zutara is could have been a compelling canon-endgame ship because it fits the story's theme of balance and harmony so well. their personal arcs also weave so seamlessly without taking away from their individuality? it's the kind of pairing where you don't have constantly show that they are kissing or acting lovey-dovey just to prove their love because the understanding brtween them already speaks volumes.
some people feel bewildered over why we ship zutara because "it's not canon" and I feel like people often forget that shipping isn't always about what's canon? moreover, a loving relationship isn't simply about declarations of "I love you" but to find a partner in life who can stand by you and someone who sees all of you not just certain parts of you and vice versa. there's supposed equality, something that doesn't leave one party doing the compromosing and carries all the emotional labor.
I ship pairings not because the writers told me "it's canon" but rather if their dynamic is something that speaks to me.
I know there are people who just ship whatever they want and I think that's fine but when it comes to zutara, it's not like it was a baseless pairing like most canon purists think. zuko and katara interacted throughout the series and played a huge part in each other's individual arcs? when they had an understanding in the catacombs, when zuko helped katara find closure, up to the agni kai in the finale, when he took the lighting aimed at katara and she saved his life just like he saved hers. choosing to put zuko and katara together was a deliberate choice, final showdowns in long stories such as this often put characters with significant bonds to stand alongside each other becsuse they know the emotional impact it would bring the audience. and it worked so well with them.
