I find this one pretty hilarious. Not much happens in terms of progressing the story, but it's still really fun to watch. There are some great moments.
11 Reviews
Lettuce leaf?
poseyfan20 June 2022
Great Fun
hornsbyhavoc14 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I love this episode. It may not have a ton going on, but it's so completely insane and hilarious that it makes it all worth it. The plot may be simple but the character of the eponymous king and it being arguably the funniest episode of the whole show make it a pretty good episode in its own right, despite having the least surprising twist ending of anything ever (Spoilers Ahead).
Off on another campaign of fun whilst traveling to the North Pole to learn Waterbending, the gang stop by the Earthbending kingdom of Omashu so that Aang can ride in the mail system carts. Taking advantage of the Earthbenders' system of using gravity to carry mail through downhill lanes, Aang's old friend Bumi had made it into a makeshift roller coaster, and Aang follows in his footsteps. The first five minutes of this episode are pure comedy gold as the crew rides through the complicated system, getting chased by knives, soaring through roofs, entering and exiting people's houses via windows, foiling the "My Cabbages!" guy, and generally causing mayhem. Arrested and brought to the king, terrible puns ensue ("Let us leave"/"Lettuce leaf") while the crazy king devises a series of increasingly bizarre challenges for Aang. The revelation that it's Bumi is no surprise, but it's nice to see Aang reunited with an old friend and he's a funny, truly wacky character in a great guest appearance. The plot is straightforward, lighthearted, and uncomplicated, making for a fun, funny experience. It doesn't have the emotional complexity of some other episodes, but for what it is it's a great time.
Off on another campaign of fun whilst traveling to the North Pole to learn Waterbending, the gang stop by the Earthbending kingdom of Omashu so that Aang can ride in the mail system carts. Taking advantage of the Earthbenders' system of using gravity to carry mail through downhill lanes, Aang's old friend Bumi had made it into a makeshift roller coaster, and Aang follows in his footsteps. The first five minutes of this episode are pure comedy gold as the crew rides through the complicated system, getting chased by knives, soaring through roofs, entering and exiting people's houses via windows, foiling the "My Cabbages!" guy, and generally causing mayhem. Arrested and brought to the king, terrible puns ensue ("Let us leave"/"Lettuce leaf") while the crazy king devises a series of increasingly bizarre challenges for Aang. The revelation that it's Bumi is no surprise, but it's nice to see Aang reunited with an old friend and he's a funny, truly wacky character in a great guest appearance. The plot is straightforward, lighthearted, and uncomplicated, making for a fun, funny experience. It doesn't have the emotional complexity of some other episodes, but for what it is it's a great time.
I think his name is Rocky
injury-6544723 June 2020
Just like the last episode, this one feels a bit throwaway - a diversion from the main narrative.
Aang is meant to be going to the North Pole, but so far he has stopped to ride fish & now makes another random stop to ride a big slide. It's fun, but you can't help but feel slightly frustrated at the stalling of the main narrative.
It still has enough humour and cute moments to hold up as a solid stand alone episode. The mad king is a great character, despite the somewhat predictable twist.
I don't think we get to see any Fire Nation activity in this one.
Aang is meant to be going to the North Pole, but so far he has stopped to ride fish & now makes another random stop to ride a big slide. It's fun, but you can't help but feel slightly frustrated at the stalling of the main narrative.
It still has enough humour and cute moments to hold up as a solid stand alone episode. The mad king is a great character, despite the somewhat predictable twist.
I don't think we get to see any Fire Nation activity in this one.
The King of Omashu: A cheerful and entertaining episode.
David_del_Real_Reviews_in_IMDb27 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
----THE KING OF OMASHU---
---A Cheerful and Entertaining episode!!!!----
Our story starts with Aang, Katara and Sokka arriving to the big city of Omashu, an interesting place in the Earth Kingdom where people use their Earthbending powers to make solid objects go up and gravity to make them naturally go down and where a good friend of Aang called BUMI, used to live one hundred years ago (we must remember Aang has spent most of his life frozen). He gladly remembers Bumi as someone smart, cheerful and boldly adventurous.
Katara and Sokka ask Aang to use a disguise to avoid people to recognize him as the Avatar within the city and even when his improvised mustache and hair look really bad, they get the job done as the guards in the main door seem to buy the idea that he is actually a small old man.
After getting into some trouble, our group is confronted with the king of the city, who asks Aang to pass a series of three tests, being the last one a combat against the warrior of his choice. Aang chooses the king himself trying to outsmart him.. he never thought that he was the greatest warrior in the city. Nevertheless, the king seems more concerned about teaching Aang some things than defeating him...and even after the tests, the king still has an important question for Aang...whose answer will actually make Aang very happy.
A very cheerful and entertaining episode.
Thanks for reading.
IMDb Review written by David del Real.
2017.
