The Tales of Ba Sing Se

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"The Tales of Ba Sing Se"
Avatar: The Last Airbender episode
The Tales of Ba Sing Se.jpg
The episode's title card
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 15
Directed by Ethan Spaulding
Written byThe Tale of Toph and Katara
Joann Estoesta and Lisa Wahlander
The Tale of Iroh
Andrew Huebner
The Tale of Aang
Gary Scheppke
The Tale of Sokka
Lauren MacMullan
The Tale of Zuko
Katie Mattila
The Tale of Momo
Justin Ridge and Giancarlo Volpe
Production code215
Original air dateSeptember 29, 2006 (2006-09-29)
Episode chronology
 Previous
"City of Walls and Secrets"
Next 
"Appa's Lost Days"
Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 2)
List of episodes

"The Tales of Ba Sing Se" is the 15th episode of the second season of the animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender , and the 35th episode overall. The episode, written by Joann Estoesta and Lisa Wahlander (The Tale of Toph and Katara), Andrew Huebner (The Tale of Iroh), Gary Scheppke (The Tale of Aang), Lauren MacMullan (The Tale of Sokka), Katie Mattila (The Tale of Zuko), and Justin Ridge and Giancarlo Volpe (The Tale of Momo), and directed by Ethan Spaulding, the episode originally aired on Nickelodeon on September 29, 2006. It features six short vignettes of several of the series's main characters as they go about an average day in the Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se. The episode constitutes a break from the previous more serious, plot-heavy episodes, and instead focuses on character development; the main plot of the season is advanced only in one of the six vignettes, the tale of the winged lemur Momo. [1]

Contents

The first tale is of Katara and Toph, who spend a day at the spa. The sage, yet comedic Iroh's tale is next; he helps various residents of Ba Sing Se, before making a tearful tribute to his son, who died in combat trying to take the city of Ba Sing Se. Aang helps a zookeeper, though not without causing some trouble. Sokka inadvertently enters a haiku contest. The generally brooding Zuko goes on a date. The last tale centers on Momo, who searches for Aang's lost pet skybison, Appa.

"The Tales of Ba Sing Se" received widespread acclaim from critics, with reviewers considering it to be one of the series' best episodes. "The Tale of Iroh" has been especially well-reviewed and is a fan favorite. The episode was dedicated to Iroh's voice actor, Mako Iwamatsu, who died before the episode's airing.

Plot synopsis

Reception

"The Tales of Ba Sing Se" received widespread acclaim from critics, with "The Tale of Iroh" being particularly highlighted, and is considered by critics and fans alike to be one of the best episodes of Avatar. [4] [5] [6]

The Daily Dot reviewed it as the "best episode of Avatar", noting that it is a much-needed break in an otherwise dark period of the series. The episode falls in the middle of the protagonist's search for the skybison Appa, and provided character building in a lighter atmosphere. The Daily Dot picked Zuko, Momo, and Iroh's tales as the best, noting that Iroh's was "especially memorable". Iroh is often a comedic relief to the brooding Zuko, but the Daily Dot noted this episode provides another, more emotional side of Iroh. The episode also explains why Iroh is going to such great lengths to try to save his nephew Zuko, so that he will not die in war like his son did. [7]

CBR noted that "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" was an example of the great filler episodes in Avatar, and a departure from the generally bland filler episodes in many television shows. CBR especially praised Iroh's tribute to his son as an example of Avatar's character building, and described it as "the most touching and memorable tale". [8]

The Mary Sue described the episode as highly emotional. [1]

Notes

  1. Later revealed to be Appa's in "Appa's Lost Days".

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References

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  2. Director: Ethan Spaulding; Writers: Joann Estoesta, Lisa Wahlander, Andrew Huebner, Gary Scheppke, Lauren MacMullan, Katie Mattila, Justin Ridge, Giancarlo Volpe (September 29, 2006). "Tales of Ba Sing Se". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 2. Episode 15. Nickelodeon.
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