#commentary: azula

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Breaking Down Character: Azula

In an attempt to better understand how to structure a story and character arc, I’ve decided to to break down the main Avatar cast by doing a couple of writing exercises.

So, in the next couple of posts, I will attempt to do the following:

I will identify the wants, needs, and motivations of the core Avatar cast.

I will identify the lie that each character believes. Where this is not relevant, the truth the character believes will be mentioned instead.

I will identify each person’s character moment.

I will identify whether that person has a positive change arc, a flat arc, or a negative arc, and I will explain my reasoning for it.

I will give an example of one scene and one sequel pertaining to each character.

Character-Oriented Questions

The lie the character believes: Perfection determines worth, and those who are not perfect are unworthy. Secondly, in order to maintain perfection, she must control people through fear. Symptoms of the lie: Being manipulative and controlling. What the character wants: To be her father's favorite, and to be loved.   The thing the character needs: To learn that she can't gain people's love through fear. The ghost: The knowledge that, if she slips up, she'll stop being her father's favorite. Character moment: "Almost isn't good enough!" Type of character arc: Azula has a negative change arc. A fall arc specifically. This means that she has entrenched herself in her lie, rejected the truth, and even embraced a new, worse lie. This is exemplified by the line "fear is the only reliable way."

Scene

Goal: Azula wants to become Firelord. Conflict: Azula has to defeat both Zuko and Katara in order to do so. Disaster: Azula is eventually outsmarted and defeated by Katara.

Sequel

Reaction: Azula is still in shock from Mai and Ty Lee's betrayal. Her mental health deteriorates further, and she begins to think everyone and anyone is plotting against her. Dilemma: Azula begins to argue with a hallucination of her mother. Decision: Azula declares that the only way to rule is through fear.

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🔥 Azula

While redeemed!Azula is fun, it would take a lot for her to be properly redeemed. Plus, she’s still up to her old tricks, isn’t remorseful and yet to apologize to anyone for her actions. 

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[Azula's] really good at manipulating people, and you get the idea she really enjoys it, and uh, so it’s…She’s really good at playing to people’s weaknesses. She senses Zuko’s conflict, and knows how much he wants to be accepted back in the Fire Nation.

Bryan Konietzko (x)

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MICHAEL DANTE DIMARTINO: Now this, this is a great scene written by Aaron. I remember him… His idea for it was, was, you know, the fact that Azula is so confidant, so powerful in her self assurance, that she could break this man just by, you know, just by talking to him basically. She doesn’t even need to lift a finger. BRYAN KONIETZKO: Yeah, unfortunately in real history, there are people like Azula, who are just so charismatic, but sort of soulless that they’re… You know, but they’re able to climb to positions of influence. Same with uh, people like Long Feng, unfortunately throughout history. People who are willing to sell out their own, own countrymen, just for their own, uh, security, you know, their own job security. MICHAEL DANTE DIMARTINO: Yeah, and power.

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But being dramatic is like his thing.

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Interesting, since she’s the one who becomes paranoid by season’s end. 

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Iroh Calling Zuko “Zuko” v “Prince Zuko” v “Nephew”

So, I originally made this post under the assumption that the fandom exaggerates just how much Iroh calls Zuko “Prince Zuko” instead of just plain “Zuko.” Turns out, I was wrong...kind of. 

I did, however, see some interesting patterns when looking at the data.

I also included Iroh calling Zuko “nephew” just because. 

The only time Iroh addresses Zuko by his name alone in Book 1 is in “The Storm,” and that’s when Zuko himself isn’t present. This can be both because Zuko still has his title, and also because it just might make Zuko feel a little bit better during his banishment. 

It’s a little difficult to see through this graph, but Iroh’s omittance of calling Zuko by his title in “Crossroads” both contrasts with Azula’s calling him by that title (and helping to steer Zuko in that direction), and helps Iroh’s attempt at persuading Zuko not to side with his sister, since using the title would steer Zuko to accepting the courtly life. 

In Book 3, we’re again back at only using the “Prince Zuko” title in the “Western Air Temple” flashback, though we see Iroh call Zuko “Zuko” and “Prince Zuko” in “The Avatar and the Firelord.” 

It’s notable that that Iroh mostly calling Zuko by his title in Book 1 before switching to calling him mostly by his name in Book 2 due to their status as fugitives and refugees. The three exceptions to this are: 

B02E09: Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame. B02E15: How was your night, Prince Zuko? B02E17: I'm begging you Prince Zuko! It's time for you to look inward, and begin asking yourself the big questions. Who are you? And what do you want?

In the first and final example from Book 2, Iroh might be trying to get to Zuko in a way that he knows he can, by appealing to a different part of him. It also helps that he is using this as a means to steer Zuko away from the wrong path. 

In “The Tales of Ba Sing Se,” it’s really just for funsies, because why not?

In the final tally, the times Iroh calls Zuko by his name and by his title is pretty close, with Iroh calling Zuko "Zuko" 23 times and "Prince Zuko" 25 times. 

However, if we only count instances where Iroh called Zuko by his name, his title, or as his nephew to his face, the data would look more like: