Okay so thereâs this BIG thing in the atla fandom that Kyoshi would have been disappointed that Aang didnât kill Ozai but I have quite a few issues with this I also think people over simplify Kyoshi way too much.Â
In the avatar advice scene, Kyoshi admits that she doesnât really see the difference between Chin the Conqueror having died because of his own stubbornness and her having to take his life on her own, but I think we need to understand something.Â
Kyoshi understood her duties as the Avatar were to maintain the peace in the world, and she recognised that she would have had to do anything in order to maintain it. HOWEVER I donât think that Kyoshi took pleasure or enjoyment in killing people or fulfilling her duties to maintain peace. She simply understood the significant burden placed on her shoulders and had to clean up the mess that the weak ass avatar before her left behind.Â
(I havenât watched LOK so I could be wrong but this is my understanding)Â
I also think itâs important to remember that Kyoshi lived for 230 years, meaning that she had an ample amount of time to learn things for herself and gather a great amount of wisdom. I think Kyoshi would actually avoid unnecessary killing where she could but also understood when drastic measures were necessary. Yes she was efficient (the queen of getting stuff done) and yes her methods may have sometimes been frowned upon by the Air monks but I donât think this makes Kyoshi blood thirsty nor does it mean that she would be upset or frustrated that Aang didnât kill Ozai.Â
I also get slight Iroh vibes from Kyoshi in this scene and she definitely gives the feeling of long learned wisdom and understanding.Â
Kyoshi also gives Aang the best peice of advice of all the avatars: âOnly justice will bring peace.â She does not say: âonly murder will bring peaceâ or âkilling Ozai is the only way to do things.â she is simply stating that Aang must execute justice and he must find the best way possible to do so. Kyoshi also recognises that her and Aangâs methods are different and that both of them may have different teachings and understandings of the situation but she simply emphasises the importance of the Avatarâs duty to maintain peace and bring justice to those who disrupt it.Â
I also think Kyoshi wouldâve been damn proud of Aang because his decision to take away Ozaiâs bending brought about far more justice than killing him ever would have. Not only does Ozai have to live with the fact that he has become the thing he hates the most: weak. But Ozai being alive without bringing harm to anyone gives a lot of other characters closure and justice for what was done to them.Â
The first one that pops into mind is Ursa, who finally overcomes her fear of him in Smoke and Shadows when she confronts him and realises that he is mostly bark and no bite. This allows her to live in the palace unafraid and begin to rebuild her relationship with Zuko. Zuko initially struggles with having him alive but comes to find justice in it to and learns from his father while seeing him in prison. Iâm sure there are otherâs but I canât think of them off the top of my head. Â
Killing Ozai wouldnât have brought justice, in my opinion, it just would have furthered the slaughter. I think Kyoshi would have been DAMN proud of Aangâs decision. Of course she would have done it differently, but she also didnât have the same knowledge as Aang (spirit bending) and therefore only had one option.Â
Kyoshi is not some senseless killer but one of the most just, efficient and fair avatars. Her advice to Aang is probably the best advice he could have been given and continues to help him in his later journeyâs even when it is not explicitly stated or shown.Â
Anyway, I love Kyoshi and I hate it when she isnât shown for what she is: wise, just, fair and a peacemaker.Â
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