Zuko Alone is a MASTERPIECE in Storytelling - Avatar the Last Airbender

[@Koroto]

📌1:06 Correction: I can't read my own script and called Pakku Bato for some reason. 😭

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

"Liar! I've heard of you. You're not a prince. You're an outcast! His own father burned and disowned him!" *- Villager*

[@PressAtoDefendEarth]

Okay fine, I'll watch the entire series for the 90th time, you've convinced me.

[@Koroto]

🗿🗿

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

- Book 1: Zuko chased honor - Book 2: Zuko questioned honor - Book 3: Zuko found his own honor

[@alihijazi4451]

It was in his pocket the whole time!!

[@jjkay555]

Zuko’s character arc was genuinely my favorite right along with the break down of Azula. It’s amazing, truly reminds me of that one old tale of two sons who grew up with an alcoholic father - one son became a successful business owner with kids and grandkids and the other became an alcoholic and when asked why both sons answer “I watched my father”

[@hufflepuffmcgonagallmeow5378]

I think another point towards what Zuko really sees as important, when he gives his full name and title, he calls himself the son of Ursa first. That was like the first time we as the audience got her name, and her position seemed to be one where it would likely mean nothing to the small Earth Kingdom village in the middle of no where. And yet when Zuko finally told them who he is, he announced his mother's name before his father, the name they did recognize

[@christianleeperrr7641]

Growing up is realizing Jin clearly understood Zuko was a firebender

[@lainiwakura1776]

But did she? I saw the series as an adult and the most I got is "she is suspicious about Zuko."

[@mdog9677]

As a comment on Iroh maturing after Lu-ten's death, I think what helped really push Iroh to fully change himself was seeing zuko burned during the Ag-ni-kai. We know from zuko's memories of ember Island that most if the pleasant memories are with Iroh and Lu-ten, signifying that Iroh has already been a borderline parental figure to zuko even before the events of the show, and having just lost his son and father in the last 3 years, only to watch the nephew he views as a son be brutally burned in front of a whole crowd while he screams in pain... I think that was the breaking point for Iroh.

[@kamantariq2513]

Does that mean Iroh "killed" the last dragon after his son's death? Or before, when he was warmongering?

[@DaysDX]

I mean he did "choose" to join Zuko in exile

[@lainiwakura1776]

@@kamantariq2513 After

[@lainiwakura1776]

No, it was Lu-Ten's death.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

I hope Zuko visited that same village after the war ended.

[@3dis_was_taken]

20 comments 10 of which are from you. Apparently, you are the SPAMMYtheHedgehog 😁

[@elzar5987]

A wise man once said "Try SPAMMYthehudgehog, there's a million SPAMMYthehedgehog's"

[@dustingrimmmagic1067]

⁠gotta post fast!

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

I wouldn't be surprised if Ozai convinced Lu Ten to fight on the front lines. Knowing that the front lines held the greatest casualties.

[@iantaakalla8180]

That is very King David of Ozai, to send a person to death by putting them in the frontlines of the war.

[@RiseeRee]

Yeah but Ozai wasn’t the Firelord when Lu Ten was serving in the army. His own father was his commander who would have told him where to be.

[@ZTheSloth]

I was secretly hoping for the 'Made in the Earth Kingdom' joke when he brought up the inscription on the knife from Iroh.

[@BobPantsSpongeSquare97]

Theres a scene in Game of Thrones where Janos Slynt mocks Jon Snow for "talking like a wildling" and Jon reples with "Aye I talk like a wildling! I ate with the wildings. I climbed the wall with the Wildlings! I lay with a wildling girl!" And that always reminded me of Zuko especially with the episode Zuko Alone with the flashbacks of his upbringing such as when Azula teases him about finding an Earth Kingdom family to adopt him. Like Zuko went from this place of privilege and looked down upon people outside the Fire Nation but in Book 2 he sees first hand the plights that they go through because of the ongoing war and how they're human just like him. Zuko went hungry with Earth Kingdom commoners, lived as a refugee amongst them, road passenger ships with them, worked a 9-5 job with them, went on a date with an Earth Kingdom girl, etc. And all of this all comes back to when he returns home and refuses his father's planned genocide of these people

[@ColonialSun-mg6tq]

We all know Aang is the main character but I would argue that the character we follow the most is zuko

[@ZakanaHachihaCBC]

Zuko’s story told through Aang’s adventure.

