Mai & Zuko: Why They Work

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  • Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
  • With the exception of Aang and Katara, Zuko and Mai’s relationship receives the most development of the romantic ships in Avatar, with a clear build up and arc across Seasons 2 and 3, which helps both characters grow, together and individually, and gives us a beautifully crafted ship with an organic evolution. I was really quite surprised to discover that Maiko was an unpopular ship within the Avatar fandom, especially because it is such a great pairing and works so well, not just with regards to the compatibility of the characters but also the realistic way in which the ship plays out.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 46

  • @christianaguiare544
    @christianaguiare544 Рік тому +176

    Their shared gloom, social rank, floppy hair, and vocal chords of someone with lung cancer, it’s like a match made in underworld

    • @christianaguiare544
      @christianaguiare544 9 місяців тому +1

      @@STn6jgfuuuv Just listen to them and tell me neither one of them sound like they’ll need their own electrolarynx in the future

    • @christianaguiare544
      @christianaguiare544 9 місяців тому +2

      @@STn6jgfuuuv One of those small microphones ex-smokers put on their throat 🎤

    • @ChristaBlack-gn8ys
      @ChristaBlack-gn8ys 4 місяці тому

      "Lung Cancer "!? 💀

    • @benjamintracey6685
      @benjamintracey6685 3 місяці тому

      “in underworld”? No I would not say that itself, at least.

  • @hachi666roku
    @hachi666roku 4 місяці тому +27

    The fact Mai completely overlooks Zuko’s scar speaks volumes of her character for Him. She really isn’t about status or power, and since she has been in his life before the agni kai, I’m pretty sure if she could go with Zuko and Iroh, she’d be there …

  • @DarkKing009
    @DarkKing009 4 місяці тому +33

    Mai is such an underrated character Love that scene "I love Zuko more than I fear you"

  • @ArasRud
    @ArasRud Рік тому +97

    Mai and Zuko are not only separately great characters, they are also a great pair!! I was the most invested in their relationship actually. I also liked the touch that Mai's introduction is in Omashu, a city named after two lovers that were separated because of war. These two also are separated by not only war, but all sorts of family dramas, duties, social pressures... but their love survive all these shits thrown at them. They also push each other to come out of their comfort zone when necessary, but support each other also unconditionally, Mai in the show and Zuko in smoke and shadow comics.

  • @Marie-hj6wg
    @Marie-hj6wg Рік тому +100

    I alway loved their romance, even as kid! I felt that they both understood each other well and Mai complimented Zuko imo. They had a pretty loving and healthy relationship for just being teengagers. I really liked Mai, she was one of my fav side characters in ALTA. Also I enjoyed her character development. She was introduced as only Azula's sidekick but became more fleshed out as the season went on. Wish we'd gotten more of her, great video!

  • @tai4727
    @tai4727 10 місяців тому +70

    THANK. YOU. They were soulmates, ppl say they were “boring” yet they both had hard times showing their feelings, especially mai as seen in the beach episode. Yeah they were both “emo and gloomy” but there was always something between them. They genuinely cared for one another, and their relationship was also the most realistic out of everyone 😭

    • @benjamintracey6685
      @benjamintracey6685 3 місяці тому

      @tai4727 some folks yet not all. Although Katara also had it in herself to “be a soulmate to Zuko too”, like with Jin, as well.

  • @beccazach
    @beccazach 3 місяці тому +8

    UGH YOU EXPLAINED THIS SO CLEARLY, IT'S PERFECT. The Beach made me truly understand why these two officially got together, and the small changes in their dynamic throughout book 3 are nuanced but important, especially when you go back and rewatch. I've seen some people say that Mai is underwritten or that her whole arc just "revolves around getting a man", but I couldn't disagree more. That ignores & undermines her autonomy, that her whole arc is about finally being pushed to make a stand against the authority figures in her life and choosing the people who make her feel happy. Mai (and Ty Lee) is a victim of Azula and Fire Nation politics in different ways, with Mai putting on a facade of apathy to benefit others at all times and repressing her emotions to remain nonchalant.
    We see in ep2 of book 3 that the Fire Nation kids Aang meets don't learn to show self-expression all that much, and kid soldiers like Azula and her friends are forced even more into being 'adults' for their nation. Thus in book 2, Mai is forced to not retaliate against Azula's decision to keep King Bumi in exchange for giving up her baby brother as it will benefit them in the war. It may seem to the audience like Mai didn't care about her brother's safety at that moment, but it's truly her playing it safe & going along with it all bc that's what she's been conditioned to do.
    She's kept out of trouble her whole life and has had barely any self-expression, while having no reasons to question it bc it's normalized. So when she finally has Zuko, someone who she's always genuinely cared about & feels safe with now suddenly picking a side in this war, she feels compelled to fight for what she values too. She's not choosing just 'a man' but rather her personal ideals & true connections, over one based on fear and apathy with Azula. I'm probably restating a lot of what the video said but I just had to type this out bc I'm so happy lmao.

