The Swamp gives a message of the interconnectivity of everything. Written by Tim Hedrick, this episode was first broadcast on 14 April, 2006.

Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) feels drawn to a swamp, but when Katara (Mae Whitman) and Sokka (Jack De Sena) argue against landing there, a freak tornado brings Appa down and separates them all. As the group tries to find their way back to one another, they each encounter strange visions, all while some swamp folk try to hunt down Appa and Momo for food.

As the trio have strange encounters, seeing important people in their lives, they meet a strange character who teaches them about how everything is connected and pushes the trio to look at the world more as a whole, and more philosophically. He tells them that the swamp is one big single organism, and just part of a bigger organism that is the world, and this allows Aang to find Appa and Momo.

Zuko (Dante Basco) and Iroh (Mako) continue to elude the Fire Nation, struggling to find things to eat, and keep them going, and as the episode reaches its climax, Zuko dons his Blue Spirit mask once again.

Sokka gets to deliver some comedy, and the swamp people feel a little bit like the Southern stereotype, but it ends up being an entertaining tale nonetheless.

Avatar Day was penned by John O’Bryan and was first broadcast on 28 April, 2006.

The past comes back to haunt Aang, when he is arrested for murder, and Katara and Sokka have to solve a centuries-old murder for which one of Aang’s previous incarnations is accused. As the pair investigate, and Aang is making friends in the local prison

Katara and Sokka follow the clues piecing things together, but when Mayor Tong (James Hong) continues to work his justice system to his own benefit Aang is determined to let justice take its course if he’s guilty.

To do so may require tapping into the memories of a previous Avatar, and what if the evidence and truth point to Aang’s guilt?

Zuko, meanwhile, continues to operate as the Blue Spirit, stealing food and money to keep him and Iroh fed. Something Iroh begins to suspect, so Zuko decides to go off on his own instead.

This is a solid tale, and it features James Hong, so bonus, but I like that not everything is going to be easy for Aang, and that the series isn’t afraid to shy away from darker ideas.

The Blind Bandit introduces us to a young blind girl, who is also an exceptional earthbender, Toph (Micheala Jill Murphy). Written by one of the series creators, Micheal Dante DiMartino, this episode was first broadcast on 5 May, 2006.

Aang takes a free trial class in earthbending, looking for the person who he was told who would help train him, but it doesn’t go well. It does lead to an earthbending competition, Earth Rumble 6 (like a big wrestling tournament) and they discover Toph who competes under the name of The Blind Bandit.

Aang agrees to fight Toph, and the pair square off as Aang asks for her help in teaching him. She refuses and storms away, but Aang and the gang find a way to track her down, and discover she’s got a little secret of her own – she’s from a well-to-do family but no one knows she’s fighting in earthbending competitions.

Her parents’ beliefs about her are proven wrong, and she proves she’s a powerful earthbender, and gives an awesome display of her abilities taking on all the earthbending fighters from the match after she realizes Aang is offering her a wonderful opportunity.

She is a force to be reckoned with, and her lack of sight isn’t a handicap at all, which is a great message.

There are some great interactions between Toph and the group, she’s got a great attitude and she’s going to be a wonderful addition to the narrative and the adventure the characters are on.

You can revisit all of Aang’s adventures with Paramount Canada’s release of Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Complete Series on Blu-Ray.