Avatar: The Last Airbender/Recap/Book 1/18 The Water Bending Master

""You want to learn to fight so bad, study closely.""

After months of traveling, the gang finally arrives at the North Pole, to discover a grand city with formidable defenses and hundreds of water benders. Sokka finds himself interested in a beautiful white-haired girl, revealed to be the princess of the tribe, Yue. She reciprocates his affections, although her signals seem mixed at best, confusing Sokka.

Meanwhile, Katara and Aang both seek out the water bending master Pakku to teach them, only to discover that it is forbidden for women to fight. Katara finds herself in a struggle against her own personal morals and a wish fear of jeopardizing Aang's training, before deciding that with everything she has down, she will be taught.

Elsewhere, Zhao deduces that Aang in the North Pole looking for a teacher. However, the Northern Water Tribe's defenses, both natural and military, require an massive force to fight against. Zhao recruits Prince Zuko's crew, and while talking to the Prince, notices the broad swords Zuko keeps. Later that night, Zhao meets with a familiar band of pirates and offers them a job...

While Uncle Iroh takes a walk, the pirates board Zuko's near-empty ship and plant barrels full of explosives. Iroh comes back from his walk to see an smoldering wreck of where he had last seen his nephew...

Up at the North Pole, Katara's feud with the tribe's culture leads to her challenging Pakku to a duel. Despite putting up a spirited fight, (Even Pakku admits she's good) she loses. Pakku finds her necklace and discovers its the same one he carved for his betrothed, Kana...Katara's Gran-Gran! While Pakku loved Kana, Kana didn't return the affections- it was an arranged marriage, and Kana wouldn't let the Northern Tribe's customs control her. And it turns out the reason for Princess Yue's mixed messages is that while she also likes Sokka, she's also engaged! In the end, Katara is allowed to train under Pakku with Aang.

Meanwhile, Iroh accepts Zhao offer to join in the invasion, but his dialogue with a soldier reveals that Zuko survived the explosion, and his Uncle is helping him stowaway. All Zuko has to do is wait patiently and the Avatar will be his...

Tropes:

 * Arranged Marriage: Why Yue is so distressed about feeling affection for Sokka. It is also the backstory between Pakku and Katara's grandmother Kanna, though she escaped it by fleeing to the Southern Water Tribe.
 * City of Canals: The Northern Water Tribe's city.
 * Chekhov's Gun: The necklace Katara's been wearing this whole time is actually her grandmother's (would-be) betrothal necklace from Pakku.
 * Flaunting Your Fleets: At the very end of the episode, there is a pan-up from Zhao's ship to the fleet he has gathered for the invasion of the Northern Water Tribe.
 * Leitmotif: The song Iroh sings on the ship's music night ("Four Seasons") becomes the love theme for Sokka and Yue.
 * Ramen Slurp: Master Pakku slurps up some noodles (and some sort of tentacle) while training Aang.
 * Slipknot Ponytail: Happens to Katara during her fight with Master Pakku.
 * Stay in the Kitchen: The Northern Water Tribe's whole attitude. Katara's having none of it.
 * Tasty Gold: Trope Namer, with the pirates Zhao hires to blow up Zuko's ship.
 * Took a Level in Badass: Katara's obviously been Level Grinding over the course of the season, but in this episode we find out just how good she's gotten.