Our Christmas Traditions

Taking a break from the geeking and ranting, I wanted to take a moment and focus in on the holiday season. Every year I tell myself that I want to follow the Church's Light the World campaign, but every year the season seems to get away from me before I realize it. Despite my forgetfulness, I love that the Christmas season seems to bring out the Light of Christ in our souls. Whether it's service, gifting, or something else entirely, a mature understanding of Christmas gives us the opportunity to look outward and towards Jesus Christ. As such, I wanted to share some Christmas traditions our team practices (and/or practiced growing up) that have pointed us towards the Savior at this time of year.

I can't say I enjoyed this growing up in Canada, but for years my family participated in our stake Nativity Pageant. Underneath my shepherd's costume was my thick winter coat and gloves. Impossible to keep warm with so many layers. After our stake stopped doing our live nativity, another local stake still had theirs. And being able to come inside quickly after the performance made it so much more enjoyable. I'm glad the live nativity has a feeling of nostalgia now. Despite the cold, the repeated story engrained the Christ child's story in my brain and into my soul. Last year, a local stake here in Dallas had a live nativity. What a wonderful experience to share with my daughter and wife! And bonus points that we didn't have to triple-layer in winter clothes to go, just a light jacket (almost makes up for the dreadful Texas summer heat). Now I just need to find one we can go to this year. I hope to make it an annual tradition!

--Spencer

As a family that is forming Christmas traditions we wanted to do something different than what we were raised with. In 2016 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints started a program called Light the World and everyday there is something you can do. Like Spencer, I too am forgetful, but one tradition we do as a family is save enough money for the Light the World giving machines and buy a something that can help another family throughout the world. One of our favorite purchases is buying a goat. This year though I might persuade my children to buy S.T.E.M. Experience because I am part of S.T.E.M.

Another family tradition that my wife and I do is give our children three gifts. Each present represents a gift that Jesus Christ received from the wise men (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). Gold is valuable and can represents wealth and desire, so we give our kids something they want. Frankincense was used for perfume or incense that covers smell, so we interpret that as something the child needs (like socks! Haha JK). Lastly, myrrh was used for the temple where we can go to seek knowledge. Reading is great for our education, so we give our children a book.

—Michael

Growing up, my favorite tradition was updating the advent calendar every morning. My brother and I would race to be the one to move us closer to Christmas Day.

After I came home from my mission it became a tradition to listen to or watch the Grammy-Nominated Christmas concert MOTAB put on with Sissel Kyrkjebø. I had become obsessed with that soundtrack. Then found out that Chad had again, beaten me to it. He had heard Sissel perform live.

These days we have a few Christmas movies we watch every year, like Muppet Christmas Carol, and Home Alone. There are too many to list them all.

—Rob

While Christ is to be the center of Christmas, we focus on placing him at Christmas in how we speak to our kids about it. We make sure they understand the miracle of our Savior's birth. We remind them how our Heavenly Father gave us the Savior. That Jesus gave us his life and the atonement. No gift we can give will ever top those. But we also want our kids to see that the spirit of Christmas is giving. To put thought into what we do. And that doesn't mean the biggest, newest, or most expensive gift. There should be no contest at Christmas. We aren't competing. These are the things we try to get our children to understand about Christmas.

—TJ

LDS Geeks Podcast #6: Loki Season 2

I had the chance to sit down and record with Rob about where in time and space Loki Season 2 took us. Check out the most recent episode of the podcast to listen in on our thoughts, what we liked, and where the series fell short.

--Spencer

LDS Geeks Podcast #5: Chrono Cross Characters

Michael and I returned to Chrono Cross to chat about our most and least favorite characters. Learn what characters you will want to recruit when you play Chrono Cross, and some of the more complicated back stories of a few of them. Enjoy the podcast!

--Rob

LDS Geeks Podcast #3: Chrono Cross

Rob and I got to talk about our love for Chrono Cross, Rob as a long time fan of Chrono Cross, and  me as a newcomer to the Chrono universe of games. I hope you enjoy episode 3 of the podcast.

--Michael

Our Favorite Book of Mormon Scriptures

My dear friends, as an Apostle of the Lord, I invite you to follow our beloved prophet, President Nelson, in flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon. The need is so great; we need to act now. I promise that you will be participating in “the greatest work on earth,” the gathering of Israel, as you are inspired to reach out to those who have been “kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” They need your testimony and witness of how this book has changed your life and drawn you closer to God, His peace, and His “tidings of great joy.”

