I could write an entire essay based on this one impactful scene — that’s how unforgettable it is. In it, Zuko’s entire character development and narrative arc reach its peak, as he combines firebending techniques with elements of airbending, earthbending and waterbending he’s learned through his travels with Aang to defeat his sister, Azula. It’s an eye-opening moment because the Zuko we see here is so different from the one we met in Season 1. He’s calm, his movements are precise, and he’s no longer controlled by his impulsiveness and destructive actions. That, set against the somber soundtrack as well as seeing Azula’s mental state deteriorate, truly makes this one of the best and most impactful things I have ever watched.
