But there is a "mistake", although probably just to make us recognize older Zuko easier throughout LOK--most scars eventually turn from red to white after about a year --much faster than after 74 years or even his time growing up in the comics. Zuko was born well after his great grandfather Sozin upset the balance of Avatar 's world by waging perpetual war on the Earth Kingdom, the polar Water tribes and the nomadic Airbenders. He revealed in a discourse his banishment made him a firsthand witness to the misery and pain the Fire Nation has inflicted on the World. Zuko is a Fire Nation royal and firebending master who reigned as Fire Lord from 100 AG until his abdication in 167 AG. He climbed up a mountain in the middle of the storm, intent on accomplishing the task. No lightning came close enough, and, finally exhausted and emotionally spent, he broke down bitterly in tears, screaming into the sky. [20], In contrast to his dysfunctional relationship to his father, Zuko was already close to his uncle during this period. Azula, Zuko, and his friends set off to Ursa's hometown of Hira'a despite the skepticism of Team Avatar. Although he had said capturing the Avatar was a greater concern to him than the safety of his crew or himself, he showed compassion to those close to him, as evidenced when he chose to rescue Iroh when he was captured[33] rather than pursue Aang and by risking his own life to save a member of his crew during a fierce storm. [53] In the Fire Nation, Zuko's only real friend proved to be his girlfriend Mai, with whom he went on a vacation onto Ember Island along with his sister and Ty Lee. But recovery is never a straight line, and healing from what has happened is not easy. there's lots to it -- zuko isn't the type who would be willing to fight his own dad, he's a kindhearted 13 year old boy at the time. Later, he stated he was angry with himself, saying he did not know right from wrong. Zuko is stealthy and skilled in the art of infiltration, able to sneak into heavily defended fortresses and conceal himself effectively for long periods of time. [24] His skill was such that his father, Fire Lord Ozai, opted not to face him during an eclipse when neither of them could firebend. [54] He received a letter telling him his great-grandfather's death would reveal his destiny. Zuko answered that it had been Aang's dream to rebuild the Air Nation, though that he also knew that in times of turmoil, the world needed the Avatar the most. [13], Around the time of Aang's discovery at the South Pole, Zuko was still learning the basics from Iroh yet was skilled enough to momentarily knock Aang off his ship, but he was defeated when Aang went into the Avatar State. Born in 83 AG, Zuko was the firstborn child of Prince Ozai and Princess Ursa. [62] Katara eventually defeated Azula due to her waterbending skills and quick thinking, and managed to heal Zuko. He was a prince who was destined to rule, and everyone would know it.. Inspired by those words, Zuko, who never truly attempted to connect with his younger sister, Azula, tried to do the same.[66]. He believed it was wrong to sacrifice able-bodied and willing troops as a diversionary tactic. He learned that Zaheer and his friends were called the Red Lotus and that their murder of Earth Queen Hou-Ting was only the beginning of their actions.[85]. [83], Two weeks after Harmonic Convergence, Zuko grown aware of the escape of the criminals Zaheer, Ming-Hua, and Ghazan from their custody under White Lotus sentries and was particularly disturbed to hear that Zaheer had become an airbender. Zuko also had a sister named Princess Azula. To his frustration, Zuko normally had to take the role of the Dark Water Spirit, the evil antagonist. In order to reconnect with the original source of firebending, he and Aang traveled to the ancient city of the Sun Warriors together. Zuko is very physically capable, able to almost nonchalantly send a person flying with a single hand and smash through iron shackles with a single kick. [88], Well-respected as one of Republic City's founders, a statue was erected in Zuko's honor at the center of the plaza outside Central City Station in Republic City to commemorate his many accomplishments. Patel was cast as Prince Zuko, sixteen years old and a Fire Nation prince who travels with his Uncle Iroh in the 2010 American action-adventure fantasy film The Last Airbender. [34] As he matured, Zuko developed greater strategic skills and foresight, planning ahead to avoid landing himself in compromising predicaments. Ozai, viewing a nonbender as firstborn as "shame", planned to cast his son over the palace walls. The average height for boys is between 5'7 and 5'8 and