ForeverACharmedOne

The little soldier boy came home ~

this scene has been stuck in my head for over a decade probably :)

#is she wrong tho?

S01 x E02 "Warriors" Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender ep dir. Michael Goi

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER (2005-2008)

The contrast between Zuko when he's in exile, yelling orders at his crew and insulting Iroh and throwing tantrums and insisting that he is the prince, vs when he goes back home and suddenly he's uncertain about how to react when he's offered things by servants, he agonizes over whether he is allowed at the war meeting, and when he's presented to the crowd as the crown prince, when Ozai is praising him, he looks nervous and confused. He is quiet and compliant during the war meeting and later talks about how he felt he couldn't speak up.

When he was in exile, he had more space to act out, and part of this is Iroh allowing Zuko to act out and Zuko knowing that Iroh loves him and won't punish him. He's intentionally pushing buttons because he can without fear of repercussions, and Iroh gives him a safe space to do that, because he knows that behind Zuko's pride is a hurt child whose self esteem has been extremely damaged, which is why he keeps trying to get Zuko to take pride in simple things and accept that he can find meaning in his life without titles and material possessions.

And when Zuko goes back home, he does enjoy it for a little while. He momentarily enjoys being able to impress his girlfriend and being accepted into the war meeting, but it is because of Iroh's teachings and Zuko's own experiences that he knows that those things are ultimately meaningless, that he chooses to give them up.

When Iroh says that Zuko must become Fire Lord, he's completely surprised and says that he's made too many mistakes. He's come full circle from the boy who tried to make up for what he lacked by insisting on what he deserved. Iroh says it's because Zuko made mistakes and overcame them that he would make a good Fire Lord, but it's also that Zuko has now learned to accept mistakes without denying them, and that's the last lesson he learned from Iroh. That being a worthy person is constantly striving to be better. Not that you need to constantly self-flagellate, either, but achieving that balance is how we become truly wise.

Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life’s true delights.

After I leave here today, I’m going to free Uncle Iroh from his prison and I’m going to beg for his forgiveness. He is the one who has been a real father to me.

Uncle, I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me. But I want you to know, I’m so so sorry, Uncle. I’m so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don’t know how I can ever make it up to you but I’ll…. How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me. I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you lost your way. I did lose my way. But you found it again. And you did it by yourself. And I am so happy you found your way here.

1.12 “The Storm” // 3.19 “Sozin’s Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters”

#the way iroh immediately looked at zuko at the end

iroh's face ruins me in this scene

I’m fucking screaming