Conflicted characters like Zuko make for riveting viewing for simple reason that as the viewer, we are hoping that Zuko makes the right choice. For one, they are a team, second, they are opposites and lastly, they provide ample sources for humour throughout the series. Why these two are great example of characters isn’t hard to see.
The reunion of Zuko and Iroh remains one of the most poignant in the series as we see how readily Iroh forgives Zuko but also how Zuko’s character has strengthened to the point where he feels able (if unsure) about seeking said forgiveness. Actively returning the lighting which Ozai himself created is symbolic of Zuko’s rejection of his father aims as well as a foreshadowing of how Ozai’s actions will result in his own downfall. Yes, he has an agnai kai with Azula in the finale, but it is his father with whom his frustrations are based on the most. From a character standpoint, it is the pinnacle of Zuko’s presence within the series. Here we see Zuko realising how wrong he has been and how he intends to make amends. Zuko’s anger and frustration with those around him make for many memorable scenes throughout the series but none more so than his confrontation with the Fire Lord in Book 3. For Iroh, it is the fact that he views Zuko as the son he lost, and therefore needs to protect him, sometimes from himself. For much of the series, it is Zuko’s desire to reclaim his honour and his belief that capturing the Avatar will accomplish this. Their motivation is simple (although Zuko’s changes over time) and their actions are influenced from obvious sources. What Makes Them Great CharactersĪlthough both Zuko and Iroh are relatively complex characters, they are the simplest of all the main characters. A noble feat for any character, but especially so for one as conflicted as Zuko. Only in Book 3 do we see Zuko actually peer within himself to determine who he truly is. Zuko’s lessons over the course of the series make for especially riveting viewing, although it is only in the confrontation with Iroh at the end of Book 2 do we see how he fails to learn from them. Age and experience has helped bring him whole, as it does Zuko. Ever since, Iroh has resolved to be a different, better person. That is to say, he was once as egotistical as Fire Lord Ozai, for which the price the price was paid with his son’s life. Iroh’s flaw is hinted at over the course of the first two books but only in book 3 is his character, and its flaw, fully revealed. Both characters are flawed although only Zuko’s is readily apparent and relevant to the vast majority of viewers. It is the sparks that constantly fly between the two characters that provide the entertainment with Zuko often being on the receiving end of a lesson. A self-confessed “changed man”, the reason for Iroh’s pairing with Zuko only becomes more apparent, and meaningful, as the series progresses. Iroh in stark contrast is a former heir to the throne but since his son was killed in the war, has become more of a background figure in Fire Nation politics. Living in the shadow of his sister, Azula, has given him a bit of a chip on his shoulder and causes him to challenge almost anyone he meets. From the onset of the series, it’s made clear that despite his royal privileges, his life has been a bit of a struggle. The kind one expects to find within a royal family. Zuko is the heir to the throne, but he is a young, abrasive, naive prince. The story behind it is simple, Zuko is banished and Iroh is sent to accompany him as a pseudo trainer/chaperone but the underlying tension is what makes things so wonderfully complex and human. Yet these characters are two peas in a pod and their relationship is one of the best in the entire series. The young, brash Zuko and the calm, sage Iroh. Needless to say, there are spoilers ahead. The reason is simple they’re a fantastic and eclectic bunch that merit some discussion and analysis. Starting this week is the first in a series of posts on the characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender.