#at least i got through the second act of the horror prompt; im so excited for you all to read this you have no idea

[llondonfog]

🙃

[araeph]

Hey, im a fan of Aaron ehasz and I love TDP. But when he confirmed that the possibility of season4 was brought out by nicklodeon, all the pro-brykes and anti-zutaras started rejoicing, thus stating their claims of how Aaron wrote mai and maiko moments is true, which I find, is absurd. But at the same time, I'm not sure. Did Aaron actually create mai and dealt with maiko?I hope not.

Yeah, I’m not sure why they thought they were right sincethey had previously considered Book 4 a conspiracy theory and a myth. It turns out to have been suggested at the studio level–and even the oldest accounts of Book 4′s existence concur with Ehasz that it was never put into production. As forthe Ehaszs being responsible for Mαiko, they did indeed write the beginning of the relationship–but did they support it? Did they depict it as healthy and loving? Let’s explore the episodes featuring Mαiko that they wrote, and see how the relationship is portrayed.

“Return to Omashu”(Elizabeth Ehasz): @darkeststar310 accurately summarizes Mαiand Zuko’s interaction as:

Mαi was already raring to go themoment Azula showed up; she even agreed before she knew what their objectivewas. Upon discovering that her task is to assist in hunting down and imprisoning her supposed childhood crush,she voices no objections, nor does her face display any concern or othernegative emotions. She actually smiles. What on earth could have beengoing through her mind???

“Man, it’ll be really great to see my boyfriend again before Icapture him and transport him to prison, presumably never to see or hear fromhim again. I bet the look of horror and despair on his face at what must surelybe an act of betrayal on my part will be really cute. I bet it will be a memoryto cherish as he languishes in prison, while I live out the rest of my life incomfort and luxury. :)”

And as to your last comment,  “Friends tend to do things weach other, and since these girls aren’t normal, hunting the avatar seems aboutright” - sure. For a trio of badass, noble Fire Nation girls,hunting down their nation’s biggest enemy would a really great bondingexperience.

Except.

Themission wasn’t to capture the Avatar. The mission was to capturePRINCE ZUKO AND IROH.

“Zuko Alone”(Elizabeth Ehasz), a summary by Peacockarehot: 

Mαiblushes at Zuko, and he doesn’t even look her way. If the intention was toportray them as “childhood crushes” why not have Zuko also look at Mαi andblush? … Further, if Zuko liked Mαi, why did Azula have to beg Ursa to FORCEZuko to play with them? This implies that Zuko did not usually play with hissister or her friends. In fact, the only time Zuko notices Mαi in hisflashback, is when he is forced to because Azula puts her in danger. If theintent was to tell us that Zuko liked Mαi, then I can say this episode did notdo that. 

“Going Home Again” comic(Aaroh Ehasz): My own commentary: 

I’m going to do an entirescene with the genders reversed so we can see this for ourselves. Thisparticular scene is from the “Going Home Again” comic. 

Zuko has been recruited byAzula to capture Mαi and deliver her to the Firelord, where she will awaitimprisonment and/or execution. However, before this can happen, Azula makes adeal with Mαi whereby Mαi sides with Azula against her uncle and helps takedown the Avatar. However, Mαi starts having second thoughts, so Azula concoctsa scheme to bring her and Zuko together.Keep in mind that at this point, Zukoand Mαi are not dating. They have one dinner together which is not the resultof a date night, but of Azula and Ty Lee conveniently not showing up. Theydecide to ditch the dinner and take a tour of the city. While walking, theycome across a guy that Mαi has previously gone out on a date with and kissedunder a fake name. Let’s call him Lee, and Mαi’s fake name will be Jin. Zukorealizes this, and gets a mischievous look on his face.

