Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2

Book 2: Earth
Season 2
The cover for "The Complete Book 2 Collection" DVD.
No. of episodes	20
Release
Original network	Nickelodeon
Original release	March 17, 2006 – December 1, 2006
Season chronology

Season Two of Avatar: The Last Airbender (also known as Book 2: Earth), an American animated television series, began airing March 17, 2006, and ended on December 1, 2006, after a total of twenty episodes aired. The season was created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, starring Zach Tyler Eisen, Mae Whitman, Jack DeSena, Jessie Flower, Mako, Grey DeLisle, and Dante Basco as the main character voices.

The season begins with protagonist Aang's quest to find himself an Earthbending teacher with his friends Katara and Sokka. This task is completed in "The Blind Bandit", when the three recruit Toph. In "The Library", Aang finds important information concerning the war with the Fire Nation. However, Aang quickly becomes involved in looking for his flying bison Appa when he is kidnapped in the same episode. Aang's search leads him to Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Kingdom where Aang would report his information on the Fire Nation. The remainder of the season focuses on Aang uncovering the internal government corruption of Ba Sing Se. The season ends with Ba Sing Se falling to the Fire Nation, and Aang escaping with his friends on a recovered Appa.

Nickelodeon has released six DVD sets for the season: five sets containing four episodes each, and a six DVD collection of all twenty episodes. The first DVD set was released on January 23, 2007, and the complete six DVD collection was released on September 11, 2007. All DVDs were encoded in Region 1, meaning they play only on North American DVD players. Region 2 DVDs, which have been released for Season 1, have yet to be released. Throughout the season's airing, the show has received much good criticism, with praises such as, "As a flat concept, Avatar the Last Airbender is nothing special, but in execution, it is head and shoulders above other children's entertainment", and that "as a whole, the look of Avatar is consistently excellent." Furthermore, the show has won multiple awards, including the "Best Character Animation in a Television Production" award from the 34th Annual Annie Awards and the "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation" award from the 2007 Annual Emmy Awards.

Production

The show was produced by and aired on Nickelodeon, which is owned by Viacom. The show's executive producers and co-creators were Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who worked alongside episode director and co-producer Aaron Ehasz. The majority of the individual episodes were directed by Ethan Spaulding, Lauren MacMullan and Giancarlo Volpe. Episodes were written or co-written by a team of writers, which consisted of Aaron Ehasz, Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Tim Hedrick, John O'Bryan, and others. All of the show's music was composed by "The Track Team", which consists of Jeremy Zuckerman and Benjamin Wynn, who were hired since the former was co-creator Bryan Konietzko's roommate.

Most of the main characters who made their debut in the first season remained the same, with Zach Tyler Eisen as Aang, Mae Whitman as Katara, and Jack DeSena as Sokka. However, the season also has its share of new characters: antagonist Azula voiced by Grey DeLisle; Long Feng voiced by Clancy Brown. In addition, two other characters, Mae and Ty Lee, are introduced as antagonists who help Azula to capture Aang. They were voiced by Cricket Leigh and Olivia Hack, respectively. Mako, who voiced Iroh, died during production and was replaced by Greg Baldwin.

Reception

In a review of the Volume 2 DVD Release for Book 2, Gabriel Powers from DVDActive.com says "Avatar: The Last Airbender is probably the best kids show to come along since Justice League and Samurai Jack"; the review describes the many good aspects of the show, such as "how funny it is". Powers also comments:

Without dumbing down its characters, plots, or humour, and without overtly taming-up the action or peril, Avatar manages to enthral children and adults, ages 4 to 56...There is a genuine classic feel to the series, which uses actual Asian history and lore as its base. Like Star Wars, the creative forces behind the show have tapped into that basic, generation spanning storytelling that will live long after the series' youngest fans are old and bitter.

For the video and audio quality, Powers says "Season two generally looks better than the bulk of season one, but still has some issues." Jamie S. Rich from DVD Talk says that "As a flat concept, Avatar the Last Airbender is nothing special, but in execution, it is head and shoulders above other children's entertainment", and that "as a whole, the look of Avatar is consistently excellent."

