I'm going to be looking at three episodes again today, as the final two episodes of the season are shown together on Netflix.
The Earth King
Yeah, I'm with the Earth King on that one. That was a fancy door.
After escaping from Lake Laogai, the party opt to deliver the information about the eclipse directly, while also exposing Long Feng. Meanwhile, Zuko's decision to release Appa makes him physically sick, during which time he has fever dreams as Iroh tends to him.
Pretty much the first half of this episode involves the party storming the palace and battling royal guards, in a very impressive display of bending. After being attacked with "surface-to-air rocks", they take the fight to the ground. Toph and Aang use their earthbending to block incoming projectiles while Katara incapacitates the guards with a water whip (while being apologetic). Unfortunately, when they reach the throne room they find Long Feng and the Dai Li waiting for them. But the Earth King's bear likes Aang, so he agrees to hear him out.
The latter half involves the party trying to unravel Long Feng's conspiracy, starting by showing the bite mark on his leg. There's some humour stemming from how monumentally naive the Earth King is. It's during this time we learn that the Earth King has been sheltered to the point that he's never actually left the palace, taking a journey on one of the city's elevated trains as the people look on him in awe. They travel to Lake Laogai, but Long Feng has already managed to close the facility down. Eventually, they win him over by showing him the Fire Nation drill which nearly penetrated the outer wall. The Earth King orders Long Feng's arrest, and pledges his forces to Sokka's proposed offensive against the Fire Nation on "The Day of the Black Sun".
It's at this point that the party receives correspondence which Long Feng intercepted, and we have what's essentially a break-up of the fellowship: Aang receives a letter from Guru Pathik at the Eastern Air Temple, offering to teach him how to control the Avatar State; Toph receives a letter from her mother, saying that she understands why she ran away, and inviting her to meet in the city; Sokka and Katara receive an intelligence report about a fleet of Water Tribe ships guarding Chameleon Bay led by Hakoda. Katara offers to remain in the city and help the Earth King's generals plan the invasion so Sokka can see their father again. Meanwhile, they receive word that the Kyoshi Warriors have arrived in Ba Sing Se, so Sokka is excited to reunite with Suki when he gets back.
However, there's also some underlying tension to get you hooked for the finale. Long Feng is in prison, but the Dai Li are still loyal to him. The invitation from Toph's mother is actually a trap set by Xin Fu and Master Yu, and they capture her. And the Kyoshi Warriors are actually Azula and her friends in disguise.
All in, this was a pretty good one.
The Guru
This one is the calm before the storm.
Aang has begun his training with Guru Pathik. Sokka has reunited with his father. The Earth Kingdom's war council has formulated a battle strategy for the Day of the Black Sun. Zuko has recuperated and even finding contentment as he and Iroh open their new tea shop. But there's also tension beneath the surface: Toph is trapped in a metal box as Xin Fu and Master Yu take her back to her father's estate, while Azula learns about Long Feng and the Dai Li.
In the time we see Aang spending with the Guru, we get some deeper insights into his character as he unlocks his chakras. He talks about fears of facing the Fire Lord, guilt over the destruction he causes when in the Avatar State, shame over hurting Katara when firebending, and grief over the loss of the Air Nomads. We also get some deep philosophy on how everything is connected. But the training grows tense as Aang is required to let go of earthly attachments; his love for Katara.
We also get some insights into Sokka through his interactions with Hakoda. We see that both his ingenuity and sense of humour were inherited traits as Hakoda demonstrates his "stink and sink" mines, but there's also something deeper. In "Bato of the Water Tribe" we learn that Sokka wanted to sail with his father but was deemed too young. Here we see that the experience has given him an innate desire to prove his worth and earn his father's respect, while also showing that his father already respects him. It's quite touching.
Speaking of everything being connected, as Pathik talks about how even metal is merely a refined form of earth, we see his words ring true elsewhere. As Toph is trying to escape from her captors, she realises that her tremor-sense can see the mineral impurities in the metal. This allows her to manipulate them and become the world's first metalbender. She escapes the box and subdues her captors, boldly proclaiming that she's the greatest earthbender who ever lived. It's only her storyline that gets resolved.
Meanwhile, it's about to kick off in Ba Sing Se. Katara stops for a cup of tea while delivering a letter from the generals to the Earth King, and finds Zuko working in the tea shop. She goes to warn the Kyoshi Warriors but uncovers their ruse and is captured, during which time Azula realises that Zuko and Iroh are in the city. In a scene lifted right out of The Empire Strikes Back, Aang has a vision of Katara in danger and leaves to help her, despite being warned that he may not be able to access the Avatar State. Meanwhile, the Dai Li bring Azula before Long Feng, and they form an unholy alliance.
Which goes to show; never split the party.
The Crossroads of Destiny
Man, this was such an epic finale. And one that tops "The Siege of the North".
Having left the Eastern Air Temple above the Guru's objections, Aang catches up with Sokka and Toph, and they return to Ba Sing Se. Meanwhile, Long Feng has given Azula command of the Dai Li, and she uses them to carry out a coup. She also sets a trap for Zuko and Iroh via an alleged summons from the king to serve him their tea. Iroh escapes, but Zuko is captured after he opts to face Azula. He promptly allies with the party to rescue both Katara and Zuko. But when Zuko sees them working together, he's offered a chance to return home with Azula and forced to make a choice.
There is a pretty funny brick joke which was initiated in "Lake Laogai". When Aang proposes going outside the law, Toph enthusiastically punches a hole through the wall of their lodgings (but they still leave through the front door). When the characters return, we some scaffolding erected around the house. There's also some humour in the reactions from Aang and Sokka when Iroh visits them and Toph claims he's an old friend.
As the Dai Li arrest the Earth Kingdom's generals, Sokka and Toph warn the Earth King but are intercepted by Mai and Ty Lee, surrending when Azula threatens the Earth King. Which goes to show how useless monarchy can be sometimes. Anyway, this puts into perspective how dangerous a threat Azula actually is; when she captures the party, Long Feng attempts to turn on her. But the Dai Li side with Azula due to being both inspired and frightened by her. Long Feng concedes, to which she reveals that she'd manipulated him from the very beginning.
We get a deep discussion between Zuko and Katara as they're imprisoned in catacombs beneath the palace as they share experiences of losing their mothers to the war. Katara's even willing to treat Zuko's scar using a vial of spirit water she obtained at the beginning of the season. At the same time, Aang talks to Iroh about his decision to abandon Pathik over his requirement to let go of Katara, and Iroh offers what advice he can.
The climax is both incredible and heart-wrenching: As Azula pursues Aang and Katara, Zuko makes his decision, choosing to forsake his uncle and side with his sister. The fight between the four of them seems evenly matched, until the Dai Li arrive to reinforce Azula and Zuko. As Katara is surrounded, Aang opts not to intervene, letting her go in order to access the Avatar State. He succeeds, and we think he's about to unleash a can of whoop-ass on the Dai Li, only for Azula to mortally wound him with lightning. Katara promptly saves him as Iroh buys them time to escape, getting himself captured in the process. She's able to revive Aang with the spirit water as the party escapes with the Earth King, who despairingly proclaims that the Earth Kingdom has fallen. That final line sends me chills.
This is probably the lowest point we've seen the characters at. It's almost akin to The Empire Strikes Back, yet it also feels fresh and original, creating a strong finale.
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