Zuko X Katara: Explaining Avatar's Most... PASSIONATE Ship

[@SarcasticChorus]

Who should Zuko Have Ended Up with? And remember, at the moment, in the comics he’s still technically single🤣

[@anneonomous4910]

Me 😤

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Katara first option obviously! Jin was second Best though!😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@philliprosewood7049]

Kataras def think of the writers really wanted to they could've changed some stuff around to make it work. And if u want to ask who aang should've ended up with if not katara Toph is right their which is actually more accepting in the recent years that Zutara and Taang actually could make sense given some story tweaks. That imo wont ruin the characters or the flow of the story

[@olleselin]

Katara

[@falconeshield]

Damn, Mai isn't confirmed to be Izumi's grandma yet? It's been 14 years!

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Considering the fact that "I will save you from the pirates." started this ship, I think it's fair to say that Zutara is a pirate ship.

[@falconeshield]

Yarrrrrrg

[@rubyredmint]

This comment has probably just inspired fanfiction

[@meriewanderer]

This is actually really funny

[@the-nina-beans88]

@@meriewanderer honestly that how I think it actually began with that episode

[@justanotherweirdo11]

😂😂

[@strelitziamystery21]

Zuko going into a three day coma after doing something good will never cease to make me laugh.

[@Aria_Genesis]

LMAO

[@devalor3587]

hes jut like me after work for real

[@TallestKAT]

I wouldn’t call it a coma, and it wasn’t EXACTLY because he did one nice thing that one time.

[@danim.r2276]

Funniest part it’s that in the comics he passes out again when he realises he was right while everyone else was wrong xD It’s hilarious, peak comedy gold imo

[@rottenkittenparvo]

LMAOOO EXACTLY THAT WAS SO FUNNY ''will it kill you to be nice?" Zuko: fucking dies

[@mariocruno3772]

Zutara be like: “Ok, so, have you played Fire boy and water girl?”

[@greenstarlover1]

Lol

[@holyrandomness5654]

Funny thing -- I have XD that was my jam for some time

[@Complexicon_of_a_Startist]

@@holyrandomness5654 It was one of the only games I wouldn't play the character with the water theme/abilities (that was, and still is, one of my favourite elements, obsessively so as a kid), and that was just because I couldn't use WASD, I was only good with arrow keys LMFAO

[@hristomir-zw6bg]

I was thinking the exact same thing xD 😂

[@albertthepeacock8020]

Reylo shippers:Finally! A worthy opponent! Our battle shall be legendary!

[@pinkielie1113]

I just kinda realized that June probably called Katara Zuko's girlfriend because she might've known that the necklace was an engagement necklace meanwhile Zuko didn't know and if I'm not mistaken Katara didn't realize the necklace's meaning until after the north pole. it honestly adds more hilarity to the scene.

[@Flogandfrog]

lol never even noticed love this ship

[@HaydrogenBomb]

Ohhhhh, ever thought of it that way 😄😏

[@emilynam6084]

This checks out to me. Plus if she’s a bounty hunter she’s most likely been around the world, if not most of it. She had to have picked up knowledge about other nations.

[@genericname2747]

Zuko x Therapy is my favourite ship

[@wendyadams7093]

I heard of this one. I ship it.

[@falconeshield]

​​@@wendyadams7093Gaara, Kevin, Hunter, Catra, Azula, Marcie: *First time?*

[@wendyadams7093]

@@falconeshield Zuko:Oh no. This is my sixth visit.

[@falconeshield]

​@@wendyadams7093Oh you know he sits right next to Jin Kazama and bond over their lost moms.

[@wendyadams7093]

@@falconeshield Lloyd:So your dad? Zuko: What do you think? Todoroki:Knew it.

[@rokusho6667]

“Zuko had more chemistry with Jin then Mei” FINALLY someone said what I’ve been saying since season 2.

[@RaspBerryPies]

Bro for real I explained this to my cousin and after he finished the show he was like yeah idk why Zuko and Mei got together there was no chemistry

[@rokusho6667]

@@RaspBerryPies I mean I get why mei had the hots for him despite not being a firebender. (Rimshot.) I mean she was told to do everything or there’d be consequences meanwhile the prince did what he did despite the consequences like being banished and scarred. Ie he was the rebel she couldn’t be and that was enough to get keep her interested. But zuko… I mean mei is the quintessential firebender elite match so makes sense why he’d try it out since it was expected of him and she wasn’t a complete sociopath.

[@carlyhouston3827]

YES, I wanted them to be a couple so badly!

[@rokusho6667]

@user-py8oj5yv4m that’s very true and probably zuko ran off because he knew it wouldn’t work. as Jin was no idiot and probably put two and two together that he was a firebender at least. Based off her visual queues she saw his scar and knew that he mite not believe in the war even if he was a firebender given he clearly got a scar from a different fire bender and was willing to give him a chance but didn’t prod further. That being said they did have better chemistry. I didn’t say they’d last. But especially given zuko later switch to fight along the avatar I could see her struggling to accept him but coin toss whether or not she’d be able too given what he did before hand… I just feel that they could have done more to give him and Mai chemistry but romance has always been the weakness of the atla series.

[@Leviathan762-zh4lq]

She's tge only girl that could actually fix him

[@Carameja1010]

Katara doesnt love their mom more than Sokka, What Katara has is Survivors guilt.. cause remember, mom died to safe HER the actual water bender..

[@imat-rex]

Didn't she only find that out in the southern raiders episode? She knew the fire nation killed her mom, but she left to go find her dad so she didn't hear her mom claim to be a water bender. So IDK if she'd blame herself like that before she even knew why her mom was killed.

[@islasullivan3463]

She doesn’t even say she loved Mom more just that the way she loved her mom might have been different. Which makes sense given just a few episodes ago Sokka literally says that he can’t remember their mom’s face, when he tries to he just pictures Katara’s. Bc Katara tried to fill her mother’s shoes as a caregiver as well as being a sister, just like Sokka tried to fill the shoes of a warrior and protector of the tribe.

[@contactfront5212]

As @imat-rex stated, Katara didn’t know her mother died protecting her until she confronted Yon Rha. So your point is about as factually wrong as could be. IDK how you got so many likes.

[@falconeshield]

Yeah but she did still say that cruel words IN THE SHOW

[@genericname2747]

​@@falconeshield And she didn't mean it. She's 14

[@Meiruki]

I read the Earth Kingdom Chronicles (a book that covers the ATLA character's perspectives in Book 2) and Katara's ideal guy is basically just Zuko lmao. She flat out says she was attracted to Jet because he's a determined and brave older guy that she can lean on rather than mother. Meanwhile Zuko's perspective has him liking Jin because she's sweet and nice, and he worries about Song's kindness making him "soft". In the animated series, he doesn't like Mai's lack of passion and empathy. Zuko and Katara were basically perfect for each other but never realized it.

[@HaydrogenBomb]

Do NOT let Zutara fans find this! 😅

[@hectornonayurbusiness2631]

Agree

[@haruzanfuucha]

You might be onto something here since even the writer who created Jin and wrote The Tale of Zuko said that her favorite ship is Zutara.

[@wrantheim6777]

That "It should have been me" Yugioh cutaway is 10 times more funny for a German because in the german dub Yami Yugi and Zuko have the same voice actor.

[@falconeshield]

That serious scene became a meme because DAN GREEN did it too good

[@autobotjedi3457]

LOL!

[@HaydrogenBomb]

That IS funny. 🤣

[@FreshZCORD]

Perfect

[@dspace4514]

This ship sounds steamy... Get it? Because they are fire and water? ...I'll leave.

[@serenity9579]

Good one! 😂

[@falconeshield]

That joke is old enough to drink in Europe

[@soradanam8160]

Yeah, but fire and water don't mix well.

[@olleselin]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@grmgt]

Don't leave, i liked it LOL

[@sevanaolszewski]

As a Zutara fan, personally, it wasn’t because the two were the most attractive on the show. For me, it was because of the interesting back stories of the two that could make for a very good storyline. The two have great stubborn personalities that seen together would make for great charisma. The two could easily bounce off eachothers behaviors and would make for great romance just as much as conflict between them, and like real life relationships, they are far from perfect, being rocky and unsteady but for the most part genuine and sweet. I still like the idea souly for the endless opportunities and paths you can take to make these stories work together.

[@soradanam8160]

I feel like theh would just end up like Zuko and Mei, toxic. And even though I don't like Zuko and Mei together, it still hinted in the show that he still cared about her. So it was never going to be. Katara and Zuko are both too hot headed, like did you guys forget Katara literally hated Zuko? Yet you want her to be with him because how good he looks? Or because both lose moms, when Zuko's is still alive. So that doesn't even count. And as that would make sense for couples to be together anyway. They're the worse for each other. Which I don't get why people harp so much on Aang's relationship with Katara. And people make it seem like Katara and Aang was just the hero gets the girl. Like Katara didn't have her own interests as well. Also, the show was base on Aang's story, so it makes sense to see things in his perspective. Even so, they still shows little signs of Katara's feelings. Yes, I'll adimt they had awkward moments but who never did when they were in middle school and high school. It was showing how they were feeling towards other. Also, half of Aang's life was stuck in iceberg, and the other with the monks. So who's going to have again after that? And it showed everything everybody's awkward moments in their relationship. Not just Aang. A realistic thing that happens in young teenage relationships. Katara and Aang were made for each other, they brought out the best in each person. Yeah, she's one year older than him but it's not a huge thing. It's like 16 or 17 to 12, okay. There's real people who have that same age range. It doesn't remove anything in their relationship, so why should it be in these pair. Katara acted motherly sometimes but that's how she was towards everyone in the group. After losing her mom, she became more mature than the rest at times. Especially living in a war, she grew up quickly same as her brother. So she had take a lot of responsibilities in her village. That didn't Aang wasn't her anchor of wisdom too when she needs it. It's not one sided. Aang gave same support and attention to her. When he defend her when Paku wouldn't train Katara waterbending. Supporting her when she acted as the painted lady. He taught Katara how to have fun again, despite living in a war. Going penguin sliding and just having fun moments together is what developed their growth. And when he was going through emotional moments, she was there to help him through. Then, Aang did the same towards her with Katara's mom scene and other situations. Not wanting her to go on a dark path and destroy the good within her. What did really Zuko bring towards her? Other than agreed with her getting even with the soldier who took her mother's life. He chased her and team for days in the first season, throwing every firebending at them. And he betrayed her when they were in Ba Si Sa, the reason why Aang got struck by lightning from Azula. And for the scene with Katara wanting revenge on the man that killed her mother, a true partner isn't always going to agree with you. Not out of personal beliefs but out concern and love towards their partner. Especially when they know who the person, and Aang has that right to say that. Zuko doesn't know her at all. Aang knows who Katara is. He spent everyday with her, and who she is, is a caring person. Who's always willing to help people no matter what. She gives hope to people around her. Which is why he still allows her to take Appa and go on the journey, but begged her not to killed the man. Because if she took the man's life, it will destroy whatever good being she had in her. How many times we see people actinf on revenge, ending up regretting, or ending up like the same person who wronged them. Even though, Katara doesn't forgive the man, Aang still respected it. All he wanted was for her not to choose violence. THAT right there, is someone that truly loves a person, not go blindly support on whatever they do. You show support being empathic but also giving your significant other meanful advice. And the journey could've been a risky move. Which is what I get on Zuko for not thinking things throughly. What if the soldiers on the boat found them and surrounded? Sure, Katara could bloodbend at the moment, but I'm sure she can't stop all fireballs flying at her in every direction. And would give them away, risking the others to be found too. Someone who cares about you isn't going let you take risky things when it could be harmful towards you. So, I never understood the whole thing with Zutara. It really shows me of a teenage romance fantasy than actual genuine relationship. I mean how many times that stereotype relationship actually ends up good in real like. We saw it through high school, sometimes in life, the girl trying to get the bad boy. But ends up heartbroken afterwards. You don't need heated tension to build something. It last for moment but quickly dies down later. You can make a good friendship that grows and becomes a romance. And that's what seem what some people are missing with Aang and Katara. In the show they would have always ended up together. Maybe they didn't show enough signs, but their priorities was to defeat the fire lord and end the war. Romance wasn't on anymore first top of the list. That's why at that scene at the fire nation play, Katara wasn't fully sure on what she felt. Because of everything that was going on. So when Aang kissed her, she back off, and it showed it wasn't accepted. Then Aang regretted later. They didn't show them kissing again until the end of the show, when Katara first initiates it. It maybe had been little, but there were signs of their relationship development throughout the series.

[@goldenretriever1528]

@soradanam8160 mucho texto

[@casriel]

honestly for me it was just that zuko was the only one in the gaang that didn’t see Katara as a mother figure

[@acadiano10]

​@@casrielyes, Aang was too much her little brother emotionally

[@robyncantrell]

@@soradanam8160 Technically you can't prove that they are worse for each other... because we never saw them in a relationship. The fact that almost everyone agrees that mai×zuko is toxic means she is not right for zuko. Zutara fans care more about zuko's happiness than aangs (and vise versa). What katara gave zuko fans was a chance to tap even deeper into his heart, and it was his heart and vulnerability that gave him one of the best written character arcs of all time. The development of zutara would elevate both of their arcs, katara starting out hating fire benders and zuko hating... everything. And they kind of do that without actually getting together in season three. They grow a close bond that they are willing to lay down their lives for (zuko lightning strike). I think, yes, if written poorly they could be toxic like in season 1. But by season 3 they are so much more grown than that. People who ship them want to see their romance be the softest most sentimentally emotional thing that they ever blessed their eyes with because that's it's greatest potential at the end of their full character arcs. If you see it's potential now, great!! If you don't, you never will my friend. ❤

[@cookies3353]

Thinking about zutara is so interesting because even zuko's voiceactor made an audio in zukos character to confess his love for katara, like this ship commitment is WILD

[@Edi-xt3rq]

That and Jake Long which has the main couple voiced by Zuko's and Katara's voice actors

[@jaydencparker4968]

And Mae (Kataras VA) ships them. And Iroh (in the fire nation book post series). And the actor for Iroh (#2) shipped Zutara. Also Azula’s VA. Even the bloody cabbage merchant VA ships zutara.

