I don't know what to say about this episode that hasn't already been said by pretty much everyone who talks about. It is as great as everyone says it is and for all the reasons that they say it is.
I love the backstory this episode gives to Prince Zuko and Princess Azula and how it expands on Zuko's established backstory. Now lines like "my father says she was born lucky, he says I was lucky to be born" and "Azula always lies. Azula always lies" are given context showing the specific gravity of those words.
We even get bits and pieces of General Iroh's backstory which are consistent with what came about it in the rare previous episodes that alluded to it.
The non-flashback portions of the episode effectively show us what the show would be like if Zuko were the protagonist instead of Aang and while I don't generally love anti-heroes, Zuko is great in that capacity.
This is by far the best episode of Season 2 and while I still maintain that The Storm is the best episode of the show, this episode gives it a run for its money.
I love the backstory this episode gives to Prince Zuko and Princess Azula and how it expands on Zuko's established backstory. Now lines like "my father says she was born lucky, he says I was lucky to be born" and "Azula always lies. Azula always lies" are given context showing the specific gravity of those words.
We even get bits and pieces of General Iroh's backstory which are consistent with what came about it in the rare previous episodes that alluded to it.
The non-flashback portions of the episode effectively show us what the show would be like if Zuko were the protagonist instead of Aang and while I don't generally love anti-heroes, Zuko is great in that capacity.
This is by far the best episode of Season 2 and while I still maintain that The Storm is the best episode of the show, this episode gives it a run for its money.