The Rise and Fall of Azula: Why Her Philosophy Failed

Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest villains in TV history. She is smart, capable, cunning, skilled, and ruthless. Her philosophy of dominating others through fear and manipulation is incredibly effective at getting results, but it ultimately leads to her downfall.
This video breaks down Azula's character arc, why she acts the way she does, how it affects those around her, and why her worldview ultimately causes her to fail.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:41 How Azula Leads
4:46 Seeds of Discontent
5:57 Azula the Conqueror
10:34 Setup for Her Downfall
14:03 Emotionally Inept
16:33 Still the Perfect Princess
19:12 The Downfall
25:30 Conclusion

[@rayati2284]

I guess one might say that Azula's downfall is essentially the absolute worst case of Former Gifted Kid™ Burnout.

[@kap1618]

Pun intended?

[@rayati2284]

@@kap1618 It is now!! >:)

[@Megalomaniac_Trans_Lesbian]

I hate how much I love this XD

[@amosrotimi1]

Eh but she never stopped being gifted. She was a total powerhouse even when she went crazy

[@aidenmcknight2884]

@@amosrotimi1Gifted kids are still very talented even after they “stop being gifted.” Usually, it only just takes them to a certain level without the effort that others would need. Generally, gifted kids burnout because of perfectionism, stress, and other psychological factors rather than simply becoming inadequate.

[@nitzan3782]

I think it's symbolic that Azula lost to KATARA rather than Zuko. Katara is a mirror to Azula in every way - she's the prodigy princess with an older brother who's of little use to their kingdom, just like Azula, except where Azula leads with fear and loses everything, Katara leads with love and care, persevering when completely out of her element and ultimately regaining most of what was stolen from her. Katara showed that approach to leadership as early as Imprisoned, where she instigated a prison riot. Compare The Desert to The Drill - Mai's comment on the sludge vs Aang's surrender to Katara's empathy. Even in The Runaway, the point when Katara's rule as the de facto parent of the group is rebelled against, still had Toph reconcile with her due to how her love won her over.

[@user-hv1lv9tl7c]

Also, water is the literally first thing to put out the fire!

[@pn2294]

Not to mention her relationship with her father. Hakoda actually let Katara air out her grievances rather than just dismissing them as unimportant

[@nitzan3782]

​@@pn2294 Parental relationships are the one place the dynamic is reversed - Katara was deeply affected by the loss of her mother and felt tossed aside by her father, like Zuko, while Sokka was more impacted by the need to measure up and win his father's approval while not being as broken up by the loss of his mother due to having that gap filled, like Azula. I'd argue there's a better equivalence between The Awakening with the Day of Black Sun than with The Pheonix King pt.2. If anything tDoBS pt.1, where Sokka tries and fumbles with presenting his well-thought out plan only to be overshadowed by his father is more akin to The Pheonix King, as while Hakoda still commends his son for his effort and has him lead them all as a sign of approval, Ozai tosses Azula aside and tries to soften the blow by making her a puppet queen.

[@sosha20]

the two are foils of each other so ofc one has to lose to the other

[@ChimeraLotietheBunny]

agreed

[@MrFinch-vx2kb]

Can everybody take the time to appreciate that when katara defeats azula, she uses water from the "secret river that flows right to the fire lords palace" that aang learned about in the fire nation school in the headband episode. I love the continuity in this show.

[@BenHopkins1000]

Must’ve told her about it at some point

[@micolalau]

Thanks for that one. The continuity details are amazing and everyday the community gives me more

[@cassiopeiasfire6457]

:D What??? That's delightful, omg, I never noticed that.

[@olaf-chan-728]

thats so random

[@thelouster5815]

I always thought it was just the sewers.

[@Jallorn]

I reject the notion that Azula rejects personal connection- rather, she fails at it. Azula can handle setbacks and counterplays, she can accept failure when it can be blamed on others and keep plugging away. She can even understand that there are situations she can't barrel at and power through, that sometimes she has to acknowledge the strengths of others and counter them in ways that might seem unpleasant or humbling. What she can't face is the idea that there is something that is just genuinely beyond her ability to control and command, that she has to let go and surrender- truly surrender, not as a gambit or lie- to grow towards. So she rationalizes. It's not that she doesn't want to connect, doesn't want to feel love and feel like there's someone she can trust as an equal, she does. She's a child who's spent her whole life seeking parental approval and only getting it in the most narcissistic, cruel ways. She rationalizes that it's not her failure to connect, but rather their failure to live up to her expectations. She rationalizes that these people just aren't worthy of her, that maybe she is a monster and that's okay, that she doesn't need friends that don't fear her. So she never has to face this challenge again. She gives up. She doesn't surrender, she quits and says she never really wanted the goal in the first place. The grapes are probably sour anyway. And this is the difference between her and Zuko. Azula is driven to achieve perfection, but doesn't know how to keep going when that is taken away from her. Zuko expects nothing and persists anyway.

[@master_samwise]

I completely agree with you. The only reason she might reject personal connection is because she fails at it, which is the point I, perhaps insufficiently, tried to make in the video. She sucks at it, so instead of recognizing that as a weakness and seeking to improve it, she casts it off as meaningless so as to not harm her idea of herself as perfectly capable at anything that matters.

[@chelseaxoxo784]

Very brilliant ❤

[@jwilsthem.c3780]

I feel like this point was made in the video

[@vibez.no.cartel]

@@master_samwise tbf i don't think she rejects it entirely because she's not good at it. because we see in the beach episode that she's bad a socialising but still takes Ty Lee's advice. the real issue is she's never been taught to see the worth in Vulnerability, Love, Compassion, Socialising for socialising sake because of her Parents dynamic, Ozai overpowing the very virtues Ursa enforced with his own. And considering Ozai always kept Azula in his grasp to exploit her as a war machine Ursa's teachings couldn't get through to her because she was always telling Azula off and pampering Zuko after he was abused by his father.

[@wildfire9280]

@@vibez.no.cartel And that last sentence plays into her only caring for the results, never the reasons for them nor the circumstances surrounding them nor every step taken to arrive at them. She doesn’t care to understand why Ursa reprimands her but comforts Zuko (who she infantilizes with the nickname “Zuzu”). She only cares that she isn’t being given her birthright.

[@implustration4828]

Another neat detail showing how she was unraveling... After Mei and Tai Lee betrayed her.. She stops bending with fingers and very precision firebending.. Instead she started bending with fists and palms with bigger and wider burst of firebending.. The attention to detail 👌🔥

[@master_samwise]

I've never noticed that before. That's super cool.

[@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman]

Woah

[@myaccount-mc7ws]

one of the best written villains of all time in my opinion. while ozai might’ve been portrayed as the big bad of the show, azula easily takes the cake as the best antagonist. from conquering ba sing se, taking down the avatar, finding out about the invasion, even ozai’s final plan to burn down the earth kingdom was azula’s idea. her fall from grace was both satisfying & heartbreaking. satisfying because the villain got taken down, but heartbreaking because at that moment we see that she was simply just a child raised by her father to be nothing but a war machine

[@EliasExists]

Ozai was just a plot instrument but a damn good one. You don’t even remember that you didn’t see him much if at all until the final season. They just needed someone bad to get these lessons across in the forms of azula and zuko, and god damn we’re those lessons good

[@tomtowo]

Best writen *jiggle* he sure was sharp heh 😹😹

[@danielbadillo8334]

@EliasExists he was an absolute beast during that final fight as well. Felt like fighting Sepheroth at the end of FFVII lol

[@balitangkamatis]

she a baddie too. woman is fine as hell, damn.

[@danielbadillo8334]

@@balitangkamatis absolutely

[@wherethetatosat]

Never thought about it before, but you're right. Mai and Ty Lee just don't try very hard when Azula isn't around. Tai-Li is terrified of her, but not really interested in the outcome. Mai is just there for the hell of it, but if it's going to be work, she's out.

[@Eilonwy95]

Spot on! They are very capable fighters, but give up incredibly easily if Azula is not there to supervise.

