This episode is in the Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1: Water, Volume 1 DVD, along with The Boy in the Iceberg, The Avatar Returns, and The Warriors of Kyoshi. (edit) Character Debuts: Monk Gyatso, Monk Pasaang (edit) It is revealed that Zuko's ship is much smaller than the other ships in the Fire Nation fleet. (edit) This is the first time we see Zuko smile. (edit) In the air temple, the avatars' statues are placed in a spiral from the highest floor of the temple to it's bottom. It seems that there isn't enough room for more than 4 more statues in the spiral. This may be because after the next fire avatar, there won't be any air avatar (since all the air nomads will be extinct after Aang will die), and the cycle of the avatar will be broken. (edit) Uncle Iroh displays a strong liking for tea, his favorite being Ginseng. (edit) The opening sequence of this episode and those following is different from that used in the pilot. (edit) We learn that Uncle Iroh is the Fire Lord's brother (as opposed to Zuko's mother's brother), but it is not indicated whether he is older or younger than the Fire Lord in this episode. (edit) This is the first time we see an Agni Kai (a firebending duel). (edit) This is the first time Aang used his Avatar state to bend air. (edit) When Aang triggered his Avatar spirit, statues in temples across the world (in the Water Tribe, Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom), including inside the Southern Air Temple sanctuary, lit up, spreading the word that the Avatar has actually returned once and for all. (edit) At least two years ago Zhao was a Captain when Zuko saw him last, but now he has been promoted to the rank of Commander. (edit) The Avatar cycle seems to follow the seasons: Water (winter), Earth (spring), Fire (summer), and Air (fall), this is also the order Katara names the elements in the opening theme. The Avatar Cycle is as follows: Air, Water, Earth and Fire. (edit) Although it is not directly stated, it is implied that Prince Zuko´s burn was caused because of a lost duel with a fire-bending master. (edit) This episode first aired in Britain (UK) on Nickelodeon on Friday 11, November 2005. (edit) Creature Debut: Winged Lemur (Air Nomads) (edit) This is the first time we see Avatar Roku. (In the form of a statue) (edit) Commander Zhao becomes aware that the Avatar is alive and now will be searching for him like Zuko is. (edit) We learn that Iroh is a retired general of the Fire Nation. (edit) During this episode, Aang is forced to accept what Katara has been telling him about his people; that they have been wiped out by the Fire Nation. (edit) This is the first mention of the Avatar Cycle. (edit) Prince Zuko is in exile from the Fire Nation until he captures the Avatar. (edit) Aang cries in this episode of the Fire Nation's destruction. (edit) Aang's past is revealed throughout the episode. (edit) The Southern Air Temple was Aang's original home. (edit) Enemy Debut: Commander Zhao (Fire Nation) (edit) Hero Debut: Momo (Air Nomads) (edit) This was the first episode of the series that was only 22 minutes long unlike the first two part episodes which originally aired back to back. (edit) Aang's Avatar spirit is triggered after discovering Gyatso's skeleton. (edit)

Zhao: And by year's end, the Earth Kingdom capital will be under our rule. The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war.
Zuko: If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool.
Zhao: Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue. (pause) So, how is your search for the Avatar going?
(Iroh accidentally knocks over a stand of weapons loudly)
Iroh: My fault, entirely.
Zuko: We haven't found him yet.
Zhao: Did you really expect to? The Avatar died a hundred years ago - along with the rest of the airbenders. (pause) Unless you found some evidence that the Avatar is alive. (edit) Aang: I want you to meet somebody.
Sokka: Who's that?
Aang: Monk Gyatso, the greatest airbender in the world. He taught me everything I know. (edit) (Aang sighs)
Katara: What's wrong?
Aang (with a sad look on his face): This place use to be filled of monks, and lemurs, and bison. Now there's just a bunch of weeds. (edit) Sokka: (holding his stomach) So where do I get something to eat?
Katara: You're one of the first outsiders to ever visit an Airbener Temple, and all you can think about is food?
Sokka: I'm just a simple guy with simple needs. (edit) Aang (as they approach the Southern Air Temple): There it is, the Southern Air Temple!
Katara (excited): Aang, its amazing!
Aang (happy, talking to Appa): We're home buddy, we're home. (edit) Sokka (as his stomach growls): Hey, stomach, be quiet, I'm trying to find us some food. (edit) Zuko: Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want too stay to long and risk losing his trail.
