The Psychology of Azula l Avatar: The Last Airbender

These kinds of videos are often demonetised, so your support would really help: / hellofutureme
INSTAGRAM: storiestim_hickson_hfm/
Buy my book! tinyurl.com/y5ymqpcm
Massive thanks to Fuat Can Çalışkan, Psychological Counsellor, MA, Rebekah Gwaltney, BSW, Loriana Vitea Medici, Anna Lee, and Laykan Dowdy for their consultation in this project.
ASPD/NPD:
tinyurl.com/nvk6vde
“Interpersonal Diagnosis of Personality” by Timothy Leary
MACHIAVELLIANISM:
tinyurl.com/y2p33fcl
tinyurl.com/y3b96y8b
SCHIZOPHRENIA:
tinyurl.com/y76xbbww
tinyurl.com/y5plr9l5
tinyurl.com/y5h6dwlj
tinyurl.com/y47hqb5b
“Schizophrenia in Children” by J Louise Despert
“Patterns of Parent-Child Relationships in Schizophrenia” by Suzanne Reichard and Caril Tillman
SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER:
tinyurl.com/y392p5cp
tinyurl.com/yy7e6948
tinyurl.com/yxrq9pbf
DELUSIONS:
tinyurl.com/y5pnqv3w
tinyurl.com/y42kwo5q
tinyurl.com/yxavj9eu
tinyurl.com/y2r3gzkr
tinyurl.com/y2wk6mdz
tinyurl.com/y4aaw5c8
Want to stop slavery AND get an awesome t-shirt?: www.teepublic.com/user/hellof...
Learn more about our channel-sponsored charities:
A21: www.a21.org/index.php?site=true
WWF: www.worldwildlife.org/
My SECOND CHANNEL can be found via a link on my main page or at 'TwotheFuture'. Come join us!
Email fanart/fanmail: [e-mail]
Twitter: / timhickson1
Facebook: / hellofutureme
IF YOU WANT TO SEND THINGS TO ME (address):
Tim Hickson
PO Box 69062
Lincoln, 7608
Canterbury, New Zealand
The artist that designed my display pic! serem01.deviantart.com/
The artist who design my cover photo:
- raidesart.deviantart.com/
- / raidesart
- / raidesart
Credit for the background music I use in a LOT of my videos:
Kevin MacLeod "Music for Manatees" Creative commons license
Stay nerdy,
~ Tim

[@HelloFutureMe]

This video was blocked by Viacom, and while I'm disputing it, I don't know how long it will be up, so if you'd like to see more of this kind of content, please consider supporting me and Supreme Leader Mishy here >>> www.patreon.com/hellofutureme (+Discord!) I've had a total of 13 hours sleep in the past 72 hours. It's 6AM here, and I'm so freaking tired, but here you go: Azula's psychology. Stay nerdy, Tim

[@faryalnadeem8168]

Thanks alot Tim All hail Mishka

[@musetangolazorus1875]

Hello Future Me I know this is what you enjoy making and I just wanted to say good job on making your own book but I hope you make more how to train your dragon theories

[@Vairy_2972]

hm good

[@CORleader4]

Tim, you should rest, but then take the time to reach out to the lawyer at LegalEagle. He is looking for KZbinrs who have been unfairly targeted by copyright claims

[@internetexplorer8588]

@@CORleader4 me and someone it seems mentioned this channel so heres hoping something good comes from it at least

[@catoticneutral]

i can not get over the fact that Avatar did a literal "filler beach episode" type episode and made it good enough that it comes into play in psychological character breakdowns

[@shahdalali7999]

ikr?! like even their supposedly unimportant episodes are ICONIC

[@fightingmedialounge519]

Except for the great divide.

[@hsmacaraig]

Kye Dysarthria Tbh I liked it but it wasn’t the best. It was nice to know Aang could lie though.

[@sanya5538]

@@hsmacaraig yes that was the best part I was so surprised that it was a lie I really believed his story haha

[@bedtimestoriesforboysandme4600]

The 💝👇 Secret to Katara's Hairstyle kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5i4YaOYor6kadk The 💝👆 Secret to Katara's Hairstyle! 💕💝💕💝💕💝💕💝 The Last Airbender 🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃!!i

[@IntrospectAvionics]

It might just be me, but if a girl walked up and told me That my outfit was "So sharp it could puncture the hull of an empire-class Fire Nation battle ship, leaving thousands to drown at sea" I'd be flattered.

[@golden.fire.princess9653]

You’re not alone haha I would be so interested 😂

[@erinhaury5773]

Same, my friend.

[@liebe7281]

because, *it's so sharp!*

[@PxndaCakes]

Same. But at the same time awkward bc I'm straight.

[@connorscorner443]

Ikr

[@sanityplusmilkshakes]

"She was right, of course, but it still hurt," is so tragic, because it's Azula catching herself being vulnerable and immediately correcting.

[@alexterieur8813]

Thats true. She cant let her guard down for more than a second. Also shows how she internalised she's a monster.

[@ovencake523]

its also played for comedic effect and is pretty hilarious

[@deoxal7947]

I mean not really, she didn't change what she was saying half way through

[@charchar4276]

@@deoxal7947 The full sentence ‘My own Mother thought I was a monster. She was right, of course, but it still hurt’ The first bit had genuine emotion, while the other had a comedic effect.

[@Polin-dx5ru]

It’s shows just how much Ozai destroyed her

[@outorii4659]

I feel like whats cool about seeing azula as a villain is that we don’t get many female characters that are low empathy or sadistic because it’s not considered an inherently feminine characteristic.

[@jordiedmond5744]

But well strangely she is I find her more feminine than the Kioshi warriors

[@miglek9613]

@@King_Menelik I think it's the fact that Azula does have an emotional breakdown that is in some ways encouraged by her looks, which a lot of people consider to be a feminine trait, while the Kyoshi warriors are never portrayed experiencing smth like this (at least as much as I remember)

[@cernkoc]

@@miglek9613 the point is the person who wrote that comment is just trying to say "feminine character traits" not LOOKS. its not hard to understand lmao

[@fresshaf]

Beacuse we suppress those feelings better, because if they ever reach the surface it's over.

[@brendan9868]

⁠​⁠​⁠@SleepyWolf they’re not, but in media they kinda are. 9/10 times we see just an over the top sadistic villain in shows, movies or books, it’ll be a dude.

[@connorfraser4770]

This guy took "what is wrong with that child" to another level

[@wellthen4128]

This guy could make a good movie writer or director, we need that.

[@brennarose9386]

@@wellthen4128 yes,(but your user is concerning......

[@Lucas-zk2vy]

Ursa : what is wrong with that child ? This guy : here is my 1hour video explanation

[@mrhalfwit972]

@@wellthen4128 Finally! Somebody who's relatable!

[@pasindudinusha6507]

When Ursa asked that Imagine he was there to tell her all this.

[@123dididi]

I love how he’s actually talking about the psychology of an invented character. I mean like, it shows how much detail they brought into the series.

[@whaleping]

Dat QueenieGurl says how simple it can be to create an individual.

[@rt5u]

@@whaleping I'd rather say it shows, how easy it is to interpret and find patterns in everything. And obviously I also agree, that it shows how much work and thought was put into the world and characters.

[@Samuel-rv5hw]

That’s. The. Tea. 👏🏻👏🏻

[@OReily08080]

Tiffany Deng right right, when I was younger, it was just the fights that appealed to me, but because I rewatched the whole series now, I have deeply appreciated every single character

[@felixsantosa3815]

Not just character, even their world building is on point (See HFM's videos on atla's worldbuilding and post-colonial development)

[@nanig805]

I just realized that the reason azula was so triggered when mai said azula miscalculated and that she loved Zuko more than she feared her. The only other person to have loved zuko more than they feared azula was her mom Ursa. All those memories of longing for her mothers love and instead seeking to earn her fathers approval came rushing back at once. Her mentality about the world was once again shattered. She could not bear once again zuko of all people could be loved more than her. It must have completely shattered her psyche

[@lrtyubflwnothing2885]

YES finally someone said that

[@luyandzabavukiledlamini4693]

I believe you're right

[@sayba6766]

Yea...

[@guifdcanalli]

hence why she almost lightning bended Mei

[@quentinbrown9635]

Yes, replace the word "fear" with "love"...(No, YOU miscalculated. You should have LOVED me more.)

[@CalamityDiamond]

"It was Azula who was left behind, who wasn't rescued" Man, idk why made me tear up, I knew I felt bad for the girl but that really drove it home.

[@TheAmazingSpider-Dude]

All good Yo, idk what could be done but there are people that are not rescued. Azula may be a character but its happening somewhere still this second. Your tears are not in vain

[@AndalusianPhilosopher]

In the context of the show yes. However post show comics do demonstrate that Azula has people who care for her. Zuko Ursa, Aang is optimistic that Azula can change. Even Katara when Aang said people change was supportive. Iroh in the search comics encouraged team avatar to bring Azula along for Ursa, implying that not just Zuko but Azula also can find a measure of peace. I think when Zuko told Azula that no matter what, Azula is still his sister, the words had deep impact on her. I think seeds of potential redemption had been planted there. It will be a long and difficult journey, but it is possible. Remember Zukos journey was not easy either with mistakes bad choices. Change is difficult. Nevertheless I did read great fanfics where Azula finds redemption. Also keep in mind that creators never tied up Azulas story. By Korras time after all these years there are no hints as to what ultimately happens to Azula. Azulas story so far extends up to smoke and shadow which takes place two years after the show. There are still 70 years before Korras era. A lot can happen in this time. I wish for redemption. ATLA is a show about forgivness and second chances. It is deeply moving to see Zuko trying to help Azula. And also heartbreaking to see Ursa crying for Azula.

[@TheAmazingSpider-Dude]

@@AndalusianPhilosopher Can you tell me in a sentence what Art and Poetry mean to you?

[@AndalusianPhilosopher]

@@TheAmazingSpider-Dude it comforts the soul for me

[@jordiedmond5744]

Me too I was getting really emotional about all the points he was summing up till the end I couldn’t take it anymore

[@ed6077]

Young Azula saying “dad’s going to kill you” always creeps me out.

[@kibleofmelnibone589]

I heard this when i was i kid! I never looked to my sister in the same way!

[@arandomguy4409]

Thanos is creeped out by a psyco princess, understandable

[@jinks1956]

I used to think she just meant it as in he was gonna be in trouble (like we always say "my parent are gonna kill me" as an expression) but NOPE...she meant it like he was LITERALLY GOING TO KILL HIM!

[@arandomguy4409]

Thats rough buddy

[@natalien3952]

Me too! and when she said “really, he is” that always gave me shivers

[@nerovanguard846]

"I'm about to celebrate being an only child!" That line still creeps me out. I mean, she actually revels at the thought that her big brother is gonna get killed or worse, she's the one to kill him

[@euseo]

I don’t blame her tbh. she’s always been outcasted and never truly loved unlike her brother. and this was all during her childhood, when children are influenced the most by environmental factors. she watched him grow up to be truly loved by his mother unlike her and her father- which their relationship was evolved around superficial power and fear.

[@k.d3983]

azulas draco in other words, it’s okay to kill Zuko because of that😒

[@euseo]

MoomoolovesMamamoo girl what the fuck? when did I say Zuko deserves to be killed cause of that? where did the idea come from?