[@jordanread5829]

We also see that Ty-Lee only joined because Azula put the fear of god into her. She was content on staying where she was. Mai tagged along because she was suffering from boredom. They were only loyal to Azula because of fear. Once that fear was gone, Azula could no longer control them.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Also, if you remember correctly, Ty Lee keeps mocking Iroh while talking to Azula by saying "Your lame uncle" or something while Mai not saying anything and that's why Mai even joined Zuko and The Gaang in Jasmine Dragon in finale

[@marktwayne9796]

@@margarethmichelina5146 Ty Lee never said that lol. Azula said "You remember my old fuddy duddy Uncle" and Ty Lee laughed and said he was so funny.

[@catus-cactus]

I thought that was obvious in the show lol

[@danielbadillo8334]

Azula is such a great character that people are still arguing whether or not she is innately evil. There's so much nuance that you can make an argument for her environment being the driving factor for her issues. You can almost feel bad for her even though she is completely unhinged. And this is basically a side character, just incredible. Avatar is the greatest 🙌

[@emperorbooglitch8540]

She could've been a good person, but she was brainwashed beyond redemption from the youngest age that she gained a sense of self that she could think and decide who she was.

[@Markus2E5I6]

The beach episode and her conflict with her mother makes me think she's not that much a psycho, she was born a little closer to the dark side which her father pushed her towards but she does have her own twisted version of love. She rules through fear cause that's all she's known. But she does care about Mai, Ty Lee and Zuko or we least shown to somewhat. She apologises to Ty Lee, tells Zuko to leave their beach house as its "depressing", gave him the credit (although that's a bit double edged), wrecked that beach guys house after they insulted the group, wanted Zuko to come home and instead of demanding death for Ty Lee and Mai's betrayal she just wants them locked up, looked out for zuko meeting up with Iroh (I don't really think that was manipulation like the video said). Granted most of these circumstances are small and still manipulative in nature nor are they anything admirable barely the bare minimum but considering how she treats others these small things seem much bigger. She threatened to kill a guy for simply wanting to turn the tide but doesn't demand execution for Mai and Ty Lee's betrayal.

[@danielbadillo8334]

@chattynoir2934 yeah I think she would've always been a flawed person (anti-social personality and all) but would've probably been at least a functional adult if Ozai was a good parent. Zuko was naturally born more like his mother and Azula like her father. We'll never know if she would've been different under different circumstances, but I appreciate that her character is so layered that the debate still goes on. Just fantastic writing

[@emperorbooglitch8540]

@chattynoir2934 Okay, now that's a fair argument. I can't honestly counter that with anything aside from the fact that Ty Lee, Mai, and Zuko each knew her good and mercifully not-so-murderous side and were, in a really deep and personal way, contractually tied to forever earn her unconditional respect. Not love, she could kill those people without a second thought if she could be personally driven to do so, which she never does do so as none of them honestly hurt her in a meaningfully soul crushing manner, but respect for the good times they did have, for all the good that they did *for* her and her path that she wanted to pave for herself. She's honestly only grateful for them for bringing her up to where she is, and for that, she believes that treating them to the same small mercies that were earned through years of hard work is something nice for her to do, even taking a small amount of pleasure like how you give a pet a treat for doing a trick for you. Also, with her mother, I believe that was during a key stage of her development where she could learn and was perhaps even fascinated by the concept of maturing, before her father ripped that from her and killed off his own wife (or at least had someone else to do the job for him) and fully cut her off from emotionally growing as an individual.

[@Markus2E5I6]

​​​@@emperorbooglitch8540 they each knew her before Ozai's corruption came in full force. She was childhood friends with all of them to the point Ty Lee and Mai came to her home to play. Someone like Azula would normally think her home is too good of a place for lessers to step into but she presumably invites them over just to play as there isn't much child Mai and Ty Lee could do for Azula as her dad makes infinitely more money and there was no avatar to hunt. So it truly was just pure friendship (well not pure as in good cause there was still a lot of manipulation and fear but pure as in she got nothing out of it except their company/friendship) Zuko she also knew and he was also there when Ursa would have been able to reign in some of her more worrying behaviour. I disagree about none of them hurting her in a meaningful manner as Mai and Ty Lee's betrayal lead her to trust no one and eventually tipped her over the scale her dad's pressure put on her. They were the last straw of Azula's sanity. If she truly didn't care about them their betrayal never would have had an effect on someone so cold and analytical as Azula. But it really did hurt her. As for banishment over death I agree she probably saw that as very merciful (and considering its Azula it probably was). Ursa wasn't killed off though.

[@nedyahydarb]

I want a 26 minute breakdown on the importance of Appa and Momo

[@galamaboane]

We need more time than that.

[@xT3ALxPACMANx]

You can do 26 minutes just for appa alone tbh

[@sweethistortea]

I second this idea.

[@terminianhistorian7185]

Yes

[@luz1673]

We need an hour long video tbh

[@Whoopsie.Daisy.]

I don't think Ozai ordered Azula to take his place on the Day of Black Sun. I think it was entirely her idea. At that point, Ozai didn't know the avatar could be alive. He believes Azula told him the truth, that the avatar is dead. Azula lied to her father in an attempt to save face and put a collar on Zuko in one fell swoop. And to protect that lie, she would have offered her plan to replace her father in the bunker. That way if, by chance, the avatar was alive and leading the invasion, Ozai would never know and she could continue to manipulate him as it suits her. Neat, tidy, and efficient. A perfect plan. But she couldn't have predicted Zuko would put himself at risk by telling Ozai the truth. Ozai is just as much a manipulator as Azula and believed her to be a faithfully loyal pawn, a reliable asset. When he found out she had been lying to him she lost all that credibility. In fact, she a threat to him now. Now he knows she serves her own ends and is capable of manipulating him. So he does what any manipulator would, he manipulates her back. He doesn't tell he he knows, instead he keeps her out of the loop and changes important plans without letting her know. He begins keeping her at a distance and Azula can sense that their relationship has changed, but she doesn't know why. When she's left behind, she realizes she lost the most important thing in her world, her good standing with her father. Not only is her world view shattered by Mai and TyLee, but everything she's worked so hard for comes crumbling down. Ozai made her fire lord and in the same action took all her power away.

[@Destructo_The_Blitzhog]

That's very detailed. Manipulating her own father...it caused their downfall.

[@jmwilliamsart]

@@Destructo_The_BlitzhogWhy didn’t Azula ever try to take down Ozzai herself and to overthrow him? If she was so confident in her abilities than why didn’t she use them to take down Ozzai and become Fire Lord?

[@Destructo_The_Blitzhog]

Because she was USING him as well. It's almost as if Azula is slowly losing her sanity.

[@AnonTDegenerate]

@@jmwilliamsartProbably because outright murder isn't really the go-to due to fear of backlash. I mean ozai could kill Azulon at any time, take the throne and kick Iroh out but that also sets a bad precedence for the next person who aims to kill you or if the firenation prefers the old one over you, they riot.

[@valenciagoth2795]

I never even realized this, wonderful analysis

[@cynthiasoolihua2410]

"we are not made for ourselves. we are made for one another" is such a beautiful, powerful line.

[@arnowisp6244]

Decided to look it up. Seems to be a Paraphrase of the Theologian Gregory of Nazianzus. Just replace one another with for the good of all our fellow creatures.

[@missstranger7697]

Very few people know this.

[@PotatoCat-ku3lk]

Self preservation is necessary for the continuation of most species, but humans are weak. Intelligent, yes, but alone, without the successes of others, wholly mediocre. We got as far as we have not by ourselves, but together, forming bonds, tribes, civilization. Empathy is ingrained in our DNA, to care for our "tribe", those we deeply care about, as something we need to survive, in many that the tribe is more important than one's own life, because if you sacrifice the tribe for your own life, you are alone, and you will succumb to the elements, dying, alone. Despite it being the most powerful driving force we possess, it is truly sad how rare empathy can seem to be, and more so, how twisted and abused it can be.

[@Acacius1992]

@@PotatoCat-ku3lk Empathy is just a worthless weakness anyways. I dont care about anyone as noone cared about me. i heard this "Oh people need to stick together bullshit" ao many times

[@Acacius1992]

Nope i'm only made for myself. Noone gave ever a flying fuck about me. Why should i do it for others?!

[@staruniverse4967]

"My own mother thought I was a monster... She was right but it still hurt" - azula

[@Destructo_The_Blitzhog]

Her mother saw right through her. The real core under all that manipulative skin.

