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Official Episode Discussion: City Of Walls and Secrets (9/22)

  • Avatar of metalcurtainrod

    metalcurtainrod

    [381]Sep 25, 2006
    • member since: 05/15/06
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    Colonel_Brian wrote:
    metalcurtainrod wrote:
    cisalpine wrote:

    I'd imagine he'd want the king around as a scape-goat should the Fire Nation finally successfully invade.

    After all, they'd be looking for the King, not a cultural minister.

    haha! good point
    But since Long Feng runs the city well unoffically they won't search for him but Long Feng may just lose control.


    Lose control?

    If you say so...

    Oh, and is it just me, or is no ones profile working?
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  • Avatar of Colonel_Brian

    Colonel_Brian

    [383]Sep 25, 2006
    • member since: 05/15/06
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    metalcurtainrod wrote:
    Colonel_Brian wrote:
    metalcurtainrod wrote:
    cisalpine wrote:

    I'd imagine he'd want the king around as a scape-goat should the Fire Nation finally successfully invade.

    After all, they'd be looking for the King, not a cultural minister.

    haha! good point
    But since Long Feng runs the city well unoffically they won't search for him but Long Feng may just lose control.
    Lose control? If you say so... Oh, and is it just me, or is no ones profile working?

    It's happening to me to! And thi sucky thing happened I was hacked!!!!!!!!!

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  • Avatar of Eman5805

    Eman5805

    [384]Sep 25, 2006
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    Long Feng presents a greater threat to Aang that the Fire Lord right now...
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  • Avatar of legersem

    legersem

    [385]Sep 25, 2006
    • member since: 08/17/05
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    This entire episode went against every vision ever brought up about Ba Sing Se. They portaryed the city as a beautiful utopia where everything was perfect. It looks like they went a bit too far in trying the preserve the perfection. Long Feng is being very naive about the whole war by thinking that he can make people forget about it. Hypnosis is only going to keep them down for long, eventually the Fire Nation is going to break through, and then what? I think that Long Feng is a Fire Nation spy who has set himself into the government of Ba Sing Se and set it up to crumble as soon as the time is right. Anyone think that this carries some water? I know that it may be a bit far-fetched, but it is plausible, what ruler in their right mind would think that they could pull this off anyway? So, that is why I think he must be Fire Nation: simply because he isn't stupid and must know that his method is not going to work.
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  • Avatar of Eman5805

    Eman5805

    [386]Sep 25, 2006
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    legersem wrote:
    This entire episode went against every vision ever brought up about Ba Sing Se. They portaryed the city as a beautiful utopia where everything was perfect. It looks like they went a bit too far in trying the preserve the perfection. Long Feng is being very naive about the whole war by thinking that he can make people forget about it. Hypnosis is only going to keep them down for long, eventually the Fire Nation is going to break through, and then what? I think that Long Feng is a Fire Nation spy who has set himself into the government of Ba Sing Se and set it up to crumble as soon as the time is right. Anyone think that this carries some water? I know that it may be a bit far-fetched, but it is plausible, what ruler in their right mind would think that they could pull this off anyway? So, that is why I think he must be Fire Nation: simply because he isn't stupid and must know that his method is not going to work.

    I'm certain there's far more than meets the eye about Long Feng...not sure he's Fire nation persay, but I know he's a dangerous person

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  • Avatar of mister001

    mister001

    [387]Sep 25, 2006
    • member since: 09/16/06
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    Don't forget that this is already happening for 100years Long Feng said so himself so when Aang run away and was captured 100years ago this shi t must have been introduced cuz they probaly thought no avatar no stopping us...
    So long feng isn't the first one doing this control thingie and it has nothing to do with iroh's siege since that was 3??? years ago.
    Edited on 09/25/2006 10:36pm
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  • Avatar of Pharmacopoeia

