History Recap / AsterixAndTheLaurelWreath

** The vain, muscular Greek slave on Typhus' stand whom Asterix eventually punches out[[note]] without even drinking any magic potion![[/note]] adopts the poses of a variety of classical statues, including Rodin's ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thinker The Thinker]]'', the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollon_of_Olympia Apollon]]'' of Olympia, ''Art/LaocoonAndHisSons'' (in the course of imitating which he entangles Asterix in a rope), and the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discobolus Diskobolus]]'' of Myron.

** The vain, muscular Greek slave on Typhus' stand whom Asterix eventually punches out[[note]] without even drinking any magic potion![[/note]] adopts the poses of a variety of classical statues, including Rodin's ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thinker The Thinker]]'', the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollon_of_Olympia Apollon]]'' of Olympia, ''/Art/LaocoonAndHisSons'' (in the course of imitating which he entangles Asterix in a rope), and the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discobolus Diskobolus]]'' of Myron.

** The vain, muscular Greek slave on Typhus' stand whom Asterix eventually punches out[[note]] without even drinking any magic potion![[/note]] adopts the poses of a variety of classical statues, including Rodin's ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thinker The Thinker]]'', the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollon_of_Olympia Apollon]]'' of Olympia, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laoco%C3%B6n_and_His_Sons Laocoon and His Sons]]'' (in the course of imitating which he entangles Asterix in a rope), and the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discobolus Diskobolus]]'' of Myron.

* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: Usually averted in ''Asterix'', where beautiful and young women are spared by slapstick. Played straight here when Tibia, Humerus's pretty daughter, is shown sweating, and give out smoke, like all her family members after eating Asterix's HideousHangoverCure.

** Caesar's campaign against the pirates may be a reference to an incident in the life of the real UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar in which he was kidnapped by pirates and held for ransom (the amount of which they increased at Caesar's own suggestion). After the ransom was paid, Caesar told the pirates he would return to kill them one day; the pirates assumed he was joking. He wasn't.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* ICanExplain: Goldendelicius's reaction after Asterix's woke him up at the tavern; and, terrified, the slave understands that [[OhCrap they are still alive and well]].

** Obelix gets seriously drunk every time he's offered wine (three times). As he already had a bad experience with alcohol in Recap/AsterixInBritain, it explains why Obelix rather gets DrunkOnMilk in later albums.

* HideousHangoverCure: While trying to get thrown out of the Roman family they've become slaves to, Asterix and Obelix wind up creating one out of a (live and unplucked) chicken, carbolic soap, jam, black peppercorns, salt, kidneys, figs, honey, black pudding, pomegranate seeds, and red peppers. The narration states that this allowed Romans to drink without consequence, leading to the decline of Rome.

* Obelix gets seriously drunk every time he's offered wine (three times). As he already had a bad experience with alcohol in Recap/AsterixInBritain, it explains why Obelix rather gets DrunkOnMilk in later albums.

* CourtroomAntic: The trial of Asterix and Obelix ends with Asterix himself standing up and holding an impassioned plea to get himself and Obelix sentenced to the circus. His speech moves the entire courtroom to tears, and both their lawyer and the delator congratulate the Gauls afterwards.

* ObnoxiousInLaws: Homeopathix, the wealthier brother of Impedimenta, barely even makes the effort to remember Vitalstatistix's name. In the final banquet, when Vitalstatistix makes good on his promise to cook a stew with Caesar's laurels, Homeopathix, far from being impressed, criticises the meat for not being a choice cut or well cooked.

* SimpleSolutionWontWork: While in Rome to look for Caesar's laurel wreath, Asterix has to hold Obelix back when he wants to just go into the palace and beat up the guards until they find the wreath. What follows is a series of zany plots to get in the palace, none of which work.

* IdiotPlot: Since laurel wreaths were more or less a throwaway single-use accessory, Asterix and Obelix could have most likely just bribed or persuaded a slave to bring them a used one from Ceasar's palace.

* NiceGirl: Galantine, Homeopathix's wife, is apparently way nicer than her contemptuous husband. When men start to argue, she carefully try to redirect the conversation on shopping topic, but in vain.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/asterixlaurelwreath.jpg]]

The next day, the guards regain consciousness and find the palace in disarray but the Gauls still in their cell; suspecting them of wizardry, the panicked Romans schedule their trial for that very day, and the lawyer Nisiprius arrives to defend Asterix and Obelix. He notes their conviction is assured, and Asterix is intrigued to learn that this will mean being thrown to the lions in front of Caesar himself. As the trial's verdict is already known, Nisiprius plans to use it as a chance to show off his oratory skills, but when the prosecutor begins to give the same speech[[note]]Actually the first of the Catiline Orations[[/note]], Nisiprius tries to have the trial postponed. The judge and prosecutor are about to agree to the request when the impatient Asterix interrupts and makes an impassioned plea to the court that their crimes - wrecking Typhus' stand, getting into Humerus' house under false pretences to get closer to Caesar to assassinate him - cannot be overlooked, and the emotionally overwhelmed court sentences them to be thrown to the lions.

* SpitTake: Asterix spits out his food when Vitalstatistix announces that they're going to cook a stew with Caesar's laurel wreath as ingredient.

* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: The whole plot starts because a drunk Vitalstatix offers his brother-in-law a stew flavoured with Julius Caesar's laurel wreath. And a possibly drunker Obelix gets enthused at the idea.

-->[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule,_Britannia! Britons never, never, never shall be]] cut-price slaves!

* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Asterix and Obelix travel to Rome with the sole purpose of stealing Caesar's laurel wreath. And not even for some noble goal, but just so Vitalstatistix can win a bet he made while drunk.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** This exchange between Vitalstatistix and his brother-in-law:
--->'''Homeopathix''': But my dear chap, where am I going to put all these menhirs of yours? \\
'''Vitalstatistix''' ''(with an evil grin)'': You really want me to tell you?\\
'''Impedimenta''': [[CurseCutShort VITALSTATISTIX!]]
** The panoramic scene of the slave market features a topless female slave on one of the stands in the background.

* UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode: Considered to be the most adult-orientated of all ''Asterix'' adventures, with examples of unusually graphic violence, themes such as debauchery and slavery, and Dogmatix (popular with younger fans) reduced to a small cameo at the end. Even the title font is changed to one more cursive than usual.

* CharacterFocus: Even by the usual standards of the "Asterix and Obelix go on a journey" albums, this album keeps the main duo front and centre from start to finish. The only other series regulars to even get a look in outside the final ''panel'' (never mind the final page) are Vitalstatistix and Impedimenta, who only appear in the Lutetia flashback and the final banquet. Even Dogmatix is absent until the very end.

Flash back to the present; Asterix points out to Obelix that their usual tactic of marching in and beating up every Roman they see will not work with [[EliteMooks the crack troops guarding Caesar's palace]]. They notice a man leaving the palace; plying him with drink, they learn he is a slave, purchased from Typhus, Caesar's personal supplier. They decide to offer themselves as merchandise to Typhus, but when the other slaves on Typhus' stand dismiss them as cut rate junk, a fight breaks out, with Asterix and Obelix triumphant. An amused patrician offers to buy the two Gauls, who assume he is Caesar's major-domo (whom Typhus has been expecting at any minute) and that they are finally on their way to Caesar's palace.

* CharacterFocus: Even by the usual standards of the "Asterix and Obelix go on a journey" albums, this album keeps the main duo front and centre from start to finish. The only other series regulars to even get a look in outside the final ''panel'' (never mind the final page) are Vitalstatistix and Impedimenta, who only appear in the Lutetia flashback and the final banquet. Even Dogmatix is almost completely absent.