I can't believe I'm saying this, but Mai just went up a thousand notches in my book. Much like with Kataang, if Maiko happens, I got no issues with it, but I will still not like it as well as the idea of Zutara. Just my preference though. Mai actually cares about Zuko so it's all good. I still think it's odd that Zuko didn't want to go back and rescue Mai after seeing what she did to help them escape; however, the more and more I think about it, Zuko knows that Mai can take care of herself (he said as much when that guard came to protect her). Also, Mai has a lot of connections (dad's position, uncle is warden, etc), so he probably feels like she will be ok.

I dunno, what does everyone else think?

If this story takes the cliche road, like I'm sadly expecting, Aang defeats the Firelord, Iroh and Zuko's Mother (I forget her name) reclaim their titles, Zuko and Mai get back together (I suppose I'm not as opposed to it as I was after TBR, still being a Zutaran though), Aand and Katara deepen their relationship (I'm not expecting an all-out I love you) and the team rides off into the sunset kinda-ending. However I'm hoping this story doesn't follow the cliche. While Mai did profess to loving Zuko, I get the feeling their relationship might be over ( from the way she said she's saving the jerk who dumped her). Still, I don't imagine seeing her again until the end, and I also don't imagine them getting back together (honestly I having trouble imagining Mai and Ty-Lee reappearing anymore than as a foot-note in the story, given the sense of finality on their parts at the end of TBR). As for what's going to happen between Zuko and Katara, I hate to admit it, but that's still up in the air (I'm going to hunt down Mike and Bryan if all they showed at NYCC was a trick to eventually piss off Zutarans...). Has she forgiven him? Honestly, from the way she's been letting him hand around Aang and everyone else, it's almost like she's forgotten her threat, which confuses me more than relieves me. Still, I can imagine their relationship blooming (And yes, I base that solely on the hug scene, which in my opinion was too deep for being simply friendly, though we really don't know enough about the situation to say yet). One scenario that I can imagine is that they do fall for eachother ( all possible Zutara moments considered), and Aang finds out about it and gets really mad (which is something I felt he was when I watched the trailer, with the whole angry-looks, giant-fireball, attacking everything display). Still, that would have to be after The Ember Island Players, and I'm not sure if there is anything after that beyond the finale. So, as much as I hate to admit it, everything remains up in the air... SUX! Damn you Mike and Bryan!

"I'm saving the jerk who dumped me."

Pure win XD

I really can't bring myself to like Mai. I don't know what it is (she kinda reminds me of myself: dark and sarcastic ). I thought it was really sweet that she risked a lot to save Zuko though, even saying that she loved him more than she feared Azula, which is essentially saying that she'd rather save the one she loved than avoid a lightning bolt in the ass.

I think that this episode harmed Zutara's chances. Ty Lee and Mai will come back, of course they will. I think the show will have a clich?? ending where the obvious ships happen and that includes Maiko. After all, Mai said that she loved Zuko. The creators wouldn't just let that lie. The one question I do have, though, is why did Zuko leave Mai in the prison when the escape was happening? Surely if he loved her then he'd take him with her? I know that he's trying to restore balance and help the Avatar and whatever but still...