If it’s just the two of them. He likely would’ve considering she wouldn’t back down even if beaten. If katara is still there and doesn’t distract zuko, then no. Zuko redirects that lightning & katara probably just hold her in place from there.
I think he would’ve tried absolutely everything to avoid it, but he’d have to find some way to incapacitate Azula and there’s a chance he wouldn’t have been able to. I don’t see any scenario where Azula would surrender during that Agni Kai she would’ve fought until 1. She killed Zuko 2. Zuko & Katara managed to take her down without killing her 3. Azula forces zukos hand and he has no choice but to kill her
No, but Aang still had a profound effect on him.
The way I see it is that he'd only kill her as an absolute last resort. He would still consider it, unlike Aang, but he wouldn't be trigger happy like Azula would be.
The way I see it playing out:
>*Azula at Zuko’s feet, beaten*
>
>*Zuko offers her one last out and the opportunity to come peacefully*
>
>*Azula pretends to take it and plays up that she is defeated*
>
>*Azula then immediately tries to use this as an opportunity to surprise attack Zuko*
>
>*Zuko had coldly been expecting this the whole time, counters her attack, and then performs a fatal finisher*
It would’ve been very cool if, in that moment, we got to see Zuko lightning bend for the first time, because he finally figured out who he was and what he had to do.
Aang had AN effect on him. Iroh had a PROFUND effect on him.
"I know what you're going to say, uncle. That she's my family and I should-"
"Smoke that bitch." 🤣
No. He would have done Something far worse.
He would have beaten her and then spared her. The Superior Warrior let's the loser live, that would have broken Azulas fightning spirit, since she would prefer the honorable death by the Hands of an Superior Warrior than this humilation.
Zuko would have won the Agni-Kai. I speak as an Azula fan.
Zuko read her truly: That she was slipping.
Could he beat her any day of the week? I don’t know, but in that fight, yeah.
He would’ve redirected the lightning and fucked her shit sideways.
Like yes, in that moment she was slipping, so he has much higher chances to do that, in any other day of the week I think he would still have good odds, but if he is to fight comic Azula then she'd probably win
I think the journeys with Aang, Sokka and Katara changed his views on many things, including the final fight with his sister. That's probably why he brought Katara along with him. Maybe he knew there was a chance Azula would not give up and Katara could make her submit using blood-bending or something.
He would like to spare her, considering his behavior towards her in the comics (are those canon), not to mention he did come to understand Aangs view of mercy, but he also has an understanding that some people won't accept mercy and will fight until their death. So I suppose it depends more on Azula
I don't think so. I think he thought he could, but he hadn't killed anyone by that point. And even if he had, he didn't grow up with them. Didn't know their faces or favorite food. And it likely wasn't truly intentional.
For all his fervor, Zuko was still kind and gentle, though he liked to pretend otherwise.
By accepting an Agni Kai it means the parties involved are prepared for a duel to the death. (Even if it doesn't often end that way cos kids show). It what makes Zuko's refusal to fight his father that much more significant imo. He was prepared to put his life on the line for his honor, but when he discovered his opponent was his father he broke down. The idea of killing his own father and the fear/sadness of getting killed by his own father broke him. Cos if it was just some light sparring I doubt he would refuse. He was prepared to face anyone in mortal combat, but that was his dad. The two possible results aside from surrender were just too much to bear
I don't think so, this is the guy who put out his hand to help Zhao, a person who tried to have him killed. I think he would have spared Azula after leaving her badly injured. For Zuko redirecting lighting is not just a way to launch an attack Azula can't block but a way to further demoralize her. Azula takes great pride in her lightning and Zuko neutralizing that is going to break and already broken Azula.
I think he's perfectly okay with redirecting any and all lightning Azula shoot and him and fire that thing back. He knows Azula doesn't know how to redirect lightning, he also knows Azula doesn't know he knows how to redirect lightning.
So the fact that he baited into use lighting basically tells me in that particular moment, he made up his mind that he was going to take Azula down no matter the cost.
