Love Doesn't Just Happen 2

Love Doesn’t Just Happen part 2: Zutara


The formula I used to analyze the Kataang relationship is a simple formula: how does he treat her (and vise versa, though in Kataang’s case I only studied it from one side), and how closely do the pair match, morally. This was easy to do for Kataang because of two things: they had constant contact, and they had the same goal. They were already allies and friends. It is easy to judge Aang based entirely on his own merits, entirely on his own actions and words, from moment to moment. Plus, Katara has the opportunity to understand Aang’s background, to understand for herself why he is the way he is.

Studying Zutara is more difficult. Zuko and Katara seldom see each other, and the few times they do meet before “The Western Air Temple”, they’re mortal enemies with driving goals that directly conflict with each other (save world vs. capture Avatar). Katara had little opportunity to understand Zuko’s motivations and background, and largely had no motivation to know. How can her heart possibly soften towards him?

If love doesn’t just happen, how could Katara possibly come to love Zuko?

Studying Zutara using my formula is more complex because I’m no longer comparing just his direct actions. Zuko is compared to the other villains of the show, and when those villains are members of his own family, what they do rubs off onto Zuko’s reputation. When looking for “things he does for Katara,” we have to also include “what did he NOT do to her, his enemy?”  Basically, Zuko has to win the “not as big of a jerk as he could have been” award. And his “good behavior” must be consistent, reliable. His goal may be in complete opposition to Katara’s, but if Zutara happens, it’ll happen because he somehow managed to impress her … even as the most immediate threat to world peace.

How did Zuko, the “face of the enemy,” treat Katara?

How did he, Aang’s greatest threat, prove that he had integrity and strong moral character?

Is it possible that his treatment of Katara and his showing as a reliable, honorable enemy laid the foundation of her strong feelings toward him?

Let’s find out, episode by episode.



Before the series starts, we know that the Southern Water Tribe had suffered greatly by the hands of the Fire Nation. They were raided multiple times. The Fire Nation took all of the waterbenders away for their own use, and killed others. We know that Katara’s own mother was killed while Katara was just a child. The fear of the Fire Nation drives Sokka to train as a warrior and train toddlers to be defenders, apparently to the exclusion of all else. And Katara, being the mother figure of her home, she couldn’t train herself enough to defend herself if the Fire Nation returns. Katara would have grown up knowing how horrible, despicable, and ruthless the Fire Nation was. The Fire Nation is terrible. The Fire Nation is terrifying. The Fire Nation is cruel.

Enter Zuko.


“The Avatar Returns” – Zuko strolls into Katara’s village, dressed in full battle armor and with two others. He’s a terrifying sight, complete with his warpaint-looking scar. Sokka attacks, and Zuko kicks him aside. Zuko approaches the villagers and asks a question. He grabs Katara’s grandmother, but only to demonstrate the kind of person he is looking for, and then releases her. In frustration, he flings fire over the villagers’ heads to intimidate them. When Sokka attacks again, Zuko disarms him. He only gets mad enough to threaten physical harm to Sokka after Sokka’s boomerang smacks him hard across the back of his head. Then when Aang appears, Zuko reveals the truth: Aang is the Avatar. Zuko immediately focuses solely on Aang, dueling with him one-on-one, revealing that he had trained for years to fight the Avatar, and that he’s disappointed that Aang’s just a child. Then, when Aang offers himself up as prisoner if Zuko wouldn’t harm the villagers, Zuko immediately agrees. Zuko keeps his promise, expecting Aang to keep his. Then they were gone, leaving nothing but a broken wall behind.

Zuko came. He harmed no one, not even Sokka who kept attacking him, and not Aang after Aang surrendered. He did not gloat over or belittle the villagers, and did not “punish” them for hiding the Avatar. He just demanded cooperation. He took no hostages. He just came, got what he wanted, and left for “home,” doing no more than he absolutely needed to. How would this compare to Katara’s memories of the raids? Also, he was hunting someone who hadn’t been seen in a century, and he happens to catch him at the South Pole? Talk about persistent.

