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

3. The Crossroads of Destiny

The season 2 finale is grim. Aang, Toph and Sokka return to Ba Sing Sei after Aang has a vision of Katara imprisoned. Azula and her crew ditch their Kyoshi warrior disguises and team with the Dai Li to execute a coup. Zuko is thrown in prison with Katara after he foolishly tries to fight Azula and her agents.

Since Lake Laogai, Zuko has been turning over a new leaf and generally being less nasty. He and Katara bond over the loss of their mothers, and Katara tries to heal Zuko’s scar with water from the spirit oasis. But Iroh and Aang arrive and Zuko is again angered at the sight of the Avatar. When Iroh tries to reason with him, Azula shows up and gives him an ultimatum: either help her take over Ba Sing Sei, or follow Iroh and become a traitor to the Fire Nation.

Zuko relapses back into his old ways and helps Azula fight Aang and Katara. After a rough battle, Aang tries to enter the Avatar state. Just when it looks like he’s going to be successful, Azula shoots him with lightning.

Iroh shows up and covers Katara while she escapes with Aang’s body. When Iroh is captured, he won’t even look at Zuko. After showing his nephew love and patience for two full seasons, Zuko threw it away for an empty promise from Azula.

Team Avatar is able to escape the city on Appa, and Katara successfully revives Aang with the spirit oasis water. But the Earth Kingdom capital falls to the Fire Nation and Aang is severely weakened.