Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) and the rest prepare for Admiral Zhao’s (Jason Isaac) assault in The Siege of the North, Part 1. Written by Aaron Ehasz, and directed by Dave Filoni and Lauren MacMullan, this episode debuted on 2 December, 2005.

As the Northern Water Tribes prepare for the assault, lots of things are going on, Sokka (Jack De Sena) is still pining over Princess Yue (Johanna Braddy) who he cares for, and who cares for him, but she’s engaged to another. Katara (Mae Whitman) has proven to be a powerful waterbender under Mater Pakku’s (Victor Brandt) tutelage.

But things are going to be complicated as Sokka is assigned to protect Yue, and Zuko (Dante Basco) has snuck into the Water Tribe fortress and attempts to attack Katara and Aang while Aang is in contact with the Spirit World.

Zhao times his attack with the sunrise when the Fire Nation is most powerful, and Zuko makes away with Aang’s body, leaving the Avatar stranded in the Spirit World in search of help and guidance from those that have passed on.

We are left with a cliffhanger as Zhao attacks and Zuko has made off with Aang, leaving Katara, Sokka and Yue in dire straits. How can the Waterbending Tribe stand up to the Fire Nation assault?

There are lots of story threads going on, and lots of things beginning to happen as we race into the final moments of the first season, or Book. What happens next, and how will our heroes survive?

The Siege of the North, Part 2 was also written by Ehasz, and directed by Filoni. It brought the season to a close on 2 December, 2005, airing together with Part 1.

In the Spirit World Aang must confront a horrifying spirit, Koh, that will steal his face should he show any emotion, but who also gives Aang the clue he needs to best the Fire Nation attack. Unfortunately, when he wakes his body isn’t where he left it, but happily Yue, Sokka and Katara are able to help him recover it, with Katara besting Zuko in a battle.

Zhao launches his attack, one that will remove the moon from the equation once and for all. This is something that would throw everything out of balance so even Iroh (Mako) turns against Zhao, and this allows the Admiral to brand Zuko’s uncle a traitor.

Aang is able to summon the spirit he needs to defeat Zhao and the Fire Nation, and it costs Zhao and Aang dearly. But Yue is the key, and sacrifices herself so that the Avatar may live. She becomes a water spirit and passes from this mortal plain.

As the battle wraps up, Pakku reveals that Katara can now teach Aang, as Pakku is going to the Southern Water Tribe, and the Firelord Ozai (Mark Hamill) has learned that his son, Zuko, has betrayed the Fire Nation for his own ends, and is preparing to unleash Zuko’s sister on her brother, and Aang!

But that will have to wait until the beginning of Book 2: Earth.

There will be more to see next time as I continue my journey with Aang and company in Paramount Canada’s release of Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Series on Blu-Ray, available now.