Introduction
Zuko was also arguably one of the most iconic characters in the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, and, as such, won the hearts of many fans with his transformation from an antagonist to a hero with an incredibly compelling redemption arc. Then you have exiled prince Fire Lord and good leader and his arc is just so iconic. And one of the top fan questions about Zuko has to do with his dating life: Who does Zuko end up marrying? Not only does this question fascinate fans, but it also suggests a possible glimpse at both the future of his bloodline, as well as the future of the Fire Nation itself. Read on for the potential answers, what they might mean and what we’ve heard from officials and fan conjecture.
Canon Information: Who Does Zuko End Up With?
The animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of Korra, neither confirmed if Zuko was married nor identified his spouse. But we find out that he has a daughter named Izumi who becomes the next Fire Lord. That vagueness about who Izumi’s mother is had given fans lots of room to speculate for years. Some theories that seem to be the most widely accepted accuse Zuko’s ex-girlfriend Mai of murder. Mai’s fiery personality and her tight bond to Zuko not a shock, but without some official confirmation it is open to for interpretation.
Il Mai Theory: The Proof and The Guesswork
Mai — who belongs to Team Azula and was Zuko’s one true love throughout the series — has a deep sentimental attachment to the Fire Prince. They bicker, they disagree, but you see the tenderness, the love that binds them. In the comic series that continues the Avatar story (after The Last Airbender), Zuko and Mai appear to get back together after a breakup that leaves open the possibility of them becoming a serious couple. Mai’s loyalty and capacity to question Zuko’s choices imply that she would have been a helpful and considerate partner to Zuko throughout his time as Fire Lord.
- But their relationship had its struggles, as well. Fans wonder if their differences and Zuko’s duties as Fire Lord would ultimately keep the two apart. The Mai theory straddles the divide in Avatar fandom between those who enjoy examining the relationship as potentially seeing the characters end up together and those who think that idea is uncomfortably terrible.
Theories on the Side: Other Potential Explanations
But some theories still provide that D.E. running theory on who could possibly be Zuko’s wife. Some fans believe that Zuko may have married a new character who did not appear until after the series ended. This idea aligns with the creators’ choice to leave other story threads open-ended, allowing for new stories in the Avatar universe.
Instead, Zuko stayed a bachelor, immersed himself in his role as Fire Lord and, believing that his public duties were more important than his private life, lost his own happiness. This notion speaks to both his character’s intense sense of responsibility as well as his drive to redeem the past crimes of the Fire Nation. If so, Zuko’s daughter Izumi was born of some other arrangement or an untraditional pairing.
Introducing Izumi: Zuko’s Precursor Uncovered
These impressions of Zuko’s legacy as ruler and parent are courtesy of Zuko’s child, Izumi. If Zuko is progressing toward peace and balance for the four nations, then Izumi, the new Fire Lord, embodies those virtues. The Legend of Korra’s take on the character is easygoing, sagacious and diplomatic, glowing with Zuko’s influence. We know little about Izumi’s mother, but the mere fact that she exists in the story is a testament to Zuko’s success at balancing family life and the duties of a ruler.
- Not to get too nitpicky about it, but there appears to be no actual information about Izumi’s mother in Zuko’s story at all, which suggests that the folks behind the show were at least somewhat aware of their need to keep that part of Zuko’s story vague so that they could speak more to the ultimate (and arguably biblical) truth of Zuko as a redeemed hero and leader. At least this relieves the fans of his consecutive days of reading his personal life in a perspective proprietary to his outlook.
Impact on the Avatar Fandom
Even today, the question of who Zuko marries looms large in Avatar fandom. It has also led to countless works of fanfiction, art and debate — evidence of fans’ particular affection for the series and its protagonists. The vagueness also mirrors the creators’ storytelling impulse, which invites viewers to write their own ending for beloved characters.
- Zuko’s wife, not to mention, also acts as a retort to the Avatar universe’s broader themes about relationships and gaping to leaders’ impulses for the greater good. There’s no right answer to whether Zuko married the new character, Mai, or continues to be single, and Zuko’s story lives on in the mind of fans.
Conclusion
Zuko’s marriage is one of Avatar’s biggest mysteries. These details are vague enough that fans have plenty of room to speculate about Zuko’s romantic life — and while Mai seems a likely candidate, the absence of totally confirming details seems significant. This vagueness also complicates his characterization while leaving him relevant in discussions about the series. Worst Zuko’s wife isn’t really the discussion here, it doesn’t matter, maybe it’s Mai from the series, a horror character or maybe even no one, his legacy of Fire Lord and Father shall live on in his children.
- Zuko’s story is one about redemption and responsibility, and about the constantly difficult task of living up to one’s values. As viewers are still grappling with his story, the vagueness of his marriage is a reflection of the lasting influence of Avatar: The Last Airbender