Avatar Fandom Police

Your takes and your hair sucks

[avatarfandompolice]

I love getting “corrected” by people in the ATLA fandom whose primary takes on the show come from the fucking Ember Island Players episode.

Katara explicitly treating Aang like a younger sibling/child? Exclusively from that.

Katara constantly complaining about her mother and/or hope? Also exclusively from that.

Aang being overly doofy and never taking anything seriously? From the play.

Zuko and Katara having any romantic chemistry whatsoever? Yep, you guessed it. Exclusively in EIP.

If the bulk of your arguments against canon come from a joke episode exclusively meant to be a surface-level, woefully inaccurate retelling of canon by people in-universe that have no idea what’s going on, then maybe you need some self-reflection.

[avatarfandompolice]

Re: Kiyi is Azula’s “replacement”

NO - Kiyi is not Azula’s replacement from the perspective of her family. Ursa’s decision to have another child was not dictated by her want to “replace” her other children, much like how your younger siblings (if you have ones) are probably not meant to replace you. Add to this that she was literally memory-wiped when she conceived Kiyi and was completely incapable of choosing whether to have a daughter or son. Zuko and Ursa do mention similarities and differences between the two, but in no way do they treat her like she’s the “Azula 2.0 that we actually wanted.” But also…

YES - Kiyi is Azula’s replacement…somewhat. And only from her perspective. She does feel resentment that her mother could not get through to her, and she likely does feel very much “replaced” by Kiyi. It’s especially brutal now that Kiyi is being treated as an official princess and living in the palace. We haven’t gotten a huge amount of Azula’s perspective on it, but we can assume from what we have that she does feel a certain way about the whole scenario.

What is an incorrect interpretation here is that Ursa is intentionally antagonizing Azula by having another child. This, and the idea that the creatives behind the franchise are somehow at fault for throwing a bit of conflict within the story. As much as you want to throw around whatever massively sexist and victim-blame-y take on Ursa, she doesn’t want to not love her children. And the writers creating that sweet, sweet family drama that makes you actually react to the media you consume is not inherently bad.

I think Kiyi, while not incredibly compelling on her own, is such an interesting character within the narrative, and I think treating her as a “mistake” or “problem” in the narrative is short-sighted and smooth brained of a take.

[beifong-brainrot]

Genuinely I think that a bunch of people in the atla fandom haven't actually seen the show since they were kids and have been mostly experiencing it in curated clips and edits or even fanworks. And yet they confidently voice their takes and opinions with nothing to back it up.

[avatarfandompolice]

Or even worse: they have consumed mountains of fan content in lieu of rewatching the series, to the point where they’ve convinced themselves it’s somehow better, even though nothing in it makes sense and everyone is comically OOC.

[beifong-brainrot]

People suddenly "getting" Kataang now that Aang is tall and buff and sexy. Ok yeah man whatever.

[cloudwardhoe]

I mean yeah he was a child and very much looked and acted like it (most of the time) in his series.

[beifong-brainrot]

So did Katara???

[cloudwardhoe]

She looks young but no not as young as Aang???? I know 2 years as a fully grown adult is nothing but when you’re that young you’re growing and developing so quickly that time is incredibly important.

Especially because in so much of the show Katara did see him as a kid, which is how a 14 year old would view a 12 year old.

[beifong-brainrot]

Can't be bothered to argue with this on just want it on the Board of Shame to prove that atla fans will continue to Confidently state things that are actively disproven by the show because it has either been incredibly long since they've actually watched the show or their own personal biases are getting in the way of their media literacy.

And also that they will continue to adultify young brown girls and act as if it were an incredibly normal thing.

I'm back in the fucking building. Cheers 😘

[cloudwardhoe]

I have time today so I’ll argue.

Yeah there were a couple moments you can point to some feelings, but you could do that to a bunch of characters. You can also point to places where Katara says she sees Aang as a little brother. It felt like they were in different places even at the end of the series.

Also I understand people adultify young brown girls; and the show does that plenty on its own. Like by making Aang or Sokka appear older they have them wear mock facial hair; to make Katara appear older they just give her a pregnant belly.

But I’m not saying Katara is an adult. I’m saying she’s older than Aang and in the timeframe we’re shown the maturity level is a bit skewed (see again saying Aang is like a little brother). It would be just as weird to ship Aang (at that moment in time) with Azula or Suki or Mai. Maybe Ty Lee but she acts quite a bit younger than the others.

