Villain Therapy - ZUKO from Avatar: The Last Airbender
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ธ.ค. 2023
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How do you restore your honor? How do you get rid of shame and grow into humility?
Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright are answering the call of the commenters by doing a Villain Therapy for Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender! They talk about Zuko’s transformation from unlikeable kid to someone who makes your heart ache, as we learn more about his backstory and follow his tumultuous journey. Jonathan dives into Zuko’s trauma, both the major and micro traumas that shape his character. Alan talks about why this show may have one of the best intergenerational stories he’s ever seen.
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Written by: Megan Seawright, Jonathan Decker, and Alan Seawright
Produced by: Jonathan Decker, Megan Seawright, Alan Seawright, and Corinne Demyanovich
Edited by: David Sant
Director of Photography: Bradley Olsen
English Transcription by: Anna Preis
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Zuzu
You guys should do Nimona
Pretty please, Alan and Jonathan, I need to know your thoughts on this. While I love Zuko and respect him immensely for making it through to the other side, Azula is still my favourite character and it pains me how people are so quick to write her off and claim she deserved all she got. I have strong feelings about this.
Zuko was banished for having more honour than anyone else in the war council, but when Ozai sent him on the fool's errand to capture the Avatar, he unknowingly gave zuko his freedom, but he was so wrapped up in his need to restore his honour (read regain his father's favour) that he couldn't see the true freedom he was given. Azula never had that luxury. Ozai was a vindictive, malignant beast, who was Azula meant to turn to? The fire sages, or other Fire Nation royals would scarcely recognise the sheer weight of Ozai's expectations that Azula had to shoulder on her own.
Without Zuko to act as a counterpoint to her talent and perfection, she was unable to continue her role as the better child. Ozai's banishment of Zuko is the one ruling Azula actively challenged, fighting to bring him back to Ozai's good graces, as an act of self preservation. Consider how fast Ozai cast Azula àside, tossing her the title of Firelord, only to completely undermine the significance that title holds by forging himself into a literal figurehead as the Phoenix King, untouchable and unconcerned with anything or one who doesn't serve his purpose.
Azula deserved better. She deserved to be seen, to have found redemption like Zuko did, but she never had her own Iroh. As much as I love Iroh, he really messed up when he wrote Azula off like that. Obviously, he spoke from a place of pain, only days after she attacked him, but if their personalities and situations were swapped, I'd like to hope that Iroh would have found it in his heart to see how broken Azula was from the poison Ozai whispered in her ear and seen to it to be there for her when she needed it.
Azula deserved better. She always will. She is beautiful and flawed and was cursed with a natural affinity with firebending. If she wasn't talented, there'd be no need for her to strive for perfection, Ursa could've cut through the shadow Ozai cast over her and helped her before he twisted her to his will. Azula wasn't Ozai's daughter. She was a tool and nothing more. Azula deserved better. She always will.
You guys should do Edward sissor hand
Please please PLEASE do Gravity Falls next, both about Dipper and Mabel and Stan and Ford!
I love the scenes where Zuko visits Iroh in prison. Iroh is imprisoned, but the angles make it look like Zuko is behind bars. Ach... ✨cinema. ✨
Yes! And I was surprised that Alan never mentioned that or anything. Or maybe that’s in the “director’s cut” version.
@@zarris2635 Or an Iroh episode!?
@@zarris2635 I was waiting for Alan to mention it, and it didn't happen, so I went to the comments and wrote about it. Hah.😅
Yes, we call this Screenplay.
The angles of the shots make it so Iroh is _never_ behind one of the bars, because he isn't. We find out later he coulda broke out at any time, but he chose to stay because he knew Zuko would visit him.
Oh God I want an Iroh episode so bad. That man was the uncle/father figure we all needed.
This needs to be the next video
real!!!!
OMG YES
Yes please!!!
prepare your tissue for Leaves From The Vine
this show is over 10 years old and Zuko still has one of, if not, THEE best redemption arc in any story i’ve seen
One name: arthur morgan
"Over 10 years old" in that it's turning 20 in about a year :p
@@Loweene_AncalimonSTOP
@@Loweene_Ancalimon I didn't even realize that before I read your comment. I still somehow live in 2010's mentally although my brain knows to write the year 2024 when asked :D
@@codyayo6158 What does it feel like being wrong?
A lot of people missed the early hints of who Zuko really is. In one of the first episodes he promises to leave the watertribe alone if Aang comes with him. Aang does and they leave. Ozai or Azula wouldn't have kept their word.
The reason Zuko got the scar was because he spoke up against it when they were planning to use young soldiers as cannon futter.
So in his heart he was always good and caring. He was punished for it every time.
Dang !
Good point !
Yes, that's the beautiful thing about zuko, he was always honorable, even with zao who didn't deserve his compassion in the slightest.
@@ZhizhombiaClaneveryone deserves compassion
@@btonyh5878 Yes, but there is a time and a place to fight and a time and a place to show compassion
@@mr.switchblade604 Zuko both fought and showed compassion
One of my absolute favorite Zuko moments is his apology to Iroh. Not just the fact that he aplogizes (which he absolutely needed to), but the fact that he's so confused by Iroh's forgiveness. It's not something that he's accustomed to, but it's something he absolutely earned.
That scene always makes me tear bend
I usually need to pause the episode at that moment because of how much that makes me cry
@@cindydorantes10I'm kinda teary just reading and thinking about it. With the hug and all.
So true. Beautifully said!
That scene never fails to make me water bend from my eyes
THE SCREAM THAT CAME OUT WHEN I SAW THE NOTIFICATION
Mine too
Same!!!
I said "YOU WHAT??"
Same! Lol
I imagine it like a peacock call!
I feel like the scene with the farm girl is more significant than we would initially think. “The Fire Nation has hurt you. But you’re not alone. They’ve hurt me, too.” I think it’s the first time someone outside the Fire Nation connected with him through the pain he’s been through, giving him physical proof. His burn doesn’t mark him as the banished and cursed prince but as an enemy of the State.
This was such an emotional episode. Thanks, guys. I’m tearbending.
But the way that episode ends is really upsetting.
@@janetlafler1543Yeah, it is unfortunate. But, I like to think, sometime after the war, Zuko visits her personally. To have tea , and apologize. Maybe she’d forgive him or not, but the fact he’d considered visiting would show he does care.
@@garrettviewegh9028 Yes, I think that's what he ought to do and what we can hope he does. But I still find it upsetting.
@@janetlafler1543 it is upsetting but I think that is such an important part to show of a real transformation in someone. It’s not always one or two huge events that shame someone into changing, but sometimes we need those seemingly small or quiet moments to even begin to consider we were wrong. We’re not always ready to accept it and change, but it becomes a piece of our metamorphosis that we don’t see until it’s happened. Still upsetting but also very honest to life.
