The anticipated showdown between the brother-sister duo, Azula and Zuko, had been foreshadowed since the beginning of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The way the Nickelodeon series handled the final confrontation was truly commendable leading it to become one of the greatest moments of the series.
ATLA is undeniably one of the greatest cartoon shows ever made, which not only charmed the kids but also made the adults geek out about it. However, a recent YouTube video brings to light a major error in the final episode that calls into question Zuko’s worthiness of the honor he receives at the end of the Agni Kai.
Who Truly Deserved to Be Fire Lord Instead of Zuko?
In the last episode, significant changes unfold as the world moves towards the end of the war and the restoration of balance that citizens have yearned for over the past 100 years. After Avatar Aang defeats Fire Lord Ozai and takes away his power of bending, the throne of the Fire Nation is left vacant. And the two most worthy candidates to fill the position are Azula and Zuko.
While Azula attempted to forcefully seize the crown without any confrontation, Zuko wouldn’t allow it, leading to much anticipated Agni Kai. In the Avatar universe, the Agni Kai is a sacred ritual of the Fire Nation, serving as a means to settle disputes, a final duel of sorts. It is believed that the Agni Kai is fought until one of the opponents is burned, while the other one stands victorious.
As the brother-sister duo agree to fight each other for the crown, they deliver one of the greatest scenes of the series for Avatar: The Last Airbender fans. Not only is the scene visually stunning, but the tension is at an all-time high. Although fans may not have initially rooted for Zuko in the earlier seasons, his later arc proved him to be worthy of their support.
As Azula’s descent into madness unfolds, reaching its peak in this particular scene, the stakes are raised even further. However, as the Agni Kai concludes, the winner of the duel is supposed to gain honor. Technically, Zuko failed to win.
Instead, it was Katara, who was also present in the scene, who ultimately defeated the deranged Azula. This technically makes her the worthy Fire Lord of the Fire Nation. This humorous plot hole was pointed out by the YouTuber xTheFirstx in one of his YouTube shorts.
The Reason Behind Zuko Becoming the Fire Lord
Despite Zuko technically not winning the Agni Kai, he becomes the Fire Lord. Why? Well, in the above-stated theory, one key aspect was overlooked. In the Agni Kai, there’s a rule that prohibits direct attacks on someone who isn’t part of the duel.
While the duel was between Zuko and Azula, Azula, in her attempt to defeat Zuko, chose to target his friend Katara. By doing so, Azula effectively disqualified herself from the duel, making Zuko the winner by default. Although Azula is ultimately defeated in the end, her forfeiting the Agni Kai not only dishonors the duel but also costs her any chance at the throne, at the very least.
In addition to that, Zuko was meant to be the Fire Lord from the start. Throughout the series, his character not only recognized his mistakes but also fought passionately against evil with every fiber of his being once he recognized how his actions might hurt the people around him. This makes him the worthy Fire Lord who would assist the Avatar in restoring balance to the world. And he does just that.
On the other hand, Azula, while one of the best villains in the series, is also misunderstood and eventually suffers a mental breakdown for which Ozai is largely responsible. Towards the end, Azula is kept in confinement and restricted from firebending. Despite her several attempts to sabotage Zuko beyond the series, her fate is left as a cliffhanger. However, it’s confirmed that Azula in fact does not receive a happy ending.
