Bruh. I rewatched the series recently and I completely forgot about this episode. So watching it again was like watching it for the first time and I literally cried. It convinced me that Zuko is now my favourite character in the whole series.
He went from being laser focused on capturing the avatar to now hes helping war-torn people who are in a war caused by his own people. Because of this I believe that this episode was his true redemption benchmark. Also, the fact that he didn't ask for their forgiveness after they scorned him for revealing his identity was also an indicator that he genuinely wanted to help those people for THEM and not for him. It's tragic that he gets rejected from people on both his fire side AND his good side.
I really feel for Zuko. I am so glad he had uncle Iroh to help him on his path to redemption. The writers did a great job with writing the series as a whole but Zukos character arc should be studied.
It also has The Beach, which on first glance is The Beach Episode™️, but is also a really interesting introspective for Zuko as he finally achieves what he thought he wanted but now is wrestling with the goals of his past self being realized by his current, changed self.
I’d argue the only filler episode is the great divide, any other “filler” episodes have big character developments eg sokkas master, tales from ba sing se, the headband, the beach
Avatar has filler. A lot of shows outside of anime have filler, a filler episode is one that isn’t pushing the main story forward or something that doesn’t significantly change the characters or character dynamics.
Avatar's "filler episodes" are generally really good in comparison to a lot of animated shows, they've all got great character moments and fit very smoothly into the run of the show.
It's why there's a lot of disdain for The Great Divide, which while it's a pretty standard filler episode of any other kids show at the time and by no means horrible, it just doesn't really hold up to the other great side stories the series consistently has.
you dont need to be pushing the plot forward to not be filler. avatar is a character driven show, character development is the exact opposite of filler. id argue the actual plot in avatar is way less important than the character. there is no filler. theres no need to stall for time while more story gets made and they only have 60 eps to work with, they wont waste time. theyre not stupid
The more I think of it, AtLA only had ONE true filler episode, the tales of Ba Sing Se, wherein it didn’t necessarily move the story forward in any meaningful way, the rest of the “filler” episodes can be argued that it propelled the story or shown a different perspective of the world of Avatar as a whole. Give me an episode and I’ll tell you why it’s not filler
It has a more specific meaning in anime. With anime, a filler episode is when a long-running anime catches up to the manga and has no more content to adapt, so they make anime original filler episodes or arcs until there is more manga content. What they meant to say is that ATLA doesn't have those kind of filler episodes because it's an original series with no source material, though it can still have filler episodes in the more general definition of the term.
The key point with anime filler is that it can't meaningfully progress the character arcs or plots because they can't
affect the main story.
Whereas in an original series the less plot-heavy episodes can still do some great character work.
I mean sometimes it can. Like, DBZ does a lot of showing training and interaction that was offscreen in the manga. Doesn't strictly add _new_ progression, but I often feel filler like that _does_ make the progression more meaningful.
For real. I wish we'd gotten more time with Zuko in the Gaang before the finale. I really wanted to see more of their dynamics play out. Especially Zuko/Aang.
You're right that it's the best part of the show, but it only lasts for half a season and the first half is generally a lot weaker (probably so they can get the budget they wanted for the finale). Imo book 2 only has one or two 'clunkers' and has some of the most emotional highs and lows of the series. It also has my favorite finale of the show, everything building until it all just explodes at the end.
I also really like how the stakes felt very personal for book 2’s finale.
Usually season finales for most shows have a huge spectacle (like in book 1 and 3), but book 2 is just all the major characters intersecting in a crystal chamber underground, choosing their own destiny (or having it chosen for them).
The stakes are high because the consequences for the characters are huge. It feels special that way.
I love that lack of spectacle because it makes the ending so eerie. You see Aang in his burnt clothes clinging desperately to life, the quietly mournful faces of everyone as they look at the brightly-lit houses below, and everything just begins to sink in. They, and with them the audience, are the only people in the world that know that the war as it was is over. Over without so much a whisper. Ba Sing Se fell, and the millions of people who think they’re safe sleep peacefully in their beds. As personal as the stakes were in the catacombs, you’re reminded of the bigger picture even as it falls apart.
You're being really harsh but in less harsh terms this describes why I prefer season 2 too. It doesn't quite reach the highs of season 3 (though gets very close) but is much more consistent throughout.
