When people complain that Katara was acting OOC in The Southern Raiders, I just have to ask … isn’t that kind of the point?
I mean, we never saw Aang as angry as he was in The Desert, but no one complains that he was OOC there. We all understand that loosing Appa was one of the worst things that happened to Aang, and that it most probably also triggered his trauma of being the last of his people.
Even though we don’t approve of his actions, or how he treats the other characters in that episode (especially Katara), we understand and empathize with him. It is a unique situation that has expertly touched on a wound that hasn’t healed, and no one demonizes or expects Aang to act rationally here.
But why is it that when it comes to Katara, we can’t extend her that same treatment?