[beifong-brainrot]

Katara said she loved Aang like a brother in the FAKE in world play that was specifically made to make fun of people like you.

Also Katara kissed him multiple times and explicitly got jealous when other girls were into him. "You could make that argument for a bunch of characters" gtfo.

My bad man I forgot that a bunch of other characters were also acting about each other like this.

Also. If you don't understand what I am refereing to by the adultification of brown girls, you can use google, you know? I don't mean the characters putting on shitty disguises for a gag. I mean the prevailing phenomenon of characterising black and brown girls as more mature, responsible and sexually active than their male/lighter peers. This is a behaviour the atla fandom engages in tremendously with Katara, and one you are replicating at the moment without being aware of your own bias.

I work with kids and am studying pedagogics. They don't gaf. Also, nice strawman 💕. Two children in their early adolescence getting together is nothing like a child in their early adolescence getting with someone just entering adulthood. Hope this helps!

[cloudwardhoe]

I don’t know you seem to be ignoring the part where I say it’s more about Aangs maturity level than Kataras.

Try to imagine people shipping Azula and Aang; it’s the same age difference but feels just as wrong to put them together if we’re going by where they are in the show.

I see your examples of some kisses on the cheek and a couple of blushing/jealousy, I have seen the show. That doesn’t mean they have to get together right at that moment. You got me about the little brother thing. I don’t think it disproves anything, there were still plenty of moments where Katara seems not ready or interested.

Also it’s not just Aang it’s Toph as well. It’s shown she has a crush on Sokka; it’s only a 3 year age difference, is that magically a child and someone entering adulthood? Or is that two children with a significant age gap and difference in maturity levels? Like I said I knew the 14 and 18 year old was more dramatic, so I don’t really think you can call it a “strawman”, but where is the line in your professional opinion?

Sure maybe it is a me thing. Toph and Aang are 12, kids who probably haven’t gone through puberty and are in a group with teenagers who most likely have. Friendships and crushes are one thing, but a romantic relationship is on a different level. It’s not 10 year olds with a bunch of 18s, but to me there is a line.

And I do understand the adulification of brown girls; and I gave an example of how the show (written and created by two adult white guys) does it. That example might just be a “gag” but it’s rooted in something. The fandom can have this issue but it started with the material. I love the show but you have to understand its faults.

[avatarfandompolice]

So in this terrible response, we have

• Using a completely romantically and emotionally incompatible ship as a reference for how age gaps don’t work, because there’s absolutely nothing that would make Aang and Azula NOT interested in each other besides their age gap…

• Shrugging off legitimate gestures of affections as things that “don’t count” because Katara doesn’t show interest 100% of the time while trying to fight an evil dictator trying to destroy the world and also ignoring that Aang isn’t thirsting over her 24/7 either

• Using your own anecdotal personal evidence that the ship didn’t work because you personally did not connect with kids in other age groups, despite systems such as schools/clubs/etc. causing most of those age gap divides rather than anything in the ATLA universe

• Saying you “understand” the situation then blame the fandom and yourself doing the exact bad behavior OP is getting on you for on the creators of the show, because you’re faultless and perfect and have never done that in your life!

The show doesn’t do anything to adultify Katara than it does literally any of the other characters. Zuko is forced to figure out how to be a world leader without any real guidance after the end of the show due to his uncle not really being present and the rest of his family being in prison or missing. Aang has literally the entire world relying on him, plus the weight of an entire race he indirectly caused to die on his back. Sokka has to become the only warrior in his village and has to learn how to be effective against some of the most powerful benders ever. Toph had to discover her abilities and train herself beyond her parents’ sight. All 5 of them had to travel the world and survive on their own. You either have to include all of them or none of them in your “adult-ification” argument.

The media isn’t the problem. You are.

[avatarfandompolice]

Someone ships Marinette from miraculous with Natla zuko 😭

Buddy you have sent me this 7 times now. I do not care.

[beifong-brainrot]

People suddenly "getting" Kataang now that Aang is tall and buff and sexy. Ok yeah man whatever.

[cloudwardhoe]

I mean yeah he was a child and very much looked and acted like it (most of the time) in his series.

[beifong-brainrot]

So did Katara???

[cloudwardhoe]

She looks young but no not as young as Aang???? I know 2 years as a fully grown adult is nothing but when you’re that young you’re growing and developing so quickly that time is incredibly important.

Especially because in so much of the show Katara did see him as a kid, which is how a 14 year old would view a 12 year old.

