timepiececlock (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timepiececlock) wrote2008-08-06 12:25 pm
timepiececlock) wrote2008-08-06 12:25 pm
Entry tags:
ATLA finale: bizarro AU ending - brainstorming - SPOILERS
So, here's a thought: what if Katara still won the battle against Azula, but Aang died while fighting Ozai?
That would set up a really *interesting* scenario, if you think about it... Ozai as the Phoenix Lord is busy roasting 1/3 of the Earth Kingdom (let's face it, there's a lot of land to roast), but meanwhile a coup has occurred back home. The heir he left in charge isn't in charge, the other one is. But the war doesn't end.
Iroh: Re-taking Ba Sing Se, securing it for rebel EK forces & the White Lotus.
Ozai: Has control of the bulk FN army, has some airships which survived the gaang's sabotage, is laying waste to the EK landscape. He has an army, but is cut off from the FN and its support.
Zuko: Has control of the capitol, has control of the domestic military forces, is claiming the crown of Fire Lord. May have to defend the city against Ozai's forces.
That's THREE people from the royal family, all with "armies" of their own, all out in force. DUELING! Except, of course, that Iroh and Zuko are allied. But Ozai has most of the military power, right? All the forces still in the colonies and outposts like Omashu are under his control (except those in Ba Sing Se who now are under Iroh's control). In the Fire Nation, all the remaining forces and cities are in a state of flux--some swear loyalty to Zuko immediately, some refuse and swear to the Phoenix Lord instead. The generals split and choose sides, taking their armies & navy[s] with them.
It's freaking CIVIL WAR. How fun would that be to see play out? My brain adores the idea of 3 "princes" of the FN battling across the Earth Kingdom, each with their own armies and spying and traitors and military coups and broken loyalties and such. Meanwhile the EK and WT are like "Must you use OUR LAND to battle out YOUR FUCKING FAMILY PROBLEMS?" The world has become the royal family's chess board, just like Sozin wanted.
And for the others...
Katara: Zuko's new trusted lieutenant; after she gets word that Aang is dead, she is heartbroken, but decides to focus on the problem in front of her: helping Zuko take control of the city and rally the people to fight the Phoenix Lord. Zuko cannot do it alone, and with Iroh in the EK, she is all that Zuko has to rely on. They put Azula in prison. Zuko helps her deal with her grief, and she helps him deal with the clusterfuck that is his country. Her assistance and loyalty to him is very, very visible.
Sokka, Suki, and Toph: They succeed in destroying some of the fleet, but they witness Aang's death. They can't save his body, but they escape and head for Ba Sing Se on a distraught and near-suicidal Appa. Sokka becomes the person Appa relies on, the only one he'll listen to. [Appa *was* with them, right? Who had Appa during the final battle?] They hope to meet the White Lotus and Iroh in BSS and regroup, and plan for the coming civil war.
Mai & Ty Lee: Mai's uncle releases them when he gets news that Zuko has claimed power, and Ty Lee demands that the Kyoshi Warriors be released as well. As a group, they make their way toward the FN capitol. Along the way, they recruit for Zuko's forces, and gather information about the loyalties of the cities and towns. Mai and Ty Lee become closer. Mai gradually realizes that if the war ends, then Tom Tom won't be force into battle when he grows up, and he won't be at risk for dying young. If Tom Tom lives to become heir to their family's wealth, Mai will be free from her mother's control, and won't be forced to marry and have children. Tom Tom will be her freedom.
Hakoda & Co.: Heads to what remains of the Water Tribes, bringing news that the FN is about to have a civil war which could do even MORE damage to the surrounding nations, and that the WT must support Fire Lord Zuko if anyone's going to come out of it alive.
"There witnesses to our fight with Azula, you know that. Those old women--"
"My great-aunts."
"And others too. They keep talking about how you took Azula's lightning for me. They're saying--"
"It doesn't matter."
"But they think--"
"Katara, look at me. Look at me. It doesn't matter what they say. It doesn't matter what they think. What matters is that they recognize my claim, and that they all know beyond any doubt that you're here to support me. They will respect your power; they know that you healed me, and that you were my champion against Azula."
"Zuko..."
"I can't do this by myself, Katara. You helped Aang, before. Please...help me, too. Help us."
"I will help you."
"Thank you."
"It doesn't bother you, what they could be saying?"
'I put it out of my mind. If they want to see...I'm sorry, Katara. It must make you uncomfortable. I know that with--I know it's not easy to hear something like that right now. But I can't let myself think about it, because it doesn't change anything."
"You're right, Zuko. It doesn't matter, does it? What matters is that they know they'll have to get through me to get to you. That's what they need to think about."
I seriously need a map of all the cultures/cities....
That would set up a really *interesting* scenario, if you think about it... Ozai as the Phoenix Lord is busy roasting 1/3 of the Earth Kingdom (let's face it, there's a lot of land to roast), but meanwhile a coup has occurred back home. The heir he left in charge isn't in charge, the other one is. But the war doesn't end.
Iroh: Re-taking Ba Sing Se, securing it for rebel EK forces & the White Lotus.
Ozai: Has control of the bulk FN army, has some airships which survived the gaang's sabotage, is laying waste to the EK landscape. He has an army, but is cut off from the FN and its support.
Zuko: Has control of the capitol, has control of the domestic military forces, is claiming the crown of Fire Lord. May have to defend the city against Ozai's forces.
That's THREE people from the royal family, all with "armies" of their own, all out in force. DUELING! Except, of course, that Iroh and Zuko are allied. But Ozai has most of the military power, right? All the forces still in the colonies and outposts like Omashu are under his control (except those in Ba Sing Se who now are under Iroh's control). In the Fire Nation, all the remaining forces and cities are in a state of flux--some swear loyalty to Zuko immediately, some refuse and swear to the Phoenix Lord instead. The generals split and choose sides, taking their armies & navy[s] with them.