[@optimusender9774]

​@@jaydencparker4968 sauce ?

[@caseylyngalian2103]

Dante Basco (zuko's VA) read a poem about it during a fan meet 😂

[@vivannet231]

Anybody got a link to that?

[@philly_sports1558]

In the second half of the show, Zuko and Katara’s interactions were so fantastic that a ship was always going to be formed by the fans even if it didn’t make any sense. Zuko being vulnerable with Katara in the Season 2 finale, Katara threatening Zuko when he eventually joined the team, and the entirety of The Southern Raiders are all some of the best moments of the entire show.

[@highdefinition450]

katara threatening zuko is one of the best moments in the shoe? lol

[@shireenrazak7160]

@@highdefinition450enemies to lovers are popular for a reason

[@SSJRadioBluth]

The season 2 finale made me permanently bury this ship. HE TRIED TO KILL HER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT MOM TALK immediately!!!!

[@laotaohoney]

@@SSJRadioBluthit goes to show how much he’s grown when he joins the gang and actually has to earn katara’s trust again. it makes zuko’s journey and growth a lot more apparent in how far he’s come and it also shows us that katara might be nice but she’s not stupid. i was so happy that she didn’t immediately trust him no matter how hard he tried at first

[@adriannaa545]

​@@SSJRadioBluthHe didn't try to kill her, he chose a side. I don't think Zuko ever wanted to kill any of them, just capture Aang for honor. In his heart Zuko always wanted to do the right thing, otherwise we wouldn't have the redemption arc. His attempt to regain Katara's trust and literally SAVE HER LIFE after Azula shows it.

[@ryanjstannard]

In fairness to Zutara, ATLA has a general issue with underwriting its ships.

[@ididitoutofspite986]

Because the story isn't really about that at all It's like finding yourself, taking responsibility, letting go and learning and all that Those are tropes that make a character Good romance come after So when the focus of the story is on that great goal and multiple miniscule personal growth stories, romance has the Kas place on the list of priorities

[@msk-qp6fn]

It was not prominent but who had attraction to who was kinda obvious for the most part, especially aang.

[@ryanjstannard]

@@ididitoutofspite986 I agree 100%. It’s funny to me that so much of the fandom is built off of shipping and yet it’s a minimal part of the actual show. Just shows how great the characters are.

[@ididitoutofspite986]

@ryanjstannard I hate when shipping goes out so far I'm here for the story, i(personally) am all for romance if it's the main goal But in ATLA? Nope It's such a good story, I grew up with those characters and I have never even thought about any kind of romance I think it's the epitome of good plot Like, romance is OK, I love a good romantic story, but this? This goes ABOVE

[@anretoga-8851]

@@ididitoutofspite986i thought I was the only one :,v

[@valentinkambushev4968]

You know, I sometimes wonder if Korra x Mako was so toxic because the writers were spiteful that Zutara was more popular than Kataang.

[@maiam.3327]

Maybe Zutara is more visible/vocal in fandom spaces but's not more popular than Kataang with the general public.

[@falconeshield]

Koko was definitely a response to Zutara, but then the story continued haha They soooo didn't gel as a romantic item. I'm glad Asami had a shot with Korra.

[@philly_sports1558]

I think it came down to Mako being extremely boring more than anything else. The main firebender going from one of the most interesting characters in the first show to the least interesting character in the second show is a major drop off.

[@mouse3872]

​@@maiam.3327Kataang is way more popular now because of 3 things. 1. The show has grown in popularity and has a lot more "general" of an audience that doesn't do "shipping" so they accept what the show gives them. 2. ATLA ended and Legend of Korra is out and everyone knows Kataang is the canonical ending and that they have kids. Most new fans aren't going to jump on a ship that will never occur in the OG canon the only chance for a potential canonical Zutara is in the Live Action show. 3. Time. a ton of time has passed and since the original show and shipping wars happened a lot of the shippers who participated in the "shipping wars" are adults now many with their own kids. Many Zutara shippers of old have moved on. There are also a lot of them that were Zuko fans that didn't like Mai and would have preferred Katara but are willing to accept almost any other female character that isn't Mai. I'm sure if you looked at many Zuki fans you would find that many were originally Zutara fans but since Zutara is 100% not happening they have jumped onto a different ship to fill themselves with hope that Zuko ends up with a character they like better.

[@patyluna821]

It was, if I recall, there were some writers that shipped Zutara

[@potternutmania]

No but one of my favourite zutara moments is him waiting for her all night outside her tent 😭😭

[@paulaabelenda5867]

This video only covers the tip of the icerbeg, I'd like to add another big reason why Zutara is so popular: Zuko is the first character among the Avatar team to take care of Katara, which was a change in the dynamic of the group because Katara was always the care-taker. The Southern Raiders episode is an example of Zuko doing something for the solely reason that he cares what she thinks about him and unlike everyone else, he respected Katara's wish to go after the man who killed her mother instead of imposing his own cultural beliefs on her like Aang did. Also, he never encouraged her to get revenge, he simply respected her wish and went along to support her.

[@islasullivan3463]

Exactly! People don’t seem to understand that Zuko was literally helping her to get some closure on her own deep trauma and grief that has been festering and not really been acknowledged, even by Katara herself, for years. And Zuko might understand that a bit better given his own similar experiences with trauma. They also don’t seem to understand if Katara did not want to find the man that took her mother Zuko would have been supportive of that too.

[@yasmina3999]

​@@islasullivan3463and it's perfectly reasonable why Zuko was the one who supported her - because that's how Iroh was helping Zuko.

[@ultimatebishoujo29]

Exactly!!!

[@carrastealth]

He was willing to allow her to get the healing she needed, however she needed to get it. Rather than trying to turn her into some idealized version of herself that he created in his mind(which is what Aang always did with her).

[@932ForeverLove]

He saw that she needed closure, and needed to face the monster of her childhood. He didn’t convince her or cajole her into doing it. He recognized a need and Offered away for that need to be met. He says I know who killed your mother and I’m going to help you find him. FIND him. He left the fate of her mother‘s killer up to Katara.

[@mamori2019]

I LOVE seeing people say "Zuko had the best redemption arc in media history" and when someone ships Katara with him they go "Oh they would be so unhealthy bc he's a bad boy" make up your minddd

[@luvraion]

this 😭😭

[@Complexicon_of_a_Startist]

SERIOUSLY. I'm not even a huge Zutara shipper (I like my strong platonic crew more, though some romance can be fun) and it annoys me a bit LMAO. Do y'all think he's better or not??

[@falconeshield]

Sounds like Nifty

[@NicoleFlores-hq5nh]

I HATE THIS, I'm not even a Zutara shipper (though this video made me start thinking) but anytime i saw this argument, i felt i was being brainwashed, so people can talk about how Zuko's redemption is well written and the best one in cartoon media, yet treat him like Katara's potential abuser is just, insultingly hilarious to me, like, pick a side, is he good or not??

[@EliasJWhite]

Just because Zuko had a great redemption arc doesn't mean they are healthy together. They are still BOTH people with high tempers and people with similar temperaments often don't have great relationships. Can they work it out, yes? But they work better as friends than in a romantic relationship.

[@katherineofarrogant6370]

I was talking about Atla to my mom with the live action coming out, she was shocked Katara an Zuko wasn't endgame. She completely forgot Kataang even existed

[@masterDarts4188]

Most people did.

[@falconeshield]

​@@masterDarts4188Sure cause no one likes Tenzin and his family

[@melbell0865]

@@falconeshieldhe probably still would’ve existed anyway, because even then, the show always put emphasis on Tenzin being Aang’s kid. Sure, there were some moments where he’s connected with Katara as his mother, but because of the fact he’s an airbender, he’ll always be associated more so with Aang due to it. In that sense, Tenzin’s mother could be anyone at that point.

[@sigridbjergbakkemeyer3653]

Zuko and Katara would have been a better match. Aang and Tough could have functioned too - maybe most as coparents

[@imjusttoomainstream]

When i first watched the show i was like 7 and was so convinced that Zuko and Katara ended up together that I swore I watched an episode where they kissed. Wasn't till I rewatched it years later that i realised everyone else was right and had a mental breakdown

[@joyc.e.7511]

Why are we the same person lmao

[@El-mv6rv]

Lmao same... When I was a kid I thought they might endup together too but when I started to watch back ATLA I was so shocked to see they were not together

[@TennelleFlowers]

Man. Idk how you can go and write such a good analysis about how Katara is the heart of the group and that job sucking...and then boil down Zutara as a ship people project themselves into into thru Katara. Everyone makes a lot of assumptions about why people ship Zutara and it's almost always said in a degrading, belittling way. It's very discouraging to see even all this time later. But what I, and a lot of other Zutara fans who have analyzed the show like about this ship is that Katara *doesn't need to fix Zuko*. He is capable of fixing himself. He gets a lot of help and support along his journey, especially from Iroh, but he doesn't need Katara to become a better person. Yes, the fact that Zuko and Katara have a lot of similar trauma means that they could understand and support each other...as couples or friends do...but I personally don't think of this dynamic as "good girl meets bad boy". Katara has to do a lot of emotional heavy lifting for the group, and it takes it's toll on her. But Katara doesn't have to fill the caretaker role for Zuko. She's free from that burden while with Zuko. And as someone who loves Katara as a character, who was invested in her story and hoped for the best for her--Zuko was the one who didn't need her to be his mom. He has similar ideals and he respects her a lot, not just as a friend, but as a warrior. Something that was very important to her. Idk, there's a lot more I could say on this. I know you're just making funny ha-has and poking fun, like, I get it. It is just tiring to see the same old misunderstandings from when the show was still airing *still* be the main talking points.

[@SarcasticChorus]

That’s the point of this ship as I see it. It’s more about what people want and bring to Zutara than the actual mechanics of the in-show characters. The cliches, the actual nuance and possibilities , all of it blends together to make a ship that captivated a generation.

[@yasmina3999]

In fact, Zuko was the only one who fully accepted her dark side and supported her. Katara only once helped Zuko when he was hesitant to talk to his uncle. The "a good girl fixes a bad boy" is literally the opposite of them, which is funny to hear especially from Kataang fans.

[@wonderingmind8547]

Even though I am a Zutara shipper I was always fine with it not being canon, I never had a problem with it. What I really wanted though, was for Katara to grow independently from her friends. Because everyone branched off to do their own thing, while Katara seemed stationary. Sokka was working with the White Lotus, Toph founded the Republic City police force and made a metal-bending branch, Aang was the Avatar, spreading peace throughout the Nations, and Zuko was the Firelord trying to reform the Fire Nation. But what about Katara? She didn't get to do anything for herself and was mainly by Aang's side or in the Southern Water Tribe. What I saw for her was her becoming a great Ambassador. She is compassionate, inspirational, and outspoken. She could have worked to mend the bridges between nations or helped those who suffered during the war. She could have made so many changes with that position. Also, Sis slays in robes and kimonos.😮‍💨

[@kujnjnjskalo9773]

​@@SarcasticChorus If you ever have the time, I really recommend watching "Get in losers we're stanning Zutara". In my opinion, it's the best video essay about the ship and it truly encapsulates why so many people, including myself, ship Zuko and Katara.

[@ATLA99]

Yeah people saying it would be a good girl/bad boy cliche doesnt make any sense because like...we're not shipping Katara with season 1 Zuko. At the end of the show, he's not a "bad boy". He's a person with a complicated past who suffered and fought to overcome his vices and become a better person. Who is more likely to understand Katara's own past? Him? Or a kid who had a great childhood and then slept through a hundred year war?

[@ShinobiPXO]

The biggest problem with Katara is she is agruably *too* supportive. She basically wants to fix everyones problems due to her motherly nature, but the strength of Zukos arc has been that he needed to save himself first. Even when he has suppotive from people like Iroh and Mai, Zuko was still prone making unhealthy choices. And while his relationship with Mai was good for him, Zuko needed more than simply having a "love interest" to save himself. First step was always admitting he had a problem

[@falconeshield]

In hindsight that girl needed a hell of a hug. She got used to mothering Sokka and did that with everyone all the time. Suki didn't go through it cause she was on screen for 48 hours.

[@WeebGuru6]

Thank u so much I agree completely

[@2triedforthis830]

I honestly don’t agree with how they did meiko like it was pretty toxic and I felt like their relationship represented more of how bad going to the fire nation was for zuko. It doesn’t help that she always kinda dismissed his feelings and remind him of why he shouldn’t have gone to the war room. And like also how weird it was that she suddenly loved him after he literally abandoned her and locked her in a cell, like it was just for them to escape the jail place. Like, it could be better their relationship but it just started off so strange and unhealthy, and Mei is naturally an apathetic and that was one of the things he disliked about her. Anyway I’m not the biggest fan of it and how it was handled and how at the end they broke up anyway.

[@egg_bun_]

This actually makes a TON of sense, omg

[@poliquitit]

When you put it that way, Zuko’s just like me fr 💀

[@zericswords]

Blud is over here restarting a war 😭

[@falconeshield]

Netflix did it first hahaha

[@clarissat867]

@@falconeshield agreed, it started back with netflix .

[@twizms7362]

There should never be a war lol. Kataang is canon and makes sense in the story they wrote, and the only people mad about it are coping over Zutara not being a thing

[@waffle6376]

But everything change when Netflix attack

[@johnleeka3282]

@@twizms7362fr the majority of people are kataang shippers and are happy they ended to together. Its just a loud minority of zutara shippers

[@casriel]

Honestly the biggest reason I remember shipping the two of them was because Zuko was the only person in the gaang that didn’t see Katara as a mother figure

[@samanthaperez9891]

Yeah just a sister figure... EWW!

