A little Bit of Meta and Some Predictions for "The Search"

[attackfish]

Since "The Search" part two is coming out soon, I've been seeing an uptick in writing about it, and how it's awful, and wrong, and how dare they make Ozai not Zuko's biological father, and this teaches the children of bad people (who are often their most convenient victims) that they will grow up bad no matter what.

This is all true, if this was where the writers were going, and it's a common enough reveal, but there are three reasons I'm not worried at all, and fandom, which is full of smart people who love to analyze things, is for some reason not talking about any of these things.

Firstly, if Zuko were not Ozai's son, he would lose his claim to the Fire Nation throne. We know that he rules until he abdicates late in life and passes it to his daughter. Now, it's conceivable he could hide his heritage, and destroy all records, and remind everybody not to listen to his sister, because she's crazy, but this is Zuko we're talking about, who not only hates to lie and has an overdeveloped sense of honor, but is also really bad at it. It would eat at him inside until it came out, and then he would have civil war. That would make it really difficult to accomplish all the cool things we know he accomplished as Firelord, wouldn't it?

Secondly, Bryke have openly said they modeled Ozai on Zuko and what he would look like as a grown man. The physical resemblance is extremely strong between father and son. You cannot tell me that this man:


is not the son of this man:


Heck, in "The Promise", when Zuko clearly wasn't eating right, and his cheeks were sunk in, the resemblance was even stronger.  Young Iroh in Korra has an even stronger resemblance to both of them, being in the middle of their two ages, and we know he's Zuko's grandson.  No, there is a strong genetic link between Zuko and Ozai.

Thirdly, it makes no sense to have the big reveal about Zuko's parentage so soon.  If Zuko really were illegitimate, I would expect to find out in part two or three of "The Search", not part one.  That says to me that it is set up. 

What does make sense, however, is that Ozai thought Zuko wasn't his.  It would certainly be a reason to show such blatant favoritism, and why he went from favoring Zuko just as much as Azula, as shown in "The Promise" to completely disregarding him so quickly.  I bet he nearly had a heart attack when Zuko came home looking just exactly like him.  I bet Ozai suddenly having time for him in season three had as much to do with that as with Azula telling him he brought down the Avatar.

It also sets up a further contrast between Ozai and Iroh.  Ozai sees a loving, eager to please boy he believes is not his son, and mistreats him and casts him aside.  Iroh sees a resentful, sullen, defiant teenage boy he knows is not his son (yes, he's his nephew, but I doubt their relationship is predicated on Zuko being Ozai's child, in fact it's probably a strike against it) and takes him in and cares for him, and does his best to raise him into becoming a good man.

And it gives Zuko an oppertunity for a little more character growth and some closure.  Zuko is still desperate for a father.  He has Iroh, but there is still a little boy, who desperately wants his dad to love him, and if that dad isn't Ozai, so much the better.  It gives Zuko the chance to hope that Ozai isn't his father, before making him accept that yes, Ozai is his father, Ozai is a nasty horrible human being, and Zuko doesn't have to be.  Funnily enough, that would address directly the cultural narrative that many fans are so afraid will play out in "The Search", and it would very much be in the style of Bryke and A:tLA thus far.

What I would love to see (though doubt I will) is for Ozai at the end of this to act like "Well, now you know why I treated you like garbage, and now that I know you're my real son, you should forgive me," and Zuko being all "No, you're a horrible person, rot in prison."

Comments

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

If you mean in "The Storm," I always chalked that up to Early installment weirdness, or fantasy, because he always read as older in the bit with his father's hand around his shoulder than he did in "Zuko Alone" where we know he was already deeply unloved by his father. He looked more like he did at thirteen in the pseudo sepia toned bit in "The Storm" than he looked like he did at ten.

We do know that Ozai did love Ursa.

I see no evidence of this. We know he was possessive of her, but I saw no signs in the show or the comics that he actually loved anyone, including Azula.

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

Well love was perhaps too strong a word. But when Ursa left, Zuko comes out to Ursa's turtle-duck pond and Ozai is there, gazing out into the distance. Now, I don't think that's an action of a man that was indifferent towards her. And it might explain on another level why things got worse for Zuko once Ozai became Firelord. Maybe Ozai blamed Zuko for what Ursa having to leave, yeah, I know, I'm probably reaching here, but even if he didn't love Ursa and only wanted her as a possession, that kind of personality would want to blame someone for losing that possession even if Ursa's actions gave Ozai the throne.

Or he could have just been gloating. :-)

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

Or jealousy. "She killed for you. She never would have done it for me. She left for you, not for me," sort of thing. If he thought Zuko wasn't his, that would make it even worse.

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's a great idea! Dammit, now I have plot bunnies swimming in my brain!

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

But that would make even more sense for how Ozai treated Zuko. Even if he really was his own son. I do however dislike how they've made pappa #2 a sword wielder like Zuko. I know that this could simply explain how Zuko got into it but it makes no sense to me.

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

It's just one more little attempt at suckering us readers in to the idea that Zuko might be someone else's? It's a red herring.

