So yeah, I'm going to write about Avatar again--and again I feel like I'm just stating the obvious but nothing excites me more than a story that just stuff really really well so I'm satisfied!
So...Zuko. Oh, what a satisfying story. ::sigh:: Especially having just finished the 7 books taking place in the Potterverse, aka "The Land that Redemption Forgot (but if you earn it our hero may grant you some measure of approval and won't that be wonderful for you)." I was listening to ATLA commentaries the other day, and the creators talked about how they were kind of surprised when fans figured out where Zuko was headed back in the first season. Not that this bothered them, because it wasn't about the surprise but how they got there. (And that alone makes me love them, because what is the obsession people have with surprise at the expense of all else sometimes? If all you've got going for you is the surprise, there's no reason to think about it later.)
Anyway, the creators said how they got all these angry letters when Zuko chose "evil" in CoD, but they felt that was the only choice he could have made at that moment, as he was angry and confused and angry and confused people make bad decisions.
But here's what I love about it, is that it's not just about redemption but maturity...and in fact those two are linked together, which is one of my favorite pairings! I love it when stories show that being a good person is actually smart and intelligent and badass. If Zuko had chosen to side with Aang and Iroh et al. in CoD--well, it still could have worked, but he wouldn't have really switched sides because he would still be confused. His choice there would have been less about him truly choosing the Avatar and more about him choosing one father (Iroh) over the other (Ozai as represented by Azula). He would be doing what Uncle thought was right and also still following along his muddled ideas about fate. If they had done that, I think they would have needed Zuko to waiver and be untrustworthy to the group until they truly finished that part of the arc. They knew he wasn't done changing yet. He was still in the middle. (Iroh was not completely correct—this wasn’t Zuko’s crossroads. He was rushing it.)
I mean, at that point in the series he's admitted that he has these impulses towards protecting or helping Aang and others, that he isn't so sure about the war. But he still isn't sure those aren't just weaknesses that keep him from being a good Fire Nation Prince. Iroh tells him that he's stronger and wiser and freer than he was before, and he's right, but Zuko doesn't see that yet so it’s just Iroh trying to get him to take the path he (Iroh) thinks is best for him. (Zuko’s still operating under that pesky Bad Faith!!) Actually, it's kind of interesting given Iroh's own past and relationship with Zuko that he always avoids the real thing that Zuko's about, which is his father. Azula doesn't--she jumps right in about how if he fights with her he'll have his father's love. That's what even later Zuko admits it was more about for him. I wonder if Iroh just didn't want to go there. Because he can't really say to him: "That stuff you long for as a son? Not gonna happen."
In fact, the whole Iroh/Zuko father/son relationship probably deserves its own post the way it informs that whole relationship and especially Iroh's actions imo, while at the same time Zuko has to work out his dad issues completely on his own with no overt help from Iroh.
The creators just totally hit a personal story kink of mine by not having Zuko switch sides here where he'd be listening to Iroh. He's not just Iroh's successful project. In order to make a strong decision he had to be thinking completely for himself for the first time. So we get that whole section where he returns to the Fire Nation and still feels uneasy and angry. But it takes him a while to really know why. At first he keeps trying to find old reasons for his anger, ones that fit his old child pattern. If he just feels badly for not doing what Iroh wanted he's back to where he was with his father and can lash out at Iroh. Only Iroh refuses to play that role. Zuko’s last scenes before he decides to switch sides play on that even more--he's angry because he's been cut out of the war meeting and sulks that he won't go--that's the sort of thing he was always angry about before. But then it turns out he has been invited and they're waiting for him and he's still not really happy.
He's trying to fit himself back into his old role at court but he's outgrown it. Unfortunately he has not grown to fit the new role he's being offered either. So ultimately, as he tells Sokka in TBR, leaving the Fire Nation isn't that hard because it's the only thing that feels right for who he is. It's hard, but staying would be a lot harder.
Of course, just because he's not just making decisions based on what Iroh thinks doesn't mean Iroh's not still a role model and Zuko can't still imagine what Iroh would say when he's confused. That's another thing I love in the post-DBS Zuko, the way he can't ever be Iroh when he's trying to be (his imitation in WAT and "silver sandwich" blathering in TBR) and yet doesn't notice the times when he actually is being Iroh. When he tries to imitate him he focuses on Iroh's personal quirks of language, using metaphors from the natural world and speaking in abstractions. He sucks at that because that's not how he talks.
