19 Years Later, Avatar’s Most Terrifying Episode Changed the Franchise Forever

“The Puppetmaster”, first shown on 9 November 2007, introduced bloodbending in *Avatar: The Last Airbender*: the ability to control the water inside another person’s body. The episode also reveals that waterbenders can draw moisture from plants and the air, expanding the possibilities of their element and foreshadowing abilities used by villains in *The Legend of Korra*.

Hama, a Southern Water Tribe waterbender imprisoned by the Fire Nation, teaches Katara to extract water from her surroundings. Under the full moon, she reveals she developed bloodbending while imprisoned and has been abducting Fire Nation residents as revenge. Katara rejects Hama’s actions but is forced to use bloodbending herself to stop her, confronting the darkest potential of her own bending.