Zuko (Netflix)/Relationships

This article focuses on the relationships of Zuko.
==Family==
===Ozai===
After his mother's disappearance and his uncle leading a siege on Ba Sing Se, Ozai was the only parental figure Zuko had in his life at that point. Throughout his journey, Zuko sought to seek Ozai's approval but found it hard to impress his father, who was disappointed in his son isn't a firebending protege like Azula. A major motivation for Zuko's need to capture the Avatar is to not only regain his honor but his father's love as well. Zuko was invited to his first war meeting where he challenged a general's plan to sacrifice a batch of recruits, the 41st Division, to win a battle. However, Zuko was surprised to see he was dueling his father instead. While he fights back, Ozai wins the duel and burns Zuko's left eye, leaving a scar and banishing Zuko for being compassionate, whih was seen as a sign of weakness in his eyes. Ozai banishes Zuko from the Fire Nation, telling him he can only return when he has found and captured the Avatar. As he's leaving, Ozai tells him to take the 41st Division with him.
After besting Zhao in combat, Zuko began accusing him of costing him his chance at regaining his anger. However, Zhao revealed to Zuko that his mission was a sham and that it was the only way Ozai could motivate Azula as his true heir, much to Zuko's anger. With this revelation, Zuko was left broken and unsure if he would ever find a way back to the Fire Nation.
However, Ozai admitted to the Fire Sages that if Zuko was strong enough, he would survive the assault on the North. Wi
===Ursa===
Ursa is Zuko's beloved mother who disappeared when he was a child. Dallas Liu hints that Zuko loves his mother and that her mysterious disappearance leaves a heavy impact on Zuko because he has no idea what happened to her and is left at the mercy of his father and younger sister's abuse.
===Azula===
Younger Sister
Zuko has a strained relationship with his sister Azul, who does everything she can to prove that she is the better heir to their father. She takes whatever she can to mock Zuko or manipulate him. As they were children, they were once close but grew apart by the time they were in their mid to late teens.
After besting Zhao in combat, Zuko began accusing him of costing him his chance to regain his anger. However, Zhao revealed to Zuko that his mission was a sham and that it was the only way Ozai could motiAzula as his true heir.
===Iroh===
Uncle. ZukkaZuko held his uncle in the highest regard, even though he found it hard to grasp the depth of Iroh's humor and philosophy. Despite not being his biological child, Iroh had always treated Zuko like a second son and offered him the kind of unwavering support and guidance. After the tragic death of his son, Lu Ten, and the unknown fate of Princess Ursa, Iroh's affection for his nephew only grew stronger. He took it upon himself to personally oversee Zuko's training and teach him more peaceful and nonviolent ways to harness his firebending abilities. During the Agni Kai between Zuko and Ozai, Iroh was the only one who didn't watch as Ozai burned his son's face. After his nephew was banished, Iroh offered to accompany Zuko on his quest so he wouldn't be alone.
During their exile, Iroh acted as his nephew's firebending teacher and mentor, even acting supportive of Zuko's desire to capture the Avatar, but only because it was the only thing that kept his nephew from falling apart. At the same time, Iroh often attempted to steer his nephew towards doing what was right and taking time to appreciate the beauty of the world around them. They are so close that Zuko can abandon his quest to capture Aang and rescue his uncle from Earth Kingdom soldiers instead. When Zuko and Iroh were alone, the latter could tell that his nephew had no plan regarding his plan to abduct Aang. Before the siege of the North took place, Iroh tried to convince Zuko not to leave but his nephew was too stubborn in his quest to retrieve the Avatar from Anga Qel'a.
After failing to save the Moon Spirit, Iroh was mainly focused on Zuko's safety and getting them both out of the city as the Moon Spirit and Aang unleashed their fury on several firebending soldiers and a few of the waterbenders. Before they departed, Zuko attacked Zhao when he saw the cowardly Admiral trying to flee, ignoring his uncle's pleas. When he saw Zhao about to kill Zuko from behind, Iroh didn't hesitate to kill the admiral in his nephew's defense. In the chaos, Zuko and Iroh both escaped from Anga Qel'a. The two finally escaped the Water tribe while becoming fugitives of the Fire Nation.
