Avatar: The Last Airbender had its second live-action outing with Netflix, taking significant liberties that caused the show to deviate from the source material. One such difference from the source material introduced Azula very early in the story, at a time when she was nowhere to be found in the original.
While fans of the show are largely upset by the change, given that it changes the dynamic between the characters of Azula and Zuko and leaves them lesser for it, Zuko actor Dallas Liu was excited that the writers were able to pull off the rivalry depicted on screen between the siblings, without them having to interact.
Dallas Liu praised the writers of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Dallas Liu, the actor who portrays the role of Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, talked to Teen Vogue about how he appreciated that Azula was introduced and written in the way she was. He said:
“I think the writers did a good job of showing a rivalry between the two fighting for the father’s approval and attention without us directly interacting or speaking with each other. Zuko is just trying to prove he is worthy of his father’s love and attention just as much as Azula is. I think people will really come to root for Zuko because of everything that he’s been through.”
The idea of introducing Azula earlier than she was in the source material might have stemmed from the fact that Zuko is characterized much more as being after his father’s love rather than winning his honor back. He wants to find the Avatar, but unlike the show, Ozai is actually impressed with Zuko’s finding. challenging Azula to do better.
Introducing Azula earlier sort of takes away from both their characters
Azula was introduced to the audience at the tail end of the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The character literally appears for the first time in the final moments of the finale, setting up the conflict for Zuko in the second season. However, Azula’s introduction in the first episode of the show sort of sets her as a one-dimensional foil for Zuko, whose character is now also defined in contrast and comparison to Azula.
Neither characters are given space to develop by themselves but are now all positioned in correspondence to each other. This also makes Iroh’s presence and impact in Zuko’s life a little inconsequential, where he starts acting more like a warden rather than a mentor. The show can amend this in its second season by introducing other characters, but introducing Azula right off the bat, along with the characters around her like Ty Lee and Mai might have just bloated the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender more than anything else.
