. . getting an uber-patriotic nation to take it sitting down is a bit more challenging.

I think one of the more noteworthy aspects of the EIP episodes was not the play itself, nor the gAang, but the audience; the way they went wild with applause at the defeat of Zuko, and of course, the Avatar. Of course, we knew they had this attitude already, but I think it was a nice little reminder right before the series finale. As the warden said in The Boiling Rock, the fire nation considers Zuko "the traitor prince who let down his nation" and as was shown in the play, Zuko (or even Iroh) taking the thrown would be percieved as nothing less then the "bad" guy winning. An earlier thread mentioned the potential backlash of Ozai dying, but what of the backlash if Zuko, Iroh or any other "traitor" takes the throne? Anybody on the throne who does not continue what I'm sure is a very prosperous war for the FN, would not have the citizens on their side. Anyone who's on the Avatar's side would be viewed as a traitor. This could lead to political assassinations or riots or who knows what other form of non-compliance with the ending of the war.

Also, remember the arresting of Long Feng in Season 3. Remember the line, "The council of five and the military may be loyal to the earth king, but the Dai Li remains loyal to you, Long Feng, sir." I can just see any numbers of equivalent situations occuring if Ozai and Azula are either imprisoned or killed or banished or whatever. I can imagine anyone lower then the royal family in the FN government; "The new Fire Lord may have betrayed our nation for the Avatar, and we may be forced to serve him, but we remain loyal to you. Even if everyone in the Fire Nation capital; the royal family, the highest, most central part of the government and military, the aristocracy, all turned sides their's still the various FN colonies and expanded territories around the Earth Kingdom; Omashu, Ba Seng Sei, Jet and Hama's villages, anywhere else under Fire Nation rule. Do you think Mai's parents and all the other generals and politicians in their position will turn sides? All the 'Zhaos' amidst the FN military? Like the Dai Li in Ba Seng Sei, I imagine sects or large chunks of FN government organizing a cue to overthrow whoever the new Fire Lord may be with the intent to take back the FN and continue the war. Unless of course Aang reveals the corruption and lies and propaganda of the fire nation to its people; and that's IF the people both believe the Avatar AND are also convinced that it's unjustified. As was pointed out in another thread, Ozai's to dangerous to be kept alive, and as was pointed out in a previous thread that made a historical reference to Julius Caesar, Ozai's death may simply cause the FN military to kill whatever new guy is in power and they take over the government. I believe that ending this war is gonna be a bit more complicated then "taking out the Fire Lord and Azula".

Then again, it's interesting to note at the play; fans of various members of the Gaang who dress up like them and stuff. Maybe there's a silent majority in the FN who secretly, maybe even subconsciously, isn't so crazy about the war.

I suddenly got a new theory as I was writing this post. I think something like the end of The Boiling Rock; with Azula and Mai and Tai Lee, will happen on the scale of the entire Fire Nation. I think Ozai will do something big, something drastic, that will turn his people against him, either that or such a thing he's already been doing will be revealed that we don't already know about. It's possible, although I suddenly think it's unlikely due to the time it would consume, that Ozai will do something that a number of people in the FN won't like, something that'll make them speak out against him. In retaliation, Ozai will have military forces attack this sect of people. This attack on his own people would throw most of the rest of his citizens into outrage and turn them against him. Yeah . . . that's probably not gonna happen . . . but I think it'd be awesome . . .

But something's gotta happen . . . and again, I repeat a question I've seen asked before on these boards, something I know has been touched on already here. How will the the percieved enemies of the Fire Nation along with the "traitor prince who let his nation down" get the co-operation of the Fire Nation citizens, military, and relatively lower levels (Mai's parents' level) of government? Or how can the war end without it?