Throughout both Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of Korra, viewers have been introduced to a whole slew of villains, all with the goal of capturing or killing the Avatar for a myriad of reasons. Just like any show, there are some villains that are pretty much evil incarnate, and other villains that managed to redeem themselves by aiding the main character in some way.

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While they might be unable to go back in time and correct many of the terrible things they've done, there are several villains in this franchise who've essentially tried to right their past wrongs. Below are five villains that redeemed themselves, along with five who committed acts so horrendous that they can never be forgiven.

Redeemed Themself: Zuko

avatar-zuko-bad-at-being-good

After his own father ripped away his honor, Zuko's life mission became hunting Aang so that he could return home to the Fire Nation. After chasing Aang all around the world for several months, Zuko came to realize his true destiny, and became Aang's Firebending teacher. He even worked together with Aang after the Hundred Year War to fix a world ravaged by the sins of his forefathers.

Fast-forward to The Legend of Korra and he's still playing an active role in protecting the Avatar from villains like the Red Lotus, showing that he's come a long way from that aggressive narrow-minded youth that fans were introduced to in Avatar.

Can Never Be Forgiven: Admiral Zhao

Admiral Zhao looking angry in TLOK

It's no denying Admiral Zhao's dedication to the Fire Nation. In order to give the Fire Nation a huge advantage during the Hundred Year War, he browsed the Spirit Library's voluminous archives for ways to give his nation an edge. He even burned all of the information pertaining to the Fire Nation to prevent anyone else from discovering information that they could use against the Fire Nation.

He can never be forgiven for murdering the moon spirit, putting his selfish desire for victory over the natural order. Because of his actions, Princess Yue was forced to sacrifice herself, which could've been avoided altogether had he possessed more reverence for the spirits. Even after spending so many years in the Fog of Lost Souls, he was still focused on capturing the Avatar, showing that he never reflected on his actions at all.

Redeemed Themself: Tarrlok

Tarrlok prepares to blow up the ship in Legend Of Korra

At first glance, Tarrlok seemed like a good guy who just wanted to help stomp out the Equalist presence in Republic City, but when Korra refused to be a part of his task force, he resorted to tactics that not only fueled the city's growing tensions between benders and non-benders. He even attacked Korra, Bloodbending her and kidnapping her when his back was against the wall!

He managed to redeem himself by exposing Amon's true identity to Mako and Korra, giving them the piece of information they needed to expose Amon to his followers. When Amon attempted to escape with Tarrlok in tow, Tarrlok detonated their vessel, ensuring that Amon could never one day come back to Republic City to finish what he started.

Can Never Be Forgiven: Amon

Legend of Korra Amon

After getting a glimpse of Amon's traumatic childhood, it makes sense why he strived for a world without bending. Yet he went about his goal for a better world in the most perverted way possible.

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After taking away the bending of so many talented benders, he fled once his true identity was made public, refusing to stay and help undo all of the damage he'd done.

Redeemed Themself: Mai / Ty Lee

Despite being non-benders, Mai and Ty Lee made for the perfect partners for Azula as the trio traveled the Earth Kingdom in search of Team Avatar. Unfortunately for Azula, both girls turned on her during Team Avatar's escape from Boiling Rock, with Mai choosing to defend Zuko rather than aid Azula, and Ty Lee jumping to Mai's aid before Azula had the chance to finish her for good.

Both girls knew that by standing against Azula, their lives would be at stake. Both girls were prepared to spend the rest of their days rotting in a cell, but thankfully, they chose to be on the right side of history.

Can Never Be Forgiven: Azula

Azula was always the cynical type; even as a young child, after overhearing that Ozai would kill Zuko after the then-Fire Lord Azulon ordered him to, she sang Zuko's potential fate to him as though it were a nursery rhyme. When he was burned by Ozai years later, she looked on with a grin of pleasure.

Azula's list of crimes run deep; she nearly killed Iroh in "The Chase", almost permanently ended the Avatar Cycle, and during her Agni Kai with Zuko, resorted to attacking Katara when she realized she couldn't beat Zuko on her own.

In the comics that are situated after the series' conclusion, she seemed to have changed her ways after teaming up with Team Avatar to help Zuko locate their mother, but after revealing that she wanted to make Zuko a ruthless, authoritarian leader, she showed just how manipulative she'll always be, even without an ongoing war serving as her motivation.

Redeemed Themself: Zaheer

Zaheer is almost as irredeemable as someone like Azula. Not only had he already attempted to kidnap and kill Korra when she was just a young girl, but he also trapped several White Lotus guards in his prison cell for several weeks with little food, murdered the Earth Queen, threw Aiwei's spirit into the Fog of Lost Souls, nearly killed Tenzin, and most importantly, nearly ended the Avatar Cycle forever.

While he definitely deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison, Zaheer helped Korra regain her connection to the spirit world. In recognizing that Kuvira rose to power because of his actions, he did his duty to ensure that Korra would be able to stop her.

Can Never Be Forgiven: Unalaq

While it's true that people can't choose their family, Korra got the short end of the stick with Unalaq being her uncle. His treachery ran deep, even before Korra had been born. Jealous that his older brother would become the Northern Water Tribe's leader, he put his entire tribe in danger by hiring bandits to attack the tribe, and successfully got Korra's father banished just so he could claim the throne for himself.

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Not only that, but he manipulated Korra into opening the Southern spirit portal just so he could become the Dark Avatar which, if his plan worked out, would've plunged the world into centuries of darkness.

Redeemed Themself: Hiroshi Sato

In Book 1 of The Legend of Korra, Hiroshi Sato joined the list of the worst fathers in the franchise after it was discovered that his very inventions were being used to support the Equalists. Despite claiming that he'd done this for Asami, he allowed himself to be consumed in his own hallow, hateful quest for revenge.

He redeemed himself in the fight against Kuvira when he helped Asami modify the hummingbird mecha suits with plasma saws and sacrificed himself to carve an opening into Kuvira's giant mecha suit. Without his aid, it's safe to assume that Kuvira would be leading the Earth Empire as she always intended.

Can Never Be Forgiven: Fire Lord Ozai

When fans thought that Fire Lord Ozai couldn't get any more evil, he continued to prove them wrong. Ozai, much like Azula, was driven by a need for power that caused him to lack any degree of empathy whatsoever. He permanently scarred his son for rightly speaking out against a general's cynical plan, showing that he didn't care about the soldiers risking their lives for his nation.

When Sozin's Comet arrived, he attempted to burn the Earth Kingdom to the ground, which would've killed millions of people, as well as animal and plant life. Even if he got out of prison on good behavior and began charity work, nothing could erase the trauma his reign caused, not only for his family, but for the rest of the world.

NEXT: Avatar: 5 Most Heroic Things Zuko Did (& The 5 Most Villainous)