In the 34th Annual Annie Awards of 2006, the show was nominated for and won the "Best Character Animation in a Television Production" award, for Jae-Myung Yu's animation in "The Blind Bandit", and the "Best Directing in an Animated Television Production" award, for the episode "The Drill". In 2007, the show was nominated for "Outstanding Animated Program" in the 2007 Emmy Awards for the "City of Walls and Secrets" episode, though it did not win. However, the show did win the "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation" award for Sang-Jin Kim's animation in the "Lake Laogai" episode.

Episodes

#	Title	Writer	Director	Original airdate	Production code
21	"The Avatar State"	Aaron Ehasz, Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Tim Hedrick, John O'Bryan	Giancarlo Volpe	March 17, 2006	201
Aang and the group travel to an Earth Kingdom military base to receive an escort to the city of Omashu, where King Bumi can teach Aang Earthbending, the art of controlling and manipulating Earth. The general at the military base, though, suggests that Aang defeat the Fire Lord immediately by triggering the Avatar State, a powerful defensive mechanism used by the Avatar. The general proves he is willing to use any means to trigger the Avatar State. After many failed attempts, he finally succeeds in triggering the Avatar State by faking Katara's death.
22	"The Cave of Two Lovers"	Joshua Hamilton	Lauren MacMullan	March 24, 2006	202
While on the way to Omashu, Aang and the crew meet a group of traveling bards, who take them through a vast tunnel known as "The Cave of Two Lovers". In the cave, Aang, Katara, and Appa become separated from Sokka and the others. Elsewhere, Zuko and Iroh are sheltered by kind people after Iroh accidentally drinks the tea from a poisonous plant. Song, a young and compassionate healer, shows Zuko the effects of war from a normal citizen's perspective.
23	"Return to Omashu"	Elizabeth Welch Ehasz	Ethan Spaulding	April 7, 2006	203
Aang and the crew are shocked to find Omashu captured by the Fire Nation. They sneak in and are caught by Fire Nation soldiers, but released when pox marks on Sokka create the illusion of an illness. They then meet a resistance located within the city, and help the whole city to escape by creating a fake epidemic with the same pox marks. While they are leaving, the Governor of Omashu's son, TomTom, accidentally leaves with the citizens. Aang attempts to trade him for King Bumi, but fails when Azula calls off the trade.
24	"The Swamp"	Tim Hedrick	Giancarlo Volpe	April 14, 2006	204
While flying over a swamp, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Appa get separated by a tornado. In the swamp, the gang begin to see visions: Sokka sees visions of Princess Yue; Katara sees visions of her mother; Aang sees visions of an unknown girl, who is later revealed to be Toph. Meanwhile, Appa and Momo are captured by local waterbenders, and are saved from being eaten near the end of the episode. Elsewhere, Zuko disguises himself as The Blue Spirit, and steals food for himself and Iroh.
25	"Avatar Day"	John O'Bryan	Lauren MacMullan	April 28, 2006	205
The gang stumbles upon a town celebrating an Anti-Avatar Day. The villagers blame the Avatar for killing their leader Chin the Great in a past life. The villagers eventually discover Aang's identity and arrest him. In Aang's trial, Avatar Kyoshi appears and confesses about the crime. However, Fire Nation soldiers begin to attack the village, and the gang stops the raid before too much damage is done, causing the village to pardon Aang's crime, and change the "Anti-Avatar" celebration to a true "Avatar" Celebration.
26	"The Blind Bandit"	Michael Dante DiMartino	Ethan Spaulding	May 5, 2006	206
While at an Earthbending tournament, they see blind Earthbending master Toph. Aang challenges her and easily defeats her with Airbending, but she refuses to teach him Earthbending. Both Aang and Toph are later captured by the owner of the Earthbending Tournament. Toph reveals her Earthbending to save them, but her parents respond by confining Toph to her home and not welcoming Aang to their home. Toph later runs away, prompting her father to hire the owner of the Earthbending Tournament and her Earthbending instructor to bring her back with any means.
27	"Zuko Alone"	Elizabeth Welch Ehasz	Lauren MacMullan	May 12, 2006	207
