The Siege of the North, Part 2


 * This article is about an episode, for the battle, see Siege of the North.

Writer: Aaron Ehasz

Director: Dave Filoni

Guest Stars: Jason Isaacs (Zhao), James Garrett (Avatar Roku), Ben Diskin (Hahn), Johanna Braddy (Princess Yue), Victor Brandt (Master Pakku), Jon Polito (Chief Arnook), Erik Todd Dellums (Koh), Mark Hamill (Fire Lord Ozai), Dee Bradley Baker (Enma)

Overview
''Zuko has successfully captured Aang, but struggles to find shelter in the freezing temperatures of the North Pole, while Sokka, Katara and Yue search for him and Aang. The Fire Nation manages to infiltrate the city. Aang is saved, but Admiral Zhao slays the Moon Spirit, Tui, and the Waterbenders lose their ability to bend. In anger, Aang is possessed by the Ocean Spirit, La, and obliterates the entire Fire Nation armada. Princess Yue, who was imbued with some of the energy of the Moon spirit when she was a baby, sacrifices her life to revive it.''

Synopsis
Sokka, Katara and Princess Yue set out on Appa in search of Aang as the Fire Nation continues its attack on the Northern Water Tribe. As Zuko carries Aang across the polar ice cap, Aang’s spirit has arrived in what looks like a swamp. He then approaches an Odd Spirit (Enma) and asks for some assistance on finding the Moon and Ocean spirits. The annoyed spirit tells Aang, "Go… Away." As Aang continues to ask the spirit for help, a glowing speck flies by and the spirit suggests Aang chase it, because it may be able to help him. Aang chases the glowing speck through the Spirit World, but when he finally manages to grasp it, the branch he is standing on disappears and Aang falls into the water. Avatar Roku's image appears as a reflection in the water and he greets Aang.



Back in the mortal world, the ice begins to give way under Zuko and Aang's weight. Zuko quickly runs while carrying Aang and manages to avoid falling through the ice. Just then, he spots a shelter in the distance, drags Aang's body into the shelter and ties him up.

Aang's spirit tells Roku that the Water Tribe is under attack and he needs help locating the Moon and Ocean spirits. Roku's spirit ascends out of the water to face Aang as he tells Aang those spirits crossed over into the mortal world near the beginning of time and that there is only one spirit old enough to help Aang. The spirit is named Koh, but Roku warns Aang to be careful as Koh is dangerous. Aang must not show any emotion when facing Koh or the spirit will steal his face. Aang nods in understanding.

Sokka, Katara and Yue, riding on Appa through the blizzard, continue to look for Aang with no luck. Zuko talks to Aang's body while Aang is in the Spirit World. He laments how now that he has Aang, the blizzard prevents him from taking Aang back to the Fire Nation. Zuko then compares Aang's natural talents to his own sister's and recalls his struggles that have made him strong without any help from luck.



Back at the Northern Water Tribe, Fire Nation troops move further into the city despite the Waterbender Warriors' efforts. Iroh reminds Zhao that if the Water Tribe is not subdued by the rise of the full moon, the Waterbenders will be unstoppable. Zhao says he is planning to remove the moon as a factor. Iroh and Zhao are briefly interrupted by Hahn, who miserably fails at his attempt to attack Zhao resulting in him being thrown overboard. Continuing, Zhao explains to Iroh how a long time ago he had stumbled upon the secret of the Moon Spirit's mortal form in an underground library, while serving as a young officer in the Earth Kingdom. Zhao then believed it was his destiny to kill the spirits. Iroh forcefully informs Zhao that the spirits are not to be trifled with. Zhao condescendingly tells Iroh he has heard of Iroh's journey into the Spirit World, and that the Moon and Ocean Spirits will now pay the consequences for giving up their immortality.

Aang approaches a large leafless tree and notices another spirit in the form of a monkey. As Aang approaches and speaks to the monkey, it turns around and to Aang's surprise, it has no face. Aang takes a deep breath and enters the hollow tree, calling out to Koh. Suddenly, Koh, with a large centipede-like body and a face similar to a Japanese Noh mask, appears in front of Aang. As he switches faces, Koh explains to Aang that this is not their first encounter as one of Aang's previous incarnations tried to kill Koh over the stealing of a loved one's face. Koh continues to state how he is no longer concerned for what Aang did in his past life. Aang takes a breath in to gather strength, and to remain composed as Koh tries to manipulate him.

At the same time, Aang’s body in the natural world also takes in a deep breath as Zuko looks on. Zuko comments that it looks like they will be in the shelter for awhile. Yue tries to comfort Katara by saying Zuko and Aang could not have gotten away. Katara says she’s not worried they got away, but that they didn’t. Sokka assures Katara that Zuko will not give up and both he and Aang are alive and they will find them.