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

I am not amused by them. I do wonder, however, how did Zuko get into sword fighting, how did he learn? I can't imagine Ozai allowing his firebending son to learn to fight with swords. He might even consider it an insult to himself and their line. After all, weapons are for non-benders. In the show only Zuko and on occasion Aang used something else as a weapon. Every one else pretty much stuck to bending (if they were benders) or weapons if they weren't.

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

I assume Zuko didn't get into sword fighting until after his exile, a headcanon helped along by a number of fanfic writers who had written fic in which just such a thing happened. A thirteen year old Zuko, who didn't feel good enough, who didn't feel like his firebending was good enough, or who maybe even for a while was traumatized by his burning and was not dealing well with his own fire might have turned to swords to level the playing field in a way other benders wouldn't. Or Iroh may have introduced him to swords, as a way to keep him from constantly comparing himself to Azula. either way, like you, I doubt Ozai would have approved if he had known, and strongly suspect Zuko was away at sea when he started.

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

It would make sense. I hope they touch on that topic in the search. It would make for an interesting part. Especially as they are bringing the topic up by having possible daddy #2 know how to fight with duo swords.

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see something dealing with it too, though I kind of doubt we will. *shug*

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

We need more awesome fan fiction. :-(

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

No matter how much we have, it is never enough.

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

That is very true. :-( Do you read Embers?

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I hated it. I know you liked it, but no, not my cup of tea.

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

LOL! I understand. It's not for everyone, especially when you are a fan of Team Aang which I am, but I liked the idea behind this world. How culture classes can lead to misunderstandings which have, in the real world, led to wars and worse. I read it more for the historical and cultural aspect of it. It reminds me that when I write my original fic, there are some things that need to be kept in mind. Also, I'm a history and geology geek, so this appeals to the geekish in me. The one I really would love to read more is Ice Flows Through, which was written by this amazing author.

Any Zuko-centered recs?

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

And you know what just occurred to me, Ice Flows Through is one of yours. I know, that was a major no duh moment *blushes*, heh. But yes, I love your fics.

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

*patpat*

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

You know, it's hilarious your pat pat when staring at your icon. *.*

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

My sad little blue girl?

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

Yep. It's like, I'm totally cool but I will take a moment to deal with you mere mortals. Love it!

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

It still breaks my heart that I lost the actual paper drawing that I took this icon from in the last move. I'm not the best artist, but I'm really proud of that picture.

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

Hmm, recs, recs... I'm not sure how useful I'll be, since we've both been around this fandom for a while, but here goes:

Three Years at Sea by Amanda91: http://archiveofourown.org/works/260073 Zuko adjusts to his new situation, Iroh tries to guide him, and the Universe seems content to make the prince's life as miserable as possible. Zuko's adventures on the high seas during his banishment.

People in the Mirror by Nele (Jee/Zuko slash) http://archiveofourown.org/series/26344 Prince Zuko is growing up and discovering new ways to make Lieutenant Jee's life miserable. Just when Jee has had a bad, bad week of Captain Zhao popping in, an invisible thief stealing his things, his crew acting up, and an enemy bird invading his ship, Zuko brings matters to a head in bad, bad way.

Love and Family Treachery by Amanda91 (Mai/Zuko) http://archiveofourown.org/works/260074 Mai and Zuko thought they had enough to deal with in the three years following the war. They didn't count on a shotgun wedding, parenthood, and a deadly conspiracy from within their own inner circle.

The Rusty Engine by Amanda91 http://archiveofourown.org/works/479832 At fifteen, Zuko never imagined that there would be a time when he would miss his years at sea. At twenty-five, he can barely remember the days when he wanted to be Firelord.

The Ember Island Portraits by Amanda91 (Katara and Zuko gen) http://archiveofourown.org/works/260077 Katara offers Zuko friendship by repeatedly doing something that annoys him.

Red is the Color of the End of the World by Sholio archiveofourown.org/works/104235 (Katara, Zuko, Aang, and Mai gen) Post-series, Katara is adjusting to the new shape of the world. They all are. (Contains heavy spoilers for the finale.)

Hunting Party by Sholio (Zuko and Sokka gen, humor) http://archiveofourown.org/works/319820 "This is a manly bonding experience. Living off the land, hunting, fishing. Very manly." For the Canadian Shack challenge.

Lessons in Thin Air by Lisse http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4242417/1/Lessons-in-Thin-Air What Zuko learns at the Western Air Temple, whether he wants to or not.

Eight Principles of Yong by psocoptera http://archiveofourown.org/works/367066 The pen is mightier than the sword, or how Zuko saves the day via the power of good penmanship.

Life Began With Waking Up by glamaphonic (Mai/Zuko, Mai centric, but gorgeous) http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3196414/1 It was a simple truth that Mai had never really thought about her children.

And a bonus, because it isn't Zuko centric, but it's too fantastic not to include:

Gilded Green by Caelum_Blue (Lu Ten and the Dai Li) http://archiveofourown.org/works/429368 At the end of Iroh's Siege, the Dai Li decide to test their brainwashing abilities on a Fire Nation soldier. They don't know that their guinea pig-rat happens to be a supposedly-dead prince. First in a series. AU, DaiLi!LuTen.

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

*.* I have only read Sholio's and People in the Mirror. Man, how did I miss these!!

[attackfish.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I gave you something new! Yay!

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

YAY!!!! :-)