We're ranking all the prison escapes
in the Avatar universe
from easiest to escape to the hardest.
Let's get started.
I'm out. Let's roll, baby.
...the streets. Giant vines are destroying everything.
This is Shiro Shinobi, signing off!
[screaming]
Varrick and Zhu Li's escape
from Republic City prison starts off our list
because, well, the spirit vines did most of the work.
Zhu Li, commence "Operation Winged Freedom".
Regardless, they were prepared for anythin,
and managed to escape the prison in style.
Do the thing!
[music playing]
This maximum security White Lotus prison was located
on a mountain and could only be accessed
by metalbending.
Now, you're probably wondering why a White Lotus prison
is this low on the list.
Well, Zaheer's cell was designd for a non-bender,
and with his new airbending skills,
he had the element of surprise.
You know the drill, Zaheer.
Of course.
[groaning]
Uh-uh-uh.
You wouldn't wanna singe your friend, would you?
How? You're not a bender.
Nature is constantly changing, like the wind.
[groaning]
Zaheer managed to easily incapacitate
the guards and escape.
[groaning]
Now, you might wanna ration that bowl of rice.
You've got three weeks until the next shift change.
Capital City prison was a stone Fire Nation prison
used to hold high priority prisoners.
[grunting]
After Iroh was captured at Ba Sing Se, he was held her.
And after some intense working out,
he got ripped.
[grunting]
The eclipse provided a level playing field
that allowed him the opportunity to escape.
Uncle!
He literally busted out of it.
Where's my uncle?
He's gone. He busted himself out.
I-I've never seen anything like it.
He was like a one man army.
Decades earlier, Hama was held in a Fire Nation prison
designed to hold waterbenders.
[Hama] The guards were always careful
to keep any water away from us.
They piped in dry air and had us suspended away
from the ground. Before giving us any water,
they would bind our hands and feet so we couldn't bend.
Any sign of trouble was met with cruel retribution.
And yet each month I felt the full moon
enriching me with its energy.
There had to be something I could do to escape.
Then I realized that where there is life,
there is water.
The rats that scurried across the floor of my cage
were nothing more than skins filled with liquid.
And I passed years developing the skill
that would lead to my escape.
Bloodbending.
Once I had mastered the rats, I was ready for the men.
[groaning]
And during the next full moon,
I walked free for the first time in decades.
My cell unlocked by the very guards assigned
to keep me in.
Hamas unimaginable escape might be the reason
the Fire Nation stopped taking waterbender prisoners.
Who's the waterbender?
There are no waterbenders here.
The Fire Nation took them all away a long time ago.
Mm.
Take me as your prisoner.
I'm afraid I'm not taking prisoners today.
The Prison Rig was a Fire Nation prison
off the shore of the Earth Kingdom.
The facility was suspended high above the ground
and made entirely of metal to discourage
it's earthbending inmates from bending.
[gasping]
Katara could've easily escaped with Sokka and Aang
but she refused.
Your 12 hours are up.
Where's Haru? We've gotta get out of here.
I'm not leaving.
I'm not giving up on these people.
Fortunately, the gang had a pln that inspired the earthbenders
to fight for their freedom and ultimately escape.
[music playing]
[groaning]
[grunting]
[music playing]
Show no mercy!
[music playing]
[grunting]
For the Earth Kingdom, attack!
[fighting]
This escape would not have been possible
without the cooperation of all the prisoners.
[grunting]
[screaming]
[distant screaming]
Get to the ship! We'll hold them off.
[grunting]
No, please. I can't swim.
Don't worry. I hear cowards float.
[screaming]
Boiling Rock was another maximum security
Fire Nation prison.
The facility was located on a volcanic island,
literally surrounded by a boiling lake.
No one has ever, ever escaped from here.
I'd sooner jump in the boiling lake myself
than let that record fall.
Uh, about that.
If there's one thing we've learned,
it's that Team Avatar knows how to break out of prison.
[music playing]
You wouldn't dare.
[groaning]
Sorry, warden. You're my prisoner, now.
[groaning]
We've got the warden. Now, let's get out of here.
But this prison escape did have its challenges.
Everyone in!
The only way off the island was on one of two gondolas.
We're on our way.
Wait. Who's that?
That's a problem. It's my sister and her friend.