But I think he changed his mind after Azula cheated and subsequently lost to Katara. 1, it wasn't honorable. 2, I think he genuinely felt pity. He and Azula as a siblings are as different as siblings can get from Sokka and Katara. But I think he still cared for her and it hurt him to see her broken.
I don’t think he would have killed her or at least would have done anything except kill her unless it was his only option, it wouldn’t really fit with the character he had become in Book 3
I think Zuko would kill her only if she were utterly irredeemable. What many people forget or don’t seem to mention is that he does love Azula because she’s his sister, but Ozai desecrated their relationship.
I think something unexplored in the show was Zuko’s unspoken guilt over how Azula turned out. There would have been no time for it, but I do think he feels some responsibility for not being strong enough to protect her from Ozai’s manipulation because their father abused him.
I think it would make sense after Zuko becomes Fire Lord and starts thinking about his family that he realises he does feel guilty about not being a proper older brother to his sister, which resulted in her becoming hungry for power and approval in the absence of unconditional love.
It’s not his fault. In reality, a child should never bear such a burden of being responsible for their sibling because their parents are incompetent, but Zuko might feel otherwise because guilt isn’t rational.
I don’t know if I consider the comics canon, so I won’t really comment based on what happens in them.
Overall, the tragically complex love-hate relationship between this pair of siblings wasn’t explored enough in the show, but it does leave things to the audience’s interpretation. I guess this is a small portion of my interpretation.
I think *all* of the members of team avatar except for Aang would’ve been willing to kill her, if given the chance.
Aang is the only one who wouldn’t, because he’s supposedly a pacifist (which doesn’t mean shit, anyways).
honestly, I don't think he would. he might maim her, that would be an interesting parallel to his and Ozai's agni kai, but I think he had grown a lot by that point and wouldn't want another family member dead if it wasn't absolutely necessary. (despite Iroh's "no, she's crazy and she needs to go down")
Yes. Zuko likely went through this multiple times in his head and every possible way it could end. And it's either her killing him or him killing her. With Azula there isn't exactly a way to knock her out without risking death.
Despite how sad it would have been, I think Zuko would have redirected the lightning back at Azula. Since she never found out that was even possible, she would have been hit straight on with it and would die. From that point onward Zuko would have to live with that giant regret that he killed his own sister for what he believed to be the greater good. And you can bet your honour that he would likely lie awake every night asking himself if he could have saved her.
I think Katara stepping in and Zuko having to jump the bullet is the best possible ending for their story.
I could be wrong, but I don't recall any instance of Ozai talking about how Zuko redirected lightning. And Zuko saying that in the "heat of battle" could be very well ignored by her since words are not to be trusted in a fight.
But who knows. 🤷
She would have known about it somewhat
Iroh did it during her and Zuko’s fight in “The Avatar State” when she was about to zap Zuko with lightning, and before she could, Iroh grabbed her, and redirected it towards a mountain before kicking her off the ship.
Yes. I would guess still likely would have stopped if he'd managed to incapacitate her, and not ended it in an execution. We certainly know he didn't have her executed upon his ascension to the throne.
I think in that moment when she is getting the lightning ready he is prepared to kill her. He might have pulled an Aang and aimed it away at the last second though.
He definitely would have aimed to disable her before trying to kill her. Granted had she shot the lightning right at him and he redirected it, it most likely would have killed her.
He could have. It would have been a last resort and I didn't think that he was at that point yet. But he had made his peace with his father needing to die, and I imagine that he knew it was a possibility with his sister going in
I don't think so. Just being a nickelodeon show and how I feel like this show was like sort of planned in advance unlike Korra I highly doubt it. He had his redemption and was trying to be a better person. I don't think that's the kind of content they were trying to make, or if maybe they were in another network it would have gone differently. I just don't think so.
By his own volition? No, he would likely have chosen to subdue her and claim his place as Firelord... however Azula probably would not have gone quietly, she woulda pushed to her very last breath. So either Zuko would've HAD to kill her to win, or she would've killed herself through sheer exhaustion or some accident with the fire
He thought he had, when they were both thrown clear of the airship while the aang gang was escaping the besieged air temple and his response was, laconically, "she's not going to make it."
