Sozin's Comet

With Sozin's Comet just days away, Prince Zuko pressures Avatar Aang, Katara, Sokka, Suki, and Toph Beifong to prepare for their fight against Fire Lord Ozai, only to learn that they intended to attack after the comet's passing. Zuko reveals that just before his defection, he attended a war meeting{{efn|As depicted in "Nightmares and Daydreams"}} where his father planned to use the comet's firebending-enhancing power to end the 100-year war with a genocide against the Earth Kingdom. Alarmed, the group begins last-minute training; however, Aang can't bring himself to kill Ozai, as it goes against the culture that he is the last remnant of. That night, he sleepwalks onto a floating island, resulting in his friends scrambling to find him. Meanwhile in the Fire Nation, Princess Azula is barred from participating in the genocide and is appointed to a ceremonial Fire Lordship as Ozai promotes himself to a global monarch by calling himself the Phoenix King. Still hurt by the betrayal of her friends, Mai and Ty Lee,{{efn|As depicted in "The Boiling Rock, Part 2"}} and recalling her perceived abandonment by her mother, Ursa{{efn|As described in "The Beach"}}; Azula spirals into insanity and banishes many of her aides and during her preparation for her coronation, she hallucinates Ursa.

After failing to recover Aang, his friends seek Iroh, finding him in a secret society alongside their past mentors.{{efn|As depicted in "The Desert" and "Sokka's Master"}} Zuko reconnects with Iroh and encourages him to fight Ozai, but Iroh states that it is Aang's responsibility alone. Once the comet arrives, the gang split up. Sokka, Suki, and Toph sabotage the genocide fleet, the secret society liberates Ba Sing Se, and Zuko and Katara confront Azula. Azula and Zuko duel to a stalemate, but Zuko is severely injured after absorbing a lightning bolt intended for Katara. Katara continues the fight, ultimately trapping Azula in ice, and heals Zuko. On the island, Aang confers with past lives on how to defeat Ozai without violating his pacifistic values, but their input dissatisfies him. Eventually, he discovers that the island is a Lion Turtle, which teaches him how to bend people's chi. Aang is dropped off on the Earth Kingdom's shores, where Ozai confronts him.

Aang and Ozai battle, but Aang still can't bring himself to kill his foe. When Ozai accidentally unlocks Aang's blocked chakras by striking his back scar,{{efn|Acquired when Azula struck Aang with lightning in "The Crossroads of Destiny"}} the latter enters the Avatar State{{efn|In "The Day of Black Sun", Aang revealed that Azula's attack blocked his chakras and cut him off from the Avatar State}} and prepares a death blow, only to stop himself. Remembering the Lion Turtle's lesson, he permanently depowers Ozai by bending his chi and removing Ozai's bending abilities, ending the war. Later, Zuko is crowned Fire Lord and vows to help rebuild the world. Iroh reopens his tea shop in Ba Sing Se,{{efn|The acquisition of the shop was previously depicted in "Lake Laogai"}} where Aang and Katara share a kiss.

File:Energybending.PNG

Co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko wrote the majority of the finale; DiMartino wrote parts one, three, and four, and Konietzko assisted with parts three and four. Aaron Ehasz, co-executive producer and head writer of the show, wrote part two. Ethan Spaulding directed part one, Giancarlo Volpe directed part two, and Joaquim Dos Santos directed parts three and four.{{Cite web |last=Mell, Tory Ireland |date=2008-07-26 |title=Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko talk Airbender |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/894/894105p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820084309/http://tv.ign.com/articles/894/894105p1.html |archive-date=2008-08-20 |access-date=2008-07-28 |website=IGN}} Dos Santos was nominated for an Annie Award for his directing of part three, "Into the Inferno". Although "Sozin's Comet" was originally written as a three-part story, the creators noticed that the length had grown beyond what they had predicted from the initial script. To avoid pacing issues, they split the final part in two, adding several scenes to fill the remaining time.DiMartino, Michael Dante and Bryan Konietzko, "Sozin's Comet: The Phoenix King". The Complete Book 3 Collection, Paramount Home Entertainment. Audio commentary, disc 4. Released on September 16, 2008.

The cast of "Sozin's Comet" includes all of the key characters from season three. Protagonists Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph are voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen (in his final role before his retirement), Mae Whitman, Jack DeSena, and Jessie Flower respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/avatar-airbender/cast/194673|title=Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast and Details|publisher=Tvguide.com|access-date=2008-11-26}} Iroh is voiced by Greg Baldwin and Zuko is voiced by Dante Basco.{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117926289.html?categoryid=32&cs=1|title=Avatar: The Last Airbender Review|last=Fries|first=Laura|date=2005-02-21|work=Variety TV|publisher=Reed-Elsevier Inc.|access-date=2008-05-30}} Grey DeLisle and Mark Hamill voice the two antagonists, Azula and Ozai, respectively. The co-creators also lend their voices to two minor characters in the third part, "Into the Inferno".

