Oh fandom, why must you be so high-strung about this stuff?

[timepiececlock]

Zutara fandom, you know I love you. So why do make me smack my forehead? WHY?

I can't believe that so many people are a) wrapped up in the idea that every on-screen relationship is written to be an epic saga in the making, and b) having been denied Zutara so far, are now actually blaming the Mai/Zuko ship as being "badly written" because it's not epic so far.

OF COURSE IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE. It's supposed to be awkward, and annoying, and frustrating, and cutesy, and involve lots of macking.

Which means its being written fine, you just want so badly to hate it that you're trying to read too deeply into it.

Comments

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

just a little record-clearing for myself: once upon a time, I thought I wouldn't enjoy Mai/Zuko because I don't really enjoy Mai in general, but decided after season 3's first ep that the pairing was actually quite charming. For once, here's a relationship of Zuko's that isn't incredibly, badly adjusted. That the Zutara fandom can denounce such a MIRACULOUS THING is upsetting.

I was briefly enamoured with the idea of Mai/Ty Lee as lesbians. That would have been AWESOME. When it became apparent that the show might have something come of a reunion, I was skeptical about liking it or not because Mai is, as Zuko so succinctly put, "a complete BLAH", but hopeful in the way that Mai might turn out to be a shrewd, intelligent, calm, politik kind of character who'd make a good match, if a different one than Katara would. But she never seemed trustworthy, and so I didn't know if I approved of her.

Having seen the relationship going (I'm grateful we were spared the first-date stuff, as a shipper and as a critical viewer) I'm pretty pleased with it. I like that they're taking it the way they are, with realistic immaturity. It means I don't have to create fanon around Mai to make her fit with my idea of a fanon future Zuko. Rather, it's just Mai and Zuko as they are in canon now: self-centered brats who are discovering the joys dating.

And I also agree that at least he has some happiness. I'm a member of zukogetslaid for a reason: the boy needs someone to cut him a break. And even if Mai is still Azula's creature first, at least she's someone who doesn't look down on Zuko, abuse him, or corner him with expectations.