--Elder Ronald A. Rasband ("This Day", October 2022 General Conference)

This year is the 200th anniversary of the Angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith and his first trip to the Hill Cumorah. I spent four summers at the Hill Cumorah Pageant sharing the story of the Book of Mormon to those who came to the Hill. As members of Jesus Christ's restored church, we treasure the Book of Mormon. So while we normally talk about Harry Potter, Kingdom Hearts, Disney Plus, and everything else pop culture, But today wanted to share our favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon and how this book of scripture has influenced our lives. 

Spencer: Words of Mormon 1:7

7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.

When I was waiting for my mission call, I didn't know if/when it would come, because of my autism diagnosis. It was probably my first real adult episode of depression (which would later be the reason I came home from my mission). This was also the first time I remember this scripture. In a time of my life that felt out of control, this scripture provided me with comfort. Even if my heart is being torn apart coming home from my mission, I'm crying in feelings of loneliness and depression, or I'm stressed from a bad day at work, this scripture reminds me that God has a plan for me in all of these things... even if He has to get me there kicking and screaming at times.

 

Michael: Enos 1: 3-5

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.

4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

I believe that one of the greatest gifts God has given us is blessing of prayer. There are many scriptures in the Book of Mormon that talk about Prayer and the blessings it brings. I like Enos experience because he teaches me to put my soul into praying. I know that we can feel forgiveness when we pray because it has happened to Enos and so many other. I might not give a sincere prayer every time, but I know this is something important. We are God's children and he listens to our prayers like he did with Enos.

Rob: Ether 12:27

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

This scripture has come to mean something different to me over time. Heavenly showing us our weakness does not mean, necessarily, that he shows us specific areas where we are weak. More broadly, we are part of a race of beings that are very weak, not matter if it's a navy seal or pimple teenager. People have limitations, and we're often in denial of this. But humility is a strong characteristic and shows one's willingness to account for the weaknesses which we have, and to find strengths that we may only have access to because we are imperfect. An example is that I often feel that I lack confidence. However, the idea that I need to challenge and push myself to build my confidence has convinced me to stay committed, even at times when I have the urge to quit. I know that giving up without a good reason will probably reinforce my fear of failure. Instead, I have intentionally chosen to face that fear, work through challenges, and keep showing up to work. I've experienced challenges at work, at church, raising kids, and in my marriage, and continuing to remain committed through struggles has paid off over and over. If I had not grown up questioning myself and feeling low self-esteem, I do not know if I would have developed the emotional grit necessary to face some of the challenges I have. And through all of that, I certainly know that I have failed or done poorly many times, and that's okay.

Joe: Alma 56: 55-56

55 And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain.

56 But behold, to my great joy, there had anot one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war.

The 2000 Stripling Warriors was always one of my favorite stories, not just because Helaman calling all 2000 of the young men his sons which heals my own daddy issues, but because of the conviction and faith the warriors had. Ask any military expert and they'll tell you that in a battle as big as the one against the Lamanites some casualties on both sides would be expected, but the fact that none of the warriors fell shows that Heavenly Father was watching over and protecting them in their most dire time. 

I think all men need a brotherhood like Helaman's army, a group of men with similar values and goals who will fight with all they have to protect each other and to serve their higher cause. 

Kenton: Moroni 10:5-7

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

There is a singular power in Christ, which can't be compared. Yet it's through that, that we're able to act in power and in the ways that glorify and bring us closer together. Without that power, we only have truth, and truth endures, but it doesn't immediately make effort and change happen: action does. We often fail to realize that we all have access to the power of God, and godliness, and that He is wanting for us to grow and develop into our potential. We simply need not deny the power of God, either that He has power and influence in our lives, or that we are capable of living up to that power. Have confidence, stand for truth and goodness, and deny not God's power, and work according to it! That's just one takeaway from these verses, and I think there is even more that could be emphasized, but that's the beauty of Moroni's writing, he is able to convey many simple truths in so few words. 

LDS Geeks Podcast #1: Host Introductions

Welcome to episode one of the Latter-Day Saint Geeks Podcast! Get to know three of our hosts in the inaugural episode. Each podcast will have a combination of the three of us and maybe a guest. If you like this first episode, don't forget to subscribe for future episodes.

--Spencer

The Truth Hurts with the Ember Island Players

Welcome again to an unnecessary and bizarre reflection on obscure geek culture references.