    Pharmacopoeia

    [388]Sep 25, 2006
    • member since: 07/20/06
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    legersem wrote:
    This entire episode went against every vision ever brought up about Ba Sing Se. They portaryed the city as a beautiful utopia where everything was perfect. It looks like they went a bit too far in trying the preserve the perfection. Long Feng is being very naive about the whole war by thinking that he can make people forget about it. Hypnosis is only going to keep them down for long, eventually the Fire Nation is going to break through, and then what? I think that Long Feng is a Fire Nation spy who has set himself into the government of Ba Sing Se and set it up to crumble as soon as the time is right. Anyone think that this carries some water? I know that it may be a bit far-fetched, but it is plausible, what ruler in their right mind would think that they could pull this off anyway? So, that is why I think he must be Fire Nation: simply because he isn't stupid and must know that his method is not going to work.

    I agree that it is possible, but I highly doubt he is FN. Rulers are always trying to pretend nothing bad is happening. Look at anytime in history, even right now, and some ruler is pretending things arn't so bad. During the first part of the Civil War, every leader??was convinced that it would be a quick easy fight. They were all wrong.?? During the American Revolution, King George was sure that the British really had control.

    I think it is possible that Long Feng has tricked himself into believing that they are safe, and so feels that the best way to protect his city from panic is to get everyone to follow what he says.

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  • Avatar of DeathandDoom

    DeathandDoom

    [389]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 05/22/06
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    You know, after I saw this episode, a small part of me wanted that drill to bust all the way through to Ba Sing Se, just so that I could see Long Feng's face as his sick little "utopia" crumbles around his ears.
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  • Avatar of BiSheng

    BiSheng

    [390]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 09/23/06
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    Is it just me, or don't Zuko and Iroh stand out in Ba Sind Se?

    I'm not trying to be racist or anything, but wouldn't their pale skin and facial features point them out as being from the Fire Nation?

    Just a thought.
    Edited on 09/26/2006 1:52am
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  • Avatar of MCMLXVI

    MCMLXVI

    [391]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 11/08/05
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    BiSheng wrote:
    Is it just me, or don't Zuko and Iroh stand out in Ba Sind Se? ... wouldn't their pale skin and facial features point them out as being from the Fire Nation? ...
    {It's you, pro'ly.} Over the course of the two seasons, the Earth Kingdom has proven itself to be highly diverse. The "different" look of our beloved refugee princes may just as easily be due to diverse ancestry.
    Edited on 09/26/2006 2:00am
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  • Avatar of lilykt7

    lilykt7

    [392]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 06/07/06
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    MCMLXVI wrote:
    BiSheng wrote:
    Is it just me, or don't Zuko and Iroh stand out in Ba Sind Se? ... wouldn't their pale skin and facial features point them out as being from the Fire Nation? ...
    {It's you, pro'ly.} Over the course of the two seasons, the Earth Kingdom has proven itself to be highly diverse. The "different" look of our beloved refugee princes may just as easily be due to diverse ancestry.


    Toph has really pale complexion and black hair, she blends in well enough people usually notice she's of high birth. Katara also blended in at the party, there are few dark skined earth kingdom people.
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  • Avatar of Eman5805

    Eman5805

    [393]Sep 26, 2006
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    The ONLY thing that make Zuko and Iroh stand out is the scar on Zuko and that whole Gimli thing Iroh has going now...all he needs is an ax and he'd be set...
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  • Avatar of DeathandDoom

    DeathandDoom

    [394]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 05/22/06
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    Dai Sho guy: "SUPER ROCKET PUNCH!" (Fires his gloves)

    Other Dai Sho guy: "Will you you stop saying that?!"

    Serouly, did anyone else think "Mazinger Z" when they saw that cool trick with the gloves?