It's freaking CIVIL WAR. How fun would that be to see play out? My brain adores the idea of 3 "princes" of the FN battling across the Earth Kingdom, each with their own armies and spying and traitors and military coups and broken loyalties and such. Meanwhile the EK and WT are like "Must you use OUR LAND to battle out YOUR FUCKING FAMILY PROBLEMS?" The world has become the royal family's chess board, just like Sozin wanted.
And for the others...
Katara: Zuko's new trusted lieutenant; after she gets word that Aang is dead, she is heartbroken, but decides to focus on the problem in front of her: helping Zuko take control of the city and rally the people to fight the Phoenix Lord. Zuko cannot do it alone, and with Iroh in the EK, she is all that Zuko has to rely on. They put Azula in prison. Zuko helps her deal with her grief, and she helps him deal with the clusterfuck that is his country. Her assistance and loyalty to him is very, very visible.
Sokka, Suki, and Toph: They succeed in destroying some of the fleet, but they witness Aang's death. They can't save his body, but they escape and head for Ba Sing Se on a distraught and near-suicidal Appa. Sokka becomes the person Appa relies on, the only one he'll listen to. [Appa *was* with them, right? Who had Appa during the final battle?] They hope to meet the White Lotus and Iroh in BSS and regroup, and plan for the coming civil war.
Mai & Ty Lee: Mai's uncle releases them when he gets news that Zuko has claimed power, and Ty Lee demands that the Kyoshi Warriors be released as well. As a group, they make their way toward the FN capitol. Along the way, they recruit for Zuko's forces, and gather information about the loyalties of the cities and towns. Mai and Ty Lee become closer. Mai gradually realizes that if the war ends, then Tom Tom won't be force into battle when he grows up, and he won't be at risk for dying young. If Tom Tom lives to become heir to their family's wealth, Mai will be free from her mother's control, and won't be forced to marry and have children. Tom Tom will be her freedom.
Hakoda & Co.: Heads to what remains of the Water Tribes, bringing news that the FN is about to have a civil war which could do even MORE damage to the surrounding nations, and that the WT must support Fire Lord Zuko if anyone's going to come out of it alive.
"There witnesses to our fight with Azula, you know that. Those old women--"
"My great-aunts."
"And others too. They keep talking about how you took Azula's lightning for me. They're saying--"
"It doesn't matter."
"But they think--"
"Katara, look at me. Look at me. It doesn't matter what they say. It doesn't matter what they think. What matters is that they recognize my claim, and that they all know beyond any doubt that you're here to support me. They will respect your power; they know that you healed me, and that you were my champion against Azula."
"Zuko..."
"I can't do this by myself, Katara. You helped Aang, before. Please...help me, too. Help us."
"I will help you."
"Thank you."
"It doesn't bother you, what they could be saying?"
'I put it out of my mind. If they want to see...I'm sorry, Katara. It must make you uncomfortable. I know that with--I know it's not easy to hear something like that right now. But I can't let myself think about it, because it doesn't change anything."
"You're right, Zuko. It doesn't matter, does it? What matters is that they know they'll have to get through me to get to you. That's what they need to think about."
I seriously need a map of all the cultures/cities....
no subject
For the record, I am getting to these about as quickly as I can; the disc was released only about a week ago, with a "very long wait" on Netflix, and I actually did NOT think they would ship it as soon as they did (which was Monday afternoon, to arrive yesterday). I wasn't about to get it any quicker because:
1) I have no interest in reading the novelization before I see the episodes,
2) I don't have cable,
3) I can't afford to buy the series right now,
and 4) I have dial-up internet and downloading is not an option.
Yes, I am a cheap, cheap bastard, but I got a kid to feed. *G*
Anyway, I do appreciate it, sorry if it put you out; I wasn't really particularly upset over what I read because a TV show isn't worth getting that upset over, but y'know. I like to be given the option of avoiding them. If you'd prefer I guess I can simplify things by defriending you temporarily, but I'd kind of miss reading your posts, so I'd rather not go that far. ;) I certainly didn't mean to get you hot under the collar, in any case.
no subject
Side note of interest: I've noticed a lot of libraries are carrying recent DVDs these days, for check out or even for rental. Sometimes they get new copies as soon as the DVD is released, like they would a book. That could be worth checking out.
I'd definitely NOT prefer you to defriend me. And I did, honestly, think that I had checked up on all the ATLA fans on my flist. Sometimes it sucks trying to keep track of things on LJ.
(meaning: more detail than I would have expected, but obviously not a major plot point I'll suffer from knowing; so, reasonable)
I'm glad it wasn't too drastic a spoiler for you. I know what you mean about avoiding the book. I cut myself out of a several communities and dropped FFNET entirely for three months to avoid it.
one more thing
P.S. Enjoy and listen to the score while you watch--it's beautiful.
Re: one more thing
The library idea is not a bad one - I don't know that my local one would carry Avatar, seeing as their manga selection sometimes makes me cry... They *do* have some sparse copies of Fruits Basket and Naruto, which is good, but it's a lot more of stuff I haven't heard of that's airing dubbed on the Fox network Saturday mornings. Oh and Yu-Gi-Oh. LOTS of Yu-Gi-Oh. Still though, it never occurred to me to check!
I am SO excited. It would be way easier to watch these if my husband were at all interested, but generally unless he's doing something else I don't manage to watch them at home. I'm only going to be able to get through 2-3 eps today on my lunch hour so I think I might kick him out of the TV room tonight (after he watches "Sherlock Holmes", the culture fiend) and finish the disc in one day. Because I've waited long ENOUGH, dammit. *G*