for girls is between 5'2 and 5'8. [5] Later, Zuko unsuccessfully tried to capture the Avatar with the help of pirates. Iroh explained Avatar Roku was his mother's grandfather, and Zuko's inner conflict was part of the legacy of his forefathers' conflict. When Aang and his companions approached, he angrily demanded that they leave, spraying fire at them. Aside from his bending, Zuko also developed a masterful skill in swordsmanship, and he specialized in dual wielding swordplay, using a set of dao blades, skills he gained after being trained by the swordmaster Piandao. Two weeks has past since Azula took her plan into action. Zuko grew surprised when Korra thanked him for his advice, saying that Iroh had been right to go talk to him, as he had been unaware that she had met his late uncle. Complete First published May 22, 2021 Zuko's scar is the most obvious sign of his father's abuse, but it's not the only one. However, Katara still remained bitter and apprehensive after his previous betrayal in the Crystal Catacombs, stating that she would kill Zuko with no second thought if he tried to hurt Aang again. When Gow, a ruthless Earth Kingdom mercenary, and his men bullied Lee's family, Zuko defended the family that had taken him in. The commander of the harbor, Zhao, quickly found out the truth, and in a fit of rage, Zuko challenged him to an Agni Kai, which he eventually won thanks to the firebending advice from his uncle. [63], After an Earth Kingdom professor pointed out the similarities between governing a nation and taking care of a family, Zuko began doubting his own qualities as a leader again as his family was completely broken and a large part was due to his actions. It was a fool's errand by all accounts, but one to which Zuko clung desperately as his only hope of regaining his honor and everything he had lost.[13]. Zuko has a close relationship with his grandson, General Iroh. [33] During his pursuit of the Avatar, Zuko and the rest of his crew ventured into Fire Nation waters and tried to capture the Avatar in the Crescent Island Fire Temple, a mission in which Zuko only barely evaded the prospect capture by Commander Zhao and being sent home as a traitor. He bled for the first time in ". As Mako excused his brother and bowed respectfully, stating they were honored to meet him, Zuko returned the gesture. They awaited Korra's return in a local cantina, where he was pleased to make his reacquaintance with the Avatar. Tragically, Todoroki had a pot of boiling water poured on his face when he was a child. At first, he lashed out and turned to robbery,[42] even stealing from those who were kind to him. Zuko and Iroh, now fugitives, sliced off their topknots with Zuko's dagger, symbolizing their alienation from the Fire Nation. Learning this form appeared to have influenced his style of firebending to be more fluid, creating a more dancelike form as opposed to the rigid, militaristic forms commonly used by Fire Nation soldiers. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Zuko is the only person from the Fire Nation known to use dao swords to firebend. Zuko knew that the reparations' failure to arrive could cause another fallout with Kuei's government, and thus wanted to recover the money and goods. [39][40], For their actions in the Siege of the North, both Iroh and Zuko were branded as traitors by Fire Lord Ozai, who sent Azula to track the fugitives and bring them to justice. [38][61][35] His skills served him well while he was disguised as the Blue Spirit. [50] However, Azula successfully manipulated his desire for love and approval from his father, convincing him to betray Iroh and become her ally. [14] Zuko's change in temperament led to his firebending weakening when he started to teach Aang, though he managed to overcome the block in his firebending by visiting the Sun Warriors and the dragons and discovering that fire was a source of life and light, and not just hatred. Nevertheless, Zuko happily recalled these memories many years later. The exiled prince of the Fire Nation is 16-years-old throughout the entire series. [39], After the Siege of the North, Zuko's firebending became more advanced and powerful. In the middle of the night, Ursa woke Zuko up to. Despite knowing that he must stay Fire Lord, Zuko felt the most hopeful and relieved in the group upon hearing the news. When the princess expressed her satisfaction at his dismissal, Zuko objected, stating that Kunyo was not "a dummy" and merely believed that good firebending began with proper forms. He utilized a wall of flame to stop an attack from Combustion Man and was capable of dodging many of the rocks Toph hurled at him. Zuko agreed, but when the trial