[@Halo-lg7rq]

I thought that line was badass🥳she definitely needs counseling but boy was I hype when I heard that line

[@shipperina2213]

I honestly thought "Wtf" when I heard that line

[@spaghettiwithasaltysauce]

Also when Zuko call's Ty Lee a circus freak, and Azula laughs and then Ty starts to cry, you can actually see Azula being hesitant and regretting to laugh for a second. There is no longer smile on her face and she for that moment does regret her choice to laugh but then she brushes it off a bit later on

[@variedadesonline3926]

Yes i thought this "blink and miss" moment would be mentioned in the video too, sadly it wasn't but it's still an amazing video regardless

[@purpleemerald5299]

I always noticed that moment and was waiting for him to bring it up. It was like she laughed instinctually, but when she saw Ty Lee, realized “shit, was that uncalled for? Was that what they consider “hurtful?”” and stopped. Like she couldn’t comprehend the difference between a light-hearted joke and a spiteful insult, and had to look at other people’s reactions to decipher the difference and the appropriate response.

[@shadowldrago]

@@purpleemerald5299 It reminds me a bit of how neurodivergent people don't always naturally grasp social cues and instead have to study them to understand what you're meant to do and why. Which, when combined with Ozai's dubious parenting, explains a great deal about her. The beach episode is tragic because Azula can only operate in scenarios where she can manipulate or intimidate her way into getting what she wants. Because that's all she can do.

[@T0B3573R]

@@shadowldrago I don’t think Azula is Beyond repair, I think that with enough therapy she can understand what it means to be a good person.

[@shadowldrago]

@@T0B3573R Agreed. Or at the very least, break Ozai's conditioning and be a better and healthier person.

[@iampancake7275]

Dude I got chills when Zuko instinctively repeated “Azula always lies.” As if it was a coping mechanism to get away from how chaotic his mind is and how conflicted he is.

[@hozyaka]

It’s as if it’s his only dependent source of reality… even if everything else is muddled and conflicted, he at least knows one thing - that whatever Azula says is false. Off of that, he can slowly organize and differentiate everything else he’s confused about…

[@taelim6599]

@@hozyaka You know, this kind of makes me wonder if Azula ever deceived Zuko by intentionally telling him the truth and then counting on him assuming that she's lying.

[@ptassa270]

One interesting detail I picked up on is that the only person the calls Azula a "monster" is herself.

[@fella99gaming11]

🤔

[@shalomlevlederman5124]

everyone else was to afraid

[@BrooklynRedLeg]

It shows how shattered her perception was of herself, I think. She says it to take the sting out of others calling her that, which is why she had the delusion of thinking her Mother thought of her as a monster. Its truly tragic.

[@shadeofsound23]

She called herself a monster because it didn't hurt her very much, no matter the quip she threw in at the end. She believed she was a monster, too. It seemed to her that it was the only thing that she should be, and the constant praise she received for the accomplishments she had while acting in this manner didn't help. This is a point that is proven when Azula's delusional vision of her mother in the mirror told her she loved her not because it was what actually was true, because that wasn't the point. The delusional vision of her mother told her that she loved Azula because, Azula being Azula with her tendency to commit the most emotional harm to someone she's attacking, her subconscious instinct playing the part of the delusional vision *knew* that it hurt more than anything else. People who believe they're broken and "wrong" people are cut deeply when people close to them tell them things like that. It clashes with everything they've built themselves upon and has ramifications.

[@francescapatti2934]

And Zuko.

[@raymond-reviews]

I think Azula's mental breakdown was the first one I saw in my life that was straight forward. Most kids shows use metaphors to make the message of mental health and mental brekadowns, but Azula was the first one I remember where they went all out in the literal route.

[@Epodmusic17]

Mine too!

[@12345Janaynay]

Same! The first one I understood as a child.. it's insane that they portrayed it so well I was able to fully grasp and understand why

[@The_Noblesse]

Yeah

[@AngelineL.]

It was really well written. As a kid, it was hard understanding complicated story lines. They used physical signs to show Azula descending into madness. Not wearing makeup, looking tired and stressed, then cutting her hair. I might not have understood all the dialouge from the characters but, it is very easy to see the physical changes. When Azula was fighting Zuko and Katara, her hair was a complete mess and she was laughing like crazy. I knew at that moment Azula was not the same cool, collected firebender.

[@Nathi98]

@@AngelineL. Zuko said to Katara: she's slipping. That's when I realised she's not the same girl who nearly killed Aang cold-blooded and that Zuko knows Azula better than anyone

[@samuellaakso7012]

Something I just realised is how Azula keeps only nonbenders around her. Her "friends" are nonbenders, her servants are as far as we know nonbenders, even her teachers, the Granny Twins, are nonbenders. This might be because she want's to keep the feel of superioroty, thinking firebenders (or benders in general) are superior to others or other styles of combat. Or it might be that she doesn't want the risk of anyone to chalenge her. She knows Zuko is less in skill, so she thinks he's not a threath to her. The only exeption is his father, who just happens to be Firelord. Arguably the strongest firebender in the world.

[@monsterhanna6691]

That's a very interesting detail that I never noticed until now.

[@MrDrProfJMF]

What about the Dai Lee?

[@samuellaakso7012]

@@MrDrProfJMF Good point. I admit it's been a while since I watched full ATLA, so I don't remember every detail. But if I had to guess, I would imagine Azula has become so confident with her abilities that she does not see them as too big of a threath. That and possibility that she thinks firebending as superior element. OR Dai Lee and her goals aline enough that they can work together long enough. After all Azula was not planning to stay in Ba Sing Sei if I remember correctly

[@L0rdOfThePies]

@@MrDrProfJMF its shown that the firebenders see earthbending as savage uncivilised brutality, so i think she'd hold earthbenders to the same level of worth, maybe even less than non-benders

[@udechiagozie4752]

Azula doesn't keep nonbenders around her, she keeps skilled people around her

[@a.m.theshinyjohtohunter4287]

Anyone notice with Ty Lee that she went from wanting desperately to be a recognized individual to finding peace with the Kyoshi Warriors, who all dress alike yet retain their individuality? I liked that for tying up Ty Lee’s story. ❤️

[@loturzelrestaurant]

Shes a Victim, but the Writers of the Show didnt seem to notice, so this is the One True Stain on this Show. The Life-Action-Movie aint one, that one just motivated people to re-watch the Cartoon, but this?

[@sabir1208]

I didn't, good catch

[@mellemadswoestenburg1296]

Love that for her. Btw in the upcoming comic "Azula in the spirit temple" Ty Lee actually beats Azula in one of her attacks. She chi blocks her arm when she's about to use lightning. When Azula is forced to retreat she yells after her "This isn't over Azula! I won't let you get away!" Or something along those lines. I really love that moment because it really highlights how far Ty Lee has come. She went from being Azula's reluctant friend to betraying Azula for her best friend by stabbing her in the back to openly fighting against her and besting her. Great character arc for her.

[@jiabowang2109]

I would say even though the Kyoshi warriors are quite similar and act as a collective but they still retain their individuality which is definitely perfect for Ty lee

[@simonnachreiner8380]

"Banishing me was the best thing you ever did for me" After watching this vid is when I realised how true those words were Zuko's banishment threw him from the domain of his abuser right into the willing arms of Iroh his support system.

[@arthurthekyogre9155]

Now your comment, but with better punctuation: "Banishing me was the best thing you did for me", after watching this vid is when i realized how true those words were. Zuko's banishment threw him from the domain of his abuser right into the willing arms of Iroh, his support system Done, now it makes more sense

[@arthurthekyogre9155]

Also, i have realized that right when Zuko said it (well at least the surface of it, didn't think too deep)

[@adamteske2084]

@@arthurthekyogre9155 Why did you waste your time commenting these things? Your correction isn't even correct.

[@arthurthekyogre9155]

@@adamteske2084 how so? I would love to know where my grammar was wrong

[@adamteske2084]

@@arthurthekyogre9155 1) Punctuation* 2) There should be a period at the end of the quote- "...you did for me." 3) Didn't capitalize the "I" 4) There should be no comma between "abuser" and "right" because they're not from separate clauses Does it make you feel cool to correct people's grammar for no reason? Cause I felt like a complete douchebag the whole time I was writing that comment.

[@princessadrigirl6774]

I love that her personality is portrayed complexly and realistic, not a watered-down kiddie version of a downward spiral, but the real thing. Just one part of why I love this show

[@greenrules8290]

And we would've never gotten it as a child, and here we are, either random youtube recommendation, or wondering what was going through azulas head

[@cyborgslayer117]

Sew free free entertainment

[@cbsumm88]

PrincessAdriGirl I watched the series again recently, and so many things passed over my head when I was a kid

[@yeahmhmmrightokaymhmmyeahsure]

Exactly, I don’t even see Azula as evil it’s just her prior life molded her into what she is. She doesn’t senselessly kill or harm people it’s always just for her own gain

[@yeahmhmmrightokaymhmmyeahsure]

Darth Pancake Studios I see your point but look at her up bringing. She shows light compassion even after everything she’s been through and that says a lot

[@nikkigalloway1990]

As a psychology major, Azula has always been an extreme example of several mental conditions. In that way, she is fascinating to study. Thanks for this video!

[@calebkopp7636]

I'd love to hear a full diagnosis on her.

[@TheBarnaclesHunter]

@@calebkopp7636schizo

[@Pandazillaaa]

​@@calebkopp7636she probably has narcissistic personality disorder or something like that.

[@namkia205]

​@@PandazillaaaMore like antisocial personality disorder imo she has narcissistic traits tho

[@spacehootle309]

Or you know, we could practice our own empathy by applying those to this fictional person and not treat her like a labrat?

[@nicolekemedi2814]

about azula's hair representing her desire for perfection: it's also shown both in the show in a subtle manner, and mentioned in the kyoshi novels, that hair is important to fire nation culture- topknots like the one azula and at some point, zuko wore represent social power, and the reason zuko's hair was like that in s1 was that he lost the agni kai and had to cut it to represent the shame of that loss. when you consider that, it makes sense that azula's hair is such an important represntation of her composure.

[@Snow-xd4rv]

Really? I thought Zuko's hair was cut, because the burn reached the backside of his head, and they had to cut it off, to let it heal properly

[@Snow-xd4rv]

I feel like her hair, also represented her not being able to do basic things by herself, after she basically banished everyone in the castle, and had to do it by herself. I don't really know how that tie in Azula's character, but that's how I saw it

[@nicolekemedi2814]

@@Snow-xd4rv that could have been part of it, but it's also canon in the kyoshi novels that cutting hair is a punishment for losing an agni kai!

[@TheTrueDiablix]

I mean, the comics and novels that came out after paint it in a very different light, but atleast at the time the episode came out, with the context available then, it was more a "she's a perfectionist with an intense superiority complex, completely and thoroughly failing at even the most basic things that almost everyone she views as beneath her can do easily"

[@Hua.-]

Also a thing in Asian culture, especially in more ancient times. The hair was a status symbol. In Japan, cutting it off / short showed among samurai that you were stepping down from the position and that you would no longer enjoy a higher social status. In Ancient China, forcing someone to cut off their top knot was for the sake of humiliation and shame, and to show it visually. So it also has roots in Asian culture, which Avatar is based on.

[@maxbrown9918]

"filler" episodes in avatar are used for character development

[@Crabernacker]

Except the great divide

[@mattika]

cindy the cringey yeah that episode sucked

[@theavatar9191]

It's not filler then

[@turkepic3637]

@@mattika That episode isnt even filler Only filler episode in this show is Tales of Ba Sing Se , which is a fan favourite.

