When I first watched A:TLA as a child, one character really stood out for me: Zuko. There was just something about him that kept me coming back through to my 20s, (and not just the fact that he's HOT!). I didn't quite get it then, but now I see that it was because he inspired me. I was kind of a troubled kid, and he gave me hope. But I can't quite explain why. Since you're so good with words, I really wanted to see your take on this. What do you think we can all learn from Zuko?
Zuko is a redemption arc done right–perfectly balanced and with loads of nuance that makes it stand the test of time. There are so many things going for his character path that it’s hard to list them, but here are a few reasons for Zuko’s success as an inspiration.
- Zuko’s problems have a recognizable cause that is treated seriously and has long-term repercussions on his behavior.
- Counterweight: Zuko’s wrongdoing is not swept under the rug even though he was abused; he must alter his behavior and not only apologize, but make restitution for his misdeeds.
- Zuko has an anger problem and expresses it in ways typical for a sixteen-year-old boy.
- Counterweight: Zuko also expresses the full range of human emotions such as grief, hope, shame, and love, not just anger and depression. Also, Zuko gets to work through these emotions organically on-screen; if he doesn’t know where they come from, he struggles until we see him understand himself better.
- Zuko repeatedly falls into bad habits even when a better path is shown for him.
- Counterweight: Zuko learns and grows from his mistakes, and the pitfalls he experiences are usually different each time. This makes the audience aware that, even though he feels “stuck” a lot, he actually is moving forward on his path, whether he realizes it or not.
- Zuko has a lot of help during his redemption arc, from his uncle and from his friends.
- Counterweight: Zuko ultimately is the one who saves himself. He comes to the decision to tear himself away from his father and everything Ozai stands for when Zuko is alone and under intense pressure to be the perfect son.
Each aspect of Zuko’s character and his arc has an opposing force in the story that keeps him from descending into villain, emo teen, petulant child, or bad boy. The most important part, though, is that last one: Zuko saves himself. He saves himself even though he has made mistakes. He saves himself because he has made mistakes. He saves himself despite being stubborn. He saves himself because he is stubborn. Zuko’s strengths are his weaknesses, and his weaknesses are his strengths: it all depends on how he chooses to apply them. So many characters who come from dark pasts are tainted, in their own eyes or by the narrative, so that no matter what, they can never truly come back from their experience. That is not Zuko’s story. He can choose a good life, friendship, happiness, and honor, without ignoring or denying the person he once was.
annaxmalina
discoholicmusic
romaincrisis
jacobvanloon
baratheonpilled
dededos
titsay
