Why Zuko Should Have Chosen Katara (Zutara Analysis - Avatar: The Last Airbender)
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- Zuko's choice of Mai has never satisfied me. It seems dissonant to the rest of his story. Let's explore why the Zuko x Katara relationship is much more vivid.
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Welcome to my channel! Here you will find analyses of Avatar: The Last Airbender and other geeky things. If you're an Avatar diehard like me, I think you'll like what you see.
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That Zuko and Mai got back together at the end was always a disappointment for me. I think, his relationship with Mai is more a symbol of the life Zuko was supposed to leave behind in the end. This is shown by the way the relationship is presented in the beginning of book 3. Mai belittles him, can't understand his emotional turmoil and the reasons why he left the Fire Nation (even in "The Boiling Rock" episode she doesn't understand it). For me, Zuko's character growth isn't only about realizing that other Nations and people have great value, but that he also has value and that he deserves much better than the way he was treated in the past. Therefore, it just doesn't fit that he keeps trying to please a person who doesn't understand him and apparently doesn't want to.
I think a romantic relationship with Katara would have suited Zuko better, not only as a person but also as a symbol and meaning of his redemption arc in the show. They don't have many interactions, but when they interact it's important and there is potential. They have a deep, natural understanding of each other and it is interesting how easily they can open up to each other. Nevertheless, I think it would have taken more episodes to establish Zuko and Katara as a couple. So it would probably have been more appropriate if all characters (except Sokka and Suki) had stayed single at the end of Book 3.
I agree 100%.
For the record they do not stay together and Mai ends up with a rando introduced in the extra comics.
@@susanresha8107 Sorry for replying 2 years later but that makes it even more disappointing. Why would the writers not explore katara and zukos relationship romantically and put him back in a toxic relationship. Obviously mai and zuko do love eachother but to see zuko move on from his past and shape a new future with katara would’ve made his AND kataras development alot better. And I really get annoyed when people say we just ship them cause we like the “enemies to lovers trope” but their dynamic goes way deeper than just a trope.
It was so random how zuko and mai got together. Like I was watching the episodes..and they just stared kissing. I was super confused
*Analysis of my own ahead:*
I agree that Zuko and Katara's relationship is much more vivid and, in perspective, it made much more sense as a love story than both of their canon pairings. I also agree that, even at the end of the war, they still had too much on their plates to start a romantic relationship with _anyone_.
Something that has always bothered me about the series is how they put it like "The war is over! Everyone (save for Zuko) is doing just fine, thanks!"
I mean, excuse me. Katara watched in first row how one of her friends was almost _electrocuted_ to death, Aang was literally beaten by a man at least 20 years older than him and was almost pushed to kill him, Sokka and Toph almost fell from only _who_ knows how many feet in the air; and that was only in the finale alone! I get the intention was for this story to be as fairy tale-like as possible, but all characters being happy and smiley and kissy-kissy after seeing everybody whom they cared about almost die _and_ almost dying themselves is just disturbing.
And besides, it's just downgrading them.
Zuko is not only defined by his bad mental health to just put him as "the mentally unstable bad guy" in The Promise. Sure, his trauma is a big part of him, but by this point he wasn't the _only_ one who had gone through trauma for him to be the _only_ one with PTSD while Aang and Katara had their make out sessions and Sokka made even _worse_ puns than in the original series.
Ideally, _all_ of these kids needed some time _alone_ to steady themselves after the shock of fighting and surviving a war.
And sure, let's keep them as friends and having adventures of their own! Toph can fight for her right to inherit her family's company _and_ have her metalbending academy, Sokka can become the youngest member _ever_ in the White Lotus, Katara can become a Southern Water Tribe Ambassador to patch the Tribe's relationship with the rest of the nations (including the _Fire_ Nation) while she helps Zuko fight some terrorists groups over there and discover they care about each other as more than friends while things are more quiet and the sky isn't set on literal fire, Aang could become an Avatar Kyoshi-level Avatar and maybe make him a more accurate representation of Buddhism by allowing him to _actually_ let go of human attachments and reach Nirvana (true enlightenment) (seriously, he deserved this 😒.)
TL;DR. In resume, the end of the series was just an opportunity to further develop the characters _individually_ to make much more complex and meaningful stories and healthier messages for the audience and just pairing them up and draw pink hearts around ruined it.
Wow that’s a lot of words 😄
@@lily9413 Did I lie, tho? 😌
@Escape The Night Theory I _did_ explain that - after they didn't get together with _anyone_ at the finale - they could/would/should get together with each other at a point in their lives when they had a little less on each their plates.
@Escape The Night Theory Um... You know what? If you think that's how it works, then cool.