But at times when he's just being sincere and passing on his own wisdom gained through experience (which is what Iroh was trying to do) he can be quite the guru! Just in more straightforward language. Like his speech about honor when he approaches the GAang the second time to explain why he wants to join them or his advice to Sokka on what not to base his decisions on in TBR. He isn't aware of it, since he's still speaking in his own straightforward way, but the concepts can still be confusing. He even gets a confused reaction from Sokka in TBR like he might have given to Uncle in the past, but with Sokka's personality ("Is this supposed to be helping?") when he talks about failure.
Zuko's been wonderfully goofier since embracing his Avatar love, since he's not taking himself so seriously and isn't so afraid to show when he's at a loss or make mistakes. But in the moments where he knows what he's doing, he's far more interesting and charismatic than his old, robotic self. Zuko's cool!
So...Zuko. Oh, what a satisfying story. ::sigh:: Especially having just finished the 7 books taking place in the Potterverse, aka "The Land that Redemption Forgot (but if you earn it our hero may grant you some measure of approval and won't that be wonderful for you)." I was listening to ATLA commentaries the other day, and the creators talked about how they were kind of surprised when fans figured out where Zuko was headed back in the first season. Not that this bothered them, because it wasn't about the surprise but how they got there. (And that alone makes me love them, because what is the obsession people have with surprise at the expense of all else sometimes? If all you've got going for you is the surprise, there's no reason to think about it later.)
Anyway, the creators said how they got all these angry letters when Zuko chose "evil" in CoD, but they felt that was the only choice he could have made at that moment, as he was angry and confused and angry and confused people make bad decisions.
But here's what I love about it, is that it's not just about redemption but maturity...and in fact those two are linked together, which is one of my favorite pairings! I love it when stories show that being a good person is actually smart and intelligent and badass. If Zuko had chosen to side with Aang and Iroh et al. in CoD--well, it still could have worked, but he wouldn't have really switched sides because he would still be confused. His choice there would have been less about him truly choosing the Avatar and more about him choosing one father (Iroh) over the other (Ozai as represented by Azula). He would be doing what Uncle thought was right and also still following along his muddled ideas about fate. If they had done that, I think they would have needed Zuko to waiver and be untrustworthy to the group until they truly finished that part of the arc. They knew he wasn't done changing yet. He was still in the middle. (Iroh was not completely correct—this wasn’t Zuko’s crossroads. He was rushing it.)
I mean, at that point in the series he's admitted that he has these impulses towards protecting or helping Aang and others, that he isn't so sure about the war. But he still isn't sure those aren't just weaknesses that keep him from being a good Fire Nation Prince. Iroh tells him that he's stronger and wiser and freer than he was before, and he's right, but Zuko doesn't see that yet so it’s just Iroh trying to get him to take the path he (Iroh) thinks is best for him. (Zuko’s still operating under that pesky Bad Faith!!) Actually, it's kind of interesting given Iroh's own past and relationship with Zuko that he always avoids the real thing that Zuko's about, which is his father. Azula doesn't--she jumps right in about how if he fights with her he'll have his father's love. That's what even later Zuko admits it was more about for him. I wonder if Iroh just didn't want to go there. Because he can't really say to him: "That stuff you long for as a son? Not gonna happen."
In fact, the whole Iroh/Zuko father/son relationship probably deserves its own post the way it informs that whole relationship and especially Iroh's actions imo, while at the same time Zuko has to work out his dad issues completely on his own with no overt help from Iroh.
The creators just totally hit a personal story kink of mine by not having Zuko switch sides here where he'd be listening to Iroh. He's not just Iroh's successful project. In order to make a strong decision he had to be thinking completely for himself for the first time. So we get that whole section where he returns to the Fire Nation and still feels uneasy and angry. But it takes him a while to really know why. At first he keeps trying to find old reasons for his anger, ones that fit his old child pattern. If he just feels badly for not doing what Iroh wanted he's back to where he was with his father and can lash out at Iroh. Only Iroh refuses to play that role. Zuko’s last scenes before he decides to switch sides play on that even more--he's angry because he's been cut out of the war meeting and sulks that he won't go--that's the sort of thing he was always angry about before. But then it turns out he has been invited and they're waiting for him and he's still not really happy.
