#azula is a colonizing imperialist

[justanotherthrowaway1950]

He would have rejected the result and gone after Azula again with Katara's help, and it would have been the right and honorable thing to do. In order for the war to end with as little bloodshed as possible, Ozai and Azula had to be removed from power. Hence, why Iroh told Zuko to confront Azula with Katara during Sozin's Comet. And hence, why Zuko agreed to an Agni Kai with Azula after he sussed out she was far from her A-game; him defeating her in an Agni Kai would give his regime much needed legitimacy in the eyes of his people.

Also, Azula was a leading agent and second-in-command of a genocidal, colonizing empire, and would have continued helping Ozai waging the war if she ascended to the throne. A key part of Zuko's arc is learning and internalizing that the Hundred Year War-era Fire Nation's morals and sense of honor are all wrong. So, Zuko playing fair, instead of doing everything in his power to remove her from power, would have been immoral, highly dishonorable, and a disservice to his character.

Would Zuko have honored the result if Azula had clearly and unambiguously beat him in the Final Agni Kai?

Agni Kai's are fought until one contestant burns or kills the other. That raises the question. What if Azula's day was going a little better during Sozin's Comet, and she clearly, unambiguously, and completely fairly overpowered or outskilled Zuko and burned him without killing him? And then told him to accept the result?

Would Zuko have accepted the result? Would he have gone up to Katara and said "well, Azula won the duel and now I have to accept she's Firelord. We lost. Time to go home." Or would he have rejected this result and gone after Azula again, likely with Katara's help? After losing the duel, would he have tried again but this time with no pesky rules getting in his way?

Please reblog for more votes! And put your thoughts in the tags, if you have any.

[junotter]

sometimes researching for avatar redesigns has you 6 layers deep into the Japan's Meiji era allies wiki

[soosth]

AANG ＆ OZAI PARALLELS: DEBUNKED

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Because apparently the true villain is the sole survivor of a genocide of his entire nation, and not the imperialist colonizer.

Where do I even begin?? Because I’m genuinely holding in laughter writing this, it’s absolutely insane how certain people can make such egregious parallels that aren’t even found in the first place. 

AH, so a little backstory on how this fucking shit stained idea even came to existence, well our dear z^tara fans pissed their pants over Zuko and Katara not tying the knot, so, as a way of retribution for their supposed “honour” They take any chance to jump on the Aang hate train and make him into some irredeemable abusive demon, aaand they got that perfect opportunity because the LoK decided to take a lick out of the great “Main Characters Must Be Bad Parents In The Sequels” Trope. Which personally, does absolutely nothing to the protagonists resolution aside from cheap family drama but I digress. 

Now, I’m not behind the idea of the writers trying to make Aang a “flawed” Parent, I think it really makes no sense by how they went about it, (I might touch on this in another post) 

((And it’s so very clear that they’re trying to give it a soft “retcon” And even taking extra steps saying that Kya and Bumi just “remember wrong” Which I’ll actually take, because season two of LOK was hell on earth anyway so you might as well give it some saving grace.)) 

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There’s three main parallels that they got from Ozai and Aang: (god help me)

Favouring a child

isolating the rest

leaving pressure On the golden child

I’m going to debunk all three of them while trying not to fall into complete lunacy over how ridiculous they are. 

Favouring a child + Leaving pressure: 

OK, so people are clearly blind with context clues and media comprehension, got it. No surprise whatsoever. I can’t be disappointed if I didn’t even have any expectations to begin with. 

Let’s compare the treatment on how Ozai treats Azula, and how Aang treats Tenzin. (Holy Shit)

Beginning with Ozai, well.. It doesn’t take much of a rocket scientist to understand that Ozai essentially could not give two fucks about Azula, as she in essence, serves the role of an attack dog, as long as it does its job, it’s worthy. 

Ozai favoured Azula because she was molded to match his ferocity and hunger for power, she was a prodigy bender, and was cunning and calculated, all traits that Ozai found endearing and someone worthy to be crowned the next “fire lord.” His “favouring” Of her didn’t come out of genuine love or care, she is his tool who serves a purpose. In short, she showed more competency and more ruthlessness and callousness in comparison to Zuko. Which earned her, her place as the “Golden Child.”  

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None of this is even remotely similar to how Aang treated Tenzin and his kids, aside from the fact he supposedly “favoured” Tenzin more, but that is such a baseline statement and has absolutely no relation with Ozai's reasons.

