Love is brightest in the dark

still thinking about how Paku said aang better get used to calling katara “Master Katara” and never did iirc. Then, immediately called Toph “sifu Toph” and only called katara sifu after she pointed it out disappointedly.

Maiko is actually everything people criticize zutara for. She’s introduced as someone who is willingly joining Azula to capture and/or kill Zuko but she also has an expressed romantic interest in him. There is absolutely no indication that Zuko likes or even thinks about her anymore. He would’ve been her prisoner if he hadn’t decided to join Azula. But somehow none of that is ever addressed and they’re just together in the beginning of s3. He then literally joins the resistance and is engaged in trying to topple the empire she and her entire family are committed to upholding. He, at one point, is literally her prisoner because of this. In that same episode her redemption is based not on seeing the error of her ways and how bad the Fire Nation actually is, but on Zuko and her “love” for him.

I luv this 🤎🤎😘

people talk a lot about how wild shit would have gotten in the fire nation if zuko had joined the gaang at the end of season 2 but i think we’re ignoring that there’s a solid chance that in “The Runaway” zuko and toph would have ended up committing actual highway robbery

The Boiling Rock?? Oh, you must mean the episodes where Zuko helps rescue his future in-laws (hakoda, sokka, suki) from his ex-laws (mai's uncle)

Everyone that says that Katara is annoying reaaally should rewatch The Desert again, amazing episode

"Zuko's redemption happened because he had someone who loved him..." and he also took responsibility for all his actions and sincerely wanted to become a better person. And that's the main thing. But these are obviously not convenient details that suggest that not everyone can be redeemed. Redemption is an internal process. No one can force you to change or become a better person, you have to want it and do it yourself. People just like to boil it down to "this character is bad just because he/she didn't have love! If someone loved him/her, he/she would change!" This is a bad excuse for the actions of villainous characters, because that's not how it works. That's why they like to belittle Zuko's personal growth. After all, real redemption is hard and dirty, and believe me, not everyone can do it. You can hide behind sad prehistory and lack of love for the character as much as you like (although lack of love is not always true, as the fandom says. Hello Azula) but this is not an excuse because every person is the creator of his own destiny and only he decides who he should be. This is everyone's choice and it is always there. Your psychological traumas are not your fault, but your responsibility. You didn't inflict them on yourself, but your actions are your area of responsibility. The same goes for the characters. So don't even think about telling me that a vile and villainous character deserves a happy ending. He got an end worthy of his deeds and character. That's why Zuko, who had to suffer and fight so much, change his value system and become the best version of himself, earn the love and trust of not only the characters but also the audience in the finale is surrounded by real friends and people who love him. That's why in the final Azula is alone.