The Last Agni Kai scene breakdown | Zuko vs Azula: Avatar The Last Airbender analysis 

The moment she cries is when the audience remembers that she's only 14. It's heartbreaking.

The voice acting when azula reaches her breaking point is outstanding.

When Azula has a psychotic breakdown where she talks to her mother through the mirror, I find it interesting that its right after she cuts her own hair out of despite. After losing all her friends, there is nobody else to assert power over other than herself, and I think this represents an implosion of identity.

nothing will ever beat ATLA for me

Ah one of the best conclusions to the best arc ever. Because even in his greatest triumph it still shows that Zuko still has room to grow. The comics explore this alot more in depth.

Zuko is using airbending technices he learnt from Aang. Defensive rather than agressive (airbending trait). 13:07 that is an airbending move Aang uses sometimes. Zuko was a teacher for Aang, but Aang taught him many things too. Iroh's wisdom of getting knowledge from other nations and bending techniques has stayed with Zuko

Maybe he accepted Azula's challenge because although he could have said no and took her down easier together with Katara, he was indeed officially challenged with the Fire Sages as witnesses. Declining an Agni Kai could be somewhat dishonorable in the Fire Nation's culture so he is not doing it for himself but to honor the traditions how an actual Fire Lord needs to.

For a show made for kids, it sure does have one of the most mature fight scenes out there

You forgot to mention the scene on the beach where Azula says: "mother always thought I was a monster. She was right of course, but it still hurt". This was the thing that broke me. Somewhere deep down she wanted redemption, but had already concluded that it was out of reach, that she wasn't deserving of love. That is what drove her to power. It was never a choice for her. At least Zuko had that.

Zuko honestly has one of my favorite character archs of all time in any medium. Although not impossible of course for a person who grew up in a toxic environment to still grow into a decent human being, its amazing the difference 1 healthy parent can make sometimes. Not to mention the surrogate parent in Iroh.

"azula was born lucky. i was lucky to be born." that quote always struck me just because it occurred to me rewatching the show how untrue it was and how tragic azula truly was as a character. unloved by ursa so she relies on her abuser ozai for love that she was never going to truly receive, where zuko had the love of ursa and then later iroh to guide him. he was never completely reliant on ozai. as much as he wanted his father's approval, he'd never gone his life entirely unloved. so yeah maybe azula was born lucky, getting by on her natural born power, but she didn't live lucky.

When the sad orchestral score swells, there's no need for words, the deafening roar of fire clashing against itself a perfect summation of their tragedy. Two bright flames, a kind hearted, confident young boy destined to rule and the cool, calculating bending prodigy brought to blows. Though their upbringing and environment shaped who they would become, ultimately it was the choices they made that led them there. When Lu Ten died, even Azulong showed a modicum of respect and care for his grieving son, in his own twisted way. Not Azula though, her twisted perception of family learned from her conniving, power hungry father causing her to mock and revel in Iroh's loss. To grieve is weakness in her eyes, after all, he called off the siege of Ba Sing Se over the death of a single soldier. For a few minutes Avatar reaches the absolute peaks of emotional storytelling. Aang's fight to end the war is the narrative through line but the struggle for the soul and future of the fire nation is the beating heart of the story.

Always more Avatar pls pls pls. Your emphasis on the humanising and heartbreaking elements of that final shot of Azula really shows your counselling/youth work background. It's an appreciated perspective to see for this kind of content. Also, goddamn it's a testament to the makers of the show that that fight scene music, even in the background to this analysis and after hundreds of rewatches, still hits me in the gut like a tonne of bricks.

I would LOVE to see you cover the scene with Ang at the first air temple realizing the reality that he’s the last air bender.

"I love Zuko more than I fear you" One of my favorite lines

The comic about Zuko, Azula, and the main gang finding the truth about Ursa really adds even more weight to the family dynamic we see in the series. While all three of them are victims of Ozai, Ursa isnt really blameless for how she treated Azula which really added to the scene where she hallucinated Ursa. And the fact that Azula knows most of the truth of her parents relationship during the show gives alot of her taunts to Zuko a deeper meaning. It really makes you see a rewatch in a new light and highly recommend it to any fan of the show even if just to get closure of the "What happened to Ursa" mystery which led me to read it in the first place.