This week my reference isn’t too obscure. I’m told the memes directly drawn from this episode of Avatar the Last Airbender are pretty bounteous. We’re talking about “The Ember Island Players,” season 3, episode 17 of AtLA.

In the episode, the Fire Nation acting troupe put on the play that featured all the members of the Avatar squad with very entertaining portrayals. Aang’s carefree and wholesome nature are captured with a high-pitched female actress ala theatrical castings of Peter Pan. Katara is portrayed as overly emotional and desperately clinging to hope, and making sure everyone knows it. Sokka is played as a goofy jokester who is always hungry. Each of these three, and other members of the team are all in denial and disbelief about any resemblance they have to their on-stage counterpart.

Toph and Suki are the only two people who aren’t completely disgusted by what they see on the stage. The characters insist that their personality was completely misunderstood.

Of course, caricatures are hilarious, and snap judgment is something that creates a sort of common language that we can at times understand collectively as a group. Therefore it can be an effective strategy for creating a piece of popular media. I remember going to a dinner theater near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you’re from eastern Idaho, you might have heard of Mack’s Inn. The production we saw was “The Phantom of the Grand ol’ Opry.” I loved it, but I’m a sucker comedy musicals. In this show, at one point the phantom sang a ridiculous parody of the popularly stalking-themed classic by The Police, “Every Breath You Take.” He also wore a mask because his face got stuck in a weird position, not because he was born with any unusual condition, or splashed in the face with acid, or whatever the original phantom’s reason was for covering his face.

Anyway, parody and caricature are fun and funny. But what about when it gets personal?

Toph loves every minute of the play, and declares to the team that the truth hurts. She has the sort of concrete thinking that validates the caricatures, and only works in her favor because the actor in her role is a totally stacked dude the size of a tank. Toph is lucky enough to not have any identity issues, although her ability to empathize with the rest of the team, reach a compromise with others is at times impeded by her fiercely rational and stubborn perspective.

People want to be seen in the way they want, although what we want is not always the reality. Our most noticeable characteristics make more sense in the context of our lives, and yet only we are capable of being fully aware of that context. When they are taken out of context, our mannerisms and choices can be made to seem ridiculous and even humiliating. 

Our brains like to make snap judgments. They save energy, and make use of our ability to process a lot of information quickly. Body language, tone of voice, word choice, and overall appearance say things about a person that create an overall impression that we carry without putting in much effort. These are all the building blocks we need to have a caricature for a person. Imagine the theme park portraits that exaggerate a pronounced chin to proportions grown absurdly cartoonish. 

It takes so much more effort to develop a deeper understanding of a person. The Ember Island Players episode works so well because we can see both sides very clearly. The AtLA story is told in such a way that the whole Avatar squad is made up of three-dimensional characters that have their catchphrases and consistent personality quirks, but who also have surprised us, and grown through the challenges of following the Avatar and getting past their hang-ups and weaknesses. 

Katara has good reason to depend heavily upon hope, as she was forced to grow up prematurely after the death of her mom, and the absence of her father in her life. Her mentions of hope are courageous and useful to help keep herself and her team from becoming hopeless in the face of ongoing war. Aang does have a carefree and wholesome personality, but that doesn’t prevent him from challenging his fears and rising up to the call of taking down Fire Lord Ozai. His trickster tendencies are a mask at times that provide a release valve from the weight of his responsibilities of mastering the four elements, and using them to prevent world domination.

Zuko turns out to be one of the most vulnerable characters, in proportion to how outrageously tough he forced himself to be throughout the first two episodes of the show. His dynamic transformation through the series works so well because he is given sufficient attention to set up his descent from the throne of the Fire Nation, to abandoning his father by choice, and finally realizing that he was meant to be Aang’s firebending teacher.

To wrap things up without going into further details of the episode, the play reveals many details and insights into the Avatar team that are not only cringeworthy, but which the team purposely avoids talking about, including unrequited love, and fears about how things might end up at the final battle. The truth does indeed hurt, as there is always chance you will lose the fight. Yet the team’s ability to stay and watch the whole thing says something about their tolerance for discomfort, and their hope that the way things will end will turn out okay. Luckily for them, the show did not follow suit with the play. It was a play put on by the Fire Nation, so of course the Fire Lord had to win in the end.

This episode is wildly creative and fun to watch. I love it when media like stage shows and cartoons mix together. This episode had a lot of moving parts in it that came together really beautifully. What was your favorite moment from the Ember Island Players?

