god i absolutely love what they did here because it just further emphasizes the importance the show places on balance.

the city is the stubborn steadfastness of earth taken to its awful extreme: rules are rigid, social position is unchangeable, authority is absolute. this is what unchecked earth looks like.

it’s the same with the other elements. unchecked, the passion and drive of fire becomes the fire nation’s horrifying forever-war imperialism, the community-focus and adaptability of water becomes Hama’s trauma-driven crusade against the whole fire nation. even the free-flowing nature of air, the way it can find its way around obstacles, becomes Aang’s difficulty with facing his problems and feelings head-on.

none of the elements are bad! the only bad is in locking yourself so much into one kind of thinking that you can’t see the wisdom in others! gosh what a great moral!