Prince Zuko, the disgraced former heir to the Fire Nation throne, is a character well-known for his incredible and well-written redemption arc. As he began his journey towards good, he was propelled into the hearts of viewers and quickly became a fan favorite.

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However, there are many occasions that, upon reflection, make audiences wonder whether or not Zuko deserves the love he receives. While most fans agree that Zuko is a redeemed character, there are moments that have made viewers second-guess Zuko's likability.

10 He Spent The Entirety Of Book One Stalking And Trying To Capture Team Avatar

Zuko leads his ship to the South Pole

Zuko did not garner much sympathy in his initial attempts capturing Aang and his friends. He was arrogant, entitled, and would stop at nothing to achieve his goal. During the first part of the series, he was actually quite loathed as a character, and he worked with other villains that were equally hated by fans.

While his obsession with capturing the Avatar was understandable, seeing that he only wanted to go home and that he had only been banished because his father was abusive in the first place, he wasn't necessarily likable for his misdeeds.

9 He Hired Pirates To Aid Him In Capturing Children

Zuko's hired pirate captain with parrot-like creature on shoulder

Zuko lost many of his allies along the way because of his insufferable attitude throughout the first part of Avatar: The Last Airbender. On one occasion, he had to resort to hiring pirates to capture Aang and his friends.

Unfortunately, this doesn't work out. Team Avatar escaped and was given further cause to hate Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation. Zuko's attitude did not ingratiate him with the pirates, nor did his hiring of the pirates make him look good to fans of the show.

8 He Burned Down Kyoshi Island, Among Other Places

Suki fights as Kyoshi Island burns

When Aang, Sokka, and Katara went to Kyoshi Island, they were greeted like heroes. However, this goodwill was strained when it was revealed that Team Avatar was followed and Zuko attacked the village. Zuko and his subordinates were met by the Kyoshi warriors, a group of highly skilled female fighters, and they narrowly missed capturing Aang.

Team Avatar was forced to leave Kyoshi Island, but Suki, the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, returned multiple times throughout the series to help the Avatar and his friends. Suki is another fan favorite, and fans were not too happy to see Zuko destroy her village.

7 He Threw Childish Fits In Front Of Zhao

Zhao firebending during Agni Kai with Zuko

Zuko raged against Commander Zhao, who also wanted to capture the Avatar. Since Zhao capturing Aang would ruin any chances Zuko would have at being welcomed back home, Zuko jumped at any chance to sabotage Zhao's efforts. While fans certainly didn't want Zhao to succeed, the clashing of the two arrogant personalities brought out the childishness in Zuko.

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Zhao himself was not likable in the least, and when Zuko thwarted his plans, viewers were relieved. However, Zuko's one-sided rivalry, hissy fits, and attempts at trash-talking made him seem less than cool.

6 He Almost Died Trying To Capture Aang In The Northern Pole Because He Didn't Have A Plan

Zuko carries unconscious Aang through the North Pole tundra

When Iroh confronted Zuko under Lake Laogai, his greatest criticism of his beloved nephew was that he did not think his plans through. This is best illustrated in Zuko's attempt at capturing Aang in the North Pole during Zhao's siege.

Aang, who left behind his physical body as he traveled to the spirit realm, was unconscious and vulnerable, leaving Zuko open to taking him. Unfortunately, Zuko did not have a clear escape route planned, and thus he and Aang were trapped in the bitter cold of the North Pole's wilderness until they were rescued from freezing to death, foiling Zuko's plot.

5 He Constantly Lashed Out At The Kind-Hearted Uncle Iroh

Zuko and Iroh banter in Iroh's tea shop from Avatar The Last Airbender

Uncle Iroh is easily one of the most beloved characters in the Avatar franchise. He is wise, thoughtful, a loving father figure, and even helped Team Avatar out on many occasions. So, when fans saw Zuko's mistreatment of his uncle, they weren't convinced of Zuko's likability.

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It took quite a while for Zuko to acknowledge his uncle and what his uncle did for him - far too long for many a fan. Be it his outbursts, his looking down Iroh, or his betrayals, Zuko was not doing himself any favors in his treatment of Uncle Iroh.

4 He Betrayed Team Avatar Under Ba Sing Se And Tried To Kill Aang

Azula and Zuko team up

Speaking of betrayals, Zuko has made a few of them. The first is when he betrayed Team Avatar in the depths of Ba Sing Se. Though he had other options, he decided to side with the smart-mouthed Azula, who had the backing of the Dai Li and attack Aang. For a while, everyone thought Aang was dead. Zuko was allowed to return home with Azula and rejoin his family in the Fire Nation. While he may have gotten what he asked for, fans were not happy for him.

3 He Lied To Everyone, Including His Family, About Aang's Death

Azula kneels reporting to Ozai

Zuko knew full well that Aang was not dead when he returned to the Fire Nation. However, he was so enthralled with being accepted back into his family and to be acknowledged by Fire Lord Ozai that he chose to live out that farce.

Fans could easily tell Zuko was wracked with guilt, but Zuko had dug his own grave. His uncle was not there for him, he had returned to an abusive household, and he knew he had made the wrong choice. While viewers were anxious for a Zuko redemption arc, his anguish at this moment was well deserved.

2 He Hired Combustion Man To Do His Dirty Work So His Lie Wouldn't Be Uncovered

Combustion Man reads a letter with a hawk on his shoulder

Zuko's habit of hiring shady characters to capture and kill the Avatar did not stop when he returned to the Fire Nation. Knowing that Aang was likely still at large, Zuko hired another mercenary from the Fire Nation, a man who came to be known as Combustion Man.

Combustion Man proved a challenge for Team Avatar, as his powers were new to the group. Fans were not pleased with this, as they wanted to see Zuko realize the error of his ways after coming so close. Instead, he returned to his old methods, and this would come back to haunt him when he tried to apologize to Team Avatar.

1 He Betrayed Uncle Iroh And Caused Him To Be Sent To Prison

Zuko visits Iroh in prison

One of Zuko's most grievous transgressions was his betrayal of Uncle Iroh, the man who had loved him like a father and supported him when Ozai, his real father, would not. By this time, Iroh had already solidified his position as a fan favorite, and Zuko's betrayal of Iroh didn't sit well with fans.

Eventually, this poor choice helped Zuko understand why he needed to change and help the Avatar instead of the Fire Lord. It took a while for the two to reconcile, but they eventually did. However, Zuko's betrayal of Iroh and subsequent leaving of him to be imprisoned is still a sore spot among fans.

NEXT: Avatar: 10 Giveaways Zuko Would Turn Good