Character Debuts: Chey (edit) This episode aired in the UK on 8/10/06 (8 October 2006). (edit) Zhao wears a new uniform in this episode, which would appear to be given to high-ranking officers such as Generals and Admirals. (edit) This is the first time we "see" Fire Lord Ozai's face, even though it is only in puppet form. (edit) This is the first time Aang even attempts firebending. At the end of the episode, however, he foreswears never attempting to learn it again. (edit) Achievements: Lauren MacMullan won the award for Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production at the 33rd Annual Annie Awards for her work on the storyboard for this episode. Congratulations go out to Lauren and her storyboarding team! (edit) This is the second time someone other than the Avatar has seen into the Spirit world. (Jeong Jeong when Avatar Roku spoke to him) (edit) Here we find that all the bending elements have their own specific style and traits, according to the firebending master Jeong Jeong.
Fire: Destructive and difficult to control
Water: Healing and life-creating
Earth: Powerful and disciplined
Air: Free and forceful (edit) Hero Debut: Jeong Jeong (Fire Nation) (edit) This is the first episode in which Zhao and Aang "duel." It is also the second time they have come face to face, and the second time Zhao ultimately lost. (they had come face-to-face several days earlier in The Blue Spirit, and Zhao had lost the Avatar then as well) (edit) Jeong Jeong was Zhao's firebending teacher, and an Admiral himself until he left the military. (edit) Fire Nation culture is revealed during this episode, part of which was handled through puppets, which had Fire Lord Ozai being attacked by an earthbender; though he turned around and burnt the earthbender to a crisp, much to the applause of the children watching. This ideology is likely the reason the war has lasted so long, since the children are raised with the desire to fight. (edit) Part of Zhao's past is revealed in this episode. (edit) Katara learns a new healing ability in this episode, in which she is told that certain waterbenders are born with the power to perform such a feat. (edit) Aang learns some basic firebending in this episode. He is taught by a former high ranking member of the Fire Nation, who decided to desert the army when he grew weary of the destruction. (edit) Avatar Roku is seen again in this episode, in which he convinces Jeong Jeong to teach Aang. (edit) Among the wanted posters on the back of the festival sign is a poster for Prince Zuko with the mask he used to disguise himself in the episode The Blue Spirit. The other wanted posters were pictures for Aang, Jeong Jeong and Chey. (edit)

Zhao: So the Avatar was here, and you let him slip away.
Soldier: Yes, sir. But other than that, the festival went off without a hitch. No fights, theft was way down.
Zhao: I don't care about your local crime rates! (edit) Aang: I did it! I made fire!
Katara: Aang, that's great, but you should take it slow.
(The fire grows)
Katara: Careful!
(The fire shrinks)
Aang: Now that's firebending!
(Aang shoot the fire)
Katara: Aang, you'll hurt yourself!
(Aang continues to play with the fire)
Aang: Wonder how that juggler did it?
(Aang spreads the fire in a circle and accidently burns Katara.Then she starts screaming and then starts sobbing after Aang burnt her hands)
Aang: Katara! I'm so sorry!
(Sokka zooms in)
Sokka: Katara, what's wrong!? What did you do?
Aang: It was an accident! I was... Katara, I'm so...
(Sokka takes him down to the ground)
Sokka:(angry) I told you we shouldn't mess around with this! Look what you did! You burned my sister!
(After that, Katara runs away, still sobbing) (edit) Aang: Whoa! Wild shot!
Zhao: I'll show you wild! (edit) Admiral Zhao: Stand and fight, Avatar!
Aang: Oh, were we fighting? I thought you were just getting warmed up.
Admiral Zhao: I was!
(blasts some poorly aimed fire attacks at Aang)
Aang: Man! They'll make anyone an admiral these days! (edit) Chey: )Sees everyone has left) Hey, where'd everybody go?! (edit) Aang (To Katara): Jeong Jeong tried to tell me that I wasn't ready. I wouldn't listen. I'm never going to firebend again.
Katara: You'll have to eventually.
Aang: No, never again.
Katara: It's ok Aang, I'm healed
Aang: What! How?
Katara: I'll explain later. But right now, we have to get out here. Zhao and his soldiers are attacking!
Aang: Where!?
Katara: By the river. They captured Jeong Jeong.
Aang: I have to help him! (Aang runs of to find Jeong Jeong) (edit) Aang: You mean there's a firebender out here who's not with the Fire Lord? We've gotta go see him! He can train me!
