Why Zuko's Story is the Defining Element of Avatar

Comments · 1.3K

• KR

  @krishdesai1980 · 3 years ago

  I find it really cool that Aang's story (the hero/protagonist) began with an act of selfishness (him leaving the monks in the Southern Air Temple) and Zuko's story (the villain/antagonist) began with an act of selflessness (him speaking out against innocents dying). Their parallels are so carefully and well thought out. The chemistry and little details between the hero Aang and the villain Zuko is what really makes this show amazing.

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• 0X

  @0xFluke · 1 year ago

  Twin mirror story, Aang/Zuko - Roku/Sozin. One start as friends, they drift apart, the friendship dies and the world falls to chaos. The other start as enemies but come together, a friendship is born. The world finds harmony. Chefs kiss beautiful storytelling

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• JS

  @js_musicmedia8981 · 2 years ago

  “Strike me. You’ve never held back before.” Was one of the most emotional things I’ve heard on TV. That scene showcases how troubled Zuko is in such a profound way

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• TH

  @thecompanioncube4211 · 2 years ago (edited)

  How the hell is this kids show so refined. I cannot believe we got so lucky to have gotten this. As an adult man, this will be a must watch show for my kids

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• MO

  @Moon-Vixen · 2 years ago

  I don't remember where I saw it, but someone once pointed out that the true beauty in Zuko's story is the very moment he's introduced, because of Iroh. through Iroh we're shown that Zuko is someone who is loved, and worthy of love, by a character we're presented as someone to be liked by us. we barely know him, and yet we see he's calm, grounded, with a strong moral fiber, and most of all, he's kind and gentle. and if someone as kind and gentle as Iroh finds goodness in Zuko, so should we. and the entire rest of the series is built on showing us what Iroh saw all along, fulfilling the very first episode's subtle promise.

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• HE

  @HEKVT · 2 years ago (edited)

  The parallels between Zuko and Aang are amazing, I saw somewhere that mentioned Zuko's face being scarred because he faced everything head on, meanwhile Aang has scarring on his back showing that he chose to turn his back on the world and run away.

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• WI

  @willy_b_coyote · 3 years ago

  He found the Avatar and reclaimed his honor…. Just not the way he expected to.

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• MA

  @Magus_on_Main · 1 year ago

  Iroh flipping out at Zhao killing the spirit always gives me goosebumps. Maybe he is, or was, a Fire Nation imperialost. But he still had standards and ethics. I would love to see an AU where Iroh never lost Ba Sing Se, and I wonder if he would be so humble

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• WI

  @willowwhisps1339 · 3 years ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e38DMF5vaos&amp;t=1700">28:20</a> <br>I&apos;d also like to point out that when Zuko leaves Iroh, he lets Iroh keep almost everything he stole, only taking necessities with him. Zuko always loved his uncle.

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• KE

  @Kevin_Narthex · 8 months ago

  The crazy thing about Zuko that the story only lightly touches on is the fact that Zuko can fit in perfectly well in the Earth Kingdom without ever raising any real suspicions, despite being a <i>wildly</i> valuable target for both the Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and literally everyone in between. &nbsp;The implication here is that there are so many people running around with horrible burn scars on their faces that he really doesn&apos;t stand out that much in a crowd of other Earth Kingdom folks, even with his character-defining (to the audience) facial scar. &nbsp;I would normally call this fan headcanon, but I think that Song and her scars as well as the first episode of season 2 showing the legions of returning wounded soldiers do just enough heavy lifting for this to just barely eke it out as being world building rather than just a fan theory.

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• LU

  @LusterDust · 3 years ago

  I remember sitting down for the first episodes, airing on Nickelodeon for the first time, the same exact age as Aang was at the time, eyes bright and wide at this beautiful thing that I knew already went way past a normal cartoon. When Zuko threatened the water villagers and Aang heroically stepped up, I remember being taken aback, amazed that Zuko agreed without any bargaining or demands that he&apos;d let the villagers go, so long as his true objective, capturing the Avatar, was reached. He nodded and left, no one being extra aggressive and spitting fire at the villagers for extra fear just &apos;cause Evil Things. That&apos;s what I based &quot;honor&quot; on after that. Zuko was my basis of honor as I grew to learn and understand it and he still is today.

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• JB

  @JB77776 · 2 years ago

  I love how Zuko&apos;s and Azula&apos;s bending reflect their character progression. The day he faces his father is the day we get to see him as a truly powerful bender. <br>When he faces Azula during the comment. He displays bending truly worthy of a firelord.

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