The most heartbreaking thing for me is that since Aang and Appa are spiritually connected, they had the same dream at the same time. "I guess this means we'll always be together"
After multiple viewings of this show, I just realized how devastated Appa must have been to seek shelter underneath something knowing his fear and discomfort being underground
That's the sand-sailer that Aang and the gang later find. If it wasn't for the sand-sailer, our group might not have made it out of the desert. So a way, Appa saved them.
This episode received a Genesis Award from the Humane Society in the category "Outstanding Children's Programming". It was one of more than ten awards for the series.
Indeed, RIP Mako. My love for Iroh is very keyed into my love for Mako. That dude was one of the pioneering Asian American actors. He persevered in a profession that treated him like set dressing most of the time and made some memorable characters.
I've watched so many Avatar reactions because it's my comfort show and I love that every reactor at some point came to the conclusion "fuck, this isn't a kids show". Yeah. It's not (only) a kids show. Buckle up, this was only the beginning of the "adult part" of this show.
This episode won a Genesis Award from the Humane Society for it's portrayal of animal treatment, saying it resonates with the way animals are used in circuses today.
Appa had a rough time. The first ATLA episode introduction told about the genocide of the Air Nomads. The writers set up the world with kid gloves. The gloves were thrown away around The Storm episode.
This is the same circus where Ty Lee used to perform. Since she left, attendance has been down, so they need a new starring act. They are hoping Appa will fill that void.
This show constantly reenforces one of it’s core themes of “everything is connected” even when the unimaginable and unexpected happens; the Tales of Ba Sing Se with Appa’s Lost Days, epitomize just how connected characters, and events are even the smallest implications: like the couple not knowing Appa is a Air Bison-- that’s because of the action of the Fire Nation, Air Bisons are all but extinct, and that couple would never really had a point of reference for what Appa is, except what he appears to be, a dangerous monster… and that’s only because of how Appa was treated by both Fire Nation and non Fire Nation ppls-- what other characters do often have causal and polarizing effect on the main characters, and vice vera, while all of them affect their world they all live in .
"I was not prepared!" Literally everyone with these back to back episodes. Even though I've seen this episode multiple times I am still always unprepared for the emotional gut punch it packs!
It's always appreciated when someone in-the-know is scheduling out the watch sessions and makes sure this one is always followed by the next one. It's a huge relief to know they can get to the next episode right away and aren't waiting a whole week being sad lol
Why I love this series so much growing up it get you in all kinds of emotions lol. Love how it traps first timers with all the kid stuff early and then does a 360 lol
I really loved the little boy in the circus in this and I think he deserved so much better. He was clearly being abused, cause that man that was with him (his father, in all probability) said exactly the same line "behave yourself, or you'll regret it" as the man who tortured Appa. Also, that little boy had a striking physical resemblance to Aang, while he was probably Fire Nation. This hidden contradiction between Aang, who is considered to be the purest person, and the Fire Nation citizens and firebenders, who are always painted in negative colours because of the war, is one of the key elements here. And when it cuts back to Aang laughing and their laughter is so much alike, I just lose it. He's a beautiful detail in the episode and I really hope he turned out to be okay...
The thing the guru did with Appa is the same that happened to Aang in the forest where he "saw" Toph for the first time Edit: in fact, that's how Aang found Appa in the forest, now is Appa using it to find Aang
you'd think the genocide, racism, ethnic cleansing, murder, betrayal and random pirates would have told you before that this isn't a kid's show :D but yeah.. the last 2 episodes are a benchmark for a reason.
Also, war, refugees, war crimes, orphaned kids, weapons manufacturing etc... Lots of heavy subjects. Yet kids are more than ready to take those if they are covered with talent.
The "In honor of Mako" reference last episode at the end of Iroh's tale was there because Mako was Iroh's first voice actor, and he passed away before the episode aired. In season three, due to Mako's passing, another actor takes over the role, though it is an actor who was already employed as a substitute for Mako and has his general sound down pat.
