History Recap / AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSerpentsPass

* {{Fiction 500}}: The first case of Toph's ''name'' getting them something.

* Foreshadowing: While crossing the Western lake, Suki mentions that the Fire Nation was working on something big on the other side of it. [[spoiler:Near the end of the episode, Aang figures out what they were working on.]]

** On streaming sites, this episode and "The Drill" are counted as one, titled "The Secret of the Fire Nation". This is most likely because the two episodes originally aired together as a special event under that title, but it does spoil the presence of the Fire Nation at the end of this episode.

* ChekhovsGunman: The pregnant woman and her partner were first seen in "Zuko Alone" as a random couple Zuko encounters on his way.

* ThreeMonthOldNewborn: Hope may look a bit "squishy" according to Sokka, but she's still bigger than a newborn should be, and already has hair.

-->'''Jet:''' ''(to Zuko)'' As soon as I saw your scar, I knew exactly who you were. ''(Zuko tenses up)'' You're an outcast -- like me.

-->'''Jet:''' [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderJet I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of, but that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se: for a new beginning. A second chance.]]
-->'''Zuko:''' [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZukoAlone I've realized lately that being on your own isn't always the best path.]]

* ChewoutFakeout: A variation when Sokka, after declaring "We scammed that old lady good!" is stopped by a female security guard, who turns out to be Suki without her Kyoshi make-up.
-->'''Suki''': Tickets and passports please.\\
'''Sokka''': Is there a problem?\\
'''Suki''': Yeah, I got a problem with you! I've seen your type before. Probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious and let me guess, you're traveling with the Avatar.\\
'''Sokka''': Do I know you?\\
'''Suki''': You mean you don't remember? Maybe you'll remember this!''[Kisses Sokka on the cheek.]''\\
'''Sokka''': Suki!''[Embraces her.]''\\
'''Suki''': Sokka, it's good to see you!
* CliffHanger: The episode ends with Aang finally reaching Ba Sing Se... only to find a giant Fire Nation drill making its way towards the great walls.

--> '''Toph:''' Oh Sokka! You saved me! ''([[AccidentalKiss Unknowingly kisses Suki's cheek]])''
--> '''Suki:''' Actually... it's me.
--> '''Toph:''' ''({{Beat}})'' Oh... well... ah hah... you can go ahead and let me drown now...

* FreezeFrameBonus[=/=]ProperlyParanoid: The ObstructiveBureaucrat has the Cabbage Merchant's cart of cabbages violently destroyed because they might carry a parasite that could spread through the whole city. As the DVD Commentary points out, freezing when the pieces of cabbage are flying around shows he really did have a cabbage slug.

--> '''Sokka:''' You [[LampshadeHanging talk too much]].
-->([[KissingDiscretionShot then the camera pans up]])

-->'''Toph:''' Oh, Sokka! You saved me! ''[[AccidentalKiss (unknowingly kisses Suki)]]''
-->'''Suki:''' Actually... it's me.
-->'''Toph:''' ''({{Beat}})'' Oh... well... ah ha... you can go ahead and let me drown now.

-->'''Aang''': I've been going through a really hard time lately. But you've made me hopeful again.

* {{Fainting}}: Sokka faints while observing Ying giving birth. Probably because he literally ''saw'' it about to happen (i.e. the baby was crowning just as he walked into the tent).

''[[caption-width-right:333:The Serpent makes its presence known.]]''

* AerithAndBob: Hope is one of a very few characters in the show with a non-Asian name. [[note]] Toph's mom is named Poppy and one of the hippy women from ''The Cave of Two Lovers'' is named Lily. [[WordOfGod Creator commentary]] says they originally had Aang give her a Chinese name, but decided against it to avoid confusion over the name's meaning.[[/note]]

* ContrivedCoincidence: Before the ferry left you had the Gaang, Zuko and Iroh, Suki and the (unseen) Kyoshi Warriors, and Jet and his Freedom Fighters, the later two groups being formerly one-shot characters from last season, all in the same location at the same time.

