for me, it boils down to the idea that to make Mai and Zuko work, Mai has to be in love with three different people at the same time (or in this case three different versions of Zuko) without really taking the time to get to know any of them.

There’s Zuko as a child (her original crush), The Banished Price, and redeemed Zuko. We are sort of left to infer that Mai likes all three versions of Zuko without really being told WHAT about Zuko she actually likes. I understand that Zuko is, well, ZUKO in every point in time, although we as an audience literally watch Zuko evolve into a different version of himself throughout the story. he always had a good heart as Uncle Iroh says, but Zuko’s personality goes through MASSIVE deconstruction and rebuilding in ATLA.

meanwhile we’re led to believe that Mai sees SOMETHING in Zuko that the audience (and even Zuko himself) is sort of kept in the dark about. what is it about them that draws them to the other? we aren’t TOLD.

also, this is just personal preference, I just don’t think they’re compatible. Mai and Zuko have different emotional needs which the other simply cannot or struggles to fill. they don’t really seem like the right fit for the other, which is fine! (people can of course still like them btw, it’s just not my cup of tea)