LogFAQs > #944390846

Ok let's finish this.

#3: The Boiling Rock - Part 1 (3.14)

This one is higher than Part 2 for a simple reason. It does so much more for Sokka's arc. By the end of the episode Skka's arc is complete so the next part has to focus on other people.

I've talked about Sokka's progression a few times already. This is when he becomes a hero.

Now what does that mean? Well, Sokka was already someone who was willing to risk his life for his nation and the world, and capable to lead the water tribe army.

But here, he's not fighting for his tribe. He's fighting for a smaller cause, to save his father. It's not a good strategical decision considering his father allowed himself to be captured to save Team Avatar. But here is what makes a hero: they will do whatever is right, logic be danmed, because they won't feel right until they do it. Sokka is not the strongest member of his team, but it stopped being about strength a long time ago. Now he just wants to do whatever he can to save everyone.

And the episode makes Sokka struggle with it. He is given the option to give up and come back to safety, multiple times, but he continues insisting. He meets Suki and is given the option to leave with just her and abandon his dad, but then hears there will be new prisoners, so he decides to abandon their escape plan and stay. And fate rewards him by showing that escape plan with the boat was a terrible one. A better one would reveal itself next episode. I loved how that plot worked.

Meanwhile, shout out to Zuko for being the best sidekick. He really wants to make up for the months trying to kill Team Avatar, so he compensates by being empathetic and helpful to the kids in their personal quests. And he is pretty cool with this episode, getting himself sent to The Cooler just to break it and push their escape plan.

It's solid character driven story overall. The show can't do better than that when it comes to testing a character's moral fiber and having them come out on top. Good stuff.