Avatar: The Last Airbender – EVERY Episode Ranked

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” is one of the greatest “kids” shows of all time, and almost two decades later it remains the shining example of extensive world-building within a cartoon TV series.

I’ll be ranking every episode of the show based on personal opinion, combining the multi-part stories together. Beware – there may be some SPOILERS ahead (but if you haven’t seen this show yet, what are you waiting for?)

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Meh

54 – The Great Divide (1-11)

It’s the popular opinion to hate on “The Great Divide”, so I’ll keep the criticism brief.

It’s such a pace-killer in the middle of Season 1, with annoying characters and a plot that goes nowhere. At least “The Ember Island Players” managed to turn it into a joke later down the line.

53 – Bato of the Water Tribe (1-15)

“The Great Divide” was the only ATLA episode to truly bore me, but “Bato of the Water Tribe” was the one that annoyed me most.

Aang acts like such a petulant child throughout – I know he’s just a kid, but the writers made him unbearable to service the plot of this one filler episode.

OK

52 – Jet (1-10)

Katara’s crush on Jet felt wholly unnecessary, and I hate these “boy who cried wolf” stories more than the average guy.

51 – The Swamp (2-4)

An episode so forgettable I almost forgot to include it on this ranking. I wish I was joking.

The Gaang wander through a swamp, Aang gets a brief vision of Toph, that’s about it.

50 – Avatar Day (2-5)

The idea of a town celebrating an “Avatar Day” is pretty funny, but it’s a plot that ultimately goes nowhere.

49 – Imprisoned (1-6)

Katara gets way too attached to a random Earth boy, and the eventual escape pales in comparison to the action later in the series.

48 – The Cave of Two Lovers (2-2)

Season 2 gets off to a bit of a rough start, with three out of the first five episodes being some of the “worst” in the series.

“The Cave of Two Lovers” has a funny song and is generally harmless, but the Aang / Katara romance feels painfully childish in these early stages.

47 – The Fortuneteller (1-14)

Some of the early “Aang crushes on Katara” episodes can be a little cheesy, but at least the final battle is alright.

46 – The Painted Lady (3-3)

“The Painted Lady” is by far the weakest episode of Season 3, but the characters are so well defined and engaging by this point that I didn’t mind it.

Good

45 – The Waterbending Scroll (1-9)

After nabbing a Waterbending Scroll, the Gaang are set upon by pirates. Uncle Iroh is a gem as always.

44 – The Avatar Returns (1-2)

Maybe not as definitive as the pilot, but I love how “The Avatar Returns” sets up the Fire Nation – and Zuko especially – as a terrifying menace to the lands.

43 – The Headband (3-2)

A.K.A. The one where the writers said “Screw it. Let’s have a dance episode”.

It’s fun to see Aang pretending to be a Fire Nation schoolkid, and the climactic dance is a great bit of bonding between him and Katara.

42 – The Serpent’s Pass (2-12)

A bit of a filler Season 2 episode before they reach Ba Sing Se, but “The Serpent’s Pass” has some good action and character moments.

41 – The Warriors of Kyoshi (1-4)

Other than that bizarre animation of Aang sprinting on water, “The Warriors of Kyoshi” is a solid episode that furthers Sokka’s character (he’s still a bit sexist by the end, but he’ll get there).

40 – Nightmares and Daydreams (3-9)

Other than “The Great Divide”, “Nightmares and Daydreams” is the most controversial episode in the series.

I’m leaning more towards “like” for this one, as I can really appreciate the silly tone before the next harrowing two-parter as well as Aang’s genuine fears being portrayed through nightmares.

39 – Return to Omashu (2-3)

It’s fun to “Return to Omashu”, a memorable Season 1 location, and the final battle is fun. Not insanely noteworthy, but fun nonetheless.

38 – Bitter Work (2-9)

Some may see “Bitter Work” as a boring filler episode, but I see it as ingenious character work.

Both Aang and Zuko get taught some parallel lessons on bending and the world at large, and the training is fun to see. But at the end of the day, it is a little filler.

37 – The Northern Air Temple (1-17)

We’ve already visited the Southern Air Temple and will eventually visit the Western one in Season 3, so “The Northern Air Temple” from Season 1 feels unnecessary in hindsight.

That being said, I love the moral dilemma that Aang is put through as well as the technological innovations with the Air machinery.

36 – The Earth King (2-18)

A.K.A. The one where the titular king of Ba Sing Se is the stupidest ruler you’ll ever see.

It’s interesting seeing the Gaang try to convince this guy that his kingdom is in peril, but his cluelessness is more grating than endearing.

35 – The Runaway (3-7)

The flashforward is a neat narrative touch, and we get introduced to the most fearsome antagonist in the series – Sparky Sparky Boom Man! Good stuff across the board.

34 – The King of Omashu (1-5)

Maybe I’m just thick, but that King Bumi twist genuinely caught me by surprise on first watch.

The various trials are fun too, but it’s a delight to see Aang finally reunite with an old friend.

