Zuko Characterization - Tumblr Posts

Even tho I don't ship Zutara anymore, but I found it worth noting how Zuko is characterised more fairly in these specific shots of him with Katara than 99% of the scenes of him with Mai (*bruh even Mai was ooc but this is going to be for another discussion)

I already have many issues from book 3 especially in terms of characterisation, but Oh God, Zuko had the most awful ooc moments with Mai (*the beach episode sums it up), like I cringe whenever I see them together on screen💀

He's not even being Zuko with Mai, He's just a different person named "Zuko" (*the same applies to Mai), and it's really insulting not only for Zuko and Mai but for the fans as well

But let's be all honest, Zuko had such a spot-on characterisation in his scenes with Jin! (*not to mention the cute chemistry) He was really being himself in the Tale of Zuko

Regarding my previous post about Zuko's characterization I think this comment is good to reply to and explain my point further

I think there's a nuanced difference between "being out of character/mischaraterized" and "not being/acting like yourself"

The thing with Zuko and Mai is that their relationship existence doesn't make any sense to begin with whether it was narrative-wise or character/personality-wise (*I will deep-dive into this topic in another post bec I don't want to deviate from the original topic) back to the point, I think to explain my point I will use Zuko and Jin as an example to make it clear,

When Zuko first met Jin he was being cautious of his identity being known and assumed she might know he and Iroh are fire nation, Zuko was of course acting nervous in the restaurant because (aside from him hiding his identity) Zuko is not capable to socialise or really be socially open, I think the thing of "not acting like yourself" was better explained in his date with Jin, Zuko was actually acting in-character even when he's being Lee and he wasn't comfortable at first but the moment when Jin asked him to juggle is the moment he started to actually act like his 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 self (*but he still wasn't mischaracterized back then) he started to be comfortable with jin because he actually liked her and became even more comfortable when they're alone at the fountain so the reason he had back then to not act like himself is now gone

From this we can know that Zuko is not the type of person who would be a "people pleaser" or try to not act like himself when he has no valid reason to or when he already loves/or comfortable with this person (*like with Jin)

Now let's see Zuko and Mai, the reason why this case is out of character even if we assumed that this relationship existence (somehow) made sense is that he has no reason to not act like himself with Mai, Bec he already knows her, she's not a stranger to him, and Zuko is not also the type of "playboy" as he's depicted in his relationship with Mai which is why I say it's out of character and a writing issue, also the other reason why it's out of character and not them shown as "not acting like theirselves" is because these moments are not presented as such

The writers presented these moments as them actually "acting like themselves" and to try to trick the audience into actually thinking this is "how Zuko and Mai really are" (*which is also the reason why the fandom mostly mischaracterize these two), the writers presented these moments as "look they're happy with each other and love each other" which is why it can't really be interpreted as "first relationships where neither of the two act like themselves"

But anyway thanks to the comment @thereslifeinhereyes and I'm interested in having these conversations even if we disagree

Just to start by saying that I'm both anti-maiko and a Jinko shipper (*I would say I'm a #1 hardcore shipper for it)

I will state the things that I agree and disagree with you in your answer:

"I think basing that opinion on his relationship with Mai is selling him short" I totally agree, infact I think it's more worse than people mostly seem to realise is that THE RELATIONSHIP ITSELF IS OOC AND DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE therefore they will act ooc and the writers themselves are aware that this relationship makes no sense hence why they write zuko and mai ooc 99% of the time when they're together

and regarding the seashell scene, I think it's dumb and ooc for Zuko and I will explain why, while I do agree with you that Jin will be content and appreciate any simple acts from Zuko (in contrast to Mai who is barely ever interested in anything) but I think the real thing we need to acknowledge in this critical engagement is that Zuko was literally mischaracterized awfully in "the beach" episode (*even the other characters had ooc scenes in the ep but this is for another post) so you can't really use this seashell scene as an example about how Zuko would act because it's already dumb and occ for him

And to explain why it's dumb and ooc I will use the Tale of Zuko as an example on how Zuko's characterization and awkwardness was actually in-character compared to the beach episode

So how did "The Tale of Zuko" portray his awkwardness right?

