zuko-always-lies

[zuko-always-lies]

joining the zuko's-mischaracterization hate train!

i hate when people turn zuko into this weak baby who needs protection from everyone or else he'll, like, jump off a cliff. i've read so many fics where he becomes extremely emotionally weak (i.e. literally breaking down into full-on sobs when someone says a dumb insult like "ha! you have a dumb face!") and it's just like. where did you get this version of zuko from. he would not jump off of a cliff because katara yelled at him once (which i genuinely saw in a fic?!?). like relax.

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They've been talking about the mischaracterization of Zuko in fanfics for a while now. Personally, it makes me laugh that they portray Sokka as an idiot and Zuko as someone smart, when we know that It's the other way around

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Ok folks since things have been quiet here let’s all name our favorite Zuko mischaracterizations. I’ll go first:

The idea that he is stoic, like, at all. Boy wears his emotions on his face as blatantly as the Blue Spirit Mask. He's been shown to cry multiple times. He does, in fact, smile pretty easily when happy. I think people just get stoic vibes from him because his expression is almost always the same but that's because he's almost always some level of annoyed or angry.

Or that he's some kind of master strategist. He's like. The least master strategist character I've ever seen that wasn't just clearly stupid. He can be smart, yeah, but he has absolutely no sense for strategy*

*unless it involves breaking and entering

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[zuko-always-lies]

Ok folks since things have been quiet here let’s all name our favorite Zuko mischaracterizations. I’ll go first:

I find it ridiculous and hilarious when Zuko is portrayed as the calm voice of reason. When is he calm? When is he reasonable? His dialogue is like one tirade after the next and one of his essential character traits is that he doesn’t think anything through (Iroh even says it straight to his face lmao)

People who make him smarter than he is, or stronger than he is. Like he’s cool he has some pretty smart plans but it’s canon that he leaps before he looks, very emotional which ruins his ability to be the type of mastermind Azula and Sokka can be

And he’s the weakest fighter in the group, his whole arc is how he tries so hard all the time and he still isn’t good enough cause he’s competing with prodigies but he’ll keep trying because that’s who he is

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“Sadly azutara recently overtook sokkla in number of fanfiction. A decent chunk of recent ships popularity got a boost since the show hit Netflix. Even if it doesn't make sense (yuezula, zukka and so on) especially if it's queer because that's just how Fandom rolls nowadays.”

Wah wah wah people getting mad at queer people rep oh no im shedding a tear cry more i guess

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[zuko-always-lies]

Unpopular opinion but a good amount of the ATLA fandom including his own fans misunderstood Zuko’s character. Ironically enough AO3 is big proof of this because no Zuko is not “an awkward turtle duck” lmao it’s mainly in the shipping discourse, I have no side in the whole Kataang vs Zutara debate but I notice that Zutara shippers tend to mischaracterize every single character in the show when talking about it, Zuko is the biggest victim of their mischaracterization tbh, I also notice that people take canon traits of other characters mainly Aang and Sokka and then project them onto Zuko when that’s not what was shown in the show at all and it’s usually his stans either dickriding him online or using it to prop a certain ship up.

Ok folks since things have been quiet here let’s all name our favorite Zuko mischaracterizations. I’ll go first:

I find it ridiculous and hilarious when Zuko is portrayed as the calm voice of reason. When is he calm? When is he reasonable? His dialogue is like one tirade after the next and one of his essential character traits is that he doesn’t think anything through (Iroh even says it straight to his face lmao)

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[zuko-always-lies]

Unpopular opinion but a good amount of the ATLA fandom including his own fans misunderstood Zuko’s character. Ironically enough AO3 is big proof of this because no Zuko is not “an awkward turtle duck” lmao it’s mainly in the shipping discourse, I have no side in the whole Kataang vs Zutara debate but I notice that Zutara shippers tend to mischaracterize every single character in the show when talking about it, Zuko is the biggest victim of their mischaracterization tbh, I also notice that people take canon traits of other characters mainly Aang and Sokka and then project them onto Zuko when that’s not what was shown in the show at all and it’s usually his stans either dickriding him online or using it to prop a certain ship up.

Ok folks since things have been quiet here let’s all name our favorite Zuko mischaracterizations. I’ll go first:

I find it ridiculous and hilarious when Zuko is portrayed as the calm voice of reason. When is he calm? When is he reasonable? His dialogue is like one tirade after the next and one of his essential character traits is that he doesn’t think anything through (Iroh even says it straight to his face lmao)

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[zuko-always-lies]

It occurs to me that Book 2! Azula demands a great deal (military service essentially) from Mai and Ty Lee but Book 3! Azula doesn't seem to, really at all? She doesn't seem to ask them to fight during the DoBS, and even at Boiling Rock Mai and Ty Lee aren't there because Azula was expecting a fight, they're there because Zuko's defection personally affected them too. In particular, at no point in Book 3 does Azula expect Mai to fight, and she barely requires or asks Mai to do anything at all the entire season (like "let me talk to my brother alone" and "please play beach volleyball with me" are her only two real requests to Mai all of Book 3).

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How likely do you think it is that post-war Azula ends committing suicide, a murder-suicide, or death by cop, which in this case would likely be death by Zuko/Zuko's forces or death by Avatar? Also, does your analysis change if the extended universe is taken into account?