[@mattika]

BoerstaatTM DRM Exactly, the fact that it isn’t even a filler makes it worse

[@oliviaplayer8039]

I found the way Azula and Zuko struggled to socialise properly such a sad aspect of the series. You see both of them trying to speak to people their age normally and can’t seem to manage it without falling back on anger.

[@bigedman365]

That's rough buddy

[@bluedog4248]

It's especially harsh because the point of that episode seems to be how war changes people It's similar to how veterans and even in writings how when veterans come back, they find it hard to engage with other people and socialize.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

At least Zuko tried when he tried to socialize with The Gaang while Azula is totally struggling even having a quirky and cheerful friend like Ty Lee, she still fails.

[@nickyplatinum9534]

Being as there entire lives where military service and war, it’s as if they only know how to function in that setting, it’s like peace isn’t in there DNA

[@asmrtpop2676]

BKC-88 2.0 but peace =\=. being social. look how they are as kids, zuko would still be socially awkward no matter what upbringing.

[@shannoncurry2037]

21:00 The fact that Azula attempts to comfort Zuko makes her descent even sadder. Azula is not the monster she portrays herself to be. It's a trait instilled into her by her father ( Her father being the only person that gives her validation) and a facade she keeps up to please him. It's Mai and Ty lee' s betrayal that puts her very being into question and unlike Zuko who had Iroh to help him through his own path Azula was alone. She wasn't a monster she was made into one.

[@Quailbbu]

🗿🗿🗿

[@Snow-xd4rv]

eh she was definitely a monster in her own right. Ozai isn't the one who told her to make fun of Zuko being possibly killed, she did that herself, and felt no remorse about her cousins death

[@nelliee6736]

@@Snow-xd4rv it was Ozai who taught her Zuko was inferior....

[@Snow-xd4rv]

@@nelliee6736 Obviously

[@guifdcanalli]

@@Snow-xd4rv being born with psychological disorders doesnt make you a monster, being molded by your father's abuse and your mother's negligence does

[@chickadeestevenson5440]

On Ursa, on top of the physical and emotional abuse, it was a FORCED marriage. So you can add sexual abuse on top of that, since I'm pretty damn sure that there was no willingness there.

[@sayba6766]

Yikes

[@Seoyeaji921]

Surely ozai raped her.

[@brandonscott5544]

Ozai abusing terrible father dude

[@BirgitProfessional]

That makes so much sense. I've been wondering what would possess a kind person like Ursa to marry and have children with a war-mongering egomaniac like Ozai. The two just seem incompatible. But yeah, forced marriage explains it.

[@lizek3515]

She’s the granddaughter of avatar Roku, so it was basically a power move. Super fucked up in every way possible considering Ozai’s grandfather abandoned Roku on the volcano that killed him

[@Applemangh]

The saddest part of Azula is thinking that maybe, just maybe, she could have been saved.

[@williamwontiam3166]

I think there was a twitter thread speculating on a redemption ark in a fourth season...

[@Mando_W]

I feel like Iroh is what stopped Zuko from becoming like Azula, so maybe if Azula had an Iroh in her life, she could've turned out differently.

[@anusflavor5953]

She broke fairly early in her life. Given the right guidance, she has a chance.

[@user-.--.-]

It's funny, Aaron Ehasz originally planned to have a redemption arc for Azula (there was a twitter thread somewhere). I think about it a lot, and how cool it would've been, but I'm always lost as to the 'how'. How would she be redeemed? How would it logically make sense? It's pretty cool.

[@user-.--.-]

@@Mando_W yea, absolutely. I think Azula turned this way because nobody loved her. Ozai didn't love either of his children, and Ursa didn't love Azula enough.

[@_somerandomguyontheinternet_]

Anyone else suddenly realizing that they spent 55 minutes on watching the gradual psychological decline of an abused child?

[@major8636]

sameee

[@candacerbrazier]

Yep. Tbh both parents were shit.

[@natalien3952]

Me lmao and I didn’t get board of it either, not once. I was way more focused during this video than any lecture my teachers could give

[@chikachikaslimshady1]

She was evil from the start, just an evil person wanting to be accepted for being evil but could not quite get it.

[@jackbrumbaugh339]

Georgian Wolf people aren’t evil. Did you not watch the video?

[@bimayaperera6886]

now THIS is how you make a villain. azula is so complex and i’m really glad i watched this show when i was young. because even through she was an absolute menace throughout the show at the end i really did feel bad for her. and i think it’s important for children to sympathise with the villains to a certain extent. it gives the child perspective and shows that like in real life people are complicated. everything isn’t so black and white there are a lot of grey areas within a person. if i ever have kids they are definitely watching this show!!!

[@dustinm5202]

Nowadays movies for kids (and adults) no longer portray the villain as evil, but rather misunderstood. You can take that example in the Super Mario Bros. movie Bowser is appeared to look like some sort of chaos demon lord, but really he was just trying to impress a princess he has a crush on in a way he feels is the only way to win her heart and yet fails because destruction and kidnapping are not the correct way to earn a good person's affection or approval

[@eliabeck689]

Azula's story is 100% a tragedy--she's definitely still a villain, and definitely still a dangerous person who's made evil decisions, but I love how, instead of making her "good in disguise" (or even doing that to Zuko; he legitimately changed over the course of the show), they showed the circumstances that brought her to the point where she would make the decisions she did. As someone working to become an author, that's the kind of character development I want to learn to write. You can't condone their choices, but at least you can understand the *why.* @dustinm5202, I think what I said above is a much better alternative within a story to having the villain be merely "misunderstood". Evil actions are always going to be evil--but that doesn't mean we can't see and mourn the good person the villain *could* have been, had things gone differently. The fact that so many movies these days flip-flop the villains on us in a weird he-was-just-misunderstood "redemption" arc actually really bothers me because of that. In my opinion, Azula is still an evil person, but she could have been different, and the fact that she wasn't is what makes it a tragedy. Even as a kid, that last scene where she breaks down completely after her defeat made me feel bad for her, because if she and Zuko's positions had been reversed it would have been a seriously different story. ... Anyway. I'll just... get off my soapbox now... 😶

[@jazlenmason8156]

I think a lot of azula’s complexity can be attributed to Grey DeLisle’s performance. She gives azula a kind of curiosity when she’s a kid, like she’s purposefully saying and doing things that she knows will get a fearful reaction. She’s a child imitating her father, seeing that acting in a way he finds pleasing will keep her SAFE. This, aligned with her intelligence and constant positive comparisons to her brother? The acting is TRAGICALLY accurate.

[@alexgay1318]

No matter how messed up Azula is, you can't deny that the line, "My own mother, thought I was a monster... She was right of course but it still hurt." Is ICONIC

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

But if she is right why would that hurt?

[@bluemirror6056]

@@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 Because no one wants to be called a monster by anyone, let alone their own parents. It's like saying an animal is better than your own child

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

@@bluemirror6056 I have been called a monster by my mother. I know its not true so I dont care. If it where true I would not care because then it would be true and not an insult.

[@bluemirror6056]

@@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 Just because you can handle that doesn't mean a lot of other people can. Everyone's mental stability is different, and just because your parents say you're something does NOT make that true. Some of my friends have been called a waste of space by their relatives that they live with, and my friends are all good people who have amazing personalities.

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

@@bluemirror6056 I dont like weakness. If someone insults you it matters not, its not like they actually delt any phisical damage to you

[@SarSantiago]

*Avatar the Last Airbender is a masterpiece says 10 yr old me* **Avatar the Last Airbender is a masterpiece says 24 yr olde me**

[@bleronsln2271]

the legend of korra is trash says everybody

[@RoseEyed]

This is honestly one of those rare shows that get better as you age. I was also 10 when it first came out. Watched it again in college and was blown away by its nuance and depth. When I watch it again I'll probably be even more amazed by it's effective story telling techniques. Few shows leave an impact like this one. It's quiet - people don't talk about the series that much irl anymore - but POWERFUL. It's influenced so many creators and writers since coming out, artists who will likely have gained their footing within the next few decades. It will be cool to see how many people site this show as their source of inspiration.

[@sergioguzman4550]

40 year old me :P

[@aim4grace97]

Sasa HAHAHA YESSSSSSS I feel the same!

[@BasementBubbatunde]

Just watched it for the first time as a 24 year old, can confirm, is masterpiece. 😂

[@believeinbuffalo]

Mai standing up against Azula is such an underrated moment, especially for someone who is so apathetic and was pushed to be quiet/not stir up any problems. I love Ozai's Angels so much

[@calico27]

Mae standing up was impressive.. and I feel Ty Lee doing the same, within moments of seeing Mae turn is even more impressive to me. It's as if Mae broke the spell for Ty Lee.

[@howUdo]

Azula is so well written that sometimes its difficult to see her as a 14 yr old girl but as, in her worlds, a monster. Probably one of the reasons why ATLA is arguably one of the GOAT in tvs is how Azula was portrayed and how she was parallel to Zuko in character development. As Zuko embraces his true self, Azula in comparison succumbs to her downfall. And I love how despite Azula being portrayed as more terrifying than Ozai and probably can be seen as the real antagonist, she was not given just an "antagonist" label. Her story didnt end with simply the girl who successfully took over basing se, or the girl who killed the avatar, or who almost became the first female fire lord, but in the end, she was portrayed as the broken daughter who longed for the love and acceptance of her parents and the girl who was just lonely. Such a masterpiece.

[@howUdo]

Also, how chillingly and remarkably terrifying she is as an antagonist. Like, for me, she is one of the best villains there is. it gives me chills and left me in amazement everytime she immediately formulate a plan or a conclusion or an accurate read on the on the other's psyche and intentions base on a fucking hunch or just from a single sentence she overheard in passing. And every fcking one of them were as spot on and just wow. If this girl wasnt so hell bent on her father's approval, she could probably rule over the world in one week and have the gaang dead in one day.

[@chelz7373]

Ursa: “what is wrong with that child?” this guy: allow me to elaborate

[@miaevankovich3759]

@Pai Mei I do agree but I think it also wasn't entirely her fault, she (1) didn't know how, (2) tried really hard but just couldn't connect with her daughter, and (3) didn't have enough time. That is my opinion at least :)

[@sageanimations2463]

@Pai Mei its not just ursa that messed azula up her psychology, it also had help from ozai

[@wheatbread5087]

@@sageanimations2463 the difference is that Ursa actually tried to be a good parent but as every parent does she made some mistakes but Ozai never tried to be a parent he was just the fire lord and his kids were subjects,

[@Racko.]

Actually Ursa did exactly what any parent would do to make their child grow for better. The reason why she became “bad” at parenting Azula is Ve cause Oazi took over azula’s mind. So Ursa’s reaction was to manipulate Azula out of the beliefs that Ozai put into her and turn it against her. Despite siding with Zuko more. I believe if Ozai wasn’t like this. Both siblings would of been in great shape with the same exact Mindset from Ursa

[@Racko.]

@1 1 I respectfully agree, however in the book, Azula wasn't really the way she is, Mother did everything she could to help Azula but Ozai's belief got into Azula more no matter how Ursa tried, where Ursa failed at with Azula is not showing enough attention to her compared to Zuko and this only increased after Azula's mind has been overtaken by Ozai

[@clown-cult96]

If you think about it, Iroh is even more of an important character. He effectively saved Zuko from a fate identical to or even worse to Azula's.

