I knew your name was familiar. Glad I found this video again. That soldier boy line hits fucking hard. Btw, you can thank head writer Aaron Ehasz and his wife for Zuko--those two have the writing credits for _all_ the eps propelling Zuko's brilliant character arc.
"Can you imagine that? Spending 3 years trying to gain something, but at the end, realising it s a mistake?" Yeah, thats called going into a useless degree for college. LOL
@@nurfaizaladkha2368 It depends, only STEM majors are actually usefull when studying college. Science, Mathematics, and also law and economics. Other than that, anything in the arts and social studies and sports is completely utterly useless.
Amanda Anaya honeslty when i was done watching the whole series and the cartoons/manga i felt empty, really. i want to watch LOK but when i found in the first episode sokka and aang died, i couldnt watching it anymore. The story of ATLA was just perfect. zuko, toph, aang, katara and sokka were just perfect and not to forget about appa and momo. I hope one day they will remake the ATLA but maybe when they are older, and when theirs a new enemy for them. I dont want to see Korra and want to see the Avatar Squad
thats probably the stuipdest and most unreasonable "reason" i have ever heard not to watch the amazingness that is korra. but your opinion i guess, sorry for you, your missing out
Come At Me Dog I'd like them to make an animated episode about what happened to Zuko's mom and how team Avatar found her. I know there's a comic book about it but I've always wondered why they didn't make that into an animated version...
True every character had character development... Aang was kind of centered but thats because he was the Avatar. Zuko though is like up there for top picks for a main character, more so if there was a final decision aang would be chosen
Much of Zuko's appeal is in the dramatic change he undergoes. Of all the characters, he was the one who changed the most. Sure, Aang grew some backbone, but that's about the extent of his character development. Zuko, by contrast, changed so much that the only thing that had not changed was the scar. He started out a little boy, angry at the world, desperate to prove himself to his father. By the end, he is someone worthy of taking up the mantle of Fire Lord. For that reason, Zuko is my second-favorite character (only surpassed by Uncle Iroh, because it's Uncle Iroh.)
You're right that he underwent a tremendous transformation. The thing that never changed was his pride and honor. He always had that through everything.
I think part of what makes Aang great is exactly what you just said. He didn't change his values throughout the series, which can sometimes be even harder than changing. He is a 12 year old boy who had to master the four elements and save the world in the shortest span of time conceivable. After initially running from his responsibilities (freezing in the iceberg), he had to learn to uphold the responsibilities instead. So many times he had the opportunity to give up or even change sides, and he didn't. Instead he chose to keep trying to do the hardest thing possible. One of the most powerful moments in the series for me is when the comet arrives and Aang is believed to have vanished again when he is needed most. Instead he shows up AND is able to defeat the fire lord without killing him. He kept his beliefs and found a way to save the world different from what everyone was trying to force him to do, even his past lives (kill the fire lord). Having a character like Aang and a character like Zuko in the same series is one of the main reasons why Avatar the Last Airbender is one of the greatest shows of all time. Look at two characters and their relationship in the first episode and compare that to the last episode. So much growth, so many obstacles conquered, so much learned. The writers are insanely talented.
It's interesting that we start off by hating Zuko and the last thing we'd want is him to become the firelord. Then when he does in the end, we're happy mothafuckas
I always thought the soldier boy was Iroh's son. He didn't get to come marching home and that's why Iroh's voice cracks a little when he sings that part.
I really agree with you Zuko is a amazing character and possibly my favorite too. Simlar to him I had a tramtic childhood and trying to get people to be friends. I was angry all the time! I couldn't express the pain. Like Zuko I gotten over it and I'm much better and I'm now stronger. ps. I have a crush Zuko for the reasons above because I can relate to him. Although I have to admit, he is cute 💖💟
the rwby lover I too had a major crush on Zuko! Oh and your a RWBY fan! Yay! do you think a similar thing might happen with Emerald? I think it's kinda hinted in that last episode. I was kinda hoping for a similar arc for Roman but I guess that's not gonna happen. Man I really wanted to make the joke "the fringe is NOT on the wrong side" but oh well. So yeah you like my two favorite shows! :D so I just had to reply to you!
