#zuko deserves better

[darkcrowprincess]

Zuko thoughts:

Song that makes me think of Zuko and all the people he loves( Iroh, the gaang, which ever ship you have with zuko. My favorite is Zutara and Zukka) I'm a mess by Ed Sheeran

[muffinlance]

Edit: Yes, the original Sokka sexism arc is great and important. But we don't live in a world where the live action show runners decided to include it in the same form. So:

Unpopular opinion time: Sokka unlearning sexism isn't actually a large part of his character arc--it literally only takes the opening episodes. And removing it COULD be a sign that the live action is taking seriously the complaints I've seen from native fans about the original show runners deciding to make the Water Tribes that sort of sexist to begin with. Sokka's actual character arc is about gaining confidence and leadership skills, and they have the opportunity to focus on that MORE if they change the Kyoshi episode to focus on Suki as a fellow teenager forced into a leadership/protective role in her community and rocking it rather than using her as an object lesson on sexism for a male character to learn from. Whether they will ACTUALLY do that is on them, but it took me less than ten minutes to think up, so I sure hope someone in the writers' room actually cares about using the live action to expand on new angles of the characters. Big ask, I know.

Now the real question is: did they also remove Uncle Iroh's unwanted physical advances on a literally paralyzed Jun, and all of Zuko's snipes about girls? Because THOSE are the actually "iffy" sexism parts in AtLA, not Sokka's five minute arc.

[chartzan]

figure study dump #2 was feeling a lil sad so I drew some cuddly zukka :')

hopefully better ones soon, not really happy with these

[ukrainian-groove-metal]

you ever think about how Zuko had 3 years to come to terms with the fact that his father never loved him and Azula had like. two hours. like Zuko had this whole dramatic character arc where he struggled to do right and Iroh was there to support him meanwhile Ozai was like yeah here’s a hollow title shithead. gonna go burn the Earth Kingdom without you lol. if i got done dirty by my dad as bad as Azula got done i’d start shooting lightning with my hair down too.

[starlingchilde]

He deserved better

[balanceoflightanddark]

This is what gets me. The comics take this hard line stance between good and evil, but by doing so, validates Ozai. I'm sorry, but speaking as somebody who was scared to death about being stabbed in the back for being autistic and not "being in line", these comics were a nightmare scenario.

Because Aang, AANG, a character I respected for years, said he'd put Zuko down if he acted like Ozai. A character that I and so many others saw so much in and adored, was made to say something that validated every dark fear we ever had.

But hey. Let's say they're right. Let's say that evil people need to be killed and taken down.

So let me ask a simple question.

WHY IS OZAI STILL ALIVE?

He is alive and is actively trying to manipulate Zuko into becoming like himself. How come he gets a free pass while Azula or even Zuko are condemned for even being like him? He's family? Bullshit, the comics said it was okay for Zuko to harass and abuse Azula even though she was family. And apparently friendship means nothing if you're in danger of being evil. So let me ask again.

WHY.

IS.

OZAI.

STILL.

ALIVE?

they managed to massacre Aang's character and all the struggle and importance of his choice in the finale in a SINGLE page, and yet there are people who think the comics are good

and of course Katara's would have nothing to say on the matter, toootally in-character

Not to mention: yes, Zuko is right that a lifetime of indoctrination won't magically stop affecting him just because he's aware of it now, but the way the comics really said "If you're not perfect, you deserve to die. Not rehabilitation, not even incarceration despite it being an option, just straight to violent, lethal punishment" is horrying.

And lets not forget the blatant abuse apologism of having Zuko, the kid who was told by his abusive parent that his disfigurement and banishment was "for his own good" after he made one "mistake", turning to his closest friends and asking them to be his "safety net" by MURDERING HIM IF EVER STEPS OUT OF LINE - and said friends then agree to it.

Are you fucking kidding me? The real Aang would have double-down on the "You're NOT your father" bit, and the entire friend group would have been super concerned about Zuko because a victim of abuse saying they're as bad as their abuser thus deserve to die is one hell of a red flag as to how their mental health is going.

Speaking of mental health: I talk a lot about how Azula was constantly being abused by the supposed heroes in the comics, and how the justification of it is rooted in ableism, but this nonsense with Zuko asking to be put down like a dog is also peak victim blaming, and one of the few moments in which one can actually feel bad for comics!Zuko.

And it ties into a disturbing pattern I noticed among Avatar fans - and mainly Zuko fans. They don't truly understand that what Ozai put his children through was wrong, they simply think he chose the wrong kid as the escapegoat. They think Azula should have been the one that is constantly punished just for existing, while Zuko is the golden child that can do no wrong - or else.

