S1E15: Bato of the Water Tribe
- For the first time since the early episodes set in the Northern Water Tribe, the fate of the NWT's men is touched on, as Aang stumbles on a water tribe weapon.
- Iroh and Zuko return too, ambushed by June the bounty-hunter (I instantly recognised Jennifer Hale, sounding exactly like she does voicing Naomi Hunter in MGS1) riding her Shirshu, a vicious beast which can temporarily paralyse with a lash of its tongue. They get the idea to let her Shirshu's absurdly acute sense of smell do the work of hunting the Avatar for them, or, at least, hunting Katara via her necklace.
- "He means no offense, I am certain you bathe regularly" - Iroh trying to make up for Zuko's impolitness to the patrons of the tavern where they find June.
- Sokka is troubled by memories of being left behind due to his youth, when suddenly Bato shows up, wounded and waiting to recover before joining up with Hakoda and the other men.
- Aang, in an unusual fit of jealousy, after being sidelined during the water tribe reunion, gets Hakoda's letter and hides it from Sokka and Katara, worried they may leave him.
- "At my age there is only one big surprise left, and I'd just as soon leave it a mystery." Iroh's at one with his mortality.
- Sokka successfully completes the rite of passage amid the rapids, even inventing a few naval techniques of his own, using Katara's and Aang's bending to get over some rocks. Afterwards Aang confesses he hid the map, at which Sokka flies into a rage. One of the rare occasions where I don't really think the characters act consistently - I don't buy that either Sokka, or most especially, Katara would abandon Aang so quickly, having travelled together for months. In any event Sokka reconsiders and turns around soon after.
- But not soon enough, as they get ambushed, paralysed and captured by June, Zuko & co. This gives Aang the perfect opportunity to come to their aid, and starts one of the greatest season 1 battles, as Aang and Zuko duel in the village courtyard, across the rooftops, and above and in a well, while Appa keeps things fair by occupying the Shirshu. The effects here are top drawer - we can feel Appa's crushing power, his wincing, growling pain as he's lashed, time and again, by June and her Shirshu. Aang takes Zuko on more or less the same way he did all the way back in episode 3, getting in close, juking him and counter-attacking, but Zuko's stepped up his game and they blast each other, DBZ style, on to opposite rooftops after an intense bout. Sokka and Iroh demonstrate their tactical aptitude here too, as Sokka gets Katara to use the perfumes to blind the Shirshu, and Iroh uses the Shirshu's blindness to engineer a "moment" with June.
- And the gang end, united, aboard Appa. Aang has a little something for Katara, her heirloom necklace pinched back from Zuko. Much better than the one he made from some fishing line, and much better received, he wins himself a kiss (that's two ways the final scene calls back to The Fortuneteller).
- So I'm conflicted on this episode - there's so much that's great, the climactic encounter, the denouement, June's rugged character and ascerbic wit - does anyone other than Iroh mock Zuko so mercilessly and get away with it until Azula shows up? -, Sokka coming of age with a flourish, but the character beats, upon which so much of Avatar's success rest, for once go awry.
S1E16: The Deserter
- The last excursions to the fire nation before season 2, The Deserter sees Aang try to learn another element (beyond air and water) for the first time in the series from a reclusive fire nation master. He learns something else.
- I note the propaganda puppet show delivered to the children during the festival.
- Aang doesn't seem to understand the idea that Katara is just acting as a damsel for the firebender's trick. Kind of an odd scene, even if the festival is well animated, detailed and full of colour.
- The opening scene (in the woods) has the same yellow hue as Aang and Jeong Jeong's by candlelight, and many of the outdoor scenes have an evening glow. I like the air it creates - worried and nervous.
- Aang is an impatient pupil who wants to advance quickly (this is one episode where his attitude is reminiscent of Korra's) and doesn't have any respect for fire's danger. He ends up burning Katara (cue a deus ex machina where she discovers she has healing powers, but her pain and Sokka's anger are real). Sokka's cautious attitude is ultimately justified - when he shouts at Jeong Jeong that it's his fault, he is told he's right.
- Jeong Jeong's judge of Aang's power is correct - Zhao is no match for him -, and Aang demonstrates his greater understanding of firebending by provoking and humiliating the master's former pupil, Ozai, tricking him into burning his ships. "Are you crazy?! You haven't thrown a single blow!"; "No, but you have." Haha.
- Katara heals Aang's burns and that's that. I like this episode a lot. It is of the "moral lesson of the day" variety, but it's a good lesson well learnt, even if Aang does behave a bit too eagerly. The little insights into the fire nation at the festival are good, the fight with Zhao is excellent and the tension is built up subtley with the repeated yellow filter before Aang burns Katara.
Episode Ranking:
1. The Storm
2. Avatar Roku
3. The Southern Air Temple
4. Jet
5. The Deserter
6. The Avatar Returns
7. Bato of the Water Tribe
8. Imprisoned
9. The Spirit World
10. The Waterbending Scroll
11. The Fortuneteller
12. The Warriors of Kyoshi
13. The Boy in the Iceberg
14. The King of Omashu
15. The Great Divide
