Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Recap / AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheWesternAirTemple

Go To

1[[quoteright:333:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/avatar_zuko_air_temple.png]]
2[[caption-width-right:333:Zuko finally joins the Gaang, providing Aang with a firebending teacher.]]
3
4->''"WHY AM I SO BAD AT BEING GOOD?!?"''
5-->-- '''Zuko'''
6
7After the devastating failure of the invasion, the gang and their remaining allies need a place to shelter, so Aang takes them to the only safe haven he can think of; [[TitleDrop The Western Air Temple]]. They know they have to re-group and think up a new plan for defeating the Fire Nation, but Aang doesn't seem to want to talk strategies: after another failure, he finds himself trying to escape his responsibilities. The fact that he still needs to practice Earthbending and ''begin'' learning Firebending also hits him full in the face, especially considering that there's no one to teach him.
8
9Good thing that Zuko's ''finally'' had his HeelFaceTurn and is willing to help him, right? Wrong--the Gaang are none too eager to trust him (''especially'' not Katara), and the runaway prince must convince them otherwise.
10----
11!!Tropes:
12
13* AccidentalTruth: Katara thinks Zuko, when he was the Blue Spirit, only freed Aang to capture him for himself. She's actually right, although she had no way of knowing that.
14* AgonyOfTheFeet: Toph accidentally gets her feet burned by Zuko, who attacked in self-defense since he didn't expect anyone to approach him.
15* AnswerCut: When Sokka muses that there has to be someone who can teach Aang firebending, it [[CutApart cuts to]] Zuko practicing his speech to the gang.
16* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Sokka gets this more often than anyone in the series by virtue of being a BadassNormal and TheSmartGuy, but he gets a ''really'' good one here by calculating the exact angle he needs to throw his boomerang and hit Combustion Man right in the third eye.
17* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: The fact that Zuko is an aversion of this helps his case when Appa shows his appreciation for freeing him in Lake Laogai and Toph explains to the rest of Team Avatar that he was being honest. However, [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished Sokka is unimpressed]].
18* BetrayalInsurance: Katara bluntly tells Zuko that she will be watching him to make sure his switching sides is genuine. If he ever strays or even shows the slightest hint that he'll get Aang killed again, she will "end" his destiny.
19* BeyondRedemption: Katara believes that Zuko is this when he [[HazyFeelTurn seemingly pretended to turn good]] only to [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor betray her in Ba Sing Se]], adding to his long ListOfTransgressions against the rest of Team Avatar. The main source of the episode's conflict is that Zuko needs to convince the Gaang that this time, his HeelFaceTurn is genuine.
20* BigDamnHeroes: The Gaang were too busy tending to Toph's wounds after Zuko accidentally burned her to notice Combustion Man sneaking up on them, and preparing to fire. Good thing Zuko was here to make up for his mistake.
21* BittersweetEnding: Zuko's [[HeelFaceTurn reformation]] comes to a head when not only does Team Avatar unanimously accept him, but Aang also asks him to be his firebending teacher. However, Team Avatar are ''far'' from embracing him as a new member, if Katara's bitter threat is any indication.
22* {{Bizarrchitecture}}: The Western Air Temple is hanging ''upside down'' from a cliff.
23* BlackAndWhiteInsanity: Toph calls out her friends for bordering on this by emphasizing Zuko's negative traits while refusing to see the good in him and his attempts to redeem himself.
24* BothSidesHaveAPoint: Team Avatar is split over whether or not to accept Zuko as a firebending teacher. Aang is in the middle and inclined to listen to Katara and Sokka. The arguments are as follows.
25** Katara and Sokka understandably hold a grudge against Zuko for chasing them around the world and repeatedly attempting to capture or kill them. They also believe he can't be trusted because when he was offered a chance at redemption in Ba Sing Se, he turned it aside in favor of helping his sister conquer the city.