Cognitive Concepts in a Barbie World

So a group of my family got together opening weekend of the Barbie Movie, and I had a great time. I was pretty surprised how much I loved this movie. (Sorry, didn’t see Oppenheimer, I’ll have to check it out next time!) 

It’s unusual for a movie to stay so quirky and yet introduce deep topics in a way that directs the action of the plot.

It’s also not lost on me that this is a controversial movie to many people. It may be this movie is just not for you. However, I do recommend finding a way to understand why this movie resonates with so many people. For me, there was a deep sense of empathy for people who feel stuck on the sidelines, as well as people in crisis, and offering hope that change and recovery are possible.

Here are a few of the topics in this movie that send mental health and healthy relationship dynamics to the front. 

Existential Crisis

Intrusive thoughts of death, and joy in normal activities being replaced with a sense of meaninglessness, overwhelming sense of dread or hopelessness. Stereotypical barbie begins her journey toward becoming “weird” Barbie because she begins having thoughts of death and sadness. Despite a strong urge to revert back to her old self, stereotypical Barbie instead finds herself reaching a new sense of self awareness through embracing her journey rather than clinging to the past.

One up one down psychology

In couples, the dynamic feels like a competition or battle rather than a collaboration. The one up position is superior either by having the final say, taking the moral high ground, or putting their partner down. The one down position is the inferior place, and may lead to resentment, or feelings of being taken advantage of. In the movie, the Kens of Barbie land take over for a time and make themselves into the leaders of the land, and convince the barbies to take care of them. By taking this one down position, the Barbie’s lose their positions in society and their sense of self, which flips the dynamic, as previously, Barbies held all the positions of power, and basically had no use for the Kens beyond as cheerleaders.

Tone Policing

At times, a person might be shut down, even though the content of what they are saying may be relevant, they get shut down because of the way they are saying it, or simply because the listener feels offended. America Ferreira’s character gives a monologue with numerous examples of how women are fed impossible and contradictory expectations. Because of how impossible these expectations are for anyone, the message that external validation and allowing the world to determine your values for you will not lead to happiness. Her monologue goes on and on, and we get the sense that her message has been brewing for quite some time, which makes sense because her discomfort and disenfranchisement is just the kind of unpleasant truth that people often brush aside. It’s not useful to label these ideas as over sensitivity, self-absorption, or moral weakness. It can make a huge difference to normalize and truly listen to a person in pain, regardless. Validating a person’s pain is possible no matter the stated cause or content.

Stigmatizing Emotions

If a person expresses negative emotions, too often the listener discredits what is said based on misconceptions that emotions exist on a moral scale, with some worse than others. We value a bit too much the capacity to hide emotions, and it is too easy to judge a person while they speak, instead of using emotions as useful content alongside the content of what a person says. Barbie’s existential crisis leads to a cascade of negative emotions, which she believes are all just problems she can fix by meeting someone in the real world, and cheering them up. However, it turns out to be both Barbie and her human change, as they learn to validate and accept their own emotions. The journey of the movie indicates that we are always going through an emotional cycle, regardless of how poorly or how well life is going. People in Barbie land and the real world prefer to able to freeze in a state of positive emotions. However, a more healthy perspective is to learn to tolerate all possible emotions and manage them in the sense of making good decisions regardless of how a situation may make us feel.

Get to Know Your Geeks: Starter Pokemon

If you've been following us for any length of time, you'll have inadvertently gotten to know us at least somewhat. But to give you a little more perspective on your Latter-Day Saint Geeks team, I thought it'd be fun to do a little get-to-know-you post with (almost) all of us. I hope to do one of these every few months. I wanted to start off with our starter Pokemon, who we'd pick and why. Enjoy!

--Spencer

Michael: Totodile

I think majority of people agree that one of the coolest starter Pokemon is Charmander. However, to me my starter Pokemon would be from the first Pokemon game I have played. I was introduced to Pokemon when my older sister was given Pokemon Silver by her now ex-boyfriend. She allowed me to play it as long as I didn't save over her file (which I did on accident ... maybe). As you know Professor Elm asks the player to choose a starter Pokemon and I chose Totodile because he looked the most enthusiastic. I think there hasn't been a more excited/happy Pokemon since. I have never regretted choosing him/her as a starter Pokemon.

Rob: Squirtle

Squirtle was my childhood favorite. and turtles are just cool. I mean, if you think about it, the cannons on Blastoise's back are just the natural extension of the freaking house that is connected to a turtle's spine. So, yeah, I'm cool with the fact that my favorite starter pokemon will one day evolve into the Pokemon tribute to a creature with its own self-made fortress.

