In my fic - the worst prisoner I am working on a section where Aang comes to terms with his Air Nomad philosophies. Since Aang and the Air Nomads were based on Buddhist monks, I looked to Buddhism.
Disclaimer. I'm not an expert, I'm just a newbie, but even as a newbie I have come across some absolute gems of wisdom.
In Buddhist philosophy attachment =/= love.
One guru described it this way:
Love = I care about YOU and I want YOU to be happy.
Attachment = I care about ME and I want you to make ME happy.
Learning to let go of Attachment is all about learning to let go of our egocentric world view, and to see that some things are bigger than us and our immediate wants and whims. Once we let go, we can see the world more completely and with more compassion, but without putting our own agendas on it ---
Ah, do you see the vision. Someone on the writing team knew this and they built Aang up for 2 whole ass seasons to be the sort of person who needed to learn this. They made letting go of attachment the crux of his character arc. This is a key Buddhist teaching, so it would have been an important Air Nomad idea.... and Aang just never learns it?
He thinks attachment is about his crush? (It's not even about what is good for Katara. Katara makes Aang happy, and he wants her to keep making him happy. At it's core, it is about him)
He never learns to let go of his attachment, and so he never learns to put others first. He never gets to let go of his egocentric world view and instead he puts his own agenda into everything.
Aang never gets to fully understand Air Nomad philosophy?
Aang never gets to grow.
Why build up the attachment lesson for two seasons if you weren't going to do anything with it bryke?! It's just such an odd writing choice because the entire set-up, themes, inner conflict and personality were already written and perfect for this kind of narrative arc.
Ah, the narrative arc Aang could have had is so beautiful. it's such a lovely philosophy and the potential is all there. I'm a big believer in growth for Aang.
But yeah, this is another thing I'll be salty at Bryke about. It just feels ... kinda disrespectful to Buddhism. Instead of beautiful teachings about selflessness, we get their hamfisted interpretation of attachment and petty immaturity shoved into the narrative instead.
But it could have been a beautiful journey of enlightenment.
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?
I just watched all episodes and I’m a roller coaster of happiness and fear lol.
However, I hate overthinking and that I have a foreboding feeling about Season 3. So I better say it now, or forever hold my peace….
There will be good and bad points in this review (or rant) whichever you prefer. But take it with a grain of salt and lets hope to all hope I’m wrong…
So here goes.
Instead of doing per episode, I decided to just summarize everything. Especially the last two.
Miyako is literally Toph.
As well as Momona being Ty Lee
Even Joo-Dee was peak.
Lizzy Yu brought a different kind of Azula. One who’s actually scary.
Because Azula in the flesh, a beautiful princess who’s actually cunning but underestimated because she’s a woman, and because she’s the spare.
The way she manipulated Zuko, in this universe is insane.
Azula the cartoon is beautiful and terrifying but she’s one dimensional.
Lizzy’s brought her to life, not as a caricature of the cartoon but something entirely her own is 🤌🏽💋
So that’s a 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 to Lizzy.
Kiawentiio brought her A game. Still kinda soft BUT her face.
That alone says it all. As a painted lady, and as Katara listening to her enemy. ❤️🔥
Their dialogues in the Crystal Catacombs were … beyond my wildest fanfic imaginations. Maybe some of you resd something like that from the 8k fics we have in ao3?
I love how they incorporated Jeong Jeong the Deserter into the story.
The first time Zuko spoke to him I was like
And the thief that Iroh helped.
And Sai and Sokka’s bond was a great addiion honestly. Didnt see that coming. I was wondering how they’d make the green crystals work hahahah before Aang and Iroh came in?
What I love most about this natla (second to the zutara scenes of course) is how they cleaned up Aang’s badly written character. No hiding the map, no forced kiss. He knew it wasn’t the proper time to tell Katara. Aang owning up to his mistakes and apologizing to Katara. He even had full control of his Avatar state without Katara bringing him down like in the cartoons. Sure, her voice was still his anchor but for the most part he has better control of his emotions here than in the cartoons.
I even understand Aang ‘handling’ Azula because Long Feng told him he would lose because he was ‘too kind’ which made him weak. Then Aang changed his mind or hesitated, giving Azula the opportunity to literally kill him. So I dont understand what canon purists were whining about it being ooc for Aang. That was a great plot.
