Top 10 Most BRUTAL Moments in Avatar The Last Airbender

WatchMojo

Parental guidance is advised! For this list, we’ll be looking at moments of intense violence or brutality found in this endlessly beloved show.

Transcript

00:00 You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher.

00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10

00:10 most graphic moments in Avatar The Last Airbender.

00:12 I'm sorry, Appa.

00:14 For this list, we'll be looking at moments of intense violence or brutality found in this

00:18 endlessly beloved show. However, we won't be including its sequel series The Legend of Korra,

00:22 or any tie-in comics or novels. Which moment of violence surprised you?

00:26 Share with us in the comments below.

00:29 Hey, Mojoholics! For a chance to win cash prizes, play our live daily trivia challenges every day

00:35 at 3pm and 8pm Eastern, only at watchmojo.com/play.

00:40 Number 10. Death of the Moon Spirit

00:43 I intend to remove the moon as a factor.

00:46 Remove the moon? How?

00:49 Admiral Zhao was a vile villain in the early days of Avatar. He was so sold on the glory of the

00:54 Fire Nation that he believed it's his destiny to destroy sacred spirits. Not only would this

00:58 depower the Northern Water Tribe during a climactic siege, but leave long-lasting consequences.

01:03 Whatever you do to that spirit, I'll unleash on you tenfold. Let it go now!

01:09 Despite it obviously being a very bad idea, Zhao landed a killing blow on the innocent

01:14 moon spirit's twi. Seeing him murder a being that never attacked him was shocking to say the least,

01:19 while he always put his goals before everything else. This showed his lust for power knew no

01:23 bounds. Zhao was willing to throw the world out of balance for a shot at glory.

01:27 There's no hope now. It's over.

01:30 Number 9. Sozin's Betrayal

01:33 In a season 3 episode, Avatar Roku was given some much appreciated backstory and characterization.

01:38 It was revealed that he and Fire Lord Sozin have been childhood friends.

01:42 Back then, he was just Prince Sozin, and he was my best friend.

01:47 But when the royal tried to expand his rule, the two had a major falling out.

01:51 Years later, they reunited when Roku's home was endangered by a volcanic eruption.

01:55 After the Avatar is hit with poisonous gas, Sozin sees an opportunity.

01:59 Without you, all my plans are suddenly possible. I have a vision for the future, Roku.

02:06 Upon realizing Roku's death meant his plans could be secured, the Fire Lord left his friend to die.

02:11 We already knew Sozin had ordered the deaths of air nomads he didn't know,

02:14 but we had no idea the Fire Lord could be this cold to an old friend.

02:18 With Roku gone, and the Great Comet returning, the timing was perfect to change the world.

02:25 Number 8 - Finding Gyatso's Remains

02:28 Aang was desperate to reconnect with someone from the Southern Air Temple

02:31 after he spent 100 years in an iceberg.

02:33 It's just that a lot can change in all that time.

02:36 I know, but I need to see it for myself.

02:38 While Sokka and Katara saw confirmation that everyone there was executed,

02:42 the Avatar was initially oblivious to the truth.

02:44 Unfortunately, everything changed when Aang stumbled upon the remains of his mentor,

02:48 Monk Gyatso.

02:50 They were here?

02:50 Gyatso.

02:59 The discovery of the elder airbender's skeleton

03:01 surrounded by deceased Fire Nation soldiers was shocking to him and the audience.

03:05 While other kids' shows might approach death with more subtlety,

03:08 Avatar made it clear in no uncertain terms that Gyatso perished fighting.

03:12 The revelation gave fans visual proof that this war cost the air nomads everything.

03:16 I really am the last airbender.

03:18 Number 7 - The Last Agni Kai

03:21 During Sozin's Comet, Zuko and Azula's abilities are significantly enhanced.

03:25 The size and ferocity of their blue and red flames made us nervous about each of their exchanges,

03:30 but in the end, a bolt of lightning gave us the most graphic moment.

03:33 No lightning today? What's the matter? Afraid I'll redirect it?

03:37 After Zuko manages to hold his own, Azula does what she does best - targeting a weak spot.

03:42 She breaks the rules of the Agni Kai and aims her lightning at Katara.

03:46 When an unprepared Zuko takes the blow, the blast riffles through his body and leaves him badly burned.

03:51 The lightning hit was so severe that we thought he was a goner.

03:59 It just goes to show that Azula doesn't even hold back for family.

04:02 Number 6 - Combustion Man's Death

04:08 Being a non-bender, Sokka doesn't usually get to show off as much during combat,

04:12 but his talent with a boomerang should never be in question.

04:15 "I can't get a good enough angle on him from down here."

04:17 "I know how to get an angle on him."

04:21 When the gang is attacked by an assassin known as the Combustion Man,

04:24 the villain overwhelms the heroes with his explosive firebending.

04:27 Even Zuko isn't able to stop the villain as he decimates the temple around them,

04:31 but with one well-aimed throw, Sokka was able to hit the Combustion Man in the source of his power.

