The Waterbending Master

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

When Aang and his friends get lost on their way to the North Pole, they are found by some of the Northern Water Tribe's soldiers, who take them to their capital. There, Aang manages to find a master to train him in the art of waterbending, but the master refuses to train Katara. Meanwhile, Admiral Zhao takes command of Zuko's soldiers to prepare for an assault on the Northern Water Tribe, having other plans in store for Zuko's fate.

Episode synopsis

The episode begins with Sokka complaining that Appa is flying too slowly, Aang defensively replies that they should all climb on Sokka's back and he could fly them to the North pole. Katara tries to soothe the situation remarking that they are all tired and cranky as a result of flying for two days straight. Just as Sokka is voicing his doubts about finding the Northern Water Tribe the group is attacked by Northern waterbenders who lead them to their Water Tribe. While touring the city by gondola, Sokka sees Princess Yue for the first time and falls in love with her.

Admiral Zhao knows that the Avatar is travelling North and realises that he is travelling to the Northern Water Tribe to look for a Master to teach him Waterbending. One of his advisors is eager to go and get him but Zhao understands that the Northern Water Tribe is a powerful nation and there is a reason that they have survived 100 years of war. The frozen tundra is treacherous and the landscape itself is an icy fortress, so a massive invasion force is required.

Outside the great palace of the Northern Water Tribe Sokka and Katara are celebrated as family from the Southern Tribe, and Aang is honoured as a special guest. The 16th birthday of the princess, Yue, is also celebrated, coming of marrying age. Aang and Katara are then delighted to see the Waterbending Master, Pakku, and his students performing elaborate waterbending moves for entertainment. Sokka, meanwhile, is far more interested in the food at the banquet and Princess Yue who is sitting next to him. He breaks an awkward silence by telling Yue that back in his tribe he is "kind of like a prince himself". This statement is heard by Katara, who derisively asks him what he is the prince of. Embarrassed, Sokka replies that he is the prince of a lot of things and that he is in the middle of a conversation. He tells Yue that he will be in town for a while and asks if she would like to "do an activity" with him. After the Waterbending performance is over, Aang is introduced to Master Pakku. Aang is looking forward to Katara and himself learning Waterbending, after a few days rest. Master Pakku is unimpressed with his work ethic, telling Aang that he will receive no special treatment just because he is destined to save the world. If he is interested in learning Waterbending then they will be ready at sunrise.

Interrupting music night on Zuko's ship, Zhao takes command of the soldiers under Zuko and invites Iroh to join him as general. While he briefs Zuko and Iroh, he recognises the two broadswords on Zuko's wall as the same ones used by the Blue Spirit used to save the Avatar. When asked about them, Zuko quickly tells Zhao that he is not skilled with broadswords and they are antiques, merely for decorative purposes. Zhao addresses Iroh, asking him whether he has heard of the Blue Spirit. Iroh replies that he has just heard rumours and doesn't believe in his existence. Zhao assures Iroh that the Blue Spirit is indeed real and a criminal and enemy of the Fire Nation, but he has a feeling that he will be brought to justice soon.

As they approach the palace, Katara expresses her joy at being able to learn from a real master, saying she has waited for this day her whole life. However, she is shocked to learn from Master Pakku that it is forbidden for women to learn Waterbending. He advises her to go to the healing huts and learn from Yagoda to use her Waterbending to heal. Although Aang initially refuses to learn from Master Pakku, outraged at the unfairness, Katara makes him return by saying that he can't risk his training for her. So Aang begins to reluctantly learn from Master Pakku. Sokka, meanwhile makes plans with Princess Yue to meet on a bridge above the canal.

At the Fire Nation camp Admiral Zhao is talking to a "highly qualified" group of people for the mission he has in mind. It is revealed that he is paying the pirates, first seen in "The Waterbending Scroll", a large amount of gold to assassinate Zuko. Katara reluctantly goes to the class, which is taught by an old woman and where all the other students are very young girls. Meanwhile, Aang is learning waterbending from Master Pakku. He becomes frustrated when he is criticised for his technique. Master Pakku mockingly says that this move may be too advanced and Aang should try an easier one.

After the healing class, Katara thanks Yagoda who notices her betrothal necklace and asks her who she is getting married to. Katara explains that she is not ready for marriage and that the necklace was her grandmother's, passed down to her mother, and then her. Yagoda recognises the carving and reveals to Katara that she is an old friend of Kanna's, and also that Katara's grandmother was born in the Northern Tribe and was engaged to a young Waterbender, but left mysteriously without saying goodbye.

When Iroh informs Zuko that the crew wished him a safe journey, Zuko reveals his disappointment that they left, saying: "Good riddance to those traitors," Iroh invites him for a nightly stroll to clear his head, but Zuko remains sulking in his room. While Iroh is out walking, the assassination plan is executed by the pirates, planting explosives in Zuko's ship and detonating them with him inside. Zuko, suspicious when hearing a noise outside his room goes to investigate. Looking out the window he sees the pirates' Reptile Bird watching him. Zuko recognises it just as the lit fuse reaches the explosives. In the spit second that the flames rushed at Zuko, he put up a fire shield that bearly saved his life. Iroh, hearing the explosion and seeing the flames, rushes back to the docks to see the smouldering remains of the ship.