33 – The Boy in the Iceberg (1-1)

As pilots go, “The Boy in the Iceberg” is pretty decent.

We get a solid idea of everyone’s character and personality from the get-go, and the animation / worldbuilding are stellar.

32 – Sokka’s Master (3-4)

I always love it when my boy Sokka gets some time in the spotlight, and “Sokka’s Master” is arguably THE Sokka episode in the whole series.

The sword battle is a good spectacle, but I just really liked seeing his alternative / out-of-the-box approaches to problems.

31 – The Beach (3-5)

Some people have “The Beach” super high on their lists for its character building, but I don’t share quite the same affection for it.

I still really like it though, and I’m glad the Fire Nation characters got their chance to be humanised.

30 – The Desert (2-11)

Another fan-favourite episode that I probably have lower than others would.

The Aang freak-out and cactus juice scenes are both awesome respectively, but the rest of “The Desert” is the Gaang moping through a bland location while arguing.

Great

29 – The Avatar State (2-1)

A great Season 2 opener that showcases the darker side of Aang’s emotions, as well as the all-encompassing power of the Avatar State.

28 – The Southern Air Temple (1-3)

I went into The Last Airbender fully expecting a tame kids show, so when “The Southern Air Temple” came around I was genuinely shocked.

The showrunners weren’t afraid to show the aftermath of the Fire Nation’s attack, and Aang’s hateful outburst was really well handled.

27 – The Drill (2-13)

I’m all for a solid character study, but sometimes all I need is a schlocky action-packed episode to get the blood pumping.

“The Drill” is as ridiculous as it is entertaining, and Aang and Azula have a great back-and-forth dynamic.

26 – The Blind Bandit (2-6)

A.K.A. The one where Toph fills a gaping void in the Gaang that we hadn’t realised was there.

It’s so great seeing Toph kick all the Earthbenders’ butts, and I was stoked to see her join the team.

25 – The Western Air Temple (3-12)

Completing the Air Temple trilogy is the best of the bunch – “The Western Air Temple”.

Zuko’s awkward apology has become iconic, and Sparky Sparky Boom Man finally gets his comeuppance.

24 – The Waterbending Master (1-18)

The Northern Water Tribe is by far the coolest location in Season 1, so I’m glad we got an episode to explore the place before everything kicked off.

Katara’s fight against Master Pakku was also great – and I love how Katara’s grandma sent her granddaughter all the way to the Northern Tribe to kick her sexist ex’s butt.

23 – The Awakening (3-1)

Season 2’s “Avatar State” was a really great opening, but “The Awakening” began Season 3 with a bang.

Aang waking up to a time skip was a bold creative choice that I think paid off, and the action was strong to start the season.

22 – The Library (2-10)

The Last Airbender never had any horror episodes per se (although one in Season 3 comes to mind …), but “The Library” had a good go at scaring its young audience.

The titular setting is as awe-inspiring as it is creepy, and the chase with the massive owl is one of Season 2’s most thrilling scenes.

21 – City of Walls and Secrets (2-14)

Two great plots in this one – the Gaang start to realise that something is deeply wrong with Ba Sing Se, and Jet goes on a personal vendetta to prove that Zuko and Iroh are Fire Nation.

20 – The Deserter (1-16)

The three-season structure of ATLA seemed fairly fool-proof to me – Season 1 was Water, 2 was Earth, and 3 would be Fire. When Aang got the chance to learn Fire prematurely in Season 1, I was dreading the results.

“The Deserter” adds both a great character to the mix and an excellent warning that haste would only lead to tragedy.

19 – The Southern Raiders (3-16)

After Katara learnt Bloodbending from that creepy old lady, you knew it was only a matter of time before something terrible happened.

She goes way too hard on an enemy, which helps to bolster both her and Zuko’s characters before the final stretch of episodes.

18 – Appa’s Lost Days (2-16)

In the midst of the Ba Sing Se arc we got yet another soul-crushing episode. Kids show, everybody!

“Appa’s Lost Days” is a great little aside that shows us where Appa has been the whole time, and the episode ended up winning awards for portraying animal cruelty in such a blunt manner.

17 – The Boiling Rock: Parts 1 & 2 (3-14/15)

The “worst” two-parter of ATLA is “The Boiling Rock”, but that’s only because it shouldn’t have been a two-parter in the first place. Otherwise, it’s pretty great!

Sokka and Zuko’s prison break is such a fun adventure, so it’s a shame the first part is a little slow by comparison. An awesome episode only at seventeenth … that’s rough, buddy.

16 – The Winter Solstice: Parts 1 & 2 (1-7/8)

The Last Airbender was bouncing around from one episodic adventure to another at the start of Season 1, but “The Winter Solstice” was when some true stakes were introduced.

Aang needing to learn the four bending styles in time for Sozin’s Comet added a great ticking clock dynamic to the show, and my investment was peaking.

15 – The Firebending Masters (3-13)

The best of the “Zuko takes someone on a life-altering adventure” sub-genre of episodes, his and Aang’s journey in “The Firebending Masters” is mesmeric from start to finish.