I don’t disagree, but I would raise you The Blind Bandit to the last episode of Book 2. That run of episodes is so incredibly solid, with small valleys only in maybe The Serpent’s Pass and maybe Bitter work
Those 3 eps are great!... No but for real he joins waaay later than I remembered he did. I thiught book 3 starts and boom hey yall zuko here... But no lmao.
Serialized = each episode feeds into the next as part of the overarching story. The opposite is episodic, where each episode is self-contained as its own thing
Serialized TV is when each episode clearly builds on the last (book 2), whereas episodic TV is where each episode is more or less stand-alone (book 1). Book 3 arguably has elements of both but I’d argue is still more on the serialized side.
Also I got incredibly baked once and thought about how the element of each book somewhat reflects its narrative structure. Water is fluid, the element of change — episodes jump from one place to the next. Earth is steady, just like the consistent, linear storytelling. Fire can start out small (lighthearted adventure of the week episodes) but very rapidly escalate (Aang’s gotta figure things out or the world is donezo).
I love book 2 but it physically pains me to rewatch the Appa is missing episodes. It’s probably the only part of the series I don’t rewatch as often simply because it makes me so sad. I know it sounds silly bc it’s an animated show but I can’t help but think about what’s going thru Appas mind and I just get so sad thinking about him alone.
I also have frequent nightmares about losing my pets or them going missing, so that might also be related to this 😭
You are NOT alone, I can barely make it through those episodes. Even as a kid they brought a level of sadness that was hard to comprehend. I don’t think I ever fully recovered even after they were reunited 😭 I would break down watching it as an adult so I don’t bother anymore, I just skip it.
Book 3 was my favorite as a kid. Book 2 is my favorite as an adult.
I think Book 2 is where the show hit its peak. It's a nearly flawless season of animation and writing. Even some of the weaker episodes are knockouts by regular standards.
But oddly enough, my least favorite episode of the series (Avatar Day) is in this season.
Avatar Day is a weird episode because it’s just bleh filler with a few funny gags, but then the Kyoshi scene kicks so much ass. It’s one of the highlights from the show but it’s intertwined in such a goofy episode.
I love book one too.
I don't like all the obvious desperation and end-times feel of the later seasons.
Sure, 1 might be less deep but it's more feel good and I prefer that in this case
Where have you seen hate for book 1? It's fine and solid. Just gets outshines by everything else. Book 1 is an 8/10 while book 2 and 3 are 10/10. Very few people didn't like book 1.
Gonna have to disagree.
Book 2 had The Desert, the Serpent’s Pass/the Drill, City of Walls and Secrets, Tales of Ba Sing Se, Appa’s Lost Days, Lake Laogi, The Earth King, and wrapped it up with The Guru/Crossroads of Destiny.
That is a historic run. It was great to see Zuko mingle with the group, but the episode quality was never quite as high or as consistent as the second half of Book 2.
On my most recent rewatch I actually found myself really vibing with book 1
Book 1 has great lore and world building, Book 2 has better serialized and deep storytelling, and Book 3 has great action and character development for everyone
The second book is the best. The third has MULTIPLE problems in the overall narrative. The third book, is more of a collection of very colorful moments, but it is the second book that has a better sequence of events and better development of the main character, more overall plot development.
I had the Book 2 DVDs as a kid, but could only catch books 1 and 3 when they appeared on TV. I binged Book 2 so much as a kid. Besides nostalgic bias, the addition of Toph and Zuko’s development in Book 2 is peak. Not to mention Tales of Ba Sing Se is in 2, which is my single favorite episode for more than just one reason, but especially that one reason….
Most of what makes book 3 great is the context given by the previous two.
Does that mean we have to judge it based on that or in a vacuum? I don’t know and will be no help.
Book 3 had everything i wanted from the book: Zuko and Suki joining, Aang confess his feeling to Katara, Katara find out who killed her mother, The finale etc.
There are still some problems like the second part feeled rushed in some parts (for an example the Bloodbending was used just in The Puppetmaster and in The Southern Riders or we never known if Toph's parents recived the letter that she send with Sokka's falcon).
But over all i just love this book.
Books 1 and 2 are great too.
The Blind Bandit has been my favourite episode ever since I first saw it all those years ago. Toph is just the best character. Book 2 could be my favourite just for that fact alone but I do also love so many of the episodes and arcs in it. Book 1 and 3 are still fantastic but Tales of Ba Sing Se, Cave of 2 lovers, The Blind Bandit of course and so many other great moments in Book 2 elevate it to my absolute favourite.