[@ryanthomas1846]

*Azula

[@jaohonaxa]

She was a reflection of the fire kingdom itself. By that kingdom’s standards she was the perfect warrior, leader, and ruler…and it completed destroyed her. She symbolizes that the fire nation’s principles were always doomed to failure.

[@CaraTheStrange]

Azula’s downfall was heartbreaking to see. Not that I wanted her side to win the war but I felt terrible for her in the finale after hating her for the whole rest of the series. I always cry when she is shackeld to the grate after the agni kai with Zuko and shes just crying and screaming. Seeing her sanity shatter broke my heart cause she’s just a 14 year old girl at the end of the day.

[@azulafan1512]

And even after the show ended she never got her redemption, it's really disappointing that she, who's been manipulated so much by her father never became that much better of a better person, even after freeing herself from his control. I love Azula and I would've done anything for the sake of her redemption.

[@CaraTheStrange]

@@azulafan1512 I take you also saw the video on the psycology of azula?

[@azulafan1512]

@@CaraTheStrange actually no, i discovered how much her father messed her up by myself

[@CaraTheStrange]

@@azulafan1512 Oh, hello future me made a great video on it as well as zuko’s psycology. He goes very in deapth on everything and he was a mental health counsellor so he has some very interesting insights.

[@haydentravis3348]

@@CaraTheStrange Some of us had similar fathers and recognized a fellow survivor the moment we were introduced to Azula.

[@vindicator0984]

By the end of the series Azula had more presence as the main villain than Ozai. Ozai was technically the big bad behind it all, but Azula was far more intimidating and frightening than Her father.

[@topnotchshinobi]

An apt observation! And from what I understand of the comics, Azula is shaping up to be THE major post-war antagonist. (Assuming that Azula’s agenda to terrorize Zuko’s reign becomes a persisting subplot)

[@XxdextriousxX]

Not to mention she is a complex character which makes it very interesting to watch her interactions and downfall.

[@All-ze9cl]

the agni kai with her and Zuko was so much more epic and important to me than Aang and Ozai. I wanted Aang to win and I knew he would, so i wasn't really that invested, but Azula and Zukos actually mattered. Either way, the outcome of their agni kai would be tragic.

[@rickyronny4019]

I agree

[@robertmolnar8543]

the fact that azula was imagining her mother being there proves that despite all her belief in fear she ultimately if only subconsciously knows that love is indeed stronger than fear

[@ursidae97]

She's seen it be stronger over and over. The power of love is a demon, the only one powerful enough to haunt her in her sleep.

[@extone6338]

Except love is weaker than fear bc negative emotions are more important for our survival and all that evolutionary jazz.

[@robertmolnar8543]

@@extone6338 You forget love strengthens fear because you fear to lose what you love which ultimately gives love power over fear

[@valentai_777]

@@extone6338except we have lots of stories about why that isn’t true. At least not anymore. Love persevered but fear dies out. “A man of the house won’t he beating his grown children”

[@wildfire9280]

⁠@@extone6338 Negative emotions are emotions all the same. They arise and are given form from simpler processing. The importance of love specifically is demonstrated throughout all of human history, which goes for all forms it exists in (Ancient Greece believed in more than most know of today, for example).

[@mascan7905]

It's telling that Azula's "breaking point" is the clash between her own self-image and the words of her mother, when her "mother" in this scene is a hallucination brought on by her own neuroses. She's essentially having an argument with herself, and losing.

[@ursidae97]

Like zuko, she's at the stage where she loses the argument in her head, unlike him, she's still totally unwilling at accept defeat or consider the other side. So she loses, but she falls into madness, rather than consider changing.

[@ApostleOfDarkness]

I've just saw someone arguing that Azula is the symbolisation of East Asians. I have to step in and say that whilst nothing can ever be perfect, it doesn't give us an excuse to not strive to be better, the best of ourselves. Zuko symbolises the flaws of East Asian "honour"(shame) based societies, Azula symbolises the flaws of perfection. Both are interesting constructive takes on East Asian culture. However, just as Zuko could get a better understanding of his flaws and improve, I had hoped that Azula would to, despite whatever Avatar Studios is up to currently.

[@joshuamueller3206]

I have heard their original goal was to redeem Azula, but the money for S4 was diverted to make the live action movie. I find myself wondering now if they changed the ending of S3 at all. It is hard to see that Azula being redeemed.

[@a.z7469]

It's the difference between externalized honour codes and internalized honour codes. Zuko finds his own way to be honourable; while Azula follows the honour code of her nation-state. Another good example of this dichotomy is Worf, son of Mogh of House Rozhenko (his adoptive human parents) and Martok (General and Chancellor of the Klingon Empire) from the Star Trek series.

[@daniellerobbins6503]

The difference between trying to be better and trying to be perfect is as vast as the sky. May we always try to be better but never try to be perfect!

[@ApostleOfDarkness]

@@daniellerobbins6503 which is what I had hoped Azula would come to terms to in the alleged Book 4 before they scrapped it to accommodate for the movie that doesn't exist

[@mellemadswoestenburg1296]

​@@ApostleOfDarkness it could still happen though. It seems like they are trying to give her the redemption arc they wanted to give her. Her upcoming solo comic alludes to that. "Azula must confront her past and finally face her chance at redemption. But will she take it?" Again, it says "her CHANCE at redemption". So we don't know for sure if she's actually gonna go there. But given what the writers have said about where they wanted her story to originally go it would be a very odd choice to not go through with it.

[@madamemotarey]

Your analysis of the Dai Li was incredible and cleared up confusion I've had for more than a decade 😳

[@master_samwise]

Not gonna lie, that just came to me when I was writing the script for this video. It finally made sense to me too.

[@KrazyStargazer]

I can still remember seeing Azula dor the first time. She was a menace and terrifying in a way no other villian was up till that point. She was precise and focused. She wasnt so cloppy as Zhao or Zuko. But her tragedy is that...shes just a kid. For all her grandstanding and all her power...shes just a child. Much like how Aang was far to young to have the world hoisted onto his sholders, Azula was far to young to desire the world.

[@NoNameAtAll2]

well, she did manage to take over ba sing se so I'd say her ambition wasn't groundless what she lacked was replaceability - as soon as her team self-destructed, she didn't have anyone to replace them with

[@pn2294]

@@NoNameAtAll2 ironically, I think that’s because she has some manor of empathy Ozai wouldn’t have been bothered by their betrayal for so long. He would’ve replaced them already

[@arnowisp6244]

Hence why the Avatar was usually revealed when they were 16 rather than how Young Aang was. When they had grown older.

[@andresmith1652]

This is so well put 🥹

[@Flashshadow]

Cloppy…? 🤔

[@gregjayonnaise8314]

Also, Zuko and Azula both have character arcs that run opposite to each other. Zuko starts off as the scorned child, the screw up, and the one whose technique is messy and unfocused. Azula is the golden child, the type A who reflects perfection. But as time goes on, the tide shifts. Zuko becomes healthier and gains more of an identity beyond being the prince: he learns that there is more to life than his father’s approval and gains friendship and love as a result. By contrast, Azula becomes more and more dependant on her Father’s words, losing the closest people that she had to friends in the process, and ends the show utterly alone and stuck in her assigned role, even as it grows more meaningless. When Zuko goes on a spiritual journey and must choose which path he goes down, it’s hard not to imagine that Azula went through the same thing, only she made ALL of the wrong choices.

[@sickdream4067]

I’ve seen so many analysis videos about Avatar (including analysis of Azula), that it feels like all videos now just repeat the same things I’ve heard already. But this one really explored things in comprehensive way with details that make it stand out. Great job

[@master_samwise]

This made my day! I have the advantage of having a wife who has watched Avatar more times than I can count, and who is willing to talk about it endlessly with me.

[@michaelmccabe3079]

@@master_samwise You married the right wife. ;)

[@AMAli-ct5df]

He found the perfect one

[@ParanormalEncyclopedia]

One of the most powerful things about her arc to me is that by the end we feel sympathy for her. She's been this terrifyingly effective strategist and warrior bur we see the truth that she's not Ozai's protégé or favorite child she's the victim of years of psychological abuse.

