#I assume Mai and Ty Lee were largely exposed to the same.

[zuko-always-lies]

The Values that the Fire Nation Adults in “Zuko Alone” Teach the Children

The Fire Nation adults in “Zuko Alone” deliberately and non-deliberately, through actions, words, and examples, extol a complex set of toxic and imperialist values to Zuko and Azula. Foremost in teaching imperialist values is Princess Ursa. In order to understand more about what precisely Zuko and Azula might have soaked in from their environment, I thought it would be useful to go through the episode scene by scene and note which values were being propagated in the setting where they grew up. Much more under the cut.

Exhibit 1

Zuko: Hey mom, want to see how Azula feeds turtle ducks? (He throws the rocks at one of the baby turtle ducks, which disappears beneath the surface of the pool.) Ursa: (shocked) Zuko! (cut to a frontal shot of Zuko, Ursa continues o.c.) Why would you do that? (Cut back to the surface of the pond. The baby turtle duck bobs back up to the surface unhurt; his shell protected him from the rock. The baby blinks and shakes his head as its mother swims into the frame to make sure the baby is okay. Once sure of this, she swerves and attacks Zuko loudly. She jumps out of the pond and bites Zuko's foot. The young Prince yells in pain. Ursa removes the angry turtle duck and drops her back into the pond. She swims away with one final squawk of protest, her babies in tow.) Zuko: Stupid turtle duck, why'd she do that? (Zuko hugs his knees and looks sullen. His mother sits next to him.) Ursa: Zuko, that's what moms are like. (putting her arms around her son) If you mess with their babies, (she makes a biting sound for effect) they'll bite you back. (She hugs Zuko and he laughs.

Values(Extoled by Ursa):

1. Mothers should protect their children.

2. You should be kind to animals.

Exhibit 2

Azula: Mom, can you make Zuko play with us? We need equal teams to play a game. Zuko: (emphatically) I am not cart wheeling. Azula: You won't have to. Cart wheeling's not a game, (under her breath) dumb dumb. Zuko: I don't care. I don't want to play with you. Azula: We are brother and sister. (her voice becoming sickly sweet) It's important for us to spend time together. Don't you think so, mom? Ursa: Yes darling, (to Zuko) I think it's a good idea to play with your sister. Go on now, (she fluffs Zuko's head a few times) just for a little while.

Values(Extoled by Ursa):

1. Brothers and sisters should get along with each other.

Exhibit 3

Iroh: (voice over) If the city is as magnificent as its wall, Ba Sing Se must be something to behold. (cut to a younger Iroh sitting at a desk, flanked by two guards, writing the letter) I hope you all may see it someday, if we don't burn it to the ground first. (He laughs at this, then cut back to a frontal shot of Ursa, the letter scroll spread open in the foreground, with Zuko and Azula on either side. They laugh with Iroh at this comment.) Ursa: (reading the letter) "Until then, enjoy these gifts. For Zuko, (cut to Zuko running over and picking up a dagger offered by a servant on some sort of tray) a pearl dagger from the general who surrendered when we broke through the outer wall. Note the inscription (Zuko unsheathes the dagger) and the superior craftsmanship." Zuko: (reading the inscription) "Never give up without a fight." (The shot pans right to show Azula standing in front of another servant. He offers her something on a tray.) Ursa: "And for Azula, a new friend. She wears the latest fashion for Earth Kingdom girls." (As Ursa speaks, Azula picks up a doll wearing Earth Kingdom green. The Princess makes a face of disgust.) Azula: If Uncle doesn't make it back from war, then dad would be next in line to be Fire Lord, wouldn't he? (In the background, Zuko runs around practicing with his new dagger.) Ursa: (disappointed) Azula, we don't speak that way. It would be awful if Uncle Iroh didn't return. And besides, Fire Lord Azulon is a picture of health. Zuko: How would you like it if cousin Lu Ten wanted dad to die? Azula: I still think our dad would make a much better Fire Lord than (looking at the doll with disdain) his royal tea loving kookiness.

Values:

1(Ursa+Iroh). Imperialism is a good thing(the whole gifts thing in particular is a huge exercise in that).

2 (Ursa+Iroh). The idea of burning to death large numbers of “inferiors”(Earth Kingdom civilians) is hilarious.

