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