Sokka: We're not gonna go find some crazy firebender! (edit) Aang: Nice touch setting off the fireworks.
Sokka: You seem to know your explosives.
Chey: I'm familiar. (edit) Aang: I'm calling Appa!
Sokka: I hope he can really hear that bison whistle! (edit) Sokka: Aaahhh. Hot! HOT!
Katara: "Flaming Fire Flakes" hot? What do you know. (edit) Aang: Hey, a poster of me!
Sokka: A wanted poster. This is bad. (edit) Jeong Jeong: Even that oaf knows to concentrate on what he's doing!
Sokka: Hey! (edit) Aang: Wow! That's good water.
Sokka: When did you learn to do that?
Katara: I guess I always knew.
Sokka: Oh... well then thanks for all the first aid over the years. Like when I fell into the grease briar bramble, and that time I had TWO fish hooks in my thumb!
Aang: Two?
Katara: He tried to get the first fish hook out with another fish hook.
Sokka: Oh, and the time that big snake bit me! Thanks for healing that up. That was great. Really helpful. (edit) Jeong Jeong: What are you doing here!? I did not tell you to stop!
Aang: I've been breathing for hours!
Jeong Jeong: You want to stop breathing?!
Aang: I want you to stop wasting my time! I already know how to squat and breathe and feel the sun. I wanna learn how to shoot fire out of my fingertips! (edit) Jeong Jeong (to Aang): Learn restraint or risk destroying yourself and everything you love. (edit) Aang: Ready disguises. (Sokka lifts up hood over his head)
(Katara does the same as Sokka)
(Aang pulls part of his shirt over his head)
(Katara laughs)
Sokka: It's like you're a whole different person. (edit) Katara (about visiting the Fire Nation town): We'll wear disguises and if it looks like trouble, we'll leave.
Sokka (sarcastically): Yeah, because we always leave before we get into trouble. (edit) Aang: You've lost this battle.
Admiral Zhao: Are you crazy? You haven't thrown a single blow!
Aang: No, but you have. (Aang reveals to Zhao that he destroyed his own ships) Jeong-Jeong said you had no restraint. (jumps into river as Zhao roars in fury and further destroys his ship) Have a nice walk home! (edit) Aang (mocking Zhao): Ahoy, I'm Admiral Zhao!
(Aang shakes his bottom at Zhao)
Admiral Zhao: Grr... (edit) Jeong Jeong (as Katara heals herself by placing her hands in the river): You have healing abilities. The great benders of the Water Tribe sometimes have this ability. I've always wished I were blessed like you. Free from this burning curse.
Katara: But you're a great master. You have powers I'll never know.
Jeong Jeong: Water brings healing and life. But fire brings only destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdended with its care to walk a razor edge thin line between humanity and savagery. Eventually we're torn apart. (edit) Aang: You brought me up here to breathe?
Jeong Jeong: Assume your stance. (looks away) Wider.
Aang: You're not even look-
Jeong Jeong: Wider. (Aang squats wider) Now inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth... without talking. (edit) Roku: You think I am weak?
Jeong Jeong: Avatar Roku. No, no. I did not mean that.
Roku: I have mastered the elements 1,000 times in 1,000 lifetimes. Now I must do it again. You will teach the Avatar firebending.
Jeong Jeong: Yes, yes I will teach you.
Aang: Really? That's great! (edit) Jeong Jeong: To master the bending disciplines, you must first master discipline itself. But you have no interest in this, so I have no interest in you. Now get out.
Aang: Please. I have to learn. This could be my only chance.
Jeong Jeong: Are you deaf? How could I teach you if you refuse to listen? Before learning firebending, you must learn water and earth. Water is cool and soothing. Earth is steady and stable. But fire, fire is alive. It breathes. It grows. Without a bender, a rock will not throw itself, but fire will spread and destroy everything in its path if one does not have the will to control it. That is destiny, you are not ready. You are weak. (edit) Aang: I'm the Avatar, it's my destiny to- (gets cut off)
Jeong Jeong: Destiny? What would a boy know of destiny? If a fish lives its whole life in this river, does he know the river's destiny? No! Only that it runs on and on out of his control! He may follow where it flows, but he cannot see the end. He cannot imagine the ocean. (edit) Jeong Jeong (as Aang enters his room): Get out.
Aang: Master, I need to learn firebending.
Jeong Jeong: Only a fool seeks his own destruction. (edit) Sokka: You're a Fire Nation soldier.
