This episode is available in the Avatar Book 2: Earth, Volume 4 DVD, along with, Appa's Lost Days, Lake Laogai, The Earth King, and The Crossroads of Destiny. (edit) Military Debut: Southern Water Tribe warriors (edit) Princess Azula learns from the Earth King that there will be a solar eclipse on a future day, which will be the day the Fire Nation will be attacked. (edit) It is revealed that Aang's greatest fear is facing Fire Lord Ozai. (edit) Aang's visions through the sequence of the chakras are each tinted to follow the sequence of the color spectrum, from red to violet. (edit) General How declared that in exactly two months they will invade the Fire Nation. Since Wan Shi Tong's calendar stated that the next eclipse will come on August 1, the date setting inside this episode is June 1. (edit) The original hour-long broadcast of this two-part season finale was the 7th-most-watched television program on cable televsion for the week, scoring an audience of 4,400,000 viewers; greatly surpassing that of the previous finale. (edit) This (combined with the following episode) is the 5th one-hour special for Avatar: The Last Airbender. (edit) Celestial Avatar Spirit Aang
This episode marks the first time an incarnation of the Avatar Spirit is provided. The being resembles a colossal, opaque version of Aang himself, complete with illuminated tattoos, and is the representation of his mastery over the Avatar State. Aang encounters the figure in the cosmos during his meditation on the seventh chakra, pure cosmic energy. (edit) Creature Debut: Skunkfish
We are not given a lot of information, but we do know that this animal can be used for what Hakoda calls, "The Stink and Sink", along with seaweed to create a mine that both stinks and tangles any unwanted ships. It is most likely a hybrid of a skunk and some type of fish. (edit) The flashbacks Aang has while opening his chakras are from episodes: The Boy in the Iceberg, The Avatar Returns, Avatar Roku (Winter Solstice, Part 2), his flashback in The Storm, The Blue Spirit, The Fortuneteller, The Deserter, The Avatar State, The Cave of Two Lovers, and the opening theme. (edit) This episode premiered as the first part of the hour long season two finale of Avatar, alongside The Crossroads of Destiny. (edit) Aang is shirtless and barefoot for a majority of this episode. (edit) The Guru was a close friend of Monk Gyatso. (edit) This episode marks the grand opening of Iroh's new tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon. (edit) Ty Lee admits she, Mai and Azula defeated the Kyoshi warriors. However, no mention was made if the warriors survived their battle with the three Fire Nation women. (edit) This is the longest period in which Zuko is shown to be happy. (edit) Zuko has a calm nature after his fever is gone. (edit) Aang leaves the Eastern Air Temple and the Guru, having foresaken mastering the Avatar State to save Katara. (edit) Katara discovers Zuko and Iroh in their new shop, the Jasmine Dragon. (edit) The seven chakras inside the human body are:

Earth: Located at the base of the spine, it deals with Survival, and is blocked by Fear.
Water: Located in the abdomen, it deals with Pleasure, and is blocked by Guilt.
Fire: Located in the stomach, it deals with Willpower, and is blocked by Shame.
Air: Located in the heart, it deals with Love, and is blocked by Grief.
Sound: Located in the throat, it deals with Truth, and is blocked by the Lies we tell ourselves.
Light: Located in the center of the forehead, it is responsible for Insight, and is blocked by Illusions. The greatest illusion is that of Separation: Things you think are separate and different are actually one and the same.
Thought: Located at the crown of the head, it deals with Cosmic Energy, and is blocked by Earthly Attachment. (edit) Azula plans to conquer the Earth Kingdom from the inside with the help of the Dai Li. (edit) In this episode, Toph becomes the first person that we see bend metal, which Guru Pathik describes as "earth which has been purified." Ironically enough in The Drill, Aang jokingly wishes that he was a metalbender. (edit) Iroh has braided his hair to the similar manner of most Ba Sing Se residents shown in the past. (edit) Bato makes his first reappearance since Bato of the Water Tribe in this episode. Though he no longer wears his intricate bandages, some minor burn marks and scars still remain. Hakoda, Katara and Sokka's father, also makes an appearance, his first speaking role outside of a flashback. (edit) This marks the first time that Aang actually openly states that he loves Katara. (edit) The second trailer for the Avatar season two finale premiered during a rebroadcast of the TV movie Secret of the Fire Nation on 11/24/06. (edit) The first commercial for this aired after The Earth King on November 17, 2006. (edit) The guru was first seen in Appa's Lost Days at the Eastern Air Temple. (edit)

Azula: We have been presented with an extraordinary opportunity, girls.
Ty Lee: Mai finally gets to wear make-up that's not totally depressing?
Mai: (make-up smeared all over her face, sarcastically) Ha, ha. (edit) Zuko: (enthusiastically) Now let's make these people some tea.
Iroh: (eagerly) Yes! Let's make some tea!
(edit) Katara: Thank goodness you're here, Suki! Something terrible is going on. The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city! I just saw Prince Zuko and his uncle! (Azula's eyes widen) We have to tell the Earth King right away!
