Episodes
See also: List of Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | "The Avatar State" | Giancarlo Volpe | Aaron Ehasz, Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Tim Hedrick & John O'Bryan | March 17, 2006 (2006-03-17) | 201 | 3.38 |
| Aang and his friends rest at Earth Kingdom Outpost after their journey from the North Pole. They are to be escorted to Omashu, where Aang intends to find King Bumi to teach him Earthbending. But General Fong, inspired by Aang's battle-determining actions during the Siege of the North, suggests that Aang defeat the Fire Lord and end the war immediately by triggering the Avatar State. In the meantime, Zuko and his uncle are visited by his sister, Azula, who has come bearing a message from the Fire Lord, requesting their return home. After many failed attempts, the General finally succeeds in triggering the Avatar State by faking Katara's death. Aang nearly destroys the base in anger but is then told by Avatar Roku that if he is killed in his Avatar state that the Avatar spirit will cease to exist. The group decides to go to Omashu alone. Zuko and his uncle discover Azula's summons to be a ruse in order to imprison the pair. They escape however, but are subsequently forced to become outcasts, realizing that they are to become fugitives of the Fire Nation after Iroh's treacherous saving of the Moon Spirit at the North Pole, and Zuko's failure to capture the Avatar. | |||||||
| 22 | 2 | "The Cave of Two Lovers" | Lauren MacMullan | Joshua Hamilton | March 24, 2006 (2006-03-24) | 202 | |
| While on the way to Omashu, Aang and the group meet a group of carefree traveling bards, who take them through a vast tunnel known as the Cave of Two Lovers. Zuko and Iroh are sheltered by kind villagers after Iroh accidentally drinks tea made of a poisonous plant. Song, a young and compassionate healer, shows Zuko the effects of war from a normal citizen's perspective. Aang and Katara grow closer as they discover the origins of the cave, which includes the tombs of the first two earthbenders. In the process, they share their first kiss together. Their torch burns out plunging them in darkness thus setting off the glowing lights in the ceiling, allowing the group to escape and make it to Omashu...which is under Fire Nation control. | |||||||
| 23 | 3 | "Return to Omashu" | Ethan Spaulding | Elizabeth Welch Ehasz | April 7, 2006 (2006-04-07) | 203 | |
| Omashu has been captured by the Fire Nation. Aang and friends sneak in and are nearly captured, but Sokka fakes a deadly illness (pentapox) to scare off the guards. They meet a resistance movement, and help the whole city escape with the same fake epidemic. The Fire Nation Governor's infant son and Mai's baby brother, Tom-Tom, accidentally leaves with the citizens. Aang attempts to trade him for King Bumi, but Princess Azula calls off the trade. Aang manages to rescue Bumi after a fight with Azula, but Bumi allows himself to be recaptured, saying that he must wait for a more proper time. He instructs Aang to find an Earthbending teacher who "waits and listens". | |||||||
| 24 | 4 | "The Swamp" | Giancarlo Volpe | Tim Hedrick | April 14, 2006 (2006-04-14) | 204 | |
| While flying, Aang and friends are attracted to a mysterious swamp and get separated from one another. They begin to see unique illusions in the swamp: Sokka sees Princess Yue, Katara sees her dead mother and Aang sees a mysterious girl. They are reunited and attacked by a swamp monster who turns out to be a wise man from a tribe of swamp Waterbenders. He explains that all beings are connected, as the swamp is a single large tree, and the visions are of people they have met or will meet. Meanwhile Zuko, disgusted with having to live as a beggar, dons the mask of the Blue Spirit. | |||||||
| 25 | 5 | "Avatar Day" | Lauren MacMullan | John O'Bryan | April 28, 2006 (2006-04-28) | 205 | |
| Aang and friends stumble upon a town celebrating an Anti-Avatar Day. The villagers blame the Avatar for killing their leader, Chin the Great, in a past life. Aang is arrested and put on trial for his crimes. Zuko disguises himself as the Blue Spirit to steal food for him and his uncle. Iroh is not happy with what Zuko is doing, and Zuko decides to leave him. After Fire Nation soldiers attack the village, Aang is pardoned after he defeats them. The town changes the anti-Avatar celebration to a pro-Avatar celebration. | |||||||
| 26 | 6 | "The Blind Bandit" | Ethan Spaulding | Michael Dante DiMartino | May 5, 2006 (2006-05-05) | 206 | |
| Aang is searching for an Earthbending teacher, but with little success. While at Xin Fu's Earthbending tournament Aang finds a talented blind Earthbending girl named Toph and realizes she was the one in his vision. But she cannot become Aang's teacher due to her wealthy and overprotective parents. Xin Fu kidnaps Aang and Toph thinking he was cheated. Toph reveals her power by defeating Fu's gang, but her parents become even more restrictive. She runs away from home and joins Aang. Toph's parents, believing Aang kidnapped her, promise Xin Fu a chest of gold if he brings her back. | |||||||