The team was challenged by the guards, Azula and Ty Le.
[music playing]
Let's also take a moment to note that the gang fought
on top of moving gondolas over a boiling lake.
[fighting]
[grunting]
Cut the line!
It's time to leave.
Good bye, Zuko.
Without the help of Mai,
the group may not have made it out at al.
[groaning]
[music playing]
[groaning]
Sorry, warden. Your record is officially broken.
[grunting]
The White Lotus created maximum security prisons
specifically designed to suppot any escape attempts
from the Red Lotus.
Hey! Where the other guards?
Zaheer?
Once again, Zaheer had the upper hand,
surprising the guards
with his new airbending abilities.
Ghazan's cell was located on a ship
in the middle of the ocean,
miles away from any earth to bend.
At least it was.
[fighting]
Existence of the prison and the location
was kept top secret by the White Lotus.
The remoteness of the prison kept it safe
but it also left it vulnerable to be easily overtaken.
[groaning]
It's nice to see you again, Ghazan.
Thanks for busting me out.
Our next escape could not have happened
without Jinora's incredible spiritual projection abilities.
She was able to locate
where the airbenders were being held.
The Earth Queen's Temple.
Team Avatar infiltrated
the underground facility and rescued the airbenders.
We're sneaking out?
Yes, and we must leave now.
Come on. We're getting you out.
The Dai Li attacked but Team Avatar
and the rescued airbenders
were able to overpower the Dai Li and escape.
[grunting]
Ming-hua's prison was literally built
over a volcano.
The intense heat and lack of humidity
and moisture prevented her from waterbending and escaping.
Her cell was suspended with metal cables
over the mouth of the volcano.
We're under attack! Look out!
This maximum security prison was also a secret,
making the chances of escaping nearly impossible.
But luckily for Ming-hua,
Zaheer and Ghazan infiltrated the facility.
Once she had access to water, she was unstoppable.
[groaning]
Ow!
[groaning]
I never thought I'd be so happy to see your ugly mugs again.
Great to see you too, Ming-hua.
P'li's prison was located deep in the tundra
of the North Pole, and was commissioned
by Fire Lord Zuko and Chief Unalaq.
We built this place secretly with your father
to hold a very special prisoner.
She's a powerful firebender named P'li
who can create explosions with her mind.
That's him.
Zaheer was on a mission to free P'li from captivity
and unit the Red Lotus.
We have to stress how powerful these three benders were.
Ming-hua, Ghazan and even Zaher excelled in combat.
Even though they knew that the Red Lotus were coming,
Chief Tonraq and his forces were still outsmarted.
[grunting]
Ming-hua busted down P'li's cell door
and freed her from chains.
Unlike Ghazan and Ming-hua, P'li was heavily restrained
with metal chains and hardware that prevented her from bendin.
There is no way P'li could have escaped
without help from her allies.
Our top pick for the hardest prison
to escape from is located in the Spirit World.
What kind of prison doesn't have any bars or walls?
We could walk right out of here.
The Fog of Lost Souls is a spirit prison for humans.
I read about it in an ancient text.
The fog is actually a spirit
that infects your mind, and slowly drives you mad,
imprisoning you in your own darkest memories.
How long can you be trapped in here?
I am Zhao. The Conqueror.
I am the Moonslayer. I will capture the Avatar.
Not only does the fog force you to live out
your darkest thoughts, but you could be trapped here
for an infinite amount of time.
Uh! Stop it! I am the son of Avatar Aang.
I am the hope for future generations
of airbenders.
I am the son of Avatar Aang.
Hello, my son.
Dad. I failed you. I am no spiritually leader.
And I've let the world down. I'll never be the man you were.
You are right.
You are trying to hold on
to a false perception of yourself.
You are not me and you should not be me,
you are Tenzin.
[music playing]
I am not a reflection of my father.
I am Tenzin. I am Tenzin.
The only reason Tenzin was able to escape
and save his family was because he spent years
studying the Spirit World
and he knew how to survive the prison.
Jinora!
[music playing]
That wraps up our ranking of the prison escapes
in the Avatar universe.
Do you agree with the list?
Comment below and keep watching
for more of your favorite Avatar moment.
We'll see ya next time!
Let us leave!
Lettuce leave?
[music playing]