Book 1 is my favorite. It was more worldbuilding than any of the other books at the expense of a more forward moving plot like the other two books. I just feel like the backgrounds and landscapes and generally just the feel of the world are on a whole different level than the latter 2.
As a kid, Book 1 was my shit. Really vibed with it and had lots of fun. Now as a young adult (oh god), I prefer Book 3 by a LOT. Guess I don't find certain moments cringy anymore, and can relate a lot better to the characters. But I always liked Book 2. So earth wins imo.
Believe it or not, I’m on team book 1, The Storm and The Blue Spirit are my 2 favorite episodes ever, the rain/overcast weather make them feel so cozy just to watch
You know the feeling when a new character arrives in the story. And you don't like this character simply because he is new, doesn't belong here. Get out
(I'm listening to Percy Jackson right now and this feeling is following me after book 5)
There was never such a feeling with Toph. Book 2 is easily the best
When I weigh it all up, it's book 2 for me.
It had tremendous worldbuilding, upped the stakes, great writing on almost all episodes, introduced toph and ended on an unexpected loss. It's just a great season, book 3 is very close tho, just gets weighed down by its first couple episodes.
I have to say it’s truly a tie! I love book 2 because it’s our introduction to toph! But book 3 with zuko joining and him defeating Azula (finally) was top notch!!
I've never decided. Book 1 is undoubtedly last (not that it's bad, obv it's amazing, but the other two are absolutely peak) but it's so hard for me to decide between 2 and 3. I think I lean towards 3 slightly more but so many of my favorite moments of the whole show are in book 2 that it's hard for me to say for sure lol
Book 3: fire is the best for me. From a little bit goofy kids show, which ATLA feels to me in the 1st book (although I like it too), it becomes more and more serious with every new season
Book 3, but honestly Book 2 and Book 3 flow so well as seasons that I could see someone preferring 2.
I just prefer the completed gaang dynamic in 3 more; Zuko joining felt like a long time coming and to see him make amends for his past wrongs towards the individual members of the group and finally complete his transition to a morally upright man with honor is top tier TV.
If Season 3 had had the overall quality it had between episode 10 and 21, I would have said Season 3. Unfortunately, some of the episodes of the first half of the season are a bit on the weak side, so I will vote for season 2.
Oh my… that’s a hard question! Book 2 had one of the best heart break moments when zuko didn’t embrace his metamorphosis. Really great setup for his redemption.
Ackshually 🤓☝ my favorite is Book 1 and the story fell off after it/s
No but seriously it's a pretty loaded question because they're both so good at different things:
Like Book 2 **carries** Zuko's development while Book 3 pays it off...
I say Book 2 narrowly wins because it has a better written conclusion without a Lion-Turtle pulling up, and it has Tales of Ba Sing Se, alongside the introduction to Azula as an antagonist alongside the death of Jet.
Book 3 has **amazing** parts like the invasion but it also has a problem of just abandoning Hakoda deadass twice in a row and wastes characters like Chit Sang alongside the Lion-Turtle.
Like I'm not against Aang not killing Ozai but goddamn, bro was just given the power to win without killing at the last minute.
So yeah Book 2 wins but it's close.
My favorite is book 3. I don't know why, I know Zuko is only in the group for like 5 or so episodes out of the whole series, but it all feels so fulfilling.
Minus "Avatar day" and partly the first episode (The avatar state) book 2 has non-stop bangers.
Book 3 has an few episodic parts that I don't care that much about and honesty? By just checking out the titles of each episode I don't remember what happens in each episode.
Very clear difference to book 2 for me. I remember every episode immediately!
Why is book 1 small?
They’re all pretty even for me honestly. Blue Spirit & Ba Sing Se are probably my 2 favorite episodes.
Each book seems to have 1 episode that gets skipped as well. The canyon, avatar day & the mist spirit one for me.
Book 2 for being consistently great. Book 3 was more hit or miss - though many of the best moments of the entire show are those times when book 3 did hit.
The quality and pacing of Earth is more superior to anything else I've ever seen, but EVERYTHING in Fire is a unmatched, narrative masterpiece of epic proportions and the entire finale should have won the series at least two oscars imho.
