#I don't project myself as Katara

[demaparbat-hp]

Almost

[imjustavenuxwithaboomerang]

made the gaang with this picrew cause i have too much time on my hands, enjoy

[aiyix98]

Everyone else: the atla live action is gonna be horrible because bryke left the project.

Me: i don't want bryke near of Katara or im gonna kill everyone and then myself

[natlacentral]

The Actress Who Waited a Lifetime to Become Katara

Kiawentiio talks joining the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender and playing a character that means so much to so many

The 17-year-old actress Kiawentiio (pronounced gya-wuhn-dee-yo) can’t remember a time when Avatar: The Last Airbenderwasn’t part of her childhood in some way. Growing up on the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation in Ontario known as Kawehno:ke (or Cornwall Island), Kiawentiio—who was born in 2006, a full year after the beloved animated series debuted on Nickelodeon—recalls having older siblings who would have the cartoon regularly playing in the background of their house. Years later, when all three seasons began streaming on Netflix, she revisited the series and developed a newfound appreciation for its narrative ambition.

So, when Netflix first announced that it was developing a live-action adaptation of Avatar in 2018, Kiawentiio told her team to get her an audition for Katara, the 14-year-old girl who is trying to fulfill her potential as the last Waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe after her mother was killed by the ruthless Fire Nation.

“By the time they actually did start casting, I got the call from my manager that was like, ‘Don't freak out, but we think we have the Avataraudition.’ And obviously, I freaked out,” Kiawentiio tells Harper’s Bazaarwith a laugh in a recent phone interview. Of all the roles she had auditioned for, this one was at the top of her bucket list, because she knew that it could have the same impact on the next generation of Indigenous children that it had on her. “Katara was one of the only people that I could really see myself in. With the role model that she is for young Indigenous women, it's hard not to be drawn to her, especially when the representation is so scarce.”

Kiawentiio got her wish in the spring of 2021. After undergoing an intensive audition process, complete with a seemingly never-ending number of Zooms and chemistry reads, she got the news that would change her life. “They sat me down for another Zoom call, and I was expecting them to tell me it might take a while, but [creator and showrunner] Albert Kim ended up telling me what the project was, who I was auditioning for, and then I landed the role, and I was crying,” she recalls.

Every diehard Avatar fan can recite the basic premise by heart: Long ago, the four nations—Water, Earth, Fire, Air—once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, the master of all four elements, keeping the peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads. A century later, Aang (Gordon Cormier), a 12-year-old Air Nomad who has been frozen and suspended in time in an iceberg, reawakens to take his place as the next Avatar. Feeling responsible for the destruction he was unable to prevent, Aang sets out on a quest with his newfound friends, Katara and her Water Tribe leader brother Sokka (Ian Ousley), to save the world from the onslaught of the power-hungry Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim), who is determined to place all the nations under his authoritarian rule.

Katara, as Kiawentiio puts it, is the heart of the Avatar crew tasked with using their bending powers to restore peace in the divided world. “I think the core factors that make Katara [who she is] are her hopefulness and her optimism, and she's the person in the group that can keep them moving forward in a positive direction, and I think without that, team Avatar wouldn't be able to see the light,” she says.

Below, Kiawentiio reflects on the defining moments of Katara’s arc in the first season (which was shot two years ago in Vancouver), how she has grown alongside her character, and why she feels a new day has come for Indigenous representation in Hollywood.

A lot of the dramatic tension of the first season boils down to Aang’s internal conflict: Does the Avatar need to act alone, or can they afford to have people who help them along the way? In Aang’s case, he doesn’t just want people in his life; he needsthem to help save the world. Why do you think Katara is immediately drawn to Aang and his mission? How do you think that relationship evolves over the course of the season?

I think the reason that she was drawn to him in the first place was this energy of bender to bender, honestly, and I feel like that type of energy [bonds them] not only physically, but just spiritually. It's really intertwined in who they are because Aang plays a huge part in Katara's growth physically with her bending, and I feel like it was just this calling of fate and where you're supposed to be. But in terms of how the relationship has grown, I think it really is just blossoming into a family. Team Avatar is a family in our show. They're not going to leave each other's side; they're always there for each other.

Midway through the season, Koh, the face stealer of the spirit world, temporarily imprisons Katara and her brother Sokka and traps them with some of their darkest memories, which allows us to see, rather than hear about, their backstories. In Katara’s case, she is forced to relive the day she lost her mother. How do you think that loss has affected her in the present day?