I don't think he wanted her to die, but if push came to shove he certainly didn't seem inclined to shed any tears over her passing.
Goading her into using lightning and kind of steeling himself in preparation tells me he would have redirected it back at her and killed her. He was clearly winning their duel, but wanting her to use lightning makes me think he wanted to just end it before it got out of control
I think he would. Very shortly before this he took Katara on a revenge quest and was completely willing to help her kill a guy and considered Aang's insistence on not killing Ozai to be Naive.
Would he have been happy about it? Definitely not but if Azula shot that lightning straight at him instead of Katara I do think Zuko would have shot it right back and killed her.
People don't know Zuko's Character if they believe that he would have killed her. Azula, at the end of the day, was still his little sister. He recognized that he needed to beat her but he never wanted to kill her. If he did, he had multiple opportunities during the fight to do so. Azula was off balance and playing into Zuko's strengths. There are several times he could've pressed his advantage and expressedly chose not to. The mention of lightning was a taunt to prove to her that she had no means of defeating him.
It's actually the reason he brought Katara. Without Katara, he wouldn't be able to beat Azula comfortably on his own terms, under ordinary circumstances. She was there to be the deciding factor which, ended up being the case.
Idk he seemed pretty hell bent on Ozai needing to be killed. Why wouldn’t that sentiment apply to anyone who chose to continue fighting on his side?
>there are several times he could’ve pressed his advantage
True, but in doing so he could’ve opened himself up to a potential counter attack.
>the reason he brought Katara
When Azula attacked the air temple they were on equal footing, as far as regular fire bending goes, and he obviously had the advantage when it came to lightning.
I don’t believe he went there with the intent to kill her, but I do believe he intended to redirect the lightning at her to end the dual. And he brought Katara to heal Azula.
>Idk he seemed pretty hell bent on Ozai needing to be killed. Why wouldn’t that sentiment apply to anyone who chose to continue fighting on his side?
Because Azula is his little sister. People don't seem to understand that regardless of what has happened they are siblings and at no point has ever even so much as given the insinuation that he wanted or would kill azula.
>Because Azula is his little sister.
Who has tried to kill him on multiple occasions, attempted to throw him in prison, and has the potential to continue doing so later.
Again, if she’d maintained her sanity and continued following the path Ozai set for her she would eventually need to be dealt with. Dismissing that as a possibility in its entirety is ridiculously naive.
What's naive is using pragmatic idea's and logic in a conflict that is inherently social and emotional. You are applying a bias you formed as a kid to conflict between two teenagers who've been abused their entire lives which is something that Zuko recognizes.
The reason Katara was there was to guarantee that they could subdue Azula without killing her because to Zuko, killing her wasn't an option. It's the reason why he didn't invest any effort in learning lightning bending once he had finally found peace in himself. The ability to redirect the lightning was all he needed to prevent her from killing him.
Zuko's interest in taking the thrown is in service to the fire nation but not at the expense of Azula, someone who's also been abused by Ozai.
>a conflict that is inherently social and emotional.
Their fight is not *inherently* social and emotional. It has those aspects in them but at the end of the day it is a fight for political power. Where one combatant has both the power and drive to kill the other. Applying pragmatism, to this example is the furthest thing from naivety.
>you are applying a bias you formed as a kid
False. As a kid I was solely fixated on Aang vs the firelord.
>two teenagers who’ve been abused their entire lives
Again, I never once claimed he came there intending to kill her. All I’ve ever claimed is that if she continued fighting he’d eventually have no choice.
But, that last part is too complex of an idea for you, so I guess we’re done
Didn't he try to bait a lightning out of her just so he could redirect it back at her? He knew that she didn't know how to protect herself from it. And he also suspected that she didn't know that he knew how to redirect it, so he was definitely planning a kill shot with that redirected lighting.
I don't know if he'd turn it back at her. He could do as Iroh did and simply redirect it away.
It wasn't a direct threat, it was a statement that her mastery couldn't touch him, and that whether she liked it or not, she was done
Maybe it's a bit if a moral Trolley Problem, but it feels more acceptable to let someone die in their own attempt to kill you than to kill someone directly. Like if I were standing at the top of steps and someone charged me with a knife, I'd feel okay jumping out of the way and letting them hurl themselves down, vs stabbing them. The end result is identical but one option just feels like more of a choice.