You kind of reminded of Iroh while I was listening to this. If Iroh was telling someone the story of Zuko's life, he'd probably say everything that you said. But yes, I agree with you 100 percent. I had been watching Avatar since it first came out. I even saw the first episode on the day it first aired. Just like you, in the beginning, I hated Zuko. I thought he was this selfish, hot-headed freak, trying to capture the avatar. But as the series progressed, and I started understanding where Zuko came from and what kind of person he really is, I started to like Zuko and he ended becoming my favorite avatar character. My favorite part is when Zuko confronts Ozai during the eclipse.
A note to add to Zuko's story: when he was sent to hunt down the Avatar, it was considered a fool's errand, a way of tormenting him with a shred of hope, rather than just kicking him out of the Fire Nation. Had his father merely exiled him, with no path of return, Zuko probably would have just settled down somewhere, made a life for himself, and eventually, he may have been happy. But with the hope of capturing the Avatar and regaining what he had lost, he could never just settle down; it kept the wound open and festering for years and years, when the odds of him succeeding were considered astronomical. Note that, when capturing the Avatar started to look like a reasonably attainable goal, many high-ranking Fire Nation officials, especially Admiral Zhou, immediately set about trying to prevent him from attaining his goals, with the blessing and full support of Zuko's father Ozai. Ozai was quite the sadist, and that really showed in Zuko's beliefs, actions, and struggles.
Oof... you're right, I've never even fully realized that before. It's amazing how even when I think i've realized everything about avatar and it's characters, I am proven wrong again and again by learning a new detail, getting a new realization, and my appreciation for the show only grows stronger.
Im not even sure if Ozai was a psychopath or a sociopath at this point. Because he abused he's wife, he hated Zuko because he's mom said something she shouldn't say, didn't loved Azula at all it was he's little "killer machine". Also did i forget to mention Azula developed schizophrenia? I mean not in the TV show but the after comic.
@@mar-chantheintrovertedweeb2880 I think Ozai was a lot like Azula. Second in line to the throne, so close yet so far, doomed to a life of serving someone less talented for simply being born younger than they were. Intelligent and confident but always considered less important through no fault of your own. The only way up is to do something... unthinkable.
@@RationalOrc arguably iroh *wasn't* less talented than ozai - he didn't earn the nickname "dragon of the west" for nothing - but he awakened to the horrors of fire nation imperialism much sooner than the rest of the royal family and that was perceived as weakness. i'm a little surprised so many missed the point of zuko's quest in the beginning. "i can't return home until i capture someone who's been missing for 100 years and is presumed dead and the reincarnation cycle broken." they establish this in the very first episode. i thought it was obvious that it was a way of exiling zuko permanently while torturing him with the infinitesimal possibility of return.
I still think that it was Lu Ten who Iroh was talking about in the song. I saw someone's extended lyrics of it which were really sad, but didn't fit the description of Zuko at all (because in the lyrics, the boy died in the war)
ZUKO IS AMAZNG!, when lately watching the whole series again, i kinda felt like zuko is the actual main character of it, because the destiny of aang was already written, from the very beginning, but no one truly knew whats gonna happen with zuko and the way he found himself was so interesting to find out about, especially in book 2.
Richard Roy zuko is a main charater. In season 2 zuko is no longer really hunting aang. Yet he still gets a lot of screen time as he slowly transforms from a antagonist to a protagonist.
Jamie Bouckaert yeah he's a main character but I think what Richard Roy was trying to get at what that Zuko was THE main protagonist in Atla and not Aang
Budway AnimeCore That doesn't make him the main charater. It makes him the more interesting characters for sure. However the entire story is really about aang, because the story is about the avatar hence the title. However zuko was more of a main charater than katara or soka. As he had his own story that flowed under aang' s. Just because a charater is liked more doesn't make them the main charater.
Jamie Bouckaert yes I agree that aang is the main character I was just clarifying a hypothetical brought up by someone else. I never said I agreed with it though. Zuko still my favorite character tho
Okay... this amazing video legitimately moved me to tears. Zuko has always been my favourite character, in anything, and watching him grow throughout the Avatar series is, in my opinion, where the series really flourishes. It displays a dimensionality uncommon in most other writing - the antagonist is a human being we can empathise with. He has motivations we can understand, and every time he fails we feel sad for him - even as the protagonist and his friends fly off into the sunset, we still worry about Zuko. Isn't that amazing? The writing of this character is nothing short of magnificent, and the way he continues on is just downright inspiring. And can I say - "he always had his honour". Best thing I've ever heard anyone say about Zuko. Period.