You have to understand that an entire FUCKING NATION IS DEAD. History, Culture, Tradition, is at the BRINK of being wiped out, Tenzin is quite literally the only Airbender that will be left after Aangs passing. Why do people devalue this concept so much? 

“B-BUT THE AIR ACOLYTES1!!” Still have limited knowledge, airbending is so heavily tied to its spiritual roots, you LOSE your ability to AIRBEND, if you aren't inclined to your spiritual side. Which is a core part of the air nomad culture. Tenzin is... Literally the only god forsaken part left of that, so yeah. It’s a pretty big fucking deal. Aang values his culture and teachings to such a high degree, he is literally the survivor of a genocide. His favouring of Tenzin was done out of necessity and love, not out of a need for power and a new attack dog to send orders around. 

Tenzin will literally be the future “Director” Or guide for the next avatar to learn airbending, people still forget this, and it’s hilarious. He needs to know all the moves, all the teachings because he will be the next avatar's personal guide. 

Aang constantly reassures him, and apologizes for the pressure that may be put upon him but he always reaffirms that he’ll be there to guide him and they’ll “learn together”

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So yeah not the same thing at all. Fuck you for being so inept at understanding the different reasons and perspectives of those situations, just for some petty ship discourse, genuinely disgusting.

Isolating the children:

OK this part, I have to say that the writers definitely messed up with aangs characterization, but I think the execution came out way differently than the intention, so I will try to look more into the intention of each decision.

Ozai isolated Zuko, mistreated him, belittled him, PHYSICALLY ABUSED HIM, but yeah totally on par with Aang actually. 

I don’t wanna touch on this part much mainly because his treatment was literally explained all throughout the show, and granted, while I understand most of these people haven’t touched the show aside from reading fanfic 300000 Where Aang is revealed to us as satan himself, but perhaps, even a small peak at Ozai's parenting would reveal the laughable contrast between the two.

Zuko was a slow learner, and much more of a softie, and a “mama's boy” To Ozai’s heavy dislike, he was thus treated as such, he was belittled, turned down, and literally burnt alive for showing “weakness” He is meant to serve as a direct contrast to Azula, ”The everything he isn't.” 

Kya and Bumi on the other hand, don’t show any actual signs of trauma aside from some petty jabs they threw at Tenzin, 

Bumis talk with Aang at the statue was *very very* Clearly, meant to highlight his own inferiority complex that he internalized growing up. His need for proving himself to be capable of doing just as much if not more than a “bender” Probably happened because his two parents were both prodigy benders and him being a first born son who was a non-bender must’ve hit pretty hard for him, and I’m so sure that katara and Aang reassured how special he is but that kind of thing doesn’t really go away.

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Kya: [while healing Bumi] I told you those rocks were slippery. You're lucky you didn't kill yourself.

Bumi: You done with the lecture, mom?

Kya: Oh, grow up. You haven't changed one bit since we were kids. You're still trying to prove you can do everything a bender can. Well, you can't. Deal with it.

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 That talk with Aangs statue was very much meant to unveil an internal struggle rather than a conflict he had with his father. Kya even doubles down on this, telling him “of course he’d be proud of you” Basically spoon feeding to us, the viewers, that this is much more of internal than an external conflict that he has to overcome along the show. 

“Why Didn’t he share his culture with them 1!!1!” 

He most definitely did, or tried to, but it’s clear they didn’t show much interest so he didn’t pester, this is shown many times throughout the show. 

“You know I could never keep all those gurus straight… There were like a million of them!

remember that long boring story about the guy who never ate?”

This is literally Kya’s remark to Tenzin just after he tried teaching the airbender students this story, basically telling us that Aang DID try to tell them about his stories and culture, but much to their disinterest, didn’t try any further. 

And Bumi, literally could not pay attention to the story to save his life, and instead decided to fool around in his literal 60’s!! I mean Imagine what he was like when he was a kid!! 

I could imagine their dynamic was very similar to Jinora with Meelo and Ikki, Tenzin being the only one with actual interest and care, whilst Bumi and Kya goofing off and not putting much focus onto it. WHICH IS FINE BTW!! 

It only goes to reiterate that Tenzin was the only one who was actually giving interest and attention to the air nomad culture, and it was of Kya and Bumi’s own personal choice to not partake in it. To each their own I see. 

“BUT WHAT ABOUT THE VACATIONS” 

This.. I agree, weird for the writers to decide this, but given how they low-key are retconning it in interviews, my best guess is that each of those trips were side-quests during their journey to teach an important lesson that might’ve just drowned out because Tenzin may not have remembered it as well. 