[@aglost8111]

Unironically Ozai saved zuko as well. Because of the banishment zuko managed to see the fire nation from a different perspective

[@tatato1345]

By importance in the development of the story , maybe But this video is about Azula's psychological complexity, not importance

[@Dippitydee]

I don’t think that it’s solely Iroh’s achievement. Azula is not Zuko, and inherent qualities play as important part in personality development as extrinsic ones. Despite them, for the most part, growing in the same environment, the two ended up differently. Like they said in the video, Azula’s always been sadistic, lacked empathy and overall exhibited sociopathic tendencies. Also, big part of Zuko’s redemption is that he realised everything by himself. Yes, Iroh and others helped him, but he himself came to the conclusion. Iroh emphasised several times that only Zuko himself can redeem his honour, and only he holds his own destiny. Yes, it took him a lot of time, but eventually he figured himself and his issues.

[@kingdomheartscomments8742]

Totally! You could even say that season 1 Zuko (and season 2 to a certain extent ) was showing signs of mental instability. He was emotionally unstable, easily provoked, lashed out at people with agressive actions as a solution to his problems and he was losing his sense of self and purpose. Without his mother reinforcing his values, his world was becoming incoherent, like Azula's became incoherent when she was denied her father's approval and her values were confronted to "love". If Iroh hadn't been there to show Zuko that his whole life didn't have to rely on his father's approval, he probably would've lost it too.

[@sdoaiza]

Hmm... But if Iroh could save Zuko, why not saving Azula?

[@Queerlien]

Both Azula and Zuko have such tragic stories... but the path Azula went down is so sad. I wish she had someone who had nurtured her.

[@azulabluewarrior]

Yup

[@caramelfemale8022]

Same

[@shreyakar9220]

I wish iroh atleast tried with her, to get through to her

[@shaivigarg7993]

A young 14 years old child Not knowing what a mother's affection meant Knew her fathers love was conditional but still strived to get it Only to realise that she was being used as a weapon The only time she heard the words 'I love you' were in a illusion Azula truly wasn't born all that perfect after way

[@reaperlou8649]

In summary: Everyone in that family needs LOTS of therapy.

[@lyneyed]

except iroh he's a saint

[@125kubo3]

well, he already got his own kind of therapy, then Zuko got it

[@Unofficial_sharon]

Even the therapist wold need a therapist

[@caffemocca8855]

The therapist would need other therapists just to relax themselves after offering therapy for THAT family.

[@trickytreyperfected1482]

@@125kubo3 His therapy came in the form of his son's death unfortunately. Leaves from the vine... That song hurts. Especially knowing the real life connotations behind it; the voice actor for Uncle Iroh, Mako Iwamatsu, was dying from esophageal cancer. Supposedly the song was written for him. He died two days after recording the song for that episode.

[@edenwalkermusic]

The thing about the rescue parent is so interesting! It also explains why Sokka didn’t feel the effects of his mother’s death nearly as bad as Katara, because Katara became his rescue parent.

[@bobertsquid1368]

Oh my god. I never even thought of that. that’s genius

[@wheatbread5087]

Oh my god that too

[@aceatlasska4343]

Exactly, whereas Katara was forced to grow up too fast. Not only did she not have a stand in mother, she had to become one, and when Sokka thought about his mother he could only remember Katara. In a way her anger at her father for leaving her and Sokka was also like a parental anger, that he had left Sokka.

[@chinuaalibatya7345]

Damn that's honestly sad yet comforting in a weird way. And it hits deeper knowing that Sokka can't remember his mother's face, anytime he tries to remember it all he sees is Katara's

[@aceatlasska4343]

@@chinuaalibatya7345 yeah, he didn't seem to realise all the grief and pain Katara carried because she saved him from it, and she probably tried to hide it more from him the way a lot of parents do, so their children don't see them crying. Her anger at her mother's death was grief, not just from losing her mother, but from losing her childhood to become a mother to Sokka. She was also probably frustrated that she could never properly practise her bending, as she needed to take care of the village, and look after her brother.

[@jackleadley653]

I know I'm late to the party, but one thing I wish ATLA included was more interaction between Aang and Azula. These characters are the most tragic in the show for reasons that, while differ on some levels, are also eerily similar on others. Throughout the show, it's clear that Aang had much of his childhood taken from him. While the early years of his life allowed him the luxury of growing up as any other kid from the Air Nomads, the premature announcement that he was the Avatar took that away - something that he did not choose, or even want to be now dictated his life. Waking up in a world at war, Aang is thrust into this role further, with no option to be anything but what is expected of him. Even when Ozai is defeated at the end of the show, this does not change. The world is still turbulent, and is still in need of the Avatar. His people, the air nation, are still all but extinct save for himself. He will never get the opportunity to be normal, to be who he truly wants to be, because of forces out of control. And yet he doesn't complain, and continues to do what he believes is duty. Likewise, so much of Azula's life and the person she becomes is determined by things she cannot control. When she shows as a child a perfection and finesse that her brother lacks, her father takes an interest I'm her training and development into the killer she becomes, allowing Ursa to become invest more in Zukos life than she would be in Azula's. While she had the attention of her father, the only she needed and wanted was unconditional love. And yet, everything was conditional for Azula. She HAD to be perfect for her father's "love", since she would never receive it from her mother. In her final scene of the show, we see Azula chained, screaming and crying following the Agni Kai. I don't think it's because she lost, rather that in losing she is shown what she will never have: unconditional love, shown moments before by both Zuko and Katara. Because Azula, more than anyone else in the show, believes that she is a monster. Despite desiring that more than any amount of power, she truly believes that she can never be loved because of who she is. While we a broken girl in that final shot, all she sees in herself is a monster that can never be loved. I think these two, the two characters who have arguably the most tragic stories and realities in the show, would be the perfect duo for many reasons. The fact that they are polar opposites is the reason that they are perfect. The way that they would challenge each other in ways that no other characters could. And, despite the fact that are opposite in nature, due to their shared tragic stories they would also be able to understand the other on a level that no one else could. Aangs greatest strength, his inherent nature to unconditionally love all things, is the thing that Azula needs more than anything else. Likewise, in a world that now has a power vacuum created by the defeat of the Firelord, many threats would emerge to take his place would would require a cold, calculating mind to decipher and see through the lies and threats. While this is a nature that Aang does not possess and is probably incapable of possessing, Azula is a master in this environment and would help to show Aang the reality that the real world, and the people in it, don't always share his desire for peace. These two characters, especially Azula, would be able to grow and change so much, if they just spent more time around each other. In this perfect show, this is the only thing I wish we got to see more of in it. I always enjoy your videos, keep up the good work 👍👍

[@variedadesonline3926]

I hope we can have at least something similar in the comics, well Avatar Studios was created recently as well so hopefully we can get to see content like you said (or at least something similar) happening there too

[@monsterhanna6691]

While I see your point, the reason why they didn't do that was because they already had it; with Aang and Zuko. Zuko was the one that needed to find his own destiny and escape from his father's shadow, to finally realize that his own happiness matters, NOT his father's. He needed to realize that change was possible and that he was a good person, even though he was never the "perfect" son that his father always wanted, but he never had to be because his happiness was more important. Azula wasn't involved in the show from start to finish and is the exact opposite of Zuko. Unlike him, she saw no reason to change, or escape her father's thumb, but instead strived to be the "perfect" daughter that Ozai always wanted. Her arc didn't matter as the show didn't start with her trying to find the Avatar; that was Zuko. Aang asked Zuko if they could ever be friends, and in the third season, Zuko, in a way, took up Aang's offer and desperately tried to show everyone that he was on the path for good, even though he already was before that point, he just got lost in the process. While Azula's story is still tragic and a clear example of what abuse does to a child, at the end of the day, her changing wasn't the point; she already reached her breaking point and finally gave up and, in a way, Zuko could've been the same way. He could've honored his father and been a carbon copy of him, but he wasn't, and that led to him being happy and finally bringing peace, rather than destruction. Azula never had this opportunity and while I'm not saying that it was a one-sided experience for her and Zuko, at the same time, HE needed the redemption. HE needed to change, HE needed to be friends with Aang and the others and, I guess you could say, erase the sins of his father. Azula could've been that way, but chose not to be. Why does HER redemption arc matter in the grand scheme of things? In the end, her and Zuko's stories showed the positive and negative effects of child abuse, and how far a person will go to change and be the opposite of their parents, and how the other refuses to do so. If this was Azula's arc, then SHE would've been searching for Aang, become the Blue Spirit, and eventually friend turned foe. It wasn't the "goal", so to speak, for Aang to become friends with her AND Zuko, hence why Zuko's story was so impactful from start to finish. I'm not saying you forgot about this or anything/are wrong and this is just my perspective, but if Azula was that important to the entire plot in terms of change, then why didn't they do anything about it? Why did the show focus a lot more on Zuko AND his relationship with Iroh if Azula was supposed to change? Why make such a big deal out of Zuko and Iroh? Because Azula didn't matter in terms of redemption. If she did, they would've shown that from the beginning and while, yes, Zuko WAS a villain, he was nowhere near as villainous as Azula and Ozai. Especially when he had Iroh as a mentor and his mother who deeply loved him; Azula didn't, meaning there was no hope for her at all, and her fate at the end of the series was all her doing. She could've changed, she could've been happy, she could've walked away from Ozai...but didn't. Even her own friends turned against her because of who she had become. She had no one, no one to put her on the right path, including herself. I hope this makes sense, and while I'm obviously not saying that Azula is worthless or boring or anything like that, I still care a lot more about Zuko's journey than I ever did hers. She and Ozai were the true villains of the show; Zuko was just lost, but finally found his way, and look how that turned out. Also, with all due respect, I don't really understand why you said that Aang and Azula had the most tragic backstories. Yes, I believe you with Aang's side, but who was forced to fight their own father, had their face burned by their father, was banished from the Fire Nation, and was never loved by his father at all? Azula was the prodigy of Ozai, and yes he was using her, but overall, at least in his eyes, she was the much better child that greatly resembled her father in terms of personality and desires. Zuko was never that. He was the black sheep of the two and a great disappointment--again, only in Ozai's eyes--and nothing he did was ever good enough for him, and while Ozai never loved his children, Zuko had it ten times worse than Azula ever did but, again, look who changed in the end, while still having a good heart. Again, not saying that Azula's story isn't tragic, but she wasn't literally scarred for life and banished like Zuko was. Yes, they were both lost, but Zuko was always good; Azula wished she was good, but never made the effort.

[@shadowbunny7892]

Yeah I've always felt like in an alternate reality where azulademption happened her and Aang would be absolute besties

[@sayba6766]

Ye

[@ethanmino1429]

Uu

[@lasercraft32]

The reason Toph is able to detect a lie is because when people lie, they instinctively feel guilty about it, which effects their heart rate... Azula lies to their faces but Toph can't detect it because Azula feels _no guilt_ from lying. Just something interesting to note.

[@whatofitcosmos7172]

Out of all the shows I’ve watched a kid, Azula was always the villain that felt intimidating whenever she appeared on screen. She was never a joke. They did her justice and during the beach scene I was hoping that was going to be her turn around but she never did. She was so complex and I felt a little sad for her during her breakdown. How different the world would have been if we got the season 4 instead of that cursed movie

[@fella99gaming11]

mY NaMe iS oNG

[@trevorphilips9065]

Joker: HAHAHA

[@ruthleeesss]

what movie? there is no avatar movie in ba sing se 👁👄👁

[@bogdanshymanovski]

Lucy Thomas don’t watch it it is very bad

[@renatobonito1521]

@@ruthleeesss what do you mean joo dee? We've heard about it everywhere!

