One more squeeing thought on the Avatar episode.

[timepiececlock]

You know the end of the episode, where Zuko's like "I am Zuko, Prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne."?

That's exactly the version of Zuko I imagined in this drabble, weeks ago. That's him, right there!

I'm ridiculously pleased by this.


Also? This episode proves that Avatar: The Last Airbender was totally written for girls. I mean, really.

Comments

[spikespeigel.livejournal.com]

Uh, no. Many of my guy friends also watch it for the plot. And you know it's got plot when new episodes get a "Previously on Avatar".

cute icon

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

You're the second person in two days to mistake my love of my hyperbole for genuine sentiment. That's the internet for you.


And you know it's got plot when new episodes get a "Previously on Avatar".

I noticed that, as something that is fairly uncomon for the show.

[leslina.livejournal.com]

What do you know, he lives.

[spikespeigel.livejournal.com]

Hey, you. Get your ass online.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

You know I didn't even know she liked Avatar until yesterday? Small internet.

[spikespeigel.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. She's on your ship too, with Zuko and Katara. Why, I have no idea. It's gonna be Aang/Katara, but with much angst when Aang dies at the end to save the nations and show Zuko the meaning of the word, "hero".

[leslina.livejournal.com]

Whatever.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I don't think Aang is going to die. Toph is going to die. The swamp episode was pretty clear about this, and about the fact that she's someone Aang would love. That doesn't necessarily mean romantic love, but she plays off Aang better than Katara does, having similar personality traits but none of the mothering aspect.

Traditionally, a messaiah character like Aang cannot be allowed to have a happy relationship, because he has to be wedded to the cause. Episode 14 hinted as much, although I don't really buy into everything the fortune teller said, either. What I think, based on what we've seen so far, is that Aang will love Toph, and Toph will die or disappear, and much angst, and losing Toph will give Aang the final drive he needs to stand up to the Fire Lord and embrace his destiny.

Zuko's actually learning to be a hero on his own, it appears. Which is ultimately better, I think, than learning it through Aang or anyone else. Zuko has to come into his own enough that when Aang defeats the Fire Lord, Zuko will be ready to take over. He's already partway down that road, being already more mature than he was last season. All his childishness is getting blown, beaten, and starved out of him.

[leslina.livejournal.com]

Zuko's actually learning to be a hero on his own, it appears. Which is ultimately better, I think, than learning it through Aang or anyone else.

Indeed. Too often a romantic interest is what sparks a 'villian' to want to change in order to win favor with his/her object of affection (or obsession's). It's so refreshing when the 'villian' comes to this realization on their own. I think this is what sets Zuko apart from the usual 'bad guy'. He doesn't need a girl to change him. I think once we reach Book Three the character dynamics will be most interesting, especially between him and Katara.

My biggest gripe with Avatar fanfiction right now is Katara's characterization where Zuko's concerned--frosty and belligerent. It's out of character. She would definitely be cautious and suspicious, but not overly hostile. And if Aang were to personally invite Zuko to join their group, she would stand by Aang's decision and be civil. Now Sokka, he's always been straight forward about his feelings. If he doesn't like something or someone he's going to complain about it until either Aang or Katara knock him in the head.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I've played around with both those versions of Katara in my own fanfic. In most cases I'd assume Katara would be civil to someone she doesn't like for Aang's sake, but I also remind myself of what the Fire Nation did to the Southern Water tribe, and that the FN has cost Katara and Sokka both their parents, one way or another. Add to that the fact that Zuko personally took Aang out from under her care-- that's going to rankle for a while. Katara being too accepting of Zuko or Iroh also rings untrue to me. But I do think she'd be civil for Aang's sake, at least on the surface. And over time that civility would become genuine. I think if Zuko ever were to join their group, then competitiveness might end up being what makes Katara bridge the gap between herself and Zuko, friendship or more. Bending is so much a part of how both define characters define themselves; it could easily be their common ground.

It depends a lot on how he would join up, too, and how much they see of the new & improved Zuko before he actually joins them. For season 1 fanfic I think I tend to fall back on the idea that she'd be civil but very reserved with him, until he pissed her off, and then she'd bite. But she'd also get over her anger much quicker than, say, Sokka would.

[leslina.livejournal.com]

OK ok. Sheesh.

[leslina.livejournal.com]

"I am Zuko, Prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne."

Funny that you post about that quote. I just finished watching "The Fortune Teller" again, and another interpretation of Katara's fortune occurred to me and that was that "Powerful Bender" may not necessarily mean a bender with powerful bending skills, but a bender with power, as in, political power, like say, a future Lord of a nation...

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. Emphasis really is worth as much as context, sometimes. Katara just assumed that the fortune teller meant power in bending abilities. And we know what they say about assuming.

Actually, that was the first episode where I twigged to the idea of K/Z as a future pairing, though I didn't really get into it until the season finale (and lots of fanfic; that helped too./)

[leslina.livejournal.com]

I had suspicions of a ZxK pairing since episode 1-2. But then I'm a sucker for those explosive, complimentary ships. I hate the term "opposites attract", I like to think of it as two characters complimenting one another. All those kewl feng shuey, balance ying-yang principals. Aunt Wu sorta reinforced my suspicions. And I have to agree, the fic isn't too bad in this fandom, though it could stand some variety. Speaking of fic, when are you going to update that drabble series? Cos waiting for you to update I wrote my own continuation drabble with a little inspiration from the "red story" in Hero. No worries. It won't be published anymore on the net. I just needed to write it. Will send it over in little bit.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I also think of them as complimentary personalities, not combative personalities. They're both strong people who feel very deeply, and fight very hard. Growing up they've each had to work hard against a world that doesn't want to accept them-- Katara for her bending, and Zuko for practically everything. And I'm just going to repost something I said way back here:
In a more global sense, I like the pairing because I think Zuko and Katara are two good people who could find in each other a partner to respect and challenge. I think their hot-tempered natures could make for some passionate fights/feelings and their strong sense of dedication/loyalty tags them both as romantics at heart. In most ways they're very similar-- stubborn, proud, determined to do what they think is right. That could make them fight a lot, but their essential goodness and shared innate compassion (while not very compassionate these days, we know from the flashbacks that Zuko's far too compassionate by nature, as far as the Fire Nation is concerned) would be a strong attraction.




All those kewl feng shuey, balance ying-yang principals.

Given how in-your-face the symbolism of this show is, it's hard not to notice the parallels between fire/water, ying/yang, moon/sun, and Zuko/Katara. The season finale really drove it home for me. Then when donna_c_punk got into it she pointed out something that I've thought about a lot since: that the Avatar literally, spiritually, and symbolically brings together opposites. He unites ying and yang to a peaceful balance. Aang's whole purpose is to bring balance to the world, to unite ying and yang, and since Katara and Zuko were slapped with the ying and yang label back in episodes 19/20, and are strongs symbols of their respective nations/elements, it makes sense that they meet through the Avatar.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

stubborn, proud, determined to do what they think is right.

*right or necessary, I should say. Both Katara and Zuko aren't above stealing, for example.