Fire Lord Ozai will always be one of the most menacing characters in cartoon history. To accurately translate his presence onto the screen, both Daniel Dae Kim and Netflix shouldered huge responsibilities to ensure nothing was lost in translation.
Thus, in order to achieve this, Netflix’s live-action series, based on Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, had to make some changes to the show. This included the decision to introduce Fire Lord Ozai way earlier in the series. Upon looking at the reviews, it appears that these changes were, in fact, successful.
Daniel Dae Kim Explained the Early Introduction of Fire Lord Ozai in the Netflix Series Was “Necessary”
While the menacing presence of Fire Lord Ozai is present throughout the series, the full reveal of his character typically starts from the first episode of Book 3. Yet, the Netflix live-action adaptation, which has been believed to stay true to the source material so far, chose to take a different route, pushing the Fire Lord into the spotlight right from the opening scenes. Daniel Dae Kim, the actor playing this iconic role, recently explained to GQ the reason behind this step.
In his explanation, Kim pointed out that the series from the very beginning is striving to dive deep into Fire Lord Ozai’s character, adding more layers and complexity. This, in turn, would in fact significantly impact Zuko’s story, and would allow viewers to better understand the motivations that drive his actions throughout the series, well at least the first half of his arc.
By fleshing out Ozai’s character, the show not only adds further depth to the narrative but also provides important insights into Zuko’s as well as Azula’s journey and the challenges they face along the way. He said,
“I think it was a dramaturgical function. There was an effort made to deepen all of the primary characters earlier on. If you look at Sokka’s story and Katara’s story, certain elements got pushed up. I think the reason they pushed up my story was in service of Zuko because we wanted to feel what his motivations were and why he was relentlessly chasing Aang. I personally applaud the decision, because I think you care so much more about the primary four than you would otherwise. It’s the right decision.”
The actor highlighted that the series wasn’t just about narrating the story but also delved deeply into every “why” behind every action. And, judging by the reviews, the decision to introduce the Fire Nation ruler early on has actually, in fact, paid off.
Daniel Dae Kim Excited to Dive Deeper into His Character in the Netflix Series!
Ozai is a true villain, with little love and compassion for his family. He manipulates his children to achieve his goals, fostering a toxic dynamic between them for his own validation. Additionally, he’s shown to be willing to resort to any means necessary if that path leads to more power and success.
While these aspects are explored much later in the animated show, Netflix’s decision to bring them to the forefront has Daniel Dae Kim excited about the new possibilities for his character in the seasons ahead. With Netflix renewing the series for two more seasons, the actor eagerly anticipates bringing this complex character to life. Speaking to GQ, he explained,
“A descent into madness sounds like juicy territory for an actor, and it’s not something I’ve explored before on screen. Should we be lucky enough to get a season 2, I look forward to those conversations. Nothing is inevitable in this business and in this industry climate, but there seems to be a lot of excitement about it.”
The character in itself presents challenges, and portraying him on the big screen can be tricky. In the same conversation, the actor thus elaborated on how he embodies the deranged power figure.
“I kept thinking, like, what happened to Ozai when he was a child that he would think that this is the way to show your kid his destiny? I did look at his line to succession… the fact that he is a second child, and how that’s not the natural lineage for a king. So what kind of ambition does it take to supersede the rightful heir to the throne? There’s that phrase that I think of – ‘hurt people hurt people’ – and I wonder ‘What was Ozai’s trauma as a child?’ because he’s clearly passing it down.”
All in all, fans can’t wait to see what the series has in store for future seasons. It’s sure to be one thrilling ride!
Avatar: The Last Airbender Season One is now streaming on Netflix.