26** Toph, the only Gaang member to not suffer personally at Zuko's hands (not counting Combustion Man), believes that, regardless of their personal feelings about Zuko, Aang needs a Firebending teacher and one has shown up on their doorstep offering his services. Her [[LivingLieDetector lie-detecting abilities]] means she can also tell that Zuko is telling the truth about his HeelFaceTurn and freeing Appa. Having talked with Iroh the previous season, who knows full well [[SourOutsideSadInside how Zuko really is as a person]], she's far more sympathetic to his upbringing and recognizes expecting him to have not turned out the way he did might be banking on too much.
27* BuffySpeak: Sokka refers to his uvula as his "throat hole flap."
28* CallBack:
29** Part of the reason why Aang accepted Zuko as his Firebending teacher is because he realizes Zuko feels genuinely sorry for accidentally burning Toph. Aang himself did the same thing [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheDeserter much earlier]] to Katara, prompting him to never try mastering fire. Both Aang and Zuko know that fire is a wild element, and how it feels to accidentally burn someone you love.
30** Zuko's attempts to hunt the Gaang through Season 1 are brought up when he approaches them.
31** As is Aang using frogs to cure Katara and Sokka's fever in [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBlueSpirit "The Blue Spirit"]]. Apparently Sokka was convinced he caught something from the frog.
32** When Zuko is pleading his case of doing good things, he mentions that he freed Appa during [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderLakeLaogai "Lake Laogai"]]. Appa also remembers this, and immediately goes up to lick Zuko when he first appears to the Gaang.
33** Zuko also tries pointing out how Aang thought they could've been friends. After everything that's happened, though, Aang's not willing to trust him.
34** Katara's reaction to Zuko appearing is identical to her reaction to seeing Jet in Ba Sing Se. She doesn't like people who betray her trust.
35** Katara clearly remembers how her trusting Zuko led to him betraying her and Aang, which led to Azula nearly killing the Avatar. At the end of the episode she reminds Zuko about what happened the last time he got tempted to do bad, and she will kill him if he hurts Aang.
36** Katara's line, "How stupid do you think we are?" when Zuko claims to have changed sides is nearly identical to what he said to her and Sokka in [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderBatoOfTheWaterTribe "Bato of the Water Tribe"]].
37* ChirpingCrickets: Done with a badgerfrog.
38* ComicallyMissingThePoint
39-->'''Sokka:''' You sent Combustion Man after us?!
40-->'''Zuko:''' Well...that's not his name, but...
41* DarkestHour: This episode features the Gaang at one of their lowest points. [[StepfordSmiler Aang is putting on a chipper face about his failure]], but Sokka and Katara are despondent. They lost Ba Sing Se, the last Earth Kingdom stronghold that could fight against the Fire Nation, and now the Day of the Black Sun failed with most of their ragtag army captured. Sozin's Comet is arriving soon (which they aren't aware of), and Ozai is still on the throne. The only Firebending teacher that could potentially teach Aang Firebending is in hiding and the Gaang doesn't have the time to search for him. Cue Zuko coming to offer his services to be Aang's Firebending teacher... and the Gaang immediately assumes he's come to betray them again and hurt Aang, leading to an uphill battle for Zuko to get on their good side.
42* DeathGlare: Katara puts one on at the end when delivering her IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHim speech to Zuko.
43* DeclarativeFinger: While Zuko is doing an Uncle Iroh impression.
44* DidntThinkThisThrough: Zuko thinks that the best solution to join the Avatar's team is to admit to all of his misdeeds and beg to become Aang's firebending teacher. It goes wrong when he lets slip that he sent Combustion Man against them, rather than say tell them what was discussed in that meeting he was agonizing about a few weeks ago...or just say that Azula sent Combustion Man after them.[[note]] All that said, telling the truth was probably still Zuko's best play here; if he had blamed Combustion Man on Azula, Toph would have been able to tell he was lying.[[/note]]
45* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Sokka, a BadassNormal, kills Combustion Man by hitting him in his third eye; when Combustion Man tries to use his powers, they backfire, blowing him up.
46* DiggingYourselfDeeper: Zuko lets it slip that he sent that assassin after them earlier in the season. He later acknowledges how stupid this was of him and that he should've just scapegoated Azula for it. Ultimately subverted however in that him defending the Gaang from Combustion Man proves to Aang that he's being serious about turning good.
