Episodes like this make us realize this isn't just some animated show for kids; this is ART.

Thinking about Zuko's mother telling him to never forget who he is and then him present day taking that as his cue to start listing off his whole royal title LIKE GIRL THAT IS NOT WHAT SHE MEANT

One of my favorite episodes but a very heartbreaking ending that even after Zuko defeated the Thug, Zuko not only showing his abilities and revealing his name on who he is and where he's from caused everybody in the town to be against him even the young boy whom Zuko befriended. 😕 Apparently at the time this episode came out it’s the first episode where Team Avatar (Aang, Katara and Sokka) don’t make an appearance.

Holy shit. This is the first time that I'm truly able to appreciate the gravity of this episode. Watching it as a teenager, I understood what was happening, but being older and having experienced more of the world firsthand makes every single moment in this episode more heartbreaking. I have chills.

Oh man zuko story is my most favorite of the show

The ending broke my heart. The kid really admired Zuko when he didn’t know who he was and Zuko was growing fond of him as well. But in the end, it didn’t matter anymore. One good deed, doesn’t erase all the harm you or you family has done

Zuko Alone was the first episode I saw of Avatar. Without knowing anything about this show, my heart broke and Zuko became my favorite I like the theory that Azula lied and their grandfather ordered Zuko be given to Iroh to raise.

One of the wonderful things about this show is how they apply music. Saw a post that mentions the music choice for The Avatar State, how it's never something "cool". It's dramatic, a peaceful kid has turned to violence, that sort of thing. We also see it here, when Zuko firebends in front of everybody even though he does it to defend himself and the people of the town, it's meant to be a horror scene.

I always wonder how much of what Azula says was stuff she thought of herself and how much she's just parroting Ozai, because I could just as easily hear those words out of Ozai's mouth. He has a strong influence, but the good ol nature vs nurture debate is particularly tough to square with Azula.

Zamber: It happened the same night, that's crazy. That's not crazy, that is something else entirely. Azulon ordered Ozai to kill Zuko, Ursa's favorite child, and he is just enough of a scum bag to do it. Then Ursa disappears the same night Azulon dies and Zuko is still alive. There is a bit of foreshadowing, such as with the mother turtle duck. There is also Ursa's instance of calling Aulon by his title rather than "your grandfather" or something like that. I don't think she ever saw him as a relative.

Sadly, the kids reaction to zuko's background isn't unrealistic, it's how most people would react when their greatly affected by the war.Zuko is the prince to an enemy nation and that's the sad cruel truth.

When I watch this show this episode is one I tend to skip. Not because it's bad far from it, it's so good I'm not emotionally capable of watching it consistently

Zuko is alone because; He set off on his own without his uncle's aid. He outed himself among the kind villagers who believed and trusted him, but cannot forget the hundred years of war perpetrated by the Fire Nation. Any kindness in his life was gone, leaving him alone with his egomaniacal father and his sociopathic sister.

If you haven’t already, once you finish watching the whole series you should read the comics. So many questions are answered in them.

4:45-Funny you should say that, because Ursa means bear in Latin.

This is my favorite episode! I loved learning about the backstory of Zuko's family. It also solidified Zuko as my favorite character if he wasn't already my favorite.

It's very cool that you just really saw the siblings' character development (especially Azula's). She is the perfect prodigy aka deadly weapon of the FIre Nation, but Zuko have spent more time with his mother (a kind woman). Ozai is negligent with Zuko for this and Azula must be "perfect", because she will be treated like Zuko That family is a mess

I'm pretty sure this is the only episode without Aang, Katara and Sokka.

Ozai is one of the most scummy people in existence

The next episode is called The Chase. Also, at 19:26, I have been thinking about that question, and I think this episode is our first episode without Aang.

14:05-Damn,Azulon is nuts!

6:48-Guess each member of their family has a favourite.

is azula the anti matilda cause i think she is

I remember when I 1st saw this episode all that I could think is. Iroh is the rightful Fire Lord! He is the 1st born and durring the flash back his father clearly had no intention of revoking his birthright. Even though "defeating" the Fire Nation would technically end the war this was the 1st time that I saw a realistic long term solution. The Fire Nation is more than a country it is a huge portion of the planet and if something that large went unchecked for too long the war would likely start again and if the other nations got to do whatever they wanted they would likely take their revenge too far oppressing the Fire Nation for generations. But if Iroh who has become a wise old man is the rightful Fire Lord then I was finally seeing a realistic solution. Still difficult but realistic.

