As Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen), Katara (Mae Whitman) and Sokka (Jack De Sena) continue their journey towards the North Pole, Aang schedules another stop, at Kyoshi, so he can ride some elephant koi, but lingering causes problems for everyone.

Written by Nick Mallis, this episode was first broadcast on 4 March, 2005.

It seems the residents of Kyoshi are protected by a fierce group of female warriors led by Suki (Jennie Kwan) and Sokka has problems with girls fighting, and not doing ‘girl things.’ The town itself is happy to have Aang there, and the young airbender discovers the curse of being famous, and showing off, when all he really wants is attention from Katara.

The young waterbender tries to warn Aang that they can’t stay in one place for too long, because Zuko (Dante Basco) and the Fire Nation will find them, but he ignores her, and when the Fire Nation shows up and begins to destroy the town in their search for Aang, the airbender discovers he’s made a grievous error.

Happily, everyone learns from their mistakes, Sokka learns from Suki, and they fight to save the village, and perhaps plant the seed for a future romance, and Aang stops the assault on the village as once again he and the group take to Appa and fly off.

I am loving the animation, and I love that there are funny cartoon moments, but the story itself, and the messages behind them are important and powerful.

The King of Omashu was written by John O’Bryan, and debuted on 18 March, 2005.

The group arrive at an Earthbending kingdom, another pitstop on the way north, because Aang recalls some good times spent riding the delivery system there with his friend, Bumi (Kevin Ng). After causing a debacle on the delivery system, the group finds themselves taken before the King (Andre Sogliuzzo) who sets some bizarre challenges for the Avatar.

Because of character design, and the way the story works, most viewers will be ahead of Aang and the rest, as it is very easy to tell that Bumi grew up to be the King, who as Aang reminds himself, is a mad genius who teaches him to look at things differently.

Following the challenges and a renewal of their friendship, the King tells Aang that he will have to learn all the bending skills to confront the leader of the Fire Nation and fulfill his destiny.

There’s some fun humour throughout, but it’s very cool to see a full duel between an airbender and and earthbender, as it hints at what Aang may become, and also shows how much he has to learn.

I think Aang was a little slow on the uptake of figuring out who the King was, but it’s a solid episode that continues to develop the characters and build the world they live in.

I love the disguise Aang crafts with the help of Appa and Momo, and I enjoy how the series walks the line between having fun, and the important arc of the overall narrative.

Imprisoned was directed by Dave Filoni and was written by Matt Hubbard, it had an original airdate of 25 March, 2005.

The group arrives in a earthbending village, something they keep secret because anyone who shows those abilities is imprisoned on a Fire Nation rig in the middle of the ocean. They’ve ruled over the village for five years, and have kept the people under their boots.

When Katara urges a young man, Haru (Micheal Dow) to save an old man trapped in a mine cave-in, his good actions are reported and he is sent to the rig, overseen by the Warden (George Takei).

Katara feels responsible, so with some help from Aang and Sokka, she appears to have earthbending abilities and is sent to the rig as well. Here she hopes to inspire the prisoners to fight back against their oppressors, but she may need a little help.

Good thing Aang, Sokka and Momo are tagging along behind her on Appa!

I’m settling in with the characters quite nicely, and love the humourous character beats, but am loving the exploration of the world we find ourselves in all the more.

You can explore all of Aang’s adventures in the Paramount Pictures release of Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Series on blu-ray, available now!