[@samanthaperez9891]

What people don't understand is how much the show depicts the bargaining stage of grief... Zuko lost a father because he never had a loving dad to raise him, Iroh lost his only son in the war. Zuko & Iroh filled the void of those relationships with each other. Iroh became Zuko's father figure & Zuko became like a 2nd son to Iroh. The parallel between Azula's character & Katara are absolutely undeniable. It works the same way.... Zuko found the caring sister he never had through his relationship with Katara. It's super weird that most the Avatar community accepts this as unspoken fact but there are still people years later trying to ship Zuko & Katara together. It's gross & those people clearly don't see the deeper story. I'm well aware they are shipped at points in the comics but still I think the show ended it on the perfect note for those 2 characters. It was never meant to be a romantic connection. They are basically siblings. stop shipping them because it's really just gross 🤷‍♀🤢🤮

[@Shribbuvuv_]

​​@@samanthaperez9891 "There basically siblings so stop shipping them it's gross" They never really refer each other as siblings nor their blood related some of the writers and even some voice actors of the show ship zutara so it's not really a big deal, if you think their relationship are siblings go ahead idrc but at the end of the day people are free to ship them since their not really blood related nor grow up with each other to prove that their relationship are sibling coded

[@samanthaperez9891]

@@Shribbuvuv_ Yeah just like at the end of the day I'm allowed to think it's gross af... I also don't recall addressing you in anyway so if you truly "don't really care" why waste your time typing up an opposition against my opinion?? It's giving contrary 🤡 it's really not that big of a deal you right, so I can & will continue posting my opinions on subject matter I find of interest on my accounts & socials, your opinion can differ but it is in no way more or less valid than mine & we are both allowed to post comments as we please. So thank you next! ✌

[@Shribbuvuv_]

@@samanthaperez9891 Im not saying your opinion of their relationship being platonic isn't valid im just saying that you can't expect everyone to think zuko and katara's relationship would be always platonic and shit, yes i clearly don't care if you think their siblings the only reason i care is because your earlier post of this comment is like saying that it's literally ILLEGAL to ship Zutara because of you think it's platonic "Stop shipping them it's gross" It's like if your telling all of us that zutara is illegal or disgusting Like we get it, it's your opinion But the way that comment sounds like your kinda (act like) forcing people to not ship them because of that.. I mean if you wanna share about your opinion of them being platonic in your eyes cool, but that sentence that you made earlier is like saying that you think that's more canon and should be illegal to ship them rather than an opinion Or maybe that's it's just your attitude and tone that's why it's sounds like that idk who knows If that's not your true intentions than ok 👌✌ Anyways have a nice day, random stranger that might probably led this reply section into an internet argument cause of a cartoon ship, depending of what type your next reply is or just ignore it¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@valentinkambushev4968]

And the worst part is: The writers took all the wrong lessons from this war, and made even bigger messes in their future shows. The Korra disaster and the Voltron disaster all come down to the writers not learning their lesson.

[@falconeshield]

Oh boy, Voltron. Now THAT was queerbait. Poor M|M fans never got their Western YOI

[@TheRibottoStudios]

And people still put bryke on a pedestal 😤

[@ChimeraLotietheBunny]

@@falconeshieldI relate to this sentiment

[@jknetwork6211]

Voltron shipping is like the abyss. I don’t know any other show that’s done worse with shipping then that show

[@nikolaib5764]

​@@falconeshieldI don't know what layer of hell you're in but I watched Voltron actively shipping Klance, and them mfs had like 2 seasons together before they never spoke again. People who thought they were endgame were coping HARD.

[@idkaliciaa]

I went to the avatar in concert orchestra performance in Brooklyn NY recently. There was a montage of aang kissing katara followed by katara hugging zuko…the crowd erupted for zutara

[@emilynam6084]

I started laughing at this. But now I wonder if it’s like this for other shows.

[@captainhero6621]

Fun fact: almost all the voice actors, known as Zuko, Toph, Azula, Katara and cabbage guy ships Zutara too

[@Meiruki]

Iroh's VA too lol.

[@Llama.Rider_xoxo]

As they should.

[@IqraSuub]

ngl june was the biggest zutara fan during the show

[@alexgroot2508]

I think what shippers took away from their field trip was less the friendship and more that Zuko *gets it.* Let me explain. Aang sees Katara as this 'gooder than good' person. He sees her as the heart. And he doesn't get why she would want revenge for her mother's death - he didn't for Gyatso, so why should she? - and feels like this anger is 'not her.' Zuko gets that it is part of her though and tries, in his own way, to help. And even at the end of the episode, Katara is basically saying that Aang still doesn't get her, but Zuko, for all his faults, does. The shippers didn't see a friendship hug. They saw two people seeing the ugliness in each other - and accepting that. Which, banger shipping moment if you ask me.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Zuko saw Katara using bloodbending (something she hates with all her being), yet he didn't say anything. Honestly, it's not that hard to get why people still ship Zutara.

[@Barakon]

Good point, but I still don’t ship it, I just see puzzle pieces for my own fucking writing, I admit it, fully admit it, if you see me liking mediocre shit, this is why, I’m taking the good parts for myself & stealing a place in the sun! (Starset reference)

[@soradanam8160]

Aang just wanted the best of her, his own beliefs wasn't pushed onto her. He only gave her meanful advice. Zuko just agreed with her, not really showing much damage this could've done her. Even Sokka agreed with Aang too. For the scene with Katara wanting revenge on the man that killed her mother, a true partner isn't always going to agree with you. Not out of personal beliefs but out concern and love towards their partner. Especially when they know who the person, and Aang has that right to say that. Zuko doesn't know her at all. Aang knows who Katara is. He spent everyday with her, and who she is, is a caring person. Who's always willing to help people no matter what. She gives hope to people around her. Which is why he still allows her to take Appa and go on the journey, but begged her not to killed the man. Because if she took the man's life, it will destroy whatever good being she had in her. How many times we see people actinf on revenge, ending up regretting, or ending up like the same person who wronged them. Even though, Katara doesn't forgive the man, Aang still respected it. All he wanted was for her not to choose violence. THAT right there, is someone that truly loves a person, not go blindly support on whatever they do. You show support being empathic but also giving your significant other meanful advice. And the journey could've been a risky move. Which is what I get on Zuko for not thinking things throughly. What if the soldiers on the boat found them and surrounded? Sure, Katara could bloodbend at the moment, but I'm sure she can't stop all fireballs flying at her in every direction. And would give them away, risking the others to be found too. Someone who cares about you isn't going let you take risky things when it could be harmful towards you.

[@alexgroot2508]

@@soradanam8160Respectfully disagree. Aang might have been trying to save her soul, but making the journey - even if she did not see her revenge through - was a closure Katara needed more than Aang's moralizing. He didn't understand her needs at all. Zuko, in this case, did. Understood she needed to make this journey, to take this risk, consequences, tactics or morals be damned. Aang understands the person Katara is, but refuses to reckon with the ugly parts. Whether you ship it or not, Zuko at least sees her for all she is.

[@TechnicSky]

@@alexgroot2508 In the moment? Yeah. That probably helped or made Aang and Katara's relationship a lot more better though. In the sense that it would've been brought up later down the line and the two *would* understand each other more seeing as they were married for so long, Katara remained single afterwards and so does Zuko. Remember, Katara stopped Aang when he could've killed those sand raiders at any point in his Avatar state. Cuz they took Oppa. That was Aang, in a similar way, facing his trauma at the moment. Now, I'm not tryna do too big of a back and forth because, it'd probably be pedantic. But to make it simple; weekly show, Kids' Show Network, needs plot, characterizations might falter either deliberately or unintentionally. At the end of the day, what happened, happened. And until the writers can like, answer the question more upfront or have recently, we won't fully know if they intended Aang's pacifism to come off like that as proper development and intention or just to have a 'funny' moment or something. (Because back then, being sarcastic and sassy was considered more humorous and Nickelodeon definitely liked that kind of humor.)

[@njivwathomassilavwe2056]

They certainly have pretty privilege. No matter what you think of this ship you have to admit they look good together and opposites attract will always be popular. This is why I love fanfiction canon is a suggestion at best

[@philly_sports1558]

Also the “good girl” gets with “bad boy” trope will never not be popular

[@valentinkambushev4968]

@@philly_sports1558 especially if the bad boy only has a soft spot for the girl.

[@falconeshield]

​@@valentinkambushev4968Asshole to the world, sweet to his girl as they say

[@panlis6243]

@@philly_sports1558"I can fix him"

[@nix_]

Also, enemies to lovers is everything! It is fire (the pun is mandatory)

[@korncobb8808]

The fact that Zuko doing 1 nice thing left him BEDRIDDEN is the funniest thing in all of ATLA hands down

[@Farmer_Kashimo]

Zuko couldn't even handle his own redemption arc💀

[@TheKnightedDawn]

Still need to watch the rest of the video but I do want to point out one thing: the Fire Nation did have a strategic reason to target the Southern Water Tribe. They were systematically hunting for potential Avatars. Water was next in the cycle after air, and the creators FURTHER clarified that the Avatar also cycled between being born into the Northern Water Tribe and the Southern one. Since the previous Water Tribe Avatar was born in the North... after wiping out the Air Nomads, their next target was Southern Waterbenders. And after THAT? Earthbenders, who we see in the show... are now being rounded up and imprisoned. It's something that doesn't get pointed out explicitly, so a LOT of folks miss it, but that's what was happening.

[@bananaman-g1c]

4:40: Because they thought the avatar was a water tribe member, due to how the avatar cycle works and the fact that they thought aang was dead

[@falconeshield]

Yeah it's not that clear until the second viewing. They don't know Aang froze himself for 100 years.

[@Barakon]

And I guess the north & south tribes rotate in every other cycle & this time it was the southern tribe’s turn?

[@falconeshield]

​@@BarakonKorra was from the South no? So probably

[@lindenshepherd6085]

I think it was less about whose “turn” it was, and more about which tribe was easiest to attack. The southern water tribe seems to be a series of villages, whereas we’re told that the north has remained impervious to Fire Nation attacks from the beginning of the war and a lot of people don’t even know where the city is. I think the South was just a better target, and we see the Fire Nation working towards an attack on the North for the last few decades of the war.

[@merlumili]

​@@Barakon nah, they probably just chose the one that was weaker. Even before the raids, the southern water tribe didn't look that well defended.

[@stephaniewilliams6756]

Sneezy Reviews' "Get in Losers We're Stanning Zutara" video explains the very real build-up to Zutara regardless of what the writers intended. They accidentally created a ship that is more interesting than the real ending one with Aang

[@mamori2019]

Sneezy is an amazing essayist!! She did so much for the fandom, notably how she published og scripts with the writers referring to Zutara. def check that out

[@laotaohoney]

I love that video so much, literally re-watching it now.

[@MischievousMischief]

That video is the best analysis out there!!!

[@awsome182]

Also her video on Katara in the The Southern Raiders episode is excellent as well! I feel like Sneezy is an institution when it comes to Zutara content 😌

[@yasmina3999]

I literally rewatch her Zutara analysis every other month, she's so good

[@katejoseph6547]

Even platonically, Zuko and Katara are one of the strongest relationships in the show. I’ve thought about this for years 😂 both characters shared only a small amount of time with each other yet still their pairing made such an impact on me growing up. They had serious potential

[@FifteenRavens]

They barely interacted? Lmao

[@katejoseph6547]

@@FifteenRavensIt’s why it’s exciting to think about their potential. And their few moments of interaction obviously stuck with a lot of people

[@FifteenRavens]

@@katejoseph6547 Exciting? Sure. Them becoming a couple? Unrealistic.

[@katejoseph6547]

@@FifteenRavens maybe, maybe not. If you read my comment I said even platonically.

[@adriannaa545]

​@@FifteenRavensits the fact that they barely interacted and still had one of the best character relationships in the show that makes me laugh. You're right, they barely interacted, and yet, they were literally the most interesting dynamic aside from Zuko and Iroh

[@victorialila7609]

I recently re- watched the show with my boyfriend, he had never seen it before (i know, what?) in the finale he said: "wait, what? no way katara likes aang, i was hoping she ended up with zuko " and it brought me back to my zutara teenage years, i was like I KNOW, THERE IS SOMETHING THERE I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS and here i am spending an hour of my life with this video

[@Froggiethatguy]

Oh this is gonna be a fun comment section...

[@falconeshield]

Time to dust off my ZukoxMai medal from the war of 2008....

[@valentinkambushev4968]

And I am all for it!

[@catpers0n]

Fr im already ready to start a essay convincing all of this ppl that zutara should have been canon

[@toadlord8594]

Reigniting an old war.

[@genericname2747]

I'm scared :)

[@zwrulez185]

I don’t think all Zutara fans think the ship is canon or think it’s going to happen? I ship it but I’m not “delusional,” I just think they have chemistry, go well together, and had a lot of potential. Isn’t a big point of shipping to see ships for “what could’ve been”?

[@diminie_chimket]

Let's be fair.. a lot of Zutara shippers do.

[@zwrulez185]

@@diminie_chimket yeah, that’s probably true. I’m not super involved in the fandom so I wouldn’t know for sure, I guess I just didn’t like how the video seemed to be saying that all of them do.

[@masterDarts4188]

@@diminie_chimket Not really, the whole point of the fan fiction and fan art is to show what could of been. Most of us knew it wouldn't happen. But we loved the potential.

[@sparkyblue7016]

Yes it's for the potential. Atla fans are like children whenever they call zutara fans delusional because bro how are you insecure over fictional ships unless you have the mentally of a child.

[@anothergamer112]

Trust me, the delusion exists, but I'd say it's more of an addiction. On any social media other than KZbin, if anyone mentions Katara OR Zuko, Zutara shippers will insert their bitterness.

[@philly_sports1558]

If I had a nickel for every time in a cartoon I saw a 16 year old boy who’s going through a redemption arc after realizing his father figure was an abusive and gaslighting person almost have a breakthrough with the 14 year old female love interest of the main character voiced by Mae Whitman who carries a pouch of fighting liquid with her only to end up turning on her due to selfish and short-sighted reasons in an underground area filled with green crystals, I’d have 2 nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.