Water is my jam too. The four basic elements all have their charm, but water is the one for me, be I a bender, or a Pokemon trainer. 

Popplio and Froakie are pretty formidable foes on the adorable and cutesy scales, so the water-type starters across the generations are pretty stacked. Don't even get me started on Oshawott, Totodile, and Piplup. The thing is, Squirtle will always be the one that I chose as a kid, so there you go. He's got my childhood heart.

Joe: Charmander

For me it’s all about the fire types. Cyndaquil, Scorbunny, Torchic, you can’t go wrong. But, most importantly, is my boy Charmander. The original fire starter and the good boy who turns into the bad boy who turns into the dragoniest non-dragon type in the game. I fell in love with him from his debut in the anime episode “Charmander: The Stray Pokemon” when he was cuddled up on that rock trying not to let his tail flame go out. I have played every version of Pokemon since Red and Blue and the first opportunity I get I pick up my Charmander and make him a permanent part of my squad.

Spencer: Cyndaquil

It's funny. I'm the one who proposed this post idea, but I had a hard time narrowing my answer down. I'm going to go with Cyndaquil. For one thing, he reminds me of ones of my best friends (you know who you are). But also I remember training up Cyndaquil back when I played Pokemon Gold for the first time. He was the strategic choice for the first couple gyms, like Bulbasaur was when I played Blue. And then if you look at Cyndaquil in the anime, as an adult, I remember him having to work hard to get his flame going and use his fire attacks. That's kind of inspiring. Also, he was always tired out and wants to rest; that's very relatable as a parent.

Rob Recommends: Another Eden

A terrible thing happened to me about a year ago. I lost my hobby. 

For the second time I had to pick up the pieces and figure out what to do. 

But this time it was different, because I found something way better. 

The hobby that I lost was actually Pokemon Go. And by lost, I mean that one day I just didn’t care anymore. Catching new Pokemon, collecting poke coins and taking gyms for team Valor had all just lost their meaning. There was no sense of achievement, or satisfaction. Just an odd awareness that I was a middle-aged guy making an unnecessary stop on the side of the road on his way home from work.

There’s a lot of details I won’t bore you with about my history with Pokemon, like the time in the fifth grade when the only friend that I had who would play Pokemon with me moved away, but to sum it up, this moment was the end of a daily habit that my wife thought would have ended at least two years earlier. So even though it was a light hobby, still it left something of a void where I needed to find enjoyment. What filled it was a game that I had very little expectation would become as fun as it did. 

 As I was writing for the blog back in March, I discovered that a person responsible for one of my favorite games, Masato Kato, had actually been a driving force behind a mobile game called Another Eden. I even found a trailer for a collab between Eden and Chrono Cross, which completely blew my mind. 

 Anyway, I downloaded the game, for free, and played for a few minutes before moving on to other things. Depsite being impressed that Masato Kato was involved in the making of this game, I had a sinking feeling that it wasn’t worth my time. The art was beautiful, and the music was quite lovely, but somehow I still felt that a mobile game wouldn’t be capable of delivering the same excitement I felt as a kid, sitting in front of a tv with that concrete gray controller, getting up to switch discs, my game manual open my side. (Don’t judge me, using the game manual enhances game play for me.) 

I came back to this game later. I think I got sick that day, and had a little time on my hands? This time I became totally immersed. Another Eden follows the adventures of a boy named Aldo who must save his sister from her kidnappers. But soon after embarking on his quest, he gets swallowed up by a wormhole that catapults him hundreds of years into the future. Very soon after his arrival he realizes that his entire world, and temporality were at risk of being totally obliterated. He must save his sister, and time itself before evil forces remove all things from existence. I realized that not only was Kato-San still putting out world-class work, but he was also keeping the classic JRPG style game alive with a mobile-savvy twist on the format that delivered us so many masterpieces over the years. He’s done a lot for Square Enix, including some writing for FF7, the Chrono games, Xenogears, and more. Kato-San, you made my childhood. 

