“Fortes Fortuna Juvat” is an iconic Latin phrase that loosely translates to “fortune favors the bold” and is an interesting way to evaluate character arcs in the Hero’s Journey narrative. It implies that luck, while advantageous, plays more of a supporting role in any character’s success.
What really matters is that they possess the courage and conviction to make their dreams come true. Avatar: The Last Airbender illustrates this point extremely well, proving that the concept of fate isn’t as final as it appears to be. that said, a random roll of the dice is often enough to push events beyond the tipping point.
10 Sokka’s First Crush Actually Returns His Affection
Although Sokka meets Suki long before Yue, it is the princess of the Northern Water Tribe who stakes the first claim on his heart. He is thoroughly enamored from the moment he sees her gondola float past him.
Sokka tries to flirt with Yue, claiming that he’s “kind of like a prince” in the Southern Water Tribe, an attempt that apparently backfires. However, it seems that Yue feels the same way, even though she’s unable to openly reciprocate her affections. Zuko, Aang, and even Azula find the prospect of romance harrowing, but Sokka’s clearly got the gift.
9 Zuko Is Near The South Pole At The Right Time
The banished Prince Zuko scours the world with a fine-toothed comb, hoping against hope that he discovers the long-lost Avatar. Since he has no home, he and his uncle basically meander through the world’s oceans on their lone ship.
When Aang bursts out of his hundred-year-hibernation, the act releases a pillar of blinding energy that cuts through the sky and is visible for miles. Luckily for Zuko, he’s within observation range, which helps him find his way to the Southern Water Tribe.
8 Aang Defeats Toph In The Earth Rumble
Aang realizes, much to his delight, that the blind girl tossing grown men around like ragdolls is the same person he had recently seen in a vision. He jumps into the Earth Rumble ring to speak to Toph, but she responds with an attack, forcing him to defend with Airbending.
Since Airbenders don’t exist anymore, nobody suspects Aang of cheating his way to victory. This lucky moment marks the beginning of a long and loving friendship.
7 Zuko And Aang Discover That Dragons Exist
Zuko is upset to learn that he’s lost his Firebending mojo. As a result, he and Aang visit the remains of the Sun Warrior civilization to learn more about the origins of the elemental artform.
The two boys solve a few puzzles but subsequently get themselves trapped in a spinach-green goo. The surviving Sun Warriors eventually take them to meet Ren and Shaw, a pair of dragons whose existence is unknown to the outside world except for Iroh.
6 Sokka’s Distrust Of Jet Saves A Village
Jet and his Freedom Fighters live relatively carefree lives, much like Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Unfortunately, instead of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, the gang harasses anyone they suspect to be harboring pro-Fire Nation sentiments, including innocent travelers.
Sokka tries to convince Aang and Katara of Jet’s disingenuous methods, but his suspicions are misconstrued as envy. Thankfully, Sokka takes matters into his own hands and implements a creative plan that saves hundreds of innocent lives.
5 Bumi Uses The Solar Eclipse To Reconquer Omashu
The fundamental tenet of Earthbending philosophy is patience: the best practitioners know when to wait and when to strike. King Bumi embodies the so-called neutral jing, calmly hanging from his metallic prison-box until the day of the solar eclipse.
He instantly strips the restraints off his body and launches a staggering series of Earthbending moves that chases the Fire Nation out of Omashu for good. Bumi would be the first person to acknowledge the impact of luck on his victory.
4 A Random Island Turns Out To Be A Lion Turtle
Aang is terrified of fighting Ozai, not because he expects to lose the battle, but because he doesn’t want to end it with murder. He leaves Team Avatar and takes sanctuary on what appears to be an island, which ultimately turns out to be a Lion Turtle, a species believed to have been long-extinct.
This stroke of fortune is exactly what Aang needs at that point in time. The Lion Turtle then proceeds to impart the archaic knowledge of Energybending to the young Avatar.
3 Azula Infiltrates Ba Sing Se As A Kyoshi Warrior
Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai attack and defeat Suki and company while they’re busy tending to Appa. The villainous trio then disguises themselves as the Kyoshi Warriors, successfully infiltrating the previously impregnable city of Ba Sing Se.
This feat is particularly impressive, given that Azula needs neither technology nor military strength to conquer the Earth Kingdom capital, something the Fire Nation had been attempting for several years without success.
2 Katara And Sokka Find Aang’s Iceberg
A minor squabble turns into a life-changing discovery when Katara accidentally uses Waterbending to release a luminous iceberg from the freezing depths of the ocean. The structure cracks open with a powerful gust of wind and a mysterious figure steps forth, only to collapse weakly into Katara’s waiting arms.
Sokka pokes Aang’s unconscious head with the blunt end of his spear until his sister stops him. The Avatar slowly opens his eyes and half-jokingly asks Katara if she would “go penguin-sailing with [him].”
1 Aang’s Accidental Chakra Alignment
Aang is unable to defeat Ozai without resorting to fatal techniques. Yet, he redirects Lightning away from the Fire Lord in order to stay true to his pacifist roots. This proves to be his undoing, as Ozai takes advantage of the Avatar’s humanity and bombards him with overpowered Firebending attacks.
Aang has no choice but to rely on pure defense, but Ozai breaks through his earth and air shields with incredible force. Aang is blown backward into a stone pillar, allowing a tiny protrusion to strike the scar on his back and inadvertently realign his Chakras. The resulting Avatar State is more than enough to defeat the Fire Lord.
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