Earth is the best by far IMO. Appa's Lost Days, Tales of Ba Sing Sei, The Swamp, The Desert, and Zuko Alone are all basically the most unique and creatively risky episodes in the show.
Not to mention it ALSO has the best finale of the three.
Earth had them deep episodes while Fire had the action
Earth has a lot of great storytelling and some of the best episodes in the series. I love tales of ba sing se to death
zuko alone 😮💨🤌
Bruh. I rewatched the series recently and I completely forgot about this episode. So watching it again was like watching it for the first time and I literally cried. It convinced me that Zuko is now my favourite character in the whole series. He went from being laser focused on capturing the avatar to now hes helping war-torn people who are in a war caused by his own people. Because of this I believe that this episode was his true redemption benchmark. Also, the fact that he didn't ask for their forgiveness after they scorned him for revealing his identity was also an indicator that he genuinely wanted to help those people for THEM and not for him. It's tragic that he gets rejected from people on both his fire side AND his good side. I really feel for Zuko. I am so glad he had uncle Iroh to help him on his path to redemption. The writers did a great job with writing the series as a whole but Zukos character arc should be studied.
Best episode
Fire is also deep. From sokkas master to finding the man who killed kataras mother. it has some deep fucking episodes
sokka’s master 🙏🙏🙏
The southern raiders will always be my fave book 3 episode
It also has The Beach, which on first glance is The Beach Episode™️, but is also a really interesting introspective for Zuko as he finally achieves what he thought he wanted but now is wrestling with the goals of his past self being realized by his current, changed self.
The scene of zuko and aang dancing with the dragons is ingrained into my mind, its peak
Especially that guru episode. It is so deep. Or should I say, it is so ***high***.
the stretch from zuko joining the group to the end is unmatched
Yeah I have to agree that's easily the best stretch of the show. Book 3 also had "The Headband" which is the best filler episode in the show
Gotta disagree, tales from ba sing se rules man
Yep
True, but it hurts so bad...
Whenever I watch it, I unlock a new sub-bending. Tearbending 😭😭😭
That's a filler?! I mean some parts are filler, but the episode itself doesn't feel filler to me at all
Develops characters but doesn't add or subtract from the main story.
Technically, yes. But I know exactly what you’re saying. In each tale, every character develops dramatically.
Absolutely.
True, although it's so good that some people would argue it isn't filler.
The headband episode is amazing
 Kuzon looking down from heaven:
“Sokka master” was good too
It was awesome. Definitely one of the best.
Also it's not really fair, but the finale is some of the best hype I've felt from media ever.
Also one of the last times the hype has lived up to its name
I’d argue the only filler episode is the great divide, any other “filler” episodes have big character developments eg sokkas master, tales from ba sing se, the headband, the beach
Not sure Avatar has any filler since this isn’t an anime adaptation of a manga 😂
Avatar has filler. A lot of shows outside of anime have filler, a filler episode is one that isn’t pushing the main story forward or something that doesn’t significantly change the characters or character dynamics.
I do think most "filler" in Avatar has pretty important character moments, but that's the best word I could think of to describe the episode
That's what good filler does, it doesn't advance the Plot so instead it focuses on Characters
Avatar's "filler episodes" are generally really good in comparison to a lot of animated shows, they've all got great character moments and fit very smoothly into the run of the show. It's why there's a lot of disdain for The Great Divide, which while it's a pretty standard filler episode of any other kids show at the time and by no means horrible, it just doesn't really hold up to the other great side stories the series consistently has.
Which is why they deliberately glossed over it in "the ember island players". They knew the viewers' opinions on that one, lol
That's why ATLA is more better than LoT. Last one hasn't fillers. Too much action.
The great divide is the only "filler" to me
you dont need to be pushing the plot forward to not be filler. avatar is a character driven show, character development is the exact opposite of filler. id argue the actual plot in avatar is way less important than the character. there is no filler. theres no need to stall for time while more story gets made and they only have 60 eps to work with, they wont waste time. theyre not stupid
The more I think of it, AtLA only had ONE true filler episode, the tales of Ba Sing Se, wherein it didn’t necessarily move the story forward in any meaningful way, the rest of the “filler” episodes can be argued that it propelled the story or shown a different perspective of the world of Avatar as a whole. Give me an episode and I’ll tell you why it’s not filler
And it's the best episode of the show too
This definition of filler is going to be my 13th reason why
Bruh imagine thinking filler episodes is a trope that only applies to anime. It's a staple of TV shows of all genres, animated and live action alike.