===Lu Ten===
Lu Ten was Zuko's cousin and best friend who helped Zuko whenever Ozai was being harsh with him. However, Lu and Zuko seemed to love each other like brothers. To comfort Zuko, Lu Ten gave his cousin a medal to help him whenever he felt Ozai wasn't being fair towards him. After his cousin's death, Zuko approached his uncle and gave Iroh Lu Ten's medal. As such, Iroh felt indebted to Zuko ever since. Since the siege of Ba Sing Se, Iroh became increasingly protective of Zuko, refusing to go through the grief of losing two sons in one lifetime.
==Enemies==
===Aang===
Relationship Status: Enemies, Arch-Rivals · First Met: Winter 99 AG (Aang) · Nickname: ZukaangFor three years, Zuko, since the age of 14, was tasked with the impossible task of capturing the Avatar. However, hope returned when Avatar Aang was freed from an iceberg he had been trapped in for 100 years. When Zuko tracked him at Wolf Cove and was on the verge of killing the Water Tribe boy, Sokka, Aang quickly surrendered when Zuko threatened to have Wolf Cove burn to the ground. However, Aang escaped, stole Zuko's journal on Avatars, and was shortly rescued by Sokka, Appa, and Katara. During their next encounters on Kyoshi Island and Omashu, Zuko tried and then failed to capture Team Avatar due to his arrogance and hot temper getting in the way.
During the chase, Aang got agitated or annoyed that Zuko was determined to capture him, even criticizing him for getting himself and Iroh arrested. However, the more he read Zuko's journal, the more Aang felt less alone in the world. When Zuko did have Aang in his grasp because of June, he quickly lost Aang to Admiral Zhao, who imprisoned the Avatar inside the Pohuai Stronghold. Zuko (as the Blue Spirit) came to rescue Aang, who seemed genuinely surprised to be saved. Though the two fought together, Aang was signed to see that the person behind the mask was Prince Zuko. They later bonded over the responsibilities that they were given and the roles they played but this morning was very short-lived. Even though they were enemies, a part of Aang sympathized with Zuko, especially after he accidentally knocked him out and Aang profoundly apologized, as he could see Zuko had been hurt more than enough. After Aang returns to the Spirit world and saves Sokka and Katara, he tells his friends that he now understands that he and Zuko aren't so different after all.
During the Siege of the North, Zuko stopped Aang and Katara from getting to the spirit Oasis, with Zuko deciding that he would take Aangby's force. Unlike the cartoon, Zuko is unable to kidnap Aang because of Katara's intervention. After Zhao killed the Moon Spirit, Zuko watched in despair when he realized that the Avatar was lost after Aang connected with the ocean spirit La. Instead, he turned his fury towards Admiral Zhao and Zuko fought him in a duel. However, the Admiral mocked the prince and revealed that Zuko's quest to capture the Avatar with just a ruse; instead it was just a ploy to motivate Azula on her path to becoming her father's heir.
===Sokka===
Sokka and Zuko first met when he came to Wolf Cove looking for the Avatar; however, Sokka, was convinced by his sister Katara to protect Aang, so he challenged the fire Price to a duel in the pane he will leave Wolf Cove alone. However, Zuko won and was nearly close to killing Sokka, even mocking the younger boy for his failure. However, Aang intervened and offered him up to Zuko in exchange for the safety of Wolf Cove. Sokka, Katara, and Appa later saved Aang from captivity. After Kyoshi Island, Sokka realized that Zuko was dangerous to them all and decided to protect Katara and Aang from him. Determined to capture Aang, Zuko followed them all around the world,
In Omashu Sokka rolled his eyes in annoyance, saying "This guy again?" when he saw Zuko and Iroh cornering them.
Despite being on opposing sides, Zuko and Sokka have many things in common.
They are both the oldest siblings in their relationship with Azula and Katara as well as being the heirs to their fathers. Zuko and Sokka also both care for their people and feel a great sense of responsibility to help their respective nations (Sokka's will to protect Wolf Cove and Katara at all costs and Zuko becoming Fire Lord to help his subjects). Throughout most of the show, they both seek their father's approval by bearing great pressure in their duties. (Zuko's need to get the Avatar and Sokka to become a capable leader in Hakoda's eyes.)
