Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of Nickelodeon's best cartoons thanks to its winning mix of great animation, deceptively deep themes, stylish action, and of course, a fantastic plot. Almost everyone Avatar: The Last Airbender the episode showcases these elements, aside from a few admittedly weak ones like “The Divide”. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fans are treated to some of the best fantasy cartoon episodes ever made, with some icons that can't be missed.
Avatar: The Last AirbenderThe best episodes feature the most important plot twists and character moments, but also feature great action or immersive world-building to keep viewers entertained every minute of the run. Longtime fans might call this the highlight episode of the series Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon, the essentials that prove to new viewers why this cartoon has such a stellar reputation.
“The Storm” revealed Aang's guilt and Zuko's past trauma
Season 1 Episode 12
“The Storm” made great use of flashback sequences to expand the personal arcs of characters like Prince Zuko and Avatar Aang himself. This is actually a common trend among the best Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes, with the cartoon cleverly using flashback screen time to establish many facts without taking up too much time. Pound for pound, these flashbacks are even better than what pop culture fans see in the anime.
“The Storm” featured some stunning visuals with the titular ocean storm, not to mention the intense physical stakes of this man-versus-nature sequence. But the real point of the matter was how Iroh's speech greatly humanized Zuko as a wounded prince carrying heavier burdens than anyone aboard the small ship realized. step by step Avatar the cartoon nudged Zuko closer to redemption, and that started by portraying him as someone worth redeeming. Aang's flashback was also strong, making the weight of his century of absence really hit.
“Siege of the North, Part 2” was a turning point for Aang and Zuko Alike
Season 1 Episode 20
The Northern Water Tribe was the ice place for the last three episodes in Book One: Water, and the best episode there was “Siege of the North, Part 2.” Of course, the bombastic action pulled its weight as the invading Firebenders clashed with the desperate Waterbender defenders, and Aang's rampage with the Ocean Spirit helped reinforce the spiritual side of the Avatar Cycle. Zuko also did his part to make it essential Avatar: The Last Airbender episode.
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The episode also impressed viewers by making it clear that ghosts are something much bigger than humanity or its wars. It was humbling and horrifying to see the world nearly fall apart when Admiral Zhao unwisely killed the Moon Spirit, a concept echoed in The Legend of Korra as fans saw Wan navigate his way through a spirit-dominated world. To top it all off, Zuko was even more likable when he told an unconscious Aang about his father taunting him that he was “lucky to be born”.
“Zuko Alone” made it clear that Ozai's son was no ordinary villain
Season 2 Episode 7
This episode featured the single best flashback sequence of the entire cartoon and helped inspire “Korra Alone” in the fourth book The Legend of Korra. “Zuko Alone” is also the only one Avatar episode without Aang, allowing the story to explore Zuko in great detail as the anti-hero in question. Zuko's backstory was shown in gross detail, everything from Ozai and Azula's bullying to how Ursa was Zuko's only source of comfort – the one who had to leave after helping Ozai assassinate the Fire Lord Azulon.
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Another point in this episode's favor was how the character of Zuko was handled with care and subtle nuance. almost likable as a protagonist, but not quite. This was another calculated step towards Zuko's eventual return to good, including him showing remarkable restraint until he was forced to use firebending towards the end. As the Earth Kingdom child screamed his hatred for Zuko as Ozai's son, the audience was asked to decide whether Zuko or the young boy was more sympathetic.
“Crossroads of Fate” saw Azula rise and Aang fall from grace
Season 2 Episode 20
The great walled city of Ba Sing Se was home to some of Book Two: Earth's most spectacular sequences, from Appa's rescue mission and Zuko's date with Jin to Minister Long Feng's plotting. In the end, Zuko was pressured into accepting his redemption, while Princess Azula made it clear that she deserved none. Rather than soften her position, Azula delved deeper into her plans and cunning, using Long Feng to overthrow the Earth King and then betraying Long Feng himself.
The political upheavals alone made “Crossroads of Destiny” a fantastic watch and marked a historic moment in the Hundred Years' War, one that neither Fire Lord Sozin nor Azulon could have pulled off. All of this came together when all the major parties of the time collided in the crystal-lit caverns underground, where Zuko made his fateful decision and Azula nearly killed Aang. It was an “Empire Strikes Back” moment where the villains won to double the stakes of the story while a glimmer of hope still lived on.
“The Avatar and the Fire Lord” helped lay the foundation for Aang and Zuko's friendship
Season 3 Episode 6
The flashbacks continued to amaze Avatar: The Last Airbender fans in Book Three: Fire, but this time Aang and Zuko's predecessors, Fire Lord Sozin and Avatar Roku, appeared in flashbacks. Both characters should have been showcased in all their glory and with all their faults and “The Avatar and the Fire Lord” gave 100%. Watching Roku and Sozin argue as friends was heartbreaking, though it was also inevitable as a historical moment.
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Most importantly, this exciting flashback episode made it clear that friendship is even stronger than war or duty because Roku still believed in Sozin as a friend and the future Avatar and Fire Lord would right all those wrongs one day. Aang noted that friendships can last beyond one lifetime, with the Avatar befriending the new Fire Lord, while Toph Beifong would one day befriend Aang's reincarnation, Avatar Korra.
“Day of the Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse” saw Fire Nation history being made
Season 3 Episode 11
War episodes are always fun in cartoons Avatar: The Last Airbenderand “The Day of Black Sun, Part 2” might be the best war episode in the series. It was too soon for the heroes to achieve a final victory, yet it was so exciting to watch Sokka and the others get so far in their brilliant invasion. The heroes have arrived this close, but not quite, so it felt like another “The Empire Strikes Back” moment to raise the stakes again.
Fire Lord Ozai's brutal rule continued to push the Fire Nation deeper into wickedness as he planned to become the Phoenix King, but his son had other ideas. Finally, fans got to see Zuko confront his twisted father as a truly redeemed prince, and he even sent Ozai's angry lightning back at him to prove it. What's more, the episode ended wonderfully with Zuko chasing after Aang with good intentions, leaving viewers to wonder why Zuko was about to join Aang but asconsidering everything they've both been through.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Release date
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2005–2008
- Network
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Nickelodeon
- Showrunner
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Michael Dante DiMartino
- directors
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Starring: Giancarlo Volpe, Ethan Spaulding, Lauren MacMullan, Dave Filoni, Joaquim Dos Santos, Anthony Lioi
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Zach Tyler Eisen
Aang (voice)
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