[@VenomSick66]

It's called a deuteragonist and it's just like Sasuke from Naruto. Makes the shows way more interesting.

[@firecrakcer001]

You really had to be there when this epsiode came out. We didn't know where Zuko was going. He had that season finale turn and then you were just left thinking, "where is he going?" Then he gets this episode. It was the start to change. It was a major look into who he actually was. Not the dishonored prince looking for the avatar, but a lost kid trying to figure out his life.

[@exequielgaleano9947]

I really like the "Lee" interpretations. Especially since, when it comes about simbols and meanings, more that one can be true and layered on one another. This certainly feels like that. Many, many thanks for all your amazing work!!! 😁

[@deandredukes95]

Human identity is the most fragile thing that we have, and it's often only found in moments of truth.

[@yurkdawg]

That's an interesting take...For a while I always read it as him misunderstanding his mom's plea for "never forget who you are." I thought she meant for him to be his kind caring self and not try to be like his sister or father. But instead he took it too literally (and got burned for it.) However, you make a good point that this interpretation also ignores one side of his dual nature. Even if it is his "better" side it is still not dealing with his whole self. Btw nice job flipping the script: most people, including myself, have noticed that Attack on Titan is packed with characters that are walking contradictions. But ATLA contains the most explicit (yet also perfectly written) example of this with Zuko.

[@Koroto]

Perhaps you've noticed a trend with my favorite stories (and content I make around them) 😄 I LOVE messy stories with messy people whose minds and morals are often contradictory because I think that's what makes it a true exploration of the "human experience". Stories with a clear message and core philosophy are excellent, but man do I love a Zuko story (or AoT or A Song of Ice and Fire or TWD 😅)

[@yurkdawg]

@ Oh absolutely! Perhaps this idea isn't novel partly due to your influence (I am a Patreon member that eagarly watches everything you put out the day you release it.) But the other day I was rewatching AOT (lol again 😉) and contemplating why I love that and ATLA etc more than all the other stories I have been exposed to. (Although I keep coming back to these favorites, I still try to spend the majority of my free time absorbing new material.) I settled on the idea, not exactly on "messiness," but that while a good story has a compelling theme, a *great* story has two simultaneous, yet at first seemingly opposing/contradictory themes. But in their resolution, those apparently paradoxical ideas together illuminate the really profound truths....just like Zuko in this episode. ☯️😈😇 (BTW Thanks for responding! You've done it before, and each time it puts me in a great mood for the entire day. Not many YT'ers with as many subscribers (and amount of excellent content!) takes the time and effort. It's definitely appreciated...)

[@Zazasama]

Thank you for these videos koroto I’ve come to understand avatar a lot better because of you thank you

[@johnsnake686]

Can't wait to watch! Great channel man!

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Fun fact: When Zuko saw the couple, Than and Ying in the middle of nowhere... he planned on robbing them for food. But realized that Ying was pregnant and Zuko would move on. Also, Zuko would unknowingly sit next to Than and Ying on the subway in Ba Sing Se.

[@موسى_7]

It's not a subway, because it's elevated rather than underground. It's an elevated metropolitan railway, or metro for short.

[@JulianimeIsAmazing]

Did he really use Swords to augment his Firebending? Is it not the other way around? I saw it as him utilizing his Firebending to augment his Swordsmanship. Like, the Swords didn't make his Fire any hotter or stronger or more precise or dangerous, but the Fire did exactly that for his Swords, he increased his range, destructive force, precision, and expanded his available striking and slashing options.

