One of the many reasons that Avatar: The Last Airbender is considered a landmark in children's animation is that it doesn't create a fine line between good and evil. In fact, the major difference between protagonists and antagonists in the series is that the former learn from their mistakes while the latter either refuse to do so or have no idea how to help themselves.

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The villains in Avatar are as complex and relatable as the heroes, showing audiences that actions, however well-intentioned, can have dire consequences. Although they spend most of their time causing unnecessary problems, these villains have occasionally done nice things for others.

10 Ozai Crowns His Daughter The Next Fire Lord

Azula kneels reporting to Ozai

As evident from the graphic novel-only prequels, Ozai never had any intention of having Zuko succeed him as the Fire Lord, instead setting his sights on the apple of his eye, Azula.

At the arrival of Sozin's Comet, Ozai officially declares his daughter as his successor, even offering her the Fire Lord's crown. Although he only does this because he promotes himself to a higher position, it's still nice of Ozai to make Azula's greatest wish come true.

9 June Agrees To Help Team Avatar Find Aang And Iroh

2 june from avatar

Zuko uses June's help to track down Team Avatar early in the story, and the heroes find her to be a considerably proficient combatant. They escape after her shirshu's nose is overloaded with an excess of fragrance, taking June out of the story until Book 3.

When Aang "disappears" from Ember Island, Team Avatar employs June's assistance once again, only to be told that he doesn't exist anymore. However, Nyla is able to track Uncle Iroh's scent with relative ease, leading everyone to Ba Sing Se and the White Lotus.

8 The Freedom Fighters Abandon Jet's Violent Ways

Jet in fight pose

Jet's aggressive tactics are mostly overlooked by his ardent band of followers, at least until Sokka's astute observation reveals the extent that the Freedom Fighters' are willing to go in the name of vengeance.

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Thankfully, Katara's harsh scolding has an effect on Jet, who promises to turn over a new leaf in Ba Sing Se (together with Smellerbee and Longshot). Despite the unfortunate circumstances that overcome Jet, the fact remains that he truly wants to work on his rage.

7 Mai & Ty Lee Support Each Other Against Azula

5 Ty Lee and Mai hug

Azula orders her underlings to stop Zuko and the other prisoners from leaving Boiling Rock, but Mai actively disobeys the princess and helps her ex-boyfriend flee the prison.

Azula considers this to be an act of treason, not to mention a personal betrayal, but Ty Lee chi-blocks her into temporary paralysis before Azula can hurt Mai. These two women might have taken a long time to figure out the right path, but at least they do it together.

6 Hama Improves Katara's Waterbending Skills

Hama and Katara training in fire bending clothes

Katara is overjoyed to find a Waterbender in the Fire Nation, especially one whose skill level is on par with Master Pakku. Unfortunately, Hama breaks Katara's trust when her role in the local villagers' disappearance is revealed.

Regardless, it is because of the old woman that Katara learns how to extract and manipulate the water in her surroundings, including from the air and living bodies. Hama is inevitably thrown in prison for her crimes, but Katara comes out of the experience considerably more proficient at Waterbending.

5 Sozin Helps Roku With The Multi-Volcanic Eruption

Sozin in ATLA

Roku and Sozin were incredibly close friends during their youth and childhoods—they "shared many things, including a birthday." Their relationship took a beating when Roku left the Fire Nation Palace to train as the Avatar, and only got worse when Sozin secretly invaded and occupied parts of the Earth Kingdom without his friend's knowledge.

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They eventually find each other, decades after their last meeting, atop Roku's home island volcano. Sozin immediately begins to help Roku ease the intensity of the eruption, almost as if he had forgotten all their prior animosity. That being said, this story doesn't have a happy ending.

4 Mai Forgives Zuko For Abandoning Her

Mai & Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender

Zuko and Mai's whirlwind romance turns out to be a bit too inconsistent for Mai's taste, largely because Zuko is unable to make any kind of commitment towards her. When Zuko leaves the Fire Nation in order to follow Team Avatar, the only farewell he gives Mai is in the form of an ambiguous letter.

She brings it up in the middle of the Boiling Rock skirmish, showing how deeply Zuko's thoughtless actions hurt her. At the same time, it is also clear that she cares for him immensely, given that she lets him and his friends escape.

3 Azula Grudgingly Assists Zuko In Locating Ursa

Azula and Ursa

Zuko ensures that Azula is given all the psychological care she needs at a mental health institution, only visiting her on occasion to discuss their parents. He attempts to have his sister extract details about Ursa from Ozai, but Azula has other plans.

Eventually, however, she makes a deal with her brother—Azula would lead them to Ursa only if she could travel with Team Avatar. Disregarding a few unsurprising skirmishes and deceptive maneuvers, Azula makes good on her promise and reunites Zuko with their mother.

2 Ty Lee Teaches The Kyoshi Warriors Chi-Blocking

Ty Lee From The Last Airbender Cracking Her Knuckles

After Azula has Mai and Ty Lee thrown into prison, the latter two develop a close relationship with the remaining Kyoshi Warriors. Although these young women don't play a role in the final resolution of the Hundred Year War, Ty Lee later joins the Kyoshi Warriors because she finds their camaraderie inspiring.

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Interestingly, Ty Lee even teaches them a few core concepts related to chi-blocking, a style that eventually becomes part of the Kyoshi Warrior training protocol.

1 Zuko Renounces His Ties To The Fire Nation

Avatar Zuko as the Fire Lord

The paradox of Zuko is that he was never at fault for his banishment, but he only makes his life worse with every attempt to capture the Avatar and restore his so-called national pride.

It takes him a long time (and several disappointments) to realize that Ozai doesn't care about him in the slightest, prompting him to abandon his Fire Nation ties in favor of Aang's mission. Zuko's trials and tribulations are all painful experiences, but the important thing is that he learns from them and grows into a better version of himself.

NEXT: Avatar: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Hundred Year War