The Siege of the North

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"The Siege of the North" *Avatar: The Last Airbender episode*
(above) Sokka notices soot falling from the sky (below) Aang feels the effects of the moon turning red
Book	One: Water
Chapter	Nineteen, twenty
Episode #	Nineteen, twenty
Prod. code	119, 120
Airdate	December 2, 2005
Writer(s)	John O'Bryan (Part 1) Aaron Ehasz (Part 2)
Director	Lauren MacMullan (Part 1) Dave Filoni (Part 2)
Guest star(s)	Part 1: Johanna Braddy (Princess Yue) Victor Brandt (Master Pakku) Jon Polito (Chief Arnook) Ben Diskin (Hahn) Part 2: Mark Hamill (Fire Lord Ozai) James Garrett (Avatar Roku) Johanna Braddy (Princess Yue) Victor Brandt (Master Pakku) Jon Polito (Chief Arnook) Erik Dellums (Koh) Ben Diskin (Hahn)

Previous episode "The Waterbending Master"
Next episode "(Book 2: Earth) The Avatar State"

"The Siege of the North" is the two-part nineteenth and twentieth episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender's first season.

In the first half of the two-part season finale, Admiral Zhao begins to launch his attack against the Northern Water Tribe. As the walls of the prestige city begin to fall, the Avatar enters the Spirit World and seeks the help of one of the oldest spirits in hopes of saving one of the most prominent cultures of the world.

In the second half, Aang returns from the Spirit World to a big surprise. Meanwhile, Zhao and his forces continue to press deeper into the Northern Water Tribe's polar city. But Zhao has a secret up his sleeve, and if he has his way nothing can possibly stop the Fire Nation from destroying this tranquil region. Iroh makes a powerful stand and Zuko struggles to keep his infiltration plan intact.

1 Episode synopsis
- 1.1 Part 1
- 1.2 Part 2
2 Notes
3 References

[edit] Episode synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Part 1

In the first half of the two-part season finale, Zhao begins to launch his attack against the Northern Water Tribe. Under the tutelage of Master Pakku, Katara's waterbending skills have improved to the degree she can defeat all of his pupils with ease. To both Pakku and Katara's annoyance, the same cannot be said for Aang. Meanwhile, Sokka takes Princess Yue on a ride on Appa, during which they nearly kiss. Soot begins to fall, Sokka recognizes it from when his tribe was attacked, and he knows that a massive attack is approaching.

The Northern Water Tribe prepares to defend itself from invasion and Sokka volunteers for a dangerous mission where several warriors will be forced to infiltrate the Fire Nation fleet. As the walls of the prestige city begin to fall, Aang feels duty bound to prevent the same fate the befell the Air Nomads and the Southern Water Tribe. However, he finds that against such a vast fleet, he does not stand a chance and retreats in exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Iroh advises an arrogant Admiral Zhao to stop the attack before nightfall, especially with the advent of the full moon, which will give the waterbenders a powerful advantage because of the lunar sympathy of their powers. Zhao reluctantly agrees, but apparently has a solution lined up for the following night. Iroh meets with Zuko before his nephew takes off in a kayak to sneak in the city and capture the Avatar.

After some critical remarks from Sokka during a briefing, Chief Arnook decides to have him advise Hahn, the leader of the infiltration mission and Yue's betrothed. Hahn turns out to be a complete jerk, or a "self-absorbed weasel" as Sokka puts it, with a greater interest in rising in rank than Yue herself. The two get into a fight and Arnook pulls Sokka off the mission. A disgruntled Sokka is left behind until Arnook reveals the real reason behind the act: he wants Sokka to protect Yue.

Princess Yue, after relating the origins of the Water Tribe and their power, gives Aang an idea. If he can tap into the spirit world and meet with the Moon and Ocean Spirits, perhaps they can help him defeat the Fire Nation. Yue takes Katara and Aang to a hidden sanctuary and the most spiritual place in North Pole. Aang enters a trance after staring at the two koi fish in a pool and heads off into the spirit world. Katara is left to protect Aang. When Zuko arrives, Katara duels him, and with the power of the moon, is able to temporarily defeat Zuko. However, the sun rises and it enhances Zuko's powers, allowing him to defeat Katara. The Avatar is then kidnapped by Zuko while Katara is left unconscious until Yue brings Sokka and Appa back to the sanctuary.

