With a show as highly regarded as Avatar: The Last Airbender, there is much debate over which episode is the best. One common answer is "The Tales of Ba Sing Se." The episode is an anthology of short sequences that shows the day in the life of the main characters in the earth city Ba Sing Se.
While the episode is considered one of the best episodes in Avatar, there are a bunch of other episodes that can be considered the series's best. This article will examine five reasons why that "Tales of Ba Sing Se" is the best episode in the series and five good alternatives for the title.
10 The Tales Of Ba Sing Se: Allows Each Character Time To Shine
Probably the most impressive feat of "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" is the fact it can balance six different sequences in a single half-hour episode. While Avatar has tons of episodes featuring two separate but equally important plots, there hasn't been an episode with this many separate plotlines.
What's more impressive is each sequence stands out and provides a good bit of character focus on each sequence's main character. Particularly it allows each character to shine on their own, except for Katara's and Toph's section which highlights their great interpersonal relationship, which isn't often seen.
9 Alternative: Zuko Alone
"The Tales of Ba Sing Se" is not the only great standalone episode of Avatar to focus solely on fleshing out a character. "Zuko Alone" does a particularly great job in setting up Zuko's characterization for both his character arc about him questioning his purpose and eventually joining with Team Avatar.
Beyond setting Zuko's later character arc, each of the episode's two main plotlines is great their own way. The storyline set in the present is a great homage to the classic Western film with Zuko playing the role of a mysterious gunslinger. The storyline set in the past particularly provides great insight into the toxic environment of the Fire Nation Royal Family and how it shapes the personality of its members.
8 The Tales Of Ba Sing Se: Gives Momo Surprisingly Poignant Characterization
Probably the most surprising thing that "The Tales of Ba Sing Se " does is in the section about Momo. This section probably gives Momo the greatest amount of characterization. While this section primarily deals with Momo going on a series of misadventures, it gives a lot of insight into his character.
The biggest bit of characterization in this section is how much Momo is missing Appa and gives insight to how close Aang's two animal companions are to each other. Most of the sequence is driven by him thinking that he just saw Appa flying over Ba Sing Se and tries to pursue him. On a more comedic note, the sequence confirms that Momo does understand what people are saying to him.
7 Alternative: Sozin's Comet
While technically four different episodes, all four episodes work together to create a strong finale for Avatar. "Sozin's Comet" greatness comes from the fact that it can handle a lot of different plotlines with ease. From introducing the Lion Turtle to the epic final battle between Aang and Sozin.
What makes these episodes work as a series finale, is that it does a great job of wrapping up the storylines of the different characters in a satisfactory way. It also drives home its main message of how to solve your issue with self-actualization overtaking it on others.
6 The Tales Of Ba Sing Se: Iroh’s Tale As A Whole
It there one sequence that sums up what makes "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" many fans' favorite episode is would be Iroh's. The section serves both as a great distillation of the comedic and serious aspects of his personality.
What makes this section so good is also how is structured. The section sees Iroh going through several misadventures around Ba Sing Se buying items for an unknown ceremony. It not until the end that it reveals that Iroh is preparing to have a ceremony honoring his deceased son that the section becomes more poignant.
5 Alternative: The Ember Island Players
Avatar is great at serious and comedic storylines and this episode is one of many comedic gems. "The Ember Island Players" provides a great opportunity for Avatar to make a little fun itself. The episode has the ingenious plot device of Team Avatar watching a play about their exploits.
This play both provides an opportunity for great humor, but also some great character moments, such as developing the relationship between Aang and Katara and the complications of romance in a time of war. The episode provides the viewers and characters some time to relax before the series finale.
4 The Tales Of Ba Sing Se: Good At Tonal Balance
What particularly makes "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" a great episode is that it's a great showcase for one of Avatar's greatest strength, its mastery of tone. More specifically, this episode shows a great balance between humor and seriousness that made Avatar so well-loved.
This can be shown in how the episode tends to be mostly humorous stand-alone sequences punctuated by bits of seriousness. For example, the ending of Iroh's sequence would not have hit as strongly if the sequence was completely serious and mournful. Instead, the sequence is better for focusing on Iroh's misadventures while acquiring the items for his ceremony.
3 Alternative: The Crossroads Of Destiny
"The Crossroad of Destiny" provides a great case study of how a hero losing a major battle affects the story. Book 2's season finale forces Team Avatar through one of their darkest hours and greatly changes the show's status quo.
The episode works on many levels such as having Zuko's return to villainy feels both organic to his character arc while representing how far he still needed to go. It also ends on a major cliffhanger with Aang's fate in the air and the Fire Nation victorious, making viewers excited for what will happen in Book 3.
2 The Tales Of Ba Sing Se: Sets Up Future Character Moments
While "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" is mostly a standalone episode beyond the reveal that Appa might be Ba Sing Se, it does set up character arcs for future episodes. For example, Zuko's section highlights his problems with emotionally opening himself up to others which is something that will initially stop him from joining Team Avatar.
The episode also established Sokka's more intellectual side which was mostly absent from Book Two beyond the "The Libray." Some things established in this episode like Katara and Toph's friendship would even see a full episode in the Book Three episode "The Runaway."
1 Alternative: The Puppetmaster
The winner for the darkest episode in Avatar as a whole is "The Puppetmaster." The episode is the closest that Avatar has ever gotten to the horror genre. The episode also introduced the show's most heinous, but tragic villains in the form of Hama.
The episode's impact goes beyond being a great standalone episode in that it introduces the concept of bloodbending, which would play a larger role in The Legend of Korra. It also the first time that the disturbing implications of a bending style are explored within the show, another thing that would get expanded upon in The Legend of Korra.