[@All-ze9cl]

thank god for the beach episode and the flashbacks, it is so impressive that in about the length of two episodes, they could get us to care for a seemingly irredeemable and horrible person.

[@ParanormalEncyclopedia]

@@All-ze9clIts so rare we get writting of Avatars calibre in a big budget show for adults. That the creators did it in a kids showis even more impressive.

[@Coolguy-mk7hg]

No katara is a victim . Azula is a monster

[@ParanormalEncyclopedia]

@@Coolguy-mk7hg they were both victims. She and Zuko were both mentally, emotionally and physically abused by Ozai (and her mother abused her emotionally and mentally as well) Zuko took that pain and became a better man she took it and became a monster. Doesn't make her innocent but it does increase Ozai's guilt.

[@annabellthedoll9953]

​@@Coolguy-mk7hg Exactly, I still don't get why people sympathise with her because there's nothing to sympathise with.

[@lucasstrong9208]

I had never noticed how well set up Mei's betrayal was, thank you for showing me the multiple hints leading to the inevitable

[@ve110cet]

I have a theory that adds to this. It was spurred by the thing where Sokka says "Zuko never gives up." My first thought was "Azula also never gives up." Children tend to take traits from their parents (especially in fiction). Zuko and Azula's relentlessness seems to have come from their father. And Zuko definitely got his heart from his mother. Ozai did not seem to have any kind of mind for strategy. Which meant (to me at least) that Azula got her Machiavellian instincts from her mother. Before the comics came out, it seemed implied that Ursa did have significant manipulative skills. She engineered the revocation Iroh's birthright AND murdered Azulon all without implicating Ozai (or herself?). After The Search comic, (spoilers) it showed that Ursa did do a lot of manipulation to keep her and her children safe. Including a fake letter to see if Ozai was reading her mail. So... with that said... It seems that Azula got her manipulative skills from her mother. And this is where it gets sad. Azula probably learned from Ozai, that perfection = parental love. Especially in things that the parent excels in. For Ozai that was fire bending and strength. I think that Azula was desperate for her mother's love and didn't understand why Zuko got it even when she was so good at manipulation (what Ursa was good at). Azula was so good at it, that I'm pretty sure the whole idea/plan for Ozai's ascension to the throne was hers. In Zuko Alone, everything Azula says comes true... "Our dad would make a better firelord" "He's not exactly the powerful Fire Lord he used to be. Someone will probably end up taking his place soon." It is possible that she made up the entire "Dad's gonna kill you" thing as a plan to get Ursa to love her. We never see the conversation between Ursa and Azula before everything goes down. She could have subtly planted the seeds of what went down that night in Ursa's mind. And Ozai, not being of strategic mind and wanting to be firelord went along with it. I think in the comics Ozai says that Azulon DID command him to kill Zuko, but that wouldn't make much sense (plus Ozai is an unreliable narrator). Why would Azulon after losing one heir, want to lose another. What's more likely is that Azulon commanded Zuko to be given to Iroh. Thus "you must know the pain of losing a first born son" would be accurate. Anyways... this is getting long. Mai and Tai Li's betrayal is even more hurtful to her, because they're probably the closest thing she has to friends who "love her" (especially growing up together). I think this makes her downfall even more tragic, because ultimately, Azula is just a fourteen year old girl who wanted to be loved but settled for fear. And yes, I think Azula is one of the best villains of all time and I've thought about it a lot. If I ever have a daughter, her mother would have to some serious work convincing me not to name her Azula haha

[@ve110cet]

I also think that this could explain why Azula's firebending is blue. As we know from Bitter Work, firebending comes from rage an emotion (I've also wondered if Iroh explicitly separated "rage" from "emotion" because they were sort of talking about Azula - and he knew). Therefore, the more rage, the more powerful (hotter) the fire. Azula is probably always hiding incredible amounts of rage at not receiving the love she deserves for the perfection that she achieves. There are only a couple of times you actually see Azula angry (it spills out), when she's angry at herself in her introduction scene and when her friends betray her. Well... she goes pretty nuts in the finale, but I take that to mean that the dam finally broke.

[@HanhNguyen-uk8bc]

It was in the show that Azulon DID want Zuko dead because Ozai was trying to manipulate his way into ascension by saying that Iroh wasn't fit to lead anymore. Azulon took offense and decreed that Ozai should lose his son to know how it feels. Now he may have not been serious but that's hard to know because we don't see the rest. Azula knows this tidbit because she was hiding in the throne room when it happened.

[@ve110cet]

@@HanhNguyen-uk8bc Azulon's words before Zuko runs out (the last thing we see of the scene between Azulon and Ozai) is "You dare suggest I betray Iroh, my first-born, directly after the demise of his only beloved son? I think Iroh has suffered enough. But you... your punishment has scarecly begun!" The whole Ozai killing Zuko we only know from Azlua saying it. I now also think that (just as she does the whole episode) Azula was probably manipulating Ozai into making the suggestion in the first place. Again, mostly it's because there doesn't seem to be any indication that Ozai is any good at strategy. He pretty much only goes along with what other people say.

[@chelseaxoxo784]

.

[@vincikeeper1581]

Ozai is more controlling deceptive and manipulative than Ursa, she's more like, strategic "appealing deal maker" and clairvoyant than manipulative.

[@GnarledStaff]

The _Prince_ by Machiavelli actually states that it is better to be loved than feared, but impossible to be loved by everyone. The general conclusion in that book is that one needs respect and fear is a good way to obtain respect, but that excessive fear can be a detriment to a ruler. Fear must be balanced by perceived trust, which is gained through just rule. Underlings need a need a safe path to travel. If underlings have no safe path under a leader they are forced to turn on them and find a safe path under a new leader. So it is in a leaders best interest to offer both a carrot and a stick. To make betrayal seem like a bad path but loyalty feel like a safe path.

[@romasliv]

didnt read the book, but i read one quote that he say that the one in power should not make those under him hate him, rule by fear create lot of hate in those under you.

[@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman]

​@@romasliv unless you're god lmao

[@wildfire9280]

⁠@@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman Well yes but actually no but actually maybe?

[@jesus_lost_genitals]

Azula wasn't just influenced by her father, she was shaped by him in the most radical and "effective" way possible. She didn't have a choice but to take on her fathers philosophy, becoming who she is now. when I first watched the show, I didn't even realise that Azula was younger than Zuko. Zukos age made somewhat sense, but I initially thought Azula was at least 19. I was extremely speechless (not in a positive way) when I found out how old she is. Physically she's a child, but she was never allowed to actually be one

[@NARUTOS.CLANSS]

This was one of the best Azula analysis videos I’ve watched and I’ve seen many. I enjoyed every moment from start to finish. Please never delete this. I actually learned more about myself watching it

[@NARUTOS.CLANSS]

Subscribed 🔥🔥🔥

[@extone6338]

TIP: Instead of relying on whether or not the vid will one day be deleted, u can download it. Or maybe better yet, take notes for easier reference (that way it might also stick more).

[@morrisonscott1139]

Her philosophy was more Ozai's than it was her own. She's the only one in the family with the least amount of ambition. Doesn't do anything for herself. Even when she first disobeys Ozai's orders and overturns Zuko's banishment, advises Zuko to be more careful when speaking to Iroh, as far back when she explained to Ursa about Azulon's hit on Zuko, even just her asking him to join the beach with her. She gains nothing from any of this, it was all simply for Zuko's benefit. Despite the two being at serous odds to say the least, Azula is willing to help Ozai and Zuko simultaneously if possible. Goes to show that despite her being emotionally inept, she cares about other people, particularly her own people from her own homeland, she has yet to care about others beyond her homeland. Aang and Azula might arguably have the most in common, with the only differences being their upbringing and lifestyle.

[@barnaby4232]

How is Azula lacking in ambition?

[@themasterofpotatoes9475]

It's like being a people pleaser but in all the wrong ways. She wants validation, even if she masks it as power hunger

[@Neptune0404]

Avatar is truly one of the best shows ever made. It has such a powerful message, with so many layers of meaning, all wrapped in a package filled with amazing animation, beloved characters, and incredibly well written plot-lines. And videos like this really display why that is, Azula isn't just a powerful villain, she isn't just an intelligent villain, she's the perfect villain to oppose the heroes both in combat, and in ideology. She loses, not just because the heroes overpower her, but because at its core, her way of being, her view on the world, her philosophy, is flawed.

