History YMMV / AvatarTheLastAirbenderNorthAndSouth

* MoralEventHorizon: If Gilak didn't cross it when [[spoiler:he stabbed Hakoda in response to Hakoda's offer of forgiveness]], he ''definitely'' did when [[spoiler:he tried to murder both Hakoda and Earth King Kuei at the same time by cutting the bridge out from under them]].

* AuthorsSavingThrow: This book and ''Imbalance'' focuses on the members of the Gaang not including Zuko which is a relief to fans annoyed about the SpotlightStealingSquad status of the Fire Nation Royal Family and how characters were DemotedToExtra.

* Anvilicious: Book 3's conversation between Sokka and Katara about Southern Water Tribe traditions pretty much just says the moral of the story out loud, with the former suggesting that the latter's opinions on what the South [[YeGoodeOldeDays "was supposed to be"]] might be more or less NostalgiaFilter, as anyone older than Gran Gran isn't alive to tell them of the truth. This is also emphasized by the story's conflict between progress and past, with the latter represented by a group of KnightTemplar Southerners who wish to restore the "ideal past" by driving out the foreigners, even if it means attacking their friends and families.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Book 3's conversation between Sokka and Katara about Southern Water Tribe traditions, with the former suggesting that the latter's opinions on what the South [[YeGoodeOldeDays "was supposed to be"]] might be more or less NostalgiaFilter, as anyone older than Gran Gran isn't alive to tell them of the truth. This is also emphasized by the story's conflict between progress and past, with the latter represented by a group of KnightTemplar Southerners who wish to restore the "ideal past" by driving out the foreigners, even if it means attacking their friends and families.
** Be careful about how to bring about change. Looking to others for an example of what to do to move forward can help, but that can lead to problems in the future, especially if those others have a more than [[WhiteMansBurden condescending attitude towards those they intend to "help"]]. Change will come, but it's not always progress.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Only a small example, but Katara being bothered by [[spoiler:Malina potentially taking Kya's place in Hakoda's heart]] was ripe to be compared and contrasted with [[spoiler:Sokka finding his SecondLove in Suki after Yue's death]]. But while she's still uncomfortable with the prospect, she gets over that issue so quickly (admittedly with some quick prompting from Sokka) that the point is never raised between them.

** Change will eventually happen and it may not always make people happy; but there will come a point in which some things must give way to pave the way for the future.

** There's something sobering about seeing [[spoiler: Hakoda kissing Malina in the first issue. Although it's realistic that Hakoda deserves to find happiness again after losing his first wife to tragedy, one can't help but sympathize with Katara's fear that [[MissingMom Kya]] will be [[ReplacementGoldfish replaced by Malina]].]]

* Main/TearJerker: Katara and Sokka pay a visit to their mother's grave. Katara happily tells her about how much she still misses her but also about the changes coming to their land.

* Main/TearJerker: Katara and Sokka pays a visit to their mother's grave. Katara happily tells her about how much she still misses her but also about the changes coming to their land.

* EvenBetterSequel: To ''Smoke and Shadow'', for those whoe considered that book a major step in the right direction.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: To ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderSmokeAndShadow Smoke and Shadow]]''.

* JerkassHasAPoint: For all of Gilak's antagonism in the book; the actions done by the north combined with Maliq's big fat mouth really haven't done much to dissuade him.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Book 3's conversation between Sokka and Katara about Southern Water Tribe traditions, with the former suggesting that the latter's opinions on what the South [[YeGoodeOldeDays "was supposed to be"]] might be more or less NostalgiaFilter, as anyone older than Gran Gran isn't alive to tell them of the truth. This is also emphasized by the story's conflict between progress and past, with the latter represented by a group of KnightTemplar Southerners who wish to restore the "ideal past" by driving out the foreigners, even if it means attacking their friends and families.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: The Book 3's conversation between Sokka and Katara about Southern Water Tribe traditions, which former retorted that the [[YeGoodeOldeDays "what Water Tribe supposed to be"]] might be more or less NostalgiaFilter as anyone older than Gran Gran has not been alive to remind them of the truth. This also emphasized the story's conflict between progress and past, which the latter had a group of KnightTemplar who wish to restore the "ideal past" by driving out the foreigners even if it meant attacking their friends and families.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: The Book 3's conversation between Sokka and Katara about Southern Water Tribe traditions, which former retorted that the [[YeGoodeOldeDays "what Water Tribe supposed to be"]] might be more or less NostalgiaFilter as anyone older than Gran Gran has not been alive to remind them of the truth. This also emphasized the story's conflict between progress and past, which the latter had a group of KnightTemplar who wish to restore the "ideal past" by driving out the foreigners.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: To ''[[ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderSmokeAndShadow Smoke and Shadow]]''.