He's trying to fit himself back into his old role at court but he's outgrown it. Unfortunately he has not grown to fit the new role he's being offered either. So ultimately, as he tells Sokka in TBR, leaving the Fire Nation isn't that hard because it's the only thing that feels right for who he is. It's hard, but staying would be a lot harder.
Of course, just because he's not just making decisions based on what Iroh thinks doesn't mean Iroh's not still a role model and Zuko can't still imagine what Iroh would say when he's confused. That's another thing I love in the post-DBS Zuko, the way he can't ever be Iroh when he's trying to be (his imitation in WAT and "silver sandwich" blathering in TBR) and yet doesn't notice the times when he actually is being Iroh. When he tries to imitate him he focuses on Iroh's personal quirks of language, using metaphors from the natural world and speaking in abstractions. He sucks at that because that's not how he talks.
But at times when he's just being sincere and passing on his own wisdom gained through experience (which is what Iroh was trying to do) he can be quite the guru! Just in more straightforward language. Like his speech about honor when he approaches the GAang the second time to explain why he wants to join them or his advice to Sokka on what not to base his decisions on in TBR. He isn't aware of it, since he's still speaking in his own straightforward way, but the concepts can still be confusing. He even gets a confused reaction from Sokka in TBR like he might have given to Uncle in the past, but with Sokka's personality ("Is this supposed to be helping?") when he talks about failure.
Zuko's been wonderfully goofier since embracing his Avatar love, since he's not taking himself so seriously and isn't so afraid to show when he's at a loss or make mistakes. But in the moments where he knows what he's doing, he's far more interesting and charismatic than his old, robotic self. Zuko's cool!
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I could totally gush with you about Zuko. Just reading this made me happy about him. I love Zuko! I'm so proud of how far he's come. <3
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I really appreciate that they took their time with Zuko's character arc, because shattering ones self-illusions (Bad Faith), is one of the hardest things in life, and it is, as Iroh put it "not a pleasant experience". Most people are still working on it, when they are adults, so it seems believable to me that a teenager can not come to the perfect solutions immediately. It's painful to watch at times, but they pay-off is worth it.
For all I can see why this way is better, I really wanted him to do the right thing.
Of course. And I guess that's the reaction they wanted to incite. I have to agree with them, that, even though, Zuko will only spend half of the season with the gaang, this time is really precious and emotionally rewarding. I think that, despite not being flawless flawless in the execution of individuell episodes, the show is a little masterpiece of story telling. And I love it when people create good and deep stories for children (that can appeal to the child in everyone), because most of modern books for children and adults underestimate their ability to appreciate a story that takes some risks.
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Yes, that seems like the challenge if they're going that way. I definitely think they're going somewhere--she gained independence from Azula and Ty Lee wound up along with her. But of course that doesn't just lead to, "Gee, we're in jail now. I guess Zuko was right!" We know how Zuko came to understand the truth about the FN, but I don't know where Mai will (if she does) get that. Basically where we are now is that Mai loves Zuko and that's what she cares about, even if he's "the guy who dumped" her, she still cares about him. She doesn't yet understand what he's doing, though. And Zuko saw that her love wasn't conditional like his father's--she was there protecting him when he did the "wrong" thing.
And also they have to be careful of it being just everybody vs. Azula quickly. So I have no idea what will happen to Ty Lee and Mai in their current predicament, but I'm thinking something.
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Also, if Mai and Ty Lee get out of jail immediately, after I had to wait, like, 16 episodes to find out what happened to Suki, I'm gonna be pissed.
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I do think that these last episodes are almost a bit too Zuko-centric, though, and I can understand why people would have problems with that, but I like it, because having Zuko slowly bonding with the gaang, especially those who have a negative history with him, shows the importance of Sokka and Katara as individual members of the group.
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About not fitting into his old role: Remember in The Beach, that little clay plate with his child's handprint that he tried to fit his hand into? That scene really stuck with me. Perhaps that was the moment when he started to realize he wasn't going to get his old happy life back because he wasn't the same person anymore.
I like your thoughts on how he's trying to emulate his Uncle, and doing it very badly, but he still has his own wisdom to share. I was taking his role in the recent episodes are mere comic relief, but yeah...it's cool to see Zuko being wisest when he's not trying.
I generally do like redemption stories, although I hadn't even realized HP HAD a redemption story in it. I guess that goes to show it wasn't very good...kudos to Bryke for getting it right.