When Katara finally catches up to Zuko, though, the first thing she sees is Zuko knocking Aang off the ship. Anti-Zutara moment, even if Aang’s sinking into the water triggered the Avatar state, proving that Aang really is the Avatar (Zuko’s words were true).And when Aang and company was making their escape, Zuko’s and Iroh’s combined fireblast demonstrates just how tenacious Zuko is. She now knows that Zuko will chase them, no matter where they go.



“The Warriors of Kyoshi” – Katara alone witnesses Zuko’s warship landing and him coming out, him saying, “I want the Avatar alive.” His only purpose is to capture Aang, not kill him. Once again, the first thing Zuko does upon entering the village is demand cooperation from the hidden villagers in giving him the Avatar. He and his men do not attack until they themselves are attacked. Zuko himself sets no fires, though his men aren’t so careful. He remains focused on finding the Avatar, and once Aang appears Zuko duels one-on-one with him. Katara realizes that, if Aang leaves, Zuko would follow. She already understands that Zuko is not into destroying lives for power and the like. All he wants is Aang. And Zuko doesn’t disappoint: once he sees Aang leaving, he immediately stops the raid, determined to not loose sight of his target.



In “Imprisoned,” Katara encounters other Fire Nation soldiers. They extort taxes from the Earth Kingdom village, intimidate for fun, steal, turn the villagers against each other (the old man turned Haru in after Haru saved his life), are too dumb to realize that a girl dressed in all Water tribe clothes would be unlikely to be an earthbender, bully, humiliate, taunt, belittle, deliberately squish hope, act cowardly, and otherwise demonstrate their utter lack of personal honor. This may be the typical Fire Nation behavior as far as Katara is concerned.

In “Avatar Roku,” the Fire Sages turn against Aang, demonstrating that even they have been corrupted and have turned traitor against their original duty.

Back to Zuko.



“Avatar Roku: Winter Solstice part 2” – There is a Fire Nation warship following Appa, and this ship shoots a fire ball at him. Just from that, Katara knows whose warship it is. Nice to know that Zuko’s bullheaded determination is that reliable. Even inside the Fire Temple, Zuko’s actions are focused on his goal and nothing else, grabbing Aang, then working together with the fire sages. Then, after fire sage Shyu is captured and bound, Zuko straightly asks him why he helped the Avatar.

Enter Zhao. For the first time, Katara gets to see that Zuko’s troubles run deep, as Zhao tauntingly arrests Zuko in typical Fire Nation fashion, calling him a both a prince and a traitor. As a prince, Zuko should have all of the resources of the Fire Nation at his disposal, but he doesn’t. He only has his own ship and the crew. More importantly, now that she knows that Zuko is considered a traitor by the Fire Nation, she knows that Zuko risked his life in running the blockade and entering Fire Nation waters. Without a doubt, if there is one thing Zuko is not, it’s a coward. Zuko is tied up much like Katara, Sokka and Shyu. She helplessly watches as Zhao and the fire sages gang up to ambush and maybe kill Aang. Compare that to how Zuko acts every time he faces the Avatar.



“The Waterbending Scroll” – This is a fun episode because it’s Zuko’s and Katara’s first one-on-one encounter. In this episode, we see how Zuko treats his enemy Katara directly.

Once again, Katara is never hurt in any way, mentally or physically. Zuko never belittles or taunts her, unless you count trying to bribe her with her necklace as insulting. In actuality, he was testing her, to see how loyal she truly was. Once she made it perfectly clear that she couldn’t be bribed, he did not pressure her any further. In fact, he leaves her alone. He never raises his voice to her, even when she angrily defies him. He never looses his temper, and he doesn’t follow through on his one threat of doing harm. More, he tries to reason with her, explaining to her that his lost honor (reputation) is at stake. He is gentle to her, his enemy. His calm acceptance of her defiance and hostility sets the stage for her opening up to him in “The Crossroads of Destiny.”