@Escape The Night Theory I do must say tho, as a person who _lives_ in a country at war, I am greatly disturbed _and_ offended that you think that way.
I was also disappointed in zukoxmai "relationship", they don't complement each other at all. Mai is a very serious and dark girl in my opinion, she doesn't even try to understand Zuko's feelings. Even ty lee would have made a better match with zuko, since in the episode of "the beach", she shows more interest in what zuko is feeling. On the other hand, Katara can relax when Zuko is around the group. Just as she acts as the mother of the group, Zuko takes on the role of the older brother or father, as he is a more mentally mature person. I love your analyzes!
Mai constantly puts how she feels over the responsibilities of those in her life. Zuko’s not the sort that can handle that very well.
Apparently, they were considering continuing to book 4 but the N.shylaman movie came up and they decided to end book 3 there. It would have been really interesting if they continued a book 4, maybe that was their original plan, considering all the parallels and baiting of Zutara.
I Appreciate your opinions and for the most I agree. The romance was not what caught my attention. The characters are amazing. I just felt that Zuko was not in the best place for a relationship at that time. Zuko does deserve to be happy.
Katara was focused on the war and her waterbending. We rarely got to see what she wanted relationship wise. She had other things to worry about. I can see the parellels that connects Katara and Zuko. They are both mature and can talk to each other as regular people. Shipping is not what the show is for me.
I always imagined that after Aang had let go of his earthly tether and opened his last chakra, it caused Aang to lose romantic interest in Katara, he tells her about that and they both agree that they are better off in their current platonic relationship, he still cares deeply for her but he thinks of her as family rather then a love interest. On a side note, I always imagined Aang meditates and astral projects in order to track down Azula, he accidentally enters into Azula's mind, he learns everything about her, he is distraught by how much she has suffered and decides she deserves to be saved the most. Turns out, due to Azula being the descendant of Aang's predecessor, Roku, Aang entering her mind has left a side effect, they have a strong spiritual bond, which allows them to understand each other on an empathy level, allows them to come closer then they have with anyone else, their spirit bond slowly combines with a more intimate bond and as a bonus, Aang would know when Azula is lying and vice versa.
My thoughts on the Avatar and attachments is similar to like a Jedi in Luke Skywalker’s Jedi academy. You are allowed to love and get married and what not, but you have to understand that you can’t let emotions cloud your judgement at any moment you would have to be ready let go of that attachment as to not lead yourself into the Dark side. The relationship isn’t the tether the fear of losing the relationship is. If you can get over the fear, then you get rid of the tether. And even then you can be worried about losing who you love, but when push comes to shove, you have to be able to let go.
I like to think that Ty Lee was among the Kiyoshi Warriors assigned to guard the Avatar (perhaps against assassins from Ozai loyalists) and took real notice of him at that point, and both grew a romance out of it - and it’s actually Ty Lee and Aang that revive the Air Nomads.
Zutara Forever!! TnT
Eye-- the amount of hate that Mai gets really make my heart wrenched. My closest friend act exactly like her, and yes, on a first glance it seems like they dont care. But they do, a lot.
A ship similar to Zutara, but they are cannon: Kyo x Tohru from Fruit Basket.
Now that they released Korra and aang on Netflix. Now they gotta make a new series.
There is a team of writers who are doing a comic about the Avatar after Korra. If you want to know more about this they have a channel on RUclips called 'The Legend of Genji'.
@@petrapuljas2306 But you should also mention that their not in relations with the original creators of ATLA and LoK
If anything he's deserves a nice girl like Ty Lee
Jin is perfect for him
Song too but Katara is number one to me
Stephy Lynn ur opinion I respect it 😁
@@Bigmark222 Yeah Jin would be better. I always thought of this alternate time line where he would go back and try to sneak Jin of the Air Nation and reveal his identity
I remember when the Waterbending Scroll episode came out and saw Zuko grab Katara and said he’ll save her from the pirates, I sensed sparks between them. I was about 10-11 when the show came out.
yes and it should be with Jin lmao I dont hate Mai but I hate zuko and mai being together... katara is fine tho but I cant betray aang about that :D Jinko forever 💘
Kaatang
Jinko!!😁
I love your videos.
You explain in such detail, and project real emotions into your reasons.
I prefer Zuko and Mai over Zutara because to me Zuko and Katara are more like bother and sister than lovers they’re too similar and I feel like Mai’s a better match for Zuko and have more chemistry and she’s have known him longer than Katara but even though prefer Zuko and Mai over Zutara I feel like the relationship could of been deployment and better written and I didn’t like them being put together out of nowhere it was confusing I would of liked some build up and I would of liked seeing how Mai felt not seeing Zuko for years
“We don’t even get to see how Mai reacts to seeing him for the first time in 3 years.” Mai blushes in 303 when Ty Lee teases her about seeing Zuko again. There’s a tie-in comic set between Books 2 and 3 that covers how Zuko and Mai rekindle their childhood crushes. There’s also a whole host of graphic novels that deal with their relationship after Book 3.
