LogFAQs > #943326684

#10: The Boiling Rock - Part 2 (3.15)

I like Sokka. You like Sokka. We all like Sokka. So this epic two parter about Sokka lands both episodes in the top 10.

That said, Part 2 is the less Sokka-centric episode of the two. At this point, Sokka has already found his resolve to save his father, and made a first failed attempt at escaping the prison. This is a more practical episode, with the second attempt. Sokka finally finds his father and they make a simpler plan to escape this time, along with Suki and Zuko.

They stage a riot, after a funny scene where they try to push a big guy to start a fight but the big guy turns out to be sensitive. Suki makes a pretty badass acrobatics scene, they kidnap the warden and steal a gondola.

Things seem to be going fine, but then here comes the best part of the episode: Azula, Mai and Ty Lee. The three climb the gondola to chase after Sokka's group and holy crap does this scene have some good action. Sokka can't really fight all those benders but he pulls some weight, and Zuko does most of the work.

Then as they are about to leave, Mai does the ultimate act of love. She betrays her nation to save her boyfriend. It's cheesy, but I loved it, and it's likely the reason why this episode ended so high. It's interesting since the episode starts with Mai integgorating Auko and trying to understand why he did what he did. But in the end, it turns out she just loves him, and might even had joined him in his desertion if he had asked.

And add to that Ty Lee helping Mai just because Ty Lee was a good guy all along. Azula may get to arrest those two in the end, but she had a major moral defeat. Her two friends betrayed her for reasons she can't even understand. It's the beginning of her psychological downfall.