| 27 | 7 | "Zuko Alone" | Lauren MacMullan | Elizabeth Welch Ehasz | May 12, 2006 (2006-05-12) | 207 | |
| After leaving his uncle Zuko continues his journey to an Earth Kingdom town where a young boy named Lee befriends him. Zuko remembers his childhood, including Azula's psychopathic behavior and his own perseverance. Finally he recalls his mother's last words and the announcement that his grandfather died and mother has suddenly left. As Zuko defends the family his identity as the Fire Prince is revealed, and the boy and his family reject him because of it. | |||||||
| 28 | 8 | "The Chase" | Giancarlo Volpe | Joshua Hamilton | May 26, 2006 (2006-05-26) | 208 | |
| Aang and his friends are chased by a mysterious machine, which makes it impossible for the group to stop and sleep. The lack of sleep makes everyone irritable, and causes a quarrel between Katara and Toph. Aang acts as a decoy to lure the followers away, but he is cornered by Azula. His friends, plus Zuko and his uncle, arrive to take Azula down together, but she injures Iroh in the moment of distraction and escapes. | |||||||
| 29 | 9 | "Bitter Work" | Ethan Spaulding | Aaron Ehasz | June 2, 2006 (2006-06-02) | 209 | |
| Aang finally begins his Earthbending training with Toph, but grows frustrated when he encounters difficulty with the earth element, the natural opposite of air. Similarly Iroh tries to teach Zuko lightning, but Zuko's anger keeps him from having the cold precision lightning requires. Iroh says true wisdom comes from many sources, describes the four elements, and advises that understanding the other elements makes one whole. Aang finds Sokka in danger from a Moose-Lion and is able to save him by firmly standing his ground as an Earthbender would. Iroh teaches Zuko a technique he learned from studying Waterbenders which safely redirects lightning. | |||||||
| 30 | 10 | "The Library" | Giancarlo Volpe | John O'Bryan | July 14, 2006 (2006-07-14) | 210 | |
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At an oasis, the group encounters a professor who tells them about a hidden Spirit Library in the desert. Inside, Sokka discovers a crucial weakness to the Fire Nation that could end the war: the date of the upcoming solar eclipse which will cripple the Firebenders' Firebending. The spirit of the library, Wan Shi Tong, refuses to allow them to leave with the knowledge and sinks the library into the sand. Meanwhile, Appa is kidnapped by Sandbenders. They all escape from the library but are devastated by the loss of Appa. Note: This is Zhao's final official appearance. He is shown in a clip from "The Siege of the North" at the beginning, recapping that Zhao found the library years ago. It is, however, a younger version due to the fact that he was a lieutenant at the time. |
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| 31 | 11 | "The Desert" | Lauren MacMullan | Tim Hedrick | July 14, 2006 (2006-07-14) | 211 | |
| The gang is stranded in the desert, helpless without Appa. A secret society helps protect Iroh and Zuko from the Fire Nation. While there, they are recognized by the men hired by Toph's father, who plan to capture them for the reward. After going through the many perils of the desert, Aang tracks down the Sandbenders who stole Appa, and learns that Appa was traded to a merchant in Ba Sing Se. Upon hearing that Appa was muzzled, Aang becomes so mad that he enters the Avatar State, almost wiping out the Sandbenders, but is calmed down by Katara. | |||||||
| 32 | 12 | "The Serpent's Pass" | Ethan Spaulding | Michael Dante DiMartino & Joshua Hamilton | September 15, 2006 (2006-09-15) | 212 | 4.10 |
| After leaving the desert, the group meets up with Suki, and attempts to lead a couple through the Serpent's Pass. They are attacked by a giant serpent, but ward it off and make it across. Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh are also on their way to start a new life in the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se, and encounter Jet and some of the Freedom Fighters, with whom Zuko starts to bond. The group finally makes it to Ba Sing Se only to find the Fire Nation is about to send a gigantic drill to destroy the city's wall. | |||||||
| 33 | 13 | "The Drill" | Giancarlo Volpe | Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko | September 15, 2006 (2006-09-15) | 213 | 4.10 |
| Having successfully crossed the Serpent's Pass, Aang is determined to go to Ba Sing Se where he hopes to find his lost sky bison, Appa. However, he discovers a Fire Nation drill heading straight for Ba Sing Se, intent on penetrating the wall. Aang and the group succeed in stopping and destroying the drill from the inside. Meanwhile, Jet wishes to recruit Zuko for his Freedom Fighters, but learns that Zuko and Iroh are Firebenders. | |||||||
| 34 | 14 | "City of Walls and Secrets" | Lauren MacMullan | Tim Hedrick | September 22, 2006 (2006-09-22) | 214 | 3.27 |
