Thoughts on The Boiling Rock
Since there hasn’t really been any news regarding The Boiling Rock, people have delved into speculation. There’re a lot of burning questions that have yet to be answered, even this late in the series, and it’s kept people scrambling for possible explanations (it hasn’t kept them from coming up with the silliest theories either, such as the Purple Dragon Theory - look it up).
The most obvious topic is what in the name of all that is good and pretty is the boiling rock? There have been rumours of a prison surrounded by a boiling lake (think Alcatraz, except with a more fiery theme), while a more far-fetched theory about an island surrounded by lava has also surfaced. The prison angle has incited hare-brained theories about rescue operations conducted by the gaang, with an equally large number of prospective rescuees, ranging from the MIA Suki / Kyoshi warriors, the main invasion force during the Day of Black Sun arc, and - this is rather unlikely - the imprisonment of Zuko.
Of course, there’s another speculation thread going on regarding the mysterious Order of the White Lotus. Everybody wants to see Iroh in action, now that he’s all buffed up and built like a fire-breathing tank.
Here’s my take on The Boiling Rock;
1. It’s going to involve a hot springs of sorts. Volcanic islands usually entail hot springs. I don’t know how the gaang’s going to make their way there, though.
2. Zuko captured might be a reality. It’s a good plot device, and it could get the gaang - at least, Sokka and Katara - to warm up to ole’ Zuzu.
3. We might see some of the prisoners, but not all of them. I don’t think we’re going to see any prison breaks happening. Suki might be set free during the course of Zuzu’s reclamation, but that’s liable to be it.
What do you think is going to happen?