History Recap / AvatarTheLastAirbenderBitterWork

* CoolTeacher: Oh, Uncle Iroh.

* DieOrFly: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Toph when she rolls a huge boulder down a cliff at Aang to try and get him to earthbend. Aang subverts the invoking by jumping out of the way. Played straighter later in the episode, when successfully stopping an angry Sabertoothed Mooselion gives him the proper "stand your ground" mindset needed for earthbending.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Toph comes across like this.
* {{Foil}}: Aang to Zuko. Both are subjected to the same bitter work, but Aang succeeds where Zuko succumbs to his own sense of victimhood.
** To a lesser extent, Katara and Toph as well, as their teacher tropes show.

* IgnoredEpiphany: Sokka, of course, neither gives up meat and sarcasm after being saved.

* MisplacedKindergartenTeacher: Katara comes across this way, advocating a very supportive and affirmative teaching style for Aang. Subverted in that it actually ''is'' appropriate for his childish personality.

* PlotParallel: Between Zuko and Aang.
* RageAgainstTheHeavens: Zuko's final scene. Either a TearJerker or {{Narm}}, make up your own mind.

* SmiteMeOMightySmiter: During Zuko's RageAgainstTheHeavens.
** Sokka [[PlayedForLaughs hilariously]] inverts this. He makes a promise to the heavens to give up his love of meat and sarcasm if he can get out of a hole. [[IgnoredEpiphany He immediately goes back on it the second Aang finds him, though.]]
** Partly because as soon as tries to explain his epiphany during the time spent in a hole to Katara, [[ButtMonkey Aang interrupts him by showing off his earthbending to her]].
* StealthMentor: While Toph is...[[IncrediblyLamePun hard]] [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold to get along with]], she intentionally tries to get on Aang's nerves by eating his food, taking and misusing his staff, and simply watched when him and Sokka were attacked by an angry wild animal. All of this, so that Aang gains the confrontational stance needed to earthbend.

* ThickerThanWater: Zuko assumes Iron won't help him prepare to another encounter with Azula because of this. Iroh averts it.

* MeaningfulName: In addition to noting the obstacles both the protagonists and his [[Foil parallel]] face throughout the episode, "Bitter Work" is also a [[ShownTheirWork rough]] [[BilingualBonus translation]] of the term "Kung Fu".

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* MeaningfulName: In addition to noting the obstacles both the protagonists and his parallel face throughout the episode, "Bitter Work" is also a [[ShownTheirWork rough]] [[BilingualBonus translation]] of the term "Kung Fu".

* NoAntagonist

* ChekhovsSkill[=/=][[ChekhovsClassroom Chekhov's Classroom]]: Lightning redirection.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Uncle Iroh has had a chance to study Waterbending long enough to adapt some of their techniques for his own use. Hmm, he couldn't be a member of a world-spanning AncientTradition or anything, could he?

* TitleDrop: Averted in this episode. Avatar Roku drops the title in a [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheAvatarAndTheFireLord later episode]] when he describes his waterbending training.

* IgnoredEpiphany: Sokka, of course, neither gives up food and sarcasm after being saved.

* FridgeLogic: Why does Toph leave her eyes uncovered when she covers herself in rock? And why doesn't she leave her nose and mouth uncovered so she can breathe?
** OffModel: The creators admitted this was an animation error.

* FootFocus: Aang leaves his shoes off from the moment he wakes up and goes barefoot all day while training with Toph. Justified in the fact Earthbenders utilize a direct sole-to-ground connection to their elements that hones their ability to bend. However, some frames of animation incorrectly depict him wearing shoes, such as when he's standing atop two pillars while trying to keep a ring of heavy stone in his arms.

* MisplacedKindergartenTeacher: Katara comes across this way, advocating a very supportive and affirmative teaching style for Aang. Subverted in that it actually ''is'' appropriate for his AdultChild personality.

* ChekhovsSkill[=/=]ChekhovsClassroom: Lightning redirection.

* FridgeLogic: Why does Toph leave her eyes uncovered when she covers herself in rock? And why doesn't she leave her nose and mouth uncovered to she can breathe?

In the aftermath of [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheChase the previous episode]], both groups of main characters take time to recuperate. Zuko aids Uncle Iroh in recovering from his wound at Azula's hands, and Iroh tries to teach him to generate lightning; when Zuko is unable to achieve the necessary mental calm, Iroh instead teaches him a technique to ''redirect'' lightning, which he invented by observing Waterbenders. Aang also begins lessons, learning Earthbending from Toph. It's very difficult for him because [[ElementalRockPaperScissors Earth is an Airbender's polar opposite]]; Airbenders are {{Extreme Doormat}}s, Earthbenders {{Determinator}}s. Thus, the title of the episode refers to both Aang and Zuko struggling to master attitudes and techniques that are psychologically and elementally opposite to their normal mindsets.

* ChekhovsSkill: Lightning redirection.

* RageAgainstTheHeavens: Zuko's final scene. Either a TearJerker or {{Narm}}, [[YourMileageMayVary make up your own mind]].

* TitleDrop: Averted in this episode. Avatar Roku drops the title in a [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheAvatarAndTheFireLord later episode]] when he describes his earthbending training.

In the aftermath of [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheChase the previous episode]], both groups of main characters take time to recuperate. Zuko aids Uncle Iroh in recovering from his wound at Azula's hands, and Iroh tries to teach him to generate lightning; when Zuko is unable to achieve the necessary mental calm, Iroh instead teaches him a technique to ''redirect'' lightning, which he invented by observing Waterbenders. Aang also begins lessons, learning Earthbending from Toph. It's are difficult for him because [[ElementalRockPaperScissors Earth is an Airbender's polar opposite]]; Airbenders are {{Extreme Doormat}}s, Earthbenders {{Determinator}}s. Thus, the title of the episode refers to both Aang and Zuko struggling to master attitudes and techniques that are psychologically and elementally opposite to their normal mindsets.