[@masterkl16]

I WISH Korra had had a villain like Azula. She's so top-tier in her villainy that the good guys are forced to step up their game whenever they're dealing with her.

[@singletona082]

Ifthe show hadn't been greenlit season by season either the ewualists or zaheer would have done the job nicely.

[@erikjp92]

Zaheer is just as awesome as azula. And a better bender

[@alterp5108]

Zaheer is literally the only other villain that could match Azula in terms of writing, idk what you're talking about. They're both the two best villains in the show

[@masterkl16]

Look I get that you guys like the Equalists and Zaheer, both are really great villains and I like them too. But Azula is something special. She does bad things not for a logical or philosophical reason, but for the twisted psychological reasons listed in the video. I think Korra would have benefited from being challenged by someone like that.

[@erikjp92]

The only person in ATLA that benefitted from it was zuko. Aang didnt grow from it. It was always ozai jr to aang.

[@arandomqueerfanpeep7655]

Honestly the thing that gets me is that shes 14. That's a high school freshman, that's a child. She could have turned out different, and she deserved better

[@konosmar8719]

During the beach scene, Azula asks Zuko "there's a simple question you need to answer then. Who are you angry at?" and later she gives the possible answers of "is it dad?" "me?". And while she obviously knows logically that she and Ozai hurt Zuko big time, she also knows that *emotionally*, as in, she feels GUILT to the smallest extent. She had no reason to help him like that, and she wasn't even that invested. At that moment she just casually wanted to help him. It's something to think about.

[@Xxstevo69xX]

Azula is literally one of the best villians ever written.

[@ninjaartist1235]

@Jake The Christian interestingly, her father is voiced by a guy who also voiced joker in the animated Batman series. I guess great villains run in the family.

[@Majin_Koolaid]

@Jake The Christian these two statements aren't mutually exclusive.

[@ComedyGlor]

I completely agree.

[@manolgeorgiev9664]

How do you top that?

[@noodleswithteeth7029]

😂preminger comes next

[@song7529]

that moment where she’s been defeated and chained up was honestly heartbreaking. even though she is the antagonist, she is a deeply scarred character. her crying and breathing fire hysterically really got me.

[@gabriellameattray9778]

It made me cry...I felt so bad for her. She sounded just like me when I'm breaking down from stress. Just like me...

[@aussieendeavor3679]

That scene hurt so bad to watch. her sharp breathing, the fear in her eyes, rolling on the ground trying to escape.

[@zsu-23-4shilka2]

Way to fuckin go, Ozai. You drove your “perfect” daughter insane.

[@caladana1]

And I looooove avatar soooo much because they really treated that scene with the somber tone it deserved. Like that fight was cRaZy visually stunning and the wHOLE SERIES built up to those 2 fights, so they could have given the fight between Zuko/Katara and Azula heart pumping adrenaline filled music and celebrated when she was defeated. But the backround music was somber and when she was defeated there wasn't celebration, they just looked at her saddly. She was a broken and abused 14 year old and the show recognized that and even tho its a cartoon knew the audience could understand that complex situation and character aaahhh I love it!!!

[@oliviaplayer8039]

Yeah oh god that hurt. She’s so scared to fail and be treated like Zuko. Says a lot about both her characters.

[@avathetwizzy]

I always wondered why as a child I loved azula when others did not. Watching this is like watching my life story. Obviously not every detail to a T, but both of my parents are mentally unstable and unhealed adult-children with extreme narcissistic traits who should’ve never been together. I have been physically, emotionally, mentally abused and manipulated by my parents my whole life. As a 26 year old, I’m just now putting in the work to fix myself and to detach myself from them fully. I’ve done things and said things I’m not proud of, and can’t fully relate to her sadism and aspd because I am much more empathetic and do feel sympathy I relate to her general instability, lack of sense of self, impulsivity, perfectionism, etc. Sometimes I wonder if I manipulate people to like me, or if I’m masking because I don’t know how to be myself. All this to say…. If you’re reading this and can also relate to azula, I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve that kind of childhood, none of us did and I hope you’re getting the help you need.

[@alwaysnamjooning1899]

Glad to see I'm not alone

[@aliyahking1429]

Thanks for sharing; I needed to hear this❤ I can relate

[@romasliv]

As someone who struggles with mental problems too, i can't help myself feel sorry for Azula, if someone never experienced struggles like this can never understand Azula.

[@nuzwo2723]

Same. When watching this video, lots of Azula’s traits and actions seemed far too harsh to me, but I have had a lot of the same inner thoughts as her. My family situation was also not super good: Dad was absent most of the time, was sometimes abusive, cheated on mom, and both parents enforced perfectionism and did not enforce genuine “love” per se, so I grew up thinking being vulnerable was weakness (I still innately do). This caused me to act immorally to the friends around me, and recently, two cut me off (like Mae and Ty Lee) and I, like Azula, initially had trouble seeing the error in my ways though my worldview was not as shattered as hers. I’m in therapy now and trying to be a better person, but the reflecting I’ve done on myself recently has really humbled me. I was essentially manipulated and used by my parents, and I carried that on to manipulating and using my friends. The world is genuinely better off without me, and that sometimes leads me to suicidal thinking, but I think I’m hanging in there and seeing how much I can change for the better. Cheers ❤️

[@lilangel1773]

same here i am very sad i relate to her and felt my first cry and out burst watching him talk about Azula's scene of her hair chop and throwing the brush to her mom's relfection in the mirror, but I quickly stopped. My mother, both fathers step and paternal, my older brother, and ex partner have told me to never victimize myself, to never feel sorry that any form of pity I have for myself is selfish, narcissistic and that I am evil! I have been through CSA from a girl my age back then, my paternal father, groomed by an older teen, etc. I hope we heal, I hope we grow and thrive and prosper. The only thing that kept me going or from exhibiting or checking off all ASPD / NPD / BPD (is what i learned in may have along with CPTSD) criteria to be diagnosed are my younger children, my siblings but Iraised them. I do not ever want them to face the same abuse, hatred, malice, passive aggressiveness from our sly mother who never wanted to be a mother, face-on harassment from men whether physical violence or sexual advances despite not engaging at all with either or becoming someone that everyone (all genders) should fear as a coping mechanism to be the reason they don't become like me, become better than I ever could be. To be kind and caring, that their voices hearts opinions feelings matter, that they are not monsters and Love conquers all, not fear.

[@monsterhanna6691]

What's even more heartbreaking is that Zuko had someone he could lean on, trust, and who made him a better person and never turned his back on him; Azula never did.

[@Taneth]

I think a big contributor in what finally caused Azula to break is the moment she was tapped for Firelord. Think about this: she was working her whole life to be seen as worthy of being named Firelord, and when Ozai finally promised her that title, he immediately made a new position higher than it and gave that name to himself. Phoenix King. Suddenly the role she'd been working towards, that of ruler of the Fire Nation, most powerful position in the world, was relegated to Number Two. Right where she'd always been.

[@daniellclary]

I think its more on the lines to finally be able to fight side by side with her father, the ultimate display of receiving approval from him. And being apart of destroying the world along side the only person she "loved and admired" And she was denied this. and relegated to not being apart of the event that will change the world.

[@samminicksm]

Lord Kiyo I think it’s both. She has a superiority complex and narcissistic tendencies all the while still being a child that looks for parental approval. The two don’t mix well with a father with similar if not the same mental issues.

[@somniato7759]

Taneth that actually makes a lot of sense

[@SirMarshalHaig]

I think even without the Phoenix King to take away the true meaning of her new title her victory would have tasted like ashes to her. It was not really the title she had desired, deep inside it was something the title represented. The love of her father. She acts like a drug addict, who suddenly can´t get a high anymore from her favourite drug, power. She uses it, but feels nothing. So she tries it again and again, banishing people all around, but nothing makes her feel like before. And when she then faces Zuko it all comes crashing down. He is better in bending than her...but the worst thing is probably Katara. When she comes to his rescue and heals him she shows to Zuko what Azula had wanted most in her life, even though she never admittet it to herself, someone who cared for her. I´d say that´s what finally broke her, being alone and defeated in more than just the fight. She has nothing and Zuko has everything, even a former enemy who is happy to see him alive.

[@Riftimmortal]

I think her break happened later than Zuko's but it was the same dilemma. You've accomplished everything you ever wanted but you stand alone among your accolades. Zuko, you succeeded but your Uncle is not around and he does not approve. Does anyone else's approval even really matter to you now? Azula you've accomplished everything you ever wanted but you stand alone in your palace. Your friends broke away from your manipulative and abusive exploitation and your mother never approved of your methods or your lack of empathy. The difference was a sense of honor and duty. Zuko found the path he must tread. Azula deluded herself into believing that her path was the right one and continued until her life fell apart around her.

[@stevenmarte3117]

“My own mother....thought I was a monster...” “ *She was right of course, but it still hurt* “

[@DeltaFrazzle]

i got a strange mix of pity and impressed when she said that. pity cause she was genuinely hurt from learning her mother's feeling about her, meaning she cared for her mother's attitude toward her but also impressed that she sorta moved on and was still able to so much after that. keyword: sorta. she still had the inevitable mental breakdown. but again: she still got shit done

[@madpoetsociety2917]

@@DeltaFrazzle I'm not so sure about that whole "moving on" bit. It never struck me that Azula really gave that much of a damn about what her mom thought of her at any point. She certainly didn't miss the woman after she left. As for "getting shit done", don't you think the kind of things she did kind of make that distinction meaningless? Stalin and Hernan Cortez also "got shit done" and the result was the massacre of millions of innocents. Details do kind of matter.

[@Shirospyre]

@@madpoetsociety2917 I think Azula cared very much about what her mom thought about her. I think she cared a lot about what many persons thought about her. I can't say that she missed Ursa, but it's always struck me that Azula was very good at repressing her feelings, including her feelings of doubt about herself. Once her confidence and world view started breaking down she lost that ability to repress those feelings. And I have to agree with @DeltaFrazzle. She did "get shit done". She had goals and plans that she was able to enact and accomplish, which made her a fearsome villain. The acts were bad, but she was very good at doing what she felt needed to be done.

[@kingnamor7777]

I thought of it as her opening her feeling for that one moment. Because of everyone acting emotional about their past. That what I thought as child when watching the series.

[@ashurean]

This reminds me of a lot of "millennial humor", I wonder what the fuck is up with us

[@catherinecao4810]

I think what’s also important is how Ozai and Ursa show affection. Ursa talks with Zuko, hugging him and playing with him. Ozai just smiles, gives Azula vague acknowledgments and punishes people who wrong her. And that’s only when she isn’t annoying him. Azula doesn’t know what true love is. She wants love and affection, but all she got was superficial approval. She also uses Ozai’s tactics to express her love for her friends and brother. She isn’t physically affectionate and is mostly quiet except when giving superficial praise.

[@mmgs1148]

but he was really patient with her than w others, when she was arguing that she should join him on his conquest battle IN FRONT of servants and other people, he lets her talk a little and then tries to calm her by calling her name and names her his successor and new fire lord, zuko got his face burnt for speaking up against a general, so imagine what ozai would have done if zuko had been the one arguing w Ozai himself about injustice, i was surprised watching this that she didn't got burnt too because there were other people around and she was questioning his decision

[@catherinecao4810]

@@mmgs1148 It's because Ozai is aware that Azula is the superior fighter, but he's also aware of the psychological hold his approval has on her. Think about who can do better without their bending. Even without her bending, Azula can fight pretty well. Ozai is nothing without his bending, as the finale points out. Plus, Ozai needs Azula on his side, to have faith in him, if he ever needs a trump card.

