And yeah, there is definitely quite a double standard with which people treat these two characters. I find this really annoying!
If Azula deserves understanding & sympathy (and a redemption arc), then so does her father - whose background is merely hinted at, if anything - and what we do get to see seems to be pretty tragic. For the most part, though, it is ignored and unaddressed, which is a shame - also on a storytelling level (depth & comprehensibility). Because, let’s face it, the writers didn’t give a fuck, and wanted to get rid of him with the easiest, most cliché solution - that is why (but, then again, I have seldomly come across such an incompetent bunch as Bryke, let alone that moron Yang, who just turn their stuff into a huge inconsistent mess over time, throwing away promising content in favour of one-dimensional crap).
But if we take the hints regarding his similarity to his son, personality-wise, as well as Iroh’s additional comments (concerning his bad conscience for not providing support for his brother) seriously, then it is pretty sure to say, that he wasn’t such a bad guy to begin with, with just as much potential for goodness like Zuko. Which is something that Zuko acknowledges in the prison scene dialogue, where he states that he considers it a possibility for his father to have a change of heart, just like he had (and this is a disillusioned Zuko at that).
The comment below also puts it rather nicely:
Most of this aligns with my own headcanon for Ozai. Like you, I find him a character with untapped depth and an undercurrent of tragedy due to the way his father treated him. People tend to forget he likely grew up without a mother; without any exposure to love (unlike Azula, who knew what love was from observing Ursa and Zuko at the very least and still became a hugely unrepentant jerk). Out of all the members of the Royal Family, Ozai had the least chance to become anything apart from what he was. He had no support system and was likely made to feel inferior and unwanted by the only person who could - and didn’t - provide parental guidance and love. That is tragic.
I agree - except maybe for Azula being unrepentant for the most part.
And yes, I firmly believe that both Azula and Ozai DO have the potential for redemption.
And yes, people can make new choices, according to new insights, offered by life’s lessons (and, ultimately, become better human beings) - because that is what happens over and over irl, that is what is realistic. And this can happen at any time in a person’s life, no matter the age!
Anyway, if the dickhead writers won’t grant this to them (along with a properly done characterization, i.e. dynamic, multidimensional and complex, like a real human being) - then I will!!!
One good example of such a later redemption would be Iroh, who certainly was older than his brother when he had his change of heart.
Before that, though, he was a firm believer in FN ideology, his father’s right hand, had a substantial military history, and casually joked around in his letter about burning a whole city to the ground - thousands of innocent civilians included - quite the laughing matter, huh!?.
Yet, people love him as the wise and nice uncle (I mean, who doesn’t!?) - because this is the phase of his life they actually get to see in the show. I wanted to point this out - this stark contrast of Iroh’s past and present, to give people an idea of the scope of his change, and what happens to be in the realm of possibility for characters (then they, perhaps, wouldn’t be so harsh with Ozai, especially if his background was shown more clearly, as well).
What it took for Iroh to transform into his later self was a major tragedy - losing his son Lu Ten - his personal soft spot. He has come a long way since then - and I bet this hasn’t happened overnight. Yet, the Iroh we get to see is what he turned into - and that is both impressive, as well as hope-inspiring. If he can do it, so can the others.
It was certainly easier for Iroh to pull off, though, given he didn’t have such extensive family-related traumata, and the resulting damage, to deal with, but that only means Ozai has a bit more work to do, and not that it’s impossible (this word doesn’t apply regarding the given topic anyway).
What that takes is a) one (or more) major key moments, plus b) their soft spot being pushed (in whatever way - can also be positive).
With Ozai, that would be a) his defeat, incarceration, and throne + bending being taken away (amongst other things), and b) Ursa (!!!).
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