History Recap / AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheDayOfBlackSunPart2

* PyrrhicVictory: Though the fire nation has won, it clearly wasn't without casualties and damage to the capital. On top of that, the Crown Prince has turned against them, and we later learn that on that day, the Fire Nation also lost Omashu, the second largest city in the Earth Kingdom. Though not stated, It's certainly not unlikely that other Earth Kingdom resistance groups made use of the eclipse as well.

* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Ozai himself asks Zuko why he doesn't kill him with his twin swords while they can't firebend, making this "Why Don't You Just Shoot Me."

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: When Zuko is about to walk out on Ozai forever after [[CallingTheOldManOut calling out how horribly he treated him for most of his life]], Ozai manages to stop Zuko dead in his tracks (and ultimately stall him long enough for the eclipse to end) by asking the one question he knows has plagued his son since childhood; "''Don't you want to know what happened to [[MissingMom your mother]]?''"

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: When Zuko is about to walk out on Ozai forever after [[CallingTheOldManOut calling out how horribly he treated him for most of his life]], Ozai manages to stop Zuko dead in his tracks (and ultimately stall him long enough for the eclipse to end) by asking the one question he knows has plagued his son since childhood; ''"Don't you want to know what happened to [[MissingMom your mother]]?"''

* DisproportionateRetribution: While CallingOutTheOldMan, Zuko invokes this re: their fateful Agni Kai prior to the series and how Ozai overreacted.

* ItsAllMyFault: Sokka blames himself for wasting their remaining time after Azula baited him. Aang consoles him saying that Azula was ready for all of them.

* NeedsOfTheMany: Katara and Sokka still want to stay and continue fight even after the eclipse is over and after their subs have been destroyed, especially since they have the Avatar. Hakoda however, refuses to risk it on the grounds that they need to keep hope alive, as otherwise all will be lost if the Avatar dies during the confrontation.

* HeKnowsTooMuch: Since Zuko has been in way too deep since returning to the Fire Nation, Ozai ''cannot'' let him leave the Fire Nation alive with whatever new knowledge he gained.

* {{Symbolism}}: Before going to confront his father, Zuko leaves his room in a mysterious manner whilst donning a hooded cloak, [[MeaningfulEcho just as his mother did on the night she disappeared]]. This is meant to indicate that despite becoming the Fire Nation prince Ozai's always wanted, Zuko is redeeming himself by being [[LikeFatherLikeSon more like his kindly mother]]: doing the right thing even if there will be consequences.

* {{Symbolism}}: Before going to confront his father, Zuko leaves his room in a mysterious manner whilst donning a hooded cloak, [[MeaningfulEcho just as his mother did on the night she disappeared]]. This is meant to indicate that despite becoming the good little prince Ozai's always wanted, Zuko is redeeming himself by being [[LikeFatherLikeSon more like his kindly mother]]: doing the right thing even if there will be consequences.

* BerserkButton: Sokka loses it when Azula taunts him about Suki's capture. For context, he knew she was taunting everyone to get them to run out the clock and he still lost control.

''[[caption-width-right:333:Zuko renounces his father once and for all, revealing his plan to help Aang defeat the Fire Lord.]]''

* AllForNothing: All of the planning and preperation from Team Avatar amounted to nothing since Ozai went into hiding and Azula distracting them while waiting out the eclipse. Once it ends, the Fire Nation strikes back in full force.

* BatmanGambit: Attempted - Ozai calls his son a coward for confronting him while the eclipse deprives them of their powers, and likely he couldn't hope to challenge Zuko at his state, so he gets his attention when he decides to reveal the truth of what happened to his mother, and tell the tale until the eclipse ends. Unfortunately for Ozai, he tries to kill him with lightning, which Zuko deflects back to him.

* CurbStompCushion: The Zeppelins vs the Swampbenders. The benders manage to deflect many bombs aimed to the submarines, but the result is what one would expect.

** Time runs out for Team Avatar and are forced to retreat when the Fire Nation regain their bending and the advantage. The rest of the group remain and await capture, giving them time.

** Sokka has a down to earth variation of this: He knew Azula was baiting him and he knew that Azula was just there to waste time, and yet the mere mention of Suki (which Sokka gave up, Azula only mentioned a vague favorite prisoner and let him do the rest) sent Sokka into a flying rage that cost them the necessary time to find Ozai.

** Ozai callously tells Zuko that he was commanded by ''his'' father Azulon to kill him long ago. If not for Ursa conspiring to kill Azulon to spare Zuko and make Ozai the next Fire Lord, Ozai would have went through with it. There was zero guilt or hesitation in this confession.

* OnSecondThought: During the eclipse the Earthbender army comes across a group of Firebenders and demand their surrender. The firebenders refuse and try to use their powers which fail. They quickly change their mind about surrendering.

* KnowWhenToFoldThem: Time runs out for Team Avatar and are forced to retreat when the Fire Nation regain their bending and the advantage. The rest of the group remain and await capture, giving them time.

** Ozai, when he sees that Zuko knows a counter-defense against the lightning-bending he just tried to use to kill his own son with. Previously, there was no known defense before Iroh devised the technique and taught it to Zuko.

--> '''Zuko:''' (to Ozai) I've come to an even more important decision - [[HeelFaceTurn I'm going to join the Avatar, and I'm going to help him defeat you.]]

-->''{{Beat}}

'''Ozai:''' It was to teach you respect.\\

* CallingTheOldManOut: Zuko finally calls Ozai out after being abused for so long while they're both depowered.