Stats
Age: 16 (17 at the end)Gender: Male
Guessed Height: About 5' 8"
Bending: Skilled Firebender
Appearance
Zuko has a distinctive scar,
focusing around his left eye, and travelling down to his ear. He has clear amber
eyes and pale skin. For the whole of Book 1 his long hair is bound in a ponytail, but at the beginning of Book 2, he severs his ponytail and allows it to grow. His hair, by the end, is a neat shag growing to his shoulders.
His attire also changes dramatically, exchanging regal armor for casual boots and looser robes and golden sashes.
History/ Life Story
Zuko was born into a luxurious lifestyle. Anything he wanted was given to him. Zuko was very close to his mother, Ursa, but his goodhearted-ness gained him the scorn and dislike of his father.When Ozai learned that his brother, Iroh's bloodline had ended, he decided to use it to his advantage. He coyly informed Azulon that his children were still alive, and insisted, "I am your humble servant! Use me!" Azulon was unmoved and instead punished Ozai for his insensitivity-by making him kill Zuko. Ursa, however, learned of the plot, and was more than determined to save her son. She knew he was the only person in the family remaining that had a good heart and was destined to restore honor and peace to the Fire Nation. So, she came up with a plan that made Ozai Firelord, killed Azulon, and most importantly, spared Zuko. However, because of her plan, she was exiled on the charges of treason. Before she was forced to leave forever, though, she woke Zuko in the middle of the night, whispering to him lovingly, "No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are..." After that she vanished, and a shattered Zuko was convinced she was dead.
Later on, Zuko was banished simply for speaking out of turn in defense of young fire nation troops about to be sacrificed. Zuko could only return if he captured the avatar. Ozai wasn't finished there-he forced Zuko to fight him in an Agni Kai. Zuko was overcome and refused to harm his father. "Have mercy," he pleaded tearfully, but Ozai did no such thing. Instead he burned Zuko's face to "teach him respect." Zuko, permanently scarred, set out into the world to retrieve the avatar. Along the way, he bonded with his uncle Iroh, who willingly chose to follow his nephew into exile.
When Ozai banished Zuko, he had intended to be rid of is his embarrassing son for good. But he discovered that his son was a failure even as a banished prince, and mortified, sent his prodigious daughter, Azula, out to capture both Zuko and his "traitorous" uncle.
The two eventually became fugitives of the Fire Nation, on Azula's declaration. The pair lost everything they owned, living in poverty for months on end. Iroh and Zuko were forced to steal, even from people that had treated them with kindness, to survive.
With nowhere else to go, Iroh and Zuko fled to Ba Sing Se, under the aliases Lee and Mushie, in hopes of starting a new life. The two land work in a local tea shop, although they are soon given an entire shop for them to own on the behalf of Iroh's skills. However, Azula, who had temporarily traded in her search for Zuko for the avatar, learned of her brother's residence in the city. As a result, she lured Zuko into a trap, capturing him.
Iroh rescued his nephew with the help of Aang and co. He informed Zuko that he was at the crossroads of his destiny, and the time had come for him to choose good or evil. But Azula interrupted, and under her twisted guidance, Zuko chose evil, defeating the avatar and even capturing Uncle. When he was finally welcomed home, Zuko realized that all he had ever wanted was his father's love-and that he still didn't have it. Zuko informed his father, on the day of black sun, that Iroh was really the man that loved and inspired him, and that now he intended to help the avatar take Ozai down.
Although tentatively at first, Aang and co. accept Zuko into the group. Katara is the least willing, remembering Zuko's betrayal back at Ba Sing Se. Her hatred towards Zuko is very open so that even Zuko realizes something must be done to remedy their troubled past. With Sokka's help, he identifies the murderer of Katara's mother, and together, they venture out to take revenge. Katara is ultimately unable to kill him, but she brings herself to forgive Zuko and their friendship is renewed with a hug.
Iroh, who managed to escape from prison, meets up with Zuko, who openly confesses he was wrong and apologizes for his past wrongs. Iroh then tells Zuko that he must assume the throne after Aang defeats Ozai. "But Azula will be there," he warns Zuko, who retorts, "I can handle Azula."
Zuko and Katara manage to defeat Azula together, and when Aang defeats the Firelord, Zuko assumes the position. He is finally happy, at peace with himself.
Personality
At first, Zuko is hot headed and impatient. However, he develops more patience and calmness, as well as the ability to open up to people better. He also unlocks his true self as he realizes he can never be the person his father wants him to be. Although he has switched affiliations, Zuko still retains some of his sarcastic whit, short temper, and tendency to lash out on others.Bending
Zuko is portrayed as a very proficient bender initially, at least enough so we
don't mistake him for a Team Rocket. He is very agile, swift, and
flexible. We can see him sink easily into splits and launch himself into series
of cartwheels, handstands and flips without breaking a sweat.However, we are introduced into a whole new branch of firebending when we meet Azula, who easily overpowers Zuko on multiple occasions. She is even more acrobatic, executing flawless maneuvers and even bending more intense blue flames and lightning. Her attacks are less draining, although even fiercer, since they are shot from her fingertips whereas Zuko initially used his fists (of fury ^^).
However, we can see Zuko improving significantly, become more graceful and his endurance improving to the point that he is much more than a match for his "perfect" sister.