Kataang or Zutara?

[Mai Kunrong]

The problem is that Katara's romantic interest is a lot more implied and internalized than Aang's was. She kinda dropped hints from time to time in her words and actions but she didn't come right out and say it.

Granted, several of the hints were pretty anvil-sized... (Fortuneteller, for example.)

[absinthe_spoons]

I didn't think Fortuneteller was anything near anvilicious on that front. Her fortune said she would marry a powerful bender, not that she would love him. Normally that wouldn't make any difference, but this is the Water Tribes we're talking about.
Her whole "oh, hay, Aang IS a powerful bender!" was a step, won't deny that, but all it really came out to was that Katara realized that Aang was, in fact, a member of the opposite sex, and is part of her dating pool. That's a ways away from loving him the way he loves her.
I don't have a problem with Kataang, just the way it was developed (or not, as it were) from Katara's side of the "romance". (Quotations b/c, um, little kids.)

[Roxy]

I'm a hardcore Zutara fan! I don't mind the Kataang pairing at all, but I would have preferred the Zutara pair to take form. No, I'm not some die-hard "fangirl" of Zuko, I just feel that the maturity level and views of both Zuko and Katara would have made for an interesting couple more-so then Kataang.

Opposites attract, right? I think the cool and calm wave that was Katara could always simmer down the burning and passionate flame that was Zuko and vice versa. It just makes sense that way to me. I felt that in book 3 you could see how much Katara grew up and how her maturity level sky rocketed from the little innocent girl she was when she and her bro first found Aang. If she were the same Katara from that time, then I would probably be 100% OK with the kataang pairing. But since seeing that, I felt that Aang just wasn't at the level enough to handle or care for Katara the way she needed to be. I know it sounds silly, since these are just fictional cartoon characters, but how the story panned out, it's what came to mind.

Its not that I hate Mai, but from what I saw from the series, they NEVER had any REAL interaction until book 3 when they were suddenly a loving couple. Please correct me if I'm wrong! Like some here have said, Mai is an awesome character in her own right, but I felt she was randomly paired up with Zuko so that the heat from the Zutara fans would be burned out.

Anywho, that's my take on things. Of course, I respect those who love the Kataang pairing, so please don't take any offense to what I say!

[absinthe_spoons]

Definitely will not deny how sudden Mai/Zuko came to be. Third season: bam! Mai: "Oh hay, so we're dating and love each other long time, kiss me bb." Me: "Um. WHAT."
Supposedly there was some inter-season comic or something that set the two of them up. But in some sense, their development pre-season 3 was just as bad as Kataang's -- we knew Mai had a crush on Zuko, but as far as we knew, Zuko didn't even know she existed, beyond recognizing her as some gloomy girl who hangs out with his psychotic sister. At least they got the third season to develop that, though.

[dagn96]

Kataang forever!!

[zebradonkey]

Opposites attract, right? I think the cool and calm wave that was Katara could always simmer down the burning and passionate flame that was Zuko and vice versa.

I'm sorry but what Katara were you watching? Katara was just as hot-headed as Zuko was. You got her twisted up with Mai. Her cool and calm wave simmers down Zuko while he brings out the passionate side in her.

Seriously, I know a kitten has to die evertime someone uses "opposites attract" as evidence for a ship. (There's A LOT of dead kitten out there xD)

It just makes sense that way to me. I felt that in book 3 you could see how much Katara grew up and how her maturity level sky rocketed from the little innocent girl she was when she and her bro first found Aang. If she were the same Katara from that time, then I would probably be 100% OK with the kataang pairing. But since seeing that, I felt that Aang just wasn't at the level enough to handle or care for Katara the way she needed to be.

Yeah because Aang certainly didn't mature from the goofy little kid he was in season 1 to the man who saved the entire world at the end of the show And just because I'm curious, how does Katara need to be "handled and cared for" that the most compassionate character on the show can't give her?


This is why I hate the Zutara ship. People can't ever state reasons why they ship it without completely twisting up Zuko and Katara's characters and/or downplaying Aang or Mai's.