Chey: Was. My name's Chey. (a little later) I serve a man. More than a man, real, he's a myth, but he's real, a living legend Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation General, or wait, was he an Admiral?
Sokka: He was highly ranked, we get it.
Chey: Yeah, way up there. But he couldn't take the madness anymore. He's the first person ever to leave the army and live. I'm the second, but you don't get to be a legend for that. That's okay though. (edit) Katara: Aang, hold on, where are we going?
Aang: I don't know, but there's a big crowd, so it must be good.
Sokka: Knowing the Fire Nation, it's probably an execution. (edit) Fire Lord Puppet: Don't worry loyal citizens, no one can surprise the Fire Lord.
Spectators (as an earthbender puppet approaches the Fire Lord puppet): Oh no!
(The Fire Lord puppet blasts the earthbender with fire) (edit) Katara (after entering the fire festival): I think we need some new disguises.
Sokka: Where are we going to get masks like that?
Man: Get your genuine fire festival masks here.
Sokka: That was surprisingly easy. (edit) Katara (pointing to a map): This should give us a good idea what's around here.
Sokka: See if you can find a menu. I'm starving. (edit) Aang: I don't know why, but I thought you'd be better than Zuko.
(Zhao blasts him with his largest fire attack yet) (edit)

The heading of the Fire Days Poster reads "Celebrate the Fire Festival!" The first sub-heading reads "Traditional Fire Nation cuisine". (edit) According to Jeong Jeong's wanted poster, the Fire Nation decription could be translated as follows: Jeong Jeong is a former Fire Nation captain, about 65 years old, white hair, seemingly not dangerous but he is a firebending master. People who want to capture him must be careful. (edit) Based on the Chinese text of Jeong Jeong's wanted poster, the word "Firebending" is written as "ÖÆ»ðÊõ", which is roughly translated as "The Method of Controlling Fire." (edit) The riverboats Zhao and his men use are made primarily out of highly flammable wood, when in all other cases, the Fire Nation navy are shown to make use of almost entirely ironclad vessels. (edit) When Aang lands on the stern of the final boat with his arms behind him, the front of the ship has no decorations, but when Aang jumps off the boat before Zhao howls in rage, the front of the ship grows spikes. (edit) While Aang is playing with the fire he has just bent, for a moment his arrow is not shown. (edit) When Aang is taunting Zhao and says, "I don't know why, but I thought you'd be better than Zuko!" closed captions accidently says "Roku." (edit)

The way Chey speaks of Jeong Jeong is very similar to the way the Russian, or the harlequin as some refer to him, regards Kurtz in the novel Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad. It's a older book, detailing the main character's, Marlow's, journey into Africa to get Kurtz, a chief of one of the stations in the jungle who became wild. Anyway, there's this guy, who is only called the Russian, that meets Kurtz and idolizes him, saying, "this man has enlarged my mind," and other similar things. It is just similar to the situation with Chey and Jeong Jeong, since both are out wandering in the woods as well, although with a band of deserters, and Chey seems to idolize Jeong Jeong with the same reverence that the Russian does Kurtz. The only ironic thing is that Jeong Jeong hadn't become savage, like Zhao had, unlike Kurtz in the novel, who did become uncivilized. (edit) When dispelling the Firebender magician's fire dragon, Aang performs the same move as the silhoutted Airbender in the opening intro. (edit) When Roku visited Jeong Jeong's in his vision, he lit up a small tree to emphasize his instructions. This is most likely a reference to Biblical tale of Moses and the burning bush, in which then outcast, future prophet also received instructions by means of a spiritual epiphany. (edit) Chey's name maybe a play for Che Guevara, an Argentine-born Marxist, politician, and leader of Cuban and internationalist guerrillas. (edit) Some of Chey's lines poke fun at Dennis Hopper's psychodelic monologues from the film Apocalypse Now. (edit) The music played in a forest scene with Aang is the same used in a Spongebob computer game. (edit) Keone Young, who provided the voice for Jeong Jeong, is the third actor from American Dragon: Jake Long to have a role on Avatar: The Last Airbender. The other two stars to have roles in both series are Dante Basco and Mae Whitman. (edit) The rogue student-former master relationship between Zhao and Jeong Jeong is strikingly similar to the relationship between Obi Wan and Annakin Skywalker from Star Wars, especially with Aang, the new pupil, thrown into the mix. (edit)