Writer:	Elizabeth Welch Ehasz
Director:	Ethan Spaulding
Star:	Olivia Hack (Ty Lee),  Cricket Leigh (Mai),  Grey DeLisle (Princess Azula (Season 2- )),  Mae Whitman (Katara),  Zach Tyler Eisen (Aang),  Jack DeSena (Sokka),  Dee Bradley Baker (Appa/Momo/Various Others)
Recurring Role:	André Sogliuzzo (King Bumi)
Guest Star:	Paul Eiding (Governor of New Ozai),  Tara Strong (Governor's Wife),  Fred Tatasciore (Omashu Resistance Leader),  Dee Bradley Baker (Tom Tom)

Translations:
-The governor's ransom letter means 'cowardly kidnapper, I agree to exchange your lowly King Bumi for my son's safety. The exchange will take place precisely at noon tommorow at the base of the City's summit rock statue' (edit) Character Debuts: Tom Tom, Yung (edit) Aang and Azula's fight atop the scaffolding is based on an unused fight scene between Aang and Zuko from the unaired pilot animation. (edit) This episode makes a reference to Fire Flakes which were first introduced at the Fire Days Festival in The Deserter. (edit) This episode aired in the UK on 11/11/06 (11 November 2006). (edit)

Mai: I thought you ran off and joined the circus? You said it was your calling.
Ty Lee: Well, Azula called a little louder. (edit) Aang: I guess I need to find someone else to teach me earthbending.
King Bumi: Your teacher will be someone who has mastered neutral jin. You need to find someone who waits and listens before striking. (edit) Guard: Wait! What's the matter with him? (Katara puts her hand on Sokka's shoulder.)
Katara: Uh, he has pentapox, sir.
(The guard walks up to Sokka and moves forward to touch him.)
Katara: Umm... it's highly contagious.
(The guard pulls his hand back as Sokka starts to make awful "sickness" groans.)
Sokka: Ughhhh... it's so awful... I'm dying.
Katara: ..and deadly. (Sokka continues to moan as if he was in horrible pain.) (edit) Sokka: Aaahhh. (Sokka grabs the creature and attempts to pull it off his face. He stretches it to a long distance, but it still sticks to his face.) Aahhh! Aaaahhh! They won't let go! Help! Aaahh!
(Aang pins Sokka to the wall.)
Aang: Stop making so much noise. It's just a purple pentapus. (edit) Azula: I would be honored if you joined me on my mission.
Ty Lee (refering to the circus): Oh, I...uh...would love to! But the truth is, I'm really happy here! I mean, my aura has never been pinker!
Azula: I'll take your word for it. (edit)

This episode reunites well-renowned voice actresses Grey DeLisle (Azula) and Tara Strong (Governor's wife), who have worked on numerous projects together over the years are also good friends. One of their first collaborations was as castmembers for another one of Nickelodeon's classic Nicktoons, The Fairly Odd Parents. In the show, Tara Strong voiced Timmy Turner, while Grey DeLisle voiced Timmy's evil babysitter Vicky. (edit) The scene where Azula rides the rope to the top of the Fire Lord Ozai statue, is very much like the one in the pilot episode, but with Zuko doing it. (edit) When Mai waves her hand to signal to take Bumi away, we can see that her black gloves extend at least to her elbow instead of just ending at her wrists as well as the disappearance of her projectile strap. (edit) When Katara is cutting the wooden boards with her water to block Mai's knives, the white split of her shirt runs directly down her front instead of curving to her side. (edit) While Ty Lee is doing a handstand before Azula appears, the man rolling the barrel across the ground, his feet are sliding across the ground as he moves. His pace of movement doesn't keep up with his feet. (edit)

Mai is actually the real spelling for May in french. (edit) Mai's name pronunced in Cantonese as M¨¨i (ñÇ) translates to "sleeve of a robe," an allusion to where she hides her weapons. (edit) When encountering Aang for the first time, Azula comments, "It's my lucky day", much like Admiral Zhao when he saw Aang for the very first time in Avatar Roku (Winter Solstice, Part 2). (edit) The 85 Jings seem to be a allusion to the Thirty-Six Strategies, a Chinese collection of 36 proverbs used to illustrate military strategy and tactics. (edit) Kowtow
When requesting for aid with the trade-off, the Governor and his wife display their respect for, or rather, subject themselves towards Azula by bowing with their heads held so low that their foreheads touch the ground. This action is known as "kowtowing," a deep sign of respect that was usually performed before the Emperor of China and was protocol during the Imperial period of China. Although it is no longer seen as a neccessity today, during those times, if not performed, the emissary risks ultimately losing all favor with the Emperor. Despite common misconceptions, the action was more of a deep sign of respect than religious worship, also the person was only required to kowtow once in the Emperor's presence, as displayed correctly here, not nine or more times as often illustrated/satirized. The name comes from the Chinese phase kou tou, which means, "knock with reverence." (edit)