---A Cheerful and Entertaining episode!!!!----
Our story starts with Aang, Katara and Sokka arriving to the big city of Omashu, an interesting place in the Earth Kingdom where people use their Earthbending powers to make solid objects go up and gravity to make them naturally go down and where a good friend of Aang called BUMI, used to live one hundred years ago (we must remember Aang has spent most of his life frozen). He gladly remembers Bumi as someone smart, cheerful and boldly adventurous.
Katara and Sokka ask Aang to use a disguise to avoid people to recognize him as the Avatar within the city and even when his improvised mustache and hair look really bad, they get the job done as the guards in the main door seem to buy the idea that he is actually a small old man.
After getting into some trouble, our group is confronted with the king of the city, who asks Aang to pass a series of three tests, being the last one a combat against the warrior of his choice. Aang chooses the king himself trying to outsmart him.. he never thought that he was the greatest warrior in the city. Nevertheless, the king seems more concerned about teaching Aang some things than defeating him...and even after the tests, the king still has an important question for Aang...whose answer will actually make Aang very happy.
A very cheerful and entertaining episode.
Thanks for reading.
IMDb Review written by David del Real.
2017.
A Mad Genius
jmansmannstjohnslrev6 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Boomi is a fun character, I'll admit that and maybe that why I rated this one as high as I did. But really, I think the episode introduces something of an important concept, adaptability, the ability to act differently than expected or better, the ability to break free of expectation and act according to one's own dictates. I think this episode plays better at the end of the series because you see Ang constantly battling from being type cast, falling under the shadow of who the avatar is expected to be and what he's expected to do. Maybe we all need a mad genius to remind us to think on our feet and that it's ok to act outside of the box. This theme becomes more important later on, especially as Ang is forced to confront what he is supposed to do to stop the firelord. I think that's why this episode is probably overlooked, because it presents these themes under a more goofy vise than some of the later episodes that deal with the same subject matter more seriously.
Cabbages and Lettuce Leaves
coopdogg74518 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Not much plot advancement or deep moments but one of my favorites nonetheless. The episode is light hearted, has some decent action sequences, and contains some great comic relief from Bumi and Team Avatar.
The episode's biggest contribution to the series is that it brings Bumi and Omashu into the avatar world. Other than that it's all some great filler fun. I love the delivery system running through the city and how Aang finds great joy and fun in yet another dull situation. It also results in one of the greatest origin stories of our generation..... THE CABBAGE MERCHANT. Shout-out Cabbage Corp.
I was laughing the whole time in this episode. The "rocky" and "lettuce leave" joke being two of my favorites.
The challenges while rather too uneventful, resulted in some entertaining action sequences. I love seeing Aang use air in creative ways, whether is dodging attacks or getting a key from under a waterfall. Bumi's bending style is among my favorites. The slow, powerful movements, that you can feel in tha bones....mixed with creative, unique strikes. You can really tell he is mad!
Favorite moment had to be the reunion between two lost friends at the end. It can hit home sometimes!
Personal favorite**
The episode's biggest contribution to the series is that it brings Bumi and Omashu into the avatar world. Other than that it's all some great filler fun. I love the delivery system running through the city and how Aang finds great joy and fun in yet another dull situation. It also results in one of the greatest origin stories of our generation..... THE CABBAGE MERCHANT. Shout-out Cabbage Corp.
I was laughing the whole time in this episode. The "rocky" and "lettuce leave" joke being two of my favorites.
The challenges while rather too uneventful, resulted in some entertaining action sequences. I love seeing Aang use air in creative ways, whether is dodging attacks or getting a key from under a waterfall. Bumi's bending style is among my favorites. The slow, powerful movements, that you can feel in tha bones....mixed with creative, unique strikes. You can really tell he is mad!
Favorite moment had to be the reunion between two lost friends at the end. It can hit home sometimes!
Personal favorite**
THE 3 CHALLENGES
amazingfun14 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Okay okay I love this episode definitely the best one of the 5. I like him going to Omashu to explore the earth people a little bit more. The trials were super interesting more interesting then the last. I love how they got super innovative with making the episode. Something that didn't really make sense to me was to stop at the omashu. But I guess they just wanted to see it but I wish they explained that a bit more. How could Katara and zuko move with the rock things I thought their legs were frozen. Besides that little thing the overall episode was amazing. I knew it was boomy since the beginning but he looks good for his age. He is the best Earth master at 112. Very cool.
Doesn't add much but occasionally fun nonetheless
ThunderingTim3 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This has been described as a filler episode and I am forced to agree. But all series, even one with a strong arc, have filler episodes and one cannot dismiss an episode solely on that ground.
PLOT (Ye be warned: SPOILER)
Visiting the magnificent Earth Kingdom City of Omashu, where Aang used to goof around with his friend Bumi, Aang and the gang quickly get into trouble and are brought to the King for judgement. The King is boinking mad however, spouting nonsense and cheap puns, but is nevertheless clever enough to deduce who Aang is. He seizes them and tasks Aang 3 challenges and a question to save his friends from doom. Aang succeeds and answers the question "What is my name?" by identifying the mad King as Bumi. The two embrace and Aang is given some advice, after which the two go out for one more time of goofing around.