  • @jackieroberts2625
    @jackieroberts2625 3 місяці тому +5

    Thank you, i think a lot of the hare for Maiko comes from the whole Zutara shipping but i love Mai, i love how she calls out Zuko on his shit and how cute they are together. I hope she's in the Avatar movie ❤

  • @ZephyrWrites
    @ZephyrWrites 6 місяців тому +13

    This made me see it in a new light. The best romance is the type where each character helps the other grow. Thank you for this awesome analysis!

  • @avis662
    @avis662 Рік тому +31

    Criminally underrated video. Great points and editing 🔥

  • @andrewrivera190
    @andrewrivera190 11 місяців тому +25

    At the end of the day a good relationship has a bit of common interest, love (by love I mean sacrifice for the other), romance, communication, and trust.
    They develop this over the course of the series. I can relate when Zuko says “I love it when you express yourself.” There is something genuine when you can see the range of your partner’s emotions. It means you can judge them for who they are positive and negative, from there, if you accept them, then you accept them for who they are flaws and all. It’s harder to do this when they hide their emotions. After Ember Island we see Mei become more expressive.

    • @SarahGambill-sl9dl
      @SarahGambill-sl9dl 8 місяців тому

      Mai is a bad influence and a really bad girl just like azula

    • @jackieroberts2625
      @jackieroberts2625 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@SarahGambill-sl9dla bad influence for who? And please don't slander Azula in this house, thank you 😊

  • @issybella66
    @issybella66 11 місяців тому +22

    They are my favourite couple on the show and i like the one other two ships but I’ve always liked Mai and Zuko more and I never understood why some people don’t like them together their relationship is pretty sweet and I like how it’s not always sunshine and rainbows and when they some problems with each other they worked it out pretty quickly and they see them grow together

  • @MsKnowItAll26
    @MsKnowItAll26 Рік тому +27

    I always liked Zuko and Mai together. I never understood the dislike the ship got. But then again for me Avatar was never about the shipping. I would argue that the creators of ATLA and LoK are kinda bad at writing romance. Zuko and Mei ended up being one of the better handled ones.

  • @ArasRud
    @ArasRud Рік тому +20

    Their struggle and growth is also really important for the future of the firenation, firenation suffers from toxic family and cultural values which Zuko and Mai both are the victim of, the fact that they actively go against their family's expectation, accept and deal with the consequences, shows how firenation and new generation can possibly have a bright future. I also always thought Zuko becoming firelord at the end would not make any sense if he did not have Mai, why should he take the responsibilities of a family and a nation that has only rejected and abused him? Mai was literally the only good thing about his home and firenation, he was happy with her even at his lowest time. So it makes sense that she would give hime hope that he can have a good life at his homeland one day.

  • @GMindset959
    @GMindset959 4 місяці тому +3

    They are definitely my favourite couple in the Avatar show.

  • @DarkKing009
    @DarkKing009 4 місяці тому +1

    I just thought that's an interesting relationship dynamic and how that would unfold. Since Mai is fully aware of Zuko's childhood abuse that he received.

  • @andrewrivera190
    @andrewrivera190 11 місяців тому +9

    To be fair. I love a girl with the hime bangs so I totally agree with Zuko.

  • @maytalacedo2942
    @maytalacedo2942 7 місяців тому +2

    Their good as a couple it's just different.

  • @user-eh6md6bj2i
    @user-eh6md6bj2i Рік тому +11

    They are sweet with their childhood friends first love vibes. And they show really well the way you fumble through your first teen romance, but it helps you grow as a person and learn what it means to be in a relationship. However, they lack chemistry, passion, and the "you complete me" dynamic, which is what a truly great ship needs. Not saying those are necessarily the healthiest traits for a real world relationship, but it’s what will make the fans feral for a ship 😋Mai and Zuko are cute, but it's hard to see them as end game.
    Love your videos! Your analyses are always compelling and really make me think. Would love to see you do a video on Chris from Charmed! I know he's controversial but he was literally my childhood crush lol

  • @undertaker9991
    @undertaker9991 Рік тому +12

    The movie coming out should confirm Mai is preggo with Izumi towards the end.

    • @undertaker9991
      @undertaker9991 7 місяців тому +1

      I mean, Izumi is shown to be atleast 15-20 years younger then her old man. So I assumed around Smoke and Shadow II, is where she would be confirmed.

    • @vix7146
      @vix7146 4 місяці тому +1

      ​@undertaker9991 they went back together 2-3 years after the breakup so a bit later

    • @undertaker9991
      @undertaker9991 4 місяці тому +1

      @@vix7146 Yeah, but it's no doubt that them two got bussay! Bow chika wow wow. Lol.