47* DisorganisedOutlineSpeech: Zuko's initial attempt to make his case to the Gaang.
48* TheDitherer: Aang, in the wake of the failed invasion. Every time Katara tries to get him to sit down with the others and talk about a plan of action, he brushes them off and starts goofing around. It's not until Zuko makes his presence known that he stops.
49* DontSneakUpOnMeLikeThat: Toph goes to talk to Zuko while he's resting, but doesn't announce her presence until a spooked Zuko starts firebending, even though before that he'd loudly asked who was there. It gets her feet burnt, though Toph doesn't hold a grudge for it, and tries downplaying Zuko's actions when telling the others (even blaming herself and saying Zuko burning her was an accident).
50* DoorSlamOfRage: After giving him an ImpliedDeathThreat, Katara leaves Zuko's room, but not before slamming the door behind her. This serves as a warning to Zuko that she's keeping a close eye on him, especially after he pulled a HeelFaceRevolvingDoor in Ba Sing Se.
51* EasilyForgiven: Harshly, yet justifiably subverted. All of the Gaang, save Toph, have a list of excellent reasons to never trust Zuko. When they finally let him in, Katara's warning gives a clear indication that Zuko has to start earning their trust before they can forgive him. It would take him the next few episodes to do just that.
52* EvenBeggarsWontChooseIt: The group needs someone to teach Aang firebending, but most of them refuse to even consider letting Zuko do it. Toph calls them out on how short-sighted this attitude is, since the world ''literally'' depends on Aang learning Firebending and Zuko is likely the only feasible option at this point.
53* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Lampshaded when Sokka expresses outrage that Zuko sent Combustion Man after them. Zuko's only response is that "Combustion Man" isn't actually his name, but he's cut off before he can reveal what it is.
54* EvilDetectingDog: It's because Appa is so affectionate with Zuko that both Aang and Toph think Zuko is good.
55* EyepatchOfPower: In Zuko's flashback to when he visited the Western Air Temple while looking for the Avatar, he's shown wearing a white eyepatch over the burn on his eye.
56* FalselyReformedVillain: Sokka thinks Zuko's pulling this one with his redemption. Katara does as well, saying that he tries to win you over with sympathy.
57* FreudianExcuse: Discussed by Toph. In response, Katara makes an obstinate [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse counter-argument]].
58-->'''Toph:''' Considering his messed-up family and how he was raised, he could've turned out ''a lot'' worse.
59-->'''Katara:''' You're right, Toph -- let's go find him and give him a medal: the Not-As-Much-A-Jerk-As-You-''Could-Have-Been'' Award!
60* HeelFaceTurn: Technically it happened in the last two episodes, but it's nice to see it sticking. [[ReformedButRejected The hard part is convincing his former enemies that he's good]].
61* HeelRealization: Zuko goes to offer his services to the Gaang. Katara points out they have no reason to trust him after their history. She and Sokka cite how he attacked their village and stole their mother's necklace to track them down and capture Aang. Zuko's expression changes to one of sorrow and regret as he notes that those aren't mistakes but actually pretty bad misdemeanors.
62* HeroWithAnFInGood: Zuko has shades of this.
63-->'''Zuko''': Why am I so bad at being good!?!
64* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Combustion Man gets killed by his own bending.
65* HonestyIsTheBestPolicy: Zigzagged. Zuko is completely honest when apologizing for his misdeeds, and Toph can sense that. This makes her believe that he is trying to change and wants to help them, with no tricks. However, he opens his big mouth and reveals that he also hired the assassin that has been chasing them, which doesn't exactly endear him to the rest of the Gaang.
66* ICantBelieveImSayingThis: Aang quotes this word-for-word before thanking Zuko for saving the team from Combustion Man.
67* IceCreamKoan: Zuko fails at mimicking his Uncle's proverbs.
68-->'''Zuko''': Even when I'm impersonating him I have no idea what he's saying!
69* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHim: Non-romantically - Katara threatens Zuko if he does anything to hurt Aang at the end of the episode.
