Character Debuts: Hahn (edit) This is the second time Aang went into the Spirit World. The first was in Winter Solstice (1) (The Spirit World). (edit) This two-part season finale is Michael DiMartino's favorite episode of the first season, who describes it as "pretty epic" for an animation series. (edit) We learn that firebending is enhanced by the sun. This would explain why the Fire Nation has been so successful in the war. Since the sun is constantly rising, the firebenders are constantly stronger. (edit) This episode aired in the UK on 27/10/06 (27 October 2006). (edit) Hahn's name is German for "rooster," although it can also be attributed to a surname in Korean spirituality meaning "a sharp spur of force." (edit) Katara is wearing a new coat in this episode. (edit) There are technically two spirit worlds. The "true" spirit world is where the spirits live. This is where Aang meets the monkey, the panda, Avatar Roku, and the face-stealer. The second spirit world is the one where the inhabitants appear as ghosts, and cannot be seen by those living in the physical world. (With the unexplained exclusion of Iroh, as seen in the seventh episode. Iroh's ability to see spirits in this second spirit world might have to do with his trip into the spirit world, as mentioned by Zhao here.) (edit) Look hard: When the snow turns black, and Zhao is beginning to attack, you see people running up the stairs. Then you see people hitting a bell with 2 hammers. If you look at that bell, half of it is the moon (representing the moon spirit) and the other half is an ocean (representing the ocean spirit). This is the symbol which can be found all across the Northern Water Tribe, including on its gate at the front of the community.In past and future episodes we learn the ultimate significance of those symbols, as the Water Tribe worship them. (edit) Katara is one of the best pupils that Master Pakku has ever had, compared to his other male students. This despite her being a woman. (edit) The original hour-long broadcast of this two-part season finale was the 23rd-most-watched television program on Cable TV for the week, scoring an audience of 2,522,000. (edit) When Princess Yue and Sokka are walking side by side in the beginning of the episode, you can hear the beat to the "Four Seasons" song Uncle Iroh was singing in the previous episode. (edit) Apparently, Zuko can create heat with his hands and entire body to the degree that he can melt thick sheets of ice, as he melted through the ice pipe and Katara's attack. (edit) Prince Zuko's ability to breathe fire is unique, based on what Iroh said in this episode. Iroh probably taught him how to do it seeing as he can also breathe fire. (edit) Waterbenders draw their strength from the moon and Firebenders draw theirs from the sun. (edit) Katara and Zuko fight each other for the first time. (edit) Iroh once had a son but apparently he died and ever since Iroh treats Zuko as his own. (edit)

Sokka: What happened? Where's Aang?
Katara: Zuko took him. He took him right out from under me. (edit) Chief Arnook: Is something wrong, Sokka?
Sokka: Oh, no! Hahn's out there on a top secret mission while I'm here sharpening my boomerang. Every thing's fine.
Chief Arnook: Listen, I took you off the mission for selfish reasons. I have a special task in mind for you.
Sokka: What, you want me to scrub the barracks?
Chief Arnook: I want you to guard my daughter, Princess Yue.
Sokka: Sure...that shouldn't be too hard. (edit) Chief Arnook: Our first objective is to determine the identity of their commanding officer.
Sokka: His name is Zhao. Middle aged, big sideburns, bigger temper.
Chief Arnook: Sokka, I want you to tell everything you know to Hahn; he's leading this mission. Hahn, show Sokka your respect, I expect nothing less from my future son-in-law.
Sokka: Princess Yue is marrying you?!
Hahn: Yeah, what of it?
Sokka: Nothing, congratulations. (edit) (Katara defeats another student in a waterbending match)
Master Pakku: Nice work, Pupil Sangul. Maybe in a few years, you'll be able to defeat a sea sponge. (to his other students) Would anyone care for a rematch with Katara? (all the students shake their heads) Katara, you've advanced more quickly than any student I've ever trained. You have proven that with fierce determination, passion, and hard work, you can accomplish anything. Raw talent alone is not enough.
(Pakku and Katara look at Aang, who is playing with Momo)
Master Pakku: Pupil Aang!
Aang: Yes, Master Pakku?
Master Pakku: Care to step into the sparring circle? I figured since you found the time to play with house pets, you must have already mastered waterbending.
Aang: I wouldn't say mastered, but check this out!