Menacingly, Koh asks, "So. How may I help you?" Aang tells Koh he needs to find the Moon and Ocean Spirits. Koh tells Aang the spirits' names - Tui (push) and La (pull). Aang explains that an entire culture may be destroyed if he doesn't get the spirits' help. Koh informs Aang that it is the spirits who are in need of his help as someone is planning to kill one of them. Aang asks how he can find the spirits to protect them. Koh tells Aang that he has already met them. As Aang realizes the spirits' mortal identities, he almost reveals his expression to Koh, narrowly avoiding the opportunity for Koh to steal his face. Upon leaving Koh's tree, Aang tells Roku's reflection that the spirits are in trouble and he needs to get back to the mortal world. Roku tells Aang that an old friend, Hei Bai, is there to guide him back.

Nightfall has come and the full moon has risen. The Waterbending Warriors power is enhanced as they fiercely battle the Fire Nation soldiers. Zhao and his search party depart his ship in search of the secret oasis. Zhao declares that when they get there, "We’re going fishing."

Hei Bai takes Aang back to the gate and breaths out a light toward Aang which sends Aang's spirit to the mortal world. When the Enma comments, "Good riddance," Hei Bai blasts him off of his rock.

Aang's spirit returns to where it left, the oasis, but to his dismay he finds his body is not still there. His spirit rushes to Aang's body in the form of a streak of light. Katara sees the light, realizes it's Aang's spirit, and they turn Appa to follow the light as it reaches Zuko and Aang's shelter. When his spirit rejoins his body, Aang's tattoos fade to blue, he suddenly sits up, forcefully acknowledges Zuko's presence, and then proceeds to blow a large gust of air which throws Zuko against the side of the shelter and him out of the cave and into the snow. Zuko manages to catch the still-bound Aang, but Appa lands next to them and Katara jumps down. Zuko says, "Here for a rematch?" and Katara confidently replies, "Trust me Zuko, it's not going to be much of a match," as she forces Zuko about 40 feet into the air with a column of snow and then knocks him out by smashing him to the ground. Although he is in a hurry to save the spirits, Aang refuses to leave Zuko to die. They tie up the unconscious prince and take him with them.



At the oasis, as Appa arrives Zhao grabs the white koi and the sky goes red. The Waterbending Warriors lose their bending abilities. Yue says that she feels faint and Aang says he feels it as well. Yue then explains how the Moon Spirit gave her life as a baby and how she received her name; Yue – for the Moon. Zhao begins to arrogantly applaud his efforts to fulfill his destiny. Momo suddenly jumps onto his head, pulls at Zhao's hair, and then flies over to Aang. Aang pleads with Zhao to consider how his actions will hurt everyone, and not just the Water Tribe. Suddenly, Iroh appears, confirms Aang's words, and tells Zhao if he harms the spirit, that he will unleash ten-fold the force against him. Zhao releases the spirit back into the water, but then kills it with a fire blast, causing the spiritual equivalent of a lunar eclipse, rendering the Waterbenders powerless. Iroh unleashes his firepower and easily defeats the soldiers accompanying Zhao, but Zhao himself manages to escape. Behind Yue (still sitting on Appa) Zuko is missing. Iroh lifts the white fish out of the water and Yue says, "There’s no hope now; it's over." Aang goes into the Avatar State and responds, "No, It is NOT over," as he proceeds to walk into the oasis. Katara tries to follow, but Iroh gestures her to let him go. Aang merges with the Ocean Spirit, likely allowing La to take on its' spiritual form it had given up to become that of a humble fish, and the combined two head out and attack the Fire Nation invaders in the city. With the city cleared, they then head out to sea.

Back in the city, Zhao tries to escape. Zuko shoots a fireball at him and shocked that Zuko is alive, Zhao confirms he tried to have him killed because of him being the Blue Spirit and for releasing the Avatar. Zuko says he had no choice, but Zhao tells Zuko he should have accepted his fate as a failure and a disgrace. Zuko continues to battle Zhao.



Meanwhile, Iroh places the limp white fish back into the oasis and then notices that Yue has been touched by the Moon Spirit. Yue decides it is her duty to give the life she was given back to the Moon Spirit, despite Sokka’s protests. She places her hands on the fish, transferring her spirit, exhales one last time and then falls back into Sokka’s arms – lifeless. The Ocean Spirit heads out into the open ocean and attacks the Fire Nation ships. Yue's body disappears, and the white fish begins to glow, as Iroh places it back into the oasis. The fish begins to swim and the oasis glows, as the spirit image of Yue appears above the water to tell Sokka she will always be with him. Her spirit kisses Sokka one last time before becoming the Moon. The Ocean Spirit sees the moon is back, places Aang atop a piece of the outer wall, and then heads back into the Water Tribe city.



Zuko and Zhao continue to battle when Zhao notices that the moon has returned and shouts, "It can't be!" Just then, the Ocean Spirit grabs Zhao and begins to take him away. Zuko tries to help, but Zhao then stubbornly refuses to take Zuko’s hand. Zhao is pulled into the water and disappears.

After the battle, Master Pakku announces plans to head to the Southern Water Tribe with other tribe members to help rebuild their sister tribe. Katara asks about Aang's training and Pakku tells her that Aang will have to get used to calling her Master Katara. Chief Arnook quietly tells Sokka about the vision the spirits gave him when Yue was born about a young woman giving her life to become the moon. Sokka replies that he must be proud. The Chief says he is proud, and sad.