After leaving his uncle, Zuko continues his solo journey to an Earth Kingdom town, where a young boy brings him home to dinner. During the episode, Zuko has flashbacks about his life before banishment, such as his loving mother and cruel sister, Azula. Zuko also remembers the death of his cousin, Lu Ten. After revealing his identity to the town's people, he had flashbacks about the disappearance of his mother, his grandfather's funeral, and Ozai's crowning as Fire Lord.
28	"The Chase"	Joshua Hamilton	Giancarlo Volpe	May 26, 2006	208
Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph are chased by an unknown machine, which prevents them from stopping to sleep. After cleaning Appa so his fur does not leave a trail, Aang goes one way as a decoy, and Sokka and Katara go another direction on Appa. Sokka and Katara are tracked by Ty Lee and Mai, who were inside the machine. Meanwhile, Azula runs into Aang. After Aang decides to fight, Zuko joins the fight. Eventually, Katara, Sokka, Iroh, and Toph help to corner Azula. She pretends to surrender, only to wound Iroh before making her escape.
29	"Bitter Work"	Aaron Ehasz	Ethan Spaulding	June 2, 2006	209
Aang tries to learn Earthbending from Toph, despite interference from his previous Airbending training. Meanwhile, Sokka is stuck in a hole after trying to hunt an animal. Elsewhere, Iroh teaches Zuko how to re-direct lightning, so he will be better able to fight Azula. When Aang finds Sokka, Aang is forced to save Sokka from a wild animal. Toph mysteriously appears, and uses Aang's angered state to get him to Earthbend.
30	"The Library"	John O'Bryan	Giancarlo Volpe	July 14, 2006	210
A professor tells the gang about a Spirit Library full of information hidden in the desert. Inside, they secretly discover a crucial weakness of the Fire Nation that could end the war. However, the spirit of the library, Wan Shi Tong, begins to sink the library after they find this information. Outside, Toph is distracted by the library sinking, and cannot defend Appa while he is stolen by Sandbenders. They all make it out of the library, only to be devastated by Appa's disappearance.
31	"The Desert"	Tim Hedrick	Lauren MacMullan	July 14, 2006	211
The gang walks across the desert to tell the Earth King about the Fire Nation's secret. Elsewhere, a secret society helps protect Iroh and Zuko from the Fire Nation, as well as the men hired by Toph's father, who plan to capture them for the reward. Meanwhile, Aang eventually tracks down the people that stole Appa, and learns that Appa has been traded to a merchant in Ba Sing Se. The gang then continues to Ba Sing Se, now with two goals to complete within the city.
32	"The Serpent’s Pass"	Michael Dante DiMartino, Joshua Hamilton	Ethan Spaulding	September 15, 2006	212
After leaving the desert, the group meets up with Suki, and attempts to lead a couple through the Serpent's Pass. While Zuko and Iroh are on a ferry to Ba Sing Se, they meet Jet, who is trying to turn his life around. Jet takes an instant liking to Zuko and asks if he wants to join him and his Freedom Fighters. Meanwhile, the gang is attacked by a giant serpent, hence the name "The Serpent's Pass". They head to Ba Sing Se's outer wall only to find the drill on a direct path towards it.
33	"The Drill"	Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko	Giancarlo Volpe	September 15, 2006	213
Aang discovers a Fire Nation drill heading straight for Ba Sing Se, with Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai inside. An Earth King general gives him the task of stopping it before it destroys the wall that protects the city. Aang and the group succeed in stopping and destroying the drill from the inside. Meanwhile, Jet wishes to recruit Zuko for his Freedom Fighters, but learns instead that Zuko and Iroh are Firebenders after seeing Iroh heat his tea at a Ba Sing Se train station.
34	"City of Walls and Secrets"	Tim Hedrick	Lauren MacMullan	September 22, 2006	214
Aang and the rest of the group arrive in Ba Sing Se to find Appa and inform the Earth King about the solar eclipse, but are constantly hindered by their tour guide, Joo Dee. They are informed about how the city has been keeping the war a secret from its citizens, and are warned not to make a disturbance. Elsewhere, Jet repeatedly tries and fails to gather evidence that Zuko and Iroh are Firebenders. His last attempt, challenging Zuko to a sword fight, ends in his own arrest. The group is escorted home by an eerie women who claims to be another Joo Dee.
