Character Debuts: Gran Gran (Water Tribe) (edit) Katara's waterbending is more powerful when she is angry. (edit) We see the bending of 3 elements here:
1. waterbending (Katara)
2. firebending (Zuko, Iroh, Fire Nation soldiers)
3. airbending (Aang) (edit) Katara said that she is the only waterbender in the entire South Pole. (edit) As shown in the opening, fire is the only element that is created (in a firebender's body). Earth and water need to be close to use them, as well as air but it is present always. (edit) According to the Nick.com Avatar website, Sokka's and Katara's village is just one of many Southern Water Tribe villages scattered across the South Pole. (edit) The map of the world clearly marks the territories of the four nations. The two Poles of the Water Tribe are sky blue, the huge land mass of the Earth Kingdom is yellow-green, the connected islands of the Fire Nation are bright red, and the four mountainous regions of the Air Temples are white. (edit) The single Chinese character at the top of the episode's title card matches the title of the "book" ("Water"). (edit) The calligraphy featured right above the show's nameplate means, "The divine medium who has descended upon the mortal world." (edit) The calligraphy on the top and bottom of the show's map of the world form a rhyming couplet. The characters at the top read, "Powers are divided into four," while those at the bottom read, "The world is guided by one." (edit) The Chinese characters behind each of the benders in the opening sequence form a phase which correlates with their element:
- The characters behind the waterbender mean, "Water is benevolent" or "Water is adaptive."
- The characters behind the Earthbender mean, "Earth is strong."
- The characters behind the Firebender mean, "Fire is ferocious" or "Fire is intense."
- The characters behind the Airbender mean, "Air is peaceful" or "Air is gentle." (edit) Following the Asian-influenced theme of the show, the opening sequence as well the style writing of the show in general, features Classical Chinese calligraphy. (edit) This episode was originally planned to air in November 2004. (edit) This episode is in the Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1: Water, Volume 1 DVD, along with The Avatar Returns, The Southern Air Temple, and The Warriors of Kyoshi. (edit) Sokka refers to bending in general as "magic." (edit) Enemy Debuts: Prince Zuko and Uncle Iroh (Fire Nation) (edit) The arrow on Aang's forehead means he's a master airbender. (edit) This episode first aired in Britain (UK) on Nickelodeon on Friday 4th, November 2005. The next episode was also shown on the same date. (edit) Katara's necklace belonged to her mother and her grandmother. (edit) We learn that the Fire Nation attacked the South Pole a long time ago. (edit) Hero Debuts: Aang and Appa (Air Nomads), Katara and Sokka (Water Tribe) (edit)

Katara: Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar mastered all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe. Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads and that the cycle is broken, but I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow the Avatar will return to save the world. (edit) Aang: Whoa! What's that?
Katara: A Fire Navy ship and a very bad memory for my people. (edit) Sokka (snatching Aang's staff from him): What is this, a weapon? You can't stab anything with it.
Aang (airbending the staff back from Sokka): It's not for stabbing. It's for Airbending. (edit) Iroh (upset): No, power in Firebending comes from the breath, not the muscles. The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire! Get it right this time. (edit) Katara (very excited): Aang, Aang, wake up, it's ok, we're in the village now. Come on, get ready, everyone is waiting to meet you. (edit) Aang (to Katara): If you want to be a bender, you have to let go of fear. (edit) Sokka (as Aang glides in to Sokka's tower): Uhhh, my watchtower! (edit) Sokka: You know last time I checked, humans can't fly!
Aang (opens up his glider): Check again! (edit) Gran Gran: Alright, no more playing. Come on, Katara, you have chores to do. (edit) Katara: He's alive! We need to help!
Sokka: Katara, get back here. You don't know what the thing is! (edit) Zuko: It means my search is about to come to an end.
Uncle: Huh...
Zuko: That light came from an incredibly powerful source! It has to be him!
Uncle: Or it's just a celestial light. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing. Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?
Zuko (nervously): I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar! Helmsman! Head a course to the light!
(edit) Sokka: Yeah, yeah, an ancient art, unique to our culture, blah-blah-blah... (edit) Katara: Aang, meet the entire village. Entire village, Aang.
Aang: Why is everyone staring at me like that? (edit) Katara: Why are you smiling like that? (Aang has a huge smile on his face)
Aang: Uh...oh I was smiling? (edit) Aang (soft, raspy voice): I need to ask you something.
Katara: What?
Aang (still soft, raspy voice): Please, come closer.
Katara: What is it?
Aang: Will you go penguin sledding with me?
Katara: Uh, sure I...I guess. (edit) Sokka: It's not getting away from me this time. Watch and learn, Katara. This is how you catch a fish.