This moment right here? With the people that he trusts agreeing to inflict violence on him if he ever makes a mistake? This is that "or else". This is literally the same mentality that led to Azula's breakdown because NO ONE CAN SURVIVE UNDER THAT MUCH PRESSURE.

And that leads us to the main reason why the comcis suck: Yang was using Zuko as a self-insert.

"Zuko‘s relationship with Ozai is something we – Mike, Brian, Dark Horse, Nickelodeon, and I – talked about extensively when we first started working together. There’s this strange thing that happens to people in power. The pressures of power often blur the lines between enemies. That’s part of what happens to Zuko here. Ozai is the only one who knows what it’s like to be Fire Lord, the only one who has the wisdom of experience. I also looked at my own life. I used to clash with my dad quite a bit when I was a teenager. However, as I grew up and found myself in roles that he used to have, I began to understand more and more of his decisions. My father isn't thoroughly evil, of course, but I imagine Zuko feels a little of the same pull."

Yang. My guy. My dude. The words "Ozai" and "wisdom" should NEVER be in the same sentence. Every single action of Ozai's as Fire Lord was based on him being an abusive piece of shit that finally got access to absolute power. He is not a stern dad, he is abusive. He's not misunderstood, he needed to be stopped and locked away. He is a human being with feelings and motivations, yes, but he is WRONG ABOUT LITERALLY EVERYTHING EVER. He NEVER had a point. Zuko has nothing to learn from him except what NOT to do. That's why he looks like an older, unscarred Zuko. A version of Zuko that never changed.

This is the core issue of the comics, and why it had so many moments of unintentional abuse apologism: they say Ozai is a villain, but they're going out of their way to constantly make the characters come dangerously close to saying "Maybe he had a point." That's why they have Zuko turn to Ozai for advice despite claiming he wants to avoid becoming like him - because the guy writting them couldn't understand that the bad guy was, in fact, bad and in the wrong and has no wisdom to offer to anyone.

Avatar, the series, is about the world moving past from the sick mentality people like Ozai had, and about his son realizing that he did not deserve to be abused. The Avatar Comics are about telling Zuko (and others) "Ozai isn't wrong actually, you'll understand when you're older."

No, Yang, they won't. Because there's nothing to "understand" here other than THE GUY THAT ABUSED HIS CHILDREN AND COMMITED GENOCIDE WAS WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING, YOU DUMBASS!

Saying "the villain had a point" does not make a story better unless it is true - and in Ozai's case, it simply isn't. Insisting otherwise doesn't make the story and characters more mature, it just means you couldn't understand a cartoon aimed at 7-year-olds despite being a grown-ass man.

And I won't even get into Bryke approving of this bullshit otherwise I'll start tearing my hair out in rage at how badly they seem to have lost touch with the message of their best work, so let me just use a simple statemet to make everyone understand just how much of a disaster this is:

Even M. Night Shyamalan didn't misunderstand ATLA to the point of thinking Ozai wasn't actually wrong, but Bryan, Mike and Yang did. The comics understand the show less than M. Night Shyamalan did.

I rest my fucking case.

[awesome-normal-heroes]

Katara has every right to be angry at Zuko...

... he may not have been the one that tried to destroy Aang, but he joined that person's side...

... and the spirit water that Katara used to heal Aang...

... could've been used on Zuko and he might've joined Azula anyway...

... meaning that Aang most likely would've died that night, if she made that choice...

... and she probably thought about that a LOT while Aang was in his coma...

... it's no wonder it took her the longest to forgive Zuko.

[beifong-brainrot]

I need a gun because how is Katara not winning by a landslide

Katara helped Raise Korra, train her in her first element, incorporating not only combat techniques, but also valuable skills and aspects of their culture like healing. She went on to oversee Korra's training even after she graduated to the other elements, and when she saw that Korra was losing steam, she intuited that Korra needed to leave. She encouraged her to do so, and I know that meant a lot to Korra. Especially as everyone else insisted on handling Korra and trying to control her (even with good intentions), Katara was the one who encouraged Korra to take her destiny into her own hands.

Katara : Aang's time has passed. My brother and many of my friends are gone. It's time for you and your generation to take over the responsibility of keeping peace and balance in the world. And I think you're going to be a great Avatar. Korra : [Hugs Katara.] Thank you. Katara: [Close-up of Katara's face, still smiling with her eyes closed.] Goodbye, Korra.