[beifong-brainrot]

Can't be bothered to argue with this on just want it on the Board of Shame to prove that atla fans will continue to Confidently state things that are actively disproven by the show because it has either been incredibly long since they've actually watched the show or their own personal biases are getting in the way of their media literacy.

And also that they will continue to adultify young brown girls and act as if it were an incredibly normal thing.

I'm back in the fucking building. Cheers 😘

[avatarfandompolice]

Add to this people randomly starting to ship Toph x Zuko because they have been deemed the buffest and sexiest of the group as adults.

Let’s not pretend that a good portion of the non-canon ships people have been actively harassing those who enjoy canon for aren’t just the aesthetically most mass-appealing ships. None of it ever had to do with compatibility, which is why they have to sloppily reverse-engineer some “chemistry” they have by flanderizing the characters involved or just completely misinterpreting them.

As OP said, you can try to mischaracterize as much as you want in your absence of a recent rewatch or unbreakable personal bias. The truth is that you are wrong. There are several ways to interpret media, and there IS a wrong way as well.

[pokidokieships]

What if I said the sudden hate and vitriol towards zutara in recent years is linked to the rise in conservatism… stay with me now… I can’t help but notice it because of the arguments I see such as “Water Tribe & Fire Nation can never be together… it’s way better that Mai & Zuko are married as they are both Fire Nation” or “It’s fine that Katara is a stay at home mom & healer… it doesn’t matter that she doesn’t play a pivotal role, go on to do anything great after the war…”

[avatarfandompolice]

Actually the rise in disdain towards Zutara has been people watching the show and saying “wow, these two are not romantically compatible at all!”

[avatarfandompolice]

TIL Zutara shippers are a race? I guess?

[purple-astronaut]

I don't really remember what happened do correct me if i say something wrong.

So, why do people hate on Pema?

Like i feel like it is better that Tenzin broke up with Lin to get with Pema, instead of forcing Lin to get married and have kids she didn't want. Like putting Lin in Pema's spot like the stay-at-home-mom thing probably would have made her miserable. And not to mention how many kids she had (like bro 😭), I say Lin would have like two kids (like Toph, but i feel she would be better).

And don't get me wrong I can see it being Pema stole Tenzin but I personally haven't seen any Tenzin hate. Why just Pema? It isn't just her fault, Tenzin could have just rejected her.

I feel like Tenzin saw their lives going two different ways like Lin was probably super focused on her career and didn't want kids at the time (Tenzin probably felt the need to carry on his father's legacy as the last airbender (get it?). I also saw somewhere that Pema and Tenzin were friends and she had a crush on him (I think?). So he broke up with Lin to get with Pema? I personally find that better than cheating (especially with how much they all had to see each other).

(Also, like Pema and Lin teaming up to make fun of Tenzin???)

Overall, I can see why people hate Pema but if you're going to hate on her, you should also maybe be hating on Tenzin too. But I lowkey like their family rn and can't hate Pema, but I also really like Lin.

So take this with a grain of salt (Also, if your going to make comments, be respectful or I'll probably just delete it. But I do want other people's opinions).

Also like what if Lin and Pema had a talk about it... Mhmmnmmmmmmmmmmm.....

I'll be back (Maybe)

[avatarfandompolice]

People like to blame Pema because she simply said she liked Tenzin before Lin and him broke up. Other than that? Just sexism.

Again, this is the fandom that inherently thinks Katara simply being married and having children is the worst possible fate ever and “dehumanizing” to her. A character like Pema is just some man-stealing, child-hungry whore to those people, even though they’d probably say Lin “ruined her potential” if she hypothetically had kids with Tenzin.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks it’s worth bringing up Tenzin not pressuring Lin into having children. He isn’t innocent in their breakup, but at least he was smart enough to not force Lin into a life she would ultimately not be happy with.

[lemonletta]

why was movie kataang so ....weird?

And I say that as a multi shipper I find them to be very cute but why was it that in every other scene she was scolding him,like a younger brother.

And the whole 'no one understands me' and running off like a child (mind you second time in the movie he did this.

Not to mention how counterproductive their whole relationship with no fluff (only like 2 sec) no sweet moments only PDA-fight-argue-run off-then kiss. (So disappointing Ngl making me lean more zutara)

[avatarfandompolice]

I would love to see the version of the movie you saw where they argued in “every scene” because they had one argument over Aang trusting Tagah too much and that’s it.