It's just painful and that is the point of Koh, right? It is to weaken his prey with their own pain and their own memories. The way I see it is she probably feels helpless. She can't do anything, and that's really what has held her back. What has stuck in her mind is the fact that she couldn't do anything [to save her mom], and to be stuck in that painful loop definitely puts a damper on her confidence that she's been working up this entire season.

That memory of the loss that she went through is a roadblock, and that's something that she has to try and overcome as we go through the series because it really is the main reason that she can't get to that next level [of waterbending]. In the episode with Jett, after he shifted her perspective on how she was thinking and how her memories were acting up, she really unlocks that good energy that her mom was trying to leave her with.

It's impressive how together Katara actually is, especially in our season, because the flashbacks and her memories are so brutal that it's like, "Wow, I can't believe you are still normal." [Laughs.] But that goes to show how resilient she is and how strong she is. I think that was one of the things I took away from her while playing her. I tried to implement her message in my life more to be more optimistic and to have that hope and strength.

When she arrives in the Northern Water Tribe, Katara realizes that the women of this tribe aren’t allowed to fight, which comes as a bit of a culture shock for her. But it’s moving to see how she is able to mobilize the women of all ages when the tribe is under siege by the Fire Nation. At the end of the day, they are the ones who helped defeat the enemy.

Arriving at the Northern Water Tribe was something that she was looking forward to all season, and I think in her mind she had this image of like, "I'm going to get there. I'm going to meet a master, and he's going to teach me everything I need to know, and I’ll finally be able to reach that next step [as a Waterbender]." And getting there and being told basically all your work is not going to be paid off [because you’re a woman] was, in my opinion, devastating. That devastation leads straight into anger, which I relate to. I feel like I get the same waves of emotions, and then that leads to wanting to prove them wrong, wanting to change things [like Katara does]. Honestly, that scene with the women [Waterbenders] is just so beautiful, and it was one of my favorites to film. But I think in her mind, she was just reality checking Master Paku: "We are literally in a war. We are not going to make it. Just use your resources." And not only was that the realistic thing that needed to happen, but the change that she's been fighting for [all season].

I read that you trained for six months ahead of production to commit Katara’s waterbending motions to muscle memory. You spent that time going over forms of tai chi and getting strong enough to handle the action sequences.

Boot camp was intense for me personally, just because I'd never really gone through that before and I don't have as much or any experience outside of the show with martial arts. But it was really helpful to be in the same boat as my character, training-wise. At the start of the show, she really doesn't know that much about bending. As we go along through the episodes, we could see her get more comfortable and more confident in her bending. As we watch Katara gain her confidence, I feel like off-screen I was also gaining confidence with those movements, getting stronger as we go and just getting more comfortable in general.

With the critical success of many Indigenous projects in recent years—Reservation Dogs, Rutherford Falls, Killers of the Flower Moon, The English, Dark Winds—it feels like we have reached an inflection point when it comes to accurate depictions of Native American communities. As someone who is part of this growing movement, what is your take on the state of diversity and inclusion for Indigenous communities? And what do you think is the next step that needs to be taken to move the needle even further?

I think we are making huge steps in the industry. I love being able to look around more and more and see more of our faces, and I do think that there's places that we could improve on for sure. But thinking of how far we've come, even from when I was younger, Katara was one of the only brown people that I saw on my TV, so it's really special to be a part of this generation that's being able to do these things.

I think the next step could be just normalizing things, like it doesn't always have to be an Indigenous story to have Indigenous actors, writers or directors. I think that's one of the things that can get touchy in this industry because we want to include everybody of course, but it doesn't have to be so specific. Why does the doctor have to be [only] the Indigenous doctor that came from [this tribe]? Why can't he just be a doctor that happens to be Indigenous?

Indigenous people or actors can be the main character. Obviously, our culture is always a part of who we are, but it doesn't have to be that the reason we are in this role is because we are Indigenous. We can tell our story as a person and still value and venerate our culture without that being the only reason that we're in the story to begin with.

With big blockbusters, I feel like it ends up being like, "Oh, the lead is white, the other lead is white, and then everybody else is a person of color." I feel like that's a theme that we end up seeing a lot. But another really good way to improve [on that] is supporting Indigenous storytellers. We have so many stories, and [telling them] is one of the things that is keeping our cultures alive, and there are so many stories that could be told from our perspective.

