I will not be @ ing her because this is very much anti canon KA and is fully my opinion, but kataraslove responded to one of my previous posts with a very interesting analysis on Katara and Aang's relationship and parallels, and it really made me think.
While I could see where she was coming from, I still felt like KA was missing something in the soulmate department, and at first I struggled to understand why. Then I thought about it for a bit, and I realized that most of the arguments that were presented weren't based on the main show, but rather the additional art material and the word of the creators. So, I will rephrase my original point and stick to it: while the creators of the show intended them to be soulmates, the writing did not express it well enough for me to believe it.
First, the Tui and La argument. While I see how it relates to the official art, and actually found that analysis rather insightful, in canon the parallel does not work. There is not only a distinct lack of an obvious connection between their stories, but Tui and La are described to "balance each other out" by Koh. Aang and Katara are not really the couple that balances each other out. They're similar in personality and themes, and while that often works in relationships, it's not what balancing something out means. Balancing out usually implies being on the different sides of the scales, opposite in a way that completes the other half. Like, you know. Fire and water. Or earth and air. That parallel that they tried to connect to KA feels so much more like Zutara and Taang in the canon of the show that if they haven't said anything about that connection, it would've been a pretty controversial connection to make.
The Oma and Shu argument also makes little sense within the canon of the show. Katara and Aang were never on the opposite sides of the fight. They were never kept apart from each other by anything other then not being ready for that relationship. And if the argument is about Oma locking in and showing an impressive display of earthbending after Shu was killed in the war as a parallel to Katara saving Aang after Azula shot him with lightning, well. Half of that was the Spirit Oasis water as stated by Katara herself, so her defeating Azula after she hit Zuko genuinely feels far more impressive than what she did for Aang. Not to say that she doesn't care about him, she most definitely does, one way or another, but this parallel still falls flat in comparison to Zutara. Also, the creators mentioning that the Spirit Oasis water would only help Aang doesn't exactly work either if they only mention it in commentary and not any other canon material.
I've mentioned this particular argument before, but Katara wishing for the Avatar to come back doesn't feel like it adds to their relationship. Katara wished for the Avatar to return, not for Aang to come to her. Not only does that feel a bit like she's just waiting for a concept rather than a person, but it also clashes with Aang's desire to be more to people than just the Avatar. Which is canon. To the show. Katara being the one to find Aang is probably the most soulmate they get, and I will admit to this being done pretty well, but it's one moment that they succeeded with compared to the many that they failed. Aang also only encourages Katara's wishes when they don't involve her rejecting him in any way. I've already expressed my distaste for Book 3 Aang, but he literally has no respect for her telling him about being confused and not ready for this relationship. And if I was to bring up comics and LOK, Katara's dreams always get overshadowed by Aang's needs and she never gets the recognition for her bending prowess.
As much as Katara helped him unlock some of his chakras, she also blocked his Avatar State for a long while.
Katara the parentified child had to constantly take care of the Avatar.
Aang the pacifist couldn't accept Katara's decision to go after Yon Rha.
Aang fell in love with an image, and Katara fell in love with a concept.
They looked at each other and saw this idealized version of the other, rather than accepting the flaws.
Within the canon of the show, they feel like they're destined for disappointment.
The writers did not succeed with the concept of show not tell because they had to tell us about the KA parallels for us to get them. As it stands, they don't feel like soulmates in the show. As it stands, they could've been way better.
As a side note, while I agree that chemistry is subjective, I don't agree that Zutara and Taang chemistry is based only on tension and rivalry. In fact, it's the small moments. It's Katara and Zuko bonding in those caves. It's Zuko supporting Katara in the things she wants to do (though I actually don't really like some ways Zuko acted in The Southern Raiders, this part of the episode was pretty sweet). It's Katara standing by Zuko during the most important fight they've had yet. It's Toph and Aang being insanely in sync with each other during battles. It's Aang giving Toph the respect she so desperately craved her whole life. It's Toph pushing Aang to do his best because she knows that he's capable of it, and Earth becoming his second most used element by the end. It's Aang recognizing Toph as the girl from the swamp by the sound of her laughter. It's those little things, little moments that make them feel like they're soulmates, platonic or romantic. I am biased and I am not ashamed to admit it.
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