Melis
Long Feng
hay baby wanna get away on my bison?
Posts: 3,293
|
Post by Melis on Mar 19, 2007 13:59:28 GMT -5
Oh! That's an interesting take on it, and now that I think about that I agree with you completely. There doesn't need to be a scene between the two about it, like you've said, since they already understand each other on the issue. Well, I like the way their development is moving. I'd rather have a relationship that's been developing for a while, than one that randomly happens over the course of two - three episodes or so. That's what I love the most about my ship. The buildup is gradual instead of rushed like some romances. Then again, this is all in opinion.
|
|
|
Post by Amira on Mar 19, 2007 14:40:30 GMT -5
Exactly. I love the devolpment of their relationship. I can't really stand the we-hate-each-other-then-OMG!-we-love-each-other types of development. It's just IMO incredibly unrealistic and often times rushed. Aang and Katara's relationship has been fascinating in that we've seen it develop from the beginning and progress.
|
|
|
Post by lunauc on Mar 19, 2007 15:58:29 GMT -5
I'm not only against Kataang, because the way it is going is leading Aang toward addictive dependance. The way it is written, at the moment, makes me question if any "romance" Katara would have with Aang would have a healthy motivation. Let's try to get their relationship into perspective. Before you could call them friends, or possible love interests, you have to admit that the first thing that grabs Katara about Aang is the fact that he is the Avatar. If he weren't, would she have run off from her home with him on some epic quest? I severely doubt it. In this universe, the Avatar is given messiah like importance. He is the sacred being who acts as balance to the elements and liaison between human and spirit. In such sense, You can roughly equate Aang to a Jesus figure in the show. Katara in this case takes on the role of an Apostle(Mary Magdalene, more or less). She even says in the opening of the show, that she believes Aang is what will save the world. I doubt she feels there is anything other than the Avatar which can save them. In this sense, she is more of a religious zealot. Thrust into what can be presumed as a destined role, as the one who found the Savior, the one who brought him back into the world, she takes on the responsibility of aiding him, of following him, of helping him to achieve "their" destiny. Not long back, I spoke of Aang's superiority complex, a special assurance of ego he gains by being the one and only Avatar, which aids him in carrying on through the tragedies to complete his tasks. In much the same way, being the one who brought the Avatar back into the world is a point of Superiority for Katara. It makes her special to be the one who is responsible for this hope for the future, to be the one who guides him, the one who is always their as his sole support. It may bring gratification to be seen as this important guiding figure, but at the same time she is losing her individuality, as she becomes this iconic supporter for Aang. And by making herself his one supporting crutch, she inadvertantly builds a great dependance from Aang, as he does not learn to live without her constant attention.
For the most part she could differentiate at the beginning between Aang as the potential savior, and Aang as the goofy kid. Thus, she developes a comfortable big sisterly role to watch over and protect him. It is not until the Fortuneteller that things get fuzzy. When Aunt Wu puts in Katara's mind that she will have a happy life by marrying a certain "powerful bender", in my opinion, a dangerous seed is planted. The moment it is put in her head the Aang might just be a "powerful bender" the puzzle pieces start falling into place. She is the Chosen One, who found the Avatar and brought him back into the world. She is his supporter, his guide, His emotional crutch. Could it be that she was meant to be the Wife of the Avatar all along? Thankfully, the writers gave her enough sense not to jump right one board and pledge marriage to Aang out of nowhere. After all, "powerful bender" is all she has to go on, so she takes some time to think it over. Yet as time passes, and she is still the only one Aang will turn to, the one he bases his decisions around, the one she is thrown into intimate situations with, the notion is strengthened. I can't really say she has ever developed truly romantic feelings for Aang. Though she may be in love with the idea of being in love, so to speak. To be the one and only Chosen Wife of the Avatar, it is a position of great importance, of inhuman acclaim. It is something she may believe makes her special. Yet I cannot call it a healthy decision. Basically, she is trading her identity and dreams in order to become something more than she could have on her own. And I really do not doubt that she would "return Aang's feelings" if he confessed to her. After all, she seems to believe that it is what she is destined to do.
As Cute and Fluffy a pairing as people enjoy them for being, and writer's may have meant them to be, from what is presented this is the analysis I have to draw. They may seem like a cute couple, but they emotionally cripple one another. She gives up her right to a complete personality to become his iconic supporter, and he clings to her as his beloved addicition. I know no Kataang wants to see them that way, and I am sorry for presenting the image to you. But that is how it seems to be.
|
|
yiceman
Bosco
Not all who wander are lost.