(Katara waterbends a fish out of the water.)
Katara: Sokka, look!
Sokka (whispers): Shhh. Katara, you're gonna scare it away. Mmmm? I can already smell it cookin'!
Katara: But Sokka! I caught one! (edit) Aang: Appa! Are you alright? Wake up buddy!
(Aang moves toward Appa and tries to open his eye. Appa shuts his eye. Aang jumps off Appa and tries to lift Appa's giant head, but it has no effect on Appa. Katara and Sokka follow Aang around the snow and are shocked to see the giant beast, just as Appa licks Aang.) (edit) Katara: So its my fault?
Sokka: I knew I should have left you at home. Leave it to a girl to screw things up. (edit) Aang: I'm Aang. (sniffs)
Sokka: You just sneezed, and flew 10 feet into the air!
Aang: Really? It felt higher than that.
Katara: You're an airbender! (edit) (Katara and Aang are having fun penguin sledding.)
Aang: Yeeaaaaah!!
Katara: I haven't done this since I was a kid!
Aang: You still are a kid! (edit) Katara: I told you he's the real thing, Gran-Gran! I've finally found a bender to teach me!
Gran-Gran: Katara, try not to put all your hopes in this boy.
Katara: But he's special, I can tell. I sense he's filled with much wisdom!
Aang (nearby, talking to waterbender children with his tongue stuck to his staff): Thee? Now my tongue ith thtuck too my thtaff! (edit) (After Katara cracked open an iceberg)
Sokka: Okay, you’ve gone from weird to freakish, Katara.
Katara: You mean I did that?
Sokka: Yup. Congratulations. (edit) Zuko: Finally! Uncle, do you know what this means?
Iroh: I won't get to finish my game. (edit) Sokka (annoyed): I'm just saying that if I had weird powers, I'd keep my weirdness to myself.
Katara: You're calling me weird? I'm not the one who makes muscles at myself every time I see my reflection in the water! (Sokka is caught doing just that and abruptly stops.) (edit) Katara: Come on, let's get out of here.
(they turn to leave and Aang steps through a small wire.)
Aang: What's that you said about booby traps? (and a gate slamed shut on them)
Katara: Huh?! (edit) Katara: This ship has haunted my tribe since Gran-Gran was a little girl. It was part of the Fire Nation's first attacks.
Aang: Okay, back up. I have friends all over the world even in the Fire Nation. I've never seen any war.
Katara: Aang, how long were you in that iceberg?
Aang: I don't know, a few days maybe?
Katara: I think it was more like a hundred years. (edit) Aang: I have a way with animals.
Katara: Aang, I'll help you catch a penguin if you teach me water bending.
Aang: You've got a deal! Just one little problem... I'm an airbender, not a waterbender. Isn't there someone in your tribe that can teach you?
Katara: No. You're looking at the only waterbender in the whole South Pole.
Aang: This isn't right. A waterbender needs to master water. What about the North Pole? There's another water tribe up there, right? Maybe they have waterbenders who could teach you?
Katara: Maybe, but we haven't had contact with our sister tribe in a long time. It's not exactly turn right at the second glacier... It's on the other side of the world.
Aang: But you forget. I have a flying bison. Appa and I can personally fly you to the North Pole. Katara, we're going to find you a master. (edit) Katara (to Aang): Hey.
Aang: Hey. Watcha thinkin' about?
Katara: Just wondering, you being an Airbender and all, if you had any idea what happened to the Avatar.
Aang: No. I didn't know him. I knew people that knew him. But I didn't, sorry. (edit) Katara: Go left! Go left!
(The canoe swerves and Sokka paddles it, steering it right, and the canoe is crushed by two chunks of ice, throwing Sokka and Katara out onto an iceberg)
Katara: You call that left? (edit) Katara (yelling at Sokka): You are the most sexist, immature, nut-brained... I'm embarrassed to be related to you! Ever since Mom died, I've been doing all the work around camp while you've off playing soldier! I even wash all the clothes! Have you ever smelled your dirty socks? Let me tell you... NOT PLEASANT!
Sokka: Um... Katara settle down.
Katara (still yelling): No, that's it! I'm done helping you! From now on, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN! (edit) Aang: Ok first-time flyers, hold on tight. Appa! Yip! Yip!
(Appa jumps in the air and lands in the water, he begins swimming)
Sokka (sarcastically): Wow. That was truly amazing.
Aang: Appa is just a little tired. A little rest and he'll be soaring through the sky. You'll see. (edit) Aang: Well, if you guys are stuck, Appa and I can give you a lift.
Sokka: Oh, no. I'm not getting on that fluffy snot monster!