Azula: Oh, don't worry. I'll be sure to let him know. (edit) Master Yu: I believe we need to go right.
Xin Fu: What are you talking about? The Beifong estate's this way.
Master Yu: I'm quite certain you're mistaken.
Toph (knocking on the metal box): Hey! Can you two old ladies quit your bickering for a second? I gotta go to the bathroom!
Master Yu: Oh...uh...Ok but make it quick. (Master Yu pulls out the key for the box and is about to open the metal box, but Xin Fu stops him)
Xin Fu: What's wrong with you?!
Master Yu: Oh! Very sneaky Toph! Nice try, but you can't trick me!
Toph: Let me out of here so I can kick both your butts! Xin Fu: Quit your banging! You might think you're the greatest Earthbender in the world, but even you can't bend metal. (edit) Mai: Ugh. I'm tired of wearing this girly disguise. I don't know how anyone could fight in this.
Ty Lee: Maybe that's why it was so easy to beat the Kyoshi Warriors and take their clothes.
(Dai Li agent looks at Mai and Ty Lee)
Mai: How much longer do we have to serve the Earth King? If I have to clean up one more pile of bear poop, I'm gonna throw up.
Ty Lee: Princess Azula promised we would go back to the Fire Nation as soon as we captured the Avatar. We just have to be patient.
Mai: Shush up! Do you want the whole palace to know we're Fire Nation?
Ty Lee (whispers): Sorry.
(Dai Li agent creeps away; Azula walks out)
Azula: Good work, girls. I'm sure the Dai Li will deliver the message. (edit) Guru: That chakara opened less like a flowing creak and more like a... burping bison
Aang (belches): Tastes like onions and bananas... but strangely, something else... pickles? (Guru Pathik Shrugs) (edit) Toph: Come on metal... budge. (strikes at metal cage and makes a large dent) Woo! (shakes hand) Toph, you rule.
(edit) Guru Pathik: You’ve indeed felt a great loss. But love is a form of energy and it swirls all around us. The Air Nomads’ love for you has not left this world. It is still inside of your heart and is reborn in the form of new love. (Aang sees Katara’s face, as he first saw it) Let the pain flow. (Aang is crying but smiling and wipes away the tears) Very good.
Aang: Can I have some onion-banana juice, please? (edit) Guru Pathik: Third is the fire chakra located in the stomach.
Aang (putting a hand on his stomach): My fire chakra would like to eat something other than onion banana juice.
Guru Pathik (chuckles): Good one. Moving on… (edit) Hakoda: This bay leads to the outskirts of Ba Sing Se. We’ve been using these tangle mines to stop the Fire Nation ships from getting thru.
Bato: You’re father invented tangle mines himself.
Sokka: Destructive, buoyant, and… Agh! Halh! Terrible smelling.
Hakoda: Very perceptive. The mines are filled with skunkfish and seaweed. When a ship detonates the mine, the seaweed tangles up the propeller and the foul smell forces people to abandon the ship. I call it the stink and sink.
Sokka (laughs heartily): Good one, Dad.
Bato (Sokka still laughing in the background): You’re definitely your father’s son. (edit) Guru Pathik: There are seven chakras that go up the body. Each pool of energy has a purpose and can be blocked by a specific kind of emotional muck. Be warned, opening the chakras is an intense experience, and once you begin this process, you cannot stop until all seven are opened. Are you ready?
Aang (thinks for a moment): I’ll do whatever it takes. (edit) Guru Pathik: In order to master the Avatar state, you must open all the chakras. Aang, tell me everything you know about chakras.
Aang (looking sleepy and rubbing his eye): What are chakras?
Guru Pathik: Oh, I see. I guess we’ll start with the basics. (edit) Aang: We're all connected. Everything is connected.
Guru Pathik: That's right. Even the separation of the four elements is an illusion. (edit) Aang (to Guru Pathik): Why would I choose "cosmic energy" over Katara? How can it be a bad thing that I feel an attachment to her? Three chakras ago, that was a good thing! (edit) Aang: Um... hello? (gets off Appa and climbs up stairs) You’re Guru Pathik, right? The person who attached the note to Appa’s horn.
Guru Pathik: Indeed. I was a spiritual brother of your people and a personal friend of the Monk Gyatso.
Aang: In your note, you said you could teach me to gain control of the Avatar state. (sits down) How?
Guru Pathik: You must gain balance within yourself before you can bring balance to the world. And the first step to gaining balance is with this. (hands Aang a bowl) Drink up.
Aang (takes bowl and drinks but immediately spits it out): Ugh! It tastes like onions and banana juice.
Guru Pathik: That’s because it is. (finishes his bowl of juice) Yummy yum. (edit) Master Yu: It's another one of her tricks!
Xin Fu: There's a giant hole in the box! How is that a trick?!
Toph: It's not! It's the real deal! (edit) (Toph traps Master Yu and Xin Fu in metal coffin)
Xin Fu: I'm going to be stuck here forever with you, aren't I?