Wasn't the "farm girl" actually a town girl? In Ba Sing Se? Or am I thinking of a different character.
One of the best scenes of the show was actually where Zuko came back to his father and told him he was going to join the Avatar. I’ve never seen such a good example of calling out an abuser and saying definitively that what they did was cruel and wrong. He also showed his growth and understanding of the propaganda of the fire nation. Such a perfect scene. The beach therapy is a great Azula moment too. It's a kind of interaction with Zuko she never has. She smiles at the beginning, but she even suggests he's mad at her. She doesn't push him down deeper as she usually does. Her friends being around doesn't change much, that's exactly why they turned on her.
One scene that definitely stuck with me was in the last season, when he brewed and was serving tea to Sokka, Aang, and Katara. That one scene, of Zuko being in a position of servitude to others, would have been UNTHINKABLE just seasons prior. That was one heck of an understated scene to show the changes within him. There are so many great details about Zuko's character development just in the show's background. For instance, after meeting with the Sun Warriors, Zuko no longer grunts when he firebends. Because he's not fueling it with anger. And when talking to Iroh in the prison, we always see Zuko through the bars and never Iroh because it's Zuko who is really trapped and imprisoned
This show. Wow. I've been watching videos for years and never noticed those things besides the bars thing. I knew that one.
Great analysis, dude, I didn't think about it
"What a great lie that was." is one of my favorite lines in the show.
@@mintbrownieangelfish-6114 the cars one was the one I never got 😭 this is truly a show that just keeps on giving
That's such a good point! I didn't think about that, but you're right, Zuko never would have put himself in a position of servitude in season 1. And I love that the last scene in the whole show has him serving tea to everyone again!
How AMAZING is it that CT has gone from going “we can’t do ATLA or any TV shows because they’re too long” to a half-hour villain therapy on Zuko, one of the best arcs in TV history?!!
I'm so glad they caved hahahaha 🤩
Yup, time to unleash the deluge of TV show requests.
I have to say for me the best redemption arc ever is definitely between Zuko and Tommy Oliver
@@AmurTiger I wonder how they would handle Catra from She-ra 2018 :P
I totally understand why they generally won't do TV shows (too much content to get through for one video, or at most a handful of videos), but I love it when they make exceptions for great TV shows.
What I love most about the scene at 25:04, is that despite the fact that Iroh is the one in the cell, it’s Zuko that is shown behind bars. In every shot of this scene, Iroh is shown whole, but there are always the cell bars in front of Zuko’s image. Iroh may be in the cell, but it’s Zuko who is locked away. It is such a visual masterpiece.
I didn’t even think about that film and animation is so cool to me
This subtle thing is heavily used in the movie Parasite. Great directing in that movie.
Amazing
I never thought about it but you're SO right!
There's so many small details in this show and I see something new every time I rewatch it.
There’s a really subtle lore detail in Zuko’s burning. You might notice that there really aren’t any other burned firebenders, to the point where it helps him hide in the Earth Kingdom because no one thinks it’s POSSIBLE for a firebender to be burned. And that’s generally true. For a firebender to be burned, they have to let their guard down completely.
Zuko LET that happen. It’s not just that his father humiliated and scarred him in front of a crowd. Zuko thought he deserved it.
I think it was less he felt he deserved it and more he didn't expect it from his own father.
@@katarinahall5204 probably a bit of both
the creators have said that agni kai's end when someone is burned, so the intention was always there (not that we knew from watching the show but). ozai burned him on his face to permanently mark him for his shame, his loss, his weakness. and have him be reminded of it forever. ozai may be the strongest firebender ever but hell will be HOT for him 😤😤
@@kiwivvvlol not the strongest fire bender anymore. I’d argue he wasn’t hot shit until the comet too. All he does it sit on his thrown all day so I bet a lot of fire benders were probably way stronger.
One of the contrasts I always loved about Zuko and Azula is how their scapegoat/golden child dynamic plays out. So often, in abusive households where one child is rewarded and one punished, the golden child appears to outsiders to be normal and well adjusted, and the scapegoat tends to have a lot of issues. However, this hides a lot of the insecurities the golden child has, and then can come spilling out REALLY FAST when the status quo changes. A lot of the time, the scapegoat child has to work to figure out how to have value in themselves, because they aren't going to get it elsewhere. Whereas the golden child has not have much experience with adversity at all, so when it comes and the parents who promote this are unable to enforce the dynamic, or change their mind, or the scapegoat leaves, or whatever, they find they don't have anything to really fall back on. The line that Azula says to her father when he is going to leave her behind, "you can't treat me like Zuko!", is so telling. Especially the rage and fear in her voice at that moment. She is both mad at the indignity of losing her status, AND scared that she might get treated how Zuko gets treated, which would be an awful life.
Former golden child here, and yeah your comment is SPOT ON. I actually separated myself from my abusive family, and I wrote a poem about being the golden child, what it actually feels like...and yeah, you're 100% spot on.
That’s a very good description.
Ozai reading this right now: “So I need to introduce her to adversity?”
Honestly, I think banishing Zuko with Iroh was literally the best thing Ozai could have done for him. Ozai's influence was so bad, it's no *wonder* Azula goes insane at the end! But Zuko spent those three years with Iroh's wisdom, and though he didn't want to accept it for most of that time, it still got to percolate in his brain and plant the seeds for change. Azula never got that chance, which is, I think, one of the greatest tragedies in any story I've consumed (either in books or on TV).
In the end though, it was all a trap made elaborately by Ozai, the abuser, from the moment they were born into such an abusive family household.
To break the cycle is to be free of their chains, Azula should’ve ended up soul searching and just forget she ever had her father’s love either because in the end, he was using her as well as Zuko from the start to his own gains. He had no love, because love and hate wasn’t even built into their family, only shame and learned helplessness.
To be free, you have to let it all go.
a detail I love about Zuko's integration in the Gaang is that different people start to trust him at different rates because of their history. Toph is the first to trust him, because she wasn't there when he was hunting Aang and she had that conversation with Iroh. Katara takes the longest to trust him, because she put her trust in him before anyone else and he betrayed that trust.
And that episode when she finally learns to trust him?! Bruh...
Not only that, but Toph can feel his intentions through the earth, and he checks out.
Katara starts off as the most trusting person in the show. Trusting to a fault rather. But after Zuko’s betrayal of her trust, she becomes the most suspicious and cautious.
What’s crazy is that Zuko goes as far as to reward Katara just for trusting him.
And I love that Aang, even though he was the Avatar and by all rights, could have just put his foot down and said "we're doing this." let everyone speak their piece before deciding what to do. It shows amazing leadership qualities and skills AT FCKING TWELVE. I love that Aang was among the most willing to work with Zuko; the boy is just so forgiving honestly. One of my favorite moments is after they flee the Western Air Temple Zuko goes "if you really want it to feel like old times I could ahh....chase you around the campfire and try and capture you.". To me, it feels like Aang kinda gave that opening by mentioning it felt like old times in the first place, which was nice.