70* IHatePastMe: There's a hint of this in the exhausted, frustrated look on Zuko's face after he remembers visiting the Western Air Temple with his uncle in search of the Avatar. Even more so when he remembers how he treated his uncle, realizing now that Iroh was the only positive parental figure in his life since his mother left and Zuko was so disrespectful to him.
71* ImpliedDeathThreat: While Zuko succeeds in earning the group's trust, Katara gives a cold one of these to Zuko at the end of the episode.
72-->'''Katara''': Let me tell you something right now: You take ''one '' step backwards... ''one'' slip up... give me ''one'' reason to think you might hurt Aang - and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends... right then and there. ''Permanently''.
73* ImprobableAimingSkills: Sokka is able to correctly calculate where Combustion Man is attacking from the angle of his lasers, and then manages to [[CriticalHit hit his assailant directly on his third eye tattoo]] with a boomerang.
74* IronicEcho. From the flashback.
75-->'''Zuko''': The only way to regain my honor is to find the Avatar.
76* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: Zuko tries to prove that he has genuinely changed and he wants to help the Gaang. Only problem? The last time he went through this with Katara, he nearly got Aang killed and allowed Azula to take over Ba Sing Se, receiving ThePardon and his cushy Fire Nation life back. When Zuko attempts to sincerely apologize, not even Aang wants to give him the benefit of the doubt, and Katara smacks him in the face with a water whip. She also threatens to kill him if he ever feels tempted to betray Aang again.
77* KubrickStare: Katara also uses one of these.
78* LampshadeHanging: Zuko finds Iroh's advice confusing even when he's the one imitating Iroh and saying it all in the first place.
79* {{Leitmotif}}: Zuko briefly gets Iroh and Azula's when he imitates them.
80* LickedByTheDog: [[AndroclesLion Appa]] remembers that Zuko freed him from Long Feng, and licks him to show he likes him. Sokka doesn't buy it, and thinks he just covered himself in honey.
81* ListOfTransgressions:
82** When Zuko attempts to apologize to the Gaang, both Katara and Sokka bring up his past actions: chasing them around the world, invading their village, and stealing Katara's necklace and using it to track them down.
83** Katara later on brings up what happened in Ba Sing Se, namely Zuko betraying her during the fight with Azula.
84** When Toph tries to convince the others to give Zuko a chance, they all throw back at her one thing Zuko did to them before she joined the team: [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheWaterbendingScroll Katara brings up Zuko hiring pirates to capture them,]] [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheWarriorsOfKyoshi Sokka mentions Zuko's attack on Kyoshi Island,]] and [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheWinterSolsticePart2 Aang recalls Zuko trying to capture him at the Fire Sage Temple]].
85* LivingLieDetector: Toph's ability to tell when people are lying comes in handy trying to defend Zuko, since none of the others believe him.
86* LiteralMetaphor: Sokka makes one when he points out to Toph "See? You trusted Zuko and you got burnt, literally!"
87* MouthCam: A shot from inside Sokka's mouth when he talks about the time he had a wart in the flap in the back of his throat.
88* NeverSayDie: If Zuko goes for another spin on the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor, Katara will "make sure his destiny ends". Though that was more about her using Zuko's meaningful words against him, since he'd been going on about that. It's not like they've ever beat around the bush about the other stuff.
89* NiceJobFixingItVillain: If wasn't for Combustion Man, Zuko never would have proven he has changed. His attack on The Western Air Temple ultimately allows Zuko to prove himself to the Gaang that his reformation is genuine by aiding them against the very same person he hired.
90* NoBodyLeftBehind: When Combustion Man's power backfires, they cause him to explode leaving only his right mechanical arm behind.
91* NotHelpingYourCase:
92** Zuko letting it slip that ''he'' sent Combustion Man after the Gaang made them all even more distrustful of him, and he later laments that he should have pinned it on Azula. However, this is subverted when Combustion Man attacks and [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness Zuko tries to stop him]], showing to Aang that he's serious about wanting to help. There's also the fact that if Zuko tried to lie and blame Azula, [[LivingLieDetector Toph would have seen through it]].
