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@jinkopolls
Retirement poll!
After this poll I will be retiring the blog, but it'll be left up for posterity. I won't be posting anymore, but am open to answering asks about Jinko until the end of the year.
Thanks to all the Jinko lovers out there who voted and indulged my curiosity!
Is Jinko an "endgame" ship for you?
Yes!
I'd accept it, but it's not my first choice.
No.
I don't think this is what "endgame" means
Opinons on Going Home Again
Just a heads up, this is a critique of a comic featuring both Maiko and Jinko interactions. It will be in support of both ships, but critical of the writing surrounding them.
Going Home Again was intended to bridge the gap between Crossroads of Destiny and The Awakening. It builds up to Zuko deciding to return to the Fire Nation, with a plot centered on establishing the Maiko relationship. Showing us Zuko and Mai's first date is a good premise, in my opinion, but unfortunately the execution was more irritating than heartwarming.
To get the continuity error out of the way: Azula calls Zuko "little brother" near the end. Depending on how easy it is for you to ignore things like this, it's a hit to the comic's canonicity.
Moving on, the inclusion of Jin and the Firelight Fountain as a plot event invites comparison between the Maiko and Jinko dates. "Comparison is the thief of joy," as they say, and in this case the thief of romance, but since the comic brought it up, let's take a look:
Jin asks Zuko (as "Lee") on a date. Iroh accepts on his behalf. >< Ty Lee and Azula set up a dinner date for Mai and Zuko and trick them into attending.
At dinner, Zuko makes awkward conversation and has to lie about his identity. >< Zuko and Mai are annoyed by the situation.
Jin wants to show Zuko part of the city that she loves, the Firelight Fountain. >< Mai and Zuko agree to leave the dinner together, as they're uncomfortable being spied on by Azula and Ty Lee. They somehow end up in a middle or lower ring marketplace next to the Firelight Fountain.
Jin is disappointed that the fountain's lanterns aren't lit. Zuko lights them for her. >< Mai says the food looks gross, while Zuko gives it a mild defense. They bump into Jin.
Zuko smiles at Jin's reaction and they enjoy the scene together. >< Mai is intrigued by Zuko's alias as he claims that Mai is also a circus performer. She plays along and demonstrates her knife throwing skills, even giving Jin a try, which knocks Zuko into the fountain. Mai says they're "even" now.
Jin makes a move and Zuko abruptly gifts her a teashop coupon. Jin thanks him and says she'd like to give him something as well. >< We cut to "seconds later" with Mai and Zuko fleeing the scene. They have a slight discussion of the past and their feelings.
They kiss. >< They kiss.
Zuko pulls away and leaves Jin at the fountain with "it's complicated." He slams the screens on Iroh at first, but quietly tells him "it was nice." >< The next day, Zuko is still conflicted about returning to the Fire Nation. Azula baits him with the prospect that Iroh may not survive the trip and tells him to say goodbye to his "girlfriend." Zuko finally makes the decision to board the boat.
What stands out to me is that the Maiko date is intruded upon by other people more often than not. While Jin and Zuko's interactions weren't entirely private (Iroh, the restaurant staff and other patrons), the focus was mostly held between the two of them. Azula's plotting and the Jin cameo rob Mai and Zuko of time to strengthen their unique connection. The most romantic moment, when they are finally focused on each other alone, relies heavily on Zuko and Mai having a preexisting (pre-romantic) relationship.
Mai's crush is well-established, whether or not Zuko had one is vague, but the point I'm trying to make is that the comic didn't explore anything new, with the changes they've undergone only getting a brief mention. This date doesn't detract from their arc in the animation, but it sadly adds nothing as well. The greatest wasted opportunity is that it doesn't address what would've made the kiss in The Awakening feel less surprising: the development of Zuko's interest in Mai. We are never given the reasons why he becomes so close to her so quickly, not even basic teen melodrama ones, which is why it's doubly unfortunate that Zuko's experiences on the date came across as generally negative. In my opinion, Mai and Zuko not only deserved a beautiful and interesting first date that suited their dynamic, but also one that would convincingly make a continued relationship enticing to Zuko, since that is clearly part of the narrative here.
Meanwhile, The Tale of Zuko is robbed of any value or meaning. Jin isn't here to get some resolution for the date, or as a nod to what is going on for the average person in Ba Sing Se during the takeover. It's fine that the writer was disinterested in these things, but including Jin in this way turns her into a gag character akin to the Cabbage Merchant. Absurd humor was neither her main purpose, nor why The Tale of Zuko left an impression on viewers. With a generous reading, Jin's comic writing doesn't feel entirely devoid of character.
With a not-so-generous reading, her reactions and emotions are dictated by getting to the 'punchline' as quickly as possible, with no interest in crafting a meaningful interaction between her, Zuko, and/or Mai. Her role here revolves around the 'Lee is a circus performer' lie, and not the fact that she and Zuko went on a date with a bittersweet ending. The Firelight Fountain is no longer the site of a standalone, romantic moment where Zuko's warm heart is allowed to shine. It is turned into a joke at his expense. And if it wasn't clear that Jin's cameo was non-essential before, no effort is put into writing her out of the scene - it just cuts ahead to Mai and Zuko's moment alone. The Jinko date not being acknowledged at all would be preferable to this.
