History Recap / AvatarTheLastAirbenderSozinsCometPart1ThePhoenixKing

* UsedToBeASweetKid: Katara finds a picture of a toddler playing on the beach while hiding out in Zuko's old summer home, and she assumes the picture is of Zuko. When she shows it to the rest of the group, they tease him about it. Much to their dismay, Zuko corrects them, revealing that the kid in this picture is actually ''[[BigBad Ozai]]'', leaving them confused and horrified as to how this sweet and innocent-looking child would one day become the tyrannical monster and unhinged brute they're now up against.

* UsedToBeASweetKid: Katara finds a picture of a toddler playing on the beach while hiding out in Zuko's old summer home, and she assumes the picture is of Zuko. When she shows it to the rest of the group, they tease him about it. Nuch to their dismay, Zuko corrects them, revealing that the kid in this picture is actually ''[[BigBad Ozai]]'', leaving them confused and horrified as to how this sweet and innocent-looking child would one day become the tyrannical monster and unhinged brute they're now up against.

-->'''Zuko:''' Yeah, well that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster. And the worst father in the history of fathers.

* UsedToBeASweetKid: When Katara found the picture of a toddler playing on the beach while hiding out in Zuko's old summer home, Suki, Toph, Katara and Sokka assume that this boy is Zuko and tease him about this. But much to their dismay, Zuko corrects them, stating that the kid in this picture is actually ''[[BigBad Ozai]]'', leaving them confused and horrified as to how this sweet and innocent-looking child would one day become the tyrannical monster and unhinged brute they're now up against.
-->'''Zuko:''' That sweet little kid grew up to be a monster, and the worst father in the history of fathers.

* WhatTheHellHero: Katara scolds Zuko for trying to hurt Aang, but Zuko gives her and the others one of these for lazing about when the Comet was to arrive.

*** Aang becomes hostile to his friends as he wants to find a way to end the Fire Lord's reign of terror without ending ''him''.

* EasilyForgiven: Sokka discusses that the cosmic forces can do this with Aang if killing Ozai means saving the world. Aang does not take this lightly, as it still contradicts his nomadic teachings, and snaps at him.

* OmniscientMoralityLicense: Sokka tells Aang that he has this with regards to killing Ozai.

* TheReveal: Zuko reveals what occurred during the war meeting he attended during "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderNightmaresAndDaydreams Nightmares and Daydreams]]" that prompted his HeelFaceTurn. Ozai decided to use Sozin's Comet to burn the entire Earth Kingdom to the ground.

* PoorCommunicationKills: The Gaang never bothered to tell Zuko they planned to wait until after the Comet to move on Ozai. Zuko made the assumption the Gaang had a plan to deal with his father during the Comet instead of mentioning the genocide plan the guy had in mind, not knowing the group was intending to wait for it to pass.

* RealityEnsues: After an entire show's worth of building up the importance of training Aang before the Sozin's Comet deadline, the Gaang's initial plan of letting it pass is rather pragmatic. Aang simply isn't ready, and since the Fire Nation has pretty much taken over the whole world at that point the deadline is meaningless. Too bad the Fire Nation's new genocide plan forces the Gaang back into action.
** Another goes out to the Fire Nation, who are forced to resort to burning down the Earth Kingdom when they learn that in spite of Ba Sing Se's capture, the Earthbenders remain a serious threat and have forced the Fire Nation on the defensive in the lands they occupied. One of Ozai's generals admits that their army simply is not enough to maintain control of the sheer enormity of the Earth Kingdom continent, and insists on sending the domestic army there before they decide on the Comet instead.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: When commanded to firebend, Aang bends from his hands and mouth. Ozai will do the same thing in Part 3.

* ContinuityNod: As the Gaang enter the seedy bar to find June, the dance party music from "The Headband" can be heard playing.

