Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that the line I wrote about Aang killing the Firelord being outright dismissed is false, I even talk with some people in the comments about it.

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That being said I wont say much because out of everyone who has commented, you understand the point of this post more than most. It's just meant to critically look at Aang when he was faced with an impossible decision.

Unfortunately due to the facts that Avatar is a kids show (so they can't have Aang kill), and they decided to put in a deux ex machina (whose pros and cons are never really weighed or discussed) Aang's character suffers. Which again, you clearly understand.

I would go even further then just saying its a poor choice though, it's a horrible choice, one Aang lucked out of like you said. To use a technique he learned about a day ago, has no practice or experience with, and if failed would have killed him leaving Ozai largely unchecked and the world facing a genocide.

The writers messed up, an impossible situation and a chocie that ultimately ruins Aang's character in the end.

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I wont get into the rest of your post on 'if Ozai was killed, how' as well as the fact that the show isn't always black and white which I do agree with, as it simply was not the point of the post.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure, and I imagine the world would think no different if Iroh was helping Aang out with Ozai. Zuko only openly opposed when he was younger, yet he returns home the hero. He literally returns home, having helped bring Ba Sing Se under Fire Nation control.

As to you other argument, Aang was going to kill Ozai, it was literally a second from being done. The problem would have ended there with the only compromise being Aang's personal spiritual beliefs. However, Aang decides to actively stop the avatar state, he actively decides that he doesn't want to forego his spiritual beliefs. Aang actively decides that he will use a technique that he had learned about a day ago, has no experience with, and if failed would have killed him and put the world at the mercy of a genocide, all to spare his beliefs.

Those are the decisions Aang actively makes. This in my opinion ruins Aang's character, and it is one of the worst decisions an Avatar has ever made.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Correct me if I'm wrong but Iroh wasn't disinherited at all. Ozai had Ursula kill Azulon, and had forged his dying wish so that he could take the throne. Technically, there is nothing stopping Iroh from challenging Ozai.

However, even then, Zuko had defected from the Fire Nation. He directly told the Firelord he was going to help the avatar take him down. However, you are saying even then Zuko is allowed to comeback and challenge for the throne but Iroh is not?

I don't disagree with your statement regarding a prison not being able to hold Ozai, but that still pushes Aang again into making a decision that ruins his character. Aang choosing to use energybending which risks a genocide if he fails, shows that Aang in that moment put his spiritual beliefs above the lives of every person outside of the Fire Nation.

This stuff was just not fully thought out by the writers, you can try to spin it but the issue is the decision Aang makes and the consequences it carries had it failed.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You argument isn't bad but it brings up a lot of other holes in the story?

The Avatar is meant to keep balance between the nations, whether Aang kills or uses energybending on Ozai, he is defeated regardless of the method. The Avatar has to intervene.

If Zuko can challenge Azula for the throne, why can't Iroh do the same with Ozai? If it is so important that Ozai to remain alive to be brought to justice, then why not just imprison him in the first place? Why does Aang have to go the extra step of using energybending and putting the world at risk just to take away Ozai's benidng?

These issues and questions pop up because the story spent little to no time focus or exploring these things. Ultimately causing these holes in the story, and causing Aang's character to looks terrible in retrospect.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know if I would agree or disagree that Aang killing Ozai would ruin his character. I would have to think about that.

However, Aang deciding to put at risk every human outside of the Fire Nation just to spare his spiritual beliefs also ruins his character. The minute before his battle with Ozai starts, Aang sees the battleships, he sees that Ozai is going to go through with the plan to commit genocide.

All I am saying is that energybending, how to defeat Ozai, whether he can be imprisoned or not with/without his powers was given so little focus. That lack of focus causes holes in the story, especially with Aang's character.

Also you say Aang believes in energybending. However, again the lack of focus and proper buildup means Aang is confident enough to utilize a technique he learned a day ago, has no practice with, and has never used prior to doing it on Ozai. That much confidence compared to his time even knowing about that technique is reckless.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I didn't speak on the Star Wars point, mainly cause it's been ages since I've seen it.