[@SnakeMan448]

Ironically, Azula crediting Zuko with killing the Avatar to give her leverage over him only ends up biting her. When Zuko decides that he's done with his father, he makes it clear that she lied and was actually the attempted killer, which causes her to lose favour with Ozai. Azula is good at getting people to dance to her tune, but she doesn't seem to know what to do when they decide that they're sick of dancing; usually, it's because of developments that she's not there to witness, and absolutely cannot anticipate.

[@Engine33Truck]

The writers have said that Azula cared for Zuko more than she did anyone else. I honestly believe she told Ozai that Zuko killed the Avatar to genuinely do something nice for him. She knew, or at least believed, that his main goal in life was to gain the approval of their father which she shared (to an extent). She knew he had been banished from the Fire Nation and sought to restore his honor, which he could only do by killing the Avatar. So she made up that lie to genuinely help Zuko, but like you said, she never could’ve anticipated that Zuko would end up standing up to Ozai and leaving to help the Avatar.

[@hikane8869]

Zuko didn't break mentally because Iroh took over as his father figure. Bless that Man

[@hikane8869]

Fucker got to that in the video right after i wrote the comment '

[@lessersphinx3971]

I also think so but more because Zuko always had someone in his support unlike Azula. He always had his mother’s support and once she was gone Iroh took over the support. They’ve always nudged Zuko in the right direction.

[@remnantryku7112]

When Iroh said, "I think of you as my own son." That hit me in the feels.

[@synical_zero0003]

Iroh is the GOAT, I love his goofy yet wise personality.

[@MA-yu2ss]

LesserSphinx that and the fact he’s naturally a more empathetic person I think judging off his behaviour as a child too

[@chariotwheel]

Most Anime Beach Episodes: full fan service Avatar Beach Episode: Deeply informative of character mentalities, motivations, and backstories as exposed by an environment they are not typically seen in.

[@_DanerJimenez_]

to be fair, we did get fan service from the beach episode in the form of Lo and Li

[@Joawlisdoingfine]

Daner Jimenez Oh Yeah

[@Radical_Dreamers]

@@_DanerJimenez_ TIME TO HIT THE BEACH

[@monster_1425]

It’s not an anime tho

[@SingingSuperstar28]

@@_DanerJimenez_ why did you have to bring that image into my head 😟

[@Miss_Paige831]

In psychology we call Azula and Zukos childhood, The Adverse Childhood experience(ACE) which is the more trauma and abuse you endure, the more mental and emotional damage it will do. Zuko came out different because of Irohs positive influence and his mother’s as a younger child.

[@killergamer1012]

That part where he said that Azula lacks certain skills to get what she wants because it goes against her mental framework hit me so hard.

[@diamond5156]

The world is safe when people still talks about the avatar in 2019

[@dayalasingh5853]

They should after all.

[@MarloSoBalJr]

As long as Korra doesn't screw things up

[@dayalasingh5853]

@@MarloSoBalJr I liked legend of Korra

[@josephrobertson9687]

Not gonna lie I’ve watched it all the way through twice this year and it’s only July, I bet I got another two runs in me before the big 2020.

[@dayalasingh5853]

@@josephrobertson9687 the way it should be

[@cccody66]

The saddest line of azula is when she said “you can’t do this you can’t treat me like zuko” her whole life she thought of her self better than her brother. That her father loved her more. This was when she realized he was just using her to get the throne. The love she thought her father had turned out to be fake, that really must be hard on a young girl.

[@clorox7402]

for me, i think in her core azula didn't really think herself as better than zuko, but was terrified of the consequences of acting like him because she saw what happened to him. because of that and the praise she gets for doing the exact opposite, she convinces herself she is better when she is just trying to survive in an abusive household. just my two cents, though

[@leviacronym6770]

I think Azula had always been jealous of Zuko, to some degree. She still thinks of him as trash, yeah, but she's jealous because he has a close bond with their mother that she doesn't have. She's a very narcissistic person and if you know anything about narcissistic people, they are very driven to seek attention and are very insecure. She wanted the attention and praise from *both* parents, and maybe even from Zuko. It was important that everyone sees her as superior, as perfect, which is something she likes to throw in her brother's face. Even though in her mind she saw herself as better than Zuko, she seemed to view him as a threat, which is why she taunted him so much. I don't think she believed her father loved her and honestly I don't think she even understands what love is. I think it was more like...when you have a job and you outshine everyone and go above and beyond only for your boss to demote you, or fire you. Azula is afraid of failure, of weakness, so when her father didn't reward her as she saw fit, she was outraged. To her, Zuko symbolizes weakness and failure, so that's why she says "You can't treat me like Zuko!" I'm am 100% certain that Azula was already plotting to usurp the throne from Ozai. Any sign of weakness, she would have done away with him just as he had done away with his own father.

[@emmaballantyne9937]

Well, I mean considering that the way Ozai 'punished' Zuko was by publically mutilating his face, I'm pretty sure that a big fear of Azula's was being treated like Zuko. So, I mean in that regard it's also a matter of survival in that household. "Don't be Zuko, and you'll survive" was probably her thinking

[@SutekhChroma]

1 of her most obvious moments of average Humanity in my opinion because it implya that deep down, she knows Ursa, Zuko & Iron have a different moral compass then the 1 she has & the 1 her Dad does, which is a tiny bit more sadistic then hers, too

[@anatoldenevers237]

@@emmaballantyne9937 you know what I get out of all these comments about Azula’s crappy childhood? Fuck Ozai

[@silverwick818]

She's a character that you can't help but pity. It's not her fault that her father was awful and raised her with such lacking morals, and yet she did have the choice to not hurt others, but because she was taught to never show her weakness, it's no wonder it would've been a difficult choice.

[@CortexNewsService]

This video always makes me think of the last agni kai. Not just the way she was less in control, but after she was defeated. Screaming, still lashing out, having lost control in every sense of the world. Then the shot of Zuko and Katara. They're not happy or even relieved. Just incredibly sad as they see Azula rage.

[@NoirZak]

The scene when Zuko kept repeating, “Azula always lies” it really showed me how much Azula has messed up Zuko

[@inky5926]

yea, though I think the flash back was in zuko’s perspective. also I feel so bad that azula prolly heard her mom say “what’s wrong with that child” like don’t say that to a child

[@digimonalvatrax2738]

And she's the younger sibling. Dang!

[@starrsmith3810]

@@inky5926 even if the kid borderline wished her uncle to die in the war

[@nergal7236]

@@starrsmith3810 shes a fucking kid of course she's going to be immature and not realise the power of her words

[@starrsmith3810]

@@nergal7236 she also straight up called her uncle a quitter for not staying on the battleground after his son died. Just because she’s a kid doesn’t mean she’s completely clueless. She was CLEARLY not clueless. You can argue she’s a product of her upbringing but don’t try and tell me she was unaware of the shit she was saying. She also literally told Zuko that his father was gonna kill him (and honestly I’m not even sure she was lying!!!), found joy in Zuko getting burned by Ozai, was happy at the actual thought of her brother being dead, etc.

[@Makeni-san]

“...I’m sorry I didn’t love you enough” Jesus that hit me hard

[@chellyk9133]

RIGHT. Can you imagine how that must've made Azula feel especially after what she has been through? Already felt she wasn't loved by her mom and then she basically says it to her face. That was soul cutting😔💔...

[@jg4902]

That response was somewhat muted because Ursa has no memory of that portion of her life having given it up for happiness.

[@Makeni-san]

toriyuh p Comic book

[@caitlyn2910]

I cried a bit

[@searchingfordotdotdot1086]

@@jg4902 but their mother could see the hurt on Azulas face, she could tell from her anger, she wasn't loved enough.

[@l1ber7e]

It’s crazy to think that some beloved characters actually failed Azula. And that happened because they too weren’t perfect. It’s a brilliant show. I also love the underlining commentary about superficial impressions. Because of Azula’s apathy and sadistic tendencies + her genius, she is perceived as strong. Which she wasn’t, she was just a kid. There are also different kinds of strength, just because she was capable of hurting people, it doesn’t meant she was capable of growing up alone or that she was unbreakable. For me, Iroh’s ability to be vulnerable and flexibility to change shows true strength.

[@mmgs1148]

yeah, iroh was joking about burning ba sing se down and at first continued what sozin had started, only the loss of his song and watching zuko suffer changed him

[@Aeonian_puppy]

I had an argument with a friend the other day about whether Azula is evil or not. He thought that she had every chance to change her mind and do better and I kept trying to explain that for an abused child like her that isn’t so simple. Not without the kind of help Zuko had. It led me to rewatching this video and it was great

[@sonofsueraf]

To me, she is evil for now. Just like your friend said, she's given too many chances to do better but so far she hasn't shown any interest in doing so. She kept pointing fingers and blaming someone else for her misery. And I believe that is the missing ingredient for a satisfying redemption arc: responsibility. Sure, she has an overbearing father and grew up in a toxic warmongering culture where only the strongest prevails, but so did Zuko. Plus, she still hurt people on her own. One of the first things Zuko did in his first step to his redemption arc is to admit fault and take responsibility for his actions. If Azula can do this, then she'll be on the right path to healing/redemption. Also, from a meta-narrative standpoint, it would feel unsatisfying and even forced if Azula was redeemed for just one season. Zuko underwent 3 seasons worth of character arc before he got his redemption. I have two ideas on how to continue her story. First is to serve her as a cautionary tale if one fails their own redemption arc. ##SPOILERS FOR THE COMIC SERIES## In the comics, she took the identity of some evil spirit and terrorize the town, and I think even kidnap children. This is where the comics end as far as I know, so the rest will be my fan fiction on how I will continue her story. Eventually, she became the spirit herself and realizes she's no longer human. Azule pleaded for everyone to help her, but because she's a scary spirit eveyone fled from her. Zuko as time passes by kept looking for her, not realizing what happened to her. As a spirit, Azula slowly forgets what it's like to be human, and became the very ghost in the stories she and her friends used to tell when she was young. ##### Second is pure fanfic but I hope you understand where I'm going with this. Azula has to go full monk and search her own answers. Long story short, she learns the error of her ways and try to make things right. Unfortunately, people simply don't trust her anymore so you can see how difficult it would be for her to try to be good. She isolated herself, feeling guilty, and found a small community isolated from the current world sort of like the sun warriors but it can be any other kind of community. In her new environment, she learned good values and is able to mentally heal from her past and make peace with herself. I'm also gonna add some reunion with her and Zuko after decades of searching for her, he never lost hope, and they have a small talk. TLDR: She becomes an example of what will happen if someone fails their redemption arc, or she shows how a change in environment can help someone heal. Or that the most important thing when it comes to redemption is to take responsibility. IDK Azula hasn't really changed in the comics so it's hard to see how can she be redeemed without pulling something out of nowhere.

[@malkabaig]

it’s easy to forget that she was only 14

[@Checkmate1138]

Damn powerful and physically capable 14 year old.

[@lautaronunez3041]

Shi I’m 14

[@bokocop5725]

@@lautaronunez3041 ..ok?

