Draco Malfoy starts off as the clear-cut antithesis to Harry Potter — where the Boy Who Lived is generally friendly, courageous, and helpful, his nemesis is haughty, cruel, and aggressive for no perceivable reason. Of course, this changes over time as Draco grows up to realize the real dangers that come with swearing allegiances to pure evil.
Similarly, Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender begins his journey as a shamed and banished prince, hell-bent on "restoring his honor" and returning to the Fire Nation. This never comes to pass, and Zuko thankfully realizes that his place in the world is not at his father's feet, but by the Avatar's side. How do these two compare as anti-heroes in their respective stories, though?
9 Zuko: Rescues The Avatar He Is Meant To Capture
For all his bluster about restoring his honor in Fire Lord Ozai's eyes, Zuko can be quite a softie when it matters. After Aang is captured and locked up by Admiral Zhao, a mysterious invader only known as the Blue Spirit rescues the Avatar.
Later revealed to be Zuko, this masked fighter puts his own life in danger in order to protect Aang, which doesn't really sound like something a villain would do. Unfortunately, he drives Aang away when the latter tries to become friends with him.
8 Malfoy: Takes A Risk By Lying To Bellatrix
The denizens of Malfoy Manor are in a celebratory mood — they believe that the only thing their Dark Lord has wanted is finally within their grasp courtesy of a band of Snatchers.
Thankfully, Hermione's quick-wittedness saves the day when she morphs Harry's face into an unrecognizable mess, preventing the Death Eaters from instantly identifying him. However, her plan is only successful because Draco, the only one in the room who could possibly recognize Harry, pretends not to.
7 Zuko: Plucks Up The Courage To Join Team Avatar
Understanding his moral position before Team Avatar, whom he had deceived over and over again, Zuko knows that the only way they would accept him into the fold is if he goes to them on his metaphorical hands and knees. He does, but they rebuff him instantly until he suggests that he could be Aang's Firebending Master.
Team Avatar still chases him away, but at this point, they are a bit unsure as to whether to believe Zuko. The fact that he nearly gets himself killed trying to stop the assassin sent to murder the Avatar softens the deal, even though it turns out that Zuko had hired Combustion Man to begin with.
6 Malfoy: Ultimately Fails To End Dumbledore's Life
Draco Malfoy exhibits only the diluted traits of the classic villain: his behavior is less along evil lines and more in the bully category. In nearly every sense of the word, he is a child. Draco is certainly old enough to know what he's doing, but he's neither wise nor willful enough to resist the Dark Lord.
His mission, the assassination of Albus Dumbledore, is inconsequential to both the would-be victim and Lord Voldemort, but it highlights one of Draco's important features. He has not yet been turned to the "dark side", so to speak, which means he still has a chance to fight for justice.
5 Zuko: Releases Appa Despite His Unwillingness
Aang's fury at losing Appa quickly devolves into frustration, but they begin to find their first leads in Ba Sing Se. Unknown to them, Zuko had already been living in the city, so when he finds a missing poster for the Sky Bison, he decides to return to his old Avatar-hunting ways.
Uncle Iroh is extremely displeased by his nephew's once-again role reversal, and he tracks Zuko down to the underground prison where Appa is held (consequently giving him an earful.) As much as he hates doing it, Zuko allows Appa to go free, a generous deed that later helps him improve his goodwill with Team Avatar.
4 Malfoy: Is Motivated By Love Rather Than Fear
Draco, breaking down in front of Dumbledore, plaintively explains that disobeying Lord Voldemort would lead to the death of his parents, and, as a consequence, the extinguishing of the Malfoy clan. Sure, his father doesn't always treat him nicely, but they have had their moments together, and it is evident that Draco loves Lucius very much.
His affection for Narcissa, his mother, is made evident when he is inflamed after Harry insults her. This love is reciprocal because the Malfoys care about nothing more than Draco's safety during the Battle of Hogwarts.
3 Zuko: Confronts His Father As Equals
Zuko manages to get his position restored, seated at his father's right-hand side, but all his betrayals start to haunt him. He learns about the relationship between Avatar Roku and Fire Lord Sozin, as well as his heritage. Zuko then goes to meet Ozai during the Eclipse, hidden deep beneath the Fire Palace, where he blames the man for being the worst of the worst.
His father resorts to the only weapon at his disposal, his cruel words, but they don't affect Zuko until Ozai brings up Ursa. Still, the two-second battle that results between them counts as Zuko's victory — emotionally, psychologically, and physically.
2 Malfoy: Cares About His Friends Deeply
Draco has consistently been demeaning to his friends (read: henchmen), like telling Goyle that "if [he] were any slower, [he]'d be going backward.”
He generally treats them like his personal servants, which is why it is extremely out of character when Draco desperately tries to save their lives after Crabbe Fiendfyres the Room of Requirement. What's more, Draco is visibly distressed when Crabbe is killed. Perhaps those three were The Anti-Golden Trio after all?
1 Zuko & Malfoy: Have A Successful Redemption Arc
There are two narrative themes coursing through Harry Potter and ATLA that explain why these stories are so universally beloved. First, the heroes reject the eye-for-an-eye proverb in favor of compassion — Harry's final spell against Voldemort is intended to disarm, and Aang neutralizes Ozai without hurting him.
The second element permits redemption for any antagonist who turns away from the path of evil — the Dark and Fire Lords are both given the option to atone for their crimes, and though they refuse, Draco and Zuko do not. These two young men loudly and clearly answer the famous question posed by Paarthurnax the Dragon in TES V: Skyrim: “What is better: to be born good or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?”
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