ATLA Rewatch "The Deserter"

Book One Water: Chapter Sixteen

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Fun Facts/Notes:

-This is the only episode of ATLA where Zhao appears but Zuko does not.

-This episode introduces healing.

-Jeong Jeong was based on Jeong Jeong-gyun, the CEO of DR Movie, the animation studio which worked on this episode.

-All four wanted posters seen at the beginning of the episode are later seen in "The Desert", along with new ones for Iroh and Zuko.

Overview:

After accidentally revealing his status as the Avatar at a festival, Aang is brought to Jeong Jeong, a firebending master who rejected the Fire Nation. Jeong Jeong initially refuses to teach Aang firebending, but concedes after Avatar Roku appears to him in a vision. During his instruction, Aang accidentally burns Katara; although she is able to cure herself through her newly-discovered healing abilities, Aang vows to never firebend again. Soon after, Zhao locates and attacks them. Aang remembers Jeong Jeong's teaching about the importance of self-restraint, and upon realizing Zhao lacks this trait, he manipulates Zhao into destroying his own fleet.