The animated effects in the finale were directed by Jae-Myung Yoo. A particularly tricky part to animate was the climactic scene where protagonist Aang tries to overpower antagonist Ozai. Konietzko originally pitched the scene to DiMartino and Ehasz, but the three of them encountered difficulties communicating how the scene would look. They ended up drawing a fully colored storyboard to send to the animation studios. Additionally, the finale featured a significant amount of fire compared to previous episodes, and were all hand-drawn by Yoo's team. Dos Santos observed that the fire effects alone cost more than most shows spend on an entire season. Although Avatar is not considered anime because of its American origin, Tasha Robinson of the SciFi Channel observed that "Avatar blurs the line between anime and [US] domestic cartoons until it becomes irrelevant."{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/anime/sfw12366.html|title=SciFi Channel Anime Review|author=Robinson, Tasha|access-date=2006-10-16|work=SciFi}} An IGN reviewer commented that "Sozin's Comet" "had that classic anime-look that I've always loved to see when watching old anime movies. The story through the animation was perfectly done."

The finale's music was written and composed by "The Track Team", led by Jeremy Zuckerman. Unlike past episodes, a music track produced by a live orchestra was used, rather than one in MIDI format. According to Konietzko, one of the most challenging scenes to pair musically was the Agni Kai duel between Zuko and Azula. The scene's pairing of moody and melancholic music with intense action was inspired by Ghost in the Shell, and a decision was made to quiet the sound effects to let the music set the tone, inspired by Blade Runner.

Avatar: The Last Airbender borrows extensively from East Asian art to create its fictional universe.{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/arts/television/28lass.html?ei=5090&en=2d9845c5b0133bb9&ex=1282881600&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all|title = Kung Fu Fightin' Anime Stars, Born in the U.S.A.|access-date = 2006-12-02|author = Lasswell, Mark|date=2005-08-25|newspaper = The New York Times}}{{cite web|url = http://www.nicksplat.com/Whatsup/200510/12000135.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071217111256/http://www.nicksplat.com/Whatsup/200510/12000135.html|archive-date=2007-12-17|title = Interview With The Creators|access-date = 2006-12-02|date=2005-10-12|publisher = NickSplat.com}} Four "bending" arts exist in the universe; they are based on different styles and variations of Chinese martial arts: Baguazhang for airbending, Hung Gar and Southern Praying Mantis for earthbending, Northern Shaolin for firebending, and tai chi for waterbending.{{cite web|url = http://www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml|title = Nickelodeon's Official Avatar: The Last Airbender Flash Site|access-date = 2009-03-18|publisher = Nick.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325230739/http://www.nick.com/shows/avatar/index.jhtml|url-status = live|archive-date=2009-03-25}} The fight scenes were choreographed by Sifu Kisu, who performed and filed every fight sequence with Konietzko to serve as reference for the animators. Additionally, the finale borrowed heavily from the Taoist concept of balance and order. The Avatar, an incarnation of a divine being,{{cite news |last=Britt |first=Aaron |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10wwln-guest-t.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=avatar&st=cse&oref=login |title=On Language — Avatar — NYTimes.com |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2008-08-08 |access-date=2008-11-30 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5fNfpeCnd?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10wwln-guest-t.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=avatar&st=cse&oref=login |archive-date=2009-03-19 |url-status=dead }} is supposed to maintain the world's order.

Nickelodeon originally broadcast "Sozin's Comet" from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST on July 19, 2008. Just ten days later, on July 29, the "Book 3: Fire – Volume 4" DVD was released, which contained the four episodes as well as episodes 56 and 57, audio commentary from the series' co-creators, cast, and crew, and a comic book.

File:Lion Turtle Sage02d.jpg

"Sozin's Comet" received critical acclaim; Ed Liu of Toon Zone stated that it made Avatar "one of the finest animated television series ever made",{{cite web|url=http://news.toonzone.net/articles/25009/sozins-comet-produces-an-epic-season-finale-for-avatar-the-last-airbender|title=Sozin's Comet" Produces an Epic Season Finale for "Avatar the Last Airbender|publisher=Toon Zone|author=Liu, Ed|date=2008-07-18|access-date=2008-07-23|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406023742/http://news.toonzone.net/articles/25009/sozins-comet-produces-an-epic-season-finale-for-avatar-the-last-airbender|archive-date=2009-04-06}} Andrew Whalen of Newsweek called it a "rare accomplishment",{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newsweek.com/avatar-last-airbender-finale-anniversary-sozins-comet-season-3-last-episode-1033919|title=On its 10-year Anniversary, 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Creators Give an Oral History of the Finale|magazine=Newsweek|date=2018-07-19|access-date=2018-07-21}} Ed Liu of Toon Zone praised the skill of the animation directors in designing the sweeping movements of the battle sequences, as well as the slower scenes, "including one moving reconciliation and the quiet coda that ties off many of the remaining loose ends of the series". Tory Ireland Mell of IGN praised the artistic design, stating that the "whole dark tone was gorgeous to look at". Mell also praised the writing, saying that the "story moved and kept us moving right along with it from beginning to end". She gave the episode a ten out of ten "Masterful" rating. Susan Stewart, reviewing for The New York Times, praised the show's effort at philosophizing, noting that "this is complicated stuff, the reconciliation of religion and violence, and it's beautifully rendered: simple enough for Nickelodeon fans and subtle enough for their parents, with humor to puncture the pomposity inherent in the heroic genre."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/arts/television/19avat.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin|title=Though Raised by Pacifists, Destined to Battle for Peace|author=Stewart, Susan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2008-07-19|access-date=2008-07-16}}