Katara: Are you hoping some other kind of monster will come along and give you a ride home, you know, before you freeze to death? (edit) Sokka: Giant light beams, flying bisons, Airbenders... I think I got midnight sun madness. I'm going home where stuff makes sense! (edit) Iroh: A man needs his rest. Prince Zuko, you need some sleep. (edit) Katara: Some good must have come out of this...
Aang: Well I got to meet you. (smiles)
(Katara smiles back) (edit) Sokka: What is that?
Aang: This is Appa, my flying bison.
Sokka: ...Yeah, and this is Katara, my flying sister. (edit) Sokka: Why is it that every time you play with magic water, I get soaked?!
Katara: It's not magic, it's waterbending! (edit) Sokka: ...for without courage, how can we call ourselves men!
Little Boy: I gotta pee!
Sokka: Listen! Until your fathers return from the war, their counting on you to be the men of this tribe and that means no potty breaks!
Little Boy: But I really gotta go!
Sokka: Okay... who else has to go?
(All boys raise their hands)
Sokka (sighs and slaps forehead): Uh....
Katara: (To Sokka) Have you seen Aang? Gran Gran said he disappeared an hour ago.
Aang: Wow everything freezes in there.
Sokka: Katara get him out of here. This lesson is for warriors only.
Little Kid: Weeee.
Sokka: Stop! Stop it right now! What's wrong with you? We don't have time for fun and games with the war going on.
Aang: What war? What are you talking about?
Sokka: You're kidding, right?
Aang (sees a penguin on the horizon): Penguin!!
Sokka: (To Katara) He's kidding, right? (edit)

Katara's village is one of many in the South Pole, and still she is the only waterbender there? (edit) Katara's original name was Kya, but was changed to Katara in this episode. (edit) This episode's intro is different from all the rest in the series, depicting the state of the world before Aang's discovery. (edit) The disabled Fire Nation ship that Aang and Katara entered was seen again in a flash back in The Puppetmaster. (edit) Appa is encouraged by Aang to fly, but cannot in this episode. (edit) As Zuko approaches Uncle Iroh while demanding to learn the advanced set of Firebending moves, his gold belt buckle turns gray. (edit) When Aang was trying to catch a penguin, Katara had a fish that seemingly came out of nowhere. (edit) When Katara is in Aang's tent while he puts his shirt on, during an upclose shot of her, her necklace is white. (edit) When Aang is in the tent, after the nightmare, he has no shirt or shoes on. Aang puts on his shirt, and then Katara drags him out of the tent before he has his chance to put his shoes on, and then when he is introduced, he has his shoes on. (edit)

The bone dagger that Sokka uses in this episode resembles the tools used millions of years ago by caveman. (edit) The pai sho, game that Iroh plays in the beginning of the episode, is like the popular board game checkers. (edit) Appa is Korean for dad or father.
Additionally, "Ah Pa" which is almost simillar in pronunciation, also means father in the Hokkien dialect. (edit) Katara's name comes from the Spanish word, Catarata, which means a downpour of water or a waterfall. This is a reference to her waterbending abilities. (edit) The tattoos Aang has on him mark him as a master airbender. This is an allusion to the beliefs of many Asian cultures in which tattoos were considered a symbol of spiritual dedication or status. (edit) Aang being frozen in the iceberg for a hundred years is an allusion to the suspended animation techniques some scientists are experimenting with. Suspended animation is a medical procedure that can theoretically freeze the human body, allowimg a person to live for a certain amount of time with their vital functions shut down. (edit) The movements Zuko does while he is practicing firebending is based on the real martial arts style Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. (edit) When Iroh says "power in Firebending comes from the breath" it is an allusion to many cultures throughout history where breathing has been considered the connection of the mind and chi energy. Especially in martial arts, like Tai Chi, breathing techniques are though of as a passage to special powers. (edit) Aang's status as the last airbender in the world along with his pet Appa is simular to how an escape artist named Yorick is the last man on earth along with his pet monkey Ampersand from a comic series called "Y: The Last Man". (edit) Iroh: You must get some sleep, Zuko, a man needs his rest.
At this point, Zuko is completely out of his mind about capturing the Avatar. So he'll give up a nights sleep in order to find him. But in The Siege of the North (Part 2), when Iroh repeats this quote, (making him say this line on the first and last episode of the season) Zuko chose to rest rather than capture Aang. He matured with his adventures in relation to capturing the Avatar, knowing when to take a break. (edit) In the legend of King Arthur, he was cast into an enchanted sleep to awaken when his people needed him again. With Aang being, for all purposes, sleeping in a magic tomb for a hundred years, it was handled in a similar manner to that of the legend. (edit)