Ozai's relationships

Ozai's relationships were often based heavily on his casual dominance and cool intimidation due to his egocentric and megalomaniacal personality, much like those of his own daughter, Princess Azula. His cruelty, disregard for others and political power and superior bending prowess made him probably the most feared person in the Avatar World. In the Fire Nation, this usually catalysed respect, but in the rest of the world, it most often resulted in hatred.

Even to the extent of within his own family, he saw people as mere tools to his own ascension toward an ideal of supreme power and absolute domination. Even Azula, who was supposedly his pride, was used to his advantage and was a mere manifestation of his own greatness. Though knowledge about the development of his personality and his past relationships is very limited and based on assumption, Ozai had never shown any care or positive emotional connection for or to another human being. He bore similarity to Azula: only capable of establishing relationships based on fear, dominance and cold manipulation of others.

Relatives
To Ozai, family seemed to be nothing in comparison to world domination. It had been hinted that, at one point in time, he seemed to care about his family more, though to what extent or for how long this lasted is never known. While he may have some respect for his talented daughter, Azula, Ozai used his children solely to his advantage. By the end of the series it was possible that Ozai had lost all love for his family because of their defeats, betrayals and his cruel treatment of them.

Azulon
"'Father, revoke Iroh's birthright. I am your humble servant, here to serve you and our nation. Use me!' — Ozai to Azulon in a flashback in 'Zuko Alone'."



Little is known about Ozai and his father's relationship, however, it seemed that Azulon favored Iroh, being that he was a strong defender of his birthright. It is possible Ozai treated Zuko similarly to the way Azulon treated him. It was revealed that Azulon ordered Ozai to kill his own son, Zuko, as punishment for trying to usurp Iroh's birthright after the death of Lu Ten which Ozai would have done if it was not for the intervention of Ursa. Ozai did not appear very upset over his father's death. Ozai might have named Azula after his father and demonstrated her military knowledge and firebending talent to Azulon as a way to earn his father's respect and recognition.

Iroh
"'Perhaps he can pass down to you the ways of tea and failure.' — Ozai to Zuko on Iroh in 'The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse'."

Though not much was explicitly stated about the relationship between Ozai and his brother, it seems that one could compare it to the relationship between Azula and Zuko. While Ozai was an amoral, merciless egoist, his brother was a wise, compassionate cosmopolitan. The relation between two of them evolved to them mutually distrusting the other. Iroh knew of Ozai's power-hungry personality, but feared his great power and placed his hope in the Avatar. Ozai, who derived satisfaction from other's adoration, despised Iroh simply for his own disdain of him.

Because Iroh was Ozai's older brother, he was to be next in line to succeed Azulon as Fire Lord. By the time that Azulon had died, it was evident that Ozai developed a deep hatred for his brother, perhaps angry that he was not the immediate heir to the throne (or on a more emotional standard that many members of his family such as his father, wife and son seemed to have a higher respect for Iroh than him). After Iroh's son died in the Siege of Ba Sing Se, Ozai was quick to take advantage of Iroh's vulnerability and informed Azulon that with Lu Ten gone, Iroh had no heirs, so it would be more fitting for himself to be Fire Lord. Azulon denied this request, instead intending to punish Ozai for seeking to usurp Iroh's birthright. In the aftermath of this fallout, Ozai ultimately stole the throne from Iroh after Azulon's mysterious death. Iroh did not resist this course of action.

Their relationship did not improve during Ozai's reign. Iroh was horrified by Ozai's decision to burn Zuko's face after their Agni Kai and tried to sway Zuko away from the path Ozai had chosen. After Iroh betrayed the Fire Nation upon defending the Moon and Ocean Spirits from Admiral Zhao at the Northern Water Tribe, Ozai deemed Iroh a traitor following the Siege of the North and ordered Azula to bring him back in chains. He did not regret leaving his brother to rot in prison after his capture in Ba Sing Se.

Zuko
"'You will obey me, or this defiant breath will be your last!' — Ozai to Zuko in 'The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse'."



Ozai and Zuko always had a complicated relationship. Though Zuko always wished to please Ozai, Ozai was never pleased with Zuko, saying he was lucky to be born, unlike Azula, whom he said was born lucky. Ozai seemed to have tried to have been a good father when he was younger, but almost all his love for Zuko vanished when Zuko "disrespected" Ozai by speaking against one of his general's plans. This resulted in Ozai burning Zuko's eye, permanently scarring him in an Agni Kai in which Zuko refused to participate. He was banished after the pathetic display he had shown during the Agni Kai and could only return home if he captured the Avatar. However, he finally won back Ozai's love when he helped his sister conquer Ba Sing Se, betrayed his uncle, and killed the Avatar (which Azula lied about to protect herself if the Avatar was alive).