Ah yes this episode. I can't count how many times I've seen it yet it never fails to make me sob like a baby. Also the fact that you guys thought this episode would lift your spirits after the last one is hilarious 😂
When us original fans were watching it was a harsh time. Appa was taken and each episode we thought "they'll get back together this episode" This continued from the episode after they were separated which was July, until their reunion in November. Original fans had to wait 5 months for a reunion.
At the end of Tales of Ba Sing Se it was a bit hilarious, a bit heart rending you were both hoping this next episode would bring some resolution or satisfaction. And yeah, after an episode like this it’s starts to get harder to think of this as just a kid’s show.
“I guess this means we’ll always be together!” This episode will always get me. Not just for obvious reasons, but due to how my life changed in very dramatic and unique way when I met the love of my life….i unfortunately had to leave my dog “behind”. And due to our current and future lifestyle, it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever see my dog again. And I have to just….trust that the care he’s in is good. But it will always eat at my soul until the day I die. Is Aang’s line will always hit me like a truck….cause I lost my animal guide.
One thing I remember about seeing this episode for the first time was how relived I was to see Suki and the other Kyoshi warriors , until Azula appeared...
I watched this show with my kids when they were younger and still at home. We named out cat rescue Mo-mo. Watching you two, watch it now...well you kind of remind me of my kids and all of those good memories come flooding back. Arianna, you make the same facial expressions as my oldest daughter( although she does not do the lobster hands.) Thank you.
0:22 about Iroh's voice actor Makoto Iwamatsu, it is even worse when you get to know that his crying and voice cracking during the singing scene was real, it was the last episode he recorded also in the hospital, diying from cancer, and the picture of Lu Ten is a recreation of Makoto's picture taken when he was in the military in Japan
when i watched this i was literally crying🥹 im so glas they found appa, he was probably so scared! and toph didnt know where they were bc she was blind and she tried her hardest WHILE holding up that library😔
"I was not emotionally prepared for today" No one ever was and will be. But one thing abou this episode: it won an award of a animal protection organization for portraying so well how animals are mistreated in circus.
There's a recurring theme of "bad fathers" in this show. Zuko & Azula have a bad father. Toph haves a bad father. Aang never knew his biological father. This kid watching the circus haves a bad father. Sokka and Katara's father "left". You can even argue that Iroh "couldn't save his son".
when she said "Its just a kids show..." I was like "Eeeeehm technically... you know Dave Filoni dont differs there... " I mean we all, also thought Star wars the clone wars would be a kids show, until battle of umbara 😅
This episode is so damn sad. SO damn sad. I hate everything Appa had to go through. And that circus dude telling Appa his last owner didn't know how to handle him. 😠
No offense (ight maybe a little) but I’m so glad yal were just watching. And not talking as much. This is one of the greatest episodes in tv history in my opinion. Especially coming from an animal lover
Theres more emotional stuff on its way. Theres ways to help with it all.. sometimes i do box beathing. Or singing. Breathing is crucial. For the fire benders, the breath beings life and energy. Even water bending needs breath for fluidity. Earth needs the breath for the strength in its movements. Air, well self explanatory. Haha. I believe this is a kids show, but perhaps the lessons is what must take hold to prepare you for adulthood. For the circle will begin again with the future kids. To apprecite the good, you journey through the bad. In most cases there is no good or bad. Just living. "Life happens where ever you are".
Just realized how hypocritical that guy was when he was accusing team avatar of stealing their sand sailor earlier when he had stolen it from another tribe already.
Awe the ep is here and the reactions didn’t disappoint 😥🥺, this episode hurt my heart so bad. But remember they’re going to be reunited sooner or later #Justiceforappa 🫂💛
If you watch carefully when Appa flies into Ba Sing Se, two of the pygmy pumas are on roof watching him arrive. That's how they knew where to lead Momo to Appa's footprint. I speculate that because cats have a connection to the underworld/death, that were actually keepers/guardians of the afterlife in mortal form, much like how Cerebus was (thus why there was three cats, like his three heads). Also Appa being taken underground may be a symbolic 'death'/burial, which comes into play later. @@Diegesis
