Episode 3.2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender got right into the action immediately from the first few moments it aired. This season is going to make Avatar fans very happy if the episodes continue to be as interesting as this one. I enjoyed how they mixed in lighthearted moments with the heaviness of the situation the Avatar, Aang as his friends, Toph, Katara, and Sokka are facing as they try to hide out in the Fire Nation. Also, fans of the Aang and Katara, blossoming “young love” (would this make them Aangtara?) will get a hint of the budding romance in this episode.
As always, this episode is kid friendly, for those mature enough to handle the themes in the show. I recommend it for those over the age of ten and must say it is a great show for both teens and adults. I love it and everyone in the family is hooked. It’s a great way to gather around the TV and bond while watching something as opposed to everyone just going their separate ways.
That being said, let’s get into the recap and catch anyone up who missed the episode.
At the beginning of “The Headband”, Zuko awakens in the middle of the night. After putting on his robe, he sneaks out of the palace and goes to where you have to assume they are keeping Uncle Iroh. When he approaches the building, a guard appears asking him who he is. Zuko turns around and runs off before the guard can find out who he is.
Aang and the Avatar Crew (Toph, Katara, Sokka, Momo and Appa) hide in a cloud until they can find a cave to hide in. The Avatar’s bison flying over the Fire Nation wouldn’t exactly be information they want to get out or spread around. Once inside the cave, Sokka explains this is how they will be living their time out until the invasion of the Fire Nation on the day of the eclipse. They’ll be living from cave to cave.
Toph doesn’t think it sounds too good because they have real food out there. Momo likes the idea of eating cave critters, but Sokka and Momo get outvoted. Aang and Katara say they just need disguises. So, they set out to raiding the laundry line of someone in the Fire Nation. Aang puts on a uniform and a headband to hide his air bender tattoos, and Katara, looks so beautiful she makes Aang blush. That is until he notices her mother’s necklace, which she sadly removes. At the market, she buys a new “red” necklace, so all is not lost.
The Avatar crew decides to go in a restaurant or tavern of sorts and eat. Since the place feature’s meat, which Aang does not eat, he stays outside. A guard approaches him and informs him he isn’t supposed to be there. It seems Aang is wearing a school uniform and they believe he is a delinquent who is skipping school. They end up taking him to the school, where he is admitted as a new student. However, they notice he is different. The teacher assumes he must not be from the Fire Nation’s mainland, but rather from the colonies.
Aang tries to joke with the teacher, but the Fire Nation is serious about schooling. He ends up giving them the name of his old friend, Kuzon, who lived in the Fire Nation. He will be Kuzon to his peers, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to learn more about the Fire Nation. Unfortunately, the school is a typical school in some ways. While one of the nice girl’s promises not to tell on Aang for hiding Momo in his uniform, a popular boy (favored by the headmaster), warns Aang about talking to the girl who he claims is his girlfriend.
Stunned that the boy didn’t attempt to beat up Kuzon (aka Aang) some of the other boys invite him to play a game after school called Hide and Explode. Itching for the chance to be a “normal kid” Aang jumps at the chance, and he returns back to the cave when it is nearly dark. As a result, the others are worried and scared. Aang tries to apologize, but Sokka seems even more upset when he finds out where Aang has been. He doesn’t want Aang to go to school, but when he finds out that Aang will be learning about a Secret River leading to the Fire Nation’s palace in school the next day, he agrees to let Aang go if only for the information he will learn.
Zuko returns to the place where his Uncle is being held. This time he enters and tells the guard to keep his visit a secret. He is angry at his Uncle. He tells Iroh he brought this on himself and they could have returned as heroes together. Iroh ignores Zuko, keeping his back to him the entire time. This angers Zuko, who he storms out of the prison after berating his Uncle and making fun of him, saying he’s nothing and would be sleeping in the gutter if not in jail.
This episode shows a side to the Fire Nation you won’t expect. It becomes clear that the Fire Nation is run similar to Nazi Germany. The classroom is filled with propaganda, and this confuses Aang who knows the truth about events in the world. This ultimately gets him in trouble in history class. To start things off, he fumbles through the Fire Nation’s “pledge/anthem” and makes the other kids laugh. The teacher, in turn, gives them a pop quiz on the invasion of the Air Nomads.
When Aang tries to explain that the Air Nomads had no official army, the teacher asks him how he’d know considering their textbook says differently. Then, in music class, Aang’s dancing gets him in trouble. He cannot play his instrument well at all. To make matters worse, the star pupil picks a fight with him and Aang’s “parents” must have a conference with the Headmaster.
Sokka (with a moustache) and Katara (who added a bulge to look pregnant) meet with the Headmaster as his parents. Sokka tells the Headmaster he’s Wang Fire and this is his wife Sapphire Fire (pure genius!). After promising to give Aang a stern lecture and scare the living daylights out of him, the Headmaster is happy to see they are stern parents though he warns more trouble might implore him to send Aang to the coal mines.
Near the palace, Mai and Zuko are snuggling. Mai laments about how she hates the world, but she loves Zuko. They kiss and are content until Azula interrupts them. Zuko tries to get her to go away, but she convinces Mai to leave by saying Ty Lee needs her help. When Mai leaves, Azula discusses with Zuko how bad his visit to see Iroh is. It could make people think he is a traitor, after all. She just wants to protect him, so she claims, but this is Azula so her ulterior motive isn’t clear yet.
Sokka doesn’t want Aang going to school anymore. Aang says he wants to throw a secret dance for the repressed Fire Nation kids. He wants to help them so the Avatar Crew decides to help Aang throw the dance. The goal is to show these kids the freedom they have through self-expression. When the kids show up at the dance, they aren’t sure what to do. They are afraid to dance, that is, until Aang shows them the moves to some Ancient Fire dances he knows. This gets the party going.
Zuko returns to talk to Iroh again. This time he asks for his help. He knows Aang is alive. He needs some advice. Iroh continues to ignore him, though he does shed a tear, at the harshness Zuko shows him. This makes the audience like Iroh all the more. Zuko begs for Iroh’s help though Iroh remains with his back to the bars, hiding himself from Zuko. He continues to ignore his nephew, which sets Zuko off again, and he storms out of the jail a second time.
Back at the dance, Katara gets jealous as Aang shows another girl how to dance. He approaches Katara and convinces her to dance with him despite her protestations. The dance is so good, everybody stops and watches them. Katara is embarrassed, but Aang tells her nothing else matters at this moment, but her and him. It’s a touching moment for both of them. The kids are in awe and cheer them on!
Unfortunately, the star pupil snitches on Aang and the Headmaster (and entourage) break up the dance. They try to capture Aang, but so proud of what he taught them, all of the Fire Nation students put on their headbands, and protect him. One of his new friends sees Aang Earth bending to escape though and is in awe. However, it doesn’t appear that he is going to tell on Aang.
Safe on Appa, the Avatar crew congratulates Aang. It’s pretty clear he taught those kids something. At the very least, he taught them how to let loose and have fun. Katara is so proud of him that she gives him a small kiss. Sokka, to lighten the situation up, still has his mustache on though. Superglue will do that to a person.
At the very end, Zuko meets a shady character we cannot see in a secret location. He tells him/her the Avatar is alive and asks him/her to dispose of Aang. He is certain this person can get the job done.
The next episode preview shows a mysterious woman who might be a ghost. The episode looked interesting though I guess we’ll have to wait until next Friday to see what it’s all about.
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Technorati Tags: TV Recap, Nickelodeon, Cartoon, Avatar, The Last Airbender, Aang, Book Three: Fire, The Headband
Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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