Ozai was probly raised the same way azula was which is why I'm glad aang spared him, this show really humanized its villains in a way most shows don't/can't

11:30 On the subject of Zuko's fighting style during this fight, remember in season one, when Iroh was training him to fight, when he fought and defeated Zhou in an agni kai? How did he do it? By remembering the BASICS of combat, stability, control, and confidence. Stand firm with a strong stance. "Break his root!" That's what I see in this battle: Zuko has finally embraced his uncle's wisdom. He was once fearful, confused, & angry. He was too unstable and too easily pushed around. That's over now. Now Zuko is calm. He is in full control. Notice how she fires a massive assault towards him, but he stands firm, fearless. He doesn't budge an inch, then with a small motion of his hands he stops the attack in its tracks and splits it on either side. He is exercising total control and discipline. Meanwhile, Azula has lost her usual confidence and her mind is tormented by guilt and paranoia. That's why this fight is great, the fighting styles reflect character development in a physical form.

when i watched avatar, i always felt like there was something deeper happening, but i could never put my finger on it. now watching these analasis videos, i enjoy the show even more knowing there's all this beneath the surface

I have no words but to agree - it is such a POWERFUL scene. God it's always heart wrenching when you remember that Azula is only around 14-15 too. A powerful force to be reckoned with but also so dang young.

The Last Agni Kai is THE best scene in any show I've seen. ATLA is the best show I've ever seen. But, this episode is special to me, because it was the first time I was ever moved to tears. Like you said, it's truly the showdown meant to make you feel. We knew Aang was gonna face off with Ozai, and we knew he had to win. I didn't know Zuko and Azula were gonna fight. But they did, and it was just.. this perfect moment. I've explained to people that her fire is blue because it is technically perfect. She isn't the strongest firebender, she's only 14 MAYBE 15 during this last fight. But she always strove for perfection. And even in her completely wild state, even at her most unhinged. Her firebending is still perfect. She can still produce lightning. Azula was never allowed to be less that perfect, not even when in the throes of a mental breakdown. At 14. She was a horribly abusive person. But she was also horribly abused. And it all culminates in this last fight with her big brother. Her big brother that she still can't "beat" despite being perfect. Her big brother who still has friends. And she is taken down. By his friends. Of course she screams and cries. She's just a little girl. A sad, broken little girl. I love this show. And I love this fight. Thank you for making this video ❤ ** Also, I forgot how many lines I took from this show and specifically Azula lol "You're hilarious," is one of my favorite replies to someone being ridiculous. Said in the same tone and everything. I forgot that I got it from Azula.

The silence is what I love with this. This isn’t your usual fight scene in any TV show or movie or even ATLA. This is something different. This is the destruction of a bond that in normal circumstances is unbreakable. This is a fight to the death that is done between siblings. This is a painful scene and that’s arguably the beauty of this scene

15:28 Katara: "(To Zuko) I'm so proud of you"

When we first meet zuko he is training and iroh tells him what the dragons teach him much later but at the start he ignores iroh's teaching

What a great breakdown. I know it’s the way pretty much everyone feels but it really is my favourite fight in the show.

There are many analysises (?) of this scene and for a good reason, but I never seen one that emphasizes this much what I felt watching this, the tragedy of two siblings brought to this point, and how it turns Azula from a villain to a victim.

The animation in this is beautiful and the music is fantastic that fits so well with the finale.

I love Azula so much. I never had much appreciation for villanous characters - I have friends who are super into those pretty, deranged, lonely Bad Boys and I loved making fun of them for it. A sympathetic character is right there, why did you draw 15 pictures of the dark haired man with a gun instead?? Then I watched Avatar and oh, how the turns have tabled. Now I'm the one with a dozen drawings of Azula looking evil (and some of her looking less evil and healing instead

I just watched this last night for the first time in almost a decade. Strange but wonderful timing! I was following NikFlix reacting to the show while I’m stuck in bed with a broken tailbone. He’s very innocent and open to wonder, empathetic, so his reactions are very entertaining. But I had to watch the finale myself first, and dang. Azula’s trauma just catching up and overrunning her… that was brutal.

Not to mention the score is absolutely freaking phenomenal. The last agni kai is sad,but somber and has a sense of like this needs to be done.