[quillthrillswriting]

now that ao3 is back up, boy oh boy do i have a fic rec for you!!!!

i get that the comics are meant to fill that gap between atla and lok, but i feel like we've always been missing that moment where katara and aang actually formally confess their feelings and talk about everything they had been through. with how mature both of them are, it feels somewhat... unrealistic to me that we're never shown that moment where they talk it all out, after three (3!!!) whole seasons of buildup >:(

this fic was inspired by me wanting to show the moment when aang and katara are finally free from the responsibilities placed on them by the war!!!<3

OR: Aang wakes up the morning after him and his friends saved the entire world, and the first (and only) thing he can think about is Katara. When they get a chance to talk, the two take a walk down memory lane.

---

“Is it ok if I ask you something? While we’re on the topic of… us kissing?” Aang asked, hesitantly. 

Katara nodded. She had a feeling that she knew where this was going. “Ember Island?”

“Yeah.” He breathed. “We never got to… talk about that. After we kissed at the invasion, there was never a moment alone, and I do recognize now that Ember Island wasn’t the right time to bring it up, and I shouldn’t have sprung all of that on you. It wasn’t fair for me to ask you to make such a big statement. It wasn’t right for me to be so demanding. I felt ridiculously jealous over the implication that you were interested in Zuko, and I… well, I reacted poorly. I really am sorry for that.”

“I appreciate you saying that.”

He continued. “But, if you don’t mind me asking… what did you mean when you said you felt confused?”

Katara sighed, drawing water from the lake and tossing it between her hands idly. “I still don’t quite get it, even now. I think the best way to describe it was that I was in fight or flight, locked into survival mode. I did have feelings for you, and I knew that, but I just couldn’t let myself be vulnerable like that at a time like that. I guess that I was worried that if we started something, it’d be a weakness for the both of us. It felt too selfish to distract ourselves from the greater mission at hand when the world was at stake.”

“Ah.” Aang said, thinking it over as the pieces began to click together. “That… that makes a lot of sense.”

Katara continued. “If we’re both being honest, you do have a history of… avoidance, Aang. Giving into my feelings for you felt like it would mean enabling that bad habit of yours, and it seemed like the world needed you more than I did.”

---

Katara fought the blush spreading rapidly across her cheeks as the two leaned closer together. “Do you remember making that necklace for me out of fishing twine? So I could have a placeholder while Zuko had my mother’s necklace?”

He only nodded in response, her proximity rendering him entirely incapable of producing coherent speech. “I still have it. I don’t think you realize how much that meant to me.” She laughed, lost in memory for a second. “The way you looked at me when I put it on… and Sokka said you were acting like you were in love, and I… called you a good friend?”

“Mhm?” Aang asked, about as close to her as he could be without her lips on his. “What… what about it?”

"I don't want us to just be... good friends, not anymore." She took a deep breath, her voice wavering with nerves.

I think we were meant to be more than that." Katara breathed.

---

♥ the rest of the (completed) fic can be found here!! ->

[thebluemallet]

My Immediate Thoughts on the Latest Avatar: The Last Airbender Trailer

THE SHIP DESIGN FOR THE FIRE NAVY SHIPS! THAT MAST!

This must be the North Pole and leading up to the Siege of the North.

Appa soaring through the skies.

Yeah, they're really going to go and show us the attacks on the Air Temples. On the one hand, I'm excited about the new material. On the other hand, I feel like I shouldn't be excited about witnessing a genocide even if it's fiction.

IS THAT FIRE LORD SOZIN? OR IS THAT JUST A RANDOM FIRE NATION GENERAL?? I THINK IT'S SOZIN??

Aang breaking out from the iceberg seems a lot more violent than the cartoon but it also looks awesome! And if I were Sokka and Katara, I'd be scared shitless seeing that.

I think that's Monk Gyatso voice in the beginning? And he specifically says that the Fire Nation is embarking on a dark path instead of the super vague "storm clouds are gathering" like in the original cartoon. So Aang goes into that iceberg with more knowledge in this adaptation than in the cartoon.

Daniel Dae Kim looks great as Fire Lord Ozai!

Azula with a bow and arrow? Guess she's expanding her skill set.

Blink and you'll miss it, but that is JET that Katara, Sokka, and Aang are talking to before there's a big ass explosion behind them.

WE'VE GOT THE MOTHER EFFIN OSTRICH HORSES, BABY!

IT'S ZUKO COMING TO RESCUE UNCLE IROH WHEN HE GETS CAPTURED BY EARTH KINGDOM SOLDIERS!