[@noorlekkerkerker7563]

i'm 16 and i still don't eat the edges of my pizza

[@jantheking7028]

@@lautaronunez3041 😂😂😂 brooo

[@925bear]

Something I don’t see people talk about that much is that Azusa had eye bags under her eyes when she loses her sanity showing she wasn’t sleeping well

[@kristianparalisan8909]

Unlike the previous Firelords, she never sat still in the center. She was either walking around or leaning against a post. Almost like she doesn't want to be stabbed in the back (again).

[@ceeeceee8753]

@@kristianparalisan8909 Yeah that paranoia was something else... banishing everyone without a second thought. Just waiting to be betrayed again.

[@kristianparalisan8909]

@@ceeeceee8753 I guess when you delude someone to believe that they are the center of the universe and that belief system crashes... It's catastrophic.

[@christinainez4005]

@@kristianparalisan8909 it's more like when you manipulate and betray people over and over again you start expecting someone to do it to you because that's what you know, why wouldn't anyone do it to you? so yes technically paranoia😅

[@kristianparalisan8909]

@@christinainez4005 The thing about abandonment issues and the paranoia that comes with it is that it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. You look at someone and think "they're gonna abandon me" and then, you do something that makes them leave or push them away. Confirming what you already think again and again.

[@insertclevernamehere6607]

Honestly the “Dads going to kill you scene” I kinda wish she had a little scene of looking down after leaving, I just always wanted Azula to be less sociopathic during her childhood, obviously still a little demon, but somewhat caring behind a mask, because her father hates mercy

[@sayba6766]

Yea same i think during her childhood she'd have a slight bit of empathy

[@pavelinaodkonjsk3907]

Sry but if Azula hadnt listened in on her fathers conversation and told Zuko, Ursa would have never found out and Zuko would have been killed... or am I missing something? The way she said it was mocking and cruel, like her father "loved" her to be, but if she was truly a demon she would have kept silent so that Zuko would have been killed without anyone knowing.

[@darknessknows1235]

@@pavelinaodkonjsk3907 That's giving her too much credit. Maybe she wanted to give Zuko a little heads up, but I doubted she cared that much or even thought of what she was doing to the extent of trying to save his life as much as prepping him for something "inevitable".

[@Engine33Truck]

⁠@@darknessknows1235in her own twisted way, she did care. The writers have even said that Azula cared for Zuko more than she did anyone else. I saw another comment on this video that got me thinking about something. Azula was very intelligent, even as a small child. Her sadism as a kid was likely a defense mechanism, even if it was subconscious. She saw Ozai’s abuse of Zuko often first hand. She probably saw Ozai abuse Ursa, too, which is the most overlooked example of Ozai’s abuse. She obviously also knew that they were both nice and compassionate people (even though Ursa didn’t display that towards Azula), and knew Ozai was considered both traits to be weakness. She saw that acting like her father pleased him, so likely (even if subconsciously) adopted many of those traits to keep safe from his abuse. Deep down, her one true desire was unconditional love, but just as strong was her fear of Ozai and being treated like Zuko. So I think she warned Zuko because she cared, but she did it in the way that she did because any show of true concern or compassion would put her in the same boat as Zuko.

[@curtiszyr]

@@Engine33Truckcared so much she wanted to celebrate being an only child 😂

[@sajiste]

As an adult azula definitely one of the most interesting personalities in the show. I get the sense she learned bad cooping mechanism early on or over valuing certain things to to point of blindness

[@cursecuelebre5485]

As someone who is studying psychology, watching Avatar more studying on Azula and Zuko's cases really gives you in depth look on what abuse does to a child's early development and their psychology.

[@juicebox9465]

Agreed. Same with the movie The Breakfast Club.

[@cursecuelebre5485]

@@juicebox9465 Ah yes one of my all time favorites, I had to watch it during sociology

[@gloomy_nightflower7007]

Must be amazing to watch an amazing show for your study. As someone who wants to study psychology when im out of High School, I hope I can watch it again for "research purposes" :D

[@cursecuelebre5485]

@@gloomy_nightflower7007 It’s surprising to see a lot of real life problems in a kid show. It’s just interesting to me about Zuko and Azusa specifically about their childhoods and how their parents treated them. I did take Early Childhood development and wow Avatar did show a great take on what happens to children with bad parenting. But yeah great show for studying it or have a good look in another way.

[@gloomy_nightflower7007]

@@cursecuelebre5485 ikr! They did an amazing job on character development and depth, you were ofc rooting for Katara in that Final Agni Kai, but felt bad for Azula too.... oh I frikkin love ATLA!

[@SwordTune]

I came to watch Avatar. I left with a psychology degree.

[@forestreflection2066]

I came here to see a azula theory Became dr.phil

[@20madyy]

I came here to have fun, left home and on my way to a psychiatrist :/

[@gfriendsbuddyguard1564]

I came here appreciating a comment. I left loving the chain of replies.

[@user-nu2vc9mp5j]

and i come here to read the comments, no you're not ready.

[@empiricalpurity]

This video does not teach you anything about Psychology.

[@YiPeaches]

It's worth noting that Azula is too young to be diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder that is often referred to as psychopathy and sociopathy in layman's terms. Given her age, she's closer to a case of callous unemotional disorder, which can develop into Cluster B personality disorders if not treated during childhood.

[@namkia205]

She may have bipolar and antisocial traits but you're right she's way too young to diagnose but I doubt she changed

[@friedfrog5447]

Too young after everything she's done?

[@BlueKermit27]

There is a reason why Azula met Zuko up at the house in The Beach. There’s an indescribable link between those who experienced the same thing at the same time. No one else besides Azula and Zuko knows what it’s like to be the children of Ursa and Ozai, let alone to the prince and princess of the Fire Nation at that time. They both lived it together. Those memories don’t just go away, and no amount of retelling or reading about them will ever match up to the experience of living those roles at that time. I write this from personal experience. There is nothing that can ever compare to being a child living in literal Hell, and years later talking to someone who was actually THERE.

[@lucidynightmare_dreams4491]

The only time Azula was told that she was loved, was from a hallucination in a mirror

[@kyulkyung4059]

That's truly sad

[@HwoarangtheBoomerang]

😢

[@gmdrandom6287]

Didn't Ursa tell Azula she loved her when she was asleep before she left?

[@JakeWolven]

Fuck

[@zhuss23]

GMDrandom 628 nah i’m pretty sure she just said ‘goodbye’

[@daphneblake8957]

Can we get Grey Delisle some applause for her astonishing voice performance of Azula. No other voice actress could’ve done her justice

[@user-N20]

Yes, I agree completely. The voice actor did an absolutely incredible job with her character.

[@anyrarahman5481]

Grey DeLisle has done a lot of extraordinary voice acting.

[@koalaeucalyptus]

tbh her Brazilian counterpart did an amazing job, it's truly perfect as well

[@beta511ee4]

I thought she was good, but not giving her that much praise.

[@ilonildea7930]

The voice actor for the Romanian ATLA did an amazing job! A unique, strong and mysterious voice is what Azula need and is what she got.

[@echitch]

Zuko: Azula seems a little off Azula: staggering, chopped hair, laughing hysterically. Great video!

[@mateodejesus5426]

Agni kai is definitely my favorite part of the whole series. Seeing Zuko and Azula, two siblings from the same royal family, now meeting from opposite sides is such a wonderful parallel. It shows how either of them could've ended up given different scenarios, and with Katara there as well, who Zuko betrays in the first season, it really reminds you just how much has changed between the two and how much is truly at stake with their last meeting.

[@elijahlewis8970]

Azula is not a villain she’s a victim, the main villain is obviously the cabbage cart man 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@bigguacamole6921]

"MY CABBAGES!!!" English teachers: but what does this mean?

[@iesalyn6306]

@@bigguacamole6921 English teachers everywhere are quaking-

[@classicslayer456]

Shes both

[@daalimbe]

@@classicslayer456 Azula is the cabbage cart man?!?!!?!!! atla lore we never knew

[@jadendafinger]

Cabbage Cart Man was pulling the strings the whole time. Think about it! He always runs into Aang. He then tells Zuko where Aang is through telepathic messages. That’s how Zuko is seemingly always good at hunting Aang. Cabbage Man is even more powerful than Azula, Ozai, and Aang in his Avatar state. This man hides in plain sight as a cabbage sailsman but it’s all a facade! He could end Aang and destroy the Fire Nation and all the other Nations too but he doesn’t. He makes sure that the Fire Nation destroys itself from the inside out. This cabbage monster gets great happiness from seeing destruction. That’s why he is pulling the strings on the Firenation. Fire is violent and destructive so it’s easier to destroy things. Cabbage Cart Man is the Palpatine of Avatar. He is a force to be reckoned with. An enemy in plain sight.

[@levitator45]

Even more proof that Avatar's quality is legendary

[@kactusman6194]

I mean, an hour long video about the psychology of the second villan 11 years after the show ended kinda shows how well it was made and received.

[@a.kitcat.b]

😔Azula was a character that i honestly related to when I was younger. Being the golden child and a younger sister to an older brother. The main difference was that my father was absent so my mother played both sides of their parents in my life. I see that if I do not fix my ways I could end up like her, alone and violent. I have a hard time caring for others so my worst fear is hurting someone beyond repair and they turn their back on me rightfully so.🔥

[@marithefriend]

Not related to Azula, but at the end of the series, when it's revealed that Ty Lee has joined the Kyoshi warriors, I noticed that Ty Lee overcame her deepest insecurity of being part of a "matched set," or being indistinguishable among her sisters/any group. However, the difference is that not only did Ty Lee get to choose to be part of this group (whereas you cannot choose to be part of your family), but Ty Lee also has a sense of individuality and sees her personal worth, which is why she can stand to be part of a group in which everyone looks the same - she can distinguish the parts of herself that make her special. I thought it was a subtle way for the show to round out Ty Lee's character arc and how she changed after standing up to Azula and defending Mai in season 3. The way ATLA handles side characters like Ty Lee is why I love the show sm.

[@witchbitchgirl]

Underrated comment, I haven't thought of it that way

[@munrodunsby2511]

I think it’s so great that even a minor character with less screen time gets a whole arc in basically two minutes between the beach ty lee portion and the kyoshi ty lee scene

[@Ariesstar26]

Excellent observation !!!!! You just gave me another reason to love this series

[@aniketpandey9633]

There is a comic strip called 'sisters' which actually explores this very concept as Ty lee again thinks of quitting the kyoshi warriors....and overcomes her fears..

[@marithefriend]

@@aniketpandey9633 I didn't know that! Ty for the recommendation :)) I am one of those people that watched atla for the first time when it came out on netflix, so I haven't gotten into any comics yet

[@idkJuun]

Most of us watched Atla as children. CHILDREN. They put so much beautiful effort and time into a CHILDREN'S SERIES.

[@Hardc0riste]

As an adult I now understand why my dad loved watching this with me and my brother, it’s crazy how deep this show goes with everything!

[@chanmarr8118]

I was a teenager to young adult watching this series. The character development is crazy. Everything about it is great.

[@abenamensah8053]

My mom watched it with me. It was one of the only cartoons she watcjed with me and loved

[@AlfredEiji]

Children shouldn't be exempted from good story telling, so I'm glad they did.

[@Nathi98]

I was 10 when Sozin Comet part 1, 2, 3 and 4 aired and it's still the best ever series finale I've ever seen

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Ozai sees Azula as his personal "robot" She acts like he's always expecting, ruthless, calculated, having no shympathy and one more thing, is very good at combat. The moment when Ozai found out from Zuko that Azula lied to him is the moment when he as the creator of his "robot" realize that she activated "self-aware." So, when Ozai told her to stay in Fire Nation is the moment when he "shut" her down and Azula suffers "malfunction" which is her mental breakdown.

