I'm back once again to take a look at the lore behind Avatar: the Last Airbender! The new Magic expansion based on the series is densely packed with numerous references and deep cuts to the show. As such, you might be a bit lost if you don't know what's going on.

This week we'll be continuing by running through the second part of Book 1 (or season 1), with a brief overview of each episode using a handful of cards to help represent them. If you're interested in watching the show, turn back now! This is solely for people who aren't super interested but want a better idea of what's happening in the cards lore-wise.

If you'd like to read the first article covering the first half of Book 1, you can find it here. With that out of the way, let's get right into it. There's a ton to cover, after all!

Episode 11: The Great Divide

The episode sees the group needing to cross through a canyon with an earthbending guide along with two warring factions: the Zhang and the Gan Jin. The guide remarks food is strictly forbidden or else it'll attract monsters (Canyon Crawlers) and it's not long into the journey that they are attacked by these beasts. Sokka goes with the Gan Jin and Katara goes with the Zhang with Aang monitoring both from above.

Both groups snuck food, assuming the other group would. They also tell differing stories of their ancient history. When they confront each other toward the end of their journey, Aang tells them that they're both right and wrong. With how old Aang is, he knows all about their ancient ritual as being a children's game. In reality, he lied, and the group continues on their way.

The Great Divide is widely considered the worst episode of the entire series, making it a great place to start this week. It's so bad, in fact, that the show famously makes the characters basically just ignore its existence during the recap episode towards the end of the series by simply having the group fly over the canyon. It does nothing to further the plot and, in fact, has Aang act rather out of character at the end.

Episode 12: The Storm

It's not long before we pick up with a really strong episode, though. The Storm is considered a pretty fantastic early episode for the series with tons of backstory. Sokka travels with a fisherman during a storm while Aang and Katara hole up to escape the storm. At the same time, Zuko's crew also halts their travels further to avoid getting caught in the storm.

In both instances, elements of both Aang and Zuko's past are revealed. Aang reveals to Katara his past at the Southern Air Temple, and how he was to be sent away for his training, away from his mentor Monk Gyatso. Rather than putting up with that, he runs away, only to get caught in a storm. He enters the Avatar state and freezes himself in ice, hence why he was trapped in an iceberg at the start of the show.

It's also revealed that Zuko's journey and banishment are a result of a fight with his father, Fire Lord Ozai. Zuko is taken into a war meeting and speaks out against a general. He sets an Agni Kai - a fire duel - to set things right. He expects to face the general, but instead finds his father facing him. Ozai burns Zuko, leaves him with his scar, and banishes him.

Aang and Katara are asked to seek out Sokka and the fisherman, which they do. Along the way, they pass Zuko's ship, in peril from the storm. Zuko ignores them so as to save his crew, only for Aang and Katara to succeed. They return to safety and move along as the storm clears.

Episode 13: The Blue Spirit

Sokka and Katara end up getting sick following the storm. Aang seeks out to find medicine for his friends, finding a herbalist to try aiding him. He is told to seek out frozen frogs to have his friends suck on and clear their illness. Unfortunately, as he does so, he is captured by the Yuyan Archers - a famed group under command of the newly promoted Admiral Zhao. Zhao has also commanded Zuko and his crew to provide him directly with any information about the Avatar.

Aang is shackled in a Fire Nation outpost, and struggles to get loose. Then, a man in a blue mask - who comes to be known as The Blue Spirit - walks in and cuts him loose with a set of twin blades. The two team up to escape, despite an alarm being set off, with all the troops in the outpost set after them. The Blue Spirit holds Aang hostage with his swords to Aang's throat in an effort to escape. They're allowed to do so, but The Blue Spirit is knocked out. Aang unmasks him and reveals it was Zuko the whole time.

Aang carries Zuko to safety and commiserates with Zuko as he awakens, wondering if they could be friends. Zuko attacks Aang, but Aang - prepared - guards himself and flees to safety. Aang then retrieves frogs, gives them to Sokka and Katara, and heals them, before collapsing.