What about his character? If anything, this episode shows that Zuko treats pirates the same way Katara does. He threatened the waterbending scroll to make the pirates behave and hid the fact that Aang was worth 1000 times worth the scroll, just as she felt no guilt about stealing from them because they were thieves. Otherwise, his dealings with the pirates were as honest and straightforward as one could hope without being naïvely foolhardy.

If he did any damage to his relationship to Katara in this episode, it was in revealing that he had her mother’s necklace. It did not matter that he had no idea what the necklace meant to Katara, nor did it matter that he didn’t steal it. She would hold his having it against him, and begrudge him for it.

She also hears Zuko verbally insult someone for the very first time in this episode. He calls her brother “water tribe peasant.” Not too hurtful of an insult, but it serves the purpose of revealing how threatened Zuko felt by Sokka’s unraveling his carefully laid plans. This is also the very first time that we see Zuko lose sight of his driving goal of capturing Aang; he is so busy fighting the treacherous pirates that he doesn’t notice when Aang makes his escape. Overall, a very interesting Zutara episode, as both Katara and Zuko learn things about each other, and interact face to face. Overall, Zuko put on a good showing of his character and treatment of her, remaining calm in the face of her hostility, and keeping her tied to the tree so she would be out of the way (including harm’s way), and never once treating her ill, in spite of the fact that she was a helpless enemy who was being openly hostile towards him. He never once considered using her as a hostage to capture Aang, and never threatened her necklace to force her to betray Aang.



“Bato of the Water Tribe” – When Jun calls Katara Zuko’s girlfriend, Zuko doesn’t address it. To me, that means he thinks highly enough of Katara to not insult her by denying what Jun says. Also, once again Zuko treats Katara respectfully, never gloating over her or her brother, or otherwise belittling, threatening or harming them. He even ignores Sokka calling him stupid. If he was frustrated that the Avatar wasn’t with them, he remained focused on completing his goal and never took his frustrations out on either water tribe sibling. When they were riding the shirshu, Zuko puts a hand on Katara to keep her from falling off. Very automatically, he was keeping her safe from harm. Then once Aang appears, Zuko leaves Sokka and Katara completely alone, focusing exclusively on fighting the Avatar. Once again, he does not resort to cruel or dirty tactics, like using Katara as a hostage. Once again, he treats Katara well, thus demonstrating his moral fiber.



“Siege of the North part 1” – This is another interesting episode, because this is the only episode in which Zuko and Katara legitimately fight.

Katara: No, he's my friend. I'm perfectly capable of protecting him.
Zuko (voice over, his voice echoing slightly in the chamber): Well, aren't you a big girl now?

This is the only time Zuko ever says anything belittling to Katara. He appears, and she see why he’s in such a bad mood. Judging from the fresh extra burns marking his face and from the fact that he’s alone, she knows that he’s just been through something rough. Just knowing that Zuko made it alone into the center of the Sprit Oasis, hurt as he is, would be another testament to Zuko’s unstoppable will. It is what makes him her most dangerous enemy now, but her greatest ally later.

Katara (turning to the voice): No!
Zuko: Yes! Hand him over, and I won't have to hurt you.

Once again, in spite of his bad mood and in spite of knowing what her answer will be, he first offers a peaceful solution. Last time he saw her, she couldn’t even do the water whip. He had no reason to believe she would be a match for him and was providing a way out. Of course she’d refuse, even if she didn’t have a master, and I’m certain he fully expected her to resist him, anyway.

For the first and only time, when Katara shows that she is indeed a match for him, Zuko insults her the same way he insulted her brother; by calling her a peasant. She is unraveling his plans and has become a true threat. Here, he finally lets loose, fully acknowledging her abilities as a warrior, and treating her as such.

