We have many storylines to resolve in this episode. It could get a little chaotic.
ONE
Iroh cooks soup — jook — in their shiny kitchen. Zuko, recovered, smiles and asks for a bowl. He’s so cheerful Iroh raises an eyebrow at him. They have a new apartment and a new tea shop. Things are looking up.
Appa lands near the dock where the Water Tribe fleet is docked. Sokka feels ill he’s so nervous about reuniting with his dad. “See you in a week,” Aang says as he and Appa lift off. On the beach, Sokka walks through camp. The men greet him and ruffle his hair. In the command tent, Hakoda holds a council. When Sokka enters, he rises and hugs him.
The Earth King, petting Bosco, chatters to the fake Kyoshi Warriors about the mutinous Dai Li and (oh, dear) the planned invasion of the Fire Nation. Close-up on Azula’s pupil as it contracts. She responds with sympathy, though, playing her part.
Katara attends the Earth Kingdom war council. They task her with taking a scroll to the Earth King so he can sign off on their plan.
Appa and Aang arrive at the Air Temple where the Guru waits. He’s ready to teach Aang how to master the Avatar state, but first he must drink an onion and banana soup. (It’s the soup episode. Blech.)
And finally we see Master Yu and Xin Fu drive a cart with a metal box in the back. They argue over which road to take. From the prison, Toph yells that she needs to use the bathroom. They won’t let her out, though. Xin Fu taunts her: she may be the greatest earth bender, but even she can’t move metal. Toph places her hand on the box.
TWO
Mai and Ty Lee remove their Kyoshi Warrior make-up. Azula, already clean-faced, paces and instructs them about their great opportunity to conquer the Earth Kingdom from the inside.
THREE
The key, she says as she overlooks the city from their balcony, is to control the Dai Li.
FOUR
At night the Guru prepares a sleepy Aang to open all his chakras. Once he begins, he cannot stop until all seven chakras are open. First is the Earth Chakra, located at the base of the spine. What does he fear? Represented by a vision of Fire Lord Ozai, Aang must conquer his fear of survival. The Water Chakra is blocked by guilt. He ran away when told he was the Avatar. And in the uncontrolled Avatar state he hurt people. He must forgive himself. (The Guru is basically a therapist who leads Aang to confront and master his pain.)
Chameleon Bay is a choke point for Ba Sing Se. The Water Tribe fleet has been bombing the inlet to keep out the Fire Nation ships. Sokka has a chance to inspect and enjoy his father’s “Stink ‘n’ Sink” bomb design. Hakoda includes him as one of the men preparing for battle.
Iroh and Zuko welcome customers to their new tea shop, The Jasmine Dragon. Zuko hugs (!) his uncle at his success.
The Fire Chakra is blocked by shame. Remembering when he burned Katara, Aang says he’ll never fire bend. The Guru gently reprimands him: the Avatar is a firebender.
Azula and crew, dressed like Kyoshi Warriors, sit on the palace steps. Dai Li secretly slide down the columns. The girls speak openly of being Fire Nation. With a sly smile, the Dai Li sneak away. After, Azula approves the success of their ruse. The Dai Li are hooked.
The Heart Chakra is blocked by grief. Aang remembers the Air Nomads, now dead. Vanished love will be replaced by new love, the Guru says, as Aang imagines Katara. The Throat Chakra is blocked by lies. Aang must accept that he is the Avatar. The Forehead Chakra is blocked by illusion. The Four Nations are not separated, but connected. The same with the elements.
Aang’s vision, as the Guru explains that metal is part of earth, shows Toph in her iron box as she pushes the limits of her bending. The box shifts.
Cut to Katara, Momo on her shoulder and the King’s scroll in her hand, as she approaches a particular tea shop. In the doorway she hears Zuko call out for another tea. Zoom in on Katara’s face as she recognizes Zuko and Iroh. Out she runs. Fade to black.
Aang is on the last chakra. When it’s opened, Aang will be able to enter and leave the Avatar state at will with complete control. The Crown of the Head Chakra is blocked by earthly attachment. Every vision Aang has is of Katara. He loves her and doesn’t want to let her go. The Guru insists, and Aang resists.
In the palace, Katara runs toward the throne, glad to see Suki here. “I just saw Zuko!” The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city! Azula steps into the light so that Katara can see her face. Momo screeches and flies away. Ty Lee somersaults forward and immobilizes Katara’s arm. She falls to the ground, her water flask spilling around her. The three girls stand around the downed and unconscious Katara. Momo flies from the room.
Aang agrees to try releasing the last chakra. The cosmic energy flows and Aang floats among the stars. His Avatar state is a constellation. He’s ready to merge with it when a scream and a vision of Katara in chains disrupts him. Waking, he tells the Guru he’s leaving to rescue Katara. You haven’t unlocked the chakra, the Guru warns. You won’t be able to access the Avatar state at all.
SWITCH
Aang and Appa fly away from the Air Temple.
After a crash, Master Yu and Xin Fu halt the cart. The metal box, wrenched open, is empty. Toph, free, earth bends them into the box and smashes the metal closed around them. Running on a moving rock, Toph heads back to the city.
Sokka and Hakoda share a tender moment as they prepare to board the ship. In comes Appa, landing on the beach. Aang only gives Sokka a devastated look. He joins them, and away they fly.
Azula, pretending to be an outraged Kyoshi Warrior, is dragged before Long Feng in his prison cell. She negotiates her help with the Earth King in exchange for the Avatar.
At the tea shop, Iroh receives a message. They’ve been invited to serve tea to the Earth King.
As Azula is led from the prison, she gives one evil look at the camera.
End Part One.
CRITICAL NOTES
Everything looks structurally solid except for the Three. I’m not even sure it will count; we’ll need to see where Part Two goes, as this Enneagram stretches over both episodes of the Season Two finale. I do like that the Three-ish moment involves Azula, who also anchors the Switch.
Hang on for the resolution.