History Recap / AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheChase

%%* TeamMom: Katara.

* BadassNormal: Discssed when Toph does not qualify Sokka do to him not being a bender, but does not do the same for Ty Lee and Mai. Then again, this is the first time she meet them, and she may not be aware that the are not firebenders.

* RealityEnsues: Everyone needs their sleep, even people with special abilities and giant flying animals.

* JerkassHasAPoint: While Toph really is being egotistical, she is the first to notice and point out it's Appa's fur that's leading Azula to their track.

* AmbiguousSituation: Did Iroh die from Azula's attack? You have to watch the next episode to find out.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Zuko joins forces at the end against Azula. He also is the Firebender in their representation of the four elements.

* JerkassHasAPoint: While Toph really is being egotistical, she is the first to notice and point out it's Appa's fur that's leading Azula to their track. And while she's being obnoxious about it, she's right that she's carrying her own weight (getting her own food, setting up her own sleeping area, etc.) rather than lazing about and expecting others to do stuff for her.
* KickTheDog: Azula shoots Iroh with fire right after saying she surrenders.

* KnowWhenToFoldThem: Aang is fully prepared to get into a MeleeATrois against both Zuko and Azula... until Azula knocks down Zuko (who can match Aang [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderBatoOfTheWaterTribe blow-for-blow]]) a single hit, at which point Aang realizes that this is a fight he can't win and tries to make a run for it.

* KnowWhenToFoldThem: Aang is fully prepared to get into a MeleeATrois against both Zuko and Azula... until Azula knocks down Zuko (who can match Aang [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderBatoOfTheWaterTribewith blow-for-blow]]) a single hit, at which point Aang realizes that this is a fight he can't win and tries to make a run for it.

* AllYourPowersCombined: The Gaang and Zuko combine all their elements in one last ditch attack against Azula.

* AngerBornOfWorry: Zuko screams and firebends at the Gaang rather than let them help Iroh.
* BellyScrapingFlight: Appa touches the top of the trees, which causes some plot-relevant fur loss.

* BitsOfMeKeepPassingOut: Sokka's fight with Ty Lee.

* DontYouDarePityMe: Toph doesn't like being babied. Given her parents and their controlling attitude, it's no surprise. Even Iroh politely pouring her some tea upsets her.

* EnemyMine: Zuko works alongside the Avatar for the first time in the series (not counting his [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBlueSpirit earlier Blue Spirit stint]]). Well, sort of. He does spend most of the fight attacking Aang ''and'' Azula in equal measure. By the end of the fight it's all five bender protagonists (and Sokka) vs Azula, and she still pulls off a draw.

** After creating the false trail and finding the GhostTown, Aang sets down and meditates out in the open (presumably for some well-needed rest) while waiting for Azula's arrival.
** After Iroh is injured, Zuko angrily refuses to accept help from his enemies.

* IdiotBall: It takes the sleep-deprived group an awfully long time to come up with the idea that Appa's shedding is leading a continual trail.

* ISurrenderSuckers: When Team Avatar, Zuko, and Iroh have Azula surrounded, she [[KnowWhenToFoldEm surrenders]], but when Iroh lets his guard down, Azula takes advantage of it and fires at him.

* JerkassHasAPoint: While Toph really is being egotistical, she is the first to notice and point out it's Appa's fur that's leading Azula to their track. And while she's being obnoxious about it, she's right that she's carrying her own weight (getting her own food, setting up her own sleeping area, etc.) rather than lazying about and expecting others to do stuff for her.
* KickTheDog: Azula shoots Iroh with fire right after saying she surrendered.

* LetsYouAndHimFight: Subverted by Toph's meeting with Uncle Iroh: Instead, they have tea.

* MexicanStandoff: At the beginning of the MeleeATrois.
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: "Three on three plus Sokka."

* PinnedToTheWall: Karata gets pinned to a tree by Mai's knives.

* ScarilyCompetentTracker: Azula proves exceptionally competent at hounding the Gaang.

* TravelingAtTheSpeedOfPlot: Azula has her Fire Nation vehicle, all Zuko has is an ostrich-horse, and he still manages to catch up with everyone at the end. Also, Aang was moving in a different direction from Katara and Sokka, but the latter two manage to catch up with him in time to stop Azula from finishing him off.

* YouCanRunButYouCantHide: Azula mentions to Aang during their confrontation that he can run, but she'll catch him.

%%* MeleeATrois: The Aang vs. Azula vs. Zuko duel.
%%* MexicanStandoff: At the beginning of the MeleeATrois.

** Iroh laughs at Toph's bluntness.

* BigWhat: Toph ''shrieks'' this out magnificently when she finally snaps.

-->'''Toph:''' You're blaming me for this?
-->'''Aang:''' No, she's not blaming you.
-->'''Katara:''' No, I'm blaming her!