I'm always down for more avatar content, especially from someone who's so good at analyzing it in a meaningful way 😊

I would love to hear your thoughts about more characters and their arcs in this show, thanks for doing lovely work:)

"Just you and me brother" No, it was never just Azula vs Zuko. It was Azula all alone, a 14-year-old abandoned by the world, and Zuko, a 16-year-old who was nearly left alone but had a few key people always standing beside him. The only one alone in this Agni Kai was Azula so of course, she lost. She had lost long before the Agni Kai had even begun.

Great breakdown, one of my favorite fights. Would love more avatar content. Agreed, when Azula loses it's so powerful to see her totally break

I really loved this video my guy. Good work!

Great video, loved your insight🙏🏽

I want to rewatch Avatar now its such an awesome show! Love the Scene breakdowns keep'em coming! (:

Please do a video on Zukos full arc through the show! My favorite character. Love the videos btw!

Yoooo, great review of the fight! While I don't think you said anything new, I still enjoyed seeing your thoughts on it. What I'm really looking forward to is that Sokka video!

This video's analysis is so so good

looooved this, very excited for the possibility of more avatar content ❤

This moment shook all of animation as we know it, nowaday kids will never know how awesome this show was and so many others back then.

Really amazing breakdown! If you ever get the chance, I'd love to see you do a dive into the protagonist and Antagonist of Area 88, and the psychology behind them

Yes more ATLA please!!! This breakdown is phenomenal!!

one of the most iconic moments in history

I think Avatars "secret" was Zuko. Yes you had Aang's destiny to oppose the fire lord but through Zuko we feel thr depth of thr war

super fascinating content

Even Aang and Zuko's final battles mirror each other. They both had to fight their past selves. Just in different ways.

I thibk the other part of that tantrum and breakdown with her tied down and defeated, is that it's not just she lost to Zuko, shes lost the homeland too. Her father as far as she's aware, is off burning the Earth Kingdom and will come home. All that abuse that happened to Zuko, for just speaking out if turn, is gonna be 10 times worse when he comes home to see not only that she lost to Zuko but lost the homeland to him ON THE DAY OF THE COMET. And this time, Dad will do something to her. The terror and fear she must've felt, I saw the tears as the golden child realising shes messed up so badly that now shes gonna get hit with the belt and experience humiliation and abuse. Shes 14, feeling all of this and all alone due to her own actions and theres no escape. Its so tragic.

I think you'll also really like the final battle between naruto and sasuke in naruto shippuden. The whole fight shows both how they grew up and how this fight was what the whole show was building towards. It's meaningful and heavy, and it is given the proper gravity. In all, it's really well made and a fantastic ending

It is indeed a good fight i have a number of favourites like the final duel in return on the jedi ( as was originally released) which is interesting as you have an interesting psychological dynamic. Concerning the agni kai though an interesting thing to mention is the choice of Katara as a companion, from a purely colour point of view you have a blue water bender and a blue lightning bender but two psychological and practical opposites, blue that harms and blue that heals set in a red background which compliments Zukos yellows and orange. The blue serves to make azula more freakish as its mixed with whites where kataras blue is softer and more translucent. This merges nicely into the final phase of the battle. throughout the series there is an interesting choice of colours it is an advantage of animation to be able to manipulate this freer than live action. This is something they must have learned from Japanese animation techniques.

Did you ever do a video on Azula's fall into madness? Would he interesting to look into the relationship between azula and her mom, and what the hallucinations she was having really meant