(Aang waterbends himself into a snowman. Master Pakku and Katara look at him disapprovingly) (edit) Hahn: Let me tell you Sokka, I've courted a lot of girls, but Yue is the finest. And she comes with the most perks.
Sokka: Perks?! What does that mean?
Hahn: I mean, Yue's nice and everything, but the points I'll get with the Chief aren't bad either.
Sokka: Princess Yue is wasted on a self-absorbed weasel like you!
Hahn: Whoa, hang on. Why do you care? You're just a simple rube from the Southern Tribe. How would you know of the political complexities of our life? No offense. (edit) Arnook: Come forward to receive my mark, if you accept the task.
(A few people come up and Arnook puts his mark on their faces. When Sokka comes up, Yue looks at him with sadness. And after a while, she sheds a tear because she knows Sokka will not return) (edit) Aang (while in the spirit oasis): You're right Yue, I can feel something, it's so, tranquil. (edit) Princess Yue: The legends say the moon was the first Waterbender. Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves.
Katara: I've always noticed my Waterbending is stronger at night.
Princess Yue: Our strength comes from the spirit of the moon, our life comes from the spirit of the ocean; they work together to keep balance. (edit) Iroh (talking to Zuko): You're fishing for an octopus my nephew, you need a tightly woven net or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape. (edit) Aang (as he looks at thousands of Fire Nation ships): You've gotta be kidding me. (edit) Princess Yue: So they don't have palaces in the southern tribe?
Sokka: Are you kidding? I grew up in a block of ice. It's not exactly a cultural Hub.
Princess Yue (puts hand on Sokka's arm and giggles, then turns serious): Sokka this is wrong.
Sokka: What's wrong? We're taking a walk.
Princess Yue: I'm engaged, it just feels...
Sokka: I know what you need. You need to meet my good friend Appa.
Princess Yue: Who? (edit) Yue: Is he ok?!
Katara: He's crossing into the spirit world! He's fine as long as we don't move his body, that's his way back to the physical world.
Yue: Maybe we should get some help!
Katara: No, Aang's my friend, I am perfectly capable of protecting him. (edit) Sokka (to Yue): Soot.
Yue: What?
Sokka: I have seen it before, right before my village was attacked - It's soot mixed with snow.
Yue: But why?
Sokka: It's the fire nation. They have closed in on the north pole, and by the looks of it, there's a lot of them. (edit) Aang: I can't do it. There's too many of them. I must've taken out a dozen ships. I can't do it.
Yue: But you have to. You're the Avatar.
Aang: I'm just one kid. (edit) Hahn (After Sokka is taken off the mission): All right, fall in, men! Everybody listen to what I say, and we'll take care of this Admiral Choi in no time. (Walks off)
Sokka: It's Admiral Zhao! (Goes back to sulking) (edit) Princess Yue (When Aang is trying to cross into the Spirit World): Why is he sitting like that?
Katara: He's meditating, trying to cross into the Spirit World. It takes all his concentration.
Princess Yue: Is there any way we can help?
(Aang turns around from meditating and faces Katara and Yue)
Aang: How about some quiet? Come on, guys, I can hear every word you're saying! (edit) Zuko: Well aren't you a big girl now.
Katara: No!
Zuko: Yes. Hand him over, and I won't have to hurt you. (edit) Uncle Iroh: Be careful what you wish for Zhao, history is not always kind to its subject.
Admiral Zhao: I suppose you speak from experience. (edit) Uncle Iroh (standing a ways behind Zuko loading a canoe): I'm sorry, I just nag you because, well, ever since I lost my son.
Prince Zuko: Uncle, you don't have to say it.
Uncle Iroh: I think of you as my own. (rushes forward and embraces Zuko tightly)
Prince Zuko: I know, Uncle. We'll meet again, after I have the Avatar.
Uncle Iroh: Remember your breath of fire! It could save your life out there!
Prince Zuko: I will. (is now lowering himself and the canoe out of the ship)
Uncle Iroh: And put your hood up, keep your ears warm!
Prince Zuko: I'll be fine. (edit) Prince Zuko:(To Katara) You rise with the moon... I rise with the sun. (edit) Katara (about the moon and ocean spirits): The Avatar is the bridge between our world and the Spirit World. Aang can talk to them!