Posts: 2,929
|
Post by yiceman on Mar 19, 2007 17:12:25 GMT -5
^Katara could use some time alone, to bring back her personality. She went from being a character with ups and downs to a bit of a know-it-all at times, always there with a firm finger wagging or soothing hug.
Really, it seems to me like she could use some time away, for the simple fact that she might actually....get some character development this season. She didn't really have any real development in season 2; it was almost like she didn't need any, excluding one little fight with Toph which was only resolved by Toph changing her attitude, not Katara changing her own.
I will go on to say that this by no means implies that Katara should go from her current "all-knowing mother" self into the object of a romantic interest for Aang or any other character at all. I would rather not have her shift straight into being just one half of a ship again isntead of her own character.
Both zutara and kataang have something in common I dislike; they focus soley on the needs/wants of the boys, with Katara thrown in as almost an afterthought. It's become almost a rivalry between the boy's fans, pitting them against each other in a hairy-chested battle of wills that can only be determined by fetching a ruler, a pair of swords, or an arm wrestling contest with Katara sitting in the background as a prize for either.
No matter what happens, I don't want Katara to just be one half of kataang or one half of zutara, I want her to stand out as a character once more. She did that in the season finale to some extent, a little in The Swamp, but I would really like her to come out as a character once more, and I don't think shoving her into a relationship is the solution. Better for her to at least step away from being a constant mentor and supporting character, and become a character herself once more.
I would take the Katara from The Waterbending Master over the Katara from The Serpent's Pass ("someone needs a hug!") any day.
I think she could use some time alone to see the world, or at least take a break from being as the emotional backbone of the gAang, and zutara is by no means a solution to this either.
|
|
|
Post by zukosfireprincess on Mar 19, 2007 21:22:31 GMT -5
i voted for zuko because he is strong aang is a lil boy who plays too much zuko is a man nuff said j/kj/k
|
|
tara22
Warrior Sokka
mmmwaa....ouch, my lips
Posts: 764
|
Post by tara22 on Mar 20, 2007 7:47:37 GMT -5
@ lunauc - you mentioned a point I brought up months ago, that Aang is someone of great importance in the world and his duty must always come first and foremost. Imo, he does not have enough of himself left to give to a relationship with a family (which I imagine Katara would want one day) or to any one person. Katara knows what it means to be the Avatar and must realize all this, possibly this is the reason she has never lent herself to a 'more than friends' relationship with him yet. I don't know that Katara views herself as an important person (for finding/helping the Avatar). Her role is the least selfish one in the show. She is always giving her time, energy, attention to others, Aang in particular. But yes, she does need to find her place in the world and her own identity. Whomever she ends up in a romantic relationship with should have enough time and attention to lend to the relationship. yiceman - I don't feel that Katara would be thrown in as an afterthought in a relationship with Zuko. He could prove to be a caring, attentive person who is on equal grounds in a relationship - having as much to offer her as what she would offer him. There hasn't really been enough development (or screentime) to defend or exclude the possibility but it's still something I would like to see happen because in the cave they seemed to be on equal ground with eachother. One's feelings and need for a little compassion not outshining the other's. That's a good basis for a relationship. Yeah, 'someone needs a hug' only confirmed my belief, too that she's lost herself somewhere along the lines.
|
|
|
Post by lunauc on Mar 20, 2007 13:58:48 GMT -5
@ lunauc - you mentioned a point I brought up months ago, that Aang is someone of great importance in the world and his duty must always come first and foremost. Imo, he does not have enough of himself left to give to a relationship with a family (which I imagine Katara would want one day) or to any one person. Katara knows what it means to be the Avatar and must realize all this, possibly this is the reason she has never lent herself to a 'more than friends' relationship with him yet. Um... that's not exactly the point I was making. It's not that Aang can not have enlightenment, and still have a family and loved ones, even a wife and kids of his own. However, these very personal attachments are things a normal person will fear losing. Fear of loss is brings anger, jealous, hatred, etc. This is why he needs to let Katara go for now Because is not prepared to lose the things he loves, accept that he has no claim to her or anything beyond his own desires, it will be that much harder for him to gain control of his emotions. Think of it like giving a car to twelve year old. He doesn't know how to drive yet, but now he's behind the wheel and doing 80. With out the understanding and experience to control your emotions, much like a child behind the wheel, you are bound to crash. It's not that Aang can never love, he is just not ready to love responsibly.
|
|
tara22
Warrior Sokka
mmmwaa....ouch, my lips
Posts: 764
|
Post by tara22 on Mar 20, 2007 14:45:51 GMT -5
^ Aah, I see. You see it more as a timewise/maturity thing where he is not ready to take on the responsibilty of a relationship. I still see it as more a responsibility thing in a different way. Can someone in the Avatar's position have a relationship/family and how satisfying of a life would it be for the other person? That's probably the main issue I have about an Avatar being involved in the kind of relationship a husband and wife have. Keeping world peace is an entirely encompassing duty with not much time left to offer to a wife or settle down with a family. Even if he were to give Katara up for the time being to focus on his duty, he'll still have just as important of a duty after Oazai has been brought out of power. There's still alot we haven't learned yet about the AirNomad lifestyle, if they lived in family units, if they married or if those who were monks/nuns married. I love the fact that the show's been on this long and there's still so much to find out..........(like when season 3's gonna start... that i would like to know right now..)
|
|
Melis
Long Feng
hay baby wanna get away on my bison?
