Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 Episode 4 Recap: How Does Azula Infiltrate Ba Sing Se?

Secrets, revelations, vigilantism, and absolution – all these themes and motifs were showcased by the fourth episode of the ongoing season of “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, which has turned out to be arguably the best episode in the “Earth” chapter so far. Previously, Zuko and an injured Iroh headed to Ba Sing Se, leaving Azula in their trail. Aang and his friends were welcomed in Ba Sing Se, and cultural minister Long Feng formed a rapport with Aang, promising him to arrange an audience with the king, bypassing the red tape. In the latest episode, all the key characters get involved in their own subplots, drawing parallels, contrasting with each other, and enriching the narrative in the process.

Spoilers Ahead

Vigilantism Brings Out Inner Heroes

Zuko and Iroh have arrived at Ba Sing Se and have taken up menial jobs to mingle among the locals. Iroh, for whom returning to the Earth Nation capital is quite punishing, given that the city took his beloved son during the siege, has taken a job in a local tea store in the lower ring. The existing class divide has troubled Zuko enough to don the mask he stole from the ship and appear as the vigilante Blue Spirit, who punishes the wicked and greedy and takes care of the helpless ones. It’s Zuko’s way of earning penance, which has allowed his conscience to rest easy. However, he is not the only vigilante lurking in the lower rings at night, taking the guise of the Painted Lady, as narrated by Amita in her stories. Katara helps the poor people of the lower rings receive medical care and supplies, which they lack. While Zuko seeks to make amends for the Fire Nation’s sins and his inner kindness, Katara’s bravery and motive to become a vigilante stem from the purity of her heart and morals. Both of them are heroes, even though the force driving them to action might differ. Iroh can assume Zuko’s nightly adventures might guide him the wrong way after he spots a stolen item in his belongings and shows his disapproval. Toph, who has been relentlessly training Aang through several weeks, knows about Katara’s nightly adventures, and as she confronts her, it also becomes pretty apparent that, despite having joined the group merely a month ago, he knows Aang has feelings for Katara. It is truly amazing how the connection with the life essence through Earthbending has made Toph more aware of the world around her than those who have sight. 

Jet, the cynical and xenophobic freedom fighter, who holds a grudge against the Firebenders, approaches Zuko (living with a false identity) to recruit him to a conspiracy orchestrated by extremists like him, who want to make the Firebenders, who have gained asylum in the destitute part of the lower ring in exchange for giving up bending, pay. Zuko’s vigilante actions of setting fire to a greedy merchant’s place have led extremists like Jet to believe that the immigrant Firebenders have caused the ruckus. Zuko refuses Jet’s offer and visits the area where Firebenders reside to warn them. The leader of the immigrants, a former Fire Nation captain who turned his back on his country to protect the citizens of Ba Sing Se, shares his disdain for Ozai’s tyrannical ways. Zuko warns him about the impending attack, and is shocked to realize the captain has been able to deduce his identity. On the other hand, Katara becomes aware of the conspiracy as well by eavesdropping on the conversation between Jet and other extremists, and realizes she has made an impact by looking at the shrine made of the Painted Lady. 

Iroh’s Absolution

On one occasion, Iroh gets distracted upon seeing two locals playing his favourite board game, Pai Sho, when a woman, who is among the residents of the lower ring who had lost their close ones in the siege of Ba Sing Se, arrives in the market square to remind everyone of the sins committed by the Fire Nation soldiers. Using her Earthbending powers, she engraves the names of the people who lost their lives during the siege, unlike the cloistered upper class who live safely in the inner rings, residents of the lower ring don’t have the luxury to forget the horrors that befell them. Soon enough, a few Dai Li police remove the engravings on the wall to maintain the illusion of a utopian, peaceful Ba Sing Se – but that’s never going to erase the truth from the minds of the survivors. Iroh sees the survivors of the tragedy around him and is riddled with guilt as he himself was the architect of the tragedy. Looking at the spot where his son is buried, Iroh speculates whether Lu Ten was punished for his sins. The Dragon of the West sits alone at night, watching the wall in guilt, when a mugger tries to rob him. A remorseful Iroh breaks down, without caring about maintaining his secret identity, he mentions he should have perished during the siege, instead of the poor outer ring residents or his son. Confused and ashamed of his actions, the thief breaks down, confessing how poverty and hunger have driven him to take such a drastic step to threaten someone’s life. Iroh buys him supplies and asks him to visit his tea shop the next day as he looks to make arrangements for his sustenance. Grateful, the thief embraces Iroh before parting ways, which allows the former general a chance to gain absolution, as he finally gains the courage to approach his son’s grave and mentions he will try to relieve his burdens by helping people.

Jet and the extremists attack Fire Nation immigrants, even after the captain mentions they have no role to play in the arson incident at the merchant’s place. Assuming his vigilante identity of Blue Spirit, Zuko protects the Firebenders, and the best part is that neither he nor the poor immigrants resorts to using their bending technique for once. Katara arrives as the Painted Lady, and the vigilantes join hands to lay waste to the extremists. Katara manages to hold Jet captive by using her Water/ Icebending, but Jet, who knows her from back in Omashu, is able to deduce her identity and call her by her name in front of Blue Spirit/ Zuko. Katara flees in fear, and learning about her secret identity will probably give Zuko a new perspective. 

