Character Info
Character
Name: Zuko
Series: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Timeline: Mid Episode 3.13: The Firebending Masters
Canon Resource Links: If Zuko’s Wiki page doesn’t say enough…I’m doomed.
Affiliation: Trainer!
Pokemon
Starter: Charmander hereby known as Trogdor
Personality: Zuko was first presented to us as one of the series’ main antagonists, but he has shown a lot of development that has proven him to be less of a villain and more of a confused, bitter, and complex teenager. Zuko’s main ambition is the place as heir to the Fire Nation thrown and his father’s love. Initially Zuko believed that capturing the Avatar was what would bring him this honor and restore him to his place in life, which is probably why he was so truly determined to capture him-he had more to lose than anyone else.
One of Zuko’s beliefs is that a person can become truly strong through their struggles and by fighting for what they want in life. He also expresses that he has no luck-Azula was born lucky while he was lucky to be born-and he has the world against him even if her has the strength to change his destiny. Having this belief system makes Zuko very defiant of the circumstances set against him and perhaps is a key in what makes him so determined. He is a clever, if hot-headed by. Still he lets his temper get the best of him often, on top of rarely thinking every situation through which can cause him trouble-like capturing Aang in the North Pole only to have a blizzard to walk through, or later in the Sun Warrior’s temple where he takes the Sun Stone without thinking about the possibility of there being a trap. His uncle is critical of the negatives of these traits, and Zuko is making an attempt to grow past them.
As said before, Zuko is complex and confused, and this is represented in his many other conflicting traits and behaviors. One example is his initial domineering and controlling behavior, clearly a trait of Fire Nation royalty, and yet he refuses to see forces as being purely expendable. During his exile, Zuko pursued Aang with something close to obsession, saying that the capture of the Avatar was of the greatest priority, still in several instances where he had the chance to capture Aang he calls his crew off for their own safety, or in one case abandons the chase completely to save his uncle Iroh.
As we move into book two, we are faced with a despairing Zuko. Having been marked as a fugitive and on the run from his sister, Zuko has lost his chances of returning home and being forgiven-basically his sole driving purpose in life up to that point. He has nothing left to him and he lashes out, and only turns back when he realizes that something can come out of nothing if you look for it. This is where he starts to reveal a more patient, kind, and to an extent calculating side; all traits necessary to make due in the world as well as avoid detection from Azula.
While Zuko was moving toward being a more positive person following events within the Earth Kingdom, he is finally caught by Azula who taps into his deep seated desire for their father’s love and approval and is thus convinced to betray Iroh. Despite this betrayal he tries to insist he had truly changed, even though his is conflicted with his choice and feels guilty for turning on his uncle. This guilt eats at him even after a glorious return to the Fire Nation. He should have everything he ever wanted with his restored honor and the apparent respect of his father, but he finds himself feeling angry and confused. His temper grew even more out of balance during this time, causing him to get into fights with several people. He later reveals that he is angry at himself because he isn’t sure if he knows right from wrong anymore.
These conflicted feelings continue for some time, as Zuko continues to wear the new mask of the perfect son and prince even though he knows it isn’t who he is anymore. He doesn’t truly break from this until he comes to terms with his true destiny to help the Avatar restore balance to the world. This is where the Zuko we knew comes back to the surface as he confronts his father with a zeal and resolve he has hardly shown to the man.
While we have a hint of the old Zuko back, it is clear he has grown since then, and is more willing to be open. Once at the Western Air Temple, in his attempts to prepare for talking to Team Avatar about joining their group, we see the first hints of an awkward an bumbling prince-one that probably hadn’t shown that side of him since he was young. He shows regret for his actions to the Avatar and his friends, and for the first time humbles himself before another person. He is so willing to help, that at the denial of his friendship he offers himself up as a prisoner instead to try an prove how serious he is about his offer. Outside of the first true signs of regret, we also see him trying to be easy going and even comical. He impersonates his uncle and sister while practicing talking to Aang, and after awhile even jokes with the team in regards to his previous habits of chasing them down. All in all, being around the group lets him drop the shield he always had as a prince and an exiled member of the fire nation, and simply be himself-be a teenager.
Strengths/Weaknesses: Zuko’s strength is one of the very things his father called a weakness. He has a compassion for others he doesn’t always show. He cares about their well being and mortality and will go out of his way to ensure their safety-even if they are people he doesn’t particularly like.
In terms of ability though, Zuko has all the training of a warlord’s son. He knows how to strategize and can come up with plans on the fly. While his bending is null and void here, he has the training to hold his own in a fight if something should happen where he couldn’t rely on his pokemon. Also, despite his affinity for fire, he is extremely adept at swimming and has been known to be able to stay under water for prolonged periods-not sure where that strength will lend itself, but hey it’s there.
In terms of weaknesses, Zuko’s are purely mental. His father banished him at a young age, and his mother completely disappeared long before that. He has some abandonment issues because of that as well as a undying need to prove his own self worth. He’s gotten better, but it still flares up from time to time. This lends to his emotional instability-Zuko is extremely hot headed, and he does let it affect his ability to think clearly sometimes. Needless to say, he could likely lose a battle if his opponent rattles his nerves enough to affect his judgment.
