Bitter Work

"Bitter Work" is the ninth episode of season two of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the 29th of the overall series. It debuted on June 2, 2006.

Overview
''Aang finally begins his Earthbending training with Toph, but loses confidence in himself when he encounters difficulty with the earth element, the natural opposite of air. While Toph is teaching, Sokka gets stuck in a hole, and spends the whole day trapped. The group begins to get worried and search for him. Aang is the one to find Sokka, and is forced to save him from a saber-tooth moose-lion. Toph uses the situation as proof that Aang has the attitude and mindset required to learn Earthbending. Meanwhile, Iroh resumes his Firebending instruction with Zuko, showing him how to re-direct lightning, so he will be better equipped to fight Azula. ''

Synopsis
In a rocky quarry within the southeastern Earth Kingdom, Aang awakes from his sleep, excited that today is the day he will finally commence his Earthbending training with Toph, waking up a weary Katara and a cranky Sokka in the process. After Toph also awakens and bursts from her stone tent, Aang bids his sifu - teacher - good morning, which makes Katara jealous, considering Aang has never referred to Katara as sifu, and enthusiastically questions what high-level techniques he is to learn first, only to have Toph reply that they will start by learning simply how to move a rock.

As the tutelage begins, Toph imparts to Aang that the key to Earthbending is a firm, steady stance. Because rock is a stubborn element, one must essentially be like a rock in order to move it. She demonstrates the actual motion by sending a rock into a wall. Believing to have grasped the basic concept, Aang attempts to emulate her, but ends up blasting the rock with air and propelling himself backwards into Appa.

On a grassy hill, a much younger Iroh runs past a tree, being chased by his son, Lu Ten. Lu Ten imitates a Firebending motion with his hands, which Iroh playfully pretends to get hit by and falls to the ground. Lu Ten falls on top of him and the two share a warm laugh. Years later, an older Iroh kneels in the rain before Lu Ten's grave set under the same tree, telling his beloved son that he will see him again. Iroh awakens from his dream to find his nephew Zuko watching over him within a partially destroyed home not too far from the previously visited deserted town.

Zuko explains to Iroh that he was knocked unconscious after a surprise lightning attack by Azula. After serving him some tea, Zuko goes on to state that he has contemplated the situation and has come to realize that it is only a matter of time before they encounter Azula once more. He feels the need to learn more advanced Firebending techniques if he is to stand a chance against his sister. To Zuko's surprise, his uncle agrees with him and decides it is time to resume their training.



Back at the quarry, both Katara and Aang are perplexed as to why he was not able to move the boulder, as he executed the exact same motion as Toph. Aang suggests trying to find an alternate solution such as coming at the rock from a different angle, but Toph explains that flexible thinking is precisely the problem; Earthbending requires a head-on approach over a clever solution. As Aang shows signs of being unsure of himself, Katara takes Toph aside to explain that as his former teacher, she has come to notice that Aang responds well to positive teaching methods. This includes plenty of encouragement, praise, kind words, and a gentle nudge in the right direction if he is doing something wrong. After thanking Katara for her advice, Toph proceeds to engage Aang in several rigorous activities involving earth, including carrying a heavy boulder on his back, punching solid rock, and balancing on stone columns, yelling at him to be more "rock-like" all the way. After a few initial failures, Aang gradually starts to become successful with the many different training activities.

While the others oversee Aang's training, Sokka is off hunting alone in a small forest just outside the quarry. Hiding in a tree, he spots a small, cute, but unidentifiable creature, later known as "Foo Foo Cuddlypoops". Sokka casually states that even though the creature is cute, it also happens to be made of meat. Once it is close enough, he jumps down from the tree to deliver the blow. However, he falls through a crevice straight into the ground. Buried up to his neck and deprived of the use of his arm, he is now stuck in the ground of the crack.

Meanwhile, Iroh explains to his nephew the essence of lightning and how a Firebender can come to engender it. Lightning, or the "cold-blooded fire" as some call it, is a pure expression of the elemental art and completely without aggression, contrasting with the other forms of Firebending. Much like his sister Azula, it is precise and deadly and performing lightning requires a peace of mind.



Outside the decrepit building, Iroh continues with his lecture. Positive yang energy and negative yin energy must be separated, creating an imbalance, and only a select few Firebenders can separate the energies. When the different energies recombine to restore the balance, they come crashing back together. The role of the Firebender is to provide release and guidance, thus creating lightning. Iroh successfully demonstrates by releasing a massive stream of lightning into the distance. Taken aback, Zuko states that he is ready to try it. Though he is able to mimic his uncle's motions, rather than lightning, he instead creates a fiery explosion that throws him backwards.

