Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Siege of the North (1)

The Siege of the North (1)
Season 1, Episode 19
Airdate	December 2, 2005
Production Number	1x19
Written by	Aaron Ehasz
Directed by	Dave Filoni
← 1x18 The Waterbending Master	1x20 → The Siege of the North (2)
Avatar: The Last Airbender — Season One

The Siege of the North (1) is the nineteenth episode of the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the nineteenth episode overall.

Guest Stars: Jason Isaacs (Zhao), Jon Polito (Chief Arnook), victor Brandt (Master Pakku), Johanna Braddy (Princess Yue), Ben Diskin (Hahn)

Plot Overview

Katara and Aang's waterbending training is going well. but one day the sky begins raining soot- Zhao's fleet has arrived at the Water Tribe city. As the waterbending warriors gird themselves for war, Iroh warns Zuko that it's nearly time to make his move. Sokka volunteers for a commando squad preparing to sneak into the Fire Nation navy and assassinate Zhao, and ship-launched fireballs begin to rain down on the city. Aang and the Water Tribe defense force attack the oncoming fleet and do some damage, but taking out the ships one at a time does nothing to slow down the rest. Sokka's mission turns out to be led by Yue's fiancée, Hahn, and discovering this fact leads to clashes that result in Sokka being kicked out of the mission.

With night falling, the Fire Nation fleet gives the city a brief respite. Zuko leaves Iroh behind and sneaks into the city in a canoe, hoping to reach the Avatar before Zhao does. That Avatar has decided to seek the assistance of the spirits of the ocean and the moon, both important to the Water Tribe. Yue leads him to the spirit oasis at the heart of the city, a warm grassy field surrounding a pool of sacred water. Aang begins to meditate and, while staring at a pair of koi circling in the pool, crosses over into the spirit world. When Zuko arrives, Katara protects him, until Zuko draws strength from the rising sun and overwhelms her. Zuko carries the Avatar off into the endless, snowy wastelands surrounding the city as Zhao renews his assault.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• A great deal of time (several weeks, at least) seems to have passed since the previous episode.
• The connection between bending and nature is explored in greater depth. Waterbenders, we are told, draw their power from the moon, while firebenders are aligned with the sun. The spirit world, not seen since the mid-season episodes, is revisited.

Characters

• As Zuko departs Iroh tells him that he thinks of him as his own son, a replacement for the son he lost long ago.
• Iroh seems increasingly uneasy with the course of action Zhao is following.
• Yue breaks off her budding relationship with Sokka; she feels she must resist the temptation to violate her culture's tradition.

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