“All hail Fire Lord Zuko” is probably one of the most cathartic lines ever written 😭
To me, the finish of Zuko's arc is the meeting they have at the White Lotus camp to go over the plan for Sozin's Comet.
In that moment it has all come full circle. He had made amends with all of his former enemies, now surrounded by them as friends, finally met back up with his uncle who had relieved of his guilt, and then humbly accepted his supporting role in the future of the world. He didn't want the glory, he wanted to do what's right. And in that moment Iroh summarizes his journey and bestows upon him the grandest pathway of all: Becoming the new Fire Lord.
Heck, he'd grown so much that he didn't take an ego hit when Iroh said he couldn't beat Azula alone. Truly the greatest redemption arc ever.
Everytime I hear that line I cheer and tear up a bit. In the beginning he thought the throne was his destiny but then it became his purpose.
He was deserving and able to bring life and change to a lineage that meant death.
Seeing Zuko become the Fire Lord was basically my Steve Rogers growing old moment
@@WhelmedButReady i like how you said it.
"Now come the days of the King,and may they be blessed."
"This day does not belong to one man,but to all."
28:16 "Are you bad at being good? Or are you bad at being somebody else's definition of good" is such a good way to look at something when you think your not good enough. I love that
“Ego is the counterfeit to confidence.”
I paused and replayed that a couple times. Insightful words.
13:51
13:59 for the exact quote
Something especially cruel is that as no one had seen the avatar for 98+ years and there was no reason to believe it was possible for Zuko to ever find him. He gave him an impossible task so that he could never come home, and yet Zuko still hadn't given up on it, and after 3 years his efforts and tenacity were finally rewarded with the reappearance of the Avatar, reinforcing the sentiment that if he just keeps fighting things he will make it in the end. He can't recognize how cruelly he's been treated.
Dang. I watched the OG series on Nickelodeon and the thought that his father was trying to get rid of him forever never occurred to me.
@@netherworldeTo remember that the story goes “my grandfather spent the rest of his life trying to find the avatar, just to never see him”. Zukos father absolutely knew it was impossible, as his father before him failed
Yeah, since ATLA came out when I was in high school, I got this vein of thought immediately. I didn’t feel bad because he was a teenager so his journey hadn't gone for very long yet. I still had the same reaction as everyone else until Iroh spilled the beans to the crew.
Iroh being a general in the fire nation army carving his way through the earth kingdom was the biggest surprise to me. Yes, he was born into the idealology but the man we always see didn't match the destruction we understood was going on during that time (and was continuing in the show.) Sparing the last of the dragons was spot on.
Like Aang, he could have been in the dark about a majority of the war but once you become a general, you have to know and feel the weight of all the lives not only on the opposition but also fighting for you.
Not necessarily. No one at the time of the Air Nation attack knew whether or not the avatar of the time (AIR nation avatar) was alive. Zuko’s mission was possible, though incredibly difficult. Remember, Zuko was searching the southern water lands for the avatar. Why there? Possibly under the reasonable assumption that the old avatar was dead, meaning the next reincarnation would come from the water tribes. But which tribe? Also, there was the impression amongst many even outside the fire nation that the avatar went into hiding. He could’ve been anywhere. How do you narrow down refuge spots? By doing exactly what the fire nation did: laying siege to every other nation, locking down exits and routes of travel, and eventually annihilating pockets of resistance.
Zukos mission was more than possible, actually I’d change it up and say it was very likely. The ONLY reason it was fruitless for many years was because Aang was frozen and inactive. Unless an avatar truly was a expert hiding coward, it was only a matter of time before intel about someone of amazing skill got the fire nation attention.
A villain Therapy for Azula would be fantastic. A look into what it does to someone who is able to achieve the conditional love of an abusive parent and how is changes you. I grew up as the Azula in the family dynamic, the perfect one, and it is such a crazy experience trying to meet those expectations when you are aware of what will happen to you the moment that you fall short (my brother was the Zuko).
Whoa. This was an interesting comment to read. I was definitely the Azula while my brother was the Zuko in my family (one of the reasons he loves the show so much and wanted me to watch it). I didn't have a big breakdown like Azula, but my role was the same. That's why it bothers me when people say that she's just evil and cunning and has no redemptive value. Like, she's 14 and being put in a position to be her father's general essential because the only way he will "love" her is if she's as bloodthirsty as him. Again, she's 14- living with an abusive parent. She's not "just evil"
I really would like to know what type of mania was going on when she lost it at the end. I need a professional opinion!!
She's crazy and she needs to go down.
Hello Future Me is a youtube channel who has done a lot of Avatar stuff, and if you're intrested, they have also made a video about the psychology of Azula
th-cam.com/video/R4544ZUr_gA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=QASc42Ooi74k7jYY
Same.
"Having trauma doesn't make you a villain. YOUR CHOICES will make you a villain" so true.
"Everyone's behavior makes sense to them... when you judge them, they close up."
So much wisdom. Everyone in the world needs to understand this. From family's to lovers to workplaces to politics.
In addition to having one of the best character arcs ever written, Zuko is absolutely hilarious without almost ever meaning to be 😂
Of course, we all love the "That's rough, buddy" comment, but I absolutely love the scene where Sokka is trying to sneak out to rescue his dad, and Zuko catches him. Sokka: "Fine, you caught me. I'm gonna rescue my dad. You happy now?" Zuko: "I'm never happy." Always makes me laugh.
Uncle Iroh: Relax, have some calming tea.
Zuko: I DON’T NEED ANY CALMING TEA
😂😂
One of my favorites is, "WHAT TURMOIL!?" 😂
@@miaaida5187 That one made me laugh out loud 🤣
Serious characters in a world of loons are always the funniest characters. It's why I believe Batman is one of, if not the most, funniest characters ever written.
"Use guilt to change, and then let it go." That hits very hard for me right now.
yeah buddy same here, its hard when you are used to beating yourself up all the time.
Guilt is supposed to be a reminder of your mistakes. That poor choices and actions lead to undesirable consequences. You shouldn't forget those mistakes. They are your metaphorical tattoos. At best, you should _hate_ yourself for being a human. Just like I hate myself for being a human. If I hate myself, then I won't become a narcissist. It's simple!
It's the difference between guilt and shame. Guilt says "this thing I did was bad, so I shouldn't do it anymore." Shame says, "I am bad."
One of those is useful, one is not.
@@anotherkenlon yes yes yes!
It does for me too. With the addition of self loathing. I feel like I failed (I kind of did), especially my mom, and I deserve all the bad things that happened to me.