Maiko get a first date that does not make how quickly they got together feel more plausible. Jinko get a cameo that weakens Jin's first appearance and a fan favorite episode. The only positive I took away from this comic was more moments showing how deeply Zuko cares about Iroh, which was neither the point of the comic, nor something I needed addressed in spin-off material.
I haven't read the Jin novel yet, but since I've seen a few comments popping up due to it lately...
Do you think the Jin novel was created partly due to shipping?
Yes, to deter Jinko shipping.
Yes, to throw off canon Jinko theories, because they're correct.
No, the novel was created only for non-shipping reasons.
No, but shipping made Jin popular enough for it to be made.
Jin and the Value of Flat Characters
Anti-Jinko discourse is rare, but neutral or negative-leaning criticisms do pop up from time to time. One of the more common of these is the idea that Jin is "not a character." Some re-phrasings may go along the lines of:
Zuko is too important/developed/dynamic a main character to have a love interest who is not.
Jin/jinko has less than 5 minutes of screentime.
Jin is just a one-off filler character with no real personality.
Jin is, in fact, a character. More specifically, she is a flat character (in terms of the series proper - I'm not including the novel in this analysis). The "round vs. flat" dichotomy is often conflated with "well-written vs. poorly-written," where flatness equals a lack of character. While flat characters can be the result of creative fumbles, dismissing all of them as bad, cliched, or boring misunderstands their purpose.
Flat characters contrast the round (or dynamic) characters with their simplicity and stability. They don't undergo great change and are usually built around a defining trait, archetype, and/or role. They can help establish tone and themes with their predictable natures, which may also kickstart events, raise the stakes, and/or become complicating factors. Flat characters, when well-constructed, can be as memorable and beloved as their rounder counterparts.
The best example of a flat character in A:tLA is, arguably, Suki. Suki's personal developments are uncomplicated and happen mostly off-screen. She is a valuable ally to the Gaang, a love interest for Sokka, holds a position that assists with worldbuilding, and her appearances revolve around these roles. Members of the creative team have noted that Suki was not originally intended to appear after The Warriors of Kiyoshi. She was a one-off character with a specific narrative function, who was so well-liked she was brought back.
I can imagine a few knee-jerk reactions: "Suki is different! They actually brought her back and developed her relationship with Sokka! She's got useful traits and skills!" My intention in comparing Suki and Jin is not to say that their status in canon is the same. Rather, because they were both one-off, flat characters at their creation, they carried similar potential. This potential is what shippers and Jin fans are responding to. Jin was not taken down the fan-favorite, supporting character route like Suki, but fans do remember her. She is remembered because she does have personality, because that is her purpose as a flat character.
In the previous analysis, I touched on how Jin was written to be the perfect first date for Zuko. This is her role in the story, it is why she exists. To believably fill that role, she needed to be likable in a short amount of time. She needed to be someone who could give Zuko a "nice" date in spite of himself. Someone who could create that youthful, awkward but cute, first date chemistry. Someone whose disappointed face would make you think about the unfortunate complexity of Zuko's circumstances. In my opinion, the Jinko ship continuing on is proof that she accomplished her flat character mission beyond expectations. Jinko shippers are a testament to the talent amongst A:tLA's creatives and collaborators, and not simply the fandom doing fandom things.
Do you consider Jinko a rarepair?
Yes
No
The Tale of Zuko (and subtle character growth): Part III - final
The feeling of appreciation is an understated element of Zukoās redemption. In the previous parts I discussed how Zuko's appreciation for other people and their ways of being were potentially influenced by the date. What we will discuss in this final part is Zuko appreciating himself.
It may seem odd to say that an episode where Zuko is hiding his identity helps him accept the person he is becoming. He was concealing his identity, this is true, but what he was not doing was behaving out of character. Zuko is not good at hiding his feelings. Being āLeeā did not allow him to be falsely suave or charming, nor did it ultimately lessen the baggage of being the Fire Nation prince.
Zukoās self-image is tied to being "the banished prince." Regaining his honor is not just about being respected, but about having the life he believes he wants/deserves. Book 2 is his emotional low point because that life seems furthest from his reach. In his view, influenced by his upbringing, he is a failure and continues to be so. It's important then, that the date and Jinās character were written to make it impossible for him to fail. No matter what he did, Jin was still interested. She asked him out, she fixes his hair, she moves past his awkward conversation, she changes the scenery when the vibes turn sour. She takes the initiative every time and is still disappointed when he ditches her. Jin is Zukoās perfect first date by design. The Tale of Zuko was the writers giving Zuko a rare win during the humbling phase of his redemption arc.
Not only could this win steady Zuko's confidence (which, as previously mentioned is tied to his perception of himself as a failure) but it involves connecting to his kinder side with virtually no repercussions. He lit the lanterns because he thought it would make a girl he barely knows happy. It worked, and her delight makes him genuinely smile. This is important for someone whose young life was fueled by anger for so long. The kind, considerate Zuko got the win. Not the obsessive Zuko, not the angry Zuko, nor the prideful Zuko. Kindness was rewarding, and Jin hadn't even gone in for the kiss yet.