[@5001Fergies]

“My own mother thought i was a monster. She was right, of course, but it still hurt” i think this line from azula holds a lot of truth to it. Growing up, azula was always pushed by her father to become the cold, calculating force of nature he sees himself as, but their mother also played a role in this imo. She was able to prevent zuko from going down the same path as azula by showing him kindness, compassion, and making him realize that power isnt everything, but she seemed to treat azula, as “too far gone” with lines like “what is wrong with that girl” which makes me think she never really attempted to do the same with azula as she did with zuko. And azula definitely noticed this, and internally probably figured “well my mother thinks im a monster, and my father praises these traits in me, so im going to stick with my dad instead since he seems to care”. Im not entirely blaming ursa for what happened to azula, but i think she definitely (if unintentionally) played a part in azula’s descent into what she is in atla

[@ManicMaidenASMR]

How is that their mom’s fault? Azula was mean as hell to her own brother and even Ozai didn’t like Zuko so who else was going to support him? His mother. Azula had the attention and encouragement from everyone so their mom had to show even more love to Zuko who was suffering from depression and low self esteem. She never once said anything bad about Azula only when she misbehaved and she was very mild then too. This is on Ozai. Their mother tried her best and cannot be blamed for anyone else’s actions

[@snakesareamazing]

​@@ManicMaidenASMRIt was obviously mostly Ozais fault and I totally understand why Ursa paid more attention to Zuko. But that doesn't mean she was completely innocent either. "What is wrong with that girl" is a fucked up thing to say about your own child, even if it might be true to a certain extent. And the worst part was that she said it while Azula was still there. Azula was running out of the room, but she was clearly still close enough to hear it. Azula ended up the way she did because of her father, that's something everyone can agree on. And like you said, she got attention and encouragement from her dad and from her grandfather to a certain extent. But only because she was a gifted child. Because she was a great firebender. Zuko knew that his mother and his uncle loved him, no matter what happens (It just took him a while to realize that). But Azula didn't have someone like that. She had to be perfect, strong and competent at all times. Because if she wasn't, she would've lost her father's approval. And then she would've had nobody. I'm not saying that Ursa is a terrible Person or whatever. She was stuck in a shitty situation and tried her best. But there is nothing wrong with pointing out that her behavior negatively impacted Azula

[@ManicMaidenASMR]

@@snakesareamazing Oh please that was a mild af comment. Parents say all sorts of things when their child misbehaves. Westerners be calling everything abuse. Yes something must be wrong with her if she’s already showing psychotic tendencies by THROWING a large stone to hurt a duck unprovoked. If it was a strict parent they would have corrected her even more severely. Ursa was very tamed I need yall to stop being dramatic and actually be objective. Ozai literally BURNED his kid because he didn’t like him. If he didn’t like Azula he would have done the same or worse. Now that’s abuse. I can bet you if someone other than their mom showed any atom of support for Zuko then she wouldn’t feel the need to be so focused on him. I can definitely see where she’s coming from. At the end of the day Azula was spoiled and got everything she wanted, period. Kids have gotten way worse and still end up good people. She was cruel even as a kid and no one corrected her behavior because she was “gifted” and born lucky

[@snakesareamazing]

@ManicMaidenASMR I never called Ursa abusive, what the hell are you even talking about lmao. I just said you shouldn't say somehing like that in front of your child. The reason why nobody corrected Azulas bad behavior was because her dad didn't really give a fuck and her mother was more focused on Zuko. Also, you do realize that Zuko also threw a rock at a duck unprovoked, right? And then his mother told him that this kinda behavior isn't okay. Ozai burned zuko because he spoke up in a meeting and "disrespected" one of the generals. And because he considered Zuko refusing to fight a sign of weakness. He never burned Azula because she was obedient and a good firebender. And I didn't say that he disliked Azula, I said that he didn't really love her. That's different

[@ManicMaidenASMR]

@@snakesareamazing you see how in the end you literally victim blamed Zuko and said he got burned instead of Azula because she was more “well behaved” and Zuko was weak? Let’s stop this nonsense favouritism and bffr

[@vaiyt]

Azula forgot the second half of Machiavelli's phrase: above all, a leader must avoid being hated.

[@LordWyatt]

Something I can’t stop thinking about is when Azula offers what Zuko wants at the start on a silver platter and then again at the end. There’s so much that happens between the two times Edit: also Azula used vague language when talking to Sokka- “So, *Sokka’s* your name, right? My favorite prisoner used to mention you all the time. She was convinced you gonna ‘rescue’ her which you never came and she gave up on you.” Maybe a word or two off but she was trying to rule him up, she had no idea Suki and Sokka were connected until he said her name. Perhaps that was why she was at the boiling rock for Suki, considering she didn’t know about Zuko yet. Assuming the Warden hadn’t informed her yet and she didn’t know about Hakota.

[@flyback_driver]

Azula's personality always resonated with me and the older I get the more I connect with her. My childhood was pretty rough being raised by a man I'd consider a psychopath with my mother a victim of his abuse constantly taking the brunt of it for her children. It wasn't until after I left the military I was doing some soul searching in an attempt to alleviate some of my PTSD symptoms that I found some old deep seeded issues. While I certainly suffered from PTSD it didn't begin in the military and it wasn't the only thing troubling me. A therapist who refused to let me quit helped me see I had major symptoms of narcissistic abuse. Constantly criticizing myself/others, second place is the first loser mentality, maybe that's good to them but not for you, and so on. Where our paths differ is I was able to escape my father but hers was the ruler of her nation. There was no escape without commiting treason and so I've always felt sorry for her. Ive had that exact same breakdown she does after fighting and losing to Zuko. I've worn that same mask and chased that sliver of approval. I'd put good money down Ozia and Iroh had a similar upbringing. Fortunately for Zuko, Iroh pulled him from the fire (no pun intended) and reversed most of the damage done before it became irreversible. It's a story that has always pulled my heartstrings kind of the same way when I see adults my age still suffering. Anytime I talk about this I like to mention that part when Zuko has a conflict of values and becomes ill. I had the same feeling as well and it seemed to go on forever. Like a nightmarish fever dream that held all of time and space still until I came to terms with who I am and what I was letting go of. I just wanted to add my opinion here. I never thought of Azula as a villain but rather a victim.

[@Manas-co8wl]

I suppose so. Thank you for your accounts, it took courage I’m sure.

[@flyback_driver]

@@Manas-co8wl yeah no problem and in videos like this not so much. I assume most people watching this have an open mind and understanding. So I like sharing bits like this to contribute. Also, while I see Azula as a victim it still doesn't absolve her of the responsibility of her actions. I just pity her more if that makes sense.

[@scrubbingdoubles8585]

Jesus loves you Isaiah 41:10 Romans 3:23-24 John 3:16-17 Romans 8:35-39 Luke 23:42-43

[@jismeraiverhoeven]

Ironically the question "would you rather be loved or feared" is inheritly flawed, because you cannot force someone to love you, just as much as you cannot force them to fear you. That is why you need both: make those who dont love you fear you, and let those who dont fear you love you. The avatar was the perfect example of this:his kindhearted nature made almost everyone love him, but those who stood in his way found out just how powerfull he can be when he wants to

[@scrubbingdoubles8585]

Jesus loves you Isaiah 41:10 Romans 3:23-24 John 3:16-17 Romans 8:35-39 Luke 23:42-43

[@thomasplummer8103]

Machiavelli said, " "It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both."" His argument is that, if you can't do both, Fear is easier to engender and people will react more strongly to it.

[@randommoron9892]

Tbh that is a yin/yang way to look at it

[@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman]

Yup​@@thomasplummer8103

[@spiddey21]

It's fitting how when Azula first comes into the Boiling Rock, everyone bows and is *lower* than her. When she gets betrayed, she falls, which yes Chi-Blocking someone's back does do that, it feels very symbolic how she's the one that's lower than everybody, she lost her power of fear.

[@Noah-tn5bc]

Fantastic video essay. Well done. You make me appreciate Avatar even more.

