Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best animated series to come out in recent years. Pushing the limits of typical kids shows, Avatar truly made its mark when it first debuted on Nickelodeon. As cartoons go, the show explored some pretty heavy stuff, and its serial format was bold. Nevertheless, it prevailed and went on to become a coveted series for kids and adults alike, even leading an acclaimed sequel series as well, The Legend of Korra.

And now, a live-action reboot of Avatar is planned for Netflix. So with Aang heading back to the small screen, let's take a look back at the very best episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The 10 Best Avatar: The Last Airbender Episodes 11 IMAGES

10 "Sozin's Comet: Part 4"

9 "The Blue Spirit"

8 "Bitter Work"

7 "The Firebending Masters"

6 "The Crossroads of Destiny"

5 "The Tales of Ba Sing Se"

4 "The Avatar and the Fire Lord"

3 "Zuko Alone"

2 "The Siege of the North: Part 2"

1 "The Storm"

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This episode also featured moments that we'd been waiting to see since the very first episode -- Aang using all four elements at once, for example. We also got an extended epilogue that tied up all loose ends -- okay, Zuko's mom's story would be saved for another day -- and that's more than most shows can say.What's more, creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino cleverly sidestepped the issue of killing the show's main villain -- and it was actually a pretty convincing after the setup in "Sozin's Comet: Part 2 - The Old Masters." Zuko . After Aang was captured and imprisoned by Commander Zhao, Zuko attempted to rescue Aang in a Batman-like display under the guise of his alter ego, The Blue Spirit. But the way in which it was presented, no one knew who this mysterious paragon really was until later in the story.What's so great about this episode was seeing Aang and Zuko working together for the first time, teaming up to take down a common enemy. And even though Aang didn't realize Zuko was behind the mask -- and, for that matter, Zuko was only rescuing Aang to help himself -- it was here we learned the two boys could become allies and that Zuko may have been more redeemable than we expected.Not only did Aang learn how to earthbend in this episode, but Uncle Iroh taught Zuko how to redirect lightning. We also learned here that Iroh was much more knowledgable that we'd previously given him credit for. His speech detailing the vital importance of all four elements offered great insight into the show's mythological themes."Bitter Work" also had some great comedic moments: Katara disagreeing with Toph's teaching methods, Sokka entrapping himself in a land crevice, and Aang's earthbending montage -- all classic Team Avatar shenanigans.It was cool to see Aang and Zuko work together again (this time on purpose), especially given their violent history together. This was really the first time we got to see Zuko proving his loyalty to Aang -- and what better way to do that than explore some ancient ruins together?Speaking of which, this episode also paid a little tribute to the Raiders of the Lost Ark. When Aang and Zuko stumbled upon a golden artifact in one of the ruins, Aang remarked, "I'm very suspicious of giant glowing gems sitting on pedestals!" Well said, Avatar."Crossroads" was also one of the show's darkest episodes and ended on a pretty dark note: Zuko had betrayed his uncle, the Fire Nation overthrew Ba Sing Se, and the Gaang was forced into hiding. However, the Book Two finale was also suitably emotional and action-packed, which is why we can't help but love it.Of course, the most memorable segment was Uncle Iroh's. After his own misadventure in Ba Sing Se, the old man traveled to the top of a hill at sunset, where it was revealed that today had been the anniversary of his son's death. Doubling down on the emotional impact, "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" was dedicated to Mako, the voice of Iroh, who at the time had recently passed away. (Cue the tearbending!)Even on its own, "The Avatar and the Fire Lord" was a great story -- the classic tale of lifelong friends becoming sworn enemies. It also added to the already high stakes of the show, providing even more information about the Avatar and his/her role in the world. Plus, we learned that Zuko was a descendent of both Sozin and Roku, which left Zuko with a very big decision to make -- a major turning point for the series.In this episode, Zuko befriended a young boy whose family took him in for the night. As Zuko recalled his childhood, he remembered how his mother was the only one who really understood him. But once she disappeared, Zuko was forced to struggle alone with only his tyrannical father to guide him.Offering some of the most poignant moments on the show, "Zuko Alone" was definitely one of the greats.In the end, this episode was a stellar ending for season one. There was something almost mythic about it that really nailed the dichotomy of fire and water, that push and pull. At the same time, it hit all the emotional beats and defining character moments. It was satisfactory on every level, and it got you pumped for the next season.I don't think it's a coincidence that some of the best episodes of Avatar prominently featured both Aang and Zuko. In "The Storm" we saw how these two boys started out and how they traveled their own separate paths. Here, Aang coped with the responsibilities he left behind almost a century ago, while Zuko reflected on the differences between him and his father Ozai. This episode was also one of the first to show Zuko's softer side and depict him as more than just an adversary to the Avatar.Exploring these backstories was pivotal in understanding how Aang and Zuko ticked, and this episode delivered on both fronts, ultimately giving the show a higher purpose. It's for that reason "The Storm" is ranked as our number one episode of Avatar.Be sure to also check out our picks for the