Ep 108. The Puppetmaster

In season 3 episode 108 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, titled The Puppetmaster, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph arrive at a small village surrounded by fog in search of a waterbending master to teach Katara. As they arrive, they meet a kind old woman named Hama who offers them a place to stay for the night.

The next day, Hama takes Katara to a nearby river to teach her waterbending. However, something feels off to Katara about Hama’s teaching methods. She realizes that Hama uses a form of waterbending called bloodbending, which allows her to control the bodies of living beings by manipulating the water inside of them.

Katara is horrified by the dark practice and confronts Hama about it. Hama explains that she learned bloodbending while she was a prisoner of the Fire Nation during the war. She was held captive in a prison made entirely of metal, which prevented her from using regular waterbending. Faced with no other options, she started practicing bloodbending and eventually became a master of the technique.

Hama tells Katara that bloodbending is a rare power that only a few waterbenders possess. She believes that the power should be used to protect the people of the Water Tribe and to fight against their enemies. Katara, however, sees the power as a dark and dangerous practice that should not be used under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, Sokka and Aang are investigating the mysterious disappearances of villagers in the surrounding area. They discover that the disappearances are linked to Hama, who has been using her bloodbending powers to control the bodies of villagers and force them to do her bidding.

Katara and Hama face off in a fierce battle of waterbending, with Katara determined to stop Hama from hurting innocent people. In the end, Katara is able to overcome Hama’s bloodbending with her own waterbending skills and restraint. She decides to spare Hama’s life and brings her back to the village to face justice for her actions.

The Puppetmaster is a gripping and intense episode that delves deep into the darker side of the Avatar world. It explores the ethics of using powerful bending techniques for good or evil, and the consequences of succumbing to the darkness within. The episode is a thrilling addition to the third season of Avatar: The Last Airbender and leaves viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.