Katara was there from day fucking one, and her and Korra's bond is a treat to observe. Its also so visible in how Korra carries herself, her values and opinions, that Katara had a huge part in shaping the person Korra is. They're both confident, strong women with a firm belief in their ideals, and a burning desire to help others.

Korra: But I couldn't just sit by and do nothing. It's my duty to help people.

And this is all not even getting into the fact that Katara helped Korra walk again, healing her physically and starting her on her mental health journey. Without Katara, Korra wouldn't have even been able to make it to Toph!

And this still remains one of the most powerful scenes in the entire Avatar franchise to me. It is such a wonderful crowning of Katara's core character traits- hope and resilience. That stubborn, unyielding faith in the good in the world and belief that things will get better because you will make it so- this scene reminded me why Katara is my favourite character in atla, and how important she is to both shows.

This scene is also so wonderful about Korra's character, and I know so many people struggling with mental issues resonated with her here. And I know that Katara's words meant a lot to them, as they did to me and to Korra.

Also, I just adore that Katara's necklace seems to have Raava's pattern on it, it's just such a cool detail and it really makes sense for these two to be symbollicaly intertwined in Korra's story.

And not to discredit Toph, because there is some merit to be found in her time with Korra, and it is ultimately what helped Korra heal. But also beating up a 20 year old for a few weeks, not too long after said 20 year old was paraplegic seems like a steep price for a few nuggets of wisdom.I also have personal gripes with how this part of the show was handled but thats neither here nor there.

[longing-for-rain]

You know what gets me about Zutara and the hatred that has been directed towards it for nearly 20 years now is that Zutara is, fundamentally, a purely female fantasy.

Zutara was always written by and for women. Years ago, this fact was even used to mock it as something frivolous and stupid, the same way that most things women enjoy are mocked.

Zutara was created by fans. It was created by girls imagining something better for a female character they loved, and by extension, themselves.

Zutara is for all the girls who once caved to a boy’s romantic advances out of guilt and felt uncomfortable with that narrative on screen.

Zutara is for the girls who want to feel passion in a relationship.

Zutara is for the girls who want a partner who will love them through their darkest moments.

Zutara is for the girls who want a partner they don’t have to change for.

Zutara is for the girls who want to feel supported by a partner.

Zutara is for the girls who want a partner they don’t have to babysit.

And yes, Zutara is for the girls who want to be with a partner they find attractive. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

When people attack the idea of Zutara, this is fundamentally what they’re attacking—women and girls wanting better for themselves in a relationship. And I think that’s really sad. But I guess it makes a lot of sense in a world where women are being increasingly bombarded with tradwife propaganda and where 13 year old girls are stressing out about what kind of anti aging and diet products they should buy. We are in hell.

[firelily-mermaid-jedi]

I am just so, so tired of the idea that this was a jerk move by Zuko when actually this proves what a good person he is on two fronts.

First, his options are letter or no letter. He could have left without leaving her a message at all--THAT would have been the jerk move. Leaving the letter shows he did care about Mai on some level even if she didn't deserve it. He had no idea where Mai's loyalties lie. She could have ratted him out to Azula for all he knows! But he still felt that she should know that he was and why he was leaving

Second, as he states in the episode he did it to Protect Her! Once again, showing her a level of care she has never shown him.

But people want to insist that this was a morally reprehensible act on Zuko's part because they need a reason to justify their dislike of him.

Zuko deserves better.

was going through my drafts and uhhhh she had some points 💅

[threalcrabbysamantha]

A second comic from this universe. To be continued…

I’ve always wanted to explore how Katara feels about the whole situation with Aang more, since the show doesn’t actually give her much space in that area. This is going to be in the Zutara Canon Universe (the ZCU), though, so there will also be a lot of Zutara.

(I also really feel strongly that Sokka would be very pro Zuko x Katara but also…he’s sooo practical, I think he’d give her some misguided advice.)

[forevermore05]

Katara's storyline and ending are so many WOC's worst nightmares.

Ending up as a yes-man

Raising children alone even while married

Being kissed without her consent (twice)

Being old and alone, with her grandkids not recognizing her

Not given credit for her contributions to society

Not bending into her old age

Being parentified at a young age

Coddling her partner which led to huge problems

Also, want to mention I HATE that Katara was parentified, but what I hate even more is when people dismiss her efforts entirely and give it to Sokka. The fact when women do these things it is seen as the norm but when men do it is Oscar-worthy. She deserves all her flowers.

Me being a Zutara shipper does not make my points invalid.

