The Day of Black Sun, Part 1: The Invasion

Writer: Michael Dante DiMartino

Director: Giancarlo Volpe

Guest Stars: Carlos Alazraqui (Tho, Due), Rene Auberjonois (The Mechanist), William H. Bassett (Huu), Michael Dow (Haru), Mick Foley (The Boulder), Serena Williams (Ming), Kevin Michael Richardson (Tyro, The Hippo), André Sogliuzzo (Hakoda), Mitch Holleman (The Duke), Sterling Young (Pipsqueak)

Synopsis
On the day of the invasion, Katara comments that Aang seems well rested and Aang says now he is ready to face the Fire Lord. When Toph asks Aang about the Avatar State, he says he cannot use it and explains that his seventh chakra was sealed when Azula struck him with lightning.

Southern Water Tribe boats emerge from a mist and, together with Toph, Aang creates some makeshift docks in the cove. Sokka asks about the people he requested and Hakoda says he brought them.

The invasion force consists of the Southern Water tribe warriors; Huu and his fellow Swampbenders; Pipsqueak and The Duke; The Mechanist and Teo; and some Earthbenders which include, Haru, Tyro, The Hippo, and The Boulder. Teo and the Mechanist give Aang a gift, a new glider that contains a snack compartment that stores nuts, and can double as a staff.

At the prison General Poon continues to berate and insult Iroh. Ming, a young female guard who is kind to Iroh, appears with his breakfast. After the other guard leaves, Iroh expresses his gratitude for Ming's kindness.

Sokka attempts to brief the force about the invasion, but because he is nervous, is unable to. Hakoda takes over for him and confidently rallies the small army. He explains the plan to storm the beach and reach the palace before the eclipse. That way, when the eclipse begins, they can take on the Firebenders that guard the palace, and Aang can confront the Fire Lord. Sokka, who is embarrassed of his behavior earlier, is reassured by Aang that he will have a chance to prove himself out on the battlefield.

The invasion force heads to the Great Gates of Azulon. Under the cover of mist, as they approach the gates, an alarm goes off and a large net rises from both sides of the gate, blocking the path. As the net catches fire, groups of Firebenders infiltrate the ships and are shocked to discover that they are empty. The invasion force uses crafts that are submerged and propelled by waterbending to move underwater to attack. Unfortunately, the subs have a limited air supply so they have to resurface before they run out of air.



Ming once again visits Iroh with his supper. Iroh reveals to Ming that her moments of kindness have made his imprisonment bearable. He also comments that she looks ill and insists that she should go home. When she insists that she is fine, Iroh simply explains that it would be better if she were not present that afternoon, at which Ming appears to understand.

After resurfacing, the gang gets together one final time to wish each other good luck before departing ways. Aang and Katara say goodbye in private. Katara reveals she is proud of how much Aang has grown since they first met. Aang, realizing how big this day is and that there's a chance that he may not survive, kisses Katara, then confidently snaps out his glider and flies away to face the Fire Lord, leaving Katara blushing. She hops on Appa and creates a water bubble around his head so that he can breathe while they are underwater.

Zuko is shown sitting in front of a painting of his mother, promising aloud that he will do what is right. After mentally apologizing to Mai and leaving her a note in her bedroom, he gets ready to leave.

After the subs evade capture at a gate armed with harpoon gun type weapons, they finally arrive at the beach near the capital. New caterpillar-like tanks powered by Earthbenders are released from the subs and face off against Fire Nation tanks, as ground fighting ensues, followed by other warriors, Benders and eight supply trucks. The Earthbender tanks are highly resilient and easily defeat the Fire Nation guards.

After noticing a threat from some towers shooting missiles, Katara, Sokka, and Hakoda attack them with Appa. While Katara and Sokka take out one tower, Hakoda destroys another one, and is injured in the process. Katara and Sokka take their father a short distance from the battle. Katara attempts to heal Hakoda, but he is still unable join the battle anytime soon. Sokka pledges to his father and sister that he will lead the battle in his father's place and flies off on Appa. He lands among the troops, which have been split up in mild disarray. He reorganizes them into wedge formation and orders them to charge up to the palace.

As the invasion breaches the wall of the capital city, things are looking well. However, when Aang enters the capital city, he finds it deserted; when he reaches the Fire Lord's throne room in the palace, Ozai is nowhere to be found. In anguish, Aang falls to his knees and yells "Fire Lord Ozai, where are you?!"

Production Notes

 * Before the invasion, when they rise for air in the submarines, it is shown that after Aang kisses Katara and Sokka calls her to get ready, Katara hops onto Appa and creates a bubble around him. He then takes off with Katara still on his neck, when in fact, the scene when they first show the inside of the submarines, Katara is one of the waterbenders moving the submarine forward. However, it's possible she just switched positions with another waterbender.


 * While Aang flies on the glider fashioned by the Mechanist, he turns the handle that drops food into his mouth. The food appears to be liechi nuts, the ones that grow into liechi fruit, which contain a little white seed on the inside; the actually edible part. In that scene, Aang just eats the nuts shell and all.

Translations

 * Sokka's maps read as follows:
 * 第壼國皇家地圖 - Sequence of Maps Leading to the Royal Palace
 * 世界地圖 - Map of the World
 * 全國領土領海圖 - Chart of the Entire Nation's Land and Sea Territories
 * 首都島地圖 - Map of the Capital Island
 * 皇家首都地圖 - Map of the Royal Capital