===Katara===
Relationship Status: Enemies · First Met: Winter 99 AG (Aang) · Nickname: ZutaraZuko considers Katara an enemy because she is the Avatar's best friend and protector and Zuko wants to capture the Avatar to restore his honor and his father's love. The two first met in Wolf Cove when Zuko came looking for Aang and the former crowned Prince attacked her brother Sokka. Katara felt completely defenseless to save her brother. Katara later helped save Aang from Zuko's ship by performing a water whip. Zuko was surprised to see that Katara was secretly a waterbender because they were all wiped out in the Southern Water Tribe.  
In Warriors, Zuko fought and triumphed over Katara when he tried getting past her to steal Aang from under her protection. His attack on her reminded Katara of the day she lost her mother and Zuko was close to killing Katara had Kyoshi/Aang not intervened.
In Omashu, Zuko tracked down team Avatar by following Katara.
On their way to the North, Katara praised Aang for forming a connection with the banished prince. This showed that she was proud of Aang's ability to connect to other people and that she didn't seem to mind that it was Zuko Aang who found a connection. During the Siege of the North, Zuko stopped Aang and Katara from getting to the spirit Oasis, with Zuko deciding that he would take Aang with him by force, thus preventing Katara and Aang from saving the moon spirit from Admiral Zhao.
Unlike the cartoon, Zuko was unable to kidnap Aang because Katara intervened faster. Zuko was surprised at how Katara had improved as a waterbending master since their last encounter on Kyoshi Island. To make up for the fact that she was besting him, Zuko mocked her for finding a new master. Confident and bold Katara shouted back "You're looking at her!" While she froze him in place until Zuko used his breath of fire to free himself. When Zhao killed the moon spirit, Katara lost her abilities to waterbend and Zuko ceased fire, likely because he was reluctant to attack a defenseless woman, which he would likely deem dishonorable. Their fight ended in a stalemate when roof debris landed on top of him. Unknown to Katara and Zuko, the two both survived and were concerned with their respective loved ones, Iroh and Aang.
===Zhao===
Zuko hated the admiral with a burning passion (literally) because Zhao stood in Zuko's way to capture the Avatar and claim his birthright to the throne.
Discovering that Lieutenant Jee is heading off course, Zuko realizes that Zhao has been promoted to admiral, meaning that the rest of Zuko's army is under his control. When he and Iroh finally captured Aang, they reluctantly gave up the Avatar to Zhao's hands when the admiral cornered them, much to Zuko's frustration, even more so when Iroh warned Zuko not to do anything rash. Despite Iroh's warning, Zuko takes his identity as the Blue Spirit and snuck into the Pohuai Stronghold to rescue Aang from captivity.
In The North Zhao discovered that Zuko was the Blue Spirit through the abandoned swords, which Azula helped him identify. He purposefully had a drunk Lieutenant Jee overhears Zhao's scheme to get rid of Zuko and immediately informs the prince, prompting Zuko to hastily escape on a boat. Unbeknownst to Zuko, Zhao had cunningly rigged the boat with explosive jelly. The next day, Zhao "offers" his condolences to Iroh and passionately lies to Iroh about seeking revenge for Zuko's supposed demise. However, Iroh is already aware of Zhao being supposedly responsible for Zuko's near-death experience.
After failing to capture Aang in Anga Qel'a, Zuko angrily confronted the fallen admiral and challenged him to an Agni kai against his uncle's warnings. After triumphing over Zhao in their combat, Zuko began accusing him of costing him his chance at regaining his anger. However, Zhao revealed to Zuko that his mission was a sham and that it was the only way Ozai could motivate Azula as his true heir, much to Zuko's anger. The young man still spared Zhao and walked away instead. Furious at being beaten by a mere teenager, Zhao attempted to kill Zuko from behind, only for the admiral to be killed by Iroh in Zuko's defense.
Category:Avatar: The Last Airbender
Category:Relationships