Zuko's Agni Kai
♥ Zuko taking a lightning bolt in the chest for Katara
♥ Katara trying to reach Zuko in order to heal him
♥ Zuko still trying to get up to help Katara against Azula
♥ Katara finally healing him, the relief, etc.
♥ their mutual "thank-you"s and generally touchy-ness during this whole scene

Even if Zutara isn't canon romantically, it sure as hell is canon friendship and teamwork. No one can deny that Zutara is not in fact epic. The two make an awesome team, and I'm glad they're friends. They've come such a long way from Season 1, and in their time, just a year! I love the parallels of the relationship if you compare each season. Amazing.

Their relationship also has so much potential. If not for the endgame pairings, one could conceivably see a future for these two within the canon world. Alas, it's not meant to be, but let's not forget there's so much fodder to work with for the fanfic authors, fanartists, and music video makers. Zutara isn't going away anytime soon.

During the melon lord training, when Sokka says "Katara and Zuko will charge in with some liquidy-hot offense", my mind totally flashed to Stormbenders. Seriously, my immediate thought was, "Holy crap, they're going to stormbend!" And then a beat. "Oh." XD;;

I remember reading somewhere that Zuko was supposed to take a lightning bolt to the heart. (I believe it was a spoiler from Sozin's Comet, the novel?) Obviously, this has changed in the animation. I bet Bryke changed it - Katara healing Zuko's heart? That's way too straight-forward. =OP And it definitely would have been taken the way Bryke is afraid it would have been taken. XD

Katara was definitely bad-ass, but I wish she had just a bit more action. I mean, at least, some cooler and/or impressive-looking moves. My favorite move of hers still has to be the one from episodes ago, in S2, I believe, where she jumps up really high with the aid of her water across a gap, and then twirls the water in a circle with her leg, taking out all the enemies. The moves in the finale didn't really impress me as that old move had before, though I did like her gliding across the ice.

Zuko didn't disappoint at all during the entire finale. He came full circle and damn if I'm not proud of him. He has made my list of Top 10 Favorite Characters of All-time. He was just so kakkoii (cool) throughout. He had some pretty impressive firebending going on throughout the whole episode. He's proved to be the prince he always was deep inside.

The only time I was actually moved to real tears in the finale was the Zuko and Iroh reunion. I seriously cried - their relationship is one of the most touching in the series.

I enjoyed Toph throughout the whole finale, too. She was utilized well, and her humor was perfect. I love that she latched onto Zuko when they had to search for Aang on Ember Island, though I'm sad that he kinda shot her down when she was trying to talk to him. Toph, don't worry! You're the little sister Zuko's always needed, just like he's the big brother you've wanted. ^o~ Her enthusiasm in the role of Melon Lord was also quite hilarious.

Azula going crazy kept me interested, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her and her inability to understand why she ultimately failed.

I suppose I'm glad the Ursa question is left open-ended. I'm happy that the creators didn't forget about her, even if we don't actually see a reunion.

Despite what other people in the fandom may say, I enjoyed the ending. I like that it didn't end after Aang wins against the ex-Firelord. I needed to see the Gaang post-war and it was so satisfying. The Zuko and Aang hug was adorable - these two together are definitely going to heal the world. Plus everyone in green/new outfits at Iroh's teashop was rather soothing, imo. Sokka trying to capture the moment is exactly how I felt as I was watching. I wanted to keep watching them - these friends who faced so much together, and who were finally happy. (I need some fluffy post-war fic.)

Toph got the last word in the entire series. SWEET.

My favorite part in the whole finale is the Zuko/Katara team-up against Azula. It seemed to come straight out of fanfic, and I loved every second.

Avatar, it's been fun and entertaining. I'll continue to enjoy the Zutara-ness that sparked so much debate. (So much creative awesomeness will come out of these recent episodes.) Thanks for all the great times.