3x10 The Day of Black Sun: The Invasion (1)

[8.0/10] Nothing to complain about here. It is an absolute treat to turn the invasion into something of a family reunion, with the swamp-benders, Haru, The Machinist, the Boulder, and a few others coming together to help Hakoda and Team Avatar take the Fire Nation capital city. The group has come a long way since running into most of these folks, and seeing them all in place and ready to work together is tons of fun.

There’s also lots of creative stuff in the battle itself. “The Invasion” does well to come up with interesting set pieces that use everyone’s skills in novel ways. Using submarines designed by Sokka to get around the Fire Nation defenses is cool. Appa’s armor is simultaneously badass and adorable. The inch-worm like Earth-bender tanks have several neat moments. And the swamp bender turning into a badass seaweed monster is a treat too.

The episode finds interesting ways to use all these toys and the benders who employ them. Whether it’s taking out turrets or overcoming firebenders on the ground, there’s lots of neat mini-moments that sell both the progression of the struggle and the individual parts of it.
There’s also a tidy little arc for Sokka here. It’s not overly complicated, but after all of his planning and preparation, he feels like he blew his big moment due to his nervousness. Then, when his father is injured in battle, Sokka finds his mettle and leads them in formation and into battle. It’s not overly complicated, but it’s a good story to help give character significance to the fight.

I also really like the fact that after Aang psyches himself up with the battle with Fire Lord Ozai, everyone is gone from the palace. We already know Azula was onto the plan, so it makes sense that the Fire Nation brain trust would get out of dodge during the eclipse. I have to admit, it seemed odd to me that we were doing all of this at mid-season, but it being a feint, where our heroes are likely to miss their big shot and have to come up with an alternative plan, is a very interesting choice.

Last, but not least, I like the scenes with the good folk on the Fire Nation side. Zuko’s arc being back home has had a number of problems. There’s a great idea at the core of it – that he has what he always wanted but the way he’s changed makes it feel empty, but that’s never been dramatized especially well. Still, there’s meaning in him giving up that life for something else, and not knowing what that is. By the same token, I love the hints we get that Iroh has been watching and waiting, and tells the kind female guard to be gone because he’s about to make his move.

Overall, it’s not as overwhelming of a first installment as I might hope for something as monumental as invading the Fire Nation, but since this feels like a preview anyway, I don’t mind too much. Plenty of creativity and well done action to make it fun and exciting.

The brilliance of the Day of Black Sun two-parter is how, in any other series, it would be a series finale. But, Avatar is not a dumb show, and it's in the details where it really succeeds. Most of the entire cast is brought back here, even one off characters, and it feels like the show is culminating in this moment. Sokka gets to become a leader as well here, giving him a real chance to show off just how much his character has developed over the course of the show. And of course, Aang's ultimate declaration of love to Katara, which is one of the best moments the two have had and pays off their relationship wonderfully.

As an invasion episode, it helps the actual invasion is entertaining as hell, with fantastic geography, great bending abilities, and a tense atmosphere. You really do feel like anyone could bite it at any moment, which makes the entire experience a nail biter. And that leads into the final scene with Aang discovering that it's all a ruse and that the Fire Nation knew - it's such a great moment that's to be expected to those paying attention, but it's done so well and allows for the second part to truly shine.