During the Day of Black Sun, Zuko came to the conclusion to join Team Avatar in their quest to defeat Ozai and bring balance to the world. Zuko confronted Ozai in his underground bunker and stated he was going to tell him the truth. Ozai, amused by this, let him speak. Zuko revealed that it was Azula who killed the Avatar, not him, and that he was alive and was likely leading the invasion. Zuko disowned his father and stated that he no longer wanted Ozai's love. He then announced his decision to join the Avatar and to free his uncle from prison. While leaving, Ozai deemed him a coward and baited his son to stay until the eclipse ended by revealing what happened to his long-lost mother. According to Ozai, Azulon did order him to kill Zuko, something he would have done had Ursa not found out. To protect Zuko, she proposed a plan where Ozai would become Fire Lord and Zuko would live. By doing this she committed vicious acts of treason, resulting in her banishment. Zuko was nearly moved to tears by this news. Before he could leave, however, the eclipse ended and Ozai tried to kill Zuko by firing a bolt of lightning at him. Zuko redirected it and escaped before Ozai could retaliate.

Zuko openly showed his hatred toward his father with the rest of Team Avatar as he openly stated that Ozai was the worst father ever. He insisted that, as the Avatar, Aang had to kill Ozai, a task Aang did not want to partake in. Aang defeated Ozai by taking his bending away.

Zuko visited his father in prison and was evidently satisfied with Ozai's loss of bending. He hoped that after some time in prison, Ozai would be put on the right path. He praised his father for banishing him, saying it was the best thing he could have ever done for him. Before leaving, Ozai questioned Zuko as to his reasons for visiting him in prison which led to Zuko demanding to know where his mother was.

Ozai did not reveal Ursa's location to Zuko, instead, he offered his son advice on how to be a good Fire Lord, given that he had the "wisdom of experience." When Zuko began to walk away, Ozai warned him that the throne came with many pressures that would change him, but if Zuko endured them, he would become great. Ozai predicted that Zuko would return later, a return which he awaited.

His prediction held true, as a year after the Hundred Year War, with a developing crisis in Yu Dao, Zuko returned to Ozai's cell for advice. After two sessions, Ozai had tried to persuade Zuko that it was his choice, as Fire Lord, that mattered. As the Harmony Restoration Movement failed, Zuko listened to his father.

Azula
"'She's a true prodigy, just like her grandfather for whom she's named.' — Ozai talking about Azula to Azulon in a flashback in 'Zuko Alone'."



Unlike Zuko, Azula was Ozai's pride, sharing her father's disposition toward cruelty and violence. Ozai always favored Azula, saying she was born lucky. Ozai was always impressed by and proud of Azula's firebending abilities and intelligence. As Ozai's dislike of Zuko grew over the years, so did his favoritism of Azula. Without a maternal figure, Azula and Zuko had to live up to their father. Azula succeeded, however, she was consequently pressured into becoming a perfectionist, settling for nothing less than what would make Ozai proud. Ozai also was very trustful of Azula, believing her lie that Zuko slayed the Avatar.

During the solar eclipse, Zuko revealed to Ozai that Azula took down the Avatar and lied to protect herself. Even though Ozai seemed furious with Zuko, he seemingly did not punish her because she was next seen in the Boiling Rock, as calm and focused as ever. However, the betrayal of her friends caused Azula to mentally crumble, affecting her and Ozai's relationship forever. On the day of Ozai's coronation as Phoenix King, Ozai informed Azula that he would not be taking her with him on his mission to burn down the Earth Kingdom. At first, Azula was extremely upset, feeling her father did not want her and was treating her like Zuko. Ozai harshly silenced her, but then calmly and more kindly told her that he had decided to make her Fire Lord. This made her happy, however, the damage was already done. Azula still felt hurt and betrayed, resulting in her complete descent into madness.

Despite his apparent pride in Azula's firebending and sheer prowess, it was clear that Ozai held little true, unconditional, love for Azula. Like Zuko, she was largely a tool to further his own efforts at conquering the world. Azula was apparently aware of this and with Ursa's outlook on her and Mai and Ty Lee's betrayal, she was unable to bottle up her inner turmoil, leading her to complete insanity.

It is not known if Ozai or Azula interacted again after their respective defeats or what their feelings are toward one another at this point.

Lu Ten
"'With Lu Ten gone, Iroh's bloodline has ended.' — Ozai talking about Lu Ten to Azulon in a flashback in 'Zuko Alone'."

Barely anything is known about the relationship between Ozai and his nephew, however, it was shown that Ozai was very unsympathetic to Lu Ten's death as he tried to gain the throne by telling Azulon that with Lu Ten dead, Iroh's bloodline had ended.