Having rejoined Zuko on a raft, Iroh slyly says he is surprised Zuko is not at that moment trying to capture the Avatar. Zuko declares he is tired, and Iroh soothingly tells him he should rest, as, "A man needs his rest." Zuko closes his eyes. Katara meets up with Aang and they embrace. Momo jumps in as Sokka takes hold of Aang's shoulder and Appa shows up as they all look out at the moon realizing they managed to ward off the Fire Nation and there is still hope to restore balance.

Back in the Fire Nation, Fire Lord Ozai ominously gives Azula an undisclosed task.

Series Continuity

 * This episode features the second time that Aang has saved Zuko while he is unconscious, the first time being in "The Blue Spirit", when Zuko is knocked out by an arrow.
 * This is the second time when Aang meets Hei Bai. The first time was in "Winter Solstice Part 1: The Spirit World".
 * The library Admiral Zhao visits is later visited by Team Avatar in "The Library". It is discovered then that after visiting, Zhao burned down the wing with any information on the Fire Nation.
 * After Zuko was reluctant to take Zhao's life after their Agni Kai in The Southern Air Temple, he warns Zhao that next time he won't hold back. However, Zuko offers to help Zhao when he gets attacked by La.

Goofs

 * When Iroh is talking with Zhao on the boat, the pin on his cloak is a black and red emblem of the fire nation symbol, but in the previous episode the pin is gold and red on the same cloak.
 * When Aang is in the Spirit World, he jumps onto Hei Bai's back by Airbending; when in "Winter Solstice Part 1: The Spirit World", it was established that you can't bend in the Spirit World.
 * When Zhao puts the fish in the bag, the moon and the sky turns red, but then after the commercial break, the moon is white but the sky is still red.
 * When Hahn tries to kill Zhao and is thrown from the platform, he should have landed on the deck of the ship below, but a splash is heard.
 * Koh the Face Stealer claims that Avatar Kuruk tried to kill him "nearly eight or nine-hundred years ago". Kuruk died about 400 years ago, meaning that, if Koh's statement were true, Kuruk was at least 500 or 400 years old. The oldest confirmed age an Avatar has lived is 230 (Age of Avatar Kyoshi, at death).
 * During Yue's flashback as a baby, her mother is seen with Yue's father after finding out Yue was going to die. In Avatar Extras, it said that was the only scene where we see Yue's mother. But she is seen again later in the flashback at the Spirit Oasis, when Yue is cured.
 * When Admiral Zhao first captures the moon spirit in his sack, the moon up in the sky turns blood-red. When we momentarily focus on other characters and return to the sky, the moon is its normal color and the surrounding sky is blood-red.
 * After Iroh defeats Zhao's team of Firebenders, the four troops instantly disappear; however, at one point, when Iroh is holding the moon spirit, the four guards are seen tied to the left side of the wooden gate-like structure.The next time the camera zooms out the troops are no longer there.

Trivia
Die Belagerung des Nordens, Teil 2 De Slag om het Noorden Deel 2 Осада Севера, часть 2
 * Aang and the Ocean Spirit's merged form strongly resembles the Nightwalker from Hayao Miyazaki's movie Princess Mononoke. The series' creators have professed their fandom of Hayao Miyazaki in many interviews.
 * When the Moon Spirit was killed, everything turned gray, but Yue's eyes remained visibly blue, showing that some of Tui's life was present in her.
 * When La and Aang begin moving towards the Fire Navy fleet, the Biblical story of Passover is invoked. When the Water Tribe submitted to La, they were not attacked by him; the Fire Nation soldiers who did not bow were killed.
 * More spirits appear in this episode than any other. They are the Enma, Koh, Roku, Hei Bai, La, and Tui.
 * The ending scene with Team Avatar is similar to the ending scene of Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back. Team Avatar is looking out at the moon after their victory over the Fire Nation. In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2D2 and C3PO are looking out at the Rishi Maze, a dwarf satellite galaxy that orbits the series' main one, after the Millenium Falcon just left.
 * Near the very end of the episode, Iroh tells Zuko, "A man needs his rest." Iroh also told Zuko this in the first episode and in a flashback showing Iroh and Zuko soon after Zuko's banishment.
 * This is the second and last episode where Zhao lashes out after defeat.
 * The animal after which the Face Stealer is modeled is a centipede, not-as many people assume-a scorpion or spider. The Face Stealer also briefly takes on the bright-blue-cheeked face of a mandrill, which (including its remarkable fire-engine-red buttocks) is the largest and heaviest of all monkeys.
 * When Koh says, "Oh, something about stealing the face of someone you loved." Avatar Kuruk's fiancée's face is shown. We later see this image told by Kuruk himself in "Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters".
 * Iroh suggests that Zuko rests at the end of this episode and Zuko agrees. Avatar Extras claims that this is the first time Zuko has taken his uncle's advice. This is wrong, however, as back in the The Southern Air Temple when Zuko fought Zhao, Iroh told Zuko to 'break his roots' which he ends up doing and results in Zuko's victory.