[@cullenlatham2366]

the counter argument is "augmenting accuracy". He channeled the fire bending through his swords, and the damage inflicted after that point came from the fire bending, not the sword play. If fire was the damage source, what was the point in continuing to use his blades? If he was augmenting his swordsmanship, i would more attribute that to the trope of a fire-enchanted blade. At that point, it is still sword combat, but with added fire damage. It is a debate of what defines the augment; technique (swordsmanship) or method of attack (firebending)?

[@cullenlatham2366]

zuko's scar being a closely guarded secret "plot hole"? maybe, but also not without potential explanations. First of all, timeline. The secret was told to his crew in book 1, now here we are in book 2. If his crew was loose-lipped, royal family drama is something that would spread as gossip quickly. Second, banished. Season 1 zuko has been away from home for a while, and his crew had to stick around to man the ship, effectively making them banished by association. In which case, the knowledge the crew has of their homeland is going to be comparatively limited. Third, PR. If the banishment was intended to be permanent, hence why he was sent on an "impossible" errand, it is possible that a PR move was made to make the banishment more publicly acceptable. Fourth, enemy nation. News travels differently in a nation of propaganda and those who are at war with them. If the fire nation is known for its propaganda and the war has made that fact known to other nations, those other nations are not going to buy the propaganda at face value and can very easily see through the lie. Sociopolitical environments are complicated. Take any combination of the former 4 points and mix it with some other minutia i havent directly pointed out, and it isnt hard to believe that the rest of the world knows the story more than they crew of zuko's ship in season 1. Entire world knows?Warring nations know, but fire nation public do not? The entire world knows, but zuko's season 1 crew does not by nature of isolation? Closely guarded secret that makes the line an oopsie? Any of them are valid options, it is just a question of how much faith you have in the writers, and which one in particular you choose to believe.

[@Koroto]

Yeah, it was just a throwaway joke. Let's be real, plot hole or no plot hole, it changes literally nothing and, like you said, there are dozens of ways to explain it away 😅 Only thing to add - pretty sure Zuko's crew all die soon after learning of the story. They're overtaken by Zhao and (more than likely) get wiped out by the koizilla.

[@cullenlatham2366]

@@Koroto sure, but died soon enough to not have a chance to write home about the story they just heard? It is only banishment through association, so we cant say for sure if communication is completely off the table. yes, it is a minor point/throw away joke, but that is the exact reason it is so fun to nitpick. XD

[@federicosimkus7979]

I don't remember which video it was but thank you for recommending Cain's Offering i've been binging all their songs and it's so peak 😭good taste

[@ny2354]

Koroto. I LOVE your videos. They are amazing and i loveeee these overanalysing videos. They are 100% my taste

[@jeremyscungio16]

The first couple episodes' "nick humor" are probably the biggest gripe for anyone starting the show

[@anubion42]

It is, but at the same time I find it very necessary for the show. S1 is by far the worst of the series (and it’s still amazing) But it is way more goofy especially at the start, but just like it was said in this video, we went from “the boy in the iceberg” to “avatar aang” S1 *IS* “nick humour” levels of goofy, because aang is just a kid trying to hide from his responsibilities by riding the elephant koi, or penguin sledding, or hanging out with boomie. S1 aang is just a kid, and we watch him grow, part of why I love S1. Aang and Sokkas character arc would just be incomplete if they didn’t have those flaws in S1. Aang needs to be that childish to grow into the character we see by S2 and 3.

[@kliona9670]

15:15 I think there is a possible explaination that couldn't be said in well a child cartoon I think soldiers and people around just thought that zuko was a "war child"

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Ursa learned that Ozai was gonna kill Zuko, because he overhead Azula.