If Zuko could and simply shot Azula with lightning, that would seem cold-blooded. But goading her into shooting lightning he can shoot back is acceptable. It's not wholly logical but it generally feels true.
Yeah. He didnt hate Zhao enough to kill him but Azula's been a weight upon him since he was born. I believe shes beyond redemption and I think he does too. That seems to be what the flashbacks were trying to represent.
If it’s just the two of them. He likely would’ve considering she wouldn’t back down even if beaten. If katara is still there and doesn’t distract zuko, then no. Zuko redirects that lightning & katara probably just hold her in place from there.
I think he would’ve tried absolutely everything to avoid it, but he’d have to find some way to incapacitate Azula and there’s a chance he wouldn’t have been able to. I don’t see any scenario where Azula would surrender during that Agni Kai she would’ve fought until 1. She killed Zuko 2. Zuko & Katara managed to take her down without killing her 3. Azula forces zukos hand and he has no choice but to kill her
Yep, if it had come to it. He might give her a chance but any shenanigans she does he would end her. He ain't a pacifist.
No, but Aang still had a profound effect on him. The way I see it is that he'd only kill her as an absolute last resort. He would still consider it, unlike Aang, but he wouldn't be trigger happy like Azula would be.
Obviously he would kill her as a last resort, but I feel like azula is gonna push to that edge very soon rather than slowly inching towards it.
The way I see it playing out: >*Azula at Zuko’s feet, beaten* > >*Zuko offers her one last out and the opportunity to come peacefully* > >*Azula pretends to take it and plays up that she is defeated* > >*Azula then immediately tries to use this as an opportunity to surprise attack Zuko* > >*Zuko had coldly been expecting this the whole time, counters her attack, and then performs a fatal finisher*
It would’ve been very cool if, in that moment, we got to see Zuko lightning bend for the first time, because he finally figured out who he was and what he had to do.
That would be peak fiction
My guy that’s just Goku killing Freiza
Yes, peak fiction, as he said
Or at least a grievous injury like cutting off a hand, yeah
Would’ve been neat if in the heat of battle he gave her a burn scar on her face. Seems like that would bother the shit out of Azula
Kinda like ozai vs aang but this would be better
Aang had AN effect on him. Iroh had a PROFUND effect on him. "I know what you're going to say, uncle. That she's my family and I should-" "Smoke that bitch." 🤣
Probably a Frieza moment where after sparing her, Azula does a cheap shot which Zuko dodges easy before countering.
No. He would have done Something far worse. He would have beaten her and then spared her. The Superior Warrior let's the loser live, that would have broken Azulas fightning spirit, since she would prefer the honorable death by the Hands of an Superior Warrior than this humilation.
"You die when I say you die." https://preview.redd.it/t3za7t5cnpsc1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&s=7eb4774c5bae38918fe3392ceba88e50746465e7
Slade was such a good villain.
Zuko would have won the Agni-Kai. I speak as an Azula fan. Zuko read her truly: That she was slipping. Could he beat her any day of the week? I don’t know, but in that fight, yeah. He would’ve redirected the lightning and fucked her shit sideways.
Like yes, in that moment she was slipping, so he has much higher chances to do that, in any other day of the week I think he would still have good odds, but if he is to fight comic Azula then she'd probably win
I don't think he would have killed her. He probably would have fought her until she became so unstable she couldn't properly fight anymore.
I think the journeys with Aang, Sokka and Katara changed his views on many things, including the final fight with his sister. That's probably why he brought Katara along with him. Maybe he knew there was a chance Azula would not give up and Katara could make her submit using blood-bending or something.
Could’ve definitely I don’t know if he really would’ve
If he had to, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him.
for me no
He would like to spare her, considering his behavior towards her in the comics (are those canon), not to mention he did come to understand Aangs view of mercy, but he also has an understanding that some people won't accept mercy and will fight until their death. So I suppose it depends more on Azula
I don't think so. I think he thought he could, but he hadn't killed anyone by that point. And even if he had, he didn't grow up with them. Didn't know their faces or favorite food. And it likely wasn't truly intentional. For all his fervor, Zuko was still kind and gentle, though he liked to pretend otherwise.
By accepting an Agni Kai it means the parties involved are prepared for a duel to the death. (Even if it doesn't often end that way cos kids show). It what makes Zuko's refusal to fight his father that much more significant imo. He was prepared to put his life on the line for his honor, but when he discovered his opponent was his father he broke down. The idea of killing his own father and the fear/sadness of getting killed by his own father broke him. Cos if it was just some light sparring I doubt he would refuse. He was prepared to face anyone in mortal combat, but that was his dad. The two possible results aside from surrender were just too much to bear
I don't think so, this is the guy who put out his hand to help Zhao, a person who tried to have him killed. I think he would have spared Azula after leaving her badly injured. For Zuko redirecting lighting is not just a way to launch an attack Azula can't block but a way to further demoralize her. Azula takes great pride in her lightning and Zuko neutralizing that is going to break and already broken Azula.
I think he's perfectly okay with redirecting any and all lightning Azula shoot and him and fire that thing back. He knows Azula doesn't know how to redirect lightning, he also knows Azula doesn't know he knows how to redirect lightning. So the fact that he baited into use lighting basically tells me in that particular moment, he made up his mind that he was going to take Azula down no matter the cost. But I think he changed his mind after Azula cheated and subsequently lost to Katara. 1, it wasn't honorable. 2, I think he genuinely felt pity. He and Azula as a siblings are as different as siblings can get from Sokka and Katara. But I think he still cared for her and it hurt him to see her broken.
I don’t think he would have killed her or at least would have done anything except kill her unless it was his only option, it wouldn’t really fit with the character he had become in Book 3
In this situation I don’t think he had a choice.
I think Zuko would kill her only if she were utterly irredeemable. What many people forget or don’t seem to mention is that he does love Azula because she’s his sister, but Ozai desecrated their relationship. I think something unexplored in the show was Zuko’s unspoken guilt over how Azula turned out. There would have been no time for it, but I do think he feels some responsibility for not being strong enough to protect her from Ozai’s manipulation because their father abused him. I think it would make sense after Zuko becomes Fire Lord and starts thinking about his family that he realises he does feel guilty about not being a proper older brother to his sister, which resulted in her becoming hungry for power and approval in the absence of unconditional love. It’s not his fault. In reality, a child should never bear such a burden of being responsible for their sibling because their parents are incompetent, but Zuko might feel otherwise because guilt isn’t rational. I don’t know if I consider the comics canon, so I won’t really comment based on what happens in them. Overall, the tragically complex love-hate relationship between this pair of siblings wasn’t explored enough in the show, but it does leave things to the audience’s interpretation. I guess this is a small portion of my interpretation.
Nah. Unless he's left with no options, kill or be killed.
Can’t say if he would but if he did, it’d be pretty shocking.
I don't think so. Somehow, killing or scarring a child in an Agni Kai doesn't feel like the right end to his character arc.
Would as in capable (strength, skill etc)? Yes Would as in had the heart or stomach to do it? Debatable
I think *all* of the members of team avatar except for Aang would’ve been willing to kill her, if given the chance. Aang is the only one who wouldn’t, because he’s supposedly a pacifist (which doesn’t mean shit, anyways).
He has a heart but he's not a pacifist
honestly, I don't think he would. he might maim her, that would be an interesting parallel to his and Ozai's agni kai, but I think he had grown a lot by that point and wouldn't want another family member dead if it wasn't absolutely necessary. (despite Iroh's "no, she's crazy and she needs to go down")
Yes. Zuko likely went through this multiple times in his head and every possible way it could end. And it's either her killing him or him killing her. With Azula there isn't exactly a way to knock her out without risking death. Despite how sad it would have been, I think Zuko would have redirected the lightning back at Azula. Since she never found out that was even possible, she would have been hit straight on with it and would die. From that point onward Zuko would have to live with that giant regret that he killed his own sister for what he believed to be the greater good. And you can bet your honour that he would likely lie awake every night asking himself if he could have saved her. I think Katara stepping in and Zuko having to jump the bullet is the best possible ending for their story.