[@VunderGuy]

No it isn't. It's pretty mid tbh and the take away is both bad on its face and bad in the sense that it's an inversion of reality because perfection obsessed cultures literally are eating the lunch of more lax, devil may care cultures.

[@master_samwise]

Dude it's just a video essay about a character from a TV show. Not everything has to relate to a political narrative.

[@master_samwise]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevenlovejoy6838]

Is it better to be feared then loved? Machiavelli says, "Yes" it is if you can't be both. However, he states that regardless you need to make sure you're not hated. Azula is feared throughout the entire show but her mental decline comes when that fear turns to hatred-when she loses Mai and Ty Lee. Both girls could've abandoned Azula early on but they stayed on not only because they feared her but also because they didn't hate her. Hell, at the height of their time together they seemed to enjoy their time with Azula.

[@JanelleTheKid]

This is a great analysis! I didn't even realize that Mai's offhand comment about not going in the sludge despite knowing the consequence is the beginning of Azula's decline in power despite seeming like she controls everything. What a subtle and great way to show that everything is not what it seems in Azula's character arc!

[@andresmith1652]

Love this show for giving us kids at the time a complex villain. Yes her father was the typical evil to be evil guy but Azula was way more then that. The moment she beat zuko without bending the first time out her on the map. The way she calculates and use fire in such a deadly way. Her fire is pinpoint accuracy and controlled. Love her character

[@Fritzafella]

This breakdown of Azula's tragic character is absolutely wonderful. You've hit the nail on the head. Ruling trough negative emotions is a fragile way to rule. Leading with love is not just Robust, but Anti-fragile, where turbulence not only has no effect, but makes it even stronger. We see Katara's journey of using her virtues as a leader without straying into its vices. We see Azula do the opposite, and the results are predictable. Even if consciously you refuse to believe ruling by fear is fragile, your sub-conscious does. Azula implodes as a result of this struggle with herself.

[@wildfire9280]

With love, turbulence is made into a reason for coming together. With fear, turbulence adds even greater reason to exit stage left. If a beloved ruler is killed at war or has some tragedy befall them, all the more people will rally to them. With a feared ruler it’s… “Ding dong! The witch is dead, which old witch? The wicked witch!”

[@Lucario4thewin]

Perhaps smashing the mirror was also metaphor for Azula's facade of perfection being broken to pieces.

[@restreven4455]

5:52 I feel like Azusa is also manipulative. The way she gets Ty Lee and Mai to join was kinda insane but it almost seems like they’re there voluntarily. Especially Mai. But with that “she can shoot all the lightning she wants line” it reveals the abuse. 5:52

[@kap1618]

Sad part is, I think her downfall was the best thing for her. I imagine if they took down the fire lord but she was left alone to rule, Azula would have turned into an even bigger monster than her father.

[@rickyronny4019]

Facts. Azula needed to be defeated

[@gennaronarducci1333]

I don't know how much that could have worked out, but what if there was a 4 season where Azula took her father's place, keep going on fighting with the Gaang and the other nations till they had defeated her?

[@jwilsthem.c3780]

I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT MOMENT WITH MEI AND HOW IT SLOWLY BUILDS TO HER BETRAYAL THIS SHOW IS SO GOOD

[@JaceyChristian]

Fear can only work for so long. But love will always triumph over it

[@extone6338]

False.

[@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman]

False

[@delfinangel96]

true

[@FallenFromGlory]

what

[@cyonoid]

I remember watching avatar on my box tv as a kid. Was lonely and nickelodeon, cartoon network and Disney were all i had. But, growing up, and rewatching this at 22, is realizing how much of an impact this show had on my psyche. I'm forever grateful for this show, and it's community. If you're reading this, youre a beautiful soul worthy of love and joy and I love you.

[@emilysullivan3875]

This 14 year old teenager had grown adults scared of their own shadow because she was just that good by ruling with fear.

[@wildfire9280]

4:21 One caveat here is that Ozai’s father, Fire Lord Azulon, actually *does* tolerate failure. It’s just that he does so in a such a way as to ensure understanding is still cloaked in cruelty, perhaps as a show of force (which may as well be the Fire Nation’s entire credo). In a single act Azulon demonstrates more sensitivity and empathy towards failing than either Azula or Ozai ever have in their whole lifespans… and yet, it is also an undeniably cruel one.

[@qbgrindddd]

Azulon was the Fire Lord I would not have cared about much if he ruled the world had he not launched raids on the Southern Water Tribe

[@peppersonironi7366]

Fantastic analysis as always! You pointed out some set-up for Azula's fall that I hadn't noticed (or, at least, considered in the way you did) in all the re-watches of the show I've done.

[@ZECRA602]

Azula is a great example of what toxic perfectionism from Asian parenting does to a child, a very unstable and emotionally stunted person

[@phi4721]

Interesting.

[@rickyronny4019]

I agree. I see the similarities between Azula and toxic East Asian parenting

[@charlottesearle7997]

I absolutely adore like, all the character arcs in ATLA, but I gotta say Azula's is probably one of the best. Seeing this terrifyingly competent, whip smart manipulator, someone who is seemingly always 2 steps ahead of anything you try to do, gradually break down under the weight of her own paranoia is so satisfying, but it's also sad. I never would have thought, watching Azula as she is in her first appearances, that I'd ever feel compassion or pity or sadness for her, but that last scene where she is chained to the ground, sobbing, screaming, spewing fire and out of control? It's just, sad. You really see just how far her own inability to trust people has broken her. She won at practically every turn, she got everything she wanted, and all it did was drive her mad. It's a strange and somber moment seeing her so broken.

[@AlexD-zo4xy]

The mirror between Azula and Katara is interesting like another commenter mentioned. I feel like Katara rejecting blood bending is her rejecting the evil of manipulation and control of others (which Azula’s character fully embodies) Katara was tested with the ability to have that control over others through blood bending and could’ve easily used it on Azula during the final Agni Kai. She doesn’t use it though because it goes against her beliefs. She uses her own clever way to take down Azula. This also relates back to Aang not wanting to eliminate the Fire Lord and choosing to take away Ozai’s fire bending instead Good vs Evil could be simple but it was layered in so many ways in this amazing series

[@Eilonwy95]

Such amazing points all around! It’s amazing how complex Azula is in a show that is ostensibly for kids.

[@Miltypooh2001]

I love the fact azula is both menacing and sarcastic at the same time, I think most of her personality was from her dad because of the whole royal family fire nation thing, but I feel like there's more to that, her biggest insecurity is being alone knowing that she's nothing more than a tool for her dad

[@redeubelbet.kingdom5212]

This video is the best analysis of Azulas psyche I have seen yet. Great job dude

[@master_samwise]

Thank you!

[@BorchikYes]

Imagine the panic she had when katara freezed her.

[@SmallSinger5901]

18:54 according to the Suki Alone comic, Azula was totally lying there- she had planned out that distraction already from when she first captured Suki. She observed that Suki cared a lot about Sokka and made the (accurate) estimation that it would go the other way, too.

[@sarahpauley9517]

Amazing essay, as per usual. It would be so cool if you could analyze the ember island episode too. Keep up the great work!

[@master_samwise]

I almost certainly will at some point! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiddiewinnierobloxgaming6449]

​@@master_samwisecould you make an analysis between the parallels of azula 's and iroh 's characters?

[@Joel--yr6me]

That was an awesome video! I love seeing videos of Azula's psychology, she's such an interesting character. I think a video about the beach would definitely be cool, especially about the group's conversation by the fire

[@Dude-vb4ul]

How could you give maize betrayal without also quoting azulas response "no you miscalculated! You should have feared me more!" The first crack beginning to show

[@master_samwise]

Very true.

[@Dude-vb4ul]

@@master_samwise It's like the 1st time she ever childishly refused to acknowledge what had just happened. Instead of intelligently adapting to it.

[@Hi-lu5vf]

I love this comment I saw on the Katara and Toph video where someone pointed out that if Azula was a protagonist, she would just be like the horribly written strong female character we see nowadays: seemingly unstoppable with plans that always work out. This is even better when juxtaposed with the true female protagonists, Katara and Toph, who struggled and had great character arcs.