04:44 When Combustion Man tries attacking again, he finds his chi is blocked,

04:47 causing the explosions to happen around him instead.

04:50 The final explosion annihilates their pursuer and leaves nothing but the assassin's metal arm behind.

04:55 "I can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks, Zuko."

04:59 "Hey, what about me? I did the boomerang thing."

05:01 Number 5 - Aang Burns Katara

05:04 After finding a prospective firebending teacher in Master Zhang Zheng,

05:07 Aang grew too eager and impatient to learn how to be careful.

05:10 "Fire is alive. It breathes. It grows. Without the bender, a rock will not throw itself."

05:17 While practicing his movements, he lost control of the fire and ended up burning Katara's hands.

05:22 Her cry of pain instantly made it clear that his reckless act severely hurt his friend.

05:26 Seeing a child handle something they clearly shouldn't,

05:28 only to harm someone they deeply care for, can be hard to watch.

05:31 "You burned my sister! This is all your fault!"

05:35 What makes it harder is how heavy this accident weighs on Aang's soul.

05:38 Although Katara is able to heal her hands, he vows to never firebend again.

05:43 It's not until Aang accepts that firebending isn't just about inflicting pain,

05:46 that he's able to wield flames with ease.

05:49 "Zhang Zheng said he has no restraints."

05:51 Number 4 - Azula's Striking Blow

05:54 The season 2 finale is packed with incredible moments of heroism and tragedy.

05:58 An exciting battle eventually comes to an end when Azula fights Dirty.

06:01 During the clash in Ba Sing Se, Aang goes into the Avatar state to give his side a helping hand.

06:07 "I'm sorry Katara."

06:08 Unfortunately, Azula knows killing him in this state will end the Avatar cycle,

06:14 and so she acts accordingly.

06:16 She shoots a lightning bolt straight into his back.

06:18 Seeing Aang's body writhe in pain before he fell out of the sky was incredibly difficult to watch.

06:23 While Katara was able to save him,

06:25 we still haven't recovered from the horrifying moment he was struck down.

06:28 "The Earth Kingdom has fallen."

06:31 Number 3 - Appa's Cruel Circus Visit

06:37 After Appa is kidnapped by Sandbenders,

06:39 a flashback episode reveals what happened during his time away from the gang.

06:42 "Okay big fella, you're gonna take a nice little snooze."

06:45 None of it is particularly happy,

06:53 but the lowest point comes early when he's purchased by a Fire Nation circus.

06:57 Shortly after Appa arrives, a vicious animal tamer keeps Appa in a small cage,

07:01 mistreats him, and threatens the animal with fire.

07:04 "But don't worry, you won't anymore. Because I am going to break you."

07:09 The Sky Bison is then forced into a Fire Nation outfit and makeup

07:12 to perform tricks under the threat of more violence.

07:15 It's always hard to see an animal in distress,

07:17 and for all the fans who had gotten to know Appa,

07:19 seeing him at the cruel mercy of an animal tamer was nigh unbearable.

07:23 "Up you insolent cow!"

07:24 Number 2 - Zuko's Banishment

07:29 "I mean, who does Zuko think he is?"

07:30 "Do you really want to know?"

07:33 Once upon a time, Zuko was excited to serve the Fire Nation

07:36 and got to sit in on his father Ozai's war council meeting.

07:39 But while inside, the prince spoke out against the general's plan to sacrifice troops.

07:43 The Fire Lord was so angry at the supposed disrespect

07:46 that he demanded that Zuko participate in an Agni Kai.

07:49 Although the prince accepted,

07:50 he didn't realize that he agreed to fight his own father.

07:53 "Zuko would have to duel his own father."

07:57 Although Zuko refused to fight, his father still set fire to his face.

08:01 The moment is so brutal that they don't even need to show it on screen.

08:05 Zuko's agonized scream and Iroh's pained expression

08:08 sell how graphic this moment truly is.

08:10 "As punishment, he was banished and sent to capture the Avatar.

08:15 Only then could he return with his honor."

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08:34 Number 1. Embracing Bloodbending

08:38 There's a good reason the bloodbending technique still creeps fans out all these years later.

08:42 This terrifying skill was first showcased by Hama.

08:45 "Bloodbending. Controlling the water in another body. Enforcing your own will over theirs."

08:54 After this waterbender learned she could manipulate the blood within people during full moons,

08:58 she started kidnapping Fire Nation residents.

09:00 When Katara tried to stop this from happening,

09:03 Hama used her dark abilities on the young waterbender and her friends.

09:06 The villain even made Sokka and Aang attack someone they loved.

09:09 Since bloodbending causes the victim's body to contort,

09:12 it looks like something out of The Exorcist.

09:14 This moment was so dark and disturbing,

09:16 Katara vowed to never use the technique again after defeating Hama.

09:20 "Congratulations, Katara. You're a bloodbender."

09:25 But she broke that promise when she was on her own quest of vengeance.

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09:43 [outro music]

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