The Good
Omashu is gorgeous. Bumi is highly entertaining. We get to see some proper earth bending. It's awesome to see Aang still has a childhood friend in the current world and someone who loves him and missed him during his absence. This is important because it would be devastating to wake up one day and all your family and friends were long gone.
The Bad
The first two challenges are clearly filler, a way to get to the duel you sense is coming and to demonstrate both earth bending and how powerful Bumi actually is. Nothing about this episode survives beyond the episode apart from Omashu as a setting and Bumi as a side character. The BIGGEST problem however, with his wacky demeanor and wonky eye , is how fast the audience identifies Bumi, making you slightly impatient as Aang catches up and the reveal worth nothing.
Conclusion
I am not as negative as the other reviewer about this particular episode. There are no real bad episodes in my book, as even The Great Divide has some good stuff and The Beach is rather charming in its own way. But this episode does reek of filler, and while Aang and Bumi make a funny combination, and there are some laughs and nice bending scenes, the series is aching towards The Storm at this point to kick things up a notch. Yes it is filler but it's not horrible and after being introduced to fire and water bending in all previous episodes, earth bending seems decidedly fresh, cool and dangerous. Filler but watchable, 6/10.
PLOT (Ye be warned: SPOILER)
Visiting the magnificent Earth Kingdom City of Omashu, where Aang used to goof around with his friend Bumi, Aang and the gang quickly get into trouble and are brought to the King for judgement. The King is boinking mad however, spouting nonsense and cheap puns, but is nevertheless clever enough to deduce who Aang is. He seizes them and tasks Aang 3 challenges and a question to save his friends from doom. Aang succeeds and answers the question "What is my name?" by identifying the mad King as Bumi. The two embrace and Aang is given some advice, after which the two go out for one more time of goofing around.
The Good
Omashu is gorgeous. Bumi is highly entertaining. We get to see some proper earth bending. It's awesome to see Aang still has a childhood friend in the current world and someone who loves him and missed him during his absence. This is important because it would be devastating to wake up one day and all your family and friends were long gone.
The Bad
The first two challenges are clearly filler, a way to get to the duel you sense is coming and to demonstrate both earth bending and how powerful Bumi actually is. Nothing about this episode survives beyond the episode apart from Omashu as a setting and Bumi as a side character. The BIGGEST problem however, with his wacky demeanor and wonky eye , is how fast the audience identifies Bumi, making you slightly impatient as Aang catches up and the reveal worth nothing.
Conclusion
I am not as negative as the other reviewer about this particular episode. There are no real bad episodes in my book, as even The Great Divide has some good stuff and The Beach is rather charming in its own way. But this episode does reek of filler, and while Aang and Bumi make a funny combination, and there are some laughs and nice bending scenes, the series is aching towards The Storm at this point to kick things up a notch. Yes it is filler but it's not horrible and after being introduced to fire and water bending in all previous episodes, earth bending seems decidedly fresh, cool and dangerous. Filler but watchable, 6/10.
"Riddles and challenges you must face, if you ever hope to leave this place."
matitya-3393710 February 2024
I know what people say against this episode. That it's filler (which for the record it isn't), that the plot twist is obvious since the beginning (which I will concede though it's worth noting Avatar isn't Scooby Doo, the episode doesn't live and die through its mystery), that it's too comedic (while the episode is definitely highly comedic, I don't consider that to be at all a bad thing), that Prince Zuko isn't it (yeah, that one's true and I agree that it's a weakness of the episode.
I personally disagree with all of those criticisms (except the last one, not having Zuko is a weakness for a season one episode.) Beyond that, I find the comedy in this episode funny (the show's most beloved running gag "my cabbages" began here) and I like the lessons Aang has to learn about being resourceful and innovative. I also appreciate how this is the very first episode wherein Aang ever loses his temper and it's specifically in response to his friends being threatened. This episode also does a good job introducing us to Earthbending.
Honestly, it's an underrated episode.
I personally disagree with all of those criticisms (except the last one, not having Zuko is a weakness for a season one episode.) Beyond that, I find the comedy in this episode funny (the show's most beloved running gag "my cabbages" began here) and I like the lessons Aang has to learn about being resourceful and innovative. I also appreciate how this is the very first episode wherein Aang ever loses his temper and it's specifically in response to his friends being threatened. This episode also does a good job introducing us to Earthbending.
Honestly, it's an underrated episode.
Filler episode *** (5/10) ***
moviewatcherperson25 August 2011
Out of all the episodes in the series Avatar: The Last Airbender, this one always has appeared to me as one that never contributed to the whole story arc. The extras try to defend this episode, noting that King Bumi of Omashu later appears, but you can tell he isn't given much depth beyond his insanity. A few moments of fun happen when Aang and his friends travel on the mail system. The advice King Bumi gives to Aang ("Keep your mind open to the possibilities") is soon forgotten for other, more straight forward pieces of advice given in future episodes. Avant-garde fans of the series should watch for the Cabbage Man appearance outside the city gates.
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