Avatar: The Last Airbender has plenty of fight sequences, as a show about a century-long war. With the heroes traveling all over the world and meeting plenty of other characters, both friends and foes, it's no surprise that they win some fights and lose others.
Every decision can have a downside and an upside, and Aang and his friends must decide plenty of things. Some choices affect the world and some don't. It's realistic for a children's show to acknowledge defeat, and what makes Avatar: The Last Airbender great is that it also recognizes different styles of fighting, as well as how people can compensate for their disabilities. Here are five times that Avatar Aang's team wins, and five times that the Gaang loses.
Won: The Finale
An obvious choice, the three battles in the finale had the Gaang come out victorious. These battles featured Aang against the Fire Lord; Zuko and Katara against Azula; and Sokka, Suki, and Toph against the airships. Ultimately, all three fights are successful.
Aang defeats Fire Lord Ozai by taking away his bending, while Zuko and Katara defeat Azula in an agni kai. Similarly, the airships are taken out by the remaining members of the Gaang. Ultimately, both Aang and Zuko have discovered and mastered their destinies, and are prepared to begin the task of restoring the world.
Lost: Ba Sing Se
The end of season 2 is a downer. Azula ruthlessly infiltrates the Earth King's palace and seizes control of the Dai Li. With a few well-placed words to Zuko, she's also able to get him on her side.
Since Aang hasn't truly mastered the Avatar State, it's easy for her to attack him with lightning from behind, thereby rendering her victory. The Earth King manages to escape with the rest of the group, but his last words of the episode, stating that the Earth Kingdom has fallen, sum up the Gaang's loss.
Won: Siege Of The North
The season 1 finale saw the Northern Water Tribe pitted against the Fire Nation fleet that Admiral Zhao brought with him. His plan to kill the moon spirit was, in his mind, meant to depower the waterbenders. This did happen, but his action also enraged the ocean spirit, who together, with Aang as a conduit, devastated the navy fleet.
In the aftermath, Princess Yue sacrificed herself to become the new moon spirit. Overall, the Fire Nation was turned away from the Northern Water Tribe, which remained a stronghold.
Lost: Eclipse
Since Azula managed to get to the Earth King just after the Gaang did in season 2, the king gave up the invasion plan to the Fire Nation, unknowingly. Therefore, though the invasion (in the middle of season 3) goes well at first, Aang ultimately doesn't succeed in even finding the Fire Lord, and that part of the invasion fails.
The invasion force does succeed in causing property damage, at least, and Zuko and Iroh both escape the Fire Nation.
Won: The Library
"The Library" is an interesting episode, because it starts off very innocuously. Sokka chooses to take a vacation to Wan Shi Tong's library in the middle of the desert. There, despite promising to not use any of the information they find against other humans, Sokka proclaims that the date of the eclipse will help them defeat the Fire Nation.
This causes Wan Shi Tong to make the decision to sink the library so no one else can misuse his knowledge. Therefore, Sokka's information and everyone getting out with their lives counts as a win.
Lost: The Chase
"The Chase" is a non-stop action episode. The Gaang is being chased by Azula and her friends, Mai and Ty Lee, and Zuko and Iroh end up getting caught up in the resulting fight in a nearby ghost town.
Eventually, it is five against one with Azula defending herself and she escapes after injuring Iroh. Zuko refuses Katara's help, and so the groups separate. Ultimately, the Gaang fail to get one over on Azula.
Won: Boiling Rock
Sokka and Zuko infiltrate the infamous Boiling Rock prison in order to rescue Sokka's father, Hakoda. They end up rescuing several others, including Chit Sang and Suki. During the escape, however, Azula attempts to stop them with the help of Mai and Ty Lee.
What Azula doesn't expect is her friends' betrayal, so Zuko, Sokka, and their friends are able to get away without being apprehended again.
Lost: City Of Walls And Secrets
When the Gaang reaches Ba Sing Se, they discover a political conspiracy: Long Feng, the leader of the Dai Li, is controlling the Earth King.
As they have also lost Appa, the group knows that they will be staying in Ba Sing Se for a while, and don't see any way to get to the Earth King quickly. Therefore, the Gaang is at an impasse: they can't move forward and just have to wait.
Won: Headband
After the powerful ending of season 2, "The Headband" adds some levity to the beginning of season 3, and also touches upon the dangerous nature of propaganda and the daily lives of Fire Nation citizens. Aang, having accidentally joined a school, tries to convince his classmates to embrace parts of their lost culture by holding a secret dance party.
After they are found out, the other children trick the headmaster so that the Gaang is able to escape.
Lost: Western Air Temple
Azula eventually catches up to the Gaang (with the new addition of Zuko) at the Western Air Temple, forcing them to flee after a battle.
Though she ends up dangling from a cliff using her hairpin, ultimately it is the Gaang who are the losers, for having to abandon a place that has been a great sanctuary for them.