Name: Zuko
Series: Avatar: the Last Airbender
Timeline: Mid Episode 3.13: The Firebending Masters
Canon Resource Links: If Zuko’s Wiki page doesn’t say enough…I’m doomed.
Affiliation: Trainer!
Pokemon
Starter: Charmander hereby known as Trogdor
Personality: Zuko was first presented to us as one of the series’ main antagonists, but he has shown a lot of development that has proven him to be less of a villain and more of a confused, bitter, and complex teenager. Zuko’s main ambition is the place as heir to the Fire Nation thrown and his father’s love. Initially Zuko believed that capturing the Avatar was what would bring him this honor and restore him to his place in life, which is probably why he was so truly determined to capture him-he had more to lose than anyone else.
One of Zuko’s beliefs is that a person can become truly strong through their struggles and by fighting for what they want in life. He also expresses that he has no luck-Azula was born lucky while he was lucky to be born-and he has the world against him even if her has the strength to change his destiny. Having this belief system makes Zuko very defiant of the circumstances set against him and perhaps is a key in what makes him so determined. He is a clever, if hot-headed by. Still he lets his temper get the best of him often, on top of rarely thinking every situation through which can cause him trouble-like capturing Aang in the North Pole only to have a blizzard to walk through, or later in the Sun Warrior’s temple where he takes the Sun Stone without thinking about the possibility of there being a trap. His uncle is critical of the negatives of these traits, and Zuko is making an attempt to grow past them.
As said before, Zuko is complex and confused, and this is represented in his many other conflicting traits and behaviors. One example is his initial domineering and controlling behavior, clearly a trait of Fire Nation royalty, and yet he refuses to see forces as being purely expendable. During his exile, Zuko pursued Aang with something close to obsession, saying that the capture of the Avatar was of the greatest priority, still in several instances where he had the chance to capture Aang he calls his crew off for their own safety, or in one case abandons the chase completely to save his uncle Iroh.
As we move into book two, we are faced with a despairing Zuko. Having been marked as a fugitive and on the run from his sister, Zuko has lost his chances of returning home and being forgiven-basically his sole driving purpose in life up to that point. He has nothing left to him and he lashes out, and only turns back when he realizes that something can come out of nothing if you look for it. This is where he starts to reveal a more patient, kind, and to an extent calculating side; all traits necessary to make due in the world as well as avoid detection from Azula.
While Zuko was moving toward being a more positive person following events within the Earth Kingdom, he is finally caught by Azula who taps into his deep seated desire for their father’s love and approval and is thus convinced to betray Iroh. Despite this betrayal he tries to insist he had truly changed, even though his is conflicted with his choice and feels guilty for turning on his uncle. This guilt eats at him even after a glorious return to the Fire Nation. He should have everything he ever wanted with his restored honor and the apparent respect of his father, but he finds himself feeling angry and confused. His temper grew even more out of balance during this time, causing him to get into fights with several people. He later reveals that he is angry at himself because he isn’t sure if he knows right from wrong anymore.
These conflicted feelings continue for some time, as Zuko continues to wear the new mask of the perfect son and prince even though he knows it isn’t who he is anymore. He doesn’t truly break from this until he comes to terms with his true destiny to help the Avatar restore balance to the world. This is where the Zuko we knew comes back to the surface as he confronts his father with a zeal and resolve he has hardly shown to the man.
While we have a hint of the old Zuko back, it is clear he has grown since then, and is more willing to be open. Once at the Western Air Temple, in his attempts to prepare for talking to Team Avatar about joining their group, we see the first hints of an awkward an bumbling prince-one that probably hadn’t shown that side of him since he was young. He shows regret for his actions to the Avatar and his friends, and for the first time humbles himself before another person. He is so willing to help, that at the denial of his friendship he offers himself up as a prisoner instead to try an prove how serious he is about his offer. Outside of the first true signs of regret, we also see him trying to be easy going and even comical. He impersonates his uncle and sister while practicing talking to Aang, and after awhile even jokes with the team in regards to his previous habits of chasing them down. All in all, being around the group lets him drop the shield he always had as a prince and an exiled member of the fire nation, and simply be himself-be a teenager.
Strengths/Weaknesses: Zuko’s strength is one of the very things his father called a weakness. He has a compassion for others he doesn’t always show. He cares about their well being and mortality and will go out of his way to ensure their safety-even if they are people he doesn’t particularly like.
In terms of ability though, Zuko has all the training of a warlord’s son. He knows how to strategize and can come up with plans on the fly. While his bending is null and void here, he has the training to hold his own in a fight if something should happen where he couldn’t rely on his pokemon. Also, despite his affinity for fire, he is extremely adept at swimming and has been known to be able to stay under water for prolonged periods-not sure where that strength will lend itself, but hey it’s there.
In terms of weaknesses, Zuko’s are purely mental. His father banished him at a young age, and his mother completely disappeared long before that. He has some abandonment issues because of that as well as a undying need to prove his own self worth. He’s gotten better, but it still flares up from time to time. This lends to his emotional instability-Zuko is extremely hot headed, and he does let it affect his ability to think clearly sometimes. Needless to say, he could likely lose a battle if his opponent rattles his nerves enough to affect his judgment.