Warning! This article contains spoilers for Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Summary

• Zuko's backstory as a happy prince turned bitter Avatar hunter is slowly revealed, showing his tragic transformation over time.
• Zuko's disrespect towards the Fire Nation led to a painful Agni Kai duel against his own father, Fire Lord Ozai, resulting in his facial scar and exile.
• Zuko's banishment to capture the Avatar adds depth to his character, showcasing his internal struggle for redemption in his father's eyes.

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender's live-action cast.

For the most part, the cast Netflix assembled for The Last Airbender provides a fantastic live-action translation of their animated counterparts. One of the standouts of the show's ensemble is Dallas Liu, the actor responsible for bringing fan-favorite Prince Zuko to life. The original show's Book One serves as live-action Avatar's basis for the story of season 1, meaning Zuko is the primary antagonist shown endlessly pursuing Aang across the world. Throughout Netflix's The Last Airbender season 1, Zuko's tragic history is slowly revealed, providing the character with an immense amount of depth and motivation for his cause.

Zuko Was Once A Happy Prince Of The Fire Nation

Zuko's old life was filled with much more joy than after his flashbacks suggest.

Rather than the angry, bitter teen he is shown as in the show's present-day storyline, Zuko was once a happy prince of the Fire Nation.

While teases at Zuko's history are included in the earlier episodes of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1, the bulk of his story is provided in episode 6, "Masks." In this episode, Zuko's past before he became the hunter of the Avatar is divulged. Rather than the angry, bitter teen he is shown as in the show's present-day storyline, Zuko was once a happy prince of the Fire Nation.

The flashbacks to Zuko's time as a Fire Nation Prince show him as a much happier version than the one hellbent on capturing the Avatar. The backstory details that Zuko was much more willing to engage in the Fire Nation's ways, from learning about his country's history to wanting to learn about the war effort against the other nations. However, shortly after this, Zuko's life is changed for the worse by tragic circumstances.

Zuko Disrespected Ozai By Speaking Up Against A Fire Nation General’s Plan

The tactics of the Fire Nation Army do not sit right with Prince Zuko.

The flashbacks to Zuko's life begin on the day he attends a war council in the Fire Lord's war room. Zuko listens to the Fire Nation Generals updating Fire Lord Ozai on the status of the war in the Earth Kingdom. After being asked how he would approach a specifically challenging attack against Earth Kingdom soldiers, Zuko somewhat embarrasses himself by failing to provide an answer to his father. One of the Fire Nation Generals then suggests sending an entire division to their deaths to draw Earth Kingdom battalions into the open, allowing other Fire Nation forces to defeat them.

Zuko speaks out against this plan, telling General Li that it is a terrible plan. This sparks an argument between the two, forcing Fire Lord Ozai to step in. Ozai then declares that the only way to solve this dispute is via Agni Kai, a Fire Nation tradition in which Firebenders duel to settle their differences.

Zuko Was Forced To Duel His Father In An Agni Kai

The Fire Lord takes Zuko's slight on General Li personally.

The Last Airbender episode 6 returns to the present day, before flashing back once more to the day of Zuko's Agni Kai. Zuko is shown preparing himself, before turning to realize it is not General Li he will be dueling. Zuko is confronted by Fire Lord Ozai, his father, who states that in speaking out against General Li's tactics, Zuko disrespected the Fire Lord's military. As such, Zuko will face the Fire Lord himself in a duel.

The prince still does not wish to harm his father and hesitates, causing Ozai to once again overpower the prince.

This forces Zuko to beg for mercy, as the young prince does not wish to face his own father. Ozai does not relent, however, and forces Zuko to engage in the Agni Kai. While Ozai initially has the upper hand in the duel, Zuko manages to gain an advantage over his father. That said, the prince still does not wish to harm his father and hesitates, causing Ozai to once again overpower the prince.

Ozai Burned Zuko As Punishment For His Apparent Weakness

The origins of Zuko's facial scar are tragically revealed.

After gaining an advantage over Zuko, Ozai blasts his son's chest with fire, injuring him. As Zuko writhes on the floor in pain, Ozai kneels over his son and states that "comion is a sign of weakness." He then summons a fireball in his hand and presses it against Zuko's face, giving him the distinct scar the prince has in the present day of The Last Airbender season 1's story. Iroh looks away in terror, while Azula - Zuko's sister - seems somewhat fascinated with the punishment her older brother is receiving.

Zuko Was Exiled From The Fire Nation To Find The Avatar

Zuko's seemingly neverending quest is provided added context by his flashbacks.

After the duel concludes, another flashback is shown later in The Last Airbender episode 6. This scene shows Zuko recuperating from his injuries when Ozai comes to speak with him. Ozai states that Zuko's hesitation to hurt his father, as well as his hesitation to allow the 41st division to sacrifice themselves for the Fire Nation, is a sign of weakness. He tells Zuko that he needs to purge the weakness within him to become stronger, prompting Zuko to reply that sometimes weakness does not need to be sacrificed and can be turned into strength if given a chance.

Zuko's father explains that he has sheltered his son too much and that it has made Zuko soft like his mother.

This visibly angers Ozai, with the Fire Lord stating he has made a mistake. Zuko's father explains that he has sheltered his son too much and that it has made Zuko soft like his mother. As a means of toughening Zuko up, the prince is banished from the Fire Nation until he has conquered the last threat to the country's war: the Avatar. Zuko is sent out into the world and told that he can never return to the Fire Nation unless the Avatar has been captured and returned to Ozai.

The story of what happened to Zuko's mother will be further explored in the future of the show in more Zuko-related flashbacks.

To further enforce the punishment, Ozai sends the 41st division with Zuko. Interestingly, Ozai's punishment has an ulterior motive. Many in the Fire Nation, and the other three nations, have accepted that the Avatar is never to return after his 100-year absence. Ozai believes this also, meaning his punishment to Zuko is one that simply gets rid of his son whom he sees as a detriment to the Fire Nation's - more aptly his own - ideals. When the Avatar does return, Ozai begins to believe that his son could succeed, as evidenced by the credit he gives Zuko to Azula.

Throughout The Last Airbender season 1, this backstory is used to explain Zuko's present-day actions. It is clear that Zuko is a much more benevolent, comionate member of the Fire Nation than the likes of Ozai, Azula, Zhao, and other of the country's military. However, he is constantly pushed into doing awful things by the need to regain his honor and place in the Fire Nation's royal family. This is highlighted by Avatar: The Last Airbender episode 6, in which Zuko and Aang somewhat bond, before his father's words spur Zuko to remain an antagonist to the young Airbender.

All episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 are now streaming on Netflix.