[@falconeshield]

American Dragon?

[@venusgin7779]

They are also both voiced by the same person I think (in case you’re talking about Amity)

[@KTDTopaz_Universe]

💰

[@vixshire3672]

Who’s the second one ?

[@LaCabraAsada]

​@@venusgin7779 Amity is a 16 year old boy?

[@CLDJ227]

One thing I'm a little surprised you didn't mention is that, in the Phoenix king episode Zuko starts attacking Aang but everyone doesn't assume that he's suddenly gone back to being bad even Katara who threatened to kill him if he stepped out of line once. People have brought up how that is a huge testament to how much they trust Zuko by that point 🤔.

[@bch7905]

So I was active in the fandom when the show was airing- if it were JUST based on the scenes in the show, it would have not been as big as it ended up being. What really stoked the fires was the hilariously cruel ship teasing behind the scenes offered hungry shippers looking for crumbs. Most Zutara shippers by Book 3 were aware that ship wasn't going to happen, but were unsure if Kataang was going to be definite and the ship wars were going to result in an open end. You had literal magazines from the network listed Zuko as the rival love interest to Kataang despite Zutara never actually having romantic scenes. You had the creators saying the decision was 50-50 (and then backpedal a year after the finale). Writers and actors talked about it PRIOR to the series' end and talked about it even MORE afterward. You even had the Korean studio that helped animate the series illustrate a series finale promo poster that was just Zuko and Katara standing back to back. Added in the weird script changes and existing writing that had Katara's feelings become more vague and uncertain the *moment* Zuko joins the Gaang, you can't deny that there was at least a discussion that turned into handing out crumbs knowing that there was no ending that wasn't going to be Kataang. People can call them delusional, but it's in hindsight if you were part of things like boards and forums and blog logs- there were Kataang fans genuinely in fear of Zutara, the seed of doubt the second part of Season 3 planted is comical to look back on since there wasn't anything to worry about but when you stack upon other factors, you still think there is a 1% chance it may go array. I'd argue Zutara is as big as it is because it isn't just forbidden romance in its own story, but forbidden because the creators and agreeable forces behind it absolutely doubled down on their annoyance for the ship and doing just about everything in their power to try extinguish the flames the fandom created. They've mocked fans and the ship in multiple follow up interviews and convention panels, they've even prevented the two characters from interacting either positively or AT ALL in post-series pieces (they don't even SEE each other in TLOK, Katara is flat out not even at Jinora's ceremony, but Zuko is? lol they even say *unprompted* that they aren't going to be together as elders, despite again never being asked this), and yet the ship STILL won't die, and if anything they advanced in their efforts by means of participation that kept the fandom alive for all this time. People can say that the show's iconic existence is enough to keep the fanbase going, but arguably the consistent stream of shipper content (not just with Zutara, but it's a big contributor just by its size alone) truly keeps a fandom thriving and the series talked about, whether anyone likes it or not. That's just how fandom functions. Tbh Zutarians should be gracious with the canonical content they have to work with because they don't equally have to suffer potentially terrible romantic writing by the creators who already struggle with 90% of their canon ships; Zutara at the hands of the OG creators would be disastrous (See Makorra, which it is constantly compared to, yet neither characters or relationship have any similarity besides 'blue and red color palette'). Their creation out of passion and spite even produced a common and beloved tradition that now exists across fandom as "Fanwork Week" otherwise known as shipper or character weeks that have prompts creators can use to make additional fanwork. Yes, look it up, "Zutara Week" in 2008 was the start of it all and hasn't stopped since. You can love it, hate it, be indifferent, but this ship was really a shining example of fanon shippers being so passionate (and a little salty) they decided to make a whole niche out of it and create a whole culture that would be replicated and modeled by other fandoms, often other popular fanon not-to-be canon ships.

[@Boss_Isaac]

On behalf of my fellow Zutarians, that I can purport to speak for them, thank you _so much!_ 💜

[@falconeshield]

Bryke loved baiting Sokka x Azula shippers too in cons

[@genericname2747]

@@falconeshield well that's certainly a ship

[@bch7905]

@@genericname2747 it's more popular than you think lol

[@genericname2747]

@@bch7905 why

[@phantom_drone]

you call it delusion, I call it having a vision

[@nix_]

They are firmly in the friends stage of enemies to friends to lovers. This ship could absolutely succeed (if not for LoK). Just imagine, she dates Aang for like 2 months before they break up (difference in maturity, realise they're better off as friends, whatever). She and Zuko get closer and start spending more time together. A few months after that (or years if you like slow burn) they share a kiss and get together.

[@pula.29]

Agreed👏🏽

[@chrisjacobsen7265]

A cactus juice induced vision

[@masterDarts4188]

@@chrisjacobsen7265 Not the first time a drug induced hallucination brought about greatness :3

[@engene_plus_BUNNY]

@nix_| If instead of LOK, we got a show continuing on aang and everyone else’s story, the fandom wouldn’t shit on it so much. (Also I would definitely hire you as a writer because I totally agree that should have happened😭😭😭)

[@nonisimone4241]

ngl…. Zuko should've ended up w the girl from ba sing se 😭. Their chemistry on their date was cute and genuine. I feel like after ending the war and everyone gathering for Zuko’s coronation, they should’ve showed him w Jin instead of Mai.

[@Barakon]

Yeah, I get it, edgy plus dork is a good combo usually. However, I think the show kinda forgot about her & he couldn’t get away with it during his relapse & also I think we needed more time given to her as a character.

[@soradanam8160]

Right, he looked at peace with her. The relationship with Katara would just be toxic. Same as Mei was. With the girl he had no bad blood.

[@nonisimone4241]

@@Barakon not even that. Mai is just as edgy as Zuko and she doesn’t really have a personality tbh. She’s very plain and I think they mostly focused on her siding with Azula and her being Zuko’s gf afterwards. But I do agree, they definitely forgot about Jin after the tales of ba sing se and she would’ve looked at him differently if she knew about his betrayal to siding with his sister had they given them more interactions and explored more on the “what if” with them

[@falconeshield]

​@@soradanam8160*Britney Spears starts playing*

[@soradanam8160]

@@falconeshield Whatever.

[@f0olishgold]

As a passionate zutara shipper since "I'll save you from the pirates" if not earlier I gotta say, the hill I'm REALLY willing to die on is that the Opposites Attract angle was only the initial spark. The ship's staying power was always about how similar they are underneath that very shallow surface read. Even setting aside the obvious mom trauma both are prideful and hot tempered but ultimately kind, both are immensely powerful benders who had to work hard for their skills in direct contrast to someone more talented, both have moments of using sneaky, cunning tactics to slide under the radar. Hell, they each have an episode dedicated to taking up a mission in a disguise with a teeny nod and then a much bigger nod to the other's culture completely independent of one another! I believe that true compatibility comes not from being as similar as possible or from opposites attracting, but from having the right combination of similarities AND differences to relate to and support one another while also balancing one another out and providing one another with alternate perspectives and options, and Zuko and Katara are perfectly set up to cultivate that dynamic.

[@V123es]

Tbf Katara and Aang was always forced imo. She doesnt see him like a love interest in any way then he snogs her and kinda keeps forcing her into a relationship until she finally does. Katara and Zuko always felt more natural.

[@FifteenRavens]

@@V123esKatara never saw Zuko in a romantic way, Zutara is 100% forced.

[@social_avocado]

​@@FifteenRavensi think most shippers don't believe that there is actual feelings between them, but more that there definitely could be, and what it would be like if the writers took that path. I just watched the show for the first time with no bias or prior knowledge, and Katara and Aang didn't feel like much to me.

[@braimahaliyah7968]

​@@V123esyou're delusional

[@pinkyplayz2907]

@@FifteenRavenswell the writers were originally gonna make them happen but they changed their mind last minute sooo

[@spacepiratecaptainrush1237]

I've give the netflix show this, they got rid of Iroh creeping on June and changed it to her flirting with him and I'm all for it.

[@falconeshield]

It really was a blessed change

[@RuviGaPo]

This 100%!!!

[@HaydrogenBomb]

I was never really hating Iroh for that in the original, but I agree that the Netflix series did it better.

[@poenpotzu2865]

Huh that's true I thought something was different.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

​@@HaydrogenBombhonestly, same. I think Netflix did it better, but I don't blame Iroh in the original. The dude is always dealing with someone else's demons that he is allowed to give in to his own from time to time.

[@looruria8410]

I just couldn't get over how Aang looks like a child/ little brother next to Katara... I was always weirded out when they kissed at any point

[@Sam-wq9vi]

same. they were only 2 years apart but 12 and 14? eughghghu

[@soradanam8160]

He's one year younger than Katara. People in middle school had the same relationship as them.

[@2triedforthis830]

And they had a life long relationship it’s just so ew for me😭 like your telling me a 12 year old is still dating his crush and stays with her til 40 that’s insane. I just feel like they should have left it ambiguous and not let them be together until they were adults cuz it’s just so crazy how they were so young and don’t really think about exploring other people, yk that’s part of being a teenager and adult

[@2triedforthis830]

@@soradanam81602 years

[@lanAdraHrepuS]

Like, realistically, most girls that are 14 years old wouldn’t find a 12 year old attractive. Girls mature faster than boys.. so it was understandable that in the earlier seasons, she found him “a sweet little guy”. Say what you will, idk, but her crushes on Jet, Haru (and possibly, in another life, Zuko) made more sense to me, as a girl myself.

[@MaroonAngel101]

Maybe it's because I'm ace, but horniness was never a factor in me liking them. For me, there were various things that had me liking them, and made them my favorite ship for AtLA. There are the opposites attracts aspect, yes, fire/water and red/blue are just classic pairs that can work well off the other, which is why they are a popular trope. But there were also similarities: the loss of their mother that did spark off a bond initially, both having a "spirit" persona, and both having a pressure to try and be the backbone and sometimes stepping/needing to be the leader to keep things going. And yeah, the big Zutara moments did feed into it. The Crystal Catacombs was when I started to like them, TSR added to it, and him taking a lightning bolt for her. Side note, someone had brought up a really funny point that technically Katara is the Fire Lord since she was the one to beat Azula in the Agni Kai for the throne 🤣that's a fic I want to read. Anyway, there are other aspects too. For one thing they felt a lot more equal, and could've provided for each other's emotional needs. I never saw it as Katara "fixing" Zuko, but more providing that emotional support that he needs and wants. Best example of this was one trying to get council and support from Mai, but she dismissed him and his feelings a lot (which really made me dislike Maiko). Zuko does want that emotional support, someone that will listen and talk with him. Something we do see Katara does do as she listens to his fears and gave him that support to go face Iroh again. By who Katara is, she is what Zuko wanted and sought for in his initial partner, someone who listens, will talk with him, show support, tell it to him straight, and help him sort things out. With Katara, she steps up as the rock for everyone, she gives the comfort, the advise, and will bare the upset (like, I recently rewatched the show and I give mad kudos to Katara and her patience when they were lost in the desert between Sokka being high, Toph being numb and tired, and Aang is snapping and on a thin thread; I don't know if I could've done what she has done). And the biggest kicker for me is that, she hardly ever gets this emotional provision and support back. Her own emotional needs are never in the forefront or ever considered. Not until Zuko in The Southern Raiders, where he offers her the closure to face her mother's killer, and he let her handle things as she wanted to do, she didn't have to consider how another wanted to do things. He offered that chance, the support, and let her handle things as she wanted. And this was made even more so important with how Aang was in TSR. He rubbed me wrong and kinda pissed me off. Even more so as he was kinda being a hypocrite, given how he was post Appa's kidnapping, largely lashing his anger out on her and killing a vulture wasp. For him to be like that, never called out for it, never apologies, and then discourage her from lashing out which she herself hardly ever does, just rubbed me wrong. It wasn't until Zuko that Katara's raw feelings were allowed to just be, and to exist, and not be put down for how she's feeling or what she does. By how she is, Katara is held to a standard, especially by Aang. And with Zuko, she doesn't get that. A lot of their interacts post TSR just really made Zuko feel like an equal to Katara, someone she doesn't have to step up and be a mother to. Someone she can share her feelings with and not have to deal with being put down in anyway. There is some appeal to a union between the FN and WT. It could've showed the FN moving forward to peace and union, to live in harmony with the other nations. Katara herself could've helped with easing tension between FN and the other nations as Zuko and the whole FN were going to be warily regarded. And it could work into FN making an effort to make up to what was done to the SWT, as they're the 2nd biggest victims of the FN. And mindful, this does come down to preference, but I like my ships to be happy post marriage and with kids. And it's one of those things where what they would want would be found in each other. Katara is very family oriented, and I see Zuko himself wanting a close knit family too, since that's something he never got. Also for sure, he wouldn't have prioritized one kid over the others. I was actually very surprised that Katara never called Aang out on that or dealt with it, but she's never really ever allowed to call him out on his bs even when deserved, so I guess better for her to become the subdue wife... even though that's not who she is... Either way, I love Zuatara and it's potential, sucks that it didn't get to be canon, but at least I got a lot of great fics to read.

