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beccastareyesDay 17 - A pairing you thought would never work out, but did? Zuko/Mai
Or, rather, a pairing I thought could be badly executed so many ways during the show, but for which I was mostly satisfied with how it worked out.
Besides maybe Aang, Zuko went through the most character development throughout the series*. Hence my skepticism about romance, since it can be tricky enough to balance Zuko's changes within himself as well as extend this out to his this changes his relationships with other people.
Zuko is pretty much designated as the Ambiguous Antagonist from... well, at least as soon as we get his backstory from Iroh. Zuko was born as 'the sweet one' to a royal family that prized talent and ruthlessness, and was constantly overshadowed by his prodigy younger sister, Azula, who his father favored. His mother adored him, but his mother disappeared**. When, at his first strategy meeting about the war, Zuko objected to sacrificing a unit of soldiers to win, his father 'taught him a permanent lesson on his face', and ordered him into exile until he brought back someone who wasn't certain to even exist any more. Consequently, Zuko is an angry and bitter young man who keeps trying to earn the respect of his abusive father.
We meet Mai as one of Azula's friends in Season 2, and it's stated by Azula that Mai had a crush on Zuko when they were kids. We see as much in Zuko's flashback about his mother's disappearance. It's very cute, but it's also stated that they haven't seen each other at least since Zuko's exile, and that him being labeled a traitor at the end of Season 1 means they don't exactly have a chance to renew their acquaintance. Mai, for her part, is a very reserved girl, seemingly bored with life who accepts Azula's offer to chase down Zuko because it is at least exciting to work for the princess. Later, we find out why she is this way -- she feels like her parents essentially wanted a 'perfect, quiet and dutiful daughter' to further her father's political career, so Mai quietly forces herself into that role, despite the fact that it makes her miserable.
Anyway, at the end of Season 2, Zuko tries to prove his loyalty to his dad and sister by helping to arrest his uncle and fight the Avatar. Azula doesn't quite trust him, so she manipulates it so that he and Mai renew their friendship and start dating. The two of them are... well, their teenagers, so they occasionally have moments of 'd'aww' and occasionally have moments when they screw things up. Now, here I sense some problem, as just because you have a crush on someone when you're eight, doesn't mean it'll work out, and Zuko and Mai aren't the same people as they were back then. And it is rocky, and I hope the creators deal with it, rather than just 'and they lived happily ever after'.
Then Zuko finally figures out that he's not happy in the place he thought he'd be, and he has to do the Right Thing and side with his uncle and the Avatar. So he confronts his dad and runs off. And he basically breaks it off with Mai, because he's worried about her being a traitor's girlfriend. In a letter, that doesn't really explain much of everything. Naturally, Mai is pissed, because... well, if you're suddenly going off on a suicide mission against one of the most powerful countries in the world with only a ragtag band of heroes and a retired general, you at least tell your girlfriend in person.
Then Zuko, in an attempt to help Sokka rescue his father, gets caught in a prison. And, surprise!, Mai's uncle is the warden, and he's protective of his dear niece. Mai shows up and she pretty much tells Zuko off for being a jerk... but when Zuko, Sokka, Sokka's dad, Sokka's girlfriend and Random Guy break out, and Azula goes for the kill, Mai stops her. Because she might be furious at Zuko for being a jerk, and quite willing to see him pushed around and imprisoned, but she loves him enough that she wants him to live, and she loves him more than she fears Azula.
Sadly, we don't really get to see the reconciliation that much, besides Mai telling him that she is willing to give him another chance, but if he ever does this again, he's going to find one of her knifes in an uncomfortable place***. But, one thing I liked that made the arc work for me was that the series dealt with Mai/Zuko as a thing in flux and that Mai wasn't just going to be some mindless drone about Zuko's feelings for her.
* Though I could make a case that all the main characters were not the people they were when they first showed up. Maybe Iroh, but Iroh also went through a lot before the show even started.
** And it's strongly hinted that his mother fled after she killed his paternal grandfather because his paternal grandfather was calling for Zuko's death after Zuko's dad tried to remove Zuko's uncle from a position of crown prince. I am chronically amazed how much the creators pushed the envelope as to what was acceptable in a kids' show.
*** Okay, she didn't actually say that, but the sentiment is there.
Previous Days
Day 01 - What is your current favorite ship? Anthy/Utena
Day 02 - What was your very first ship? Jadzia/Worf
Day 03 - A pairing that needs to happen now? Snow/Talia
Day 04 - The pairing with the most chemistry? Lina/Gourry
Day 05 - The pairing with the least chemistry? Anakin/Padmé
Day 06 - The best kiss? Eleanor/Gerard
Day 07 - The most heartbreaking scene? Harry/Susan
Day 08 - The pairing with the most baggage? Sarasa/Shuri
Day 09 - The most believable relationship? Kaylee/Simon
Day 10 - Why aren't these two married in real life? N/a
Day 11 - What is your dream pairing? Dhulyn/Parno
Day 12 - Who had the best wedding? Magrat/Verence
Day 13 - What is your favorite television pairing? Amelia/Zelgadis
Day 14 - What is your favorite book pairing? Dag/Fawn
Day 15 - What is your favorite game pairing? Link/Zelda
Day 16 - What is the pairing that is annoying me right now? Roy/Ed
Or, rather, a pairing I thought could be badly executed so many ways during the show, but for which I was mostly satisfied with how it worked out.
