Azula ALMOST Had An Arranged Marriage!

It was stated the creators plotted for an arranged marriage for Azula in book 3 but scrapped it at the last min.

[silvanvanderhorst]

No, Chan would have been too dangerous. Because his outfit is too sharp. In fact it is so sharp, that ik could cut a whole into an Imperial Class Fire Nation ship, leaving thousands to drown at sea. Because it’s that sharp

[AJaymes]

'She would have gotten royal status'
Umm...she's already a princess. Would she become firelord if she had married someone?

[teamblack]

"She would have gotten royal status"

She is literally the former heir and crown princess! She's already a royal lmao😂

[Legithiro]

What if, and just spitballing here, it was going to be a political figure’s heir from the Earth Kingdom. The fire nation already had control of a few major cities in the earth kingdom and having Azula marry someone from there might solidify their control. It would also make a cool plot point in the final few episodes because of the attempted destruction of the earth kingdom, the potential lover might try to convince Azula to stop the attack, but fire lord Azula would banish them because she would see it as a betrayal.

[lucasfaco]

In the "The Avatar and the Fire Lord", we learn that Zuko and, by extension, Azula are descendants from not only the Fire Lords through their father, but also Avatar Roku, through their mother.
In the Search series, it's revealed that this union was by Fire Lord Azulon's design, as he arranged the marriage between his second son, Ozai, and Avatar Roku's granddaughter, Ursa, in order to unite the bloodline of Roku with the Fire Lord's.

However...

At the time that Ozai and Ursa were wed, Azulon's eldest son, Iroh, was heir to the throne and Iroh's own son, Lu Ten, was young and healthy. The line of succession was secure and did not involve Ozai or his descendants. At the time of their wedding, any children born to Ozai and Ursa would not fulfill the obligation of uniting the Fire Lord line with Roku's line, as Ozai was not in position to become Fire Lord until Lu Ten's death and the events we see in "Zuko Alone".
In that case, the most logical explanation is that Azulon was using Ozai as a genealogical stopgap, using him and Ursa in order to ensure that their would be available descendants of Roku to marry into the Fire Lord line of a future generation. Following this logic, given that Lu Ten was young, unmarried, heterosexual/bisexual and in the direct line of succession, it seems reasonable to assume that any daughter produced by Ozai and Ursa would be considered a suitable spouse for Lu Ten.
Through this understanding, we are able to see Zuko and Azula's childhood differently. Azulon isn't simply disinterested in Zuko due to any perceived weakness, he isn't interest in Zuko because a son of Ozai does not have a place in his plans. Azula is the favored child because she is being prepared for life as the wife of the future Fire Lord and Ozai favors her because she is his key to greater involvement and influence at the Royal court, improving his relationship with his father and strengthening ties with his nephew, the
future Fire Lord Lu Ten.

[Laticia]

I could see having to worry about marriage and becoming a mother herself adding to Azula's mental instability.

[fredbyoutubing]

What would have made sense is the Fire Lord having her marry a royal from the Earth Kingdom so he could consolidate his power.

[kingwasp-qb]

*raises hand*
I VOLUNTEER
I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE
I volunteer as tribute

[Starfire_kori]

✨i would have scared them off with the old: TOGETHER WE WILL BE THE MOST POWERFUL COUPLE ✨

[MrNeilTV]

In my alternate universe she would over throw her father after her psychotic break and become the most unhinged and crazy fire lores ever! Que an extra season lol

[Jprager]

I can see why they changed it, to me Azula seems way too unhinged to consider an arranged marriage.

[squidapple]

Nah she wouldn't have let that happen. I think her husband to be would have had a little "accident"

[Kevynmorgan]

Azula is a princess.
I'm sure she'd take care of him 🔥

[georgev]

Guess that’s why they dropped this plot point along with the “life changing field trip” with Zuko side plot.