[@soradanam8160]

I find it unrealistic, like a teenage fantasy, that never becomes good in real life. They would be like Zuko and Mei, toxic. And even though I don't like Zuko and Mei together, it still hinted in the show that he still cared about her. So it never going to be. Katara and Zuko are both too hot headed, like did you guys forget Katara literally hated Zuko? Yet you want her to be with him because how good he looks? Or because both lose moms, when Zuko's is still alive. So that doesn't even count. And as that would make sense for couples to be together anyway. They're the worse for each other. Which I don't get why people harp so much on Aang's relationship with Katara. And people make it seem like Katara and Aang was just the hero gets the girl. Like Katara didn't have her own interests as well. Also, the show was base on Aang's story, so it makes sense to see things in his perspective. Even so, they still shows little signs of Katara's feelings. Yes, I'll adimt they had awkward moments but who never did when they were in middle school and high school. It was showing how they were feeling towards other. Also, half of Aang's life was stuck in iceberg, and the other with the monks. So who's going to have again after that? And it showed everything everybody's awkward moments in their relationship. Not just Aang. A realistic thing that happens in young teenage relationships. Katara and Aang were made for each other, they brought out the best in each person. Yeah, she's one year older than him but it's not a huge thing. It's like 16 or 17 to 12, okay. There's real people who have that same age range. It doesn't remove anything in their relationship, so why should it be in these pair. Katara acted motherly sometimes but that's how she was towards everyone in the group. After losing her mom, she became more mature than the rest at times. Especially living in a war, she grew up quickly same as her brother. So she had take a lot of responsibilities in her village. That didn't Aang wasn't her anchor of wisdom too when she needs it. It's not one sided. Aang gave same support and attention to her. When he defend her when Paku wouldn't train Katara waterbending. Supporting her when she acted as the painted lady. He taught Katara how to have fun again, despite living in a war. Going penguin sliding and just having fun moments together is what developed their growth. And when he was going through emotional moments, she was there to help him through. Then, Aang did the same towards her with Katara's mom scene and other situations. Not wanting her to go on a dark path and destroy the good within her. What did really Zuko bring towards her? Other than agreed with her getting even with the soldier who took her mother's life. He chased her and team for days in the first season, throwing every firebending at them. And he betrayed her when they were in Ba Si Sa, the reason why Aang got struck by lightning from Azula. And for the scene with Katara wanting revenge on the man that killed her mother, a true partner isn't always going to agree with you. Not out of personal beliefs but out concern and love towards their partner. Especially when they know who the person, and Aang has that right to say that. Zuko doesn't know her at all. Aang knows who Katara is. He spent everyday with her, and who she is, is a caring person. Who's always willing to help people no matter what. She gives hope to people around her. Which is why he still allows her to take Appa and go on the journey, but begged her not to killed the man. Because if she took the man's life, it will destroy whatever good being she had in her. How many times we see people actinf on revenge, ending up regretting, or ending up like the same person who wronged them. Even though, Katara doesn't forgive the man, Aang still respected it. All he wanted was for her not to choose violence. THAT right there, is someone that truly loves a person, not go blindly support on whatever they do. You show support being empathic but also giving your significant other meanful advice. And the journey could've been a risky move. Which is what I get on Zuko for not thinking things throughly. What if the soldiers on the boat found them and surrounded? Sure, Katara could bloodbend at the moment, but I'm sure she can't stop all fireballs flying at her in every direction. And would give them away, risking the others to be found too. Someone who cares about you isn't going let you take risky things when it could be harmful towards you. So, I never understood the whole thing with Zutara. It really shows me of a teenage romance fantasy than actual genuine relationship. I mean how many times that stereotype relationship actually ends up good in real like. We saw it through high school, sometimes in life, the girl trying to get the bad boy. But ends up heartbroken afterwards. You don't need heated tension to build something. It last for moment but quickly dies down later. You can make a good friendship that grows and becomes a romance. And that's what seem what some people are missing with Aang and Katara. In the show they would have always ended up together. Maybe they didn't show enough signs, but their priorities was to defeat the fire lord and end the war. Romance wasn't on anymore first top of the list. That's why at that scene at the fire nation play, Katara wasn't fully sure on what she felt. Because of everything that was going on. So when Aang kissed her, she back off, and it showed it wasn't accepted. Then Aang regretted later. They didn't show them kissing again until the end of the show, when Katara first initiates it. It maybe had been little, but there were signs of their relationship development throughout the series. The person Zuko should've been with is the girl in Ba Si Sa (can't remember her name. I think it was Jin something but he should've been with her. With him and Katara they had too much bad history. And her forgiving wasn't going give a enough to the relationship. Same with Mei. That's relationship was toxic. But both of them grew up in a horrible environment, so it's not surprising. At least with Jin it seemed genuine. And girl was nice as well and brought out the good side of Zuko. When he was with her he looked fine and at peace. You be with someone who's going to bring balance and peace. That will lift you up when you need them. Something Aang always provided towards Katara.

[@savybeanie]

​@@soradanam8160Dude, im starting to think ur a spammer

[@soradanam8160]

@@savybeanie I'm allowed to have my opinion, never said anyone had to agree with me. Did I?

[@ConnorCocoas]

I’m not reading all of that because come on it’s a lot. I’m of the opposite camp as you but same group. I support Katang but I’m also ace. Even if I think you’re weird it’s fun to meet you 😉

[@myainsel2579]

Same, as an ace that's why I wanted Zutara together .

[@Dorked]

Tbh, I've always felt like how canon a ship is really doesn't determine a ship's quality. Some canon ships are just boring and the paths not taken just have more dynamic and fascinating vibes. Zutara I think is an example where, as you said, the potential is there for just a meatier experience with ups and downs, intense tension, and the idea of it developing to a point where it pays off probably fuels a lot of really cool AU fanfics. And that's the thing. Even if it's not canon to the official material, a fandom lives and breathes by its fan creations once the original work is done. So these days, I just don't care which ship "wins"- it hardly matters and I think people take canon validity way too seriously, when their passion for a ship is all that really matters.

[@DrawciaGleam02]

OMG, it's Dorked!!! How's it going?

[@social_avocado]

that what I've been sayyyiiinggg maaaan people need to stop taking canon things too seriously and talk about *potential* ships rather than canon ones

[@nathanbentley1939]

I wouldn't mind a video on how Sokka x Suki became the best ship in ATLA by complete accident. (I say by accident because Suki was originally meant to be just a one-off character, and was retroactively welded into the story because the crew loved her.

[@ChangedMyNameFinally69]

Nah Tokka all the way

[@trentonbuchert7342]

I don’t really ship anyone in Avatar, but if I were to, it would be Zutara.

[@Somdeb10]

The only relationship I truly ship in avatar is sokka and suki, they are by far the best in the show but unfortunately we didn’t get enough of them

[@lc6134]

​@@Somdeb10 Honestly, seeing how other canon ships in the show were handled. Less is more in the long run. I like suki x Sokka because we don't get much of them so there is nothing to ruin.

[@hannahmetzger4880]

I ship Zuko x Sokka, so in my mind, _that_ is the _best_ ship in the show, besides Kataang, which I also ship, because we _literally_ see _nothing_ for it in the show at all. XD.

[@Somdeb10]

@@hannahmetzger4880 it’s fair to have an opinion and all power to you for shipping sokka and zuko, but that’s not even close to the best ship.

[@hannahmetzger4880]

@Somdeb10 It is in my opinion.

[@coraliacries4209]

I think that both of them also having the parallels of pretending to be mysical people they are not (blue spirit and the painted lady) are what sparked me into shipping them as a child so all the other moments made me even more into the ship

[@aurora2471]

Zutara is not an ''I can fix him'' ship. Zuko fixed himself finding the right path and tried to prove that he's changed to her. And saying zutara is a ''self insert'' ship is crazy just bcs the characters looked hot, meanwhile male creator of ATLA straight up admit that he wants 'nice guy' to get the girl bcs he relate to Aang lmao

[@laotaohoney]

Alright, here we go lol. I think most Zutara fans, especially these days, are completely okay with the fact that the ship wasn't canon. A pairing being canon doesn't mean it's the most compelling ship or the most logical choice for the characters. That said, most Zutara shippers have the very valid belief that Zutara had a solid foundation that could have easily been further developed within the story IF the creators had chosen to go down that path. Zuko's dynamic with Katara presented a unique appeal that was really distinct from Kataang. Zuko respected Katara's choices, demonstrated self-sacrifice, treated her as an equal, and offered a different kind of hero with his redemption arc, which resonated with a lot of fans. I think boiling down the "moment" that people ship them for to the cave scene in season one is a little short-sighted. Season three is where we really got the moments that made people like the ship as an endgame option. He took a lightening bolt for her. He worked hard to earn her trust and went from foe to trusted friend. He went with her to confront her mother's killer, letting her make her own choices and supporting her along the entire journey, which is a very heavy emotional moment. It's one of the only scenes where we see Katara being supported with a matter that fundamentally means a lot to her instead of her doing the supporting and nurturing for someone else. I'm not saying Aang never did that (The Painted Lady is a good example, but even that was the entire friend group helping her, not a one-on-one solo mission). It's really clear with that situation that Zuko supported her in a way that's different than the rest of the cast. People who say there's no foundation at all there are being a little facetious, let's be real. Plus, the bad boy with a redemption arc paired with the good girl with an edge is a pretty timeless dynamic. There's a reason why even the voice actors for Zuko, Toph, and Katara all ship Zutara. Even this creator's Kataang video pointed out why it was a little hard to imagine Kataang being together where the series wrapped up. There were moments, for sure, but the show never really figured out how to bridge the "family" aspect of Katara and Aang's relationship with the romance we were supposed to be rooting for. In contrast, they did an amazing job taking Zutara from legitimate enemies to very close friends, which is not an easy feat. The evolution of their relationship was much more believable and easy to buy into where the Kataang romance wasn't. It's not hard to see how people could've imagined them taking that further. It feels like the show was trying to almost walk it back because they realized how much more foundation they gave to Zutara compared to Kataang. If we were to shuffle the ships around a bit, Aang and Toph would've been a great alternative ship for Aang if Kataang wasn't happening. Likewise, Zuko and Mai, despite her personal growth, could reasonably have had a discussion that leads to them choosing separate paths by the conclusion of the series. They actually do break up and it’s only really implied that they end up back together at some point because in LoK Zuko has Izumi, who looks like Mai. But even then, they don’t say they got married or stayed together for the entire length of their lives. Ultimately, the characters are in their mid and late teens. It wouldn't have been unfathomable if their relationship didn't last. It's important to recognize that different people are drawn to their ships of choice for personal reasons, and there is no right or wrong way to ship characters. It’s not wrong to ship Kataang. It's not wrong to ship Zutara. It's not wrong to ship Maiko (or Zuko and the Earth kingdom girl, which I've actually seen people prefer over Maiko quite a bit lately). Dismissing Zutara shippers as merely projecting onto Katara or simping for Zuko is dismissive and rude. Everyone should be allowed to enjoy their preferred ships without unnecessary hostility. Let people enjoy things! These are all fake people in a story that's over a decade old. Let's all just be cool. Shipping is never that serious and it's all supposed to be fun.

[@yasmina3999]

Exactly. The cave scene was powerful but it was more like..a "spicy ship moment". Zutara in season 3 were different. They were mature, they were equal and supportive. Katara wasn't mothering Zuko, they were like parents of the team.

[@mikemorro140]

" He went with her to confront her mother's killer, letting her make her own choices and supporting her along the entire journey" Here's my issue with this and the discourse around The Southern Raiders, Aang supported her too, even when he disagreed with her, he still let her take Appa, and he did believe she'd do the right thing. The idea that Zuko was more supportive because he never questions her decision is a little off because if you really care about someone, and I'm not necessarily saying Zuko didn't care, you don't just let them run wild, Aang actually tried to give her advice and at least show her another way, which as much as people claim he was so immature throughout the series was a far more adult thing to do then immediately pushing for a revenge quest.

[@laotaohoney]

@@mikemorro140 They all (meaning the Gaang) knew she wouldn’t kill him in the end, but Zuko knew she needed to decide that for herself, whereas Aang told her she should forgive her mother’s murderer. I don’t think that was Aang speaking from maturity but just his beliefs due to his upbringing which Zuko, in contrast, is actively unlearning and letting his beliefs evolve. If Zuko was letting Katara run wild and egging her on in a negative way he would’ve pressed her to murder the man but he didn’t. He let her threaten him, and he let her choose to back down. Pacifism by default isn’t inherently the more mature option. *Edited* I removed the bit where I said Sokka pulled Aang away and pushed him to let Katara go. He actually buddies up with Aang about it and is on Aang’s side about the forgiveness thing. Still, Aang very condescendingly says “It’s okay Katara, because I forgive you *smiles* Does that give you any ideas?” which honestly makes the scene even worse than I remembered it.

[@2triedforthis830]

@@mikemorro140 it was more of pushing his pacifists ideology to her and even at the end of the ep he still assumed that she would forgive him which idkabout you but that kinda rubbed me the wrong way. It’s also the fact that aang never sees katara for who she is, she’s kind, caring a very nurturing gal, and aang sees her as a almost perfect person, but underneath all that she’s angry sometimes, competitive, and has a lot of trauma that he doesn’t really see in the show. You can think whatever you think about how he supported her in his own way, and I do belive he thought that killing a guy who murder your mom might lead her to a darker path or whatever or maybe his words got to her. But all in all he didn’t really ever see her at her worse, and I’m not saying that in this case zutara is never but yeah that’s how is Ed it

[@aglassofwetwater5215]

@@mikemorro140 dude thank you people constantly use this as "proof" that Zuko understands Katara more but there's a big difference between respecting someone's actions and not doing shit and just letting them do whatever I respect Aang's approach far more cause he's been there before he's let his anger and frustration cloud his common sense and he knows that's not a good headspace to be in

[@artydomi2466]

In this ship's weak defense. Zutara sounds way better than Kataang

[@markfisbach188]

having a good name doesnt make it a trash fire of a ship

[@violetparr1604]

Zutara for lifeeeeeeeeeee

[@olleselin]

Zutura

[@Animationsbynobody]

Fr

[@falconeshield]

HaKa was better than both *whimper* but hey, can't win them all.

[@-N0V4-]

I love that your Kataang video has plain show art as the thumbnail and your Zutara has detailed fan art. Its the perfect summary of these ships.

[@Xertaron.]

