In Defense of Mai: Fandom Misperceptions and Answers to Her Detractors

[ljlee]

This was originally part of the Fire Nation culture essay, but it was off topic enough that I decided to expand it into an essay of its own.

Comments

[loopy777]

It all makes sense when you look at the fandom with a properly spaced timeline. See, the finale for Book 2 aired on December 1, 2006. The first episode of Book 3 aired September 21, 2007. For those who don't want to do the math, that;s almost 11 full months apart. In that time, the fandom was pretty energized by the events of the finale; they took to the internet to discuss, debate, write their own Book 3 fanfics, etc.

So, in that year, a lot of fans learned the art of the Shipping Flame War. And, just like that old veteran whose every comment somehow ties back to the week he spent in a foxhole, most of these people can't get out of the pre-Book 3 mindset. Mai's character arc had barely begun at that point, and it was in their interest to ignore that there was likely going to be further development on that front. They cast her simply as the temptress who Zuko would inevitably reject as a metaphor for rejecting the ways of the Fire Nation. (Little did they realize, Azula was totally the temptress-figure. And no, I'm not joking. She even went crazy when he broke up with her, not after she got more political power like a lot of people seem to think.)

Although, personally, I still don't see how Mai got a "lazy" rap. Even if we look at her very first appearance in "Return to Omashu," she very clearly leaps into action and picks a fight with who she believes to be three rebel assassins. That's not the actions of a lazy teenager who could have just let the trained guards handle things, that's a character-establishing moment for a repressed discontent who can't find anything interesting in society and so engages in violence for the adrenaline rush.

That's partially why I don't buy the popular view that Mai would be dissatisfied being Zuko's wife. Sure, the role might come with a lot of politics and social obligations, but Mai doesn't hold back when it comes to finding some kind of outlet for herself, however small it might be. I can just see the Intelligence Minister having a talk with Zuko about the Royal Consort always hanging around his office and taking over job responsibilities like active management of field agents and training of saboteurs. To which Zuko simply replies, "Well, if Mai's doing a better job at it than you are, just get her an office for herself and start forwarding her some of your assignments. That will leave you more time for your own wife and kids."

...

My pro-Mai bias might be showing here.

[amyraine]

I agree that Mai is not the temptress figure and Azula is, but based on the scene at Boiling Rock it's more like Azula went crazy when Mai broke up with her.

I also agree that Mai would find outlets where she could when dealing with the bullcrap that is being a royal consort, but I'm going to hold off on speculating further, since the question of her remaining Zuko's S.O. is still up in the air.

More thoughts in my comment below.

[loopy777]

From what we've seen of the next Promise volume, it seems the issue Mai has is more that she objects to Zuko's characterization as much as I do. ;)

Also, did your comment get lost? I'm not seeing one, even loading the full page.

[yukinoomoni]

I was honestly extremely proud that Mai was leaving when I saw the spoiler. There's only so much a person can take in a relationship, and honestly is one of the big ones. Zuko spent most of the first issue avoiding Mai, when clearly she was there the whole time for him to confide and depend on - and it was something she wanted to do for him, too. And people are snarling about it? I'm proud of her. It shows that not only does she know what to do to get his attention, she respects herself enough to leave a negative and volatile relationship before she's trapped.

Sorry, I rambled. I just needed to get that out!

[loopy777]

Actually, I think most of the snarling is directed at either Zuko or Gene Yang. I haven't seen anyone made at Mai for this, yet. But then, I don't have out on the worst LJ or tumblr ghettos.

[amyraine]

lol, no, it just took me forever to write it.

The Promise ruins everyone's characterization, but Sokka's a bit less than Zuko, which makes me jump on the Mai/Sokka bandwagon. If he doesn't end up with Toph, that is, or if Sukka somehow survives.

[ljlee]

That makes so much sense. The near-year gap probably provided a lot of time for positions to be entrenched so that the actual Book 3 was grounds for bitterness. Maybe a lot of anti-Mai fans are actually fans of the show that was canceled after Book 2, kind of like that guy who camped on his island for decades without knowing World War 2 was over. Until I have evidence to the contrary I will believe that their trauma led them to block out or explain away much of Book 3. :) I have never been happier that I came on board long after the war, ahem, the show was over.

Yeah, I don't get the lazy thing either. It's true she was more reactive to outside events (the "assassination attempt," Azula showing up) than she was willing to make things happen on her own, but that's pretty common in people who are dissatisfied with their current lives but also afraid of change. Maybe the frustration with the character is that she is too much like us for comfort--she messes up our fantasy by being uncomfortably close to our reality, like you said.

As for Mai as Zuko's spymaster, make it so! :D