Do you think the Avatar cycle is broken?

[Beebs]

Technically, Azula did kill Aang while he was in the Avatar State, which therefore should have destroyed the cycle. Even though Katara revives, it's unclear whether or not this brought back the cycle as well, especially considering Aang's last chakra was locked.

In the finale, the lion turtle gave Aang the ability to bend energy. It's possible that this is what unlocked Aang's chakra so that he could enter the Avatar State once again, or it was unlocked when he came back to life, or Guru Pathik was full of shit in regard to all of this "locking" business.

Either way, Aang was able to master the Avatar State by the end, though not by letting go of Katara as he assumed he would have to. This could have been a result of the lion turtle or more evidence of the Guru being wrong, it's up for debate, I'd say.

So, do you think that because Aang died the cycle was broken, despite his revival? Do you think the cycle returned when Aang did? Do you think by mastering the Avatar State, Aang allowed its return? Do you think the cycle was reborn or even changed after Aang's gift from the lion turtle?

Discuss, fools.

[Liamane]

I think the whole Guru Pathik plot was just a reason for Aang to leave the spliting group at the end of the second season. If it took one strike to the back in order to trigger (and master) the Avatar State , then what was the point of unlocking chakras?

Sure, it was essential for Azula to strike Aang down, thus resulting in his scar and the final outcome of the battle with Ozai, but what about the whole "give up Katara" gig? Last time I checked, he had fully embraced his love for her prior to the final battle.

I believe that the Avatar State, or the ability to use it, was within him the entire time, and the lion turtle's gift only awoke his slumbering abilities. I don't think Aang truly died while in the Avatar State, rather, he was hanging onto life by a mere thread. Katara's healing, ultimately, saved him from his near death experience. So, in the end, Azula's strike of lightning only shut down the Avatar State. Triggering it once again in the finale would be a logical portrayal of "unlocking a chakra". That's my take, at least.

I really do think that the entire Pathik concept would have been better if applied later to the series. Like, Aang would realize that without the Avatar State, he might not even be able to compete against Ozai, and therefore, he seeks a guru.

I can understand why Bryan and Mike might hate fans like us who speculate a show on Nick.

[Beebs]

Well, no, Aang did die, he even said it himself in the Book 3 premiere. The lines was something like: "It was more than that. I was gone, but you brought me back." That's why Katara couldn't use regular water to heal him, because he was already dead, but the Spirit Oasis water had properties that could bring him back. (I'm assuming it only works if the death is very recent) And what do you mean that lightning in the back caused the Avatar state to trigger? Aang was already in the Avatar State when Azula struck him, and it was a strike in the back from a rock wall that triggered it during the finale.

I think the reason the Avatar State returned was somehow due to the fact that the circumstances surrounding him when he lost it originally were extremely similar to those in the final battle, and he like... retrogressed to his first death sort of, and it triggered the Avatar State because that was his form when he died. But all of that aside, how is the cycle affected by this?

[Liamane]

I guess I didn't specify myself enough. When I meant "triggering it", I was referring to the finale battle and how he was hit against a rock wall and gained the Avatar State once again.

Whoa, I totally forgot about that line; like, it totally escaped me until I read your post. I guess Aang really did die then. The whole matter with the Avatar State befuddles me. I really can't think of an answer. :/

[Beebs]

(Btw, this post contains Buffy the Vampire Slayer spoilers, so don't read without prior knowledge that the ending is exposed. xDDD This might sound random, but you'll get it after reading.)

You're right, I can't really think of any solid evidence in the series that could determine its fate one way or another. On the one hand, since Aang was brought back one could assume that the cycle was too. But still, all of the conditions for breaking the cycle were met, so what exactly does that entail?

In Buffy, for instance, there's no condition that the Slayer cycle ends, so when Buffy died the first time, the cycle moved on, but when she came back she was still a slayer. Now, if the finale hadn't included making every Potential a Slayer, then does that mean when Buffy died the second time, another Slayer was born, or that when she finally would've died a new Slayer would emerge from the original cycle? (I use this as an example because it's similar to the logic of the Avatar Cycle.)

Buffy using the essence of the Slayer Scythe would be the equivalent of Aang using Energy Bending to give every bender on a worldwide scale Avatar abilities, and this could also work vice versa via the Avatar State dying or some kind of... thing in the Buffyverse. xDDD So, this raises and interesting theory for me.

It sounds to me like the Avatar Cycle itself is Energy. If the Energy is destroyed by dying while in the Avatar State, then the cycle is broken. Therefore, it's possible that the Avatar cycle could once again created again somehow using Energy bending, or even to create new forms of bending or bestow power to people, as explained in the last paragraph.

This is all speculation, of course, but it seems to be the perfect premise for a continuation of Aang's story, wouldn't you agree? I smell an awesome fanfiction. xDD

(moved this to the spec board, btw, as it has now taken that turn.)

[Spode]

Nah. With Katara around, they'd bound to have airbenders. So chances are is that Aang will be reborn as a airbender when the time approaches once again. I'd laugh if the Fire Nation became supper advanced at that time and discovers democracy and high tech stuff while the Earth Kingdom results to communism.

[Liamane]

Ewww. Aang sex.

Y'know, I think I finally understand Katara's role in the Avatar series. It's obvious that she, in fact, is a tool. It all makes sense now...

But anyway, the entire matter is just another plot hole that Mike and Bryan fail to provide in the series. Morbid, indeed, but hey, I think that Beebs and I should take upon rewriting the entire series. Now THAT would be pure genius.

[Beebs]

Well now, how would that be possible, considering your stupidity?

Katara has nothing to do with this thread, so guess what Spode, that's about the tip of the iceberg of a warning bump up.

I can't see the series being left like it is, they must be planning to continue this or they wouldn't have left so many unanswered questions. Take any aspect of ATLA and you'll find that there was a lot of intricacy behind it in keeping it well structured and planned, barring Book 1, of course.

I definitely think they'll play on this ambiguity to milk the franchise for all it's worth.

[Liamane]

Mar 7, 2009 23:58:12 GMT -6 Beebs said:

Well now, how would that be possible, considering your stupidity?

...Daaaah. TT___TT

I guess the next time something will be revealed is whenever Bryan and Mike attend a convention. Until then, we can only hope for an announcement for the continuation of the series.