This episode is available in the Avatar Book 3: Fire Volume 1 DVD, along with, The Awakening, The Headband, The Painted Lady, and The Beach. (edit) Now every person in the group has been formally trained by a real master: Aang by Monk Gyatso, Katara by Master Pakku, Toph by the Badgermoles and now Sokka by Piandao. (edit) Hero Debuts: Piandao, Fat (Piandao's butler) (edit) In Sokka's master, the landscape is highly influenced by photographs and land formations in Iceland. This episode won an animation award and a character animation award. A point in this episode was to bring out the character of the martial arts director into an Avatar character called Piandao.
During the scene in the armory shop, we find Sokka playing with nunchucks, which we learn to be a practice of self-discipline and concentration. When Aang finds some highly dramatic armor, there is music played by Jeremy Zuckerman on the electric guitar. The sword belonging to the swordmaster was modeled from the Chin dynasty, about 300-400 years old. Sokka' sword technique in this episode comes from a collection of sword styles, generally, "walking dragon swordsmanship."
In the episode, we can see examples of artistry from the landscapes of Iceland, such as the waterfall scene, opening scene, and scene where there is a type of volcanic formation in the background.
It is also told that Serena Williams played a voice for Avatar as the kind guard lady, Ming, in Iroh's cell, from the day of Black Sun. (edit) Piandao trains Sokka just for three days. First day is basic training, second day is the sword-making process, and third day is the final test. (edit) This is the first time Sokka has shown disappointment about not being a bender. Before, he thought it was a waste of time, such as in The Boy in the Iceberg. (edit) This episode was animated by JM Animation. (edit) It is heavily implied Piandao is a member of the Order of the White Lotus, the mysterious organization of which Uncle Iroh also belongs, first mentioned in The Desert. He even goes as far as to give Sokka a White Lotus Pai Sho tile as a token of remembrance. (edit) Toph's remark on how hot the day indicated that it is summer time in the Fire Nation. Also a possible note on the Fire Nations location, as a place somewhere on the equator. (edit) Toph once again shows signs that she may have a crush on Sokka, as she claims to have not missed him, but turns aside and blushes afterwards. (edit) This episode helps show that even though Sokka is not a bender he is also an important member of the group. For example, he is the only one in the group who can read the maps, make a good schedule, and the only one who is good at making the gang have a good laugh. (edit) By manipulating the meteorite fragment Sokka gives her, Toph illustrates that Earthbenders are able to bend earthen minerals from outer space, which Sokka calls "space earth." (edit) Sokka's master, and his apprentice are the second and third people from the Fire Nation to know that Aang is alive. (edit) Smoked sea slug is seen as a food eaten in the Fire Nation. (edit) Some of the weapons seen in weapon shop include:
nunchucks, sai, guandao,a mace, and a ball and chain, naginata, and jians. (edit) Sokka crafts his sword in a crucible forge using fragments of a meteorite. As a result of the alien material that makes it up, Sokka's blade expresses an unusual all-black appearance and is said to be strong enough to cut through even metal. (edit) It is revealed that Iroh has been pretending to let his mind is slip as a cover to secretly perform exercises that have caused him to lose much weight. (edit) The fighting style of Sokka, and his master Piandao appear to be based around the Tai Chi Chuan style, while the blades they wield seem to be based off the jian, or the Chinese straight sword. (edit) Toph mentions that she has learned earthbending from badger moles. This had previously been revealed in the DVD commentaries for The Blind Bandit. (edit) When Sokka's master says, "Use the sword as an extension of your arm," it is reminiscent of when, in episode 4, Suki tells Sokka, "Think of the fan as an extension of your arm." It is also reminiscent of Zuko's lesson with the twin blades with Li, the Earth Kingdom kid. (edit)

Aang: Toph, let's make a trench to keep the fire from coming any closer.
Sokka: (dejectedly) What should I do?
Aang: Keep an eye on Momo.