Zuko is why I watched the show. *Edit:* To clarify, he’s why I _kept_ watching- I watched the show in the first place because a friend recommended it (and a certain internet critic I highly respected at the time). _His_ journey felt like the driving force of the show more than Aang’s did. Other favorites are Iroh, who is probably my single favorite character in the show the more I watch it, and Toph.
Prince Zuko is also my favourite character of all time - I watched Avatar The Last Airbender over and over again just to see Zuko, feel his pain and his struggles, laugh and cry alongside with him and then realize that in real life, we do need to fail to learn, to grow and to do the right thing just like Zuko. I just simply love him.
"Hello, Zuko here" "It keeps blowing up in my face, like everything always does" "The scar's NOT on the wrong side!" "Zuko, you have to look within yourself to save yourself from your other self. Only then will your true self reveal itself" "Why am I so bad at being good?" *Zuko has the best lines, hands down*
Zuko is truly my favorite character in any show I've ever seen. My favorite line of his is, "You're going to fail a lot before things work out. Even though you'll probably fail over and over and over again, you have to 'try' every time. You can't quit because you're afraid you 'might' fail." This quote is actually on my desk at work, to remind me to keep pushing through every time I want to quit something. I feel like this quote itself really described Zuko's character. A young man who, no matter how many times he failed (which was A LOT), he still tried. He still pushed through all his anguish and strife. Think about it. He was set out to find someone who hadn't been seen in 100 years. Did that make him quit? No. He was so determined to find the Avatar, even after the odds were against him. And little did he know when he was banished that capturing the Avatar wasn't his true destiny. His destiny was to help the Avatar to help his own nation in the long run. A nation that banished him and made him out to be basically nothing more than a big joke. Zuko is the most inspiration, well-written character of all time. He's truly the best!
Zuko was the real main character... I think the connection with Katara really helped them both to realize who they are that’s why “Zutara” is a thing because it really shows the character development not because they look good together or other shallow reason..
Zuko was my favorite character the moment he appeared on screen. I honestly had no idea the change he would go through and honestly he would probably still have been my favorite even if he hadn't changed at all. There was just something about him that I really liked. But now, having finished the series and getting to see who he became, I can really appreciate him so much more than I could when I first started the series. He will definitely always be my favorite (besides Iroh).
I love Zuko as character. He is very inspirational character. This video almost made tear up. He’s Absolutely my favorite character in the entire show.
wow you realy have a talent with words. you did a realy good job. maby you should become a writer. also Zuko is my favorite too. Well, yeah but man the other characters are so amazing and reflect life so much too. atla is a truly amazing show. i think this deepness in atla is what's missing alot in lok.
what I love about zuko so much is that he never cared about the money. even when he was first introduced. all he ever wanted was his father's love, and when he goes back to the fire nation you could see a clear difference between his sister who loved to abuse get fame and power, and zuko who still treated his servants like people. His charater showed us that while money can make you happy. Money is not the only thing that brings happiness. Zuko shows us that their is never a reason to give up.
"My whole life, I've struggled to gain my father's love and acceptance. But once I had it, I realized I'd lost myself getting there. I'd forgotten who I was." - Zuko
Aang is why I picked up the series and watched it through the first time. Zuko is why I finished the whole thing in 2 days and watched it through a second and third time.
That was beautiful and so on point! I deal with anger a lot and characters like zuko are very rare and complicated, but really easy for people like me to relate to.
I also love how he had to find his fire bending again after making the decision to help Aang. I loved that he had to find another source for his fire bending other than anger and hatred. He became all the more stronger for it.