It's sad to me how Zuko doesn't realise his father meant to give him an impossible task. No avatar had been seen for a century, so he probably didn't expect him to succeed and return and didn't want him to. Yet Zuko is so determined to please his father and regain his honor, blinded by pride
I know that Mako passed away when this was still being made, but good god am I so glad he lived long enough to deliver many of those heartbreaking performances. They were so good.
Mai saying "that doesn't excuse the way you've been acting" is one of the best moments. The Beach is such a brilliant episode
It's my favorite episode imo. I loved everything with Zuko. It was just great.
@@vailingbow1068 I agree. It also fleshed out Mai, Azula and Ty Lee despite their late appearance in the show so we get a little more from them
@@angelb33ts Yeah, that's true. But Zuko really shined. The "I'M ANGRY AT MYSELF" bit was amazing.
@@vailingbow1068 that line gives me chills. Dante Basco nailed it. I rewatch that scene sometimes just to go wow
I'M ANGRY WITH MYSELF is so powerful. Well Done Dante Basco.@@angelb33ts
You have to know, this is the best Christmas present ❤ As a kid who grew up on Avatar, this is my favorite video ever, and I'm not even a minute in ❤
We're so excited for everyone to finally see it! Hope you enjoy it!
My man
@@CinemaTherapyShowthank you soooo much. I'm already on the verge of crying now. 40 seconds in.
I liked the video for that very reason, I'm sooooooo with you! I even have a blue spirit/Zuko's Ba Sing Se dagger tattoo!
I feel the same way ! ❤
"And who I am, is already worthy." - the best summing up of Zuko I think we'll ever hear, yes he's flawed, yes he's failed, yes he's struggled to be someone he's not but he *always* gets back up, tries to be himself and who that is a noble, honourable (almost to a fault), driven and determined, generous person with wisdom far beyond his years.
Hearing them describe him as the "Rocky Balboa of personal growth" is legit so accurate!
Rocky and Zuko just keep getting up!
@@CinemaTherapyShow OMG! I can't believe you saw my reply!!!! Thank you all so much for doing what you do!!!
The fact they make you think he's turning a new leaf but then he doubles down on his old ways... but he still ends up flipping. Just excellent story telling.
Because change/healing isn't linear irl it is so relatable as well. I agree with you, fantastic writing and the best character building and arcs on tv
Exactly!@@decay6516 Regression into our old/bad behavioral patterns is common, because it's familiar and familiarity feels safe. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
Also, I think the reasons he started to turn over a new leaf in Ba Sing Se were important and why he ultimately chose Azula's side. He got to the point where he can begin to accept that the chances of him catching Aang and being allowed back home have likely passed and move on. However, he isn't ready to burn that bridge himself yet, so when Azula offers what is frankly the best odds of success he's ever had, he couldn't bring himself to say no.
@@jameswest6232Exactly, his life's ambition and purpose had been cut short and not on his terms. I do think the "happy" Zuko we saw was a mask, smiling for his uncle's sake and smiling in hopes that it would become genuine and he can move on. But Azula came along before his closure had sunk in.
I would actually love an episode exploring Katara's trauma and parentification
YES. katara for me is a prime example of a "strong female character" done right
YES!! This!!
I love katara, she's such a cool character!
If they do, they 100% need to address the scene in Southern Raiders where Aang is trying to convince her that revenge isn't the right choice and what she says to Sokka in that scene.
I remember some friends hating on Kataras character because of how she is bossy and somewhat a micromanager. I was like "but shes realistic for how some people have been raised and have turned into!! We get to see her struggle with her flaws and see how she learns to better navigate her relationships by bringing out her strengths!"
She wasn't my favorite character but I definitely appreciated how she was written and the dynamic she brought to the group: a group consisting of a child-like kid with forced responsibility, a goof ball who wants to have more responsibility over his "tribe", and a tough take-charge girl who deep down just wants to be given grace when she struggles.
Her mom-like dynamic was perfect for bringing just enough tension to cause growth in the others, but also a sense of a loving friend who would gladly drop what she's doing to cheer any one of them up.
The biggest scene you didn't include is when Zuko comes to apologize to Iroh, and Iroh accepts him back fully. He was so used to failure meaning rejection and shame, and this time he knew he actually deserved a cold shoulder, but Iroh forgives him and embraces him instantly. Most powerful moment in the show.
Another scene that really hit home was when zuko confronted his own father during the eclipse. I thought that was a missed opportunity for this video, because not only did he come to conclusion of what was truly right, but he took it full swing, and verbally criminalized his father for the monster that he was. To his face.
And when is Father decided to lash out with violence, something old zuko would have done, zuko was able to finally redirect lightning at the most critical time.
Really was just a "You're The real monster, by the way f*** you here's your lightning back."
I'd love a villain therapy on azula, she's so misunderstood by everyone it's insane. she's super interesting and tragic and no one seems to understand the full extent of abuse she's gone through.
It’s easy to forget she was a victim of their dads abuse too. She said she views herself as a “monster” so I’m curious what that would mean from a therapy perspective.
@@SarasHotandDangerousyeah and I think it’s also good to note how ursa emotionally neglected her too. ursa very clearly favoured zuko and even showed distain towards azula on multiple occasions, like the monster comment and the “what is wrong with that child” comment in a flashback. I’m sure she loved her but she was still negligent and did things wrong. It’s also important to note how much azula craves her mother’s validation too, it’s shown in the show, comics and the recent graphic novel, azula in the spirit temple. her mother’s treatment obviously affected her a lot.
but yeah ozai’s effect on her is definitely the main contributor to her being the way she is now. for some reason people don’t seem to understand how much culture, parents and the environment you grow up in can affect you and how you see the world. she isn’t a horrible person by default, her actions are her own but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the direct result of how she’s been groomed to see the world.
Agreed. Her psychology is facinating.
I would LOVE that. They don't seem to have a lot of compassion for her character so i'm curious to see how that'll go🤣
She's quite the character to dissect for sure. You only got to remember this was a 14yr child groomed into becoming a "monster" by abuse and different degrees of neglect by the end.
It's like a line from another video I saw long ago: "I wanted to see Azula being taken down... until I saw her down".
As a kid, this was the first show/movie/story I'd ever seen that even suggested that a "villain" could become a hero. I was still in the little kid mind set that the world was black and white and bad people are bad and good people are good. Zuko blew my mind.
Zuko definitely has the best redemption arc in TV history, but I think he's more of an anti-hero instead of a villain. But I agree, as a little kid, I could imagine how that would change your whole perspective about how people can change. ATLA is so deep.
I wish Draco would have gotten the same treatment
@moviesinminutes4057 Agreed. J.K. didn't set up the right beats and the only one that would have fit was taken on by Snape instead. Dudley got that treatment, though subdued and cut from the films themselves.