As I watched this one I had a few interesting revelations about the series. For example, Zuko's first agni kai which resulted in him being physically scarred on one half of his face (a symbol of his emotional scars and his internal conflict) was with his father. His father was presiding over a war meeting and one of his generals advised him to sacrifice a battalion of recruits to gain a tactical advantage. Notice that Ozai didn't suggest it nor did he agree. He simply sat there listening to the advice of others. Perhaps Ozai wanted to see how Zuko would react. Zuko's reply was pure, he wasn't concerned with how others perceived him or afraid of punishment. He simply stated the truth: this strategy was dishonorable. I wonder if part of Ozai was fascinated by Zuko. Think about it, all of his advisors are cowardly yes men who gladly support this imperial war machine which his family has been maintaining. We've already seen that Azulon (Ozai's dad) was pretty messed up too. It isn't unreasonable to imagine that when Ozai was young he might have been a lot like Zuko, bullied by his family to carry on their twisted traditions or face shame. Maybe with Azulon gone and Ozai in power, he sees that he has all the power now and doesn't have to do what Azulon wanted anymore: he is free to determine his own destiny, like Zuko was after he was banished. Ozai's general supports the old way of his father and Zuko represents a new potential path. Two advisors with contrary visions for the fire nation, like an angel and a devil on Ozai's shoulders (the same way Iroh and Azula are Zuko's angel and devil). Ozai decides to put Zuko and his purity to the test. If Ozai's general is truly dishonorable, then surely Ozai is too, as he is in charge of the fire nation and the war. If Zuko is right, then let Zuko stand up and fight him, strike down the evil regime and replace Ozai. Zuko can bring an end to the madness and replace his father as the new firelord, one who will restore the lost honor of the fire nation. Ozai may have been miserable and longed to die in such a way. Of course, Zuko refuses to fight him, because he is too pure. He refuses to sacrifice his father to end the war, potentially saving many lives. This is the same dilemma they debated in the war meeting, and Zuko stays true to his logic. He refuses to sacrifice anyone and maintains his purity at all costs. Then Ozai banishes him and tells him the only way to restore his honor is to "capture the Avatar" who has been gone for hundreds of years. Everyone assumed the Avatar was gone forever, the cycle broken, so this request wasn't serious. It's like telling someone you will forgive them if they "bring me a million dollars," because you assume that is impossible. This might be crazy, but what if Ozai was attempting to set Zuko free, to grant his son a means to escape the twisted tradition which had ruined his life. Ozai figured "I am too far gone to have redemption. I am a monster, like my father, but Zuko can still walk away without corrupting himself." What if burning his face and banishing him was all just an excuse to set Zuko free and keep him far from the sins of the fire nation? It had to look so convincing that nobody would possibly imagine his true intentions. Am I saying he is a good guy? No, of course not, but it is an interesting thought. Maybe Zuko isn't the only one with internal conflict and emotional scars at the hands of his father.

Zuko (or Ozai) wasn’t in direct line to inherit the throne until Lu Ten died (and Iroh didn’t have other children and was older than Ozai, and later the coup solidified Zuko as the heir). Azula is in flashbacks already acting the same way towards Zuko as later. So I don’t know if saying she was jealous of him being the heir is accurate.

Amazing analysis and breakdown but I do have a different opinion about something. I always love the moment when Zuko said, "no lightning today? what's the matter afraid I'll redirect it!" You could have said that partly for the reason you said, but I've always seen it as almost the reversal of roles. It sounds like Zuko trying to bait Azula cuz he knows he can redirect the lightning and beat her. But he didn't know Katara was behind them.

Zuko wasn't being cocky when he baited Azula to use lightning. He was trying to push her into using her most powerful technique so he could redirect it for the killing blow.

This was fantastic, would love more on avatar maybe on toph?

You’re right about that. I never like how Azula manipulate Zuko and make him do things that keep him questioning himself. But, when Azula just scream and crying, I felt sorrow she never had someone there for her. Sure, before her friends left her. There were still a disconnect between her and her friends. I don’t know I start feeling sorry for Azula after how much I can relate to her during that beach day episode

I never watched Avatar but I enjoy all your videos. Maybe since you've started so many new series lately, you could go back and tie up a few of the older ones (Good Will Hunting, Spirited Away, the Breakfast Club)?

I’d love to see more “Avatar” content

Perfect!

Thank you

I think the fight in Crossroads of Destiny is the best fight because it adds to the story and develops my favourite character. Book 2 is my favourite season and this is my second favourite episode. That one being Zuko Alone.

the five dislikes is azula making five different accounts

Just the music alone tells you that it will not be your typical fight scene

Please do more!! Evolution of toph!

Here for the avatar content 😍😍

Can you do a charecter analysis of the diffrent avatars? I like the supposed avatar Yun from the Kiyoshi books. I hope one day his story eill be animated.

Nice.

PLEASE MORE AVITAR!

Heck yeah I want more Avatar!!! 😄😄😄

Aang may have been the main character, but it was truely Zuko's story we followed imo

Great fight scene, Great show

Nice

Yes! More Avatar!