Also keep in mind that Tenzin was put into a lot of pressure, Aang probably saw this, and as a way to still keep it enjoyable, he took him to trips that would help ease the mind for a little kid whilst also learning something valuable. That seems pretty on brand for Aang actually

And given that Kya and Bumi are literally in their fucking 60’s it wouldn’t surprised me if they didn’t have the greatest memory. Hell, they didn’t even fault Aang as a parent until Tenzin started boasting about “trips” That Kya and Bumi gave petty jabs but weren’t actually showing genuine hurt, just annoyance.

Kya even comments how Aang was too busy “Trying to save the world, and doing his duty that he didn't have much time for them” 

Phrasing as if it wasn't anything "important" But it's clear that this was Kya's own personal irritation towards Tenzin rather than an actual evaluation on Aang's duties.

A continuation comic best explains it in a deeper way:

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Literally showing that “neglecting” His kids wasn't up to him, and was out of a sense of necessity, trying to cram as much knowledge onto Tenzin, the only one who was basically putting his lessons into practices. Kya and Bumi were left feeling neglected. But that wasn’t out of his decision; he still loved them dearly.

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This. Literally highlighting how much pressure was forced upon Aang, so yes, as any person would, he struggled with making time for everybody. Holy shit who knew?? 

GASP!! IS THAT… A REALISTIC BUT UNDERSTANDABLE FLAW!!?? HOW DARE YOU! ITS OZAI #2 

The fact that the smiley energetic person forgets to SMILE, is a big deal, man was put through hells amount of stress but he never cracked.

So tell me, how is a genocidal freak, who treats his golden child like a tool and abuses the other both physically and emotionally for showing “weakness’ 

Even remotely comparable to

 the sole survivor of a genocide, trying to withhold his teachings and culture onto literally his only child that showed actual effort in doing so, while also maintaining the balance of an entire fucking world and being literally the biggest “advisor” And “Mentor” For society, OH! And also building and managing a literal city, but along the way struggling to make time for his children. 

Guess what, they’re not. And if you think they are. You are an idiot, with bias and headcanons.

So the conclusion is, Aang is a flawed parent, but he isn't a "bad" Parent - confirmed by the literal writers.

Comparing him to Ozai a literal dictator, is absolutely sickening, just for your petty shipping discourse when this show's been over for a decade is insane. Indulge in what you enjoy, but stop projecting delusions like they're canon.

:D

[phoenix-king-ozai]

Short Review of NATLA!

The main cast cooked! All the characters were very good. However, Zhao, Aang, Sokka, Katara killed it in the finale! Iroh, Ozai, Zuko, and Azula were amazing! I'm actually proud Azula stood up to Ozai and Ozai was proud of Azula as well. That was another test. A dragon is not a slave. Not even to the Fire Lord. Azula has to prove and stand up for herself. Along with having the power to back it up as well! I’m just extremely glad that the showrunners know the character’s motivations and personal heritage of Sozin’s imperialistic legacy caused Ozai and Azula’s ideology. Due to the Fire Nation's imperialism through conquest and colonization. Which is inspired by real-life influences from Imperial Japan and the Mongol Empire.

I glad that despite Zuko fighting back in the Agni Kai in Episode 6: Mask of NATLA. That the showrunners stayed true to the characters: Ozai and Zuko along with the themes of the Agni Kai. I’m also glad that they didn't make Ozai have a favored child. Ozai wants Zuko and Azula to both prove themselves. Ozai doesn't favor Zuko or Azula. It is about which child will succeed Sozin, Azulon, and his legacy as future Fire Lord. In fact, Ozai doesn't want Zuko or Azula to think that they are the “favorite” child. He wants Azula and Zuko to improve through competition. Because of “steel sharpen steel” mentality. Ozai has the mentality of an imperialist warlord. I think Ozai, Zuko, Iroh and Azula’s characterization were well done and faithful! General Iroh being confronted by an Earth Kingdom soldier that lost his brother over the Seige of Ba Sing Se and tied to his grief of Lu Ten’s death was amazing. I was also very happy with how they dealt with Koh and Gyatso. The Mother of Faces reference was pretty cool and Gyatso and Aang bonding and reconciliation with the air nomad genocide not being Aang's fault or burden was very important change to the plot from the original series. Another amazing change was Zuko’s crew being 41st division and that Zuko’s sacrifice saved their lives! OUR PRINCE HAS RETURNED! 🔥💯

Personally, the series is 10/10 for me. However, realistically given some minor flaws and shortcomings regarding the exposition dialogue and inexperience of the young actors and actresses coming into these roles along with some questionable changing decisions. 8.5-9.5 out of 10 is a fair rating.