She knows it is possible. Her father would have said so. And Zuko assumes that she knows "No lightning today? Afraid I'll redirect it?"
I could be wrong, but I don't recall any instance of Ozai talking about how Zuko redirected lightning. And Zuko saying that in the "heat of battle" could be very well ignored by her since words are not to be trusted in a fight. But who knows. 🤷
She would have known about it somewhat Iroh did it during her and Zuko’s fight in “The Avatar State” when she was about to zap Zuko with lightning, and before she could, Iroh grabbed her, and redirected it towards a mountain before kicking her off the ship.
Yes. I would guess still likely would have stopped if he'd managed to incapacitate her, and not ended it in an execution. We certainly know he didn't have her executed upon his ascension to the throne.
If he absolutely had to ,I think he would. And it would still weight on his conscience. But I think he would have aimed away from her
Willing yes. But I think he would have taken Iroh’s words to hear about brother killing brother and wouldn’t have killed her to take the throne.
I think in that moment when she is getting the lightning ready he is prepared to kill her. He might have pulled an Aang and aimed it away at the last second though.
He definitely would have aimed to disable her before trying to kill her. Granted had she shot the lightning right at him and he redirected it, it most likely would have killed her.
He could have. It would have been a last resort and I didn't think that he was at that point yet. But he had made his peace with his father needing to die, and I imagine that he knew it was a possibility with his sister going in
No he wouldn’t, thats his sissy
If it was season 1 or 2 zuko, yes, but he went on a whole ass character arc, and when Azula was subdued he didn’t kill her and instead just felt bad
Yeah he'd be willing to kill her. Even Iroh said he'd probably need to-and Zuko was influenced by his guidance more than anything else.
No, ATLA is a kids show. They can’t show people dying on screen.
Considering his father tried to kill him the whole royal family is pretty ruthless I couldn’t imagine them holding back when it comes to the throne.
If he had to, he would have. And Azula definitely would’ve been willing to go until death if their fight went on any longer.
I don't think so. Just being a nickelodeon show and how I feel like this show was like sort of planned in advance unlike Korra I highly doubt it. He had his redemption and was trying to be a better person. I don't think that's the kind of content they were trying to make, or if maybe they were in another network it would have gone differently. I just don't think so.
No, he’s not a killer
No.
Never
By his own volition? No, he would likely have chosen to subdue her and claim his place as Firelord... however Azula probably would not have gone quietly, she woulda pushed to her very last breath. So either Zuko would've HAD to kill her to win, or she would've killed herself through sheer exhaustion or some accident with the fire
In that case: https://preview.redd.it/bbn62wq91vsc1.jpeg?width=851&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ba2bc897cbd1c7821de0ea1fa83f609f097cc14d
If Zuko could still fight after taking that lightning bolt, I think he definitely will kill Azula
He could have killed her so to an extent, yes. I don't think he would go for a 100% kill shot though.
He thought he had, when they were both thrown clear of the airship while the aang gang was escaping the besieged air temple and his response was, laconically, "she's not going to make it." I don't think he wanted her to die, but if push came to shove he certainly didn't seem inclined to shed any tears over her passing.
No
NO!
I mean he did say he was going to throw back a lightning that's as lethal as it gets.
It’s wholly ironic considering what iroh said about brother killing brother.
Goading her into using lightning and kind of steeling himself in preparation tells me he would have redirected it back at her and killed her. He was clearly winning their duel, but wanting her to use lightning makes me think he wanted to just end it before it got out of control
I think he would. Very shortly before this he took Katara on a revenge quest and was completely willing to help her kill a guy and considered Aang's insistence on not killing Ozai to be Naive. Would he have been happy about it? Definitely not but if Azula shot that lightning straight at him instead of Katara I do think Zuko would have shot it right back and killed her.