Wonderful content again, thanks a lot. Maybe I'm just projecting my own experience but it seems you are a bit tired, maybe you like to take a break? Xx thank again

you should watch neon genesis evangelion. i feel like that would be a goldmine for this channel

1.3k likes and only 2 dislikes...that is a fantastic ratio for any video.

A comment said he would rather have a crazy strategist like Azula rule over him/her rather than a puppet like Zuko. I thought about it... I understand what he/she means. Firebenders'main trait is to have an ambition and the will to fulfill it. Zuko has neither. Sure, the Fire Nation had to be stoped. But they had to give up what made them...well, them. Zuko should have killed his father back in the "Day of the Black Sun". He might not get the throne and his father's legacy might live on... but at least the nation will remain loyal to their souls and follow the natural course of things. Which is to wither, die and give birth to new life.

I'm at work, watch later thumbs up now...

I believe that Zuko challenges Azula to two Agni Kais before this fight. But in both of them, he's clearly the weaker opponent seeking some way, any way, to notch a victory on her that people will recognize. Azula swats both down because she's secure in her position and doesn't need a stupid duel to prove something. During the Last Agni Kai, however, Azula's confidence is shattered. She DESPERATELY needs a way to prove she's on top, because she doesn't feel it anymore. But she cannot admit that outright, as her whole identity is based on her being better than Zuko. So SHE issues the challenge. Azula wants to prove she can beat Zuko. And she loses in the same way Zuko would have lost if he fought her earlier. In essence, their roles have reversed. Zuko probably wouldn't have even accepted this offer if he didn't have anything to gain by it, in the same way Azula didn't accept it when Zuko challenged her before - but he did have something to gain that this made easier - not involving anyone but the two of them, including the Fire Sages who Azula would have ordered to defend her if he refused the Agni Kai and then proceeded to fight her.

Please do more Avatar videos 🙏

What is it like studying psychology in university because I’m considering it but I’d like to know the topics and stuff.

You should do one on stand by me

I will always click on an Avatar video! (I'd also love to see an anime get some love too if you're open to the idea!) Keep up the great work!

I know it’s probably an obvious thing but I’d love to hear your thoughts on the fight between iron man vs captain America and the winter soldier in avengers civil war, just seeing as there’s no clear protagonist

I loved it. Azula‘s and Zuko‘s story was always the main story for me. Everything else was just too comedic and unserious.

I cant believe you didnt mention the techniques zuko was using. They were literally paralleling other bending types. The very first move he does is a waterbending move. Then a firebending move (which symbolically destroys the palace behind her), then 2 earthbending moves (first defensive to dismiss her firekick, and second offensive which was the bouncing dragon [note azula is suprised here because shes never seen a firebending move like this before]), and then airbending moves (the jump up into the air, the slamdown from the air, and the cycling kicks to throw azula off her feet as she circles zuko), only to come full circle again to waterbending as zuko redirects lightning. Nobody is covering this

I…am the Phoenix King! (Falls) Oh. Sorry, didn’t mean to offend you *Phoenix King-of-getting-his-butt-whooped.*

Zuko knows he can beat her

More avatar, always more avatar

second 😏 that's silver babyyy 😎

the live action wont be able to do this justice

more avataaaaaaar

I love Katarra, but I gotta say. She was a moron during the agni kai. Zuko was in control up until she intervened. I won't forgive the writers for that one. Maybe if they made the fires were getting too out of hand and she was forced out, I wouldn't have minded... but that was a stupid move on her part mainly because of the writers.

Don't agree with the whole emphasis that Azula broke down because she lost "power" or really anything to do with the notion that Azula somehow craved power. Power-hungry Azula isn't Azula and is a huge misunderstanding of her character because not once in the show does the text resort to this line of thinking with Azula. She doesn't speak about her own personal glory, it's always been about the Fire Nation and The Fire Lord with Azula. She literally took over Ba Sing Se and dipped, and even when she took over she speaks of the victory in group pronouns and speaks of the Fire Nation's victory, never her own. Azula is complicated as shit but at the end of the day she's just Ozai's dog, a pawn who played into everything he did because Azula's only motivation is to be better than Zuko and please her father, she barely has any agency to do otherwise.

First 第一個人

Am I the only one that found this scene disappointing?