I hated Zuko at the beginning. He was impatient, annoying and even childish. But in time I started to learn more about him and even understand how he fell, much because I can relate to his feeling about being frustrated, angry and want everything to go back. The more I watched the series, the more I hoped to see more of Zuko to learn more about him, and in the end... I as many others loved this character. Because something I really do love in a serie is character development and actually feel how things goes forward. And Zuko is the one character that takes the biggest step from the beginning until the end in the entire series. And he even continued to be still interesting in The Legend of Korra. You won a sub from me here. ^_^ Also an extra gold star in the corner for Quote Doug Walker /The Nostalgia Critic ;)
@@sarveshnathan7559 Ahh Sasuke was willing to mass murder innocents over the choices of a few old people. Joined a mass murdering organization that mass murdered his fellow countrymen and was forgiven too soon. I love the written character but he should've gotten the guillotine specially after the stunt he pulled after the end. That's why naruto is not a believable story on that sense. Mass murdering psychos can be turned around by some generic fake underdog Goku rippoff because "friendship". Zuko is superior in every way.
@@sarveshnathan7559 I didn't oversimplify anything but made an accurate summary unlike you. Zuko never threatened Aang's life but wanted to capture him. He had multiple chances to kill him if that was the case and he didn't. Zuko always felt a guilty conscience over his deeds but hid them with anger. Nobody died in the village what are you talking about? Zuko's threats never surmounted to anything but threats. Not a single murder is on him unlike Sasuke who made a conscious and thought out decision to mass murder thousands. I remember him
@@sarveshnathan7559 actually it didn't take him 3 whole seasons. He did turn a new leaf season two and even chose to live a simple life. He stole for survival not pleasure. If it wasn't for Kakashi or Naruto, Sasuke would've murdered Sakura cold blooded like he did to Karin. Sasuke never once showed any remorse for what he did and even told his classmates he didn't care what they all thought about him. Zuko suffered and paid for what he did in every way. Yes a 14 year old abused boy wanted his father's approval. He did better than many grown people who are in their 40's still doing it (I know some in real life). Then he turns the sword towards his own father. Those episodes actually are in canon longer in time frame. After becoming firelord Zuko tried to undo all the evils of his nation while Sasuke became deadbeat dad over some paranoia over the Otsusuki when he had entire nations he could rely to do some spy work. Raise your daughter fool lol. You can't compare Kishimoto's poorly written characters to Avatar's. It's not even a match.
@@Thiago_Alves_Souza LOL I never said Zuko killed anyone in Kyoshi village, all I said was he disregarded the people living there. " Sasuke never once showed any remorse for what he did and even told his classmates he didn't care what they all thought about him. " He literally went a journey of atonement after the war. Bringing up Sasuke wanting to murder numerous people is irrelevant, since he retracted it after learning more about the concept of a village from the Hokages, realizing his anger and hatred was misplaced. And also, Sasuke being a murderer =/= poorly written Condemning Sasuke for wanting to destroy the Leaf now, is like condemning Zuko for wanting to capture the Avatar EOS. Naruto has a plethora of amazing characters, not just Sasuke but also: Itachi Madara Gaara Nagato Orochimaru Minato Naruto Jiraiya Kakashi Just to name a few. If you're going to give me a video, I shall as well, to counter: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-huFWCLgELQo.html
I liked Zuko because he was relate-able. My life has been a large mess of shitty deals after shitty deals. Not as bad as some, but still bad. However with the help of a teacher and my own realizations I managed to turn shit around. I had something much like Zuko, I had everything I wanted, but I wasn't happy. Then I found out it is the little things that matter, not the big extravagant events. Having friends who are there for you and brothers who would give their life for yours is more important than all the money in the world.
I love Zuko. He is such a strong character. I always thought Zuko's depth was overlooked. He is such an intensely strong person. This is how I feel about him. I wish he was real. I really do.
I liked Zuko from the first episode! I always got the feeling there was more to him than just an angry teen. He's one of my favorite characters too, and definitely my favorite from the show. Great vid!
Honestly Zuko and Iroh's relationship is one of my all time favorites as well, it's made of all that is right in this world, so pure and god I'm going to cry
This is flat out amazing..... My favorite character is Zuko as well..... I love the fact that he found his honor by assisting the avatar... Very well thought out....
great video, Zuko has an amazing arc and as the firelord...... a firelord working with his friends to usher in an era of peace and redeeming his nation, is extremely satisfying. He's an example of how someone is never too far gone to find the light. Especially like the Doug Walker quote.
what can i say about zuko other than he's probably one of my favorite 'avatar: the last airbender' characters of all time!!!! at first, i kept looking on the surface of him thinking he was the bad guy of the series, but i was wrong!!! zuko's one of those characters who's on a journey of redemption and at the same time he's trying to find his own path to follow!!! amazing video!!