Reviewers remarked on the difficulty in understanding the voice of a new character: the Lion Turtle. The Lion Turtle was designed by Bryan Konietzko and character designer Jae Woo Kim. Konietzko disliked how the Lion Turtle turned out; he felt that the art was not up to standards of the original design he had received.DiMartino, Michael Dante and Bryan Konietzko, "Sozin's Comet: The Old Masters". Avatar Season 3 Box Set, Paramount Home Entertainment. Audio commentary, disc 4. Released on 2008-09-16.

The premiere of "Sozin's Comet" averaged 5.6 million viewers, 195% more viewers in its time period than Nickelodeon had received in the previous year.{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/avatar-last-airbender-hits-all-time-series-high|title= Avatar: The Last Airbender Hits All-Time Series High

|first=Annemarie|last=Moody|work=Animation World Network|date=July 23, 2008|access-date=July 5, 2022}} During the week of July 14, 2008, it ranked as the most-viewed program for the under-14 demographic.{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/avatar-the-last-airbender/nineteen-million-tuned-in-for-21563.aspx|title=19 Million Tuned in for Special 'Avatar' Week|author=Diaz, Glenn L.|date=July 29, 2008 |publisher=Buddytv.com|access-date=2008-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602134156/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/avatar-the-last-airbender/nineteen-million-tuned-in-for-21563.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=2009-06-02}}{{cite web|url=http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1794|title=Nick's 'Avatar' Animation Series Finale Scores Big Ratings|publisher=Animationinsider.net|author=Luna, Kyle|access-date=2008-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105224926/http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1794|url-status=live|archive-date=2009-01-05}} The premiere of episodes 52–61 throughout the week of "Sozin's Comet"'s release received a total of 19 million views, and Avatar earned four spots in Nielsen's list of Top 20 Cable Results for the week ending July 20, 2008. It also appeared on iTunes' top ten list of best-selling television episodes during that same week.{{cite web|url=http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D285923116%2526id%253D264270811%2526s%253D143441%2526v0%253DWWW-NAUS-ITUHOME-TOPTV|title=iTunes — Sozin's Comet|work=Apple Inc.|access-date=2008-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104032301/http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D285923116%2526id%253D264270811%2526s%253D143441%2526v0%253DWWW-NAUS-ITUHOME-TOPTV|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-01-04}} "Sozin's Comet"'s popularity affected online media as well; "Rise of the Phoenix King", a Nick.com online game based on "Sozin's Comet", generated almost 815,000 game plays within three days.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/8636|title=Nick's Avatar Hits Ratings High|author=Ball, Ryan|magazine=Animation Magazine|date=2008-07-23|access-date=2008-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221125938/http://animationmagazine.net/article/8636|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-02-21}} A video game loosely based on the third season, Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno, was released on October 13, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/objects/142/14244871.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408132029/http://wii.ign.com/objects/142/14244871.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2008|title=IGN: Avatar: The Last Airbender-- Into the Inferno (Avatar: Into the Inferno)|access-date=2009-03-14|website=IGN}}

The finale episodes were also recognized by the awards circuit. Joaquim Dos Santos won the "Best Directing in an Animated Television Production" caption in the 2008 Annie Awards for his direction in "Into the Inferno". Additionally, music editor and composer Jeremy Zuckerman and the sound editing team were nominated a Golden Reel award for "Best Sound Editing in a Television Animation" for their work in "Avatar Aang".{{cite web|url=http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/nominations/2009nominees/TV%20Animation.pdf|title=56th Golden Reel Awards Television Nominees - Best Sound Editing in a TV Animation|publisher=Motion Picture Sound Editors|access-date=2009-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319220016/http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/nominations/2009nominees/TV%20Animation.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-03-19}}

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Category:Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes

Category:2000s American television series finales

Category:2008 American television episodes

Category:Fiction about comets

Category:Films directed by Ethan Spaulding

Category:Films directed by Joaquim Dos Santos

Category:Television episodes about wars