Avatar: The Last Airbender

Zuko has the blessing of Avatar Aang, and Aang defeated Ozai so thoroughly that he didn't even kill him, only robbing him of the Firebending that made Ozai such a powerful figure in the first place.

Yeah, if your new Fire Lord has the Avatar's support, you better start listening to your new lord and master. It's also why Sozin wanted Roku to join him on his little imperialism campaign. He would have more legitimacy to stake claim if the Avatar approved.

It would also explain why the Red Lotus wants to kill Avatar Korra and end the cycle. Because if the Fire Nation (and to a lesser extent, the other 3 Nations) bows to the demands of the Avatar just because they defeated their leader in single combat, then it is theoretically possible for the Avatar to become a divine ruler/supreme dictator that no one could question. And that cannot be allowed in anarchist state the Red Lotus wants.

Edited by Shadao on Feb 7th 2021 at 8:29:58 AM

I did wonder early on how Aang expected to fix anything by beating Ozai, in the seasons before he got Zuko on his side. It seems almost like it was more important that Zuko got control of the Fire Nation and was able to order them to stand down, instead of possibly Aang beating Ozai but the rest of the Fire Nation refusing to relent.

Aang clearly hadn't really thought it through (understandably given his age/naivete) beyond thinking his "job" was just to stop Ozai.

Zuko's whole arc (and Azula's/Iroh's to lesser extents) where what forced him to confront the question of "what next?"

Aang definitely helps Zuko's case. Iroh even makes a variation of this argument when saying why he shouldn't kill Ozai. The Avatar is like a living God to some people. If he backs a claim or ruler many people will take it as the person having a blessing from a deity. It's like the Mandate of Heaven that China had.

...Did Aang himself ever really question what was next for Fire Nation leadership, though? We know he figured he'd need to end the indoctrination of the kids, but that was about it, from what I remember.

He trusted Zuko to reform the Fire Nation and lead it away from imperialism.

When he decided that is important, though. He had no plan for Fire Nation leadership until over halfway through season 3. Did he spend the majority of the show thinking "All I need to do is beat seven shades of Wan Shi Tong out of the Fire Lord, and the war will stop", or "Bumi and Hakoda can get this all sorted out" or something else?

Aang had no plan beyond the immediate needs of mastering his powers. The assumption seemed to be that as a fully realized Avatar he could slap the Fire Nation into submission the same way Kyoshi did with Chin.

As for the transfer of power and stand-down orders, there will always be some dissidance but you tell a weary nation you aren't going to be exhausting resources in a military campaign anymore and soldiers can return home they will more likely be grateful than uber-patriotic "We can't quit now."

Empires and xenophobes don't always step down when it's logical.

The Youtube page had a poll about the best Sokka ship.

• Sokka/Suki had 69% of the vote (nice)
• Sokka/Toph had 10%... as did Sokka/Zuko
• Sokka/Yue only had 6%
• Sokka/Ty Lee had 5%

After the Netflix drop I suddenly saw a lot more Sokka/Zuko, and honestly, I see it in a kombucha girl meme way.

Yeah, I've also noticed that the Sokka/Zuko pairing has had an increase in popularity, but it makes sense considering we live in a post-Korrasami world.

The Avatar LGBT Fanbase is quite huge now and it makes me very happy.

It's basically an embodiment of some of the most popular fangirl fanfic tropes:

• Enemies to lovers
• Stringy haired "damaged" emo dude
• Slashfic

I say that with no malice.

Edited by wanderlustwarrior on Feb 11th 2021 at 4:53:15 AM

You mean *Stringy haired "damaged" emo dude with daddy issues and who was rejected by his family. Makes total sense that the gay Zuko headcanon took off like wildfire.

Zuzu's such damaged goods its hard to see most of his relationships romantically when its like dude needs a friend now more then anything.

That said I will die on the hill that Aang and Zuko have much more chemistry then Zuko and Sokka who's bonding episodes where agressively hetero.

Aggressively hetero can be the best kind of homo sometimes.

You are not wrong

Suki became his friend in the comics, and suddenly it was a ship to some people. I'd rather that not catch on. Some people can really just be friends.

Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today? is a trope for a reason.

Edited by wanderlustwarrior on Feb 11th 2021 at 11:12:37 AM

I've made this clear before, but I'm in the evil minority of people who think Zuko and Suki would be great together. She's not burning with emotion (or baggage) like Katara or emotionally unavailable like Mai. She's badass, assertive, and an independent leader but also really sweet and empathetic to people.

Also, Zuko would probably provide a much more adult and relationship with Suki than Sokka. It helps that their friendship has been one of the few new dynamics in the comics and one of the best things about it. Also, there's a plethora of Ship Tease between them.

But yes, it goes without saying that heterosexual men and women can be just friends.

I wouldn't say "evil," of course. But Sokka and Suki are in a loving and happy relationship, and there's no reason to break that up.

I mean, if you don't find the relationship or characters interesting that's reason enough.

I don't have much thoughts on ships in Avatar either way though.

Is it really a minority if 69%, nice, of the fanbase supports the ship?

69% support Sokka and Suki.
Deuteragonist supports Zuko and Suki.

The Toph graphic novel comes out in four days. I'm just now noticing it's apparently set before Smoke and Shadow in chronological order. So the last comic out in chronological order that we know of is still Imbalance part 3, since Suki Alone is set during her time in The Boiling Rock.

Edited by wanderlustwarrior on Feb 12th 2021 at 8:57:01 AM

Part of me would just have found it hilarious if the only one of the three supposedly Official Couples to last was the only one not implied to have made love offscreen. Not to mention making that scene of Zuko interrupting Sokka and Suki (even more) Hilarious in Hindsight, yet another possible troll application of "That's rough, buddy," the thought of looking up Zuko's attack on Kyoshi Island and commenting "And that, Izumi, is how I met your mother"...

But yeah, no real reason to mess with Sokka and Suki (even if Gene Yang really looked like he was going for it for a while).

Edited by YamiVizziniX on Feb 12th 2021 at 10:05:37 AM

It would've made me sad if only one of the official couples lasted. Fortunately, Gene Yang alluded at a panel to a couple he broke up getting back together 3 years later. And Faith Erin Hicks who is now the main writer, seems to be a Sokka/Suki fan.

I'm not sure Mai is Zuko's best match, but I think Suki and Sokka are each other's, and are happy together.

It'd be a bit funny if Izumi's mother is Ty Lee.