Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Deserter

The Deserter
Season 1, Episode 16
Airdate	October 21, 2005
Production Number	1x16
Written by	Tim Hedrick
Directed by	Lauren MacMullan
← 1x15 Bato of the Water Tribe	1x17 → The Northern Air Temple
Avatar: The Last Airbender — Season One

The Deserter is the sixteenth episode of the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the sixteenth episode overall.

Guest Stars: Jason Isaacs (Zhao), Keone Young (Jeong Jeong), John Kassir (Chey), James Garret (Avatar Roku)

Plot Overview

The gang is discovered by Fire Nation guards while visiting a cultural festival. They are rescued by a man named Chey, who tells them he's a follower of Jeong Jeong, an old and wise firebender who deserted from the Fire Nation army. Aang sees an opportunity to learn firebending, but the master refuses to teach him - the path of the Avatar dictates that he learn to bend water and earth before fire. Avatar Roku manifests and convinces him to teach Aang anyway, but Aang quickly grows frustrated with his slow progress and basic drills.

Jeong Jeong tries to teach Aang discipline by telling the story of a pupil of his who only ever learned strength, never control- Zhao. Ignoring these warnings, Aang experiments on his own, but after he slips up momentarily and badly burns Katara, Jeong Jeong halts lessons and orders Aang to leave immediately.

As the gang packs up, Katara discovers she can heal her burned hands with waterbending, and Zhao, who has been tracking them from the cultural festival, discovers the camp. Jeong Jeong refuses to fight his old student, so Zhao duels Aang instead, who takes advantage of Zhao's lack of control to trick him into destroying his own ships. As Appa flies our heros away, Jeong Jeong seems to have disappeared entirely, leaving behind only empty buildings and a befuddled Chey.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Aang swears off firebending permanently after the accident, although, as the Avatar, he'll have to master it eventually.

Characters

• Zhao is painted as a dangerously ambitious man, concerned only with personal gain.
• Katara discovers her talent for healing.

Trivia

Allusions and References

• Chey's behavior and speech sometimes resembles that of the Photojournalist character (played by Dennis Hopper) in the movie Apocalypse Now.

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