ATLA
The opening of the series begins with Katara saying “Aang will save the world” while the series ends with Zuko saying “Aang brought balance back to the world”. I don’t know why this amuses me, but it does. The protagonist in the story beginning and ending the story?
On the same vein, sorry Aang, I’ve loved you since I saw you make fun of ( Read more... )
Ah, I feel kind of stalkerish because ILU since forever, but I am internet shy so ILU'ed from afar. D:
I'm glad you agreed with my thoughts, I only watched the finale once. I can't stand the idea of Mai ending with Zuko. Still. Ew.
I am bracing myself to rewatch it, I want to see what else I can see I hadn't before.
Like all those moments I refused to acknowledge because it would mean I would get my heart broken (worse) if Zutara didn't happen (it kinda did, but it was relieved to know Sokka ships Zutara--liquid fire. That makes us 1000x cooler by default).
How we see the chemistry in Zutara, probably because we kept watching them fight each other, physically, mentally, it's so interesting it leads to ideas. We saw them grow because their bending was increasingly more advanced and complicated when they faced each other. Katara never did this with Aang, she trained him, but she didn't grow like he did.
With Kataang, Katara is sheltering (for obvious reason), and Aang likes this (for obvious reason), that what we see is boring, no drama no fights, no friction. Nothing but doubt about the characters and what they're supposed to represent to each other.
In the final episodes, Aang doesn't even interact with Katara, in the end, Aang doesn't even fight along side of Katara. In the end, Aang really didn't do anything to really even "win" Katara (this is an annoying thought since it means Katara is bunked down to being an object rather than the warrior/person/woman she is.)
He defeated Ozai, but that was for everyone not solely for Katara.
So what did he do to 'win' Katara? Act like a child, push his feelings on her, and for some unknown reason, she gave in. She's not confused anymore, she's fine with kissing him back because there isn't an evil Firelord to defeat anymore. The show ends with the 'war ending' but that's not true, wars don't stop the next day, or in a week, or in months.
Why would Katara kiss Aang then? The war isn't over. The king may be down, but the pawns aren't about to quit, not after 100 years of blood/tears/pain/torture and the fact that they've believed themselves superior for so long.
They're brainwashed! Zuko is going to be lucky if he lives long, or untarnished by the ugly that is his nation's polluted beliefs and the followers. We have Jet as proof for this.
If Katara kissed Aang because the war was over, wouldn't it mean she has to wait a little bit longer? And when did she resolve her feelings for Aang? When Zuko nearly died? When Jun said she was Zuko's boyfriend? When she sat down and helped give courage to Zuko? When he disappeared (and lets remember who noticed he was gone first), when she was flying on top of Appa with Zuko? While she was surfing on the iceboard? When she made fun of mistake!baby!Zuko? Bad storytelling there.
My problem with Kataang is, still, it being immature. Not even physically because they'll grow eventually, and not age wise, because they'll grow old too, I could of have gone without seeing the passionate kiss though (I smell hypocrisy Brkye, Zutara is so totally dark, but twelve year olds with tongues down each other's throats is totally cool!). My problem is this: does Katara trust Aang, or simply have so much faith in him, she's blurring the differences? I don't remember too much emphasis on this in the show.
Does she love him, or the idea of him/hope? Or is it her motherly personality? Bryke why didn't you address this before the finale?????
You're right. Firelord Zuko shouldn't be in Ba Sing Se, as much as I love him and his uncle. And Mai should of really not been there. I want to read your story so bad, I was hoping to see something like it crop out eventually.
I knew Kataang was going to be the endgame before I heard people say Bryke said so. Aang is the hero, Katara the beautiful girl, connect the dots. The clues were rather blatant too. Boo. It's Maiko. Maiko from nowhere. Double boo :(
Woah. Long post. I am still mulling some things from the show. And now to stop, no show is perfect, and the ending was beautiful despite my gripe with Mai.
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*Huggles you* I haven't posted a journal in years, but would be delighted to friend you if that would be okay? I love CAPSTARA but it's not really the place for this kind of dialog about the show (just the LULZ and PRONS) and Katara_Zuko has a spoiler policy that makes it difficult to really digest too. Anyway...
There are already few other post-war AtLA fics that have come out in the past few days that have some similar elements to my plot bunnies... must be the collective Zutara unconscience at work. ;) I have lots of bits & pieces of fanfic started since the finale ended, but so far the little suckers defy my attempts to tie them neatly together, lol. I'm working on it, because the conclusion of the finale has left me unfulfilled (re: the staggering amount of unrealized potential for Zutara romance) and it's distracting me from real life stuff. Weird how a kids' cartoon can get me so invested that it does that.
Anyway, don't get me wrong. I *LOVE* what we got in the finale, but the romantic conclusions were disappointed, and for the same reason you stated above, here:
My problem with Kataang is, still, it being immature. Not even physically because they'll grow eventually, and not age wise, because they'll grow old too, I could of have gone without seeing the passionate kiss though (I smell hypocrisy Brkye, Zutara is so totally dark, but twelve year olds with tongues down each other's throats is totally cool!). My problem is this: does Katara trust Aang, or simply have so much faith in him, she's blurring the differences? I don't remember too much emphasis on this in the show.
Exactly. Putting aside my real squickiness I feel about the improbably passionate kiss between inexperienced 12 and 14 year old kids, I feel like Katara's always been more mother/big sister/protector and less like an equal partner. Aang latches onto the first girl he sees, literally, and maybe it's love at first sight, but I can't help thinking it's like an orphaned child to a new Mom-figure. Sure, he's got a crush but I note that throughout the series, he seems to rely on his boyishness (childishness)and passivity to draw Katara's approval or attention. He's happy to be the center of her attention. It may be normal family behavior but that's not healthy romance material. He just assumes Katara feels the same for him. The EIP play was a rude awakening because his certainty was shattered. But that's the sort of reaction one might expect from a 12 year old boy. In the end, Katara goes from "confused" to "certain enough to suck face with him" in days' time. Riiiight. That sounds more like "wow, he just saved the world I guess I should reciprocate his feelings now."
Kataang is given to us as works-in-a-box; ready-to-wear; no-assembly-required. No work is necessary and the outcome is supposed to be a no-brainer. They may have fought enemies together, but there was never any conflict between them personally (until EIP) and it was just ... boring.
Well, I like a romance that develops despite strife. Katara and Zuko challenged each other, literally. They fought each other. He betrayed her adn she distrusted him. He had to admit his mistakes and work to atone for his sins. He does - and learned from his mistakes. At the same time, Katara is challenged to be a better person by getting over her hostility and learning to see the man behind the Fire Nation mask. Both of them grew as a result of their interactions, and if they can become friends, why not lovers?
I will always prefer a romance that comes after sacrifice and struggle. Two people at odds to find common ground and make peace, then become comrades and friends, and then fall in love. If that's "dark" then so be it.
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You'll excuse me, this pestering thing called -life- has decided to make itself known now that I've thrown myself into fandom once again.
I'll add you! [I love your input, it's nice to see a point of view that comes from a mature viewer with more understanding in life, I am in complete assurance that most Zutarians (despite what fandom haters say) are adults and have had these 'relationships' most claim we are missing.
Kataang as a ready-to-wear makes me sad. I think the only way to make it work is if he broke up with her for a while because he isn't sure if he loves her, or the idea of having her, or if she even returns the feelings as fully as he, and the he realized he loves her, but she has moved on (to Zuko!).
Still want to read your fic
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