Love interest
Ozai has only had one known love interest: his wife, Ursa, who was later banished.

Ursa
"'Your mother did vicious, treasonous things that night, and for her treason, she was banished.' — Ozai talking about Ursa to Zuko in 'The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse'."



Because of their different personalities, Ozai and Ursa slowly grew apart. Together, however, they had two children, Zuko and Azula. Their different personalities shaped the lives of their children, each of them favored by a different parent. Their marriage finally came to an end the day before Ozai would be crowned Fire Lord. According to Ozai, his father ordered him to kill Zuko. Ursa found out and she and Ozai devised a plan where Ozai would become Fire Lord and Zuko would be spared. Ozai stated that she committed vicious acts of treason, resulting in her banishment. Ozai showed no signs of sadness at his wife's banishment.

During the events on the Day of Black Sun, Ozai used his knowledge of Ursa's disappearance to distract Zuko, who had just announced his renouncement of loyalty to him. Ozai revealed to Zuko the true nature of Ursa's departure and even acknowledged that she might still be alive. He then attacked Zuko with lightning when the eclipse ended, only to be repelled by Zuko.

After Zuko was crowned Fire Lord upon his father's defeat, he demanded to know where his mother was as Ozai was in prison. Ozai, however, tossed the question aside.

Allies
Like family, friendship seemed to be nothing for Ozai in comparison to world domination. While he may have some respect for the Fire Nation Military, specifically its officers, Ozai used his soldiers solely to his advantage.

Qin
"'The Earth Kingdom will finally fall and you can claim Ba Sing Se in the name of your father. Nothing can stop us.' — Qin to the Azula about Ozai in a 'The Drill'."



Qin was the cunning and inventive War Minister and overseer of the creation of all the Fire Nation's war machines and had been a Fire Nation emissary for years. He never met with, spoke with, or was mentioned by Ozai nor is it known if there was a difference highly unlikely though it is between Qin’s relationship with Azulon and with Ozai. It is certain whatsoever that Qin shared Ozai’s disposition towards cruelty and violence and Qin was largely a tool to further Ozai’s own efforts at conquering the world.

What is known at the earliest is that out of devotion to Ozai, Qin came back to check in the mechanist’s inventions regularly, which pleased Ozai because it consisted of destructive tanks and warships. When the time came, Qin made it so that the Fire Nation attempted to burn the Northern Air Temple to rubble after the Mechanist’s defection. The Mechanist and his fellow refugees that lived in the temple pushed the invaders back completely.

However, the mechanist’s latest invention was a hot air balloon with which the Battle at the Northern Air Temple was won against the Fire Nation. During the battle, the balloon crashed into the nearby valley, right in time to be discovered by Ozai’s loyal War Minister. Qin decreed with a sadistic smile that the defeat at the battle of the Northern Air Temple “would be the gateway to many victories” for the Fire Nation in Ozai’s name at battles of the War in the future. Under Qin’s supervision, the hot air balloon turned into a frequently used war balloon that enabled Ozai’s military to control the skies.

The masterpiece of technology worked on under Qin’s direction for many years was revealed before the walls of Ba Sing Se – a massive drill with enough power to tunnel through the wall once which he intended for his troops to storm the city from within. At the Battle of the Drill, Princess Azula oversaw Qin’s expedition to penetrate the Great Walls of the impenetrable city. This was the first time Ozai was mentioned by Qin when he said that the Earth Kingdom would finally fall and that Azula could claim Ba Sing Se for the Fire Nation in Ozai’s name.

What is known at the latest is that when the Drill fell into disrepair thanks to the invention of Avatar Aang and his friends, Ozai seemingly did not punish Qin, as Qin was next seen strolling down the halls of Ozai's secret bunker, where he came across Aang and his friends. When threatened by them, he quickly gave them directions to Ozai's chambers, where not Ozai, but Princess Azula awaited them. Given the circumstance of this event, it is unknown whether this was just a coincidence or whether Qin was in on Azula’s plan and had lied to Aang his companions.

Bujing
"'After Zuko's outburst at the meeting, the Fire Lord became very angry with him. He said Zuko's challenge of a general's plan was an act of complete disrespect and there was only one way to resolve this.' — Iroh to Jee about Ozai, Zuko, and Bujing in 'The Storm'."