[@ericlygaming2167]

I love the fact that the show made my heart actually break at the broken mirror scene. To make me feel such empathy for a character that seemed to lack it entirely speaks to the longevity of this shows writing.

[@williamkrause5831]

8 months late, but a reddit thread brought up an interesting thing. You mention how Azula is a perfectionist, but it goes beyond her simple attitude. Her blue flames themselves are perfect combustion. In normal combustion (which is what I assume all firebenders perform to make fire), the chemical reaction leaves behind products that arent necessary to the chemical reaction, like soot or methane. This is what makes the fire orange when you burn wood instead of a pure fuel like gas. In perfect combustion however, your only products are water and Carbon dioxide, which has the effect of making flames blue. This might just be a coincidence, but I like to think that Azula is such a perfectionist that she learned how to do perfect combustion simply because she wanted even the most inane aspects of her firebending to be absolutely perfect.

[@ratboygirl]

this is a good point! i thought it was just because she was a firebending prodigy.

[@sugasweet435]

And at the end, when she's spewing fire out of her mouth, it's no longer blue, further signifying her breaksown

[@Genpri]

Suga Sweet woah. I love the internet. That we can connect through things like this from thousands of miles away. You just hit me hard with that one.

[@moonlight_oats]

I thought blue flames were formed when fire is really hot which I guess can also show perfectionism in a way...

[@williamkrause5831]

@@moonlight_oats Well in perfect combustion the flame is hotter than in imperfect combustion. The color of the flames is more the affect of the increased intensity and heat from perfect combustion, when compared to regular combustion.

[@april00026000]

Zuko would've followed the same path if it wasn't for Uncle Iroh's unconditional love and guidance for him, and that's the tea.

[@peterparkersass]

And that's the hot leaf water

[@shartnugget2260]

And that’s Iroh’s tea

[@miadestroyerofworlds5735]

I think he would have followed to a lesser degree, he got positive attention from people other than his dad unlike azula. Speaking out at the war meeting isn’t something azula would do. He craves the approval but he’s stuck with a moral compass that generally disagrees with atrocities.

[@birdfurnace]

A wonderful jasmine tea!

[@jasminedoan543]

i don't remember the first part of the joke but leaf me alone

[@jaye2491]

Arguably the greatest Antagonist ever created. Her story is incredible and heartbreaking in every way.

[@linasdrafts]

I think what breaks azula the most is the fact that zuko isn't trying his best to make ursa love him, she just loves him the way he is, unlike ozai, who only loves azula when she's strong and useful, she's trying her best to win someone's love when zuko is loved by everyone without trying to be strong or anything (ursa, iroh, mai, team avatar...) and azula thinks that fear > love so she's just confused as in why zuko receives more love than her when shes clearly stronger and better and wasted all her life to prove that? the worst part is that she wasted all her life trying to be strong enough to please ozai and to make him love her, which just makes ursa fear her because she thinks ozai has completely brainwashed her when she was just a child, every time we see ursa and azula interact Its seems like ursa isnt really focusing on changing azula and instead she tends to punish her for her actions by sending her to her room etc, she doesnt really understand azula or how to fix her, remember that time when she said “whats wrong with that child”?, shes just trying to not turn zuko into someone like ozai and azula. but I cant blame her since ozai literally traumatized her and ruined her life, seeing your child turning into a younger version of the person who ruined your life is terrifying.

[@lux_24601]

Another interesting example of her ability to empathise, however limited, is when Mai talks about her childhood and how she was always quiet and her family only focused on her father's reputation. No one can figure out why Mai acts apathetic, not even herself, but Azula immediately understands. She says Mai acts the way she does as a defense mechanism because that's how she was raised. She was always told to keep quiet, and that is what she did. I just find it interesting that Azula was the only one to understand Mai as that would require empathy.

[@admiralhyperspace0015]

Understanding something and feeling it are two different things. Psychopaths can tell what you are feeling, they just aren't affected themselves by it and use it to manipulate you.

[@gro0vyfiya]

I think that line was meant to show how Azula can calculate a person very quickly, but that’s a very good observation you made! I didn’t even think abt that until you said something

[@oscarwilde9581]

Azula also makes a psychologically astute comment when she’s dressed as a Kyoshi warrior and pretending to empathize with the Earth King. She says something like “it can be devastating when you realize you can’t trust the people closest to you.” It’s clearly double entendre because she’s fooling the king right in front of his face, but it also speaks to how efficiently Azula processes social information. As a master manipulator she must be able to read people’s feelings quickly and accurately, in order to take advantage of them. Or perhaps there’s a part of her that does empathize. ATLA does a good job of showing the human side of everybody, and reality is a gray place. We will never really know what potential Azula may have to be a healthy and empathetic person if she addressed her childhood trauma.

[@LucasCunhaRocha]

@@oscarwilde9581 It's kinda weird how Azula is probably the best and deepest character in the series while Ozai was very shallow and cartoonish at the same time.

[@mirkohoble]

@@LucasCunhaRocha if you search deeper you'll figure out why Ozai and Iroh were so different: Azulon

[@deffdefying4803]

"So... how you likin' this party?" *_forced laughter_* That one moment is the only moment I have ever related to Azula

[@liliantan2379]

Like you can even relate to her treason.

[@magnusbane8452]

1k likes, no comments? I gotchu famm

[@jadewinterson749]

Lol

[@theblindspot985]

It's amazing how consistent the characters are throughout the show. Enough that there can be a video detailing the psychology of an antagonist of a kids tv show and it's hard to not feel like she is a real person suffering from these disorders.

[@kipame]

im honestly so glad you analyzed her by looking at symptoms of NPD/ASPD because as someone who is diagnosed with both, Azula was THE character that child me related to, she was me in my younger head and i couldn't understand why she was evil when i related so hard to her, it was only during her breakdown and when getting older and understanding how it is all self sabotaging that it got me through some self reflection, the accurate portrayal of my disorders made me realize i was not only hurting others but myself, i wish more characters were like her

[@JakurtyKulgin]

Same,i also want complex female characters like her,of course writing is more harder than i thought,but fanboys can't just handle her😔

[@jahrujackson9410]

Everybody gangster until they realise she is 14

[@justsomegirlwithoutamustache]

Isn’t zuko 16?

[@hazahae]

Tashmi Sabah he is

[@lyneyed]

@@justsomegirlwithoutamustache yeah azula is younger than him they aren't twins

[@alhassanfiras]

YOUR HONOR

[@RogerH_CxP]

"That's rough buddy"

[@Dryaspis]

A cartoon with better character development than almost all movies and series today.. sometimes I wish I could forget I've ever watched it just to enjoy it fully all over again..

[@ryanhilliker375]

One advantage to having the memory problems I have

[@dumptruck5138]

@Brandy Nicole I'm gonna rewatch it. Definitely... Soon!

[@melodyacosta5939]

Something I do when I feel like that, is to watch people reacting to the show for the first time, it reaaally brings almost the same feelings I experienced myself on my fist time, for ATLA, I would recommend The Normies, they have a playlist with their reactions to every episode, and you can see they have a great dynamic and their reactions are genuine

[@supergirlprime4653]

TV shows, in general, have better character development. They have more time to show the nuances and depth of their characters than in movies. Sure they're broken into 30-60 minute segments but 13 episodes is much longer than a mere 2-hour long movie. What make this different is that it tackles things most writers would not especially in a show targeted for children while making it easy to understand and comprehend. The protagonists have flaws and is often challenged, the antagonist has flaws and motives, every character has some king of arc which makes the whole world feel more real. There are films series that come close but didn't leave the same impact even with more time. Avatar was 1537 minutes long. The MCU excluding Far From Home had 3000. This show is a masterpiece and I forgot why I wrote this.

[@Dryaspis]

@@supergirlprime4653 You had me in the first half not gonna lie

[@gloweye]

After seeing what she does to team avatar, I wanted her to fail hard. After seeing the final Agni Kai, I just want to give the girl a hug and tell her it's okay to fail.

[@randomperson-pt3lv]

The writers of Avatar after watching this video: Um . . . we totally meant to put all that in there.

[@Annisha01]

😂😂😂😂

[@tiffanypersaud3518]

random person, LOL!

[@paulavonkip499]

trueeeee hahahahaaa

[@sarah12232]

It may be based on numerous true stories because our subconscious knows way more than our concious. (Kinda weird but it's actually awesome)

[@whalesharko4465]

W... We just wanted to make a scary villain... Um, I mean, yeah totally, psychopath definitely

[@bri3252]

I became concerned about Azula when she started hallucinating her mother in the mirror. It was then I realized she was being tormented by her own thoughts and feelings. My concern for her got amped up to 11 when she lost to Zuko and Katara. She broke down and thrashing around and I actually thought she would hurt herself trying to get out of the chains. Azula on the surface is a monster, but deep down, she's a broken girl who just wants affection and love from her family.

[@aussieendeavor3679]

Repeating another comment I saw. The only person to call Azula a monster, was herself.

[@bri3252]

@@aussieendeavor3679 true

[@andreahensher8469]

And she is 14.

[@soup3339]

I know, right ? all I wanted is Zuko just giving her a hug, but in the series, he only sees things as "good" and "bad" to realize that when theres darkness theres also light... (like yin and yang)

[@MA-yu2ss]

Ultimate Kyle well I don’t think that would’ve worked... I mean she was horrible to him when they were kids and also tried to kill him already. Zuko still tries to fix it in the comics and what does she do? Goes and starts kidnapping kids lmao

[@episoderecap2004]

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" holds an incredibly special place in my heart. It's not just a show I've watched; it's a journey I've embarked on multiple times, experiencing the magic of bending and the power of friendship in every episode. With each rewatch, I discover new layers of depth in the characters, their relationships, and the intricate world they inhabit. From Aang's journey of self-discovery to Zuko's redemption arc, I've laughed, cried, and cheered alongside them. Sokka, with his wit and resourcefulness, never fails to bring a smile to my face. And that moment when Appa and Momo reunite with Aang? Pure joy. The show's ability to seamlessly blend humor, action, and heartfelt moments is a testament to its brilliance. "Avatar: The Last Airbender" isn't just a series; it's a part of my own story, a source of inspiration that reminds me of the importance of balance, resilience, and the power of change. It's not just a show I've seen three times; it's an adventure I'm willing to embark on again and again.

[@gailasprey7787]

Azula may have begun as a plot device but she became one of the greatest parts of avatar apart from its humour, amazing world, character development, story, villains, battles, dialogue and amazing animation.

[@cooldude56g]

I swear to god, every time EVERY TIME I watch something about Avatar the Last Airbender, it just even further solidifies it as a brilliant series for me. This show has so many layers of complexity and careful detailing to it that I would never even know where to begin with it.

[@nikolanguyen2509]

cooldude56g ikr! And some people still think its a dumb show for little kids

[@gregoriomassa8529]

@@nikolanguyen2509 recently I used to think that until a friend told me that it is better written than games of thrones, I gave it a try and it became my favorite series of a lifetime, I'm still sad that it's over

[@Matreats]

I know -- It's so fantastic and seriously amazing it blows my mind

[@ceci_69]

I just finished binge watching the series and I love it so muchhh 😭❤️

[@definitelynotobama6851]

That's the primary advantage of developing the series the way they did. The whole series was already written and finished when the pilot episode was greenlit.