Aang and his friends must trade powers for parties and politics as they navigate the two-faced court of the Earth King.
Toph gave up everything to teach earthbending to the Avatar. Yet Aang refuses to hold his ground. That results in Toph having to rely on her family's connections to guide the team to safety in Ba Sing Se. She quickly proves her usefulness to the group. It also plays as regression because this isn't who she wants to be. Katara insists they are friends. That's a rather sudden and jarring development. It's mostly born out of Katara not liking girls gossiping behind Toph's back. Toph hears it all and endures it. Katara takes action. That inspires Toph to be even more firm with Aang. She believes she has been too nice in their lessons so far. She needs to push Aang into accepting this part of his nature. He's destined to master all four elements. He can't be afraid. He can't limit himself to air and water. He must grow. He needs to pay attention and learn the sturdy nature of this form. He's distracted. He needs to deliver a message to the Earth King. He has no tolerance for ceremonial pleasantries. He doesn't understand when others choose to deny reality. It's not in his nature to accept that. He presses for more even though that comes across as disrespectful to the one person who needs to hear his message.
Ba Sing Se is a city unlike what the team has ever experienced before. It props up a class-based system based on rings and walls. Newcomers are confined until they can prove themselves. It's not a welcoming environment. It's meant to stand tall as the last Earth Kingdom stronghold. People are desperate to escape from the Fire Nation army. Meanwhile, the Earth King doesn't believe the Fire Nation even has an army. It's baffling to the team. Aang missed out on a lot during his hundred years frozen in the ice. He failed to protect the world. He feels the responsibility to make things right now. He lacks the patience to wait for the right moment to strike. That's what Toph aims to teach him. He can't be pushed aside so easily either. Toph isn't perfect in that regard. She changes who she is to blend into this environment. It works for her because she knows how to operate. She's used to hiding. She escaped only to be quickly forced back into this world of politics. She's asked to stand for nothing. That's what makes her teaching Aang have meaning. She's tasked with doing something great. She and Aang will have plenty of time to work together now as well. Aang has to prove he's committed to protecting the city. Yet the information he possesses quickly has consequences for those he brought to apparent safety here.
It's difficult to live with regrets. Sokka wishes he could apologize to Suki. The Kyoshi Warriors left. They couldn't live in a city with no war. They are meant to fight elsewhere. Sokka obviously is still grappling with the loss of Yue. That's been simmering under all of his interactions with Suki. Yue sacrificed herself to revive the moon spirit. He can't talk about that. He can't act on his attraction to Suki without feeling like he's betraying Yue. He can barely talk about what happened. It's made him awkward and closed off. He's stunned to learn Aang and Katara can talk openly about their time with the Northern Water Tribe. He's proud to talk about his home in the south. When the conversation veers north, he's traumatized. He won't feel that way forever. Katara understands and is there for him. She also takes on a new identity as the Painted Lady. She sees an opportunity to help the less fortunate and takes it. Zuko sees the Blue Spirit as operating in a similar way. He joins Jet on a mission to share resources with the rest of the boat of refugees. He needs medicine for Iroh. He ultimately accomplishes so much more. The other Freedom Fighters appreciate him. Iroh passed along great wisdom. Zuko refuses to let Iroh abandon him. He chose to get involved. He can't make Zuko suffer for being invested. At the last moment, Iroh was terrified of returning to Ba Sing Se. He doesn't have a choice though. This is the path marked for him. Zuko nurtures him back to health while continuing to be reminded of the lessons his mother imparted onto him.