General Bujing was a High General of the Fire Nation military. Although he was in Ozai’s presence twice, he never met or spoke with Ozai nor is it known if there was a difference highly unlikely though it is between Qin’s relationship with Azulon and with Ozai. Bujing was renowned for his ruthless but effective battlefield strategies and shared Ozai’s disposition towards cruelty and violence. Known for his calculating manner, sadism, and ruthless attitude, General Bujing had an obsession with victory even if it meant sacrificing inexperienced troops to gain a battlefield advantage but was largely a tool to further Ozai’s own efforts at conquering the world.[1]

During a war meeting, Bujing's military plan was to move a rookie troop of Fire Nation recruits to fight an experienced battalion of earthbenders. This would make the latter concentrate its efforts and resources on the former, leaving the way open for more capable Fire Nation soldiers to encircle and defeat them. In his words, the new recruits were the best bait available: "fresh meat". When Prince Zuko attended his first war meeting and spoke out against Bujing's cruel plan, he and the other attendees were greatly offended. Ozai told his son that it was an act of disrespect and could only be settled by an Agni Kai, and Zuko accepted, not being afraid of the elderly Bujing.

However, Zuko unexpectedly ended up facing Ozai instead. Bujing attended the Agni Kai as a member of the audience smirking upon seeing "justice" served to Zuko, showing Bujing’s fanatical loyalty to Ozai and how cruel Bujing was.[2] Bujing attended the war meeting the day before the eclipse and was seen exchanging an uneasy glance with General Shinu when Prince Zuko entered the room. He applauded Ozai's plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom with the power of Sozin's Comet.[3] Bujing’s relish at hearing the Earth Kingdom’s destructive fate showed how cruel Bujing was and how faithful he was to Ozai.

New Ozai Governor
"'My father has entrusted you with this city and you're making a mess of things.' — Azula to the New Ozai Governor about Ozai in 'Return to Omashu'."



As a reward for his role in the siege of Omashu, Mai's father was appointed governor of the newly subjected city.[1] He was chosen by Fire Lord Ozai to govern Omashu, later renamed New Ozai by Princess Azula in honor of her father.[2] He moved there with his wife, his daughter Mai, and his infant son Tom-Tom. Though the governor cared greatly for his family, he was a weak ruler whose faulty assumptions often led to poor decisions.

To resist the governor's rule, the citizens of Omashu devised a plan involving the purple pentapi. The next morning, all the citizens showed up with marks on their skin from the pentapi's suction cups, making them look diseased. The governor ordered the citizens to be driven out of the city, thinking there was a plague. He later sent a messenger hawk bearing a message to the resistance.

His concern for his family also clearly came before his allegiance to the Fire Lord, as was demonstrated by his spontaneous offer to trade one of the Fire Nation's most valuable and powerful prisoners for his missing son. The governor thought that the earthbenders kidnapped his son and used the disease as a cover. He offered to trade King Bumi for his son. The governor never met with, spoke with, was mentioned by, or was in the presence of Ozai.

However, Azula mentioned Ozai in the governor’s presence, saying how Ozai had entrusted the governor with Omashu and how the governor was nevertheless making a mess of things. When the Day of Black Sun arrived, King Bumi liberated Omashu and destroyed the Fire Nation Palace in the city. Even though this was a defeat against the Fire Nation, Ozai seemingly did not punish the governor, as Mai and the Warden seemed at total ease in the events after this.

Enemies
Ozai has a vast list of enemies. He was hated by people from both the other surviving nations and the Fire Nation.

Aang
"'You're weak, just like the rest of your people! They did not to deserve to exist in this world... In my world! Prepare to join them. Prepare to die!' — Ozai to Aang in 'Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang'."



Ozai never formally met the Avatar until the end of the series. When he found out Aang was alive, he took immediate action, promoting Zhao to Admiral to increase his chances of capturing the Avatar. Ozai ordered wanted posters to be hung all over the Earth Kingdom to increase his chances of capturing Aang. Ozai finally faced Aang on the day of Sozin's Comet. At first they seemed to be evenly matched in their fight, however, Aang's hesitation to kill him gave Ozai the advantage. Ozai nearly defeated Aang and openly mocked him until he accidentally opened Aang's Seventh Chakra, sending him into the Avatar State. Aang easily overwhelmed Ozai while in the Avatar State, but instead of killing him, he stripped him of his firebending abilities using energybending. This resulted in Ozai's defeat and imprisonment.

Team Avatar
"'I am the Phoenix King, ugh!' — Ozai after being taunted by Sokka in 'Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang'."



With the exception of Zuko and Aang, Ozai never formally met the rest of Team Avatar. However, he briefly met Sokka, Toph, and Suki right after Aang defeated him. Seeing he was powerless, the three of them devised nicknames like "The Loser Lord", "Phoenix King of getting his butt whooped", and "king of the guys who...don't win" (which was comically made by Suki). Ozai could only lie down and drool while hearing those insults.

It is interesting to note that Katara was the only full-time member of Team Avatar who never met Ozai even though she was likely the most influential member to him, aside from Zuko and Aang, as she defeated Azula.