I’ve been thinking about “when youve lived a life of pain, you see enemies everywhere” for weeks now. Thanks for doing what you do
See life trough pain
“Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame.” - Uncle Iroh
“My life has been nothing but humiliation lately” - Prince Zuko
I've watched these scenes countless times, but for some reason, watching them through the lense of therapy got me super emotional.
A legend supporting another legendary channel!
It's always nice to share things we love with (para-social entertainment) friends.
Hi Ron! Hope you’re doing well! And same!
Mood 😂😂
TrueGreen7 jumpscare moment
Zuko is the epitome of "when we reach our lowest point, we're open to the greatest change." His redemption is THE GREATEST in all of fictional history. Greater even than Anakin's.
And to think Michael and Bryan DIDN'T WANT this character to have his redemption arc. Toph was going to be stereotypically strong boy character. Iroh was going to be a villain. Azula was going to be a male character as well...Thank GOD for Aaron Ehasz....and people wonder why Korra doesn't hold a candle to ATLA. Korra _herself_ is a wonderful successor to Aang. Her show? No.
Ohh also the reveal of Zuko's lineage is MY generation's "No. I am your father." and I LOOOVE how it's framed, like Zuko is the one behind bars, not Iroh.
Also, speaking of the animation, in reality, you wouldn't see the air coming from Aang's hands. We only see the air so we can grasp what's going on from Aang when he fights. Like think about how WILD Airbending is. Imagine fighting someone who can bend something YOU CANNOT SEE. That's insane. Air is seriously so OP and I have to wonder if the reason why Airbenders have this oath of nonviolence is _because they know_ just how much *damage* their element can do. So they only fight as a last resort.
Aaron and his wife were the real MVP's when it came to writing the show. I'm not one of those people that hates Korra, but you can feel the absence when it's just Mike and Bryan writing.
The pile of Fire Nation skeletons around a single Air Bender monk at the Air Temple. They know they can hurt people. They know how, and choose not to.
@@oakenshadow6763 Knowing Gyatso went out like a BADASS by creating an air vacuum around himself and everyone else makes his death hurt just a little less. Then we learn all of what YANGCHEN did as an Airbender...It makes the line she says about sacrificing your spiritual needs hurt a little bit more and hit harder too. She killed. She was a Nomad who killed when she needed to. She created Airbending techniques and KNEW techniques that would kill someone in a painful way. And did so. Hell one time she collapsed a Combustion Bender's FCKING LUNG at point blank range. Actual insanity.
We can not see air bending... Maybe? Cuz in season one episode 6: imprisoned Katara and Sokka clearly can see a little wind tornado that Aang makes and load rocks into it. But later in the blind bandit it's obvious people can NOT see it
@@RoninRoan89 Korra has a lot of really good elements to it. But the one thing I'll never be able to forgive was wiping out the past lives. And that wasn't a studio decision.
That was all on Bryke. And the reason they have makes no sense, and there's no weight to it at all and I hate it. I want to LOVE Korra but the damage that show does to the overall worldbuilding of ATLA just....hurts. Like we can NEVER have a morally corrupted Avatar thanks to knowing how the Avatar came to be; Raava a light spirit.
Before, with Avatars like Kyoshi and Yangchen who did questionable things, that makes sense because the Avatar is human. So they're going to do some things that aren't good. Because people aren't INHERENTLY GOOD. Save for babies lol. But now? Now if we have an Earthbender who is just BAD it would only raise questions because of Beginnings and because of season 2 as a whole. In fact, season 2 as a whole stands against all of what ATLA set up. Which is just insane. I'm honestly glad they left the netflix reboot.
Zuko's villain redemption arch is my absolute favorite. His struggles are so realistic (even though its a fantasy world). If he never had a redemption I would never have liked him as a character. But because of his redemption arch he is one of my absolute favorite people in the show. I also relate to a lot of the things he goes through. The ups and downs of his personal growth, the self loathing, the achievement of things that were other peoples insisted goals feeling unfulfilling and empty. He is beautifully written.
Iroh is my favorite character in the whole series. He is the wise old man trope you see in a lot of movies and tv shows but he is writin very well. He is "on the bad side" but in a lot of ways he is a neutral character and he touches the lives of all the main characters in very positive ways. His actions, and decisions to take no action at times results in really good things for all of the characters. They are often small and sometimes easy to miss especially first time watch through. I would love to see a whole episode about him. Honestly I need a book of Iroh quotes because every time I watch this show I am learning something about myself from Iroh.
All around this show is just so well done. I love so many aspects of it. The writing of the characters beautifully captures and depicts people who feel so real.
My favorite depiction of Ozai's conditional love is the first episode of season 3, where Hokoda acts as Ozai's foil.
Kata lashes out at her dad, but Hokoda tells her how much he loves her and embraces her.
When Zuko comes back to Ozai, Ozai just talks about Zuko's (supposed) accomplishments, capturing Iroh and killing the avatar.
Hokoda loved Katara and Sokka unconditionally
Ozai's love is conditional.
Hokoda expresses real love, comforting Katara and empathizing with her. He takes accountability for how his actions hurt her, and demonstrates his love for her. The only thing Ozai does is acknowledge Zuko’s usefulness. Ozai only sees Zuko as a tool, he doesn’t love him.
"hAkoda" with an A, but yes, this! correct on all accounts. I wasn't a tool to my dad but my relationship with him was extremely similar to zuko's relationship with ozai and didn't have any of the positives y'all mentioned. I wish Hakoda were my dad :( Or better yet Iroh haha.
Someone should put together a compilation video of all the times they said they're not going to do Avatar 🤣 But you did it you sons of guns.. you made my dreams come true.
Why didnt they want to do it before? Lol
@@Phoenixguy357because it's Cinema Therapy, not Cartoon lol
@Phoenixguy357 because it's a long series which is a lot bigger undertaking than a movie
@@danielland3767 who says shows can’t be cinematic bro
@@danielland3767the fight between Zuko and Azula during Sozin’s comet is absolutely cinema. The main reason they hadn’t done it is because of the series length and that they don’t really do tv shows (aside from marvel shows included in character arcs).
Zuko helped me understand I can be more than what I am/what I can do for other people. His story arc is literally the embodiment of "you are worthy simply because you are." Best redemption arc I've ever seen. Dante Basco gave everything in his performance as Zuko and oh my god was it worth it.
The fact the redemption arc failed at first is part of why it's so wonderful. It's not just some magic wave a wand I'M GOOD NOW, but an actual struggle and path.
It feels believable and it feels earned and deserved. The key thing about redemption is the regain of trust, rather than affection, from both the audience and in-universe. characters. We already loved Zuko as we came to understand him, but we saw him battling between reverting back to his old ways and desires and striving to meet his own integrity and newfound perspectives, and heck, he even does betray us all in that moment as the crystal caves. But he learned and reflected, and did his best to regain our trust and Gaang's trust. It was truly earned and well deserved.
