Leslie Mann in Blithe Spirit (2020) dir. Edward Hall Costume design by Charlotte Walter

he’s a firebender!

• the avatar: will be 35 years old and still have a pavlovian response to sokka saying “all right everyone, time for bed!” 
• the firelord: so ride or die it’s honestly concerning
• the earth king: owes to sokka his newfound knowledge of basic critical thinking skills
• chief of the northern water tribe: his daughter seemed to think he was pretty dope before she turned into the moon
• chief of the southern water tribe: thinks her brother is an idiot but has good ideas sometimes, and appreciates the fact that he doesn’t care whether or not he gets credit for them as long as they’re implemented 
• not to mention that toph is basically a one-woman weapon of mass destruction who does not listen to anyone—with the crucial exception of one person—and guess who that is!
• and he’s basically an honorary member of the white lotus???

• Zuko & Azula used to high-five each other like it was a competition
• i mean, it was a competition and the winner was whoever inflicted the most pain on the other
• this would be normal sibling behavior if that attitude stuck to high-fives but as we know.... it didn't
• but unlike all the other ways the Fire Siblings were pitted against each other growing up, the competition of high-fives was just between them
• high fives were fleeting moments of competition and comradery judged only by themselves
• so over the years as the siblings grew apart and were forced against each other, giving high fives was one thing that remained the same for them
• like, Azula would see Zuko looking extra sad and thats not right because she wasn't the cause of it, so she says "high five looser" and they slap hands and she refuses to admit that it hurts and just calls him a weakling
• but its fine. they don't hug anymore, not since mom left, but they have this
• flash forward a few years to when Zuko joins the gaang
• Zuko comes up with the idea to hide out at his family's old beach house on Ember Island
• Sokka says 'nice thinking dude!' and holds out his hand for a high five
• Zuko instinctually slaps Sokka's hand so hard he nearly takes his arm off
• Everyone is like ???? 'why are you mad at Sokka???'
• Except Toph, who is cracking up
• Zuko doesnt understand the issue so he says 'wtf kind of high five was that, why didn't you hit back'
• So Sokka & Katara demonstrate a normal high five thats just a friendly slap of the hands and Zuko is more confused
• because it's become a sign of affection between him & Azula to hit their hands as hard as possible
• and Katara & Sokka are siblings so.... ? what gives?
• Aang explains that most people do not high five with this same competitive mentality
• Zuko is like 'sounds fake but okay'
• Then Aang patiently teaches Zuko how to nicely high five people
• 'dont hit with your whole palm Zuko, here-' and 'dont wind up for the hit like a punch just bend your elbow-'
• Toph disapproves of this
• Her way of showing affection is exactly what Zuko is used to
• So while he now gently and cautiously high fives the rest of his friends
• Him and Toph slap each other's hands as hard as possible
• It reminds Zuko of family. And its what Toph imagines family to be like
• So it doesn't come as a surprise, years later, when Toph casually refers to him as 'her brother'
• and then they high-five so hard it hurts and he thinks 'yeah. thats one of my sisters all right'