Mai & Zuko: Why They Work

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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[christianaguiare]

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

[hachiroku]

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 …

[DarkKing]

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

[ArasRud]

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-hjwg]

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!

[beccazach]

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.

[tai]

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 😭

[jackieroberts]

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 ❤

[avis]

Criminally underrated video. Great points and editing 🔥

[ZephyrWrites]

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!

[andrewrivera]

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.

[issybella]

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

[MsKnowItAll]

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]

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.

[GMindset]

They are definitely my favourite couple in the Avatar show.

[DarkKing]

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.

[andrewrivera]

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

[晶-ci]

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

[undertaker]

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

[maytalacedo]

Their good as a couple it's just different.