Writer:	Aaron Ehasz
Director:	Michael Dante DiMartino
Star:	Zach Tyler Eisen (Aang),  Mae Whitman (Katara),  Jack DeSena (Sokka),  Dee Bradley Baker (Appa/Momo/Various Others),  Olivia Hack (Ty Lee),  Makoto Iwamatsu (Uncle Iroh),  Grey DeLisle (Princess Azula),  Dante Basco (Prince Zuko),  Cricket Leigh (Mai),  Jessie Flower (Toph (Episodes 26- ))
Recurring Role:	Jim Meskimen (General How),  Clancy Brown (Long Feng)
Guest Star:	Phil LaMarr (Earth King)

The creators have confirmed that the ostrich-horse used by Zuko earlier in the season makes a cameo return in a later episode. It can be assumed that the wild ostrich-horse seen drinking at the beginning of this episode is that one. (edit) This episode was animated by JM Animation. (edit) The finale produced a enormous amount of controversy among viewers. The co-creators even have letters asking for it to be rewritten posted on their wall. (edit) This is the first episode that co-creator Micheal Dante DiMartino has directed for the series. (edit) This is the third time Zuko has apologized to anyone, and the first time we have seen him apologize to someone other that Iroh. (He apologizes to Iroh in Avatar Roku and The Storm.) (edit)

Iroh: Perfection and power are overrated. I think you were wise to choose happiness and love. (edit) Iroh: Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving... You will come to a better place. (edit) Earth King: Katara's fine. You have nothing to worry about.
Aang: But, in my vision. I felt so sure that she was in trouble.
Earth King: Well, she met with the Council of Generals to plan the invasion. And since then she's been off with your friends, the Kyoshi Warriors.
Sokka: See Aang? She's with Suki. They're probably back at our apartment right now, talking about make up or something.
Aang: Ok, maybe you're right.
Earth King: Believe me, if there was any danger at all, Bosco's animal instinct would sense it. (edit) Zuko: What's taking so long?
Iroh: Maybe the Earth King overslept.
(Several Dai Li agents walk into the room from the right and form a circle around the two tea servers.)
Zuko: Something's not right. (edit) Toph: So how did it go with the Guru? Did you master the Avatar State?
(Aang groans nervously. Flash back to The Guru.)
Guru Pathik: If you leave now, you won't be able to go into the avatar state at all!
(End of flash back.)
Sokka: Aang, are you ok?

Aang(smiling sheepishly): I'm great. It went great with the Guru. I completely mastered the avatar state. Heh heh...heh. Yeah. (edit)

In this episode, Azula clearly showed her ability of being able to firebend in the air. This was total opposite to what Iroh had taught Zuko--a bender's root was a must in firebending. Azula must have a different firebending style than Zuko and Iroh. More importantly, this could spell potential disaster for Toph, since she couldn't sense any attack from the air. (edit) A new firebending move is introduced. It appears to be a firewhip. (edit) Look Hard: After Aang falls, one of his shoes is missing and he has a small black wound under his foot. According to DVD audio commentary, the lightning that struck Aang had to exit his body, with his foot being the subject. (edit) When the camera is zooming in on the throne room, after Azula and Zuko have conquered the city, you see that there is a huge statue of a badgermole at the back of the throne area. (edit) While Sokka argues with Aang and Iroh in their apartment, Toph can be seen standing behind Sokka in way of the door. But when Iroh grabs Sokka's shoulders, Toph suddenly appears behind Iroh to his side. But when Iroh approaches the door, he steps past Toph who is now in front of him again. (edit)

The crystal rock that is shown in this episode is also shown in Book 1 episode 5, The King of Omashu. (edit) When Zuko was attacking Aang with his fully charged fireball, the stance and execution of the move is similar to Ryu in the Street Fighter series with his trademark 'Hadoken'. (edit) The Legendary City of Troy.

Legend has it that the city of Troy was besieged for ten years during the Trojan War. Its high walls and mighty people kept it safe from its enemies, just as Ba Sing Se had done. Due to the trickery of the Greeks, the city fell by infiltrating it through the Trojan Horse, which allowed for the Greeks to be brought into the city because they were inside the horse. This is very similar to how Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee infiltrated the city in disguise and we're not suspected of a thing until they struck. Just as the city of Troy fell, so did Ba Sing Se from the inside out. (edit) When Iroh talks about being called The Dragon of the West, it is an allusion to Dragon King of the West Sea, sometimes also called The Dragon of the West, in Chinese mythology. Also, The Dragon King of the West Sea appears in some works of literature, such as Journey to the West, where a character receives a gift from him. (edit) The crystal cocoon that Aang engenders and uses as a meditation chamber was reminiscent to a miniature version of the Fortress of Solitude of the Superman franchise. (edit)