Princess Yue: Maybe they'll give you the wisdom to win this battle!
Aang: Or, maybe they'll unleash a crazy amazing spirit attack on the Fire Nation! (silence, Aang looks around) Or wisdom. That's good too. (edit) Aang: I wasn't there when the Fire Nation attacked my people. I'm going to make a difference this time. (edit) Prince Zuko (to Katara): You little peasant. You've found a master, haven't you? (edit) Iroh: We'll be landing soon. Do you have a plan?
Zuko: I'm working on it Uncle. (edit)

When Master Pakku and others trap a fireball in ice, he's wearing a completely new jacket with a wavy pattern around the collar, but the jacket is not seen before this nor anytime after. (edit) After Yue explains the Spirit Oasis and before Momo dips his hand into the pond, we see the Oasis from above and can see that the cluster of bamboo is set an angle not parallel to the gateway and that the waterfall has disappeared. (edit) Right before Katara hits the post (from Zuko's last attack), her necklace is white, her collar is white, and the beads in her bun are missing. (edit) In the previous episode, Yue's dress only had a fur lining on the y-shaped collar. In this episode, it is now an upturned collar. (edit) When Aang says "I'm gonna make a difference this time," and stands up Katara's part of her hair where the braid starts is the same color as her coat. (edit) When Sokka and Yue are on the steps to the meeting, and Yue says they can't be together, the position of the soot on the stairs constantly changes with each shot. (edit) When the first FN ships breach the wall, the landing platforms of the ships in the background are a light, unblemished gray where as the rest of the ship is a battle-hardened dark gray. the ship in the foreground in a uniform battle-hardened gray. (edit) The wavy light purple and dark purple pattern on Katara's new jacket's belt continues to disappear and reappear at random, leaving only a plain, purple belt for most times. (edit) After Katara gets knocked down by the third fireball blast Sokka helps her get up, but the three red markings he received just a scene earlier vanish and are absent for the rest of the season. (edit) Just after Aang crosses into the Spirit World, the pendant of Katara's necklace vanishes. (edit) When Sokka was showing Appa to Yue and Appa licks him, Yue wasn't wearing her glove when she was laughing with her hand on her mouth. (edit) After Momo scampers away from the pond we have a screen showing Katara and Yue from behind, during this, Yue's white collar turns purple like her outfit. (edit) After defeating Sangok, while Pakku appears, Katara's braid is missing. (edit) When Katara is beside a saddened Aang when he returns form fighting the Fire Navy ships, her braid is gone. (edit) When Aang dives towards the first Fire Navy ship, before he opens his glider, his staff is bright orange. (edit) When soot starts falling from the sky, any small pool of water turns black. The only water that remains blue is the water near the main temple. (edit) Several waterbenders send a spike throught a fire navy boat. After Aang leaves this boat, the spike is gone. (edit) Before Zuko appears and fights Katara, the clip of her necklace is bright blue. (edit) When Momo starts to try to touch the moon and ocean spirits, and Katara and Yue glare at him, Yue doesn't have her engagement necklace on. (edit)

Breath of Fire
The "breath of fire" is actually a real Kundalini Yoga move (sans actual flame) called Agni-Prasana, where the air is pulled in and pumped out very rhythmically like pumping a bellows, powered by abdominal contractions and used to cleanse and energize the body. The inspiration was stated in the director audio commentary for the episode. (edit) The Snowman
Apparently a waterbending technique of Aang's invention, he spins around downward, pulls snow up over his body, then continues spinning upward until he is standing perfectly straight with both arms out. At this point resembles like a smiling snowman. (edit) The "sea sponge," to which Pakku stated that his pupil Sangook will be able to beat in a few years, was, as later admitted by the creators in the audio commentary for "The Siege of the North (Part One)," a friendly poke at another popular Nickelodeon character/show, Spongebob Squarepants. (edit) When the Northern Waterbenders freeze the first Fire Navy ship, it looks exactly like the frozen ship in the South Pole that Aang and Katara explore in the first episode, The Boy in the Iceberg. (edit) When Chief Arnook says "The enemy is on our doorstep," it is almost the exact line Gandalf says in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. (edit) Katara calls Aang the bridge between the world of the living and the Spirit World. Aang was called this before in the episode, The Spirit World (Winter Solstice, Part 1). (edit)