LogFAQs > #942389736

#17: The Serpent's Pass (2.12)

I remember this episode being branded as a two parter, with The Drill being the second part. But that classification clearly doesn't reflect the plot: it is actually the third and final part of an arc that starts in The Library. And all three episodes are fantastic.

This episode wasn't the most memorable when I first watched the show, but on a rewatch, it really grew on me. It's just so emotional. The episode is centered on the concept of hope. Aang is hopeless because he lost Appa. He is lashing out at others and pushing his feelings way, trying to be strong and cold. Meanwhile, the team travels to Ba Sing Se, while escorting a pregnant woman and her husband. Eventually, as they approach the city, the woman's child is born, and Aang is overwhelmed by the whole scene and starts tearing up. All the bottled up feelings from losing Appa come up again, Aang realizes all he wanted was to feel hope again, and the couple even names their kid Hope. It's a very emotional sequence and one of the best in the show, and really connects well with the overall war plot, which that's amazing since it's a skippable episode.

We have some good side plots, too. On the Zuko side, Jet is introdocued again in this season, befriends Zuko, and the two kick some ass in the refugee ship. Meanwhile, Sokka meets Suki, and has to confront his insecurity over losing Yue, but eventually he does and the two become the first canon ship in the show.

Sometimes a great episode just needs some feels.