* JerkassHasAPoint: The Ticket Lady has very strict rules in place that prevents her from giving boat tickets to those without passports, as well as prevent foreign animals and food from crossing. While she takes these rules to the extreme, it is mainly for safety and security reasons.

* TearsOfJoy: Aang sheds them when seeing the new-born baby.

* AlmostKiss: Sokka and Suki halfway through the episode, as Sokka is still not completely over the loss of Yue.

* SpoilerTitle: It's pretty obvious that the Gaang won't take the ferry. (Oddly, on streaming sites, this episode and "The Drill" are counted as one, titled "The Secret of the Fire Nation").

* HeroicSafeMode: Aang spends the episode thinking he needs to stay in this.

* CliffHanger: The episode ends as a giant Fire Nation drill makes its way towards the great walls of Ba Sing Se.

* MissedHimByThatMuch: Zuko and Iroh get on the boat just the Gaang show up at the dock.

'''Sokka: Do I know you?\\

* AerithAndBob: Hope is one of a very few characters in the show with a non-Asian name. [[note]] Toph's mom is named Poppy and one of the hippy women from ''The Cave of Two Lovers'' is named Lily. [[/note]]
** [[WordOfGod Creator commentary]] says they originally had Aang give her a Chinese name, but decided against it to avoid confusion over the name's meaning.

-->'''Jet:''' [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderJet "I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of, but that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se: for a new beginning. A second chance."]]
-->'''Zuko:''' [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZukoAlone "I've realized lately that being on your own isn't always the best path."]]

* CliffHanger: The episode ends as a giant drill makes its way towards the great walls of Ba Sing Se.

* {{Fainting}}: Sokka faints while observing the birth-giving.

* HesBack: A heartwarming variation. For a great deal of the episode, Aang is going through some serious emotional withdrawal after the events of "The Desert", from pretending he doesn't care about finding Appa anymore to believing that it's best to "Abandon hope". But after witnessing the couple's baby be born, Aang is moved to tears and finds the inner-strength to embrace his feelings for the people he cares about again.
* HeyWait: Subverted when it turns out that the guard stopping Sokka on his way out is actually Suki.

* MaternityCrisis: There's a pregnant woman present, so her giving birth in this episode was inevitable. Thankfully, Katara's on hand to help ensure an efficient delivery.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Once again, Toph doesn't like being separated from dry land. In this instance, being knocked into the ocean causes her to shriek in terror.

* SpoilerTitle: It's pretty obvious that the Gaang won't take the ferry.
* SuperDrowningSkills: Toph never learned to swim and understandably freaks when she gets knocked into the water.

* BrainBleach: After Uncle Iroh flirts with the ticket lady to get them free passes onto the boat, Zuko facepalms and says "I'm gonna forget I saw that."

* TheBusCameBack: For Suki, Jet, Longshot, and Smellerbee.

* EvilIsPetty: A Fire Nation ship patrolling the Serpent's Pass takes a pot shot at a small group of people walking along it. The bastards.

* {{Foil}}: Aang has foregone caring and hoping to find Appa whilst Sokka is being overprotective of Suki. Both are struggling with their respective losses (Appa/Yue) and both have to learn to reach a balance between caring too little and caring too much.

* JustHitHim: The serpent does a MightyRoar instead of actually attacking the group when they are right in front of the creature.

* LastMinuteBabyNaming: Ying and Than don't name their baby until she is born and Aang gives them the idea to name her "Hope".
* MaternityCrisis: There is a pregnant woman present so she must give birth in this episode.

'''Suki:''' It is ''you'', stupid!
* OnSecondThought: Toph initially refuses to use the ice path that Katara built to cross the strait but then the Serpent is right on her tail and she quickly changes her mind.

* PartingTheSea: Katara uses her waterbending to split the water and then build an air bubble around the group in which they pass through the strait.

* RecurringExtra: The poor Cabbage Merchant...

-->'''Toph:''' Oh, Sokka! You saved me! ''[[AccidentalKiss (unknowingly kisses Suki)''

* AerithAndBob: Hope is one of a very few characters in the show with a non-Asian name. [[note]] Toph's name is Poppy and one of the hippy women from ''The Cave of Two Lovers'' is named Lily. [[/note]]