[loveamongdragons]

I really have very few fucks to give about the Atla comics (wish they never existed), and I am no fan of Azula, but the panel from Ashes of the Academy had me shook, I gotta say. I have never seen authors disrespect their audience so thogoughly, and honestly, up until now I did not really understand what that saying even meant. Authors don't have to cater to the wishes of a fanbase, and they can and should write what they personally want (I believe GRRM once said something along the lines of "I am not a democracy"?), but it's one thing to carry on with your personal authorial intent despite what everyone wants from you, and it's whole 'nother thing to break the fourth wall to say: yo, you suck, losers, get wrecked. This was so uncalled for? The fuck?

It feels to me as if the authors are hell-bent on alienating the female reader base, at this point. They famously dragged Zutara through the dirt (I haven't been there, but it sounds horrible) - which is a pairing favored predominantly by women. They now attack Azula stans - and while I don't know what the gender ratio in this case is, I somehow presume that it's mostly women that stan her?

Then there is also the treatment of Katara, about which novels have been written at this point.

I know that some people are mad about Korra being presumably depicted as the cause of an Apocalypse in Seven Havens.

Like. Do you see my point?

Oh and then, they nerf Zuko to the point of him looking like a thirteen-year old, presumably to make Aang look cooler, I suppose? Which is so hilarious, because even if you want to cater to a male audience and nice guys or dudebros or whatever, Zuko used to have so much potential in this regard, but no, let's turn him into a wholly different character and make him look like a lanky little boy with no authority. I might be conspiratorial, I admit that, but man... god forbid women enjoy him, right? God forbid women enjoy a certain pairing that sparks something in them, or female characters, or a beloved female villain. All hail Aang, and no one but Aang? Is that it?

Is that it, Atla? Is that your legacy?

[xwonderlandresidentx]

For me the idea of Zuko and Azula reconciling is very personal, because I grew up in a similar (albeit, far less severe) family situation, as the screw up scapegoat older sibling with the obviously favored golden child little brother who bullied me, and we were able to work things out, and became very close.

As a kid, the way things ended between Zuko and Azula was incredibly cathartic, but now as an adult, it's deeply saddening to me, and just... doesn't feel right.

Now, I think it's important to note that in the situation with my brother, he was the one who took the initiative to patch things up with me. He apologized, corrected his behavior, and never put any pressure on me to forgive him because he recognized that he was in the wrong (and that our parents spoiled him, and pitted us against each other). And in an Azula redemption scenario I absolutely believe that it should be the same way. It would not be Zuko's responsibility to try and work things out with and/or "fix" his sister, it should be all on her. Part of the reason I haven't read any Azula redemption fics in years is because so many of them don't make Azula really take responsibility, and have Zuko do all the emotional leg work, or blame him for their relationship being bad in the first place.

But, while the ending we got with them is narratively satisfying, and a victory in it's own right, to me personally it feels incomplete. Not just because I want Azula to be redeemed, but just as much, if not more so because I want Zuko to get what I got. He's outgrown his need for his family's validation, but he deserves it. He deserves an apology, and he deserves the relief, satisfaction, and joy of seeing Azula follow his example by putting in the work to grow.

it’s time for me to admit that i find a post-canon in which azula and zuko don’t reconcile just as (and maybe more) cathartic than what seems like a large fandom consensus that the only happy/cathartic ending is for them to be on good terms down the road. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[katy-89]

I swear every time I read a post from the badger mole and any other hardcore zutara shipper i'm losing braincells. How can people take her seriously? :/ I get it, you all like zutara, but do you also like this series at all? Because you are literally rewriting this show and the main character to make a crack ship looks better, which is insane 🤦‍♂️

Mind you, this is Aang in the CANON SERIES

There are many other moments but i'm not wasting my time posting it

Also...Aang acknowledge Katara's beauty three times in the whole show. Oh my God, what a crime. That's means he only care about her beauty and nothing else 🤦‍♂️

It's insane how much this character is demonized because he had the audacity to fell in love with Katara

People, it's 2024

[the-genius-az]

I want Azula to have a father or mother figure who truly loves her, who screams for her dad or mom when she's in danger, who cries and is comforted by her parents, who is protected by them.

I don't know! It saddens me to know that she had to fend for herself, that no one cared enough to know if she was okay or not.

Shit, even her older brother tried to kill her, the person who should protect you and be there for you against the world, doesn't give a shit about you or prefers to blame you for all his problems.

They don't deserve Azula, and Azula deserves so much better.

And no, I'm not saying this because I'm a fan of hers, I'm saying this because she's a traumatized fourteen-year-old girl, groomed to be a child soldier.