#i have cancelled dunking on wheat boi hours

[foiblepnoteworthy]

Tfw people say Jet deserved a redemption arc as if he didn't get one?

Okay class, how does one define a redemption arc?

Breaking it up into the basics, a redemption arc is composed of:

1. Recognizing one's actions were wrong

2. Improving one's behaviour accordingly

3. Attempting to make amends with those you have wronged.

When Jet came to Ba Sing Se he said he had "done some things [he wasn't] proud of" and that he wanted a "second chance". This both checks off the first item on the list and shows the intention of doing the second.

When he discovered Uncle's firebending he attempted to find evidence of Zuko firebending rather than trying to kill him on the spot. When he does use violence to try to force Zuko to reveal himself, he does this not because he believed it is right per se, but because he is both frustrated at his lack of results and hurt that his friends don't support/believe him.

(Bear in mind that he has been *this* close to being an army cult leader for about 8 years, and is trying to very quickly learn to take council and criticism from his followers. Hearing Smellerbee question him when he is still on this learning curve is difficult.)

[ Sidenote: Yes Jet is trying to take council and yes this is new to him. When we first met him in season 1 his FFs never questioned him in the slightest ("Jet's a great leader. We do what he says, and everything always turns out okay.") but now we see Smellerbee question him about allowing Zuko-Li to join (at which point Jet also asks for and (presumably?) respects Longshot's opinion) and her and Longshot holding an intervention about his stalking (not because they think his actions are necessarily morally wrong, but because they care about his health). ]

(sorry about the tangent I have a lot of opinions about Jet)

Basically he did improve his behaviour, but he slipped back into old habits on an impulse when he was upset and his new methods weren't working. (It's not like he was thinking at all rationally when he went after Zuko in the tea shop.)

So I'd say that's Point 2 checked off as well. (He can have a little relapse. As a treat.)

The last point is making amends with those he wronged and I mean come on. Did he or did he not try to help them find Appa even after the Dai Li funking ripped out his anger at the war and tried to turn him into a peaceful citizen? (one could argue that this isn't what happened bc the Dai Li might have done something else instead considering what they used him for, except that while brainwashed he said "I've been living peacefully in the city" which is a very Joo Dee phrase don't you think? It's evidence enough for me.) Jet had every reason to be terrified of facing the Dai li again but he did not hesitate because he owed it to them.

If you need a cherry on top, it's at least implied that Katara forgave him, or would have been willing to move past things if they'd stayed in touch (and y'know. Jet hadn't maybe died). Jet's heroic death (while overcoming the horrific shit the Dai li put in his head pls don't forget what he was already doing for them) is the final dusting of sugar on top of the cherry on top of the cake. He made a sacrifice for the person he had wronged while making amends.

Jet got his redemption arc. I'd say this would be like if Zuko had died fighting combustion man levels of getting his redemption arc. Y'all wouldn't say Zuko didn't get his redemption if he died them now would you?