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ITA that if he'd turned in BR he would have been a Tagalong. It was Iroh who got the GAang there to rescue him and told them he had good in him, and I think if they'd both fought the other kids would still be looking to Iroh as the person making Zuko "good." But he had to go back to the Fire Nation and deal with those issues with his father. I like, too, the way that when he confronted him it was in a calm way. He didn't get hit upside the head with an Azula betrayal or an Ozai betrayal that suddenly showed him he'd been a fool. Azula and Ozai were on their best behavior with him and he was still able to walk away.
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That's a really good point. Having Zuko being an important character doesn't always make it Zuko-centric. FBM was sort of mixed since both Aang and Zuko needed to gain the ability to firebend and learn about the dragons. But BR is really all about Sokka. Sokka can be a leader with him in ways he's not with the rest of the group. (Sokka certainly comes up with plans to follow, but Zuko followed his lead very differently than his sister or Aang would do.) They're actually very equal in the episode with Zuko slipping back and forth between leader, follower and companion. It's a very different dynamic than Sokka has with anyone else, and that was the dynamic needed for Sokka to have this adventure. He's really mostly acting as a good first mate during that episode a lot of the time--giving good advice and support but always having Sokka's own goals in mind--goals that he instinctively understands and respects.
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yeah, I really liked that too :) It's just so much more meaningful that Zuko made his finale choice without any coercion. He was motivated solely by his own conscience.
I remember during the 10 month hiatus, I got into so many arguments for suggesting that Azula was honest in her offer, and that she didn't have some hidden motive to screw Zuko over, like setting him up as a puppet ruler of something like that. People actually got angry at me for suggesting that hey...maybe she actually cares about him in her way.
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I really loved that, and I think Zuko treated Sokka with a respect that the other members of the group did not always show him up to this point. It surprised me a little bit at first, but I liked to watch it. I think being accepted and (positively) challenged by someone of his age could inspire Sokka much more confidence in his own abilities. He really needed that after the invasion, just as much as freeing his dad.
Regarding our other discussion about Jet, I have rewatched the episode in season 1, and in the light of this story, Sokka getting Zuko's respect and being able to prove himself is very rewarding for me as the audience. I think "Jet" was the episode in which I really started to like Sokka as a character, aside from finding him funny.
(Hehe, sorry, for spamming your journal with this discussion, but it's really good to know someone who has not been in this fandom so long. So the topics that may already tire some people, already longer in the fandom, are still fresh.)
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I wonder if the writers were as surprised by their dynamic as we were. As you say, Sokka is a little insecure since the invasion, and was nervous even at the start of it so that Hakoda had to take over the instructions. But there really does seem to be a kind of...freedom that these two give each other because they're the same age yet different enough that they genuinely don't seem to threaten each other. They even start out awkward with each other but once they start to talk become surprisingly confiding and open without being self-conscious immediately. Sokka kind of starts it when he has to confess why he needs to go to the BR, Zuko tells him that he feels like he let his uncle down, Zuko tells Sokka about Mai, Sokka offers his experience with Yue.
It seems so natural when it happens (the episode even starts with Sokka seeking Zuko out and Zuko understanding what he's getting at) but this is a new thing for both of them. Sokka's never had a boy his own age to work with/prove himself against and neither has Zuko. Both have sisters with strong personalities who can be dominating and have failed to really be the leader they want to be. (Sokka isn't the leader of his group despite being the oldest; Zuko never had that kind of control either.) But they also both choose different ways of dealing with their insecurities. Zuko got totally humorless and Sokka was meat and sarcasm guy. But when they're alone it's like they both instinctively give the other one a chance to try out a new personality. Neither of them brings up the other's potentially embarassing past behavior.
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I was most surprised about Sokka leaping from hazing Zuko to asking for his advice in what can only have been a few days. However, I did already think at the end of FBM that the teasing had already a much friendlier note, because the group, including Sokka and Katara, had a first proof that Zuko was really persistent in becoming Aang's firebending teacher.