[xsovereign]

“She would’ve gotten royal status” she’s already Crown Princess of the Fire Nation and Fire Lord Ozai’s heir

[brianrecinos]

Azula wouldn't get royal status because she's already a princess. Her husband would've been getting royal status because marrying a princess would've made him a prince

[I_Smell_Like_Beef]

Arranged marriage! Wow! That would’ve been another social topic the series could’ve touched on. I love ATLA ❤

[sloanewalker]

I was thinking that could be her redemption arc. I think it would go like this:

It's the start of season three (shortly after Crossroads of Destiny), Ozai tells Azula about the arranged marriage. He says it's to form an alliance and make him an even more powerful ruler, as well as to continue a bloodline of powerful firebenders. She is absolutely furious about it (mainly because she thinks all other firebenders are inferior compared to her, but also because she harbors those feelings that no one actually cares about her, everyone thinks she's a monster and that she can't be loved because she's only known how to rule with fear). At night, she finds Zuko after he went to see Iroh. He sees her and begs her not to tell anyone. However, Azula tells him that's not why she's there. She tells Zuko she wants to rebel against Ozai and not get married. Reluctantly, but still slightly trusting, Zuko tells her his plan to join the Gaang and teach Aang firebending. She's taken back by it, but given what Ozai just did to her, she understands. And after hearing his plan, she tells him she wants to come along. She's so desperate to get out of the arranged marriage, she'll do anything, even swallow (some of) her pride and help the Avatar. Fast forward to Day of the Black Sun, Aang, Sokka and Toph are greeted by Azula. But this time instead of trying to stall them, she tells them everything that's going on. Of course, they don't believe her. Toph, however, let's her guard down a little and at least hears her out (because Toph sensed she was telling the truth). After the eclipse is over, Azula and Zuko both escape in the hot air balloon. Perhaps while they're following them, they could have some real close heart-to-heart brother-sister bonding time, this could actually be their life changing field trip together. (If I ever stop procrastinating and decide to write this, this is a line idea I have)

Zuko: Oh, and about what you said, at the beach, when you said mom thought you were a monster... that's not true. Mom loved you, a lot.
Azula: No, she didn't, ZuZu.
Zuko: Yes, she did. She loved you, just not some of the choices you made. She knew it was because of father's influence.
Azula: Look, I know your only saying that because you're my brother and that you're trying to make me feel better, but you really don't have to. I already know what she thinks of me, and I've made peace with it. It is the truth, after all.
Zuko: (sigh), alright, fine. Just thought you'd want to know.

Azula actually does listen a little, she's just really in denial about Ursa loving her, and doesn't want to hear the truth after what she enforced upon herself. After they finally catch up with Team Avatar, Zuko tries to convince them that they (mostly him) have changed. Azula tries a little bit, while still being Azula about it. She says she might even teach Aang lightning bending and Zuko chimes in saying he can teach lightning redirection. Fast forward to Aang and Zuko's life changing field trip episode, either she goes with Aang and Zuko or has 'girls bonding time' with Toph and Katara (the latter is probably the better choice). She tells Toph and Katara about everything that's going on and why she's doing this. Katara, of course, is very suspicious of her, and respectfully so. Fast forward to a little before Zuko and Katara's life changing field trip. Azula tries to talk to Katara, and in a moment of weakness, asks Katara what she can do to make her trust her, or at least make it up to her, after everything she's done. Katara then tells her about her mom. Then Azula tells Zuko, and then they set up the field trip. Fast forward to after the field trip, and the three of them get back to the camp. Katara and Azula bonded a little; Katara being impressed by how strong Azula is and Azula being impressed that Katara was actually willing to kill. They're finally at peace with each other. Fast forward to a little before Sozin's Comet, Azula goes back the Fire Nation for a little bit to see Mai and Ty Lee again to tell them where she was and what she's been up to. She apologizes to them for how she treated them (but is still Azula about) and makes peace with them. Fast forward to Sozin's Comet, before Ozai leaves in his fleet, Azula fights him a for a little bit, letting out all of her anger towards him, after she finally realized that he never actually loved her, just everything that came with having a firebending prodigy as a daughter. Since there's no final Agni Kai, maybe Azula helps Sokka, Suki, and Toph, and Zuko helps the White Lotus, or Vice versa. Fast forward to Zuko's coronation. Since Zuko is the older sibling, he naturally becomes the next Fire Lord. Azula is fine with him having the throne, as long as she gets to be second in command and have power over a few things.
That's just an idea that I have.

[newolympiangod]

I can see her getting married she was young beautiful smart and would have made a great Queen. She might have changed being away from her father.

[alexdeghost]

I’d feel bad for whoever she’d be paired up with.