Aang, Katara, and Sokka checking out the ruins of one of the Air Temples. Southern Air Temple, maybe, probably?

Water Tribe! Don't know if it's Northern or Southern but it could be the aftermath of Zuko coming to the Southern tribe to find Aang.

Katara coming in with her belief that Aang can save the world.

I'm in love with every shot of Appa flying!

THE AIR SCOOTER!

AND HE CRASHES INTO A STATUE LIKE HE DOES IN THE ORIGINAL OPENING CREDITS!!!!

There you go! You whiny little complainers finally got your sarcastic Sokka. And he definitely has more emotional range than the Sokka in the other project that shall not be named so I approve!

THAT'S ZUKO'S TINY LITTLE WARSHIP CRUISING AROUND THE SOUTH POLE LOOKING FOR THE AVATAR!!!

UNCLE!

That's not Zuko pinning up that picture of Aang. Maybe it's Zhao?

I fucking love the masks on the Fire Nation soldiers!!!!!!!

Zuko, you moody, angsty, traumatized teenager! I love you!

(This better get renewed so we can get awkward Zuko. I want to hear him say, "That's rough, buddy." I want to know how many takes they ruined when they eventualy film that scene.)

ZUKO AND IROH TEAM UP AGAINST THOSE EARTH KINGDOM SOLDIERS!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you know guys, maybe we should hear out what the fire nation has to say?

Nope, sorry, I was distracted by the abs. They should have had him silhouetted because I'm pretty sure this is the AGNI KAI WHERE HE BURNS HIS KID'S FACE!

Avatar "I don't want the responsibility!" Aang.

It's giving "Because I never wanted to be" and "I'm just one kid" energy.

THE FACT THAT I WILL NEVER GET TO CUDDLE APPA IN REAL LIFE IS A CRIME!

Sokka coming in and reminding Aang that he's not alone in this.

Reminds me of early on in the show when he says "Katara and I aren't going to let anything happen to you."

Momo's excellent comedic timing, there.

IT'S JUN! AND NYLA! IT LOOKS SO FREAKING GOOD!

HOLY FUCKING SHIT! IF THAT'S HEI BAI, THEN I'M GOING TO SHIT MYSELF WHEN THEY SHOW KOH!

Oh, Zuko isn't showing up to Kyoshi this time, it's ZHAO!

SOKKA AND SUKI LOOKING AMAZING FIGHTING TOGETHER!

THAT'S TEO AND AANG FLYING AROUND! THAT'S TEO AND AAANG!

I guess one of the big changes from the cartoon is that we'll see Teo and his dad in Omashu instead of the Northern Air Temple because that's DEFINITELY Omashu they're flying around.

AANG! YOU'RE SO PINT-SIZED COMPARED TO SOKKA AND KATARA! AND THE RUNNING HUG! I CAN'T HANDLE THE RUNNING HUGS! THEY'RE MY KRYPTONITE!

BLUE SPIRT! WE'RE GETTING THE BLUE SPIRIT AND AANG FIGHTING TOGETHER!

Aang ready to kick some Fire Nation butt.

I wonder if that's part of the Siege of the North? It looks like Sokka flies him in on Appa and Aang drops in.

I think the next shot is the South Pole when Zuko attacks trying to find Aang?

Aang pulling out the Matrix moves when Sokka lets his boomerang fly!

KING BUMI! They were really accurate with the costumes here.

KATARA FIGHTING OFF ZUKO AT THE NORTH POLE!!!!

Jet looking like a badass and fighting off some fire benders.

I know I've guessed this several times, but THAT WAS DEFINITELY AANG AND ZUKO AT THE SOUTH POLE!

I like we see the glow slowly going over the tattoos as Aang goes into the Avatar state instead of it just going straight to glowing.

AND THE CHANTING! I LOVE THIS MUSIC SO MUCH!!!

I think Aang's last transition to the Avatar State is definitely him at the Southern Air Temple when he finally has to face what happened to the Air Nomads, but I could be wrong.

Anyway. February 22 isn't that far away and there are not enough words to describe how excited I am for this.

[low-budget-korra]

Let's talk about Avatar Studios

And what the hell is going on

1) I already talk about the risks of a new Avatar following up Korra so I won't go much further on this here. The problem is this new show already have to face 3 problems

1. Technology. Like, if it really will be 100 years after Korra, makes sense that the Technology will evolve a lot but more technology also means less mystic shit and the fandom love the mystic shit in the Avatar World.