The conversation in the balloon seemed naturally to me, even though, "that's rough, buddy", still strikes me as not quite like Zuko. I don't know why, however, I think he was a bit at loss for words. I have always wondered and do wonder even more now, how much Iroh told him about what happened in the Spirit Oasis while Zuko was fighting with Zhao. Or even if Iroh didn't tell him, how much he suddenly understood when Sokka told him about Yue, and if this realisation is the reason why he didn't really know what to say. (Or maybe, I'm just overthinking a little plot hole on the side of the writers. ^_^)
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I guess my last comment did hinge on certain things happening-- it's funny how my perspective changes (at least on Zuko) but my actual perception of the character still follows a steady arc. My favorite thing is how I always knew he *would* change, but I still got angry and frustrated with him, even if I knew, I realized if he changed when his uncle wanted him to it would've been too easy. Haha well I don't have a complex rationalization for it like you do (and it makes sense), but I still knew it would be too easy. Even so, it was aggravating, and Zuko in those days he spent at the palace was even more annoying and aggravating, to the point where I questioned whether I liked his type :P 'Cause he's so totally my type of character (I'm a sucker, what can I say), and yet I was like 'just snap out of it already, why are you such a total loser!!' hehe. I think that makes a good story!
Anyway, I so totally loved how his whole personality shifts from annoying-brat-who-takes-himself-uber-seriously to charismatic-guy-who-can-laugh-at-himself. That made me sooooo happy, since it's his taking-himself-too-seriously that was really getting on my nerves and making him seem unlikable. It's also the flaw his sister has, though not as magnified-- self-centeredness, megalomania. It's because she can't see anything but herself, and it was ridiculous to see so much of it in Zuko, 'cause I could always tell he was better than that! And yet no matter what, he was soooo self-centered! Ugh! Y'know? hehe. And then suddenly he released it, like he was holding a fist, and suddenly it was such a relief to be allowed to like the guy he actually IS! That was awesome. His little monologues to himself approach Sokka-level cuteness. Even his voice seems a little different, maybe 'cause he's not angry all the time (man, that gets tiring too). <3<3<3<3 Sokka also gets cuter all the time, but maybe that's just me. The only person who's getting less cute is Katara (she's getting all mature in a motherly way, but then the boys do need it!!).
Anyway, yeah, Zuko's how it's supposed to be done, all the way, totally. <3333 YEAH!! FINALLY! Staying in HP fandom made me ashamed of my redemptionista tendencies, man :O Not cool!!! :D Hahah earn forgiveness. But it isn't about anyone forgiving you, just like it isn't about regaining honor, because who you are is who you are, and that's what it's about. Though making new friends and finding out who your real old friends were, that's a perk. Wasn't it awesome that Mei was loyal? And then the other girl was loyal to Mei? That made me so happy. Even though I'm not sure I like him with Mei long-term, maybe, they're still cute, and anyway I'm glad she showed him good faith since so many people don't. But not as many as Zuko thinks. It's not like he ever thought his sister had good faith towards him, so it's only his dad, and his dad... well, has issues.
And yes, maturity!! SEE! SEE! I always said, ok, I always said that what I really wanted for Draco was for him to Grow Up. And not in a fake 'oh now I see the light' sort of way like 292339039 writers did it, but like, with difficulty and problems and setbacks and... believable steps, etc. Because growing up is HARD. But in the end, 'redemption' for teenagers has gotta be like that. And for adults, it's still like that, because an adult may make mistakes, but he doesn't make really stupid mistakes if he listens to both his heart and his reason, not ego or the childish grudges inside. Snape never really grew up though, so it was all muddled. He listened to his heart in a sort of stilted way. It totally wasn't satisfying at all, at least to me. But anyway, ZUKO! Hehe I'm so happy I can now think 'Zuko' and 'CUTE' in one thought. <3 He just keeps on being cool and admirable since he left. Iroh would be so proud. :D!
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It's like even with intellectually seeing why it's better that he didn't turn in CoD it still just KILLS YOU when he doesn't. WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU IDIOT? But what's great is when he finally does it feels so much more earned (as the creators would say) but more importantly it's solid, like he came to it in his own way, in the way only his warped little Zuko-brain could think. Logic didn't work with him, he had to work it out on the level of Zuzu logic that no one else really understands.
And yes, how cute is he with Aang? It's like this is the guy Aang always hoped he would be. And of course he gets along great with Sokka because underneath all the guys on this show are kind of dorks who are unsure of themselves.
He's so much cuter when he's not, as the creators describe him, "robotic Zuko" like he was in the beginning. He was repressing his entire personality and the real one is so much more interesting. So cool and admirable but only in the most earnest Zuko-ish ways. I can't wait till Iroh meets this guy!!!