Personally, if Aang's era intended audience wasn't intended for kids, I think the only logical way for Azula's story to end is her killing herself or killing herself and Ozai. By the end of either the show or Spirit Temple*, she has alienated just about every possible fraction and she is unlikely to receive the support she needs to heal considering the she is viewed as a political actor first, a dangerous and crazy threat second, and never as a person. Moreover, even if she did manage to work her way through her issues, the guilt she would feel is likely to break her since, with the War's conclusion, there is no straightforward way for her to make amends, and she is unlikely to have any support system that could help her work through her guilt and channel it towards productive ends.

*(Yes, I'm aware Ashes of the Academy and the canon roleplaying game imply the existence of Azula loyalists, or at least people willing to work with her. But considering Azula hasn't reconnected with the Dai Li despite being free for several months at least and the roleplay game doesn't mention if Azula's networks know they are working with Princess Azula, it doesn't really affect the point I'm trying to make in my opinion.)

I've always thought suicide or suicide attempts on her part are likely, but I've never thought it was something that would be that interesting to think or write about. That's all I can say.

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I think an underrepresented cause of Ursa's neglect towards Azula is the reality of what happens if she doesn't become Ozai? Because what's really left for her without ruthless progression? She turns into Ursa, married to a man for (at best) political reasons and resigned to spend her whole life with a man she probably doesn't love having kids she never wanted while the people she knew excel in their positions and live better and more fulfilling lives. No matter how you chock it up, being a second born and a daughter sucks.

[zuko-always-lies]

It occurs to me that Book 2! Azula demands a great deal (military service essentially) from Mai and Ty Lee but Book 3! Azula doesn't seem to, really at all? She doesn't seem to ask them to fight during the DoBS, and even at Boiling Rock Mai and Ty Lee aren't there because Azula was expecting a fight, they're there because Zuko's defection personally affected them too. In particular, at no point in Book 3 does Azula expect Mai to fight, and she barely requires or asks Mai to do anything at all the entire season (like "let me talk to my brother alone" and "please play beach volleyball with me" are her only two real requests to Mai all of Book 3).

[zuko-always-lies]

a recent post had me thinking about azula and ozai

let's say ozai succeeded as the phoenix king. azula is fire lord. i believe azula would imprison zuko, she wouldn't have him killed. i believe ozai would allow azula that right to determine zuko's punishment

my question is, what would be the cause of ozai and azula not ruling peacefully? what would ozai have to do to cause azula to choose to push against her father's plans for the other nations? or at least undermine them, not so intentionally, but because she does not agree with what he is doing?

what would be the thing he is doing that azula would not agree with?

i imagine azula being fourteen and newly crowned would not disagree but the longer she rules and becomes more competent that could change

would it be ozai pushes a political marriage on her she is against, not just personally but politically?

would it be azula wants to be in a relationship with someone she knows would not be conventionally acceptable for the role as the spouse of the fire lord?

would it be a split in ideological differences?

im just thinking, would their relationship be without any flaw? or would it eventually crumble?

in the result of that possibility, would azula make amends with zuko to help her in any way?

[zuko-always-lies]

Fellas fellas it happened. It surprisingly happened. I found a fanfic where little Zuko pushes Azula off a roof.

[zuko-always-lies]

When they show up at Boiling Rock they're all really really mad at Zuko for being a deadbeat dad.

AU idea

It would be kind of interesting if Zuko accidentally got Mai pregnant (hey turns out no one was teaching teenagers about safe sex!) before he took off during the DoBS. Three main possibilities arise:

Mai (and Azula and Ty Lee) find out before Boiling Rock.

Mai finds out after Boiling Rock, and then Azula, who is keeping an eye on her former friends, finds out too and has a "situation" to deal with.

Mai and Zuko find out after Zuko's coronation.

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So I've never thought about this before, but people (including Zuko himself!) make a big deal about Zuko being at Ozai's right hand at the war meeting before DoBS, while Azula was relegated to the less favored left-hand position. Guess who's at Azula's right hand in this picture? Mai. And guess who's in the less favored, left-hand position? Ty Lee.

We don't know quite how this happened (Azula meticulously planned this? Mai called shotgun?) but it's interesting. The series is pretty consistent about Azula favoring Mai over Ty Lee.

the mai/azula/ty lee friendship is overall pretty toxic but we should not forget that they asked azula what she wanted for the drill and she said “triple throne for me and the homies”

[zuko-always-lies]

Prompt Voting Is Here!

You know what to do - follow the link, leave your votes, and wait for the final results. The official prompts for this event will be shared on July 18th.

Voting will run from June 30 to July 14.

Prompt Voting

[zuko-always-lies]

thinking about what zuko means to azula and weeping. he's a traitor but he's your brother. he held you when you were born. he's banished for being too weak to hurt your father and you learn to hate his goodness. he is somewhere in the world carrying your eyes. he misses your absent mother more than he loves you but that is the price you pay for being the one who stayed. he never grants you this same kindness. you are faster and deadlier and better but it doesn't change the fact that your brave big brother used to tell you stories of dragons every time it stormed because you were so afraid of the thunder. he is the only one who understands what it means to bear the brunt of your bloody inheritance. he crumbled under the weight of it, but you stayed. you always stay. he is half of you. you hate being betrayed.you don't love him. he's your big brother. who could you possibly love more?

(Found this somewhere 😅😭)