The moment people were like âoh shit water bendersâ
I really loved this episode though, it was an established theme in the show that firebenders are associated with death and waterbenders are associated with life and healing, and up to this point it all seemed so clear-cut, because fire obviously destroys everything in its path while water can put out fires and heals, as weâve seen particularly in Kataraâs case with her natural healing ability. Â
Then we meet Hama, who due to years of torture and hatred has found a way to turn the classic gentler waterbending ways into a weapon of destruction and manipulation, and honestly I canât think of a better way to introduce people to the fact that things are never as clear cut as they seem. Â Weâve thought of waterbenders as the good guys up until this point, so itâs jarring to find out that no, despite stereotypes and traditions, there are always going to be good and bad people in every culture/group, but thatâs the point of the entire show.
Itâs revisited later too when Aang and Zuko find the Sun Warriors who teach them firebending is not just about death and destruction, but also about bringing warmth to the earth and making plants grow and both Aang and Zuko needed to hear that they werenât just instruments of destruction and gain confidence from the idea of using firebending to create life and I love it I love this show so much.
also worth mentioning: the flowers in this episode were specifically called âfire lilies,â and a swathe of blackened plants is generally also what it looks like when fire comes through and destroys and area. Itâs showing that not only can water be used in dangerous and harmful ways, but also that water and fire are not as inherently opposite as they seem.