Iroh: You mean the Avatar.
Zuko (angered): Don't mention his name on these docks. Once word gets out that he is alive, every Firebender will be out looking for him, and I don't want anyone getting in the way. (edit) Aang: Wait till you see it, Katara. The Southern Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Katara (worried): Aang, I know you're excited, but its been a hundred years since you've been home.
Aang: That's why I'm so excited.
Katara: It's just that a lot can change in that time.
Aang: I know, but I just need to see it for myself. (edit) Aang: Wake up Sokka, Air Temple here we come!
(edit) Sokka (getting up painfully): Making him feel better is putting me in a world of hurt. (edit) Sokka: Hey, who ate all my blubbered seal jerky?
Aang: Oh, that was food? I used it to start the camp fire last night. Sorry.
Sokka: You what?! Aww, no wonder the flames smelled so good. (edit) Uncle Iroh (after Zuko kicks over tea table): More tea, please. (edit) Iroh: So this is how the great commander Zhao acts in defeat... disgraceful! Even in exile my nephew is more honorable than you. Thank you again for the tea. It was delicious. (Zuko and Iroh leave)
Zuko: Did you really mean what you said, Uncle?
Iroh: Of course. I told you ginseng tea was my favorite. (Zuko half-smiles) (edit) Prince Zuko (after Agni Kai): Next time you get in my way, I promise, I won't hold back. (edit) Commander Zhao (referring to Zuko's ship): That's quite a bit of damage.
Prince Zuko: Yes. You wouldn't believe what happened. (pause) Uncle! Tell Commander Zhao what happened.
Uncle Iroh: Ah yes. It was incredible! (mutters to Zuko) What? Did we crash or something?
Prince Zuko: Yes! Right into an... Earth Kingdom ship.
Commander Zhao (smirking): Really? You must regail me all the thrilling details. (edit) Uncle Iroh: Remember your firebending basics Prince Zuko, they are your greatest weapon.
Zuko: I refuse to let him win. (edit) Uncle Iroh (stops Zuko from attacking Zhao): No Prince Zuko, do not taint your victory. (edit) Uncle Iroh: Prince Zuko, do you remember what happened the last time you dueled a master?
Prince Zuko: I will never forget. (edit) Uncle Iroh: Basics, Zuko. Break his root! (edit) Aang: Lemur!
Sokka (drooling): Dinner!
Aang: Don't listen to him, you're going to be my new pet!
Sokka: Not if I get him first!
(both lunge at Momo)
Aang and Sokka: Ahhg! (edit) Sokka: Sleep now, temple later. (edit) Commander Zhao: You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of warships under my command. And you, you're just a banished prince. No home. No allies. Your own father doesn't even want you.
Prince Zuko: You're wrong. Once I deliver the Avatar to my father, he will welcome me home with honor, and restore my rightful place on the throne.
Commander Zhao: If your father really wanted you home, he would have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar. But in his eyes, you are a failure, and a disgrace to the Fire Nation.
Prince Zuko: That's not true.
Commander Zhao: You have the scar to prove it.
