The 10 best episodes of Avatar: the Last Airbender, ranked

1. Sozin’s Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang

The series finale of Avatar is truly the greatest episode in the series. After finding out Ozai plans to use Sozin’s Comet to burn the Earth Kingdom into nothing, Aang is terrified because he is not only at a disadvantage, but also conflicted about taking Ozai’s life. Seeking another way, he makes contact with four past Avatars who all tell him that it is his duty to kill Ozai to save the world, even if it means sacrificing his own spiritual needs.

Still reluctant about this approach, Aang encounters a lion turtle, an enormous ancient being, and presents it with his dilemma. The turtle explains that before the first Avatar, beings did not bend the elements, but the energy inside each other. He then teaches Aang how to energy bend.

Back in the Earth Kingdom, the gang tracks down Iroh at Ba Sing Sei. Zuko and Iroh have a heartwarming reunion where Zuko apologizes and Iroh tells him he is proud that he found his way again. With the group unsure of what to do next, Iroh helps them figure out their plans. Sokka, Toph and Suki will try to stop the Fire Nation’s fleet of airships while Zuko and Katara confront Azula in the Fire Nation capitol. Iroh and the other members of the White Lotus society will liberate Ba Sing Sei from the Fire Nation.

Zuko and Azula duel, and Zuko appears to finally get the best of his sister. When he challenges her to shoot him with lightning, Azula instead aims at Katara. Zuko blocks it with his body and is incapacitated. Katara tricks Azula and traps her in ice while she chains the unhinged princess to the ground. Katara is also able to save Zuko and heal his wounds. Azula’s storyline ends with her frantically seizing on the ground and crying in chains. Above, Sokka’s group disables most of the airships.

A newly rejuvenated Aang waits for Ozai to arrive, and takes out his airship. Ozai and Aang then face off in their much anticipated showdown. Although Aang holds his own for a while, Sozin’s comet gives the more experienced Ozai an overwhelming advantage. When it looks like Aang is going to lose, a rock strikes him where Azula shot him with lightning, and he is able reconnect with his cosmic energy. Aang then uses the Avatar state to apprehend Ozai, but doesn’t strike a killing blow.

Ozai tries to take advantage of Aang’s mercy, but Aang restrains him and begins energy bending. Remembering the lion turtle’s lesson, Aang successfully takes away Ozai’s bending, rendering him powerless.

With the war finally over, we see a conversation between Aang and Zuko where they promise to rebuild the world together. Firelord Zuko addresses the crowd at his coronation and declares the war over. He also pledges to usher in an era of love and peace with Aang’s help. Zuko confronts Ozai in his prison and demands to know what happened to Ursa, which the show leaves on a cliffhanger. While the Avatar comics explore this storyline, perhaps we will see it adapted in the upcoming sequel show being developed by Avatar studios.

The final scene shows the gang hanging out in Iroh’s tea shop in Ba Sing Sei, and we finally see Aang and Katara embrace each other in the final shot.

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