So Another Eden is in the Chrono universe, but is not a direct sequel. It features wonderful story-driven gameplay revolving around leaping through time with a motley crew of companions who each have at least one if not more side quests that help to flesh out their back story. The artwork is GORGEOUS, and often surprising in its variety. The music gets an A+ from me. Overall, the ability of this game to transport me into a world of adventure has left me flabbergasted with glee. I thought it was fitting that Another Eden allowed the recruitment of many characters. If the game developers of the Chrono Cross team hadn’t been so restricted by the data limitations of playstation discs in the late nineties, they likely would have realized a much fuller vision of their game, and it’s cast of over forty characters. In Another Eden, it’s possible to recruit much more than forty. I’m willing to let the number remain a mystery for now. Suffice it to say, this is a popular feature in video gaming called “gacha” (ironic, since it sounds like “gotcha”) in which character recruitment allows a person to build a large roster, a collection of rogues if you will. My roster is currently at seventy. I think the devs continue adding more recruitable characters over time. 

I don’t play the game to collect characters though. I’m all about enjoying a fun, quirky, and overtly optimistic storyline, and Another Eden delivers on all these. At times the tension resolves in humorously convenient ways, and at other times the drama is gut-wrenchingly tragic. Overall, the story engages so much that i have to know what happens next. The game design is also flexible enough that you can have dozens of side-quests active at once without having to worry that you’ll lose track of how to take the next step to progress on any of the various threads, including the main plot. The level of detail in the world and in the many different settings across present day, antiquity, and the future make the game so full of variety there is no reason to ever get bored. 

My last note, the battle system is so different from other JRPGs I’ve played, it took me some time to get use to it. I don’t know whether the design and options were restricted by the mobile format, or if mobile design simply dictates a more sleek and streamlined approach to battles. But now that I have the hang of it, I’m in love with the ways they have created a whole turn-based battle system. The way one is able to heal characters and hold two characters in reserve, as well as dual tech abilities are really clever. The level-up system is optimized well enough that it’s not too impractical to train up a new character if you suddenly decide its time to bring a new face into the party.

Did I mention that you also you get to choose a feline mascot and choose their costume? I honestly can't think of a single reason why every video game doesn't offer this option. The new standard from here on out is if a game can give you an avatar, it can also give that avatar a pet cat that will follow them literally everywhere they go.

I’ll probably write about Another Eden again in the future. I'm far from done with this masterpiece. For now, let me know if you start a playthrough. If you like JRPGs, you're bound to fall in love with it like I have.

Daddy Issues: Zuko Finds His Honor

The honorary title of this blog is, “Honoring the Honorable Way of Honor, Honorably, Your Honor.”

Just wanted to make sure we understand that Zuko cares about one thing.

And that’s capturing the Avatar.

Why?

Because he is missing something he needs to regain.

You guessed it.

Is regaining your honor such a bad thing? In Zuko’s case, it’s the fuel for a maddening obsession, and the central theme of his daddy issues. He’s totally blinded to the fact that he spends two books of ATLA on a quest that's nothing more than a mockingly titled banishment. He and Uncle Iroh are a pair of royal outcasts, together in their disgrace and their longing for family who have either died, disappeared, or dismissed them.

Zuko believes he needs his father to restore to him what he lost at their agni-kai, the fateful day he signed his hatred on Zuko’s face with fire. He believes to recover means to reclaim his rightful place on the throne.

And then Zuko does the impossible and captures the Avatar at the North Pole. So why does he wanders off into the tundra? When Azula attempts to take him in, Zuko and Iroh escape and live on the run. Zuko learns that he will never find the honor that he hoped he would find from his father. He and Uncle Iroh take knives to their top-knots, and travel in disguise, branded as traitors to the fire nation. Then at Ba-Sing-Se when Azula and Zuko battle the Avatar team, Zuko bears the weight of a shared secret, that they did not actually kill the Avatar, as they tell their father they did. He also is crushed by the knowledge that his return to the throne was bought with Uncle Iroh's incarceration.

That’s rough, buddy.

Ba-Sing-Se, is a very important moment for Zuko, though, and the progress Zuko shows here gives the viewer a sense that when Zuko returns to the Fire Nation, there is still hope he won't follow in his father's fascist footsteps. Zuko learns that the Avatar is present in Ba-Sing-Se, but he follow’s Uncle Iroh’s advice, and lets him go. This decision actually causes Zuko to get sick for a few days, and Iroh nurses him back to health while he rests in the back of their little tea shop. When he wakes up, it’s as if he is transformed into a new person. Someone who is capable of being a whole human. He goes on a date. He begins to envision a life that has nothing to do with the Avatar. This is a signal of major healing from his ‘daddy issues,’ more so than cutting off the top knot. Rather than trying to fill the emptiness in him by getting Ozai’s approval, Zuko begins to ask himself what he, himself, approves of. He fights his way to move beyond his traumatic childhood, and determines to break the mold set for him by choosing to live differently.

