Top 10 Best Avatar: The Last Airbender Episodes

It was a good episode, especially the Zuko-Azula Agni Kai (which ranks among the greatest fights in television history), but it was not quite as good as Ember Island Players, Zuko Alone, or The Blue Spirit.

When I'm watching, I find that the more down-to-earth episodes are more enjoyable: the ones that humanize the characters. Without those, the finale would've just been a visually stunning but ultimately thematically empty fight scene.

YES YES YES. The finale of the show, with a final standoff between Ozai and Aang and Zuko and Azula. Finally, Earthbending is used to its full potential when Aang goes full A-10 Warthog with his machine guns.

Such a good episode in so many ways. Toph is basically confirmed as the most powerful character when she makes a mech suit and defeats an entire cabin in less than 8 seconds. Azula screaming bloody murder, Sokka fighting for his life, Aang with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Just a great episode.

Also, a note on Zutara vs. Kataang: I was a Kataang guy throughout the whole series, but turned to Zutara during this episode, just seeing Zuko's true personality. However, Kataang's kiss at the end confirms Kataang and smashes Zutara to the ground because Katara is so much better with Aang. Even Michael Dante DiMartino didn't ship Zutara. It was never meant to be.

This episode cements Zuko as one of the most complex characters on the show, truly showing his good side and what he stands up for. It also reveals parts of his past, including his mistreatment by his family and how he became who he is.

It does a fantastic job of really kicking off his redemption arc, showing him at his most fearsome as well as his most humble.

Even before this episode, he has been my favorite character. He is so deep, so torn, and so constantly betrayed. He is the character with the most behind him and the one who truly makes you feel for him. I don't care that he is from the Fire Nation. He is my total favorite.

This is basically 'The Empire Strikes Back' of Avatar. Look how similar it is: the Gaang is at its most vulnerable just like Luke and the Rebellion, Aang left the Guru against his better judgment due to a vision of Katara in danger just as Luke left Yoda with the vision of his friends being in trouble, and the Fire Nation has nearly complete control of the Earth Kingdom just like how the Empire had nearly complete control of the galaxy.

On top of all of that, Zuko dips to his lowest point, betraying Uncle Iroh for the easy path with his sister. When I watched this when it first aired, I was in shock by all of this, plus it was a season finale so we had to wait almost a year to see where this was going.

It is probably the most important episode when it comes to the characters and is by far the best episode of the best show ever.

I don't really like this episode that much, but I absolutely love Zuko and Iroh's stories! Zuko's date with that girl was awkward but touching, showing he has a heart. Iroh's story is just heartbreaking.

The scene where he cries for his son while singing that song destroyed me.

This was an amazing episode. Hands down my favorite.

It does not deserve to be called a filler because it lets you look deeper into each character as they spend their day in Ba Sing Se. It puts so many emotions into one show. I have watched it MANY times because of that.

This episode proves that a show can be more than just a show, but an experience. Sure, I'm being dramatic, but still, one amazing episode.

Both stories are emotionally mature as Aang and Zuko are both haunted by the past. This shows that our hero and villain are complex and more similar than we realized.

A surprisingly dark episode, giving a backstory to two characters that we have wondered about since the beginning of the show, which is what makes it so amazing!

I love how they humanize the people who are mostly just affected by the influence of Azula. This is probably the most hilarious part, considering the culture shock and how they adjust for a small amount of time to not being royalty. Pure genius!

This episode is a prime example of how almost none of the characters are portrayed as one-sided during the entire series. I love how we get insight into the lives of the "villains" and how it shows us that these characters are not just pure evil.

This episode does a wonderful job of humanizing our "villains," especially Azula. It gave us many great character moments and provided fantastic insight into the inner turmoil of usually one-sided characters whose emotions we rarely get to see: Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee.

This was the first episode I thought was genuinely good in the series. I was kind of 'holding out' on the series, hoping it would be cool, and it sure paid off. This climactic episode was amazing, with a standoff with Zuko and Katara finally mastering waterbending.

A truly beautiful episode. The way they use colors in relation to the moon spirit, how they manage to tie up most story arcs while still opening new ones for the next seasons, and the overall feeling of the episode having a larger scale than the others in the season make it a great season finale.

Such a developing episode for the plot! Sokka takes all the blame for failing, and I love how that sets up the Boiling Rock so well.

I love how a bunch of riffraff from all over the world comes and invades the most powerful nation.

Such an overpowering episode with a great story and amazing animation.

This and "Tales of Ba Sing Se" are pretty much tied for me because after you see ATLA, you don't care as much about the plot as about great moments to remember. These two just top the list. Whatever my mood is basically changes which I find "better."

If I'm in a good mood or want to be cheered up, it's usually this. But if I'm sad and want to be sad, "Tales" will always win. "Ember Island" though, overall, is SLIGHTLY better because it's great throughout the whole episode, compared to the small 5 minutes of Uncle Iroh (the best part).

I would just like to highlight the best part is "Tough's" Sonic Screams - always makes me lose it. (Fun fact: Toph was supposed to look more like the guy who played Toph in the film. Now you know why Toph wouldn't cast her part any other way!)

This is one of those episodes that really speaks up to its audience and not down. It doesn't try to avoid being dark, but like all of ATLA, it never gets too wrapped up in itself so it can always spare a few seconds for a quick joke.