93** When Toph suggests that the others are letting their past experiences with Zuko cloud their judgement of trusting him, they say that's easy for her to say and immediately angrily rattle off several other times he tried to attack them and kidnap Aang. Toph's unimpressed silence when they're done indicates they've only proved her point in letting their emotions cloud their judgement.
94* NotSoDifferentRemark:
95** Toph says she understands how messed up Zuko's family is. She can relate, with her own baggage and CondescendingCompassion parents.
96** The reason Aang starts trusting Zuko (much less asks him to be his fire-bending teacher) is when Zuko personally apologizes to Toph for burning her and notes that he himself needs to be more careful with his firebending, so he doesn't hurt innocent people. This hits very close to home for Aang, who relates the story of the first time he tried firebending, and hurt Katara in the process.
97* OhCrap: When Zuko realizes he hurt Toph, his expression changes from half-asleep to wide-eyed horror as he gasps. The camera even zooms in on his face to emphasize his panic.
98* OnceDoneNeverForgotten: Even after Zuko proves himself loyal to Team Avatar, Katara hasn't forgotten the last time this happened. This feeling lasts for the next few episodes.
99-->'''Katara:''' This is just like when we were in prison together at Ba Sing Se. He starts talking about his mother and making it seem like he's an actual human being with feelings. [...] The thing is, it worked. I ''did'' feel sorry for him. I felt like he was really confused and hurt, but obviously, when the time came, he made his choice, and we paid the price. We ''can't'' trust him.
100** When the team finally lets him in, Katara discusses this with him before her threat.
101--->'''Katara:''' You might have everyone else here buying your... "transformation", but you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past.
102** Sokka is also shown to never let Aang forget about the time when he made him and Katara suck on frozen frogs when they got sick in "The Blue Spirit".
103* OOCIsSeriousBusiness:
104** Aang is normally the EasilyForgiven member of the Gaang, who is happy to give people second chances. Here, he's also glaring at Zuko when he appears and tries to apologize because the failure of the Black Sun Invasion still weighs heavily on him. Zuko notes it when he reminds Aang that the latter once said they could be friends.
105** When Zuko tells Combustion Man he's called off the bounty, Aang reacts to this, as though suspecting Zuko really has turned over a new leaf. If there's one thing Aang has learned about Zuko, it's that he never does anything that wouldn't "bring him honor", which in this case is calling off an assassin.
106* PetTheDog: Deconstructed -- The fact that Zuko has "done some good things," like freeing Appa from the Dai Li, gets mixed reception from Team Avatar, and ultimately isn't enough to convince all of them.
107** Sokka is completely unimpressed that Zuko doesn't abuse animals, seeing that as a [[WantsAPrizeForBasicDecency bare minimum of good]].
108--->'''Sokka:''' Oh, hurray! In a lifetime of evil, at least he didn't add Animal Cruelty to the list! [[note]]As the comics show, that's actually a recurring part of Zuko's character, and in the show itself is used as a marked contrast with Azula.[[/note]]
109** Katara doesn't believe it at first. She recalls that Zuko won her over with sympathy back in Ba Sing Se, only to turn on her and Aang, resulting in the latter's near death at the hands of Azula and the fall of the Earth Kingdom. This betrayal still fresh in her mind, she believes he's BeyondRedemption, and in the end [[ImpliedDeathThreat threatens to make him pay if he tries that again]].
110** Aang was overjoyed to finally be reunited with Appa after losing him. But discovering that, [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBlueSpirit like when he was captured by Zhao]], it was Zuko who was responsible for that, Aang can only be emotionally conflicted. While he is grateful to the extent of willing to at least listen to Zuko, he reasonably, but incorrectly, concludes that like the previous rescue, he only did it for selfish reasons.
111** Toph is the only one willing to give Zuko a chance at first, in part because she doesn't have any personal grievances against him and partly because she has the benefit of being able to tell that Zuko is being sincere. She also points out that Zuko is willing to teach Firebending to Aang when he needs it the most.