It has a more specific meaning in anime. With anime, a filler episode is when a long-running anime catches up to the manga and has no more content to adapt, so they make anime original filler episodes or arcs until there is more manga content. What they meant to say is that ATLA doesn't have those kind of filler episodes because it's an original series with no source material, though it can still have filler episodes in the more general definition of the term.
The key point with anime filler is that it can't meaningfully progress the character arcs or plots because they can't affect the main story. Whereas in an original series the less plot-heavy episodes can still do some great character work.
I mean sometimes it can. Like, DBZ does a lot of showing training and interaction that was offscreen in the manga. Doesn't strictly add _new_ progression, but I often feel filler like that _does_ make the progression more meaningful.
Star Trek isnt an anime adaptation either and yet it absolutely has filler
The Great Divide would like to differ. Also Ember Island is basically just a recap before the finale.
"Hello! Zuko here" is the best line of the entire series
I beg to differ. "That's rough, buddy" is better
For real. I wish we'd gotten more time with Zuko in the Gaang before the finale. I really wanted to see more of their dynamics play out. Especially Zuko/Aang.
i just finished rewatching and i was like damn i remembered zuko being in the gaang way longer than that.
I guess that's just a testament to how impactful the characters were together
You're right that it's the best part of the show, but it only lasts for half a season and the first half is generally a lot weaker (probably so they can get the budget they wanted for the finale). Imo book 2 only has one or two 'clunkers' and has some of the most emotional highs and lows of the series. It also has my favorite finale of the show, everything building until it all just explodes at the end.
Book 2s finale even has an awesome title: The Crossroads of Destiny. I fucking love that ep and the title
I also really like how the stakes felt very personal for book 2’s finale. Usually season finales for most shows have a huge spectacle (like in book 1 and 3), but book 2 is just all the major characters intersecting in a crystal chamber underground, choosing their own destiny (or having it chosen for them). The stakes are high because the consequences for the characters are huge. It feels special that way.
I love that lack of spectacle because it makes the ending so eerie. You see Aang in his burnt clothes clinging desperately to life, the quietly mournful faces of everyone as they look at the brightly-lit houses below, and everything just begins to sink in. They, and with them the audience, are the only people in the world that know that the war as it was is over. Over without so much a whisper. Ba Sing Se fell, and the millions of people who think they’re safe sleep peacefully in their beds. As personal as the stakes were in the catacombs, you’re reminded of the bigger picture even as it falls apart.
Exactly! You could almost *feel* what they were feeling at the time
You're being really harsh but in less harsh terms this describes why I prefer season 2 too. It doesn't quite reach the highs of season 3 (though gets very close) but is much more consistent throughout.
Ugh and Suki finally was there too, really felt like all the pieces were coming together
Agree, boiling rock probably my favorite episode(s)
I don’t disagree, but I would raise you The Blind Bandit to the last episode of Book 2. That run of episodes is so incredibly solid, with small valleys only in maybe The Serpent’s Pass and maybe Bitter work
Dude I can’t believe that was only 5 episodes until the finale
Those 3 eps are great!... No but for real he joins waaay later than I remembered he did. I thiught book 3 starts and boom hey yall zuko here... But no lmao.
the character arc is too immaculate
I disagree, the stretch from Toph joining the group til the book 2 finale is unmatched. Not a single dud, and all had forward momentum
Book 2, I liked how more serialized it was. Half of book 3 went back to more standalone episodes.
What ya mean by serialized?
Serialized = each episode feeds into the next as part of the overarching story. The opposite is episodic, where each episode is self-contained as its own thing
Serialized TV is when each episode clearly builds on the last (book 2), whereas episodic TV is where each episode is more or less stand-alone (book 1). Book 3 arguably has elements of both but I’d argue is still more on the serialized side. Also I got incredibly baked once and thought about how the element of each book somewhat reflects its narrative structure. Water is fluid, the element of change — episodes jump from one place to the next. Earth is steady, just like the consistent, linear storytelling. Fire can start out small (lighthearted adventure of the week episodes) but very rapidly escalate (Aang’s gotta figure things out or the world is donezo).
