ATLA Rewatch Episodes 3x3 & 3x4 Reaction

Alex Begley mostly summed up my thoughts on Katara helping, but I want to add that Katara wasn't helping the village out of selfish desire. On the first night, she was trying to help them food-wise, in a very minimal way. That wasn't adequate because the issue of food was always going to be the same: the military's pollution was poisoning the water. So, when she went back again to heal the townsfolk, Sokka mentioned this to her. Inherently, if Sokka hadn't said anything about the factory, I don't know that she would have blown it up. I think she would have been satisfied just wanted to heal whomever she could short term. But, it's Sokka's idea that gives way to Katara's. Get rid of the military stationed there, and then clean the water, which ultimately was the issue. Yes, I understand there was a fallout, but the Gaang dealt with it, more specifically Katara and Aang handled it. (Yes, Sokka and Toph had roles, but Katara went back to clean her consequences.) I feel like most people are being unfair to Katara in that turning a blind eye helps no one. Yes, I know you can't help everyone usually, but in that moment, Katara was in the position to help *them.* That's why her line "I will never turn my back on those who need me" resonates deeply with empathetic people. As for the commentary on helping everyone--seeking it out--we've never seen Katara do that. She's only ever helped in circumstances she happens upon, so I think it's pretty unjustified to say that she's *could* be unhealthy in her desire to help people. She just hasn't indicated that she is that person. Katara recognizes that there is an end goal to defeat the fire lord, but along the way, there are situations where compassion is needed. Sure there is the smaller issue of deception, but I really think that's beside the point. Katara was never a character portrayed as too virtuous to never lie. To be hung up in that issue is to misunderstand the larger goal in mind: help the village help themselves. I also think her generosity was rewarded in an odd but satisfying way--through the spirit. The town's problem never should have been hers to burden, but she stepped up because she felt called to it. The world could definitely benefit by having more people willing to help others because it's a team effort. As it is now, I think part of the reason we have many societal problems is because of selfishness and turning away from the people who need aid, like Sokka was all too willing to do. So, yes, I think Katara, although impulsive, had the right of it.

Soleil

Don't worry Sokka, one day, you're gonna be reborn as Callum, learn how to grow wings and fly, it'll be fine! Great episode, favorite Master character among the bunch (except for Iroh, who's a main character in my book). I guess my main takeaway from these episodes is that the people from the Fire Nation aren't the enemy, they are just people, some of them are great even, and the Gaang sees that. It's probably no accident that the trip through the Fire Nation has been so much more fun compared to the Earth Kingdom journey, even though there's other reasons as well. Viewed from that lense, it's more about Katara wanting to help even the "enemy" and the environmental message for me, so I always took the Painted Lady thanking her as "nature needs our help, it can't fix itself", since Katara is the one doing the lion's share of cleaning and the inital inspiration for the village to remember the Painted Lady, aka the River (Spirit). But even though that's probably the intent, I think you're right that they kinda ruined the nuanced take (on the problem of how and when to help) it was before that scene. Even if it wasn't intentional, it very much reads like "she totally did the right thing in every way" when it's clearly more complex than that.

kingafreund

Hey, I found the debate about how much to help so interesting as I think one of the greatest things we can do in the world is just to be kind but it is so complex, and I faced issue e.g. with people misjudging the intentions behind it, or perceiving themselves as inadequate for not helping enough. You’re the sort of person I wish I could have a long tea and cig with and just talk non-stop about philosophy and life. In true Iroh fashion.

"At this rate it will take one week" LMAO

R'Mani Leavell

I wish Alex was just ONE of my teachers throughout my education. I honestly think I would have cared more about school and understood people more if I was fortunate enough to have someone like him teach me. Anyone else feel that way? Am I crazy? lmao

Zavooloo

@Kotryna oh definitely! I just kind of went off on a tangent at some point haha. This episode does so much in so little time Avatar always impresses me.