Sokka meets with Princess Yue on the bridge, presenting her with a carved fish, which she mistakes for a bear. However, Yue tells Sokka that she made a mistake inviting him there and runs away, leaving Sokka looking devastated who throws his carving into the water. Later, when the gang meet in their living quarters they are all unhappy with their situation. Sokka is confused and upset by Yue's mixed messages and Aang and Katara are unhappy that Katara is not allowed to learn Waterbending. Sokka suggests that at night Aang teach Katara everything he has learned in the day. Katara is excited at this idea, it allows her to learn Waterbending and Aang will have someone to practice with, everyone will be happy. Sokka remarks that he's not happy, but Katara dismisses this by saying that Sokka's never happy, and she and Aang hurry outside to begin practicing.

Disobeying the rules, Aang teaches Katara what he had learned, showing her a move that is all about "sinking and floating". Katara manages to learn the move with much ease, but suddenly the water she had been bending begins to writhe around her in a complex stream. Aang exclaims how amazing it is, but Katara is equally as surprised, saying it is not her manipulating the water. They look up to the bridge above them to see Master Pakku, angry that Aang has disrespected him, his teachings and his entire culture. Aang hastily apologises, but Master Pakku refuses to teach Aang anymore, saying he is no longer welcome as his student, before leaving.

The next day at the palace, Katara pleads with Chief Arnook to make Master Pakku take Aang back as his student. Master Pakku agrees to continue training Aang on the condition that Katara swallow her pride and apologise. Katara, angered by his pomposity and condescending attitude challenges him to a fight instead of apologising (gesturing emphatically as she does so and unintentionally Waterbending huge cracks in the ice floor and smashing two pots).

At the Fire Nation camp over a cup of tea, Iroh tells Zhao of the attack. Zhao is "devastated" by the news and smiles slyly when he hears that no trace of the attack was linked back to him. Iroh takes Admiral Zhao's offer of serving under him as General of the fleet.

Katara goes to wait outside for Master Pakku, who simply strolls past her, further angering her with patronising comments. Katara, her temper pushed to breaking point, forms a water whip and slaps Master Pakku on the back of the head. He turns around and agrees to the fight, telling her if she wants to learn so badly, to study closely. The fight begins and it is discovered that Katara is much more advanced in waterbending than previously known. She acquits herself remarkably during the fight. However, she still fails to land a single blow on Master Pakku and is beaten.

File:Waterbending master img1.jpg

Katara attempts to catch her breath.

Her grandmother's necklace, which fell off during the fight, is picked up by Master Pakku and it is discovered that he made it for Kanna (Katara's Gran-Gran) 60 years ago.

On one of Zhao's ships General Iroh walks past a Fire Nation soldier, stopping to say quietly that their plan is working perfectly and that Zhao doesn't suspect a thing. The soldier takes off his face plate to reveal that he is (a bruised) Prince Zuko. Zuko thanks his Uncle for his help, and returns his faceplate. Iroh tells him to stay hidden until they reach the North Pole and he will have a chance of capturing the Avatar before Zhao does. Wishing his nephew luck they continue on.

Master Pakku tells Katara that her grandmother left the arranged marriage to begin her life in the South Pole. Katara understands that she refused to let her tribe's customs rule her life. This revelation makes Princess Yue burst into tears and run away. Sokka follows her and finds her on the bridge they met at. Yue weeps softly while Sokka tells her he wants nothing from her, but to tell her that she is beautiful and that he never would have thought she would even notice a guy like him. Yue tells him that he doesn't understand, but Sokka believes he does: she is a princess and he is just a Southern Tribe peasant. He turns to leave, but Yue kisses him, making Sokka happy but extremely confused. Yue explains that she has also fallen for Sokka but they cannot be together, and not for the reason Sokka thinks. She sadly pulls down the furs about her neck to reveal a betrothal necklace, she is engaged to be married. She apologises and leaves Sokka alone on the bridge.

At the end, although the Waterbending Master has not changed his rather harsh methods of teaching, he has taken both Katara and Aang as students, while Admiral Zhao's enormous invasion fleet has mobilised and set a course the Northern Water Tribe.

Notes

• The Northern Water Tribe uses special necklaces to mark engagement. The Southern Water Tribe does not.
• Zuko survived the assassination attempt via a "fire shield," formed immediately prior to being hit by the large explosion. The shield itself is visible when the episode is viewed at a reduced speed.
• According to the DVD commentary, Pakku's method of disabling Katara at the end of their fight, trapping her within a cage of icicles, was inspired by a scene in House of Flying Daggers.