new atla dvd cover art

[retro_eidas]

There's new ATLA DVD box art for S3. Also some new ep titles with it (that surprise absolutely no one, I'm sure).



Aang = Jesus. Not only Jesus, but crucified Jesus. *unnerved* We also have dead!Christ metaphors that mynuet, for example, mentions HERE shortly after TCOD aired.

Not that ATLA ever really lacked the religious metaphors between all the heavy ties to Hinduism and Buddhism, but ... yikes. But, perhaps this is just the part of me remembering that first time I saw a crucifix with the Christ in agony and blood-smattered and my 7-yr-old self being disturbed enough by it it's never left me (and almost every ounce of gore and horror crazy Mel recreated in "Passion of the Splatterchrist", thanks for recreating childhood horror Braveheart!! *cringes*). It bugs just a tad seeing a 12-yr-old in all too similar (and likely all too purposeful) posturing.

NOT saying Aang is going to die / sacrifice himself like other mythic, messianic heroes, but seeing stuff like that doesn't really make me hopeful either.

No Zuko, but then I could imagine he probably doesn't have tons to do prior the midseason arc but the slow, agonizing realization he fucked up major in the S2 finale (and make-out with Mai). Angst, although good for the drama, doesn't necessarily make for exciting box cover art.

Shallow sidenote, looks like the hairbender meets a tragic fate at some point. Poor bastard, didn't stand a chance.

Comments

[eido.livejournal.com]

I did, however, notice that Aang is pretty much the designated Christ figure in this show

He also shares traits with other divine figures like Buddha and Shiva, but Christ is rather inevitably amongst them (a la Neo or Harry Potter). The writers are handling it fairly well (as compared to some *glares at the new Doctor Who*), but it is pretty obvious.

right down to being (re)born into the arms of his virgin "Mother" (Katara), the savior of the world.

I actually compared Aang's rebirth once as him being born from a giant ice egg. Katara's element being water and the chief representative of that element in the storyline, Aang is practically born from her.

It's a bit sad really. The poor kid just wanted to go penguin riding and hurl pies on the heads of Air Monks and he got stuck being the Chosen One at the young age of 12. That kinda sucks.

Even if he doesn't die/sacrifice himself a la Christ which is a horrendous thought, certainly being a 12-yr-old with the world on your shoulders? That's an unfathomable amount of responsability.

Aang will give up his own personal attachment to Katara to save her

Unless, of course, his Shiva traits hold out and he doesn't actually have to give her up romantically, just not be so beholden to her it effects / influences his greater duty as Avatar. Which is going to be a... really really tough task. It would almost ease the burden if he just let her go (or lose her to another) in that way and be satisfied with her friendship (plenty of fish in the sea, after all and Aang is such a free spirit it's hard for me to see him settling down with anyone and that includes Katara. When is he going to get to be the kid denied him right now because of the immediate threats of Fire Nation's war and Sozin's Comet?). However, again, if any set of writers could pull Aang accomplishing both, it would be these writers.

[Zuko's] actually regressed.

He did, but it had to happen in order to see the wrong of Fire Nation - reflecting the wrong within himself - for what it really is in order to face it and then make the choice to overcome it. First step is admitting he has a problem.

Anyway, I'm curious to see where the writers go with the shipper subplots. Maiko looks like a parody of itself, and I think Mai's a cold-blooded killer, like Azula

I wouldn't mind Maiko so much if it had any development at all, like if they got some of that apparent comic background/build-up for it into the show in flashbacks or something. However, as of now, it really does seem like it's set-up to fall or for some other reason than romantic bliss. I'd guess most likely to show Zuko how much he'd been vulnerable and played by the dark side of himself. Represented not only by Azula, but by also Mai (as possibly an extension of Azula). Both girls functioning as something of a Lady Macbeth for him and keeping him complacent, loyal minion. I'm not totally sure whether or not I think Mai will side with Azula or Zuko when the shit finally hits the fan, but as Mai has never really been shown to significantly stand against how Azula is or what she stands for? She also hasn't been one to really get her hands dirty for anyone or anything (and she would have to if she really did love Zuko and it's highly doubtful he'll be staying within the comfortable confines of the palace for much longer? I have a hard time seeing Mai fitting in the life he'd been leading early S2). I'd sooner believe Mai doesn't see anything wrong with the way Azula is or behaves or even if she did, she'd rather be with Azula than struggling (like Zuko did and probably will do again outside of the palace). Her blaise "don't worry" in "The Awakening" seems synonymous with her not getting or understanding the gravity of Zuko's situation at all, much in part likely because she doesn't and wouldn't believe Azula is in the wrong. If Zuko were to betray Azula in any way or the Avatar turned out to be alive, I'd sooner see Mai siding with Azula than Zuko and actually believing him stupid for betraying his more powerful sister.

[mshepnj.livejournal.com]

Well the folks at TV Trope include Mai/Zuko in the category "Strangled by the Red String": http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StrangledByTheRedString

I'm cynical, so I can believe this was intended to tie up romantic loose ends more than a well-thought out subplot, but we'll see.

Yeah, my take on Mai is that she's amoral and content to follow to Azula's leadership. She's go along with whatever will make her life most comfortable/entertaining/easy. Right now, she goes along with whatever Azula has concocted, stays in Azula's good graces and gets the handsome prince as a boyfriend - a win/win for her.

I don't get the impression that she would be willing to take the rocky path with Zuko if it meant crossing Azula, unless she thought Azula was going to lose out in a battle with Zuko. There may be more to Mai than we've been showed but I think the writers actually did a pretty credible job of developing her character for a very specific purpose.

[eido.livejournal.com]

I'm cynical, so I can believe this was intended to tie up romantic loose ends more than a well-thought out subplot, but we'll see.

In all likelihood, I'm sure you're quite right. Although I do kind of wish Mai/Zuko had some more development. I hear there will be a bit more Mai (and Ty Lee) back story in the next ep. That will be something at least.

Yeah, my take on Mai is that she's amoral and content to follow to Azula's leadership.

Since we know so very little about her, I had wondered if Mai may have some opportunist in her and have ulterior motives for her want to be with Zuko. She may have genuine feelings for him, but the fact he is the legitimate heir to the throne probably doesn't hurt either.

I don't get the impression that she would be willing to take the rocky path with Zuko if it meant crossing Azula

I have to concur. Again, as we know so little about her, maybe any of those genuine feelings she might have for Zuko inspires her to jump in the "mud juice" and get a little (or a lot) dirty on the run from Azula... but I'm just not convinced right now.

There may be more to Mai than we've been showed but I think the writers actually did a pretty credible job of developing her character for a very specific purpose.

Also, concur and right this moment, I'm hard-pressed believing that purpose is romantic bliss with Zuko.