yours_truly | AtLA 3x02 "The Headband"

I love when big corporations screw up. Nickelodeon accidentally posted the lastest episode of Avatar on their website tonight, even though it doesn't debut for another two days. The link has been floating around the internet for a couple hours now, and luckily I found it on Facebook. Can we say... OMG SQUEE?

The opening scene with Zuko's eyes snapping open in bed? If I didn't know that episodes of animated shows take a full nine months to create, I would cry blatant thievery from Order of the Phoenix.
"We're in enemy territory now. Those are enemy birds." XD
Fire Nation Teacher: No head coverings indoors! / Aang: Uh, I have a scar. It's really embarrassing.
Aaaaaand the HP connections continue. Someday I should make a list.
Aang has a Fire Nation twin? wtf?
The show makes sure to portray people on the "bad side" with equal complexity and likeability as those on the "good side", which I really appreciate.
I just love every scene in the Fire Nation school. The victors write the history. Word.
The "fight" between the FN jock and Aang was cool. It really demonstrated the fundamental difference between Air Benders and Fire Benders.
Sokka and Katara pretending to be Aang's parents was just... so funny. Sokka still very much = <3
This episode was really excellent at going back and forth between drama and humor.
Toph: They're coming! Everyone stop bending!
Because they wouldn't notice how weird it would be for rock to naturally form itself into a band-stand and dance floor? o.O
Inhibition!Boy is adorable.
I think Iroh's going to die. He's the "wise old mentor" for Zuko, and they always have to go in order for the character to reach their full potential and figures things out on their own.
Aang and Katara dancing: awwwwww! This show had a great choreo-animator (anyone who knows that reference gets a thousand cookies).
Part of the reason I love this show is how fascinatingly similar Aang and Zuko are, especially as the seasons go on. The protagonist and antagonist are practically the same person, and the only reason one is the "good guy" is because he's on the "right side", according to the perspective the show wants you to see. The lines are all wonderfully blurry. Aang and Zuko are both just trying to live up to the huuuuge responsibilities they have on their shoulders, when all they really want is to be normal kids (which this episode really emphasized, what with Aang going to school and Zuko and Mai's romance). Each is also becoming more and more desperate. Time's running out for both of them.
All that said, Zuko had full-on emo-bangs at the end of this episode. XD
I'm wary of this tattoo-guy plot. A magical eye tattoo on his forehead that can find the Avatar? I don't know the specifics of what's going to happen since I don't read spoilers, so hopefully it'll play out well, but at the moment I'm not a fan.