112* ReformedButRejected: Zuko gets this treatment until the end of the episode, at which point people begin to relent. Except Katara, who keeps it up for four more episodes.
113* RefugeInTheWest: The Western Air Temple provides shelter in the aftermath of the failed assault.
114* RightForTheWrongReasons: Zuko reflects on the early days of his banishment and how he can only get his honor back by finding the Avatar. He realized that he needed to ''earn'' his honor instead and that it did involve finding the Avatar, just to be an ally instead of a captor.
115* SavedByThePlatformBelow: Zuko gets blown off a platform by Combustion Man and it looks like he fell to his death to the shock of the onlooking Gaang. The next shot reveals that Zuko was saved by holding on to a tree trunk right below the platform.
116* SimpleSolutionWontWork: When the issue of Aang not having a Firebending teacher is brought up, Katara suggests Jeong Jeong, but the issue with that is that the Gaang has no idea where he is, and they don't have time to search for him thanks to the time limit imposed by Sozin's Comet. Eventually a ''different'' simple solution presents itself when Zuko shows up, although everyone besides Toph needs some convincing.
117* SpellMyNameWithAThe: The Duke is insistent on that.
118* StatusQuoIsGod:
119** Initially almost played straight. With the Invasion having failed and the Fire Nation now knowing Aang is alive again, the group have essentially returned to the show's original format; traveling the world as Aang masters the elements before Sozin's Comet arrives, while being hunted by the Fire Nation. Sokka even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades this point.]]
120--->'''Sokka:''' Well, if you ask me, the new plan is the old plan! You just need to master all four elements and confront the Fire Lord before the comet comes.
121** Of course, Zuko's arrival and subsequent addition to the group ends up averting this for the next few episodes going forward.
122* SympathyForTheDevil: Toph expresses some sympathy for Zuko, given how messed up his family is. This is attributed to not having been hunted by him. While she did suffer the AgonyOfTheFeet by Zuko's firebending when she unwittingly snuck up on him, she later forgave him, though promising to get back at him later.
123* TemptingFate: A neutral example - Aang expresses doubt that they'll ever run into Jeong Jeong again, just a few episodes before he comes BackForTheFinale [[note]] though ironically, Aang isn't with the rest of the group when they meet up with him [[/note]].
124* TranquilFury: Katara at the end of the episode.
125* TrickDialogue: Zuko practices his "Hi, I've made a HeelFaceTurn" speech [[SurrogateSoliloquy in front of a frog]].
126* TheUnreveal: Zuko implies that he knows Combustion Man's real name, but he doesn't mention what it is.
127* WantsAPrizeForBasicDecency: Played with. It's not Zuko who invokes this, but rather Toph who does it on his behalf. She points out that Zuko must be a better person than they're giving credit if he really did free Appa, considering the crueler members of his family would've potentially done [[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals worse]] in his position. It's Sokka who points out that this is an inadequate reason to trust Zuko after everything he's done, and Katara [[SarcasmMode snidely offers]] they award Zuko a prize for [[DamnedByFaintPraise being less of a jerk than normal]].
128* WhatTheHellHero: Toph wears the pragmatist hat for a change and calls out her friends for not even considering accepting Zuko as Aang's Firebending teacher, despite him being the only viable choice [[note]] The only other Firebenders the Gaang knows who are skilled enough and would be willing are Iroh and Jeong Jeong, but they have no clue where either of them are or how to find them, and they're on a very strict time limit[[/note]]. She may not have had any history with Zuko, but she understands the bigger picture and knows that there are bigger stakes than their personal feelings.
129* WhatWouldXDo: Zuko asks himself what his uncle (and, for the sake of argument, his sister) would do. (Complete with impersonations of both. He does a dead-on Iroh, and while he can't mimic Azula's voice, he ''nails'' her word choice, tone, and mannerisms.)
130* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: Mentioned by Katara. She says that none of the Gaang would buy him offering his services as a firebending teacher and getting close to Aang. The irony is that Zuko's offer is genuine and he means no tricks, something that Toph realizes when checking his heartbeat. Toph at least goes to talk to him, but he burns her by accident.

Top