Sozin's Comet

"Sozin's Comet"
Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes
Cover of the book adaptation, Sozin's Comet: The Final Battle
Episode nos.Season 3
Episodes 18–21
Directed by
Written by
Featured musicJeremy Zuckerman
Benjamin Wynn
Production code318–321
Original air dateJuly 19, 2008 (2008-07-19)
Running time92 minutes
Episode chronology
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"The Promise, Part One"
Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 3)
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"Sozin's Comet" is the four-part series finale of the American animated fantasy action Nickelodeon television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. It was written by the creators alongside Aaron Ehasz, and directed by Ethan Spaulding, Giancarlo Volpe, and Joaquim Dos Santos. Although the finale is split into four episodes, it aired as a two-hour four-part film on July 19, 2008. The Saturday airing of "Sozin's Comet" acted as a climax to a week of ten new episodes that concluded Avatar's third season.[1] Before the week of July 14–19, no episodes had been shown in the US since November 30, 2007,[2] though some episodes had been released on DVD prior to their airdate. This is also considered a 92-minute television movie.

The finale focuses on series protagonist Avatar Aang's non-violent personality and his reluctance to kill Fire Lord Ozai, as shown throughout the series.[3] The finale also follows the exploits of many of Aang's friends and allies, including Sokka, Toph and Suki's struggle to destroy a Fire Nation airship armada, Zuko and Katara's battle against Azula, and Iroh and the Order of the White Lotus' attempt to liberate the city of Ba Sing Se.[4]

"Sozin's Comet” was critically acclaimed from critics and fans alike, and is widely regarded as one of the best series finales of all time. The initial showing averaged 5.6 million viewers, a 195% increase compared to the previous year in its time period.[5] The premieres of episodes beginning with "The Western Air Temple" throughout the week received over 19 million viewers,[5] of which 5.6 million were from Sozin's Comet.[6] At the 2008 Annie Awards, the director of the third part of "Sozin's Comet" won an award for "Best Directing in an Animated Television Production".[7]

Although "Sozin's Comet" is the series finale, Avatar: The Last Airbender has continued as an ongoing graphic novel series published by Dark Horse Comics since January 2012, which takes place after the events of the finale and before the sequel series The Legend of Korra.

  1. ^ "Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender Kicks Off Action-Packed Week of Premieres Beginning Monday, July 14, Culminating with Stunning Two-Hour TV Movie 'Sozin's Comet' Saturday, July 19" (Press release). Nickelodeon. June 30, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2016 – via PR Newswire.
  2. ^ "Season 3". Avatar: The Last Airbender. IGN. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  3. ^ Mell, Tory Ireland (July 22, 2008). "Sozin's Comet Review". IGN. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
  4. ^ Director: Ethan Spaulding; Writers: Elizabeth Welch Ehasz, Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko (July 19, 2008). "Sozin's Comet". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 3. Episode 58–61. Nickelodeon.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference AWN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Seidman, Robert (July 22, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings: Weekly Top 20 Cable TV Ratings for Week Ending July 20, 2008". Nielsen Media Research. Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  7. ^ "2008 Annie Awards: For Your Consideration". Annie Awards. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008.