Yes! I felt the same when I watched Avatar (even though I just watched it as an adult) - I hated Zuko at first, but the more I learned about him and the more I saw him grow, the more I appreciated him. Season 3 is definitely when Zuko became my favorite character. I was hoping he'd join Aang and the others in season 2, but in hindsight it meant so much more once he'd gained everything he had worked so hard for and had to turn his back on it to change sides. He's relatable, admirable, and flawed - making him a fantastic character for a show. Your points are so well said! As a side note, Iroh is a great character too!
Thank you so much for making this amazing analysis about Zuko. I agree with everything you've said about him. He's my favourite character, too and really really love his development. I think Zuko is the main reason why I've watched the show so many times :D
Great video! I love Zuko. He’s my favorite character (both in the show and of all time characters). He has a great character development and probably the most complex character. Also love the quote you got from Doug Walker.
Zuko seems like his character was inspired by vegeta of dbz: an angsty prince who always seeked to redeem his honor as the would be king of his home and prove he's the best in the world , always seemed to not know how to pick his fights, made bad and self destructive decisions , struggled his whole life as the "bad guy", has high pride and honor about one self , until they befriend a care free, selfless yet powerful "man-child" (Goku) and join his adventures to be the heroes of the planet
This made me cry. I wanted to make a video about why I love Zuko, but I see you've already succeeded. I couldn't have said this better myself. He's such an amazing character.
That green mile music in the background, oh my, I rarely cry about movies but I was weeping for days after that film, combined with zukos suffering and I'm in tears right now
Extremely well done! I couldn't agree more. I especially liked your insightful comment that Zuko is a great example that we need to fail to learn to win. Excellent!
I love zuko in the last book his character development was stunning and when he tries to redeem himself to the avatar it was the best you can actually feel his pain and mistakes as if they were yours
I was zuko for Halloween as a kid like 10 years ago, one of my favorite Halloween’s ever, my sister even painted the scar too, my fav character ever as well
I liked your video. I really wish the same happens to Draco Malfoy too. I think some people could see their self in Zuko, with different degree of course. and Having Zuko in avatar really helps to see what a person could with their life. thanks for making this video!
THE STORM: when I realized this story was about Zuko. DAY OF BLACK SUN: when I realized this was the best character of the best story I'd ever come across. This is a great video, my man.
Just my way of saying I thought that he stole the show and had the most interesting character evolution. Not being the shows focal point probably contributed to that interest as I was certainly left wanting more of him.
This is so deep wow. I used to be a uh difficult kid but eventually I turned my life around, Zuko's story is really relating to me and this video is really good for that :)
well... He can be a bit sometimes, especially when it comes to girls... (Note, him breaking up with Mai over scroll, or what would be it's real world equivalent, text message.)
I LITERALLY ALMOST CRIED, I LOVED THIS! And it's so true how people struggling with real things in their lives can interpret Zuko's problems and solutions to help themselves
I think zuko is one of the most realistic characters of all time. I felt the same as you when I watched him struggle to regain his honor in different ways.
OMG you did an amazing job on this video! Every word you said was how I feel about Zuko is was my second favorite character my first of course is Aang.
wow! this was so beautifully said! and I completely agree with everything your saying.. zuko is also my favorite character.. I think that he is the one that develops most out of all of the characters. he goes from being angry and confused and so driven on getting his honor that it over powers the good side of him, but then he realizes and goes to being happy and no longer confused he knows where he belongs and what his destiny is. I mean to me that's one hell of a character..
I admire Zuko the most. He always laid everything out 100%. Only seeking the truth and Honor/integrity. I feel he's the most inspiring character. And I seek to emulate his transformation in my own life.
Agreed with you 100% His background and the choices he made (like joined Azula again) make him in my opinion one of the few characters with humanity on tv, I mean that he acts like a human and thinks like a human, so many can really relate to him