I LOVE when Iroh yells at Zuko. He's not angry, no! It's out of love that he raises his voice to Zuko. The breaking points for Zuko, when he FINALLY! breaks away from the norms and stigma he grew up around, the damaging society he lived in, Iroh went through it too! Some of the best character progression writing ever.
I remember in 2007 when The Day of Black Sun aired. I was 14. The satisfaction of watching Zuko finally confront his father and make the right choice was unparalleled, and I've never seen a redemption arc (before or since) that was so impactful and profound... and then we had to wait another 8 months to see what happened next! I was so damn excited to see Zuko join the Gaang I just couldn't wait!
I think the reason why people wanted you to talk about Zuko is also because they feel they could learn from it. I learned a lot from this talk about humility and pride. Zuko is the best character for this conversation.
Meanwhile I still don't understand it :) must be the language barrier or understanding of social structures or smth.
@@gamerdweebentertainment1616maybe just stick to being a gamer dweeb entertainer if you can’t understand one of the most simple yet replicated and iconic storylines out of any show out there. or maybe just watch the show idk
@@hereticsox seriously? Did you the comment? Where it also says language barrier?? I don't think so.
And he meant understanding what was said in the analysis of zuko. Yeah...nvm you for sure didn't the comment before you insulted them
@@ajowens1227 language barrier?? good thing there are subtitles for the show and if you didn’t watch the show then why watch a video about it? it’s a super simple storyline. media literacy is something that goes across language barriers, you either learned to have it or you didn’t. saying that it’s a language issue is a huge insult to people who interact with stories across the language gap.
@@hereticsoxYou shouldn’t judge people based on “simple”
Zuko's arc is done so well that nearly everyone identifies with him in some way... some more than others. Thank you guys for doing this, I'm sure plenty more people than myself needed this 🖤
I did
was his identity crisis that got to me years later
I guess I'm in the minority then?
@justingary5322 Justin, I'm not trying to be rude, but you can't claim to be not attempting to convert disbelievers while also maintaining the Instagram name of "savage christian kombatan" ...that's pretty revealing. Personally, I would take this down. This is uncalled for, unrelated, and a little worrisome regarding your mental health.
We definitely need an Iroh episode and maybe a Toph episode. I was hoping you guys went into Zukos fight with azula with the last agni kai. Also his apology to Iroh. The absolute best scene in the show
“WHAT TURMOIL?????!!!” lmao I love him so much
I will always believe that Zuko is the best written character of all time. His story, his growth, his struggle, his achievement, everything about him is written so damn well.
I know, right? I've never seen a better redemption arc in ANY movie, live action or animated.
If not THE, then it's damn close.
I have to agree with you .. he's a very brilliantly written character. I think he demonstrates why people like the redemption arc. he gives us all hope we can find and do better.
Vegeta from dragonball Z goes through a similar arc and I think his arc is just as good. His arc involves set backs and going backwards but it always moves forward. Zuko's is a lot smoother. but if you compare to the leads in both these series (Aang and Goku) these characters are quite bland and boring next to Zuko and Vegeta and that's perhaps because Goku and Aang don't really need to change they are already there. Zuko and Vegeta do need to change and that journey is what is interesting.
I think a big thing that makes it so effective, is how well the writers put humor to it as well. How they had fun with him snapping back "WHAT TURMOIL?!" and things like that. A lot of works that deal with this sort of stuff either take it very seriously, or they play it for humor, while this show's writers took it seriously but were willing to poke fun at it too. They understood that comedy and tragedy work together, and they understood how important things like levity and lightheartedness really are. It made him seem so human and made it so easy to identify with him.
It's the failure that really sells it. He fails over and over and over despite the many times he tries to succeed--and the many times he _doesn't_ try to succeed in improving. He tries so hard to be a villain to the heroes and struggles with whether or not he should leave it all behind. The back and forth is what makes him real. And the fact that he tries to convince both the heroes, the other villains, and _himself_ of his loyalties is so essential.
Last spring for my abnormal psychology class, I did a character analysis of Zuko as if I was a therapist seeing him in my office, and it was so much fun. I thought to myself wouldn’t it be awesome if cinematherapy did an episode on Zuko? Well, now here we are 🤩
That does sound like a lot of fun. I think it's amazing that you get to and can therapise characters like that.
I glad for the ZUKO episode too🤗🤗💖
I was so excited when I saw it. Good on you for doing such a good character analysis on Zuko. 💖🤗
Ooooh I did that exact assignment for my Abnormal Psychology class too, except I did Kaz Brekker from Six Of Crows. I bet yours was really fun to do!
Yes! We need an episode about Iroh. Let's be real, Zuko's story would've never had a happy ending at all without him.
While it may not have been covered in this episode, the scene between Zuko and Iroh in the tent near the end of the series always hits hard.
Doesn't matter how many times I re watch this show, that scene ALWAYS makes me cry
i weep like a tiny child watching that scene EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. is so good omg
the first time watching the show was about awesome adventures. after that, every rewatch i end crying several times.
If you dont at least tear up you are wrong
Little did I know this would be me n my mom I’ve done some terrible things to her and I’ve been trying to make amends and she forgives me but I still don’t know how to forgive myself. I’ve grown ALOT since then. Bud I still don’t think I forgive myself.
Zuko is one of my favorite characters of all time. I absolutely adore the journey he goes on, it’s so raw and real.
What Zuko’s arc made me realize is that traumatized people believe their trauma makes them stronger. But it ends up being a broken foundation that shifts and breaks under them. That the true strength only comes from breaking down that foundation and rebuilding it. Which is the hardest thing to do because you have to recognize your own inherent weakness is stemming from the very thing you believe is making you stronger.
Jonathan and Iroh, a therapy-off! Hell yes!
Oh, it is ON!
PLEASE make a video on Azula. She's one of the best nuanced most well written villains I've ever seen in anything. That scene in "the Beach" where she finds Zuko at their old summer home and says "Come down to the beach with me, this place is depressing..." there's just so much left unsaid, I love it.
Would absolutely love this
No. Stop it. Azula sucks.
@@CarnisianLady as a person yes but as a character she is very interesting
@@CarnisianLady listen to Azula talk. Every single line of hers is iconic. She's such a good villain
@@alyssam8550 easily one of my top five villains of all time
Zuko is absolutely worth the exception; his is a case study in a phenomenally written character arc. Also, a resounding yes for an episode on the national/international treasure that is Uncle Iroh.
“Everyone’s behavior makes sense to them” has made the last few weeks for me transformative. Irritating and strange habits of others are still that, but aren’t so angering. Their habit makes sense to them, and I want to know what their reasoning is. And now I can extend this grace to myself. I don’t have to berate myself for feeling fearful and avoidant of change, because it makes sense that I feel this way. There’s not as much pressure on myself or others to be a certain way now.
1 minute in and I’m already on the verge of tears. Zuko is hands down one of the best written characters in history.
Azula is the saddest character in the whole show. You dont realise it until its too late but she was equally as damaged as Zuko and she never learnt empathy and resience. I think towards the end a small part of her realised this but she was too far gone and she became self destructive as a result because she felt that she couldnt undo what she did. Becoming self destructive is often the result of feeling like you cant change.
that last sentence is 💯 spot on
Yeah azula is such a interesting character if you look at her from a different angle or with what if questions. What if her mother was just as gentle with her as zuko? What if she was awake when her mom said goodbye to her (in the comics her mom left and kissed her before leaving in her sleep) what if ozai payed less attention to her
I remember someone did a psychology on her a few years ago and the ending line to sum her up was ironically spoken by her father.
"Even with all the power in the world, you are still weak." th-cam.com/video/R4544ZUr_gA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=vnELoF7U8vxdo9_z
I empathize with Azula because my talents carried me early in life. Seeing Zuko’s journey was key to my own realization that I could change after spending my whole life being the same and not even knowing it.
Well Jonathan said that the person who self-loathes either is combative because they're constantly in an aggressive state of trying to prove their worth to others, or they feel like they deserve to suffer. So I guess it makes sense that an unhealed person still struggling with self-loathing winds up spiraling into a form of self-harm where they sort of "punish themselves" (consciously or unconsciously) out of their own self-hatred.
We definitely want to see an Iroh episode. A former war general turned pacifist and his grief making his need to be a good mentor for Zuko is a hell of a good story. Would love to hear our fave internet’s dads’ take on his story
Just make CT an ATLA channel for a few months…
@alexarobinson2850 Lol I mean it's not like they'd ever run out of content...
I would LOVE an Iroh episode, not sure if my tear ducts could handle it, but it would be amazing!
9:01 “when we see life through a lens of pain, we see enemies everywhere.” Soooooo goood
Rewatching all these clips got me tearing up man... Zuko's redemption arc is some of the best in television.
Regarding the scene where Ozai scarred Zuko, Dante Basco has actually talked about what it was like to record that scene with Mark Hamill: He mentioned he was alone in the booth, it was raining, and then all of a sudden Mark Hamill comes in wearing all-black, says a simple "Hello" while Dante was psyched, and then went right into the acting. Dante felt that doing the scene where Zuko is scarred by Ozai was like the Darth Vader-Luke scene in The Empire Strikes Back, except Luke is the Father. So he was shaking as the scene went on because it was so emotionally charged, but then Mark was like "Bye" and leaves like one of the most emotional scenes in a Nickelodeon show didn't happen. Which is such the Ozai thing to do.
The thing that I always point to about Zuko is how the always-memed "That's rough buddy" is... actually a genuine showing of empathy for someone who has basically zero modelling or experience of empathy. He doesn't know what's appropriate, or how big a response he should give, but he knows it needs acknowledgement and he does the best he can. I like that when Zuko's banishment is lifted at the beginning of season 3, it's completely genuine. It's not a double cross, besides Azula giving him the credit for supposedly killing the Avatar to blackmail him, but Ozai is in the dark about that. That means that it's all Zuko when he accepts what a disgrace the Fire Nation has become, that nothing excuses being made to dual his own father and king, permanently disfigured and then banished, all as a child.
I love that all the scenes where Iroh is jailed, it's Zuko who looks imprisoned (it looks like Zuko is in the cell). Zuko's lashing out at everyone like a trapped animal and in his situation at that point in the show, he absolutely is. I just feel like that's really good visual storytelling right there.
this show is absurdly good. i watched on my own because a friend said i’d love it (which i did) and then with my little brother (he’s everything to me so when we watch something together i try to pick things that i think are gonna be good for him) and it was just the greatest thing. the way it brings empathy to the conversation is probably the best i’ve seen.
Recently binged the full series and instantly started simping for Zuko, you could smell Redemption Arc from the start. I love how he's written and his entire story.
IM SO GLAD THAT YOU GUYS DID THIS EPISODE!! zuko’s is such a beautiful story of growth
Zuko’s story was so well done. I don’t remember exactly when the switch happened but by the end of the series I was so invested in his arc I went from “ugh another Zuko scene” to “ugh an Aang scene” 😂
For me it was definitely at the episode Zuko Alone. That’s when you truly see who he is and perseverance in his character and gain respect for him.
Zuko Alone was a major turning point as well as azula's attack on the group in the earth nation after finding appa. i never understood how he can just free appa for them, have a heart to heart with katara and then completely backstab them in the end. When Iroh's sheer look of disappointment and regret toward zuko's actions finally made him snap into reality and realize what he has done and what he must do to fix it all and save the world, it made me very happy!
Honestly somwtimes I forget that the show is, by all accounts, the tale of both Aang and Zuko. Like, since season 1 we always see Zuko and Aang interchanging the role of "main character" and it's fantastic
His journey is so amazing and beautiful. It’s not linear, he backslides and makes mistakes and regrets it. Zuko’s redemption is still the best I’ve ever seen in tv story telling (or really any story telling tbh). Also, please do an Iroh episode!!
One of my favourite scenes in Zuko's arc is when he finally returns home to see his father. Throughout the first two seasons Ozi is shrouded in shadow and flames reflecting both how Aang/the audience sees him, as an imposing and all powerful monster but also how Zuko sees him after years of abuse. And so when Zuko returns home after all his growth through the first two seasons he can finally see Ozi for what he really is and he's just a man.
So sad you didn’t show and comment on Zuko’s apology and Iroh’s forgiveness from the finale. That scene still makes me tear up every single time after all these years.
it's probably in the patreon-exclusive vid
@@pivotguydc1149 I hate it when channels do that. Not everyone can afford to pay to watch content like that.
It's one thing if they want to have it on their patreon for like a month first and then release it to youtube, but never releasing it on here? That doesn't seem right. it's serves as another reminder to those who can't pay that they're being punished for not having more cash.
@@pivotguydc1149 I probably shouldn’t spoil this, but unfortunately, it’s not there either. It doesn’t mean the Patreon cut is not good, however.
I hoped to see it too.
I'll just say this. Everyone needs an Uncle Iroh in their life.Mako and Greg Baldwin did an amazing job injecting that sense of hard-earned wisdom into the character. And "Leaves from the Vine" never fails to bring me to tears.
Man😢
I wish there were that many Irohs to go around
despite how this is meant for kids, it's executed really well to show how people can be influenced and how they find their way towards who they want to be. Also, the art style is cool. It's not like the typical shiny-looking anime, but like ancient artworks
Man, I love this character way too much.
I see far too much of myself in him, and the violin from the Agni Kai just always kills me.
Thank you for doing this one.