3 (Ursa). You should show the utmost respect to the Firelord, the line of succession, and your older relatives.

Exhibit 4

Ursa: Your father has requested an audience with Fire Lord Azulon. Best clothes, hurry up. Azula: (mocking) Fire Lord Azulon. Can't you just call him "Grandfather"? He's not exactly the powerful Fire Lord he used to be. Someone will probably end up talking his place soon. Ursa: (crossly) Young lady! Not, another, word. (Azula runs past) What is wrong with that child?

Values(Ursa):

1. You should show the utmost respect to the Firelord.

Exhibit 5

Ozai: And how was it Great Grandfather Sozin managed to win the battle of Han Tui? Zuko: Great Grandfather won, because... (struggling) Azula: Because even though his army was outnumbered, he cleverly calculated his advantages. The enemy was downwind and there was a drought. Their defenses burned to a crisp in minutes. Ozai: Correct my dear. Now, won't you show Grandfather the new moves you demonstrated to me? (Azula stands and performs a series of firebending moves. A shot of Ozai's lower face shows his stony countenance turn to a slight smile at his daughter's performance. Zuko looks on, an uncertain expression on his face.) Ozai: She's a true prodigy. Just like her Grandfather for whom she's named. (Azula sits back down next to Zuko.) Azula: (whispering to Zuko) You'll never catch up. (Stung, Zuko gets up and addresses the Fire Lord.) Zuko: I'd like to demonstrate what I've been learning. (Cut back to Ozai's face, which turns rapidly to a frown. Zuko tries to run through some of the same moves as Azula but with evidently less skill. After a few moments, he chokes on the routine and falls on his backside. He recovers and finishes the routine as his mother looks on in concern. Azula looks on her brother's failure with glee. Ursa rushes over to him.) Zuko: (dejected) I failed. Ursa: No, I loved watching you. That's who you are Zuko. (cut to Zuko looking up at his mother with wide eyes) Someone who keeps fighting even though it's hard.

Values(Ozai):

1. Knowledge of battle strategies and the Fire Nation’s past conquests is very important.

2. Firebending prowess is incredibly important.

Values(Ursa):

1. You should not give up and keep trying at something, even when you are bad at it.

2. The firstborn son is more valuable for trying and failing than the second-born daughter is for succeeding.

3. You should continue trying to meet the toxic expectations of the court/your father.

Exhibit 6:

Azulon: Say what it is you want. Ozai: Father, revoke Iroh's birthright. I am your humble servant, here to serve you and our nation. Use me. Azulon: (leaning forward and pointing a finger at Ozai, who now kneels before him) You dare suggest I betray Iroh? My first born? (the fire in the trenches rises up into the frame from below, mirroring the Fire Lord's anger) Directly after the demise of his only beloved son? I think Iroh has suffered enough. But you, your punishment has scarcely begun!

and

Azula: Fine, don't believe me, but I heard everything. Grandfather said dad's punishment should fit his crime. (imitating Azulon) "You must know the pain of losing a first born son, by sacrificing your own!"

Values(Ozai):

1. Duty to the Nation and to the Firelord is of the utmost importance.

Values(Azulon):

1. Firstborn sons are more important than other children.

2. Extraordinarily harsh punishments for transgressions(particularly for failing to respect the line of succession) are normal.

Exhibit 7

Ursa: Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I've done, (she hugs him) I've done to protect you. Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are.

Values(Ursa):

1. Mothers should protect their children.

2. Remain true to yourself.

Exhibit 8

Fire Sage: (voice over at first) Azulon, Fire Lord to our nation for 23 years. You were our fearless (cut to a shot tilting up showing the Fire Sage with Azulon's gold sarcophagus behind him) leader in the battle of Gar Sai. Our matchless conqueror of the Hu Sin provinces. You were father of Iroh. Father of Ozai. Husband of Ila, now passed. Grandfather of Lu Ten, now passed. Grandfather of Zuko and Azula.

Values:

1. Imperial conquest is a good thing.

Thus, by examining this episode scene by scene, we can gain an understanding of how the Fire siblings grew up in an environment where toxic and imperialist values were standard and propagated by every adult. This goes a long way to explaining their later behavior and decisions.