There are so many characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender that are well-written and nuanced, but perhaps the most interesting of them all is Zuko. He’s a fan-favorite which is no surprise given his tragic backstory and tendency to brood, and he also gets an extremely well-thought-out redemption arc.
Zuko starts out as one of the main villains and goes on a narrative arc to one of the greatest heroes. Because of this, he definitely has some major strengths as well as some big flaws.
Weakness: He was always torn about doing the right thing
One of Zuko’s greatest weaknesses throughout the series is his indecisiveness on which side to choose. As early as the start of season two, he starts to have doubts about the Fire Nation and begins to see the suffering of others because of the war.
However, while he has moments of compassion, he often still chooses the wrong thing and ends up going back to the Fire Nation with Azula.
Strength: Being a talented fire bender
Azula gets a lot of attention for being the best fire bender in the family, and with her lightning ability and blue flame, it’s easy to pay attention to her skill. However, Zuko is also a very talented fire bender.
He might not be as perfect right off the bat, but he learns how to understand the element of fire and respect it in a way that no other fire bender other than Iroh has in decades.
Weakness: He had trouble connecting to people
The childhood Zuko had is extremely disturbing and traumatic. The show does go into some detail about this, but, as it’s a children’s show, the truth of how awful it was is somewhat brushed over.
There’s no denying that Zuko was abused by his father, so it’s no wonder he has issues trusting and connecting to people. Zuko does want to connect with others, but it does take him some time to learn how to do so.
Strength: His commitment and perseverance
In many ways, it’s hard not to feel bad for Zuko given what his father did to him at such a young age. This doesn’t mean Zuko doesn’t do bad things, too, but given his age and his trauma, it’s easy to see why he struggles so much.
So, while Zuko doesn’t always apply his determination to the best causes, he definitely works hard and doesn’t give in. He is dogged about finding Aang, and then just as determined in the end to take down Ozai.
Weakness: Betraying people closest to him
The family history of the Fire Nation royalty is filled with horrible things and betrayals. There is mental illness and even murder, and this would have been a terrible environment to grow up in. Zuko clearly learned some bad things by seeing his family interact, but Iroh tries to teach him a better way.
So, while it’s easy to see why Zuko is messed up, it was still heart-wrenching when he betrayed Iroh to join Azula and Ozai.
Strength: His sensitivity
Being sensitive is something that can be both a strength and a weakness depending on the situation. However, in Zuko’s case, it was mostly a strength.
He grew up in a family where weakness and emotion weren’t tolerated. It was a cruel environment where love and compassion were stamped out. But, despite all this, Zuko took after his mother and still maintained a sense of humanity.
Weakness: He could be overemotional
Zuko had a sensitivity that could be a strength, but he was also highly emotional in a way that could be a determiner. The emotion he expressed the most was anger as this was clearly the only one he knew how to show.
Zuko was easily angry, and he would lash out at other people around him, even those who were trying to help him. He definitely was ruled by his emotions, and he needed to learn how to get a better grip on them.
Strength: His conscience
One of Zuok’s greatest strengths was that he did have a moral conscience and did care about others. While he definitely was taught to stomp down this part of him, and he had moments of cruelty, he had a lot more compassion than his father and sister.
His guilt over many of his own bad choices ate at him, and his inner voice telling him that things weren’t right finally got too loud for him to ignore.
Weakness: His need for approval
One of Zuko’s biggest weaknesses that held him back for a long time was his need for acceptance and approval. This is understandable because he was only a teen, and it makes sense he wanted his family to accept him.
However, because he craved this approval so badly he ended up backtracking and leaving behind Iroh who had accepted and loved him all along.
Strength: He was willing to make amends
Every person makes mistakes, and some people make more and worse mistakes than others. Zuko made some huge missteps that hurt other people, but his greatest strength was being willing to make amends.
He knew he had done wrong, and he was determined to do everything he could to fix things and make them right on both a personal level and a larger scale. The moment when Zuko apologizes to Iroh is particularly notable.
NEXT: Zuko’s 10 Most Intriguing Quotes From Avatar: The Last Airbender