The way I would describe Zuko’s transformation in a phrase is a shift from external validation to internal validation. Childhood is a time where we don’t have the development necessary to provide ourselves internal validation. We have to rely on the adult role-models in our lives to know how to be in the world. Our internal sense of right and wrong is heavily influenced by the values that those role models demonstrate through their actions. Later, as our brains develop we begin to have the words and cognitive tools to truly choose for ourselves, if we choose to. While the mold set by our parents and role models is strong, it's not impossible to break. Living by internally validated models make it possible to be free from toxic patterns set by a traumatic family of origin.

Speaking of toxic families, Zuko was torn between two very different parents. His inner conflict manifests in his highly unstable mood, and his poor planning of events. He has trouble making up his mind because the path of Fire Nation supremacy is full of holes, but he refuses to fully acknowledge them.

The royal family of the Fire Nation demonstrates that individuals have very different ideas about what honor means. Princess Azula was highly attached to her father, Ozai, a man motivated by the pursuit of domination, willing to achieve his goals at any cost, including selling out his older brother, and banishing his wife, the mother of his children. To Ozai and Azula, honor is about conquering and conniving. Zuko was more closely bonded with his mother, a woman whose values included kindness, and sticking up for other people. She saved Zuko’s life by leaving the Fire Nation palace forever. Despite the fact the Zuko’s journey is spent desperate for his father’s approval, he is conflicted because he doesn’t agree with Azula and Ozai’s definition of honor. Zuko does many horrible things on his quest to capture the Avatar. And yet, he also rescues the Avatar from General Zhao, disguised as the Blue Spirit. He intervenes in the Earth Kingdom on behalf of a little boy, being antagonized by brutish Earth Kingdom soldiers. Although Zuko says that he must restore his honor through his father, he is conflicted, because at times what he believes is right is the exact opposite of what his father would do.

Zuko’s Blue Spirit disguise (my true favorite character from the Avatar series), his solitary acts of selfless bravery, and his ultimate loyalty to Uncle Iroh all indicate to me that his internal conflict, and the fever-transformation in Ba-Sing-Se were steps on a journey to reaching a state where his actions are motivated by internal validation. Zuko learns to make decisions based on values beyond power and prestige. He defies his father openly, and fights down Azula as a member of team Avatar because he chooses to believe his sense of what is right will show him the world more clearly than the lenses he was taught to wear as an heir to the throne. He lost his fire-bending for a while because he lost the fuel to power his bending: contempt, resentment, and frustration. While impressive, his anger made his bending volatile, unreliable, and undisciplined. Yet, when he regains his power to bend, and teams up with the Avatar, he at last finds focus, a quiet mind aligned with the life he desires to have for the long term.

Zuko finds his honor, but not with Ozai. He finds the honor that his mother, Ursa, and Uncle Iroh intended for him to find. He finds out that there was nothing to regain from Ozai but abuse, neglect, and despair. He finds that when Azula is defeated, her effortless poise and perfection were a mask for emptiness and total, sociopathic isolation. Zuko finds that his worth never came from his throne, his bending skills, or his father's approval. Despite Zuko’s journey across the spectrum from enemy to ally of the Avatar, his worth was always totally clear to the Uncle who had adopted him as his own.

Zuko not only becomes a whole person capable of connecting with people, he is willing to apologize, make amends, and fight for truth. Holding fast to his new way of living means saying goodbye to Ozai and Azula. He is able to face the unknown, living amongst a group of misfits and strangers, and finding his way to the throne that echoes his grandfathers, Avatar Roku and Firelord Sozin, and hints at an intergenerational healing of their failed friendship. The unfamiliarity of his new world view is bearable because he has finally learned to follow deeper values. Like Iroh and Ursa, his estrangement and loneliness don’t lead to isolation. He finds honor through trust, vulnerability, and empathy. Zuko is no longer chained to his inner emptiness because he has let go of the quest to fill it.

“I’ve realized I’m free to determine my own destiny, even if I’ll never be free of my mark.” -Zuko

Determine your own destiny. That is a quest worth becoming obsessed with.

Uncle Iroh: Best Mentor EVER Shown Anywhere

One common reaction to Avatar: The Last Airbender is that Nickelodeon shows aren’t supposed to be this good. Uncle Iroh is no small reason for this.