began and he realized his opponent was his father, he dropped to his knees and begged forgiveness. He resolved to confront his father and his many evils. [87], After Kuvira had nearly stabilized the entire Earth Kingdom, Zuko traveled to Republic City with his daughter to attend Prince Wu's coronation as the nation's Earth King. When Zuko was eleven years old, his cousin, Lu Ten, was killed in battle. Zuko almost drowned before he was saved by his father. This led to brief a confrontation with Aang and Katara, though it ended when the Fire Lord agreed to the Avatar informing the Earth King about the situation and trying to convince him to change his mind. Subsequently, Azula recovered, proving to be more of a match for Zuko by becoming the victor in a brief brawl. When their search brought Zuko in contact with a young child, Kiyi, he displayed the characteristics of a good father, reflecting the parenting style of his mother and Uncle Iroh, by displaying an inquisitive and doting attitude toward the girl. [24] He became more patient, kind, precise, and calculating; said traits necessary to evade Azula's pursuit while staying incognito from local authorities. When Azula faced defeat, she aimed a lightning strike at Katara that Zuko leapt forward to save her from, leaving him wounded and immobile. [75] At some point in his life, he married and had a daughter named Izumi. He said that he had been the perfect prince during the meeting, the son that his father had always wanted, but he had not been himself. Zuko believed one becomes strong by struggling and fighting for what they want. Zuko faced one of the most significant decisions of his life in the season 2 finale and broke fans' hearts when he opted to side with Azula by attacking the Avatar, betraying Iroh in the process. [70], Head Chieftain Hakoda invited the Fire Lord and the Earth King to a conference in the South Pole, where the world leaders discussed the Southern Reconstruction Project to advance the development of the Southern Water Tribe. Throughout the season he pursues the Avatar, at times both helped and hindered by his uncle, Iroh.Zuko competes in his quest against Zhao, an ambitious . Since coming to terms with his own true feelings, he was more laid-back and empathetic though he remained strict and uptight when training Aang. On Zuko's ship, the Avatar was locked in the brig before eventually escaping with the help of Sokka and Katara, much to Zuko's dismay and anger. He is the eldest child and only son of Princess Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai. These traits became dominant after Zuko's fever dreams and hallucinations,[49] as he displayed an optimistic attitude toward life and the world. Although Zuko refused to fight his own flesh and blood, Fire Lord Ozai scarred his son forever with a distinctive burn to the face Zuko could never forget. At the time, Zuko believed himself ready to be. Aang managed to save both Hakoda and Malina in the battle, but Gilak fell to his demise. [24], Frightened, Zuko ran away while Azula stayed to watch. Although she could not locate Aang, she was able to bring them to Iroh and the Order of the White Lotus. The group was able to defeat the four and send them to specially-constructed White Lotus prisons, which would serve to neutralize their bending abilities. [23] He would use these skills as his primary tactics whenever he was in his Blue Spirit disguise,[42][35][94] unable to firebend, or when he needed to fight but also needed to conceal his firebending. Zuko had above-average abilities that helped him survive certain situations. [38] He also landed a decisive victory in a rematch against Zhao. Still,. Zuko is alive at the time of 'The Legend of Korra.' He's a wise and old master, riding a dragon mount. [22] Zuko and his family also often watched the play Love amongst the Dragons at the Ember Island Theater. He believed that he could start anew and "gallivant" around the world helping people, as Azula remarked, much to Aang's dissatisfaction; he believed that Zuko must stay as the leader of his nation to continue ushering a new era of love and peace. Zuko is a Fire Nation royal and firebending master who reigned as Fire Lord from 100 AG until his abdication in 167 AG. [24] He was able to defeat multiple foes using only his swords, including experienced firebending soldiers. Yes, that scar is the healed part of Zuko's face. [56], During the events of Day of Black Sun, Zuko realized it was his duty as the heir to the Fire Nation throne to restore peace to the world by joining the Avatar and fighting his father's (and forefathers') tyrannical regime. This was not to save Aang, but so that he could personally