In the beginning of his date with Jin, Zuko had his hair done by uncle Iroh, since he seems to trust his uncle and always see his wisdom, he believes in his decisions and didn't really bother to pay attention if it's bad or good, and also because Zuko doesn't really have an experience (*and it's his first time) and is also anti-social so he handed it to his uncle and got along with it

In the restaurant is were things start to get nervous, Jin asks him questions and responds calmly then when the waiter came to them and referred to Jin as Zuko's girlfriend, Zuko exclaimed that she's not his girlfriend and pounded his fist on the table, and all the people in restaurant turn their eyes on Zuko and Jin, Zuko then realise he embarrassed Jin (*also a note Jin was described in the script as "nervously" slurping the noodles) Zuko of course wants to somehow cheer her up with a compliment but he doesn't know how or what to say but then said what came to his mind at the moment

PAY ATTENTION TO ZUKO'S BODY LANGUAGE AFTER, he fiddles his thumbs nervously and lowers his head and turns his view to the other side, HE RECOGNISED HIS BLUNDER AND HIS AWKWARDNESS and stayed silent until Jin moved the conversation, and Zuko wanted to respond more smoothly

Jin asks him about where he and his uncle came from, of course Zuko has to lie but he can't clearly think of a convincing lie that's why he seems to pause and talk slowly when he tried to bring up his travelling and circus story, so it's normal in this situation why he would be awkward which was pretty realistic actually when someone doesn't know how to lie

Then the moment Jin asks him to juggle is where things start to change, Zuko started to open up more to her and he doesn't want to disappoint her and refuse her request even tho he doesn't know how to juggle but tried to do it anyway so to not disappoint her but he awkwardly failed to do it

This segment really portrays his awkwardness more realistically within context and in-character for Zuko and doesn't trivialize his awkwardness or his temper (*unlike the beach episode)

At the fountain he gives her a gift which is a coupon- it's a simple yet a proper gift which Jin appreciated and Zuko said it was his uncle's idea, like I said before he trusted his uncle's decisions and since it's Zuko's first time and he doesn't have experience I would assume he didn't think of the idea of giving Jin a gift and he followed his uncle's advice by giving her this gift because Zuko is aware he might not think of a good idea for a gift hence why he followed his uncle's idea

Now let's get to the point on why the seashell scene was dumb and ooc for Zuko

The second he saw a random seashell he immediately gave it to Mai (*He didn't even give it a second thought?) I'm not saying a seashell would necessarily be a bad gift (*it would be a proper gift for someone who has a hobby and interest of collecting seashells) but it's actually trivial if you think about, I mean it makes no sense that Zuko would see it and think this might be a proper gift to give to someone, and out of all the people, he specifically gave it to Mai (who's uninterested and bored by almost everything)??? It's not like Zuko is still getting to know her for the first time, this scene makes him rather dumb and ooc

And the line "Don't girls like stuff like this?" makes it even worse, Why would he even assume that? And where would he get this assumption from? Even tho he also had no experience in his date with Jin but he still didn't display that kind of triviality or ignorance back then

What's really baffling to me is that the "Tale of Zuko" and "The beach" episode are both written by the same writer (Katie Mattila), but how was Zuko's character got right and nailed in the Tale of Zuko yet so awfully mischaracterized in the beach episode?? I will soon post a blog fully explaining the problems with the beach episode

"he'd be shockingly smooth"??? We saw him with Mai, he wasn't smooth. 🫤

I think basing that opinion on his relationship with Mai is selling him short. That relationship was bad because Mai didn't actually like him. She also didn't appreciate or reciprocate his small romantic gestures. That seashell thing? Absolute gold, and something that just came natuarally. But because Mai had a bug up her nose it went over like a lead balloon. That wasn't his fault. Like I said, Zuko in a relationship where his partner actually likes him would be smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy. I'm basing that on how well his date with Jin ended once he got out of his own head. Imagine if they'd been able to go out a couple more times. Jin would've melted over that lil' seashell. And that's exactly why I'm baffled by the amount of people who seem to think canon Maiko was the height of romance. She didn't seem to like the boy, and he felt it. And he acted accordingly. He was dating someone just like his father. Of course he was weird and awkward.