I watched it last night, so I'll keep this short and simple (as best as I can). I LOVED the Zutara interaction and it gave me some ideas for Slow Heat. And Sokka waiting for Suki with the rose in his mouth... I'm shocked that made it's way on a kid's show, but I liked it.

However, I am REALLY bothered by the whole backstory (The Southern Raiders, Kat's mom, etc) for several reasons.

1. The leader of the Southern Raiders said that sources told him there was just one Waterbender left.

My issue... who told? Who would snitch on their own village? This in itself begs for a backstory of its own! My guess is that the writers pulled this out of their ass for a quick and cheap explanation. Tsk tsk. Try harder. A better explanation for the Southern Raiders coming to the village would be... well, just because they could! (to bully the villagers)

2. Katara's mom sacrificing herself for Katara.

My issue... it felt way too cheesy/cliche for me. A more rational/mature explanation would be Katara's mom standing up for herself, and the Southern Raiders, being the assholes they are, decided to kill her for her defiance/the hell of it. That would have worked out much better than the whole 'noble sacrifice' thing.

3. Katara just leaving the leader alone after she confronted him.

My issue... Fuck? I mean... what. it was nice that she didn't KILL him, but she didn't have to leave him sitting there in the rain, unscathed. She could have left him scarred, or another long-lasting reminder of what he had done. If Nick had the nerve to show Sokka trying to seduce Suki, they certainly could have done a more mature/realistic take on the confrontation between Katara and her mother's murderer.

Edit as of 9 PM (CT) Watched Ember Island Players. Like Southern Raiders, it had some good parts and some BAD parts. The part about hiding in the old family summer house, pure genius. And I almost wish Real Zuko had the same long, wavy hair like his actor counterpart when he was wearing the longest wig (omg it was so sexy) and Zuko sitting next to Katara before Aang could get her... I LOL'd at that part.

But again, this was another filler. Some of the things in here could have been included in a better episode. But the whole play thing... seriously, wtf? Why isn't Zuko looking for his mom? And why isn't the Aang Gang looking for Hakoda and Chit Sang and the rest of the peeps they left behind? Again, this episode was filled with plotholes and too many unanswered questions. The series finale better be kickass to make up for the recent lack of attention to the details of ATLA.

(July 19,2008 9 AM CST) Like the preceding two episodes, Sozin's Comet was filled with both awesomeness and suckiness.

Awesome - the White Lotus, Iroh, Bumi, Piandao, Jeong Jeong, and GRANDPAKKU! The fight between Aang and Ozai! OMG! Sokka and Suki and Toph pwning the airships! Toph wrapping herself up in metal! (she looked so cute!) Zuko and Katara together! ZUTARAAAAAAAAAAAAAA FOREVAR! Azula losing it, that was full of lulz!

What sucked - the kissing at the end. It ruined it all (like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows epilogue) We STILL don't know where Zuko's mom is! Yue and Jet died, but not Ozai! No Iroh/Jun interaction! And Fire Lord Zuko serving tea??? WHAT.

FUCK YOU, BRYKE. THERE WAS FAR MORE ZUTARA IN THE SERIES THAN THERE WAS EVER KATAANG. SO I LAUGH AT YOUR RETARDED KISS SCENES.