Flavia Lobato

I agree with your points, but the episode does kind of address that by having them destroy the factory and remove the military presence. These were the root causes of the village's poverty. We know that ultimately it wasn't Katara's giving food and healing illnesses; it was the systemic problems being solved. And then the whole village contributes to clean up the river. But yeah in real life it's all a lot more complicated and takes a long time. I just see this episode as analogous to someone with a lot of power using those powers to take down a major issue. If I think any deeper on it, it just gets too crazy lol.

Kotryna

Hey Alex! I think your reflections on Katara’s savior complex were really poignant and how the writer’s own bias seemed to seep in “The Painted Lady.” The conversation on saviorism, the allusion to NGO’s, charities, and other well intentioned people going to foreign markets and just supplying people with food, help, education, etc. that they may not need is incredibly relevant! That sort of aid can damage local economies, harm communities, and often these companies don’t communicate with grassroots efforts within that specific community already doing the work. I reflect on this English school that outsources teachers coming from the U.S., or other nations, to Belém, Brazil, where my family is from. Often the teachers are given specific things to educate on, and due to the nature of the job, these teaching positions are temporary, so there’s no incentive to improve the current level of material provided to the children. Therefore, those kids have been taught that same lesson nearly every year of their lower school education and are left unprepared for higher education. Similar instances are raised when a company offers bags of food for every purchase, for example - where’s the food going? How’s it being distributed? Is this only adding to the harm? How can we give this community the tools to reproduce success by their own means rather than relying on charity? The list goes on. I’m very suspicious of surface level aid, that is most often attached to personal gain rather than the community of people you should be helping. I know that was a bit long winded, and I don’t mean to diss Katara in that way ( truly I love her) but I’ve always had a problem with this episode as well. And of course I enjoy discourse!

Flavia Lobato

1,000 Patrons! Major W

benj

The suit of armor is a joke on how expensive it is to animate complex character models. Notice how Aang moves very little with it on. Explains why all the characters in this show are relatively simple by design.

Albert Rhodes

I really like your thoughts on the Painted Lady episode! I like what the episode it does with the complexities of the issues it brings help in “helping” people. I was a history major, so I’m also interested in our own history and all the failures that occurred from “helping.” I’m not sure I’m satisfied with the conclusion either, with the painted lady showing up, but it would be hard to have a good conclusion in such a short of time. I think it works well as a companion to the season 1 Katara episode of her helping people to at least acknowledge there is more depth to “helping” people. I’m unsure on my thoughts about the Painted Lady showing up at the end. I initially (when I was 11) connected it less to picking a side ideologically and more to showing that magic does exist, which I like after Katara saying like it doesn’t matter if she exists or not, but that’s mostly because 11-year-old me liked the idea of magic/ spirits existing (I mean I still like that idea). I also really like the aesthetic of the Painted Lady, which was my other main focus at 11. But as I said I’m a little more unsure now. I think that although the painted lady sides with Katara, that doesn’t necessarily mean Katara is “right,” as spirits can be on whatever side they want to be on. So I still interpret the main lesson of the episode is how complicated it all is. But I also stand by the idea that Katara is a much better person than I will ever be for doing what she believes is right despite possible consequences. I feel like I am someone who only helps halfway, and I think I have a lot to learn from Katara in her conviction and confidence and sense of purpose, which I lack.

Emma Root

I largely agree with your problems with The Painted Lady, but writing-wise my biggest is Sokka and his schedule. It's a very episode-specific conflict, and you even mention in the next episode that it's not being adhered to. If this had happened closer to the Day of Black Sun, or if the schedule was more prominent elsewhere, I might have had more sympathy for him but he just comes across as an ass to me. Especially later when he suddenly finds the time to scam the locals - at least Katara's cause is noble! I don't have too much of a problem with The Painted Lady herself, especially after LoK where they firmly established that spirits are fickle as fuck and aren't inclined to interfere in human conflicts EVEN if it benefits them, but they are willing to enjoy those benefits. But yes, it definitely comes across as the writers being self-congratulatory. I do wonder if an environmental episode was something the studio ordered, and because it was written in a nuanced way they were worried people wouldn't get the message so they made them add that last scene to make it clear. Something similar happened with an episode of Buffy and this gives me the same vibes.