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  • Avatar of mister001

    mister001

    [395]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 09/16/06
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    Is the forum overloaded again or is it just me???
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  • Avatar of Colonel_Brian

    Colonel_Brian

    [396]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 05/15/06
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    Man why is there so many things to answer....
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  • Avatar of salt_the_wounds

    salt_the_wounds

    [397]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 06/27/06
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    dunno if this goes here, but i just feel like pointing out the obvious: the more Toph flashes her family's crest and keeps telling everyone her name I think that pretty soon the two guys chasing after her are finally going to catch up. It's amazing what's all coming together as the book ends: the race to find appa, the development of long feng as a threat, the dai lee, the prisons, mind-control, the fire nation probably planning another attack, the solar eclipse coming (which means the gang possibly planning their own attack), the 2 guys chasing after Toph, and who knows how zuko and iroh are going to play a part soon. This episode just opened up so many possibilities.
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  • Avatar of Fronzel

    Fronzel

    [398]Sep 26, 2006
    • member since: 01/13/05
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    salt_the_wounds wrote:
    the more Toph flashes her family's crest and keeps telling everyone her name I think that pretty soon the two guys chasing after her are finally going to catch up.

    That's brilliant!

    salt_the_wounds wrote:
    ...the solar eclipse coming...

    Did they give a date for that in the library episode? It must be before the next summer solstice, when the comet arrives, but when?

    It would be amazing, narrative wise, if they missed the tremendous opportunity the eclipse represents because Ba Sing Se's government is useless.

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  • Avatar of BiSheng

    BiSheng

    [399]Sep 27, 2006
    • member since: 09/23/06
    • level: 6
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    Pharmacopoeia wrote:

    legersem wrote:
    This entire episode went against every vision ever brought up about Ba Sing Se. They portaryed the city as a beautiful utopia where everything was perfect. It looks like they went a bit too far in trying the preserve the perfection. Long Feng is being very naive about the whole war by thinking that he can make people forget about it. Hypnosis is only going to keep them down for long, eventually the Fire Nation is going to break through, and then what? I think that Long Feng is a Fire Nation spy who has set himself into the government of Ba Sing Se and set it up to crumble as soon as the time is right. Anyone think that this carries some water? I know that it may be a bit far-fetched, but it is plausible, what ruler in their right mind would think that they could pull this off anyway? So, that is why I think he must be Fire Nation: simply because he isn't stupid and must know that his method is not going to work.

    I agree that it is possible, but I highly doubt he is FN. Rulers are always trying to pretend nothing bad is happening. Look at anytime in history, even right now, and some ruler is pretending things arn't so bad. During the first part of the Civil War, every leader was convinced that it would be a quick easy fight. They were all wrong. During the American Revolution, King George was sure that the British really had control.

    I think it is possible that Long Feng has tricked himself into believing that they are safe, and so feels that the best way to protect his city from panic is to get everyone to follow what he says.

    Sorry I didn't notice this before...
    While I completely agree with Pharm's statement, I'm a Political Science student and I think I can elaborate further. Long Feng is actually doing the same thing Switzerland did, George W. is doing with the Kyoto accords, and why only about half the eligible population in the U.S. actually bothers to Vote. He's doing something Poli-Scientists call "Free-Riding".
    Pretend, for a moment that you are the King of Ba Sing Sa: just one city. It's the largest one on the planet to be sure, but still one city. War with the Fire Nation breaks out, what do you do.
    Well It's just one Nation attacking three others, so it's obvious they are going to lose. You think this will be the case with or without your help, you would have to expend resources to fight the problem. The single best thing for you is if you could get the benefits of the Fire Nations defeat, without paying anything to get it. If your population knew how bad the problem was they would probably force you to act. So you have to weigh the cost of fighting in the war, against the cost of surprising the knowledge of the war amongst your population. Obviously they chose the second option.
    Now, it looks like the Fire Nation will win, but your convinced that you can withstand any attack. There is no point in you expending resources, trying to prevent what is inevitable anyway. So you sit on your butt, and let the rest of the world deal with the problem.
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  • Avatar of Eman5805

    Eman5805

    [400]Sep 27, 2006
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    oh what Long Feng is doing is completely understandable...but still condemnable...
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