"Zuko has more chemistry with Jin and Song, than he ever does with Mai." Exactly what I was thinking when watching the series for the first time recently. It feels like the only reason why this is the thing is for Mai to have her moment near the end of the Boiling Rock. The payoff is great, but the setup is flimsy as hell. Zuko is almost as open-ended as Sokka when it comes to who he could end up with, but it feels like out of all the options, Mai is the safest and least interesting. Katara would be the most interesting, but also the hardest to pull off without 4th season.

[@roca7268]

It's so funny to me that you spent so much time talking about that one pirate episode (that fans usually consider one of the episodes with the most out-of-character moments) and then you skimmed through all the season 3 content, where most of the Zutara discussions actually find their arguments 😂 As a member of the teams "Sokka x Suki best-written canon ship", "Katara x Aang can work in the future but they feel odd at their current ages and they were treated poorly by the writers", "Mai x Zuko worst canon ship but a temporarily relationship between them has some interesting elements", "Zuko x Katara has potential but we weren't given enough moments to understand if they could last", "Avatar writes romantic relationships poorly" and "I don't want to read the comics", I think I can discuss this in a mostly unbiased perspective. To me, the most interesting part about Zutara is that Zuko and Katara are way more similar than people give them credit for, despite the opposing aesthetics and the Fire VS Water theme. Of course, they also have a lot of differences. Katara's nurturing and caring side is way more prominent, while Zuko is more of a lone wolf. Still, the ship is more than just "Bad Tortured Boy X Good Nurturing Girl". I could even go as far as saying that they share the most similarities in the Gaang. They both are prideful, stubborn, generous, very emotional, and sometimes overdramatic. They take things very seriously, they're hot-headed, and with similar unresolved issues from their past. People often overlook how prideful Katara is, she gets offended quite easily. At the same time, pride is one of Zuko's main issues, and learning humility is an important part of his arc. Because of their differences and similarities, they have been good at sharing their emotional baggage with each other so far. They address it without sugar-coating it, but also, they respect each other's boundaries. Still, the writing never implied romantic feelings between them, nor that their bonding could be more than bonding between friends. The writing. On the visual department, on the other hand... well, visually, they were baited A LOT. Katara placing her thumb on Zuko's lips while checking his scar and Zuko letting her is only one of those moments. What about Zuko immediately and so naturally reciprocating Katara's hug, despite it not being typical of his personality? Or, another example, Katara holding her hand on his back after she helped him on his feet in the final episode. They share a lot of intimate gestures. Zutarians might be delusional, but they're certainly not blind. Long story short. Since the writing (the writing, not the visuals) only rejected the idea of a romantic relationship between them, and we have no elements to tell how a romantic relationship between them could play out, I'm fine with them being just friends. Them developing a strong and healthy friendship would be soo interesting to see. Too bad that I'm afraid this aspect will stay underdeveloped because the writers are too afraid of making Zutara believable.

[@diegorojas8959]

Of all the thing that you can say about Zutara, boring is never one of them. And that the thing, next to Kataang, as ship, Zutara is just infinitely more entertaning that Kataang ever was.

[@laotaohoney]

Agreed! Zutara goes through an insane evolution relationship wise from the initial betrayal, the valid anger Katara feels toward him, then their friendship. Zuko is so insanely nuanced as a character and so is Katara which is super interesting to follow.

[@soradanam8160]

But it is toxic, though. And often, at times, overrated to be honset. They wouldn't bring anything but the worst out of each other.

[@xnortheast1106]

Nah

[@toadlord8594]

Agreed Kattang is honestly pretty boring 🥱.

[@2triedforthis830]

@@soradanam8160you keep saying that but these characters accept each other and literally never fought after katara forgave him, in fact the entire finale it was them together and not once did they seem like they’d start some fight or anything, they were just there to fight and save each other in the end

[@caxtillo9876]

I still like Katara and Zuko together. But honestly i still prefer no ships at all. Mainly because they're all kids, they have been living through a war. I also hated Mai and Zuko together. It wasn't even because Zutara. Mai just didn't have chemistry with Zuko. I know she probably had her own reason, but i hated how she didnt allow herself to open up to Zuko or let him get close. She always pushed him away and it made me think. Okay what's the point of being his girlfriend? It was just a stupid crush. If Zuko had to be with someone, it should have been Jin. They were cute, and he was open with her. Sorry, i just got irritated. I want to hope they didn't end up together, but knowing they writters, they probably did and that is meh to me.

[@sparkyblue7016]

I have strong beliefs that for zutara or kataang to work and be genuine they needed to be adults or atleast somewhere like 17. Aang being literally 12 is so cringe.

[@mrs.chrispark4907]

For me, it wasn’t really the fact that she never opened up it was more than she never let him open himself. I felt like she was always undermining his feelings with jerky comments, that’s why they never really worked as a couple for me. But I love Mai though

[@caxtillo9876]

@sparkyblue7016 that makes a lot more sense. I felt like romance should have been the last thing in the series. Having it be something when their older would have been nice.

[@caxtillo9876]

@mrs.chrispark4907 Yes, this! It's been a while since I watched Avatar, so I couldn't remember exactly what it was between them that I didn't like. I also don't want to paint her as bad. This really showed in the ember island episode. Mai, as a character, is interesting and neat on her own, but she's just not a good match for Zuko.

[@AstroSully]

Actual based take. They’re literal children and people out here making a 10 Page Thesis on why X should be together with Y 😂

[@AliCat143]

Thinking most shippers view Katara's relationship with Zuko as way to "fix" him? Like, don't disrespect my guy like that. He doesn't need anyone to fix him, he fixed himself. If anything he kinda helped her more than she helped him.

[@Lakeside80]

What you said about "the heart" role character is so true. I not many people know this fandom, but in Animorphs (another child soldiers series) Cassie is very divisive. She has the role of being the heart, the morality, she has to stop everyone and say "should we really be doing it this way?" Some readers hate her, some are annoyed, some agree. Overall, I think questioning the most direct answer is a good call, and did lead to some good and bad outcomes. Some outcomes that were bad, had some good upsides. But, that description you gave really fit Cassie, it's a tough role to fill. You'll have to do things that others will hate you for, and if your wrong, you will get the worst vitriol.

[@falconeshield]

The fact that Percy Jackson got two adaptations but Animorphs none is insane

[@genericname2747]

@@falconeshield It had a tv show. It's not good, but it exists. And to be fair, it's hard to adapt one of the most violent and dark kids series. How do you show an alien "bursting like a watermelon?" Not to mention the animorphing itself, how do you make it look good without spending a lot of money?

[@falconeshield]

​@@genericname2747Animated movie?

[@nicholeharwood6283]

I think your onto something here there are similarities between Cassie and Katara but I kinda feel like Katara is a better character. Sure Cassie is the "moral compass" but she is to a fault. Her along with the entire cast push all the tough decisions on Jake which literally breaks him and Cassie is one of the worst. Doing so not only kept her hands clean letting her go on and live a life where he basically fell apart and was abandoned by her. Katara is the heart of the group but she would never leave Aang to shoulder (if he had done so) the death of the fire lord alone. Cassie sacrificed Jake to live her ideal life at the end and I don't think Katara ever would.

[@lordjugga168]

​@@falconeshieldMore like TV show. 54 books into one movie? Nah 😂

[@t.b.cont.]

Zuko x Jin. Jin is the only girl Zuko attempted to create a truly romantic moment for

[@rhuonaChanel]

Zuko was just being a gentleman😅

[@simplyn4732]

Wait I see the vision

[@arkcliref]

maybe they did end up together and izumi is jin's daughter, but that's just my cactus juice

[@Driftingsiax]

“It was nice.”

[@cj_.44._cf]

Just so it’s said, Ozai asked Ursa for an undetectable poison to kill his father to gain the throne. Part of their deal was her banishment cause Ozai was scared she’d poison him some day.

[@buttonsfan]

You forgot a key factor. Zuko and Katara were already flirting and endgame for a month when Avatar premiered. Avatar: the Last Airbender February 21, 2005 American Dragon: Jake Long January 21, 2005 😁

[@failurextreme7084]

Okay, one of your examples has a huge flaw, and that's saying people don't hold Jett accountable for the flooding thing. Nobody likes Jett because of the plan to flood the village and the reason we don't talk about the flooding is because if anyone is going to talk about him, they are exclusively talking about how he is one of the only named characters we get to know who straight up dies. He doesn't coast on bad boy cred, he coasts on being stupid expendable.

[@thatonkgau5221]

Zutara not only has great romantic potential, a waterbender and firebender, the son of the firelord and daughter of the water tribe,two supposed enemies and opposites finding love. It also has great story potential if Katara were to marry Zuko instead of Aang. Instead of just being Aangs wife, she would become the Fire Lady, queen of the Fire nation and diplomat to the Southern Water tribe. She would help unite these two warring nations and lead them to peace. Katara and Zuko together would redeem the sins of the fire nation and change the world by promoting and celebrating Elemental co-intergration.

[@soradanam8160]

I doubt Katara wanted to be a wife to someone nation that once oppressed her nation as well as everyone else. And not to mention but of them are hot-headed people. People with the same fire personality never work out in real like. They would bring the worst out of each other. Katara needed peace in her life. Something Aang always provided.

[@thatonkgau5221]

@@soradanam8160 Zuko found peace within himself he may still have his anger but that's no longer all he is. He's not the same Zuko in season 1 he can help give Katara balance as he helped her gain closure her mother's murder.

[@soradanam8160]

@@thatonkgau5221 Yeah, that doesn't mean they needed to be in a relationship. Even so they have way too much bad blood to make something. He caused a lot of grief towards her and her friends. He almost got Aang killed by not stopping Azula.

[@zgallego14.]

​@@soradanam8160I think with this you are ignoring everything that Zuko and Katara's character arc entailed. In the end she is supposed to no longer exclusively see the fire nation as "oppressors" part of the book is fire is supposed to humanize them and not blame the entire nation for the actions of their leaders, yes she needs peace but I think she would have certainly taken the role of lady to make sure she wouldn't be the only one enjoying that peace, but her people as well.

[@thatonkgau5221]

@@zgallego14. Exactly took the words right out of my mouth

[@ameliziou4776]

More than liking zutara, its the ending that irks me away from kataang. That kiss feels less like "katara finally accepts aangs feelings and returns them with her own out of her own bollition" and more of "the hero won, so he gets the girl." Furthermore, katara literally loses all of her identity when she stays with aang. Theres no statue of her, no city named after her, no more of katara, only "the avatar's girl" And lets not even forget the fact that the last conversation aang and katara have before that kiss is an argument where they scream at each other. Legit dont see how that transitions into making out

[@soradanam8160]

Katara was more than an avatar girl. And never she cared about being famous, she just wanted the war to end. Having peace in her life and everyone she cared for. People make it seem like Katara and Aang was just the hero gets the girl. Like Katara didn't have her own interests as well. Also, the show was base on Aang's story, so it makes sense to see things in his perspective. Even so, they still shows little signs of Katara's feelings. Yes, I'll adimt they had awkward moments but who never did when they were in middle school and high school. It was showing how they were feeling towards other. Also, half of Aang's life was stuck in iceberg, and the other with the monks. So who's going to have again after that? And it showed everything everybody's awkward moments in their relationship. Not just Aang. A realistic thing that happens in young teenage relationships. Katara and Aang were made for each other, they brought out the best in each person. Yeah, she's one year older than him but it's not a huge thing. It's like 16 or 17 to 12, okay. There's real people who have that same age range. It doesn't remove anything in their relationship, so why should it be in these pair. Katara acted motherly sometimes but that's how she was towards everyone in the group. After losing her mom, she became more mature than the rest at times. Especially living in a war, she grew up quickly same as her brother. So she had take a lot of responsibilities in her village. That didn't Aang wasn't her anchor of wisdom too when she needs it. It's not one sided. Aang gave same support and attention to her. When he defend her when Paku wouldn't train Katara waterbending. Supporting her when she acted as the painted lady. He taught Katara how to have fun again, despite living in a war. Going penguin sliding and just having fun moments together is what developed their growth. And when he was going through emotional moments, she was there to help him through. Then, Aang did the same towards her with Katara's mom scene and other situations. Not wanting her to go on a dark path and destroy the good within her.

[@mikemorro140]

" Theres no statue of her, no city named after her, no more of katara, only "the avatar's girl"" She outlawed bloodbending, was regarded as the best healer in the world, and taught Korra to waterbend, she didn't have statues but pretending she had nothing is wild

[@falconeshield]

​@@mikemorro140Also in Korra's time she's still alive so

[@Eleni1002]

Literally no one ever refers to her as "The Avatar's girl" in any show. Only the people that claim to stan her do that. She was politically active in Republic City. Toph mentions that in the comics and we know she outlawed bloodbending. She's mentioned by Yakone by name, not as "the Avatar's wife". The White Lotus calls her "Master Katara" and she oversees all of Korra's training. She's the best healer in the world bar none. Why do you keep reducing her to "no more of Katara" when the show doesn't do that?

[@mamori2019]

​​@@Eleni1002There was an instance in the show - in Ember Island Players, the Zuko stage actor says to Katara "I thought you were the Avatar's girl" to which Aang nodded. To answer that last question, it's that Katara didnt have much of a legacy of her own in Korra - she was always this fierce warrior in ATLA so it wouldn't have made sense for her to just remain in the background for the rest of her life. In her own words, she doesn't want to heal, she wants to fight! That's the issue ppl have with this

[@MSSProductions1]

always LOVED zutara, aang was never ever an option for katara in my head because he was so damn childish and felt like a little brotherfigure

[@Aqua-c7j]

Yeh, Katara is more of a Mom to Aang. (Think that iceberg as an egg)

[@CherryZzzzzzz]

Honestly in my opinion, Katara being with Aang feels wrong, it feels like if Katara married his mom...