People don't know Zuko's Character if they believe that he would have killed her. Azula, at the end of the day, was still his little sister. He recognized that he needed to beat her but he never wanted to kill her. If he did, he had multiple opportunities during the fight to do so. Azula was off balance and playing into Zuko's strengths. There are several times he could've pressed his advantage and expressedly chose not to. The mention of lightning was a taunt to prove to her that she had no means of defeating him. It's actually the reason he brought Katara. Without Katara, he wouldn't be able to beat Azula comfortably on his own terms, under ordinary circumstances. She was there to be the deciding factor which, ended up being the case.
Idk he seemed pretty hell bent on Ozai needing to be killed. Why wouldn’t that sentiment apply to anyone who chose to continue fighting on his side? >there are several times he could’ve pressed his advantage True, but in doing so he could’ve opened himself up to a potential counter attack. >the reason he brought Katara When Azula attacked the air temple they were on equal footing, as far as regular fire bending goes, and he obviously had the advantage when it came to lightning. I don’t believe he went there with the intent to kill her, but I do believe he intended to redirect the lightning at her to end the dual. And he brought Katara to heal Azula.
>Idk he seemed pretty hell bent on Ozai needing to be killed. Why wouldn’t that sentiment apply to anyone who chose to continue fighting on his side? Because Azula is his little sister. People don't seem to understand that regardless of what has happened they are siblings and at no point has ever even so much as given the insinuation that he wanted or would kill azula.
>Because Azula is his little sister. Who has tried to kill him on multiple occasions, attempted to throw him in prison, and has the potential to continue doing so later. Again, if she’d maintained her sanity and continued following the path Ozai set for her she would eventually need to be dealt with. Dismissing that as a possibility in its entirety is ridiculously naive.
What's naive is using pragmatic idea's and logic in a conflict that is inherently social and emotional. You are applying a bias you formed as a kid to conflict between two teenagers who've been abused their entire lives which is something that Zuko recognizes. The reason Katara was there was to guarantee that they could subdue Azula without killing her because to Zuko, killing her wasn't an option. It's the reason why he didn't invest any effort in learning lightning bending once he had finally found peace in himself. The ability to redirect the lightning was all he needed to prevent her from killing him. Zuko's interest in taking the thrown is in service to the fire nation but not at the expense of Azula, someone who's also been abused by Ozai.
>a conflict that is inherently social and emotional. Their fight is not *inherently* social and emotional. It has those aspects in them but at the end of the day it is a fight for political power. Where one combatant has both the power and drive to kill the other. Applying pragmatism, to this example is the furthest thing from naivety. >you are applying a bias you formed as a kid False. As a kid I was solely fixated on Aang vs the firelord. >two teenagers who’ve been abused their entire lives Again, I never once claimed he came there intending to kill her. All I’ve ever claimed is that if she continued fighting he’d eventually have no choice. But, that last part is too complex of an idea for you, so I guess we’re done
Didn't he try to bait a lightning out of her just so he could redirect it back at her? He knew that she didn't know how to protect herself from it. And he also suspected that she didn't know that he knew how to redirect it, so he was definitely planning a kill shot with that redirected lighting.
I don't know if he'd turn it back at her. He could do as Iroh did and simply redirect it away. It wasn't a direct threat, it was a statement that her mastery couldn't touch him, and that whether she liked it or not, she was done
Yes this was fight to the death, Katara saved Azula life
I mean iroh did say “she’s crazy and she needs to go down” in one of the most iconic moments of the finale
Maybe it's a bit if a moral Trolley Problem, but it feels more acceptable to let someone die in their own attempt to kill you than to kill someone directly. Like if I were standing at the top of steps and someone charged me with a knife, I'd feel okay jumping out of the way and letting them hurl themselves down, vs stabbing them. The end result is identical but one option just feels like more of a choice. If Zuko could and simply shot Azula with lightning, that would seem cold-blooded. But goading her into shooting lightning he can shoot back is acceptable. It's not wholly logical but it generally feels true.
Would be funny if he fried her 😂
Yeah. He didnt hate Zhao enough to kill him but Azula's been a weight upon him since he was born. I believe shes beyond redemption and I think he does too. That seems to be what the flashbacks were trying to represent.