Ep 5. The King of Omashu

In "The King of Omashu," the fifth episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender's first season, Aang and friends arrive at the city of Omashu, a prosperous and vibrant location that's home to one of the Earth Kingdom's most peaceful and organized cities. Once they get there, they're stopped by a pair of guards who demand identification before allowing them into the city. Aang, being the Avatar, expects to be recognized as such, but surprisingly, the guards are unfazed by his titles and refuse him entry until he can prove his identity.

The group tries to convince the guards that Aang really is the Avatar, but to no avail. Ultimately, they decide to sneak into the city, which leads to a series of comical hijinks. The gang splits up to cover more ground, and Aang runs into a young boy named Bumi, who tells him that he knows of a shortcut to the city's palace. Aang, who's been forced to disguise himself as an old man, takes Bumi up on his offer, and they quickly make it to the palace gates.

Once inside the palace, Aang and Bumi come face-to-face with the eccentric King of Omashu, a man who seems to have gone insane with power. The King challenges Aang to a series of three tests, promising to allow him entry into the city if he passes them all. The first test involves a game of hide-and-seek, which Aang and Bumi find easy enough. The second test is a race through a treacherous maze, which Aang, being an Airbender, easily completes with ample help from his bending powers.

The third test, however, proves to be the most challenging of all. The King sets Aang and Bumi a puzzle to solve, which consists of a series of symbols and riddles. Aang struggles with the puzzle, but after a few false starts, he and Bumi manage to solve it, thus proving to the King that Aang is indeed the Avatar.

Overall, "The King of Omashu" is a thrilling and hilarious episode that showcases the excellent writing and action of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The test sequences are ingeniously designed, and the showcase of Aang's Airbending and critical thinking abilities is quite impressive. Additionally, the episode is filled with moments of humor, particularly in the interactions between the King and Aang, which are both funny and revealing. Overall, "The King of Omashu" is a must-watch episode for fans of the series, and one that successfully sets the tone for the rest of the show.