At the canyon, Toph decides to take a change of pace. She informs Aang that instead of moving a rock, he will instead stop a moving one. After blindfolding Aang, Toph rolls a huge boulder down a steep slope straight towards him. Sensing the boulder rolling closer and closer, Aang panics at the last second and jumps over the rock. His dismay is only made worse by Toph berating him over his extreme passiveness and calling him a jelly-boned wimp. Katara tries to console Aang by offering to help him work on his Waterbending.



Becoming enraged as well as frustrated over being unsuccessful with lightning, Zuko comments on how it just keeps blowing up in his face, like everything always does. Iroh concludes that Zuko's inner turmoil is hampering him from creating lightning and that he will never be able to master the art until the turmoil is dealt with. Unable to fully comprehend his uncle's words, Iroh opts to teach Zuko a Firebending move that he made up himself.

Still stuck in the crack, Sokka scornfully converses with the moose-lion. He relates that he truly does not have anything against the creature; hunting and eating meat has simply been a part of his nature. However, he states that he has convinced himself to lead a "karma-cally" correct vegetarian existence if he can get out of this alive. Sokka remains trapped inside the crevice.

In a marsh, Aang and Katara practice moving a small mass of water around and between each other. Katara reminds Aang that the block can only be temporary and tries to persuade Aang to face the issue instead of avoiding it. Aang, on the other hand, feels too dejected to even talk about his problem, let alone face it. He also expresses frustration and confusion as to why he cannot seem to do it. Katara relays her belief that because Aang is working with his opposite element, earth, it is especially hard for him. She also holds to the belief he will figure it out in the end. Katara then surprises Aang by abruptly breaking off and hurling a reed at him, but Aang is able to use a wave of water to cleanly slice the reed into two halves just before it hits him. Katara congratulates Aang for having the reflexes of a Waterbending master. Aang in turn bows and thanks her, affectionately addressing her as "Sifu Katara." A touched Katara bows back.

Iroh gives further detail about the four nations to Zuko. The Fire Nation symbolizes power and desire; the Earth Kingdom symbolizes endurance and diversity; the Air Nomads symbolize freedom from worldly concerns, and Iroh adds they also had pretty good senses of humor; and the Water Tribes symbolize love and community, especially in the face of change. He explains that people can gain wisdom by understanding each other. If wisdom is drawn from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale. Zuko interjects that this is beginning to allude towards the Avatar. Iroh goes on to claim that it is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful, and that it can do the same for him. To punctuate his point, Iroh reveals that he created his special technique by studying the Waterbenders.



At sundown, Toph taunts Aang about his submissiveness by abusing his staff, using it as a nutcracker. She walks away just as Katara arrives, worried that Sokka has not yet returned. Aang and Katara split up to search for him.

Sokka is now more than ready to give up meat and sarcasm in order to escape from the crack in the ground, as well as to change his karma. This is proven to be hypocrisy when Aang finds him, and Sokka immediately asks Aang if he has any meat. Aang attempts his Airbending to free him, but it proves to be ineffective. Sokka opts for Earthbending to be used to free him, but Aang sadly says he cannot. Sokka then requests that Toph should be brought to help, but Aang describes the notion as uncomfortable. He then goes on to share with Sokka his feelings towards learning Earthbending and the pressure he feels, with Sokka interjecting dry responses along the way. Suddenly, the critter returns, whom Sokka named Foo Foo Cuddlypoops and Aang identifies it as a saber-tooth moose-lion cub. Aang asks the cub if he had lost his mother. Sure enough, the fully grown mother of the cub arrives and she is furious.

Iroh begins to teach Zuko how to redirect lightning. Lightning goes through one arm, into the stomach and out the other arm. They practice the hand motion to feel the pathway. When Zuko thinks he has mastered it, he demands that Uncle Iroh strike him with lightning. However, Iroh refuses because of the possibility of hurting his nephew. Gazing off at the dark clouds approaching, Zuko rides to "find his own lightning".

The mother saber-tooth moose-lion roars and charges at Aang and Sokka. Aang initially tries to avoid the beast and distract it away from Sokka, but all that serves to do is leave Sokka open for attack. Determined not to leave his friend again, Aang stands his ground before the crack as he faces another of the mother's charges head-on. With a strong gust of air, he manages to blow back the beast, which loses interest and walks away. Toph, who was silently observing the conflict, half-heartedly congratulates Aang and continues cracking nuts with his staff. Incensed that she callously stood by and did nothing as Sokka's life was in danger, Aang forcefully demands that she return his staff. Toph then says that Aang is thinking like an Earthbender and tells him to move the rock again, which Aang is successfully able to accomplish. After deeming Aang a true Earthbender, Toph drags Sokka out of the hole, finally giving him freedom.



