Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Blue Spirit

The Blue Spirit
Season 1, Episode 13
Airdate	June 17, 2005
Production Number	1x13
Written by	Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko
Directed by	Dave Filoni
← 1x12 The Storm	1x14 → The Fortuneteller
Avatar: The Last Airbender — Season One

The Blue Spirit is the thirteenth episode of the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the thirteenth episode overall.

Guest Stars: Jason Isaacs (Zhao), Jodi Carlisle (Herbalist), Nick Jameson (Colonel Shinu), Jim Meskimen (Lt. Jee)

Plot Overview

Commander Zhao is promoted to admiral, and uses his newfound authority to requisition a squad of the legendary Yu Yuen Archers from the garrison he is visiting at the time. While he receives this news and negotiates with the uncooperative local commander, he is unaware he is being watched by a silent ninja wearing a blue demon mask. Zhao later sends a messenger to Zuko to warn him to keep his ship out of the zone where his own forces are searching. Zuko refuses to be intimidated, but later despairs over his chances of beating a man with the entire resources of the Fire Nation navy to the Avatar.

Sokka and Katara are too sick to travel, so that night Aang goes out to find help for them. While Katara tries to train Momo to fetch water, Aang visits an herbalist and is told to get some frogs from a nearby swamp and have his friends suck on them. While a little doubtful of the scatterbrained old woman's advice, he goes to do so, but he's been spotted by Fire Nation sentries and Zhao's archers capture him on the way to the swamp. He's taken to a cell deep within the Fire Nation stronghold, where Zhao taunts him before going to deliver a triumphant speech to his men.

During the speech, the blue-masked ninja sneaks into the base, stealthily neutralizing the sentries guarding Aang and freeing him from his chains. Though more than a little frightened by the mysterious figure, Aang has no choice but follow him. Halfway to freedom, the alarm is raised and the ninja's escape route is cut off. Guards close in from all sides, but through the combination of Aang's bending and the ninja's skill with his dual swords they reach the front gate before being surrounded entirely. Zhao orders that the Avatar must be captured alive, and the ninja immediately spins around and takes Aang hostage, putting a sword to his throat. Zhao is forced to let them leave and has a Yu Yuen archer knock out the ninja at range. Aang completes the escape and vanishes into the forest, in the process discovering the ninja's true identity. Aang delivers the frogs to his friends and reflects on his experience as a new day dawns.

Notes

• Zhao feels that the Avatar must be captured alive because if he dies, he will simply reincarnate and rise again in a decade or two. While a living captive, he is entirely under Zhao's control.

Arc Advancement

Characters

• Zuko and Zhao are now clearly enemies, despite both serving the Fire Nation in principle.

Referbacks

• Sokka caught his cold while serving on a fishing boat during a storm in the previous episode, The Storm. Katara seems to have caught her cold from Sokka.
• Iroh apparently bought the creepy-looking statue of a monkey head that was visible in the pirates' shop in The Waterbending Scroll.

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