And the relationship was counterproductive…how? Yes, Aang struggles with his identity as an airbender and the last one throughout the movie. That’s the point. He’s gonna have moments where he struggles with people he’s close with. If all he did was just make out with Katara and bum around with Zuko, Sokka, and Toph, there would be no plot.

The movie has to have conflict to some degree. Aang does at a singular point come to a head with Katara, but they’re also adults and 12+ years into their relationship, so they don’t need to be fluffing it up all the time. If you want that, go check out the comics.

Also if the 2 seconds of screen time Zuko and Katara have together are making you “lean more Zutara” then I guess we all know how deep your character analysis skills are.

[lemonletta]

Okay obviously- but communication is literally a basic factor which they lacked for most of the whole movie from him running off, sneaking off while she is sleeping and not even informing her besides a measly letter, even though she warned him the night before…. Like is that how our adult communicates or a 14-year-old boy??? I don’t get why you are so triggered. 2/3 of their main scenes they argued. In the balcony, she called him and warned him to be careful, yet he goes behind her back to free an ancient prisoner in a mountain leaving her worried and confused. Then he comes back they don’t really make up but once again they talk-a lot of tension the boom he yells at her telling her off that she would never understand him ever. Which is very insensitive to say but understandable, but nonetheless he hurt her very badly. Again she tells him now-yet he goes with the airbender to do their little magic movie leaving her to literally spilt the sea to escape the eye of the storm which HE put them in. Besides like a few fluff scenes the whole thing was very hilarious and the irony that the voice actor is a literally zio….

[avatarfandompolice]

So you’re saying her telling him to be careful is then arguing? And him informing her that he’s leaving is somehow also proof of this? I think you’re really reaching here to either try to be negative about the movie for no reason or to prove some phony Zutara superiority.

Again, yes, Aang is not perfect to his wife or his friends in the movie. He never was, nor were they perfect to him at all times. If there were no tension then we wouldn’t have a movie. The whole point is Aang being torn between the life he’s building now and the possibility of rebuilding his nation without the ones he’s come to care about. It’s why Tagah thematically wants to get rid of his friends; the point of the movie is to show that Aang should be focusing on the life he’s built and not the one that could be magically handed to him.

And the fact that Katara and company DO accept Aang despite his faults in the movie is proof that what he has is better than anything he and Tagah could create. Aang and Katara aren’t a couple trying to prove their loyalty to each other: they’ve been together for over a decade, and Katara is explicitly very aware of Aang’s turmoil over his status as the only Airbender and how it can affect his decision making.

I think you’re over-emphasizing characters being interesting in order to unearth some sort of flaw that simply doesn’t exist. Whatever makes you hate the movie more, I guess.

[lemonletta]

Once again, you are projecting. First of all, I’m not gonna be supporting a movie with a literal Zionist in it,but you can go ahead with your fake moral superiority. I don’t care for ship wars which is the opposite on your end because what? Was chitchatting when they were talking about the balcony? They had a disagreement and then talked it out before he immediately went behind her back. That’s not how adults communicate. It doesn’t matter what his personal feelings are as the bringer of balance in the world he has to put away his selfish desires, and we can see that in the movie he is crippling with these thoughts, but the problem is, he takes it out on his friends. His fans refused to see that he has just as much anger issues as everyone else. Also, it is a valid critique. (We never see Aang seek Katara for counsel in a way that treats her advice as coming from an equal in the comics or in the movie)

Also he is Quite rude since the whole point of the relationship as many people who shipped them say is that they are found family, two people who have experienced similar trauma and yet he completely disregard her opinions, whether in the comics or in the movie, he never takes her or at least her concern seriously. And it just makes her look like a raging hag.(so funny because they really aren’t communicating something people used to diss on zutara…every insult is a confession ^^ ,but whats to expect from a self insert ship of two straight men. Let’s not talk about how much they mock Buddhism and it’s custom or how very westernized aang looks and katara)

No, the whole point of the movie is for him to move on to understand that it is not his fault/on what happened and for him to reconcile with his feelings and properly grief. That’s the point. Which is why all the other characters are basically background characters because this story is focusing on him and his feelings, and yet do somehow find a way to mess it up because out of everyone who is supposed to understand him, his girlfriend, for some reason is completely unable to in his eyes. The fact that he pushes her aside without a second thought. Without even thinking through is very unbecoming of a leader. Which is a flaw. Exactly you *think* that’s what i was saying but keep thinking maybe you’ll find something sensible.