  • @devinreis5811
    @devinreis5811 3 місяці тому

    Female fan here. Sorry to crush any Star Wars fans, but this is much better to see than the nonstop drama we see in the prequel films; there isn't an element of creepiness either. Also, we have someone that isn't afraid to let out her inner ChiChi and she is also someone that would rather have a few real friends than a bunch of fake friends. Can we also talk about the acting? Lizzy Caplian and Dante Basco were so in their elements; To think that Dante Basco was almost Damien in Mean Girls. To get back in the good graces of Star Wars fans, I'm reminded of the dynamic of Princess Leia and Han Solo, minus a giant dog.

  • @DarkKing009
    @DarkKing009 4 місяці тому

    The Avatar comics cannot mess up the status quo in regards to the relationships if they ends one they must regain the same relationship by the end of the run.

  • @undeade.t7044
    @undeade.t7044 Рік тому +8

    To bad they broke up in the promise comics because Mei didn't like the fact that Zuko went to his dad for advice when he was having trouble dealing with the pressure of being firelord and didn't open up to her about his problems

    • @myaparker5510
      @myaparker5510 Рік тому +24

      The creators confirmed they get back together. The lady in legend of Korra is their daughter.

    • @gigikju9934
      @gigikju9934 Рік тому +14

      From what I’ve heard, the creators were ticked off that they broke up in the comics (someone else wrote it) because they had a lot of plans for them.
      Honestly…I get why

    • @SarahGambill-sl9dl
      @SarahGambill-sl9dl 8 місяців тому +1

      Mai was a spy for azula

  • @user-vl1qm4cg2p
    @user-vl1qm4cg2p Місяць тому

    mai is the definition of gen Z

  • @pollyjeanz
    @pollyjeanz Рік тому +8

    💖💖💗💗💗💗💗💗💖💖💖💖💖💖

  • @teddykazandjiev
    @teddykazandjiev 3 місяці тому

    Well, they broke up after a few months/ years. Maybe they got back together and had Izumi together, but they broke up again for sure or she died because in LOK Zuko is alone. Of all the couples, Aang and Katara were the most loyal and had a wonderful family that lasted till death did them part.

  • @benjamintracey6685
    @benjamintracey6685 3 місяці тому

    Hey Folks, including you, @usernameRachel Macdonald, Zuko kind of go together equally as Zuko and Jin and both of them and Katara kind of are “soulmates to Zuko” even if via having it in themselves to be so, and plus with all due respect, with how young and goofy Aang could and can be, during the events of “ATLA” at least, there is something rather kind of cosmically strange about Aang being paired with Katara - in that contraire to some saying it was so obvious as that - there never really was a way at the beginning to know they would “be together”, and plus, Katara, Jin and Mai each were among the few people to show genuine kindness to Zuko besides his Uncle Iroh. Yet more likely with how Izumi from “TLOK” has a bit of resemblance to Mai, more likely Zuko had ended up with Mai and made peace with Jin.

  • @azucenatrinidad7085
    @azucenatrinidad7085 9 місяців тому +5

    🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

  • @meowrao3391
    @meowrao3391 Рік тому +9

    Tbh, I am one who doesn't like this ship 😅
    I see where you're coming from and I have tried to like the ship, but I just don't see the chemistry it felt a bit hollow to me. Also, it's been a LONG time since I watched the series but I think the foremost reason why I don't like the ship is because there wasn't really much of Mai, we know very little of her. It just seemed like they didn't really develop her as her own character which made her feel very flat for me. Yes, apathy is her thing but there should be more to her than that and they do develop her more in the ending but it feels rushed. Which is sad because I really do like Mai, but I just wish they developed her and their relationship more. I feel the same about most relationships in the show except for Sokka's, his relationships felt like they were developed. And since I never watched LoK, it's cool that it's undetermined, their relationship feels very first love for me and I'd rather they became friends.
    Great video btw!! I'm a new subscriber and your Charmed videos got to me with how good they were. Also sorry for the issues with the Candyman video, I hope it gets resolved~!!❤

  • @ghufran9635
    @ghufran9635 Рік тому +6

    Great video ❤, but I am sorry that I disagree, I see ZERO chemistry between them 😢
    They definitely didn’t work!

    • @tai4727
      @tai4727 9 місяців тому +13

      i have to disagree with this, they definitely did work. I think the main reason people see this couple not working is because they barely opened up to eachother because they both suffered not being able to communicate their emotions

    • @undertaker9991
      @undertaker9991 9 місяців тому +2

      @@tai4727 And also their teenagers. Love isn't a thing with teenagers. Or at least it's complicated.

    • @tai4727
      @tai4727 9 місяців тому +6

      @@undertaker9991 exactly, its not always going to be lovey dovey, i like how the writers wrote these two