When he goes directly for Aang, Zuko once again shows his dogged, dangerous focus. He is not easily distracted. This time it was a mistake to turn his back on Katara, though, and he learns from his mistake. Once the sun rises and Zuko gains the upper hand, he deals with Katara first, and even then doesn’t do more to her than absolutely necessary to get her out of his way. Once she is out of the way, Zuko lets her be. He is not cruel or ruthless or evil, for an evil man would have killed her when she was helpless. Also, he demonstrates to her that he understands very well how the celestial bodies affect both his power and hers, himself associated with the sun, which gives everyone nothing but life-giving warmth and light.



“Siege of the North part 2” – “They're not gonna die in this blizzard. If we know anything it's that Zuko never gives up. They'll survive, and we'll find them!” How true, Sokka! Zuko’s stubborn determination is legendary. Even his enemies acknowledge and respect it. This includes Katara.

Zuko (assuming a firebending stance): Here for a rematch?
Katara (beginning to waterbend): Trust me, Zuko, it's not going to be much of a match.

This time, though Zuko has Aang in his hands, he lets Aang go so he could focus on fighting Katara. This is how much he respects her abilities, now that he knows that if he wants the Avatar he has to go through her. And, once again, he doesn't fight dirty by using Aang as a hostage or a shield, in spite of the fact that he's at a distinct disadvantage. After Zuko is defeated, Katara doesn’t object when Aang decides to save Zuko’s life.

Now, Iroh does something impressive in the Spirit Oasis. He is also an enemy, but he's willing to take down Zhao in defense of the Moon Spirit. Iroh has been seen with Zuko, though he frequently doesn't take direct action in battle. Seeing Iroh forcefully defend the Moon Spirit and help restore the Moon Spirit, and later learning that Iroh is very close to Zuko, would be further testament to Katara that Zuko himself is a good person who happens to be on the wrong side of the war.

Then Zuko disappears. Katara doesn't worry. I don't know why she’s not worried about Zuko still lingering around, but she's not.



A lot happens before Katara sees Zuko again. The Gaang encounter Azula, Ty Lee and Mai, and find them to be the most dangerous enemies yet, having all of Zuko’s directness and determination, and all of Zhao’s inhumanity and resources, but none of either villains’ weaknesses.

It is interesting to point out that during the entire first season, in every single encounter, Zuko is the same. He is constantly direct, honorable without making a big deal about his nobility, and he never, EVER gives up. His desperate, stubborn determination is practically superhuman. Up to now, Katara doesn’t have a chance to see the human side of Zuko. He is just the enemy who never, ever backs down. She doesn’t get to see past his disfigured, young face, high-quality uniforms, funky ponytail, understated honor and bulldog determination. Even the one hint she had that Zuko has it hard is undermined by its romance of it: he’s a banished prince. How can you get more fairytale than that?



“The Chase” - This is the very next time she sees Zuko. At the end of Season 1 she sees him with injuries, still trying to capture the Avatar. This time when she sees him, he's very different. He no longer has his trademark ponytail but short, even hair, and he's wearing refugee-level Earth Kingdom clothes. He doesn't seem to have anything of his former life except his personality, firebending abilities, and Iroh, who had helped save the day at the North Pole. If it weren't for his facial scar and Iroh by his side, she'd probably not recognize him. And he's helping to fight Azula, the newest and most cold-blooded threat to Aang. Azula calls Zuko and Iroh traitors in front of Katara. Katara watches as Azula takes out Iroh. She sees Zuko's reaction to what happens to Iroh. Immediately after Azula's gone, Zuko is kneeling by Iroh's side, obviously suffering great emotional pain. Zuko yells angrily, painfully at the group to get away from them, evidence that he considers Katara and the Gaang his enemy still, and also evidence of how much pride he still has, that he would not be pitied, or be in debt to his enemies. Still, Katara is so touched by what she's seeing -- that Zuko, her most dangerous, most honorable enemy, has been humbled, has lost everything, and is in so much anguish -- that she tells Zuko she can help. Zuko pauses a moment, then flings fire over the Gaang's heads, yelling at them to leave. Reluctantly, Katara, Aang and the Gaang comply, leaving Zuko to suffer alone.

