Zuko and the girls
There's a german saying that goes like this:
"Shared suffering is half the suffering, but shared joy is double the joy."
I recently noticed a pattern in season 2, where Zuko's transformation from a self-centered, close minded brute to a more open minded and empathetic person takes place.
His interactions with girls his own age, as short lived and insignificant to the overall plot as they may be, serve to beautifully highlight where he stands in this process.
The first one is Song, the girl who shows him the burn scar on her leg. Zuko reacts confused, like he doesn't even understand what she's trying to do (share her suffering to emphasize with him). At this point a scar, or vulnerability of any sort is nothing but a sign of weakness to him.
The second is his date with Jin. He's not really into it and only goes to please his uncle, but by the end finds himself caring enough about her to light the candles to make her happy. I believe this is the first time we see Zuko perform a random act of kindness for somebody and it's beautiful to see him share into her happiness.
The third is, of course, his encounter with Katara in the crystal catacombs. After Katara shares her grief over the loss of her mother, he - unlike with Song - opens up and shares his own suffering with her. And in an instant they forge a connection that transcends 100 years of war and prejudice.
The encounters with these girls are not just random little side notes in Zuko's story . They are showing us who he truly is and who he needs to become.
And then there's Mai.
It's important to point out that all the girls Zuko interacted with before were of a very similar type - humble background, traumatized by war, yet retained a hopeful and caring attitude.
Mai is the polar opposite of that. She's very privileged, yet jaded and egotistical. She represents the very Fire Nation elitism that Zuko is supposed to reject.
While being with the first type of girl supports his character arc by bringing out the empathetic side of him, Mai makes him regress right back to his old ways.
And I refuse to believe the writers just didn't notice that. I think Maiko was written to be dysfunctional on purpose to highlight how little Zuko fit in his home anymore and how bad of a decision it was to come back.
The pattern of Zuko and the girls in season 2 was pointing into a very different direction. One that was actually coherent with his overall arc. One that might have been leading him towards his, dare I say.... true romantic destiny.
