This episode shines its best in the character interactions with the young antagonists.
Easily the star of this group is Azula, and you get a sense of some untangling as some sort of genocidal part of her overrides normal things she wants in life. I feel there is really something to be had here, but I wouldn't consider it great until I see the payoff.
Zuko's characterization is only beaten by Azula's because this is the first we've really see it for her. You really get that sense of desperation and lashing out as the walls close in on Zuko, both within and without.
Tai Li and Mei's characterizations are nice, but not all that meaningful.
It also verges just a little too close to just character backstory exposition in an almost entirely anti-show-dont-tell way, but it's a little retrieved by these being teenagers that are pushed into exploding and revealing all their doubts and worries.
However, the Avatar gang story for this episode was kinda dumb. The machine thing is just an immersion-breaking character and doesn't have anything fun going on.
Overall, I'd say it's a little generous to say this is a 7/10. The Avatar gang portion and simplistic storytelling of the Fire Gang bring this episode down considerably from what I believe it could have been.
Easily the star of this group is Azula, and you get a sense of some untangling as some sort of genocidal part of her overrides normal things she wants in life. I feel there is really something to be had here, but I wouldn't consider it great until I see the payoff.
Zuko's characterization is only beaten by Azula's because this is the first we've really see it for her. You really get that sense of desperation and lashing out as the walls close in on Zuko, both within and without.
Tai Li and Mei's characterizations are nice, but not all that meaningful.
It also verges just a little too close to just character backstory exposition in an almost entirely anti-show-dont-tell way, but it's a little retrieved by these being teenagers that are pushed into exploding and revealing all their doubts and worries.
However, the Avatar gang story for this episode was kinda dumb. The machine thing is just an immersion-breaking character and doesn't have anything fun going on.
Overall, I'd say it's a little generous to say this is a 7/10. The Avatar gang portion and simplistic storytelling of the Fire Gang bring this episode down considerably from what I believe it could have been.