Though I must admit, it is hard to imagine Ozai: eminence grise.
Dude is not subtle enough. Seriously. His plan for getting Azulon to set Iroh aside? Tell him that he should do it! His plan for subjugating the Earth Kingdom? Burn it! It's enough to make you think that Azula's brains came from Mom, and that Zuko, well. "Hi, Ozai here!"
Zuko installed as a puppet ruler (well, even more so than he would be anyway in this world)
The degree to which this Zuko is a puppet that Mai and/or Azula and/or the council fight over is kind of heartbreaking to think about. Zuko tries! He thinks he has agency! But. Not really. Not really.
God, this universe.
I can't imagine a functioning Azula ever taking the risk? Ozai, I can see taking trophies, going to the trouble of immobilising Katara somehow (brrr) and keeping her around to make a point. But Azula wouldn't have the patience for such niceties, I think.
You're right, I think. Public execution. Zuko watches.
Re: THIS IS JUST TO SAY
Dude is not subtle enough. Seriously. His plan for getting Azulon to set Iroh aside? Tell him that he should do it! His plan for subjugating the Earth Kingdom? Burn it! It's enough to make you think that Azula's brains came from Mom, and that Zuko, well. "Hi, Ozai here!"
Zuko installed as a puppet ruler (well, even more so than he would be anyway in this world)
The degree to which this Zuko is a puppet that Mai and/or Azula and/or the council fight over is kind of heartbreaking to think about. Zuko tries! He thinks he has agency! But. Not really. Not really.
God, this universe.
I can't imagine a functioning Azula ever taking the risk? Ozai, I can see taking trophies, going to the trouble of immobilising Katara somehow (brrr) and keeping her around to make a point. But Azula wouldn't have the patience for such niceties, I think.
You're right, I think. Public execution. Zuko watches.