He holds his own against Ron Swanson, Jack Donaghy, Mr. Miyagi, Yoda, Gandalf, Kelsier, and Dumbledore. You name a mentor, Uncle Iroh surpasses them all. You name an iconic pop-culture-mentor-moment, and Uncle Iroh has one to match it. And this is no controversial argument. Uncle Iroh is a true fan favorite.

The mentor is an essential component of the hero’s journey. AtLA pulls a very interesting move by featuring the antagonist's mentor, and makes us love him to pieces. Writing about Uncle Iroh is both intimidating and a lot of fun. The show pulls off a powerful redemption arc for his nephew, prince Zuko, while also slyly revealing a redemption arc for Iroh as well. All the profound moments with Iroh are cushioned by numerous jokes and gags. We always want to see more of Iroh, because we can his humor makes him approachable.

Uncle Iroh bends fire and lightning. He defies insidious fire nation officials who he once led, like Admiral Zhao and his conniving younger brother, Fire Lord Ozai. He just so happens to have been first in line to inherit the throne of an evil oppressive empire, but was betrayed and exiled. Oh, and he’s a member of the secret organization that helps to orchestrate the Fire Nation’s downfall, the White Lotus.

And he makes a mean cup of tea.

He is often played early in the show as the comedic relief. He finds joy in his hobbies, cheering people up, and isn’t afraid to show off his skills in the strategy game, Pai Sho. One can barely capture all the ways AtLA pivots between Uncle Iroh's character dimensions, which shows how carefully they crafted depth into this man. He feels so real, his different displays of character never feel forced or strange.

Prior to the beginning of AtLA, Uncle Iroh has spent years recovering from the loss of his son. Episode 15 of season 2, "Tales of Ba Sing Se," shows Iroh doing acts of kindness around the city of Ba Sing Se, including de-escalating a man who attempted to mug him. Rather than fight and subdue the would-be criminal, Iroh sees the man’s humanity and desperation. His quick thinking saves the picnic basket in his hand. 

The reason Iroh has become such a forgiving and caring man is demonstrated at the end, when the picnic basket turns out to be part of a moment he has planned to spend in remembrance of the son he lost at war, in Ba Sing Se, years and years ago. The song he sings, Leaves from the Vine, has taken on a life of its own beyond the show, expressing loss and grief that words alone cannot express. It also reveals why Iroh has sustained such powerful convictions that carried him through his nephew's abuse and exile from a nation he once gave everything to serve.

Makoto Iwamatsu, usually known as Mako, voiced Uncle Iroh for most of the show. Mako sadly passed away prior to the airing of Tales of Ba Sing Se, and was replaced for future episode by Greg Baldwin, a student of Mako. At times, fans have asked Baldwin to sing "Leaves from the Vine," but he refuses. He says that song "belongs to Mako." Dante Basco, the voice of Zuko, has also expressed deep love and appreciation for Mako.

Iroh and Zuko eventually are captured by the Fire Nation. Zuko is returned to his place in the royal family. Iroh, on the other hand, is imprisoned. He pretends to be full cuckoo-pants, while secretly training himself into full beast mode. He then uses his recovered muscle and escapes his prison cell and rejoins the White Lotus, the organization which has been waiting for the return of the Avatar.

Iroh and Zuko are reunited in the camp of the white lotus, after Zuko joined the Avatar’s team, through no small effort of his own. Zuko collapses before going inside. He says “My uncle hates me, I know it.” Iroh was kind in every way but Zuko fought and rejected him. When Zuko finally enters, before he can complete his apology, Iroh rushes forward and embraces him. Uncle Iroh is clearly relieved that his efforts have resulted in sparing Zuko at least some of the regret that he felt after losing his son at war.

Forgiveness and humor come easily to Iroh. He shares his life-changing wisdom through advice and walking beside the not only Zuko but, Aang, Toph, and others. Mentors are there in a story to guide a character toward their destiny. As phenomenally written characters sometimes do, Iroh has become a symbol of the guide we all want in our own lives. It just so happens the AtLA is particularly rich in examples of the humanity of its featured mentor. It turns out, even just one such guide can make a huge difference even in a terribly difficult and traumatic life. Our growth as people stems from determination and perspective exactly like what Uncle Iroh demonstrates through a little old show that aired on Nickelodeon in the mid 2000s.

Well done, AtLA. We're looking forward to the Netflix live action remake later this year with much anticipation.