Also, if I'm already talking about Momtara, I might as well bring up Dadko, a trope that annoys me equally and for very similar reasons.
This boy is nobody's Dad.
Aang: That one kind of felt hot.
Zuko[Very angry.]: Don't patronize me! You know what it's supposed to look like!
Aang: Sorry, Sifu Hotman.
Zuko: [Raises his arms to his head, and throws them down back, and shouts in frustration, as Aang cringes.] And stop calling me that!
Aang: [Cut to the gemstone as Zuko runs toward it. Aang raises his arms.] Well, don't touch it!
[Zuko stops and Aang catches up to him.]
Aang: Remember what happened out there with those spikes? [Turns to look at the side and raises his arms again.] I'm just very suspicious of giant glowing gems sitting on pedestals.
Zuko ignores the Avatar and picks the sunstone, as Aang's eyes twitch.
Zuko: That's cute, but this isn't air temple preschool. It's the real world.
Zuko: [Sarcastically.] Okay, we'll be sure to do that, guru goody-goody.
Zuko: [Sighs and stops walking.] Look, I know you had a really rough childhood, but we should really focus on finding Aang. [Continues walking.]
Toph: This is the worst field trip ever. [Sighs and continues walking.]
And neither should he have to be.
He's a boy. Sixteen years old. He's currently learning what means to have friends, because these are his first friends.
Mai and Ty Lee were Azula's first, but the Gaang are his, and they're the first people he really experiences something like normalcy with. They're regular kids when they aren't busy bending all four elements.
Let him be regular with them.
He's already on his way to become Fire Lord, having more responsibilty given to him than anybody his age should have. Aside from really not behaving like a Group Dad (because, again, he's currently figuring out how to behave around people his age), he also shouldn't have to.
The Gaang should be who he gets to be a boy with when all of the world looks at him as something more than, something bigger. It should be that for all of them.
yousharknotpass
izzy806
germansingergirl
tangentwithtanner
gummygunk