Episode 14: The Fortuneteller

In a simpler episode, the group comes across a town who is under the watchful gaze of the fortuneteller - Aunt Wu. Aunt Wu provides predictions for the townspeople, which they take to heart in their daily lives. Aang, Sokka, and Katara each have their fortunes read. Aang is told of his expected and fated battle, but asks about romance. Sokka is told she doesn't need to do a proper fortune, as it's all over his face. Katara, however, is taken in by her fortunes and consults her about everything.

Aunt Wu then foretells if the volcano near the village will erupt by reading the clouds. She determines it won't, though Aang and Sokka end up at the volcano's edge only to find it ready to blow. The village ignores their pleas, and to convince them, they steal Aunt Wu's fortunetelling book and use waterbending to shape the clouds to an ill omen. The village aids them in prepping for the eruption, saving the village in the process.

Episode 15: Bato of the Water Tribe

The group continues their travels, with Sokka suggesting they should try finding his and Katara's father, Hakoda. While they don't find them, they do discover a former Water Tribe camp, realizing their father had been there, and finding one member who was left behind as he was wounded: Bato. Bato gets to catching up with the Katara and Sokka as Aang sulks nearby. As he does, a messenger delivers a message for Bato from Hakoda, which Aang hides away.

Meanwhile, Zuko enlists the aid of the bounty hunter June nearby. They learn that her shirshu - a blind beast with an acute sense of smell - can track their prey down. They use Katara's necklace to tack the group, going through many of their previous stops, slowly zeroing in on them. As they do this, Bato takes Sokka ice dodging, using rocks instead of ice. He commends the team upon their success, noting Aang for being trustworthy. Aang then reveals he can't be trusted as he hid the scroll away. Katara and Sokka, enraged, leave Aang to find Hakoda.

The group ends up at a nearby abbey who are helping to shelter and nurse Bato back to health. Zuko and June's shirshu attack them, with Aang returning to save them. To do so, they use the abbey's perfumes to overwhelm the shirshu, who strikes blindly at Zuko and June. The group escapes, saying their farewells to Bato and the abbey. Sokka and Katara reconcile with Aang, who receives a kiss on the cheek from Katara.

Episode 16: The Deserter

The group stumbles upon a Fire Nation festival, with Aang hoping to see some real firebending that he might practice with. When his identity as the Avatar is revealed, he's whisked away by a man who seeks to bring him in contact with his leader - Jeong Jeong, the Fire Nation deserter. Jeong Jeong is a firebending master, who is reluctant to teach Aang due to the destructive nature of fire.

Aang eventually convinces him, but finds himself impatient and struggles with Jeong Jeong's methods. As Jeong Jeong leaves to handle something that came up, Aang tries to replicate a move he saw at the festival and badly burns Katara, with Jeong Jeong now refusing to train Aang further. Katara then discovers she has healing abilities from her waterbending, which Jeong Jeong commends her for.

Admiral Zhao finds them and faces off with Jeong Jeong - who is revealed to have been Zhao's teacher. Jeong Jeong eventually flees, leaving Aang to face Zhao. Zhao shows a lack of restraint and inadvertently sets his own ship ablaze by Aang's machinations. Aang and the group leave as Zhao yells angrily as his ship burns.

Episode 17: The Northern Air Temple

The group comes to the Northern Air Temple, nearing where they can find the Water Tribe of the North. They see numerous people flying around and wonder if they're real airbenders, only to discover that they're using mechanical gliders. A man known as The Mechanist has discovered the place with several others and has converted it into a mechanical wonder with piping and inventions abound. The group settles in and helps out around the temple, with Aang being bothered by the desecration of such a sacred location.

It's soon revealed that The Mechanist has been blackmailed into inventing tools and weapons for the Fire Nation.