Iroh wasn't there for the funeral because he hadn't arrived back yet after the siege. Ursa left and Azulon died the night after Ozai's meeting with Azulon.

I heard an interesting theory about the flashback portion of this episode. At face value, we’re led to believe that Azulon really did order the death of Zuko. But we never actually hear him say this directly. All we got is Azula (and Ozai in a later episode) saying that’s what he said. And they’re not exactly the most trustworthy sources. I think it’s important to remember that Azulon was still the ruler of his nation at this point in time, and he had just lost his oldest grandson in battle. Regardless of what kind of man he was, would a ruler really be so quick to order the death of one of his only two remaining future heirs? For that reason, I think it’s far more likely that Azulon’s true intention was to have Ozai surrender his parental claim to Zuko by giving him to Iroh as a replacement son. Which would effectively eliminate Ozai’s argument that Iroh’s bloodline was over and put an end to any of Ozai’s claims to the throne. Of course, that’s just a theory. It probably won’t ever be confirmed as canon

"Zuko learns that you need to earn things". In some way, Zuko already knows that. He refused to take food from family for nothing. But he agreed to stay for dinner after *work* That's it. Zuko doesn't want to be given things. He wants to work for them. Even if work is stealing

Remember that traveling couple

"how dare you think you are above suffering" has big viral tumblr post vibes lol (thinking of posts like "you cannot kill me in a way that matters")

3:02-Oh,even a fire bender?

Honestly, Ozai has a lot of similarities to Odelia from the loud house. The only difference is that none of the latter’s children took after her, while Azula obviously took after the former.

nice to see you call her mama bear when her name is Ursa

Ok is it messed up that ozai and azula planned a co to get rid of his own father and wife to gain control of fire nation

Fun fact, it's considered wrong to fully unsheathe your sword against someone you don't consider to be s legitimate threat.

IAmZamber, This is fantastic! I subscribed right away!

So this is not a spoiler since it never gets clarified more, but firelord azulon stood in ozais way, and ozai wanted him dead. So he actually did threaten to kill Zuko. But just so Zukos mum would poison the Firelord. And than they made the story up that his last words where to crown ozai. And Zukos mom had to dissapear because she murdered the fire lord.

I’m brave enough to admit that this episode made me cry the first time I saw it.

The comics, which take place directly after the series, explain what happened to Ursa. I'll give you the short non-spoiler version: After her talk with Azula, who told her about what she just told Zuko about being sacrificed, Ursa begs Ozai not to do this. Instead, they make a deal. Ursa has knowledge of a special poison that is colorless, odorless, tasteless, etc. Ozai wanted her to poison Azulon, his own father, so he could be Fire Lord. But because she could use this knowledge on him as well, and what she was going to do was treason, he banished her. She could never return to the palace nor could she stay in contact with their children ever again. In exchange, Zuko would be saved. Her saying goodbye to Zuko that night was just after the deed was done and left.

Ozai, a second son, shows preference to his second born Even before she showed talent, he gave her the firelord's name to aspire to

Just letting know that the show has comics/graphic novels during and after the show and I hope read them

I'm so early!!

After your done watching avatar the last Airbender you read the avatar the last Airbender comics

Sad fact: Ersa was force to married Ozai by Firelord Azulan because of one mind blowing twist that I'm not suppose to tell you since that would spoil the show for you. You will know what the cause of the forcely arrange marriage later in your ATLA journey.😊

This is the only episode in the show that doesn't have Aang, Sokka and Katara in it.

Zuko’s mom is alive, you should read the comics, after the end of series. In comics authors actually tells us this story.

Amber if you what to know what happened to ursa/zuko's mom you should read the books

Watch KosoSuba the funniest anime ever

I would feel bad for Ursa if I didn't know she was part of the reason Ozai treats Zuko so badly.

It would eventually be confirmed that this didn’t happen, but the implication I always got from this episode is that Azula killed her grandfather.

"Azula always lies, Azula always lies"