[edit] Part 2

Zhao's invasion breaks through the outer wall of the Northern Water Tribe’s defenses, and he reveals a sinister plan. Zhao wants to kill the mortal manifestation of the moon spirit in order to destroy the moon, which would greatly weaken the Water Tribe.

Aang goes to the spirit world for help and advised by Avatar Roku to see Koh, one of the oldest spirits in existence, but must be extremely careful when he does. Aang visits Koh, who steals faces if emotions are shown. Aang questions him and realizes that the white and black koi he saw swimming in the oasis are the moon and ocean spirits, Tui and La respectively. It is a race against time for Aang to get back and prevent Zhao from eliminating the spirits. He returns to the physical world with the help of a friend, Hei Bei, and escapes from Zuko due to the timely arrival of Katara, Sokka, and Princess Yue on Appa. Zuko and Katara have a rematch but due to the moon being out this time, Katara easily defeats him in a matter of seconds. Aang takes the unconscious Zuko with him, despite some disagreement from Sokka and Katara.

Aang seeks help from Koh while in the spirit world.

When Aang returns to the oasis, Zhao has already captured the white koi fish. Immediately, the moon glows red and color seeps from the world. Iroh threatens Zhao against harming the Spirit of the Moon, and Zhao appears to listen, returning the koi. However, Zhao suddenly throws fire at the koi, killing it. The moon vanishes altogether from the sky. Iroh retaliates as promised and Zhao slips away. Iroh and Katara attempt to revive the Moon Spirit, but it is too late. Aang suddenly fuses with the Ocean Spirit into a giant spirit creature and massacres the Fire Nation's invasion force. A scene shows the creature observing the retreating fleet, and the next scene shows the fleet completely gone--suggesting that the Avatar mercilessly wiped out the entire fleet, to the last man.

Meanwhile, Prince Zuko chases down Zhao and his identity as the Blue Spirit (the renegade who released the Avatar from Zhao's imprisonment) is revealed. He and Admiral Zhao fight. Princess Yue, who at birth was saved from death by the moon spirit, sacrifices herself to give the white koi the moon spirit that was inside her. She becomes the reincarnation of Tui, the Moon Spirit, and gives Sokka a final kiss as she fades away and restore the balance of spirits. The moon reemerges and La, the Ocean Spirit, looks to it and turns to Admiral Zhao, starts dragging him into the sea. Zuko held his hand out to pull him from harm, but Zhao instead choses death.

After the battle, Pakku reveals to Katara his intention to head for the South Pole and help rebuild the tribe. He assigns Katara as Aang's new Waterbending master. Arnook reveals to Sokka that despite all his attempts, he had known his daughter's destiny from when the spirits gave her life. Zuko and Iroh slip away on a makeshift raft. The Fire Lord assigns Princess Azula, Zuko's younger sister a mission with the words, "Iroh is a traitor, and your brother Zuko is a failure...I have a task for you."

Katara faces off against Zuko in an attempt to protect Aang.

[edit] Notes

This two-part Season One finale was described by Michael Dante DiMartino as being "pretty epic" for an animation series. ^[1] During a Nickelodeon behind-the-scenes clip, DiMartino claimed this was his favorite episode.
It is revealed that Iroh once had a son, who is deceased.
The Northern Waterbenders freeze a Fire Navy ship in manner identical to the frozen ship Aang and Katara discover in the first episode, "The Boy in the Iceberg."
In the audio commentary of "The Siege Of The North Part One," the show's creators say Master Pakku's statement to one of his pupils, that in a few years he may be able to defeat a sea sponge, is a reference to SpongeBob SquarePants.
Zhao states that Iroh once traveled into the Spirit World.
During the time the moon is dead, eveything is black and white except for Princess Yue's eyes, the form of the Ocean Spirit, and the Firebenders' fire.