Also, the script this season was actually good — especially the big argument between Team Avatar. It was a solid tie-in to why Toph had to leave. Katara stood her ground against Aang, he got mad at her sure, then realized his mistake and apologized later. Even Sokka and Katara’s fight felt kinda close (but not quite) to their TSR energy.
Aang and Iroh talk, that was good. Nothing about love or anything, its about friendships and expectations. But there’s still Season 3 I bet they’re gonna put that love conversation in there 😏.
I also liked the foreshadowing of bloodbending for medical purposes to which ahem Boylan or the writers probably have read from the many zutara fanfics out there lol.
I also dont understand canon purists about ‘Oh cgi mle mle mle..’ when it was really done wonderfully-for what its worth (Or maybe I just had low expectations coming in). Aang did an almost Matrix move twice lol which was ok, been there done that kinda moment but it was still cool to see Gordon/Aang do it.
We also see irl how Katara took Aang to the surface (that was cool) after Lizzy Yu, errrr Azula blasted him with lightning in the front.
Now lets talk about the ones I didnt prefer.
Jet’s demise. I wanted it to be ambiguous or at least back at Lake Laogai. Netflix also killed off The Duke to make it more dramatic. I guess we may yet see or maybe not get The Western Temple episode where Zuko rescued Katara from a falling boulder scene and Katara holding her hand out to a falling Zuko scene, because if I remember correctly, the Duke and Pipsqueak were there after their defeat in the black sun.
Also, Smellerbee and Longshot just… disappeared after 1 episode and Jet had to ‘explain’ it.
I preferred professor Zei choosing to stay at the library than betraying Team Avatar.
I like the library being at Si Wong than Agni knows where in Ba Sing Se.
Also, no Haru.
And they didn’t include the swamp, which I thought was crucial to how Aang knew it was Toph destined to be his forever love earth bending teacher.
I wished they added Zuko lighting the lanterns for Jin.
Lets see, what else..
Oh, there was also a plot hole.
When Toph went to a tea shop, she should’ve instantly clocked that the old man serving tea was Iroh. Remember in this version , Team Avatar + Iroh /Zuko confronted Azula first. Toph is cunning she is smart she even taught Aang to feel the vibrations beyond the walls or something like that. So she should have known who he is. She should have ‘recognized’ Iroh’s voice or the way he stood like.. “Hey! I know you…”
Now my Season 3 theories
I wont be surprised if they made it Maizula
Did you see the hint?
“I love you too, but I was willing to kill you” or something to that line that Mai said to Ty Lee, then Mai looked at Azula. Its natla’s version of “You miscalculated, I love Zuko more than I fear you”
Mmmaybe Netflix is trying to do lgbt on Mai being bi?
Zuko ends up with Jin.
Yes, Jin. The girl with the braid? Why is she still there in natla? When the fire nation soldiers were coming in Ba Sing Se. It somehow looked like she was still serving at The Jasmine Dragon which by the way, in the cartoon, is at the upper ring given to Iroh by a wealthy merchant, that’s why we never saw Jin again.
I have a strong feeling in Season 3, thats who netflix will have Zuko end up with just so he isn’t left out with no one. Remember Jinko is neutral between Maiko and Zutara, so this is the safest (albeit weaker) choice.
So now, I got why Dallas said something in an interview like… “They’re all gonna end up with the same canon relationships in the show.” With three consecutive blinks. Did you all catch that too?
Because Sukka is canon
Kataang is canon
And Jinko is canon
Which is why I’m still sad for Toph post atla.
It’s still not the best pairing, honestly.
Zutara-Taang-Suki would still have been the best match. The ultimate ship supreme.
And zutarians wont take it lightly to have Zuko with Jin when Katara is literally there, who we all know is a better match for him than Jin.
The same way that Toph is a better match for Aang than Katara.
So they’d probably rush the development of kataang in S3 even if they planted the Aang pining S2 , it is still no match to the chemistry and connection zuko and katara had in the painted/spirit tandem and the Crystal Catacombs scene.
They’d probably make it to feel that Katara has fallen for the wounded guy she takes care of, which is typical of period romance novel tropes. That said, its not a strong defense for a kataang. You mean Katara fell in love with Aang out of pity? Or is it because he’s the avatar all mighty and powerful?
Hey, the same can be said about Zutara too.