Posts: 3,293
|
Post by Melis on Mar 20, 2007 15:25:21 GMT -5
I believe that the Avatar can have the kind of relationship a husband and wife have. It all depends on the person on the other side of the relationship -- by getting married to the Avatar, by having a relationship with them, then that person would know that there might be times when he/she won't be around, that there would be times when they wouldn't be able to see each other because of the peace treaties and everything else. I can see Katara traveling with Aang as he brings peace to the nations, helping out in any way she can. Just like how I see Katara being active in Zuko's rule. She strikes me as the type of person who has a strong sense of justice, and would do as much as she could to help. With both boys, she'd have moments where she wouldn't be able to see them or be with them, but that's the price of being with someone with that kind of political hold. Anywho, if the person is willing to work at it, then the distance/seperation wouldn't really matter.
|
|
tara22
Warrior Sokka
mmmwaa....ouch, my lips
Posts: 764
|
Post by tara22 on Mar 20, 2007 15:51:28 GMT -5
I can see Katara traveling with Aang as he brings peace to the nations, helping out in any way she can. Just like how I see Katara being active in Zuko's rule. She strikes me as the type of person who has a strong sense of justice, and would do as much as she could to help. I agree with you what you say about Katara. I don't think she would go into something blindly with whomever she chooses (if anyone). She needs to become her own person as much as Aang or Zuko do and find what makes her happy.
|
|
Yang Fishy
Wolf Hakoda
Firebending General of the Zutarian Army
all that rises must fall, all that is born must die, all that is gathered will be scattered
Posts: 2,857
|
Post by Yang Fishy on Mar 21, 2007 19:55:31 GMT -5
*ZOMG* Lock the thread quickly before anyone else votes and unbalances the tie we have now lolThis has turned into yet another Zutara.vs.Kataang thread since I haven't seen the other ships step up and defend their point. And so I sing: "Why can't we be friends. Why can't we be friends?" le sigh
|
|
Ana
Metalbending Cop
Posts: 5,061
|
Post by Ana on Mar 21, 2007 21:34:21 GMT -5
This has turned into yet another Zutara.vs.Kataang thread since I haven't seen the other ships step up and defend their point. Since the Other!Katara shippers aren’t here, or are too afraid to “fight” in the war, I’ll make an argument for them (and because the Zutara vs. Kataang war is just going in circles). Jet/Katara: In the end, I think they had a positive influence on each other. I think Katara showed Jet that you can go too far even if your intentions are noble and I think Jet showed Katara that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (whether the cover is ugly or pretty). It doesn’t have much of a chance though since Jet is, well, not living (or most likely for you Jet lovers). Haru/Katara: To be honest, if Katara had a relationship with Aang or Zuko it would have its share of drama. If got with Haru it would be a rather peaceful relationship and, from what we saw in “Imprisoned”, they’re on pretty equal terms. Teo/Katara: It’s a bit like Kataang but without the “let’s save the world together!” feel. Teo could teach Katara to loosen up and, if nothing else, they both lost their mothers at a young age. Longshot/Katara: Katara likes the quiet, mysterious type.
|
|
tara22
Warrior Sokka
mmmwaa....ouch, my lips
Posts: 764
|
Post by tara22 on Mar 22, 2007 8:22:30 GMT -5
I agree - lock it while it's even. There's already a Kataang vs. Zutara thread (somewheres on here ) Oh, but then someone will just start up another one.....
|
|
Power
Fire Lord Zuko
Kataangian Elite. Air/Water Warrior
Toph and Sokka. Every day they get closer to each other.
Posts: 8,513
|
Post by Power on Mar 22, 2007 10:35:39 GMT -5
Mod note~This will only get locked if it gets spammy or bad behavior erupts in here. Other than that, lets vote ourselves away ;D ~Power
|
|
|
Post by appacatbus on Mar 23, 2007 17:28:59 GMT -5
Wow, they both had 119 votes. What are the odds of that?
*is too lazy to figure out the odds*
|
|