The Southern Air Temple

Getting ready to go to the Southern Air Temple

Aang and Katara are hanging out on Appa, and Aang talks about how he is very excited to visit the Southern Air Temple. Katara realizes that the temple may have been visited by the Fire Nation, so she tries to temper Aang’s expectations. It’s been 100 years since Aang has seen his home, and Katara fears that Aang will be severely disappointed by what he finds when they get to the Air Temple. Before the group arrives at the Air Temple, Katara warns Aang that the Fire Nation is ruthless.

Zuko and Commander Zhao

Zuko and his uncle are at port, as their ship is being repaired. They are greeted by Commander Zhao as they leave their ship. There is tension in the air; Zhao is suspicious that Zuko and his uncle have been hunting the Avatar. Commander Zhao has been looking for the Avatar as well.

Zhao inquires how Zuko’s search for the Avatar has been going. Zuko lies and tells Zhao that he has not seen the Avatar. Zuko was unaware that Commander Zhao was interrogating his crew. The interrogators return just as Zuko is trying to leave. After Zhao learns that Zuko has seen the Avatar, he questions him further about the damage to his ship.

The Southern Air Temple

Aang looks over the temple, and recounts his memory of the Air Temple to Katara and Sokka. He remembered there being monks, bison and lemurs everywhere. As he stood overlooking the temple, he could see nothing like that. To distract Aang, Sokka engages him in a game of airball. After getting knocked from where he was standing, Sokka sees a fallen Fire Nation soldier. Katara sees the soldier as well. As Aang is coming towards Katara and Sokka, Katara covers the soldier with snow. Aang doesn’t see the soldier.

The group explore the temple a bit more, and Aang stops at a statue. It is a statue of Monk Gyatso, the greatest airbender in the world. One of Aang’s memories of Gyatso involves some cake that Gyatso baked. Aang tells Gyatso that he is not sure about being the Avatar; he feels there may have been a mistake. Gyatso claims the only mistake made was telling Aang that he was the Avatar at such a young age. Gyatso tells Aang to worry about what happens next, not what has already happened. Gyatso asks for some help with his cakes. The pair hits some other Air Temple people in the head with the cakes that Gyatso baked.

Zhao and Zuko continue to jab at eachother

Zhao declares that the job of capturing the Avatar shouldn’t be done by a teenager. He says that he will capture the Avatar, and Zuko will stay behind. Zhao’s men prepare his ship, and Zhao tells Zuko that he will be freed after Zhao has left. Zuko challenges Zhao, asking him if he is waiting to release him because he’s scared that Zuko will stop him. Zhao laughs at the idea. Zuko sternly warns Zhao to not underestimate him. Zhao is not impressed. Zhao says that Zuko’s so useless, his own father didn’t even want him. Zuko challenges Zhao to an Agni Kai at sunset. Zhao says that he is sorry Zuko’s father won’t be around to see him humiliated again.

The Sanctuary

The group moves along, and Aang says he needs to see someone. He enters an area where the entrance is sealed, and can only be opened by Airbenders. Katara and Sokka follow Aang. The room is filled with statues of past Avatars. When the Avatar dies, he is reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle (Fire, Air, Earth, Water). As Sokka and Katara are discussing Avatars, a shadow approaches from the doorway. Sokka thinks he sees a Firebender, and everyone crouches behind Avatar statues. When jump out from behind the statues and are about to attack, they see that it was not a Firebender; it was just a Lemur. Aang and Sokka chase after the Lemur.

Aang chases the Lemur to a room filled with firebenders. As he looks around, Aang discovers the skeleton of his former friend Gyatso. Aang goes into the Avatar state. He is a powerful force and appears to be generating a tornado around himself. Katara knows she must do something to keep Aang from destroying them and the Temple.

Zuko and Zhao Fight

The battle between Zuko and Zhao is about to begin, but not without a few encouraging words from Zuko’s uncle. Zuko and Zhao exchange some smack talk before the battle begins. Zuko starts off aggressively, but Zhao is able to easily turn back his advances. Uncle encourages Zuko to “break his root!”. Just as Zhao is about to finish Zuko, Zuko takes Zhao’s feet out from underneath him. He continues his counteroffensive, and knocks Zhao to the ground. Zhao taunts him to finish the job, but Zuko decides to let him live. As Zuko is walking away, Zhao tries to attack him from behind. Uncle jumps in and stops the attack from Zhao. He says that Zhao is a disgrace, and walks away with Zuko.

Katara Calms Aang

Katara begins talking to Aang, and reveals that she felt the same feelings as Aang when her Mom died. She tells him that even though her mother was gone, she still had family. Aang calms down. As Katara grasps his hand, Aang stops glowing and returns to normal. Before leaving the Air Temple, the group stops by the Sanctuary again. While they are figuring out what to do next, the lemur appears again. This time, the Lemur has brought food, and it endears itself to the group. Aang names the lemur Momo. Everyone jumps on Appa, and they leave the Air Temple.