LogFAQs > #979839947

DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC posted...

I liked how the show demonstrated the difference between benders who work with physical matter (water/ice/blood, earth/stone/metal) and insubstantial substances (air, fire/lightning): an Airbender, for all practical purposes, always has access to their element; likewise, Firebenders can generate flame with their breath. But if you put Waterbenders or Earthbenders in places where they have no access to their element (plopping Toph on a boat in the middle of a lake, or Katara in a desert) they're almost useless.

The show did work to show ways around those as well. Airbenders always have access to air of course, but without sufficient area to build up pressure a solid enough cell is still reasonably impervious (especially if made a sphere to disperse any strong force). That firebreathing you mentioned was really only something Iroh and Zuko displayed, and even then sustained cold probably keeps them tamped down.

The real problem is waterbenders, because their treatment had to be inhumane to keep them contained. Constant dry air, exceedingly limited water to drink to make dehydration perpetual, etc. Katara even demonstrated that a small amount of sweat gave her enough water to break out of a prison. And of course Hama made it clear how powerful bloodbending is, and thats not even going into how not-child-friendly it would be to literally rip the water inside a person out instead of turning them into a puppet.

And I think that kind of helps highlight why Team Avatar is so strong. These kids are *creative*, and rapidly expand their knowledge by either incorporating new techniques and understanding from others, or adapting to new situations in ways more rigidly-minded benders wouldnt think of. Theres several instances of Team Avatar using stances and movements more akin to the other elements own techniques for their bending, and Iroh even states how he developed lightning redirection based on watching waterbending.