[@Freshcachapa]

ok you win, I'm gonna see the entire series again for the 20th time

[@heknowswherefranceis4838]

Really late to this, but I wanted to give my reasoning for why Zuko's eyes don't give him away (15:14). Like you said before, this war has been going on for 100 years, and because of that, there are probably a whole sect of kids that have parents from two different nations. Obviously the first thing you think of is that there had to be some Fire Nation soldiers that uh.... forced themselves on the women in the random Earth Kingdom village they took over, and then you get an Earth Kingdom kid with Fire Nation eyes. I think most people who saw Zuko probably assumed that that's what happened, and that maybe his mother died at some point, leaving him orphaned and demonized for his eye color. There's an entire fandom theory about this kinda thing with Ty Lee. She has much greyer eyes than the average Fire Nation citizen, so people speculate that somewhere along her lineage she has air bender descendants. This also explains how acrobatic she is, there's some airbender in her.

[@jordiedmond5744]

Zuko just hates himself because he is known as the banished prince, he always wanted to flee away from the Fire Nation and wanted to be accepted and loved by others like his mother did but he can't since he is the next succor of his father. Thats why he was sad and lost in book 3 but he has no choice to capture the Avatar in book 1 and to betray his uncle in book 2 because he will be and always be a failure in the eyes of all the Fire Lords that were before him, thats a legacy that he will never escape from and thats why Zuko will always remain alone *Best written character arc of all time periode ...

[@goofywill90]

For me the most important part of book 2 was bitter work. But book 2 was a banger.

[@gradymarshall9747]

A beautiful analysis of male dichotomy in maturity. Embracing Jung’s shadow with Iroh and his mother’s love, combining the halves into an integrated psyche.

[@Ericpmueller]

lol when watching this an ad came up during the “who are you mad at Zucko” part and all I could here was MUFASA hahahahaha

[@Az00069]

We learn Zuko only appears to be a bad guy when looking through the perspective of the Avatar. It isn't until later in the series when Zuko decides to change his priorities for the greater good of all that it becomes even more clear. As someone that was booted out of the house and black sheeped from the family right at 18 and was told it's time to figure things out on my own as I was being offered a ride to the homeless shelter... Meanwhile my sister remained the golden child receiving patience, care, and acceptance that was not offered to me... The character arcs behind Zuko & Uncle Iroh are by far my favorite in the series, both resonating with me ever so deeply. Avatar the last Airbender still holds up as one of my favorite shows of all time .

[@moshpitsandbongrips6998]

You have to remember most people hadn’t met foreigners because of the war. All they could recognize is that he “wasn’t from around there” as the little kid says in the episode. He has no reason to know that fire nation people had amber eyes

[@sirBrouwer]

The only other aimed at children series that also used this was Samurai Jack. there are many episodes that is almost with out any dialog but just showing the environment and let that speak for you. Again that was aimed at children.

[@s0nnasauras630]

Maybe thats why i can understand sedulity so well

[@موسى_7]

The 2000s was just something else in the history of animation. Justice League, Ben 10 and Ben 10 Alien Force, Samurai Jack, Avatar TLA

[@jamesgroccia644]

"My name is Zuko. 1- *Son of Ursa* 2- (Son of) Fire Lord Ozai 3 - Prince of the Fire Nation, 4 - (and) Heir to the Throne." Zuko has figured out the "who are you" (Ursa's son before Ozai's). But only later on in Book 3 does Zuko figure out the "what do you want".

[@_stephthecreator]

For the LONGEST I thought Zuko was younger

[@Koroto]

The "My father said she was born lucky. He said I was lucky to be born..." quote is what always trips me up. I *know* Zuko is supposed the oldest, but Azula being mentioned first always messes with my brain and I accidentally say she's the older sibling 😅

[@jackster10101]

When I saw ur avatar, I remembered u and was surprised to see ur face, lol

[@bigbru4644]

Just in time for break brother

[@Koroto]

Hope you enjoy! 🙇‍♂️

[@solalabell9674]

Nobody can accuse spammythehedgehof of not living up to his name

[@dimelo58]

He just blew some fire over their heads he didn’t really hurt the water benders .

[@LuisSierra42]

Was the very first episode I ever watched and was instantly hooked

[@jackcarraway4707]

Zuko is a combination of Sandor Clegane, Jaime Lannister and Theon Greyjoy.