The near-last scene with Aang talking to Zuko unmasked is just brilliant. It perfectly captures the essence of the two characters' personalities and their relationship to each other at that point in the show. This is the only episode in the show that does this style so well. To be honest, I'm not sure if this is "THE BEST EPISODE," but it's a damn good one!

Better than part 4 marginally. This has the Final Agni Kai theme, Azula's mirror scene, and a huge increase in animation skill from part 2.

Most beautiful episode.

This is the episode with Zuko and Azula's final Agni Kai, which is the most amazing fight in the series.

The final battle with Zuko and Azula is better than the final battle. Sorry.

The part when Toph realizes she can bend metal was the most climactic moment of the show.

When Toph realizes she can bend metal... the most climactic moment of the entire show.

I love this episode. It's impossible to pick a favorite, but I gave this one my vote because it's SO FAR DOWN THE LIST. This episode was INCREDIBLE. Katara blood bends, which just shows how emotionally unstable she is. Zuko's reactions to the whole thing are priceless.

The fact that Katara says she will never forgive the man who killed her mother is deep and bold for a kids' show, considering most would try to peddle the forgiveness yay message. Katara finally forgiving Zuko was beautiful. This was a standout episode in regards to Mae Whitman's (voice of Katara) voice acting.

Plus, the cliffhanger at the end introduces Aang's struggle to kill the Fire Lord. Just a spectacular episode... oh, and the animation was phenomenal too!

I found this to be a really cool episode. It was personally the first standout early episode of the series.

Amazing depth to the 100 Years War and furthers the connection between Zuko and Aang, while detailing the conflict within each of them.

Such a great episode! I love when we see backstories to the story arc and understand the true start of this story.

Just awesome storytelling. The Zuko reveal is very touching and something I didn't see coming. This is interesting from a historical standpoint and a character standpoint.

One reason I liked this episode so much is that it, along with the Dai Li, shows that war isn't black and white. Hama has a sad story as a waterbender taken from her home and imprisoned. Rather than making her another hero, she shows what war can do to even the "good guys."

Also, the entire concept of bloodbending is fascinating, showing just how expansive the world of Avatar is.

Yes! This is my favorite episode. I love it. Why is it at 26?

Don't get me wrong, most of the episodes are good, but why is the Ember Island Players at number 2? This one should take its place.

The Boiling Rock sequence is one of the most thrilling series of events in the entire show, let alone Book 3. It is a lasting burst of action that reminds viewers of the real consequences of war, the might of the Fire Nation as an antagonistic force, and the importance of hope, regardless of circumstances.

It is no mistake that of all the characters that go on a "field trip," as Toph calls it, with Zuko, the writers chose to make Zuko and Sokka's adventure the longest and arguably most intense and successful. After all, the very first sequence of conflict we witnessed in the series was between these two very different characters. Once rivals, they have come together to achieve a feat that was practically impossible.

Also, "My first girlfriend turned into the moon." "...That's rough, buddy." Best line in television.

TOPH TOPH TOPH. I love Toph so much and she is the best character. Her introduction is the best of any character I've ever seen, and it is followed up by a strong plot of how she starts traveling with the gaang. Just love it so much.

Very well done episode. I love it because it introduces my favorite character, Toph. It looks into who she is and why she is like that. This episode is one of my favorites. Plus, watching a little blind girl destroy the Boulder - *cough cough* Pebble - was awesome!

The introduction to Toph, who is the most badass character in the show, next to Iroh. It's incredible how great a bender Toph is. She may well be the most powerful bender in the world, next to Aang.

The first episode where the group dynamics are explored with Toph added. Many plotlines come together here, culminating in a very interesting final fight. You get to see how everybody measures up against each other. It's one of the only episodes with real character buildup for Toph (the talk with Iroh is so good and cool to see from technically still enemies at that point). I really love this episode.

Starting a bit slow, the climax where six different groups suddenly come together is incredible for early season 2.

Toph's conversation with Iroh is peak, and the ending is heart-wrenching.

Sokka high on cactus juice is just something everyone who's ever watched ATLA needs. This episode sets up the journey and motive of going to Ba Sing Se. Seeing Aang in the Avatar State, defending Appa, just shows you how much he cares for his companion.

Also, Katara calming him down through his haze of rage just shows you how much he cares for her, because she was the only one he could recognize. He was only focused on attacking the sandbender.

This episode is in my top three favorites. This one not only captured the visceral fear of being trapped in a large, unforgiving environment with no real hope of escape better than anything I've ever seen before, but it also showed us a new side of Aang: the supremely angry side.

Losing Appa, his only living link to his past life, breaks something in Aang, and seeing him try to deal with this loss kills me whenever I watch it. Amazingly done.

The giant owl is one of the most beautifully animated characters I've ever seen. The sinking of the library was incredibly thrilling. They successfully get the info, but at the cost of Appa, leading to deep contemplation about whether it was worth it.

This episode is one of those rare few that slips under the radar. The longer you go without watching it, the more the events in this episode seem to take you by surprise every time you watch it, thanks to just how much important stuff happens in this one episode.

The most chilling ending to any episode ever in the series. I get chills every time. Jet's descent into madness shows how Zuko could become if he lets himself. Their swordfight in the tea shop is so satisfying to watch.

Although it doesn't seem like it at first, the Gaang is in just as much immediate danger. Joo Dee is also the greatest of all time.

The animation of the lion turtle is one of the most stunning and groundbreaking I've ever seen.