The BIG difference is—with zutara, they have bonded on a very similar trauma that neither Aang nor Jin would be able to relate to. Yeah Aang lost his entire civilization and his father figure but it’s still not the same. Sure, they may understand but not at the same level of someone who went thru the same thing.
They’ve seen each other fight. They’ve opened up to each other the way they never did with Aang or Jin.
He sees her. She sees him.
Katara was never this open and intimate with Aang. Zuko kissed Jin (in the cartoon) and left. He held Jin’s hand and smiled in natla.
But Zuko and Katara had each other first at that moment.
Bet you by season 3, they may start cutting a bunch of Zutara moments just to please the other side of the fandom since Netflix already gave us the painted spirit/crystal catacombs scene.
Even after they fixed how badly Aang was written in the original cartoons, I still don’t know how they’re gonna convince us that Kataang and Jinko would actually make sense — or are better for the characters — in just a handful of episodes. Especially when we still have TSR, the sunset hug, and the final Agni Kai (all canon, btw), which are heavily Zutara-coded… and now they’ve even added the Painted Spirit episodes on top of the Crystal Catacombs in the bunch…
I’m gonna save this theory.
I hope I’m wrong.
But if my theory is right, I may not waste my time watching Season 3 because it still ends up kataang anyway? Just like I didnt watch tlok, never read the gene yang comics and didnt watch the legend of aang leak and not planning to watch it on paramount this October.
We know k/a and jinko is canon but like I said earlier, I really wish that they all end up as friends at the tea shop, with Ty Lee instead of Mai and all six (or seven) inc Ty Lee, looking out over the horizon with their backs and fade to black or pan the camera towards the sky. They might still do this copying @perfectlypanda hc art, but Jin and Ty Lee would be there, after netflix revealed the canon pairings.
So yeah, our collective hc is better. That they all end up as friends. No romance hinted in between. Let Katara be.
Sadly I don’t see this happening
That Season 2 was ours. That’s it. We can’t win them all, folks.
Season 3 is gonna feel really off.
So yeah… brace yourselves, y’all 😭
On a another note, I’m convinced Bryke left because Boylan and Raisani were pushing that Painted Spirit/Zutara energy. We all know Bryke never wanted Zuko and Katara interacting after ATLA because they’re probably trying to “correct” what they see as the og writers’ mistake of feeding Zutara and messing up their Kataang dream while trying to retcon some of the poor choices they made with Aang. Trying (but failing), to convince us that Kataang is better.
Rant over.
Moving on to writing and finishing my fics hopefully in this lifetime…
So, wait... if Aang was so against being involved in killing living things, from tiny animals to bloodthirsty genocidal dictators, and would only eat vegetarian meals and all... what was that in the first episode where he and Katara were joyfully baiting otter penguins with fish in order to get them to allow sledding on their backs?
Sure, the otter penguins would have found & eaten fish anyway, circle of life and all, but... shouldn't he have had an attack of conscience about being involved with feeding them the fish?
(Yip the Younger's take, which I believe is correct: Bryke didn't know they were going to lean on pacifism as a theme at that point in development.)
Genuine Question: Has anyone received a copyright infringement notice, on here, Reddit, or similar social media platforms, regarding the shared movie?
Not too long ago, back in late May, I was reported for a Reddit post that has since been deleted (on my end) on what I think YEARNING looks like. I used a screenshot of Zuko and Katara.
This was the image in question.
I was reported for this. Although I do understand and I own up to it, I keep seeing posts from MONTHS ago and still coming on the leaked movie, including spoilers. I've seen people sharing links on various social media platforms.
Today, I happened to check my email and saw this response I will share, including one of the most previous ones.
Again, I do understand that I shared a screenshot, but I am curious who else is receiving similar posts.
It makes me wonder if this seems...targeted (allegedly).
I do think it's fair that reports may not happened, so many people have shared clips, screenshots, spoilers, and the movie. However, I only shared a theory, which I own up to. It just seems odd.
I would love to know your thoughts and experiences.
What would you like to see in the upcoming Avatar movies? I know they are doing at least one on the Gaang as adults and a Zuko movie
Honestly? Nothing. Especially not if team Bryke is still on board. There's nothing they can do at this point that's not going to be a reaction to all the criticism they've gotten since Korra. Listen, the horse is dead and slowly being ground into sausage meat and glue. I'm just fine sticking with fanfic from here on.
