Summary SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Daniel Dae Kim opens up about the early debut of Fire Lord Ozai in Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender, explaining how the character's earlier appearance adds depth to the live-action show. The 2024 fantasy show is an adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon animated series, which saw a young boy blessed with mastery over all four elements take a stand against the conquest of the Fire Nation.
I think it was a dramaturgical function. There was an effort made to deepen all of the primary characters earlier on. If you look at Sokka's story and Katara's story, certain elements got pushed up. I think the reason they pushed up my story was in service of Zuko because we wanted to feel what his motivations were and why he was relentlessly chasing Aang. I personally applaud the decision, because I think you care so much more about the primary four than you would otherwise.
Alongside Avatar: The Last Airbender using the flashback of the actions that led to Zuko's banishment to show his compassion and strength as a leader through his care for the 41st Division's well-being, flashbacks to the funeral of Iroh's son Lu Ten show how he differs from other Fire Nation nobility. While Ozai and others see Lu Ten's death as a justified, honorable thing, Zuko sits with Iroh to instead remember Lu Ten for who he was.