Aang was not the same after the delivery of this scene.

Despite ending almost two decades ago, Avatar: The Last Airbender has maintained its relevance through the test of time. Having only grown its fandom over the years, there are several reasons why it has been held in such high regard by fans. Every step taken by a character, every expression, and every word uttered, holds weight and nothing is coincidental. The series was strategically made in a way that made it timeless and the storytelling is unlike any other.
The Avatar: The Last Airbender universe
To find the perfect example of how well the series writes its characters, one has to look no further than the protagonist, Aang. In fact, the beauty of the series’ storytelling can be narrowed down to one scene in the twelfth episode of Book 2.

The one scene that changed Aang forever and made him understand what it means to be the Avatar.

The One Scene That Changed Aang

By the twelfth episode of Book 2, a lot has happened. An Earth Kingdom village was destroyed by Rhinos, leaving a pregnant woman, Ying, and her husband trying to fend off the harshness of the world they live in as they make their way through Serpent’s Pass. Simultaneously, the three protagonists are also making the same journey, forcing the two groups to cross paths, with the former taking the protection of The Avatar and his companions.

The 2005 animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender
This trip turns into a nightmare as they face many conflicts as they go through the dangerous Pass. With every challenge and foe they face, an already broken and battered Aang gets knocked down. After finally being clear of the dangers, something unexpected happens; Ying goes into labor, forcing her to have a baby in an unknown place.

One would expect this to be the final straw in Aang’s faith and think that he would break down with the stress and lack of light in his life. However, what happens is completely different.

The Birth of Aang As The Avatar

After the baby is born, thanks to Katara’s past experience as a midwife, Aang and Sokka get to see the newborn. While the latter marvels at how soft the baby looks, the Avatar has a completely different reaction; forming tears in his eyes. As Ying says that she wants the baby’s name to hold significance, Aang begins to thank the couple.
Aang in Avatar: The Last Airbender
He tells them that he has been having a very difficult time these past couple of days, and the birth of their daughter made him feel better. It gave him the hope he so desperately needed. Listening to the effect their child had on the most important figure in their world, they decided to name her Hope.
A still from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender

Aang cries after seeing a family with their newborn baby. The moment he understood what it means to be the Avatar pic.twitter.com/3aBGxdXIxo

— daily aang (@aangdaily) April 1, 2024

 

The kid was perfect. How can you even hate Aang? Like how?????

— Tc (@eric_tc24) April 1, 2024

 

this scene showed how fitting aang was for the role of avatar. genuine love and appreciation for every life; young or old, big or small, strong or weak.

— Kise Ryouta (@ziSpecial1) April 1, 2024

 

That scene really shows Aang’s deep emotional connection to his role as the Avatar and the responsibilities that come with it.

— Alex (@T_oreesh) April 1, 2024

 

this scene shows his emotional reaction as the avatar and the responsibilities that come with it pic.twitter.com/gDb6A584N0

— 𝐁𝐚𝐰𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐞 (𝐅𝐚𝐧) (@bawskee_2) April 1, 2024

The scene has earned a special place in the hearts of Avatar: The Last Airbender fans and they believe it to be one of the most important moments of his life. They think that this one instance made Aang realize what it meant to be the Avatar. They also mentioned that it changed the way he looked at roles, especially considering how he ran away from them the first time he learned who he was.