| Aang and the rest of the group arrive in Ba Sing Se to find Appa and inform the Earth King about the solar eclipse, but they are constantly hindered by their tour guide, Joo Dee. They soon learn that any mention of war is forbidden and enforced by the Dai Li, secret police of Ba Sing Se, and their corrupt leader, Long Feng, who appears to know something about Appa. Elsewhere, Jet repeatedly tries and fails to gather evidence that Zuko and Iroh are Firebenders. His last attempt, challenging Zuko to a sword fight, ends in his own arrest. | |||||||
| 35 | 15 | "Tales of Ba Sing Se" | Ethan Spaulding | Joann Estoesta, Lisa Wahlander, Andrew Huebner, Gary Scheppke, Lauren MacMullan, Katie Mattila, Justin Ridge & Giancarlo Volpe |
September 29, 2006 (2006-09-29) | 215 | |
| "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" is a set of vignettes about each of the main characters' adventures in Ba Sing Se, providing a glimpse of their personalities and private lives. Katara and Toph have a girls' day out; Iroh helps people in town before celebrating the birthday of his dead son, singing "Leaves from the Vine"; Aang helps a zookeeper build a new zoo; Sokka accidentally ends up in a poetry club; Zuko goes out on a date; Momo looks through Ba Sing Se for Appa. Iroh's mini-episode was dedicated to his voice actor Mako, who had just died. | |||||||
| 36 | 16 | "Appa's Lost Days" | Giancarlo Volpe | Elizabeth Welch Ehasz | October 13, 2006 (2006-10-13) | 216 | 3.54 |
| After being abducted, Appa is traded to the Fire Nation Circus where the Circus Trainer mistreats him, though the Sky Bison soon escapes with the help of a small boy. He later unwillingly enters a fight with a Boarcupine, and though wins, is badly wounded. By fortune, Suki and the Kyoshi warriors come across Appa and help him recover from his injuries, but are later attacked by Azula and her team and Appa is forced to flee. He returns to his childhood home at the Eastern Air Temple, where he encounters a mysterious guru. The guru aids Appa in his search for Aang, telling him to find Aang in Ba Sing Se, but before he is able to, he is captured by Long Feng. | |||||||
| 37 | 17 | "Lake Laogai" | Lauren MacMullan | Tim Hedrick | November 3, 2006 (2006-11-03) | 217 | 3.27 |
| Finally having had enough of the rules of the city, the group decides to go against the law to find Appa. As they do so, the gang meet Jet again. They find Smellerbee and Longshot and realize Jet was brainwashed by the Dai Li. They travel to Lake Laogai in the hopes of finding Appa. Instead, they encounter Long Feng, who mortally wounds Jet. Elsewhere, Zuko finds Appa and discovers that Aang is in the city. However, with encouragement from his uncle, Zuko decides to free the Sky Bison and give up the Blue Spirit once and for all. After an intense battle on the surface, Aang and Appa are reunited. | |||||||
| 38 | 18 | "The Earth King" | Ethan Spaulding | John O'Bryan | November 16, 2006 (2006-11-16) | 218 | |
| The group breaks into the Earth King's palace to warn Kuei about the War, which the Dai Li kept hidden from him. They eventually convince Earth King Kuei by showing him the destroyed Fire Nation drill and Long Feng is arrested for treason. Meanwhile, Zuko succumbs to an illness which Iroh calls a metamorphosis caused by his conflicting destiny and is haunted by nightmares. Azula and her friends, now disguised as the Kyoshi warriors, have infiltrated the city. | |||||||
| 39 | 19 | "The Guru" | Giancarlo Volpe | Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko | December 1, 2006 (2006-12-01) | 219 | 4.40 |
| After the group receives letters that were confiscated by Long Feng, Aang meets Guru Pathik, who trains him to master the Avatar State through the unlocking of chakras. Toph is captured by Xin Fu and Master Yu, who transport her back to her parents, but she escapes by inventing Metalbending. Long Feng is tricked into a deal with Azula where he will exchange Aang for control of the Dai Li. Aang unlocks all chakras but the last which requires giving up all earthly attachments. Failing to abandon his attachment to Katara, Aang sees a vision of her in danger and leaves his training against the Guru's wishes. | |||||||
| 40 | 20 | "The Crossroads of Destiny" | Michael Dante DiMartino | Aaron Ehasz | December 1, 2006 (2006-12-01) | 220 | 4.40 |
| With Long Feng released, Zuko prepares to capture the Avatar. Before he can do so Azula takes control of the Dai Li (and hence Ba Sing Se), explaining that they admire her brutal discipline. She has Zuko imprisoned. When Aang attempts to free Katara, Zuko is told by his Uncle he must choose between himself and Azula. He chooses to help Azula attack the Avatar. Aang realizes he must let go of Katara in order to save her and fulfill his destiny, but the Fire Nation princess zaps Aang while in the Avatar State, heavilly wounding the Avatar. Iroh delays to allow Aang's friends to escape with his body. Katara uses the spirit water to heal Aang as they flee from the now-fallen Earth Kingdom's largest city, Ba Sing Se, with the now deposed Earth King Kuei. |
Read more about this topic: The Serpent's Pass
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