* ConflictBall: Katara spends a lot of the episode needlessly antagonising Toph for not being a team-player, even when it's clear Toph tends to retaliate physically. Meanwhile, Toph blames Appa for the gang's predicament, and earlier pushes Sokka's buttons on not being as competent a fighter as the rest of the kids due to his lack of bending. All justified considering everyone isn't sleeping and their exhaustion is not only pressing each other's buttons, but making things worse the longer they go without sleep.

** After creating the false trail and finding the GhostTown, Aang sets down and meditates out in the open for Azula to arrive rather than hide or keep moving.

--> '''Aang:''' (''to Katara and Toph'') Okay, you both need to calm down.
--> '''Katara:''' (''with a crazed expression and bloodshot eyes'') ''Both?!'' I'M COMPLETELY CALM!
* ISurrenderSuckers: When Team Avatar, Zuko, and Iroh has Azula surrounded, she [[KnowWhenToFoldEm surrenders]], but when Iroh lets his guard down, Azula takes advantage of it and fires at him.

* JerkassHasAPoint: While Toph is really being egotistical, she is the first to notice and point out it's Appa's fur that's leading Azula to their track. And while she's being obnoxious about it, she'w right that she's carrying her own weight (getting her own food, setting up her own sleeping area, etc.) rather than lazying about and expecting others to do stuff for her.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Aang and Katara do this (mostly Aang) when they caused Toph to leave the group. Sokka even calls them out on it:
--> '''Sokka:''' Yeah, you two were pretty much jerks.
--> '''Katara:''' Thanks, Sokka.
--> '''Sokka:''' No problem.

--> '''Sokka:''' Good try, but no.
* NotSoAboveItAll: Katara is initially unnerved by Aang, Sokka and Toph playing around with Appa's fur. Then she laughs anyway.

** Katara and Sokka try to outrun Mai and Ty Lee by going over a river. Then their riding lizards just start running on the water.
** While fighting Aang in the ruined town, Azula nearly falls down a hole. It's one of the ''very few'' occasions when she loses her composure, in favour of surprise and terror. Then later Zuko when he really does fall into said hole.

* OnlySaneMan: Sokka, being the only one of the Gaang to not succumb to the ConflictBall in any way. He all but {{lampshade|hanging}}s this later on; see "MyGodWhatHaveIDone" above.

* ShowdownAtHighNoon: Between Aang, Zuko, and Azula.

* ThwartedCoupDeGrace: When Aang is defenseless and Azula is about to deliver a final blow to him, [[BigDamnHeroes Katara shows up]] and pulls Azula's arm back.

* VictoryIsBoring: TropeNamer episode. Mai says it word-for-word after she and Ty Lee effortlessly defeat an exhausted Sokka and Katara. Though said victory turns out rather short lived as Appa proceeds to blast them both away.

* AllYourPowersCombined: The Gaang and Zuko combining all their elements in one last ditch attack against Azula.

* BellyScrapingFlight: Appa touches the top of the trees which causes some plot-relevant fur loss.

* BittersweetEnding: At the end the Gaang finally manages to fend off Azula and company while Zuko and Iroh reunite, however Azula escapes and injures Iroh badly.

* ChaseScene: The whole episode. Multiple characters all chasing each other, and eventually a branch when it becomes clear that Appa's shedding is how Azula is tracking them. So after washing Appa off, Katara and Sokka take Appa to safety whilst Aang lays a decoy trail of Appa hair.

* ConflictBall: Katara spends a lot of the episode needlessly antagonising Toph for not being a team-player, even when it's clear Toph tends to retaliate physically. Meanwhile Toph blames Appa for the gang's predicament, and earlier pushes Sokka's buttons on not being as competent a fighter as the rest of the kids due to his lack of bending. All justified considering everyone isn't sleeping and their exhaustion is not only pressing each other's buttons, but making things worse the longer they go without sleep.

* CurbStompBattle: Ty Lee and Mai vs Katara and Sokka. Then Appa gets involved.

** Somehow Katara doesn't realise that Appa's shedding fur until Aang outright tells her, even when there's a large pile of fur all around Appa.
** Averted later when the antagonists find the false trail that Aang has created to lure them away. Azula sees the trail leading off in one direction and a bunch of broken trees (which Appa had accidentally smashed into) directly opposite it. She guesses the intended trick, so she opts to follow the false trail while telling Mai and Ty Lee to go the other way.

* TheGlomp: Ty "They're clumps!" Lee.

** After creating the false trail and finding the GhostTown, Aang sets down and waits out in the open for Azula to arrive rather than hide or keep moving.

* IdiotBall: It takes the group an awfully long time to come up with the idea that Appa's shedding is leading a continual trail.
** And after going to the trouble to lay a fake trail, no one notices that Appa still manages to crash through a treetop during his liftoff, meaning there's an obvious sign of which way he really went.
** Justified, along with a touch of ConflictBall, because the entire Gaang is sleep-deprived for the entire episode.