Does Aang Learn About Long Feng’s True Colours?

As Aang becomes proficient in Earthbending, thanks to Toph’s training, he also becomes popular in the city as Long Feng helps him to build a good rapport with the citizens of Ba Sing Se. Aang gradually becomes much more dependent on Long Feng and seeks his counsel for different issues. Realizing Aang is using Earthbending by depending on his sight, Toph asks him to unlearn his usual ways and sense the life that hums and breathes through the subterranean depths, just like how she is able to tap into the vibrational frequencies of movement to see the world around her. Aang has a hard time processing this and asks Long Feng, who is an Earthbender, for counsel. Long Feng, provides a positive suggestion to trust his own heart instead of unlearning his ways. Toph, with her direct, confrontational ways, doesn’t mince words and doesn’t offer a likeable answer while sharing a suggestion. Whereas Long Feng, who has a vested interest in staying on good terms with the Avatar, provides positive, assuring statements, even though he doesn’t always have the best interests of Aang and his team in mind. 

Upon finding Sai to be missing for several weeks, and all the letters he sent to him remain unanswered, Sokka grows suspicious. On one occasion, when Professor Zei visits Avatar Villa and discusses the Library of Spirits, which once used to be situated near Ba Sing Se (hopefully we get to see the giant owl guardian), Sokka mentions Sai’s disappearance. Zei reveals the mysterious abductions which occasionally take place in the city, targeting scholars and students who dare to question the ‘delusioncracy’ – are orchestrated by the Kingsguard, Dai Li police. Aang and Sokka break into Sai’s house in the lower ring, realizing a major cover-up is happening as Ambassador Joo Dee mentions Sai has been posted in the inner ring districts upon being promoted as the king’s inventor. Aang relays this intel to Long Feng, who mentions that Sai has indeed been interrogated by the Dai Li for his past connection as a spy in Omashu. Aang has noticed that he is also being followed by someone while roaming in the lower ring areas, and Long Feng suggests that he should go about his way without being worried about regular Dai Li inspections. As Aang shares Long Feng’s words with his friends, Sokka and Katara rightly call him out for lately trusting Long Feng more than them. 

Aang decides to take Katara’s help to get out of Joo Dee’s constant surveillance and track his secretive follower, and ends up getting abducted instead. Meanwhile, Toph gets blackmailed by a shady individual who has proof of her parents – the Beifongs, supplying weapons and munitions to the Fire Nation. Sokka, who takes notice of Toph acting suspiciously, follows her to a poetry club gathering and engages in a phonetic/ rhythmic conversation with her. Toph, initially unwilling to share the truth, finds assurance when Sokka vows to keep her secret and shares the revelation with him. 

Upon gaining his consciousness, Aang is confronted by General Sung, who had assigned a spy in the first place to follow him. As it turns out, the military led by General Sung does not share the philosophy of Dai Li and genuinely wants to serve the city instead of keeping the false narrative of Ba Sing Se’s invulnerability intact. As the army of Fire Nation has started gathering around, General Sung asks Aang what intel he so desperately wants to share with the king, and offers to relay his message to the right ears. Aang suspects her to be in cahoots with Dai Li, only to realize the friend whom he had trusted throughout his stay in Ba Sing Se, Long Feng, the cultural minister, is the chief of Dai Li to begin with. A flustered Ang Aang leaves in utter disbelief, not before sharing the news about Sozin’s comet with General Sung. Aang then rushes to meet the king, only to realize  Long Feng has deliberately kept him from visiting King Kuei, and maintains complete control of the narrative about Ba Sing Se’s invulnerability. Upon returning to Avatar Villa, Aang meets with his friends, who have their own revelations to share as well. 

How Does Azula Infiltrate Ba Sing Se?

Meanwhile, Azula has reached the close proximity of Ba Sing Se with the Fire Nation army, and with the help of her companions, has managed to incapacitate Suki and her Kyoshi warriors, who were going to return to the city to warn everyone. Azula pays a visit to General Tran, who is in charge of laying the siege in the city, and learns Ozai has indefinitely postponed the siege for reasons unknown. Azula, who has been hoping to infiltrate the city during the siege to flush out his brother, wonders what could be the possible reason behind Ozai’s decision. 

It might very well be that Ozai wanted Azula to take charge on her own and hit two birds with one stone by having her simultaneously take down the impenetrable city and find Zuko. Azula schemes a crafty ploy to break apart the Earth Nation capital from within, by posing General Tran as a captive, and gain entry inside the city by posing herself and her companions as Kyoshi warriors. It goes without saying that the elites of Ba Sing Se are going to realize that even with small numbers, a devious mind like Azula’s can wreak havoc in the most fortified institution and shatter the false myth of security. 

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