* KickTheDog: A case where Ozai passes it off as a PetTheDog moment. Azula, who has been [[DaddysLittleVillain nothing but loyal to Ozai]] is finally rewarded for it by being appointed Fire Lord...just as Ozai proceeds to make that title useless and redundant by crowning himself ''"Phoenix King, Supreme ruler of the world!"''. Arguably, the title degradation had nothing to do with it; but rather the fact that despite all of her hard work and sacrifice, Azula was not loved by her father and just as easily thrown out as Zuko was the real slight.

* ShoutOut: The above-mentioned conversation between Aang and Zuko may possibly be one to WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown, another cartoon with elemental warriors as its focus. When brainstorming plans to defeat the BigBad of the season, who has actually already taken effective control of the world, someone suggests [[Recap/XiaolinShowdownDaysPast dumping a bucket of glue on her]].

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: The following dialogue is said while Sokka gets himself out of Appa's mouth. (He put himself in.)
-->'''Zuko:''' Why are you all looking at me?
-->'''Katara:''' Well you ''are'' the expert at finding Aang.

* KickTheDog: A case where Ozai passes it off as a PetTheDog moment. Azula, who has been [[DaddysLittleVillain nothing but loyal to Ozai]] is finally rewarded for it by being appointed Fire Lord...just as Ozai proceeds to make that title useless and redundant by crowning himself Phoenix King, supreme ruler of the world. Arguably, the title degradation had nothing to do with it; but rather the fact that despite all of her hard work and sacrifice, Azula was not loved by her father and just as easily thrown out as Zuko was the real slight.

* NeverSayDie: Given that this show usually doesn't shy away from it, hearing everyone say "taking [Ozai's] life" rather than saying "kill" is somewhat jarring.

* BackForTheFinale: June.

* SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids: During the training against "Melon Lord", which ended in failur because Aang didn't deliver the final blow at the last second, he gets called out on this as his ThouShallNotKill mindset will get him killed in the real thing.

* CallingTheOldManOut: In a way with Azula when Ozai refuses to allow her to come along with him on his conquest, thinking he's treating her like Zuko. The irony is that's exactly what's happening.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Azula may be cruel, cunning and even psychopathic. But when Ozai tells her he's not bringing her along to the Earth Kingdom genocide, she calls him out on treating her (his [[UndyingLoyalty loyal]] daughter) as unceremoniously as he would treat [[TheUnfavorite Zuko]].

* BackForTheFinale: June

* PoorCommunicationKills: The Gaang never bothered to tell Zuko they planned to wait until after the comet to move on Ozai. Zuko made the assumption the Gaang had a plan to deal with his father during the comet instead of mentioning the genocide plan the guy had in mind, not knowing the group was intending to wait for it to pass.

** Another goes out to the Fire Nation, who are forced to resort to burning down the Earth Kingdom when they learn that in spite of Ba Sing Se's capture, the Earthbenders remain a serious threat and have forced the Fire Nation on the defensive in the lands they occupied. One of Ozai's generals admits that their army simply is not enough to maintain control of the sheer enormity of the Earth Kingdom continent, and insists on sending the domestic army there before they decide on the comet instead.
** Aang's internal conflict is this. He knew that he would have to face the Fire Lord; but it never really occurred to him that he might have to resort to taking the man's life; something that not only goes against everything he believed in as an air nomad; but as a young boy who shouldn't have to shoulder the burden of taking another man's life, despotic as Ozai is. The severity of the conflict has finally hit home for Aang and he really does not want to kill.

* TerribleArtist: Only with sand sculptures instead of drawings. While Aang can make a pretty decent Appa and Toph can make an amazing miniature Ba Sing Se (complete with miniature Earth King and Basco), Sokka's attempt at sculpting Suki ends up looking more like a weird anemone than a human face. Suki still thinks it's sweet, though.

* WhamEpisode: Aang learns about Fire Lord Ozai's plans to destroy Ba Sing Se. Aang disappears and finds himself on a mysterious island.

* WhamEpisode: Aang learns about Fire Lord Ozai's plans to destroy Ba Sing Se and fight the Fire Lord. Aang disappears and finds himself on a mysterious island.