Transform Avatar in some sfi looking show can be bite the ass of Bryke. A lot of fans already complain about Tlok modern world because there's less mystical stuff because of it, now imagine a Avatar where the technology evolve during 100 years.

2. Repetition. For the technology not evolve this much, something have to happen to the world, something that Korra wasn't able to prevent. So then we would have Roku - Aang arc all over again. The children of the Krew will be important to this new Avatar? It's tlok all over again. We will have modern sociological and political discussions? It's tlok all over again. We will have the classic hero journey, where he have to beat the bad guy at the end of the show? It's tla all over again

3. Characters. Tla characters are hella charismatic and the structure of their show help each one of them to develop. Tlok characters were able to sold themselves just with charisma since the storytelling structure of Tlok didn't allow the show to focus on each of them so their development is more off screen. The characters of the new show will have to match the charisma of the previous shows and not sound repetitive. I don't wanna look to a character and think to myself "oh, this is just like Katara". If they want to give us a new show, then give us truly new characters.

2) As a lesbian Poc I understand, respect and agree with the choice of bring more diversity to Avatar Studios but recast the cast is a wrong decision storytelling wise and c'mon...Dante did a stellar job as Zuko (just like the rest of the cast with their respective characters) so if he wasn't half asian he would get recast too? They were all also responsible to give life to your beloved characters, I wouldn't discard them like that.

Storytelling wise, each actor brings something new to a character, this can be good or bad. What if the interpretation of the new cast feels too different for the fandom to buy it? It's more than just a voice. Think about the Joker, James Bond, Superman....all have multiple actors playing the character and every actor brought something new with them, and because of that some are loved like Ledger and Daniel Craig and some are hated like Jared Leto.

Also, I don't want the new cast to just imitate the og cast, that would be disrespectful to their talent. They should simply just keep the cast if the actors wanted to go back and voice their characters and with the new upcoming movies and tv show, then they would search only for native and asian actors to play the new characters.

3) They are taking too much unnecessary risks because a new Avatar will divide the fandom just like Tlok did in 2012 and the fandom can also don't vibe with the new cast work(and I didn't even coment on the rumors they can change the animation style). Both of these things can flop Avatar Studios projects especially in a world were they have to compete with Rick and Morty and Arcane among other young adults cartoons.

So their job is to please the fans and please the main audience that can become a fan after the new projects, but too much changes can make the old fans go away, we saw that happen before with other franchises. And again, they will have to compete for audience with excellent Young adults cartoons

They should do the safe, conquer the fandom first and then start to taking risks and expand the show to newer audience. If they tried to please both all at once, they can ended up pleasing no one

[burst-of-iridescent]

hey, so i saw your post about the atla comics and was wondering if maybe you could tell me roughly when in them aang proposed anti-miscegenation?? it's not that i don't believe he did that, it's just been a very long time since i read the comics and hated them so much that i immediately forgot almost everything from them, and now i feel like i need to find that scene again and see it for myself because it just sounds so ridiculous lmao. i do remember him agreeing to kill zuko, which i firmly believe aang would never actually do and idk how anyone could ever think he would. the comics being so bad is part of why i'm skeptical of every new atla project that gets announced.

aang says it in the promise, part 3! the relevant portions are attached below in case you don't want to read the whole comic to find it (which i strongly recommend, just avoid this comic like the plague):

and of course, the only reason he changes his mind is because katara reminds him that separating the nations would mean aang can’t be with his “forever girl”:

the wonderful writing of the promise: in which aang forgets that his people were nomadic, and lived amongst all four nations, that he himself had (and has) friends from all the nations, and that he’s yknow, the fucking avatar, aka the literal embodiment of the unity and harmony of all four elements in one.

so anon, being suspicious of any new atla projects helmed by bryke? i’m right with you on that one.

[biconickyoshi]

I honestly don’t think they’re gonna do Kataang. Unless they decide to shove it into later episodes ( and even then I’d be worried if they’d do it right cause the buildup in season one was the freaking foundation!

I remember staying up LATE (9pm was late for little kid me, but I digress) on a school night watching the series finale, just hoping to see those two FINALLY get together after seeing them grow with each other was the best thing in television history to me.

