Although Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a fantasy world with completely different traditions than our own, that doesn't mean it's totally out of place for holiday-time viewing. As fans bundle up and look for familiar viewing to put them in the holiday mood for a cozy night in, there are some episodes that just demand a pairing with hot cocoa.
Spooky episodes meant for Halloween might be easier to think of, but digging into episodes for wintertime viewing is every bit as fitting. Just which ones should Avatar fans watch to fuse their favorite franchise with a well-earned Christmas vacation?
In terms of capturing the winter spirit, there's no better place to begin with Avatar than the very beginning. "The Boy in the Iceberg" and "The Avatar Returns" are the first two episodes of the series, and their setting at the Southern Water Tribe of the South Pole gives them a perfect icy climate to match the December air outside. From the introductory scene in which Katara explores her budding abilities to waterbend as Sokka tries his hand at capturing a fish, Avatar fans will find themselves revisiting a familiar world that could be right outside their frosty windows.
That icy climate does not last long into the series, however, as Aang and his friends quickly find themselves bound for the North Pole, where the Earth Kingdom ahead of them quickly ramps up the heat as Prince Zuko and Uncle Iroh hunt the trio down on behalf of the Fire Nation. Fans familiar with the series can skip right past that hunt and go straight to the Northern Water Tribe first seen in "The Waterbending Master." With the far better-protected northern city a veritable fortress of ice and snow, the two-part season finale that follows "The Waterbending Master" is as fitting for December as the opening to the series.
After hitting the bookends of the first season, there's not much snow or winter to be seen for the rest of the season, but that doesn't mean that episodes from the following two seasons are lacking where holiday spirit is concerned. Many Christmas classics aren't even really about Christmas as much as they are about family and togetherness.
In Book Two's "Zuko Alone" and "The Tales of Ba Sing Se," the importance of finding a family unfolds in a heartwarming fashion fit for any holiday viewing. In the former, Zuko tries to make it on his own through the Earth Kingdom when an unfortunate family in need reminds him of what is truly important. By skipping ahead to "The Tales of Ba Sing Se," viewers can find not only the restoration of Zuko's family life at Iroh's side in Ba Sing Se, but also Iroh's own heart-wrenching loss as he mourns his fallen son.
The third season of the show ramps up the heat even further, and the tropical climes of the Fire Nation where the Gaang hides out may not seem appropriate for such a thematic viewing. However, much like "Elf" or "Frosty the Snow Man," Avatar's second episode in its third season, "The Headband," features a fun-loving spirit brightening the lives of those around him whom he teaches an important lesson.
In Avatar's case, Aang is the magical dollop of fun, and although the Fire Nation school at which he goes undercover may not seem like the setting to a wintertime tale, the crotchety school officials he saves the children from are every bit as Grinch-like as viewers could wish for. If the tropical setting really is a deal-breaker, however, then Avatar fans may be in luck. After all, the series has the sequel The Legend of Korra with plenty more frosty settings of its own.
Korra's "Book Two: Spirits" takes place primarily at the Southern Water Tribe that provided such a festive setting for the original series. Its highlights include "Rebel Spirit" and "The Southern Lights," offering not only plenty of parkas but also the festive celebration of an event that brings Korra's family together much as any holiday should.
For viewers who find themselves on a full-on Avatar binge by that point, they can coast through the rest of the second season, where the snowy climate provides the backdrop for much of the season's events. The two-parter "Beginnings" stands out from the rest of the season in terms of showing a flashback primarily outside the frosty setting, so skip this if necessary. However, any Avatar fan enjoying the time off might just find themselves doing a full rewatch. After all, what better gift could they ask for?
