Why The Southern Raiders is a (subtle) Kataang episode
I need to rant about one of my favorite episodes
Starting with this: if you demonize Aang, a child, or frame him as an abuser, I don’t value a single thing you have to say. I’m tired of people, who pretend to understand Katara, Aang, and Zuko, all in defense of a ship. To the point they also hate Korra. People who position Aang as abusive or reducing Katara's agency, in a show that from the start is about giving her agency in a world that denies it, don't understand her character.
Now, since this is regarded as a Zutara episode I feel I need to also share my thoughts on Zutara. I used to be a big Zutara shipper. It was my original otp. I vividly remember one of my favorite pieces of Zutara art, drawn sometime in 2007-9(and was a daily deviation at that!) which I now think about and cringe. It’s Katara looking into a mirror, imagining/seeing her future: as head of the fire nation with Zuko. A perfect reflection of how Zutara is all about stripping Katara of who she is. And it was only a few years ago, after another Zutara shipper called out how the ship almost always revolves around Zuko, I began to see change that involved Katara’s culture and the Southern Water Tribe more.
Most Zutara tropes, like their romantic feelings starting in atla, only work if you have a shallow understanding of romance. Even as a kid, I could never vibe with the people who constantly saw their romance as starting in the show. This is nothing against fanon, as some of my own au's have the romance starting in atla. But for canon, keeping true to the characters like some shippers insist they do? It's shallow.
And something I will always preach. You can’t enjoy atla for it’s realism on how war affects children, and how those characters interact and view each other. And then...ignore it all in favor of a ship.
So, how is The Southern Raiders (subtle) Kataang? Simple, it shows how much Aang knows her in contrast to Zuko. And how much he supports her even when disagreeing.
The conflict, and forgiving Zuko, is something Katara has to decide on her own. Aang and Sokka could not go with her on this journey because they know her too well. Anything that is against who she is at her core, when not consumed by grief and rage, they would have interfered. And Aang’s words when letting Katara take Appa - "This is something you need to do." Reflects what he said when he left to find Appa - “This is something I need to do.” He knew he would be holding Katara back if he went with her.
And Aang’s quote in TSR puts it best: “Revenge is like a two-headed rat-viper. While you watch your enemy go down, you're being poisoned yourself”
He didn’t care about his own personal morals, or Yon Rha. He cared about Katara. The revenge quote echoes throughout the whole episode. And is shown literally when she bloodbends. Bloodbending was something so horrific it made Katara break down crying after she was forced to learn it. She needed Aang and Sokka to comfort her afterwards. Yet, in her quest for revenge it’s something she doesn’t hesitate to use. Something that makes her look horrified when she sees she used it on the wrong person.
Small numbered list of the other reasons:
1. The only reason Katara was spiraling was because of Zuko. He was the face of the Fire Nation and it’s crimes to her, and that was reinforced by his betrayal in the cave. Where Katara, once again, had someone she loved killed by the fire nation. Zuko had no idea why she was still upset with him. He asks her “What is it with you.” When confronting her at night about her attitude. Which is a great example of Zuko’s character.
2. Zuko says confronting Yon Rha is about justice and closure. Unlike Zuko, Aang immediately knew it was about revenge. And Katara doesn’t even deny that Aang’s right. She agrees. Showing that Zuko didn’t know who Katara was at all.
3. Aang doesn’t demand she choose forgiveness. The difference in opinion isn’t some irrevocable thing. He let Katara choose her own path. It's why he stayed behind. He didn’t judge her for wanting to kill Yon Rha, and didn’t judge her for not forgiving Yon Rha.
4. Zuko’s reason for helping is selfish and so she can get off his back. This isn’t a bad thing. He doesn’t know her and wants to prove that he changed. Zuko not knowing Katara is reaffirmed when he tells Aang that he was right, violence wasn’t what Katara needed.
Little side rant about Zuko:
Rewatching the episode also made me realize something that made me love Zuko even more. Him not understanding why Katara was still upset with him. Backstabbing is just, normal to him. He was punished for disagreeing with backstabbing. It was a part of royal life in the Fire Nation. Deceit, abuse, and then moving on like nothing happened. His fights with his sister, him donning the blue mask to serve his own selfish wants, etc.
Also, a headcanon of mine which I think adds far more depth to who Zuko is: His goal in the cave and in The Southern Raiders is the same. A self defense mechanism to get Katara off his back. Having the direct anger of his father led to his most traumatic moment. It’s fair to assume in personal situations where he can’t (or doesn’t want to) respond with fighting, and he knows the person’s strength, he does whatever he can to deflect the anger off of him. A fawn response of sorts