This is such a good Zutara scene. Katara and the Gaang fought alongside Zuko against a common enemy. Katara sees a whole new side of Zuko, how human he is. He's reduced to rags, looks almost normal, and is definitely not the threat he used to be. She sees him in great pain, but still having enough dignity to not reduce himself to a beggar. He'd rather suffer alone than be pitied or be in debt. This shows Katara even more just how strong Zuko's personal strength is, that he would stand on his own against impossible odds. He doesn't treat her very well, but this time his rage and anger are forgivable because he's grieving and trying to preserve his dignity. I count this as very pro-Zutarian. Katara finally gets to see Zuko as a human being who could be deeply hurt. She’s seeing the setup for his transformation.



Between that scene and the next time Katara sees Zuko, a lot happens. She now knows that Azula is Zuko’s sister. In Ba Sing Se, the Gaang truly encounter the dark side of politics: intrigue. Living in Ba Sing Se under the unseen rule of the Dai Li, the only people Katara could trust are her immediate friends. She runs into the manipulative Jet again, and she finds that even he has been brainwashed so that he’s little more than an unknowing puppet. In Ba Sing Se, nothing is as it seems.

In “The Guru,” after dealing with all of this intrigue for so long, Katara catches a glimpse of Zuko, and it scares the daylights out of her. Inside the legendary, impenetrable city, Zuko is acting like a servant in a teashop! Zuko! The prince who was too proud to be pitied when Iroh was shot. More, Iroh himself is alive and doing well. The entire scene must have seemed too surreal to Katara, and she assumes more intrigue, even though intrigue is not characteristic of Zuko. Because she sees Zuko and panics, she flies unknowingly straight to Azula, who captures her. Now Katara knows that Azula is deceiving the Earth King by posing as Kyoshi warriors. By guilt of association, Azula’s deception reflects on her brother, tainting his honorable nature in Katara’s eyes.



“The Crossroads of Destiny” – This is THE primary definitive Zutara episode because Katara and Zuko have a good, honest heart-to-heart. This is the first episode in which she gets firsthand experience of Zuko as a humble human being. She sees how he is like when he doesn’t consider her his enemy, though she counts him as one.

Katara: (angrily) Why did they throw you in here? Oh wait. Let me guess. It’s a trap. So when Aang shows up to rescue me, you can finally have him in your little Fire Nation clutches. (holds hands up like claws) … You’re a terrible person, you know that? Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world’s last hope for peace! But what do you care? You’re the Fire Lord’s son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood.
Zuko: You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Katara:  I don’t?! How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through. Me personally! (turns away and crouches) The Fire Nation took my mother away from me. (cries)
Zuko: I’m sorry. (turns toward her) That’s something we have in common

The first thing he does in the dungeon is listen to her unleash all of her pent-up anger at him, her fellow prisoner. They don’t physically attack each other. He just humbly, quietly, respectfully listens to her outburst. The only time he seems to defend himself is when Katara says that “spreading war, violence and hatred is in your blood.” Even then, he quiets down as Katara continues her verbal attack, and listens until she breaks down crying, telling him why she takes the war his family is waging so personally: the loss of her mother. And Zuko, in her moment of vulnerability, sincerely empathizes. Zuko -- the “face of the enemy,” who has been hunting down the world’s last hope for peace, who has never been cruel or dishonest or hurtful – is gentle and kind to her, apologizes, and reveals to her that he had lost his mother, as well. He treats her as an equal, as someone who is hurting the same way he hurts. And she sees him as a human being who has suffered, too, and who is reaching out to comfort her in her moment of vulnerability so she wouldn’t be feel alone.

This scene cannot be disregarded. To Katara, this time with Zuko is all-important. Just by listening to Katara, not fighting back, and empathizing with her, and being willing to be vulnerable to relieve her emotional pain, Zuko has done Katara a great service. In this scene alone, he does more to uncover and heal Katara's emotional scars than anyone else in the series. He's putting her needs ahead of his reputation and is humble before her. As far as his relationship with Katara, this scene is vital.