[@georgewilliam11]

Not a bad idea but I agree with Overanalyzing Avatar in that when Zuko remembered his mother telling him not to forget who he was, he misunderstood that

[@gabriellez613]

Good breakdown

[@ralphramier]

Easily the best character in the series

[@andrewbraddock5101]

My life ended up being zukos arc. Im in book 3. Moving into legend of korra territory.

[@tarafrench7826]

I’m so early and so happy my lunch break is rn

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

How many Lee's are there in Avatar?

[@trinstonmichaels7062]

Darn why most this show raises the bar so high that no show could never reach it.

[@DARKTROOP14]

I think the Lee thing is a stretch lol, it does seem like oh yeah Lee cause there’s a bunch of them, and I think that’s what it is

[@ThomasSH]

Look! Over there! I think it's your honor!

[@nointeraction-today]

I love when people overanalyze but it makes sense 😂

[@lordtains]

I would say that the first few episodes are not as good; it really picks up for me after the storm; then the tone matures a lot. The first episodes are a bit too childish for many people.

[@jacobhayes7959]

Bro, i can't handle the tea foot! Haha!

[@DomyTheMad420]

8:45 big doubt. i'll admit that it somewhat looks the same but NO way

[@Koroto]

The art book literally confirms it, it's on screen like 10 seconds later 😅

[@sonorangaming449]

They didnt need to change the visuals of the LA, they just needed to change everything else about it.

[@loganmiller2629]

I got an ad every 60 seconds I’m this video…

[@Koroto]

You're not the only one getting spammed, something really weird is going on. Trying to look into it

[@andrewdurfee3896]

All along Zuko was trying to pursue a noble thing. That being honor. This of course would turn him on his father himself being a dishonorable man. This conflict would have eventually happened one way or another.

[@marvinandremutesasira5944]

Indeed the best episode. What a way to subvert our view on a person we have loved to hate.

[@designatedben4306]

5:30 idk I thought u were gonna say Zuko again

[@mrstar3218]

I need to watch Avatar so I can actually understand this.

[@amarelezovic1772]

You wont regret it

[@mo7m2.d]

Am I the only one who cried a lot ? , can you talk about episode Korra alone ?

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

The villagers wasn't just mad that Zuko was from the Fire Nation... but they were mad that Zuko didn't tell them.

[@startoast4787]

it's so peak

[@ImTMZ]

If I don't see an unique opinion. I dislike. If I do, I'll delete comment.

[@boyanpetrov9975]

Title has a mistake??? It says best episode of book 2??? It is the best episode of the entire series

[@xXKingMwtwoXx]

Bro content is good but there are ads literally every 2 minutes. Not sure if you have control over this but it makes it hard to follow the video

[@Koroto]

You're not the only one getting spammed, something really weird is going on. Trying to look into it

[@anthonymort5202]

It's not magic it's bending

[@НикитаБрезович]

there's video in your add...

[@Koroto]

You're not the only one getting spammed, something really weird is going on. Trying to look into it

[@okuyasuniijimura]

HELLL YEEAAAAAAAASH BAAAYYYYYBEEEYYYYY

[@IsaiahWayne2104]

Both Zuko and Azula had parental issues. - Zuko was favored by Ursa - Azula was favored by Ozai

[@thomasjefferson1236]

1:06 mistaking Paku for Bato makes you lose all credibility. I didn't watch the rest of the video

[@Koroto]

HOW ARE YOU THE FIRST ONE TO MENTION THAT, WHAT 😭😭😭😭 No idea why I said Bato, my script literally says Pakku. I deserve the L 🙇‍♂️

[@thomasjefferson1236]

@Koroto 😭😭😭

[@aliciastokes9897]

Could you do a video on mob psycho 100, a show that I believe is on the same level avatar the last Airbender or maybe even surpass it

[@Vauneaa]

im sorry but half ur videos are unwatchable, u make everything so cheesy, and say things that just straight up got pulled out ur ass, might aswell say "Zuko is a demon in a world of angels... he and his power is no different than a gods"

[@jenylass1521]

Okay, hypocrite as if you don't see your life this way.