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

5. Lake Laogai

“Lake Laogai” begins with Team Avatar resuming their search for Appa in the Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Sei. After spreading hundreds of fliers throughout the city, they eventually meet up with Jet, a rebel leader they encountered earlier in the series. Slowly, it comes out that Jet has been brainwashed by the Earth king’s advisor Long Fend, the real power behind the throne. The gang begins unraveling a pretty creepy conspiracy designed to keep the citizens of Ba Sing Se placid and ignorant. The royal guards, known as the Dai Li, are heavily involved. Pushing towards the truth, the gang makes their way to the Dai Li headquarters under Lake Laogai.

Zuko also finds his way to Lake Laogai by capturing a Dai Li agent. He finds Appa. Iroh follows Zuko and gives him some tough love. At this point Zuko and Iroh have been living a peaceful life in Ba Sing Sei for a while, but Zuko’s obsession with finding Aang returns when he sees a poster of Appa. Iroh is frustrated that Zuko has no plan for what he is going to do if he ever captures Aang, and has no ambition for his life other than this wild goose chase that Ozai sent him on. Iroh convinces him to free Appa, and Zuko leaves his blue spirit mask behind.

Meanwhile, the group is confronted by Dai Li agents and a battle ensues. After a brief skirmish, Aang and Jet pursue Long Feng into a separate room, where Jet’s brainwashing is activated and he attacks Aang. When it wears off, Long Feng hits him with a fatal blow, a rare death on this kid-friendly show. On the surface, Team Avatar is surrounded by the Dai Li, but Appa arrives and flies them away. It’s a touching reunion.