And it’s not just the romance for them. The friendship. The familyness ( with Sokka too) and all of it is just gone

The heart, of the show is gone and I hate that

Same... I'm getting the vibe that they're not gonna go through with it. If they do, it'll probably be in season 3. If it gets two more seasons, that is. And by that point Gordon will probably be like 16 or older, while Kiawentiio will be 18 or older. I still don't know if that would work either.

Part of me wonders if this (among many other things) is one of the big reasons Bryke left the project - they've always staunchly supported Kataang.

I also remember watching the series finale the summer after my fifth grade year (with the little Sozin's Comet logo in the corner on my square TV and everything) and just sitting on the edge of my seat praying for Kataang to become canon lol. I had a crush on Aang as a kid and always kinda projected myself onto Katara because of this (and because Katara is just a great character and role model), so I was very much an avid shipper of them haha.

You're very right that it feels like it doesn't have the same heart that the original does, especially when it comes to all relationships. The Gaang doesn't feel like family at all, even though that's what they're supposed to be. It just feels like they're all friendly acquaintances at this point. Zuko and Iroh seem to be the only characters who have a realistic and fleshed out relationship that gets you invested.

[fellow-nerd]

Before I dive into the abyss of everyone else's thoughts on the new avatar series, let me start by saying it wasn't THAT bad.

Don't get me wrong they've definitely changed a lot and it feels strange to watch after living off the original for literally my whole life.

But there was oddly enough, a lot of things I did like.

I will say that the first episode was absolute painful to watch. I despise the fact that they made kyoshi and gran gran give the opening monologue. Like that is Kataras role. It's our first introduction to her and it sets her character up, shes hopeful for the future, she's spent time learning the past, but most importantly she believes whole heartedly in Aang.

I'm not sure why there's so much kyoshi going on. I know she's really popular but it feels off to me. I think they made that change since this show is way more heavily focused on it be A WAR. rather than a feel good action adventure. In the og, roku serves to tell Aang why the war happened and gently guides him along. This works because Aang is a gentle kid, let me say it again, A KID. And everyone is so aware of this in the original. There's no forced heavy dialougue or such a deep sense of solemness, Aang is a kid and he wants to have and slowly learns to take on more responsibility, it a huge part of his arc that I feel is integral to the show. It's not just "oh well time to win this war, time to fight" it takes time and this show is not doing that.

I'm also concerned about the frontloading of all the backstory for Sozin, Iroh, and Aang. We don't learn of these thing until farther in the series for a reason. It's built up to to make it feel more rewarding for the audience. U cant just go well here u go have fun. It's gonna bite them later on when they have to think of something else to fill that narrative gap, and knowing netflix it probably won't go well.

That being said, however, i did find myself really enjoying the interactions between Aang and Gyatso and Iroh and Zuko in the flashbacks. It's something new and it's probably the most in character things we've seen so far.

BTW I'm only half way through so I'll make more updates when I finish.

Overall, I feel like there's a lot this show is doing right but a lot that is definitely gonna drag it down. No one asked for this show. The funding should've gone towards new animated projects, but it's here anyways and hopefully it doesn't go crazy downhill in the later half or I'll be taking back all the good things I just said.

[stardust948]

For the fandom ask: ATLA fandom and 4, 7, 11, and/or 16

✨ love your fandom asks ✨ 

4. Say something nice about a ship you don't ship (it can be another ship in your fandom, a mutual's OTP, etc)

I like that Mai and Ty Lee are exact opposites but still care greatly about each other.

7. Your favorite tropes to read/write/draw

I absolutely love Found Family trope! I guess because I had my own found family in high school, so the trope brings up good memories ^_^

11. If you're a writer or artist, what fic or piece of art are you proud of making?

I just finished Dead Hearts after working on it for 4 years. It was a massive project and I'm so proud of myself for finishing.

16. A tiny detail in canon that you want more people to appreciate.

The character's hair journey and symbolism throughout the show. I know people talk about Zuko's a lot, but Katara, Aang, and Azula had their own and I find it very interesting.

[eponastory]

Troy.

But way better.

Rating: M

Legnth: 42 badass chapters (around 260k glorious words)

Warnings: A fair bit of blood, violent war scenes, sex, Zhao being a fucking coward and someone I really hate... and character death.

I can't tell you how much I hate the movie Troy... I hate it. It doesn't even follow the Iliad. Some of the events in the movie add up, but most don't and it's just... awful.

That being said, Annakpok is written way better.

