Smoke and Shadow Part Three

<p style="font-weight:normal;">I just finished reading Smoke and Shadow Part 3 and I couldn't find any information or theories about who was the first Fire Lord's most trusted adviser. That's what Azula says when she went with Zuko into the Lion-Turtle shape crypt.</p> <p style="font-weight:normal;">Any ideas?</p> <p style="font-weight:normal;">I think it could be Avatar Wan's crypt; but I'm not pretty sure. What do you think?</p>

<p style="font-weight:normal;">I just finished reading Smoke and Shadow Part 3 and I couldn't find any information or theories about who was the first Fire Lord's most trusted adviser. That's what Azula says when she went with Zuko into the Lion-Turtle shape crypt.</p> <p style="font-weight:normal;">Any ideas?</p> <p style="font-weight:normal;">I think it could be Avatar Wan's crypt; but I'm not pretty sure. What do you think?</p>

<p>I know that Varrick invented some red hair dye in LOK, but I want to know whether or not hair dye is a thing in ATLA. in S&S3, we see some of Azula's buddies with some hair dye (both blonde and red). Ryu dyed most of his hair blonde. There were some people with green hair, both in ATLA and LoK. And nothing of that says it exists in Fashion In The World Of Avatar. So....yeah. I'm kind of confused. </p>

<p>(spoilers for part 3 of smoke and shadow) </p><p>So i've read part 3 of smoke and shadow and I noticied something about this character Zirin. She looks a lot like the combustion bender P'li from the legend of Korra. She has the same skin colour, same hair colour, she even has long hair in a braid. Well, 2 braids actually. </p><p>Anyway, it got me thinking; she could be P'li's mother. I get it sounds crazy and it could just be a coincidence, but they do look alike. And Zirin's connection with Azula could explain how P'li's a powerful firebender. Maybe Azula trained her or something. I obviously can't explain how P'li could be kidnapped from that warlord, but this is something to think about. </p>

<p>I found it really odd that Azula's mental condition would just "disappear" after she found her "destiny". Mental illnesses don't go away easily, much less in a few months. I personally theorize that she must have gotten her hands on Avatar's verison of medication pills, some herbs or something such that calm down her symptons. Apparently, Azula managed to befriend some of the mental patients at the mental asylum. But they seem pretty sane from the scenes we see of them in Smoke & Shadow. That's <i>really </i>strange. Let's say I were to believe that Azula cured her mental illness through finding her destiny. What about the others? They were put in the mental asylum for a reason. They seem so normal and calm, though. I also find it quite eerie when Azula said to Zuko "But eventually, you will become <i>just like me</i>". Just like me as in just as ruthless and intimidating? Or just like me as in just as bakstabbed and mentally ill?  I always suspected that Azula's loathed Zuko for putting her in that looney bin and it felt confirmed after she described it as "that horrible institution". Either way, I just have a really hard to believing that she only wants Zuko to rule through fear. <span style="font-weight:normal;">To be the Fire Lord she thought she was meant to be. </span>What's she to gain from all this? The Azula that we all know never does anything unless she it benefits her for her endless quest to achieve power or amuses her. I do believe that she really did give up on her quest for the throne, but not for the reasons she said. Dear god, Smoke & Shadow Part 3 left me with more questions than answers. </p>

<p>I've waited so long to say this.... </p>

• Inhaling.*

<p>FIIIIIIIIIIIIRST! </p><p>Okay, with that out of the way, I thought it was pretty anticlimactic. </p><p>I feel kind of bad starting the thread on such a low note, especially since I did enjoy the trilogy, but Azula's plan doesn't really make sense, it feels out of character, I would have wanted Zuko to finally surpass her, & are we going to find out what happens to the Faux Kemurikage after this? </p><p>The resolution of Ursa's subplot was alright, but I don't know if it needed to be milked that much, if basically all she had to do was tell Ozai to piss off. I like her description of him. It's very fitting. </p><p>Specifically with regards to Zuko's actions, I don't really feel what he did was so bad. I guess there were some amateur mistakes. It would have made more sense to question the Safe Nation Society more informally before moving to full-on arrest, that way they could narrow down their suspect pool & thus limit wrongful arrests, but there's nothing inherently wrong with searching houses or freezing transport so fugitives can't escape. </p><p>And compared to Aang's solution...someone needs to tell this kid that "let's talk" is not a plan, you have to DO something eventually. Especially since, in Ukano's case, there was probable cause for an arrest. </p><p>Plus, Aang completely undermines Zuko as a leader, after Part 2 showed that he's a capable & effective Fire Lord, which is suddenly a bad thing I guess. It's just kind of annoying, we already did this with The Promise, can't <i>Aang</i> be wrong for a change? The lesson Zuko SHOULD have learned is "I need to delegate." Maybe stop going into secret tunnels with the Avatar, & instead let him report what he finds. Or at least appointing an official to oversee the city's crisis while he's away. </p><p>How Kiyi discovered her bending was neat & pretty cute, as is any time she references her Big Bro the Firelord, & I really liked the way they resolved Ukano, who will presumably give information on the New Ozai Society, wrapping that up. I never thought I would be rooting for Mai's dad, but here we are. Though I am wondering what's going to happen to him now that he's in jail. Hopefully they don't give him the Ozai Treatment, as I think he could do a lot of good now that he's reformed. </p><p>I don't know what's up with Azula's lightning, it used to be lethal, now it's like a bee sting, how is she stronger? It does seem like she can do it more easily now, but does that make it "stronger"? </p><p>Alright, I think that's all I've got. Sorry to start a thread on such a massive spiel before anyone else has had a chance to give their take, but there was just so much to cover. </p>