Aang, Toph, and Sokka eventually make their way back to the campsite and reunite with Katara, Appa and Momo. Relieved that her brother is safe and after witnessing Aang's newly acquired Earthbending ability, Katara takes Toph aside and questions if she tried the positive reinforcement. Toph replies that she did and that it worked wonders.

At the top of a mountain, Zuko stands defiantly yelling into the raging rainstorm as the lightning crackles overhead. He dares the storm to strike him since he says he can take it, and that it has "never held back before"; however, the storm, in a seemingly mocking manner, does not oblige. Zuko suddenly sheds a tear, falls to his knees, and cries out in anguish.

Credits

 * Written by:
 * Aaron Ehasz


 * Directed by:
 * Ethan Spaulding


 * Starring:
 * Zach Tyler Eisen - Aang
 * Mae Whitman - Katara
 * Jack DeSena - Sokka
 * Jessie Flower - Toph
 * Dante Basco - Prince Zuko
 * Dee Bradley Baker - Appa/Momo


 * Also Starring:
 * Mako - Uncle
 * Mae Whitman - Lu Ten


 * Additional Voices:
 * Dee Bradley Baker

Series Continuity

 * Roku refers to his training in the element opposite to his own as "bitter work", though the phrase is never actually uttered in this episode, despite its title.
 * Prior to this episode, Iroh had used his lightning-redirection technique twice before on screen: once to defend Zuko's ship from an actual lightning bolt and again to block a lightning attack Azula aimed at Zuko.
 * In the episode "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse", Zuko finally gets to use the lightning-redirection technique he learns here.
 * This is the episode where Zuko first learns how to redirect lightning, which he later teaches to Aang in "Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King".
 * As of this episode, Aang has consciously bent all four elements.
 * Iroh warns Zuko that allowing the lightning to pass through your heart can be deadly. In "Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into The Inferno", Azula fires lightning at Katara and Zuko gets in the way. Zuko attempts to redirect the lightning, but it passes through his heart and he falls to the ground.
 * This is the first episode in which Iroh is actually seen generating his lightning himself. Prior to this episode he was only seen redirecting it. Iroh's lightning will be seen one more time (generated offscreen) in "The Crossroads of Destiny" to break down a wall while trying to escape the Dai Li. He has never been seen using it in combat.

Behind the Scenes

 * In an Avatar Spirit interview, Sifu Kisu refers to martial arts training in the old-school Chinese tradition as "bitter work."

Goofs

 * When Toph shoots Sokka into the air using Earthbending, the rock she uses is right under him, but in the next frame it's missing, though this could have just been because she bent it back into the ground.
 * When Toph is lecturing Aang about thinking like an Airbender, she pushes him to the ground away from Katara, but in the next frame, when Toph breaks the rock with her head, Aang is standing next to Katara.
 * While Aang is tossing a rock up and down, he is shown barefoot. In the next frame, Aang has his boots on.
 * When Toph was forming her rock suit to charge at Aang, the hair covering her face disappears for a panel.
 * Also when forming the rock suit, Toph leaves her eyes uncovered despite her blindness.
 * When Aang is using Sokka's club for his Earthbending training, he uses his belt as a blindfold, but there was another belt on his waist. In the next frame it's gone. The same thing happens when Toph rolls a rock downhill at Aang.
 * When Toph is yelling at Aang and Katara offers to work on Waterbending with him, her wristband disappears for one shot.
 * When Aang finds Sokka stuck in the ground, Sokka's club and boomerang are to his left, but after Aang drives the saber-tooth moose-lion away, both are missing.
 * After Aang Earthbends, Sokka, who was previously standing next to Katara, suddenly disappears and is replaced by Toph.

Trivia

 * This is the first time Aang Earthbends outside of the Avatar State.
 * When Toph was using Aang's staff as a nut cracker to get him to fight back, Aang claimed that it was a "delicate instrument" and an "antique handcrafted by the Monks". Despite this, Aang has been seen using his staff for much more demanding tasks, such as when he used it to break a metal chain he had frozen in ice.
 * This is the third episode in which Zuko cries.
 * While talking about Airbenders, Iroh says "Also apparently they had pretty good senses of humor." This is shown by Gyatso who is seen pulling pranks on others twice; first in "The Southern Air Temple" when Gyatso and Aang shot cakes at meditating Air Nomads, and second in "The Storm" when Gyatso Airbended Aang's hood over his eyes and swaps the places of Pai Sho pieces during their game.
 * The title refers to both Aang training with Earthbending, and Zuko training with lightning. Due to their natures, it is very hard for both of them.
 * The term Si fu (or shi fu) used by Aang to greet Toph and later Katara, is a Cantonese word meaning teacher or master.