Y'know how in english class the teacher makes you get a novel and over analyse it until your retinas bleed? Y'know how you hate doing that with a passion? Well I do too.

We all hate over-analysing stuff, but what happens if we just scratch the surface a little and look a little deeper into this show?

I mean, we're all in full agreement that Avatar isn't just mindless entertainment like Spongebob or Nateureuo, it provokes the viewer to think a little bit. So I say that, in this thread, we do think. In this thread we analyse the show in the same way your english teacher would make you analyse 'Of Mice and Men', 'Nineteen-Eighty-Four', 'Animal Farm' or 'Lord of the Flies', because let's face it, Avatar knocks the socks off all of those.

What's cool about this thread is that

a) you can leave at any time

b) there's no 2000 word essay to write

Let's start with themes.

There are several recurring themes throughout the show. They are hope, predetermined destiny, redemption (most important one), foreshadowing, balance, connection (of everything), spirituality and so many more.

Hope is discussed thoroughly in several episodes, such as The Storm, The Serpent's Pass, the original opening (I haven't lost hope) and it's briefly mentioned in several other episodes. The recurring motif is that Aang not only saves people, he brings them hope. Even Zuko in The Storm. Iroh says 'things will never return to normal, but what's important is that the Avatar gives Zuko Hope'.

Predetermined destiny is experienced by both Aang and Zuko, it's something that connects the two of them. Aang is destined to restore balance to the world and Zuko is destined to become Firelord. Just like Roku and Sozin (moar connection). You could argue that Zhao believed that it was his predetermined destiny to kill the moon spirit, and that it was Yue's destiny to become it.

Redemption is the most important theme in the show. Bryke said so themselves. Aang, Sokka and Zuko are prime examples. Zuko is too obvious to merit a mention, but let's not forget how Aang thought he failed in The Awakening and Sokka felt the need to redeem his inability to protect Yue by protecting Suki in The Boiling Rock, Part 1.

Connection is almost as important as redeption. In The Swamp, Huu talked about how everything is connected, then Aang repeated his words in The Guru. Everything is connected, Roku is Zuko's great grandfather, the Avatar is the Firelord's ancestor. Now that's connection. Even Gran Gran picked up on this theme in The Avatar Returns. Gran Gran: You both found Aang for a reason, now your destinies are intertwined (fancy word for 'connected to' with his.

Balance is probably even more important than redemption. The Avatar's duty is to keep balance between the Four Nations, the Four Peoples, the Four Elements themselves. Aang's predetermined destiny is to restore balance to the world. Iroh manages to convince Zuko that it's his destiny aswell. In The Western Air Temple, Zuko says 'and I know my destiny is to help you restore balance to the world'. Two themes for the price of one.

Am I wasting my time with this? Probably. But let's face it, this is better than 'guess the characters' weights' any day of the week. I haven't even started symbolism, foreshadowing or character analysis yet!

Discuss, explore, analyse, evaluate.

Oh, and NO SOZIN'S COMET SPOIERS.

I'll leave you with this quote from The Avatar and the Firelord. Look for the themes present and realise why I put it in my sig.

Iroh: Because understanding the struggle between your two great-grandfathers can help you better understand the battle within yourself. Evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is your nature, your legacy. But there is a bright side. What happened generations ago can be resolved now...by you. Because of your legacy, you alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire Nation. Born in you, along with all this strife, is the power to restore balance to the world.

Tomtitan out.

You misspelled "analyze"

I'll do symbolism.

You can use elements as symbols for the main characters.

Fire is harsh, uncontrollable, and destructive. However, when contained it provides light and warmth.

Air is carefree and uncontrollable; it goes wherever it pleases. But when it decides on a course of action, and is determined enough, it can move objects and even people to its side.

On the surface, water is calm and serene. Directly below the surface (think oceans) is life and life abundant. But it's not all about life. Water never wants to go the same place. Getting in the way of water could cause you to drown.