[avatarfandompolice]

Nah I’ve just dealt with enough of you people to know exactly your methods to making yourself feel smart without proving anything. I’ve literally spoonfed the movie to you and you’ve refused to even try to understand. Just chucking you in the bin of unimportant Zutara shippers with absolutely nothing to say. I may throw a brain cell in there and let you fight over it if you’re lucky.

[lemonletta]

why was movie kataang so ....weird?

And I say that as a multi shipper I find them to be very cute but why was it that in every other scene she was scolding him,like a younger brother.

And the whole 'no one understands me' and running off like a child (mind you second time in the movie he did this.

Not to mention how counterproductive their whole relationship with no fluff (only like 2 sec) no sweet moments only PDA-fight-argue-run off-then kiss. (So disappointing Ngl making me lean more zutara)

[avatarfandompolice]

I would love to see the version of the movie you saw where they argued in “every scene” because they had one argument over Aang trusting Tagah too much and that’s it.

And the relationship was counterproductive…how? Yes, Aang struggles with his identity as an airbender and the last one throughout the movie. That’s the point. He’s gonna have moments where he struggles with people he’s close with. If all he did was just make out with Katara and bum around with Zuko, Sokka, and Toph, there would be no plot.

The movie has to have conflict to some degree. Aang does at a singular point come to a head with Katara, but they’re also adults and 12+ years into their relationship, so they don’t need to be fluffing it up all the time. If you want that, go check out the comics.

Also if the 2 seconds of screen time Zuko and Katara have together are making you “lean more Zutara” then I guess we all know how deep your character analysis skills are.

[lemonletta]

Okay obviously- but communication is literally a basic factor which they lacked for most of the whole movie from him running off, sneaking off while she is sleeping and not even informing her besides a measly letter, even though she warned him the night before…. Like is that how our adult communicates or a 14-year-old boy??? I don’t get why you are so triggered. 2/3 of their main scenes they argued. In the balcony, she called him and warned him to be careful, yet he goes behind her back to free an ancient prisoner in a mountain leaving her worried and confused. Then he comes back they don’t really make up but once again they talk-a lot of tension the boom he yells at her telling her off that she would never understand him ever. Which is very insensitive to say but understandable, but nonetheless he hurt her very badly. Again she tells him now-yet he goes with the airbender to do their little magic movie leaving her to literally spilt the sea to escape the eye of the storm which HE put them in. Besides like a few fluff scenes the whole thing was very hilarious and the irony that the voice actor is a literally zio….

[avatarfandompolice]

So you’re saying her telling him to be careful is then arguing? And him informing her that he’s leaving is somehow also proof of this? I think you’re really reaching here to either try to be negative about the movie for no reason or to prove some phony Zutara superiority.

Again, yes, Aang is not perfect to his wife or his friends in the movie. He never was, nor were they perfect to him at all times. If there were no tension then we wouldn’t have a movie. The whole point is Aang being torn between the life he’s building now and the possibility of rebuilding his nation without the ones he’s come to care about. It’s why Tagah thematically wants to get rid of his friends; the point of the movie is to show that Aang should be focusing on the life he’s built and not the one that could be magically handed to him.

And the fact that Katara and company DO accept Aang despite his faults in the movie is proof that what he has is better than anything he and Tagah could create. Aang and Katara aren’t a couple trying to prove their loyalty to each other: they’ve been together for over a decade, and Katara is explicitly very aware of Aang’s turmoil over his status as the only Airbender and how it can affect his decision making.

I think you’re over-emphasizing characters being interesting in order to unearth some sort of flaw that simply doesn’t exist. Whatever makes you hate the movie more, I guess.

[lemonletta]

why was movie kataang so ....weird?

And I say that as a multi shipper I find them to be very cute but why was it that in every other scene she was scolding him,like a younger brother.

And the whole 'no one understands me' and running off like a child (mind you second time in the movie he did this.

Not to mention how counterproductive their whole relationship with no fluff (only like 2 sec) no sweet moments only PDA-fight-argue-run off-then kiss. (So disappointing Ngl making me lean more zutara)

[avatarfandompolice]

I would love to see the version of the movie you saw where they argued in “every scene” because they had one argument over Aang trusting Tagah too much and that’s it.

And the relationship was counterproductive…how? Yes, Aang struggles with his identity as an airbender and the last one throughout the movie. That’s the point. He’s gonna have moments where he struggles with people he’s close with. If all he did was just make out with Katara and bum around with Zuko, Sokka, and Toph, there would be no plot.

