Do you think Kataang might have worked better if it had happened earlier and had time to get complicated? It probably would have annoyed people who wanted to get on with the plot but it might have avoided the “hero gets the girl” final episode business.

lokgifsandmusings:

Well, it was introduced in the pilot episode, so…

No, it was its scripting in Book 3 where I find it impossible
to track.

Like, to me it felt as though Zutara was the foregone
conclusion for the series when Book 2 was airing, and it made sense to me, albeit
it was a tropey assumption. Then “Crossroads” hit and we had that amazing subversion
of Zuko’s redemption arc (maybe my favorite moment in TV history), and also
Aang “giving up” Katara with the chakras and all, so I had no clue what to
think. I didn’t care enough about shipping to ponder it deeply, but it was like
Aang was on this jedi-path, and I couldn’t imagine a situation where Katara
could work through her feelings of betrayal with Zuko within one season. Which
is still something I cling to. I could see ATLA ending on a trajectory headed
for a Zutara romance, but I think as presented it still wouldn’t have been the
best writing in the world.

Clearly they intentionally countered the whole “heroes
cannot love” thing (Iroh tells Aang he was smart to choose love, though the
Rock of Chakra Convenience is still just an atrocious way to go about it. Korra
found the inner strength to open hers…), and I’m happy for it. But how Bryke
went about scripting the romance in Book 3 is nothing short of a headscratcher
for me.

Ya know what, I’m putting this below a jump-cut. Here’s the full account of why
I’m personally struggling to really feel compelled by this pairing, even though I adore
the complications of their adult lives and family, and would never trade Bumi,
Kya, and Tenzin for anything. I hope we can all be friends after this? If you enjoy it, power to ya, and I’m happy you found this aspect of ATLA fulfilling.

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