Post by Kyatto on Nov 22, 2006 19:45:27 GMT -5
*cracks knuckles and stretches joints* This should be interesting...
I like the character of Zuko, not because of his looks or his attitude, but because of how he was introduced, how he progressed and developed over time.
In the beginning we saw this pompous, arrogant, had-been Prince who wanting nothing more than regaining his honor and going back to his old life. Now we see someone who finally opened the door, and saw what it truly meant to live int he world his family had created. It was quite a shock for him.
Think about this, during his childhood, he and Azula only knew what their father and grandfather showed/told them, despite warnings and nurturing from their mother. In this aspect, they were blind. (Azula still is in many ways.) All they knew was power and the greatness that was the Fire Nation and how power was everything. If you did not want power, the glory of the victory in battle, the thrill of feeling the heat of fire, then you were dishonorable. Azulon only had the wisdom that came with age, which is why he knew better than to outright give Iroh's birthright to Ozai without him earning it in some way. I'm certain if Iroh had not failed at Ba Sing Se, he would be sitting in Ozai's throne right now. It is because Iroh failed, and lost the one thing that meant most to him, that ge gained wisdom and opened his eyes. The failure is what gave him insight into the horror his nation was inflicting on the rest of the world. He realized, when he lost his son, that if one battle did this to him, only the Spirits knew how much worse was done to others. Right then his eyes opened up and he became aware of his surroundings. Meanwhile, because nothing like this happened to Ozai, he remained in the blissful ignorance and reigned supreme as the new Fire Lord, continuing the rage of destruction and terror.
Because of the example set by his father and grandfather, and the sudden disappearance of Ursa, this was all Zuko knew for most of his life. His train of thought was like this: "Okay, I have to be strong, and powerful. I have to be cunning and great like my father. I'm now the next in line so I have to do everything my father says and follow every word he teaches, no matter what I think." It was when his conscience spoke up, in the war room, and caused him to be punished and dishonored by his father, that his eyes were slowly unclouded. It was in the war room, he got the initial instinct "Hey, wait a minute, something doesn't seem right about this." That exact moment is what started the path he walks now.
Iroh learned from his failure, while Zuko learned from his punishment. Zuko learned slightly wrong however, which is why Iroh's guidance was important during Zuko's development in Book One. All Zuko cared about, was getting back on his father's good side, which is why he chased the blind hope of capturing the Avatar for so long. What he thought was the right thing to do, was to become what was written for himt o become-the next Fire Lord. The next Ozai, the next Azulon. The next reign of terror on three other nations. That is what he thought he should want, and why he fought so blindly for the Avatar's capture.
It was another turning point in his progression during the "Avatar State" when he realized after confrotning Azula, that his father honestly didn't want him anymore. That he no longer had any hope of redemption. The only way to regain his honor was to be like his father and do it cunningly. To win back his birthright he would have to go up against Azula's wit over it-"fight fire with fire" so to speak. So he severed his ties with what he once knew, and decided he needed to train his body, mind and soul before he could try anything again against Azula. Again, Iroh's guidance and wisdom (especially of the Spirit World and the way of war) becomes important for his development.
Now, Zuko is a rebel and he is starting to see through the people's eyes. His mind opens up to the horror caused by the Fire Nation...and he does not like it. His apathy to all those beneath him turns briefly to empathy because of Song, but then shrivels back when he fights himself over who he was. Now he begins his debate. Am I really the next Fire Lord? Am I really "Prince" Zuko? Am I going to be the next Ozai?
Now we have Zuko and Iroh in Ba Sing Se. Iroh is starting to come to terms with the fact it would be best if he never returned to the life he once knew. He becomes content with the simple life as a refugee in Ba Sing Se. However, Zuko still has hope, because he still doesn't have the wisdom Iroh has. He doesn't want a simple life. The "more" he wants, he still is unsure of. However, after he sees a bit of his old self in Jet, and the decision he made to let Aang and Appa go during "Lake Laogai" started his inner battle. So now, in "The Earth King" he's feverish, with his soul battling itself over what is right and what he wants. He realizes the type of Fire Lord his father is, isn't the type he wants to be. He also realizes he and Aang aren't so different now...and it bothers him. The touching of his scar could mean many things. It could mean he's relieved to still have a shred of what he once knew left in him, content that he still has what represents his inner streangth still clearly marked on his face....many, many things can come from that action.
Now, we are nearing what is the most major turning point for Zuko. Where will he go now? Will he go back, seeking the life he once knew, still wanting redemption? Or forward, finding new allies, and acceptance in others? Fight Ozai and Azula for himself, or fight for others? Who does he want to become?
Zuko has come so far in such a small amount of time, but he still has a long way to go...
Now, I'm taking this from other media I've seen but I think this is the path Zuko will take. (This is my theory.) He still wants to be a leader, partially because he knows Azula will be another Ozai but also because he doesn't want to give her the satisfaction of second besting him again. However, if he does rule it would be to stop the war and repair the damage caused by his family. He would want to right all the wrongs and return the world to peace. He is showing signs of that now by opening his eyes. He doesn't want to be his father. So I think he will become ruler one day, but he will do it for the greater good, and selflessly.