--> '''Katara:''' (''with a crazed expression and bloodshot eyes'') Both? I'M COMPLETELY CALM!

* JerkassHasAPoint: While Toph is really being egotistical, she is the first to notice and point out it's Appa's fur that's leading Azula to their track. And while she's being obnoxious about it, she is right that she's carrying her own weight (getting her own food, setting up her own sleeping area, etc.) rather than lazying about and expecting others to do stuff for her.

* LetsGetOutOfHere: Line spoken by Katara when the group sees Azula approaching.

* MeleeATrois: The Aang vs. Azula vs. Zuko duel.
* MexicanStandoff: At the beginning of the MeleeATrois.

* PinnedToTheWall: Karata gets pinned to a tree by Mai.

* ScarilyCompetentTracker: Azula. Holy crap Azula. It helps that she's a MagnificentBitch. And, y'know, Appa leaving a massive trail of fur.

* TeamMom: Katara.

* TravelingAtTheSpeedOfPlot: Azula has her train... car [[BuffySpeak thing]], all Zuko has is an ostrich-horse, and he still manages to catch up with everyone at the end. Also, Aang was moving in a different direction from Katara and Sokka, but the latter two manage to catch up with him in time to prevent Aang's defeat by Azula.
* VictoryIsBoring: TropeNamer episode. For the battle when Mai and Ty Lee defeat Sokka and Katara. Though said victory turns out rather short lived as Appa proceeds to blast them both away.
* WallJump: Apparently, Aang can use airbending to jump from wall to wall in an alley in the deserted town.
* WildGooseChase: When the group notices that Azula is following Appa's fur droppings, they try to misdirect her. But the plan doesn't pan out.
* YouCanRunButYouCantHide: Azula mentions to Aang during their confrontation that he can run but she will catch him.

* BigDamnHeroes: Once again, it's Appa who frees Katara and Sokka from the clutches of Mai and Ty.

* BittersweetEnding: At the end the gaang finally manages to fend off Azula and company while Zuko and Iroh reunite, however Azula escapes and injures Iroh badly.

* LetsYouAndHimFight: Subverted by Toph's meeting with Uncle Iroh: instead, they have tea.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Aang can't help but laugh when Azula mentions Zuko's EmbarrassingNickname: Zuzu.

* FailedASpotCheck: Somehow Katara doesn't realise that Appa's shedding fur until Aang outright tells her, even when there's a large pile of fur all around Appa.

* JerkassHasAPoint: While Toph is really being egotistical, she is the first to notice and point out it's Appa's fur that's leading Azula to their track.

* JerkassHasAPoint: While Toph is really being egotistical, she is right by pointing it's Appa's fur that keeps leading Azula to their track.

* RecycledPlot: The premise of this episode is quite similar to the premise of the ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' episode "[[Recap/BattlestarGalactica2003S01E0133 33]]": tired protagonists are trying to run away from relentless enemies who inexplicably keep tracking them despite their best efforts, thus denying them any chance of proper sleep and making them increasingly stressed out.

Spring has sprung, and the Gaang, newly augmented by Toph, travel on Appa. When they make camp for the evening, Katara and Toph begin to bicker: Toph refuses to help with chores. "[[ExactWords I carry my own weight]]" is Toph's excuse. Then they're disturbed by the advent of a large metal train-vehicle-thing containing Azula, Mai and Ty Lee, and have to flee without sleep. Zuko pursues them, and Iroh him, all leading to one big brawl at the end.

* VictoryIsBoring: TropeNamer episode. For the battle when Mai and Ty Lee defeat Sokka and Katara.

* OnlySaneMan: Sokka, being the only one of the Gaang to not succumb to the ConflictBall in any way.

* ConflictBall: Katara spends a lot of the episode needlessly antagonising Toph for not being a team-player, even when it's clear Toph tends to retaliate physically. Meanwhile Toph blames Appa for the gang's predicament, and earlier pushes Sokka's buttons on not being as competent a fighter as the rest of the kids due to his lack of bending.

* ConflictBall: Katara spends a lot of the episode needlessly antagonising Toph for not being a team-player, even when it's clear Toph tends to retaliate physically. Meanwhile Toph blames Appa for the gang's predicament, and earlier pushing Sokka's buttons on not being as competent a fighter as the rest of the kids due to his lack of bending.

* JerkassBall: Katara holds it against Toph because she won't help them set up camp.

* IntergenerationalFriendship: Toph and Iroh.

* RecycledINSPACE: The premise of this episode is quite similar to the premise of the ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' episode "[[Recap/BattlestarGalactica2003S01E0133 33]]": tired protagonists are trying to run away from relentless enemies who inexplicably keep tracking them despite their best efforts, thus denying them any chance of proper sleep and making them increasingly stressed out.

* AmbigiousScene: It's not until next episode that we learn if Iroh died from Azula's attack.