Two Realizations: Extended Fanfic Notes

[ljlee]

I have the best boyfriend in the world. How do I know? He's the one who got me hooked on Avatar: The Last Airbender. I ended up getting way, way more into it than he ever did, but he was the one who got me started by introducing me to the show.

A few months ago, I had not finished Book 2 yet when I searched for relatively spoiler-safe Avatar posts

Comments

[amanda_violet]

I don't think I reviewed this story of yours. Which is a shame, because I really liked it. I liked how you resolved the very real Zutara chemistry and ended up affirming the canon ships... not a lot of people can do that; it seems like people are so solidly invested in one ship or the other that they can't acknowledge both of them. (Which is why I decided that the final chapter of Three Years at Sea will have lots of Zutara teasing--I took a leaf out of your book.) And their almost-kiss reminded me of the famous picture of the sailor and the nurse kissing in the immediate aftermath of WWII, which kind of made me squee a little

[ljlee]

I'm happy that you liked it! As you point out, I'm not in the "Zutara forever!!" nor the "Zukara never existed shut up!!!11" camp. Like you, I can see the chemistry there without seeing it as True Love. Or at least I can acknowledge they look damn good together

[amanda_violet]

I love the chemistry between Zuko and Katara as BFFs, as you said. I love how she was constantly ribbing him in "The Ember Island Players," since that's what brothers and sisters do--I can eventually see them becoming as close as family, and sharing this wonderful bond that has nothing to do with romance. That was arguably the main theme of the show: Love in all its forms, including really strong friendship, conquers all.

I feel like I would read more Zutara fic if every single writer out there didn't ship it as A True And Everlasting Romance. I ship a lot of things that couldn't possibly last for longer than a few weeks, and even then, friendship is just better. *sigh* I don't think I'll ever get why people can RAEG so hard about why Zutara is objectively and permanently canon, and why they RAEG so hard about why Kataang is creepy and "pedorific" (I swear I did not make that word up

[ljlee]

Oh, and I corrected your father's occupation. Silly me, seeing "Air Force" and automatically thinking "pilot." Being a doctor is about a million times cooler, though!

[anonymous]

I find the timing of this essay kinda nice since the next chapter of my own fic will hopfully deal with the Zuko/Katara relationship. I love the strong bond between them, but see no need for it to become romantic. I'm not a Zutaran, though I definately see the roots of the ship in the show and that's why I really liked this fic of your's Lunatique. It dealt with the issue while supporting cannon

[ljlee]

Oh, I agree. It's a beef I have with some romance fanfic, especially the ones that overly sexualize or romanticize interactions between characters. There can in fact be meaningful relationships without sex or romance, you know?

I'm with you in not seeing even a hint of sexual tension between Zuko and Katara in Book 1. I mean, it seems kind of weird that having your mother's necklace stolen and being tied to a tree somehow constitute any hint of romance. (Yes, I'm calling you out, Amanda. :P) But then again, lots of girls and women seem to think that obsessive stalking is romantic, at least if it's by a glittery vampire, so maybe we're the weird ones here. It's only near the very ends of Books 2 and 3 that I see even a potential for attraction, and like you say that in itself isn't a good basis for a lasting relationship.

Speaking of which, did you see this hilarious response from the creators to Zutara? I love the part starting about 1:30 where Sokka shows up and informs viewers that they are doomed to a lifetime of unfulfilling

[amanda_violet]

:D :D Don't be hatin', I was seventeen and I saw it out of context.

And you have to admit that it's at least kind of hawt.

[ljlee]

Point taken. XD