The Deserter (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

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Avatar: The Last Airbender episode
"The Deserter"
Firebending master Jeong Jeong and Aang
Book	One: Water
Chapter	Sixteen
Episode #	Sixteen
Prod. code	116
Airdate	October 21, 2005
Writer(s)	Tim Hedrick
Director	Lauren MacMullan
Guest star(s)	Keone Young (Jeong Jeong) Scott Menville (Additional Voice) James Garrett (Avatar Roku) John Kassir (Chey)

"The Deserter" is an episode from the animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, which airs on Nickelodeon. It is the sixteenth episode of the first season of the series.

When Aang and his friends go to a Fire Nation town so that Aang can witness some firebending, their plan soon goes awry when it is discovered that he is the Avatar. Fortunately, he is rescued by an individual who serves a firebending master named Jeong Jeong, who has abandoned the Fire Nation. Aang attempts to use this time to attempt to learn how to firebend, but when the firebending master refuses to even see Aang, will Aang be able to prove he is ready to learn how to firebend despite his lack of discipline?

[edit] Episode synopsis

Still venturing through Northwestern Earth Kingdom, Aang and his friends decide go to a cultural festival in a Fire Nation occupied town so that Aang can witness some firebending, ensuring their safety from attack with disguises (although they acquire masks soon after their arrival).

At first, the three enjoy the festivities (although they bear witness to a puppet show where Fire Lord Ozai is presented as a great hero, facing off against "evil" Earth Kingdom soldiers). They then see a firebending show, which has the audience dazzled. Unfortunately, the performer calls up Katara to the stage, making her a damsel in distress (even tying her to a chair). The performer creates a dragon of fire, and makes quite a show with it. But he soon seems to be losing control of it, and as a result, it flies directly towards Katara. Aang, fearing for Katara's safety, uses airbending to stop the dragon, but realizes that it had been just an act. Regardless, it is discovered that Aang is the Avatar, and the three friends quickly attempt to escape from Fire Nation soldiers. Fortunately, their escape is aided greatly by a man named Chey.

As they fly away on Appa, Chey explains he serves a firebending master named Jeong Jeong who has abandoned the Fire Nation. He says that Jeong Jeong is the first to leave the Fire Nation army and live, while he himself is the second (however, Chey admits that being second doesn't make him famous). Chey leads the group of three to Jeong Jeong's camp within a forest, but are intercepted by Jeong Jeong's followers (Chey greets them as friends, although the followers are quite indifferent). They are then led to camp, and there Aang attempts to try and learn how to firebend from Jeong Jeong. However, the firebending master refuses to even see Aang. Aang barges into Jeong Jeong's hut anyway to try and persuade him to learn firebending. Jeong Jeong still refuses, as he says that Aang must first master water and earthbending. However, when he sees a vision of Avatar Roku, who tells Jeong Jeong that he will teach Aang firebending, he begrudgingly acquiesces.

Jeong Jeong starts teaching Aang slowly, focusing exclusively on breathing exercises, but the young Avatar desires to learn more advanced firebending techniques. Jeong Jeong is greatly angered with Aang's lack of discipline, telling Aang vehemently that without control, firebending will bring nothing but unnecessary destruction, using a former student of his who displayed similar impatience and lack of discipline as an example. Aang quickly apologizes, and says that he is ready to learn Jeong Jeong's way. Jeong Jeong then proceeds to teach Aang to use real fire (much to Aang's enthusiasm). However, his enthusiasm is quickly deflated when Jeong Jeong only assigns him the simple task of preventing a leaf from being completely burned. Jeong Jeong then leaves to other matters, and Aang, still feeling restricted, takes his exercise to the next step and creates fire. Aang plays around with it for a little while, although Katara insists that he be careful. Then he accidentally burns Katara's hands when he attempts to imitate a move the performer made at the festival. Katara runs away crying, and Sokka becomes enraged as a result. Jeong Jeong, having returned, follows Katara into the forest.

Katara tries to cool her hands from the burn in water, and somehow miraculously heals herself. Jeong Jeong tells her that Katara possesses vitakinetic healing powers, with water as the catalyst. Jeong Jeong then confesses of his desire to be a Waterbender like herself, due to its ability to heal, while fire only destroys. However, during this time Admiral Zhao (who is revealed to be the former student of Jeong Jeong) and his men locate the camp, and in turn battles Jeong Jeong (although the master's attempt is half-hearted).

Aang, hiding away in Jeong Jeong's hut in order to reflect over his error, is urged by Katara to aid Jeong Jeong. Although Aang feels terribly guilty, and promises to never firebend again, Katara's revelation of her healing restores his battle spirit. With a fiery display, Jeong Jeong and his men make their escape, while Aang confronts Zhao. Recalling Jeong Jeong's lesson of control, Aang provokes the firebending master, goading him into destroying his own ships. Zhao can only watch as his ships burn and sink into the river as Aang escapes.

Aang demonstrates that some firebenders have little self-control; Zhao unintentionally destroys his own ships.

With Jeong Jeong gone, the three resume their journey and leave the forest, a hard-learned lesson of fire's destructive power fresh in their minds.

Chey returns to the campsite only to find it deserted.

[edit] Notes

• Below Aang's wanted poster are wanted posters for the Blue Spirit, Zuko's alter-ego, and Chey, the rogue Fire Nation soldier that Aang meets later in the episode.
• Katara learns that she has healing abilities.
• This episode won an Annie Award for storyboarding.
• Aang performs firebending for the very first time in this episode.

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