This scene has never sat well with me.
I've been rewatching some of my favourite scenes from the A:TLA, so I eventually got around to the scene where Zuko asks to join Aang and be his firebending teacher.
There are several heartwarming moments there, from the way we see Aang wondering if he'd done the right thing/almost regretting it immediately after initially rejecting Zuko's overture, to gradually softening during Zuko's second speech and being the first to accept him.
When he asked the rest of the group for their opinions, however, I think he didn't actually consider one of them might still be (openly) against it, and I also don't think he ever realized just how close it came to exactly that.
Katara is especially petty and belligerent throughout this entire episode, and it's plainly written all over her face.
Her whole attitude and behaviour here remind me of this one neighbour I once had, who never voiced his true opinion on any of the proposals for reno/community projects in the neighbourhood. His go-to response was always something along the lines of "If everyone else signs, I will too" or "If the others vote yes, I'll also agree".
You can clearly see that Katara DOESN'T want to give Zuko the benefit of the doubt, and doesn't want him to join them. She's only agreeing so she isn't the only one to vote no (and she looks like the world's stroppiest teenager while doing it).
True, Sokka also says he'll go along with Aang's judgment on the matter. However: compare her expression to Sokka's, who GENUINELY doesn't care one way or another, as long as it gets them closer to their goal.
I know it can be argued that she has reason to be doubtful and angry, since she was willing to give him a chance earlier, back in Ba Sing Se, and probably sees his subsequent actions as a personal betrayal (something no one can really fault her for).
However, it's not the only instance where her vindictive side comes out. It just made me think of her overall character, and is (in my opinion) a great reminder that Katara has quite a temper, occasionally even downright nasty temper. The woman holds grudges like a champ.
(Remember the vicious quip she threw Toph's way, about not being able to see the stars? The girl is blind, and I can't believe nobody called Katara out on her behaviour.)
Okay, yes, she eventually grew (up) and she isn't all bad... but she always retains that borderline savage streak that comes out to surface when things don't go her way. All in all, I still don't see her and Aang being AT ALL compatible, character-wise, and I never will.
Addendum: I felt like this went without saying, but obviously not :P
Please don't reblog my content to deliberately add tags for ships I clearly don't follow/that contradict the whole point of my post. It's bad form/in poor taste, and you don't see me doing it to your posts.
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