The Search: As I’m sure many would agree, The Search put the Gaang on an adventure many longed to see in finding out whatever happened to Ursa? Well, I heartily enjoyed it. Not only for answering this question but giving deeper insight to the dysfunction of the Fire Nation Royal Marriage as well as its theme about siblings. From Sokka and Katara’s perfectly normal bond in contrast to Zuko’s attempts to reach Azula in her crazed state plus the other Water Tribe siblings that come up in the story. Which brings me to more mythos in the form of Koh the Face Stealer and his mother. Just this arc has it all in featuring adventure, mythos, pathos and cliffhangers.

North and South: So while I love some good Fire Nation drama, I also enjoy pivoting back to the Water Tribe. Though the show spent a good chunk of time in the North Pole in season one, it tends to fall to the side compared to the overwhelming, menacing presence of the Fire Nation and the tricky classism and political intrigue of the Earth Kingdom. That’s why I enjoyed the return to Katara and Sokka’s home to find it drastically changed. It delves into the conflicting feelings between tradition and progress with good points on both sides as well as the emotional attachment that comes with sticking to tradition. Which is only exasperated by the personal drama of Hakoda finding a new paramour. Throw in some North vs South Water tribe cultural differences that echoes colonialism or at least North Water Tribe superiority, then you definately have me hooked.

The Promise: This takes place after the war and things are not so happily ever after as the finale left us. The Nations have to rebuild and Zuko is struggling with his new responsibilities on the throne. So much that he’s going to his father. I’ll have to admit the insight to Ozai is astounding to see how much of a dick he is. I mean seriously. But I enjoy it nonetheless. Just as I enjoyed the work Aang is tring to do in creating the Air Acolytes while advising Zuko so he doesn’t go too far. Plus the troubles with Fire Nation colony on the Earth Kingdom ground adds a delicious extra conflict that has big repurcussions as we’ve seen in Legend of Korra. I just love when these fantasy stories add realism like this and seeing the foundation for the future.

The Imbalance: Speaking of seeing the foundation of the future, this arc deals with the growing tensions between non-benders and benders. This arc sometimes seem slow because it focuses more on character dynamics rather than plot but it still builds up the tension through this as it shows one family with two powerful benders and one nonbender in a dynamic that is at once abusive yet entrenched in revolutionary ideals. Very powerful messages are trying to be explored here.

The Rift: This deals with the fall-out of the Beifong family since Toph escaped her family’s home thus it is very Toph-heavy as she wrangles with her fears that they won’t accept her back or worse, accept her but still treat her as a weak, little blind girl. The character development is rounded out with a conflict between the spirits and the crystal refinery run by Toph’s father that is accepting Old Man Iron. Once again the divide between preserving the enviroment and providing jobs is the topic du jour as Avatar sets up its industrial revolution. While do find both interesting, the others top them in being more memorable.

Smoke and Shadow: Like I said before, there’s nothing too bad about this. It’s just doesn’t reach the height of memorability as the other arcs do. Even so, it’s still very action-packed with Ozai supporters vying to put their former monarch on the throne and assassinate Zuko, Azula’s return and Mai’s father adding more unnecessary drama. Again, enjoyable but we already had quite a few Fire Nation-centered plots so this feels a bit more of the same.