Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best animated series of all time. Pushing the limits of typical kids shows, Avatar truly made its mark when it first debuted on Nickelodeon. As cartoons go, the show explored some pretty heavy stuff, and its serial format was bold. Nevertheless, it prevailed and went on to become a coveted series for kids and adults alike, even leading an acclaimed sequel series as well, The Legend of Korra.
With a new animated movie potentially arriving in 2022, now is a great time to look back at some of the very best episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The 10 Best Avatar: The Last Airbender Episodes
10. Sozin's Comet: Part 4
When watching the final fight between Aang and the Firelord, one can't help but think of Europe's "The Final Countdown" as these two rivals finally faced off head-to-head. It was a finale in the truest sense, and it delivered pretty much everything we were promised.
This episode also featured moments that we'd been waiting to see since the very first episode — Aang using all four elements at once, for example. We also got an extended epilogue that tied up all loose ends — okay, Zuko's mom's story would be saved for another day — and that's more than most shows can say.
What's more, creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino cleverly sidestepped the issue of killing the show's main villain — and it was actually a pretty convincing after the setup in "Sozin's Comet: Part 2 – The Old Masters."
9. The Blue Spirit
"The Blue Spirit" is a favorite among fans, most notably for its intriguing mystery and thrilling action sequences. More importantly, though, this episode marked a turning point for Prince Zuko. After Aang was captured and imprisoned by Commander Zhao, Zuko attempted to rescue Aang in a Batman-like display under the guise of his alter ego, The Blue Spirit. But the way in which it was presented, no one knew who this mysterious paragon really was until later in the story.
What's so great about this episode was seeing Aang and Zuko working together for the first time, teaming up to take down a common enemy. And even though Aang didn't realize Zuko was behind the mask — and, for that matter, Zuko was only rescuing Aang to help himself — it was here we learned the two boys could become allies and that Zuko may have been more redeemable than we expected.
8. Bitter Work
In this episode, Aang finally learned the ways of earthbending from an unlikely instructor, Toph Beifong. Since earthbending was the opposite of Aang's native airbending, it was expected that Aang would have a difficult time mastering the element — hence the title, "Bitter Work."
Not only did Aang learn how to earthbend in this episode, but Uncle Iroh taught Zuko how to redirect lightning. We also learned here that Iroh was much more knowledgable that we'd previously given him credit for. His speech detailing the vital importance of all four elements offered great insight into the show's mythological themes.
"Bitter Work" also had some great comedic moments: Katara disagreeing with Toph's teaching methods, Sokka entrapping himself in a land crevice, and Aang's earthbending montage — all classic Team Avatar shenanigans.
7. The Firebending Masters
After mastering the other three elements, it was time for Aang to harness the element of fire. In the beginning, fire had only been seen as a sinister tool exclusive to the Fire Nation, but here we learned the truth about firebending, hidden away in the Sun Warrior temples. In "The Firebending Masters," Aang and Zuko went on a journey to find this extinct city, only to discover that the Sun Warriors still existed, as well as two ancient dragons!
It was cool to see Aang and Zuko work together again (this time on purpose), especially given their violent history together. This was really the first time we got to see Zuko proving his loyalty to Aang — and what better way to do that than explore some ancient ruins together?
Speaking of which, this episode also paid a little tribute to the Raiders of the Lost Ark. When Aang and Zuko stumbled upon a golden artifact in one of the ruins, Aang remarked, "I'm very suspicious of giant glowing gems sitting on pedestals!" Well said, Avatar.
6. The Crossroads of Destiny
This episode pretty much had to be included on the list, if only because of its awesome action scenes. (Crystal armor and firebreathing FTW!) Here, we also saw the sheer brutality of Zuko's sister, Azula, who as we soon learned was evil in every sense of the word.
"Crossroads" was also one of the show's darkest episodes and ended on a pretty dark note: Zuko had betrayed his uncle, the Fire Nation overthrew Ba Sing Se, and the Gaang was forced into hiding. However, the Book Two finale was also suitably emotional and action-packed, which is why we can't help but love it.
5. The Tales of Ba Sing Se
"The Tales of Ba Sing Se" was a very different kind of episode, which made it stand out. Told through a series of vignettes and spotlighting different characters, this episode still stayed true to the show, featuring tons of laughs and heartwarming moments. Katara and Toph hit the town for a girls' day out and became closer as friends; Sokka learned a lesson about haikus; Zuko finally wound down a bit and went on a date; Aang built a zoo (because why not?); and Momo searched high and low for his buddy Appa.
Of course, the most memorable segment was Uncle Iroh's. After his own misadventure in Ba Sing Se, the old man traveled to the top of a hill at sunset, where it was revealed that today had been the anniversary of his son's death. Doubling down on the emotional impact, "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" was dedicated to Mako, the voice of Iroh, who at the time had recently passed away. (Cue the tearbending!)
4. The Avatar and the Fire Lord
In this episode, Aang and Zuko learned more about Avatar Roku and Fire Lord Sozin, and how the two eventually became rivals. In terms of Avatar history, this one was a biggie. Here, we found out how the 100 Year War began and Roku's involvement in it.
Even on its own, "The Avatar and the Fire Lord" was a great story — the classic tale of lifelong friends becoming sworn enemies. It also added to the already high stakes of the show, providing even more information about the Avatar and his/her role in the world. Plus, we learned that Zuko was a descendent of both Sozin and Roku, which left Zuko with a very big decision to make — a major turning point for the series.
3. Zuko Alone
"Zuko Alone" worked on two levels. First, the obvious western influence, but then the fact this was a huge emotional touchstone for Zuko — arguably his best in the series. This was really where he transformed from a moody teenager into the badass with a heart of gold.
In this episode, Zuko befriended a young boy whose family took him in for the night. As Zuko recalled his childhood, he remembered how his mother was the only one who really understood him. But once she disappeared, Zuko was forced to struggle alone with only his tyrannical father to guide him.
Offering some of the most poignant moments on the show, "Zuko Alone" was definitely one of the greats.
2. The Siege of the North: Part 2
In "The Siege of the North," the primary focus was on Aang and his journey in the Spirit World, in addition to the Northern Water Tribe defending the Moon and Ocean spirits. Meanwhile, Zuko had captured Aang's body in hopes of returning to the Fire Nation with the Avatar.
In the end, this episode was a stellar ending for season one. There was something almost mythic about it that really nailed the dichotomy of fire and water, that push and pull. At the same time, it hit all the emotional beats and defining character moments. It was satisfactory on every level, and it got you pumped for the next season.
1. The Storm
I suspect "The Storm" was a major turning point for a lot of viewers, as it proved Avatar: The Last Airbender was a cut above the rest of Nickelodeon's programming. Early on, the story was good, but it was still very much a kids' show — more humorous and episodic — but this episode changed that.
I don't think it's a coincidence that some of the best episodes of Avatar prominently featured both Aang and Zuko. In "The Storm" we saw how these two boys started out and how they traveled their own separate paths. Here, Aang coped with the responsibilities he left behind almost a century ago, while Zuko reflected on the differences between him and his father Ozai. This episode was also one of the first to show Zuko's softer side and depict him as more than just an adversary to the Avatar.
Exploring these backstories was pivotal in understanding how Aang and Zuko ticked, and this episode delivered on both fronts, ultimately giving the show a higher purpose. It's for that reason "The Storm" is ranked as our number one episode of Avatar.
Be sure to also check out our picks for the 10 best Legend of Korra episodes.
Note: This article was originally published in 2018. It was updated to fix formatting and remove old links.