tempestuously | What part of anti-hero do you morons not understand?

I know it's cynical of me, but I can't help but believe that the fan reaction to Zuko's actions in the finale have more to do with the fans' love for both Iroh and Zutara. I love Iroh too. But despite Iroh's good intentions, Iroh's ideal world is not Zuko's. Iroh has already lost one son due to war and honor and destiny, and Zuko is like another one to him. He wants to do everything in his power to keep Zuko from suffering the same fate so he tries to more or less force Zuko into a world where they can just be regular content people. Unfortunately, Zuko cannot be this type of person. Zuko is a prince of the Fire Nation. Making him give up this world is not only murder to the plot but also unfair to Zuko. Iroh spends much time telling Zuko to forget about his destiny of reclaiming his place among the Fire Nation and just think about what he wants. What Zuko wants is his birthright. I for one see no reason he should not fight for it.

Yes, his maddening chase for the Avatar is extreme and his way of centering his entire life on one little boy is pathetic. I can understand why Iroh and the fans would want Zuko to break free of that. And Zuko tried. He tried hard. Zuko is conflicted and a bit lost right now. But the writers have also tried to make Zuko realistic and sometimes despite all the love and the changes we go through, just one thing can make us revert. Zuko wanted to believe Azula. He's stupid, and she has betrayed him before. But the way he saw it in the at moment, with Azula's help, he could finally take down the Avatar and reclaim not only his birthright but his family. It has been shown throughout the second season that Zuko feels alone in this world. It has also been shown that Zuko feels out of place with those outside of the Fire Nation. It has also been shown through his visions while undergoing his metamorphosis that the most important to Zuko, even above honor, is his family. He yearns for his father's acceptance. He always has. That desire is not so easily shaken.

Why would he turn against Iroh? Avoiding the fan speculations about master plans because those really are the easy way out, it comes down to one thing. Zuko chooses destiny over happiness. With Iroh, Zuko cannot confront his destiny. I think a good allusion to this was Iroh urging Zuko to run away with him when Azula attacked the tea shop and later urging Zuko to leave with him and Aang when Azula entered the cave. Iroh wants Zuko to be safe. Zuko simply doesn't want safety. He wants the edge. Why is he so irritated while in Bai Sing Sei? He's bored! He thought he was losing his chance to be who he is. When he heard Azula say earlier this season that his father wanted him dead, he thought he was ripped from his fate, thus the cutting of his hair. A sign of breaking from the family. But then Azula promised another grasp at what he had lost. She offered that chance once more. A chance to take back the destiny he's always fought for. And for better or for worse, Zuko took it. This doesn't mean that Zuko is so cut and dry sworn to the bad guys, Zuko has seen what they are capable of and he is conflicted about giving up the world Iroh tried so hard to create for him. That said, Zuko doesn't necessarily want that world either. His shame is more for betraying *Iroh* the person than the ideals Iroh set for him.

What about the Blue Spirit? I always saw it as a form of loneliness and rebellion. Zuko always used in when he doing things as a loner. It was his way of separating himself from what he was. In the instance with Bai Sing Sei, Zuko was using it to break away from the Earth Kingdom identity Iroh had established for him. Iroh tried to get him to forget about that and accept himself as a person and not simply a drive. Hence his tossing the mask into the water. So right now Zuko is seeing himself as a whole being. Possibly what he means by telling Katara he's changed during their fight. He's ready to take a say in what happens to him, evidenced by the greater control of his fire-bending near the end. In Zuko's eyes, he is no longer being ruled by the demands of either Iroh or the Fire Nation. He's doing things for himself. Of course, they may not be the right things. I will for sake of argument liken this to Sasuke's decision to not kill Naruto as his brother murdered his own friend and instead obtain power through Orochimaru. I think this view gains some truth with Azula's words about Zuko winning his honor without the Avatar. I am also not entirely sure she plans on betraying him so fast after seeing as how he sided with her in the end.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that Zuko holds more influence and power within the Fire Nation than on the run. So for the plot, this is a very good thing. I truly believe Zuko will eventually side with the Avatar, but it has to be his decision and not Iroh's. Zuko has to be able face his dependence on others when it comes to choosing what to do. With any luck, he might be able to make a difference within his nation. Not always is a war fought on the outskirts. I'm not sure what the creators have planned, but I hardly think Zuko's decision destroys the development he's gone through. Instead, I believe he may have the chance to put it to use.

What part of anti-hero do you morons not understand?

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