Earth in general it tough and rugged; it can become a deadly weapon with the slightest shove. Enough rocks working together could completely waste anything and everything in its path. However, there is such a thing as a geode. Breaking through the rock's hard exterior will reveal a bright and glittering treasure.

lolz, Yin/Yang elements ftw!

Very nice, Tom.

Yes, as you said there are recurring themes in Avatar; hope, destiny, balance. There's also honor. If I may bring this up (not to start any arguments) but my own religion believes in predestination; which means our reason for life is already planned out for us, we just need to figure out what it is. It's a hard thing to accept, but if you look at Avatar, you realize, it's not such a bad thing.

Zuko was looking for his purpose in life for who know how long, and after doing things one wouldn't be so proud, he finally came to terms with who he his. His destiny was right under his nose for the longest time, but because of his upbringing, he got blinded by his own shortcomings and thought capturing the Avatar was the reason he was born. Sure, he had to go through a lot to come that point; he even had an opportunity to accept his destiny, but when the prospect of his honor being returned was dangled in his face, he immediately jumped on the chance of being who he thought he was supposed to be.

Now, Aang.. He had to come to terms with being the Avatar at the age of twelve, four years before it was supposed to revealed to him, because the Nomads felt tension between the Nations. He would have been fine with this if he didn't have to leave the Temple, and Monk Gyatso almost right away. It was pretty selfish of him to run away because he couldn't accept his own destiny. But as Katara said, Aang might've been killed along with the Monks if he stayed.

We don't know how different the outcome would have been if Aang stayed in the Temple; he could have been killed, and the Fire Nation might have monitored any Water Tribe births and done a mass infanticide. Or, he could have lived and managed to end the war before it became too deep.

We don't know that. All we know is that show would have been completely different if Aang had stayed.

To quote Iroh, "Destiny is a funny thing." And to express my opinion, I'll quote Zuko, "It sure is Uncle."

It may not seem obvious to us when it's right in front of our faces, but a lot of the times, if it's seemingly too far away, what we're supposed to be or do might become apparent. Zuko had to go through a lot to come to this point, and so did Aang.

I'll do a "destiny" analyse for the other main characters later.

I think this thread is a really good idea.

The ability to find a deeper meaning in Avatar is why I think that so many older viewers are drawn to it.

My favorite theme in Avatar is hope. As Iroh said Hope is something you give your self when all else is gone. It is the meaning of inner strength.

And also with the whole density thing, through out the plot line Zuko's and Aang's densities parallel each others. The awakening is a great example.

Well, I'm really tired to analyze too much. But the first thing I thought of analyzing was Zuko's scar, and the symbolism.

I love how in the first season, we first see Zuko as a symbol of hatred and tryanny that the fire nation has over the world. Zuko's scar just added to the idea that the Fire Nation is evil. In these first few episodes the viewers really only saw Zuko as representing what we knew of the Fire Nation, and the scar just made the viewer feel even more hate and ugliness towards Zuko and the nation we saw him as representing.

Then, in "The Storm", we realize that Zuko's scar is not a reflection of himself, but of the Fire Lord. Zuko's scar symbolizes his tragic past and his unhappiness and struggle. This is when we first start to see Zuko is a different light. Maybe Zuko's scar really symbolizes that not all people of the fire nation are evil, or symbolizes how influenced people of the fire nation are by their leader to strive to please a leader, even father, that hates them.

In season 2, the scar continues to symbolize Zuko's inner problems with himself. While he wants to be happy and start a new life and listen to his Uncle, he cannot let the fact that he is the prince of the Fire Nation go. The scar is an ugly reminder that Zuko is and always will be part of the Fire Nation.

Then finally, in season 3 (post DOBS), the scar symbolizes Zuko's past, and the side that he has chosen. Even when Zuko was young, he realized right from wrong, and this scar is what he has earned from speaking his mind. The scar is now a reminder to Zuko that he had always chosen the good side, and had always cared for people, and will continue to do so. It is now not an ugly symbol of himself, but of the nation he wants to save and redeem.

Yeah...I might be way off...tired...

edit: by the way, I liked Lord of the Flies!