(Momo flies to Sokka and lands on his head.)
Sokka: So what, I'm just a lemur-sitter?! (petting Momo's head) There, there. Feel better? (edit) Toph: You noodlebrains don't know what you're doing. I miss Sokka.
Katara: Oh, I've got one! (trying to make a joke) If you miss him so much, why don't you marry him?
(Toph turns away from them, an uncomfortable silence follows) (edit) Piandao: (on Sokka's painting) You added a rainbow.
Sokka: Is that all right?
(Piandao sighs) (edit) Piandao: Landscape painting teaches a warrior to hold the lay of the land in his mind. (edit) Katara: (Piandao reveals that he always knew Sokka was a water tribe member) Why would you agree to train someone from the water tribe?
Piandao: The way of the sword doesn't belong to any one nation. Knowledge of the arts belongs to us all. (edit) Master: (talking to Sokka) As we trained, it wasn't your skills that impressed me. No, it certainly wasn't your skills. You showed something beyond that. Creativity, versatility, intelligence. These are the traits that define a great swordsman, and these are the traits that define you. (edit) Katara: (to Toph on Sokka) If you miss him so much, why don't you marry him?
(uncomfortable silence)
Aang: Guess jokes don't run in the family.
Katara: Everyone's a critic. (edit) (After Sokka got the White Lotus)
Sokka: Uh, that reminds me! Toph, I thought you might like this. Since you probably never had a chance to bend space earth before.
Toph: Sweet! … Check this out!
Katara: I don’t think there is such a thing in space earth. If it’s from space, then it’s not really earth.
Sokka: Must you ruin everything!
Katara: (maybe just thinking this) I can’t believe I missed you. (edit) (Suddenly Toph feels somebody and sit up with a smiling face)
Toph: Sokka’s coming!
Sokka: Hey guys! What are you doing?
Aang: Sokka!
Toph: You’re back!
Katara: We missed you so… much!
Aang: Say something funny!
Sokka: Funny how? (Aang and Katara are laughing)
Sokka (asking from Toph): What’s their deal?
Toph (Toph turns her back on Sokka): I don’t know. They missed you or something. I didn’t care. (Her face flushes)
Sokka: Thanks! That warms my heart. Anyway, I need some help. (edit) (The gaang watches the falling stars)
Katara: Wow, this is amazing to watch!
Sokka: Kind of makes you realize how insignificant we are.
Toph: Yeah. If you've seen nothing once, you've seen it a thousand times.
All: Oooooo!
Sokka: Oh man, you've never not seen anything like this! (edit) Aang: What should we do today?
Toph: I'm tapped out. I already picked my toes..twice.
Aang: Twice?
Toph: The first time's for cleaning, but the second time's just for the sweet picking sensation. (edit) Sokka: I can't do anything.
Katara: That's not true. No one can read a map like you.
Toph: I can't read at all.
Aang: Yeah, and who keeps us laughing with sarcastic comments all the time? I mean, look at Katara's hair, right? What's up with that?
Katara (worried): What? What's wrong with my hair?
