10 Greatest Avatar: The Last Airbender Moments
3. Azula's Introduction - The Avatar State
When introducing a villain, or any character really, you need to sum up all character traits that are important for the audience to immediately be aware of, in as quick and succinctly a manner as possible. So what do we need to know about Azula in her first appearance? She's spoiled, entitled, and completely pants on head INSANE. So how do you portray that in just one scene?
Easy, by making her think she can take on ocean tides.
The talk Azula has with her captain, where she demands that they dock in the port immediately despite the tides not allowing for it that day, tells you everything you could possibly need to know about her. Azula doesn't THINK she's a god in human form, she KNOWS it. And if you dare to say otherwise, whatever gods may be help you, because you're going to need it.
Any sailor will tell you that you DO NOT. MESS. WITH TIDES. They are mighty ocean waves, and you are tiny little human in tiny little boat. So Azula staying so calm and collected and calculating make you at first think of her as an unstoppable badass. But upon giving it the slightest bit of thought, it's clear what Mike and Bryant really want you to see.
This 14 year old is completely, utterly insane. and it's going to bite her in the ass one day. Case in point...