That's a good point. I guess one would have to consider additional "physical laws" with the whole magic idea and the sources.

It would seem to me that the the moon and sun are somewhat of the magic source (for the sake of simplicity) for waterbenders and firebenders. Waterbenders can't bend without the moon's existence. So the whole thing with the solar eclipse I guess would be the idea of the magic source of the opposite element (the moon) temporarily suts out the source for firebenders.

But then I think I remember it said that a lunar eclipse cancels a waterbenders power. But as I said this I'm not sure. It's the lunar eclipse thing is true, then there wouldn't be much consistency with the concept because the moon is simply being shadowed by the Earth, not the sun, and it wouldn't make sense how the Earth itself would cut off a waterbenders power, but who knows, it's probably worls that way simply because the higher power(s) just made it that way.

Well, maybe as long as the Moon and Sun can touch Earth with their "magical influence" the bending can still work but if the bender is feeling the influence directly, their powers increase. So like the sun hitting the other side of the planet still grants fire benders their power but if the moon completely stops the rays from coming, then fire benders lose their ability to bend. This works the same with Earth Benders. If they are completely cut off from the Earth, such as being encased in metal, they lose their powers. I suppose this works on an Air bender in a vacuum but if you get a person into a vacuum then bending is the least of their worries.

a lot of good ideas for you guys, but maybe the whole thing isn't as complex as we make it out to be. Yeah we want the system to be well thought out and every detail taken into account like a school subject such as chemistry.

But i don't think the creators went to the absolute lengths that many people together worked on. I'm sure that the creators didn't really take into consideration exactly how to explain the effect the sun and the moon have. And the generalize it due to skepticism, perhaps eclipses whether lunar or solar are just disruptions to the element. thoughts for everyone

You are correct. In the episode "The Library" in which they learn about the solar eclipse, Katara comments about how the lunar eclipse affected the water benders. The artists also did a good job at depicting a lunar eclipse when the moon spirit was bagged by Zhao. The moon does turn a coppery red rather than get covered like in a solar eclipse.



One thing to keep in mind is that the avatar world seems to take place during a time that would parallel ancient times here. As such, the scientific concepts of the earth's shadow dimming the moon, comets being made of ice and not fire, etc. are not understood. Furthermore, the avatar world might be completely different from ours so that comets ARE made of fire, the sun moves around the earth, etc.



LOL So I more or less just agreed with Takano!

Copper for your thoughts.

Thanks for the backup.




Tis why I pretty much ended with the notion of "its works that way because of the choice of the divine."

I wouldn't agree with the lunar eclipse being a 'scientific concept' but I see your point. There is no indication what exactly the degree of unreal/fantasy the world is away from reality. For all we know, the avatar world could be flat and comets are made of fire. Or maybe the word 'comet' is a common generalization of any type of meteroid, and this particular meteoroid just happens to have a fixed orbit in which it skims over the earth, burning through the atmosphere, in which provides an extra heat/magic source for firebenders (lol)



Mmm...I'm not sure I follow with the degree of complexity in ideas and all. I mean, how is 'chemistry' any more/less of a school subject than 'theology?' The creators made the avatar world combining various elements from many various religious philosophies and mythology. With all the whole chimera of aspects incorporated into the avatar world, I don't think there is many angles which can be considered simple, if it's even possible to look at it from one angle.

Because it's has so many aspects form so many different things, I would think it favored to have some complexity taking every belief or method into account. Well, at least I don't think I could view it less...complicated.
*shrugs*Complexity can vary in opinion I presume.

When it comes to the eclipse issue I have some thoughts.
Water benders draw their bending from the moon, correct? And Firebenders draw their power from the sun. So, during a lunar eclipse, Water benders still retain their power becuase the moon is not blocked, its just not seen. During a solar eclipse, the moon blocks out the sun.(duh) So the great object of water gets in between the sun and its benders. Normaly I dont think this would be a problem except that the moon is water. That a polar opposite gets between the source and it's users. Therefore completely blocking the element.

P.S. I think that during a lunar eclipse waterbenders may get stronger. Becuase there is no energy from the sun to weaken the connection between the moon and the waterbenders

What sre your thoughts on my theory?

No, because the blue fire is a level of fire. There's red fire, orange fire, maybe some yellow fire! And blue fire, and white fire. Different levels. See? Yeah, so it actually is fire. I, too, at first thought that it was lightning, but then I realized it was fire! O.o