[@Sly-Moose]

"Zuko isn't afraid of a whole lot-" **he says as he shows Zuko trynna get struck by lightning** 🤣

[@sarahlandis289]

Perfect example 😂

[@moguemji9675]

now i get it when mai says "i love zuko more than i fear you" and ty lee join in, drive azula crazy imagine getting control of all dai li but this small elite team of yours are braver against you just,, wow

[@DragonGoddess18]

Eventually what was scary to you, doesn't scare you anymore It's why scary movies aren't scary the second time you watch them: you get used to it to the scary parts

[@iwannareadforever8185]

people are always saying that azula should be redeemed but I personally think its fine to leave her story where it is. its tragic but to me she and zuko serve as an example of letting abuse control you. it takes zuko a lot of time and mistakes and burned bridges but he eventually learns to open up to others and only then does he achieve greatness. meanwhile azula has from the very begining refuses to be helped or taught anything because unlike zuko she is a prodigy and has never been forced to admit she cant do it alone. this leads her to controling the people in her life making them want to leave and when she is at her breaking point she is all alone. ozia taught both azula and zuko that they needed to be the best and in control. unfortunatly for azula she was just in a situation where her skills helped feed this philosophy and so she never learns to make meaningful conections while zukos situation and skills teaches him to go to his uncle to process his trauma. the moral of azula and zuko is that you can either take the time to unlearn dangerous habits from your trauma or you can let them control you cause it feels like the only way to be safe. (Azula still can technically learn this even after the events of the show I just dont feel a need to watch her heal cause she serves her narative purpose and in the age of opps all villains are actually the good guys and or reformed I just feel like it would have little impact on the story)

[@g.b569]

I also noticed that in the Southern Raiders, Azula’s hair becomes undone during the fight with Zuko. Every time she shows that she’s losing her grip on reality and her paranoia takes over, her hair is down. It happens when she banishes most of her staff in the palace and then during the Agni Kai. We saw her cut her hair to show that she is unbalanced and then it comes down completely revealing her loss of control. It’s subtle details like this that I love to pick up on

[@user-uc2eq7zy8j]

I miss this show me and my siblings used to watch it together that was probably the happiest part of my life. Now we barely talk even though we sit in the same house all day over summer break.

[@davidmckown3590]

One part you left out of your analysis is that on the Day of Black Sun that when Zuko confronted his father Fire Lord Ozai, Zuko confessed that Azula lied to him about the Avatar being dead. The fact Azula lied to her father Ozai was a factor why he left her behind on the Day of Sozin’s Comet. Also Azula didn’t believe that Zuko would confess disregarding self-preservation.

[@dogaercan8385]

I think what underpinned Azula's character was her hunger for her mother's attention. Many may wonder where I got this from, but given Azula's character and who she's more like, it's not an unreasonable inference. "My own mother saw me as a monster" is clear proof of this. It's normal in most families for girls to choose their father figure as their role model, as with Azula, but looking at the relationship between her mother and father, Azula's mother showed more interest in her gentler child rather than an Ozai-like child. This was Azula's main concern. No matter how hard she tried, Azula could not feel either her mother's or her father's love, she could only reach her father's attention. So she concluded that she was now more likely to be accepted by her father than to be loved by her mother. The fact that she would be her father's favorite child as long as she was perfect gave rise to an unhealthy obsession with perfection. From this perspective, Azula is actually a character chained by her father's twisted ideals. When Zuko was exiled, he actually got the chance to be free away from his father, but Azula didn't have that opportunity. The fact that she didn't have a mother (or someone as understanding as her uncle) growing up brought him closer to Ozai. Although her hunger for love and attention did not grow over time, it always remained in her heart. Thinking that her father could fill this void, he took her steps by always thinking of her father. Everything she actually did was to impress and admire her father.

[@toomanymonkeys21]

This thesis puts into words a lot of things that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I think you’re quite right… without “perfection,” she has nothing, is nothing. The betrayal of Mei and Ty Lee undermined her deepest sense of self, and she could only perceive it as failure to control them, a weakness in her ability to scare them and manipulate them, not as a lack of her ability to love and care for them, and accept love and care from them. I know people who couldn’t stand to see her (Azula! Azula of all people!) reduced to hysterical scream-crying at the end, because she’s a girlboss (and she’s, like, fifteen? Fourteen?) I’m kind of afraid of how they will handle her if they bring her back.

[@oogabooga_001]

the thing amazing w her is tht she knows shes a monster cos she actually agree w her mother "my own mother thinks im a monster....she's not wrong, but it still hurts." thats the only other feelings shes expressed and she dismissed her own weakness and labeled it as "haters gona hate". that lvl of blind confidence in their own wrongs is smth to be feared of.

[@giovannijacobs4496]

She' s one of the best written characters in all of media.

[@jamescoughlan7175]

Anyone who says they'd rather be feared than loved hasn't seen the end result of being feared. Just look at the dictators in human history, most died to violent revolution when the people who feared them realized they weren't actually an untouchable god but instead a very killable person.

[@mvdum29]

Crazy how one of animation's best written villains is a 14-year-old. A masterpiece of a character, so complex and fully fleshed-out.

[@colorblockpoprocks6973]

I dare to think that Azula embodies the traits of her father *and her mother* in the way that Ozai lacks any emotional reactions to treachery, only mater-of-fact response in the ways of physical threat, but Ursa is shown to be emotionally present. If we're to assume that Ozai is stoic out of nature and not nurture, Azula's emotional responses to betrayal feel like reflections of Ursa. And I mean *true betrayal* akin to Mai and Ty-Lee's. Those were her "only comrades", she grew up with them. When someone who she deems legitimately close to her betrays her, she is *relatively* in shambles. Hell, Ozai hardly even actually reacts when defeated by Aang, (perhaps out of exhaustion and shock tbf lol,) but look at how Azula reacts to her defeat by a "mere peasant". She's completely unraveled.

[@fa1509]

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. - 1 John 4:18

[@cheddarbub6324]

DANG. Didn't expect to see a Bible verse quoted here but it absolutely fits Azula

[@janjordy]

@@cheddarbub6324 funny thing is that bible is god telling people "love me or else", this quote is not really in the spirit of the other parts of the book.

[@cheddarbub6324]

@@janjordy But it totally is. The Bible isn't sitting there telling us it's all doom and gloom and there's no hope; rather it encourages people to love God because He loves us. "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have eternal life." -- John 3:16

[@fa1509]

@@janjordy not really we have a choice to do right by God. We don’t choose to love people as Christians we are commanded to love others as much as god loved us so we can reflect the love that God has in us. - John 13:34. Most people mistake true love as for doing anything you want but that’s not the case. We love God not because we fear him that’s apart of the reason because we do mess up tho but not fully the fear we have for God is a godly fear not a worldly fear and yes there’s a difference. The fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom. We love God because he loved us first while we were sinners so it’s our gratitude that we want to do right by him. Romans 5:8 You can try to love when there’s fear but it only get you so far and most of the time people will act out against that fear that makes us rebel more. Countries who don’t have basic human rights you see this in. They are told to obey or else with makes people hide their imperfections even more or worse hurt other people for those imperfections. For example Mai in the show - I love Zuko more than I fear you Think of all the sacrifices that love has to be with one another, the truest form of love it will cost you something. Like a parent has for their child. In the Christian world it did cost something for God to love you. While we are in our sinful state God made himself lower than the humans in this world, being humiliated and killed because he loves you. I know I’m a sinner but Jesus dying for sinners like me and you , that alone wants me to do right by God to become a better person through God (holy sprit). Gives you a new heart with new desires. That’s where humility comes in so it can’t make me arrogant and rely on my own self righteousness. Read Luke 18:13 That’s the difference between Christianity and other belief systems Other belief systems- I have to obey to be loved by God (conditional love) Christianity - I am loved by God so that makes me want to obey (unconditional love) Here’s articles for you read if you wish. www.gotquestions.org/fear-Lord-beginning-wisdom.html thegospelsaves.me/2022/02/worldly-fear-vs-godly-fear/ www.gotquestions.org/cleanse-the-inside-of-the-cup.html

[@cheddarbub6324]

@@fa1509 Clap and a half 👏

[@oyudie2745]

She definitely had the most potential in the entire avatar universe. If she had the chance she'd be the strongest firebender ever.