Master Yu: I have to go to the bathroom.
(Xin Fu slams his head on the coffin) (edit) Toph (to Master Yu and Xin Fu, who she just trapped into the metal prison she escaped from): I am the greatest earthbender in the world! Don't you two dunderheads ever forget it. (edit) Guru Pathik: If you leave now you won't be able to go into the Avatar state at all! (edit) Aang: Why would I let go of Katara? I love her! (edit) Aang (to Sokka): You haven't seen your dad in over two years. You must be so excited.
Sokka (coughs): I know I should be but, I just feel sick to my stomach.
Aang (pats Sokka on the back): Don't be nervous. He's gonna be so happy to see you.
Sokka: So what about you? Are you nervous to meet this guru?
Aang: Not at all. I'm ready to master the Avatar State. I'll do whatever it takes. (Sokka jumps off Appa's back) See you in a week. Yip Yip.
(Appa flies off, leaving Sokka to go to the Water Tribe camp) (edit) Zuko (to Iroh): What's that smell?
Iroh: It's jook. I'm sure you wouldn't like it.
Zuko (smells the jook): Actually, it smells delicious. I'd love a bowl, Uncle.
Iroh: Now that your fever is gone, you seem different somehow.
Zuko: It's a new day. We've got a new apartment, new furniture, and today's the grand opening of your new tea shop. Things are looking up, Uncle. (edit)

When Mai is complaining about her outfit, her strips of hair are behind her shoulders, but when she complains about picking up Bosco's poop their are over her shoulder. (edit) While Mai is complaining about her outfit, we can see that Ty Lee is missing the fans from her belt though they reappear later. (edit) The characters on the sign inside Iroh's teashop read a proverb: "It is better to go for three days without food than one day without tea". (edit) From this episode onward (except for The Awakening), Zuko's hair appears as a dark brown instead of black. (edit) When Katara is told by General How to deliver the battle plans to the Earth King, she says she will do it right away and it's day. But if you watch closely the following scenes are at sunset, at night, at day again, then at night once more when Katara reached the throne room. This couldn't be possible since Katara just made a quick stop at "The Jasmin Dragon" between her two scenes. (edit) In the part when the guru teaches Aang to open the 4th chakra, Aang turns his head to his left to see a woman Airbender statue, but actually, the statue is to his right. (edit)

The writers once again bring up the seasonal concept of everything and everyone being connected, or rather sharing "branches of the same tree", within this episode. Guru Pathik's instruction how the greatest illusion of time is separation echoed that of Huu's teachings in The Swamp. Aang even goes as far as reciting his "everything is connected" line he uttered after being imparted with the precept in the episode. (edit) The process of Aang opening the seven chakras to master the Avatar State draws heir to the characters Rock Lee and Might Guy of the anime/manga series Naruto. In the show, they are taijutsu experts who are able to open chakra gates in order to achieve immense, almost godlike power, much like that of the Avatar State. The only difference being that have the two have the potential to open eight and that the opening of the gates takes a severe physical strain on their bodies, whereas for Aang the toll is primarily emotional. (edit) The food Iroh is cooking in the morning is rice congee (a type of rice porridge), a popular dish in Asia. (edit) Azula's battle strategy to take down the Earth Kingdom is similar to that of the Greeks in the Trojan War. By dressing up as the Warriors of Kyoshi and entering under the guise of allies, she was able to take down the Earth Kingdom from the inside, after years of failed penetration by the Fire Nation from the outside. The Greeks built a wooden horse after many years of trying to take Troy down from the outside. Greek soldiers were inside the horse, and when the Trojans took the horse inside, they came out and burnt Troy to the ground. (edit) The training of Aang by the Guru resembles Luke Skywalker's training under Yoda in Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back. (edit) The "Let go of your attachments" notion that the Guru instructs to Aang is similar to the code of the Jedi in Star Wars, where love is disallowed. Also, the vision of Katara that Aang experienced is remarkably similar to Luke's vision of Leia and Han Solo being in mortal danger in The Empire Strikes Back. Both Aang and Luke leave from their training, despite their mentors' warnings. (edit) Aang learns about chakras from Guru Pathik. In Hinduism and in some related Asian ures, a chakra is thought to be a nexus of metaphysical and/or biophysical energy residing in the human body. (edit) Zuko quotes the, "It's a new day" line that was first uttered by Aang in Return To Omashu. Later on, while the warriors are preparing for battle, Hakoda asks Sokka if he's "ready to go knock some Fire Nation heads", paraphrasing the statement Katara used to win him over to join them in their journey in The Avatar Returns. (edit) A guru is a spiritual teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. (edit) "Guru" also refers in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods, foremost in all branches of learning, venerated alike by the gods and the asuras. In Vedic astrology, Guru or Brihaspati is believed to exert teaching influences. Indeed, in many Indian languages such as Hindi, the occidental Thursday is called either Brihaspativaar or Guruvaar (vaar meaning day of the week). (edit)