Episode 18: The Waterbending Master

The group arrives at the North Pole to meet the Northern Water Tribe, where they are proudly welcomed. The Water Tribe agrees to allow Aang to learn waterbending from Master Pakku. However, Katara - eager to learn as well - is forbidden because of the Northern Water Tribe's customs. She is encouraged instead to learn from the healers. At the same time, Sokka meets Princess Yue, and the two fall in love, though she claims she cannot see him as she is betrothed.

Meanwhile, Zhao learns the Avatar is in the north, and sets to mount a massive expedition with a serious military force. Not only does he assemble this, but he pulls in General Iroh and asks him to come along. On the ship, he realizes Zuko is The Blue Spirit and has the pirates Team Avatar met earlier in the series assassinate the prince. Zuko survives, though, and coordinates with Iroh to get him to capture the Avatar.

Aang continues learning and tries to teach Katara as well. However, Pakku learns of this, and feeling a deep betrayal of his customs, refuses to teach Aang further. Katara faces him the next day for this, challenging him, and they battle. Pakku wins, but discovers Katara is the granddaughter of his betrothed partner in the South Pole. Realizing this, he caves and teaches Katara as well as Aang.

Episode 19: The Siege of the North, Part 1

As the team settles with Aang and Katara learning from Pakku and Sokka continuing to woo Yue, they soon find themselves beset upon by the Fire Nation Navy. The signal comes in the form of black ash - a warning to the Northern Water Tribe who assemble the warriors they can to stand their ground.

Soon, the battle begins, with Aang stepping in to help take out the frontmost battleship. It doesn't take them long to realize the scope of the fleet - with hundreds of ships lying in wait. The fighting continues, but Aang struggles to keep up, as he is not yet a fully realized Avatar. The Fire Nation ceases their assault into the night, as the waterbenders gain power from the moon, which is almost full. Zhao says he has a plan to deal with the moon.

Aang and Katara go with Yue to The Spirit Oasis to try finding the Moon Spirit and have it help them fight the battle. Aang meditates and finds himself in the Spirit Realm. However, soon after, Zuko appears, having made his way secretly through into the city of Agna Qel'a. He successfully steals Aang away, while Aang stumbles through the Spirit Realm.

Episode 20: The Siege of the North, Part 2

In the Spirit Realm, Aang connects with Roku and learns that he needs to find the spirit Koh. He is advised to show no emotion, or Koh will steal his face from him. Aang confronts Koh, who taunts Aang, yet reveals the information to him. The Moon and Ocean spirits Tui and La (Push and Pull) took on physical form and reside in the Mortal Realm, not the Spirit Realm. Aang then realizes they are the koi fish in The Spirit Oasis's pond.

The battle continues to wage between the Fire Nation and the Northern Water Tribe. Zhao assembles a small task force to "go fishing." They arrive at The Spirit Oasis, where he bags Tui, turning the moon blood red in the process. He seeks to kill it, but Iroh steps in to try saving it to maintain worldly balance. Zhao then murders Tui, causing Iroh to attack.

Aang's spirit finds its way back to the Spirit Oasis as this begins to unfold, and it's flung to where Zuko is. Katara sees this, and follows while riding Appa, who leads her to Zuko's location. They recover Aang by shutting down Zuko, though they bring him back so he doesn't freeze to death. With Tui dead, Aang enters the Avatar State back at the oasis and joins forces with La, emerging as a massive spirit. The Northern Water Tribe all bow to them, with Aang and La blowing away the Fire Nation with ease. La then confronts Zhao and sucks him beneath the waves, banishing him to the Spirit World.

Princess Yue gives her life to become the new Moon Spirit, as Tui gave her life previously. Thus, the battle ends and things settle down once more. Pakku offers to head to the South Pole to help rebuild the Southern Water Tribe and the team is sent on their way towards the Earth Kingdom. Iroh takes Zuko to safety, as Fire Lord Ozai enlists his daughter Azula to do what Zuko has failed to do.

Paige Smith

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