Phenomenal adaptation with a lot of love, passion, respect and care for the soul of the source material!🔥⚡️💯

[justanotherthrowaway1950]

So what do you think caused Azula to make the massive improvements in bending (ex. smokebending, instant lightning, AOE lightning, etc.), and fighting in general, that she did after losing the Final Agni Kai?

Because Azula is still a racist, chauvinistic, imperialist who still believes in what her father thought her, even if she no longer loyal to him. Yet she leaps past everyone save for sprit fusions like the Avatars, the 24/7 bloodbenders, and (maybe) Katara and Toph?

So how does this fit into your analysis?

Another thing I've been seeing more and more of that just isn't supported by the actual show is the idea that Zuko needs to "realize" that Azula worked hard to get where she is, and not only is this victim blaming because it ignores how both Ozai and Azula treated Zuko as a scapegoat, it's also simply not true.

Zuko is the one in the text who believes in working hard, while Azula believes in superiority through inherent ability.

I often see people quoting Zuko's line about how everything came easy to Azula and their father said she was born lucky as evidence of Zuko's "jealousy" of Azula's hard work and skill, and how he needs to realize how much pressure she was under, but those people are forgetting what Zuko says right after that.

I don't need luck, though. I don't want it. I've always had to struggle and fight, and that's made me strong. That's made me who I am.

Zuko rejects the belief Ozai tried to enforce about being born lucky. He of course still struggles with it, because he's a kid and being told repeatedly by adults that you are inherently worthless is a hard thing to combat without internalizing. Zuko struggles with assuming that he can't generate lightning because it blows up in his face, "like everything always does." Throughout his journey, he learns to embrace working hard, learning and growing to overcome those mental blocks.

But to say that Azula, in comparison, has a better understanding of hard work is just wrong. What Zuko says about struggling and fighting actually is similar to what Azula says about Long Feng.

I can see your whole history in your eyes. You were born with nothing, so you've had to struggle, and connive, and claw your way to power. But true power, the divine right to rule, is something you're born with.

Azula ultimately disdains the idea of having to struggle to achieve things, and says that true power is something you are born with.

This isn't just an Azula vs Zuko thing, this is a major theme of the story and part of what leads to Azula's ultimate downfall. While Zuko works hard and grows not just in ability but his worldview, adapting and becoming a better person in the process, Azula's worldview narrows in her need to prove her own inherent perfection, which causes her to become more myopic and end up alone.

From the beginning of the story, we see Azula trying to get others to bend to her, even trying to argue against the very tides themselves because of her unwillingness to believe in anything less than her own inherent right. This is also similar to the way other Fire Nation characters show a myopic view of the world that leads them towards megalomania, like Zhao attempting to destroy the moon in pursuit of his own greatness. Both he and Azula think they can defy nature because of their own need to prove themselves powerful. Zuko tries this, too, in "The Storm," and learns one of many lessons about humility and working with others. Azula fails to learn these lessons.

So it's not Zuko who needs to learn this by the end of the series, and especially not from Azula.

I think it's also telling that these people never talk about how much pressure Zuko was under to try and prove he wasn't worthless, and I think that's because by the end, Zuko has realized his own worth, but Azula is still desperately trying to cling to the belief in her own superiority. She's the only one who can relieve that pressure she's putting on herself because she can't let go of the idea that she's not better than other people, and it is not on the people she hurt to try and make her feel better about herself, when she still thinks she's superior to them.

Moreover, I find it very hard to believe that post series Azula would even accept any offer of sympathy from Zuko. This is another example of something Zuko learned in the series that Azula did not, as Iroh says. Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. Azula's belief in her own superiority is, of course, a coping mechanism as a result of very low self-esteem, but she needs to figure out how to deal with that in a way that isn't hurting others. What she doesn't need is constant validation from people she victimized and reinforcement of the same toxic beliefs.

[juniperhillpatient]

another thing that’s not exactly new from me but — there is simply NO valid (imo) argument that Azula does not work very hard to bring Zuko home with his honor. capturing him as a prisoner would have been quite simple & the audience has no reason to doubt she would do so without hesitation. yet she convinces him that coming home a hero is his redemption. why? the argument that she needs a scapegoat holds no water given - again - she could have used Zuko for that from the start. (that’s given you even belive she KNOWS Aang is alive before the later giveaways from Zuko but we’re not quite there yet)

Azula held all the cards & she chose to give Zuko the opportunity to come home & regain his place as heir to the throne.

and this is NOT an argument that Azuls is secretly heroic or altruistic. I think Azula believes firmly in Fire Nation traditions. I think were Zuko to become heir to the throne & even Firelord eventually - she would gladly serve him & continue to violently colonize the world. Azula believes in her nation’s supremacy & she is an imperialist. this is why she’s a villain - because she was raised with evil beliefs & never given an opportunity to question them & thus reinforces those violent beliefs without question or hesitation. She is also precise & talented in battle & diplomacy making her a dangerous enemy for our heroes.

