Listen, the fine folks in fandom have always known that Zuko is one queer character. His friendship/rivalry with Jet, his romance with Mai, his rivalry turned true love with Aang, his situationship with Katara, his great chemistry with Sokka, and his hold over Toph, all serve to confirm that basically everyone is always falling in love with Zuko, and Zuko is pretty much always ready to be loved. But sometimes, what’s obvious to fandom is not always obvious to the official canon. And yet, front and center in the first Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender trailer is delicious confirmation that Zuko is a bisexual King… or a bi Fire-Lord, we guess. He’s literally flaming, is what we’re getting around to. And we love it, because Zuko is the queer representation we deserve.
Midway through the Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender trailer, the Gaang discovers a mysterious airbender trapped in ice. Toph notes, “My senses tell me this guy is pretty attractive.” To which Sokka hems and haws, “What does attractive even mean?” “Just give me a straight confirmation,” Toph insists. Well, hilariously, a straight confirmation isn’t forthcoming. But Zuko is happy to offer a queer one. “He’s very attractive.” Zuko confirms matter-of-factly, and then adds, “What, he is? It’s all in the bone structure.” What, not everyone finds both men and women attractive? Zuko seems to find that idea silly in this Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender sneak peek. We love you, Zuko, our bi-con. Aang, Sokka, Toph, and Katara all seem pretty interested in this revelation too—and can you blame them?
Of course, as queer people, we are always hoping for full and overt representation in our fiction. If a het couple can kiss on screen, why can’t a queer one? But, whether Zuko ever actually kisses a man or not, we can also cherish this more casual kind of representation as well. Zuko, a main character, arguably the most beloved character, from Avatar: The Last Airbender, CAN and DOES find men and women attractive, and it’s not a big deal. And that’s a canon point worth celebrating. And celebrate it we do.
Zuko and the rest will return when Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender premieres globally on Paramount+ on Saturday, July 25.