Aang: Nothing, I was just trying to-
Sokka: Look, I appreciate the effort. But the fact is, each of you is so amazing and so special and I'm...not. (edit)

When Sokka is about to train with Fat for the first time, just as we get an up close view of his face, you can see that his eyes are brown. (edit) When Aang, Katara, and Sokka stand to see the falling meteor, Aang's arrow can be seen sticking out to between his eyebrows. (edit) When the gaang brings Piandao the meteor at the gate, Toph's red dress thing is missing, making it appear that she is only wearing the maroon cloth. (edit) After Sokka chides the others for complaining for their lack of appreciation and before Katara comments about the steamed sea slug, the yellow insignia on Aang's forehead is missing. (edit) This episode again shows Sokka's poor drawing skills, when he tries to draw the landscape as part of his training. In Lake Laogai Sokka drew a humorously bad missing poster of Appa. (edit) When Piandao defeats Sokka, the rest of the Gaang rushes to help. Toph, Aang and Katara move into their fighting stances. But what was Katara going to do? Dressed as a Fire Nation citizen, she was not carrying her water pouch, and there was no water around. (edit) Piandao is based on Sifu Kisu, the martial arts specialist for the show. (edit) It is revealed that Toph's earthbending teachers were badgermoles. (edit) While not mentioned, Piandao's butler is named Fat. (edit) Toph likes to pick her toes just for the sweet sensation of it. (edit) When Sokka tries out each of the weapons in the shop, he shows a strong familiarity with the uses of each. Most notably, he was able to use the nunchuk with a fair amount of skill before accidentally injuring himself. (edit) When Sokka is told to paint the landscape, it seems the only color he has to work with is black ink. But when he finishes the drawing, it has color. (edit)

The masters castle is based in a traditional Chinese architecture style. (edit) Aang: All I need to complete the outfit is a wind sword.
In the video game Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, one of the bosses weilds a weapon known as a Wind Sword. (edit) Toph: And besides, its so hot today.
Aang: How hot is it?

Aang's statement is a direct reference to Match Game, an old game show which featured celebrities and contestants answering fill-in-the-blank questions. Possibly the show's most famous recurring bit had host Gene Rayburn reciting a statement along the lines of "It was so hot Monday morning..." to be answered by the audience, "HOW HOT WAS IT?," and complete the sentence with a playful hyperbole. (edit) A sword made of a meteorite's ore appears in different movies, such as in the movie 'Ring of the Nibelungs/Curse of the Ring'(inspired by Das Nibelungenlied, however in the saga Siegfried's sword, the Balmung has a different origin), and in the movie 'Seven Swords', where The Transience Sword is one of the most powerful weapons. (edit) When Iroh is working out non-stop in his cell, it is an allusion of 'Escape from Alcatraz', where even though the character played by Clint Eastwood is in a cramped, high-security cell with little food, he works out non-stop and ends up in the best shape of his life. (edit) Sokka's Master is named Piandao, which in a reference to a type of Chinese sabre (dao) used during the late Ming Dynasty. (edit) The calligraphy, rock sculptures and landscape paintings were all arts that a well trained samurai would also have mastered in feudal Japan. (edit) In the hall where Sokka receives the made sword from his master, there are many patterns of the White Lotus behind the master and over the door. (edit) Sokka's master is not only an expert swordsman but a master of calligraphy, like Broken Sword in wuxia movie 'Hero' (Ying Xong). (edit) Sokka's sword: A Song of Ice and Fire
Sokka's sword is made out of meteorite. This is similar to Arthur Dayne's sword Dawn from A Song of Ice and Fire (a series of books by George R. R. Martin), which was also made out of a meteorite. Arthur Dayne was a famous knight and a member in the Kingswood Brotherhood of Aerys II Targaryen. (edit) The armor Aang wears in the shop is reminiscent of Nightmare's alternate costume of Soulcalibur fame. Note the oversized claw on the left arm. (edit) The animation of the ribbons trailing from Aang's helmet in the shopping area is reminiscent of the headbands seen in the miniseries Afro Samurai. (edit) The fight between Sokka, and his master in the bamboo forest is usually a common fight sequence found in martial arts films. (edit) Sokka's master telling him to pick a name such as Lee because "there's a million Lees" could be a allusion to how it is a common name in China. (edit) Thunderbolt Iron
Sokka forges his sword from the remainders of a meteorite, a common convention in mythological and fantasy stories. In actuality, iron from meteorites has been used to make tools and weapons since the Ice Age, when it was the only iron available, and some scholars believe that the story of the forging of Zeus' thunderbolts refers to meteoric iron. (edit) When Toph makes the third shape out of the meteorite Sokka gave her it is shaped like Nickelodeon's Trademark splat symbol (edit)