The Western Air Temple


 * This article is about an episode. You may be looking for the location.

Writers: Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Tim Hedrick

Director: Ethan Spaulding

Guest Stars: Daniel Samonas (Teo), Michael Dow (Haru), Nick Swoboda (The Duke)

Overview
''Zuko follows Aang and his friends to the Western Air Temple, seeking to join their group. There, Zuko desperately tries to prove to them that he has changed for the better. It is only after Zuko helps save them from Combustion Man that he receives their acceptance as Aang's Firebending teacher. However, Katara refuses to trust Zuko and warns him of the consequences of any treachery.''

Synopsis
After a sore defeat in the Fire Nation on Day of Black Sun, the elders of the invasion force are now prisoners and the gang travels to the Western Air Temple for refuge. Appa gets tired carrying so many people, so they have to walk on foot. When they reach a cliff that descends into a misty canyon below, Toph exclaims that they've arrived at the temple, though no one else sees it. Aang realizes they have indeed arrived, as the temple is built on the underside of the cliff.



Meanwhile, Zuko, who had followed the group to the Western Air Temple, arrives first and descends into the temple. He remembers the last time he had been to the Western Air Temple, a week after his banishment; during which a freshly burned and bandaged Zuko proclaims that he will scour the world for the Avatar for the rest of his life and calls his Uncle Iroh lazy when he suggests rest. Ashamed of the memory, his lament is cut short as he sees Appa fly by overhead. Zuko runs off to hide and later practices his speech to convince them to accept him into their group.

While Teo, Haru, and The Duke explore the temple, the gang discusses the next course of action now that the Invasion failed. Sokka suggests they revert to their old plan of Aang mastering all four elements and facing the Fire Lord before Sozin's Comet arrives. Aang is less than thrilled at the idea, remarking that they don't even know where to find a firebending teacher. Katara suggests looking for Jeong Jeong, but Aang doubts they'll ever see him again. Thinking it hopeless for the moment, he uses this as an excuse to run off and fly around the temple. The rest of the group follows him on Appa, trying to convince him to stop and continue the discussion. They land, and find that Zuko has arrived.



Zuko tries to introduce himself politely, and Appa licks him in a friendly manner. The group, however, prepares to attack him and refuses to trust anything he says. He says he can teach Aang Firebending, and apologizes anxiously for many of his wrong-doings, confessing it was he who freed Appa from Ba Sing Se, but accidentally revealing he also hired the Combustion Man to hunt them. Hearing this, the gang refuses to allow Zuko into their group. Zuko tries to offer himself to them as a prisoner but they threaten to attack him if he doesn't leave.

As Zuko laments over how terrible his attempt was back at his encampment, the gang ponders his motives, ultimately deciding he can't be trusted. Toph tells them Zuko was being sincere the whole time and believes the others are letting their hurt feelings get the better of them. Remembering Toph wasn't around when Zuko chased and attacked them, they write off her efforts to defend him. Toph points out that Aang desperately needs someone to teach him Firebending, but Aang refuses to accept Zuko as his teacher. Frustrated at the group's continued disinterest, Toph leaves.



While sleeping, Zuko hears someone coming through the bushes. It turns out to be Toph, but, unable to see in the darkness, Zuko immediately firebends at the intruder, burning the soles of her feet as she steps back. She scurries away on her hands and knees in fear and throws Zuko away from her with earthbending while he attempts to apologize and help.

When the group wonders about Toph's whereabouts the next day, she earthbends through the wall of the cliff, falling to the ground and showing the group her burnt feet from Zuko. As Katara begins to heal Toph, they realize Zuko is a threat and plan to capture him.

Combustion Man appears on a higher part of the temple, ready to ambush the gang when Zuko arrives and prevents him from getting a clear shot at the gang. They find cover while Zuko tries to prevent the assassin from attacking them. The Combustion Man instead turns on Zuko and blasts him off the temple, though he manages to grab hold of a vine below just in time. Aang and Katara use their bending to counterattack Combustion Man, but their lower position leaves them at a severe disadvantage from the barrage of explosions.



While under cover from the attacks, Sokka estimates the Combustion Man's position based on the angles at which the explosions hit the ground. Sokka throws his boomerang, curving it around a corner, and hits the Combustion Man square on his tattoo, blocking his chi and leaving him disoriented. Combustion Man tries another attack, which backfires and causes the building he is on to explode violently. His detached metal arm is seen flying away as the debris falls into the misty canyon below.

Aang thanks Zuko for saving them, and Zuko tries more confidently to reconcile his past meeting with the group. He admits he was wrong and that he has learned from his banishment that he must earn honor by doing the right thing. He tells him them he wants to play his part in finally ending the war, and his destiny is to help Aang restore balance to the world. He apologizes for burning Toph, stating that fire is a dangerous and wild element and that he must control his bending so that he does not hurt others accidentally. Reminded of his own firebending experience that burned Katara, Aang decides to accept Zuko into the group as his teacher, but only if the others agree. Toph comments playfully she accepts Zuko just so she can get back at him for burning her feet, while Sokka accepts him only to help their plan of defeating the Fire Lord. Katara reluctantly agrees but only because it is what Aang wants, and Zuko enthusiastically promises not to let the group down.



Sokka awkwardly leads Zuko into his own room at the temple, where he unpacks his belongings. Upon taking out a picture of Iroh, Zuko remembers his uncle's advice about destiny. Immediately afterwards, Katara confronts Zuko and warns him that he may have the others fooled, but they both know this isn't the first time he has struggled to do the right thing. She makes a very clear threat: should he give her any reason to think he would hurt Aang again, she'll personally make sure his life ends, leaving him stunned and silent.

Series Continuity

 * Zuko mentions to Aang that before he has stated that they could be friends. This is in reference to the episode "The Blue Spirit", when Aang is speaking to an unmasked Blue Spirit, revealed to be Zuko.
 * While Katara states that Zuko stole her mother's necklace to track down the group in "Bato of the Water Tribe", she actually lost it during the riot in "Imprisoned".
 * Zuko's first encounter with Toph mirrors her first encounter with Iroh: in "The Chase", Toph Earthbends at Iroh when she thinks he's a threat, and in this episode, Zuko Firebends at Toph when she goes to talk with him despite the others telling her not to.
 * In Zuko's flashback, it shows him and Iroh at the Western Air Temple. This was shortly after he was banished (his wound was still healing) and was one of the first locations he visited.
 * Katara's warning to Zuko sounds like Roku's to Sozin ("The Avatar and the Firelord") that "one step out of line will result in your permanent end".
 * This is the first time Zhao has been mentioned since his death.
 * The method of incapacitating The Combustion Man by striking his third eye is used once before in "The Runaway", albeit accidentally.

Trivia

 * As of this episode, all 4 Air Temples have been revealed.
 * Book 1 Chapter 3 "The Southern Air Temple"
 * Book 1 Chapter 17 "The Northern Air Temple"
 * Book 2 Chapter 19 "The Guru" (Eastern Air Temple) and somewhat in Book 2 Chapter 16 "Appa's Lost Days"
 * Book 3 Chapter 12 "The Western Air Temple"
 * According to the Nickelodeon website Combustion Man died after Sokka's boomerang hit his head because the impact closed his third eye chakra, causing him to explode when he tried to use his power.

Goofs

 * When Katara is telling the group about being imprisoned with Zuko in Ba Sing Se, Toph is leaning on a pillar in the background, but the shadows on the floor don't line up with the pillar correctly.
 * When Katara is threatening Zuko, his eyes look dull green instead of the usual gold. Though that could be explained by the angle you see the eye or the lighting.
 * When Sokka and Aang help lower Toph's feet into the fountain, Aang's arm is blue.