‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Cast Members Reveal Their Favorite Episodes
Avatar: The Last Airbender fans who tuned in for the cast reunion on Jan. 9 were excited to see the voices behind Aang, Sokka, Zuko, Toph, Uncle Iroh, and more on the Zoom party. The love for the series remains palpable among the actors, and they shared memories of working on the show and what it meant to them.
Who showed up? Dee Bradley Baker (Appa and Momo), Zach Tyler Eisen (Aang), Dante Basco (Zuko), Olivia Hack (Ty Lee), Cricket Leigh (Mai), Grey DeLisle-Griffin (Azula), Jack De Sena (Sokka), Michaela Murphy (Toph), and Greg Baldwin who played Uncle Iroh after actor Mako Iwamatsu died.
Each of them took a moment to drop the names of their favorite episodes and guessed why so many people didn’t care for “The Great Divide.” Here’s which ones topped the ATLA cast’s lists.
‘The Beach’
This one was mentioned several times for its focus on the two separate camps of teens. Zuko, Mai, Azula, and Ty Lee went on a beach vacation and learned about their “true selves,” while Aang and his crew were chilling at some hot springs until Combustion Man showed up.
There’s plenty of flirting, kissing, breaking up, making up, and self-reflection in this Book Three episode.
‘Siege of the North’
A two-part tale about the intense battle between the Fire Nation and Northern Water Tribe, this one took Aang to the spirit world to engage the help of the Moon and Ocean spirits. Though Admiral Zhao was bent on defeating the waterbenders, infighting with Zuko did him no favors. After the two fought, the Ocean Spirit snatched Zhao.
The Water Tribe won, but this also marked the split between Iroh (and Zuko) and the Fire Nation.
‘Appa’s Lost Days’
Universally remembered by longtime fans as a tearjerker, “Appa’s Lost Days” chronicled what happened to Appa when he was kidnapped by sandbenders when Team Avatar was inside the library.
Appa was abused in a circus. He is then badly injured in a fight with another creature, is found and healed by Suki, but then has to flee. By the end of the episode, he’s captured again by Long Feng.
‘Zuko Alone’
This was a Book Two episode that centered on Zuko after he parted ways with Iroh and the Fire Nation. He spent some brief time in the Earth Kingdom with a kind family, keeping his identity a secret until a confrontation later in the episode. He is later rejected by the villagers who took him in.
Throughout the episode, Zuko has flashbacks to when his mom was still around, but it also speaks to the show’s theme about family and war.
‘The Guru’
Zach Tyler Eisen shared that one of his most memorable episodes was “The Guru” where Aang learned how to master the avatar state through the chakras. Emotional breakthroughs happen for his character as well as Zuko and Sokka in their own scenes in the story.
‘The Library’
Michaela Murphy name-dropped “The Library” as one of her favorites because it focused on Toph’s ability to find the place using her well-honed earthbending skills.
She also has to keep the library from sinking while everyone’s inside, and this is when sandbenders abduct Appa. Toph has to make a horrible choice.
‘The Tales of Ba Sing Se’
Adored by many of the ATLA cast members, this episode featured numerous short stories rolled into one. Iroh, Momo, Aang, Sokka, Zuko, and Katara and Toph received their own vignette about their separate experiences in Ba Sing Se. Baldwin described the episode as “beautiful.”
‘The Cave of Two Lovers’
Sokka has to navigate an underground cavern with singing nomads when he and Momo are separated from the rest of the gang in this love and music filled episode. Dee Bradley Baker appreciated that there were so many songs mixed into this piece though the show isn’t musical.
‘Dancing Dragon’
Among the episodes Basco recalled as his favorites, “Dancing Dragon” was one of them where Aang and Zuko learn higher levels of firebending thanks to an ancient style.
‘The Serpent’s Pass’
Team Avatar winds up helping some refugees travel to Ba Sing Se — and they happen to be the same refugees Zuko almost robbed in a previous episode. After they make the harrowing trip across the water, one of the refugees gives birth.
