User Reviews

Not much else to say beyond the title. Again, not the worst episode, and certainly presents a compelling two sided look at fighting for freedom compared to surviving the war and living for the future, but also doesn't do anything earth shattering (see what I did there...)

In all seriousness, it's not bad, but doesn't really standout...

This episode had me constantly laughing at the character jokes and interactions. Aang and Sokka played the supporting characters in this episode. Katara is front in center with some great character development. She shows she is willing to go to any lengths necessary to help out another person. Like getting sent to prison to rescue a kid you've know for less than 48 hours! The over-the-top, chiche prison warden was hilarious. Sending a man to solitary for coughing during his speech about how they will all get along or throwing the captain over and immediately asking for that person! The Earthbending momo scene had me DYING! Would give the plot a 5 but humor 10!

This episode as probably one of the best filler episodes. I feel like a lot of these episodes are filler and I'm fine with that I do wish a litter bit more was developed to the story then katara losing her necklace and zuko grabs it. I would like tot know what the necklace did but it's ok it is seething yo so thing big. It developed Katara really well showing how she is nice. Really cool I do wish there was a little bit more Ang but a good episode. Overall good episode shows off Huru nicely I still don't understand why the sky bison could not fly and save them all off the ship but oh well. :DD.

I love this episode. As far as I'm concerned, the fact this is cited as one of the show's weaker episodes is a travesty. I love how this is the first episode that is not primarily an Aang episode but instead focuses on a supporting character. (Kiyoshi Warriors prominently featured Sokka but the A-plot was still about Aang.)

And I find Katara steals the show and does an excellent job in showing how the Avatar is a symbol of courage and valour who gives hope and inspires people. (More or less like Batman in Batman Begins.) I find George Takei does an excellent job playing the Warden and his executing the Captain for not knowing the difference between a buffalo and a bison was darkly hilarious. I also appreciate how despite there being a comic dimension to him, the Warden never ceases to be a genuine threat to the main characters (until his defeat and death.)

I like how resourceful Aang is with creating coal-bending and Katara's plan to create fake Earthbending was a moment that gets me to appreciate how intelligent this character actually is. (I know Sokka eventually came to be considered the smart one but even so, it's nice to know Aang and Katara are light-weights.)

While the show shows several animals capable of elemental bending at several points such that Momo Earthbending actually is within the realm of possibility by this show's standards, I don't care. The "that lemur, it's Earthbending! No, you idiot, it was the girl" was funny and is deserving of applause.

I also like the relationship between Katara and Haru and the exploration of Katara's character. And I'm on the edge of my seat cheering when Haru's father throws the villainous Warden to the sea "please. I can't swim. Don't worry, I hear cowards float" .

And I love how Prince Zuko's silent cameo at the end of the episode reminds us not to forget about him and that no matter how many moments of respite Aang and the others get, they will always have Zuko on their tail chasing them like a cat after a mouse.

This episode is great. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Another solid but not great standard episode of Aang, Sokka, and Katara helping people, this works better as part of a whole than on its own but is still worth the time. While a little overdramatic in some places, and a little by-the-numbers for the most part, it's another pretty good episode showing the gang on their adventures.

While venturing through the Earth Kingdom, the crew come across a young Earthbender named Haru, whose village has been taken over by the Fire Nation. Not allowed to Earthbend openly, we learn through a slightly overly melodramatic scene that Haru's father was taken prisoner after resisting the Fire Nation. After helping an old man by Bending, Haru is betrayed and taken prisoner, with the gang following him to the prison. A metal ship designed keeping the Earthbenders far from their element, this is a solid idea for a hopeless location, and Katara's attempt to rally the troops fails. After a pretty hilarious scene involving two soldiers informing their superior about finding Appa, the crew come up with a plan. In relatively standard fashion, they combine their skills and smarts to rally the Earthbenders and save the day. Katara loses her mother's necklace and it's found by Zuko, an interesting way to end the episode.

While mostly a standard episode, seeing the power of the Earthbenders and the introduction of some interesting characters lifts it to being a decent episode. Best watched as part of a marathon, it fits better into the overall storyline than as its own episode, but there isn't anything particularly wrong with it.