I do think family is very important to Azula & that Zuko - along with Mai & Ty Lee - is one of the people she remembers regarding as a peer & friend in her childhood & that she wants him home & be by her side not imprisoned. this has always been & continues to be a hill I will die on.

[paragonrobits]

i have to admit one of the most genuinely unsettling developments in fandom recently has been fans reading a book where Gyatso muses about spreading their teachings to other nations and immediately assuming they mean in exactly the same way as colonial proselyting rather than simply... well, spreading their teachings without it being the same thing as imposing their culture on others

and, for that matter, saying that Gyatso is as bad as Sozin for thinking that inspiring others to embrace pacifism would be a good idea.

That Gyatso is as bad as Sozin.

That a wise monk is as bad as the genocidal warmonger and conquering imperialist who wiped out Gyatso's people and began a hundred year war of conquest and cultural destruction.

That Gyatso was as bad as the person who outright genocided Gyatso's people. And the worst part about it is that this seems to be largely a negative response from people in fandom who are getting very quick to excuse the Fire Nation as not 'really' being fascist or colonizing or demonize the Air Nomads (again, the civilization of pacifist monks that were genocided to such a degree that its the whole reason the original series is called 'The Last Airbender', because the others are all dead) or accuse the Air Nomads as deserving to be wiped out, or conclude that teaching others if they are receptive to it is the same thing as explicitly stamping out cultural practices and ways of life (which, again, the Fire Nation is explicitly doing), or insisting that the Air Nomads are outright racist while claiming the Fire Nation is neither racist or classist (despite a standard insult from Zuko and Azula at their most antagonistic is constantly demeaning Katara or Sokka as 'peasants', or other Fire Nation characters referring to the Water Tribes as 'barbarians' and 'savages', or referring to Earthbending in equally demeaning terms)

Its largely from parts of fandom that has been increasingly growing more insular and saying things like this for a while, growing defensive of the Fire Nation (my guess is because they're often based in shipping arguments that have increasingly come to focus on their cultures and were already favoring the Fire Nation for its sense of power and luxury, which is constantly emphasized in the most common ship dynamics by some groups), and I think that its just kept escalating until we're now at the position where you're getting people saying "the Fire Nation was right to genocide the Air Nomads' and its horrifying to hear, but also unsurprising. Some of these particularly extreme aspects of fandom have already been in this base for a while.

It's unsettling to see them mask off so violently, but its not surprising. Acting like Gyatso is more evil than the genocidal warmonger who winds up killing him because of his dislike for the Fire Nation's racist views (established in other stuff as far predating the Hundred Year War, and leading up to it) and contemplating teaching people in other nations is exactly the same thing as coercive missionaries with colonial intentions.

It's honestly come full circle from the canon of the series being that the Air Nomads were a tragic first victim of the Fire Nation's war and Aang, their last survivor, must end that war, to these outspoken fandom people insisting the Fire Nation did nothing wrong, that they were justified in burning all the Air Nomads alive, and that Aang is the true villain of the setting, largely because of dislike of him from shipping purposes or being angry that the series didn't abruptly detour at the last second into a 'killing everyone who gets in your way is moral and never has long-term consequences' story that is antithetical to the series' big emphasis on harmony, long-term consequences, and that doing things spiritually is more important than getting them done quicker.

[justanotherthrowaway1950]

But you don't understand, the fact that she raised to the perfect weapon for a genocidal, colonizing, imperialist absolute monarchy and suffered from emotional neglect means that she has no agency, and thus is totally absolved of all wrongdoing, both in her personal life and in her capacity as a princess of the Fire Nation./s

In fact, you suggesting that she did anything wrong other than lose and trust the wrong people, let alone suggest that she has to pro-actively unlearn what she taught growing up and make amends if she wants to have the happy life she is entitled too, is abuse apologia./s

My condolences to the azula stans on account of literally every character similar to azula is better written than she is

[atla-confessions]

Firelord Zuko really attacked and manhandled the gaang just so Zuko could defend the imperialist presence of the Fire Nation in its colonies and people will still get mad if you say that he was ever at any point in the story a colonizer. That doesn't even touch him actively helping Azula colonize Ba Sing Se or him going around on his Fire Nation fleet to exert their soft power and hard power over war-torn villages to aid in his goal of getting rid of a threat to Fire Nation rule.

