Zuko - Trial By Fire
Written by Rory Nix.
As a kid I loved animated shows for their unique worlds and characters, but nothing ever captivated me more than Avatar: The Last Airbender. At the time, I didn’t consciously think about why I was so drawn to it or why I couldn’t stop talking about it with friends. It could have been the intense and beautifully animated fight scenes, the world-building, or simply the story. Looking back, it was all of those, but mostly it was the diverse range of characters and their complex arcs throughout the three seasons of the show.
The series was conveniently released when I was entering my teenage years, so having characters transform and mature in a similar way to me was a great comfort. Mind you, all whilst fighting a war. Avatar: The Last Airbender never left a character unexplored. From main characters like Aang and Katara to supporting characters like Jet and Mai. They all had strong and realistic motivations that made them feel so real.
Normally, TV protagonists are the most intriguing and are crucial to a show’ progression. Not only did The Last Airbender explore this with Aang and his team, but also with the show's antagonist, Prince Zuko. His character arc is probably the most transformative and complex one in the show.
Let’s explore Zuko and his character arc.
Episode One introduces Zuko as an angry young man, tasked by his father to capture the Avatar and regain his honor as the Crown Prince of The Fire Nation. Most of the first season Zuko has fruitless attempts at capturing the Avatar because of his stubbornness and lack of cooperation with his wise uncle. However, one of the pivotal moments of the first season comes in the episodes “The Storm'' and “The Blue Spirit”, episodes that land in the midpoint of the season. Here we gain insight into Zuko’s true motivations, and the lengths he will go to fulfil his task to regain his father’s respect.
The second season examines Zuko’s internal struggle of regaining his honor or choosing his own destiny. Seen as a traitor by his nation and abandoning his uncle, Zuko is tested in episodes that explore this inner battle. “Zuko Alone” dives deep into his past, delivering insight into his emotionally complex relationship with his family, which is intercut with the present Zuko creating healthy relationships with an earthbending town. Zuko realises that he has the opportunity to choose a different destiny instead of the one bestowed upon him. We see the potential for Zuko to become his own person, but his poisonous past gets the better of him when he chooses the wrong destiny at the end of the second season.
Zuko key animation from pilot episode by Yu Jae Myung, from “Avatar The Last Airbender - Art Of The Animated Series Second Edition”.
The third and final season delivers Zuko on his path of redemption, finally fixing the problems he created in the first two seasons and overcoming his internal struggle. He discovers that his great-grandfather was Avatar Roku (The previous Avatar to Aang), and decides to join the Avatar and his team. Zuko is at his true potential, now learning to become a forgiving and loving character instead of a hateful and vengeful one. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” allows its characters like Zuko to grow seamlessly through its story. It also uses symbolism to reflect these character developments, like Zuko re-learning firebending alongside Aang. He learns that fire isn’t just a symbol of destruction, it’s also a symbol of life.
There are so many things that Avatar: The Last Airbender does right, but at the core it's the characters that grow and change the way they view the world and others. I would love to explore more characters, but for now Zuko is a prime example of character growth. Watching Zuko’s arc is why I believe writing a strong character is so important in keeping the audience hooked on a show, whether they be the protagonist, antagonist or even a supporting character.
