That is proper. We’re speaking about Zuko at this time as a result of we have to.
As somebody who considers herself a enormous fan of Avatar: The Final Airbender, I do know there are many characters within the sequence that I genuinely love greater than life itself and a type of is clearly Zuko. Whereas I may sing praises for Katara or share how wonderful Toph is, Zuko is and all the time can be my favourite, primarily due to how he alters all through the sequence.
However there’s one facet about Zuko’s character that hasn’t all the time sat proper with me, and after years of maintaining it dormant because the Avatar: The Final Airbender universe continues to increase, I knew it was awaiting its likelihood to awaken. And now it has, and I should discuss it.
As I’ve Mentioned, Zuko Is Palms Down The Greatest Developed Character
Zuko is the best-developed character. Ever. And I imply that.
Alright, properly, there are some nice examples of fine character growth, a lot of which I may additionally discuss for hours. However Zuko all the time sat with me primarily as a result of it was so flawlessly carried out over three seasons.
We see him because the villain initially, however over time, we begin to perceive why he’s that manner. As he begins to alter and develop, he nonetheless makes errors, a lot of which lead us to both relate to him extra, or act like Uncle Iroh and be disillusioned in his choices.
In the long run, he turns into associates with Aang and the entire Avatar gang, and I couldn’t image this group with out him. His previous with the Fireplace Nation, in addition to his future, will all the time be outlined by the alternatives he made that led him to changing into the chief he’s on the finish of the sequence.
However there’s only one character that he is with that I simply… do not get.
However After A number of Years… I am Simply Not Feeling Him With Mai
Yeah, I am sorry, I am not feeling Mai in any respect with Zuko.
Do not get me unsuitable – I do suppose Mai is an glorious ATLA facet character. I feel she has pulled by way of for others in ways in which we won’t even think about half the time. And what makes her much more fascinating is that she would not have any bending powers.
It is clear from the start of the sequence that these with bending usually have a leg-up on many different folks, at the very least in positions of energy. It would not actually matter when you’re a farmer and also you’re in a position to transfer the bottom as an Earthbender. That is only a helpful talent to have.
However in any place of energy, being able to be a bender, or having somebody as a bender in your facet, provides you a serious benefit, as we have seen with the Fireplace Lord or the Dai Li, or any of these folks.
Mai is the daughter of an excellent high-profile particular person of the Fireplace Nation, however she doesn’t have any bending. Nevertheless, she is ready to maintain herself afloat and stand out on her personal due to her knife expertise. That is one thing I can recognize, and I discover it tremendous cool and precious in a world that favors components over normality.
However she and Zuko, to me, do not make sense.
I feel at first it did – when he was nonetheless in his transition from morally gray to somebody who was attempting to do the appropriate factor. She represented the Fireplace Nation, a traditional woman who genuinely wished to maintain her household secure and did care about him. But it surely was simply her perspective that I feel actually cemented it in my thoughts that she wasn’t proper for Zuko.
It felt like she wanted somebody who took cost much more than he did, and I actually consider that on the time, Zuko wasn’t even prepared for a relationship. He was nonetheless reeling from what he did again in Ba Sing Se and betraying his uncle. He was combating maintaining secrets and techniques. I feel his and Mai’s leaping into one thing was nearly a intestine intuition fairly than a thought-out determination.
And as we see with them, they don’t seem to be actually… completely happy collectively. I imply, that is sort of Zuko’s schtick – he even says at one level he is ‘by no means completely happy’ although we see him smile. However I really feel just like the few occasions we really noticed them smile collectively have been few and much between.
I would Fairly Have Seen Zuko With Somebody Who Boosts Him Up
Clearly, I am not Zuko. I am unable to inform him who he wants. Nevertheless, as somebody who has been in a relationship for practically a decade and has seen the rise and fall of so many others round me, I’ve at the very least some semblance of what a relationship ought to appear to be.
Somebody like Zuko must be with somebody who boosts him up. And I do not suppose Mai is that individual. Once more, she’s an awesome character, however she’s not the sort of one that would help Zuko. Mai has her stuff happening together with her household and her brother, and serving to Zuko convey peace to the Fireplace Nation can be a tough job for her to perform.
I used to be part of the Zutara fandom (Zuko x Katara) as a result of I like good enemies-to-lovers moments. However clearly, Katara does marry Aang (as we see in The Legend of Korra sequel sequence). Even so, part of me does suppose these two would have been higher suited to one another, even all these years later.
However the cause I even convey this up is that there is nonetheless time, actually, for him to finish up with another person. And this is why.
They’re Not Actually A Main Couple In The Comics, So Who Actually Is aware of?
Once more, I feel Mai is nice, however I actually suppose she wants somebody higher suited to her. The identical goes for Zuko. The comics may make that occur.
With the Avatar: The Final Airbender comics, Mai and Zuko aren’t collectively. That they had this bizarre factor to start with, however it was doomed from the beginning as a result of Mai made no actual effort with the connection, and Zuko (who was already dealing with a ton of stuff from his new place) was additionally choosing fights and jealousy over little issues. They broke up.
There have been hints that they nonetheless have emotions for one another, however I actually do not suppose that they need to be the be-all-end-all. We do know that Zuko has a daughter, Izumi, whom we met in The Legend of Korra, so he received married, however we don’t know to whom. And the comics may find yourself pulling a quick one and giving Zuko another person, somebody we’ve not even met but.
I do not know. I could also be overthinking this. I feel I care concerning the character a lot, and my emotional thoughts simply desires him to be completely happy once I’m studying. And if possibly Mai might be that, I would be alright with that. However for now, part of me can not help however marvel what if?
Perhaps we’ll get extra solutions with the new Earthbending Avatar sequence that is popping out. Or with the movie (every time that releases). Both manner, I am getting within the ATLA temper once more. It is time to take a look at the sequence and binge as soon as extra.