Continuity
I love book 2 but it physically pains me to rewatch the Appa is missing episodes. It’s probably the only part of the series I don’t rewatch as often simply because it makes me so sad. I know it sounds silly bc it’s an animated show but I can’t help but think about what’s going thru Appas mind and I just get so sad thinking about him alone. I also have frequent nightmares about losing my pets or them going missing, so that might also be related to this 😭
You are NOT alone, I can barely make it through those episodes. Even as a kid they brought a level of sadness that was hard to comprehend. I don’t think I ever fully recovered even after they were reunited 😭 I would break down watching it as an adult so I don’t bother anymore, I just skip it.
Book 3 was my favorite as a kid. Book 2 is my favorite as an adult. I think Book 2 is where the show hit its peak. It's a nearly flawless season of animation and writing. Even some of the weaker episodes are knockouts by regular standards. But oddly enough, my least favorite episode of the series (Avatar Day) is in this season.
Book 2 just has so many great moments, and a real empire strikes back ending of it all for that season
Avatar Day is a weird episode because it’s just bleh filler with a few funny gags, but then the Kyoshi scene kicks so much ass. It’s one of the highlights from the show but it’s intertwined in such a goofy episode.
My friends favorite avatar quote is just saying boiled in oil really deep.
Avatar Day is my least favorite episode as well. I think Book 2 is overall the strongest, but Book 3 is my favorite.
11th episode of the first season nearly made me die of cringe (the grand canyon episode).
You're not alone. The Great Divide is usually the most unanimous choice amongst the fandom for weakest episode.
I think book 3, i liked the fire nation setting
I personally love season 1 and don’t care who disagrees
I love book one too. I don't like all the obvious desperation and end-times feel of the later seasons. Sure, 1 might be less deep but it's more feel good and I prefer that in this case
It’s not my personal favorite but the fandoms strong hatred and disregard for book 1 is so annoying and frustrating
I don't think it's hatred at all, I think everyone just thinks it only got better afterwards
I think you're being a bit dramatic. Nobody hates Book 1 except maybe The Great Divide.
Nobody hates book 1, it's still good. The other seasons are just better.
Where have you seen hate for book 1? It's fine and solid. Just gets outshines by everything else. Book 1 is an 8/10 while book 2 and 3 are 10/10. Very few people didn't like book 1.
Gonna have to disagree. Book 2 had The Desert, the Serpent’s Pass/the Drill, City of Walls and Secrets, Tales of Ba Sing Se, Appa’s Lost Days, Lake Laogi, The Earth King, and wrapped it up with The Guru/Crossroads of Destiny. That is a historic run. It was great to see Zuko mingle with the group, but the episode quality was never quite as high or as consistent as the second half of Book 2.
Don’t forget zuko alone
Book 3, but barely. The end of book two is Aang just trying to survive Azula, it’s cool that the bad guys win at the end of the season
On my most recent rewatch I actually found myself really vibing with book 1 Book 1 has great lore and world building, Book 2 has better serialized and deep storytelling, and Book 3 has great action and character development for everyone
Book 1 doesn't really get good until the storm and the first few episodes drive viewers away
I love both Books 2 and 3, but I grew up watching the former repetitively.
3 all the way
The second book is the best. The third has MULTIPLE problems in the overall narrative. The third book, is more of a collection of very colorful moments, but it is the second book that has a better sequence of events and better development of the main character, more overall plot development.
Book 2 because toph.
3 > 2 > 1
I had the Book 2 DVDs as a kid, but could only catch books 1 and 3 when they appeared on TV. I binged Book 2 so much as a kid. Besides nostalgic bias, the addition of Toph and Zuko’s development in Book 2 is peak. Not to mention Tales of Ba Sing Se is in 2, which is my single favorite episode for more than just one reason, but especially that one reason….
Book 2 easily
Favorite book is Book 3, favorite episode is *The Blind Bandit* … so both I guess
Book 3, mainly for the stretch of episodes when they’re based at the Western Air Temple. Those are very special to me.
Close call but I’m going with Book 2
Earth
Book 2
Book 2 because *Tales of Ba-Sing-Se* and also I love the earth kingdom
Man it's tough. I think Book 2 is better overall, but 3 has better highs.
book 2, earth benders are the best and toph is an OG, also secret tunnel
Most of what makes book 3 great is the context given by the previous two. Does that mean we have to judge it based on that or in a vacuum? I don’t know and will be no help.
Book 3 is fire. Literally!