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It's such a sad and tragic thing that he was repressing all that silliness, just like a good little boy prince should, I guess. <3 I didn't consciously realize he was being robotic 'cause he was so ANGRY, but I guess he was an angry robot. He certainly didn't have a large repertoire of emotions. Maybe firebenders can be angry in their sleep. THEY PROBABLY CAN <3. I was just thinking about elements and the weird way I love fire/fiery/brooding-angry people (at least in fiction...) and how it's totally like nails on a chalkboard to me in most ways but I can't resist it. In some way all that anger is so... it's almost always somehow naive, or a sort of childish defense. A mature fieryness is oddly steady and earthy-- not quite as attractive; an immature 'adult' fieryness is all aggression and ego and rage (like the one who started the war). When they're on the cusp, though, they've got such a disarming earnestness that no other type has in the same way; earth-type boys are also earnest, but so transparent. Fire boys are pure but also totally deluded and full of, well, hot air, which is pretty much adorable when the mask slips and they sort of toddle around being lost (and angsty & insecure). 'Love me, love me, see how great and awesome I am!' SO CUTE. <3 The whole fire nation attacking 'cause they wanted to prove they were awesome, the best, the mightiest-- it's the same thing writ large. Oh man. It makes me happy to think the height of aggression, if caught and transformed at the right time, can be successfully 'managed' and defused by caring and head-petting (and some butt-kicking for their idiocy of course). This is why I'm a sucker, right there in a nutshell :P Anyway, it's also why the Avatar at the time failed so miserably to defuse the situation; he should've been reassuring and caring, not confrontational and challenging. Ah well :(
'Zuzu logic' is brilliant! That's exactly what he functions on! Although part of the blame goes to Iroh-- all those wise tales and sayings, and they mutate horrifically inside of Zuzu's head in his attempt to make them 'make sense'. Haha the 'destiny' thing is kind of hilarious to me. He really is so earnest. Awww. It's sort of adorable that he's about as earnest as Aang. Even SOKKA is more crafty emotionally, though he wears his heart on his sleeve. HEE!
I feel like he makes Aang feel oddly more confident by acting like he knows what he's doing-- I guess all the others just expect more self-confidence than Aang has, or think it should be obvious (he's the Avatar!) and yet here's someone who knows Aang doesn't have all the answers and yet he believes in him anyway. It's very much a 'dad' energy like I believe someone (you?) said a few comments up :D
I also think Zuzu wants to be responsible for something just as Aang wants to be an eensy bit *less* responsible. It's so cute! I swear, all of them have such interesting dynamics every which way <3.
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And that was the best description of those fire boys. I love how Zuko is obviously the better one because he's so angry and frustrated and confused--and this also makes him not as good a bender. (Though he will of course be a better one now that he's doing it the better way.) I love how even when he's a kid he's in the exact same situation where it's like everybody in his life is constantly frustrating him and hurting him. All his better instincts get put down by his father and his sister. His mom tries to do her part but she doesn't seem to get just how poisonous the other two are. (That's why we love Iroh when Zuko says he knows he should try to get along with his sister and Iroh says, "Oh no, she's crazy. She has to go." What a relief that somebody sees that!)
Haha! I imagining all those Iroh!sayings warping in Zuko's head--the horror! The horror! Sokka is totally more emotionally crafty (Sokka/Zuko=OTP!) Aang is so much like him only he was raised in a better environment for it. Healthy!Zuko would be a scary amount like Aang. "Maybe we could be friends!"
I feel like he makes Aang feel oddly more confident by acting like he knows what he's doing-- I guess all the others just expect more self-confidence than Aang has, or think it should be obvious (he's the Avatar!) and yet here's someone who knows Aang doesn't have all the answers and yet he believes in him anyway. It's very much a 'dad' energy like I believe someone (you?) said a few comments up :D
I also think Zuzu wants to be responsible for something just as Aang wants to be an eensy bit *less* responsible. It's so cute! I swear, all of them have such interesting dynamics every which way <3.
OMG, I never thought of it that well. The way he responds to Aang is so weirdly different than the others. Katara tries to encourage Aang in different ways, but it's like he was just waiting for an incredible compliment like, "You can do it. You're a talented kid." But then he also sometimes can't help but argue with Aang like an older brother, which is fine too. He respects him and that's why he can point out what he thinks are his flaws.
