Complexity, depth, mystery, development measure him to the viewer while inside, Zuko tackles confusion, disappointment, hope, respect, suffering, meaning and choice. Few characters in television, especially animation, conceive a template as wild, chaotic, and deep as Zuko who one scene, one situation, one obstacle after another surprises and envelopes an observer into an endless foray of discussion, speculation and theory. A determined antagonist in the beginning, a reluctant ally at times (The Blue Spirit, The Chase), a rival to enemies on both sides of the war (Zhao, Azula, Aang and Katara), an anti-hero (Zuko Alone), and a traitor (The Crossroads of Destiny) show the range he attains from the first season to the end of second season. Zuko’s actions project the mystique of an interchanging character while his subdued and cryptic lines only hint at the enigma of his mind; even when the situation leads into flashbacks and dreams, more questions than answers come out. The conclusion of episode 220 opened doors for many possibilities to his future; some of which have already been revealed, yet at the same time his fate remains blurred by a mysterious past, a confused and developing persona and an uncertain future.

Many principal characters of Avatar struggle with inner turmoil whether it is loss (Katara, Sokka, Iroh), responsibility (Aang) or image (Toph); Zuko faces a conflict of a much darker nature, inner demons. As symbolized by the scar covering his left eye, he fights an internal battle with his good and evil natures. He attacks villages (The Warriors of Kyoshi), defends them (Zuko Alone), resents civilians (The Swamp) and empathizes with them (The Cave of Two Lovers). His struggles identify him as a human being because all people need to reach a decision about what is right and what is wrong. While the majority of characters in Avatar represent either one side of evil or good, Zuko embodies the struggle of the opposing forces in all individuals.

Zuko, as a refugee, in 'The Cave of Two Lovers'

Since Zuko’s development outlines a young man’s attempt to find himself, identifying a category for his role in a story of good v. evil frustrates much of the speculation behind his character. The creators (Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko) insert some of their own ideas about what defines Zuko in his most crucial episode to date, Zuko Alone. Perhaps the one character who understands him even better than Iroh is his missing mother, Ursa. After Zuko’s failed demonstration in front of his grandfather, Ursa reassures him, “That’s who you are Zuko. Someone who keeps fighting even though it’s hard.” The line emphasizes a statement of his personality displayed throughout the series about how Zuko wields an indispensable force of perseverance, endurance and courage unrecognizable in any other character. These traits define Zuko as maybe one of the strongest characters in the story considering all the set backs, trials, blocks and failures he absorbs. Aang and his friends depend a great deal on the support of one another in order for them to get through situations causing them grief or misery whether it is Aang confronting an entire Fire Nation army at the North Pole, losing Appa in the desert, Sokka recalling the death of Yue, Katara’s pain over her mother, or Toph’s feelings of alienation, standing by and opening up to each other helps them confront their on going conflicts. Most of the time, Zuko depends on Iroh to help him through hard times, yet their relationship falters on a certain lack of honesty between them. Often enough, Zuko dons the mask of the Blue Spirit (his collateral in tight or hopeless situations) without Iroh’s knowledge and prefers handling his obstacles like infiltrating the Northern Water Tribe and battling Zhao and Azula on his own.

The key to the enigma of Zuko’s personality lies with the difficulty of comprehending his motivations. The motives of the principal characters clarify their actions throughout the plotline. Aang feels overwhelmed by the responsibility he carries as the Avatar in a time of war, Katara hopes helping Aang will bring an end to the misery plaguing every corner of the world, including her home in the Southern Water Tribe, Sokka believes joining Aang gives him the chance to finally support his father in the effort to stopping the war and Toph gains the opportunity to show others who she really is. Iroh’s influences come out clearly as well; he grieves over the loss of his son and finds a surrogate in Zuko who he sees as a confused and neglected youth. Zuko’s desires to capture the Avatar seem simple enough: he will regain his father’s love and his throne. However, his goals seem misplaced under the circumstances he was brought up under. As the son of the second born Fire Nation Prince, Ozai, his place in the Royal Family was set had Iroh not stepped down after losing of his son. He also never showed much affection for his father prior to the departure of his mother. When Iroh confronts Zuko beneath Lake Laogi, he refutes Zuko’s perception of his destiny, “Is it your own destiny? Or is it a destiny someone else has tried to force on you?” His determination to please a father who showed no compassion for him and even disfigured his face only seems feasible by a possible desire to compensate for the lost affections of his mother.