And then there are also people who get mad if you say that Iroh is a war criminal? He doesn't care when Zuko assaults civilians in the series and that's post Iroh chilling out and being redeemed because his son got got, so can you imagine how callous Iroh was about civilian casualties back when he was earning his titles as Dragon of the West?

X

[the-badger-mole]

I like thinking about a role reversal, with Zuko on the right side from the start and Katara needing to switch sides. Some people don't like setting up the SWT as the bad guys, though. Any thoughts you could share on Sokka and Katara as the Fire Nation prince and princess and Zuko and Azula as SWT peasants?

It's not for me. I usually don't like saying never, but I'm never going to write this. I also have a lot of hesitation about setting up the Native coded characters up as the bad guys in place of the ones coded as historically imperialist colonizers. That said, White Man's Burden is a movie that exists, so you're not alone in wanting to see those kinds of "what if" stories. If that's the story you want, I encourage you to write it. I know there's an AU fan comic floating around with that premise. I've only read a few pages, but it looks interesting, and you might like it. I can't remember the name, but I'm sure someone knows what I'm talking about.

[justanotherthrowaway1950]

Yeah, like even though there are reasons explaining her behavior and actions towards others, it doesn't change the fact that she is at the end of ATLA an imperialist, colonizer and conqueror who at best was ok with genocide and at best had a toxic relationship with her brother and friends on top of being more than willing to kill and/or jail them if they got in the way of Ozai's regime'.

And it isn't change the fact that by the end of the comics (if you take the comics to be canon) that she is also complicit in the torture of prisoners, attempted to kill her mother, and is a child-kidnapping domestic terrorist.

Like yeah Azula isn't some born evil, irredeemable monster who cares for no one.

Moreover, it is true that she was a child solider and general groomed and indoctrinated into what she became and that no one cared enough and/or was powerful enough able to stop said grooming and indoctrination.

And it most definitely sucks that she hasn't been give a real shot to heal and atone on top of the constant demonization she faces.

But it does a disservice to Azula's character to downplay her flaws/bad traits in favor of a, as of current canon, hypothetical redeemed Azula since at that point we we are no longer talking about the same character, but instead what people think she should/could be.

A big problem with the Azula discourse on this site is that so many of you seem to have confused your version of a redeemed Azula with the real Azula.

[mdccanon]

Zuko and Pink Diamond are functionally identical, so its just a matter of sentimentality for if you recognize one as an imperialist and the other as "an abuse victim": A rant about Lily from Glass of Water

Lily has a lot of great points behind why she wants abuse victims written the way she does literally up until she starts using logic like "Because ONLY 30% of abuse victims become abusers, NO fiction should portray that." That's... not how math works, Lily. Because it even brings up the idea of who gets the privilege of being labeled a past victim. She doesn't want Zuko to be called a villain going through a redemption arc basically BECAUSE he went through a successful redemption arc. She wants HIM to be called the victim... Even though he was just as willing to kill, kidnap, and destroy as Azula before his redemption arc began. They were raised by the same father, they had the same influences. Zuko was treated as the black sheep for caring about Fire Nation soldiers. Hell, the story is written acknowledging that Iroh had to go realize the flaws of his people and past, too.

It's just that, unlike with Shadow Weaver and Catra, the show never glamorized or zoomed in on Iroh and Zuko's crimes because they knew they wanted them to become good guys; so Zhao is introduced almost immediately to siphon off our animosity towards the villains. How mad can we be at Zuko burning down Suki's town when he's being bullied, too? lol. A cheap but effective trick. One that people don't have to fall for. There are people (especially people of color) who feel that it doesn't matter how sad a backstory an imperialist has, a colonizer is still a colonizer and ending the show with his apologist, reactionary monarchy government turning the colonies into their own republic is still coddling imperialism. Lily is so stuck on Zuko being a Good Imperialist that she won't even acknowledge that he needs a redemption arc to GET to that position! So, to justify her lowered standards, she points to White Diamond on Steven Universe and begs people to hate that the Bad Imperialist... ... ... continued to be a villain until the very end and was reduced to everyone's embarrassingly racist grandma? What is she mad about, then? That Steven Universe uses some wish fulfillment that if you have a couple of conversations with your racist and sexist relatives, you can get them to at least stop harassing you. "I don't need you to respect me, but I hope one day you want to re-join this party we are having here, when you change your mind." Lily is PISSED off at that -- again because -- that DOES work on a large number of people, but since it doesn't work on ALL annoying relatives or alt-Right people, they shouldn't show it in fiction at all. She goes out of her way to pinpoint exactly why it works: your cousin spouting Facebook memes has no real commitment to the ideas he's repeating. Only dedicated political activists need more than a stern talking to for changing their minds. Okay then. Lily, these are CARTOONS. 90% of the people in the lives of the CHILDREN and families watching Avatar The Last Airbender, She-Ra, and Steven Universe are just spouting memes they saw on Facebook. Why are you asking cartoons to give advice on how to deal with Ben Shapiro?!