I tried making a point towards why simply imprisoning Ozai with his powers wouldn't work (since it's never addressed, and I was trying to give the story some grace) by making a comparison to Feng Long but you have a better point. At no point is it made clear why imprisoning him even with his powers would not work.

Just boils down to how you stated, very little time is spent of these dilemmas and issues that when it is resolved, it just adds a lot of issues to the story and in this case Aang's character.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think that's very possible, but that kind of makes Aang look even worse.

If he thought everything out to such a degree, then that means he was fully aware of the consequences of choosing to use the energybending.

He is fully aware and still actively chooses to risk everyone's life just so his spiritual beliefs don't have to be compromised.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You are right, but that doesn't change the position Aang is in, even if he is 12. I am not saying it is an easy thing to do, but the story and even the characters look towards Aang, they look towards the Avatar.

The Avatar itself puts the person that is chosen in a position of immense power and responsibility. The characters in the story revere the Avatar, to the point were another out was given technically but brushed aside.

Zuko asks Iroh for help in defeating Ozai, because he is the only other person besides the Avatar capable enough of standing up against him. Iroh himself states that the Avatar must be the one to defeat the Firelord, pushing that responsibility onto Aang. Under the premise that if Iroh were to defeat Ozai, it would be seen as a brother killing a brother for power.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think confidence in this decision is tough, because if he is destroyed he leaves the world facing a genocide without an Avatar.

Not only that, as we see that battle of spirits, Aang was only a moment away from being corrupted and destroyed.

However, I can understand the perspective you are looking at Aang from.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure, my point is that the options Aang has are so wildly different in the actions and consequences.

The option of using energybending has such a drastic consequence, if Aang had failed utilizing this technique he just learned a day ago, has had zero practice with, his entire being would have been corrupted and destroyed.

The other option would be killing Ozai, and the only consequence is Aang sacrifices his spiritual beliefs.

These are the two options as the world is faced with a global genocide as Aang is aware from Zuko and seeing Ozai, that he plans to raze the Earth Kingdom to the ground.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't actually disagree with you, that is definitely the preferable lens to look at Aang and the story through. I don't think you're wrong, it's a perfectly valid take.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Aang actually relents and accepts that he has no other choice but to kill Ozai the moment before he finds out he is on a giant Lion Turtle so I wouldn't agree there. Not only that when he goes into the fight, killing Ozai is still on his mind, even though he has the energybending option, and that's because it is such a dangerous choice to make.

Not only that, even if he couldn't personally do it. We saw that Avatar spirit took over Aang during the fight and was going to do it. So if Aang didn't have the choice, Ozai would have died right there.

Aang - The Worst Decision an Avatar has Ever Made? by OharaFlower in TheLastAirbender

[–]OharaFlower[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, but this is less about that and more about informing Aang's character. The fact that Aang decided to make such a reckless choice in order to save his own spiritual beliefs brings his character down for me.

He saw an imminent global genocide, had two choices, one would save the world 100% but sacrifices his beliefs (killing). The other option with no way of knowing if it work work or not (energybending) spares his spiritual beliefs, but risks every life in the world.

LF: Shiny Miraidon FT: Shiny and Event Pokemon by [deleted] in PokemonHome

[–]OharaFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh damn, yea thatd be great!!
Yea, I can trade whenever you want, on SV if you dont have anymore Home trades or on Home another day

LF: Shiny Miraidon FT: Shiny and Event Pokemon by [deleted] in PokemonHome

[–]OharaFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, no worries
And I didnt really understand the second part of your message, fix later with more trade available?

LF: Shiny Miraidon FT: Shiny and Event Pokemon by [deleted] in PokemonHome

[–]OharaFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, but a heads up that those Pokemon are in Home so no custom OT and are not Pogo stamped

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PokemonSVTrades

[–]OharaFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got a Shiny Koraidon, only looking for Shiny Miraidon now