[@ACommenterFromKherson]

@@Aqua-c7j I laugh every time I hear this argument, and have three counterarguments to present for your consideration. The first is just a quick one. A big piece of "evidence" for this particular argument is that Katara frequently hugs Aang to her bosom. This gesture is obviously maternal and can have no other interpretations. It couldn't possibly be because he's shorter than her, after all... Next, their role dynamics are way off for their relationship to be maternal in nature. A huge part of the parent/child relationship is that the parent is an authority figure in relation to the child. Katara is not an authority figure to Aang. It's made perfectly clear throughout the series that she views him as an equal, and in fact, more often than not it is her looking up to him. Sometimes when he is conflicted or confused, she gives him advice, and she certainly takes care of him. But the thing is, that is part of Katara's dynamic with everyone. She is a nurturer and a caretaker by nature. She looks after everyone because that's who she is. It's very thoroughly documented in The Runaway. And speaking of The Runaway, that leads nicely into my final counterargument. It's established in that episode that if Katara's relationship is extra-motherly with anyone, it's with Sokka. He flat-out says that their brother-sister dynamic also has a heavy dose of mother-son dynamics mixed in, because Katara worked so hard to step into their mother's shoes after Kya was murdered. Now, let's think about that. If Katara's relationship with Sokka is siblings-mixed-with-maternal, and her relationship with Aang is best-friends-mixed-with-maternal, shouldn't her relationship with Aang look a whole lot more like her relationship with Sokka than it does?

[@ShadowbannedAccount]

Not to mention Aang is 100 years older than Katara.

[@CherryZzzzzzz]

@@ShadowbannedAccount erm actually hes 98 years older because katara is 14 and hes "12"

[@KaiserCrocer]

I will always be ardent for Zuko/Jin. Because something having barely any time has stuck with me for no reason other then it being cute.

[@horribledrawer9043]

I love Zuko x Jin, but since we don't have enough screen time, overtime Zuko x Sokka has weirdly won me over.

[@c.stargazer]

The first time I saw Zuko x Sokka was in a first burn fic. I now see people what see in the ship Edit: grammar

[@hammiarts]

i am 100% on board with the suki-sokka-zuko polycule. i just love them all together the boiling rock is like my fav arc

[@egg_bun_]

​@@hammiarts🔥

[@LightGlyphRasengan]

I love that for you lol

[@karlshaun]

Zukka best ship fr 🔥🔥

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

Honestly I think I just like it because I felt they had more chemistry and things in common than Aang and Katara. To this day, I just don’t really see the appeal in Katara and Aang as a romantic pairing. Honestly to tell the truth, I shipped literally anyone but Aang and Katara being endgame. I was always on board of Haru and Katara being a missed opportunity. I love this series but Bryke is epically bad at writing romance.

[@soradanam8160]

Chemistry? Katara literally threatened his life if he ever harmed Aang again. How's that chemistry? You don't always need heated tension to make a relationship. Sometimes, it's better if it comes from genuine love and friendship. Something Aang gave to Katara.

[@QuickThekidd]

@@soradanam8160it’s probably trauma bond but yea they have next to nothing outside of that in common

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

@@soradanam8160 I don't disagree with the last part. My point mainly was that Bryke just didn't do enough to make Aang and Katara appealable as a endgame pairing. Sarcastic Chorus already explained why better than I ever could in his last video. But Bryke just doesn't understand how to write romance and it's always been the chink in the armor of what is otherwise a masterpiece of a tv show. But it's that chink that always hurt the show and had that problem bleed into Korra.

[@soradanam8160]

@@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343 Well, the show was base on Aang's story, so it makes sense to see things in his perspective. Even so, they still shows little signs of Katara's feelings. And Aang giving equal attention and care towards her. Aang gave same support and attention to her. Like when he defend her when Paku wouldn't train Katara waterbending. Supporting her when she acted as the painted lady. He taught Katara how to have fun again, despite living in a war. Going penguin sliding and just having fun moments together is what developed their growth. And when he was going through emotional moments, she was there to help him through. Then, Aang did the same towards her with Katara's mom scene and other situations. Not wanting her to go on a dark path and destroy the good within her. What did really Zuko bring towards her? Other than agreed with her getting even with the soldier who took her mother's life. He chased her and team for days in the first season, throwing every firebending at them. And he betrayed her when they were in Ba Si Sa, the reason why Aang got struck by lightning from Azula. And for the scene with Katara wanting revenge on the man that killed her mother, a true partner isn't always going to agree with you. Not out of personal beliefs but out concern and love towards their partner. Especially when they know who the person, and Aang has that right to say that. Zuko doesn't know her at all. Aang knows who Katara is. He spent everyday with her, and who she is, is a caring person. Who's always willing to help people no matter what. She gives hope to people around her. Which is why he still allows her to take Appa and go on the journey, but begged her not to killed the man. Because if she took the man's life, it will destroy whatever good being she had in her. How many times we see people actinf on revenge, ending up regretting, or ending up like the same person who wronged them. Even though, Katara doesn't forgive the man, Aang still respected it. All he wanted was for her not to choose violence. THAT right there, is someone that truly loves a person, not go blindly support on whatever they do. You show support being empathic but also giving your significant other meanful advice. And the journey could've been a risky move. Which is what I get on Zuko for not thinking things throughly. What if the soldiers on the boat found them and surrounded? Sure, Katara could bloodbend at the moment, but I'm sure she can't stop all fireballs flying at her in every direction. And would give them away, risking the others to be found too. Someone who cares about you isn't going let you take risky things when it could be harmful towards you.

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

@@soradanam8160 I'm sorry but if you're going to justify an endgame pairing, you need to go through the motions of them falling in love for both of them, not just your main character. That is how good writing works and that is how you get people behind your pairing. Because it never clicks onscreen for Katara or just having this deep love be on Aang's term for the entire series, their final kiss just doesn't feel earned. Kataang is far from the only couple in the Avatar universe to have this problem. But as its the endgame couple, it is a problem that is very difficult to ignore.

[@skyelindsey687]

I get the feeling Zuko knew she wouldn’t kill him. That she just needed to look him in the eye and confront that demon. To see what kind of man it takes to kill a defenseless woman. And he knew that she couldn’t kill what was essentially a defenseless man. Which is another reason the Zutara ship works. Zuko knew Katara just needed to look her mother’s murderer in the eye. Aang assumed that her confronting him was going to end with her killing him, showing he didn’t really know her at all. I get where the creators were going with Kataang, however it wasn’t the correct choice. It was an ok choice. I’m not going to persecute them for it. But it’s still the wrong route because very few of their interactions spelt couple growth and was literally “this seems like a good spot to insert a one sided couple moment.”

[@California-if4qc]

I absolutely agree with you ❤ it was the wrong choice on their part. Even though I do respect the show in all its glory

[@valentinkambushev4968]

To anyone who doesn't ship Zutara, here's an offer you can't refuse: Zuko and Sokka as brothers-in-law.

[@patrickkahlenbeck2686]

That's not rough buddy

[@falconeshield]

Na, we already had the failed love story between Lin and Tenzin.

[@milkywaycafe.]

😯

[@Edgar_SB]

son of a bitch I'm in

[@toastysweaters5692]

I already ship Zuko and Sokka as a couple, so no thank you

[@amaristhewitchfromthewoods]

Honestly? I shipped zuko more with that one earth nation girl that zuko went on a date with then Mai or Katara

[@diegocaceres3475]

This ship was so popular that I genuenly believed it happened in the show. When I finally watched Avatar I was just waiting for the love triangle to start, so happy that it didn't.

[@AstroSully]

Love triangles kills shows man.

[@wynterfir]

Honestly as a Zutaran fan who found Toph the most attractive I can say that the attractiveness didn’t play a major role in my love of the ship. What really got me was the Katara revenge arc. Aang insisted on his values over her feelings and morally grandstanded over a girl who watched her mother die, where Zuko was understanding and went with her to get revenge before helping her work through it. They were a duo made in heaven. Not only do their aesthetics match up, but their journeys compliment each other. Plus it always felt like Katara was forced into the role of mother of the group. Not only due to trauma but due to being the heart and healer. Aang treats her as such for the majority of the story and we’re supposed to just accept it when he suddenly has this crush on her and suddenly his feelings on the matter are now suddenly more important than hers. And when she’s finally allowed to be autonomous and angry its Zuko that supports her not Aang. Towards the end of the series Aang was truly a massive dick, and they had to use the final episodes to shoehorn in the romance between kataang and zukoxmei. Not to mention the final episodes are still promoting Zutara as they fight so well with each other. They love and respect each other immensely. Plus they did both of them dirty with not even giving the two of them people they had chemistry with. Let’s be honest Mei has the chemistry of dirty mop water with Zuko, and Aang and Katara feel forced because Aang the main character has feelings for her not the other way around.

[@Omegahugger]

Zutara as a ship has the immense advantage of existing inside the world of platonic ideas as "what could've been"; whereas Kataang will forever be shackled to the execution that actually existed.

[@Boss_Isaac]

Heh heh heh! Do be careful that the Kataangers don't see this, they can get, how should we put this, ahh, _insecure_ when one points out just how much Kataang was lacking in execution. There's also how the mere existence if not mention of Zutara it seems all but obligates one of them (seriously, you'd think them programmed to do this) to come in with an obligatory _"Urghhh! Zutara isn't canon!"_ 😡

[@haruzanfuucha]

@@Boss_IsaacYeah Kataang shippers are so rabid and annoying, but they completely lack the self awareness to recognize how insufferable they are.

[@Omnihilo]

@@haruzanfuucha FINALLY. _FINALLY._ I have been waiting SO long for people to start seeing this or pointing it out. Literally, almost every conversation they are so toxic and horrible. I had a full on racist arguing with me at one point. And they constantly go on about how awful Zutara shippers/the rest of the fandom is, but look at how peaceful the comment sections are until the Kataangers get there? Everyone’s chilling, just throwing differing ideas and opinions back and forth, having a civil dialogue and then here they come. Then have the nerve to claim it’s everyone else in the fandom that’s immature, toxic, etc. It’s so insane and I’ve literally never seen anyone else point this out. Seriously, THANK YOU!!

[@Omnihilo]

@@Boss_Isaac This legitimately made my day, thank y’all so much for noticing this too and pointing it out. I thought I was going insane, like HOW is no one else seeing these people act like this??!

[@benprickett8894]

@@Boss_Isaac As someone who doesnt get into ships at all I find you guys all patting each other on the back fucking hilarious. You are the exact same way as them. You just dont have an outside perspective like I do to see it.

[@lexipooh2631]

I think one of the reason ppl ride for zutara so hard is because it’s one of the only good examples of enemies to lovers that were genuinely enemies

[@aaronlindsey2219]

I really love that Zuko betrayed team avatar in the caves. On the one hand, they could have achieved ultimate shipping goals, On the other, they were able to achieve one of the most touching redemptive dialogues in the history of media between Zuko and Airo later

[@jubileebaby0]

Don't worry, Zuko and Katara are technically together in another life, "American Dragon: Jake Long" with Jake and Rose ❤

[@falconeshield]

19 years on and still no movie......hot damn those poor fans. If X-Men 97 becomes popular chances are Teen Titans 2003 FINALLY gets a conclusion in the shape of an animated DC movie as a response. I still can't believe Rocko's new life, Hey Arnold and The Critic got their movies but not American Dragon. And to the confused 1994 Critic fans, Tarantino's last movie is practically The Critic LA.

[@marocat4749]

@@falconeshield Yep, why,

[@justjoannak]

That's the only reason I'm ok not having a Zutara endgame canonically

[@thejurijo9388]

I love your commentary. I thought pretty much exactly the same thing while watching the show. Kataang was disgusting, Zutara was stupid. The season two finale did make me stop for a second and go 'hmmm...' but yeah I knew it was never going to happen. I also believed Kataang wouldn't happen either after 'The Ember Island Players' so just imagine my disappointment with the very final scene of the show. It was when I came across a Zutara arranged marriage fanfiction years after the show, completely by accident that I started shipping it. So my love of this ship is based entirely on fanon and meta which is a huge credit to the enormously talented and dedicated fanbase that Zutara boasts of.

[@TrampMachine]

I mostly ship them because I thought Katara and Aang had zero chemistry and at the end it feels like the writers just gave Aang Katara as a reward while Katara never really showed romantic interests in Aang and when she did it really wasn't convincing. Honestly I would have rather the writers given us more with Jin, the idea of Zuko meeting the love of his life while he's in limbo in Ba Sing Se only to tell her "I have to go take care of something but I'll be back". But almost any ship would have been better than Katara Aang.

[@soradanam8160]

Katara was more than that. She isn't a reward, Aang earned her love base on how much he valued her. And people make it seem like Katara and Aang was just the hero gets the girl. Like Katara didn't have her own interests as well. Also, the show was base on Aang's story, so it makes sense to see things in his perspective. Even so, they still shows little signs of Katara's feelings. Yes, I'll adimt they had awkward moments but who never did when they were in middle school and high school. It was showing how they were feeling towards other. Also, half of Aang's life was stuck in iceberg, and the other with the monks. So who's going to have again after that? And it showed everything everybody's awkward moments in their relationship. Not just Aang. A realistic thing that happens in young teenage relationships. Katara and Aang were made for each other, they brought out the best in each person. Yeah, she's one year older than him but it's not a huge thing. It's like 16 or 17 to 12, okay. There's real people who have that same age range. It doesn't remove anything in their relationship, so why should it be in these pair. Katara acted motherly sometimes but that's how she was towards everyone in the group. After losing her mom, she became more mature than the rest at times. Especially living in a war, she grew up quickly same as her brother. So she had take a lot of responsibilities in her village. That didn't Aang wasn't her anchor of wisdom too when she needs it. It's not one sided. Aang gave same support and attention to her. When he defend her when Paku wouldn't train Katara waterbending. Supporting her when she acted as the painted lady. He taught Katara how to have fun again, despite living in a war. Going penguin sliding and just having fun moments together is what developed their growth. And when he was going through emotional moments, she was there to help him through. Then, Aang did the same towards her with Katara's mom scene and other situations. Not wanting her to go on a dark path and destroy the good within her.

[@iamjahlani7293]

Saying that katara was a reward for Aang takes away any and all agency Katara had. It completely undermines her character.