be the one to deliver the Avatar to the Fire Lord. In July 2020, the game SMITE launched a battle pass that featured two skins with which the player could alter the appearance of the Japanese storm god. In his Agni Kai with Azula during this time, he was able to match her powerful sheets of blue flame and even steadily gain the upper hand, not showing any visible strain in exchanging and blocking Azula's attacks while she was pushed toward exhaustion and increasing mental instability. Scarred and banished as a child when she wasn't ready to complete the mission that she was born and raised to fulfill. Taking the throne at the age of sixteen years, Zuko is the youngest known Fire Lord. His final attack was a fire tornado he created with his feet while spinning, knocking Azula off her feet. Zuko is the second of three characters to have joined a Team Avatar and to have a father who is antagonistic toward them and their allies. [22], Eventually, Zuko came to realize that his emotional instability over his position as Fire Lord was not caused by the pressures of being a ruler or by the choices he made for Yu Dao, but due to his fear of ultimately becoming the same tyrant as his father was. As the group camped, Zuko found a shocking letter that Azula had saved, which implied that he was the son of Ursa's childhood love, Ikem. As a result, Coleman was dubbed "the godfather of Zuko". idk if ozai could've gotten away with straight up killing zuko . Zuko's family made frequent vacations to Ember Island in the following years, and Zuko would later consider this time the only one when his family was "actually happy". He was also challenged by the Tribesmen to carry a piece of the Eternal Flame all the way up to the cave of the masters. [14] Later, he temporarily lost his firebending from a subsequent lack of rage, the former source of his power. When fighting an Agni Kai with Zhao, he decided to spare him unscathed, though Zhao had expressed every intention to hurt Zuko. When Ursa scolded the princess due to this, Azula burned Zuko's bottom in retaliation. [80] Zuko collaborated with Northern chief Unalaq and ordered the construction of a top-secret prison in the western tundra of the North Pole, specially designed to hold the firebender P'Li. When he pointed this out to Tonraq, however, the Southern chief recognized it as Zaheer's doing. [67], Zuko searched for Azula in the Forgetful Valley for weeks, but to no avail. However, his military was spread thin and he was unwilling to yield to the pirates' blackmailing; accordingly, he sent a secret mission of freelance agents to recover the reparation payments and learn why the Crimson Sails Armada had suddenly become so aggressive. But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark. In one of the most heartbreaking scenes in all of Avatar, we see how Fire Lord Ozai fought a young Prince Zuko in an Agni Kai, giving him his iconic scar and punishing Zuko with banishment. [80], Sometime later, Zuko flew toward the Misty Palms Oasis on Druk with Tonraq in tow after the latter received word from Lin to meet her there. Is IROH Zuko's dad? [39] His reaction to the perception of the world always set against him is iron-willed defiance and inflexible determination. [36] Zhao eventually found out that Zuko was behind the Avatar's rescue in Pohuai and exacted his revenge by blowing up Zuko's ship while it had been docked in a harbor. Share your thoughts, experiences, and stories behind the art. The little prince spent the remainder of the day in the care of his mother, recovering from the experience while vomiting sea-water. He was domineering and controlling, a result of his upbringing as Fire Nation royalty, and disdained to work with people he believed were inferior; yet he adamantly refused to view people as expendable. An outraged Azulon refused and according to Azula Zuko's sister demanded that Zuko be killed to show Ozai what losing a son is like. Coleman, however, suggested that the character be portrayed as a really driven kid chasing Aang. At that very moment, he was saved from falling into a chasm by Aang, and heard that the Avatar was able to reason with the Earth King. Before he could ask any more about Iroh, they were interrupted by Mako, who alerted them that they had finally been able to contact the Northern Air Temple, prompting Zuko and Korra to follow him toward Zaofu's communication's room. [77] He also retained a certain penchant for being the source of awkward moments when conversing with others, as evidenced by reactions to his revelation to Chiefs Tonraq, Desna, and Eska that he had once hired a combustionbending assassin to kill Aang when en route to P'Li's prison cell.