Avatar meme, day 2: Least favourite episode

[lizbee]

My least favourite episode is ... "Jet"!



Now, I'm not saying I didn't consider "The Great Divide" or "Imprisoned", or even "The Painted Lady" (even though the "WHY DIDN'T KATARA JUST LISTEN TO HER BROTHER LIKE A GOOD GIRL UGH SHE IS SO SHRILL" response to that episode gets makes me all defensive of it and her). I even considered "The Swamp", which is pretty much the only episode of season 2 I'll avoid.

But no, for sheer enraging quality, it has to be "Jet".

See, the thing is, I don't like Jet that much. MEME SPOILERS! He's going to turn up later as my least favourite character! I like him better with Zuko, and I even read Zuko/Jet sometimes, even though there's a general tendency for writers to go on and on about how Zuko never liked Mai and no mere girl could understand his angst, and also ladyparts are icky, and m/m slash, why you gotta be so awful about the ladies? (The only time I've ever considered writing Zuko/Jet, it was as a sequel to my earlier girl!Zuko fic. GIRL!ZUKO MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER, OKAY?)

Anyway, for the most part, I don't care for Jet.

And I also don't care for episodes where the main characters meet someone charming, and he wins them over EXCEPT FOR ONE LONE SKEPTIC, but the charmer persuades the others that the ONE LONE SKEPTIC is just WRONG or maybe JEALOUS, and it's all horrible and divided until everyone realises that the ONE LONE SKEPTIC was right all along. Apparently some viewers were surprised when Jet turned out to be morally inept, but it was pretty predictable for me. (In real life, one of my superpowers is Spotting Awful Men From A Distance. For some reason, I have much more trouble spotting jerkiness in women, and usually have to have it pointed out to me. Something to discuss with my therapist, if I had one.)

Comments

[recessional]

In real life, one of my superpowers is Spotting Awful Men From A Distance.

I also possess this super-power, along with its partner, "Being Spotted As A Bad Job By Awful Men From A Distance, Which Saves Me Trouble".

Yeah, in an adult show I might have held out hope that they were going to fake us out and actually, Jet WASN'T evil! . . . but it's a kid's show, so I didn't.

And "they destroyed my village so I'm going to get back at them in a way that coincidentally does the same thing to other innocent people" is not a take on morality that leads me to have much sympathy for a char.

[lizbee]

And "they destroyed my village so I'm going to get back at them in a way that coincidentally does the same thing to other innocent people" is not a take on morality that leads me to have much sympathy for a char.

Exactly! I was really happy with the season 2 commentary where Bryke noted that they did intend for Jet to be someone who was really, profoundly damaged, and only superficially cool.

[such_heights]

Agreee, Jet annoys me tremendously.

[holyschist]

I agree 100% with your opinions on Jet and the episode.

[fly_to_dawn]

Yes, this episode is really Cliche Kids' Cartoon Plot. (Er, I mean, A:tLA is technically a kids' cartoon, but usually it manages to be more than that, and in this case it kinda fails.)

[lilacsigil]

I liked Jet's sidekicks so much better than Jet.

[unjapanologist]

Yes! Yes, Jet is just aaaaaaaagh. I wanted to wring his neck the second I saw his eyebrows.

Those swords are cool, though. And I'll never get tired of watching his double-sword match with Zuko in S2.