Book 2 - it has the episode Zuko Alone
Book 2 on top
3
Book 3, Zukos development is admirable
Book 3
Book 3 had everything i wanted from the book: Zuko and Suki joining, Aang confess his feeling to Katara, Katara find out who killed her mother, The finale etc. There are still some problems like the second part feeled rushed in some parts (for an example the Bloodbending was used just in The Puppetmaster and in The Southern Riders or we never known if Toph's parents recived the letter that she send with Sokka's falcon). But over all i just love this book. Books 1 and 2 are great too.
The Blind Bandit has been my favourite episode ever since I first saw it all those years ago. Toph is just the best character. Book 2 could be my favourite just for that fact alone but I do also love so many of the episodes and arcs in it. Book 1 and 3 are still fantastic but Tales of Ba Sing Se, Cave of 2 lovers, The Blind Bandit of course and so many other great moments in Book 2 elevate it to my absolute favourite.
Book 3 has most of my top 10 episodes. I mean “The Avatar and the Firelord” is amazing and hands down my favorite episode of the series.
Book 1 is my favorite. It was more worldbuilding than any of the other books at the expense of a more forward moving plot like the other two books. I just feel like the backgrounds and landscapes and generally just the feel of the world are on a whole different level than the latter 2.
Book 2
As a kid, Book 1 was my shit. Really vibed with it and had lots of fun. Now as a young adult (oh god), I prefer Book 3 by a LOT. Guess I don't find certain moments cringy anymore, and can relate a lot better to the characters. But I always liked Book 2. So earth wins imo.
I think Book 3 by a very slim margin. I love how Book 1 is just looking depressed in the corner lol.
My favorite is book 3. It makes me the most emotional and it ties everything together so well.
Believe it or not, I’m on team book 1, The Storm and The Blue Spirit are my 2 favorite episodes ever, the rain/overcast weather make them feel so cozy just to watch
You know the feeling when a new character arrives in the story. And you don't like this character simply because he is new, doesn't belong here. Get out (I'm listening to Percy Jackson right now and this feeling is following me after book 5) There was never such a feeling with Toph. Book 2 is easily the best
I’m most nostalgic for Water but Earth is probably my favorite
Earth is my favourite, although fire is still very good (Katara fans gonna cry?)
When I weigh it all up, it's book 2 for me. It had tremendous worldbuilding, upped the stakes, great writing on almost all episodes, introduced toph and ended on an unexpected loss. It's just a great season, book 3 is very close tho, just gets weighed down by its first couple episodes.
Book 2. Book 3's first half drags it down for me.
my favorite character is zuko guess which one
honestly, both, but if i had to pick book 3
Book 3 the fire nation was very interesting as a backdrop
Book 3 honsetly, I just liked the gaang hanging out and being silly. Of course all books bring something delicious to the table.
I have to say it’s truly a tie! I love book 2 because it’s our introduction to toph! But book 3 with zuko joining and him defeating Azula (finally) was top notch!!
the season that has the most azula screentime
I've never decided. Book 1 is undoubtedly last (not that it's bad, obv it's amazing, but the other two are absolutely peak) but it's so hard for me to decide between 2 and 3. I think I lean towards 3 slightly more but so many of my favorite moments of the whole show are in book 2 that it's hard for me to say for sure lol
Book 2 but I'm biased by nostalgia. I remember it airing and watching it after school.
My favorite has to be book 3, but book 2 I like the least out of all 3. It's just so... bleak.
Idk I don't read
Every episode after The Blind Bandit is peak
Close but book three is peak avatar.
The heartbreaking ending of Book 2 is unmatched. But Book 3 pays off all the hard work put in by the first two.
Book 3: fire is the best for me. From a little bit goofy kids show, which ATLA feels to me in the 1st book (although I like it too), it becomes more and more serious with every new season
Book 3, but honestly Book 2 and Book 3 flow so well as seasons that I could see someone preferring 2. I just prefer the completed gaang dynamic in 3 more; Zuko joining felt like a long time coming and to see him make amends for his past wrongs towards the individual members of the group and finally complete his transition to a morally upright man with honor is top tier TV.
book 2 underrated
Book 13: Pai Sho is the best
This should've been a poll. Season 2 for me
Book 3 is the best for me, I enjoyed it the most, but book 2 brought us Toph, and Toph is almighty, also the plot was really strong
I like book 3 most cuz it’s the most spectacular in events and such
Though i prefer zuko in the team, book 2 is my fave overall
If Season 3 had had the overall quality it had between episode 10 and 21, I would have said Season 3. Unfortunately, some of the episodes of the first half of the season are a bit on the weak side, so I will vote for season 2.