35	"Tales of Ba Sing Se"	Joann Estoesta, Lisa Wahlander, Andrew Huebner, Gary Scheppke Lauren MacMullan, Katie Mattila, Justin Ridge, Giancarlo Volpe	Ethan Spaulding	September 29, 2006	215
This episode contains a collection of six "mini-episodes": Katara and Toph have a girls’ day out; Iroh helps out people in town before celebrating the birthday of his dead son; Aang helps a zookeeper build a new zoo; Sokka accidentally ends up in a poetry club; Zuko goes out on a date; Momo looks through Ba Sing Se for Appa. The mini-episode where Iroh helps out people in the town was dedicated to Mako, as it was the last recording of Mako's voice before he died.
36	"Appa’s Lost Days"	Elizabeth Welch Ehasz	Giancarlo Volpe	October 12, 2006	216
This episode starts during the events of "The Library". It shows Appa's abduction, and his various adventures over the next few weeks. These include performing in a Fire Nation circus, fleeing a startled farmer, and fighting with a porcupine boar. Afterwards, Suki and her Kyoshi warriors help him recover from his injuries. Appa flees to the Eastern Air Temple when Suki and the group are attacked. At the temple, a mysterious guru provides him with aid on his search, telling him to Ba Sing Se, where he is captured by Long Feng.
37	"Lake Laogai"	Tim Hedrick	Lauren MacMullan	November 3, 2006	217
The gang continues looking for Appa, so Long Feng tries to throw them off by sending a brainwashed Jet to make them leave the city. They meet up with Longshot and Smellerbee, and realize what Long Feng had done to Jet. They then travel to where Jet was brainwashed, Lake Laogai, in hopes of finding Appa. Instead, they encounter Long Feng and battle. Near the end of the episode, Jet is killed by Long Feng. Elsewhere, Zuko discovers that Aang is in the city and begins his own search for Appa.
38	"The Earth King"	John O’Bryan	Ethan Spaulding	November 16, 2006	218
The gang breaks into the Earth King's palace to talk to him about the war. The gang repeatedly fails in attempting to persuade the Earth King to believe them. However, they succeed when they show the Earth King the drill the gang stopped five episodes ago. After the Earth King begins to believe them, Long Feng is arrested and put in jail. At their new house, Zuko falls spiritually ill.
39	"The Guru"	Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko	Giancarlo Volpe	December 1, 2006	219
In this episode, the gang split up. Aang travels to the Eastern Air Temple to learn control of the Avatar State from Guru Pathik. Meanwhile, Toph is captured by Xin Fu and Master Yu, who attempt transport Toph back to her parents. She is put in a metal box, which she escapes from by teaching herself "metalbending". Katara and the generals plan the invasion of the Fire Nation. Later in the episode, Katara is captured by Azula, who is disguised as a Kyoshi warrior. Aang sees the whole situation in a vision, and immediately gathers everybody to help.
40	"The Crossroads of Destiny"	Aaron Ehasz	Michael Dante DiMartino	December 1, 2006	220
A coup is staged by Azula with the Dai Li, where all of the major generals are captured at once. Aang is unable to stop Azula's plan, and the Earth Kingdom falls to the Fire Nation. Aang is critically injured by Azula in battle, and Iroh gives him time to escape before being betrayed by Zuko. At the end of the episode, Aang and the gang escape on Appa, where Katara heals Aang using water from the spirit oasis, which she obtained at the beginning of Season Two.

DVD Releases

Nickelodeon began releasing DVDs for Book 2 on January 23, 2007. The first five DVD releases contained one disc that consisted of four episodes each. The final DVD was the "Complete Book 2 Box Set", which contained all of the episodes in the season dispersed on five discs, and packaged with a special features disc. All of the DVD sets for Book 2 were released with Region 1 encoding, meaning they can only play on North American DVD players. Only "Book 2: Earth, Volume 1" has been released in Region 2, which plays in Europe.

Volume Name	Released	Discs	Episodes
Book 2: Earth, Volume 1	January 23, 2007	1	5
Book 2: Earth, Volume 2	April 10, 2007	1	5
Book 2: Earth, Volume 3	May 22, 2007	1	5
Book 2: Earth, Volume 4	August 14, 2007	1	5
The Complete Book Two Box Set	September 11, 2007	5	20
Information obtained from Amazon.com