It's more of a strategic war epic in the way that Homer's epic is rather than a full-on romance. Granted, romance is what caused the war in the first place if you haven't touched any of the Trojan War historics. The romance between Zuko and Katara is built up rather nicely and doesn't seem empty like in the movie with Hector/Achilles and Briseis/Andromache. The romance between Sokka and Yue is also not as empty as Paris and Helen in the movie (it's all Paris' fault anyway for choosing Aphrodite's offer, and he's an idiot. I would've gone for Hera's offer... actually, it's all Aphrodite's fault for being the crazed weirdo she is), and it's not even delved into in the Iliad itself, so eh. At least we don't have the lists (Godzilla, the lists of the freaking Iliad is... frustrating) or the very cringe worthy moments of the Troy movie (I hate it so much).

I digress.

This is not a bad review of this story. I love it. It's probably the best version of the Trojan War (without it being the Trojan War and set in the AtLA universe) that really works in other media. It was emotional, suspenseful, and freaking action packed.

Darius, level with me here... are you a history nerd like me who loves battle tactics and uses them in your works frequently? If so, I fucking love you.

The detail in this story is absolutely amazing, right down to the way weapons are used. I love it. Love love love.

I'm not going to give away too much, but I'm glad that the 'horse' was basically a checkovs gun. It works. It really works.

I could go on about everything for days!

But I won't because you guys really need to experience (yes, that's right, experience) it for yourselves. It is gut wrenching, emotional, I fucking want to kill Zhao myself, and Hahn can die five hundred times over for being a power hungry misogynistic idiot (I spit on his grave).

Actually, this story is pretty close to ASOIAF level writing with all its twists and turns.

The one thing that sets this story apart from the main script of Troy and the Iliad is the characters fates.

In Troy, Paris doesn't die, Helen runs away from Troy with him to live another day. In the Iliad, Paris dies. Helen goes back to her husband, who is very much alive, unlike in the movie, and yeah... then you go into the Odessy and several other epics like the Aenid and whatever. But anywho, great retelling of the Iliad/Troy in the Avatar universe.

Please check it out if you haven't already. It's basically an epic.

Story's Verdict: 10/10 turtleducks because I've never seen an author besides GRRM make me hate a character so much that I need to end them myself. I'm talking Joffrey and Cersei levels of hate. Mostly Joffrey... that little shiteater.

[soopersara]

A Tale of Ice and Smoke: Podfic

After eighty-six years of war, a new Avatar is born into the Southern Water Tribe. Fourteen year later, Katara realizes the full extent of her powers when she finds a child with strangely familiar abilities frozen in an iceberg and a prince comes searching for her. Along with Sokka and Aang, she flees for the North Pole, and Zuko is never far behind.

Chapter 80: The Departure

The battle for the North Pole is over, and the future begins.

Text & Audio | Audio Only

Final update! Information on the sequel can be found below the cut:

Book 2: Earth is in progress!

The text-only version of the fic will continue to update as I write, but I don't plan to start posting the podfic until I'm far enough into the story to maintain a weekly posting schedule for the podfic. More likely than not, that's going to mean that I'll be recording and editing the audio for Book 2 in the background for a long time, but Chapter 1 of the podfic won't be posted until after I've at least finished the initial text draft of Book 2. It will probably be a long wait for anyone who wants to follow the podfic version of the story, but I don't want to burn myself out by diving into another MASSIVE audio project too soon after this one. If you want to be notified when the podfic begins, you can subscribe to this series on AO3 or watch for my announcement posts (with the banner image above) here on Tumblr.

In the meantime, keep an eye out, and I'll have some smaller podfic projects coming soon!

[the-badger-mole]

Have you ever had a fandom you really wanted to write for but haven't for whatever reason? If so, which fandom and what kind of fic would it be? (happy year of content btw!)

Generally, I write for the fandoms I want to write for. The one exception I can think of was Hana Yori Dango. I had a whole fic plotted out around Makino's trip to NYC, and a romantic subplot between Makino's bestie and Domyoji's slutty friend. Rui getting frustrated because Makino and Domyoji were being stupid. Again. I don't remember how it ended, but I remember having an ending. And then I just never wrote it. I probably never will, but who knows. I've been thinking about the show again lately, and I might do a rewatch this year, so maybe that'll get my creative juices flowing.

The thing about me is I don't write fanfic for most of the things I like. What gets me wanting to write fic is wanting to see something different from what actually happened in canon. It's not necessarily that I think the story is bad- I wouldn't change much about Sailor Moon the show or manga, for instance. But I wanted to play out what would happen if Usagi wasn't the first (well, technically second, but whatever) Senshi awakened, and what if Mamoru had met the other girls first, or what would happen if Usagi's parents found out about her super heroing. Stuff like that.