[@kinglightning5256]

I feel like people be down playing katara and aang and them being together. Literally the episodes aang brought back katara smile and still showing her to have fun. Episode 3 aang goes back still sinking in that he was gone for 100 years and seeing his master dead body katara was there for him a shoulder to cry on. Sure katara is mother like but let's be real you being frozen for 100 years everyone you love is dead and a war has been happening for those 100 years anyone would need a shoulder to cry on and plus katara is motherly with everyone if zuko was with the party longer he would had gotten that treatment to. Also katara and aang bring out the best out one another and support one another when there struggling. When aang was literally about to break his rule that every life is secret and potentially kill that sand bender that took appa away that wouldn't be the same aang anymore katara was the one that broke him out of it and was checking him every night about how he feeling about appa when traveling to bea sing sa. When katara got information on who killed her mother aang was one who didn't want katara to walk that dark path and to take a life away literally katara was blinded by rage she used blood bending the move she cried about when she first used it. Katara and aang has always been there for for aang katara been there for emotional support for his duties as avatar and when he lost appa and made aang a better avatar. Katara aang made her have fun and smiled again stood up for her when paku didn't want to teach her water bending and didn't let katara walk a dark path killing her mother killer. Also another reason why zutara wasn't go happen was because of the book 2 final he literally betrayed her and literally was apart of aang getting killed if she didn't have that spirit water she literally send zuko a death threat saying if he harms aang she will kill him.

[@marocat4749]

That should at least have been left open. Like if they are older,, ok , but that age its just weird.

[@xanecho]

​@iamjahlani7293 Fictional characters DON'T have agency though. They're that way because writers choose to write them like that, and it's fair to not be a fan of those writing choices

[@Therealmykag]

Ironically, even with his major mommy issues, Zuko was the only one who didn’t treat Katara like she was his mom

[@Jojo-tf2zp]

Its been one minute since this has been posted. I am seated. I AM SAT! It absolutely should've been Zuko. Okay, now to watch 😂

[@AstroSully]

And who does Aang end up with?

[@williamleonardreesejr.1992]

Bemusingly I always saw the Zuku and Katara moments with the Southern Raider episodes and the Azula finale fight made much stronger shipping moments more then the Ba Sing Se caves

[@soradanam8160]

Didn't mean that would make a relationship, tho. Too much bad blood between them.

[@marocat4749]

Yeah and the guru and it would be aang letting go, if he let go of his crush on her. like the guru told him. Also him asking gentle, "should i kill him for you" is more romantic than anything aang ever did. In context its very romantic with him seeing how she doesasnt want to kill him but hate him.

[@falconeshield]

​@@soradanam8160They're barely friends by the Melon Lord ep

[@cindersapfrog5598]

I will die on the zutara hill.

[@Barakon]

Sorry to disrespect this gravesite but, there are better edgy lovers to obsess over. Have you considered maybe a pairing where they start on par? As partners in crime?

[@falconeshield]

​@@BarakonLupin x Fushiko is always a fun one

[@HaydrogenBomb]

I won't join you, but I'll salute you 🫡

[@saikikusuo7937]

Then you shall perish 😂

[@islasullivan3463]

Same. 💔

[@neworldfool9625]

Also, why aren’t you bringing up the fact that Aang and Katara as well as Zuko and Mai have a massive fight thats never resolved before the finale, but they still just end up together? Katara hated Zuko before Ba Sing Se and she hates him before Southern Raiders, but she literally ends that episode off being more comfortable around Zuko than Aang… especially emotionally. Zuko did the one thing that Aang could literally never do for her, which is hear her out without judging her and let her make her own choices.

[@AdamHigh-pz2nj]

Something that occurred to me from your videos is that couples in ATLA and LOK only work when they are barely shown. Which is actually why Korrasami works, the relationship is almost entirely implied rather than shown and most of the portrayal could have just been a friendship. Which then leaves fanfiction able to pick up the slack without being contradicted by the show. Zutara was popular for the same reason, except for the fact that it is contradicted by the show as you show here.

[@2triedforthis830]

And the fact that korrsami ended up together (I believe) was just amazing and it had build up from me watching the show recently. Only up to s3 cuz I kinda quit s4

[@qtyler94]

Except the comic confirmed what happened in the show unlike Zutara. Their growing friendship in season 3 and long distance before uniting grew their love.

[@Barakon]

That’s only because the writers suck at writing romance.

[@haruzanfuucha]

Because Bryke can't write romance.

[@Meiruki]

I like Zutara because they have so much angst potential. Zuko and Katara feeling like they "betrayed" their mutual best friend Aang by falling for each other, everybody's reactions to finding out Zuko and Katara like each other (especially Mai, Aang, and Sokka), Zuko being heavily discouraged from being with Katara by his advisors because the Fire Nation royal family is supposed to keep the bloodline "pure Fire Nation", Katara feeling guilt that she has fallen in love with Zuko and wondering if her tribespeople and deceased mother would hate her, their respective duties forcing the two apart and to keep their distance from each other, the mutual pining because they suspect their own affections are unrequited, Zuko having self worth issues and wondering why someone as wonderful as Katara would ever want to be with him (especially since he hurt her so much in the past), the Fire Nation citizens having mixed reactions to Zuko wanting to marry Katara, Katara trying to work out how she can endear herself to the Fire Nation citizens, the two working out reparations and diplomatic relations, problems over succession that might occur if Katara gives birth to a waterbender, Ozai learning that Zuko has chosen to marry a waterbender and thinking he's a "failure" because of that, etc. Also Zuko and Sokka being brothers-in-law and Katara and Azula being sisters-in-law is simply too good to pass up.

[@rhuonaChanel]

Exactly! The script just writes itself out to perfection

[@crazyscotsman9327]

You aren't wrong it's great and I wish they had gone with it.

[@ebraheemfredericks5736]

My god, it just writes itself. Such a missed opportunity. Sigh. Maybe if this wasn't a kids Nickelodeon show.

[@arielle3796]

one thing though, funny how you say people just ship Zutara because "it's basically self-insert fanfic" when grown up Aang literally looks like one of the creators 🤣

[@LightPinkGamer5]

*Kataras three phases:* “It’s all about hope, we’ve got to stick together. Right Aang- STOP RUBBING YOUR EYE AND SPEAK CLEARLY WHEN YOU TALK.” “See? Fun!” “!#?% OFF ZUKO”

[@SammyRobinson62232]

This is before I watch the whole video. But I dislike how there is apart of the Avatar community that just hate Katara for dumbs reasons. Yes, she is flaws just like any characters. Though she isn’t a bad person. She is an amazing person. Just like everyone in the main cast. Edit: after watching the video I kinda wish we had some more adventures between Zuko and Sokka. Since for some odd reason Zuko x Sokka kinda won me over. Despite me loving Suki x Sokka. Idk I just might be a multiple shipper

[@WeebGuru6]

I agree completely funny enough the things people hate about katara is why I hate Charlie and Steven for the same reason

[@marocat4749]

Is it because she is a flawed characte rthats unashamed emotional and can be wrong sometimes. I think the hate is for what makes her great, she being a flawed character thats also great. And messy even at times.

[@WeebGuru6]

@@marocat4749 no it’s just that people don’t know good writing like they think Charlie Morningstar and Steven universe are good characters

[@SammyRobinson62232]

@@a_cutevision For me I think because I read a couple of fanfic and it just won me over

[@ashesandposies]

Zuko and Sokka are like perfect for being best friends both son of a leader , they are around the same age the first born with a little sister. I’m sick of people always trying to mess up male friendships by shipping them it annoying and just disrespectful to the characters who obviously love women. Male friendship is healthy and important for a Man.

[@ellynneg.6926]

I think Zatara also grew out of some of the weaknesses in Katang. I always felt like Katara fell for Aang because: 1. He's the first guy she's seen in two years who isn't her brother or possibly still in diapers. 2. He's the Avatar. The episodes start with Katara telling us how the world needs its hero to save it and how she knows Aang can do it. Before she knew Aang was the Avatar, we have Katara giving almost the same speech except it focuses on her belief the Avatar will show up and save the world. While Katara does eventually come to see Aang as Aang first and the Avatar second, he's her Long-Awaited-Dreamed-About-Hero-Who-Will-Save-the-World. When she gives that speech in the later episodes (especially of the first season), she is saying how Aang will live up to this image she has despite seeming like a goofy kid. That's not falling in love with Aang, that's falling in love with an image you have in your head. She's a teenage girl who has hit puberty falling for a boy who hasn't. He's maybe started by the time he kisses her, but he still hasn't even had his voice change or even grown a couple inches. For me, Katang happened because they decided at the beginning that the hero was going to get the girl and the girl was therefore going to want to be gotten by the hero.

[@lolabee1825]

As a kid I never paid attention to the ships I just watched for the story and I always just assumed Kataang was gonna be endgame considering the choices the writers was making. However as an adult in my opinion Zutara became the ship I loved the most in the series. I think if Zuko did join the gang in season 2 then yeah they would've had to be endgame but that didn't happen and the writers were really pushing Kataang the whole season 3. Zuko and Katara still have the most interesting relationship but it wasn't romantic despite the tension lol In my opinion even though Kataang is actually fine Zutatra would've been the better choice but would require a rewrite. These ships remind me of aot the war between Eremika vs Erehisu while Erehisu is the more appealing ship and would've been better for the narrative and Eremika is honestly significantly worse than Kataang but the appeal or Erehisu reminds me of Zutara.

[@soradanam8160]

Zuko would only make things bad for her. I mean look how he treated Mei, he didn't always appreciate her. They would just ended up like Zuko and Mei, toxic. And even though I don't like Zuko and Mei together, it still hinted in the show that he still cared about her. So it never going to be. Also, Katara and Zuko are both too hot headed. Katara literally hated Zuko. But some want them together because they look good? Or because both lose moms, when Zuko's is still alive. So that doesn't even count. And as that wouldn't make sense for couples to be together anyway. They're the worse for each other.

[@lolabee1825]

@@soradanam8160 Uhm.. considering Katara and Zuko are extremely supportive and understanding of each other after and during the southern raiders episodes I feel like this is just a false narrative you’re trying to create because you don’t like Zutara for xy and z reason. I don’t see them being toxic due to their interactions of support and kindness. Perhaps Zuko and Mai just aren’t a good match and why they butt heads.

[@soradanam8160]

@@lolabee1825 That's not going to be enough to make a relationship. Yeah, Katara gave support to him. But didn't mean they had to build something. And most of the times Mei butts heads with him because he doesn't always appreciate her. Even after the war was over. So how he end up good with Katara. Truly, he needed to fix himself before starting any relationship. A girl doesn't have all to support to give someone who has issues of their own. That's will eventually break her and drained her energy. Katara needed someone who would bring peace towards her. Something Aang provided towards her. Wanting to bring the best out of her, not the worse.

[@lolabee1825]

@@soradanam8160 Again I feel like you’re just cherry picking cause you went Katara to be with Aang. Which cool I mean you do you but let’s not make assumptions that Zuko will be toxic to all his partners when in reality Zuko and Mei probably don’t work cause they’re not right for each other. Meanwhile we don’t know what Katara and Zuko would be like as a couple the only thing we have to go off of is how they interact after Katara forgives Zuko which is unconditionally supportive.

[@soradanam8160]

@@lolabee1825 No, I'm just saying that relationship would be toxic. I'm not nick picking anything, I mean this a debate isn't it? And yeah, I do think Aang is the better pair. Because he brought positive to her life. Yeah, Katara forgives him, but that's not enough to make a relationship. He still caused hard towards the people around her. I glad that he changed for the better, but wasn't in the best place to be in relationship with anyone.

[@abhirampisipati8384]

Us: Yyyessss! An in depth video as to why zutara works. Sarcastic chorus: Yes.....but actually no. Us: then? Sarcastic chorus: here is a near one hour video of an in depth analysis of who Zuko and Katara are as characters.

[@22amih]

Oh man, this was my childhood. Unlike you, I was a hardcore Zutara shipper. But like you, I was never ‘delusional’ enough to believe it would become canon. You’re correct, the writing was on the wall. It was always apparent how much the creators hated the ship lol. We got plenty of fan service toward the end, but it was never an option to them. But yes, to expand on what you said- it’s no surprise Zutara became as popular as it did. It has so many popular tropes going for it: enemies to lovers, opposites attract, Fire and Water, prince and ‘commoner,’ etc. Funny enough, I liked Mai more as a character than Katara… but ZukoxMai fell flat to me. Like so badly. I was hoping to enjoy the pair but they brought nothing good out of each other. It almost felt like they got paired because it was either her or Ty Lee left. To me, the most intriguing thing any relationship (platonic or romantic) can have is POTENTIAL. Do the characters challenge each other to grow and become better, or do they stagnate together/add nothing to the other (or worse, they bring out the bad in each other)? I still stand by the opinion that Zutara had the most potential out of the ATLA ships. Not the healthiest (no one beats Sukka). But definitely the most potential.

[@rockmangurlx4973]

I like both. But I don’t mind either because the important thing is that the couple (whether KxA or KxZ) is composed of characters that are actual characters and don’t solely exist just to be the soulless love interest.

[@Zedd...]

I don't care about ATLA or its ships (I watched the entire series, but wouldn't say it is a favourite of mine), but I have to admit that Zutara is more interesting, more entertaining, more good looking, and less cringeworthy than Kataang.

[@leeblackwolf3158]

Zuko x Jin is the hill I would die on for a ship personally, not only because the story of a broken banished prince that needed some kind of love aside from Iroh being his daddy, Jin being a common earth nation girl would set an amazing example across nations. Jin was also a major crush for me for a long time including Ty Lee so I may be a bit biased but many theories say Jin knew he was a firebender and still didn't care, she really did like him, that's genuine love right there on top of that they had good chemistry in just one ep, and if this show got four seasons I think they would hit off imo, I mean c'mon even Iroh was shipping them lol.