Besides maybe Aang, Zuko went through the most character development throughout the series*. Hence my skepticism about romance, since it can be tricky enough to balance Zuko's changes within himself as well as extend this out to his this changes his relationships with other people.
Zuko is pretty much designated as the Ambiguous Antagonist from... well, at least as soon as we get his backstory from Iroh. Zuko was born as 'the sweet one' to a royal family that prized talent and ruthlessness, and was constantly overshadowed by his prodigy younger sister, Azula, who his father favored. His mother adored him, but his mother disappeared**. When, at his first strategy meeting about the war, Zuko objected to sacrificing a unit of soldiers to win, his father 'taught him a permanent lesson on his face', and ordered him into exile until he brought back someone who wasn't certain to even exist any more. Consequently, Zuko is an angry and bitter young man who keeps trying to earn the respect of his abusive father.
We meet Mai as one of Azula's friends in Season 2, and it's stated by Azula that Mai had a crush on Zuko when they were kids. We see as much in Zuko's flashback about his mother's disappearance. It's very cute, but it's also stated that they haven't seen each other at least since Zuko's exile, and that him being labeled a traitor at the end of Season 1 means they don't exactly have a chance to renew their acquaintance. Mai, for her part, is a very reserved girl, seemingly bored with life who accepts Azula's offer to chase down Zuko because it is at least exciting to work for the princess. Later, we find out why she is this way -- she feels like her parents essentially wanted a 'perfect, quiet and dutiful daughter' to further her father's political career, so Mai quietly forces herself into that role, despite the fact that it makes her miserable.
Anyway, at the end of Season 2, Zuko tries to prove his loyalty to his dad and sister by helping to arrest his uncle and fight the Avatar. Azula doesn't quite trust him, so she manipulates it so that he and Mai renew their friendship and start dating. The two of them are... well, their teenagers, so they occasionally have moments of 'd'aww' and occasionally have moments when they screw things up. Now, here I sense some problem, as just because you have a crush on someone when you're eight, doesn't mean it'll work out, and Zuko and Mai aren't the same people as they were back then. And it is rocky, and I hope the creators deal with it, rather than just 'and they lived happily ever after'.
Then Zuko finally figures out that he's not happy in the place he thought he'd be, and he has to do the Right Thing and side with his uncle and the Avatar. So he confronts his dad and runs off. And he basically breaks it off with Mai, because he's worried about her being a traitor's girlfriend. In a letter, that doesn't really explain much of everything. Naturally, Mai is pissed, because... well, if you're suddenly going off on a suicide mission against one of the most powerful countries in the world with only a ragtag band of heroes and a retired general, you at least tell your girlfriend in person.
Then Zuko, in an attempt to help Sokka rescue his father, gets caught in a prison. And, surprise!, Mai's uncle is the warden, and he's protective of his dear niece. Mai shows up and she pretty much tells Zuko off for being a jerk... but when Zuko, Sokka, Sokka's dad, Sokka's girlfriend and Random Guy break out, and Azula goes for the kill, Mai stops her. Because she might be furious at Zuko for being a jerk, and quite willing to see him pushed around and imprisoned, but she loves him enough that she wants him to live, and she loves him more than she fears Azula.
Sadly, we don't really get to see the reconciliation that much, besides Mai telling him that she is willing to give him another chance, but if he ever does this again, he's going to find one of her knifes in an uncomfortable place***. But, one thing I liked that made the arc work for me was that the series dealt with Mai/Zuko as a thing in flux and that Mai wasn't just going to be some mindless drone about Zuko's feelings for her.
* Though I could make a case that all the main characters were not the people they were when they first showed up. Maybe Iroh, but Iroh also went through a lot before the show even started.
** And it's strongly hinted that his mother fled after she killed his paternal grandfather because his paternal grandfather was calling for Zuko's death after Zuko's dad tried to remove Zuko's uncle from a position of crown prince. I am chronically amazed how much the creators pushed the envelope as to what was acceptable in a kids' show.
*** Okay, she didn't actually say that, but the sentiment is there.
Previous Days
Day 01 - What is your current favorite ship? Anthy/Utena
Day 02 - What was your very first ship? Jadzia/Worf
Day 03 - A pairing that needs to happen now? Snow/Talia
Day 04 - The pairing with the most chemistry? Lina/Gourry
Day 05 - The pairing with the least chemistry? Anakin/Padmé
Day 06 - The best kiss? Eleanor/Gerard
Day 07 - The most heartbreaking scene? Harry/Susan
Day 08 - The pairing with the most baggage? Sarasa/Shuri
Day 09 - The most believable relationship? Kaylee/Simon
Day 10 - Why aren't these two married in real life? N/a
Day 11 - What is your dream pairing? Dhulyn/Parno
Day 12 - Who had the best wedding? Magrat/Verence
Day 13 - What is your favorite television pairing? Amelia/Zelgadis
Day 14 - What is your favorite book pairing? Dag/Fawn
Day 15 - What is your favorite game pairing? Link/Zelda
Day 16 - What is the pairing that is annoying me right now? Roy/Ed