The movie has to have conflict to some degree. Aang does at a singular point come to a head with Katara, but they’re also adults and 12+ years into their relationship, so they don’t need to be fluffing it up all the time. If you want that, go check out the comics.

Also if the 2 seconds of screen time Zuko and Katara have together are making you “lean more Zutara” then I guess we all know how deep your character analysis skills are.

[lemonletta]

question.

What's the purpose of maiko? Why would he end up with someone who has yet to deconstruct all of her negative views and is still very much in a colonizer mindset.(Actively participated in the colonization of the Earth Kingdom) And only went against azula for Zuko not because it was the right thing to do,I argue she didn't even know why he was so passionate. Or that idk she didn't care that her Lil bro got kidnapped or how Zuko is literally the opposite of her? Way more emotional and empathetic they are the definition of a toxic relationship. The only thing that the comics got right was them breaking up but then they had to also cuck zuko lmao. (Also I'm supposed to buy that he loves her when Zuko hadnt not thought of Mai a single time until they meet again at the finale)

[avatarfandompolice]

“Why would Zuko be with [complete misinterpretation of a character that ignores any and all progression she went through]” is really not selling your case here.

[avatarfandompolice]

So if u hate natla do u actually like the actors?

If you are implying that me not liking a show means I don’t like the actors personally then it’s not shocking as to why you think the show is good.

I don’t know any of the actors beyond their roles in the show. They’re probably fine. The material they’re given is bad and the direction is bad, so there’s only so much they can do. I’m sure you have some weird para-social relationship with them but I don’t, positively or negatively.

I know Sokka’s actor was caught with some questionable things in his past relating to his race and political affiliations, but I simply do not care enough to look into him.

I’m sure you’re trying to get me to either gush over the child actors or insult them so that you have some ammunition against me, but it won’t work. Sorry.

[avatarfandompolice]

Is it even okay to like natla but hate how it's written?

I like this food but I hate how it tastes

[avatarfandompolice]

I think Zuko not fighting back against Ozai in the original ATLA cartoon and Zuko fighting back against Ozai in the live action ATLA represents the same message and characterization of Zuko. Ozai demanded that he fight. Zuko didn't want to disobey his father. So he fights because he acknowledges that he dishonored his father (by calling the plan stupid). He fights to prove that he is worthy. That his father inviting him to the war council meeting wasn't for nothing. In both the cartoon and live action, he gets punished because he still fails: in the cartoon he fails because he doesn't fight back, in the live action he fails because he has a chance to hurt his father and hesitates. Both show Zuko's heart. But to Ozai, that heart is a weakness. He's too soft. "He's not strong enough to fight his father" and "he's not strong enough to harm his father" tell the same message. And all of that leads to his journey to finding the avatar: to get his honour back, to prove to his father that he is worthy.

Like, I think in fandom if people don't allow for an adaptation to present different interpretations of a scene that tells you the same message (but just in a different way), then fandom will never be happy.

1. You are categorically incorrect

2. Please stop sending me this

Since you want me to respond so bad, no. It is not just a difference in interpretation. Having him fight back against Ozai is an assassination of the show’s theme of empathy overruling violence. It just shows that whoever could sling their violence-shaped penis around more would win. Having Zuko be so broken by his desire to show empathy for others being shot down is not only important to his character; it’s critical to the messaging of the show. What is the messaging of NATLA in this regard? That Zuko just isn’t physically strong enough yet? That’s boring. Who fucking cares.

Much like how NATLA absolutely butchers everything it touches, it’s just gearing up to be a generic action show where the person with the most strength wins. The beauty of ATLA was Team Avatar using both their strength and desire to make the world a more peaceful place allowing them to defeat the Fire Nation, not them solely being stronger. Having Zuko try to fight his father undercuts that. Portraying the air nomad genocide as some badass action scene with “radical martial arts and sick flips and shit” undercuts that. Having Azula and Zuko be virtually the same character with the same goals undercuts that. Everything undercuts that.

You can hide behind the flimsy armor of “it’s just an adaptation and trying something different” all you want. What it’s doing different fucking blows. It’s ass. It’s terrible. If it existed outside the context of being an adaptation, it would still be awful. It doesn’t need the attachment to the original to suck balls. And the fact we have a direct comparison via the original show just makes it worse. It doesn’t make a good property look lesser; it makes one of the worst currently-running live action shows look even more like a disaster. Sorry that your brain is amused by anything with color and fast-moving objects on a screen.

[avatarfandompolice]

Media literacy is dead