TOP TEN

AVATAR ATLA: TOP 10 BEST EPISODES

1. Zuko Alone

Nothing knocks it from the top spot, EVER. For decades after Avatar has reached its conclusion, every villain redemption has been compared to Zuko's and 'Zuko Alone' is the episode that puts the nail into the masterpiece of a coffin that is Zuko's story. I love how his present struggles are paralleled with his flashbacks and most of all how this episode doesn't keep switching between a central and secondary plotline, keeping the focus on Zuko. This episode makes the turn from Zuko being the arrogant, hot-headed banished prince who abandoned his loving uncle to a complicated yet kind individual who always strives to help those in need.

2. The Tales of Ba Sing Se

Classified by complete idiots as a filler episode, 'The Tales of Ba Sing Se' features some of the most comical yet heartfelt storytelling this show has to offer. From Sokka's haiku tournament to Katara and Toph's girls' day out ending with Toph displaying how what matters is that you think you are beautiful regardless of what others think. Momo's tale bought me to tears, the way the little guy was so desperately searching for his furry, beastly friend. But the true star of the show was Uncle Iroh's tale where we see him spread joy and then mourn the loss of his son. Every time I so much as hear the melody of leaves on the wine, I start sobbing. This episode is plain and simple perfection.

3. The Storm

'The Storm' features the first instance of the and by far the best usage of the parallelism between Aang and Zuko, the theme that is omnipresent in the show. The episode flips between narrations of the two's backstory, Aang unpacking his guilt for leaving the Air temple and not being there to save his people and all the fire nation has hurt in the last 100 years. We also see his anger and frustration at being taken away from his mentor and guardian, Monk Gyatso. This adds an interesting layer of resentment towards his role as the Avatar that the show rarely explores. On the flip side, Zuko's crew is fed up with his tantrums and Uncle Iroh steps in and tells them why Zuko was banished in the first place. This is the first time we see Zuko not as a goofy Saturday morning cartoon villain, but a tragic hero who just wanted to save innocent soldiers and was brutally punished for it by his own father. The live action 'The Last Airbender' series makes a great addition to this by making Zuko's crew the 41st division, the same group of soldiers who were going to be killed had he not stepped up. The best part is that, we see Zuko's actions matching Uncle Iroh's words when he risks his life to save a crew member and lets the Avatar go because his crew is his priority. This is after Uncle Iroh highlighting to us why capturing the Avatar is so important to Zuko, because it is his only chance to return home.

4. The Southern Raiders

This episode would have been MUCH higher on the list if not for the ending. This episode is about Katara getting revenge on the man who murdered her mother and Zuko earning Katara's forgiveness for betraying her in Ba Sing

Se. All throughout the episode I was saying 'Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!'. From Zuko and Azula's battle, to Katara going off on Zuko, to Zuko's conversation with Sokka, to Aang behaving like a victim blaming jerk (because I thought that the end would teach Aang that there is a time and place for pacificism that would relate to him having to kill the fire lord for the greater good despite his own belief) to Katara freaking reading her mother's killer for FILTH and leaving him as the pathetic wreck he is to her and Zuko's make-up aaannnddd the ending reinforces Aang's blood is thicker than water crap. How disappointing.

5. The Puppet master

Another episode that would have been WAAAYY higher on the list had it not been for the underlying message. The thing that makes this episode stand out is the eerie and haunted feel to it that reminded me of the movie 'Caroline'. That underlying feeling that something is amiss even when someone is being very nice to you, like a predator or a wolf in sheep's cloathing. Even before the reveal that Hama is a blood bender, there is a sense of danger and a certain unsettling feeling about the episode that is very unique in the show and very chilling. Again, the main issue with this episode that Katara doesn't want the eeevvviill spoookkyy blood bending powers (ducking lord) and Hama being the villain because she is angry with the Fire Nation for KIDNAPPING AND IMPRISSONING HER AND HER TRIBE AND NEARLY WIPPING OUT HER ENTIRE CULTURE ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!?!??!?!

6. The Boiling Rock Part 1&2

Sokka is one of my most favourite characters in ALL of media and this episode puts on full display why. All his sceans with Suki and his father are heartwarming and him putting his life on the line for them is just amazing. I never imagined that Avatar would have a prison break episode, but in hindsight why wouldn't a series where the main characters are fighting against colonists not have an Indiana jones esk prison break episode. From the heartwarming moments to the comedy to the genius escape plans to the underlying realism of how horrid prisons are to Mai reading Zuko for filth and the sacrificing herself for her and then Ty Lee sacrificing herself for Mai to Katara, Sokka and Hakoda's family hug: Gold star.

7. The Crossroads of Destiny

Like the title suggests, this episode was a major turning point in the series. This episode refers to the crossroads of both Aang and Zuko's destiny, and as we have already established, the best episodes of the series are ethe ones that draw parallels between Aang and Zuko's characters. This episode is packed to the brim with Marvel level action sequences, Iroh being the Great Dragon of the West we all know he is, Azula being the FREAKING BEST, Aang and Iroh being wholesome as all hell, Zuko's gut punch betrayal and the damn ending where Azula FREAKING ELECTROCUTES AANG IN THE DUCKING AVATAR STATE!!! The main character DIED and got REVIVED by best girl Katara! The main characters lost EVERYTHING! Now this, is the perfect freaking midpoint of the series. A+.

8. The Avatar and the Fire lord

The entire series has been based on ending the 100 year was caused by the Fire Nation and not only does this episode provide context to all of that, but also provides great emotional weight to the final battle as now both Aang and Zuko have a deeper connection to Fire lord Sozin who started this war in the first place , Aang having been his best friend and been betrayed by him in his past life and Zuko learning that he is not only Sozin's descendant but also the Avatar's, again emphasising why Zuko is the only one who can redeem the Fire Nation and putting his brilliant redemption arc on full display. And getting to see Roku's life, his friendship with and heartbreaking betrayal at the hands of Sozin was the icing on the cake. Again, would have been much higher on the list if a)this shared lineage and past was bought up again, especially as a conversation between Zuko and Aang and b)If Aang had LEARNED from this and have had to kill the Fire Lord without magic lion turtle B.S giving him a free pass.

9. The Beach

Yes, that's right, Avatar had an entire episode exploring how their group of main villains would live as normal fire nation teenagers. Though this episode is often overlooked as filler, it gives us some very interesting insight into Azula, Zuko, Mai and Ty Lee, most blatantly in the scean on the beach where they all scream out their frustrations. Chef's kiss. But even sceans that are played for comedy, Like Azula's disastrous attempt to flirt, is quite heartbreaking when you think about it. Azula is a fourteen-year-old girl who has been bred by war to the point where she can't FUCNTION in a peacefull setting.

10.The Day of the Black Sun Part 1&2

For a season n a half we had been primed and ready for this to be the big payoff, The invasion. The chance for Aang to redeem his honour, for Katara to bring vengeance on the Fire nation for taking her mother, for Sokka to be the leader he was always destined to become, for Toph to be her badass self again, for Zuko to finally do the right thing, for Iroh and Zuko to reunite and above all, for the Fire nation to finally be defeated. Yet, this two parter severts all of this.

Everything from Azula's swagger and her ingenious plans to Zuko finally facing his abusive father to Aang finally accepting his destiny only to fail once more to the crushing defeat of having to abandon Hakoda and the others to some of the best action this show has to offer, the episode is paced, set up and executed beautifully.