[@TheGeorgegenesis]

Again and again, Avatar: The last Air Bender was way ahead of it's time. It stands up there as one of the best ever animated show in history.

[@emperorbooglitch8540]

8:18 You know, it would be really funny if there was someone in the Earth Kingdom that would've conveniently talked about a lack of self-preservation, even portraying it as something bordering on "cool" to have. That might've killed her plan off a little bit by bit as they might've slowly consider the portrayal of suicidal behavior to be bordering on heroic if the costs become much higher than any reward that could be promised. Yep, her whole plan rested on a house made of out The Queen of Heart's own cards, and now that they've stopped painting the roses red in fear of losing their heads, she's going to be overthrown.

[@bethelsheunesumasukume352]

22:12 it's so surprisingly satisfying to see Azula on the receiving end of that treatment.

[@epicmaj8r]

Azula is not only one of the greatest villains in the show, and in cinema altogether, she's also a very tragic character. She's only known fear and manipulation throughout her childhood and later into her teens. While Azula had power and status, she lacked love and true companionship within herself and from others. During that mirror scene with her mother proclaiming that she always loved her, Azula genuinely couldn't comprehend it. Love was such a foreign concept to her that she instead lashed out and broke down crying afterwards. So while Zuko is the poster child of redemption arcs, Azula, imo, is the poster child of tragic characters

[@deyliramirez382]

I appreciate that you mentioned just how far Mei & Tai Li's fear of Azula could get them to obey & where that quip from Mei that Azula can't make her go into that sludge was not just for comedy, but to really show how inaffective ruling by fear is & that even Azula's friends wouldn't go as far as she demanded them to. That's when start to the cracks in their obedience to Azula & their individual character arcs Since Azula was little, she not only tormented her brother & mocked her mother & uncle, she tormented her friends, Tai Li & Mei, to the point of using little Mei's crush on Zuko to not just embarass, but shame Mei. When Azula comes to recruit them into her Elite Team, she picks up where she left off in tormenting them, except disguising it quickly with a fake care for the friends she is STILL using as tools, only to indirectly threaten them. She also uses Tai Li's & Mei's individual desires to get them to obey & form a bond. Tai Li's desire for acceptance is not something Mei personally needs, but Mei knows Tai Li is vulnerable because of it & that's why she comforts Tai Li a few times during the show. Azula sees hugging as a weakness, but she allows Mei to comfort Tai Li to keep Tai Li from getting too overwhelmed & defecting. Mei became one of my favorite characters early on because she isn't the emo or goth girl she looks like or even acts like. We can tell she cares about Tai Li & even Azula, & her baby brother. But her true desire is really for Zuko. Her love of Zuko makes joining Azula's Elite team seem attractive at first & of course, Azula knows this & uses it as much as possible. While love of Zuko causes Mei to support Azula for so long, it also makes her resist Azula more & more. That episode where she let Zuko go was her turning point I think, but she regressed when Zuko returned & didn't understand that Zuko needed to leave the Fire Nation. Later on she acknowledged that instead of trying to purse Zuko & keep him where they grew up, she needed let Zuko serve others outside of the Fire Nation, & she ended up going to the Earthbending city. It shows how love can be suffocating but also a guidance to re-evaluate if what you're doing is harming not only yourself, but the one you love

[@petrichorrs]

I really love Azula's character. She's such a complex and tragic character, and very well written.

[@king-fool]

What I like about Mei is that she really demonstrates that love is stronger than fear

[@Eilonwy95]

Mai is an underrated character for sure

[@Nancydrew301]

I definitely agree about where her breaking point is. I used to do a lot of acting growing up and one of my favorite characters to play was Azula. She was also very hard because my thought process for her for most of her time on screen before the betrayal was, “look calm and confident and like everyone is below you. Keep control of your facial features.” However after the betrayal, when I saw her face during the Southern Raiders episode I was like “oh…….oh she crazy. Emotionally free for all. Gotcha”

[@riflya6012]

Azula is basically a full depth representation of how every Asian parent expect to their child, no matter how the condition is

[@tehyonglip9203]

Azula is such a relatable person, and there are many people that are perfectionist. I can only imagine that if one day, their perfect record is challenged, they will break down completely, just like Azula.

[@TheDylPickle]

I always loved Azula and Ozai’s relationship being a foil to Zuko and Ursa’s. Azula as a villain gave the show the build up it needed for the final fight, seeing as Azula is a smaller, less powerful version of her father (and she consistently beat/outsmarted team avatar, even killing avatar Aang himself)

[@davidschaftenaar6530]

Fear is an unreliable way of exerting power over others. It can come undone very easily If: 1. You get in between your victim and the people they love, 2. if someone else comes along whom your victim fears more than you, 3. if your victim grows to hate you enough that they would rather hurt you than stay safe, and lastly, 4. If one day you find yourself in a situation where you are no longer able to make good on your threats. Love is far harder to achieve as a leader, but also much more powerful. Fear may buy you compliance, but love earns you loyalty.

[@maclovescats]

When Azula, Ty Lee, and Mei are posing as the Kyoshi warriors, Azula has Mei and Ty Lee “give themselves away” instead of her because she doesn’t want to appear weak and foolish for talking about their plan so openly. She has to keep up her record of being perfect because she needs the dai lee to see her that way and probably for her ego too.

[@wattsnottaken1]

🔥”I hope you know father blames uncle for the loss at the north pole, and he considers you a miserable failure. Why else would he want you home? other than to lock you away where you can no longer embarrass him!” 🔥

[@iri02802]

I did not realise the importance of Mei defying Azula's wishes not counting the look she gave Azula after the interuption of her date, she does it at least 3 times before she got together with Zuko (the water incident with Appa, the drill and Bozco). Mei is less afraid of Azula as I first thought since before Zuko. I really love all these little details in the show. The fact that we still talk about Avatar to this day shows how well the creators ans voice actors did their job. 😀

[@andiwuzlikeBAM]

I absolutely love the fact that, in the standoff between Mei and Azula, you can see Azula has no intention of just ‘fighting’ with Mei, she was preparing to bend lighting to kill Mei (two fingers pointed rather than a fist) Since she is stoped by Ty Lee before any lightning happens, it took me a couple times to realize this! I love the subtle parts of this show

[@aroace7913]

Yeah, it really hurt her to her core and she could not accept being wrong.

[@olantiaashcroft8932]

One episode Azula electricutes Iroh causing Zuko to immediately go to his uncle. When Katara offered to help he told them to get away from them. He cared more about his Uncle than capturing the Avatar.

[@emmetthowell899]

I think azula’s entire life has just been sad. Ever since she was a child the guardian who praised her most was cruel and calculating, a child will search for love and approval and what response they get shapes their idea of love and closeness. Ozai didn’t smile just because Azula was good at firebending, but because he was using her to get the approval of his own father (no matter how shallow). Azula desperately wants personal connection, especially in how we see her interact with zuko (when not trying to kill each other), but has no idea how to form a genuine connection because she has been taught to control others. But in a situation she can’t control and manipulate, like the party and wanting the genuine interest of a boy, she is uncomfortable because it’s such a foreign thing and because of that she pushes back, it’s not that she can’t get what she wants in this situation but it’s everyone else and them not being good enough. She is a broken girl perfectly molded to be a pawn for her abusive father and has no way to have a genuine relationship with people, if it wasn’t for ozai she might’ve ended up like zuko pre-ursa leaving but more level headed. She might’ve even formed a more genuine and closer friendship with Mai and tai-li. It’s just sad that she ended up being completely broken

[@alizethetallwoman]

I dont think Mai was ever afraid of Azula, even as a child i believed this. I think she just didnt want to hear her mouth && im not saying this because of her calm persona. I think Mai was what Azula feared, a person that obeys by choice.

[@yg1307]

In the comic about suki in the boiling rock, we see that she in fact denies relying on sokka from what i remember.

[@aidanderson53X]

You actually see azula in the flashback scene of zuko getting burned in season 1 the storm. You see iroh turn away because he can't bear to watch and azula looks on with glee (as well as Zhao).

[@creepgpoop]

Even after years Avatar is remaining to be the best kids series of all time