In this episode...

Aang must reach a Fire Temple inside the Fire Nation by sundown so he can commune with the spirit of Avatar Roku. Zuko picks up their trail at the village then heads after them in his ship, risking returning to the Fire Nation despite his banishment. Aang and Zuko both run into a Fire Nation blockade, and both attempt to run it. Aang and the gang make it through, and Zuko manages to sneak by, but only because Zhao lets him through so that Zuko will lead him to the Avatar. Aang makes it to the Fire Temple in time, but discover Fire Sages protecting the temple. Fortunately, one of the Sages is more loyal to the Avatar than the Fire Nation, and offers to help Aang commune with Roku. Aang learns that Sozin’s Comet, which imbues firebenders with super-firebending abilities while it’s passing, will be returning again soon, and Fire Lord Ozai will use the extra power to end the war once and for all. So Aang learns he must master all the elements—which typically takes years to master—and defeat Ozai before the comet arrives at summer’s end.

[A spoilery discussion of this episode begins after the cut.]

Several weeks ago‚ Lucasfilm announced to the world that there was a new Star Wars television show for children in development. Its unfortunate title? “Squishies.”

This week, Lucasfilm announced to the world that there was a new Star Wars television sitcom in development with the creators of “Robot Chicken.”

Today, I am announcing to the world that George Lucas has lost his mind.

[Find out why below the cut.]

In this episode...

The Aang Gang is visiting a small Earth Kingdom village when Sokka is abducted by a vengeful forest spirit. While pursuing the spirit, Aang is transported to the Spirit World, where he is told by Avatar Roku’s spirit animal, Fang the Dragon, that Aang’s former incarnation has a message for him. Using his newfound knowledge of the Spirit World, Aang calms the forest spirit, freeing Sokka and other abducted villagers. At the same time, another abduction takes place. Iroh is captured by earthbenders, who want to see him stand trial for war crimes at the Earth Kingdom capital city of Ba Sing Se. Zuko rescues
his uncle, then sets out once again to capture the Avatar.

[A spoilery discussion of this episode begins after the cut.]

In this episode...

The Aang gang are recovering from their last adventure, when on a lunch break (consisting, sadly, only of nuts), they discover an earthbender practicing nearby. They greet him, but he runs away without a word. Hoping to find a village nearby where they can acquire some actual food, the gang follows the boy. Once they catch up to him, they learn that the Fire Nation is in control of the Earth Kingdom village and earthbending is forbidden (and the reason the boy, Haru, was practicing out far away from town). So Haru dare not earthbend in front of the Fire Nation soldiers, or else he may be taken away—as his father, and every other earthbender in the village—was. But an accident at the coal mine forces Haru to use his earthbending to save the miner trapped in the cave-in, only to be betrayed and turned in by the man he saved. The Fire Nation comes to take Haru away, leaving the gang feeling responsible for his imprisonment, so Katara arranges to be arrested and joins the other earthbenders on the prison ship—which is entirely made of metal, so they’re unable to use their bending, being far away from any earth—in an effort to rescue Haru. 

[A spoilery discussion of this episode begins after the cut.]

In this episode...

The Aang Gang arrives at the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu, ruled by a wily old king. Aang reminisces about his old friend Bumi, a “mad genius” who 100 years ago showed Aang that the most fun one can have in Omashu is to ride the city’s steep twisting maze of mail chutes and slides. Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Momo give the chutes a try, but end up crushing the wares of a traveling cabbage merchant. Brought before the crazy king of the city, the gang is given a feast. The king suspects that Aang is the Avatar, and is given three deadly challenges to test his skills. As a final test, the king asks Aang to guess his name. It is only then that Aang realizes the “mad genius” of a king is Aang’s old friend Bumi. King Bumi reinforces the instructions of Aang’s quest—master the four elements and defeat Fire Lord Ozai.

[A spoilery discussion of this episode begins after the cut.]

In this episode...

Aang leads the group to Kyoshi Island, where he hopes to ride the elephant koi. Shortly after his ride, Aang and the others are captured by a squad of elite female warriors who live on the island. Aang learns that the village of Kyoshi has stayed neutral in the war between the nations and is named after one of the previous Avatar incarnations who was born there centuries ago. The villagers are suspicious at first but once Aang proves he’s the Avatar, the embrace him. Aang lets their adulation of him go to his head. Sokka offends Suki, the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, then apologizes to and befriends her, and starts learning their ways. Word of Aang’s presence in Kyoshi spreads quickly and it is not long before Zuko learns of his whereabouts. Zuko’s forces invade Kyoshi, nearly destroying the village in the process before Aang and the others (with the help of the Kyoshi Warriors) fend them off. Aang realizes that everywhere he goes, destruction may follow. 

[A spoilery discussion of this episode begins after the cut.]

In this episode...

Having been alerted to Aang’s presence at the Southern Water Tribe village, Zuko launches an attack. Sokka’s pitiful defenses don’t stand a chance against a squad of firebenders. The situation looks hopeless until Aang swoops in and shows Zuko that a fully trained airbender can hold his own in battle. Rather than risk the lives of the water tribe, Aang agrees to be taken as Zuko’s prisoner. Sokka and Katara set out on Appa to rescue their new friend. With Sokka and Katara’s help, Aang escapes Zuko’s ship, and the three set out on a journey to the North Pole, where Aang and Katara hope to learn waterbending from a master.

[A spoilery discussion of episode 102 begins after the cut.]

In this episode...

Waterbender Katara and her wisecracking brother Sokka, two children of the Southern Water Tribe, discover Aang, the last of the air nomads, and his flying bison Appa trapped in an iceberg. After endearing himself to Southern Water Tribe’s village, Aang and Katara explore a long-abandoned Fire Nation ship, where Aang learns that he was encased in the iceberg for 100 years. Though Katara suspects Aang’s true identity, the airbender is hesitant to admit that he is actually the Avatar, a reincarnated superbender capable of wielding all four elements.

At the same time, the Fire Nation’s banished prince Zuko and his uncle Iroh are on the trail of the Avatar. When Aang and Katara set off a booby trap on the abandoned Fire Nation ship, the resulting explosion leads Zuko and Iroh to the Southern Water Tribe’s village.

[A spoilery discussion of episode 101 begins after the cut.]

Avatar: The Last Airbender is an animated epic fantasy series that originally aired on Nickelodeon. It is the story of Aang, the eponymous Avatar and last airbender, who must restore balance to the world and save it from the evil Fire Nation. 

It’s also one of the best pieces of entertainment you’ll ever see on a television screen. We’re going to re-watch it and analyze why that is for Tor.com. But first, we’re going to tell you why. 

Water. Earth. Fire. Air.

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements could stop them. But, when the world needed him most, he vanished.

A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an Airbender named Aang. And although his airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone.

But I believe Aang can save the world.

—Katara, from Avatar: The Last Airbender

[Our re-watchers introduce themselves below the cut]