The Tale of Zuko may be a 5 minute long "filler" segment, but that does not mean it should be viewed as insignificant to Zuko's character. Small, human moments can have as much impact as world-shaking plot developments. The reason fans look back on this minisode fondly, whether they ship Jinko or not, is because the words āit was nice,ā hold a great deal of meaning.
And with that, I'd like to announce that I will be retiring the Jinko Polls blog. This little experiment was fun, and went on a lot longer than I expected, but it has run its course for me, personally. Currently my plan is to leave it up for "posterity." There were two other short writings I considered doing for this blog. If, after reading the Subtle Character Growth series, you are interested in hearing those thoughts, I will do my best to write them out in the coming year.
One last Jinko Polls writing project?
Jin and the Value of Flat Characters
Why "Going Home Again" does a Disservice to Both Ships
I am interested in both.
I am not interested in either of these.
I would rather have one last poll.
Jin/Jinko forthcoming events: 2025-2026
Jin Appreciation Day - date tbc
Jinko Fanfiction Challenge - dates tbc
Jinko 20th Anniversary - 29th September 2026
The Tale of Zuko (and subtle character growth): Part 2
Appreciation for the other nations was important for Zuko to develop into the Firelord the world needed. I signed off on Part I by speculating that Zukoās date with Jin created positive feelings about living in Ba Sing Se, as well as an appreciation for average people and how they live. In this part, I will speculate on how this may have contributed to Zukoās large scale impressions of the Earth Kingdom.
Two important scenes in Book 3 show how Zukoās time in the Earth Kingdom changed his outlook. When Zuko confronts Ozai in Day of Black Sun, he explains how seeing from the perspective of others opened his mind to the Fire Nation's wrongdoings. In the earlier war room scene, Zuko gives his personal assessment of the Earth Kingdom: āā¦the people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong. They can endure anything as long as they have hope.ā Every person Zuko met in the Earth Kingdom helped to form this opinion. Jin is obviously not singled out here, but thereās no reason to exclude her from the description either.
So how do we interpret the Tale of Zuko with this in mind? Headcanons and opinions on the new novel will add or detract, but we can still form impressions based on what is in the series proper. Jin is an Earth Kingdom citizen we meet in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se. Her defunct Nickelodeon website page and the novel have different takes on her background, but itās safe to say sheās not wealthy (though not too dangerously impoverished either). She is understanding of the refugee experience, likely learning this first-hand and/or from interactions with her community. Ultimately, she does not give up on trying to connect with āLee.ā She doesnāt come across as proud, per se, but has enough confidence to ask her crush out and steadily keep the date moving when it gets awkward. Zukoās assessment of the Earth Kingdom doesn't contain the word āperseverance,ā though it fits in with the rest of his phrasing. Jin demonstrated a perseverance that aligns well with her calm demeanor.
I had a giggle imagining Jin āenduringā the low points of their date, and that only āhopeā kept the spark alive. Thatās far too dramatic for such a low key and relaxed minisode! Zuko lighting the Firelight Fountain did give her hope, though. Iām not certain she would have gone in for the kiss otherwise. The fountain was potentially her last bid for romance, and it worked. So yes, we can view Jin as having the traits that helped Zuko gain appreciation for others and the Earth Kingdom as a whole.
Poll Redux
Which is better?
Zuko in Earth Kingdom clothes.
Jin in Fire Nation Clothes.
Both at the same time.
How dare you make me pick!
Poll Redux
Which Jinko AU do you prefer?
Fire Lady Jin
Zuko stays in Ba Sing Se
Poll Redux
Do you wish for more canon Jinko?
Yes!
No.
No, but I wish for more fan content.
Don't care.
Poll Redux
Do you headcanon Jin as being more introverted or extroverted?
Introverted
Extroverted
Poll Redux
Do you agree with this meme?
I agree with the entire meme.
I agree with part of the meme.
I don't agree with any of the meme.
Poll Redux
Jin appears in the Lost Adventures comic "Going Home Again." Have you read it, and did you like it?
I've read it, and I liked it.
I've read it, but I didn't like it.
I've read a summary and it sounds good.
I've read a summary and it doesn't sound good.
I know nothing about it.
Poll Redux
Zuko's daughter, Firelord Izumi's name translates to "fountain" from Japanese. This has been a popular clue to the identity of her mother. A few have speculated that the fountain being referenced could be the Firelight Fountain, where Jin took Zuko at the end of their date.
As a Jinko shipper, do you like the fan theory that Jin could be Izumi's mother?
I love it and believe in it!
I like it and think it's plausible.
I like it, but it will not become canon.
I don't care who Izumi's mother is.
I don't like it.
Poll Redux
Is Jinko your #1 Zuko ship?
Yes!
No, but I do ship it.
I do not ship Jinko.
If the Jin novel gives her a new love interest...
I'll multiship equally (if I like the book/dynamics).
I'll probably still prefer Jinko.
I'm likely to prefer the new ship.