Mαi: Oh … Hi, Lee … Um … Er … This isjust my friend, my friend from … the circus. Yeah … He’s the knife thrower.Lee: Really?Zuko:[Pushing Mαi.] Here. I’ll show you. Gostand over there, Jin.Lee: [Folds his hands.] Hah! I hope he’sbetter at throwing knife than you are at juggling!Zuko: Hmm … Still not quite right … [Putsa frozen fish on Mαi’s head.] Better. [Zuko picks one ice from the fish case,throwing it toward her.] You see, it’s all in the wrist, really.Lee: [The ice pierces through the fish.]Wow! That was amazing!Zuko: You wanna try, Lee?Lee: [Excited.] Oh! No, I couldn’tpossibly … Well, maybe just one. [Mαi doubts, as Lee throws the icicle.] Mαidodges, slips, and splashes into the water fountain.Zuko [leaning over Mαi]: Now we’re even.[Seconds later …]Zuko: [Running.] Ha ha!Mαi: Are you crazy!? You could havegotten me killed!Zuko: Whatever, Jin.

That scene makes youuncomfortable, doesn’t it? It feels wrong for Zuko to be so domineering. Butbecause Mαi is a girl, she is let off the hook when the comics scenehappens, and is even praised for keeping Zuko in line, handling him, putting upwith him, etc. And if this were illustrated, it would be even worse.

“The Awakening”(Aaron Ehasz): From a metaby @theadamantdaughter:

Mαi:  Aren’t you cold? Zuko: I’ve got a lot on my mind. It’s been so long… overthree years since I was home. I wonder what’s changed. I wonder how I’ve changed. Mαi:  [yawns] I just asked if you were cold. Ididn’t ask for your whole life story. 

So,after three years of distance due to Zuko’s banishment and a very tumultousdecision to help Azula, Zuko wants to express his concerns about returninghome. A home where he was abused, burned, and banished. A home where he has noreal allies. A home where his abuser is acts freely and cruelly. Obviously, heassumes his girlfriend would be interested in comforting him, but Mαi immediately shuts him down.

Inany functioning, healthy relationship, you would expect this flood of feelingsand thoughts to met with sympathy or input or at the very least… a hand on theshoulder and a comforting hug. Instead, Zuko is basically told to shut up, toput up, to push the feelings away because they aren’t important enough to bebothered with. She disregards him and ignores him. … 

I seea lot of Mαiko shippers claiming that this is cute, that it’s just Mαi ,or at the very least, Mαi was joking. Any way you choose to delude yourself -it goes to show how little they understand each other.Mαi, who later in theseries and the comics, hounds Zuko about not being emotionally available,doesn’t understand, in that moment, that Zuko was trying to be open with her.

Plus, it’s a bit ridiculous that Zuko can’t delveinto his feelings whenever and wherever he feels like it with his supposedgirlfriend.Mαi should’ve immediately prompted him to keep talking, to keepsharing, to tell her what he needed to feel better. …

Idon’t care if they knew each other since they were kids. Zuko is not thatlittle boy anymore. His entire world was destroyed by his father, and then byhimself, and Mαi seems incredibly uninterested in the man that Zuko is now.She’s not even interested in hearing about the man Zuko is now.

Ok, now onto the next …

Wait, what? That’s it? 

A smile at the thought of hauling Zuko back to the Fire Nation as a traitor, a glance and a blush from a ten-year-old girl that is ignored by her eleven-year-old crush, a rescue from a burning apple that Zuko would have done for Ty Lee as well, a date that was a setup by Azula and which culminates in Mαi literally committing assault on Zuko while encouraging Jin to do the same, and a boat ride during which Mαi yawns at Zuko when he tries to lean on her for emotional support. Did I miss something? (Seriously, if I missed something, I’ll be glad to add it in.)

I’ll finish off this summary with Peacockarehot:

I can’t help but get the feeling that Mαiwas intended to be a very different type of “love interest” for Zuko. I believe that she was originally going to be one of the many relationships Zuko had in the Fire Nation that were intended to be “toxic” like Ozai and Azula.Just judging by the way she was introduced to the story and her first in-show interaction with Zuko, I am going to argue that the decision to make her the endgame lover of Zuko was something that was decided very late. First impressions in stories are very important and Mai’s first impression is not flattering to a pairing the audience would feel supportive of.

  Nice work, team!