Well, now with that symbolism post for “The King of Omashu” and “Imprisoned” finally out of the way I can stop procrastinating and get back to what I do best…

I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed this before, but I found it interesting how both Katara and Hama used the “you have a gift,” line albeit for different ends.



Both “Imprisoned” and “The Puppetmaster” present us with a situation where a group of benders are unable to use their element. In “Imprisoned,” it’s the earthbenders from Haru’s village who are taken to a seaborne Fire Nation prison; in “The Puppetmaster,” it’s the waterbenders taken to prison inside of a volcano. Although she was not an earthbender herself and had access to her element, Katara chose to stay aboard the rig as she refused to abandon those that needed her help. In the episode’s conclusion, Katara is able to incite a mutiny by giving the earthbenders access to the prison rig’s coal supply.

Two seasons later, in “The Puppetmaster,” we learn how Hama developed bloodbending while inside a Fire Nation prison. In the episode’s climax, Hama demands that Katara use her more rare “gifts,” despite how immoral using those gifts may seem.

Despite the difference between Katara’s situation in “Imprisoned” and Hama’s situation in “The Puppetmaster,” the two characters are connected in their ability to adapt to their environment. For Katara, that meant finding a source of earth for the earthbenders while for Hama it meant developing bloodbending and using it as a means of escape. To give a better example for Katara, we see her waterbend her own sweat in “The Runaway” which demonstrates her ability to adapt to her situation and to come come up with a creative plan.

But, what separates Katara from from Hama is Katara’s sense of morality. Where Hama is willing to do everything and anything in her power to attack the Fire Nation, Katara draws the line at harming civilians and–as of–now–bloodbending. When Katara finally does use bloodbending in “The Southern Raiders” she does it with the same rage and need for revenge used demonstrated by Jet and Hama (even Aang brings it up). Even so, she is still grounded in her sense of morality, even if she seemed uncertain of why exactly she was unable to kill Yon Rha.

War might make monsters of us all, but it’s your choice whether or not you allow yourself to become a monster.