Spy x Family, on the other hand, is a fandom I will probably never write for, because I can't think of any situation I want to see those characters in more than the one they're already in. Also, I can't top that tennis episode. I'm not even going to try. Then we have fandoms like OUAT where I refuse to write any fic because it will ultimately be a very thinly veiled self insert, and I don't need anyone to see that part of me. I know people assume that because I ship Zutara, I'm already projecting myself onto Katara, but I'm not. Ozzie Kadijah Hark would absolutely be me but with super powers and a nicer car.

[dylanaz]

I finally had the experience of, "You have a crush on X and you project yourself as Y" the antis describe. Not with Zutara, but with my own mbti type. And I can say with so much certainty that I don't project myself as Katara. That argument is stupid.

[thebluemallet]

A look at my first thoughts on the trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender

IT'S SOZIN'S COMET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are we going to see the attacks on the Air Temples???

That iceberg already looks better than the one from the movie that shall not be named. Just that one shot of the iceberg and I'm fucking sold on the art direction of this show.

SPOT ON casting for Katara as far as looks go. She even has the same face shape.

The parkas on both Sokka and Katara look amazing. Again, much better than what they had in the movie that shall not be named. I love the details in the designs on them.

THEY HAVE OMASHU! O-MA-SHU! WE'RE GETTING OMASHU!

Zuko has a SCAR. He has an actual SCAR. Not just something that looks kind of like a rash.

I've only had Netflix Uncle Iroh for a day and half. But if anything happens to him, I will hurt everyone in this room and then myself.

The Fire Nation throne room looks SICK with the flames cropping up.

It's the Fire Lord! I wondered if we would see him or not. But keeping him in shadows for two seasons won't work as well in a live-action show so I'm fine with it.

(Daniel Dae Kim voiced an Earth Kingdom General in the original series and now he's the Fire Lord!)

SUKI!!!

Honestly, showing Suki and the Kyoshi warriors in the trailer felt like a direct message from the show to fans of the original series that said, "Yes, they will be included and not cut out from the final product, unlike that other project."

Seriously, for those who don't remember, people in 2010 were getting their hopes up that the movie that shall not be named would be a) good despite the whitewashing and b) still include the Kyoshi warriors despite them not being in the trailers.

IT'S THE CRESCENT ISLAND WITH THE TEMPLE WITH THE FIRE SAGES WHERE AANG WILL GET TO TALK TO ROKU! HOLY SHIT!

Okay, I'll admit it. I may have gotten a little choked up when I first saw Aang flying through with his staff.

AANG!!!!!!!! Looking like a badass emerging from the mist.

THE MUSIC! THE MUSIC!

That shot of Aang in the burned forest looks exactly like the shot in the original show! Holy shit!

AGNI KAI!!! I have conflicting emotions about this! I'm excited it's in here but I'm not ready to see Zuko in that much pain.

ZUKO AND IROH FIGHTING TOGETHER!!!! Is this when Iroh got captured by the Earth Kingdom???

Also the animation on the firebending looks incredible and it looks reminiscent of the martial arts style they used for firebending in the show.

AZULA!

It looks like the fire is glowing in her eyes.

Sokka and Katara in the Southern Air Temple maybe?

AND CAN WE JUST APPRECIATE THAT SOKKA AND KATARA BOTH HAVE THE SAME NECKLACES THEY HAD IN THE ORIGINAL SHOW?!!!!!

The tattoos GLOW.

Is this Zuko attacking Kyoshi Island?!

The whole trailer I was chanting Show me Appa! Show me Appa!

AND I TEARED UP WHEN THEY FINALLY SHOWED APPA!

AND THAT MUSIC SWELL!!!! AHHHHH!

I'VE ONLY HAD NETFLIX APPA AND MOMO FOR A DAY AND A HALF. BUT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THEM, I WILL HURT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND THEN MYSELF!

WATER, EARTH, FIRE, AIR!

Oh, but I'm probably gonna have to wait a while before I get to see this, right?

FEBRUARY 22ND?! THAT'S REALLY NOT THAT LONG! I WAS EXPECTING TO HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER SIX MONTHS!

So yeah, I'm excited for this.

Also, not in the trailer, but the Cabbage Merchant is supposed to be in the show.