“He left without telling her. … and this is never acknowledged.” He left her a letter explaining it in 311 and they discuss the letter in 315.
“She never shows any real understanding for why he made the choices he did.” As she said in 315, following her conversation with Zuko and subsequently saving him from Azula and Ty Lee, “I love Zuko more than I fear you.”
“It’s Zuko who assigns Aang homework and grabs him by his robes when he tries to sneak out of firebending practice.” And Toph and Katara haven’t when they were training Aang in their respective elements?
“When he joins Team Avatar, he becomes the other adult in the group.” Sokka has scolded Aang plenty too over the course of the series, such as when Aang burned Katara in 116 and when Aang refused to kill the Melon Lord in 317. Just because Sokka offers comedic relief, does not preclude him from being just as mature as Zuko.
“I love how Katara gently teases him about the actor playing him … while also expressing real heartfelt concern when Actor Zuko betrays his Uncle.” I love how Toph does the exact same thing, showing even more concern for Zuko and how Katara shows just as much concern for Aang in that same episode as Zuko, if not more.
“When he is with Katara, he does not have to pretend.” He doesn’t pretend with Sokka, Aang, or Toph either.
“When Zuko is with Katara, he is a better and more complete person.” Zuko undergoes growth and improves his relationship with each character of Team Avatar that he went on a field trip with.
By all means speak your mind, but I think you’re conflating friendship and romance in your interpretation of Zuko/Katara scenes.
Doesn't matter if zuko is good with mai or no he dont deserve katara because he did fault for her and aang is the only who deserve katara and maiko if you read book 4 you can understand is zuko fault when they break up and zuko say he love him both have the same personally and maiko isnt toxic is jealous and is okay in 1 relationship ans exist so many girls stop try to put zuko witj katara because they relationship isnt romantic you can ship zuko with everyone but doesn't mean je deserve katara because no aang deserve her
Zuko deserved better. Maybe another girl, definitely not Katara. He had more romantic moments with Jin. Avatar wasn't a soap opera show like days of our lives/young and the restless. It was about Aang and his friends working together to end the hundred year war. You can ship whoever you want but Zuko definitelydoesn't deserve to be with Katara at the end of the series. Aang and Katara developed more chemistry. Aang had a crush on Katara as he matured her feelings for him changed and she was very affectionate towards him. You can ship Zutara but in the context of the series, they definitely don't deserve to be together. Kataang was planned from the beginning and we saw Katara and Aang grow closer throughout the series.
There was another person Zuko connected with, quite an unexpected one - Toph. He opened up to her about his uncle and and was reassured by her even more deeply than by Katara. I've always found that heartwarming. Sure, Katara was the first one he allowed to get close to him both physically and emotionally. Until then he was just not ready, not in the right mindset to do that with anyone. Even though the moment under Ba Sing Se wasn't the first time Katara tried to show him compassion, he rejected her before when she offered to heal his uncle. One thing I found annoyingly lacking was the depth of their conversations. Just a mention of his mother and Katara completely flips the switch? It's not like she didn't connect to other people through the same reason, like Haru and Jet. There must have been more to it happening off the screen, like him telling her how he lost his mother, maybe even how he got the scar, but we do not get to see it. And again, it looks like he talked more about his uncle with Toph than with Katara, which shouldn't have been the case. To successfully establish Zuko and Katara as a potential couple they needed more interactions. If there was a book 4, then maybe, but now it was just not enough. Yes, they had great potential which was wasted, but the show ending how it ended was I suppose logical at that point.
@Escape The Night Theory I think you misunderstood me. I was lamenting the lack of their interactions and annoyed at the existing ones being cut off or happening off screen. We should have been shown more but we weren't. It's obvious the show creators really weren't planning to make anything of them, that's why there wasn't enough effort put into establishing their deeper connection which was only implied and that's too bad.
Agne Simaitiene Katara and Zuko definitely had potential. They could’ve developed more later after the war and that makes perfect sense to me. Too bad it was wasted. :/
I might be close-minded but I like Zuko and Mai...and let's not forget it's not all about the "shipping" it's about each individual character and how they learn and grow. it's not a soap opera
Even if Zuko and Mai do grow together there will always be key differences that prevent both from reaching their max potential. Mai might be better with, say, Toph.
I respect ur opinion because I ship kataang but you can ship what you want 😁😁