Angst Aversion: Quite a few readers initially avoided the series after hearing how things got worse as opposed to better due to viewers' reaction to Zuko's heartbreaking Despair Event Horizon.
Iroh. Some feel that regardless of his good intentions, he has crossed a line with his dethroning of Zuko. Zuko welcomed Iroh with open arms and trusted him unconditionally only for Iroh to be trying to take power from Zuko behind his back. Not to mention that he challenges Zuko to an Agni Kai while the latter is having a heart attack. As such, they don't want Zuko to ever forgive Iroh. Others point out Zuko had previously betrayed Iroh and Iroh had no idea of the suffering Zuko went through under captivity. Iroh tried to help Zuko multiple times by offering to become Zuko's regent. Zuko desperately needed a break and was literally working himself to death in the middle of delicate negotiations.
Azula. It's a common facet of Muffinlance's works, but particularly noticeable here. The author, and many fans, find Azula highly sympathetic and Zuko rescuing her from the mental institute is played as a sign of how close their sibling bond really is. Other fans dislike her, believing she does not deserve the sympathy she's getting and/or that her bad behavior is being underplayed, especially since Zuko's poor health — the direct cause of Iroh's betrayal of Zuko — was literally caused by Azula.
Catharsis Factor: After all the suffering Zuko went through, having him call Iroh out and willingly walk away from the crushing responsibility to go in self-exile is sweet.
Unintentionally Unsympathetic: While the author notes try to explain why Katara is more hostile to Zuko than anyone else is, she's still considerably more antagonistic than the rest of the Gaang. While Toph is friendly, Aang is naive and idealistic, and Sokka is mostly being tripped up by the Culture Clash, Katara takes everything Zuko does as a personal slight against her and finds fault with everything he does, including not wanting his crazed warmonger of a father released from prison. When Zuko is actively dying of a heart attack, Katara refuses to heal him, going so far as to freeze herself to the ground when Toph tries to force her. The biggest sticking point is that the author goes into detail about Katara's sense of hopelessness trying to heal Aang who was nearly killed by Azula and, without Zuko joining the Gaang and bond with her, her feelings of bitterness over Zuko helping Azula in Ba Sing Se increase.