And besides, Katara's maturity level is vastly overblown...mostly by people who try and find ever conceivable way to pair her up with Zuko. (who ironically, was one of the most immature characters on the show until the second half of season 3) Really, "handle or care for Katara the way she needed to be?!" You make Katara out like she's some shallow 18-20 year old chick who's looking for a "hawt guy" to "satisfy her every desire."

Like some here have said, Mai is an awesome character in her own right, but I felt she was randomly paired up with Zuko so that the heat from the Zutara fans would be burned out.

Mike and Bryan didn't put Zuko with Mai to burn out Zutarians (sorry, but you're not that important xD) They paired Zuko and Mai up because they felt they meshed best together. (which they did)


And speaking of Maiko, it DID have hints prior to season 3. But a lot of people just dismissed it as a mere one-sided thing that they didn't have to worry about because Zuko was oh so destined to get with Katara.

Oops!


Ugh...that was way too long. *slinks away*

[Macready84464]

* Mac high fives zebradonkey as the camera zooms in and they pose like ninjas!!

[absinthe_spoons]

Lol. Avatar shipping = serious business.
Personally I don't understand why anyone would be so passionate about the hypothetical romantic lives of kids to full-on "hate" a ship. Avatar shipping is fun because it's of no consequence. Relatively, I mean. In season 1 I liked Zutara because it was cracky and "hawt". That's it.

[zebradonkey]

Personally I don't understand why anyone would be so passionate about the hypothetical romantic lives of kids to full-on "hate" a ship.

LOL! Why not? As you said, "it's of no consequence." You're every much entitled to hate a ship as you are to "ZOMG! Lurve it1!1!!"


And yes, shipping = serious bizness. It's in the rule book

[Roxy]

@Zebradonkey - Yes, Katara had a strong personality, but can you honestly say she never was in control of her emotions at some point that made her "cool & calm" in certain situations? Sorry, but no I'm not getting her mixed up with Mai who was no where near being cool nor calm, she was just unemotional and had a static personality, until the third season when she started going out with Zuko. I made the comment about "opposites attract" because people have a theory for that, so I went with it. It's not my basis for liking this ship, though.

I never said Aang didn't mature from the goofy kid he was in the first two seasons, I just don't think he matured to the level that Katara did. Haha, I didn't try to make her sound like some horny 18-20 year old (I'm not writing a fanfiction), that was the least of what I was trying to get across. I'll admit, I probably worded that wrong, so excuse me for that.

Hey that's how I see it, I'm not knocking down your beliefs just because you like Kataang or whatever. I'm stating here why I think they go well with each other, if you don't agree with it, that's not my problem, you have your opinion and I have mine. I'm not twisting up anyone's character, I see it like it is, the same way you do your way. Not once did I "downplay" Aang or Mai's characters, so please if you're going to reply to what I said, then don't put words in my mouth.

I just feel (let's make that the keyword) that she needed someone just as strong as she was and vice versa for Zuko. Yes, Mai did provide that, but for it to just come out suddenly like it did in season 3 (comic or not) it was too late for me. Katara and Zuko actually had more interaction then Zuko and Mai, which lead to me wanting to see this couple together. And yes, before you say anything, I know the majority of that "interaction" was fighting each other. There was just potential for something to grow there during the time of "The Crossroads of Destiny", when she touched his scar and almost healed it with the water, that she later used for Aang.

I don't think Zuko's character was immature in the least, just not as developed or panned out as I would have liked to see. He was an interesting char. with a deep story to tell, but he wasn't the main character, so only so much could be said about him without taking the focus off of the Avatar and making this show: "Zuko: The Scarred Prince" or something odd like that...lol.

Mike and Bryan didn't put Zuko with Mai to burn out Zutarians (sorry, but you're not that important xD) They paired Zuko and Mai up because they felt they meshed best together. (which they did)"

I didn't mean literally, I was joking.

Once again, I never said that Zuko and Katara were "destined" to be with each other, as they weren't in the end of the series, I'm just stating why I LIKE the couple together over Kataang. Geez, it's people like you that make me dislike "Kataangers" sometimes. Even with this reply I didn't try to "downplay" anyone, just honestly gave my opinion on WHY I LIKE them together.