Katara: I’m sorry I yelled at you before.
Zuko: It doesn’t matter.
Katara: It’s just that for so long now, whenever I would imagine the face of the enemy, it was your face.
Zuko: My face. I see (turns away and places a hand to his scar).
Katara: (regretfully) No, no, that’s not what I meant.
Zuko: It’s ok. I used to think this scar marked me. The mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I’ve realized I’m free to determine my own destiny, even if I’ll never be free of my mark.

Zuko does not hold Katara’s outburst against her. He continues to listen to her, to understand what she, his enemy, is saying. For the first time, he admits to someone that he is ashamed of his scar. He opens his soul to her, too, and by doing so shows her that, like her, he is mature beyond his years. He has suffered much, and he has already grown and learned from his sufferings. More importantly for Katara, he tells her that he is no longer doomed to chase Aang anymore. To her, this means he is no longer a threat to her dreams of world peace. He is showing her great, deep moral character, the deepness of character that comes from continually seeking to do what is right when his world is full of tragedy and opposition. He is treating her so well here, too. He listened to her pain and empathized with it, without giving her a lecture or trying to teach her how to make it through her pain or anything patronizing like that. And he reveals his humanity to her, too, without wanting or needing her to hold his hand through his pain. He takes his troubles like an adult, and he treats her as an equal, a true companion. And that is a wonderful, precious gift.

Only now, them being equal companions, does he accept her offer to help him. He lets her touch his scar, is ready to let her heal it. Then Aang shows up, and Zuko’s first reaction to being saved by the Avatar is to attack. This shows Katara how differently Zuko sees her and Aang; he was willing to be vulnerable to her, but resents being humble before Aang.

Then Zuko does something that could have permanently killed his relationship with Katara. After showing himself as a real human being, after treating her so sincerely and empathetically, after admitting that he’s no longer “cursed to chase the Avatar forever,” after the deep, personal bonding experience they share, Zuko deliberately chooses to side with his treacherous sister and fight Aang and Katara. She doesn’t know why he makes that choice, nor does she ask. She cannot see any redeeming value to Zuko’s choice (except maybe loyalty to one’s own), and she takes his decision personally. In fact, because she and Aang were about to defeat Azula before Zuko interfered, she may blame Zuko for Azula ending the fight by shooting Aang in the back with lightning.

In a nutshell, this is a powerful Zutara episode, and it ended tragically. Katara lays open all of her hurt and Zuko soothes it, only to turn around and be instrumental in Aang’s near-death. Katara is personally hurt by this, and feels used and betrayed like she has never been betrayed before (that we know of). Zuko will have to do a lot to redeem himself. He’ll have to do more than just casually become a good guy, to simply switch sides. He will have to be just as tenacious and devoted in serving Aang and the rest of Aang’s friends, to essentially surrender his life to them and their cause. He must not make another mistake, he may not back out, he must have no doubts. Nothing less will do to redeem him in Katara’s eyes..



“The Western Air Temple” -  By the time Katara sees Zuko again, Zuko has completed transformation and he is, for the first time, no longer an enemy. He is completely, totally converted, his pride gone, replaced by confidence in doing what is right. The first thing Zuko does is try to convince the Gaang that he has indeed had a total change of heart, and that he wants to teach Aang firebending, the one discipline Aang has left to learn. Katara had seen the first part of this transformation down in the dungeons of Ba Sing Se, though, and so she refuses to trust him and let herself be vulnerable like that again. Zuko doesn't defend his past actions, and even admits to some that the Gaang didn't know about (namely the assassin. Zuko's apparently too honest to think about lying to his allies until after he’s already told them the truth). He doesn't defend his bad choices at all, nor does he ever contradict Katara and the Gaang’s accusations (even the false one – that he stole Katara’s mother’s necklace). He just tries his best to convince them that he is not who he used to be. He reveals that he’s the one who had found and freed Appa in Ba Sing Se, and this seems true as Appa keeps licking him. Then Zuko goes so far as to offer himself as a prisoner. Katara will have none of that, she will not let him get close to her and her heart again. She will not take the chance of Zuko being fickle on her again (apparently she needs him to be constant). Zuko keeps trying until Katara herself personally attacks him. Only then does he leave, not getting angry at them. He just meekly goes away.

