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[retro_eidas]

As I was weak, I watched the leak of 306 and my reactions are here.

Roku's and Sozin's dragons, they were red and blue, respectively. Just like in Zuko's dream from "The Earth King"... and Zuko chose the blue dragon as he is a stupid douchebag. Although the "red dragon" hasn't given up on him yet, dammit!

This whole thing with Ursa being a descendant of Avatar Roku? It's very Gnostic, isn't it? According to the Gnostics, Jesus' heir - a daughter, Sarah - married into a line of French kings (the Merovingians). Not unlike Ursa, granddaughter of Avatar Roku, marrying into the Fire Nation royal family by marrying Ozai. In essence, Zuko continues that line as a descendant of Avatar Roku Jesus or the Earthly incarnation of him by being a continuation of his Earthly bloodline... while Aang carries the divine essence (IOW, Aang is the Christ, Zuko is the Jesus and nobody fucks with the Jesus... ahem). Zuko and Aang = two halves of a whole separated over time and destined to come back together just like the slashy tru luvz of Sozin/Roku OTP 4evahz!!!11

Also I'd add, if Ursa = Sarah, Sarah and her mum Mary Magdalene died in exile (in France?). As Ursa, if she's alive and barring imprisonment, is now likely exiled / hiding somewhere NOT the Fire Nation. Probably with the aid of Order of the White Lotus. Not unlike a pregnant Mary Magdalene who'd been protected by the Jewish community (in Egypt, the UK and France), whisked off abroad after Jesus' crucifixion.

I'm also amused by all the discussion of "royal artifacts". Royal Artifact (per Gnosticism and more contemporary and unfortunate in Dan Brown) = the Holy Grail. What's more it's a Prince's Crown that Sozin bestows on Roku. Gnostics believed the Holy Grail was Mary Magdalene and the royal artifact was her unborn daughter (Jesus being the King of Kings and all that jazz). Sarah, literally, means "princess" in Hebrew.

Of course, I'm not sure that necessarily says good things about the royal line if Fire Nation royals = the Merovingians. The Merovingians were all wiped out IIRC. I suppose it would serve them right, considering what Sozin did to the Airbenders. Karma and all that. Although I'd imagine Zuko, probably, would be spared (as he has the most development and somebody needs to be ruling Fire Nation after the war)... but all the rest of them? Dead. Zuko is going to be the last one standing, methinks.

Considering the above which is all just a bit too coincidental? Wouldn't be shocked at all it turned out the writers probably are taking cues from Gnosticism (as well as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, etc etc). Too much Alan Moore for them!!

Comments

[mshepnj.livejournal.com]

while Aang carries the divine essence (IOW, Aang is the Christ, Zuko is the Jesus and nobody fucks with the Jesus... ahem). Zuko and Aang = two halves of a whole separated over time and destined to come back together just like the slashy tru luvz of Sozin/Roku OTP 4evahz!!!11

Aw, well sucks to be ChristAang but then I've alway been more of a Jesus follower anyway *since the Christianity brand has been somewhat tarnished of late*. That being said, the potential for Aang/Zuko friendship FTW.

And Sozin/Roku is the only slash pairing that has appealed to me on this show so far. Roku wore the token of Sozin's twu luv friendship almost until he died, and I just love the fact that it was somehow passed down to the (rightful) Crown Prince - Iroh - and to the defacto Crown Prince Zuko who is related to both the giver and the receiver of said artifact.

Now the Gnostic references are fascinating! Merovingians. Hm. I'll have to read up a bit, but I tend to agree that if Ursa is still alive, she's safely outside of the Fire Nation. As the granddaughter of an Avatar she might be welcomed in various places despite the fact that she's married to Ozai.

Zuko is going to be the last one standing, methinks.


Zuko the Last Firebender... j/k

I think Ms. Psycho will end up ded. Daddy Dearest? Ded. Sadly, I think Iroh will probably die as well - heroically.

As for the minions (if TV Tropes is right, which upgraded Maiko from "Strangled by the Red String" to "New Old Flame" - Mai will also end up ded. Ty Lee will go back to the circus. That''s my prediction.

[eido.livejournal.com]

Aw, well sucks to be ChristAang but then I've alway been more of a Jesus follower anyway *since the Christianity brand has been somewhat tarnished of late*.

The writers - whether it be a blessing or curse - kind of have never been all that subtle with the messianic themes of Aang's character, have they? The newest DVD box cover art (http://eido.livejournal.com/93837.html#cutid1), the Pieta imagery (http://mynuet.livejournal.com/426738.html), Aang dying then rising again (the Avatar reincarnation, but also Katara saving him with the magic water), Aang being a demigod basically (Jesus and Christ, man and God). Goes on and on.

That being said, the potential for Aang/Zuko friendship FTW.

Epic, it's going to be so epic. I still don't know why some folks have such a problem with it, but each to their own I suppose.

the defacto Crown Prince Zuko who is related to both the giver and the receiver of said artifact.

Heh. And Zuko is basically product of Sozin and Roku... he's the fruit of their slashy loins. ;)

Now the Gnostic references are fascinating! Merovingians.

Honestly, I'm thinking there are one too many similarities to be coincidental. Wouldn't be the first epic story including a monomythic hero to use Gnostic themes. "The Matrix" series used them heavily and that has more than a few similarities to ATLA (red and blue dragons = red and blue pills, fantasy vs. reality and heavy use of the dreamworld metaphors, sleeping vs. awakening, ignorance vs. gnosis). Other movies like "The Truman Show", "Dark City", "Twelve Monkeys", "The Fifth Element", "Abre los ojos"/"Vanilla Sky" also have various similarities to ATLA likely because, like "The Matrix", ATLA is very probably using similar source materials.

If I were going to take it further, I'd guess Zuko may be ATLA's answer to Clovis I (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_I), the Meroviginian king (and one of the most famous kings of France) who united his country (Fire Nation + Fire Nation colonies?) and the first to convert to Christianity (The Way of the Avatar?).

I tend to agree that if Ursa is still alive, she's safely outside of the Fire Nation. As the granddaughter of an Avatar she might be welcomed in various places despite the fact that she's married to Ozai.

Granddaughter of the Avatar? She's most likely involved in the White Lotus society.

Zuko the Last Firebender... j/k

Which would be karmic symmetry considering what his people did to the airbenders. I have a funny feeling - either symbolically or literally - things are going to be evening out.

As for the minions (if TV Tropes is right, which upgraded Maiko from "Strangled by the Red String" to "New Old Flame" - Mai will also end up ded.

I was calling death on her before, I still go back and forth on that, but honestly death makes more dramatic sense to me. It also ties into her family having the current EK stronghold of Omashu and her death turning them in the favor of Zuko/the Avatar (or at least against whoever killed her, which I'd guess would most likely be Azula).

Ty Lee will go back to the circus.

If she doesn't end up Zuko's wife? I'm calling circus for her too. Probably an all new circus as well, that accepts members of every nation to join.

[mshepnj.livejournal.com]

If she doesn't end up Zuko's wife? I'm calling circus for her too. Probably an all new circus as well, that accepts members of every nation to join.

Well, if Zuko's going to eventually marry someone of the Fire Nation ruling class, I would prefer Ty Lee to Mai. That being said, I'd prefer to see both girls starring in the 4 3 Nations Circus.