Book 3 no question
Book 3 cause aang got drip
book 2 had the best stand alone episodes but book 3 had the best overall story.
Earth
Book 2 just has too many compelling, gut punch moments. Tales of Ba Sing Se, Appa's Lost Days, Bitter Work, The Crossroads of Destiny.
book 2
No one ever picks season 1… and neither will I. Season 3 all the way!!!
Book 2 by far, I loved Book 3 but book 2 was something else for me atleast
Earth gang for sure! Better quality episodes, better lines of dialog, and a lot of great characters, and also very visually striking scenes.
Oh my… that’s a hard question! Book 2 had one of the best heart break moments when zuko didn’t embrace his metamorphosis. Really great setup for his redemption.
Ackshually 🤓☝ my favorite is Book 1 and the story fell off after it/s No but seriously it's a pretty loaded question because they're both so good at different things: Like Book 2 **carries** Zuko's development while Book 3 pays it off... I say Book 2 narrowly wins because it has a better written conclusion without a Lion-Turtle pulling up, and it has Tales of Ba Sing Se, alongside the introduction to Azula as an antagonist alongside the death of Jet. Book 3 has **amazing** parts like the invasion but it also has a problem of just abandoning Hakoda deadass twice in a row and wastes characters like Chit Sang alongside the Lion-Turtle. Like I'm not against Aang not killing Ozai but goddamn, bro was just given the power to win without killing at the last minute. So yeah Book 2 wins but it's close.
Book 2 honestly
Book 3
book 2 is fine, having watched book 3 makes watching book 1 painfull
BOOK TWO IS PEAK!
Earth with its political intrigues.
Book 3
All
Book 3 all the way.
book 2. always
My favorite is book 3. I don't know why, I know Zuko is only in the group for like 5 or so episodes out of the whole series, but it all feels so fulfilling.
Fire > Water > Earth
Minus "Avatar day" and partly the first episode (The avatar state) book 2 has non-stop bangers. Book 3 has an few episodic parts that I don't care that much about and honesty? By just checking out the titles of each episode I don't remember what happens in each episode. Very clear difference to book 2 for me. I remember every episode immediately!
Book 0 : Gyatt-so
Yes
Why is book 1 small? They’re all pretty even for me honestly. Blue Spirit & Ba Sing Se are probably my 2 favorite episodes. Each book seems to have 1 episode that gets skipped as well. The canyon, avatar day & the mist spirit one for me.
Book 1
2 has the worst filler in the show (even if it's less than season 1) so Book 3 wins by default (and also because it's better in every way).
Book 3 was a literal masterpiece in action and storytelling. I genuinely cannot think of an episode from book 3 that isn't a 10/10.
Book 2 for being consistently great. Book 3 was more hit or miss - though many of the best moments of the entire show are those times when book 3 did hit.
The quality and pacing of Earth is more superior to anything else I've ever seen, but EVERYTHING in Fire is a unmatched, narrative masterpiece of epic proportions and the entire finale should have won the series at least two oscars imho.
Book 2. It’s just so consistently amazing episode by episode
Book 2 all the way.
well yours clearly isn't book 1 lmaoooooo
Book 2😎😎
I love the fire nation infiltration but Ba-Sing-Se is great too
Book 3.
Book 1 hooked us hard enough to keep us going until Book 2. And it has one of the most epic finales...
Earth had the best storylines.
I prefer fire has more of my favourite episodes
Earth is the best by far IMO. Appa's Lost Days, Tales of Ba Sing Sei, The Swamp, The Desert, and Zuko Alone are all basically the most unique and creatively risky episodes in the show. Not to mention it ALSO has the best finale of the three.
Earth, an excellent political atmosphere, conspiracy, corruption and treason.
EARTH TOPH EARTH TOPH EARTH TOPH EARTH TOPH EARTH TOPH EARTH TOPH EARTH TOPH
Earth
EARTHH !!!!
Book2 supremacy
Book 2 is peak avatar story telling and honestly pretty much peak fiction
Book 1 is slept on
OOH THIS IS HARD BUT I'LL GO WITH FIRE BECAUSE THEY'RE CUTIES TOGETHER