Jamie Morgan

I think part of the reason you conflict with Katara in The Painted Lady is like you said, you're a strong willed person and so is Katara but the two of you hold different beliefs. It's the same reason she butts heads with Toph a lot as well as Sokka. I like to think of the groups’ individual ideologies on a spectrum with Katara and Aang closer to each other and Toph and Sokka closer to each other. It's why I think Aang helping goes beyond just his crush for Katara but also that it lines up with some of his beliefs about being a helping presence for people in need. Personally, I wouldn't argue that either Katara or Sokka are necessarily wrong in their beliefs here, mostly because I think right/wrong in this context is too simple. Both ways have pros and cons. Since you brought up points against Katara and I lean towards Katara side, I'll defend her a bit. I agree with you about her needing to think things through before just rushing in. I think that's probably her biggest mistake in the situation. In terms of the idea of getting involved in the village, I differ. It’s a personal thing for me and I in no way am saying it’s the penultimate thing to do, but I believe that when it comes to these situations where you come upon a person or group in need, I like to help because I think it’s right. I know logically that it could have potential repercussions I’m not expecting but I also know logically that I could never be able to anticipate every single one of them. For all I know, my not doing anything could lead to the worst outcome for the person/group. Every choice will lead to some sort of ripple of effects. The best thing you can do when they come up is to act upon what you’re aware of and how it lines up with your beliefs. I don’t think the human brain is possible of computing every possible thing that choice will cause, let alone assigning value to each thing in a weighing of whether it was “right” or “wrong”. You can only act to the best of your knowledge. To back track a little, as with all things, taking it to an extreme is dangerous. That’s where as I said before, Katara should have taken the time to absorb more information about what was going on and reflected on what her actions would trigger before doing anything. Also, I think Sokka could be seen as being a bit rigid in his beliefs too, as evidenced by his incredibly detailed schedule he doesn’t allow any leeway in. He barely even considers whether there was an actual way he could help the village. His idea that getting rid of the Firelord will help is kind of that same top-down solution you were talking about where it might not actually help the village as much as he makes it seem. After all, it would just be a change in leadership for the nation as a whole and at this point they haven’t even considered who will take control once he’s dealt with (since Zuko hadn’t joined them yet giving them their solution). Overall, I like Katara’s thinking that doing something is better than nothing here. The village clearly couldn’t keep surviving in the state they were in. And to say it’s the village’s fault is a bit harsh considering they are going up against the well equipped military of their governing body. Katara knows she has the power the village doesn’t in order to push back in that situation. From there it’s like you said about needing to have the commitment to go through with it until the end. At least her acting got something to happen, from there she may take some failures, but she can adapt from her mistakes and find the path she’s searching for as she ends up doing, with her realization that she went in blindly and conclusion that the village needs to be able to adapt without her. To quote the great Iroh, “While it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a great blessing” Sorry this got so long. I normally would trim a comment like this down or not even post it because I get in so deep haha One last thing though, Iroh is so incredibly secure in himself. I think that’s my favorite trait of his. He knows his value and worth. It allows him so many advantages from being able to laugh at himself to not being provoked to blind anger to making others believe he’s more vulnerable than he is. No one else controls his emotions or the way he thinks about himself. It’s very admirable.

Alex Begley

Seems we're in agreement. I think I am more okay with it this time around because it seems largely INTENTIONAL that it creates this weird, ambiguous, complex situation. But I think it ends up being a little too self-congratulatory with the painted lady showing up and seeming to validate Katara as being in the right.

Alex G

I actually hadn't thought of that, so thanks. That makes more sense than I gave it credit for plot-wise, but I think my issue with it is more a thematic one. Was that really justified? Was it totally a healthy choice? Is that what help looks like? It's complicated

Alex G

As you can probably guess by the 400 years I spent in this video talking about this, it's a point of major conflict for me. I think you're right that the painted lady is a recognition of the goodness in Katara, but that's part of why I don't like it. I'm not convinced that what she did is good (or at least WOULD BE good if taken and extracted out of the show and into real life). What is sort of frustrating about it for me is that the show DOES seem to acknowledge this complexity first with Katara having a realization, only to kinda give her a pat on a back for it at the end there through the spirit world.