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I think this is especially important with firebending, because in many ways it's the most direct and aggressive discipline, the most directly tied to ego (and Will). While airbending and waterbending is more perception based, more flowy and less cardinal, earth and fire are more about standing ground, confronting, attacking. But while earthbending is a solid unmovable Will (where it's most important to learn to stand), firebending is the Will ascendent, the Will to power, the Will to Be. But the Will to Stand is also important to firebenders; Zuko couldn't move forward before he truly learned where he stood. :D Before that, he was really blowing hot air :>
I think Zuko would always have been more shy than Aang, actually, hahaha. Awww <3. Aang is more... um, airy, in that he naturally gets along with people, too, and Zuko, well, he naturally doesn't :D He sort of needs to be encouraged. He wouldn't *suggest* being friends, but he'd probably go along with it and like, blush <3333333333 This is sort of why I don't love the Zuko/Mai pairing; it's like it's too easy in a way, 'cause basically he needs someone to show him warm emotion, someone to draw him out, and the reason Mai works is because she doesn't challenge him emotionally 'cause she's also limited. Though she's very INTP (hahah just to bring ALL my favorite symbolic systems into play, WHY NOT), in that she *has* strong and pure emotions. But they're like the deaf man and the blind man together, a bit. :> Orrr, maybe just two blind men :>
I think he's the one who wants to play a role with Aang, 'cause of his being mindful being the Prince in regards to the Avatar, besides everything else. Roles are important to Zuko; they're all tied in with his Destiny, HAHAHAH lfakjsflkajsflaksj he's so silly. It's like that scroll about his great-grandfather & the Avatar-- he wants to do it right, and he'll never forget they have that role-driven relationship that needs to be cultivated besides just being friends. All the others are just friends, see. :>
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Here's (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zGGikz5w0q8&feature=related) a really good Zuko character-study type vid with his father <3. And another one (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yUvqaZVci5M) just about him. And one (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RvYwESRMIyA) with lots of Western Air Temple stuff<3.
Here's (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U7erwIj39ys&feature=related) a Zuko+Azula one. :> And this Grease-inspired Zuko+Mai (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=on5BwXh_d_M&feature=related) vid from the beach ep is so awesome even though I don't even particularly like them together. :D Oh and the one with Zuko raging at all three of them (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UTIQySkGsWg&feature=related) is really cute too <3<3
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Oh kudos for them. It is rather obvious from the first couple of episodes where they are going with Zuko. Within moments of meeting him, we're given his motivations for hunting the Avatar - his honour and his father's respect (which is actually love even if he doesn't out and out admit it) & we see he has honour: both in his duel with Captain-turned-Commander-turned-Admiral Jaw (:P) and his honourably keeping his word about not destroying the water tribe village in exchange for Aang. I like the fact that it was built into the story from the beginning (it could so easily have been fanservice to redeem him because he was *cool*) and that the writers saw the fans guessing and we're pleased about it and didn't feel the desperate need to retcon his arc because the fans were too smart.
My hubby was totally ticked off at him after CoD for choosing Azula & his honour & Evil over Iroh. Actually, we both were. But I understood why he did it and it fitted his character arc. Of course, he had a choice. But I don't think it's the obvious choice: fight with Azula/against the Avatar OR fight against Azula/with the Avatar but I don't think that would be correct. I think it was more like: fight with Azula or free Iroh and run. Again. There was nothing in Zuko's conditioning that would ever make him go against his father to the extent of defending the Avatar. He could only have looked the other way - as he more or less did when he freed Aang. And he was tired of running. He had said so already to Iroh. Then there was the magic words: "honour"/"father's love". Azula, who I see as the Palpatine of the story even more than her father, knew exactly what to say to push Zuko's buttons.
Then Zuko comes back home, and nightmares of the Avatar returning and making him out as a fool aside, he finds out that his dream of restored honour/father's love/respect et al was just that: a dream. He had everything he wanted but he didn't want it anymore. Sure, some people don't need to drink poison to know it's bad. But Zuko isn't one of those people. Hubby and I are still arguing over whether that makes Zuko weaker or stronger. On the one hand, it takes great strength of character to, when offered, turn your back on what you've always wanted and do the right thing. On the other hand, it also takes great strength of character to have what you've always wanted, and then turn your back on it and do the right thing.
He certainly is. He's not been the Character to Watch for me - that's Aang, followed by Katara and Sokka* - but he's been a close fourth, enough for me not to even mind chapters like "Zuko Alone" that focus exclusively on him.
*And there I was thinking I'd never find a story again where the main characters are actually flawed and likable. Here's looking at you, Harry P.