Lily even gets mad about Greg's cousin Andy. I'm sorry, allegory aside, I didn't realize that its illegal for Greg's family to be angry with him for disappearing for 20 years. Ya remember that he was just a little punk rock wannabe who hated his suburban family, right? And how DARE Andy be confused and angry that Greg 1) had a kid and never told the family and 2) had a kid with an alien. I'm sorry, how much of a bigot can we call Andy for being confused about a childbirth with a 100% chance of killing the mother? But since Andy is supposed to represent your Republican-voting uncle, he isn't even allowed to have a point when all he was upset about was that he's taking care of the elderly family members all by himself because Greg ran away. Nope, he's not allowed ANY personality. And even though his only redemption was that he wanted to know his cousin, Steven, this is treated as some pie-in-the-sky unrealistic wish fulfillment and the writers didn't punish him enough because... ... ... I'm sorry, what does Andy owe to his cousin's dead wife's old subordinates? He should apologize that he cares as little about Gems as they do about him? Lily is more upset that the show is "selling" their queer fans the idea that going no contact with relatives actually does hurt their feelings than she cares about actual human-Gem relations.

So, on one hand, you have Lily hating a show because Steven saves the galaxy by telling a sisterhood that their dysfunctional family drove their sister-daughter to suicide - and that's a bad show because that sisterhood are colonizing, genociding imperialists, so why should Lily care that they realize the error of their ways through how they've damaged themselves? (Why should we care if white people hurt themselves when they are racist against people of color; why should we care that men hurt themselves when they are sexist against women, why should heteronormative people care that their toxic views on sex, gender, and orientation hurt themselves as much as queer people?) On the other hand, Lily refuses to call the crown prince of a colonizing, genociding imperialist royal family a "villain" because he had a rough childhood, buddy.

Zuko is fundamentally incapable of leaving the paradigm he was born into; if he did, he'd be the freakin' Buddha. (Unlike Pink Diamond, who actually DID die and reincarnate into a new paradigm so that she COULD offer new solutions for Gems as Steven. XD) Every solution Zuko can propose starts with justifying the continued existence of the very political structure that caused the world 100 years of grief.

Prince Zuko and Pink Diamond are functionally the same character and Lily's mad that Pink Diamond's family weren't written as sociopaths who don't love her... because it gets in the way of her belief that bigoted family members aren't capable of loving you.

[sir-tarhos-et-compagna]

Can we stop with the whole 'im trying to be historically accurate' excuse with playing fictional characters being racist that force oppressed groups to relive racism through their favorite media? can we fucking stop this please, youre not being """fun"""

Oh I'm not trying to be fun, I'm playing the character historically accurate, asshole(if you're the one to also wish me fate worse than death).

Ooh, oh no, I'm an Australian and that means my ancestors were political criminals exiled by British like some centuries ago and thus every time I hear mentions of exilement and colonization that hurt me sensitive teeny weeny feelings, boo hoo... Europeans, behave with me delicately and never remind me of colonies, or else you're a fukken opressive imperialists, and I will sue you!

Bullshit. That all shit is a social manipulation construct, used to lobby solely interests of "the offended" social groups. Taking the privileges to yourselves is not equality, ya libtard brain fuck, that's usurpation and power shift. If you fight for equality, just stop being pissed at what was many years ago, like we, "Aryans", do and get a normal life, mate. Anyone is welcome to be a conscientious part of the society, in my opinion, but if you're constantly bitching and demanding extra rights while being the most dangerous and useless group by statistics, who would have guessed, not all would be content with that. If you think I'm such a racist, no. Fuck the white delinquents and marginal elements too.

