why i love azulaang
I got an ask earlier on what got me into Azulaang. For me, what got me into it isn’t really related to why I love it so much, so that’s going into this post. Azulaang from a narrative perspective, their roles in the universe, story, and as foils to each other.
Side note, but this got LONG, so it’s under a cut and thank you to anyone who reads this all oh god oh no
In the canonical series itself (aka, the show), Azulaang actually doesn’t get much interaction besides battles. I believe the only times they directly address each other is in The Chase, and maybe DOBS-though, day was more of Sokka, Toph AND Aang talking with Azula. The only one-on-one exchange of dialogue they have is in The Chase. It’s where Azula introduces herself, and Aang tells her that he’s going to fight. He’s not just prey that will go with her easily. A nice contrast to the predator and prey theme of the episode. Azula is relenting, never stopping in her pursuit, and though he and the Gaang run and run, eventually he decides to face her alone. I think this is a good summary of their dynamic in s2.
But that was actually just a tangent. See, the main form of storytelling we see for Azulaang is. Well. Physical. They don’t talk, they fight. Which is natural, since they’re enemies, but Aang talks a lot. Like, a lot a lot, even in fights. Azula, too, she makes verbal jabs and insults to Zuko in their fights and Suki too. But when she’s fighting Aang, there’s... nothing? And same with Aang. Almost all of their storytelling, their dynamics, is told through fights, and seeing as how ATLA is an action series, fights have just as much meaning in the storytelling as anything else.
You might be thinking, “but isn’t that just them fighting? doesn’t that mean they hate each other? you can’t have a dynamic out of fight scenes alone!” you fool. You foolish fool. 1) Enemies to lovers. 2) You put two prodigies of their respective elements, one a princess groomed from birth to be her father’s right-hand, the other destined to become the most powerful person on earth, both designed to be weapons by the adults around them, and you think that fighting/bending WOULDN’T be as much as a form of communication, an expression of themselves, as a conversation around a campfire?
Azula killing Aang at the end of S2 is the last time they really fight, which I think is pretty interesting. I’m sure there’s more I could say about it from a narrative perspective, but that’s more on post-show potential than anything else, plus brain not co-operating atm.
And, yeah, I gotta bring attention to their positions as narrative foils. Parallels. Whatever. They’re similar. Like, really similar. And of course, Zuko + Azula & Aang + Katara + Sokka all have similarities that can tie them to one another, but Azulaang is one of the ones which I think doesn’t get the commentary it deserves. (side-note, but I wish more people discussed Azula & Katara in how they approach being ‘women’ despite being very young in the absence of their mother, where Katara puts herself in a motherly role because she and Sokka both have a hole to fill, and Azula makes herself seem older than she truly is, lipsticks and make-up and long nails and all, because Ursa leaving took the last of her childhood away)
So, let’s look at them:
Young prodigies of their respective bending arts (for Aang, his airbending of course). They are recognized for this and praised for so. With Azula, it’s shown in Zuko Alone when Ozai shows her off, and also her introduction scenes in s2 to show off just how formidable she was. With Aang, it’s the fact he’s a master at such a young age. Of course, there’s differences too. Azula’s natural talent is honed by the adults around her. She is being raised for war. Aang’s is, well, I assume normal for Air Nomads. The monks knew he was the Avatar, but given that he didn’t find out until he was 12, I don’t think that really affected his airbending.
You take these prodigies, and you put them in war. They are given responsibilities that seem impossible to handle. No adults can handle them, after all. Aang must end the war that’s been happening for a hundred years. He must be the one to defeat the Fire Lord - something that Roku couldn’t do. Azula must capture her brother and uncle. In time, she gives herself more responsibilities: kill the Avatar. Conquer Ba Sing Se (which Iroh himself couldn’t do). Aang must help end the war. He’s a key part in ending it. Azula must end the war. She’s a key part in ending it. They are on different sides of the battle.
The adults around them, the same ones who give them these responsibilities, they do not see them other than their power. Generals look at Aang and the Avatar State, and decide to use him as a weapon. Ozai looks at Azula and her talents, and decides to raise her as a weapon. These two in particular get this more than any other characters in the series I think. Absolutely there’s other characters who are strong, prodigies, young, with the world on their shoulders. But none are quite as... not sure about the word. I don’t wanna say dehumanized. Weaponized? As Azula and Aang.
Thing is, though, that Aang has unconditional love on his side. When he was younger, he had Monk Gyatso, he had Appa. He had the other kids in the Temples, he had friends around the world, he was allowed to be a normal kid. Azula didn’t have that. Ozai’s ‘love’ was conditional. She believed that Ursa thought she was a monster. Yes, she had friends in Mai and Ty Lee, but whether they began as genuine friendships or not, they ended with her clinging onto them through fear. Aang had the Gaang throughout the series. People joined him, he made relationships, he was loved by so many because of his journey. Everyone left Azula.
So, you take these two characters, these foils, who are so close to understanding each other but one’s missing the key that makes the other stand victorious in the end of the show. Azula’s story is a tragedy, Aang’s is that of a hero. And I think the beauty of that, in Azulaang, is that Aang reaches out to Azula. Despite her killing him, the hurt she’s caused, and all their fights, Aang understands her. Most fics and such I’ve read of this pair - well, it’s not as easy as just that. Their relationship is a complicated rollercoaster. Recovery and redemption does not come easy. In those fics that don’t take place after the pair has been established already, there’s something just really. Really hits me hard. About Azula being forgiven, loved, and challenged, by the boy she’s killed, and the boy who won the war.
Less of a meta-note and more fluffy. But domestic!Azulaang gives me joy. Obviously they’d presumably have responsibilities with the world post-war (married office couple talking shit about governors vibes), but I fully believe that Aang would take Azula on a Appa-trip (atla universe equivalent of a road trip) and show her the world outside of the Fire Nation Palace, war council rooms, and yknow. War.
Also, I like bullying Ozai, and if there’s one thing that would cause him more pain than finding out his son’s partner was a nonbender with a worse sense of humor than Iroh from the Southern Water Tribe, it would be his daughter, the one he molded to fit into his absolute image, dating the AVATAR, a monk, who took away his bending and keeps showing him a weird marble trick, “Azula make him stop please this is torture, what do you MEAN you want me to spend time with your future son-in-law, i am NOT allowing you to - DONT WALK AWAY FROM ME, HELP ME”
Zuko isn’t getting bullied as much, but I think Azula and Aang would love teasing him. Affectionately. He wouldn’t mind as much because it comes from a place of love and care.
This shit took like an hour to write jfc
