10 Ways Zuko Grew Up Over The Course Of Avatar

10 Ways Zuko Grew Up Over The Course Of Avatar

Prince Zuko was an insecure and angry child at first, but he did a lot of growing up before realizing his true destiny.

You Are Reading :[thien_display_title]

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a mega-popular animated series taking place in an Asian-inspired world where the four elements have inspired four mighty nations. The Fire Nation, for its part, has produced some of the series’ most terrifying villains of all, and that includes Prince Zuko, the scarred boy on a quest to regain his honor.

But Zuko wasn’t always like that. He was once an insecure but kind boy in the Fire Nation court, and then he turned bitter and twisted after Fire Lord Ozai branded and exiled him. When he first appeared, Zuko was a juvenile and bratty person who was deeply wounded on the inside, but over time, he grew up and became the respectable prince he was always meant to be. How did Zuko grow up during the series?

10 Zuko Learned The Truth About Pride

Prince Zuko was arrogant and conceited when he began his quest to hunt the elusive Avatar, much like his vain sister, Azula. They both took great pride in their royal status and power, but it got to their heads, and that caused them to push people away again and again.

At first, Zuko thought that sheer pride would motivate him to capture the Avatar and prove his superiority, and he was terrified of bringing shame upon himself. Eventually, Zuko grew up and learned that pride is not shame’s opposite, but its source.

9 Zuko Learned The Value Of Humility

To begin his redemption arc, Zuko had to let go of his pride, since that pride kept pushing him to say and do the wrong things for the wrong reasons. That was definitely an improvement, but Zuko had to go further so that he could grow up as a person. By Book Three, Zuko finally replaced his old pride with proper humility.

As Iroh told Zuko, humility is pride’s opposite, not shame, and that makes all the difference. Zuko learned to accept the fact that he’s not the most important person in the world, and he should be content to accept a humbler role in world affairs. Not everything is about him.

8 Zuko Learned To Say No To Ozai’s Abuse

Unlike the strong and fair Hakoda and the doting uncle Iroh, Fire Lord Ozai is a terrible father figure, and he tormented and verbally abused his son for years on end. Ozai was always disappointed with how Zuko turned out, and Zuko simply accepted the abuse as a fact of life.

That changed later on when Zuko finally decided to sever ties with his tyrannical father. No more would Zuko endure Ozai’s verbal or firebending abuse, and he stood up to his old man during the eclipse invasion of the Fire Nation. This is a grown-up Zuko who can stand up for himself.

7 Zuko Stopped Relying On Ozai For Validation

Zuko did a lot of growing up where his father is concerned, and not only did Zuko finally stand up to Ozai’s abusive ways, he changed his relationship with Ozai entirely. At first, Zuko desperately wanted his father’s approval, which prompted him to hunt the Avatar to gain some much-needed honor.

However, Zuko didn’t need a single thing from his tyrannical father, and it took him years to realize that. Zuko really grew up when he decided that he no longer needed validation from someone who treated him like this, and that was a big step to take. Not all validation is created equal.

6 Zuko Learned To Treat Girls Better

Zuko was never a misogynist, and the Fire Nation is remarkably forward-thinking where girls and women are concerned. All the same, Zuko wasn’t that much of a gentleman where girls were concerned in his early days, and he had trouble getting girls to like him. In fact, he wasn’t even that interested.

However, every respectable young man should know how to treat girls well, and over time, Zuko caught up. He ended up having a lovely date with Jin in Ba Sing Se’s peaceful streets, and later, he fixed his relationship with Mai and found true love with her. He’s finally Mr. Romantic, and it’s a good look.

5 Zuko Learned The True Nature Of Firebending

Firebending is the most aggressive bending art, which lends it many strengths, as well as many weaknesses. At first, Zuko fueled his firebending with sheer anger and aggression, which was the same strategy Admiral Zhao used. But this is not the best way to bend fire.

It’s downright juvenile to use firebending like that, and Zuko discovered that for himself when he and Aang met the Sun Warriors. These people understand the true nature of fire — it’s the element of life and energy, not just destruction. Zuko’s mentality and bending both matured after learning that.

4 Zuko Embraced The Value Of Forgiveness

Zuko wasn’t in the mood to forgive anyone or be forgiven when Avatar started, while the generous Aang was all about forgiveness and compassion. A real adult knows that forgiveness is the best way to end a feud or grudge and allow everyone involved to move on without any necessary burdens in their hearts.

Zuko grew up a bit when he discovered the true value of forgiveness. He told Ozai that he would return to Iroh and beg for Iroh’s forgiveness, and Iroh forgave him right away. Similarly, both Zuko and Katara learned a valuable lesson about forgiveness when they went on a mission to assassinate Katara’s mother’s killer.

3 Zuko Confronted His Own Anger

Zuko’s anger fueled both his firebrending and his mission to capture the Avatar, but he eventually realized that this rage was simply making him miserable for no good reason. He had a lot of pent-up anger throughout the series, and it came to a head during a beach episode on Ember Island.

Azula asked her brother what the source of his anger was, and finally, Zuko admitted that he was ultimately angry at himself. This was a major step to take, and it’s a sign of maturity that Zuko can even admit that, let alone do something about it. And he certainly did do something about it later.

2 Zuko Learned That Peace Is Better Than Senseless Violence

Zuko didn’t become a pacifist when he grew up, and he didn’t necessarily have to, either. Then again, Zuko also learned that senseless violence and war are not something to glamorize or pursue, and he eventually helped Aang end the dreadful Hundred-Year War at long last.

Zuko played a peripheral role in supporting the Fire Nation’s war effort for a time, or at least, he didn’t object to the war. Later, he agreed with Aang that peace, cooperation, and unity are far superior to wars of conquest, and that was a sign of true maturity. Zuko doesn’t have to conquer the world to prove his worth.

1 Zuko Embraced The Value Of Diplomacy

Diplomacy is a vital tool for any leader, especially the monarch of a country like the Fire Nation, and Zuko eventually embraced diplomacy as well. A child will demand everything they want, and they lack the patience or skills for compromise and negotiation. Zuko was like that, too.

Over time, Zuko sharpened his diplomatic skills and learned to use his ideas and words — rather than force — to get what he wanted and get along with others. This is what led to him and Aang peacefully removing most Fire Nation colonies from the Earth Kingdom, and it also led to Republic City’s founding.

Link Source : https://www.cbr.com/avatar-zuko-grew-up-ways/

• D&D Every Artificer Specialist Ranked

• Does Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Really Hide a Filthy Secret

• Ubisoft’s Next Assassins Creed Game Reportedly Leaks

• A Very Special Copy of the First Marvel Comic Just Sold for Nearly $25 Million

• Dark Souls III How to Find the Games Best Greatsword

• Boruto 5 Ways Kakashi Has Changed Since Naruto (& 5 Hes Still The Same)

• Will Better Call Sauls Gus Keep His Promise to Nacho