....Wow, that was long. LOL I need to stop thinking so much into this....XP
What do you guys think?
I like the character of Zuko, not because of his looks or his attitude, but because of how he was introduced, how he progressed and developed over time.
In the beginning we saw this pompous, arrogant, had-been Prince who wanting nothing more than regaining his honor and going back to his old life. Now we see someone who finally opened the door, and saw what it truly meant to live int he world his family had created. It was quite a shock for him.
Think about this, during his childhood, he and Azula only knew what their father and grandfather showed/told them, despite warnings and nurturing from their mother. In this aspect, they were blind. (Azula still is in many ways.) All they knew was power and the greatness that was the Fire Nation and how power was everything. If you did not want power, the glory of the victory in battle, the thrill of feeling the heat of fire, then you were dishonorable. Azulon only had the wisdom that came with age, which is why he knew better than to outright give Iroh's birthright to Ozai without him earning it in some way. I'm certain if Iroh had not failed at Ba Sing Se, he would be sitting in Ozai's throne right now. It is because Iroh failed, and lost the one thing that meant most to him, that ge gained wisdom and opened his eyes. The failure is what gave him insight into the horror his nation was inflicting on the rest of the world. He realized, when he lost his son, that if one battle did this to him, only the Spirits knew how much worse was done to others. Right then his eyes opened up and he became aware of his surroundings. Meanwhile, because nothing like this happened to Ozai, he remained in the blissful ignorance and reigned supreme as the new Fire Lord, continuing the rage of destruction and terror.
Because of the example set by his father and grandfather, and the sudden disappearance of Ursa, this was all Zuko knew for most of his life. His train of thought was like this: "Okay, I have to be strong, and powerful. I have to be cunning and great like my father. I'm now the next in line so I have to do everything my father says and follow every word he teaches, no matter what I think." It was when his conscience spoke up, in the war room, and caused him to be punished and dishonored by his father, that his eyes were slowly unclouded. It was in the war room, he got the initial instinct "Hey, wait a minute, something doesn't seem right about this." That exact moment is what started the path he walks now.
Iroh learned from his failure, while Zuko learned from his punishment. Zuko learned slightly wrong however, which is why Iroh's guidance was important during Zuko's development in Book One. All Zuko cared about, was getting back on his father's good side, which is why he chased the blind hope of capturing the Avatar for so long. What he thought was the right thing to do, was to become what was written for himt o become-the next Fire Lord. The next Ozai, the next Azulon. The next reign of terror on three other nations. That is what he thought he should want, and why he fought so blindly for the Avatar's capture.
It was another turning point in his progression during the "Avatar State" when he realized after confrotning Azula, that his father honestly didn't want him anymore. That he no longer had any hope of redemption. The only way to regain his honor was to be like his father and do it cunningly. To win back his birthright he would have to go up against Azula's wit over it-"fight fire with fire" so to speak. So he severed his ties with what he once knew, and decided he needed to train his body, mind and soul before he could try anything again against Azula. Again, Iroh's guidance and wisdom (especially of the Spirit World and the way of war) becomes important for his development.
Now, Zuko is a rebel and he is starting to see through the people's eyes. His mind opens up to the horror caused by the Fire Nation...and he does not like it. His apathy to all those beneath him turns briefly to empathy because of Song, but then shrivels back when he fights himself over who he was. Now he begins his debate. Am I really the next Fire Lord? Am I really "Prince" Zuko? Am I going to be the next Ozai?
Now we have Zuko and Iroh in Ba Sing Se. Iroh is starting to come to terms with the fact it would be best if he never returned to the life he once knew. He becomes content with the simple life as a refugee in Ba Sing Se. However, Zuko still has hope, because he still doesn't have the wisdom Iroh has. He doesn't want a simple life. The "more" he wants, he still is unsure of. However, after he sees a bit of his old self in Jet, and the decision he made to let Aang and Appa go during "Lake Laogai" started his inner battle. So now, in "The Earth King" he's feverish, with his soul battling itself over what is right and what he wants. He realizes the type of Fire Lord his father is, isn't the type he wants to be. He also realizes he and Aang aren't so different now...and it bothers him. The touching of his scar could mean many things. It could mean he's relieved to still have a shred of what he once knew left in him, content that he still has what represents his inner streangth still clearly marked on his face....many, many things can come from that action.
Now, we are nearing what is the most major turning point for Zuko. Where will he go now? Will he go back, seeking the life he once knew, still wanting redemption? Or forward, finding new allies, and acceptance in others? Fight Ozai and Azula for himself, or fight for others? Who does he want to become?
Zuko has come so far in such a small amount of time, but he still has a long way to go...
Now, I'm taking this from other media I've seen but I think this is the path Zuko will take. (This is my theory.) He still wants to be a leader, partially because he knows Azula will be another Ozai but also because he doesn't want to give her the satisfaction of second besting him again. However, if he does rule it would be to stop the war and repair the damage caused by his family. He would want to right all the wrongs and return the world to peace. He is showing signs of that now by opening his eyes. He doesn't want to be his father. So I think he will become ruler one day, but he will do it for the greater good, and selflessly.
....Wow, that was long. LOL I need to stop thinking so much into this....XP
What do you guys think?
;