But then he accidently burns Toph's feet. Katara's willingness to believe the worst of Zuko seems justified.

He comes back in time to save them from Combustion Man's stealth attack. In full view of the Gaang, Zuko single-handedly, repeatedly tries to stop the giant man (first using several peaceful arguments, and then resorting to attacking), only to be cast aside and eventually attacked. Just like how Azula and Zhao couldn't get to the Avatar without going through Zuko first, now Combustion Man had to deal with Zuko before he had a clear shot at Aang.

After Combustion Man is defeated, Zuko once again approaches the Gaang, explaining more clearly his change of heart, how difficult it was but how he had to go through it. He bows to Toph and apologizes to her, telling her that, as a firebender, he should be more careful. This softens Aang's heart enough that he is willing to let Zuko be his teacher. Because Aang is willing to accept Zuko, the Water Tribe siblings are willing, too. This makes Zuko happy. They immediately start walking away from him. He doesn't seem to hold it against them.

Now, awkwardly, Zuko is technically a part of the group. He gets his own room. When Katara comes, he smiles at her and stands up. As she angrily gets in his face and threatens him, he understands her rage and just stands there silently, listening, without excuses. He respects her enough to not resist her in her righteous, protective anger. He takes her seriously.



“The Firebending Masters” – In spite of Zuko’s angry frustration at his humiliating inability to firebend and at all of the teasing he’s getting, doesn't talk back when Katara makes hurtful remarks at him. He openly admits that he does not want to depend on anger anymore for his power, and also that if he cannot regain his firebending abilities Aang would need a different teacher. Zuko and Aang take off on their own, and the both come back safely and soundly, and firebending.

This episode demonstrates further just how determined Zuko is to right the wrongs he had done. He does his best to get along, tries hard to control his volatile temper, declares that he doesn’t like the anger in him (he “doesn’t want to depend on rage anymore”), and he is brutally honest about what would happen if he fails to firebend. Amazingly, Katara lets Zuko take off with Aang without a word of protest. Immediately after her threat in the previous episode, she lets Zuko be completely, totally alone with Aang. By doing so, she is testing him, seeing just how complete Zuko’s transformation truly is. When Zuko and Aang return as best buddies, she knows that Zuko truly, sincerely wants world peace, no longer wanting Aang for his own purposes. Zuko proves that Aang is now safe around him.



“The Boiling Rock” - These episodes open with Zuko making and serving tea for everyone. This is purely a nice gesture on his part, something to make their lives camping out a bit more luxurious. He, the prince, humbly serves the “peasants.” He tries to tell everyone about a favorite joke of his uncle's and he totally botches it, but doesn’t complain when Katara and the others tease him. Then he goes with Sokka on a secret mission, remembers to give Aang homework, and not only keeps Sokka alive, but apparently risked his own life breaking into a high-security prison to rescue Katara's father.

So not only has Zuko’s driving goals completely changed so that he is truly on the side of good, but he’s going the extra mile, supporting his new companions in everything they do. Even as he runs off to help Sokka restore his honor (and Katara her father), though, he is mindful of his primary responsibility in training Aang by leaving him with homework. This shows Katara that Zuko is not only completely surrendering his life and legendary drive and focus to the Gaang’s purposes, but he’s responsible enough to not neglect his duties.



I'd say Zuko is definitely making up for his betrayal in Ba Sing Se. All of the superhuman focus, willpower and devotion that had made him so dangerous in Season 1 has now made him the Gaang's greatest ally, and his honor and nobility has only improved, now that he has given up his pride adn arrogance as a prince. His respect for and treatment of Katara and her friends is impeccable. Don’t think for a moment that Katara hasn’t noticed how steadfastly he's making up for his actions for the past three seasons. She is noticing, and she is impressed.