During his scene with the earth kingdom girl who’s been burned, I think it also prompted Zuko to realize that he’s been hurt by the fire nation. He’s been interpreting his punishment as just, but now he has to reconsider the way he’s been treated.
Very good point! Not just a reframe of how he sees the Fire Nation treating other nations, but also a mental reframe of how he's been treated 😢
Iroh is one of the best role-models I've ever seen. He is the kind of person I want to be when I'm old. Toph is another favorite of mine - an episode on her would be great.
Agreed!!
9:27 I love this scene so much because It's the first time somebody treated Zuko as a victim
Iroh had a wonderful character arch as well. And being the mentor character, for him to have an arch and lessons he had to learn is really incredible. He lost his son, and adopted Zuko as his own, and he was always trying to hold onto him because of this. He had to learn to let go of him. Let him make his own choices. Iroh had to see Zuko as a man to have that discussion in the prison with him, he had to stop seeing him as the boy he always wanted to protect.
Iroh doesn't have a growth arc. he's the same in the first episode as the last. what changes is our perception of him. the audience has a growth arc as we and zuko learn more about iroh.
"Nothing proves 'You're right' more than setting stuff on fire, breaking stuff, and screaming 'You're crazy!' at someone sitting quietly."
Iron won without saying a word lol
Also, an episode on Uncle Iroh would be amazing, but I think psychology of a villain: AZULA would be great too!
I watched Avatar as a kid when it was coming out on Nick it really taught me a lot. Cried my eyes out during the finale! Incredible storytelling for all ages! Seriously.
Upon Zuko's realization that his anger was directed inward, it struck a chord with me. I resonated deeply with the struggle of grappling with pervasive, unexplained anger-living each moment engulfed in frustration. It mirrored my own experience of being constantly upset, always ENRAGED. Eventually, I came to understand that it wasn't anger but rather sadness and a lingering depression. I hadn't been equipped with the tools to navigate this sadness or cope with the childhood trauma I had endured. ATLA transcends its status as a children's TV show; it becomes a profound catalyst for life-changing reflections and realizations.
The writing on Avatar the last airbender show has no business being as good as it is. It's incredible, and thank you guys for finally covering it!
I KNOW right!?!? Like, of all the studios, Nickelodean, who got famous for slime and extremely immature jokes and spongebob, just suddenly spits out _Avatar._ I don't understand how this happened but I'm glad it did
One of my favorite moments of any show of all time is when Zuko apologizes to Iroh and is instantly forgiven. Poor Zuko was so confused by this unconditional forgiveness. He has never received such a thing before from family. In his mind forgiveness comes after punishment and then meeting conditions. The guy was psyching himself up to talk to Iroh, then sat in seiza for hours waiting for his Uncle to wake up and in his mind receive whatever punishment Iroh was going to give him. It was like a man going to the gallows. Zuko then laid himself bare and apologized with everything he had like he did years ago with his father and this time was ready for the punishment. But this time instead he was shown love and forgiveness instantly and it makes me cry every time. Iroh was the parental figure Zuko deserved, not his abusive father.
I also cried. It is such a beautiful scene and Iroh just hugging Zuko really tight..❤
21:05 I’m just realizing now after all these years that Iroh was probably sitting there listening to that and thinking about how much Zuko sounded like his brother in that moment. He probably Heard similar words around the time he pulled back from Ba Sing Se after losing his son.
Zuko has one of the best character arcs in all of TV history. Thank you Dante Basco for the performance you gave. Thank you to the creators, animators, and everyone who worked on ATLA. Thank you Cinema Therapy for covering this amazing show!
Hard agree on the character arc
You know, I don't think I ever considered the symbolism of Zuko's scar being on his eye as representing how his trauma effects the way he SEES the world. But you came so close to saying that exact thing, I couldn't help but connect the dots.
The fact that Zuko starts to improve but then reverts is one of my favorite writing decisions in the show. I had a similar journey and a similar conflict once I realized that reverting back to my family's conventions was so much worse than the "selfish" path I had discovered. Sometimes that dissonance is the boost you need to escape for good.
I'm so beyond ecstatic that you guys did an episode on this show, it's got so much good stuff going on
This series is such a treasure trove of beautiful character arcs. Please, please, please keep this going with an Iroh or Katara episode.
You know you want to... Do it...
We pressured them into doing Zuko, we can do the same for the peak of masculinity Iroh or the psychopathy of Azula.
Hell yes to an Iroh episode! Korra would be a great subject for an episode as well.
they put so much time and effort in to analyzing the show. They just need to squeeze it as much as possible by analyzing most of the characters! Please, let me be right about that^^
I always shed a man tear when Zuko furiously shouts "IM ANGRY AT MYSELF!" it doesn't matter how long it's been since I've seen the whole show, when he says those words, with that beautiful music, all of the memories come flooding into my mind and it chokes me up.
Same. I always cry at the build-up when everyone on the beach is asking him what's wrong, and Zuko finally lets his bottled up emotions out.
Dante Bosco absolutely knocked this performance out of the park! you can really hear the anguish, fear, and sorrow in the delivery. You can feel him drop the "tough guy" facade and truly be vulnerable and ask for help. All of that in 4 words! Such a brilliant job
12:47 "I'm saying something that is true , that you're not seeing."
I can relate.
"Who are you? And who do YOU want to be?" Will always be one of the most motivational things ever said.
Something brilliant that they did as well, Iroh giving Zuko the silent treatment coincided with the death of Iroh's original voice actor. Such a tragedy, but they were still able to continue the story organically.
I'm pretty sure they had his replacement actor already, but decided it was within Iroh's charachter to be silent during that part of the story in order to keep pushing Zuko.
@@Cloud-dt6xb that is true that they already had someone decided, but it was also so there was enough time between when we last hear him speak in season 2 and first hear him speak in season 3 that most kids might not have noticed the difference.
MORE PLEASE! 😃
Villain therapy for Azula would be amazing!
villain therapy for azula would be AMAZING. they'd definitely have to get into her deterioration around the comet and the final agni kai with zuko.
YESSSSSSSS
how though, Azula always lies 😆
@@jemudya psychopathic liar is a diagnosis, pretty sure 😏
Absolutely!
There’s so much more that happens after he joins team avatar that I thought you would have watched. I thought for sure you guys would talk about him relearning firebending, and him seeking forgiveness from Iroh. Those are some of the most powerful Zuko moments.
I love zuko so much. The older I get the more I understand just how fucking amazing his characterization was. To this DAY his arc is the best redemption arc, full stop.
I genuinely never thought I would ever see an ATLA video on this channel. Amazing video. Hopefully you guys can make another in the future
We will!
Please do an episode on Azula. She's my favourite. Her line "My own mother thought i was a monster. She was right, of course but it still hurt" is one of the most gut wrenching lines i've ever heard. And her relationship with her mother and how she kinda neglect Azula@@CinemaTherapyShow