I love their comedic dynamic, and the Dragon Dance scene is one of the best uses of animation in the series.

14 – The Ember Island Players (3-17)

Like how “Nightmares and Daydreams” was a breather before “The Day of Black Sun”, “The Ember Island Players” was some much-needed levity before the four-part finale.

It’s so funny seeing the events of the series recapped in a comedic stage play, and the exaggerated actors are amazing.

13 – The Chase (2-8)

I knew that Azula was going to be a major antagonist in Season 2, but I wasn’t expecting a climactic showdown this early in the season.

The titular chase is paced well, but it’s the final showdown – including Zuko and Iroh joining in – that has stuck in my mind.

12 – The Guru (2-19)

Aang’s visit to “The Guru” is one of the most heavy-duty lore-expanding sequences in the series, and I loved it.

Ba Sing Se starts to kick off too, and I love the inner conflict that Zuko is going through.

11 – The Blue Spirit (1-13)

Maybe I’m just daft, but Zuko being “The Blue Spirit” really took me by surprise.

I wasn’t expecting a kids’ cartoon villain to be so layered, and the action during the break-out is great too.

Amazing

10 – The Puppetmaster (3-8)

I’d seen bits of ATLA on TV as a kid, but I’m glad I didn’t binge the whole series until I was older – “The Puppetmaster” would’ve really freaked me out!

Bloodbending is such a horrifying concept, and that terror is palpable all throughout this episode. You could tell Katara would never be the same again.

9 – The Tales of Ba Sing Se (2-15)

Not every vignette works (Aang’s feels too silly and Katara & Toph’s is a little out of place), but when “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” hits it hits hard.

Sokka, Momo and Zuko have great individual stories that paint a vivid picture of the characters and the city itself, but Iroh’s story is half jovial and half absolutely heart-breaking. This episode is a shining example of the writing team’s mastery of worldbuilding and character.

8 – Lake Laogai (2-17)

“Lake Laogai” might not be a traditional pick in someone’s top ten ATLA episodes, but I think it’s wholly underrated.

Jet being mind-controlled and turning on the Gaang is a harrowing scene, but it’s Iroh confronting Zuko that makes this a top tier episode.

7 – The Avatar and the Fire Lord (3-6)

I wasn’t expected an Avatar Roku / Firelord Sozin backstory near the start of Season 3, and I certainly wasn’t expecting it to go so hard.

Their friendship, conflict and ultimate betrayal is borderline Shakespearian, and the twist that Zuko is a descendant of both was a perfect way to end the episode.

6 – The Storm (1-12)

“The Winter Solstice” added some much-needed stakes to Season 1, but it was “The Storm” that truly wowed me.

Both Zuko and Aang get some fascinating backstories and character development, and seeing both stories concurrently makes the viewer draw their own parallels – perhaps foreshadowing their friendship down the line.

5 – The Day of Black Sun: Parts 1 & 2 (3-10/11)

“The Day of Black Sun” felt like a full-blown finale in the middle of Season 3, and there was a palpable sense of dread that things were about to go wrong.

The assault scene is awesome, and I love Zuko finally confronting his father Ozai, but the setback meant the world’s fate hinged on the Gaang once more.

4 – The Siege of the North: Parts 1 & 2 (1-19/20)

If you’ve been keeping count, you’ll notice that all three of The Last Airbender’s finales made it into my top four. Suffice it to say, the writers knew how to make a satisfying climax.

The “worst” of these is Season 1’s “The Siege of the North”, but I was still blown away by the action and heartfelt character moments.

3 – Zuko Alone (2-7)

Up until this point Zuko had pretty much been an outright villain with maybe the tiniest hints of redemption, but “Zuko Alone” single-handedly turned him into a sympathetic antihero.

We get a fascinating glimpse of the discrimination towards the Fire Nation and how the cycle of hate is doomed to continue, and by the end you really feel for Zuko’s plights. For a Gaang-less episode, it’s a miracle it ended up being so good.

2 – The Crossroad of Destiny (2-20)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE2irvNXDGA&pp=ygUhYXZhdGFyIGNyb3Nzcm9hZCBvZiBkZXN0aW55IGZpZ2h0

I didn’t think Season 1’s finale would be topped, but “The Crossroad of Destiny” was an impossible upgrade in every department.

The fighting, the Zuko betrayal, Aang’s injury and subsequent cut-off from the Avatar State, Uncle Iroh coming in clutch … it was just hype moment after hype moment, and I couldn’t wait to watch the Season 3 opener.

All-Time Great

1 – Sozin’s Comet: Parts 1-4 (3-18/19/20/21)

I’m glad the writers split “Sozin’s Comet” into a four-part mega finale, because they needed all 80 glorious minutes to see this story to its conclusion.

Both the Aang vs Ozai and especially the Zuko & Katara vs Azula fights are unbelievably hype, and barely a minute goes by without an insane action sequence or an impactful character moment. One of the best TV finales of any genre, let alone a kids cartoon show.

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: