The Avatar State

Writer: Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Tim Hedrick, Aaron Ehasz, John O'Bryan

Director: Giancarlo Volpe

Guest Stars: James Garrett (Avatar Roku), Robin Atkin Downes (Captain), Victor Brandt (Master Pakku), Daniel Dae Kim (General Fong)

Synopsis
The season opens when Aang has a dream that he is in the "Avatar State," but is outside his body and witnessing it first hand which frightens him. He wakes up, on a Northern Water Tribe boat that is heading for the Earth Kingdom. Aang, Katara, and Sokka leave the rest on the boat and set off for Omashu to learn Earthbending from King Bumi. Meanwhile, Zuko is growing steadily more upset as the three year mark of his banishment draws nearer. Iroh tries to console him to no avail. Iroh says, "Why would he banish you if he didn't care?" Meanwhile Azula, Zuko's sister, is shown speaking to the crew of her ship, instructing them to be prepared to fight members of the royal family or face her wrath. She is also hostile to the captain of her ship when he tries to tell her that the tides will not allow her ship to dock.

Aang and the gang meet Fong, an Earth Kingdom general, who believes Aang is wasting time learning bending and should just try to trigger his Avatar Spirit and go after the Fire Nation. Aang feels so guilty over the casualties of the war he agrees. First, they try using a stimulant tea whose effects on on Aang are more equivalent to a sugar-rush. Next, Sokka tries to scare him into the Avatar State. Lastly, they try mixing the four elements together but it ended up into mud which Aang sneezed on everyone. Meanwhile, Azula is shown practicing advanced Firebending techniques and is annoyed when she fails to achieve perfection. These techniques involve lightning. Shortly after this, she arrives and presents Zuko with an interesting prospect. Azula claims that their father regrets his banishment and wants him home, for there was rebellion heating against the Fire Lord and she claims that he needs family whom he can trust around him.

In the meantime, Aang realizes that he should not try to trigger his Avatar State. Hoping that Fong would understand, Aang confronts him, but Fong foolishly tries to trigger the Avatar State by ordering his troops to attack Aang. When that fails, Fong uses his Earthbending to bury Katara. This enrages Aang, who falls under the Avatar State. Fong tries to explains that he had faked Katara's death in order for him to get into the Avatar State. However, Aang uses a powerful wave of Earthbending to defeat Fong and his troops. Aang is subdued only when Avatar Roku communicates to Aang during the battle. Briefly taking Aang into the spirit world, Roku explains that the Avatar State empowers the Avatar with the skills and knowledge of all his past lives. While in the Avatar State, Aang is at his most powerful, but he is also very vulnerable. Should an Avatar die while in this state, Roku warns, the Avatar Cycle dies with it and the Avatar will cease to exist. With the explanation completed, Roku returns Aang to his body. Having regained his senses, Aang sees the damage that he has caused and feels ashamed. General Fong, on the other hand, is overjoyed that Aang entered the Avatar State and suggests that they begin finding a way to control the Avatar State. Sokka knocks Fong out before Fong can think of any more ideas and the group decide to proceed to Omashu without an escort.

Meanwhile, as Iroh and Zuko are about to board Azula's ship, her captain inadvertently reveals that the two are considered prisoners. A fight ensues between Iroh and Zuko and Azula and her men, with Iroh absorbing and transferring the lightning bolt Azula was about to use against her brother. Zuko and Iroh escape to the nearby forest. Knowing that it was but a lie and the Fire Lord wants nothing to do with either of them, Iroh and Zuko cut off their top-knots, forsaking their homeland.

=Translation=


 * The writing on Zuko's knife reads 非戰不屈, which means "Never give up without a fight".