10 Iconic Episodes Of Avatar: The Last Airbender
2. The Crossroads of Destiny (Book 2: Episode 20)
The Crossroads Of Destiny episode provided the perfect culmination of the many story threads of Book 2 and provided an excellent cliffhanger.
Azula gains control of the Di Lee from Long Feng and uses them to stage a coup against the Earth King and seize control of Ba Sing Se. After rescuing the rest of the group from captivity, Team Avatar has to accept that the city is lost and that their best course of action is to flee. But just as it appears that Zuko might join them, Azula offers him the chance to return to the Fire Nation with his honour if he decides to join her.
After going against Iroh’s advice, Zuko helps Azula in fighting Team Avatar. During the fight, Aang enters the Avatar state, but is shot by Azula with lightning, presumably killing him. Iroh helps Team Avatar escape before being captured while Katara uses spirit water to try and heal Aang’s wounds.
The episode ends on a depressing note as our heroes watch the once thought impregnable city of Ba Sing Se finally fall to the Fire Nation while Aang’s fate remains uncertain.