Prince Zuko (finally reaching his breaking point): Maybe you'd like one to match! (edit) Sokka: You were a firebender!? No wonder I didn't trust you when we first met! (edit) Sokka: Statues! Where's the meat?! (edit)

While Aang questions how Roku can help him, you can see that an airbender (not Avatar Yangchen as evidenced by the hair over the shoulders) is to Roku's right rather than Kyoshi, the Earthbender Avatar. (edit) When Aang introduced Momo into the gaang, Katara's braid is missing and the bead in her bun is colored the same as her hair. (edit) When Zuko stands to fight in the Agni Kai, he only has four toes. (edit) We can clearly see that the canopy ceiling in the building where Monk Gyatso died has given way, leaving a gaping hole, but after we see the Fire Avatar Temple, we can see from the outside that the ceiling is nearly whole but when we see Aang inside the building "glowing up", the ceiling is ruined once more only to mend again so Aang can break through it. (edit) As Aang falls from his jump after Momo, the arrow on his left hand disappears. (edit) Many people point out that the Avatar statue next to Roku is not Kyoshi, as it should be. But if you pause at 0:12:19 (DVD) you see Avatars Kuruk and Kyoshi. (edit) Once again, Aang's eye color changes from brown, in the beginning of the epi, to gray, somewhere on their way to the temple. (edit) Look Hard: At the very end of this episode, when Aang, Katara, and Sokka are flying away and Aang looks back at his home, you can see two interesting shaped clouds next to the temple. If you look closely, you can see that one of the clouds is Avatar Roku's animal guide, (who we meet in The Spirit World (Winter Solstice, Part 1). Next to it, you can see Avatar Roku himself (who we meet in Avatar Roku (Winter Solstice, Part 2). (edit) Sokka said that the person who was thought to be in the air temple sanctuary might have "a medely of delicious cured meats". This is ironic, because the Air Nomads were vegetarians. (edit) When Katara is trying to get Aang out of the avatar state, she goes in front of Sokka. Then screen changes to show Aang in avatar state. When the screen goes back to Katara, She is taking cover beside Sokka. (edit) When Zhao looks at the map in this episode, Lake Laogai is shown to be west of the inner wall of Ba Sing Se. However, later on in the episode Lake Laogai the Lake is revealed to be southeast of the inner wall. (edit) Aang says that the fire nation couldn't have gotten to the air temple without a flying Bison, however in the later episode The Avatar and the Firelord, it is revealed that the fire nation possesses dragons which have the ability of flight just like the flying bisons. (edit) In a profile shot of Avatar Roku's statue just before the eyes glow, Roku's hair knob at the top of his head disappears, then reappears when Katara is looking at it. (edit) When Aang goes to open the Sanctuary doors, the shot shows the door locks in "open" position, but when he begins to unlock them, they are closed, and open again when they should. (edit) Just after Aang announces they are approaching the Patola mountain range the scene changes to a close-up of Aang & Katara sitting atop Appa's head in which you can clearly see Aang's right hand without a blue arrow on it. (edit) When Zhao is talking it shows the map of the Avatar World in the background, and if you look closely you see that it is different from the rest of the maps we see in the series. The Water Tribe's territories are shown as just circles, much different from usual. (edit) When Zhao returns to the tent during an up close shot of Zuko, his burnt ear is normal and unscathed. (edit) When Aang is staring at Roku's statue and we are looking at him from behind, Aang's sash and shawl change. His sash is bulky and his shawl seems to be tucked into his sash and appears beneath it. (edit) The opening title card is different from the rest of episodes, since it shows the Book's and Chapter's names over imposed to it, not against the white screen as usual. (edit) This is the first time we see an Air temple of the four that there are. (edit) Sokka's appearance is different in this episode than the others. (edit)

Aang says that Sky Bison carried airbenders to the high altitudes of the Air Temples. Aang's sky bison, Appa is an allusion to Appa Sherpa, who holds the record for most ascents of Mount Everest. He guided climbers up to the high altitudes of Mount Everest 16 times, just like sky bison guide airbenders to the temples on the top of the mountain. (edit) Monk Gyatso is probably an allusion to the Tibetan monk Thubten Gyatso. Aang says that Monk Gyatso was the greatest airbender. Similarily, Thubten Gyatso received the honor of being called Great among the Dalai Lama, or recognized holy monks in Buddhism. (edit) Along with being Japanese for "peach," the word "Momo" is also a common name given to small pets in Japan. It is about as equivalent to "Spot" or "Fido" in the West. (edit) The fact that the same soul is reincarnated into each new Avatar resembles the Buddhist belief that the same soul is reincarnated into each new Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is the head of the Buddhist religion, who Buddhists believe is the reincarnation of Buddha himself. (edit) "Gyatso" (the Tibetan word for "ocean") is the name given to each incarnation of the Dalai Lama when he takes the position. (edit) The Earth Kingdom Avatar temple that was briefly shown is built similar to the Temple of Heaven aka the Altar of Heaven. The temple, originally constructed in early 15th century, is a Taoist building situated in southeast Bejiing. (edit) The airbenders closely resemble many types of Buddhist monks, with their shaven heads and evidence of mandatory meditation. The beads that many of the older monks wear are also similar to the prayer beads that Buddhist masters wear. (edit) The fire duel is called Agni Kai, which may be based on the fact that Agni is the Hindu god of fire. (edit)