Writer:	Elizabeth Welch Ehasz
Director:	Giancarlo Volpe
Star:	Zach Tyler Eisen (Aang),  Dante Basco (Prince Zuko),  Grey DeLisle (Princess Azula),  Olivia Hack (Ty Lee),  Makoto Iwamatsu (Uncle Iroh),  Jessie Flower (Toph),  Cricket Leigh (Mai),  Dee Bradley Baker (Appa/Momo/Various Others)
Guest Star:	Paul McKinney (Ghasiun),  Dwight Schultz (Trainer),  Brian George (Guru),  Jennie Kwan (Suki)

This episode is available in Book 2: Earth, Volume 4 DVD, along with, Lake Laogai, The Earth King, The Guru, and The Crossroads of Destiny. (edit) On March 27, 2007, this episode received a Genesis Award from The Humane Society of the United States in the category "Outstanding Children's Programming," which the HSUS Genesis Award press release described as "...a mythical tale about animals held captive for human entertainment that resonates with the way animals are used in circuses today." (edit) It would appear Appa is omnivorous. This is shown when he tries to eat a large egg, and previously shown eating things like hay. (edit) A jackalope, a mythical rabbit with the horns of an antelope, is seen in this episode. (edit) According to Nick.com, the Guru is 150 years old, being therefore older than Aang. (edit)

(Appa flies overhead)
Iroh: Oooh!!
Zuko: (triedly) Uncle? What are you looking at? Is there something out there?
Iroh: Ahhh...it's nothing. Go back to sleep... (edit) Suki (reassuringly to Appa): It’s gonna be ok Appa. I have to leave, but I am gonna be back soon with help. (edit) Kyoshi Warrior: I can't believe you found the Avatar's bison. Didn't you just see the Avatar a few days ago?
Suki: Yes, so he can't be too far from here. It's our responsibility to get Appa back to him safely. This could be our most important mission yet. (edit) Fire Nation Man: I am gonna get a bag of sizzle-crisps. Stay here and stay away from that monster. Behave yourself, or you’ll regret it. (edit) Circus Trainer (softly): Oh. I understand you’ve had a rather hard time lately. That’s too bad. You probably felt you had no choice but to behave outrageously. Like a wild animal. But don’t worry, you won’t anymore. (in a sinister voice) Because I am going to break you. (edit)

When Mai jumps from her lizard's saddle, we can see she is missing her wrist harnesses and her gloves. (edit) The audience members surrounding the FN boy at the circus constantly change. (edit) Mai's gloves are missing while she is sitting on her Mongoose-Dragon with Azula and Ty Lee but reappear while she is fighting the Kyoshi Warriors. (edit) When Azula disarms Suki of her katana in mid-attack, her wrist shield is missing. It then returns in the next shot. (edit) During Appa's flashback when he and Aang first meet and Aang offers him the apple, a brown patch of fur appears next to his front right leg, close to his right ear, when Appa sniffs the apple; and then vanishes after he finishes eating it. (edit)

Azula: And who are you? The Avatar's fangirls?

This statement seems to have a duel meaning- making a pun of the fact that the Kyoshi warriors use fans as weapons; And the fact that a person who follows and is a fan of a show is known as a fanboy or a fangirl depending on the gender. (edit) Once again, a reference to the work of Hayao Miyazaki is made within the show. The large "boar-q-pine" that fought with Appa for the refuge of a cave resembled that of the giant boars from Princess Mononoke in size and appearence, as well as brute strength and rash, extremely territorial behavior. (edit) The tribe that had a sandsailer stolen was named 'Hami', which could mean the Family of Ham. Ham (father of Canaan), along with the other sons of Noah, Shem and Japheth, was rescued from The Great Flood of Genesis in The Ark. (edit) Disregarding his beard, Guru Pathik bears a strong resemblence to Gandhi. (edit) The scene where Appa is backed into a corner by a woman holding a torch is an allusion to Frankenstein's monster and his fear of fire. (edit)