Alex G

i think katara made the wrong decision helping the village. i understand how i could get flak for saying that, but it's so much easier to judge in hindsight. not to come across as unsympathetic, but the point is clearly made that her purpose is helping defeat the firelord. in doing so, not just this village, but the whole world recovers from whichever way the fire nation devastated them. if she was just purely a meandering traveler or a member of some sort of peace corps, fine, but by allowing her emotions to spur selfless action, she is ironically acting selfishly. she's putting her immediate feelings over a timed objective that overshadows the *relatively* small needs of the village. of course it works out in the end, but i feel like in real life it'd be a lot more complicated and unsustainable (and of course that'd depend on the situation). it just works so well in the end here bc in the avatar world you have the convenient threat of destructive spirits to permanently scare the fire nation away. based on how you reacted, i don't think i'm toooo far off from how you felt, so at least we aren't entirely alone here😂

joe martin

I get your feelings about the painted lady spirit showing up but I don’t think you understand. It’s the same thing why the panda spurt was a giant monster. It’s home was burned down. The painted lady couldn’t show up cause it’s home was polluted. And if you already understood that then I typed this for nothing hahaha

hays collins

I wonder if Piando still has that Metorite. Cause Sokka could go back and make another Space Sword

hays collins

Ok “first day” of training doesn’t make since is it the same time passage as Iroh. I refuse to belive Iroh can get that jacked in a day!!!

hays collins

I always saw the Painted Lady saying “Thank You” as a spirit seeing the goodness in a person and wanting them to know that they did good for the world. Also I get your side about not helping every person you come across, but seeing as how this is an entire village that was basically on the brink of death, I think it deserves more leeway. Katara obviously only wants to help people if it’s a truly dire situation, and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. If she didn’t help that village, it’s entirely possible they would have all starved to death or just died from sickness before the war ended.

Alec Campo

I’m still confused about the time passage in Sokkas master. Is it several weeks, a couple days. What makes it so confusing is Iroh getting jacked during the same episode. So does that time coincide with Sokkas training. Can someone shed some light here please!!!

hays collins

I love how Aang and Katara’s relationship progressed this season. It was always Aang showing affection to Katara but not really the other way around but in Book 3 we get episodes like the headband with the “seductive” dancing haha. And this moment in the painted lady with them together. You slowly see them falling for each other than Aang just falling for Katara

hays collins

Technically this is Katara and Aangs first night away together haha

hays collins

But what does it mean... one guy, many hats?

Alex G

Thanks!

Alex G

Lol looking at the description I am very excited for your "long rant" after The Painted Lady episode. I am sure the entire rant is debating whether or not Shu, Doc, and Bushi are different people or not, analyzing every frame of every scene with them to decide once and for all if its just a man with dementia, a shape shifting demon, or something much-much more terrifying...

benj

I adore the Sokka and Aang moments. For some reason we don’t seem to get a lot. Those two are so smart but for some reason when they get together they are the two dumbest people haha

hays collins

Cool fact: Sokkas master schedule is actually a animation schedule for the show.

hays collins

Link is working!

Vali

How about now?

Alex G

How about now?

Alex G

Haha. Unfortunately the link isn’t working

hays collins

Yoooo just went to check the time of other ATLA rewatch uploads to try and gauge when today's would get put up and what do you know. Perfect timing just like hays. There are lots of parts of The Painted Lady episode I enjoy but I always felt it was an unnecessary episode overall, its for the most part a plot remake of Imprisoned (S1 EP5) where Katara goes out of her way to help innocent people being oppressed by the Fire Nation. We get it show writers, Katara cares about people in need. For me, The Painted Lady is the second worst episode of the show just ahead of The Great Divide and those two are honestly the only two episodes in the whole show I don't absolutely adore, they are also the only two I occasionally skip on rewatch, this is just me though. Sokka's Master on the other hand........need I say more. Sokka is my second favorite character in this all time greatest tv show cast of characters, this episode is cherished by all us Sokka fanatic's.

benj

Hey the link isn’t working??

hays collins

vimeo lyin

Zavooloo

Perfect timing. Just went to check if it was up!

hays collins