Anyway, look. I am not among those who will safeguard any delusions, and that's what I am. That is not illegal, at least in Australia, that is not extremist, but, mate. That's the harsh truth, the history. You're welcome to speak it of my people, if it is really true and I will listen to you. I am well aware everyone has flaws, except for princess Azula and, in fact, understanding the past better to become better in future is really useful, try it sometimes.

[justanisabelakinnie]

I saw one of ur posts saying how firebender!katara was racist. I’m just kinda curious and I don’t really understand but how?

Basically it's racist because the firebenders were imperialist who terrorized, colonized, and committed genocide against the water tribe and the rest of the world. So making Katara a firebender, or, worse yet, Fire Lady(through marriage to Zuko ofc 🤮) is stripping of her beautiful water tribe culture and making her a part of the culture that tried to wipe out hers. This is the same reason I'm against shipping Katara or Sokka with Zuko or Azula.

The same also applies to making Sokka a firebender, like doesn't it just make sense for him to be a waterbender if he was a bender? Why strip him of his culture in favor of the one that literally oppressed his own and that considers him a "filthy peasant"?

Hope this helps!

[did-we-imagine]

At least you're coherent and your argument makes sense for including the whole royal fam & the generals. But yeah, the show's message is about the capacity for growth and redemption, so that wouldn't quite do, or else Aang shoulda bodied Ozai, not simply debended him lol. (I'm not one of those Aang shoulda killed Ozai folks, but considering how much trouble he caused even as a jailbird, I do wish he dropped dead lol).

As for Azula, she is dangerous with or without her bending. IMO, she needs psych help both to protect her from herself and other folks from her. Sure, she's more dangerous with it, but she won't be any nicer without it. She'd probably get more unhinged and seek revenge.

Is she messed up? Very much. Is she a 14 yo child soldier indoctrinated by an imperialist genocidal warlord? Yes.

Zuko also sent combustion man after Aang. While I 200% won't defend any of them harming Aang, they're in war. People kill in wars. Aang killed those soldiers when he was controlled by Koizilla (they fucked up big time by trying to kill the moon, I ain't defending them, just trying to explain that unfortunately, wars include murder).

I don't think that Aang debending the whole royal fam would have ended the story on an ideal note from the FN citizens' POV. (Look, they're raised to think that the royal fam are agni in human form or some shit, so it's not like they're gonna go celebrate the defeat of the dictator fam & start a democracy lol).

Remember, these folks are going to be terrified considering how much emphasis they put on fire bending as a gift from Agni. There are going to be other people willing to take the mantle of the FN to fight back the "tyrannical" avatar in their eyes (they've been forcefed blatant lies like the air nomads having an army, etc. Imagine if it turns out that the avatar spiritually maims ppl, they're very much not going to trust him or accept peace).

I'm not defending the FN, but yeah, unfortunately, reaching peace means you have to reach a compromise with them for peace to actually be obtained. That would include judging people in an equitable manner and scaling the punishments accordingly. I don't think Azula, whom I truly thought was messed up for wanting to burn the EK, deserves to get the same punishment as Ozai who was the actual mastermind.

Should she get debended later on if she goes down Ozai's path as a grown-up adult? Yes. But now, she still deserves to get help all circumstances considered, without jeopardizing anyone else's safety though.

Azula stan's: how dare you to suggest that Azula's bending should be removed? You are just a Zuko fanatic who wants him to be the specialest boy!

At the same time Azula:

1) Suggests burning The Earth Kingdom.

2) Captures the last save bastion in Earth Kingdom, Ba Sing Se.

3) Leaves prisoners of war in a prison that mistreats them. (You all in a comments were suggesting me some quote by Katara from comic about removing bending is violent, so I've read them all).

4) KILLS (if not for magic water) last world's hope for salvation.

5) And in comic she steals children and seeds chaos to turn Zuko in a person like her and their father.

And this we don't take into consideration how she treats Ty Lee & Zuko.

I think, at this point, people wanting her to be locked away for life without her firebending is justified.

Who in the whole world should care if she were abused or not by her father?

People who were her victims? And her victims is the biggest city in the world, along with her ex-allies. It's only justified that they all want to be safe from her, while she is being locked away forever.

Azula is dangerous. Azula is evil. And removing her bending for all that she's done is a mercy as much as it were to Ozai. They both don't deserve anything better from people they harmed.

Ans, yes, if Aang had this ability during book one and did it to Zuko and Iroh hence that made it easier for his team to save the world, I wouldn't mind it at all. There should be no mercy for imperialists and royalties.

And, yes, people don't talk about other soldiers and generals because they are irrelevant to the plot and Zhao is already dead.